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Aviva Cormier is a Postdoctoral Fellow in International Humanities at the Cogut Institute for the Humanities and the Department of Anthropology, where she teaches courses in Social Bioarchaeology and Biological Anthropology. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Archaeology from Boston University. Her work explores the intricate process of interpreting impairment, disability, and identity from bioarchaeological remains and archaeological contexts. Her current research illuminates the life course experiences of those affected by rare disease in the past and the community that supported them. Recent publications include a study of the possible life experiences, social identities, and community relationships of a pregnant individual from 200CE Illinois who lived into their 30s with a complex skeletal dysplasia and extreme bone infection.
Your research into ancient rare diseases is challenging the fields of bioarchaeology and paleopathology by rethinking the ways we define and conceptualize disease. Can you tell us about the stakes of this reorientation? Why is your project so necessary at the present time?
Bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists [1], work with a slightly more specific conception of disease than laypeople. The everyday usage of disease is frequently synonymous with infection; but the medical definition offered by Merriam-Webster centers around "an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions." This disruption is made obvious by signs and symptoms observed by medical professionals, and by bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists examining an individual's bones. As bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists are limited to the bony changes that signal a response to a disease, most conclusions identifying the disease are just estimations or assumptions, as many diseases cause similar responses in the skeleton.
Instead of chasing the proverbial rainbow or aiming to solve the mystery of the disease, my research shifts the focus from the disease to the individual who once lived and breathed. I aim to explore the individual's life experiences and how they interacted within their social and physical environments while living with the manifestations of a disease. By rethinking how we engage with disease in the past, we can illuminate the lifeways of people and how they lived with disease, rather than caring only about the identification of the disease. With this new focus, we can uncover universal and longstanding experiences of disease and disability, highlighting how anyone and everyone experiences at least momentary limitations during their lives, and thus effectively humanize modern marginalized communities.
I aim to bring together the life experiences of those with rare diseases in the past and the present. While individual diseases are rare, the total number of modern people experiencing rare diseases in the US and Europe is in the millions, since as many as 7,000 rare diseases have been identified. As bioarchaeologists produce evidence of these diseases in the past, a new stakeholder emerges: the modern rare disease community. Bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists should use frameworks and conceptions of disease that expand our focus to include the lived experiences and social identities of their cultural antecedents. By exploring the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences in different historical and social contexts, we have the opportunity not only to raise awareness and advance contemporary perspectives on impairment and disability, but to contribute directly to the rare disease community, using the past to provide essential insight on possibilities in the future.
Your time at Brown studying rare diseases happens to be coinciding — right now — with a very new and virulent disease spreading across the entire globe. Has your project given you a perspective upon the current global health crisis that is not being represented in other quarters? How is your research helping you to understand the pandemic?
Bioarchaeologists pose research questions that aim to understand the impacts of disease in different environments and time periods, and among different social groups or strata. Individuals with different occupations or social roles in the past would have been exposed to different diseases and/or have had diverse disease experiences (through such variations in living environment as the palace versus the densely-packed residential area). Such elements in understanding past disease experiences must be a component of how we approach and react to the COVID-19 pandemic; physical and social environments shape how our bodies are exposed to disease and how the disease is manifested in the body.
Bioarchaeologists and epidemiologists must incorporate underlying social and environmental constructions and constrictions into our understanding of the movement of disease.
For example, we are seeing how the current global pandemic impacts different social groups, with marginalized communities being more susceptible and lower social classes occupying the essential workforce. The Navajo nation, with 30-40% of the population lacking running water and most households being multi-generational, is experiencing a staggeringly high infection rate — greater than that of New York state. Bioarchaeologists and epidemiologists must incorporate underlying social and environmental constructions and constrictions into our understanding of the movement of disease and the experiences of those infected. Epidemiologists have an additional tool coveted by bioarchaeologists: living subjects. The voices and experiences of these marginalized communities should be heard and incorporated into response plans, with special consideration of their different environments and cultural practices.
Your current research project, on a person of indeterminate gender and ability from Illinois living between 100 and 400 AD, refuses to use normative categories of your subject, despite certain physical features being strongly suggested by the skeletal evidence. Can you talk about these political and/or ethical choices and how important they are to the conclusions you are able to draw about your subject?
My research centers on an individual experiencing disease and activity limitations as suggested by skeletal manifestations of genetic conditions and possible widespread infection. Because of the genetic conditions and preservation issues, the standard methods for estimating biological sex from the human skeleton are not possible. However, the presence of a second individual (estimated to have an age of 28-38 fetal weeks) in the mortuary context suggests that the primary individual may have been pregnant at the time of death. (This is highly likely, but there are cases throughout the world where stillborn or naturally aborted fetuses were buried with unrelated adult individuals.) If we assume that the adult individual was pregnant at the time of death, then we assume that they had the biological sex of female. As gender is socially constructed and not biologically based, we cannot assume the individual's gender-based solely on a pregnancy. It is probable that this individual had a female gender identity, but there are other possibilities to be ruled out, as exemplified by transgender men who experience menstruation and pregnancy in our society today. Beyond the existence of transgender individuals in modern society, there is evidence of "third genders" and non-binary gender identities in the past, from the ancient Near East to ancient Mesoamerica. An individual's biology does not necessarily equate to their gender identity, and we obfuscate a person's identity and humanity in treating them as such.
Does our modern perception of male occupations and tools obscure more complex gender dynamics in the past?
Bioarchaeologists rely on other lines of evidence and context, such as burial artifacts and artistic or textual depictions, to understand the relationship between biological sex and gender in the past. Recent analysis of a 10th-century Viking warrior exemplifies this complicated discussion: the biological sex is estimated to be female, but the grave artifacts (weapons, uniform, horses, etc.) suggest a male gender. Did this individual have the gender identity of male or were some warriors female? Does our modern perception of male occupations and tools obscure more complex gender dynamics in the past? Unfortunately, the individual at the center of my research was buried similarly to others in the burial mound: simple graves with no burial goods. I am unable to draw any definite conclusions of gender from the limited context available, and thus choose to acknowledge the complexities of gender identity in the past and present by using gender-neutral pronouns when describing their life experiences.
The Cogut Institute fellows' seminar comprises many scholars in different fields of research. Have you noticed any common methodological tendencies or affinities across the various projects you have encountered there? Do you think there are similar shifts in the way scholars across social-scientific or humanities disciplines are situating case studies in relation to their larger projects?
As I read my colleagues' writing this past year in the fellows' seminar I found myself jotting down notes that I felt inspired by or that might impact my research somehow. Manuscripts dissecting poetry, literature, art, history, music, and philosophy all circled back to the person, the human, at the center of our world. Much of this research aims to understand the human condition: how our identities are formed, how we interact with others, how people perceive each other. I study the human in its more tactile dimensions – the skeletal remains of the human body – but I still find myself asking the same questions. Why do we think the way we do? How do we move through our world and interact with others and our environment? I use individuals as case studies, partly because in the fields of bioarchaeology and archaeology skeletal remains have historically been relegated to appendices, but also because large numbers of individuals are typically analyzed statistically, disregarding the outliers. I want to understand and elevate the outliers. How did they live? What were their experiences? What makes them statistical outliers in their social and temporal context? Case studies, no matter the discipline, can restore the humanity of a single individual, highlighting how we are all unique and have fascinating stories to tell.
[1] Bioarchaeology is multidisciplinary in nature, contextualizing human osteology with archaeological and mortuary evidence to address questions of behavior, social organization, activities, paleodemography, mobility, diet, and disease (Buikstra, 1977). Paleopathologists study individuals from historical or prehistorical contexts with skeletal evidence of disease. Return to the text.


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01/03/2021 / By Cassie B.
It may not be long before the world has to contend with armies of Terminator troops. We already know that China is developing biologically enhanced "super soldiers," and now the French military has been given the go-ahead to create so-called "augmented soldiers" by the armed forces ministry's ethical committee.
France said it is seeking to enhance the cognitive, perceptive, psychological and physical capabilities of its troops through medical treatments to prevent stress and pain, substances to improve mental resilience if a soldier is taken prisoner, implants and prosthetics. The ministry has been researching drugs that can help troops stay awake for long periods of time and fight stress. They are also exploring surgery that can give them sharper hearing.
They are also interested in giving soldiers the ability to connect to other soldiers or weapon systems. They noted that other countries have already been working on advancements of this type, and France is taking these steps to keep up with the competition.
However, they are drawing the line somewhere, with the ethics committee's report forbidding the use of modifications or implants that might "affect their sense of humanity" or their ability to manage the use of force. They have also banned modifications like cognitive implants that would prevent soldiers from exercising free will and any changes that might impact their reintegration into civilian life.
Although France claims that it plans to follow humanitarian laws, armed forces minister Florence Parly cautioned that not every country is willing to operate ethically, and it is important to be prepared for such realities.
Military technology has advanced to frightening new heights in recent years, with sci-fi developments like invisible artificial skin, advanced brain implants and goggles that display combat information just a few of the technologies being developed.
France has reportedly been given the green light to create microchips that can enhance soldiers' brain power. Hong Kong is developing technology for soldiers' eyes that could give them night and infrared vision, while the U.S. Army is reportedly testing an exoskeleton that can be attached to soldiers' legs to give their productivity a 27-fold boost. Red blood cells known as respirocytes are also being explored that could prevent soldiers from getting out of breath and allow them to remain underwater for several hours.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe expressed concerns about China's threat to the U.S. and its plans for military technological advancements in an opinion column for the Wall Street Journal recently, writing: "U.S. intelligence shows that China has even conducted human testing on members of the People's Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities."
He added: "There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing's pursuit of power."
King's College London Visiting Professor in War Studies Michael Clarke said that this race is being spurred by fears of China's program, telling The Sun: "We've reached the point now where we could potentially manipulate people's DNA to breed into them extra strength, endurance and other things just as we do with animals. Just as we've done with standard cattle to give them more back, we can do that now very precisely with humans."
DNA manipulation could, at least in theory, make the soldiers of the future immune to feelings and diseases. A report by the International Society for Military Ethics in Europe described bionic soldiers who can fight all the time, dubbing them "homo robocopus."
The report stated: "Enhanced soldiers would be reduced to bionic men, who run fast, do not need sleep, eat and drink very little, and can fight all the time."
It's a very scary idea, not only in the context of war. What happens if a group of these terminator soldiers decide to take over the world and the rest of us mere mortals cannot defend ourselves?
Sources for this article include:
Tagged Under: bionics, China, cyborg, enhanced soldiers, France, future science, military, military technology, national security, robotics, robots, soldiers, terminators


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As an indirect consequence of Brexit BAE is loosing out on contracts
by Marta Devon
France and Germany unveiled plans on Thursday (July 13th) to develop a European fighter jet, burying past rivalries as part of a raft of measures to tighten defence and security cooperation, Reuters has reported.
The move to develop a new warplane accelerates steps that are expected to shape the future of the European fighter industry and its three existing programmes – the Eurofighter, France's Rafale and Sweden's Gripen.
The move also reflects efforts to give fresh impetus to Franco-German relations in the aftermath of Britain's decision to leave the European Union and was described by defence experts as a snub to Europe's leading military power..
France and Germany aim to come up with a roadmap by mid 2018 for jointly leading development of the new aircraft to replace their existing fleets of rival warplanes, according to a document issued after a Franco-German cabinet meeting in Paris.
"Today there are too many European standards and qualifications and sometimes there is competition among Europeans internationally," French President Emmanuel Macron told a news conference, flanked by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
I can confirm this is a deep revolution but we are not afraid when they are carried out peacefully, in a structured way and over time – French President Macron
France and Germany said their new combat system, which analysts say could involve a mixture of manned and unmanned aircraft, would replace the Rafale and Eurofighter, rival jets that compete fiercely for global sales.
That would mark the end of a decades-long split since France withdrew from the Eurofighter project in the 1980s to produce its Rafale warplane with Dassault Aviation.
Defence industry experts called the move a setback to Britain and its leading arms contractor, BAE Systems.
"It is a sign to the British. It means 'you are leaving the EU and we are driving forward. We are no longer interested in you blocking the EU on defence'," a senior German defence industry official told Reuters.


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In the wake of the combine, the Dee Milliner to Detroit Lions bandwagon seems to be growing, at least among draft pundits. Numerous 2013 NFL mock drafts had Milliner going to the Lions before the combine, and that especially seems to be the case now.
SB Nation's new 2013 NFL mock draft, for example, has the Lions taking Milliner at No. 5. The mock draft has Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher available for the Lions, but they are projected to go with Milliner, allowing the Arizona Cardinals to take Fisher.
The thinking behind this pick is that the Lions could potentially re-sign Chris Houston and pair him with Milliner at cornerback. That would make for a solid set of starting cornerbacks, and with positions like defensive end and linebacker being so deep this year, the Lions could worry about addressing those needs later on in the draft.
If it comes down to Milliner or Fisher, I tend to think the Lions will go with the former Central Michigan Chippewa. Although Milliner did do well at the combine, I'm still of the opinion that Fisher is the better player. Cornerback might be more of a need, but if we're going by best player available, I'd personally give the edge to Fisher.
It's worth noting that this mock draft has the Jacksonville Jaguars taking West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith with the second overall pick and the Philadelphia Eagles taking defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan with the fourth overall pick. This scenario would give the Lions their pick of the top 4-3 defensive end and top cornerback, as well as the second-best offensive tackle.
Reminder: You can follow Pride Of Detroit on Twitter and like us on Facebook.


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At one point I had an XR6 Turbo engine for this build but something about it never quite had we fully committed to it, I've always been a V8 fan and I really wanted to build one for this so I sold off my Barra turbo setup and sourced this! A 2001 series 3 AU XR8 roller cam Windsor, it came out of a falcon with 120,000 km's on it and it looks to have had a fairly easy life, I really wanted a late model Windsor as the later Tickford engines had the best flowing OEM cylinder heads and are a great starting point for the type of build I was planning on doing.
Unfortunately for this build and pretty much all builds the budget is the biggest limiting factor, so I really wanted to start with a solid base that wasn't going to need to be fully pulled down and rebuilt, my plans were to pull all the accessories off and get rid of the efi setup, once that was done I went shopping for bolt on parts that could help free up a few ponies from the little Windsor, a Ford Performance camshaft was the first part on the list, the cam we chose was there E303 its not the latest and greatest cam on the market but its cheap and its been proven many times over and it fits our application of track use. Up top a set of Scorpion race series roller rockers and a Trick Flow valve spring upgrade kit complete the GT40P heads, everything we use is purely to complement the engine its not a big high comp full built race engine and we aren't pretending it is either, majority of what we have changed is purely for reliability and to help squeeze out a bit more power.
In stock form the Au XR8 was good for around 200kw at the flywheel, we are hoping that with the mods we have done the car might make close to 300rwhp. I could have gone out and built a full forged high comp stroker to start with but I wanted something I could really learn to drive with and not just overpower the race track everywhere after all the rear tyres cost around $550 a piece!
A set of Ford Racing rocker covers complete the engine perfectly, gives it a nice tough look, but at the same time they aren't just an aesthetic piece as we needed the tall clearance to clear the roller rockers.
Topping off the engine is a Pro Flow dual plane intake manifold with a 2-inch spacer and a 785cfm Holley. we chose to ditch the EFI setup as it's too hard to tune with and from what we have seen they can be a tad bit restrictive, maybe down the track we may swap the carby out for a smart EFI setup similar to what NASCAR now runs on there cup series.
Before chucking the engine in the car we added an RTS high volume sump, Melling high volume oil pump and a ford racing water pump that we still might have to change.
Majority of the bodywork on the car is complete, the driver's side quarter panel had a couple of awkward rust spots that we have cut out and replaced and pretty much now all that is left to do is rub back the quarter and get it in primer.
The rest of the car is in primer and 99% ready for paint with just a few small things left to do like drill the whole for the bonnet pins and mount up the rear drag wing we have made for the boot, but we will show all that in the next blog post. Ive gotta say a massive thanks to Trent Bennett for giving helping me slap the engine together!


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Each summer, while teachers and students are given much-needed time to rejuvenate and be with their families, school superintendents spend their time working on creating and balancing budgets, making curriculum plans for the upcoming school year, and addressing repairs that need attention. It's not a glamorous job. Most of the tasks are performed in a boring office with NO kids or teachers around. With the absence of the teachers and students, the "spark" is not there to help us stay motivated—it feels like work.
Most summer days seem mundane, but there are occasional highlights.
It's 5:30 p.m. on a hot July day, and I hear the welcome sound of WHS graduate, and future architect, Logan Engstrom. He interns for PBK Architects and does a lot of work for Wylie ISD. Logan and PBK are awesome! I have always been impressed by Logan's work ethic. When he was still in high school, we hired him as a part-time worker. It didn't surprise me that, in his first few weeks on the job, he earned "employee of the month" and was recognized by our staff at the Education Service Center.
Logan is one of those kids who seems much older than he is. He is wise beyond his years. From time to time, his work brings him to our office and I have the pleasure of visiting with him. Educators dream about these moments. I love hearing updates about his classes and his projects. He allows me to brag on him like he's my own kid. He will someday become a sought-after architect. I predict world domination.
Logan was introduced to architecture in his theatre tech class at Wylie High School. He now helps to design theatres and auditoriums. It's wonderful to see students match their strengths and passions with their career choices. Our hope is that every Wylie student has the chance to find a career that matches their passions and strengths and helps them to map a future that ends in a job they love—just like Logan.
What is the best way to help students explore potential careers? Wylie ISD is proud to introduce Map Your Future Mondays! Starting Monday, September 11, and continuing each Monday for the rest of the year, we will expose students from kindergarten through 8th grade to different careers by showing videos starring OUR PARENTS and their amazing jobs, such as Dodd Elementary parent and paramedic, Durl Lovell.
When watching the videos, students will learn about what it takes to excel in the highlighted occupations, like becoming a paramedic, and the various facets of the positions. Each video will be followed by a short lesson about the job and will allow the kids to decide whether or not they may be interested in pursuing a specific career path. Last year, students explored twenty careers ranging from personal training to engineering to plumbing. We would like to thank those of you who have already helped to make this happen. We could not have done this without you!
If you are interested in viewing the career videos that have already been produced, you can find them by clicking on this link.
Are you a Wylie parent with an interesting career? Would you be interested in sharing your career choice with our Wylie ISD students? If so, please click on the link below and sign up. We would love to learn more about your profession!
A mentor once told me, "If you have a job you love, you will never work a day in your life." I love my job, and Logan loves his new career, too. We want the same for your child and every student in Wylie ISD. Please help us get there by exposing our students to as many careers as possible. We want to help them map a future towards amazing and fulfilling work.
Map Your Future—it's the Wylie Way!


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Asst. Prof. Dr. Igor Kryvoruchko
Boğaziçi University
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Kuzey Park, 318
34342 Bebek - Istanbul
+90 (212) 359 7689
|• Igor Kryvoruchko's personal webpage
• Igor Kryvorucko's full resume
Our research is mainly focused on fundamental and applied aspects of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We are also interested in detection, annotation, and functional studies on translated alternative open reading frames in model plants species.
Unraveling the molecular mechanism of homocitrate transport across the symbiosome membrane in root nodules
Within last few years, the feasibility of making major cereal crops independent from nitrogen fertilizers is actively discussed by synthetic biologists. Transfer of the symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability to normally non-symbiotic plants requires comprehensive knowledge about major molecular determinants and regulators of this trait. Efforts aimed at such transfer may be unsuccessful if some of genes crucial for the symbiosis remain unknown.
One of such elusive long sought genes codes for a membrane transporter that exports homocitrate from plant cells to symbiotic bacteria to serve as an integral component of the bacterial nitrogenase enzyme. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria that form symbioses lack their own synthesis of this essential substance. Using ectopic expression of the plant homocitrate synthase in bacterial cells, we will create a symbiotic system with self-supply of homocitrate from the bacterial side. This modification will induce changes in expression of genes that regulate homocitrate export-import in normal nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.
We will capture relevant alterations in the plant and bacterial transcriptomes using RNA-Seq method. In combination with gene-network analysis, this approach will help us unravel major regulators of the homocitrate transfer from plant to bacteria and will ultimately enable isolation and functional characterization of the symbiotic homocitrate transporter and other crucial proteins.
Detection and functional analysis of alternative (short) open reading frames (altORFs) in model plants
Alternative open reading frames (altORFs) are thought to carry out important functions in animal organisms. The goal of this project is to detect and characterize altORFs in the model plants A. thaliana and M. truncatula. In addition, we would like to create the whole-transcriptome inventory of mutant phenotypes associated with "silent" mutations, which affect proteins coded by altORFs. The possibility of altORFs translation into functional proteins is very novel in plants. In order to detect such translated altORFs, we plan to compare their predicted peptide sequences with de novo proteome databases generated recently for A. thaliana and M. truncatula with high-throughput protein sequencing. Our interest to altORFs is fueled by high relevance of altORFs to the way geneticists currently interpret mutagenesis-based data, such as functional characterization of candidate genes using mutagenesis. altORFs add a layer of complexity to functional genetics in eukaryotes and call for due attention and research.
Zn-use efficiency for optimization of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Zn deficiency is widespread in traditional areas of chickpea cultivation worldwide. It limits chickpea productivity and causes significant losses to economies of the world's largest chickpea exporters. We would like to contribute to the improvement of chickpea cultivation on Zn-depleted soils in an environmentally sustainable manner, namely, via development of genotypes with superior symbiotic performance under Zn-limited conditions. The broader goal of this project is to unravel the molecular basis of Zn-use efficiency, symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency, and of these two traits combined. This will be achieved via transcriptional analysis based on RNA-Seq. Genes differentially expressed at Zn-deplete conditions, but showing comparable expression at normal Zn levels, will be subjected to functional analysis, including mutagenesis studies, and will ultimately be transferred to commercially important chickpea genotypes via classical breeding methods.
Selected Publications
- J. León-Mediavilla, M. Senovilla, J. Montiel, P. Gil-Díez, A. Saez, I.S. Kryvoruchko, M. Reguera, M.K. Udvardi, J. Imperial, M. González-Guerrero (2018)
MtMTP2-Facilitated Zinc Transport into Intracellular Compartments Is Essential for Nodule Development in Medicago truncatula.
Frontiers in Plant Science 9: 990.
- I.S. Kryvoruchko, P. Routray, S. Sinharoy, I. Torres-Jerez, M. Tejada-Jiménez, L.A. Finney, J. Nakashima, C.I. Pislariu, V.A. Benedito, M. González-Guerrero, D.M. Roberts, M.K. Udvardi (2018)
An Iron-Activated Citrate Transporter, MtMATE67, Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.
Plant Physiology 176: 2315-2329.
- I.S. Kryvoruchko, S. Sinharoy, I. Torres-Jerez, D. Sosso, C.I. Pislariu, D. Guan, J. Murray, V.A. Benedito, W.B. Frommer, M.K. Udvardi (2016)
MtSWEET11, a Nodule-Specific Sucrose Transporter of Medicago truncatula Root Nodules.
Plant Physiology 171: 554-565.
- M. Tejada-Jiménez, R. Castro-Rodríguez, I. Kryvoruchko, M. Lucas, M. Udvardi, J. Imperial, M. González-Guerrero (2015)
Medicago truncatula Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein1 Is Required for Iron Uptake by Rhizobia-Infected Nodule Cells.
Plant Physiology 168: 258-272.
- F. Krajinski, P.E. Courty, D. Sieh, P. Franken, H. Zhang, M. Bucher, N. Gerlach, I. Kryvoruchko, D. Zoeller, M. Udvardi, B. Hause (2014)
The H+-ATPase HA1 of Medicago truncatula Is Essential for Phosphate Transport and Plant Growth during Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.
Plant Cell 26: 1808-1817.


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WDC Responds to SeaWorld's Public Relations Campaigns
During the final weeks of December 2013, SeaWorld finally launched a counter-offensive public relations response to the growing tide of public discontent that has been mounting through an outpouring of social media and other events since the general release of the documentary Blackfish in July 2013.
Compounding the ever-surmounting pressure undoubtedly spurred by the late-October 2013 premiere of the documentary on CNN in the US, a host of high-profile recent events have captured the climate change occurring in the public's waning support for captivity. An ever- increasing list of recording artists have publicly cancelled their performances and associations with SeaWorld's weekend concert series known as "Bands, Brew, & BBQ." Protesters have lined the streets of both the Macy's Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the Rose Bowl Parade. And a barrage of online petitions have surfaced encouraging other corporate interests to cut their ties with SeaWorld, including Southwest Airlines and Groupon.
It is clear that SeaWorld is feeling the heat from the rising firestorm. As Blackfish was gradually released around the globe through screenings at film festivals and then general cinemas following its debut at the Sundance Festival in January 2013, SeaWorld remained fairly silent, except for a direct response to film reviewers in the US seeking to rebut various points in the film as the documentary began to roll out at theaters across the country later that summer. However, with the more recent attempts by SeaWorld to ramp up its public relations game in the midst of all of this negative publicity with a full page advertisement and open letter posted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other large-circulation newspapers on December 20th, alongside the announcement of new public outreach campaigns branded under the banner of 'SeaWorld Cares,' and including a recent video released on January 13th attempting to refute the practice of separating mothers and calves at their facilities, WDC felt it necessary to respond. WDC responds point-by-point to those primary 'facts' highlighted by SeaWorld in its advertisements.
Claim #1: 'SeaWorld does not capture killer whales in the wild.' Unfortunately, killer whales, also known as orcas, continue to be captured from the wild in the Russian Far East, and the market demand from countries like Russia and China that supports these captures is instigated and encouraged by the very existence of SeaWorld and other captive facilities. Taking a page from the playbook of SeaWorld who has pursued years of litigation in hoping to eventually overturn the original citation from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the Georgia Aquarium launched its own legal challenge against the US regulatory agency that denied it a permit to import wild captured belugas from Russia, including belugas that were also destined for SeaWorld parks. The US government noted this was the first time such an application had been denied to a marine mammal facility and SeaWorld and other captive facilities are now on their heels fighting to maintain the status quo.
Live captures of whales and dolphins continue around the world in regions where very little is known about the status of populations targeted. The long-term effects of wild captures can be significant. Captures and associated mortality also affect the dynamics and cohesion of the dolphin societies left behind. Some populations of orcas, the Southern Residents, have not rebounded from captures for public display that occurred as far back as the 1960s and are actually listed as 'endangered' as a partial result of these historic captures. We do not know the impact of recent captures on orca populations in the Russian Far East.
Orcas that were taken from the wild are currently part of SeaWorld's collection, or could be in the future. Orcas are transferred between facilities frequently and the recent orcas captured in the Russian Far East could eventually become assets to be traded among facilities, including SeaWorld. An example is Morgan, the wild orca held at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands, who is now technically owned by SeaWorld. Although not directly captured by SeaWorld, she was acquired from the wild and may now become part of the breeding program that, as the number of orca facilities expands across the globe, must ultimately rely upon orcas captured from the wild.
The truth. Whether orcas, bottlenose and other dolphins, or belugas, the very existence of SeaWorld continues to instigate captures from the wild, not only by feeding the demand for performing cetaceans, but by maintaining the ability to import wild-acquired orcas in the future, and even placing purchase orders more directly as in the case of the Russian belugas earmarked for the Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld. Even the new Russian Sochi facility is being called a Russian SeaWorld by commentators, and it has reportedly sourced its dolphins from the infamous Japanese dolphin drive hunts.
Claim # 2: 'We do not separate killer whale moms and calves.' While SeaWorld might recognize the importance of a mother-calf bond, such recognition seems to have a time limit. For example, Keet, Skyla, and Kayla were all separated from their mothers at less than three years of age. Although wild orcas may not ever be fully independent of their mothers, many captive orcas have been transferred from their mothers shortly after weaning.
Although it may be true to say that SeaWorld doesn't separate mothers and calves immediately, it does seem to have little concern with maintaining family groups and instead seems to treat the orcas as commercial assets to be moved around to maximize commercial return. Considering the lifelong bonds this species displays between mothers and offspring in the wild, no age is appropriate to remove these individuals from close association with their mothers.
Furthermore, SeaWorld claims to understand the importance of healthy social structures, but its human-assembled social groups result in forced associations and abusive hierarchies that compound the stress experienced by orcas in captivity. Aggressive interactions between orcas are rarely witnessed in the wild, but aggressive behavior between captive orcas and resultant injury (and, in one case, death) is common. SeaWorld has, for decades, housed incompatible orcas together in enclosures. We believe that this practice is in violation of existing US regulations specifying that marine mammals that are incompatible be housed separately and away from other animals that cause them unreasonable stress, discomfort, or that interferes with good health.
The truth. In the wild, orcas live in complex and stable social groups which are often genetically distinct, with distinct dialects, and they separate from these closely knit groups for only hours at a time and only to mate or forage. SeaWorld takes orcas from widely divergent groups that do not interact in the wild, interbreeds them, and forces them to live together in unnatural social groups.
Claim # 3. 'SeaWorld invests millions of dollars in the care of our killer whales.' It is no surprise that confining and maintaining orcas in captivity is a costly undertaking and requires not only expensive insurance policies, but a hefty price tag for the feeding and care of SeaWorld's high-profile attraction. Quite simply, with such 'extraordinary and superior care', one could expect that orcas would be living longer and thriving in this environment. Instead, killer whales suffer from ulcers, infections, aggressive behavior and other byproducts of stress, confinement, and forced associations in captive facilities. Despite these professed millions spent on environmental improvements, orcas are still confined to tiny pools that result in extreme sensory and psychological deprivation. An orca at SeaWorld would have to swim the circumference of the main pool nearly 1,400 times to match the equivalent daily distance traveled in the wild.
The truth. Whales and dolphins do not belong in captivity. Improvements in care and facility changes do not obviate this fact. They cause physical harm to one another and to their trainers, they live shorter and more deprived lives than their wild counterparts, and they are subject to mental and physical illness and disease not seen in the wild. With every new show or stage prop and the millions spent on enhancing the entertainment value of the orca pools at SeaWorld, these efforts could be better directed at phasing out whales and dolphins at SeaWorld and enhancing other aspects of SeaWorld's programs.
Claim # 4. 'SeaWorld's killer whales' life spans are equivalent with those in the wild.' While comparing lifespans may give us some indication of the ability of orcas to adapt to a stressful environment, it does nothing to address the quality of life and the causes of death of orcas subjected to a life in confinement. Orcas fare particularly poorly in captivity. Captive orcas suffer much lower survival rates than their wild counterparts, with an annual mortality rate which is more than two and half times higher in captivity than in the wild. Furthermore, recent reviews of mortality data reveal that captive orca survivorship has actually grown worse in the last decade, in spite of any improvements that might have been made in terms of husbandry and veterinary care. Even captive-born orcas have only reached a maximum age of 25 years. In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and females, 46 years (maximum 80-90 years). A minimum of forty-four orcas (including stillbirths and miscarriages) have died at SeaWorld parks in the US since its inception, including four within four months in 2010.
The most common causes of death among orcas and other cetaceans in captivity are pneumonia, septicemia and other types of infection. Information is now coming to light about how these lethal infections may be a result of poor dental health caused by gnawing on concrete walls or steel gates due to aggression towards other animals, stress, or boredom. These kinds of problem are not seen in wild orcas, neither is another cause of death of some captive orcas which has been revealed. Fatal mosquito-borne viruses have been transmitted to captive orcas as they "log" at the pool surface for unnaturally long periods of time, unlike in the wild where they spend the majority of their time swimming beneath the surface.
The truth. In general, most captive orcas die in their teens and 20s, and have a lifespan about a third as long as in the wild. Highlighting the few outliers that survive beyond this average lifespan in captivity merely serves as exceptional examples of orcas that have managed to partially adapt to this stressful and cruel environment. Despite the rhetoric, captive orcas are not living longer than their wild counterparts, and considering the purported superior care provided in captive facilities, the mortality record at SeaWorld remains unconvincing.
Claim # 5. 'The killer whales in our care benefit those in the wild.' SeaWorld's claims that its research programs contribute to scientific studies that enhance conservation of this species in the wild fails to acknowledge that the majority of the research undertaken is focused on husbandry, and even in that area there are few recent published studies. A search of SeaWorld's website for a list of research publications contributing to conservation even reveals several studies relating to orca capture techniques and capture 'fisheries' in other countries, hardly research that contributes to the wellbeing of wild populations.
Also notably absent from the body of research attributed to SeaWorld are any studies or contributions to research addressing vulnerable orca populations. Despite targeting the Southern Resident orcas and helping to deplete their population in the late 60s and early 70s, contributing to their current 'endangered' status, SeaWorld has not devoted any financial or academic attention to this, or other endangered or threatened populations of orcas.
Furthermore, SeaWorld's breeding programs do not contribute to the actual enhancement of the species in the wild. According to the IUCN, the ultimate objective of captive breeding programs should be the reintroduction of individuals to the wild. Rather than for conservation, breeding programs at SeaWorld are maintained merely to provide continual replacements for those individuals dying prematurely in captivity.
In addition, very little of the money SeaWorld takes through its cash tills appears to end up in conservation. For example, it has been calculated that a mere half of one tenth of one percent (.06%) of annual revenues may be dedicated towards conservation efforts.
The truth. SeaWorld, and other members of its captive breeding consortium, are actually promoting the depletion of whale and dolphin populations in the wild, including the recent captures of belugas in the Okhotsk Sea to supply SeaWorld facilities. SeaWorld and other facilities have taken great pains to promote themselves as research and conservation centers, but have failed to produce substantive research that contributes to the protection of orcas.
Claim # 6. 'SeaWorld is a world leader in animal rescue.' WDC acknowledges SeaWorld's work to rescue and sometimes rehabilitate and release marine animals, including some cetaceans. Unfortunately, this rescue work also provides a convenient means of diverting attention from the incongruity of SeaWorld's continuing incarceration of other whales and dolphins. While working on high profile and emotional stranding events that capture the public's attention, SeaWorld can take public relations cover for the less palatable realities of captivity, including complicity in ongoing captures of wild cetaceans, animal and human injuries and deaths, and the poor health of many of its orcas.
Unfortunately, this 'rescue rationale' has also been used as justification by SeaWorld in the past in acquiring dolphins from the dolphin drive hunts in Japan where SeaWorld explained its involvement in these cruel hunts as saving individuals from certain death. Instead, SeaWorld's involvement in the drive hunts only solidified the ongoing connection between captive facilities and these deadly hunts, providing a financial incentive for their continuation.
The truth. By rescuing animals, SeaWorld is provided ongoing access to wild whales and dolphins that are considered unreleasable, without the negative criticism of capturing these individuals directly from the wild. At the same time, these rescue efforts reinforce SeaWorld's ongoing narrative that whales and dolphins are better off in a captive facility where they can receive care and protection under their guardianship, than in their natural environment.
Find out more about the orcas held by SeaWorld.


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If you're having trouble answering your kids questions, you are not alone! I honestly don't know the answer all the time and even if I do, I often couldn't find the words to explain it to a kid.
Just the other day, my conversation with my 4-year-old went like this:
MIA: Mommy, when will the world end?
Me: Uhm, only God knows.
MIA: When will the years stop?
Me: Only God knows.
MIA: You should know. You're the mother. And you're already 30+ yrs. old!
Right. 30 something mothers should know! LOL.
So this page is for us to share and learn from each other. Feel free to post your kids' tough and funny questions and how you answered them. And feel free to respond to other readers questions as well.
Here are some that I haven't explained to Mia yet. Help me answer them and I'll try to help answer yours too! #momsupport #parentsupport
Mommy, why is God not showing himself to us?
Mommy, why does magic don't happen to real people?
Please post your answers in the comments section below.
I'll constantly update this page. Keep coming back! 🙂


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No longer content just serving as Swedish meatball pit stops, Ikea's restaurants may be getting their own standalone locations.
While the furniture giant has not yet released the details of where or when these independent eateries may first appear, it's something the Swedish company is looking into, a spokesperson confirmed to TODAY Food.
After realizing its food division is under-leveraged — an astounding 30 percent of customers head to Ikea strictly for the food alone — the company started looking at the idea of independent cafés and restaurants (sans the furniture), as Fast Company reported this earlier week.
Learn about 'hygge,' the quality-of-life trend from DenmarkMarch 10, 201703:28
Not convinced that people will pop into an Ikea restaurant when they're not stress-eating while trying to decide on a credenza?
Consider this: The furniture giant sells more than 1 billion meatballs every year — that's equal to 2.9 million a day.
The iconic meatballs have been on U.S. menus ever since the furniture giant opened stateside 32 years ago — more recently, it added chicken and veggie meatball options to keep up with current demands, just as it does with sofa colors.
"The Ikea Food division has been rolling out new, high-quality, healthy food products to expand its offerings and meet the preferences of the many people," a company spokesperson said.
RELATED: Stressed at Ikea? 'Relationship-Saving Station' pops up to help
About half of Ikea's menus are typically made up of traditional Scandinavian foods, with regional dishes specific to each store's location rounding out the rest, like chicken tenders and mac-and-cheese in the U.S.; beans-and-toast at breakfast in U.K. stores, or a Shawarma Combo in the United Arab Emirates.
One thing's fore sure: We're betting that Ikea's eateries will be well-appointed with the latest Scandinavian designs...and that meatballs will be on the menu.


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What is No Place for Hate?
The Anti-Defamation League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world without hate by promoting peace in schools. Every year, Austin ISD schools participate in the No Place for Hate (NPFH) initiative. The goal is to create more harmonious communities, classrooms, and workplace by combating bias and increasing an appreciation for the richness that diversity brings.
No Place for Hate at Davis
At Davis, we have a No Place for Hate coalition comprised of fifth grade students and the counselor. In September, we take applications from interested students. The students of the coalition should:
- Be passionate about human equality
- Want to see an end to intolerance, bullying, and hatred
- Willing to send a clear, unified message that all students have a place to belong
- Be ready to think of and implement long-term solutions to hate issues in school
- Maintain a passing average in school, show respect in school, and participate in all NPFH activities
The No Place for Hate coalition meets weekly to collaborate and organize ideas and events related to ending bullying and providing safe environment for all. They relay information to other students and staff and assist with special events and activities.
Our NPFH Activities
As a NPFH campus, our student coalition is required to plan and complete three school wide activities within the school year. For information on the activities planned for this year, contact the school counselor.
Resolution of Respect
I pledge from this day forward to do my best to combat prejudice and to stop those who, because of hate or ignorance, would hurt anyone or violate their civil rights. I will try at all times to be aware of my own biases and seek to gain understanding of those who I perceive as being different from myself. I will speak out against all forms of prejudice and discrimination. I will reach out to support those who are targets of hate. I will think about specific ways my community members can promote respect for people and create a prejudice-free zone. I firmly believe that one person can make a difference and that no person can be an "innocent" bystander when it comes to opposing hate. I recognize that respecting individual dignity, achieving equality and promoting intergroup harmony are the responsibilities of all people. By signing this pledge, I commit myself to creating a community that is NO PLACE FOR HATE.
To learn more about the Anti-Defamation League and the No Place for Hate initiative, visit https://austin.adl.org/noplaceforhate/


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Sundance Film Festival: Revelator's Chris Ohlson Premieres a Film
Revelator's Chris Ohlson produced one of the 16 films in this year's Dramatic Competition at Sundance. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is the story of a lonely Japanese woman who becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Produced by Chris Ohlson and directed by David Zellner, Kumiko premiered at the famous Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah, to a sold out crowd.
The lead character and the film's namesake, Kumiko, is played by the amazing Rinko Kikuchi, the incredible Japanese actress who was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2006 movie Babel. You may also recognize Kikuchi from Guillermo del Toro's 2013 science fiction action film Pacific Rim. We're happy to report that Kukimo was awarded the U. S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Musical Score, for the haunting and beautiful music created by Austin-based band, the Octopus Project.
We're also very excited for Chris and the entire team about the amazing critical response Kumiko is already receiving. Variety calls the film "wonderfully strange," Entertainment Weekly says the Zellner's created "a folk hero" and Vice says it's "filled with offbeat humor, beautiful cinematography, and a psychedelic score, this is one you have to see. "
Stay tuned for even more details about Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, and more on Revelator's principal folks in film news very soon. For now, we're gonna drink a couple of whiskeys and hit those Park City ski slopes. What could go wrong!!??
ABOUT REVELATOR: Revelator is a full service film & video production company in Austin, Texas. We like to write, produce, & edit projects for t.v. and the web. We specialize in brand films, corporate identity work, as well digital advertising and t.v. broadcast advertising. If you need help with your script, production, or just an idea, give us a call.
REVELATOR SERVICES: Video Production, TV Commercials, Brand Films, Virtual Reality, VR Experiences, Script Writing, Music Videos, Lifestyle Videos, Technology Videos, B2B Videos, Product Videos, Feature Films, Motion Graphic Videos, Turnkey Solutions, and Live Event Video Production.


text: Though young, the concept of buzz marketing has acquired attention of scholars from all around the discipline, mostly due to its rather 'off the track' nature. As a result, different ideas and definitions exist about buzz marketing. Greg (2004) defined buzz marketing as, "the amplification of initial marketing efforts by third parties through their passive or active influence". Whereas, WOMMA (2004) defined the same as: "Using high-profile entertainment or news to get people to talk about your brand". Apart from attribute based definitions, Hughes (2004) has defined buzz marketing on its functional characteristics as: "Capturing attention of consumers and the media to the point where talking about your brand becomes entertaining, fascinating, and newsworthy; A conversation starter". According to SearchCRM.com (2010), buzz marketing is a viral marketing technique that attempts to make each encounter with a consumer appear to be a unique, spontaneous personal exchange of information instead of a calculated marketing pitch choreographed by a professional advertiser. Historically, buzz marketing campaigns have been designed to be very theatrical in nature. The advertiser reveals information about the product or service to only a few "knowing" people in the target audience. By purposely seeking out one-on-one conversations with those who heavily influence their peers, buzz marketers create a sophisticated word-of-mouth campaign where consumers are flattered to be included in the elite group of those "in the know" and willingly spread the word to their friends and colleagues. By looking at the above definitions, we can form an understanding that buzz marketing is when consumers talk about the brand to other consumers. In other words, buzz marketing is nothing but word-of-mouth communication. At this point, confusion might arise whether there is any difference between buzz marketing and word-of-mouth marketing.


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At Enveloppe Laurentide, our central interest has always been the quality of our products. The same is true when it comes to the quality of our services. So, it's natural that what we offer continuously evolves in order to serve you better.
We pursue a very simple goal: to offer our customers an impeccable range of diverse products and services at the most competitive prices. To do this, we have grouped our envelope, printing and communications divisions to create a stimulating synergy that brings out our best results.
We are proud to welcome you to our site. Browse our pages and get to know us better!


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Therapeutic Uses of White Mulberry Extract
The white mulberry plant, morus alba, is a small tree that is native to China. It is also widely cultivated in other parts of the world, primarily because it is useful to the silk industry as the food of silkworms. White mulberries are almost completely identical to red or black mulberries, except in color. The fruit of this species can be pink, white, or light purple. What It Is Used For The plant has been used in traditional medicines in many Asian countries, including India, for a long time. In...Continue Reading


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Rectus Abdominis
The rectus abdominis muscle does the following:
- Flexes the spine.This means that the rectus abdominis muscle bends the spine to the front (i.e. it moves the sternum down and forward towards the pelvis).
- Compresses the abdominal cavity.This means that the rectus abdominis muscle constricts the organs of the abdominal cavity and can increase intra-abdominal pressure (i.e. such as during a valsalva maneuver).
Common Name(s)
"abs," "abdominals," "six pack"
The muscular anatomy image shown here is in the public domain. It may have been modified by ShapeSense.com, but was originally acquired at the following address:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rectus_abdominis.png


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Top 3 favorite pics I took yesterday:
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Cute pics from Ollie's birthday
Posted by Michelle Auer at 12:17 PM
Labels: oliver's birthday
1 comments:
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Tales, recipes, and general observations from the unique perspective
of a mother of two kids with an 18 year age gap,
and "bonus mom" to an active middle schooler.
Two going on twenty. Template by Ipietoon Cute Blog Design


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Radical feminist Naomi Wolf is calling for a boycott of pop superstar Katy Perry in the wake of the latter's latest music video, in which she transforms herself a là "G.I. Jane" into a U.S. Marine.
In the storyline of the video for her power-pop single "Part of Me," Perry is seen ditching an unfaithful boyfriend, then being inspired to enlist by a bumper sticker reading, "All women are created equal. Then some become Marines." This is just the sort of female empowerment Perry's emotionally wounded character needs. We follow her through hellish basic training: scaling rope ladders, hiking in full gear, jogging with a cadet on her shoulders, crawling through barbed wire in rainy darkness, linking arms with fellow cadets on the beach as the waves roll over them, and finally storming a beach. The video closes with her dancing and singing triumphantly in camouflaged fatigues under a starry, billowing canopy that seems to suggest a waving Stars-and-Stripes:
Throw your sticks and stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
"This is one of the most aggressive videos I have ever done," Perry said. "It is an affirmation of strength, so I wanted to go the strongest route I could." And "the strongest route" means Marine boot camp. One would think that a prominent feminist like Wolf would appreciate a woman promoting the strongest possible path to female strength and paying particular tribute to the tough, courageous women of our Armed Forces.
But feminists of the left aren't about female empowerment. If they were, they would devote more time and passion denouncing, say, Islam's misogyny, female genital mutilation, and honor killings; instead, they are more focused on the politics of personal destruction of female conservative politicians like Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann, who more successfully embody the have-it-all goal of feminism than Wolf and her ilk (Wolf penned a shocking defense of the Islamic veil and Muslim sexuality, and attacked Palin, rather creatively, as "the FrankenBarbie of the Rove-Cheney cabal").
No, progressive feminists are focused on the same radical goals as other progressives: the disintegration of the family, the dismantling of America's military strength, and the destruction of capitalism (last year Wolf was arrested – unlawfully, she claims – in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement). Wolf is the author of, among other books, The Beauty Myth, which posits that standards of beauty are false social constructs that the "patriarchy" uses to keep women under its thumb, and The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot, which likens the post-9⁄11 Bush administration to the fascism of Nazi Germany.
Thus, Wolf addressed the followers on her Facebook page about Perry's "propaganda" and "glorification of violence":
Have you all seen the Katy Perry Marines video? It is a total piece of propaganda for the Marines…I really want to find out if she was paid by them for making it…it is truly shameful. I would suggest a boycott of this singer whom I really liked – if you are as offended at this glorification of violence as I am . [ellipses in original]
Of course, the video isn't a glorification of violence; it's first and foremost a metaphor about women empowering themselves, but it's also an unqualified, respectful salute to our servicemen and –women. There is a difference between glamorizing war and honoring our nation's defenders and the sacrifices they and their families make on our behalf, in defense of the freedoms that we and Naomi Wolf enjoy.
"Naomi Wolf is a living, breathing contradiction," said Hollywood publicist Angie Meyer, offering a powerful rejection of the feminist and unusual – for Hollywood – high praise for our military:
Her anti-military sentiments against the men and women fighting to defend the freedoms she exercises regularly, speech and protest, is absurd and disturbingly disgraceful. What an enormous slap in the face for our servicemen and women. Naomi Wolf's blatant disrespect for the United States Military, and her political irreverence should be completely disregarded, and her rants and writings, boycotted.
Another PR professional – Glenn Selig, founder of The Publicity Agency – suspects that Wolf's boycott call will backfire:
It's hard to believe that Naomi Wolf's view of the video will resonate with the public at large because most people will view her comments as completely absurd and a ridiculous attempt to make a big deal out of nothing.
But it isn't "nothing" to Naomi Wolf. Katy Perry is the new queen of the music industry hill. She has tied Michael Jackson's all-time record for most number one songs from a single album. She is the only artist to spend over 52 consecutive weeks in the Billboard magazine top ten. She's been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and named MTV's "Artist of the Year" in 2011. She has sold nearly forty million digital tracks in the U.S. and more than eleven million albums worldwide. Virtually everything Perry wears, says, does and tweets exerts an influence on her many millions of fans, and impacts pop culture accordingly. Wolf realizes this and understands the influence Perry's music video could have in terms of creating a positive image of our military among the nation's youth. And that is an image that women like Wolf and her Code Pink admirers cannot afford to let stand, lest America's unbridled, imperialistic warmongering continue.
I've written about Perry before, when she caught hell from Israel-haters in the Twitterverse for tweeting an innocuous message of prayer support to an Israeli fan. In response to that controversy, she backed down a bit and tried to play it neutral as the Switzerland of pop stars. Hopefully she won't backpedal on her pro-Marine stance now.


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Coping with the emotional toll of war
PTSD is a real threat that can lead to multiple issues: unemployment, homelessness, and suicide.
After the Civil War, they called it soldier's heart or nostalgia – the emotional and psychological symptoms experienced by war veterans.
In WWI it was shellshock
In WWII and
Today we know it by the name it was given after
Officially designated by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980.
The Most common symptoms are emotional numbing, hyper-arousal (irritability, vigilance) and re-experiencing traumatic situations through flashbacks and emotions. Symptoms may take months or even years to surface. People with acute PTSD generally recover in three to six months, but chronic PTSD can go on for decades.
Reasons today for not seeking medical care:
They would be seen as weak; their unit leadership might see them differently; unit members might have less confidence in them; and it would be difficult getting time off work. This is issues for the new veterans, in past there was no immediate help. Today we have NSVCS to assist you. Please come in and see us.


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A new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Battery Storage in the United States: An Update on Market Trends, analyzes how large-scale battery storage capacity increased exponentially in the latter half of the 2010's and what drove this rapid adjustment. From 2010 to 2018, the amount of installed battery capacity increased more than tenfold. To learn more, read "Battery adoption skyrocketed in the 2010s and lithium-ion reigns supreme."
Key Takeaways:
- In 2010, the U.S. was home to just seven large-scale battery storage systems, which accounted for a total of 59 MW of power capacity.
- In 2015, the number of projects squared to 49 systems accounted for 351 MW of power capacity.
- In 2018, the total number of operational battery storage systems increased by more than 150% to 125, as did power capacity, clocking in at a total of 869 MW installed.
- As of 2018, over 90% of large-scale battery storage power capacity was provided by batteries based on lithium‐ion chemistries.
Path to 100% Perspective:
Battery storage adoption is rising, as highlighted in this latest report, with lithium-ion batteries representing the largest sector of large-scale battery storage power capacity. This upwards trend bodes well for an acceleration of the 100% renewable energy; however, more wide-spread adoption, lower costs and greater storage capacity will be needed before the electricity sector can fully transition to battery storage with renewable sources.
Photo: EDF


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Today, Secretary David Shulkin celebrates his first 100 days at the Department of Veterans Affairs by giving his assessment of the VA. David Shulkin, who was a doctor, said he likes to diagnose, assess, and treat problems. Over the last 100 days, he has reviewed 137 assessments and studies of the VA. He acknowledged that many of the problems in the VA have been around for decades and are not attributable to one single administration. As a result of his reviewing these assessments, Secretary Shulkin announced today, 13 areas of significant risk that the VA is now trying to fix.
- Access – improving wait time issue
- Paying Providers – streamline the process, more electronic payments
- Community care – improve care provided outside of VA and ensure payment for that care
- Quality of care – too many below average VA facilities
- Disability claims and appeals – streamline the process to allow for more rapid decision making process
- Information Technology – update outdated software legacy systems
- Capital Assets – too many outdated buildings that are vacant
- Construction – new buildings not being finished in time due to red tape
- Accountability – difficulty in firing employees
- Staffing – time it takes to bring on a new heath care professional
- Bureaucracy – faster clearer decision making
- Fraud Waste and Abuse – detecting duplicate and fraudulent payments
- Veterans Suicide – too many veterans who commit suicide are outside the VA system
Secretary Shulkin stated that he feels that the increase in Trump 2018 budget for the VA will help him resolve 12 of the 13 significant risk categories. The one area that he felt he may need to come back and ask for larger appropriations is the area of information technology. With the exception of the software issues, he believes that these significant risk problems are not solved by throwing more money at them. Shulkin stated that many of the problems can actually be resolved by Congressional action.


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It's that time of year again, Weather is changing and we crave the Sun.
If you bring home more than a tan this summer Contact us (01) 4511795
Bed bugs facts: They don't care how neat and tidy your house is, nor do they care if you're the best housekeeper on the road. As long as you have blood pumping through your veins to provide them with a meal, bed bugs will happily take up residence in your home. One thing to keep in mind however is that clutter can make it much more difficult to get rid of bed bugs once they're in your home, because they'll have lots of places to hide. They are generally found in the creases of the mattress, your headboard, on the side of bedside lockers, and the back of curtains.
Bed bugs are pretty small, but they aren't microscopic. If you know where to look for them, you can definitely see them without the aid of a magnifying glass. The bed bug nymph is roughly the size of a poppy seed, and grows larger from there. Bed bug adults measure a bit larger than 1/8th of an inch, or about the size of an apple seed or a lentil. The eggs, which are just the size of a pinhead, will be harder to see without magnification. They are nocturnal and feed on you at night.
If you think you might have them or anything else going bump in the night.
Call us today on (01)4511795
If you think you may need bed bug treatment or you want to know more click the following link


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JERUSALEM (JTA) — Iran's chief prosecutor said he will seek the death penalty against three Iranians accused of spying for Israel.
The arrest of the alleged spies was reported Tuesday by Iranian media.
Mohammed Ali Jaffari, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, told the Iranian Fars News Agency that his forces uncovered sophisticated communications equipment from the alleged spies, who he said had trained in Israel.
Israeli officials have not commented on the announcement.
The Islamic Republic executed an Iranian businessman last week convicted of spying for Israel.


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To know me is to know my grandmother. I am who I am because so much of me comes from her. Like my lola, I never miss a vote. Every election, through wind and rain, but mostly gout, my grandmother Emiliana walked to the polls to perform her civic duty. She, an immigrant turned US citizen, taught me the appreciation, patriotism and responsibility of being an American; because unlike me, she knew what it was like not to be one.
Witnessing her Naturalization Oath is a family memory my mother and I alone share. At the time, I would have much rather been watching Disney Afternoon. I now brag about this moment to my siblings, much like they used to do with that darn Principal's Honor Roll. Where was my bumper sticker? But I digress.
That day, I sat in the courthouse, impatiently tugging at the peter-pan collar of my school uniform, wanting nothing more than to go home and be freed of my plaid-green prison. I didn't really know where I was. The dull neon bulbs painted the room in a drab yellow wash as my grandmother turned the corner wearing her best blue blazer and good pair of glasses. In her hand was a small American flag. I looked up at her, my eyes drowning in bangs as they always were—as they usually are—and she said to me, "This is the proudest day of my life."
Still unsure of my surroundings, we were shuffled forward to another dreary grey room. It was, I realize now, what passed for a courtroom in my American small town: linoleum, a flagpole and the distinct stale must of a government building. She took her place with the other candidates and raised her right hand with an immense pride that was foreign to me then. I watched, unknowingly building this memory, sitting on my hands to stay quiet and behaved, buzzing neon light fixtures above us.
Years later, I walked back into the home where I grew up, that same average American street in a what-could-be-anywhere American neighborhood. It was 2008, and I was a cocky twenty-something visiting a hometown that few left, with a notion that I already knew more than anyone. That is, with the exception of my lola.
There she stood, leaning over the kitchen counter like she always did. From her perch, she was perfectly poised to view both the family she was raising as well as the kitchen window she loved to gaze out of. The stovetop, where something was always simmering, was just behind her. This common American street that we took for granted was the complete opposite of the island jungles that she knew from her own childhood. Just like that stale government building from years before, these were luxuries that she earned.
We debated the two qualified Democratic primary candidates and I asked her, "Who are you going to vote for?"
"Hillary," she said simply, "Because the Clintons have done so much for me."
I was instantly brought back to that moment her life changed. The moment she raised her hand and swore to uphold the values and freedoms of this democracy. That's what she believed about her duty to vote.
My grandmother passed in 2010. Though her candidate's time had not yet come, the candidate I supported became president. But the choice in that primary would have been a win either way. Today's choice is much more extreme. The stakes are that much higher.
Her candidate followed that election with eight more years of continued political service; four as secretary of State, during which she helped engineer a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. She was an advocate for minority rights, including the LGBT community, women and low-income wage workers of all background. Not to mention, she had strong SNL representation (big-ups Amy Poehler and Kate McKinnon).
The point of this story is not to convince you who to vote for, but to vote. As you can see, I'm not shy about who I support. As I prepare to take my voting booth selfie on a hot November day in Los Angeles, I will cast my vote for the fight against climate change—and, a fair tax system implemented by exit taxes against big businesses exporting services. And because I followed my own dreams and now work in music, you can bet that I'm voting for a Grammy winner.
But more importantly, I take with me the responsibility of casting my vote for two. Because it is easy to forget that our unalienable right to choose is not a privilege available to many parts of the world. It is dangerous to forgo that freedom. So today, I make the choice that she didn't have the opportunity to see through. I proudly punch that ballot on behalf of both myself and my lola.


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Topics Included:
- Impact of New Climate Change Policies
- Regulatory Effects on Renewable Industry
- Hydrocarbon Pricing
- Cross-border Energy Imports/Exports
- The Future of the Renewable Fuel Standard
Recording: Post-Election Impact on U.S. and Mexico Energy and Environmental Matters is available in Greenberg Traurig's Client CLE Library. This free Library provides substantive legal knowledge, as well as CLE credit in several jurisdictions, for registered users via on-demand programs and professional development resources. CLE credit is pending accreditation in the following jurisdictions: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, NV, NJ, NY, PA, TX, and VA. If you would like to take advantage of this free resource, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. If you already have a GT Client CLE Library account you can access this recording by clicking here. You will need to login to your account. Please click "Forgot Password" to have access instructions emailed to you. Email firstname.lastname@example.com if you have any difficulties accessing your account.


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Alfy has created an experience called the Arena Live Music Stage, and as the name attests, he has invited musical artists to come and perform live! The overall decor is varied and eclectic, with everything from rotating spotlights, to statues holding torches aloft, to large animated billboards, and an array of dancing emojis:
Alfy is to be commended for stepping up and creating live music events in Sansar. Watch the Sansar Newsblog for news on coming events!


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Chimney Sweeping & Maintanence Services
****We are now offering spring / summer rates****
Chimney sweeps (includes inspection) in Stark County - $300 + Tax
Outside Stark County but still in service range - $350 + Tax
For Saturday appointments add $5
***Pricing may vary depending on the difficulty of the job***
Proud to use the Gold Standard for chimney inspection software
For prefabricated gas fireplaces and inserts (pre-fabricated fireplaces will usually have a fixed glass front - operated by a switch or remote) the cost for service ranges between $200-$250 plus tax inside Stark County and $250 - $300 outside Stark County. If there are parts needing to be replaced to make the fireplace operational, we can give you an estimate for the repairs at the time of service and can usually perform the repairs on the spot.
Inspections - Are you considering buying a new home or selling your current home? If so we would HIGHLY recommend you have us out for an inspection. Our inspections are thorough and include a professional inspection report as well as estimates for any repairs that are needing to be done. Don't assume that because you got a general home inspection, that the inspector will catch all issues with the chimney. We use high-tech cameras to inspect the hidden areas of your fireplace such as the smoke chamber and flue lining of your chimney and we state of the art software developed by Mr. Ferguson and his brother. It's a very common occurrence for people to move into a new home thinking they can burn, but before they have that first fire, they should have us out for an inspection just in case, only to find out that there are thousands of dollars worth of repairs that need to be made before they can use the fireplace. Many times these costs can be used to negotiate price or come out of closing costs if the inspection is done before the sale and you have an estimate for the repairs.
Chimney Sweeping - Don't underestimate the value of sweeping your chimney on a regular basis. You'd be surprised how much build-up happens in a regularly used fireplace. Keeping your chimney clean will help prevent a chimney fire, and make it last longer. Generally, a chimney needs to be swept after every cord of wood is burned.
You never know what we may find in your chimney. There are animals that commonly choose your chimney as their home such as raccoons and chimney swifts. There are other animals that end up in your chimney either seeking refuge from other animals or maybe they are just curious. Unfortunately, these animals usually cannot make it back out of your chimney and either need to be removed before they die, or we are called to remove the dead animal. If you are finding that you have an unusually high number of flies in your home it may be there is a dead animal in your chimney. We can remove animals living or dead.
Signs it might be time to call a chimney sweep:
- Dark black soot on your fireplace damper
- Your fires are not burning well and are very smoky
- Visible thick creosote (soot) in your chimney lining
- A smell like smoldering fire when the fireplace is not in use
- You have burned more than a cord of wood
Sweeping a chimney can be a dirty job and you want to be sure it's done right. However, once we are finished you shouldn't be able to even tell we were there. Our Chimney Sweeps are true professionals and we are the only CSIA-certified chimney sweeping company in Stark County. We'll be honest and fair while getting the job done right.
If you would like to request chimney cleaning and/or duct cleaning services, or if you would like to schedule a free estimate, please fill out this form and we will get back to you within one business day.


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Runtime error #207 occurred at xxxx:xxxx when running BRE.
The information in this article applies to:
Barren Realms Elite v0.988
When running the software in any state (local, remote, etc.), the software exits with a runtime error #207.
More Information/Solution:
We are currently investigating this error and will report a fix or workarond here when available.
Related Articles:
Runtime Error 200 occurs whenever any John Dailey Software products are ran.


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3 More Audio demos from CSUN 2014
Good Grief - an over priced PC based OCR computer/reading machine - audio demo from Blind Bargains CSUN 2014
Hopefully there was a mis-communication with the developers of this device, I'm wondering if they really meant 1500 dollars rather than 15000 dollars: certainly not worth 15000 dollars.
Use of iBeacons from Accessible Help - Blind Bargains demo CSUN 2014
The use of iBeacons has the potential to make indoor navigation a real reality.
Accessible Help web Site:
AI Squared Talks Zoomtext for Mac - Blind Bargains Audio CSUN 2014
Apple Patents Touch Graphics User Interface for Vision Impaired - from Cult Of Mac
This patent was lodged in September 2009 and has now been ratified by the Patent's office in the US. It will be interesting to see what type of implications this has for other touch screen systems that have copied Apple's touch screen interface for vision impaired users, such as Android.
ABC Asking for Feedback on Various Iterations of iView - from Media Access Australia
Top 5 Categories Dealt with on the AT Help Desk at Vision Australia
1. iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
2. JAWS queries.
3. General assistive technology.
4. General Windows queries.
5. General Internet queries
Lately the Mac has been sneaking in to the top 5 queries as well.
Audio Link to Talking Tech for April 1st 2014


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Reno Video Memoir Season Two: Trudy, Stella, Mandy and Me: Finale
- 23 January, 2017
- Linda Brogan
- Comments ()
The knives are out. "it was like Women's Lib came down.' Stella said to me, Mandy, and Susie years ago. Full of wine, port and champagne she ain't having it tonight. LOL. It ends well.
'You couldn't love them half-caste bastards, man.' Me
'The crazy half-caste woman's sat there with two knives, waiting.' Stella
'I took a knife to the Kim.' Trudy
'You know we're not right. You can't put two together and think it's gonna work.' Mandy


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When you leave your job, either voluntary or not, you have to make an important decision regarding your 401(k). Many aren't familiar with all their options on what they can do with their 401(k), but making the wrong choice could cost you. Most people are familiar with the 401(k) rollover concept but still need some help through the process. Here are your options if you are faced with this decision.
Cashing out is not the Best Option
What money you put it in yourself, you can cash out and take it with you. If your employer has a match, you maybe subject to some sort of vesting schedule. Many people choose to cash out their 401k's. The most common reasoning I here, especially for 401k plans that have matching, is that it's "The company's money" not "theirs". Wow! Isn't that great reasoning?
By taking "The company's money", now that person is stuck with a 10% early withdrawal penalty plus ordinary income tax. Typically, when you cash directly from your 401k they will hold 20% standard plus the 10% early withdrawal penalty.
If you really need money, you could consider borrowing from your 401(k). The problem here is that most companies want the loan balance paid off when you leave – whether you leave work by choice or not.
Leave your 401k alone.
You always have the option to just leave the money with your old plan. The money will remain invested, and the financial firm handling your 401(k) will keep mailing you quarterly statements telling you how it is doing. Any future growth will be tax-deferred.
But this passive choice comes with an opportunity cost. If you just leave the 401(k) assets in the plan, you're giving up control and flexibility. Your investment choices may be limited, the plan fees may be high, and you may not be able to quickly access your money or do what you want with it. If you have a trail of old 401(k)s left with a bunch of former employers, things can get really complicated when you retire – especially when you have to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Leaving the money in the plan may not be the wisest choice.
Transfer the 401k to a New Employer
Most people have the option to transfer their old 401k into their new 401k with the new employer. In the past, this used to be more difficult, but with recent government regulation changes, it's much easier. While this could be a good decision, a lot depends on the new options that are in the new 401k.
You could roll your 401k into an IRA
This is the choice that usually makes the most sense. You can move the money into an IRA through a rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer. Or, you could direct the money into a so-called "conduit IRA," a traditional IRA created to hold your old 401(k) assets until you move the money into another qualified retirement plan.
There's no tax penalty when you do an IRA rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer. After you do it, you have total control of the money, continued tax-deferred growth, expanded investment choices, and possibly lower account management fees.
Rolling over the money into a Roth IRA might be a great move, provided you can meet two conditions. First, your adjusted gross income has to be less than $100,000 for the year in which you make the rollover. Second, you'll have to pay taxes on the assets you convert. The upside is considerable: you get tax-free compounding, tax-free withdrawals if you are older than age 59½ and have owned your account for at least five years, and the potential to make contributions to your IRA after age 70½ without having to take RMDs. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax-deductible, but there are fewer restrictions on withdrawals.
In 2009, you can fund a Roth IRA with after-tax contributions to a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 retirement savings plan – you can take those contributions and convert them to a Roth IRA tax-free, provided your AGI is $100,000 or lower. There is no limit on the conversion amount. Incidentally, in 2010, anyone can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA – the AGI restriction on such conversions disappears.
What if you have to shiver through a 401(k) freeze?
A "freeze" is when your employer reduces or suspends matching contributions to your retirement plan. FedEx, General Motors and Motorola have all recently chosen to do this. The answer: don't let up on your personal contributions. If you can manage it, adjust your 401(k) contribution to a level where you effectively replace what your employer contributed. Saving for retirement should remain one of your highest priorities.
If you still need help with your 401(k) rollover, be sure to seek counsel from a Certified Financial Planner™ professional.


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24hr Mobile Service
Our Mid-States Utility locations offer a full mobile service assistance program for our customers, with fully equipped state of the art Peterbilt trucks. These mobile service trucks are loaded to the top with tools. We can digitally diagnose ABS including roll stability; we can also weld aluminum or steel from our trucks. Our mobile service team can offer many styles of mobile repair, some of those being: Scheduled periodic maintenance, welding of both steel and aluminum, wheel seals, door repair and so much more. We offer small recreational trailer repairs as well, not only at our fixed shop location but with our mobile service trucks, too. Feel free to contact us about your full size Utility semi-trailers as well as small recreational trailer needs!
- Thermo King Unit Repair (Sioux City and Sioux Falls locations)
- Carrier Unit Repair (Sioux City and Sioux Falls locations)
- Emergency Trailer Repair
- Onsite Welding
- Off-Road Equipment HVAC Installation, Repair, or Service
- Small Recreational Trailer Repair
- And More
Contact Mid-States Utility 24-hours a day to get help with your service needs or any transportation emergency.


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Torticollis, also known as wryneck, is a twisted neck in which the head is tilted to one side and the chin is turned to the other. Torticollis can be congenital (something you are born with), acquired (through trauma or injury), or spasmodic. Spasmodic torticollis, or cervical dystonia, is a neurological movement disorder caused by involuntary muscle contractions/or spasms of the neck muscles.
Symptoms include decreased range of motion of the head and neck, neck pain, and headaches.
Idiopathic or unknown cause (most cases)
Trauma or injury to the neck or spine
Certain drugs
History and physical exam by a qualified musculoskeletal expert is the first step. Imaging tests such as x-rays, MRI, or CT scan may be taken. An EMG may be performed to look at the electrical activity of the muscles.
Treatment is based on the underlying cause of the disorder. Physical therapy may be prescribed for stretching and positioning exercises. Cervical braces may be used to reduce dystonia. Your doctor might recommend medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants. In some cases local injections of botulinum toxin are the treatment of choice. When conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment may be recommended.
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Ahamanna Mahamanna Mahamannam ………Ahamannadohamannaado hamann………………….
The Taittiriya Upanishad forms the seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajur Veda.
The above verse is taken from Taitriya Upanishad .
Swamy Mudali Andaan ( SriDasarathy ) being an intimate disciple of Swamy Ramanuja and a keen interpreter of Vedanta , used to extract Vedanta in simple terms for a common man to understand mostly in roopa alankara style . Since what follows has a very subtle meaning it has to be patiently understood .
In the above Taitriya Upanishad verse as said
Ahamanna Mahamanna mahamannam Ahamannadohamannaado hamannaadah .
This verse links a jeevatma to the final stage of Liberation . And , Liberation does not mean the union of Jivatma and Paramatma . It is the co living or being together in great happiness like a couple / father / son .
Liberation is both Jivatma and Paramatma are enjoying each other . This is the established quality of Liberation in Visishtaadwaitha . Liberation of the soul means bringing the being to him and experiencing the happiness with him . Lord has made up his mind to relish the jiva . This jiva is in the form of a grain containing chaff called a body . The Acharya secures the grain places it in the pounding stone called Vedanta , powders it with SRAVANA with the pounding stick UPADESA . He patiently removes the chaff thereby creating the knowledge to differentiate between the jiva and atma. He then makes use of a chaff remover called Nidhidhyasanam and removes the chaff called selfishness and ego . Feelings of independence and being apart from the Lord which are in the nature of foreign matter like mud and sand are also removed .
For removing the remnants of sin and vasanas which are sticking to one like bran to the rice , the grain is again pounded in the pounding stone . By this not only is the bran removed , the rice becomes polished with the help of knowledge of SHESHTVA . Now Acharya puts the polished grains in a vessel called SHRADDHA and washed them with the water called PRAPATTI . With the help of the water small sand particles and dirt which are still clinging are filtered and removed .
This filtered grain is poured into a vessel called DEVOTION TO THE LORD , covered with a lid called KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD and kept over a stove called " EXPERIENCING THE LOVE OF GOD " after which the fire of VISHLESHA is lit . For this purpose the firewood called sins committed and yet to be committed is put in the fire which is fanned by a fan called EXPEDITE .
The spillage due to the boil is ANXIETY or EAGERNESS . The love of the Lord is the boil that is achieved . Jiva is now in the form of boiled rice ( Annam ) takes the subtle form and taken through the sushma naadi entrance through the steps of Archiradi which leads to SriVaikuntam where the being is served in a gold plate called the divine body . Lord now joyously partakes the muktaatma called Ahamannam .
The muktaatma when he leaves the world greets the LORD in Srivaikuntam I am becoming Annam to LORD .I am becoming Annam , I am becoming Annam ..In great happiness he says Aham Annam thrice ..in the same way .. and in happiness he also says thrice I am taking food .( Aham Annadaha ) Here Annam means an item which can be enjoyed and satisfaction obtained . Since the purusha is in the form of a son comes to his father and renders service at his shrine , he has enjoyed them the purusha is called Annam and Paramatma is enjoyer and muktha is the Annam . After all the entire effect of creation by the paramatma and his drawing to himself of all the beings is only for the purpose of enjoying them .
Swamy MudaliAndaans Thiru adigale sharanam
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Adapted from a discourse shared by an advanced srivaishnavan
video credits : factory display kamalco


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Prisons of Potential
What is grace? Grace is being given more than we deserve. If we don't think we need grace, we wont be gracious. Incarcerated individuals really push the limits of our graciousness. We label them as people who have said "no" to God (meaning we are people who have said "Yes"—which is problematic, as stated). Grace is seeing all people—even those in prison—as people who might say yes—not as people who have said no.
Listen to this sermon from Eric Gentry at Highland Church about being gracious to those we think don't deserve it. https://soundcloud.com/highlandchurch/20151018-monday-morning-faith-prisons-of-potential