text:
I learned long ago that shopping with teenagers requires me to patronize places I would otherwise avoid. The combination of loud, thumpy music, unreasonably priced clothing with manufactured holes in the knees and overly perky salespeople reminds me it is good to be a grown-up.
Recently, however, owing to his incessant habit of rapid growth, my 15-year-old son needed new shoes. Thus, I found myself in the chain store Journeys, where one finds all manner of casual footwear, including styles even a mother can approve.
The Journeys store at my mall is well-managed and well-staffed. The salespeople are truly some of the friendliest, most attentive and most competent I've found in a store that caters to young shoppers.
Still, I can't look these guys in the face. This is because despite their pleasant demeanor, every member of the sales team is pierced and tattooed in the extreme. They even sport "gauged" ear lobes — piercings that stretch the lobe to resemble elephant ears.
So gross.
So I adopt a strategy I have dubbed "Product Scrutiny." Basically, I focus all my attention on the shoes under consideration as though I have never before bought footwear.
On our recent visit to Journeys, it happened they offered a freebie — a hat — for which we qualified by virtue of the size of our purchase. Two pairs of shoes, two packs of socks, tell the folks what they've won.
When the salesman shows us the free hat, I say, "Hmmm, I think the only time this style works is in the Cuban military or with a Che Guevara T-shirt."
My son nods in agreement as we both conclude the hat will go directly to the Halloween closet.
But my comment isn't lost on our salesguy, who offers cheerfully, "We have Che T-shirts!"
I say, "But he was a cold, brutal killer and the chief henchman for Fidel Castro. Why put him on a T-shirt?"
To which the young man responds, "Hey, viva la revolution. I dont like to live in the past."
I can't leave it at that, so I say, "Even in the present, he remains a heinous murderer. Being dead and all, he can't exactly rehabilitate himself."
Transaction complete, my son and I walk to the mall exit, and Jimmy listens to me rant about the magnitude of idiocy and ignorance that seems to permeate an entire generation.
How have we become a culture that thinks it is cool to wear T-shirts and caps glorifying a brutal mass murderer who helped to oppress a society with the scourge of communism? How have our young people adopted a philosophy as vapid and useless as "I don't like to live in the past"?
And what happens to a culture whose youth are so uninformed and uneducated?
Unfortunately, according to a recent study by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, we're going to find out. A few weeks ago it released the results of an annual survey of college freshman and seniors, in which 14,000 incoming and outgoing college students were given a 60-question civics test.
Half of the incoming freshmen failed the test, and worse, only 54 percent of graduating seniors passed. The schools that did the worst — that is, their graduating seniors actually scored worse than they did as freshmen — were among the nation's most elite schools.
Another important finding, though, is that four years of college influences students' opinions on a few popular yet polarizing issues: Abortion, gay marriage, prayer in schools, the divinity of the Bible and the opportunity to succeed in America. That the influence regarding these issues is resoundingly liberal is so obvious as to be a cliche.
So there's the answer to a couple of my questions. We're a culture whose young people think Che is cool because "The Communist Manifesto" is required reading for thousands of college freshmen, but not "The Federalist Papers" or even the U.S. Constitution. They've adopted a vapid "live for today" philosophy because they don't learn the history of our government or anyone else's.
What happens to such a culture?
Only time will tell.


text:
KDD 2014 : 20th ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
Conference Series : Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
|Link: http://www.kdd.org/kdd2014/
Call For Papers
Submissions are solicited for the 20th ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD), an interdisciplinary conference that brings together researchers and practitioners from all aspects of data mining, knowledge discovery, and large-scale data analytics. The conference is a highly selective meeting that includes oral and poster presentations of refereed papers as well as panel discussions and invited talks by the leading academic and industrial experts. This year, we have a special theme, Data Mining for Social Good, which will highlight how the work of data analytics researchers and practitioners in contributing towards social good as well as how these high impact, social problems provide a rich set of challenges for KDD researchers to work on. KDD 2014 will be held August 24-27 2014 in New York, USA. The conference will start with workshops and tutorials on August 24, followed by the main conference (August 25-27).
Key dates:
Abstract submission: Thursday, February 13, 2014, 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time
Full paper submission: Friday, February 21, 2014, 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time
Acceptance notification: May 12, 2014
Submission website: https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/KDD2014/
Reviewing: As per KDD tradition, reviews are not double-blind, and author names and affiliations should be listed. Authors should consult the conference website for full details regarding paper preparation and submission guidelines.
Evaluation Criteria: Submitted papers will be assessed based on their novelty, technical quality, potential impact, and clarity. For papers that rely heavily on empirical evaluations, the experimental methods and results should be clear, well executed, and repeatable. Authors are strongly encouraged to make data and code publicly available whenever possible.
Dual Submission Policy: Papers submitted to KDD should be original work and substantively different from papers that have been previously published or are under review in a journal or another conference/workshop. Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings by ACM and also appear in the ACM Digital Library.
Submission Instructions: All submissions will be made electronically, in PDF format. Papers are limited to 10 pages, including references, diagrams, and appendices, if any. The format is the standard double-column ACM Tighter Alternate Proceedings Style. Please refer to the complete submission and formatting instructions for further details.
Open Access: Accepted KDD papers will be made freely available via the ACM Digital Library platform two weeks before the conference. The free access will end on the first day of the next KDD conference. This free availability period will not only facilitate easy access to the proceedings by conference attendees, but also enable the community at large to experience the excitement of learning about the latest developments being presented at the KDD conference.
Tracks: KDD is a dual track conference hosting both a research track and an industry & government track. Due to the large number of submissions, papers submitted to the research track will not be considered for publication in the industry/government track and vice-versa. Authors are encouraged to carefully read the following and choose an appropriate track for their submissions.
Research Track: We invite submission of papers describing innovative research on all aspects of knowledge discovery and data mining. Papers emphasizing theoretical foundations are particularly encouraged, as are novel modeling and algorithmic approaches to specific data mining problems in scientific, business, medical, and engineering applications. Visionary papers on new and emerging topics are also welcome. Authors are explicitly discouraged from submitting papers that contain only incremental results and that do not provide significant advances over existing approaches. Application oriented papers that make innovative technical contributions to research are also welcome.
Areas: Papers are solicited in all areas of data mining, knowledge discovery, and large-scale data analytics, including, but not limited to:
Algorithms: Graph and link mining, rule and pattern mining, web mining, dimensionality reduction and manifold learning, combinatorial optimization, relational and structured learning, matrix and tensor methods, classification and regression methods, semi-supervised learning, and unsupervised learning and clustering.
Applications: innovative applications that use data mining, including systems for social network analysis, recommender systems, mining sequences, time series analysis, online advertising, bioinformatics, systems biology, text/web analysis, mining temporal and spatial data, and multimedia processing.
Big Data: Efficient and distributed data mining platforms and algorithms, systems for large-scale data analytics of textual and graph data, large-scale machine learning systems, distributed computing (cloud, map-reduce, MPI), large-scale optimization, and novel statistical techniques for big data.
Data mining for social good: Novel algorithms and applications of data mining to societal problems is especially encouraged. (For deployment of existing algorithms consider the Industry/Govt. track.) Topics include: public policy, sustainability, climate change, medicine and health, education, transportation, biodiversity and energy.
Foundations of data mining: Data mining methodology, data mining model selection, visualization, asymptotic analysis, information theory, and security and privacy.
Industry and Government Track: We invite submissions describing implementations of data mining/analytics/big data/data science systems in industry, government, or non-profit settings. Our primary emphasis is on papers that advance the understanding of, and show how to deal with, practical issues related to deploying analytics technologies. This track also highlights new research challenges motivated by analytics and data mining applications in the real world. These applications can be in any field including, but not limited to e-commerce, medicine, healthcare, defense, public policy, engineering, law, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government. This year, we are highlighting a special theme at KDD, highlighting data science efforts for social good. We highly encourage submissions that are focused on that theme, and describe data science work being done in areas such as education, sustainability, healthcare, community development, and public safety.
Submitted papers will go through a competitive peer review process. The Industry & Government track is distinct from the Research Track in that submissions solve real-world problems and focus on systems that are deployed or are in the process of being deployed. Submissions must clearly identify one of the following three areas they fall into: "deployed", "discovery", or "emerging".
The criteria for submissions in each category is as follows:
Deployed: Must describe deployment of a system that solves a non-trivial real-world problem. The focus should be on describing the problem, its significance, decisions and tradeoffs made when making design choices for the solution, deployment challenges, and lessons learned.
Discovery: Must include results that are discoveries with demonstrable value to an industry or government organization. This discovered knowledge must be "externally validated" as interesting and useful; it can not simply be a model that has better performance on some traditional evaluation metrics such as accuracy or area under the curve. A new scientific discovery enabled by the use of data mining techniques is an example of what this category will include.
Emerging: Submissions do not have to be deployed but must have clear applications to Industry/Government to distinguish them from KDD research papers. They may also provide insight into issues and factors that affect the successful use and deployment of Data Mining and Analytics. Papers that describe enabling infrastructure for large-scale deployment of Data Mining and analytics techniques also fall in this category.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Calls for "a Chinese", in the western Hemisphere at least, are more often than not accompanied by the demand for spring rolls. In Britain the most frequently heard exclamation on the arrival of a chow mein (other dishes are available) is "we simply must have spring rolls, darling", or something to that general effect. Indeed, upon seeing these wraps in the background of my previous recipe, noodle broth, a general clamour for the recipe ensued – well, folks, here it is.
Delicious though they are, the problem with spring rolls in this country is that they are always deep fried. Perhaps this is because, on the supermarket shelf, a fresh spring roll wouldn't keep quite as well as its crispy counterpart. Whatever the reason, it is something of a shame that the healthier spring roll has become so elusive. Still, dried rice wrappers aren't too difficult to come by. If you are struggling, I suggest looking in health food shops or that rather intimidating Asian "supermarket" you've always been too scared to sample.
Please, don't be put off by the idea of having to wrap your own rolls – it is extremely easy. Granted, you'll need a little time as it's easiest to wrap them one by one, but after you've done your first you'll have picked up the knack. As with most wraps, spring rolls are very versatile – fill them with whatever you please, within reason. Duck is an effective meat filling, particularly when served alongside a delicious plum dip. Whatever you fill yours with, follow the method below and you'll not go far wrong – I'll make sure to explore different combinations in the future.
These vegetable spring rolls won't fill you up on their own. Try making a few extra Chinese takeaway-inspired dishes like Singapore Fried Rice, Crispy Beef or Chicken Chow Mein…
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Makes 6-8
• 6-8 spring roll wrappers
• 40g rice noodles
• 3 leaves of pak choi, finely sliced
• 1 carrot, matchsticked
• 2 cloves of garlic, mashed
• Two handfuls of beansprouts
• A handful of sweet basil, torn
• A few dashes of dark soy sauce
• Sesame oil
1. Prepare your filling. Put the noodles in hot water and boil until soft. Meanwhile, heat a little sesame oil in a frying pan or wok and add the garlic and carrot. Once cooked tip in the noodles, beansprouts and pak choi. Toss once or twice, pop the lid on and turn right down.
2. One at a time, soak your wrappers in warm water until malleable, transfer to a clean surface and add 2 tbsp of the noodle mixture, a little basil and a dash of soy sauce, to the centre of each.
3. To wrap, bring two opposing sides of the wrap together until 2cm apart at the middle. Fold one remaining side over the mixture and roll until cylindrical. The wrap should adhere to itself. Serve alongside a delicious noodle broth.
Cost: Rice wrappers can be a little pricey, though the packet I bought contained six more than it should have! In any case, 12 wrappers should set you back around £1.30. Once filled, a portion of six should cost no more than around £1.40.


text:
HIRIBERRY, JOANNIS DE (less frequently spelled Hiribery, Hirriberry, with numerous other variants), "bourgeois merchant, and former magistrate of the town of St. Jean de Luz," fisherman; fl. 1718–22.
Hiriberry was the most persistent claimant against the seizures made at Canso (Canceau) in September 1718 by Captain Thomas Smart. The apparent failure of the Massachusetts authorities to make the restitution ordered by the Lords Justices in June 1719 induced Hiriberry to appeal to London. By the end of 1720, no doubt mainly because of the support given him by Cardinal Dubois and the French council, he had obtained a letter of credit from Cragg, the British Secretary of State for the Southern Department, to the value of £200 (one-hundredth of the sum he claimed, but one-tenth of the value estimated by the British authorities). Despite the growing disinterest of his French supporters, evident by the spring of 1721, and their desertion during the following year, he continued to press his claims, and in April 1722 was offered a grant of £800. However, no record has been found to indicate whether this offer was accepted, or whether the subsequent requests he persisted in making were any more successful.
Joannis de Hiriberry was at once a victim and an abettor in the Anglo-French contest for the North American fisheries. Whether French diplomacy was inspired or embarrassed by his case might be open to question; but the Canso incident of September 1718 would probably not have reached the dimensions it attained had it not been for his pertinacity.
AN, Col., C11B, 3, 5, 6. PRO, C.O. 5/867; CSP, Col., 1719. McLennan, Louisbourg. For a more complete bibliography on the Canso dispute, see the bibliography for Thomas Smart.
© 1969–2023 University of Toronto/Université Laval
Cite This Article
G. P. Browne, "HIRIBERRY, JOANNIS DE," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 2, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed September 25, 2023, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hiriberry_joannis_de_2E.html.
The citation above shows the format for footnotes and endnotes according to the Chicago manual of style (16th edition). Information to be used in other citation formats:
|Author of Article:
|G. P. Browne
|Title of Article:
|Publication Name:
|Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 2
|University of Toronto/Université Laval
|Year of publication:
|Year of revision:
|Access Date:
|September 25, 2023


text:
Posts Tagged 'are schipperkes mean'
Breed Spotlight: Schipperke
History The Schipperke (pronounced "sheep-er-ker") originated in Flanders, Belgium in the early 16th century. This breed descended from the now-extinct Leauvenaar, a black sheepdog that was also the foundation breed for the Belgian Sheepdog, or Groendendael. While the Belgian Sheepdog followed in the Leauvenaar's footsteps as a shepherd, the Schipperke took on its own role as…Read More


text:
Money Power Runs AmericaWritten by Stephen Lendman Subject: Corruption
Wall Street does it by controlling money, credit and debt, as well as manipulating markets for private enrichment. House and Senate millionaires do it their way for greater wealth, privilege, power and status.
New Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) figures show it. More on them below. New York Times writer Eric Lichtblau commented in his article headlined, "Economic Downturn Took a Detour at Capitol Hill," saying:
In 1991, Representative Ed Pastor (D. AR) entered Congress with around $100,000 in savings and as much debt owed banks. Now he's a millionaire, one of 250 in Congress.
"(A)nd the wealth gap between lawmakers and their constituents appears to be growing quickly" as austerity cuts harm most Americans needing help during harder than ever hard times.
Since 2008, they've lost jobs, homes, personal savings, and futures. At the same time, congressional members are richer than ever. Perhaps never "has the divide (been) so wide, or the public contrast so stark, between lawmakers and those they represent."
No wonder Gallop's year end poll showed Congress getting its lowest ever 11% approval rating. At the same time, growing numbers of Americans reject both parties for independent or unaffiliated status.
On November 14, the Atlantic Wire headlined, "How Members of Congress Get Rich Through 'Honest Graft,'" saying:
"A 60 Minutes report examined the ways members of Congress trade on inside, privileged information" to get rich. "Congresspeople are exempt from insider trading rules" so profit in ways others can't legally.
They do it through stock trades and privileged business deals. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert earmarked funding for a federal highway project on land he owned. He later sold it for $2 million.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi profited from eight IPOs, including some "that had business before her House." So have other congressional members, past and present.
Former Senator Bob Dole bought shares in Automatic Data Processing four days before GHW Bush signed legislation with new military data processing rules benefitting the company handsomely.
Former Speaker and Republican presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich bought Boeing stock just before he helped kill amendments to cut International Space Station funding. It helped Boeing secure a lucrative contract.
Numerous others in Congress profit the same way. Some hit the jackpot. In 2004, the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis published a report showing Senate portfolios outperformed the market by about 12% annually. It didn't happen by chance.
A 2011 study showed House member investments exceed market performance by 6%. Do it annually and it adds up. For example, $100 invested at 6% for 40 years grows tenfold. At 12%, it's 80-fold.
Washington runs on inside information. Congressional members use it to get rich. While their median net worth gained 15% from 2004 to 2010, America's 10% richest found theirs unchanged, and for Americans overall, it dropped based on inflation-adjusted dollars.
Of course, America's top 1% outdid them all. Why else would nationwide protests target them for social justice.
Notably, congressional wealth grew two and a half times (from $280,000 to $725,000) from 1984 to 2009 in inflation-adjusted dollars, while for average Americans it declined slightly. Moreover, for the past half century, income inequality mostly benefits congressional conservatives. Progressivism pays poorly.
In 1984, one in five House members had zero or negative net worth, excluding home equity and other non-income producing property. By 2009, it dropped to one in 12.
As a result, the gap between congressional members and their constituents perhaps never has been so wide. Moreover, it increases annually at a time Main Street's suffering harder than ever hard times, and few in Washington care.
Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) Report
It began saying:
"These days, being a millionaire (puts you in) the (top) one percent. But in Congress, it only makes you average."
Among 535 House and Senate members, 250 (or 47%) are millionaires, based on 2010 financial disclosure forms. Only America's top 1% enjoys that status. According to CRP's executive director Sheila Krumholz:
"The vast majority of members of Congress are quite comfortable financially, while many of their own constituents suffer from economic hardship."
It's largely from decades of destructive bipartisan policies. Since the 1980s, economic inequality grew enormously. Business and super-rich elites profited handsomely at the expense of working class people.
Wealth disparity is unprecedented at a time nearly 23% of Americans are unemployed. Half of US households are impoverished or bordering on it. Millions lost homes, and growing hunger and homelessness threaten millions more.
In contrast, congressional members never had it so good. "It's no surprise that so many people grumble about lawmakers being out-of-touch," said Krumholz. "Few Americans enjoy the same financial cushion maintained by most members of Congress - or the same access to market-altering information that could yield personal financial gains."
Moreover, congressional pay, benefits and perks alone are generous. In 2011, rank and file House and Senate members earned $174,000. According to US Census data, median 2010 household income is $48,753.
In February 2011, the Congressional Research Service reported the following legislative, executive and judicial salaries:
President: $400,000
Vice President: $230,700
House Speaker: $223,500
Senate President Pro Tempore: $193,400
House and Senate Majority and Minority leaders: $193,400
Senators and Representatives: $174,000
Supreme Court Chief Justice: $223,500
Associate Justices: $213,900
Federal Court of Appeals Judges: $184,500
Federal District Court Judges: $174,000
Moreover, generous benefits and allowances are provided, including lucrative pensions based on years of service, peak salary levels, an accrual rate, and whether members are covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and/or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
For example, a House or Senate member retiring in December 2010 with 32 years of service averaged $92,251 in annual pensions supplemented by cost of living increases. Most members have shorter tenures and get less. By law, pensions can't exceed 80% of final year of service pay.
In 2006, retired members covered by CSRS got average pensions of $60,972. Those retiring under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, averaged $35,952.
Historically, it was much different. From 1789 to 1815, congressional members got $6 per day while Congress was in session. From 1815 to 1817, they earned $1,500 annually. From 1818 - 1855, they got $8 a day.
Thereafter, they got $3,000 annual salaries. In 1907, it was raised to $7,500. In 2006, they earned $165,000. Leaders got more. Today, congressional members profit handsomely from pay, benefits, perks, and investment returns based on inside information.
For example, 2010 US household median net worth is $120,000. For congressional members, it's $912,000. In 2009, 7.8 million households had net worths of $1 million or more, around 2.5% of all households. In contrast, 47% of congressional members are millionaires.
The top 10 include:
Rep. Darrell Issa (R. CA): an estimated $451.1 million net worth
Rep. Jane Harman (D. CA): $435.4 million
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R. FL): $366.2 million
Senator John Kerry (D. MA): $249.9 million
Rep. Jared Polis (D. CO): $285.1 million
Senator Mark Warner (D. VA): $283.1 million
Senator Herb Kohl (D. WI): $231.2 million
Rep. Michael McCaul (R. TX): $201.5 million
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D. W VA): $136.2 million
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D. CA): $108.1 million
Combined net worth: $2.8 billion
All support lower corporate, capital gains, and top bracket personal tax rates. They also back austerity cuts for ordinary Americans, including lower Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Median US senator net worth is $2.63 million - 16% higher than 2008. In 2010, 37 Senate Democrats and 30 Republican counterparts had average net worths exceeding $1 million. So did 110 House Republicans and 73 Democrats.
In 2010, median Republican House member net worth stood at $834,250. For Democrats it was $635,000 for an average $756,765 - 17% higher than 2008.
By law, all House and Senate members must report their own holdings and that of spouses and dependents annually. However, precise investment values can't be determined so estimates are made. They exclude non-income generating personal property (including homes, cars, artwork, etc.) and pension benefit values.
Moreover, the top spousal bracket is "more than $1 million," so true net worth amounts for many lawmakers "are likely undervalued." For example, some believe John Kerry's wife Teresa Heinz's net worth exceeds $1 billion. As the Heinz heiress, it's likely more.
A Final Comment
At a time class war in America rages, growing human need goes unaddressed, Washington is corporate occupied territory, and endless imperial wars ravage the world one country at a time with more planned, congressional members never had it so good.
No wonder fed up Americans want long denied social justice, and Occupy Wall Street calls "world revolution" the "only solution."
Change never comes top down, only bottom up. Society's privileged with power never yield it. Pressure's building to force them. Human need's too great and worsening. When pain levels cross a threshold of no return, all bets are off. Or as Gerald Celente says:
"When people lose everything and have nothing else to lose, they lose it."
That moment of truth draws closer, and not just in America.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.


text:
America is a house divided thanks to Tony Kornheiser and Lance Armstrong's "car vs. bike" stand off, but thankfully radio executives have issued strict orders for everyone on their air to shut the hell up about it.
For those of you not following your radio host-cyclist feud news, Tony Kornheiser recently said out loud on his radio show that people with cars should run people on bikes off the road. (This is part of the age-old debate between drivers and cyclists that can only end in bloodsport.) Naturally, Lance Armstrong—being the world's most famous pedalist—responded in kind (about a week later) by calling Tony a "punk ass chump" and a "douchebag" and urging his Twitter followers to complain. I guess people can still get upset by obnoxious radio hosts being intentionally obnoxious.
But in an odd acknowledgment that this is indeed a stupid non-story, executives at Clear Channel (which probably owns any non-satellite radio station you've listened to in the last decade) put the kibosh on it as a topic of discussion. A tipster sent us the email, which was sent around to the talent this morning:
Subject: Cycling - IMPORTANT
In light of Tony Kornheiser's comments, please be clear with your staff(s): With NO exceptions, our personalities should NOT engage in conversation or commentary about the world of cycling, professional or recreational. Please communicate clearly to our very talented on air personnel what is expected with this issue.
"Lance Armstrong will confront US radio talkshow host Tony Kornheiser today after the sports journalist recommended running riders down during an anti-cycling rant."
Thanks for your attention to this matter.
The two did make nice on Tony's show today, but it's sort of amusing that Lance Armstrong's righteous indignation about bicycling could help ensure that no one ever talks about the sport on the radio ever again. Which is fine, because those guys are always in my lane, amirite?!


text:
Planning a trip to Kerala in south India? If you go on the internet, you will no longer have to use a mouse or keyboard to browse a section of the of Kerala Tourism website – you can instead gesture! In a pioneering development, the Kerala State Tourism Board allows users to access the site, http://www.when-it-rains.com, with their webcams – the site can be navigated through gestures alone. The website takes viewers to rain-washed plains, misty hills and majestic backwaters, and the interface takes place through sheer gestures.
This is one of few tourism websites anywhere in the world to use gesture-controlled technology for navigation. Visually stunning images of the monsoon shot by Facebook fans of Kerala Tourism are used in the new website, developed by Stark Communications, the official marketing and communications agency of the Kerala Tourism department.
The website tracks movements and gestures through the webcam and responds to these to allow the user to browse the site. People around the world can now sit in front of a computer or with a smart phone and enjoy multifarious experiences, even before they actually arrive in the state. The gesture-controlled website is yet another step in extending to the world the many experiences that Kerala offers to a visitor. Kerala Tourism is a pioneer in integrating technology in promoting its destinations to audiences across the country as well as abroad. The department's award-winning website (www.keralatourism.org) is one of the most-visited tourism websites in the world.


text:
MERCURY - 0-30MHz Direct Sampling Receiver
The project leaders for the Mercury board are Phil Harman, VK6APH and Philip Covington [1], N8VB. The Mercury design will incorporate many design features of the QuickSilver QS1R [2] prototype also designed by Philip Covington, N8VB.
Perhaps the most exciting of all the modules, the Mercury board will enable direct sampling of the 0-65MHz spectrum. Based on a Linear Technology LTC2208 130MSPS 16-bit A/D converter [3] the board will contain it's own FPGA to undertake Digital Down Conversion (DDC) to 250 kSPS or less for transfer over the Atlas bus to the USB interface on the OZY board.
MERCURY will downsample in its own Altera Cyclone III FPGA, not unlike the USRP [4].
There will be an option to upgrade to the LTC2209 170 MSPS 16 bit converter from Linear Technology.
Update 19th June 2008: Rev B PCB Files (corresponds to Alpha XA9 Schematic) posted: (contains design review details, but not complete manufacturing data pending board testing pending changes) http://www.hamsdr.com/personaldirectory.aspx?id=831
Update 19th June 2008: Alpha XA9 Schematic posted: http://www.hamsdr.com/personaldirectory.aspx?id=830
Update 16th April 2008: Alpha PCBs and parts kits arrived. Here is a photo of the bare PCB:
Update 5th April 2008: Updated block diagram to represent current schematic.
Update 18th March 2008: TAPR has agreed to fund the Mercury development proposal.
Update 24th May 2007: Block diagram of Verilog code added.
Update 3 May 2007: Block diagram updated. Lyle KK7P has offered to lay out the PCB.
Update 1 April 2007: Block diagram added to Wiki.
Block diagram of Alpha design
Block diagram of Prototype Verilog code
This is a photo of an LT2208 evaluation board connected to an Ozy board. (The little board to the right is a 3.3v regulator)
(Above) Initial Mercury prototype by Phil Covington, N8VB
(Above) Mercury spectrum analyzer software written by Phil Covington, N8VB
Update 28th December 2006.
The V2 Ozy board has double the number of LEs of the previous board so provides a little more room to experiment with the CIC filters. I've managed to fit a 4 section decimate by 512 CIC filter in the FPGA that provides an approximately 195kHz 24bit data stream to PowerSDR. By making the data stream compatible with PowerSDR we can use all the features of that code to evaluate the LT2208. Bill, KD5TFD, added code to PowerSDR to send the current frequency over the USB link to Ozy and that is decoded and applied to the CORDIC NCO in Mercury. That way when PowerSDR is tuned Mercury follows.
As per the calculations below the LT2208 does not require a preamp below 20m. I added a 20dB preamp for the higher bands. At the moment I'm using my ATU as the only form of input filtering and so far there appears to be no strong signal problems.
Today I added a PWM DAC to the FPGA that operates at approximately 48kHz. This allows me to listen to the output of the receiver. My initial reactions are that this is going to be a very good receiver! Whilst the CORDIC NCO spurs are a little higher than I would like there are very large sections of all bands where there a no spurs at all. We have a volunteer working on improving the spur performance. Due to the large number of LEs needed in the FPGA to get acceptable filtering performance we are evaluating alternative technologies to implement the DDC.
Merc Spec/Scope added Sept 7, 2006
1th August 2006. Preliminary measurements are as follows:
Maximum input level = +9dBm MDS(500Hz BW) = -120dBm
Since the input transformer on the evaluation board is 1:1 then these results agree with Nyall's calculations below.
15th August 2006. Many thanks to Nyall Davies, G8IBR for providing these calculations. Nyall has many years experience in developing DSP based radar systems and his input and expertise is greatly appreciated.
Mercury - Theoretical Performance
LT2208 clocking at 100 MHz Input level 1.5 Volts peak to peak mode. SFDR is quoted as 100 dB typical from 5 to 30 MHz. This figure will be used for IP3 calculations. Input impedance - balanced 200 Ohm.
IP3 of A/D converter
Thus input power 1.5 dBm for full scale. The A/D is specified at -1 dB full scale, i.e. 0.5 dBm. At this power the maximum third order spurious is 0.5 - 100 = 99.5 dBm From the IP3 diagram the IP3 is 50.5 dBm (54 with 2.25 Vpp input)
Noise figure of A/D converter
The signal to noise ratio of the A/D converter is typically 75.2 dB at 30 MHz and 75.3 at 5 MHz suggesting that we can take it as being evenly spread across the sampling bandwidth. Normally with a single A/D the Nyquist bandwidth is half the sampling frequency but we will be generating phase and quadrature signals so the noise is spread across the full sampling bandwidth. (It can be thought of as 2 samples.) the noise then will be bandwidth limited in the signal processing thus reducing the noise referred back to the input of the A/D by the ratio of the sampling bandwidth to the final bandwidth.
For an SSB bandwidth the noise referred A/D input
= -75.2 dB below -1 dB FS - 10 Log(100 MHz/2.4 kHz) = -122.4 dBm
Now KTB is -140 dBm thus the noise figure at the A/D input
= 17.6 dB
For 500 Hz bandwidth the noise referred to A/D input
= -75.2 -1 - 10 Log(100MHz/500 Hz) = -129.2 dB
Thus the noise figure is the same as noise figure is not a function of bandwidth.
LOSSES - NOTE this has assumed no signal processing losses. Signal processing losses will add directly to the noise figure. These could consist of filter weighting loss, truncation losses and clock and A/D jitter.
Mixer. The digital mixer will have an insertion loss of 3.9 dB so the numbers in the processing will be that amount lower than those coming out of the A/D. Normally there is a 3 dB signal to noise loss due to the image noise from the front end amplifier. As we will be sampling I & Q we will effectively have an image rejection mixer thus no S/N loss is put in for the mixer.
Clock and A/D jitter
The aperture jitter of the LT2208 is 70 fs or 0.07 picoseconds For the sake of fairness we will allow the clock jitter to match the A/D aperture jitter. This can be translated into SSB phase noise and requires an oscillator as follows
300 Hz off carrier -110 dBc/Hz 2000 Hz off -139 dBc/Hz 5000 Hz off -142 dBc/Hz
This is not unreasonable for a good crystal oscillator. The effect is worse at higher frequencies according to the formula
SNR=20 Log(2 pi fin trms)
Where fin is the input frequency and trms is the rms aperture jitter.
This works out at 95 dB at 30 MHz. This appears somewhat meaningless, as the noise distribution will follow the spectrum of the clock. It does mean that we will have an effect similar to reciprocal mixing that will be worst at 10 m.
Truncation losses should not be a problem with a 32 bit system but the word growth in the CIC filters is large. (Number of stages raised to the power of the decimation. As these are usually equal it is NN.) This means that several filters with lower numbers of stages and decimation ratio are usually cascaded and lower bits dropped off.
Weighting loss would appear to be negligible with FIR filters giving one output sample for each input sample but if used for decimation with one output for every input there may be a weighting loss. I will presume that there are no S/N losses associated with the CIC filters, as I can find no reference to them but I have some reservations.
If FFT processing is used, a weighting loss can be calculated.
Without knowing the algorithms I would suggest from experience and gut feeling that we should think in terms of adding 3 dB to the previously calculated noise figure and call it 20.6 dB at the A/D. Allowing 2 dB for the front end filters and 0.8 dB for filter switching we have a noise figure of 23.4 dB.
If we ensure that the external received noise is 10 dB about the Rx noise, the internal noise will only add 0.46 dB to the received noise floor.
Given the suggested figures for minimum atmospheric noise we get the following requirements for a front end.
Band Ext noise dB above KTB Noise figure dB 80 38 28 40 33 23 20 28 18 15 23 13 10 18 8
A front end amplifier with a gain of 15 dB and a 3 dB noise figure will give a final noise figure of 10.3 dB at 30 MHz. (See spreadsheet [link here when I learn how to do it! VK6APH ]).
If it can achieve an INPUT IP3 of 35 dBm, this would match the system well and give an overall IP3 of 34.8 dBm.
An attenuator of 13 dB would then produce the right noise figure for 40 m with an IP3 of 47.8 dBm.
Maximum signal
The maximum signal input must be considered as an A/D converter has a hard limit. The front end band pass filter on 40 m will give virtually zero attenuation to the nearby broadcast bands. This means that these large signals (s9 +60dB) will be present in the receiver. We do not have a crystal filter removing them early on.
With 1.5 dBm maximum at the A/D and 15.2 dB of gain in front the maximum signal at the Rx input is ?13.7dBm or S9+59.3 dB. (Without the extra attenuator) The attenuator will still give some headroom with several of these signals adding. The final system appears well match to the real world.
Noise figure 10.3 dB 23 dB with attenuator IP3 34.8 dBm 47.8 with attenuator Max signal s9+62 dB s9 +75 with attenuator
Preamplifier requirements:
Gain 15 dB Noise figure 3 dB IP3in 35 dB (Output IP3 50 dB)
With no amp:
Noise figure 23.4 dB IP3 46.8 dBm Max signal s9+77 dB
It is actually better to use an plus attenuator. It gives a better IP3 than with no amplifier as the attenuator is placed before the filter and switching which each contribute there own limitation to the IP3 in the spreadsheet although these are estimated figures. The amplifier also produces a useful interface to the A/D.
18th June 2006. The image above is of the LT2208 connected via a Xylo FPGA board over USB 2 to PowerSDR. The input signal level is 0dBm and we have about 100dB of dynamic range. Thanks to Bill KD5TFD for modifying PowerSDR to take the 16 bit data from the LT2208.
The Verilog code in the Xylo FPGA implements a fixed NCO on 25.00MHz and multiplies the 16 bits of data from the LT2208 alternately buy 1 or or -1. This is followed by a CIC filter that decimates the data by 2048. Since the LT2208 is clocked at 100MHz this results in a data rate of approximately 48.8kHz.
Next we will implement a CORDIC based NCO to provide tunable frequency control plus a half band filter to follow the CIC. Assuming this will all fit in the Xylo FPGA! If not we will have to wait for the OZY board to do further testing.
The Verilog sofware for the FPGA is being written using the free web version of Altera's Quartus II V6.0 software


text:
The United States faces an escalating shortage of nurses, driven in part by an aging population and a shortage of available spaces in schools of nursing across the nation. Widespread concern over the nurse faculty shortage is evident in the reports of prominent nursing organizations, as well as in the activities of numerous state workforce centers. As part of its commitment to address issues related to the nurse faculty shortage, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) supported the creation of Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education (EIN) to fund evaluations of nursing educational interventions.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation established the National Program Office (NPO) to direct EIN in 2008. The NPO, which is located in the Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, provides overall research direction, management, technical assistance, and monitoring of the EIN grants. Dr. Michael Yedidia serves as director of the NPO and is assisted by Joanne Fuccello, Deputy Director. » Read More
Our Mission
We support evaluations of interventions that expand teaching capacity or promote faculty recruitment and retention in nursing schools. The program aims to increase the number of nursing school graduates by evaluating strategies that address the nurse faculty shortage. With its third cycle of funding, EIN will support projects that address aspects of teaching productivity and faculty preparation in nursing education for meeting the demands of a reformed health care and public health system. Learn More
As of May 1, 2015, Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education has closed. The interactive interface to the national survey of nurse faculty (NuFAQs) is active and can be accessed through this web-page or directly at this url.
About the Program
The United States faces an escalating shortage of nurses, driven in part by an aging population and a shortage of available spaces in schools of nursing across the nation. Widespread concern over the nurse faculty shortage is evident in the reports of prominent nursing organizations, as well as in the activities of numerous state workforce centers. As part of its commitment to address issues related to the nurse faculty shortage, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) supported the creation of Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education (EIN) to fund evaluations of nursing educational interventions.
Grantee Research Findings
Click HERE to read selected findings from EIN grantees.
Grantee Publications
EIN Grantee at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Publishes with Researchers in Partnering Hospitals in The Journal of Nursing Administration
EIN grantee Dr. Joanne Mulready-Shick (UMB) and partners from two Boston academic research centers -- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) -- co-authored an article entitled, "Partnering and Leadership Core Requirements for Developing a Dedicated Education Unit." The article describes the creation of two Dedicated Education Units (DEU) implemented through the academic-service partnership between UMB's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, MGH and BWH. The article outlines the factors critical for the success and sustainability of DEUs, focusing on skills required to negotiate complex collaborations and the leadership competencies demonstrated by nurses across three levels: 1) the dean and hospital chief nurse executives; 2) the academic nursing program and clinical directors, and 3) the hospital clinical instructors and university's clinical faculty coordinators.
Read an abstract of the article HERE.
EIN Grantee JoAnn Mulready-Shick, EdD, RN, CNE presented at the Ohio League for Nursing's Nursing Education Summit 2012 in Dublin Ohio (March 30, 2012).
Her presentation – "EVALUATING DEDICATED EDUCATION UNITS: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS" – can be reviewed HERE.
EIN Grantee Project Team at New York University College of Nursing Publishes in Journal of Nursing Education
Dr. Hila Richardson and Dr. Mattia Gilmartin co-authored with Dr. Terry Fulmer an article entitled, "Shifting the Clinical Teaching Paradigm in Undergraduate Nursing Education to Address the Nursing Faculty Shortage." The authors at NYU College of Nursing, supported by a two-year EIN grant, describe their new clinical teaching model that substitutes high-fidelity human patient simulation for up to half of the students' clinical education experience. The article looks at the model's effects on nurse faculty capacity.
Read an abstract of the article HERE as it appeared in the April issue of the Journal of Nursing Education.
Grantee Spotlight
New York University
EIN awarded a two-year grant to researchers at New York University (NYU) and their evaluator team at National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI) to conduct a controlled evaluation of their undergraduate clinical teaching intervention – the Clinical Simulation/Clinical Experience (CSCE) Model—adopted to address the shortage of clinical faculty and sites. The purpose of this project was to document how the NYU simulation substitution model \ has an impact on faculty capacity for clinical supervision. » Read more
Read past grantee spotlights about EIN projects: including the University of Portland, University of Massachusetts, Boston and University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.
Our Grantees
EIN is pleased to introduce its various cohorts of grantees, current and past. Twelve grants (of up to $300,000 each) have been awarded since 2009. EIN's first grant cycle (2009-2011) funded four innovators in nursing education to support evaluations of different interventions, including Dedicated Education Units (DEUs); a technology-rich, accelerated BSN program relying on a mix of on-campus and offsite training, specially prepared clinical preceptors, and innovative course scheduling; and incorporation of a web-based virtual community into the curricula of several nursing programs across the country. For its second round of grants (2010-2012), EIN has funded evaluations of the implementation of a statewide education consortium curriculum; the substitution of clinical simulation for supervised hospital rotations; and an analysis of a myriad of state-based, support-for-service programs which offer funding support to nursing students who wish to become nurse faculty.
In mid July 2012, EIN's third cycle of grantees began evaluation projects whose findings will directly inform strategies to prepare faculty to educate nurses for roles in the reformed health care system as envisioned in the IOM report on the future of nursing. These two-year projects (2012-2014) will focus on a range of issues, e.g., identifying barriers and opportunities for doctoral students regarding nurse faculty careers (American Association of Colleges of Nursing); assessing the various stages of career decision-making related to becoming a nurse faculty member (Indiana University); the hiring practices and intentions of directors of nursing programs related to DNP and PhD-prepared faculty (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill); the relationship between the demands of teaching doctoral students and research productivity among doctorally-prepared nurse faculty (Villanova University) and a case study to study and generate insights into the prospects for early-entry doctoral programs (admitting pre-baccalaureate students and recent graduates) to increase the number and productivity of future nurse faculty (University of Wisconsin-Madison). As with earlier funding cycles, EIN3 research projects are designed to generate findings to inform strategies for addressing the nurse faculty shortage, while expanding the nurse workforce and maintaining or improving student outcomes.
- Cycle 3 Grantees (closed) (2012 - 2014)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Indiana University School of Nursing
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
- Villanova University College of Nursing
- University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing
- Cycle 2 Grantees (closed) (2010 – 2012)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
- The New York University College of Nursing
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing
- Cycle 1 Grantees (closed) (2009 – 2011)
- University of Massachusetts, Boston, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, College of Nursing
- University of Portland (Oregon), School of Nursing
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, College of Nursing
National Survey of Nurse Faculty
How do nurse faculty members spend their time? How do they assess key aspects of their work-life?
Click here to create customized findings from the 2011 national survey of full-time nurse faculty members by using NuFAQs, our Nurse Faculty Query web-based tool.
Choose from over 60 characteristics of workload and attitudes toward work-life and explore how they differ among faculty subgroups of interest to you. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of full-time faculty members teaching in nursing schools that offer at least one degree program that prepares graduates to sit for the licensure exam. The study was conducted by staff at the EIN National Program Office and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
What's New
RWJF Funds Planning Grant for Nursing Education Research Network
March 2015
Based on experience with Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education (EIN), the Nursing Education Research Network (Network) aims to increase the volume and relevance of research in nursing education. Schools joining the Network will collect individual-level survey data from faculty and students annually on a core set of measures to generate a powerful longitudinal data base for research on issues critical to academic nursing. To realize the benefit, schools will be the owners and stewards of these data. Membership must be extensive enough to assure reasonable representation of various types and locales of schools, including community colleges and research intensive university programs. Data will be made available to schools for their own analyses, and Network staff will produce distributions, trends, and benchmarks for use of members as well. Network-sponsored workshops for faculty and graduate students will augment methodological expertise in making optimal use of these data. The 18-month planning grant will focus on developing a staffing plan and governance structure, gathering input from schools about compelling research questions and associated data, and building a technological infrastructure for the Network. For more information, contact Pamela Ironside, Ph.D. (Indiana University School of Nursing, email@example.com), who is directing the planning effort.
New Issue of the Journal of Nursing Education Features Article Based on Findings from the National Survey of Nurse Faculty; Authors Examine Aspects of Faculty Work-Life and Impact on Intent to Leave Academic Nursing
October 2014
In "Association of Faculty Perceptions of Work–Life With Emotional Exhaustion and Intent to Leave Academic Nursing: Report on a National Survey of Nurse Faculty," Dr. Michael Yedidia, Ms. Jolene Chou, Dr. Susan Brownlee, Dr. Linda Flynn, and Dr. Christine A. Tanner discuss findings from the National Survey of Nurse Faculty (supported by a grant from RWJF). The authors found that intent to leave faculty roles was explained by several factors, including modifiable aspects of work: dissatisfaction with workload, salary and availability of teaching support. Click HERE to read an abstract of the article.
EIN Grantee Manuscripts featured in the current edition of Nursing Education Perspectives
September 2014
The current issue (Sept-Oct 2014) of the National League for Nursing's (NLN) journal – Nursing Education Perspectives – features findings from five EIN-funded evaluation projects. The educational interventions that were the focus of the evaluations published in this issue include: innovations in clinical education; technology and instructional expertise (e.g., simulation); new curricula to facilitate academic progression for students and support efficient use of faculty resources; and, state-based policies and programs offering incentives for nurses to pursue careers as nurse faculty. Click HERE to read the current issue of the journal.


text:
In a rare move, the Google Doodle today features a black woman, Harriet Tubman, to mark the start of Black History Month.
In case you're not familiar with the illustrations featured on the Google search page, Google Doodles are intended to be "fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists." They're also notoriously known for their sexism. Shelby Knox has a Google Doodle Sexism Watch. Amadi has also noted the way gender, race, and class are drawn into the Doodles, as in her critique of the father's day images that "reinforce stereotypical western societal stereotypes and privileged class mores with repeated depictions of white, middle+ class men who are only engaged with their kids during playtime."
This is only the second time, to my knowledge, that the Google Doodle has ever featured a black woman. (Updated via RUBÉN G. RUMBAUT, Professor of Sociology, UC-Irvine who wrote to say: "There are a lot more if you just take the time to search for them in the Doodle." Professor Rumbaut mentions the previous illustrations honoring (South African singer) Miriam Makeba's 81st birthday, (Cuban American singer) Celia Cruz's 88th birthday, (African American singer) Ella Fitzgerald's 96th birthday, and (African American Civil Rights Leader) Rosa Parks, on the 55th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. JD: Thanks for the correction, we aim for precision here. I think the larger point stands that these few women of color are still vastly underrepresented among those chosen for a Google Doodle. )
Earlier this year when they honored the great American author and anthropologist Zora Neal Hurston with an illustration.
Where do the doodles come from?
Google was founded by two guys from Stanford, Larry Page and Sergei Brin. According to the Stanford Magazine, the origin of the doodles happened like this:
The first Google doodle appeared in 1998, when Brin and Page decided to leave the company untended for a couple of days while they attended the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. Brin put a little stick figure emblematic of the event on the Google logo as a clue to where they were. Users loved it, and soon the company hired an outside graphic artist to come up with other simple cartoons to mark special events.
Dennis Hwang is the artist behind most of the illustrations, from the same story:
Hwang's original job involved straightforward programming chores, but soon he was charged with posting those doodles and "cleaning them up," in programming parlance, so they looked better. After his modification of a Fourth of July doodle caught the founders' attention, word of Hwang's art experience and his talent got around. Pretty soon, Hwang became the official doodler, completing about 50 doodles a year.
But, it's not Hwang who decides on who will be honored. He's following the directives he's given from others:
About once a quarter, a group of executives get together to map out a calendar of doodle-worthy dates. Page and Brin have the final say, and they sometimes approve spontaneous drawings, such as when a Mars Rover landed. Hwang creates the images, using an electronic tablet and stylus for his sketches. The doodles are fun, usually whimsical—and sometimes baffling. Know about Gaston Julia, for example? Visitors to Google on February 3, 2004, saw the Google logo with a hurricane-shaped "o" against a backdrop of equations to celebrate the French mathematician's birthday.
The Doodles then, offer a kind of insight the values of the executives at Google, one of the key shapers of Internet culture. Some enterprising young graduate student could do a mighty fine dissertation offering an analysis of all the Google Doodles ever published for what these tell us about Google, Internet culture, and American society.
Do Google Doodles matter?
There's an interesting phenomenon that happens with Google Doodles. When they appear, they drive the news cycle, and the news about that person. Recently, Ian Steadman writing at The Guardian, offered an analysis of the way the Google Doodle about Simone de Beauvoir. Steadman makes a strong case that these are "clickbait" that's capable of altering the news cycle. In the trajectory of contemporary news cycles, it's the Doodle, not de Beauvoir herself, that becomes the real news story, These articles are all basically the same, Steadman writes, "Simone de Beauvoir's in a Google Doodle, and here's a few paragraphs outlining who she was and why she deserves it."
Steadman says what's important to pay attention to are the incentives that digital journalists are confronted with. What matters in online journalism is the speed of publication, not necessarily the quality, because that correlates to the greater number of shares or clicks which is how the economy of Internet advertising works. He continues to explain the way this works:
The algorithms that Google's News page uses also rely on the size and perceived readership of the sites it features, along with the number of articles it puts out a day, along with other factors, to decide which stories to promote and which to ignore. In the case of Google Doodles, we can see the emergence of a symbiotic relationship: Google's choice of a person or topic gives newspapers an easy topic to cover with guaranteed interest from a key source of traffic, keeping them near the top of the News rankings for other topics; while Google gets traffic to its services from people made aware of its cute little commemorative cartoon or game.
In other words, drives business to its other products through the use of the Doodles. The power of Google Doodles is their ability to shape Internet conversations is what's at stake here. Again, Steadman nails this:
Google, then, creates the news (or at least some news), and has the ability to raise awareness about niche topics or person who are perhaps not particularly well catered for by the media most of the time.
Google has a real power to raise awareness about the many lesser known heroes of American culture, many of whom are black women, and other people of color. The Doodles of Tubman and Hurston may be just two isolated disruptions in the otherwise all male, mostly white pantheon of those deemed worthy of an illustration from the Internet giant Google. Or, it could be the start of a trend in the right direction. Only time, and the next Doodle, will tell.


text:
Emailer Expathos sends us an interesting compilation of video clips taken from both C-SPAN and Whitehouse.gov. Here's an outake from part of it, taken from speeches in Pittsburgh and Buffalo in 2004:
-- View the complete video here
The emailer also adds:
The only issue here is why the president decided to go around the normal rules that govern such surveillance, why he chose to make himself above the law.
UPDATE: Additional info on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court in response to those Bush apologists suggesting he had no time to go to the court (Rush Limbaugh told his listeners today that it could take "10 to 12 days" to get approval back from the court which frequently gives appropral to such requests in hours, if not minutes). This from an Op/Ed by Anthony Wade yesterday:
But then Wade adds this:
Interesting. So from the time the act was established until 2002, nobody seeking a warrant was denied. Then, the Bush Admin was turned down four times. Why? And could that be why they simply decided to go around the FISA court?


text:
The Fed's latest bet: I'll have another
While "I'll Have Another" failed to win the Triple Crown, that didn't stop the Federal Reserve from "having another" this week -- as in another round of Operation Twist.
The Fed's Open Market Committee meeting opened to great expectations, but closed to little more than a shrug. The stock market essentially waffled up and down after the Fed's announcement, as the reality sank it that there is just too much about this economy that the Fed can't change.
More of the same
The Fed's announced that it will continue "Operation Twist," which is a program to bring long-term interest rates down by exchanging short-term Treasuries for long-term ones. This program was due to expire this month, but now the Fed has pledged to buy $267 million in long-term Treasuries over the remainder of the year.
In essence, the Fed continues to operate on the premise that lower interest rates will stimulate the economy -- even though three years of extremely low interest rates have failed to do so. This may not be blind faith on the part of the Fed so much as an acknowledgement that there is really little it can do to pull this economy out of the doldrums.
Changing its forecasts
The Fed also changed its forecasts for economic growth and unemployment, in each case reflecting a more pessimistic outlook for the remainder of this year and beyond. The Fed also lowered its inflation projection.
If it seems that the Fed is avoiding accountability for its forecasts by changing those forecasts as the results become known, remember that you can always compare Fed's original forecasts from the start of the year with the actual economic results by looking at the Fed Reality Check feature on MoneyRates.com.
What the Fed can't change
Though the Fed can change its forecasts, the limitation on its policy responses is that there is just too much about the economy that the Fed can't change. Here are three prominent examples:
- Consumers aren't clamoring to borrow. With a slow economy and under a mountain of debt already, consumers aren't really in a position to beat a path to the nearest loan officer. Under these conditions, lowering interest rates has little stimulative effect. It may actually have some negative impacts, such as draining interest income from the economy, and reducing the incentive for lenders to make loans.
- Global demand is slipping. With the crisis in Europe and slowdowns in large developing countries affecting U.S. trade, the problem is much bigger than the Fed's jurisdiction.
- Uncertainty is reining in businesses. On top of the aforementioned economic problems, congressional gridlock and a closely-contested presidential race are prompting businesses to wait and see rather than make bold moves to expand.
In a way, the Fed changing its forecasts in light of the latest economic figures is a useful reminder of one cold reality: The Fed is forced to follow the economy more than lead it.
The original article can be found at Money-Rates.com:The Fed's latest bet: I'll have another


text:
Services on Demand
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
South African Journal of Animal Science
On-line version ISSN 2221-4062
Print version ISSN 0375-1589
S. Afr. j. anim. sci. vol.42 n.1 Pretoria Jan. 2012
Slow-release amylase increases in vitro ruminal digestion of maize and sorghum grain
M. CrosbyI; G.D. MendozaII, #; I. BonolaII; F.X. PlataII; H. SandovalII; L.M. MelgozaII
IColegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, México 56230
IIUniversidad Autónoma
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of slow-release a-amylase in ruminal in vitro digestion of maize and sorghum grains. Digestibility was measured using an in vitro procedure with 40 mL of buffer and 10 mL of ruminal fluid, flushed with CO2 and incubated at 39 °C. The digestibility of sorghum and maize grain was measured after 6 and 12 hours of fermentation with or without exogenous a-amylase in powder form or dispersed in a matrix system for slow release by a diffusional mechanism. Tablets were used as the drug release matrix system, and were formulated with barium sulphate and ethylcellulose as the core of the final tablet. Treatments consisted of incubation of sorghum or maize grains with four doses of enzyme, using a-amylase in powder or in the press-coated tablet (16 treatments). The results showed that with a higher dose of exogenous enzyme, the digestibility of the grains was improved. Sorghum and maize digestion with tablets were improved compared with a-amylase in powder form. Releasing a-amylase from matrix tablets represents a potential technology to improve grain digestion in ruminants.
Keywords: Enzymes, slow-release, grains, digestibility, rumen
The finishing of sheep can be carried out on high grain diets (Mendoza et al., 2007), where sorghum and maize are commonly used in the diet. However, both grains are usually processed to increase their digestibility (Ortega & Mendoza, 2003). In vitro and in situ studies using these grains as substrates have shown that the addition of the enzyme, a-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis, or glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger in liquid form, increases grain digestion as a function of dose (Gutierrez et al., 2005; Rojo et al., 2007).
Even when amylolytic enzymes have been shown to increase ruminal starch digestion, performance is not always improved (Rojo et al., 2005), because the addition of these enzymes increases the rate of starch digestion, causing subacute acidosis. Crosby et al. (2006) did not find a response in terms of gain, but observed a great variation in intake at different doses of glucoamylase in sheep. Therefore, modulation of the rate of starch digestion may be needed in systems based on grains to improve animal performance.
Controlled release tablets may be a potential technology to administer exogenous enzymes because these systems are formulated in the dry state, a stable form that can be released slowly (Melgoza et al., 2002). These kind of tablets can be designed to reduce the frequency of dosage because the polymer in the matrix increases the duration of the release process of the enzyme and can be designed to remain unalterable in ruminal fluid (Melgoza et al., 2007). Matrix tablets are a type of controlled drug delivery system that releases a drug in a continuous manner. These tablets are in solid dosage forms, containing one or more active ingredients, which are prepared by compression and may be left uncoated or coated with different polymers; they contain an inert nucleus or core, which modifies the release platform's density (Mathiowitz, 1999).
Ruminal drug delivery systems have been developed for ruminants to provide solutions to a variety of animal health problems and to promote growth and efficient metabolism. These include antihelminthic compounds, ionophores and minerals (Vandame & Ellis, 2004). Slow-release systems have also been used for urea (Huntington et at., 2006), but information on incorporating enzymes into these formulations is scarce. Because of the potential benefits of reducing the rate of starch digestion in ruminants, the objective of the present study was to develop a press-coated tablet with a core of BaSO4 and ethylcellulose/a-amylase as the matrix system, with prolonged release in a ruminal in vitro system, using maize and sorghum as substrates, with the goal of improving grain digestion. The hypothesis of this study was that slowly providing exogenous amylases could improve grain digestion, compared with a powder formulation.
Materials and Methods
The materials used in the production of press-coated tablets were barium sulphate (synthesized in the laboratory); ethylcellulose (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, USA) as the core of the final tablet and a-amylase from Aspergillus niger (Nutrer S.A., Naucalpan, Edo. de Mexico, Mexico) as the matrix-forming polymer. Barium sulphate was obtained from the equimolar reaction between barium chloride and sulphuric acid. Both solutions were mixed, allowed to react until a white precipitate was formed, and then the phases were separated by decantation, and the precipitate was washed with water until the pH was neutral. Finally, the precipitate was dried in an oven (Riossa HS, Mexico) at 60 °C, and the weight and yield were recorded.
Ethylcellulose (Ethocel std 100 premium Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, USA) was used to provide a porous and coherent structure in the matrix system. To determine the mean particle size, the powder was passed through normalized ASTM E-11 sieves with the following screens: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 (0.178 and 0.853 mm), using an electric sieve (Rotap Rx-29, Mentor, OH, USA) with continuous vibration for 15 minutes. The ethylcellulose was then ground and sieved again with 270 and 140 screens to select a granulometric fraction between 53 and 104 mm.
In order to characterize the a-amylase from Aspergillus niger, three solutions were prepared with the enzyme powder (150, 250 and 500 mg) and the amount of protein was quantified with a spectrophotometer (Varian Cary 100) at 750 nm, using the Lowry's technique (1951). The enzymatic activity of the amylase was determined by measuring reducing sugars released by starch digestion with di-nitro-salicylic acid as the reagent on a Vary Cary 100 spectrophotometer at 550 nm (Dubois et at., 1956). The substrate was a 1% potato starch solution prepared at different pH at rumen temperature (40 °C), containing 0.06% CaCl2. The enzyme was incubated with a phosphate buffer (100 mM) at pH 6.8. The enzyme concentration was 42 ( g/mL and the incubation time with substrate was 15 minutes. The enzymatic units (micromoles of reducing sugars produced per minute) per milligram of protein (IU/mg) were determined.
The press-coated tablets were prepared in two steps. First, cores of barium sulphate were designed to be 740 mg in weight, 7 mm in diameter and with a density above 3 g/mL by direct compaction in a rotary tablet machine (Riva piccola B/10, Ciudadela-BS.AS, Argentina). In the second step, the matrix systems were elaborated with amylase, Ethocel std 100 premium and barium sulphate in the proportion 30 : 60 :10. Barium sulphate was passed through a screen 30 (0.599 mm), but the enzyme was not sieved. The core or "sinker" was placed in the centre of the matrix system. Tablets were produced by direct compression at 1500 psi in a hydraulic press (Carver C, Wabash, IN, USA). The weight of the final tablets (press-coated tablets) was 1.2 g with a diameter of 10 mm.
The hardness of six press-coated tablets was measured with a hardness tester (Vankel 2000, Cary, N.C., USA), and friability (property related to tablet hardness) was tested with the equivalent of 6 g of tablets in a friabilator (Elecsa FE30, Mexico) for 4 min at 25 rpm. Enzyme release from the press-coated tablets was performed in vitro, using a dissolutor (Hanson Research 72RL, Chatsworth, CA, USA), employing apparatus 2 (USP 32) for 26 hours. The dissolution medium was 500 mL of NaCl (0.85%) at 39 ± 0.5 °C and 50 rpm. The amount of enzyme released was quantified by the Lowry method (1951) and the enzymatic activity was assessed by the release of reducing sugars with the DNS reactive and potato starch as the substrate dissolved in phosphate buffer with pH 6 at 40 °C (Dubois et at., 1956). All analyses were done in triplicate. The release data was analyzed using the first-order Higuchi model to determine the mechanism of drug release from the matrices (Higuchi, 1963).
Digestibility was measured with the in vitro procedure of Tilley & Terry (1963), modified for grains with 40 mL of buffer and 10 mL of ruminal fluid, flushed with CO2 and incubated at 39 °C (Mendoza et at., 1995). Incubation was replicated three times. The ruminal inoculum was collected from a Holstein steer (450 kg of BW), fitted with a ruminal cannula, which was fed a diet consisting of forage (lucerne hay, maize silage) and concentrate (sorghum grain, soybean meal, cane molasses) in a 50 : 50 ratio. Samples of maize and sorghum were incubated with different doses of a-amylase. Fermentation was carried out for 6 and 12 hours to determine in vitro grain digestibility (Mendoza et al., 1995). The sorghum and maize grains were ground in a Thomas Willey model 4 mill (Philadelphia, USA) and passed through a mesh with an opening of 1 mm. Three incubations were conducted with 16 treatments, and each treatment was incubated in triplicate, using a-amylase in powder and dispersed in the matrix system of the press-coated tablets. The a-amylase in powder was incubated in digestibility tubes at doses of 150, 300 and 450 mg, equivalent to the amount of enzyme in one, two and three tablets, respectively, with 500 mg of maize or sorghum grains, 40 mL of McDougall's buffer, and 10 mL of ruminal liquid, and flushed with CO2. Fermentation was stopped by freezing. Digestibility data were analyzed with a completely randomized block design with incubation as the blocking criteria, using the GLM procedure of SAS (1996). The effects of the addition of the enzyme as a powder versus the matrix system on digestibility were compared by orthogonal contrasts within doses for both grains. The linear and quadratic effects of the dose of amylase in powder or in the matrix system were tested (SAS, 2002).
Results and Discussion
The average hardness of six press-coated tablets was 15.45 kp. The enzymatic activity at pH 6.8 was 1.41 ± 0.21 IU/mg protein. This amylase has shown activity under ruminal conditions (Gutierrez et al., 2005; Rojo et al., 2005). The dissolution test showed that the enzyme was released slowly by the tablet, with a percentage of enzyme release of 63.7% at 12 hours and 77.3% at 24 hours. Higuchi's model (1963) confirmed diffusional release (r = 0.98), which could help to prevent the inactivation of the enzyme by rumen proteases, and also reduce the potential problem of acidosis.
Although barium is considered a heavy metal and a dangerous toxin, barium sulphate is less soluble, making it nominally safer and practically non-absorbable by organisms that ingest it. In fact, this compound has been used as a faecal marker (Figueroa et al., 1968). Its possible use as an additive in feed for ruminants raises the possibility of considering the potential of pollution of the environment. However, there are no environmental regulations for the use of barium sulphate, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently confirmed that the insoluble barium compound barium sulphate is not of concern in human health, thereby eliminating the need for clean-up standards or site remediation for this compound (McGinty et al., 2007).
Increasing the amylase dose linearly increased the digestibility of sorghum and maize (P <0.01) at 6 and 12 hours, independent of the powder versus matrix formulation (Tables 2 and 3). Grain digestion was improved when the enzyme was administrated in a matrix tablet, compared with the powder (52.6% vs. 45.9%, P <0.01). Our hypothesis was that the enzyme powder would promote a rapid release of glucose from grains, which acidifies the pH and inhibits the action of amylolytic bacteria. This explains why increases in digestibility are highest when the enzyme was supplied slowly by the tablet formulation. It has been demonstrated that a high glucose concentration in the environment inhibits amylolytic activity (Cotta, 1988). In this experiment, the tablet released the enzyme slowly and may avoid the suppression of ruminal bacteria and the increase in acidity, promoting greater digestibility of starch. Even though this was an in vitro assay, it is possible to expect additional benefits in vivo by reducing the rate of starch digestion with this technology compared with technology where the enzyme is released rapidly (Mendoza et al., 2000).
Controlled release systems could also reduce the degradation of amylolytic enzymes by ruminal microbes. Rojo et al. (2005) evaluated the half-life of exogenous amylolytic enzymes in ruminal conditions and found values between 4 and 6 hours, which could explain the positive effects on grain digestion observed with tablets versus powder. The optimum pH for the action of exogenous amylase is between 5.8 and 6.6 and in a temperature range between 70 and 72 °C (Naz, 2002). Therefore, the physiological conditions of the rumen in a grain-based diet meet the pH, but not the temperature requirements. However, the amylase activity of Aspergillus niger is so high that it may have a synergistic effect on the digestion of grains. Enzyme tablet design is a challenge for ruminant nutrition because the conditions for a ruminal device that will remain in the reticulum or the front part of the rumino-reticulum for extended periods requires a specific density to disperse the pharmacologically inactive excipient (the matrix) and the proper physical and chemical properties to control the slow release of the drug. A ruminal device must function in different conditions of the rumen environment, such as changes in pH, motility and abrasion, as well as enzymatic and bacterial activity (Vandame & Ellis, 2004), which require further evaluation.
It was interesting to observe that after 12 h of incubation, the addition of amylase in tablet form at the highest dose with sorghum resulted in similar digestion to that of maize (Table 2). This is important, considering that grains with a poor ruminal digestion such as sorghum have less energy than maize (Ortega & Mendoza, 2003) and may require higher doses of the enzyme if there is enough potentially digestible starch in the rumen.
The use of a-amylase from Aspergillus niger as an exogenous enzyme increased in vitro sorghum and maize grain digestion. Its effect was improved when the enzyme was administered slowly from tablets. Further research is needed to evaluate this formulation in vivo and to assess the possibilities of using slow-release enzymes under practical feeding conditions.
The authors are grateful for the donation of a-amylase and ethylcellulose from Nutrer S.A. and Laboratory Colorcon de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., respectively.
Cotta, M.R., 1988. Amylolytic activity of selected of ruminal bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 772-776. [ Links ]
Crosby, M.M., Mendoza, G.D., Melgoza, L.M., Bárcena, R., Plata, F.X. & Aranda, E.M., 2006. Effects of Bacillus licheniformis amylase on starch digestibility and performance. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 30, 133-136. [ Links ]
Dubois, M., Gilles, K.A., Hamilton, J.K., Rebers, P.A. & Smith, F., 1956. Colorimetric Method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem. 28, 350-356. [ Links ]
Figueroa, W.G., Jordan, T. & Bassett, S., 1968. Use of barium sulphate as an unabsorbable fecal marker. Am. J. Cl. Nutr. 11, 1239-1245. [ Links ]
Gutierrez, C., Mendoza, G.D., Ricalde, R., Melgoza, L.M. & Plata, F., 2005. Effect of exogenous amylase or glucoamylase dose on in situ ruminal digestion of corn and sorghum. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 27, 7-10. [ Links ]
Higuchi, T., 1963. Mechanism of sustained-action medication. Theoretical analysis of rate of release of solid drugs dispersed in solid matrices, J. Pharm. Sci. 52, 1145-1149. [ Links ]
Huntington, G.B., Harmon, D.L., Kristensen, N.B., Hanson, K.C. & Spears, J.W., 2006. Effects of a slow - release urea source on absorption of ammonia and endogenous production of urea by cattle. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 130, 225-241. [ Links ]
Lowry, O., Rosebrough, N. & Lewis, F., 1951. Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent, J. Biol. Chem. 193, 265-275. [ Links ]
Mathiowitz, E., 1999. Encyclopedia of Controlled Drug Delivery, John Wiley & Sons, New York. [ Links ]
McGinty, J., McHugh, T.E. & Higgins, E.A., 2007. Barium sulfate: a protocol for determining higher site- specific barium cleanup levels. E&P Environmental and Safety Conference, 5-7 March 2007, Galveston, Texas, U.S.A. 7. Society of Petroleum Engineers. SPE 106802. pp.1-6. [ Links ]
Melgoza, L.M., Contreras, L., Rodriguez, S. & Gonzalez, M., 2002. Matrix systems of controlled release. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Farm. 33, 58-67. (in Spanish, English abstract). [ Links ]
Melgoza, L.M., Rocha, A., Plata, F., Mendoza, G.D. & Sandoval, H., 2007. Film coating of compressed matrix with high density and pellets for the modified release of urea in ruminants. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Farm. 38, 15-23. (in Spanish, English abstract). [ Links ]
Mendoza, M.G.D., Britton, R.A. & Stock, R.A., 1995. Effect of protozoa and urea level on in vitro starch disappearance and amylolytic activity of ruminal microorganisms. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 54, 315-325. [ Links ]
Mendoza, G.D., Ortega, M.E., Ricalde, R. & Martinez, J.A., 2000. Mathematical models to evaluate in vitro rate of starch digestion. Téc. Pec. Méx. 38, 51-65. (in Spanish, English abstract). [ Links ]
Mendoza, M.G.D., Plata, P.F., Ramirez, M.M, Mejia, D.M.A., Lee, R.H. & Bárcena, G.R., 2007. Evaluation of complete feeds for intensive fattening of sheep. Rev. Cient. FCV-LUZ 15, 66-72. (in Spanish, English abstract). [ Links ]
Naz, S., 2002. Amylolytic enzymes. In: Enzymes and Food. Oxford University Press. pp. 110-113. [ Links ]
Ortega, M.E. & Mendoza, G.D., 2003. Starch digestion and glucose metabolism in the ruminant: A review. Interciencia 28, 380-386. [ Links ]
Rojo, R., Mendoza, G.D., Gonzalez, S., Landois, L., Garcia, R. & Crosby, M.M., 2005. Effects of exogenous amylases from Bacillus licheniformis and Aspergillus niger on ruminal starch digestion and lamb performance. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 123, 655-665. [ Links ]
Rojo, R.R., Mendoza, G.D., Plata, F.X.P., Lara, B.A. & Barcena, G.R., 2007. Comparison of methods of application on the effects of amylolytic enzymes on in vitro ruminal starch digestion. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 32, 81-84. [ Links ]
SAS, 2002. Statistical Analysis Systems user's guide Version 188.8.131.520. SAS Institute Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. [ Links ]
Tilley, M.A. & Terry, R.A., 1963. A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. J. Br. Grassld. Soc. 18, 104-109. [ Links ]
Vandame, Th F. & Ellis, K.J., 2004. Issues and challenges in developing ruminal drug delivery systems. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 56, 1415-1436. [ Links ]
Copyright resides with the authors in terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 South African Licence.
See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za Condition of use: The user may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt the work, but must recognise the authors and the South African Journal of Animal Science.
# Corresponding authors: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
The Secret Beyond Matter
The octopus is an eight-armed hunter. It uses a most interesting method of concealing itself from other animals: camouflage. The cells which make up its skin automatically adapt to its surroundings and replicate, just like a mirror, their color and texture.
The octopus' eyes are very sharp. It can identify changes in its surroundings most effectively, and thus changes the color and pattern of its skin in accordance with its surroundings. Its skin is covered in special pigment-containing cells known as "chromatophores." These cells in the skin expand or shrink when stimulated by the nervous system, creating color patterns that can be changed instantly. Different cells carry different color pigments and these allow countless color combinations and patterns to form.
The creature most frequently hunted by the octopus is the crab. The octopus expertly defends itself from the crab's powerful pincers, and its teeth are strong enough to break the crab's shell.
With its superior features, this hunter, which consists of moving muscles, is a perfect creature which conceals itself in the finest possible way.
It is impossible for the octopus to have felt the need to conceal itself from other creatures and then to have installed special color cells in its skin. This splendid camouflage system possessed by the octopus is, without doubt, an example of the flawless creation of the All-Knowing God.


text:
Shooting group portraits, especially those of your family, can be challenging since you are dealing not just with a single model, but several of them. Each member would be different in height, looks and personality and not only will you be focusing on how to create the shot but also how to successfully direct the family to pose. We previously explained some tried and tested family portraiture tips, and here are some effective suggestions you can use as to how to take great family portraits:
1. Vary the eye levels of your subjects – visually pleasing group shots usually have the subjects at different heights. Have some people sit while others stand. This will lessen the sense of monotony in the shot.
2. Make subjects interact – have the subjects in your family photographs get closer together. Minimizing the gaps between the subjects provides a sense of closeness. A family setting should connote a sense of intimacy and love. Ideally have each member hug, hold hands, or touch the person closest to them. Body language links people together and this is the perfect example to relay feelings or emotional impact when looking at the photograph. When your subjects are lined up for a photograph, position them at slight angles to each other and make sure that their shoulders overlap so that they will not look awkward. When dealing with large groups in a single shot, break them down into smaller groups to make it easier for you to coordinate the shot. You can arrange them in a diamond, zigzag or triangular formation.
3. Make sure your subjects do not blink during the shot – when shooting group photographs, the hardest part is not having at least one of them blink. It is easy to reshoot for small groups but for larger groups, it is next to impossible. It does not help to shoot in continuous mode because one is bound to blink. Do a countdown to make sure that everyone is aware that you will be clicking the shutter button any moment so that they will be conscious and will not blink. A really useful tip is to tell all your subjects to close their eyes at the same time and do a countdown, then open their eyes all at once. This will surely guarantee that they will all have their eyes open at the same time without needing to blink.
4. Choose a lens that has the right focal length – the most eye-catching portrait images are created using lenses without zoom, known as prime lenses. Some zoom lenses can also give you great close-up shots. Wide-angle lenses can make subjects wider than they actually are while telephoto lenses have the reverse effect and can make your subjects appear flat. Beautiful portrait images can be captured using lenses with focal range of 50mm-100mm. Having a shallow depth of field blurs the background and brings the focus to the subject.
5. Get your subjects' attention – when you are dealing with grown-ups and teenagers, getting their attention for a few seconds will not be as difficult compared to when you are dealing with babies, toddlers and older children. You will need to capture the attention of younger subjects to get a good shot. You may have to try hard to make them laugh, to the point of being silly. You can ask a whole group of children to do something fun together. This will give you a candid as well as a fun image. Best of all, this can make the children comfortable for the next shot.
On a final note, remember to include yourself in your shots because you are also a part of the family. Use your tripod, a cable release or a camera with a shutter timer. While composing the group position, leave a space for you to fit in before the timer starts counting down.
Tags: family portrait tips, family portraiture, shooting family portraits


text:
Great store especially if you're looking for Caribbean products. It seems generally aimed at a Hispanic population with its vast array of Latin American food, but it also knows it's near some pretty yuppie/hippie neighborhoods, and carries things like soy yogurt and organic granola and a pretty good selection of vegetarian options. They also have some ethnic products from Mexico, Indian, and Middle Eastern that are harder to find elsewhere.
- (-) Remove United States filter United States


text:
Once again, PORCELANOSA Group opens the competition for candidate projects at its Architecture and Interior Design Awards, which is now celebrating its eighth consecutive year.
The applicants of âProjects of the Futureâ will have to design a yacht.
In the âProjects of the Futureâ category of this latest edition of the Prizes, the applicants will have to create the design of the architecture and layout of the main rooms of a yacht by the Grupo Rodman firm (Rodman Muse 74 model), using the materials and construction solutions of the eight brands of PORCELANOSA Group. As in previous editions, in this category submissions from students and professionals will be able to compete in their corresponding sections.
Additionally, architecture and interior design professionals who wish to participate in the 8th Awards will also be able to present their âCreated Projectsâ in public spaces, hotels, private homes, commercial establishments, etc., created with materials from the PORCELANOSA Group.
The 8th Porcelanosa Awards will also have an international board of judges, made up of Carlos Jiménez (Carlos Jiménez Studio), FermÃn Vázquez (b720 Arquitectos), Marc Hertrich & NicolasAdnet (Studio MHNA), Joanna Biggs (Ga-Design International) and Jordan Goldstein (Gensler).
The 8th Architecture and Interior Design Awards ceremony will take place in Madrid on the 28st of May 2015. If you are interested you can register on the competition website www.porcelanosa-interiorismo.com, and will be able to submit your projects until the 13th of April 2015. See the full conditions of the contest here.


text:
MorningCoach.com: Personal Development | Lifestyle Design
JB Glossinger is one of the top, new motivational thought leaders in personal development and performance. His website, MorningCoach, has encouraged many people to come together and make positive changes in the world. His best-selling process, The Sacred 6, has helped thousands of people find more happiness, joy, and peace in their lives. Subscribe to hear JB's to start your day with ENERGY, 365 days of the year!


text:
Last week Ted flew in and we began our annual rite of Spring, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
For those deprived souls who don't have a film festival, this is how it works. You choose the films you think you want to see based on subject matter and film maker, neither of which is a sure indicator that the film will be good. The doc you weren't sure about becomes a surprise favorite while the film maker you love and would gladly grip her next project for free, serves up a yawner.
This tricky process mirrors our larger life choices, only with less vomiting and tears. Some films will surprise you, some will disappoint and some you will miss just because you can't see 'em all. My advice is to concentrate on the good films and forget about the inevitable stinkers.
With that in mind, I won't dwell on the disappointments, any more than I would on ex-girlfriends, blog trolls or unsatisfying novels.
In chronological order:
Guilty Pleasures, directed by Julie Moggan, is one of those films that if I'd chosen it on subject alone, I would have passed. I would have missed a great documentary that is not about romance novels, but about love and commitment and sacrifice that, in the end, is more satisfying than any fantasy.
This was the festival's opening film and a great choice for a primer on storytelling, with each character getting their own 3-acts. It was also the American debut.
Buck, directed by Cindy Meehl is a gem. You should search it out. Beautifully shot and edited, it's a solid film with a no-nonsense character at its center. Here's the trailer: www.buckthefilm.com.
The Bengali Detective is another film with a strong character at its center. The film follows an entrepreneurial, self-made private eye as he and his team try to solve three cases, one a multiple homicide. The logistics of shooting in Calcutta alone are boggling.
Burma Soldier is the story of Myo Myint, a casualty of the civil war in closed off Burma. Myint went from being a young soldier to becoming a voice for the democracy movement, which landed him in a Burmese prison for 15 years. Myint made it out to tell his story, captured by film makers, Nic Dunlop and Rickie Stern, narrated by Colin Farrell.
One of the real joys of this festival is the opportunity to meet the directors of the films. In this case, the subject, Myo Myint, made a tearful appearance before a standing ovation at the Carolina Theater. A beautiful experience.
One Night in Kernersville, directed by Rodrigo Dorfman is a beautifully shot short about the John Brown Jazz Orchestra recording in Mitch Easter's studio. Not surprisingly, it won the award for best short at the festival.
Tabloid, by Erroll Morris. Highly entertaining and in Morris' words, "It's a return to my favorite genre – sick, sad and funny ... It is a meditation on how we are shaped by the media and even more powerfully, by ourselves."
Corman's World, directed by Alex Stapleton and featuring interviews with Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and others who owe a large debt to Roger Corman. Corman is the producer and director who, it's said, made 400 pictures and never lost a dime. If you love matinees like Attack of the Leech People then you've seen Roger Corman's work. Great stuff.
Every one of these docs is a class in how to tell a story. Each is different, each has its own POV and voice and each is worth the effort to look them up. You won't be disappointed.
As usual, I missed a number of award winners: Scenes of a Crime, How to Die in Oregon, Pit No. 8 and several others were honored on Sunday. They'll go on my Netflix queue.
A special thanks to archivist Rick Prelinger who screened some fascinating selections like Buddy Can You Spare A Dime?, Strictly Propaganda and America Lost and Found.
Full Frame, I love you.


text:
Send Results to This Email:
Street Address:
Street Address:
You must be a subscriber to see the full results of your search.
Please log in or subscribe below if you are not already a subscriber.
The Daily News subscribers get full access to more than
million names and addresses along with powerful search and download features.
Get the business leads you need with powerful searches of public records and notices.
Download listings into your spreadsheet or database.
Learn more about our services
| Search again
A new crop of historical markers and monuments is sprouting across the city in a move by several groups to broaden the span of the city's recognized history.
Last week the UrbanArt Commission formally dedicated a statue by artist Vinnie Bagwell in Chickasaw Heritage Park that is the image of a Native American woman. Her sculpted cloak bears images from some of the history that followed the Native Americans who built the ceremonial mounds in the park around 1500 A.D.
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved