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By Liora Engel-Smith
As the coronavirus quickly spread across the United States in February and March, hospital systems, fearing a flood of patients and worried about having enough personal protective equipment for their workers, suspended many routine appointments and elective procedures in a move to conserve resources.
When clinics and hospitals resumed appointments and surgeries in late spring, most patients were hesitant to return. But even as health systems report a return to business as usual, it appears that some patients have stayed away.
The pandemic will soon enter its 10th month in North Carolina, and experts worry that forgone cancer and other screenings, dental care and delayed child vaccinations could cause a host of other public health problems.
Nationally, coronavirus delayed care accounts for thousands of delayed appointments and procedures, said Cynthia Cox, vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
"We know we're only back up to 80 or 90 percent of where we were before the pandemic in terms of numbers of visits," Cox, who recently spoke at the North Carolina Institute of Medicine's annual meeting, said.
"If we were making up for all those losses, you would expect utilization to be not just 100 percent, but over a hundred to capture those people who missed care."
The implications of canceling care are particularly salient as health systems across the state wrestle with rising coronavirus hospitalizations. Though some regions are slated to run out of beds as early as January, health care leaders have not spoken publicly about once again delaying care or deferring elective procedures.
But the public health effects of previous delays could have lasting effects in infectious disease control, cancer and chronic disease treatment, dental health, and mental health.
The first effects of this delayed care are already becoming apparent. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 300,000 excess deaths were tallied in the United States between January and mid-October 2020. Two-thirds of these deaths are of people who got coronavirus. The rest of the deaths are attributed to other causes, some of which could have included delayed medical care.
Mental health visits have not kept up with demand
The advancement of telemedicine has been a bright spot in a pandemic that has already claimed thousands of lives across the state. Nationally, Cox said, one-in-ten visits are now performed via telehealth. At the same time, in-person care has plummeted, and telehealth has not grown enough to make up for that lost care. Most televisits in the country — roughly 60 percent — are for mental health conditions, Cox added, a trend that makes sense as the pandemic's uncertainty and isolation prompted a rise in mental health conditions.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the insurer with the largest market share in the state, has seen similar trends, said Ish Bhalla, associate medical director of Behavioral Health Value Transformation. Bhalla, who also spoke at the NCIOM meeting, said telehealth visit claims increased by 7,000 percent since March, many of these claims come from psychiatric health providers.
Whereas the number of people reporting depression and anxiety quadrupled from 10 percent to 40 percent, the increase in telehealth visits hasn't kept pace, according to Cox.
"There were still tremendous access barriers for mental health services before the pandemic," she said. "And I'm sure with this many more people needing mental health services it's gotta be worse."
Concerns over parallel outbreaks
This year's flu vaccination rates have been stronger than last year in both children and adults, according to Cox, but vaccinations for other contagious diseases have been weak.
Nationwide, the pandemic caused almost 300,000 kids to miss their vaccinations, she added.
If enough children miss their vaccinations, rates of contagious diseases such as measles and rubella could increase, particularly as restrictions lift and children return to school, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Forgone cancer screenings and procedures
A sizable portion of patients are delaying other types of care too, including dental visits, specialty visits such as for dermatology and cancer. Collectively, one in four adults delayed some medical care because of coronavirus, according to Cox. In the world of cancer screening, that amounts to 300,000 delayed breast cancer screenings, 100,000 missed colonoscopies and 40,000 forgone Pap smears nationwide.
During that time, the number of new cancer diagnoses decreased, but it isn't because fewer people were getting cancer, Cox said, it's because fewer cancers were being detected. Elective procedures — which can include removing small, non-aggressive tumors — have also yet to fully rebound, according to Cox.
Emmanuel Zervos, surgical oncologist at Vidant Health said similar forces are at play with Vidant's patients, many of whom already face significant barriers in accessing care. Zervos, who also spoke at NCIOM's annual meeting, said that roughly 4,500 Vidant patients missed their cancer screenings since the pandemic began.
"We have no idea whether they dropped out altogether, or rescheduled their screening," he said. "In order to recover these patients, you would expect to see a surge in screenings rather than a return to baseline."
Patients who had a cancer diagnosis when the pandemic began are also at risk for poorer outcomes because of coronavirus restrictions. A 71-year-old breast cancer patient, for example, refused to get surgery in the spring because COVID restrictions dictated that her husband wouldn't be able to visit her after the procedure, according to Zervos.
Other patients, particularly those in clinical trials, also experienced delayed care as studies got suspended in the spring, he added.
The long-term implications of these delays will likely become clearer in months or even years. Interruptions in care, however, will likely result in worse health outcomes even for patients who have non-aggressive cancers.
These delays and disruptions in cancer diagnosis and care have disproportionately affected African Americans in eastern North Carolina, Zervos said, noting this is a group that already experiences significant disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment.


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Pack 565 Families,
Wow! That was really an exciting time we had on Saturday. I've never seen so many cool-looking cars as were lined up – ready to roll.
Before I recap the day's activities, I want to thank Don R. and Brian D. for helping Friday night at the impound. Many cars needed help getting their weight up or down to the magic 5 ounces.
The Tigers got us off to a great start with a nice Flag ceremony. Then we swung right into racing with the Tigers and Wolves. Each boy and car raced three times, once in each of the three lanes. Besides the excitement of the cheering and racing, there was some excitement with the Tiger results for a minute or two, when the data was temporarily lost. We thought we'd have to rerun the Tiger cars all over again, but Todd (our fix-everything guy) found where the software put it, and we were okay after that.
Then we awarded the fastest cars for Tigers, Wolves, and the siblings/adults. All the fastest times (in seconds) are listed beside the boys' names. The bragging rights for Tigers belong to:
3rd Place (fastest) – Trey W.: 2.627
2nd Place (fastest) – Sean W.: 2.618
1st Place (fastest) – Joey M.: 2.583
The fastest wolves were:
3rd Place (fastest) – Noah W.: 2.580
2nd Place (fastest) – Price F.: 2.574
1st Place (fastest) – Angel M.: 2.573
The fastest siblings/adults were:
3rd Place (fastest) – Joshua W. 2.555 (Binky-Engineered)
2nd Place (fastest) – Kelly B.: 2.552
1st Place (fastest) – Joshua H.: 2.539
David W. then stepped in to make an appeal for Friends of Scouting. Here's an update from yesterday's results toward the FOS campaign: David says we've collected over $1,800 in pledges from Pack 565! That surpasses last year's total. We're going to shoot for an even $2,000, though. Our Pack dues and popcorn money help support our Pack activities. The money from FOS will help run the District facilities, including the beautiful Bert Adams and Woodruff Scout reservations. Camping ranks right up there as one of the most fun and rewarding activities that we do in Cub Scouting. Our goal is to have every family in Pack 565 donate just a little something: $25, $10, or $5. Please contact David White if you haven't pledged yet. Thank you!
Then we rolled right into the style awards for all the ranks. This is one of my favorite parts of Pinewood. Some cars are built to be fast. Some cars are built to look cool. And some cars are both! Here are the style award results for each rank.
3rd Place (style) – Grant L. with the "Metallic Gold Speedster"
2nd Place (style) – Jack M.
1st Place (style) – Josh B.
3rd Place (style) – Price F. with the emergency vehicle and the blinking light!
2nd Place (style) – Joshua G.
1st Place (style) – Noah W. and his Ferrari
3rd Place (style) – Rachel L. and her Cinderella Car
2nd Place (style) – Caden M. and his Over-the-top Giant Spoiler (with attached car)
1st Place (style) – Kelly P. with the hot dog car! Go hot dog! Go hot dog!
3rd Place (style) – Mason F. and his "Blue Dragster"
2nd Place (style) – Casey D. and his "Black Demon"
1st Place (style) – Caleb W. with the "Guitar Car"
Webelo I's
3rd Place (style) – Quinn P. and his "Green Beam of Steam"
2nd Place (style) – Matthew K. and the "Lego Man Bullet Skateboard"
1st Place (style) – Ethan M. and the "Googly-Eyed Yellow-jacket Stinger"
Webelo II's
3rd Place (style) – Joshua B. and his "Screaming Torch"
2nd Place (style) – Jeremy P. with his Lotus Chaparral
1st Place (style) – Jakob D. and the "Batman Nightrider"
Then we awarded the grand all-Pack trophies for style and coolness. The overall style winners were:
All-Pack 565 Style Trophies
3rd Place – Noah W. for the Ferrari
2nd Place – Ethan M. for the "Googly-Eyed Yellow-jacket Stinger"
1st Place – Caleb W., our grand prize winner for the "Guitar Car" That car had incredible detail. It had a body with a bridge, a neck, strings, and pegs. After the races, Caleb played "Stairway to Heaven" on it as the crowd headed to the parking lot (in a slightly higher key).
Then we rolled right into racing again with our older boys. This is the first year we allowed the boys to be up close and personal with the track. This was very exciting for them. Next year, I think we'll be putting some lines on the floors and enforcing 5-yard encroachment penalties, though. After the Bears and Webelos raced we awarded fastest time medals in those ranks. Bragging rights for Bears went to:
3rd Place (fastest) – Aidan H.: 2.584
2nd Place (fastest) – Casey D.: 2.537
1st Place (fastest) – Sean A.: 2.537
The fastest time recorded for Casey Deloughy and Sean Appel's car was a tie, down to the thousandth of a second, so we did a few tense runoffs between those cars to determine the ultimate winner.
The fastest Webelo I's were:
Webelo I's
3rd Place (fastest) – Matthew K.: 2.560
2nd Place (fastest) – Thomas K.: 2.538
1st Place (fastest) – Ada D.: 2.520
The fastest Webelo II's were:
Webelo II's
3rd Place (fastest) – Francis V.s: 2.564
2nd Place (fastest) – Hank M.: 2.543
1st Place (fastest) – Jeremy P.: 2.538
Then we had the grand finale races. We raced the fastest three cars in each rank all over again. Each car raced three times, once in each lane again. The final results and bragging rights for the 2009 fastest cars in all of Pack 565 go to:
3rd Place (fastest) – Thomas .
2nd Place (fastest) – Jeremy P.
1st Place (fastest) – Ada D., our grand prize winner! Man! That's a fast car (Mom)!
That was it for the 2009 Pinewood Derby. Thanks to all the parents who helped set up, control kids, break down everything, and clean up. We'll see you all next year at the 2010 Pinewood Derby!
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subset: commoncrawl


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CRIF is to open a new congress and training Center near Bologna in September 20th 2013 combing the practical with the pleasant for the benefit of knowledge and health. Since user training is just as important as training employees, CRIF decided to move the training facility into a professional congress center. The facility is combined with a four star hotel and is open for other events and individual bookings.
Located near Bologna in a charming location the Palazzo Di Varignana Congress Center offers a 300 sqm assembly hall with natural light and an exceptional view on the surrounding hills. The assembly hall, seating up to 260 people, is extremely functional and can be split into three separate rooms, thanks to adjustable wall panels in order to satisfy each type of event. It offers a director's studio, secretarial office, wardrobe and excellence in audio-visual technology, with predisposition in Full HD, Wi-Fi and video-conference.
Professionalism and attention to detail complete the impeccable service. The Congress Center is directly connected through an underground gallery to the Spazio Belvedere, 400 square meters of multifunctional location available for all type of events, weddings, galas and exhibitions.
The Congress Center is combined with the Palazzo Varignana Resort & SPA hotel which is set in a truly magical and charming location. Elegantly set in 20 hectares of parkland, the luxury 4-star hotel near Bologna overlooks the hills of Varignana from Villa Bentivoglio, a historical residence commissioned by Count Orazio Bargellini in 1705, which then became the property of the Florentine Bentivoglio family. It is a splendid example of the typical 18th-century Tuscan country residence.
The resort has 90 comfortable rooms ranging between 23 and 58 square meters, they are divided into Classic, Superior, Deluxe, Junior Suite, Vital Suite and Panorama Suite and they find space in the characteristic buildings "Il Borgo", "Il Poggio", "La Corte", "Il Fienile" and "La Viletta".
Source: Palazzo di Varignana


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Perlimpinpin Bamboo Muslin Sleep Sack Bees 1 Tog
This Spring, discover our Signature Collection by Perlimpinpin. With its perfect blend of viscose from bamboo and cotton, its silky touch and light airy texture, this collection is unique, just like your baby.
This bamboo muslin sleep bag is breathable, lightweight and will get softer every time you wash it. Our products are carefully designed and tested in labs by a third party to make sure that no detail is left out for your baby's safety!
PERFECT TEMPERATURE: 1 TOG keeps baby not too warm and not too cold throughout the night. It is suitable for warmer temperatures or for colder ones with proper sleepwear.
Perlimpinpin Canada's #1 sleep bag features:
-safe and exclusive design without snaps
-ideal for an undisrupted sleep
-keeps little baby warm all night
-opens fully from bottom to easily change diaper
-well adjusted neck hole ensuring the bag is never over the head
-protected chin
-lots of room for feet
EXCEEDS SAFETY STANDARDS: Using a sleep bag clears blankets from the crib which can interfere with the baby's breathing. Perlimpinpin sleep sacks are perfectly adjusted to fit the neck hole and opens only from the bottom ensuring the bag is never over baby' s head.
EASY DIAPER CHANGE: Reversed zipper allows quick and discrete diaper change without disrupting baby's sleep.
COMFORTABLE: Your little sweetie will be able to move freely in the crib thanks to the sleep bag's wide bottom. Coziness guaranteed no matter baby's favorite sleeping position.
All the Perlimpinpin sleep bags are also tested by an external firm to get the Thermal Overall Grade so you can choose the best sleep bag for your baby's comfort. For more information, see the page "how to choose your sleeping bag"
Content: 70% viscose from bamboo, 30% cotton muslin
Care instructions: wash before use, close zipper before washing, machine wash in cold water with similar colors, do not bleach, tumble dry at low temperature


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Home Economics II Package
|Item #:
Product Description:
This package includes the following items:
Publisher Description:
Each LightUnit 0.1 Credit
- LightUnit 1—Baking Breads
- LightUnit 2—Baking Pies and Cakes
- LightUnit 3—Food Gardening and Preservation
- LightUnit 4—ABCs of Money Management
The answer keys for these LightUnits are included in the center of each LightUnit.
So you want to learn to bake bread? Or pies? Plant a garden? Can fruits and vegetables? I can't think of better instructors than the Mennonite farm wives who do these things excellently day after day, season by season. Taking Home Economics to an advanced level, these four Light Units (altogether a one-semester course, with 3 weeks per unit) provide a wealth of information and details behind these everyday tasks. Designed so the student can work independently, these units are straightforward and easy to use, although not flashy. There are no color pictures, although there are some helpful black and white illustrations and an accent color. Textual information is detailed (such as descriptions of the various types of flours) and helpful (such as the different types of common garden pests). Each segment of textual information is followed by questions over the current segment as well as review questions. Each Light Unit has three sections of 4 daily lessons each with a quiz at the end of the first two sections and a self-check review at the end of the last. These help prepare the student for the final unit test. A pull-out section in the center of each Light Unit includes the final test (with answer key), and an answer key for the unit lessons and the quizzes. The Home Economics II package includes all four Light Units.
This is a complete course from Christian Light Education to teach girls how to cook and sew in preparation for running their own households. There are 10 different units (books) in the course, each with a different focus. The first four units cover food preparation. Unit 1 provides an introduction to the kitchen; Unit 2 discusses nutrition and food preparation; Unit 3 teaches about food shopping and kitchen organization; and Unit 4 delves into meal planning, preparation, and presentation. The next three units cover sewing, beginning with the basics and progressing through to detailed work. Unit 4 prepares you with the basics and getting started information; Unit 5 contains information on sewing for the home; and Unit 6 instructs in sewing for yourself. Then Unit 8 discusses the godly home and the responsibilities in managing it - decorating, cleaning, and maintaining. Unit 9 approaches the various stages of child growth from birth to the junior years, covering physical, mental, and spiritual growth. The last unit is a focus on the actual student, preparing her for becoming a godly woman and giving her guidance in understanding herself, God's plan, her relationship with God, friends and friendships, modesty, singlehood, and Christian courtship. Each book contains reading and comprehension and other activities to practice the skills in running a household. Answers included. - Melissa
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Answer the questions (i) to (iv) based on the following:
class One { int A1; protected: float A2; public: One(); void Get1(); void Show1(); }; class Two : private One { int B1; protected: float B2; public: Two(); void Get2(); void Show(); }; class Three : public Two { int C1; public: Three(); void Get3(); void Show(); }; void main() { Three T; //Statement 1 __________________; //Statement 2 }
(i) Which type of Inheritance out of the following is illustrated in the above example?
-Single Level Inheritance, Multilevel Inheritance, Multiple Inheritance
(ii) Write the names of all the member functions, which are directly accessible by the object T of class Three as declared in main() function.
(iii) Write Statement 2 to call function Show() of class Two from the object T of class Three.
(iv) What will be the order of execution of the constructors, when the object T of class Three is declared inside main()?CBSE12D-2017


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With the entire sports world currently on hiatus due to the tragic outbreak of COVID-19, and state wide social distancing restrictions, the time for gaming indoors has never been more apropos…Even the casual sports fan is looking to fill the void of competition after more than a month inside, helping E-Sports, already a giant Global industry, take off like never before. According to Activate Consulting, there are currently 443 Million E-Sports fans world-wide, and while that number grows every day, that number represents solely the spectators.
Where do FingerWeights fit in under the Gaming umbrella? Regardless of whether you're a fan, regularly attending competitions while playing Fortnite with your friends on the weekend, or a seriously regarded "Gamer" slaughtering the competition week after week, FingerWeights will in-fact take your game to the next level. While there are countless resistance training studies that have been conducted, FingerWeights offer the unique ability of being able to practice with them on while not only helping increase your strength and endurance (Finger Clicks per Second), but they have also been proven to help increase muscle memory, directly sharpening your skills.
Play Longer, Play Faster & Play Better…Today!
Who are FingerWeights meant for? Globally, awareness of E-Sports/Gaming has grown substantially in just the last 5 years alone…gone are the days of the basic "back and forth" game, as we are now in the midst of live action and graphics that rival movies. In 2015 1.1 billion people worldwide knew about E-Sports, compared to 1.955 billion in 2020 (almost a 100% growth in awareness alone). It is projected that the E-Sport/Gaming audience will reach as high as 500 million worldwide this year, with at least half of that number defined as enthusiasts, with the other half identifying as "occasional viewers." A McKinsey Report said that in the U.S. alone, there are over 20 million E-Sports fans, with 84% of those fans younger than 35 years old. However, the US market is dominated by males, who comprise 83% of the 20 million, meaning the next major uptick for E-Sports will be when they strike a nerve with the female audience.
So, whether you are a fan, a professional, or just someone interested in the overall health and wellbeing of their fingers and hands, FingerWeights are here to help you on your journey!
For more information visit us at FingerWeights.com, or send us an email at email@example.com.


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Matt Moulson, Islanders (1 G, 5 A, +4, 0 PIM, 2 PPP, 12 SOG) - It's hard to believe that a player selected in the 9th round in the 2003 draft is having quite a career year. Then again, with the year the Islanders are having so far this season, they will take any bright spot that comes their way. But the draft selection and overall team performance makes it difficult to gauge whether this is legit or maybe he's benefiting from being paired up with John Tavares or both. Still, the fact that he's set to break his previous season high total of 31 goals, 22 assists and 53 points goes to show that growth and development is certainly happening and that this is not simply a hot streak for Moulson, whether it involves Tavares or not. There are some leagues who are balking at Moulson in free agency but I say that is folly when he is performing like he is and would make a excellent depth move for the roster or a fill-in the roster if injuries are dragging you down.
More after the jump...
Craig Anderson, Senators (3 Wins, 1.48 GAA, .958 Save%) - Well, well. This maybe what the Senators were seeing in Anderson. Then again, the whole team is playing quite hot lately but Anderson has certainly played quite a role in keeping the games close. He's only let it two goals or less in 7 out of 9 total games so far this month. Inconsistency was his issue for some who invested in him earlier this season but now he may be finding his footing and so long as the Sens are playing hot hockey and keeping their playoff dreams alive, he's well worth playing as a G2 on your team.
Ryan Miller, Sabres (1 Win, 4.97 GAA, 8.25 Save%) - That's it. I am freaking out now. This guy was a stud last year and has done nothing but give owners anxiety attacks over every game he starts so far this season. The only thing going for him is that Jhonas Enroth hasn't fared that much better in the past several games and can pretty much think he's ok for his starting job for now. Still, Enroth should be firmly handcuffed to any team that has Miller as their starting goalie because the inconsistency is not looking like it's going to go away anytime soon.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Follow @MattPTurner and Follow @FakeTeams


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Good evening everybody, welcome to our wonderful and beautiful world of crochet. Today we are going create it rather more interesting and pleasant. This daisy stitch is known as the simple star stitch and also seen variations of this stitch called marguerite stitch. As you all know there area unit a various recent and new stitches in a very inventive world of knitting and crochet and because the dedicated crocheters we'd like to be told as several of them because it is feasible. Even as a prove of my words, this can be another step by step tutorial without missing details to crochet this beautiful daisy stitch that may provides a fabulous look to any project you choose to form in future. So, let's get down to the business and learn this gorgeous stitch.
Click here to show tutorial
Free Instructions Video
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Source:Handwork diy


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All 7 entries tagged Gnus
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April 12, 2007
What time is it? Now.
I met up with Mairead and Pete today, which was nice. I also made a friend called Pablo, who may or may not have stolen a 15p padlock from Wilkinson's.
The past week's been quite busy; I've seen almost every member of my extended family, been to Diggerland (where there are hundreds of diggers, all under one metaphorical roof), climbed a tree, and seen a musical starring (in a non-starring manner) my cousin. I've also played a small amount of Twilight Princess, and am likely to remain 5 rupees away from getting the Magic Armour until I return for the summer holidays.
Back to Coventry tomorrow, and then going to Nottingham either Friday or Saturday (I should probably decide that fairly soon) for the British Juggling Convention. Then on Sunday I'll be back in Coventry ready to start working on the Problem Solving assignment due in on the first day of term.
Club juggling has been improving nicely. On Monday I managed to do a few tricks for the first time. Ball juggling going less well – I think my five ball pattern has gone downhill due to not enough practising.
January 03, 2007
New Year
New Year's Resolutions:
1) Update at least once a week
2) Don't leave things to the last minute
Rather fittingly, it's only just less than a week since my last entry.
New Year's Eve/Day was fun. We made up a dance for some European country I can't remember and played Ligretto until the new year. Then we had sparklers in Pete's garden, which Mairead seemed to be afraid of. After that, we had a 6 hour game of Risk in which just about everyone almost won. I found that chatting up the dice works, until you get too cheesy. We played Poker, which bizarrely ended up with Mairead and Hennell having all the money.
Chris got everyone a "A man walks into his flat" T-shirt. He also got me Winnie the Pooh, which I suspect excites him far more than it does me. Throughout the evening, I scared myself and everyone else with my knowledge of songs. Rather boringly, we all left in the morning to our respective houses, rather than doing something random.
December 27, 2006
I have too many projects.
I started making
a Tetris clone an Ancient Hobbit Puzzle game. (Sidenote: some people have too much time on their hands.)
I have plenty of work to do on Operation Meltdown.
The Beautifully Choreographed Battle Game isn't complete.
I have various other LotH-themed games I want to make.
Perhaps more importantly than those games, I have two pieces of coursework due in at the start of next term.
Mark gave me some more Javascript stuff to do for St Pixels.
My Dad wants me to do some PHP stuff for him.
I have Babylon 5, Veronica Mars, Arrested Development and now Wonderfalls to watch.
I need to complete Twilight Princess before I go back to Warwick.
Grandparents were here for the past three days. We saw Treasure Island at the theatre earlier today, and yesterday we went to the ice rink, where some of us went ice-skating.
Ian has an iPod. He wanders around the house with it on all the time, ignoring people even more than before. We either need to get a remote control for it, or I'm going to get into the habit of hitting him over the head before saying anything to him.
Wandered around town last Friday for many hours with Pete and Mairead. Nowhere has any copies of Wii Play. We were unknowingly in the same Starbucks as one of Hennell's sister's friends for some time. We went bowling after finding a Hennell – I found that Wii Sports seems to help, but not enough to let me win. Then we went to Pizza Hut and then back into town where we met people from school. Pete and Hennell went to get a lift home and I went with them intending to get a bus, not thinking that it would make sense to tell Mairead. Hopefully she got back home alright, though.
Ian is fairly often getting up to watch the Cricket before I've gone to bed. It's just wrong.
September 19, 2006
Talk Like a Pirate Day 2006
That Hennell be a more untrustworthy swine than a thievin' monkey covered in ale an' set on fire! When I said ter him that me cracker be gone, he acted all helpful like, even makin' me this here image fer me ter use. Course, I went and forgot it when I were writin' me report, but I don't be the slimey privateer o' a weasel we be talkin' about here. Tha' lowdown dirty deceiver knew where me cracker was all along!
Serves 'im right that he missed out on all the fun on the Monday, when a couple o' mates o' mine came round ter me cabin. He were off somewhere jumpin' into water an' stoppin' people from drownin', as if that be a useful skill fer a pirate! I be thinkin' tha' since his captain has only got the one eye, he be makin' all the wrong people walk the plank. An' then he be needin' them ter be saved so he pushes Hennell in ter do tha' fer him.
The rest o' us, we spent our night takin' over the world on a map. What were more suprisin' than screamin' crabs fallin' from the sky was when Cabin Boy Pete won twice over (with the help o' Stupid Fool o' a Deckhand Chris). Then we played some kind o' game runnin' around London with paper dubloons, an' I won it nicely. By this point it were gettin' early, so we decided ter go visit the hummock fer dawn in Stupid Fool o' a Deckhand Chris's dinghy o' the roads.
A hummock is sommat like a sand dune on an island yer might get marooned on, 'cepting that it be bigger, and it ain't made o' sand, and it ain't on an island. Alas, this particular hummock be badly placed ter see the dawn, so it weren't so grand a sight as I were expectin'. We played a couple o' games o' Cheat while we were there, which Storesmaster Mairead the Bloody were mighty confused by. I took some photos, but most weren't good enough ter show even ter the rat-infested corpse o' a person.
When I got back ter me cabin, I slept fer a couple o' hours an' later went ter work me final shift at the Orpheus. Some say the place be haunted, but that be more ridiculous than a five-legged goat dressed up as a man an' made ter dance. The ghosts people sometimes think they see, they be nothin' more than customers! An' customers be a lot better than ghosts, 'cause if ye can persuade them ter see one o' our god-awful films, then they pay yer fer it too!
On the Thursday, we met up fer various reasons, many of which were scuppered by Cabin Boy Pete not comin' along. Stupid Fool o' a Deckhand Chris scarpered later, wi'out even a goodbye. This left meself, Storesmaster Mairead the Bloody an' Cracker Thievin' Mutineer Hennell ter entertain ourselves by hopin' fer a goat. When no goats appeared, we decided the next best thing would be ter see a film, but we disagreed about how god-awful it should be.
After much debate and no agreement, we went ter see Right at Yer Door rather than Little Man. Storesmaster Mairead the Bloody disliked it, but what do she know? I still be deciding whether I liked the endin' or not, but it were mainly good.
More recently, I been workin' on the Lord o' the Hoops game. It be shapin' up ter be an ARRR-some game, despite the lack o' any pirates in it at all.
This be a fine entry, ter be sure, but I can't be helpin' the feelin' that no matter the number o' pirate entries I write, they'll forever be in the shadow o' sommat better. 'Tis a sad thing, usin' up all yer genius too soon. There be nowhere ter go but down, an' down is where the water be.
September 10, 2006
Cracker Watch
Mairead, in her deluded fashion, has decided that a cracker, if left outside of a cracker jar, will eventually go mouldy.
Rather than pat her on the head and say, "Yes, deary," (followed by running away quickly), I decided to prove her wrong in the greatest scientific experiment ever performed on a cracker.
And so began the arduous task of photographing the cracker. These photos were provided to the scientific community to examine and verify my results. So far, no scientist has found a trace of mould in these images.
However, before the project had even reached the two month mark, disaster struck. The cracker was missing from its fortified storage location. The guards, after extensive questioning, realised that they had not necessarily seen the cracker since its last test, two weeks prior.
Someone was a cracker-thief.
Someone who probably also answered my phone so that I wouldn't find out that my juggling balls had arrived. That's just the type of thing that a cracker-thief would do.
Look at that grin on his face. If that's not the grin of a cracker-thief, I don't know what is.
Ian has unparalleled access to the storage room, often wandering in for the sole purpose of annoying me. I am confident that he would happily eat the cracker, even if not particularly hungry. Ian was aware of the experiment, but this would not have stopped him from eating the cracker, and might even encourage him to do so.
Look at that ugly grimace on her face.
If that's not the grimace of a cracker-thief, I don't know what is.
Mairead has the most to lose from the cracker experiment's conclusions. Disrupting it would keep herself from being proved wrong once again. She also bears several violent grudges against me, the most recent of which being when I completely destroyed her while playing Risk.
On at least two occasions, she has had easy access to the storage room.
Like Mairead, Chris had recently been humiliated in a game of Risk. However, he is unlikely to have taken this personally.
Being unaware of the cracker experiment, it is possible that he may have seen a tasty-looking (and non-mouldy) cracker lying about, and simply decided to eat it. This would not be out of character.
Since he left to go to work when everyone else stayed sleeping in the tent, he had fewer opportunities to eat the cracker than Mairead.
Hennell was at least aware that there was something going on with the cracker, so is unlikely to have eaten it accidentally.
However, he might have eaten it in the hope that it would cure whatever illness he was suffering from on the trip to Hay-on-Wye. In this case, he might ignore the scientific value of the experiment for his own benefit.
This is not very likely, since to the best of my knowledge, crackers have no restorative healing powers.
Pete probably didn't eat or steal the cracker.
August 27, 2006
Apart from the ridiculous idea of catching a coach at 7:00 in the morning, the day trip to London was fun.
We went to a prison where Jack Sheppard may or may not have escaped from.
I almost choked to death with Pete, Mairead and Hennell watching.
We went to Hyde Park and sat/wandered/chased Pete.
Then we went to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, where we became varying levels of wet. Most people refused to join in the how–long–can–you–hold–your–breath competition. Libby managed to pick up a £1 coin with some kind of freaky vacuum–mouth ability. Someone made a boat out of our tube map, which worked really well, but sadly decided to die when I finally got round to trying to record it.
Then we went to Harrods (mercifully for only a brief time) where I was very tempted to buy a Mac Mini. Hennell's suggestion that I tell everyone that I actually had bought one worked well, especially with Libby. I wish I had got one, now, just for how she would have reacted when I finally showed it to her.
On the coach, Libby took photos of people, most of them with their eyes shut. Everyone saw the ridiculous number of photos Ian has taken on my camera. Some highlights include 12 photos of Chris (taken over the span of about 2 minutes), 4 photos of a bottle of Fanta (this one is the craziest to me), and various photos of me sitting down and doing nothing interesting.
I sold Hennell a bread loaf/roll for 1p.
I solved all of Mairead's problems, but she didn't seem that happy about it. She was very ungrateful indeed.
Nothing quite as eventful happened as last year's trip, which had the brilliant where-to-eat disaster, some small explosions and of course, the whole missing the coach back thing. Pity really, but I guess if you want excitement, you have to stay for longer.
And this entry is finished within a week of the last one (by about an hour).
March 22, 2006
Term 1 recap – what I did
Since term 2 is over, now is the perfect time to record all the interesting events from term 1. Obviously.
My computer didn't want to connect to the internet. I sidestepped the problem for a while, before installing Ubuntu. This fixed the problem, and was generally a good thing.
At the second juggling society meeting, I met James, Jen and Darren. Jen and Darren had apparently only started juggling the previous week, which was impressive.
Early in the term, I saw Ross Noble at the Arts Centre, who was hilarious. Highlights were rewinding through most of his act on a whim, and jumping out at somebody who went to the toilet.
On Tuesday of week 3, I decided to walk into Coventry. Hilarity ensued.
The Monday runday probably occurred on a Monday, and involved two people racing to Tescos and back from L3, in the 15 minutes between lectures. Unfortunately for me, I was one of the two people, and I'm just as good at running short distances as I am at walking long distances.
At some point, the juggling trio mentioned above invited me to a Kaylee (more commonly spelt Ceilidh). Despite not really knowing what this was, and not knowing either Jen or Darren very well, I accepted enthusiastically. Well, I accepted.
I got ever so slightly lost finding it, though, in the same way that murderers ever so slightly break the law. It's a perfect subject for another Google Map Animation, but I'd need a better map to create it with. However, in the end, I got there and danced the merry night away. I believe I met Merle and Callie there, although their names almost certainly didn't stick until term 2.
I went to Sheffield one Saturday to meet up with people from Bristol. As well as playing spot the police officer, we watched Wallace and Gromit at the cinema (which has Marcus Brigstocke in the credits). On the way back, I caught a coach to Birmingham, intending to catch a train from there. This plan required my being able to find my way from the coach station to the train station, of course. After only a few minor setbacks (such as choosing entirely the wrong direction to start walking in), this was exactly what happened.
On Wednesday of week 7, I turned up to what was theoretically the first of three Perl seminars, interested in how you could cover Perl in just three hours. The turnout was somewhat amusingly low. Afterwards, I spent some time with half of the people who were there (all two of them), mostly because there was mention of working through the insanely hard Problem Sheet 3. That didn't happen all that much, though. Then I was invited to the Linux User Group meeting, where they were too cliquey, so I eventually ran away.
A week later, I went on a trip to IBM with the Computing Society. That was fun enough, but I don't think I gained anything from the experience.
On Friday of week 9, I went with a bunch of people to see Harry Potter. That was the opening night, and the cinema was ever-so-slightly busy as a result of it. So we got there early – problem solved. Except for the bit where our tickets had "AM" instead of "PM" on them. We stood around in confusion for quite a while, being given conflicting information every so often. Eventually, most of us got in, and the rest went home and came back later in the week.
I was in the latter group, which was probably for the best, since the Leeds Juggling Convention was the following day, and I needed to get up for it. I got much juggling done, and Dave tried to improve my pathetic diabolo skills (without much success). On the way back, I supplied some logic riddles and Richard supplied some word riddles.


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SICUE Programme
The System for Exchange between Spanish Universities (SICUE) allows students to study, for a whole year, in another Spanish university. The only essential requirement is that there is an agreement between both centres which enables the recognition of the performed studies.
The current destinations from the Faculty of History are:
International Relations Coordination
Antonio Presedo Garazo
+34 988 387 115


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Slasher Podcast – Michael Joy, Horrornews.net Manager returns to the world of podcasting and plays host with special guests Damon Della Greca, Creator of The Slasher App, and Kelli Mcneely, Co-Owner of Horrorfuel.com.
This collection of horror professionals gather to talk about the upcoming launch of The Slasher App and it's movement to "Make Horror R Again". The discussions spirals into topics both old and new horror movies including Child's Play and Brightburn.
LISTEN TO SLASHER PODCAST broadcasting via Totally Driven Entertainment Radio Network
Slasher is coming to Android and iOS devices in the upcoming weeks. For the first time ever, the horror community will be able to connect in unique and exciting ways. This NEW social network will bring an all inclusive horror experience right to the palm of your hand. Horror fans should expect the unexpected in features that haven't been available within the community until now.
For More Information About The Slasher App Go To SLASHER.TV
For More Information About Totally Driven Entertainment Go To TOTALLYDRIVEN.TV


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You might already know the Maverick Men as Cole Maverick and Hunter "Maverick Man" from MaverickMan22 Productions. This pair of horny guys have been in love and lust for more than a decade. One of their favorite pastimes is filming their fun, sexy adventures together and with the hot men they meet while camping, hiking, and clubbing. Cole and Hunter have made great friends in their travels, and all the guys in their videos are fans who have gotten in touch with them. Some of these guest stars make repeat appearances.
By doing all their own filming and editing, the Maverick Men are able to maintain the real and consistently spicy flavor that their fans know and love. They cast the kinds of guys who turn them on, and most of all, honest, open guys with a positive attitude are a must. Masculine guys who are scruffy and natural or even sweetly boyish turn them on the most, but fem guys who are very sexy might make the cut too. Cole and Hunter love guys who aim to please them and are hungry for wild sex in unusual locations. As alpha male tops, the Maverick Men are especially fond of virgin cherry boys and tops who bottom for the first time for them!


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Humidity is the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere. Humidity is measured in either relative humidity (relative terms) or dewpoint temperature (absolute terms). As the name implies, water vapor is water in vapor form. In terms of comfort and health, the ideal relative humidity is 40 to 50 percent. During winter, it may need to be lower than 40 percent to prevent condensation on your windows and other harmful effects of high indoor humidity.
Effects of High Indoor Humidity
On Human Health
High indoor humidity affects the human body by causing a harmful health problem for the elderly and people with respiratory or heart conditions. When the surrounding temperature increases, the body cools down itself through perspiration. However, that cooling mechanism only works if the sweat evaporates. When the relative humidity increases, the evaporation rate decreases. This causes more stress to the circulatory system when it tries to fight the effects of increasing temperature.
The growth of dust mites, mold, and fungi will be triggered if the moisture content in a building is high. These organisms are capable of causing serious reactions in people with asthma or allergies. The air conditioner may circulate these contaminants continuously across the ductwork until inhaled by an occupant.
On Comfort
The instant effect of high indoor humidity is on a person's comfort. Because of the humid and damp feeling it brings about, you will feel warmer. Imagine this problem taking its toll on you at night, affecting the quality of your sleep. To make yourself feel comfortable, you need to lower your thermostat temperature, which leads to higher electricity bills.
On Residential Building
High indoor humidity problems usually arise during summer as your AC is working regularly. Other serious effects of high indoor humidity are structural damage and mold growth because of wood decomposition. Termites, bugs, and other pests and insects are attracted to places with high moisture content.
How An Air Conditioner Controls Humidity
A central air conditioning system is essential for both home comfort and humidity control. At a high temperature, moist air is absorbed from the living room and drawn all over the evaporator coil throughout the refrigeration cycle, then the vapor is condensed and drained outside. The removed moisture helps decrease the relative humidity, improving the sense of comfort.
A central air conditioning system needs to be sized properly to ensure correct dehumidification. An oversized unit may be unable to function long enough to reduce the humidity to a comfortable level.
To avoid the effects of high indoor humidity, you may consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier directly into your air conditioner to function with the system. When the system absorbs air, the dehumidifier will remove water from the air before it's circulated into your house. The dehumidifier can achieve the recommended relative humidity based on your thermostat's temperature setting to achieve the highest level of comfort.
Tips for Lowering Humidity
- Install a central air conditioner
- Install a dehumidifier
- Provide extra venting to high-humidity areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms
- Take cooler showers
- Limit bathing times
- Remove blockages from dryer vents
- Get rid of indoor plants
- Switch off humidifiers
- Install a humidistat
- Put portable dehumidifiers in high-humidity areas.
Other Ways to Lower Humidity Levels
- There are several ways of addressing humidity concerns inside a home. One inexpensive way is using a hygrometer that will measure the relative humidity inside your home. When this device provides a reading, you can use it to compare the humidity of your home to a recommended standard.
- You have to promote good ventilation by simply opening your windows once in a while to allow fresh outdoor air to replace stale indoor air. Also, you must always use your exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom. It is a good idea as well to fix moisture issues inside your house by checking for any leaks from the plumbing systems.
- Wet clothes that are hung indoors will raise your indoor humidity, especially in areas with bad ventilation. Drying clothes outdoors is the best option of reducing indoor humidity, especially in humid seasons. If you live in an apartment without a balcony and this process is not feasible, make use of a clothes dryer and vent it outdoors.
- Walls with holes or cracks can also take moisture into your home. Moist and warm outdoor air can enter a building through holes and cracks during humid, warm weather. Indoor materials that are cooler than outdoor air can condensate. This condensation can result in mildew, mold, and rotting wood if not immediately wiped up. Hence, check the exterior walls of your home regularly for any cracks and repair them correctly.
- Using charcoal briquettes is a cheap way of reducing humidity and odors in the air due to their absorption capabilities. Purchase a pack of charcoal and put it into a basket. It will last for two to three months.
We hope you found this blog post on How High Indoor Humidity Affects Your Home and Your Health useful. Be sure to check out our post on Difference Between Central Air Conditioning & Window Air Conditioner for more great tips!
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Pursuing Justice on Behalf of Your Loved One
Toledo is a major metropolitan city, and with a large city comes large problems. No, we are not talking about crime and expensive real estate fees. Instead, we are talking about overpacked streets, crowded roadways, and traffic on our highways. We have more cars on the road now than ever before. As new businesses open up, we have seen a huge spike in personal injury claims. Some accidents, however, are tragic and require a wrongful death claim to be investigated. A Toledo wrongful death attorney can help you through this difficult time.
When a fatal accident occurs, an attorney must determine if it is due to someone else's negligence. For example, a drunk driver causes a fatal car crash, or a store doesn't keep their facility safe. In these instances, an injury law firm will gather evidence. By investigating the case, Rubin & Zyndorf can improve the success rate of the injury claim.
Contact us online or by phone if you and your family lost a loved one in an accident caused by negligence. We can begin investigating the accident immediately to determine liability.
Seeking Compensation After Car Accidents
As a decorated personal injury law firm, we take on a wide variety of injury claims. From slip and fall cases to dog bite claims, we've had decades of success litigating injury accidents. However, every now and then the law firm gets a traffic phone call. A death has occurred, due to the negligence of another, and a family needs to file a wrongful death claim. Out of call of the possible causes, the most frequent stems from auto collisions. A Toledo fatal car accident lawyer, like Daryl Rubin, can fight to protect the financial rights of your family after a tragic loss.
Car accidents are on the rise in Toledo. Lucas County has grown substantially over the last decade. Even with the increase in affordable taxi solutions, like Uber and Lyft, people still make the ignorant choice to drink and drive. Drunk drivers account for a multitude of fatal auto collisions in Lucas County. We know how to fight for the family of the deceased. If young children are left behind, they will need a financial support system. We can fight for you and your family.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
According to Ohio law, a personal representative of the deceased estate is eligible to file a wrongful death claim. While this personal representative doesn't have to be related to the deceased, a wrongful death claim can only be filed on behalf of the family members and estate of the deceased.
Filing Claims After Surgeries Gone Wrong
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical provider's actions cause undue harm to a patient under their care. Negligence can be proven when the doctor or nurse performs below the standard that is acceptable in the field of medicine. To support your claim, it must be proven that the doctor strayed from standard medical practices while administering care. As part of their due diligence as a medical provider, a doctor must take precautions and use diligence and reasonable care. They cannot be held legally responsible for decisions made or honest errors that take place during the course of treatment. If you are uncertain about the viability of your case, our medical malpractice attorneys will assist you with sorting out the details and establishing your claim.
If you or a loved one has been injured while in a hospital or under a physician's care, you have a legal right to seek damages. You can be compensated for the injury as well as pain and suffering, lost wages, and additional medical bills. As lawyers well versed in this practice area, we can help you seek a resolution for your medical malpractice case.
Call Us Today
Our law firm always offers free personal injury consultations. The law office is located in the heart of Lucas County, right in Toledo, OH. If you are unable to make it to our office, we are willing to visit you in the hospital or at your home. We believe that every victim of an injury deserves to be compensated for their losses.
Call us today and allow us to fight to settle your injury claim.


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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured filmmakers on 19 October that Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will get a safe release on 28 October - amid threats of vandalism from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
A delegation led by Mukesh Bhatt, the President of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India, went to meet Singh, who assured a "great Diwali" to them with the release of the film, which is under threat from the MNS for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
"We came to meet Rajnath Singh because we were scared that law and order in our nation, especially in Mumbai, was getting out of hand. We came here to get assurance from the Home Ministry that they will tell chief ministers of all the states to keep the law and order intact, and won't let Ae Dil Hai Mushkil get into trouble when it releases on 28 October," Bhatt said after the meeting.
"He (Rajnath) gave us the assurance that whatever support we want from the government, we will get it. He said he will talk to all the chief ministers and tell them to maintain law and order, and see that there is no violence outside theatres." Bhatt says he is assured of being "safe and protected".
Trouble for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil began when the debate about letting Pakistani artistes working in India sparked off, following the September 18 Uri attack which killed 19 Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was followed by surgical attacks that India conducted across the LoC.
The subsequent tension between India and Pakistan had a spillover effect on film industries on both sides of the border.
While MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to quit India, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution asking producers to avoid working with talent from Pakistan. And Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has become the first target.
"He (Singh) said that full protection will be given to all the exhibitors - whether it is single screen or multiplex owners. They will get 100 per cent police protection and the government of India will see to it that the film is released without any violence," Bhatt said.
Justifying Karan's decision to rope in Fawad for the film, Bhatt said the "climate back then was different. Now, times have changed. We know how to entertain people, we don't know politics and don't wish to get into it".
"MNS should not spoil Diwali of the families and let the film release peacefully," he added.
Singer-politician Babul Supriyo, who accompanied Bhatt, said: "We want to request MNS to let the films, which have been made now to get released without problems as a lot of money has been put behind it by our producers.
"From now on, we won't let Pakistani artistes work in our nation, till the time the situation improves. We have a very strong BJP government in Maharashtra under Devendra Fadnavis. The Mumbai Police has clearly said that no one will be allowed to take law and order into their hands. The kind of statements that MNS leaders have given, it is definitely not going to be tolerated," he added.
He said that producers, directors and actors make films for the entertainment of people, to spread love and "make all the festivals even more enjoyable. So, they are with the sentiments of the entire country".


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The Police 1983 Tour STING signed program and promo photo LP display x3
A stunning 1983 Souvenir Tour program 'cover' signed by the whole band, with additional signed promo photo, platinum disc and plaque.
Beautifully framed in a stunning Nielson frame, with RIA quality platinum disc and original promo band photo ! Ready to hang !.
This stunning, rare 1983 tour program / booklet is full of rare colour pictures ( 14" x 11" in size) and is included separately.
It includes a stunning fold out poster (approx 22" x 14") when opened, and is full of facts about the band, and the tour info.
Note: The original 1980's black and white promo photo, also signed by the full band, although a couple of the signatures are faint.
Please ask if additional photos required, as it looks stunning close up. Even the brass plaque has the image of the concert ticket.
Comes with lovely clear signatures on the program itself.
Signed by: (DOUBLE SIGNED !!!)
Stewart Copeland
Andy Summers
Comes with our own Devon Autograph COA and Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee
[Devon Autographs are UACC Registered Dealer #RD336]
Signed during the 1983 Synchronicity tour in Wembley Arena, London


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I had a problem with my computer and lost my authorization in the process, how can I re-authorize my computer?
Q: I had a problem with my computer, and had to re-format the hard drive, and lost my authorization in the process, how can I re-authorize my BIAS software for my computer?
A: Once you re-install your BIAS software, simply use the BIAS Authorization Manager, just as you did when you first installed your software. The BIAS server will recognize that you are re-authorizing the same computer (as long as your hardware has not changed), and will re-issue the same Authorization File as you originally received.
Search FAQ:
FAQ Categories:
- General
- Register / Activate / Authorize
- Peak 7
- Peak 6
- SoundSoap Pro
- SoundSoap
- SoundSaver
- Peak (Previous Versions)
- Deck


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For the past three years we've been watching great economic institutions, from banks to nations, collapsing into chaotic uncertainty. The economic future looks murky at best, and apocalyptic at worst. You can prepare for the coming upheavals by reading nonfiction by economists, political scientists, and pundits. But sometimes it's hard to imagine what's coming next without a good story to illustrate different possibilities.
That's why we've put together this book list for you, packed with novels about what happens to the world after total or partial economic collapse.
Special note to people who are going to ask about the Foundation series: Those novels may be about economics and social collapse, but not economic collapse per se.
Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, by Octavia Butler
In this two-part story of America's fall from economic superpower to oil-starved chaos ruled by roving gangs of Christian fundamentalists, Butler tells a chilling story of the end of civilization and the rise of hope in the form of a new religion. She charts the life story of a young woman, Lauren Olamina, raised in the near future in a walled suburb outside the poverty-stricken horror of what was once Los Angeles. When gangs finally burn her suburb down, she escapes with just a backpack, a gun, a bit of food, and enough seeds to start a farm in a remote part of Northern California. Kidnapped and tortured by fundamentalists, she later creates a religion whose chief tenant is that "God is change." As the country slowly drags itself back from the brink, Lauren devotes herself entirely to raising money for a generation ship so that humans can continue to evolve elsewhere in the galaxy. Realistically disturbing and hopeful by turns, these novels explore economic collapse as well as what small communities do to rebuilt the economy bit by bit.
Virtual Light, by William Gibson
The first novel in Gibson's Bridge Trilogy, Virtual Light focuses on an America whose middle class has disappeared - leaving only the super-rich and masses of poverty-stricken people who live in squats at the edges of cities. The novel is set in one such squat, crusted on the outside of the San Francisco Bay Bridge, damaged in an earthquake and left to turn into a shantytown. When a Bridge-dweller discovers secret plans to redevelop San Francisco, the story turns into a cat-and-mouse game that takes us through a world so divided between rich and poor that the gulf between them has become a wound.
Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson
Like Virtual Light, Diamond Age is set in a future where rich and poor are divided by rigid class divisions. Many people live in enclaves defined by wealth - and some, like our protagonists, live in a neo-Victorian world where social norms of the 19th century are lovingly embraced. But things are about to change, because an educational primer written for a little rich girl falls into the hands of a poor street kid. Educated by the digital book, she becomes a keen strategist and sets about to change the world by educating other abandoned children like herself. This novel explores a number of fascinating themes, not the least of which is how culture and education are shaped by economics. The one resource that could change the balance of power between rich and poor, Stephenson seems to suggest, is education.
He, She, and It, by Marge Piercy
Another cyberpunk future of corporate enclaves and fallen goverments is Piercy's He, She, and It. In it, one of the world's last remaining "free towns" (i.e., not corporate-owned) fights to retain its autonomy by fostering a lucrative cottage industry of cyborg soldiers. But one cyborg turns out to be more than just a commodity, and he develops his own opinions about the ethics of killing for the highest bidder.
Rule 34, by Charles Stross
Just published last month, Rule 34 deals with the aftermath of the present banking crisis, exploring what happens to Europe and America in the wake of one of the most devastating financial bloodbaths in recent memory. Analysts develop automated tools that sort through corporate records to look for signals of people engaging in moral gray-area behavior that could lead to another crisis. But, like the cyborg in He, She, and It, these automated tools wind up doing more than just keeping the economy running. (You can see our full review of this book here.) Stross has been praised by Paul Krugman as a particularly economic-savvy science fiction writer, and this novel about bank regulations and shell nations is Stross at the height of his econ geek powers.
Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi
This now-classic novel about a world after peak oil offers us a vision of what happens when Big Genomics replaces Big Oil. Agribusiness rules the world, and people struggle to survive on GMO grains made vulnerable to diseases while the government of Thailand guards its main source of wealth - a library of heirloom genes - jealously. If you want a glimpse of post-oil economics, this book is the place to start.
Liberation, by Brian Slattery and Julian Comstock, by Robert Charles Wilson
In our review of Slattery's book about how economic collapse brings slavery back to the U.S., we wrote:
The U.S. doesn't collapse because of ecological disaster or plague, but just economic crappiness. It's pretty much Brad DeLong's worst nightmare: the U.S. dollar becomes worthless, the foreign lenders all pull their money out, the banks all go under, everyone starves. When things reach their worst point, a former gang of super-criminals called the Slick Six reunite to put things right (sort of.)
Robert Charles Wilson's novel Julian Comstock, released the same year, deals with similar themes: An economically bankrupt north America returns to a slave economy and wages a civil war.
Jennifer Government, by Max Barry
In Max Barry's affecting, comic tale of life in a world where businesses have become defacto governments, everybody's last names are the names of the companies that employ them. All schools are privatized, and many are run by McDonalds (where they serve only McDonald's food, of course). Nike advertises its latest sneaker line by arranging for people to do drive-by shootings while wearing their footwear. There are no rules that prevent corporations from committing murder - literally. But a few people who still work for the state, like our hero Jennifer Government, are trying to put the brakes on rampant corporate warfare, complete with battles in shopping centers.
Brown Girl in the Ring, by Nalo Hopkinson
Hopkinson explores what happens when the city of Toronto pulls an Escape from New York on its downtown area, walling it off and creating a lawless prison for its inhabitants. Predated by rich people who want to harvest their organs, and left without any social services at all, members of the Caribbean-Canadian community struggle to survive with dignity. What's fascinating is that Hopkinson brings traditional Caribbean magic into her futuristic tale, showing us characters who gain power through retaining ties to their cultural past - and defeating drug lords of the future in the process.
Cities In Flight series (also known as the "Okie novels"), by James Blish
Published in the late 1950s and early 60s, this series of four novels deals with what happens to cities that take advantage of a new anti-gravity technology to "spin off" into space and become floating economic entities looking for work all over the galaxy. The series is influenced by post-economic collapse events during the Depression, when thousands of refugees from the Oklahoma and Arkansas dust bowl came to the west coast of the United States looking for work - these homeless workers were dubbed "Okies" and "Arkies." Blish imagines whole cities, complete with mining industry infrastructure, responding to poor economic conditions on Earth by looking for new planets packed with raw materials to exploit (especially in the second novel, A Life for the Stars). Essentially, industrial production never has to die — instead, the entire rust belt just flies to a new place and becomes productive again.


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Garmont Shasta
Supportive, comfortable trail sandals with great traction.
Brand: Garmont
Model: Shasta
How do you improve one of the grippiest, most durable, most supportive sandals out there? Make it even more grippy, durable, and supportive. That's what Chaco has done with the Pro, and if you want an open-air hiker, this is it. In collaboration with Vibram, Chaco developed a new rubber formula with less elasticity. The result: a sole that bites into micro nooks and crannies underfoot—in and out of water—almost as well as a climbing shoe, and is even more durable than previous models.
And a polyurethane midsole gives the sandal the underfoot feel of a light hiker that has exceptional arch support. On New Zealand's Inland Pack Track, one tester reported that it had more support and better traction than the lightweight boots he left at home. "And I didn't have to take off shoes and socks at each of the 22 river crossings," he says. "It held even on underwater boulders when I was getting pushed off balance by the current."
Desert hikers also loved the Pro, since there's no upper to trap sand and dirt (but keep an eye out for thorns). It comes in two models: Z/1 (no toe strap) and Z/2 (pictured). $105; 2 lbs.; m's 7-15, w's 5-12The Shasta delivers warm climate comfort and lightweight performance. Multiple mesh vents surround the foot allowing breathability, while intelligently placed bands of suede leather cradle the foot comfortably. The Garmont TPU spine system supports midfoot and protects underfoot. The EVA midsole has an additional heel area insert to provide all-day heel strike comfort.


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Start Your Utility Services in San José, CA:
City of San José Public Utilities Commission
San José, California Community
The City of San José is the third-largest city by population in California, the tenth-largest by population in the United States, and the county seat of Santa Clara County. San José is the largest city within the Bay Area and the largest city in Northern California.
San José is surrounded by rolling hills in Silicon Valley, and is a major technology hub in California's Bay Area. The downtown historic district is known for its architectural landmarks, from the 1883 Italianate-style Oddfellows building to Spanish Colonial Revival structures. The downtown area is also home to the Tech Museum of Innovation, devoted to the exploration of science and technology.
San José, CA History
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area around San José was inhabited by the Ohlone people. San José was founded on November 29, 1777, as San José de Guadalupe, the first civilian town in the Spanish colony of Alta California. The city served as a farming community to support Spanish military installations at San Francisco and Monterey. When California gained statehood in 1850, San José served as its first capital.
After more than 150 years as a small farming community, the San José area in the mid-20th century contained some of the last undeveloped land near San Francisco Bay. It then began to experience rapid population growth, much of it coming from veterans returning from World War II. San José then continued its aggressive expansion during the 1950s and 1960s by annexing more land area. The rapid growth of the high-technology and electronics industries further accelerated the transition from an agricultural center to an urbanized metropolitan area.
By the 1990s, San José's location within the booming local high tech industry earned the city the nickname "Capital of Silicon Valley". San José is now considered to be a global city, and notable for its affluence and high cost of living. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 1,015,785 as of 2014.
School Districts
San José Unified School District is a K-12 school district in Santa Clara County, California. It serves a large portion of the city of San José, California with a student population of approximately 32,000 in California's Silicon Valley. The district has more than 3,000 staff members who serve students in 42 schools that stretch from the Almaden Valley to downtown San José.
Colleges and universities in San José, California include the following:
Public High Schools in San José Unified School District include the following:
- Gunderson High School
- Leland High School
- Lincoln High School
- Pioneer High School
- San José High School
- Willow Glen High School
- Broadway High School
- Downtown College Prep – Charter School
San José Public Elementary Schools:
San José Public Middle Schools:
San José Private Schools:
City of San José Parks Map
There are more than a hundred regional and neighborhood parks in San José. Boasting more than 300 days of sunshine, the weather is ideal for getting outdoors and exploring city parks. San José has over 53 miles of trails and over 200 miles of on-street bikeways connecting residential neighborhoods to places of recreation and work. San José possesses about 15,950 acres of parkland in its city limits, including a part of the expansive Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The city's oldest park is Alum Rock Park, established in 1872.
Parks in San José include The Children's Discovery Museum which hosts an outdoor park-like setting featuring the world's largest permanent Monopoly game, per the Guinness Book of World Records. Kelley Park includes diverse facilities such as Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (a child-centric amusement park), the Japanese Friendship Garden, and History Park at Kelley Park which includes a replica of the San José Light Tower and the Portuguese Historical Museum. Overfelt Gardens features the Chinese Cultural Garden. Plaza de César Chávez, a small park in Downtown, hosts outdoor concerts and the annual Christmas in the Park display. Raging Waters is a family fun water park attraction sitting within Lake Cunningham Park. There is also the Rosicrucian Park, nearly an entire city block in the Rose Garden neighborhood which offers the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, Planetarium, Research Library, Peace Garden and Visitors Center. Other popular park areas include the San José Flea Market, San José Municipal Rose Garden featuring over 4,000 rose bushes, and the Winchester Mystery House in San José.
Visit the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services website for more information.
City of San José Crime Map
CrimeMapping.com provides valuable information about recent crime activity in the City of San José.
San José Chamber of Commerce
Programs to Help Your Business Thrive – Education, Events, Networking and Groups
San José, California Cost of Living
Visit Sperling's Best Places for info on San José, California cost of living, education statistics, crime rates, health, commute times, and more.
Shopping & Dining
San José offers many opportunities for shopping and dining.
Santana Row
The Plant
Westfield Oakridge
Eastridge Center
Westgate Center
Westfield Valley Fair (Santa Clara, CA)
Culture & Arts
The San José Office of Cultural Affairs is the champion of San José's artistic and cultural vibrancy, resources, and vision. It is the City of San José's lead agency for supporting the development of a rich arts and cultural environment for this diverse city's one million residents and its many visitors. As the largest city in northern California and the capital of Silicon Valley, San José is the hub of a wide array of arts and cultural opportunities.
Museums and other cultural attractions include the following:
- Children's Discovery Museum of San José
- Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, home of the largest Beethoven collection outside Europe
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, the largest U.S. public library west of Mississippi River
- Mexican Heritage Plaza, a museum and cultural center for Mexican Americans in the area
- Portuguese Historical Museum
- Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on display in the western United
- San José Museum of Art
- San José East Carnegie Branch Library is notable as it is the last Carnegie library still operating in San José, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- The Tech Museum of Innovation
- San José Steam Railroad Museum
San José Public Library
The San José Public Library system is extensive with 24 branches. The library has many programs including adult tutoring, library services volunteers, Friend of the San José Public Library program, teensReach youth advisory council for ages 13-18, TechMentor computer skill sharing program, Homework Club Volunteer program for grades K-8, and ESL club facilitators. Some branches offer public art exhibits, eBooks and eMedia, room reservations, WiFi and computers, and museum ticket reservations. There are also events at the library branches such as baby and toddler story time, computer and ESL classes, arts and crafts, and library book sales.
Hotels & Lodging
Looking to visit? Find the best hotels in San José, California at TripAdvisor.
Established Home Communities:
- Find yourSan José Neighborhood
New Home Communities:
- The Globe – Urban Condominium Residences in Downtown San José
- Ellington at Avenue One by Lennar Homes (urban village in the heart of San José)
- Grand at Avenue One by Lennar Homes (contemporary townhomes)
- Astoria Townhomes by Lennar Homes (in the heart of San José)
- Orchard Park by The New Home Company (single family attached homes in the Berryessa District)
- Town Homes at Onyx by Pulte Homes (upcoming King & Dobbin Transit Village in San José)
- Traverse Condominiums – Journey & Voyage Collections by KHovnanian Homes (in nearby Milpitas)
- Darrow Farm by Robson Homes (single family detached homes in nearby Fremont, CA)
- Mission Heights by Robson Homes (luxury view homes in the Mission foothills in Fremont's Mission District)
- The Abbey at Palmdale Estates by Robson Homes (on historic estate in Fremont's Mission District)
- Madison Town Homes (in nearby Campbell, CA in Santa Clara county)
(page excerpts from wikipedia.org)


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Welcome to Mr. Bailey's HomepageHello, everyone.We are focusing on a new curriculum and new requirements for the middle school. I will be working with grades 6, 7, and 8 in order to help students move towards their goals.
If you have any questions for me, please contact me at email@example.com


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- Home
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HOTEL » Concorde Hotel
Concorde by Mourouj Fujairah is an elegant 5 star hotel, situated in the heart of Fujairah along the city's main road, Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdulla, Just 15 minutes away from Fujairah port and 5 minutes drive away from Fujairah International Airport. Our Fujairah hotel offers luxury accommodation with free parking and a rooftop swimming pool.
Our accommodation boasts superbly furnished rooms and suites with views of the sea or mountains looking towards Fujairah International Airport. Fitted with elegant interiors, each room and suite is equipped with satellite TV and bathroom amenities.
Organize your events and meetings in one of the hotel's 10 meeting rooms or arrange your wedding party or conferences in the biggest Ballroom on the east coast of the UAE which can comfortably accommodate up to 900 guests.
The 5 star Concorde by Mourouj Fujairah hotel is conveniently situated for business and leisure travelers and also within easy walking distance to the shopping center, many restaurants and city attractions.
Guests can comfortably stroll round the Ain Al Madhab Gardens or visit the Fujairah Fort, Fujairah Museum and Ottoman Mosque. The City has a collection of traditional markets as well as modern shopping malls. Eating out in Fujairah is a treat for the senses with many excellent Persian, Lebanese, Arabian and international restaurants near to the hotel.
Concorde by Mourouj Fujairah has an ideal location:
- 5 minutes from Fujairah International Airport
- 5 minutes from Fujairah City Centre
- 10 Minutes from the Fujairah Beach
- 15 minutes from Fujairah port
- Stunning views of the Fujairah skyline
- Walking distance from the many attractions of Fujairah City
- View of the sea or mountains looking towards the International Airport
- Stroll round the Ain Al Madhab Gardens
The spa and wellness centre has a variety of beauty treatments. Guests can make use of the fully-equipped fitness centre. Our 5 star hotel also offers a superb choice of fine dining restaurants and room service facilities. The all day dining restaurant, Belle View unfurls a scrumptious range of buffet breakfasts, lunches and sit down dinners. While the Samakino Seafood Restaurant is the place to go to for seafood enthusiasts offering fresh fish delights prepared by highly skilled chefs. One can also enjoy our Queen of Shisha where guests are treated to traditional music as they enjoy the many flavours of Shisha in this air conditioned café. The Bistro Cafe meanwhile serves mouth-watering pastries and pies from its cake counter. The Splash Pool Bar is the perfect spot to soak up the sun even while sipping on your favourite drink.
By providing a high level of comfort and service, an outstanding and varied cuisine as well as high standards of hygiene, safety and environmental friendliness, Concorde by Mourouj Fujairah has acquired an excellent reputation


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Patient Support
We realize and understand every challenge faced by our Patients living with cancer. You will find us at any time to seek our assistance and advice, which will help in overcoming physical and emotional challenges faced by you.
"You are not alone"
Please call us at any time during your treatment and feel free in sharing your concerns and send us your feedback.
Get our Help to Manage:
- Family matters (Children, Marital and other Family concerns)
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Baptism as Liberation
January 13, 2019
Sarah Brouwer
A younger adult in our church recently commented that the pastors always look SO happy when they are baptizing babies. He thought it was because babies are cute- it made me wonder if that's what most people think. Babies are cute, of course. I love holding those squirmy little nuggets for a few minutes in front of everybody. It is one of the perks of the job, for sure. But, the reason we are so happy has mostly to do with what baptism means.
Maybe I should back up though, because I think we- "we" meaning the Church, the big "C" Church- we tend to assume that everyone understands what baptism is, or what it's for. But, in this day and age we can't just assume everyone is baptized let alone has the language to articulate it.
And, I realize, too, that this text from Luke doesn't help much. There is some dissonance between the story of Jesus' baptism and the ones you would see on Sundays at Westminster. For starters, Tim doesn't usually refer to the congregation as a brood of vipers. And, second, John the Baptist feels a little bit like a fire and brimstone preacher, which likely makes many of us cringe.
John the Baptist, you might remember, was the son who was born to Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, in her old age. It was foretold by an angel that John would prepare the way for Jesus. And from what we know that meant John would spend most of his adult life living in the desert, in near isolation. Totally normal.
So, the crowds that he drew must have been interested in him, first of all. He was probably a little quirky. I picture scorched, sandy skin from years out in the sun, long, tangled hair, a scratchy, stringy beard, a robe with dirty sandaled feet, and sticky hands from eating all those grasshoppers and honey. He not only sounded a little out there, but he might have appeared that way, too.
John, though, did have a compelling message. People were intrigued by the radical things this ancient hippy was telling them about a Messiah, and they wanted to be part of it. They wanted to be baptized. And, John knew what his calling was. He was there to prepare these folks for Jesus. To live as followers of The Way. Baptism wasn't just about joining a new group, it was about a fundamental change of life. And so he said to them, "Look, don't think that where you're from or who your ancestors are will define you anymore." He was explaining that it was not just the Jewish people, but even tax collectors and soldiers who were going to be welcomed in- the people that were least expected. John kept going, though. He demanded that since all would be welcome, they had to start making everyone feel welcome- everyone they encountered. Give away a coat. Share food. And, he didn't leave out the tax collectors and soldiers. He told them, too, "look, this means something, to be baptized. You need to live like you're changed. So, don't overtax the poor, and don't wield your power over people who have none."
Saying these outrageous things got John thrown in prison quickly- to upend the social and political order like that had its price. Preparing the way for Jesus had a cost.
We rarely think of Baptism being so risky and chaotic, but it was there, for a while, for those early Christians, especially. Water in the Bible is often associated with discord and fear, and if you've ever been pulled in by the undertow in the ocean or one of the Great Lakes you know how powerful water can be. When God separated the water from the land at creation, it took mountains to do it- to divide and pierce their way through. The flood almost killed off all the living creatures on the Earth, and for the people of Israel it took Moses to part the waters of the Red Sea, so they could find their way from slavery to freedom. Water can be fierce- devastating, even.
The water in the River Jordan that day wasn't just crossed, it brought people together in the midst of a divisive and chaotic world. They didn't so much need a bath as much as they were thirsty for the message John was preaching. And it wasn't a light sprinkling, bouncing baby kind of message. John said Jesus was coming to baptize with fire- to clear the threshing floor and burn it up. John was preaching about the power of baptism to bring different humans into community with one another under the radical and provocative notion that they could all be loved, equally, by the same God. Baptism was about freeing people from the idea that some are worthy of God's love and some are not. Now, I don't think we need to suddenly get crazy with our baptisms, heading down to the Mississippi and lighting bonfires, though that would be kind of cool. But, John's words add weight to something we often see as merely a rite of passage or just a lovely thing to do.
Some of the images shown earlier in the service, you might have noticed, were paintings of African Americans being baptized in bodies of water. There is a whole tradition of African American Southern Folk Art around water and baptism. There are depictions of large groups of people- men, women and children in water, outside, usually dressed in white. And there are scenes of slaves escaping through water, traveling with the risk of capture in order to get to freedom. In the privilege I experience, I forget what baptism must mean to someone, or a community of people, that isn't free. You see, baptism today might seem like an exclusive practice- baptized in, non-baptized out. But, it's exactly the opposite. When you're claimed by God in baptism there are no categories, anymore. You're free from how the world defines you, because God has defined you. You are known and loved. If anything, the water in baptism is just a symbol of the water that touches all people, in some way or another, because we are all so wanted- even the tax collectors and soldiers, the politicians and CEOs, the gang members and prisoners and slaves and whoever else might be considered in or out.
You may have also noticed some of the photos that were shown earlier, maybe wondering why they were there. A couple were of a wall that separates part of the border between Mexico and California, right at the ocean. When I saw those it struck me that not even a wall could prevent the water from going around. We couldn't make a wall long enough to separate the ocean. And, it's all the same water- you can take a nice swim on either side, a dip in the same droplets of sea that foreigners touch, too. On some of the metal bars that make up the wall are written the names of those who have died trying to cross it. And, I like to the think the water lapping up on the edge is baptizing them, too. Reminding them that they are claimed, and known, and loved by God, and now eternally free from all that separates us from one another.
In my previous church I baptized nearly a whole family, over the course of a few years. It was baptizing the dad, though, that was so memorable. Of course, we baptize babies because we believe that there is nothing you can do to earn God's love and grace- might as well welcome them into the fold as soon as possible. But, there is something about baptizing an adult who is conscious of what it all means- who realizes what they are getting themselves into- that is so amazing. To look someone in the eye and remind them of God's promises, you can sense that they are thinking: "wow." And, also, "now what? What does it mean?"
Preacher John Buchanan once said that he loves how remarkably lean the beginning of the Gospel stories are- particularly between Jesus' birth and baptism. There isn't a lot of instruction, even though we wish for more. But, maybe that's the point. People went about their lives, baptized, and they had to figure out what that meant, how they were going to live. Buchanan says, "it's when we start demanding particulars that we get into trouble." I wonder, should there be an instruction manual on how we should live after we're baptized? Beyond, you are loved, you are not alone, go and love others. I think I agree with Buchanan- that seems a little prescriptive, as though these simple, liberating truths can't inform everything we believe and do.
Ministers are happy when they baptize babies because it's a privilege and a great joy. Imagine if someone walked up to you and said this: "You are loved for no other reason than for being exactly who you are. And, you are always, and forever will be more than enough. And, you belong- you are a full part of this community, and absolutely integral to the life of the world. And, you are never alone." It's freeing to remember that on our worst days God is pleased with us. With you, and with little ole me. Pleased beyond measure, actually. And, really, it's as simple and profound as that. It doesn't need to be more theologically complex. But, it's living as though its true that gets a little snarly. And living as though it could be true for everyone, is where the story gets a little hairy. Because frankly, we have a hard time imagining how that could be possible.
The thing I like to remind people about baptism, as if I haven't said enough already, is that ministers might splash the water on, but it's really the Holy Spirit doing the baptizing. And, so, who are we to say who is baptized and who is not? Maybe that was John's point. Maybe what he was really saying is that when the world feels like its burning, everyone should get in the river and get wet. When the walls go up, hop in and swim around them. When you're escaping from slavery, go through the river so slave owners can't trace you and claim you as their own. Cause you'll all be free from the harshness and heat, right here, in the cool, cool water.
Thanks be to God. Amen.


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Dune HD – High-end XMBC streamer on Intel SoC Coming Late Summer
Details were sparse with Dune HD not willing to let us take pictures of the hardware, but we saw it running on some sort of media player Atom SoC. Availability should be later summer (CEDIA time frame), with a higher-end inital target market. We were told the new device was running a "Berryville" CE5315, which looks like a competent foundation […]Read more


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Life Is Going Swimmingly for New Hippo Calf
September 29, 2017
The San Diego Zoo welcomed a newborn Hippopotamus calf to its Lost Forest habitat on September 22.
The curious baby is reported to be healthy and is staying close to mother, Funani. This is the 12th calf born to Funani and father, Otis. Keepers will give the calf a name when they are able to confirm the sex. For now, guests of the San Diego Zoo can hope to catch a glimpse of the baby with Funani during normal operating hours.
The Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or Hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous and aggressive mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis).
Although the Hippo is currently only classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, their habitat has been greatly reduced over the last 200 years. Even more devastating to Hippo populations is the current trade in illegal ivory. Following the 1989 ban on Elephant ivory, demand for Hippo ivory has sharply increased. The large canines that Hippos use to protect themselves are made of the same material as Elephants' tusks. In fact, they are slightly softer and easier to carve than Elephant ivory, making them even more appealing to ivory buyers. As a result, Hippo numbers are rapidly decreasing.
According to the Zoo, if Hippos were to disappear completely, the effect on their habitat would be catastrophic. The large amount of waste that Hippos produce provides important nutrients for their African ecosystem. In addition, many species of fish eat the dung and feed on the small parasites that live on the Hippos' skin.


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Come participate in our nativity pageant at our family Christmas service. Only a few roles are cast in advance of the service. The 27 (or more) remaining participants (including shepherds, stars, kings, and animals) take part as the story is told. Everyone is invited to sing carols and imagine that they are in Bethlehem 2016 years ago.
Topics: Being a Community of PresenceTopics: Being a Community of Presence


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The body uses many instinctive mechanisms designed to keep us alive. One of the most impressive is the ability to quickly become supercharged in times of extreme danger. Our ancestors would have regularly dealt with life-threatening situations, like being attacked by a large animal, and would have benefited greatly from this survival mechanism.
When our brain detects danger, it floods the body with a hormone called cortisol. This generally prompts the body to respond in one of three ways: we attack (fight), we run away (flight) or we remain completely still (freeze). These days we don't come across life-threatening situations all that often, but the brain isn't good at differentiating between sensations linked to an extreme physical threat and sensations linked to an extreme emotional threat. When we experience stress, shame, fear, anger and other negative emotions, our brain can interpret this as extreme danger.
Everyone knows that strong emotional reactions can pop up in any situation, including the learning setting. A student might feel intimidated and afraid if a task is too difficult, embarrassed if a mistake is made in front of the class or frustrated if a new concept is hard to understand. They might even become enraged if they put effort into a learning task and still can't grasp it.
Any of these experiences can trigger a flood of cortisol throughout the body. While this mechanism enables fast, effective action when there's no time to stop and think, it produces an utterly ineffective response when the exact opposite is needed. In this state, taking the time to stop and think clearly is very hard to do. Research shows that high levels of cortisol can impede our ability to learn.
When a student finds it difficult to read, they're likely to experience emotional distress. This can produce a stress reaction before a class has even started, further hindering the capacity to learn, and a vicious cycle forms that stops some students from learning to read. They fall further behind their peers and catching up can seem an impossible task.
It's crucial to structure learning experiences in a way that avoids triggering this unhelpful cortisol reaction. Given the inconsistencies and complexities of the English language, and given struggling readers might have low self-esteem around their reading ability, it's no simple task to support students toward becoming fluent readers without activating a stressful response.
This is an excerpt from a short book written by the founders of Readable English, Ann Fitts and Chris Stephen, titled "Readable English: Why Learning To Read English Is So Hard And How To Make It Easier". You can access the entire book from the Readable English website.


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Due to a high volume of requests, turnaround time on reports is currently 1 week.
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Marmol Radziner Standard Lightweight Ring Collection
Sold Out
LA-based architecture firm Marmol Radziner has demonstrated their skills in projects ranging from chic and minimalist prefab housing to the careful restoration of Richard Neutra's famed Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. Their new jewelry collection is modern design rendered on a smaller scale, yet it's no less striking and elegant. Born out of their experience with designing and making fittings and fixtures for their buildings, their unisex jewelry is boldly modern and elemental. Hand crafted from solid brass, each piece will change and patina over time in response to the wearer—dark finishes will lighten, light finishes will darken. Subtle perforations add depth to the otherwise unadorned metal.