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For a long weekend at the end of October, I swooped a flight to Copenhagen! Because I had not yet met my new coworkers and I was planning farther ahead than anyone else wanted to, it soon turned into a solo journey to Denmark. I hadn't traveled alone since my summer 2014 adventures, but because Denmark is considered to be one of the happiest countries in the world, I figured that I would survive three days by myself. There was an incredibly special feeling that washed over me when I stepped foot into Denmark. It was an entirely new place that felt just like home.
Getting to Copenhagen
Flights to Copenhagen from other major cities in Europe are relatively cheap, I think my total cost was 60 euro return. Once at the airport, getting to the city center is an absolute breeze. Follow the signs for the metro/train/bus, buy a ticket at the kiosk (they are all the same price, the metro is the quickest and most painless in my opinion) and jump on. My hostel was closer to Nørreport station, so I took the M2 there. It was incredibly simple, reliable and quick.
I stayed at Generator Hostel Copenhagen which was excellent in terms of amenities and location. It is reasonably priced considering it is more of a hotel than a hostel. My complaint about it is how corporate it feels. There is no kitchen or communal space for food preparation, in fact, you cannot bring in your own food. This lost a lot of points in my book especially because Copenhagen is an incredibly expensive city!
Getting around
I rented a bike from my hostel for 24 hours to explore the city faster, but one could easily see all the major sites on foot over the course of 2 days, especially if you are staying right in the center. It is a very bike friendly city, and it was fun to zip around on two wheels for a day.
Rosenborg Castle & Botanical Gardens
One of the first sites I crossed off my list was the Rosenborg Castle and the Botanical Gardens. The Castle is located in a beautiful park, right near the grounds and greenhouses of the gardens, which are free to enter. Walking into the palm room was like going from a cold day to the tropics, and it was interesting for a biologist like myself to have a gander at the plant biology & botany facilities of the University of Copenhagen.
Freetown Christiania
In the borough of Christianhavn of Copenhagen is Christiania, a self-proclaimed autonomous community of about 800-1000 residents, occupying what was once Danish military barracks. It is a big draw for young travelers, as there is a strong cannabis culture within the community, and the overall atmosphere is very free-spirited and hippie. I biked around the different communities, and while I found it interesting, I wouldn't say it was my favorite part of Copenhagen. It is a bit dodgy, as there is a lot of conflict with police raids, so in certain areas, DO NOT use your camera. The people dealing hash have been known to get very aggressive toward naive tourists who are snapping photos. Thus, I only took this photo while exploring the different areas of the neighborhood
Kastellet & The Little Mermaid Statue
On my first day of exploring, I decided I would walk to the famous Little Mermaid statue to cross it off the list. In that same general direction is the Amalienborg Palace and Kastellet. Kastellet is one of the best preserved star fortresses in Europe, and it is a really cool thing to walk around in for a bit. Bonus: There was a woman with a crepe stand in the middle of it and the nutella crepe she made me was INCREDIBLE. I still dream about it.
The statue wasn't exactly a let-down; I had been pre-warned about how dinky it was in real life, so that didn't come as a surprise. It was just a strange thing to be so famous, and there wasn't any information posted around it that would give someone a clue as to why it is so famous. I definitely found it hilarious to stand back and watch a sharp-elbowed Japanese tour group kick a bunch of rowdy drunk Russian tourists out of their way to get the best selfies. It was quite the experience, like I could feel that everyone was thinking the same thing:
"That's IT? Well, I guess I'll try to get a decent selfie and then get out of here, it's cold."
Nevertheless, it was a cool thing to see and the waterfront of Copenhagen was really beautiful.
Originally constructed in the late 1600's, this picturesque waterfront canal is one of the tourist hotspots of Copenhagen. Nice restaurants line the long stretch of canal, boat tours leave constantly from this port and it is full of old wooden ships. Definitely a must-see in Copenhagen, Hans Christian Andersen lived at number 67!
Tivoli Gardens
On every online travel guide to Copenhagen, the Tivoli Gardens are listed as "must-see/do" thing, generally #1 or #2 on the list. I was a bit hesitant, not only because I've been to plenty of theme parks in my life and it sounded obnoxiously touristy, but it also seemed a bit sad and weird to go to an amusement park by myself. I asked my waitress at brunch about it, and she said that she had worked at Tivoli for 2 years, and that autumn was her favorite time because of the decorations. So, I decided I'd give it a go.
I even rode the world's second oldest roller coaster, a wooden coaster built in 1914.
Cost to get into Tivoli Gardens: About 15 euro
Cost per ride: About 6 euro (can be much cheaper with an unlimited ride pass purchase)
Food: I spent 20 euro at wagamama in the park, there are tons of restaurants to choose from within the grounds.
It's expensive, but I would say it's worth it. If I wouldn't have gone, I would be kicking myself wishing that I had.
Christianborg Palace Views
A cool FREE thing to do in an otherwise expensive city is jump in the lift to the top of the Christianborg Palace for a beautiful 360 view of all of Copenhagen. The line took awhile, but there was free wi-fi so I could be on my phone to pass the time.
Right off of Nyhavn, this restaurant had an AMAZING brunch that I ate on my first day. Eggs Benedict with spinach florentine, garnished with pomegranate seeds. Service was also great and the place was packed – for a reason!
Copenhagen Street Food
A huge indoor and outdoor space right on the water, Copenhagen Street Food is a great food market with cuisine from around the world.
The Bagel Co.
A chain in Copenhagen and a great place to grab breakfast. Made me miss Bruegger's Bagels a bit less, fulfilled my cravings for a hearty bagel sandwich to start the day.
Ristet hotdog
A fully loaded Copenhagen classic! This hot dog is smothered in onions, different sauces and pickles and it's cheap and delicious. Definitely recommend giving it a try, all the hotdog stands throughout the city have them.
A Denmark classic, these open-faced sandwiches are awesome! I opted for roast beef with carmelized onions & mushrooms, topped with a fried egg and some pickles. I ate at Hyttefadet Nyhavn, which was a nice and not outrageously expensive restaurant for being right on the canal.
In a nutshell….
Copenhagen was an incredible city to visit, and in a lot of ways, I felt very at home there, which is interesting as there are a lot of Danish immigrants in Minnesota. It felt like true autumn, very different from the autumn of Madrid. It is very safe and easy to get around, which is great for solo travelers, however, I wouldn't call it a top destination for solo travelers. Because a lot of the appealing things to do revolve around going out to eat, it would have been nice to share this experience with friends or a significant other. I still had an amazing time, being alone didn't detract from my experience at all, it just would be a great place to explore (read – share food and try ALL the things!) with other people too.
This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.


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We all know the current paradigm in drug development is far from perfect and does not always suit patients' needs. More specifically, new treatments without sufficient earning potential are not likely to be developed into new products, despite the potential benefits for patients. We all accept this; it is the price we pay for the system designed to protect that same patient. And of course, patients need to be protected and the public needs to be able to trust that new treatments are indeed safe and working. So, we developed a system in which huge amounts of cash are needed to put a new product on the market. As a result, prices for new treatments are sky-rocketing and -even more bothersome– many high potential treatments will never reach patients at all. Indeed: the price we pay.
At EATRIS, our focus is translational research. How can we increase the efficiency of the drug development, and ensure that patients are reached faster and with better treatments? One clear bottleneck is the gap between academic researchers, funders and regulators, and recently I came across a very nice showcase in which exactly this gap was overcome.
Prof. Jolanda de Vries from Radboudumc has been working on dendritic cell based vaccines for many years. This is a promising and emerging approach, especially in the treatment of (metastasized) melanoma. The problem is that the treatment is complicated and hence expensive; it is an autologus cell therapy which means it requires harvesting and treatment of the patient's own dendritic cells. Moreover, just as with regular vaccinations a single set of treatments is sufficient to boost the patient's own immune response. This might be nice for the patient, businesswise it is less attractive. So, end of story? By no means!
Prof. De Vries successfully applied for a specific conditional approval program in the Netherlands. Under the arrangements of this program, costs of this experimental treatment are actually reimbursed by the Dutch health insurance. As a result, a nationwide clinical trial has been initiated (EudraCT Number 2015-005322-19), which is co-sponsored by the supplier of the kits needed to treat the cells.
There are multiple reasons I like this so much. First and foremost, of course, it is great that these patients now have a treatment option they would have missed out on otherwise. But I also like the way the various stakeholders are working together; the academic who initiated and is leading the trial, the participating hospitals with their physicians and patients, the government, which granted the conditional approval, the insurance companies (even though they did not have much of a choice after the approval had been granted, they do reap the fruits of successful treatments), and even the company that is co-sponsoring the trial in the hope to generate market share in consumables once the treatment has proved to be effective.
Now, would this just be a black swan, or is this a glimpse on what may become a new paradigm for drug development? Let's hope for the latter. We should be able to reinvent the system; in fact, we owe this to ourselves. One way to accomplish this is to limit the expenses needed to get new treatments to patients. This can be achieved by granting conditional approvals once the safety of a new treatment has been established. In this way, treatments will become available earlier, at lower costs, and efficacy data will be based on real-world results rather than on results from strictly controlled phase III trials (which often proves not to be too predictive for real-world results). This is even more relevant in the era of personalized medicines.
Let us return to the trial of Prof. De Vries for a moment. After all, it is only for the dedication of Prof. De Vries and her team that this dendritic cell therapy has reached the patient. It is exactly this dedication we will need. In the end, translational research is not a goal in itself; treating patients is the goal.


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10 Awesome Interview Questions to Really Get to Know Job Candidates
The last few weeks I've been focused on hiring a new team member. Although time-consuming and laborious, it's one of the most important things I do and is one responsibility a leader can't delegate. I have two main goals when… Read More


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Marvel has two more teasers for new series under Marvel NOW! for us today, and they're easily the most vague we've seen of them all.
We're pretty clueless about this first one, via CBR, but they speculate it's a version of Secret Avengers or Secret Warriors, which sounds right to us but it also wouldn't be an Earth-shattering suprise for that to be wrong. Could it also be something that is related to Dennis Hopeless' other Marvel NOW! title that was teased yesterday? Whatever the title ends up being, Dennis Hopeless is writing the comic and Salvador Larroca will be drawing.
Then there is the second teaser from Comics Alliance. Could it be a villain-centric book? Or is it that team book The Punisher is supposed to be on? Sam Humprhies will be writing this one with Ron Garney on art duties.


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Does hybrid sterility, the fact that some hybrids are infertile, prove that evolution can't happen?
There are two things to consider here:
It's probably apparent, just by the questions I asked, that hybrid sterility doesn't disprove evolution.
Creationists, in general, are not asking the question, "Did evolution happen?" If they were asking that question, it would be obvious that finding a few hybrids such as mules, ligers (lion and tiger mix), and catalo (cattle and buffalo mix) that cannot reproduce or cannot maintain a new hybrid species, doesn't disprove anything. After all, one can't prove that birds can't migrate by using ostriches and chickens as examples!
Creationists are usually asking, "What evidence can I find that could possibly constitute a difficult hurdle for evolution to overcome?"
When that question is asked, then evidence is found everywhere. Evolution has incredible hurdles to overcome, and they can be found everywhere. Survival is difficult, and the march of life through time has produced astounding, awe-inspiring features to overcome those hurdles.
Think about cars. Think about how long they last, and how difficult it is to keep all their parts functioning? Humans perform much more intricate functions than cars, and we have many more parts, yet the average American lives over 70 years! Turtles are known to live longer than two centuries! Cars haven't even been around that long!
And then there's plants. There are Redwood trees that have lived since before the time of Christ!
So finding difficult hurdles for evolution to cross is not hard to do, but those hurdles have nothing to do with whether evolution occurred.
We have to make sure we're asking the right questions.
Hybrid sterility is by no means universal, nor even necessarily prevalent. Dr. Eugene McCarthy writes:
Available information suggests the majority of animal hybrids are partially fertile. In my own survey of hybridization in birds (McCarthy 2006), I found that, for those avian crosses for which information on fertility is available, the ratio of crosses producing partially fertile hybrids to those producing highly sterile ones is about six to one. In the survey of mammalian hybrids I am currently conducting, I also find partially fertile hybrids are common.
Wikipedia lists several examples, including a wolphin, a cross between a false killer whale and a bottlenose dolphin. King snakes and corn snakes are also listed as producing fertile offspring.
Meet Kawii Kai, the daughter of two hybrid "wolphins," crosses between the false killer whale and the bottlenose dolphin. | Photo by Mark Interrante, used with permission
Thus, if fertile hybrids were necessary to evolution, there are plenty of examples that nature is capable of producing those.
But are fertile hybrids really needed for evolution to occur?
One set of fertile hybrids I particularly want to address is dogs.
Coyotes, wolves, dingoes, jackals, and domestic dogs produce fertile hybrids. I can already picture an anti-evolutionist saying, "Well, see. That just proves they're really all one species—the dog 'kind.'"
How convenient! If a hybrid is sterile, then those are separate species which can't produce fertile hybrids. If the hybrid is fertile, then those aren't different species. A bit of circular reasoning there!
Far from disproving evolution, hybrid sterility may be necessary to preserve new species formed by mutation and selected by natural selection!
This hybrid inviability and sterility, collectively known as hybrid incompatibility, can reduce the exchange of genetic variants between species. Thus, hybrid incompatibility can be important in the process of speciation by acting as a reproductive isolating barrier (Coyne & Orr, 2004). (Nature.com, parentheses in quote are in original)
More specifically, "the fertile hybrid offspring of cuban crocodiles and american crocodiles is considered a threat to the endangered cuban crocodiles unique lineage"! (The original link is now down. It was at http://www.iucncsg.org/ph1/modules/Publications/ActionPlan3/ap2010_19.html. That's gone, but current articles, as of May, 2012, are here and here.)
Why this would be true is not difficult to understand.
Evolution occurs by gradual change. Even Stephen Gould's punctuated equilibrium theory suggests gradual change by any standard we can conceive of; he only speeds the process up to occasional bursts of speciation occurring over a thousand to ten thousand years, followed by periods of stability.
Thus a typical speciation event would involve a portion of a population of some species becoming isolated from their counterparts by some event. In the case of Darwin's finches, it was being marooned on the Galapagos Islands. There, they gradually changed, as all species do, until they were no longer compatible with their ancestral species on the South American mainland.
This scenario, the most common way for evolution to occur, does not require hybridization at all.
In fact, as pointed out in the <cite>Nature</cite> article referenced above, hybrid sterility can help keep the new species from intermingling with its ancestral species and losing its uniqueness.
Obviously, though, since not all hybrids are sterile, it is possible for new species to be created by hybridization.
Return to Frequently Asked Questions


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Whether you call it a PLN or a PLC or a time waste the iPad has gotten me back into Twitter. My primary use for Twitter is to learn from other people. I only follow people who can teach me stuff. Mainly other educators. Anyway, I've since started getting all my news and such on the iPad and almost never even check Google Reader on my laptop anymore.
FlipBoard and Twitter
Google Reader and RSS
Online Media
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Hydroelectric Power Generation
From Thermal-FluidsPedia
Currently there are about 680,000 MW of hydroelectric capacity installed throughout the world, which fulfills about a quarter of the world's electricity demand and supplies more than one billion people with power. Worldwide, the amount of hydroelectric power that can be developed is about five times greater than current capacity. With 332 billion kWh and 12.5% of the world's production, Canada is the leading hydropower producer; it satisfies 60% of its electricity needs by hydropower. After Canada, Brazil, and China, the United States is the fourth largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. (1) Norway relies on its vast hydropower resources for 99% of its electricity, making it the cleanest country in the world in terms of energy use. (2)
Hydroelectric plants range in scale from large falling water plants used in developed nations to small river runoff plants with no dams or water storages used for rural electrification in less-developed countries. China has the most hydropower resources and has installed more than 40% of the entire world's small hydro (50 kWe-10 MWe) capacity.( a ) For now, the largest hydroelectric plant in the world is located at Itaipú along the Parana River between Paraguay and Brazil. It has a power output of 12,600 MW and supplies 80% of the electricity consumed in Paraguay and a quarter of Brazil's total supply (Figure 1). The Itaipu plant will, however, concede its ranking to the Three Gorges plant being built over the Yangtze River in China. Slated for completion by 2010, it will produce 18,200 MW. The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with a total drop of 980 m. The largest hydroelectric plant in the United States (and the third largest in the world after Itaipu in Brazil and Guri in Venezuela) is the Grand Coulee on the Columbia River in Washington State. Its three power plants can collectively produce 6,800 MWe. The power plant in Niagara, at 1,950 MWe capacity, is only of modest size.
Although the majority of large hydroelectric plants (>10 MWe) have already been constructed where it made economic sense, small-scale hydro plants have been largely ignored. Figure 2 shows the exploited and potential hydroelectric resources for various continents. (3) As this data indicates, most of the potential hydro sources for industrial nations have been used up. However, a huge hydro potential remains to be utilized by developing countries.
Plant Types
There are three kinds of hydropower plants: impounded plants, pumped storage plants, and run-of-the-river plants.
Impounded plants, in which water is impounded in a reservoir behind a dam, are the most common. The water storage and release cycles can be relatively short (storing water at night for daytime power generation), or long (storing spring runoff for power generation in the summer). In these plants, water always flows downward from a storage reservoir behind a dam to run a turbine. Turbines are devices that convert the energy of a moving fluid (usually water, steam, or air) into the rotational energy of a shaft. During peak demands, where sufficient electricity cannot be generated by conventional means, enough water is released from the reservoir to meet additional power requirements. The primary issue with these plants is that the water flow rate downstream from the dam can change greatly, causing a sudden power surge. This often involves dramatic environmental consequences including soil erosion, degrading shorelines, crop damage, disruption of fisheries and other wildlife, and even flooding or droughts.
Pumped storage plants (PSP) reuse water after its initial use to generate electricity. This is accomplished by pumping water back into a storage tank at a higher elevation during off-peak hours when the need for electric power is low. During peak demands or when there is an unexpected spike in the electrical load, water is allowed to flow back into the lower reservoir to produce more electricity. An important advantage of PSPs is the quick delivery of power during emergencies and power surges. In comparison, a typical coal- or natural gas-fired power plant takes many hours to start. In the United States, about one quarter of all hydropower generated is from pumped storage plants.
Instead of water being pumped to the storage reservoir at a higher elevation, during the peak demand, water can be allowed to fall in underground reservoirs dug out in hard rocks. When demand falls, the base load can pump the water back to the reservoir. Since there is smaller fluctuation in the level of water in the storage reservoir, the system is more stable.
In modern pumped storage plants, the same turbine-generator that generates electricity from falling water can also be used to pump the water back into the storage tank. In this case, the generator changes the direction of the electric field, forcing the turbine to rotate in the reverse direction and act as a motor which runs the pump.
Run-of-River Plants are typically low dams where the amount of water running through the turbine varies with the flow rate of water in the river. The flow rate of water and the amount of electricity that is generated in the run-of-river plants is generally smaller than in pumped storage plants, and changes continuously with seasons and weather conditions. Since these plants do not block water in a reservoir, their environmental impact is minimal.
Plant Design
Water used by a hydroelectric plant is stored behind a dam at a certain elevation (head) above a turbine. The water flows through a penstock and through the blades of the turbine, causing the turbine to rotate. Depending on amount of electric energy required, the flow through the turbine is adjusted by series of gates and valves. The turbine shaft is normally coupled to the generator shaft to produce electricity.
In a typical small hydro scheme, a portion of the water is diverted from a river or stream through an intake valve. It is then passed through a metal screen into a settling chamber where stones, timbers, and other debris are removed and suspended particles of dirt settle before water enters the turbine. Since no reservoir is blocking the flow of water, the impact on the river and its habitat is minimized.
Depending on its application, either an impulse or a reaction turbine is used. In an impulse turbine, the blades are fixed to a rotating wheel and available head is converted into kinetic energy by a contracting nozzle. The high velocity jet then impinges on the blades and turns the turbine. The most common impulse turbines are of the Pelton type, where a series of cupped buckets are set around its rim. A high-speed jet of water enters the wheel tangentially (Figure 3a) and is deflected 180 degrees by the cups. Nearly the entire momentum of the water is used to impart an impulse that forces the wheel to turn. Impulse turbines are used most often with falling mountain streams with large heads and relatively small flow rates.
A reaction turbine uses the pressure difference across the blades for producing a hydrodynamic lift that propels the blades. To produce the highest lift, blades must be highly aerodynamic and shaped like airfoils. Unlike the impulse turbine, the rotors (also called runners) of reaction turbines are fully immersed in water. Two common reaction turbines are the Kaplan and Francis turbines. In Kaplan (propeller) turbines, water impinges on a propeller -- similar to a ship's propeller-- fitted inside the penstock (Figure 3b); in Francis turbines, water flows radially inward to the runner housed in a spiral casing and is exited through a diffuser (Figure 3c). Kaplan turbines are common for the run-of-river projects with low head and large flow rates. Francis turbines are suitable in dams where high flow rates and relatively large heads are available.
The main advantage of reaction turbines over impulse turbines is that the blades can be adjusted to match the rotor speed closely to the generator speed. Recent advances in power electronics allow turbines and generators to run at varying speeds. This allows simpler and cheaper propeller turbines like Pelton to be used instead of the more advanced and expensive Kaplan and Francis.
(1) EIA DOE- 2002 data can be found at http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/table15.xls.
(2) Energy Information Agency (http://www.eia.doe.gov)
(3) Paish, O., "Small hydro power: technology and current status", Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 6 (2002) 537-556.
Additional Comments
(a) Please note the difference between MWe denoting the electrical power output and MW, which refers to thermal power output. As we will see later, only 30-35% of the thermal energy can be converted to electricity. For hydroelectric plants we can use kW and kWe interchangeably.
Further Reading
Bose, N. and Brooke, J., Wave Energy Conversion, Elsevier, 2003.
Ross, D., Energy from the Waves, Oxford University Press, 1995.
Cruz, J., Ocean Wave Energy: Current Status and Future Perspectives, Springer Series in Green Energy and Technology, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2008
International Journal of Wave Motion, Elsevier Science Publishing Company.
International Journal of Renewable Energy, Elsevier Science Publishing Company.
External Links
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (http://www.csc.noaa.gov).
European Commission on Tidal Energy (http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transport/atlas/htmlu/tidal.html).
OTEC, U.S. DoE, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/ocean.html).
Wave Energy Council: Survey of Energy Resources (http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/publications/reports/ser/wave/wave.asp).


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Don't Shoot the Dog will change the way you think about behavior, teaching and training. If you've ever wondered how to change the behavior of a pet, a child, a spouse, a co-worker, or even your own behavior, then Don't Shoot the Dog is the book for you. You'll learn how to keep your cat from jumping on the counters, how to teach your kids to say thank you and pick up their dirty socks, and how to get your dog to stop pulling and start walking politely on a leash.
Don't Shoot the Dog was one of the first books I read about the science of behavior, before I knew anything about applied behavior analysis or clicker training. Even though I'm working on a master's degree in behavior analysis now, I still think Don't Shoot the Dog is one of the best introductions to the study of behavior and training. I still even refer back to it from time to time.
Last semester I had fun reading back through the book with several friends at school. So, I wanted to do a brief review of the book while it is still on my mind. I love Don't Shoot the Dog because it's easy to understand, even for those not familiar with animal training or people training. Although the book is wide-read in the dog training community (probably because of the title), it will appeal to a broad audience. Karen Pryor did not originally intend the book to be for dog trainers and the examples throughout include all sorts of animal species, including people.
What you'll learn from this book.
In the first half of Don't Shoot the Dog, Karen Pryor explains reinforcement, shaping, and stimulus control. If you understand these three concepts you will be well on your way to becoming an awesome trainer or teacher. Most good trainers and teachers intuitively understand these concepts, although many can't explain the details or science behind these principles.
The fourth chapter "Untraining: Using reinforcement to get rid of behavior you don't want" was one of my favorites when I first read Don't Shoot the Dog and is still one of my favorites. Karen Pryor explains 8 totally different methods for getting rid of unwanted behaviors, everything from punishment and shooting the animal to more humane methods, such as changing the animal's motivation or training an incompatible behavior.
What I love about this fourth chapter is the examples. Karen Pryor picks 10 examples and explains how each of the eight methods could be applied to each example. I think this chapter really helped me start thinking about how, even with a seemingly impossible training problem, there are often actually many possible solutions. Great trainers are creative problem solvers. They can come up with unique and individualized training solutions in any situation. This chapter will really help get your creative juices flowing.
The last two chapters of Don't Shoot the Dog provide lots of examples about how to apply reinforcement and the other principles in the book to the real world. Karen Pryor also includes a short introduction to clicker training. One thing that I like most about Don't Shoot the Dog is that it is filled with real life stories. The examples in the book deal with a wide variety of species, settings and training situations, which really helps illustrate the importance and usefulness of the principles described in the book.
Can You Train a Chicken?
Here is one of my favorite quotes, from the end of the introduction of the book:
"Using positive reinforcers in one situation may show you how to use them in others. As a dolphin researcher whom I worked with sourly put it, "Nobody should be allowed to have a baby until they have first been required to train a chicken," meaning that the experience of getting results with a chicken, an organism that cannot be trained by force, should make it clear that you don't need to use punishers to get results with a baby. And the experience should give you some ideas about reinforcing baby behavior you want."
People were training animals using positive reinforcement and clickers before Karen Pryor wrote Don't Shoot the Dog. However, Don't Shoot the Dog is largely responsible for starting a positive training revolution and bringing clicker training and positive training to the dog and horse training worlds. So, whether you train horses or dogs, or even humans or chickens, you'll find Don't Shoot the Dog a delightful and entertaining read. Even better, you'll find ideas and answers for improving your teaching skills and your relationships with both animals and people.


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Ultra-high definition sound, sleek design and smart usability to your home. The perfect match for the new generation of TVs. Wall or table mounted, the BAR A70 looks subtle and unobtrusive.
"The sound that the A70 produces is top quality, rich, clear, and with a thudding low bass"
Powerful bass
The BAR A70 comes with a powerful wireless subwoofer to enrichen and deepen the bass of your system, creating a stunningly rich and satisfying audio experience, no matter where you place it in the room.
Convenient control
As well as receiving an Orbitsound remote, you can also learn the volume controls of the soundbar with your infrared TV remote, eliminating the need for two remote controls.
The BAR A70 has Optical, Bluetooth and AUX connections so you can easily connect to TVs, mobile devices and voice assistant devices.
Approach the BAR A70 with your NFC enabled phone or tablet, and it will automatically pair and ready itself for streamed audio with the highest quality audio standards available today.
Below you'll find reviews on all Orbitsound products collected by our external review partner, Yotpo. Every review is independently collected from a verified Orbitsound customer and is shown here exactly as the review was left, without any editing from us.
|Remote control learning
|Wireless subwoofer
|In the box
|A70 Soundbar
|S3 wireless subwoofer
|International power supply
|AUX cable
|Remote control with CR2032 battery
|Digital optical cable
|Wall mounting kit
|Quickstart guide
|Safety and warranty guide
|Freq response
|+/- 3dB 44Hz - 13.2kHz
|Response controls
|Bass: -20dB to +8dB
|Treble: +/- 8DB @ 10KHZ
|Main: 2X2" Orbitsound MK4 drivers, 1X1" soft dome HD tweeter
|Subwoofer: 6.25" mass loaded, reflex tuned
|Airsound: 2X1.5" Orbitsound neodymium drivers
|3.5mm AUX input
W: 750mm
D: 74mm
H: 65mm
W: 340mm
D: 140mm
H: 340mm
|Matte black
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No matter what you're ordering, Orbitsound will deliver your order free of charge to any address in the UK.
With every new Orbitsound speaker purchased directly from orbitsound.com, we offer a free two year warranty. Any other product or accessory has a one year warranty.
We're so confident that you'll love your new Orbitsound speaker that we'll give you 30 days to try it in the comfort of your own home. If you don't like it, simply return it for a full refund. Please note that if there is no fault with the speaker, the customer is liable for postage costs.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families.
- Available in:
- Português
- English
UNICEF believes
We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind - to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child's path.
All children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.
For 70 years, UNICEF has worked to improve the lives of children and their families.
Despite remarkable challenges around the world, UNICEF staffers fight for the rights of every child seeking safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflicts, and equality.
UNICEF works with the United Nations and its agencies to make sure that children are on the global agenda. UNICEF strikes a balance between thorough research and practical solutions for children.
UNICEF in Mozambique
UNICEF has supported Mozambique for almost four decades. During this time, the country has been faced with numerous significant challenges including war, post-conflict recovery and peace-building, poverty, recurrent natural disasters and the surge of HIV and AIDS.
In the late 1960s, UNICEF began cooperating with pro-independence movements in the Portuguese-administered African Territories, including Mozambique, providing assistance for basic services such as health, nutrition, rural water supply, education, and emergency relief.
A UN fact-finding mission visited Mozambique in February 1975. This led to the first ongoing commitment of US$ 1.2 million by UNICEF, allocated for a mass vaccination campaign, primary health interventions, rural water supply and the rehabilitation of teacher training centers.
After Mozambique's independence from Portugal on 25 June 1975, UNICEF opened its first office in Maputo, staffed with a Representative and an Assistant Project Officer.
By 1985, UNICEF's expenditure in Mozambique had increased fourfold. At the same time, a civil war between the Government and RENAMO rebel groups gripped most of the countryside.
Women and children particularly bore the brunt of the civil strife. The war lasted for 16 years. Up to 1990, UNICEF spent US$ 35 million on emergency activities to support women and children displaced by a war which cost the lives of an estimated one million people.
After the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992, UNICEF supported reconciliation and recovery efforts including the demobilization of child soldiers and their reintegration into family life and society.
UNICEF supported the Government and Non-Governmental Organizations such as Save the Children to reunify thousands of unaccompanied and separated children with their families. UNICEF also supported trauma counseling and psychosocial support for thousands of children and their families.
Another focus of the UNICEF program during this period was the rehabilitation of health posts, schools, and other social services, particularly in remote areas which could not have been reached during the war.
In 2000, Mozambique suffered the worst flood in its recent history. Almost 1 million people living in riverine areas were directly affected by the emergency which attained significant international attention and support.
UNICEF alone received US$ 21.5 million to support the victims of flooding. This enabled the Organization to work with partners to expand existing programs, such as community capacity development and school health, to fight malaria and water-borne diseases and to conduct a massive immunization campaign.
Mozambique once again experienced flooding a year later, in 2001, affecting an even larger geographical area, but only about half of the number of people due to the low population density in the regions hardest hit and relocation of some populations from the previous year.
Since the end of the 1990s, the response to the escalating AIDS crisis has become a major focus for UNICEF due to the increasing impact of the pandemic, especially on children. The Country Program 1999-2001 addressed the pandemic for the first time.
Currently, UNICEF's work in Mozambique is guided by its Country Programme 2017-2020, that supports the Mozambican the Government's Five-Year Plan (PQG 2015-2019).


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|From: Danny Yoo (dyoo at hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu)
Date: Thu Aug 11 02:34:04 EDT 2005
Hi everyone, I finally figured out how to used the Create Executable command on Mac OS X, but there are elements in the user interface that led me very off-track. I might as well rant a little bit, in hopes that I get some sort of sympathy. *grin* In particular, on Mac OS X, it was not clear at first why a directory chooser, rather than a file chooser, was being brought up. In hindsight, I see that the dialog box is asking me to choose a new folder directory because Mac OS X applications are actually directories in disguise. But Mac OS X abstracts an application as a single file-like thing through its Finder. By that illusion, I was tricked and very confused at what the dialog box expected me to do. The error message on directory selection doesn't make this completely clear either. On an incorrect selection, the dialog says: "The filename ~a is illegal. Under Mac OS X, executables must end with .app". And this is perfectly true, but it can be improved to make it explicit that it really means for the user to choose (or create) a directory. I'd like this to be reworded as: "The filename ~a is illegal. Under Mac OS X, applications are really directories whose names must end with .app" or something like that. Anything to make it more clear that what is being asked for is a directory name because of the way that Mac OS X implements applications. A mention of this peculiar situation would be nice in the DrScheme docs too. I just want to make sure no one else wastes the time I did staring blindly at collects/drscheme/private/language.ss and futily cursing the put-executable/defaults function for doing get-directory instead of put-file. *grin* The following diff makes this message change to the string-constants/english-string-constants.ss: ################################################################## mumak:~/local/plt dyoo$ svn diff Index: collects/string-constants/english-string-constants.ss =================================================================== --- collects/string-constants/english-string-constants.ss (revision 578) +++ collects/string-constants/english-string-constants.ss (working copy) @@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ (windows-executables-must-end-with-exe "The filename\n\n ~a\n\nis illegal. Under Windows, executables must end with .exe.") (macosx-executables-must-end-with-app - "The filename\n\n ~a\n\nis illegal. Under MacOS X, executables must end with .app.") + "The filename\n\n ~a\n\nis illegal. Under MacOS X, executables are really directories whose names must end with .app.") (warning-directory-will-be-replaced "WARNING: the directory:\n\n ~a\n\nwill be replaced. Proceed?") ################################################################## Hope this helps!
|Posted on the users mailing list.


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God Rigged the Game
But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3
Do you ever get the distinct impression that things are being orchestrated by God in your life? I do. And now, so do several of our Elders and Stakeholders at the Bridge at Highland.
Here's what happened. Not long ago we were playing a sharing game during our weekly Bible study. I had a wheel we had rigged that would spin like a Wheel of Fortune. It was painted in black chalkboard paint, and I had the numbers 1, 2, or 3, drawn in each space around the wheel. I had given each number an assignment: 1. SONG: Share or sing a favorite hymn or worship song 2. TESTIMONY Share a testimony of what God has done for you, and 3. WORD Answer a Bible trivia question, such as, "what are the first three words of the Bible?"
We progressed around the room, each Elder taking turns spinning the wheel. They chose whether they wanted the wheel spun left or right, fast or slow. The energy and excitement grew as each Elder in turn kept landing on 2. TESTIMONY. Each had a beautiful story to share, and we were feeling especially blessed in our fellowship.
Nearing the end, the last Elder spoke up eagerly "I have a testimony to share!" I encouraged him that when his turn came, if God wanted him to share it, his spin would land on TESTIMONY. By now several Elders began to say the wheel must be rigged, to always be landing on 2. I assured them it was not so, but to make absolutely sure, just before the last Elder's turn, I erased the numbered assignments and renamed them 1 TESTIMONY, 2 SONG, and 3 WORD.
"Are you ready?" I asked. "Spin it hard to the left" He told me. So, with dramatic flair, I spun it hard to the left. Everyone watched as the wheel slowed, until it appeared that it would indeed stop on number 2 once again. One of our Elders, Ms Emma, quipped "See, I told you it was rigged…!"
But then the most unusual thing happened. If I hadn't watched it myself, I would not have believed it. The wheel spun on to number 3, and then, as if it were moved by an invisible hand, it turned BACKWARD, past the 2, and stopped on 1… TESTIMONY!
The room was filled with gasps of surprise and awe. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of God's presence as the last Elder began to share his testimony.
Our Elder shared that, though he had been raised in the church, he had strayed from God. During the time in his life where he had turned from his faith, he struggled with guilt and the burdens of an ungodly lifestyle. He doubted whether he could ever come back to God. "But one night I had a dream," He continued. "I saw a lake of hellfire that I was told had been prepared for the devil and his angels. I slipped and began falling into the lake and I could not see God anywhere. I felt terrified and cried out in desperation to God for help. Immediately I felt God grab my arm and pull me up on solid ground again. God told me, 'the lake of fire is not prepared for you'."
"That was a turning point in my life" He concluded. "Since that time God has been the most important thing in my life."
After such a moving session of sharing testimonies, we all sensed the moving of the Holy Spirit. Elders and Stakeholders alike who gathered and listened to the stories were inspired and blessed in a special way that day. God was glorified in a powerful way.
This experience reminded me of some beautiful Bible promises. Psalm 40:2 says, "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps." And these words in Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their TESTIMONY…."
Truly, it was a day for overcoming in the name of the Lord!
(All verses are quoted from the King James 2000 Bible. Emphasis supplied.)


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Served in our Signature Grazing Boxes you will find sweet and savory tastes and smells while you embark on a culinary journey. Each board comes with an array of delicious cheeses, cured meats, tangy cornichons, delectable jams or honey, rich nuts, decadent chocolate, seasonal fruit, and our artists culinary surprises!
|Large Square
|Serves 6-8
|XL Rectangle
|Serves 8-12
*Serving Sizes are estimated portions
*We are not a nut/soy/dairy/gluten free kitchen and do not accept any liability for cross-contamination


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Dubai, UAE (PRWEB) October 26, 2015 -- One of the fastest growing agriculture companies, Advanta Seeds, recently announced it's entering the soybean market in Brazil. The company is already known for high quality corn, sorghum, sunflower and canola seeds in Brazil, and soybean is Advanta Seeds' new product on the market. On offer are two varieties of soybean seeds: ADV 4317 IPRO and ADV 4341 IPRO, both under the brand name "Vereda."
The soybean products were developed in partnership with Don Mario's genetic material and INTACTA technology. According to Edison Kopacheski, CEO of Advanta Seeds Brazil, "The germplasm is in early maturity and well adapted to the region of Cerrado, and it was developed specifically for that area. We are very excited about launching soybean products and we know our customers will be as well." Kopacheski added, "With the Vereda line, Advanta Seeds will contribute to the main export market of Brazil. According to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC), in June 2015, soybean is 49.1% of Brazilian exported crops. Advanta Seeds is on a mission to meet the growing demand for soybean."
Brazil is one of the strategic growth areas for Advanta Seeds. Claudio Torres, CEO of Advanta Seeds, stated that the company aims to invest BRL 200 million in the coming years in Brazil, especially in R&D and production. The head office of Brazil was recently moved from Florianópolis to Campinas to be near the new focus area of Cerrado. Advanta Seeds already has research and development stations in Minas Gerais in the Uberlandia region, and a new R&D satellite was established in Sorriso, which is one of the biggest grain producers in the world.
Sorriso has a large production area of 9 million hectares of soybean and 3.4 million hectares of Safrinha Corn in Mato Grosso state," said Carmo Poloni, Senior Breeder, Advanta Seeds Brazil. Poloni added, "This had an impact on Advanta Seeds' decision to establish a breeding station here."
India is another strategic expansion market of Advanta Seeds and investment is being made with a new research laboratory in the R&D Station in Hyderabad, India. The pathology laboratory is a part of an already existing Biotech and Double Haploid Facility, and is fully equipped with the latest research equipment, culture and sterilization rooms, and growth chambers. The main research focus is disease resistance in vegetables and field crops in India.
With this upgraded facility, Advanta Seeds will be able to find sources of resistance against the most common vegetable crop diseases in more efficient and accurate ways. In this facility, Advanta Seeds will concentrate on cauliflower, okra, hot peppers, tomatoes, corn, rice and mustard.
Advanta Seeds' research aims to provide farmers with better products, increased yields and consistent performance across environments and seasons in India. Successful products can be exported to geographies with similar production environments across the globe.
Dr. Alberto Leon, Global R&D Director for Advanta Seeds, commented, "Developing new research facilities in different geographies allows Advanta Seeds to provide better solutions for farmers, stay close to its customers and increase the global food security for future generations".
Advanta Seeds' global R&D engine is comprised of 16 research stations and 2 biotech centers in strategic locations. The company has over 50 years of experience in plant genetics research with crops such as sorghum, corn, sunflower, canola and Advanta Seeds' regional crops such as rice, wheat, vegetables and mustard.
About Advanta Seeds
Advanta Seeds is a sustainable agriculture company providing innovative solutions and technology to farmers around the world. The company has global operations in 24 countries and generates sales in 58 countries with Dubai as a strategic location for its head office. Advanta Seeds is a world leader in sorghum (grain and forage) and has leading positions in many regions in corn, sunflower, canola, rice and vegetables. Advanta Seeds is a part of the UPL Group and is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange of India (NSE - National Stock Exchange).
Mariola Markiel, Advanta Seeds, http://www.advantaseeds.com, +971 564426014, [email protected]
SOURCE Advanta Seeds


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11-month-old girl hit in head by crashing drone; FAA investigating
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it will investigate a drone accident that injured an 11-month-old girl in the head when it crashed last weekend on a Pasadena street.
Authorities said the baby was being pushed in a stroller by her mother when she was hit with debris from a small, privately-owned drone that came down on Marengo Avenue near Union Street about 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The baby suffered a large contusion on her forehead and a small cut to the side of her head, according to police. She was treated at a hospital and released.
Her mother also was hit by parts of the aircraft, but was not injured.
Police said they found the owner of the drone at the accident site. He reportedly told officers that he lost control of the unmanned aircraft while attending an event at Pasadena City Hall. After the accident, he said, he waited for authorities to arrive.
Police said they forwarded their report to the FAA's Flight Standards Office at Van Nuys Airport to see if the owner of the drone had violated federal regulations. The name of the operator was not available Wednesday.
FAA officials said they would look into the incident. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, anyone who carelessly or recklessly flies a drone can face fines between $1,000 and $25,000.
The agency has become concerned about a growing number of reports complaining about unsafe flights of unmanned aircraft. As a result, it has stepped up its education of operators and enforcement efforts related to hazardous drone operations.
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FAA officials say they have initiated more than 20 enforcement cases. Five have resulted in settlments in which operators paid fines while penalties have been proposed in five other cases.
Government authorization is not required to operate a drone for hobby purposes. However, there are laws and guidelines prohibiting drone flights that endanger manned aircraft and people on the ground. For example, drones should be flown below 400 feet and not over unprotected people or vehicles.
Follow @LADeadline16 on Twitter for aviation news.
California fire updates: Valley fire has grown, but rain has come
Flights canceled, delays reported at Ontario airport after power outage
L.A. renters, landlords should split cost of quake retrofitting equally, housing officials say
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Written by Naja Bentzen,
Often sponsored by authoritarian state actors, disinformation undermines our democracies by eroding trust in institutions and media, increasing rifts and tensions in society and weakening our ability to take informed decisions. Democracies all over the world – including the United States and the European Union – are currently seeking adequate responses to the ongoing challenge of online disinformation (deliberately designed to deceive people). On 17 February 2020, the first joint event by EPRS and Stanford University discussed how democratic countries can respond effectively to disinformation without compromising core values such as freedom of expression.
Following an introduction by EPRS Director-General Anthony Teasdale, Director of Stanford Internet Observatory and former Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos presented the Observatory's research on these topics. Stamos explained that the 2016 US elections saw five 'lanes' of interference; two offline – overt propaganda by Russian state broadcaster RT and similar media outlets, as well as people-to-people interactions – and three online lanes:
1) Mimetic warfare: this can take the form of a truly false narrative; amplification of a divisive interpretation of a true fact ('the Democratic Party rigged the primary against Bernie'); amplification of division or extreme political views; and undermining the very idea of truth – the last two being the key goals of mimetic information operations.
2) Hack and leak: a key actor here is the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU), exemplified by the John Podesta emails. However, people in Brussels (including EU and NATO staff) are also targeted. Following a hack, such content can be leaked strategically (in the Podesta case, via the Russian-sponsored 'DC Leaks' platform) to the press.
3) Hacking election infrastructure: In general, this is more of a problem for the USA, where the decentralised elections are posing severe security challenges.
Following Alex Stamos' presentation, Etienne Bassot, Director of the Members' Research Service, EPRS, moderated the panel discussion. Discussing the challenges and opportunities for democracies facing the 'disinformation dilemma' were Paul Nemitz (Principal Adviser in the Commission's Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers), Wojtek Talko (Communications Adviser to Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová), Erika Widegren (Chief Executive of Re-Imagine Europa) and Naja Bentzen (Policy Analyst, Members' Research Service, EPRS).
Stamos explained that the real problem is not the existence of disinformation, but the amplification of the message. Social media platforms use different amplification models (advertisements, private groups, recommendation engines etc.). The more a platform amplifies a message, the more responsibility the platform carries. He highlighted the need to focus on curbing amplification of mis- or disinformation (which is legal, but unwanted), rather than on the content side. In other words, you can allow people to access misinformation if they want to, as well as hinder the amplification of the message. In addition, we need to enable the collaborations necessary to finding organised ill-intentioned actors. Academia, governments, social media platforms, non-governmental organisations etc. all need each other at various stages, and social media platforms should be incentivised to allow these relationships to exist.
Alex Stamos' slides:
Paul Nemitz emphasised that Russian disinformation is not the only problem; our media ecosystem is under tremendous pressure. Last year in America, thousands of journalists lost their jobs. The free press is 'going down the drain', because Google and Facebook are draining the information environment for advertising revenue that used to be journalism's main revenue source. We have to boost our free press, which is a vital component in the functioning of our democracies. There is however no 'silver bullet' in terms of social media regulation: we need to both tackle disinformation and the disappearance of traditional media. In the EU, the Commission, policy-makers and academics are united in their calls for a holistic approach to protecting democracy. In the 2019 EU elections, intersectoral, cross-silo cooperation produced good results. For Nemitz, all the steps Stamos advocates must be taken, but we also need an active policy to strengthen our institutions, public broadcasting and the free press. We also need the 'technical intelligentsia', experts like Stamos, to engage with parliaments and political parties. Lawmakers may know little about the technical side, but the technical intelligentsia also needs to learn what democracy is.
Explaining that Vice-President Věra Jourová is working on a European democracy action plan, intended to provide precisely such a holistic approach, Wojtek Talko fully agreed with the focus on amplification of legal but harmful content; Jourová intends to focus on behaviour rather than content. The challenge is to connect and coordinate various policy instruments and cyber-security, election, technology, and foreign affairs expertise. The European election cooperation network is an example of a complex, cross-sector network that exemplifies the important role of coordination. However, as we are learning, the actors who peddle disinformation are also learning. We have therefore to constantly adjust our responses and develop our technological capacity. Our main goal is to increase social media platforms transparency, make the platforms share information, at least with researchers, and ensure society is fully informed of their activities and intentions. In the long term, Talko concluded, we need to vaccinate society against disinformation.
Erika Widegren, referring to Re-Imagine Europe's Taskforce on Democracy in a Digital Society, noted that one of their key conclusions was that a deeper change is happening. Digital technology is the third communication revolution, after the inventions of writing and printing, and, as she pointed out in Churchill's words, 'we shape the buildings we live in, and afterwards our buildings shape us'. One such example was the arrival of television in the USA, which revolutionised advertising. Before TV, the Teachers' Union was almost as powerful in society as bankers. All this changed however when money was allowed 'to talk'. Similarly, we are seeing a more aggressive media environment take hold in the digital age. The incentive online is to go viral, and the easiest way to do so is to pick a fight. Political extremes profit from this tendency, of which Greta Thunberg is a perfect example. The 85 % of the debate regarding whether people love or hate her eclipses her actual message. Democracy is based on compromise and finding solutions, which obviously clashes with this polarisation. For Widegren, 'we will not be able to recreate what we once had, we need to clean up our "information river" to make it clean, transparent and safe again'.
According to recent research published by the Oxford Internet Institute, Naja Bentzen noted that countries where a political party or government agency use social media manipulation campaigns at home has increased by 150 % over the past two years. In 2017, there was evidence of social media manipulation targeting domestic audiences in 28 countries. In 2018, it was 48 countries, and in 2019, the number had jumped to 70 countries. In these countries, such campaigns were used to suppress fundamental human rights, discredit political opposition and drown out political dissent. At the same time, in 2019, there was evidence of agents in seven countries using these techniques to influence audiences abroad: Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and India. At the same time, research from the StratCom Centre of Excellence in Riga has shown that it is still far easier to buy inauthentic amplification than it is to combat the phenomenon. Generally, authoritarian state actors can react swiftly and firewall their internet from the rest of the internet, criminalise creating and spreading rumours that 'undermine economic and social order', as China has done, or ban disrespect of authorities and the spreading of what the government deems to be 'fake news', as has happened in Russia. This type of action is far more difficult for democracies, which strive to maintain human rights and free speech.
A key lesson from the debate was that – precisely because there is no silver bullet – we need coordinated authentic democratic behaviour and responses to combat 'coordinated inauthentic behaviour' sponsored by autocracies. Full, advanced democracies carry a significant responsibility for pushing for a rules-based world order in the digital sphere. The EU has put unprecedented pressure on online platforms to counter online disinformation. The 'Brussels effect' of the Commission's final response to the online platforms' behaviour ahead of the European elections cannot be overestimated: Silicon Valley's recent charm offensive in Brussels, including Mark Zuckerberg's visit on the day of the event, speaks volumes for the significance of the EU's role, and the global responsibility that comes with it.
This event in audio: https://europarl.europa.eu/EPRS/Disinformation_February2020.MP3


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PILASTER | Tapered Suiting Trousers
Code: T037
When it comes to trousers, an impeccable cut and high quality fabric make all the difference. Fit to flatter from front to back, waist to hem, our Willow trousers are slim-fitting and crafted from pure merino wool.
A dipped 'v' waist-band an the centre back nods to classic menswear tuxedo styling.
Desk-side, these trousers look slick and smart with a simple slim-fitting shirt and heels. Away from work, a textured top and higher heels elevate them to cocktail status.
The 100% merino twill suiting wool has a matt satin finish and Saville Row grade and sourced from the traditional mill of the Yorkshire valleys. More than a century's worth of skills in its woven craft and technological know-how is distilled into this cloth and hand-picked by DEPLOY to create the perfectly tailored womenswear.
Shell: 100% Merino Wool
Contrast: 100% Polyester
Lining: 53% Rayon, 47% Acetate
Please click here for our full size chart with key measurements.
If you need further information or advice on specific fit for particular garments, please do not hesitate to contact us at email@example.com or +44(0)20.79351219
Delivery & Returns
Please allow 2-3 business days for your order to be processed and dispatched. International shipping typically takes 3-5 working days from the date of dispatch. Prices are net of value added tax. International orders are exclusive of import duty and custom charges. Return of non-faulty goods must be sent within 14 days of receipt, with a completed DEPLOY Returns Form. Click here for more info on Delivery & Returns
"Takes 'green' to a new level" - BBC WORLD NEWS -
"Realises women's long-standing dream" - VOGUE -
"It won't be long before the rest of the word catches on to DEPLOY" - HARPER'S BAZAAR -
"The ideal go-to for working women looking for chic, sustainable pieces" - GLAMOUR -
"DEPLOY's interchangeable clothes are a godsend" - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE -
"Exciting innovation and lasting fashion" - MARIE CLAIRE -


text: This is the audio version of a recent post on my blog. There's a lot going on in the world right now. Climate change and ecological destruction is relatively slow and longer term, but it is likely to constitute an existential crisis on an epochal, even geological, time scale. This podcast looks at one way of framing a response to this in biblical terms.


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Content Management
In the Internet world, the unanimous opinion is "Content is King". Freely interpreted means that the one who delivers the best content also gets the best search results. Even with the best - or even uniquely - content, you should of course develop a consistent content strategy for your website and the used media. In the following articles you will find a few valuable suggestions for a successful and effective content management


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Let's take the often frightening leap to believe in ourselves, to have faith in our being, to break the bonds of self-doubt and self-degradation and the belief that we are less than because we are a woman, or a feeling person, or a sensitive being, or an intuitive driven radical liver of life. Let's discover what Faith in ourselves does for our heart and soul.
What does it do? I'm glad you asked. It breaks the shell of just existing and breaks open the door to our heart of hearts and our soul and our deepest essential self. It grounds us in our instinctual feeling body of wisdom so we can revolutionize our choices and ask for our deep core needs and wants to be met.
Faith in ourselves heals our broken hearts and soothes our wounded-ness when we are tempered and tested by life's disappointments, betrayals, hurts, and losses. We gain Faith in ourselves when we live through these challenging times and come out the other end with the battle scars and deep conviction from having lived into our truth and power, learning that we are not alone in this living of life. Faith in ourselves teaches us to have faith in others and develop the skill of a compassionate heart.
Having lived and learned how we each and all have at our core the same trials and troubles and human wounded-ness teaches us compassion. We all get to learn how to discern who can meet us on this heart plain and who cannot, and not to put ourselves in harm's way with one less skilled being who can't help but cause harm because they haven't traveled the path of learning how to manage their troubled hearts.
Come join the revolution and believe in yourself!
Faith in you that's the name of the game! Fabulous Faith to you! Now and always!


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Workforce Overview
South Carolina's workforce is touted as one of the most productive in the country, and some of the best and brightest call Horry County, the largest county in the state, home. It's right here in our neighborhoods that you'll find a diverse mix of highly skilled, reliable and experienced workers in a wide variety of fields. And with an abundance of recent graduates entering the workforce from Coastal Carolina University and Horry Georgetown Technical College, our already strong workforce continues to grow with young, knowledgeable employees who are ready to work.
We understand that workforce training, hiring and educationis crucial to a company's growth and success, and we are committed to supporting those efforts for new and existing companies in Horry County. Through our partnerships with Coastal Carolina University, Horry-Georgetown Technical College, the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SIMT)and other area schools and colleges, there is no shortage of available, qualified employees in Horry County.
We work with companies to match them with employment resources, training programs, apprenticeship opportunities and more, to ensure that their employments needs are satisfied.
"South Carolina has the right business environment for us and has the skilled workforce we need. We are impressed with Horry County and what it has to offer." Mike Phillips, President and CEO of BauschLinnemann North America.
Horry County's workforceis one of the strongest in the country, because we offer some of the best training and workforce development programs available today. Whether your company needs assistance with hiring experienced employees or keeping your employees trained on the most advanced industry technology, our workforce development partners can help. Read through below to see how:
Workforce Training with ReadySC
ReadySC™ is one of the oldest and most experienced workforce training programs in the United States. For more than 50 years, ReadySC has partnered with the South Carolina Technical College System to provide well-trained employees to qualifying companies that invest in South Carolina. A comprehensive and customized process, ReadySC™ includes recruiting, screening and training, tailoring guidelines and curriculum to fit a company's needs. For more information on ReadySC, CLICK HERE.
Horry Georgetown Technical College
HGTC is a leader in custom training and development programs, offering advanced training options in fields like manufacturing, engineering, machine operations, CNC welding and more. HGTC's quick class startup and thorough instruction precisely follow the training needs of employers. HGTC leaders work closely with local economic development officials and companies to grow, train and diversify Horry County's workforce. For more information on HGTC, CLICK HERE.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics - Grand Strand Campus
PIA's specialized Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Aviation Electronics Technology (AET) programs provide hands-on experience right here in Myrtle Beach. The aviation maintenance program prepares employees for an exciting career as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified aircraft mechanic, and the aviation electronics (or avionics) program leads to opportunities as a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed avionics technician. For more information on PIA, CLICK HERE.
Souteastern Institute of Manufacturing & Technology
By utilizing the vast resources of the SiMT, you can: train employees in a 3D virtual reality environment to reduce both expenses and exposure to accidents; bring products to market faster by employing the largest 3D printing capabilities in the Southeast; and meet customer orders for parts and assemblies that exceed your normal capacities by outsourcing to our state-of-the-art machining center. For more information on SiMT, CLICK HERE.
Source: Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development- MBREDC.org


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Another Swedish house gem is about to get unveiled. While listening through Markus Ernehed (aka The Kicker) catalogue on Spotify I got pleasently surprised by quite simple, yet harmonic and thought through productions ranging from minimal tech-house to ambient stroke driven tunes.
Ah hum is The Kicker to the jazz legend Charles Mingus. Wait for the sax at 2:36. It's like Hotel Costés on Sunshine. Free download as well.
Also listen to the Thursday – Sunday EP on Spotify
by Dj Skyjacker of House Music With Love


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Cutting Expenses is part of a 6 step series about Getting Out of Debt
When you first begin to take account of your personal finances you may feel a bit of panic develop, "where am I going to get money to (fill in blank)?!" (eliminate credit card debt, save for an emergency fund, put away for my kid's college education, etc…). Take a deep breath.
To start this debt-free journey takes a bit of analyzing your records and habit. Begin by thinking where you can cut back on expenses. To help you get started here are 20 ways to cut your spending down and discover funds to reallocate to your 'fill in the blank' statement.
- Renegotiate your cell phone contract. Yes, it is time to cut the extras. Cut the internet service, applications that take a fee to use (like the XM radio), reduce your plan's minutes – most people don't use 1/3 of their minutes – especially if they are in your circle.
- Buy the generic brand at the grocery store. Of course, not all generic brand items taste up to par, but you won't know which ones until you try it. This is definitely a saver.
- Make your own coffee. Cut out or down on the Tim Horton's or Starbuck's coffee. At $4+ a visit, you can save some hefty cash. *Thinks: $4 + 5 = $20 x 56 = $1,120 a year savings
- Brown Bag your Lunch. Cut back or eliminate eating lunch by bringing a brown bag lunch (they seem to taste so much better and are usually healthier for you than the fast lunch special). Want to see hwo much you can save? Click Here. Save more by using your own lunch containers and fabric snack bags.
- Rent a Movie. Find or reserve a movie at RedBox for a buck a night, add a bucket of fresh popped popcorn and call it entertainment night. Need a little more excitement? Add a few friends and make it a potluck night. You'll still save money against going to the movies (due to atrocious ticket prices and saving from going out to dinner @ $60+ a pop).
- Make a Grocery List. This can be a huge money saver. Make a list and stick to it. Don't deter. This goes in hand with the next item on the list.
- Plan your menu. You'll also reduce coming home frantic about what to cook for dinner. Since you shopped with your grocery list, you'll have everything you need for each menu item. Planning your menu keeps you from having to make extra trips to the grocery store because you forgot an item.
- Make dinner from scratch. Learning to cook without the boxed convience can save you oodles of money. There are plenty of online sites to help improve your skills in the kitchen.
- Drink Naturally. Switch your drinks to water, sun tea, hot tea, add a lemon or lime to your water. Not only does your body need water, it is better for your health, and will save you money.
- Withdrawl cash only from your bank's ATM. Avoid ATM charges by withdrawling cash from the bank you where you hold your account. Borrowing from other branches can charge you $2 and up. On top of that, your own bank may charge you, too!
- Stop your bad habit. Whether it be smoking, drinking, excessive shopping. STOP. You can save a bundle.
- Borrow from the Library. Before you click that Amazon button to complete your purchase, check your local library for a copy. Many libraries stock a pretty current collection of books and movies. Like classic books? Check out LibriVox for free audio books from the public domain.
- Check out the Community Calendar. Need to get out of the house for entertainment? Check your city or county's community calendar. There are usually tons of listings for free shows, exhibits, and seminars available for your pleasure.
- Start using coupons.
- Cancel those reoccuring subscriptions. Magazines, gym memberships, online games, the surf shirt collections, etc…
- Buy clothes from the second hand store. Take the time to move through the racks and you'll be amazed what you find. I got lucky one time and found 4 Hawaiian shirts with the tags still on – they became a Christmas gift for an old surfer friend.
- Drive Less.
- Get rid of the landline.
- Learn to fix things yourself. There is a plethera of free resources to learn how to fix something. My husband and I are pros at fixing a washer. And it's still continues to work great.
- Do your own spa treatments.
- Dress in Layers. Turn down the thermostat a few degrees and bundle up.
- Pay off that Debt. Literally save thousands of dollars in interest payments.
- Stop eating out. Simple enough to understand – I do, see here.
Curbing your expenses is a learning process. Continuous practice of eliminating or curbing your expenses will soon become second nature – a saavy healthy habit to obtain. When you begin to practice updating your budget each month you will soon discover more ways to allocate cash to fund the (fill in the blank).


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Notes from the Field – Of Turkeys and Transmission Lines
Editor's note: People often joke that there are two seasons in Wisconsin: Winter and road construction. This year has disproven the joke with distinct and beautiful spring, summer and fall seasons.
American Transmission Co. environmental project managers traverse hills and countryside monitoring construction activities year-round. They are the eyes and ears in the field, working with contractors to ensure that we demonstrate our environmental commitment.
Our Notes from the Field blog features highlights of what our environmental project managers see while they work on projects throughout our service area. This installment features photos and observations from Michael Warwick, ATC senior environmental project manager.
Autumn in Wisconsin
Summer is long gone, and with it, much of the wildlife we've grown accustomed to seeing out in the field. However, the unseasonably warm October and early November in Wisconsin has ensured that there were plenty to still enjoy.
Turkey trot
A staple at many Thanksgiving tables, turkey are also a regular sight in rural Wisconsin. This bird was out foraging along with companions near Portage.
Snakes,frogs and turtles… In November!?!
Since snakes, frogs, and turtles are cold-blooded, they seek out warmth where they can until they eventually find their way to their winter homes. Even in November, a warm day or two will often result in these critters trying to soak in the sun's warming rays. This Dekay's snake was sunning on a bed of leaves in Dane County. The map turtle took in some rays while watching the Wisconsin River flow. The leopard frog, just one of many, endangers its life by finding warmth in the asphalt road, while vehicles narrowly miss it as they pass by.
A red-tailed hawk sits patiently on a distribution power line pole while it waits for food (snakes, mice, voles, or other rodents) to reveal itself in the grasses below.
Sandhill cranes are still plentiful and will likely remain in the area until late December, unless severe winter weather forces them south sooner.
Michael Warwick is a senior environmental project manager at ATC. Prior to joining ATC he worked as an environmental consultant conducting tree and plant surveys, wetland delineation, GIS, project planning, community planning and permitting. He previously worked at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with a focus on waterway monitoring and studies, and wetland and waterway permit reviews.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in conservation and environmental sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is currently certified by Wisconsin DNR as an Endangered Resources Reviewer and is a member of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Outreach Committee. He volunteers his time guiding annual natural resources-based educational field trips for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.


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Elderly nutrition is an important health concern for many adults. As we age, naturally occurring changes in our bodies create challenges for sufficient nutrient intake and absorption.
Goat milk and other goat dairy products have properties that can help meet these challenges to provide elderly adults with their nutritional requirements.
Goat milk is high in calcium, protein, beneficial fats, and many vitamins and minerals.
Keep reading to learn about the individual nutritional challenges of the elderly and how goat milk can help!
Challenge #1: Many elderly lack the energy or motivation to cook nutritious meals.
Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, need no cooking or preparation. And, combined with other nutritious, ready-to-eat foods like fruit and bread or crackers, can provide a nutrient-dense, protein-rich meal with little effort.
Challenge #2: Gum and mouth problems, such as dentures and missing or loose teeth, along with reduced saliva production, create problems chewing and swallowing solid foods.
Goat milk and soft cheeses require little or no chewing, and can be combined with other soft foods, such as pureed fruit or flavorings, to provide variety. Hard cheeses, such as cheddar, can be melted and served atop other soft foods like mashed potatoes for added taste and nutrients.
Challenge #3: Many elderly adults report that their tastes have changed, and that the textures of many foods are disagreeable.
Milk and dairy products have a mild taste, and the smooth textures are usually well-accepted. They also blend easily with many cooked foods, and milk, plain yogurt, or sour cream can be used to moisten foods that would otherwise be dry or difficult to chew.
Challenge #4: There is often a reduced sensation of thirst, causing many elderly to drink less than optimal amounts of liquids.
Milk is nearly 90% water, and can provide hydration in a form that many older adults find more appealing than water or juice. Milk is also easily flavored to suit particular tastes.
Challenge #5: Nearly a third of the elderly population have a significant reduction in the production of stomach acid, which interferes with their ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Goat milk has special properties that make it easy to digest. Goat Milk Fat and Corresponding Health Implications explains the role of goat milk fat in digestibility and other health issues, while Natural Minerals Nutrition from Goat Milk shows how consumption of goat milk aids in mineral metabolism, particularly important in combating softening of the bones and preventing fractures.
Challenge #6: Many elderly take diuretics, which cause elevated excretion of important minerals like potassium and magnesium.
Goat milk has 134% more potassium than cow's milk, and also has higher levels of magnesium.
Challenge #7: Food moves more slowly through the gastrointestinal tract of the elderly, often resulting in constipation.
Goat milk is highly digestible (see Challenge #5 above), and 100% of the protein in milk is absorbed before it reaches the large intestine. See Protein in Milk and the Unique Properties of Goat Milk Protein for more on the protein content of goat milk.
Cultured goat milk products, such as yogurt, buttermilk and kefir, also contain bacteria that are beneficial to gastrointestinal health. You can see how to easily make your own low-cost cultured products at home in Making Other Goat Milk Products.
Challenge #8: Lack of appetite combined with reduced nutrient absorption can cause weight loss and dwindling muscle tissue.
Whole goat milk is calorie and protein-rich, containing more fat, protein and amino acids than cow's milk.
Challenge #9: Many older adults are lactose intolerant, making the consumption of cow's milk difficult.
Goat milk may be better tolerated by lactose intolerant individuals, as explained in the article, Lactose Intolerance and Goat Milk.
Goat milk is nutrient-dense, versatile and highly digestible.
The fat and protein content of goat milk contribute to weight and muscle maintenance, while vitamins and minerals provide necessary nutrients for body and cell function. Milk also contains simple carbohydrates that can provide an immediate source of energy.
Although some of these benefits can also be obtained from cow's milk, the additional nutrients and unique molecular properties of goat milk make it much more suitable for the challenges of elderly nutrition.
Conclusion? Goat milk dairy products may just be the great-tasting nutritional "supplement" that can benefit you or your elderly loved one!
For more detailed information on the nutritional properties of goat milk, see Milk Nutrition Facts and Information for Goat Milk and its links.
And, to super-charge your goat milk even more, read about the benefits that a cultured product call kefir can provide.
Elder One Stop is a great resource for many kinds of information on issues facing the elderly. For a broader perspective on the topic of dietary challenges for the elderly and the importance of proper nutrition for senior health, see the article, Elderly Nutrition Problems.
You may also be interested in reading how goat milk skin care products can help with the special challenges of mature skin in Elderly Skin Care and Goat Milk Products.
Articles are updated frequently, so check back here for any new information related to elderly nutrition and goat milk!
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Law degree from UCM, Diploma in media management and marketing from the University of Missouri-Columbia, DEA in Communication Sciences from UCM, Manuel has several Masters in management and has completed executive programs at institutions like IESE, George Mason University, etc.
He has created the seed capital fund Start Digital Media Capital, and the company iTrain Global, which have been selected among the top 100 business ideas in 2011 and 2013 by Actualidad Económica. His other business ventures are n-screens, primera plana (p1p) and serves on the board of several companies of the digital realm.
Recently Manuel Balsera launched iMentor Global, a company that envisions a community in which every youth experiences nurturing relationships and community support, which in turn allows each of them to develop into their full potential, capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our community.
Manuel is also professor of ESIC, ICEMD, UCJC and guest in various schools of American and European business schools. He was CEO of CP Proximity BBDO, between 2007 and 2011 and has held management positions at ONO, Chellomedia or GGA-Vivendi.


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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday took part in extinguishing forest fires in Ryazan Province on board an amphibious firefighting airplane.
The Russian head of government was the co-pilot for half an hour aboard a Be-200 plane scooping up water from the nearby Oka River and dumping it on raging forest fires some 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
He dumped approximately 12 tons of water on each of two fires, extinguishing both completely.
Putin initially sat in the cabin in front of a thermal imaging monitor together with Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ryazan Governor Oleg Kovalev.
However, shortly after takeoff Putin suddenly entered the cockpit and sat in the co-pilot's seat.
He received a quick briefing from Emergency Situations Ministry aviation chief Rafail Zakirov.
It took the Be-200 a mere 11 seconds to fill up its water tanks.
During the flight, Putin observed the operation of another Be-200 that was also dousing fires from a minimum height.
He also spotted a fresh steppe fire in dangerous proximity to two villages.
Governor Kovalev, still airborne, immediately issued instructions to the local authorities to take measures to extinguish it.
Putin's stunt comes as polls show waning public support for Russia's president and prime minister.
Respected Russian sociologist Leonty Byzov told Vedomosti business daily Putin and Medvedev's ratings could drop to 40% in the next six months. He said there was a growing fatigue surrounding Putin's popularity and that if the government's poor response to the wildfire crisis is taken into account, the two leaders' ratings would decrease dramatically.
Wildfires, sparked by weeks of abnormally high temperatures in central Russia, have severely damaged the Russian economy, with the estimated short-term loss of $15 billion.
RYAZAN, August 10 (RIA Novosti)


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I can't resist coloring in my Rudolph in these colors for my focal image - he's so photogenic! I'm still having fun using my Oh, What Fun tag sentiments all over the place, too. They go with everything!
I was shocked to realize that I haven't used my Boughs & Berries embossing folder a SINGLE time yet - no way! This gave me an excuse to add another layer, too, as the odd size of the folder makes embossing the card base itself a bit problematic. Good thing I'm all about the layers!
Santa's Gifts & Oh, What Fun Stamp Sets; Season of Cheer DSP; Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive Inks; Boughs & Berries Embossing Folder; Banner & Dotted Scallop Border (retired) Punches; Regals Button in Cherry Cobbler; Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.
Here's a little thumbnail taste of what we have in store for December's class! I don't know about you, but I am NOT ready to pack away my Season to Season Wreath we worked so hard on! So let's add More Seasons!
This class is for the creation of nine more mini banners to fill in the rest of the year on our Season to Season Wreath, or for use on any wreath base of your choice. And, they're pretty stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself! I've had SO much fun getting this ready for you! (And showing off some new goodies!)
Class is announced for Thursday, December 17 at 630 pm, or Saturday December 19 at 3 pm. All supplies provided, plus snacks, drinks and treats, all for $20! Just bring along your favorite adhesive and some paper snips. Let's close this year with a crafting bang! RSVP now to reserve your spot! (As always, if you need a different time, just let me know and we'll find something that works for you!) See you soon!