text:
At a time when school budgets for special education are stretched, the new diagnosis could herald more pitched battles. Tens of thousands of people receive state-backed services to help offset the disorders' disabling effects, which include sometimes severe learning and social problems, and the diagnosis is in many ways central to their lives. Close networks of parents have bonded over common experiences with children; and the children, too, may grow to find a sense of their own identity in their struggle with the disorder.Is the controversy really about how much money the government must spend? Or is it really about helping people with their feelings about their children? Or... I know this seems really weird... could it be... I'm afraid to say it!... could it be that there really is a specific disease and scientists want to be rigorously scientific about what the disease is?
January 19, 2012
There will be a lot less autism...
35 comments:
- madAsHell said...
...but my idiot child needs a disability!!
- Bob Ellison said...
You are wishful. This is not science, but wishfulness.
- Ann Althouse said...
I am wishful? How so?
- edutcher said...
Could it also be a variant on death panels?
An excuse for cuts in aid?. - 1/19/12, 9:53 PM
- iowan2 said...
Proves the axiom. subsidize a behavior, and that behavior will grow.
- Automatic_Wing said...
My son was diagnosed with autism in 1993 and at that time you had to be pretty low-functioning to be labeled autistic. I would say that the definition of autism/Asperger's has become a lot more liberal, to the point where people will tell you that their autistic nephew is studying accounting at such and such university, which just sounds ridiculous to my ears. A little tightening of the diagnosing standards isn't a bad thing and is probably somewhat overdue, if anything.
- KCFleming said...
When the government controls healthcare, science is politicized.
We're long past pure science. Now we have disease lobbies. There's no truth, just positions.
Diagnostic criteria will vary by funding and politics.
Mammograms every year or every other?
It depends! - 1/19/12, 10:13 PM
- Rick said...
A couple I know here in California was delighted that their two kids just made in into the autism diagnosis, because that gets them a couple of handicapped parking passes that let's them park anywhere, usually for free.
- As my whimsy leads me.. said...
I don't think you can really apply the term "rigorously scientific" to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The criteria for the disorders are decided by consensus. There are no specific blood tests or MRI patterns that indicate that a person has schizophrenia, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or Asperger's. They are determined by clusters of signs and symptoms, and the sites of the dysfunction are usually not known for sure. It is much easier to diagnose a people with high blood pressure, or kidney disease, or diabetes than it is to diagnose someone with a psychiatric (or even early neurological) diseases.
Parents of kids with autism spectrum disorders are looking for ways to get their kids able to function in the regular world, not get a free ride.
Toy - 1/19/12, 10:55 PM
- Wince said...
But don't forget the so-called "crazy checks".
The Other Welfare
A Globe investigation has found that this Supplemental Security Income program — created by Congress primarily to aid indigent children with severe physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and blindness — now largely serves children with relatively common mental, learning, and behavioral disorders such as ADHD. It has also created, for many needy parents, a financial motive to seek prescriptions for powerful drugs for their children.
And once a family gets on SSI, it can be very hard to let go. The attraction of up to $700 a month in payments, and the near-automatic Medicaid coverage that comes with SSI approval, leads some families to count on a child's remaining classified as disabled, even as his or her condition may be improving. It also leads many teenage beneficiaries to avoid steps — like taking a job — that might jeopardize the disability check.
The latest federal statistics, obtained by the Globe through a public records request, show a stunning rise over the past two decades in the number of children who qualify for SSI because of a variety of mental disabilities. - 1/19/12, 10:58 PM
- KCFleming said...
"not get a free ride"
True of some, but disability has its adherents, proponents, and sycophants. - 1/19/12, 11:06 PM
- kimsch said...
When the definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder is so broad that 1 in 114 children is diagnosed, it's too broad.
I have a 21-year-old daughter who has a developmental delay, epilepsy, a moderate hearing impairment, and lupus. She's more like a 3-year-old who doesn't speak much or well. She can feed herself and dress herself. Sometimes she gets a top on backwards or her shoes on the wrong feet though. She uses the bathroom and doesn't need pull-ups or diapers. She needs help showering and at "that time of the month". She loves Barney, The Fresh Beat Band, Max and Ruby, and Transformers - especially Sam and Bumblebee. She won't ever have a job or be able to stay home alone. We don't get aid.
Rick: Here in Illinois there has to be a disablility that interferes with the ability to walk - such as needing a cane, walker, or wheelchair; leg braces; or oxygen - to get a disabled parking permit (hanger or plate).
wv: tinetat - 1/19/12, 11:50 PM
- Levi Starks said...
And just when universities are turning out a bumper crop of special ed teachers. Most of whom are women who dropped out of the job market to go back to school
- NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...
Autism is real. Yes, services help.
I'd like more focus on adults and less on parents. Yes, it sucks being a parent of a child with special needs. It sucks more to be the child who grows up.
Far too much focus on parents.
I have an intimate knowledge of this, being autism-spectrum (current terminology), being married to a woman with dyslexia, and having a son with an as-yet undetermined speech and language problem.
Parents need to be understanding, not understood.
Handicapped parking passes for autism? Are you shitting me? I'd never take one.
Autism is not an advantage, at all, period. No one will admire you for it. No one will want to be you. It's simply another thing to be overcome, or endured. If it doesn't suck, you don't have it. - 1/20/12, 12:02 AM
- Carnifex said...
Unfortunately, anytime someone gives away money,there are those willing to abuse the situation. Yes, there are some people willing to use their children to further feather their nest. Or more probably buy the next pack of smokes, six pack of Bud, and their next fix. Disgusting but true.
When I was growing up we didn't have all these "diseases". If you were fidgety, the nuns would beat it out of you. Not very enlightened, but very effective. Most childhood diseases could be fixed with the proper application of nuns.
I'm waiting for the time when just being born a certain race will be diagnosed as a disease, and protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I don't mean to sound harsh here, I know there are plenty of children, and adults with the need of help. I have several friends that have had disabled siblings. I know how that can break your heart, and lift it up at the same time.
Ps: It is disabled, not differently abled. Differently abled is a panacea we feed to people so their feelings aren't hurt.
Pps: I went totally deaf once for a week. Best week I ever had. Swear to God. No phone calls, no crowd noise. - 1/20/12, 12:02 AM
- kimsch said...
My 11-year-old son was kicked out of preschool at four for behavior problems. Then, still at four, he went out the bedroom window when I thought he was napping, got on his two-wheeler and rode to Walmart to buy a Thomas toy. Walmart is about 1-1/2 miles from our house. He crossed a four lane road at a traffic light. At four. Police brought him home because the manager called about a little boy there by himself.
At five, just before kindergarten, he was diagnosed wiht ADHD and put on medication. He hasn't had problems at school. In first grade he was reading so well he went to second grade every morning and back to first grade in the afternoon.
Our district just started an "enriched" fifth grade program. He's now in a gifted class doing challenging work and still getting straight A's.
All without and IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and special ed.
But I'm an involved parent. I don't cut him slack. I keep my expectations high and he rises to meet them. - 1/20/12, 12:16 AM
- Grant Michael McKenna said...
The point about the increase in actions that are rewarded is a valid one, but I would like to go on a bit of a tangent.
Autism is not a disease, it is a disorder of neural development which is diagnosed by observation of impaired social interaction and communication, and is usually accompanied by repetitive behaviours.
It has a strong genetic basis, and is not a disease, if by disease you mean something acquired from an external source or as an effect of an external agent. The word is used with a variety of meanings, and you may be meaning 'disease'= thing that impairs function', in which case no problem. - 1/20/12, 2:04 AM
- Issob Morocco said...
But emotional responses make for much better media than scientific ones. Just look at Gluten Free.
- Hagar said...
Autism and ADHD both exist and are real problems for those actually affected, but that is just a small fraction of the kids labeled with them.
- Rusty said...
The government isn't concerned about anybodies child. The government is concerned about control.
- SGT Ted said...
When I was 3, I walked that far from a public swimming pool to a Thrifty's because they had ice cremem there. I did it again at age 4 from my house to a different Thriftys in a different part of town,. Sounds like your son should have been diagnosed as "normal boy". - 1/20/12, 7:25 AM
- SGT Ted said...
My step-daughter has gamed herself a crazy check with some public health psychiatrist/psychologists and a law firm that specializes in submitting SSI claims. It is quite fraudulent; her claim was an inability to keep a job, which was untrue, if she was interested in the work; she always has lacked a work ethic. But, she has always been a Great Victim of Life, all self inflicted.
All you have to do is shop the right doctors and say the right things, according to the checklist. It took her about 6 months to game it. But, she didn't go through any of this until after she had a daugher with aspergers. I'm sure she has done this with her aspergers child, for income as well. - 1/20/12, 7:33 AM
- Tibore said...
"...could it be that there really is a specific disease and scientists want to be rigorously scientific about what the disease is?"
As knowledge accumulates, definitions get tighter. In astronomy, what used to be a planet is now a dwarf planet. In anthropology, Neanderthal's used to be considered a step along the evolutionary pathway to modern man, but multiple fields (genetics, medical science's imaging techniques being applied to analyses of fossils, etc.) generating converging knowledge demonstrated that they were their own lineage, interbred with ancient humans but not a waypoint along the way to modern ones. In physics, most everyone with at least a high school education has learnt the development from Newtonian physics modeling the universe to relativity expanding that.
Accumulated knowledge leads to more specific definitions. It's simply a fact of knowledge generation. Understanding evolves, and it's a necessary process. Without it, no advancement of knowledge is possible.
But how does that affect people in the medical sciences who are classified with a certain diagnosis under one definition who may be excluded under another? At first, it's up in the air. It may be a freeing process that doesn't shackle them with a diagnosis that only superficially applies. Or, it may be a damaging judgement that suddenly takes them away from the therapies they're used to. In the beginning, it's not possible to say that the effects will be overall good or overall bad because there will be a variety of results from the changes in diagnostics.
However, in the long run, it will be beneficial because definitions are no longer so broad that "one size fits all". Whatever the patients will eventually be diagnosed as when discoveries refine what's known will be more specific, more applicable. It'll actually be closer to being descriptive to that patient, instead of rendering them a member of a large group on the basis of older, broader criteria. That will pave the road to treatements being more effective since they'll be honing in on more specific symptoms.
So in the long run, this has to happen. It's better overall. No one talks about "dropsy" any longer; nowadays, treatment are specific to the specific sort of edema that a person is experiencing. "Ague" is an archaic term now because the medical field knows that there are different causes of intense fevers, and concentrate on those rather than generalizing about a patient's temperature alone. It's important to progress.
But what about those who fall inbetween old diagnoses and new ones? That's where art takes over for science. If someone has a disorder, then the doctor still needs to apply the best care given what's known. It won't be perfect - due to what's known vs. unknown, medical care never is - but if current knowledge gives reason to consider people outside a diagnosis, it's torturing logic to argue that they deserve to remain within the diagnosis. And I am hard pressed to see how mistreatment is to a person's benefit when it's known that a person doesn't fit within a diagnostic criteria. - 1/20/12, 8:25 AM
- TMink said...
Toy, that was an excellent post. I agree completely. There are some stirrings in the mental health communities to use brain scans for diagnosis, but these are just stirrings.
Trey - 1/20/12, 8:40 AM
- TMink said...
What Hagar said. Great posts on this topic.
Trey - 1/20/12, 8:43 AM
- TMink said...
"All you have to do is shop the right doctors and say the right things, according to the checklist."
Yep, and it is not even very difficult shopping. People just assume if you are a psychologist that you will treat them like a victim and look for someone else to blame. The most interesting recent example for me was a mom who wanted me to sign off on her son's disability of ADD when he does not have it as bad as I do!
I get fired about twice a month for telling (usually moms) that having a kid with the person they did may have been the worst choice of their life, but they made that choice and they need to face the consequences. I don't help people take children away from safe parents.
But there are plenty of people in town who do.
Trey - 1/20/12, 8:47 AM
- Jane the Actuary said...
I have a son with ADHD. We fork over $400 every three months for medication, and $75 similarly for doctor's appointments, and spend a lot more time than we'd like overseeing his homework, but I certainly hope we're not stuck with asking for an IEP, extra time on tests, etc., later on. The point being, a pyschatric diagnosis isn't a yes/no sort of thing, but an issue of severity, and no special programs should be so black and white as to provide endless services for those with a label and nothing at all for those without.
On the other hand, my son has some kind of autism-like something. No label. He's very poor in social skills or understanding, always wants a routine to his day, etc. But he doesn't have repetitive behaviors. It's been difficult to get help for him (either at school or out-of-pocket) because of this mentality that it's the label that drives everything.
For kids with "real" autism, the very young ones who are apparantly helped tremendously by an early diagnosis and full-time one-on-one therapy, this could have tremendous consequences.
With respect to autism, all of this feels very much like stumbling around in the dark until researchers can identify the causes and what exactly is going on in the brain. I wouldn't be surprised if there were multiple autisms, manifesting themselves in similar ways but with different causes. - 1/20/12, 9:17 AM
- carrie said...
Everyone wants their kid to be perfect and popular and they want to be able to blame it on something when they struggle socially. There has always been a spectrum of personalities and those on the low end are not necessarily disabled, just unlucky. In Wisconsin, insurance companies are now required to provide $50,000/ year of benefits for autism therapy. However, there is no licensing or other requiements for autism therapists so anyone can be an autism therapist using any therapy that they can sell and insurance companies have to pay. I think this is too bad because it takes money away from helping the low functioning kids who are really disabled by autisim. And I think it helps to increase the number of people diagnosed with autism because I think that insurance coverage influences doctor's opinions, especially when parents are pushing for answers.
- Tibore said...
"With respect to autism, all of this feels very much like stumbling around in the dark until researchers can identify the causes and what exactly is going on in the brain. I wouldn't be surprised if there were multiple autisms, manifesting themselves in similar ways but with different causes."
This is something I suspect too. The medical profession is doing the best with the descriptions and symptoms they have at hand, but they just plain don't have a bullseye on the specific causes yet. Like various "fevers" or, as I said above, "dropsy" in the past, I predict that the term "autism" will eventually go the route of becoming slowly archaic, first becoming the name for an entire family of specific, named and described individual disorders, much the way "cancer" is used now (just among brain cancers, you have blastomas, gliomas, ependymomas, etc... and then you have sarcomas, melanomas, and so on), and then eventually simply being the "old name" for what the old conceptions were that used to contain what the specific disorders will be called. From what little I've read about it, it's already quite a ways there, since the current DSM entry calls it "Autism Spectrum Disorder". Medical science appears to already realize that the broad definitions cover multiple different disorders, so in the long run, they'll eventually get around to characterizing each individual one in more depth, and with more specific criteria for diagnoses and treatments for patients.
But it's a long ways off yet, unfortunately. Medical science is quite advanced in many things, but in many others, it's still in the early days.
I wonder if any psychiatrists happen to be reading this thread. I'd love to know how the profession characterizes the current state of autism knowledge. And for them to correct any mistakes I may have made; I'm very much a layman on this topic. - 1/20/12, 9:32 AM
- Tarzan said...
There's no question in my mind, after speaking candidly with teachers, that the ever increasing demands and breadth of 'special needs' children is tremendously taxing to schools ability to effectively educate any children at all.
- kimsch said...
SGT Ted,
He is indeed a "normal boy". We are free-range parents as we were raised free-range kids.
He was politely requested to dis-enroll at pre-school because he had been misbehaving and the teacher was holding him on her lap and he threw his head back and knocked out one of her teeth.
He had a couple more "melt-downs" throwing toys. knocking over the coffee table, pulling all the cushions off the sofa. We took him to be evaluated and got him under control before he got labeled at school.
Jane - we have an appointment next week. We've gone to about once a quarter which is nice. His meds went generic about a year ago which saves on those costs as well.
He's always been a social butterfly, but easily bored with what one friend or group of friends is doing and then he's off to another. We finally got him a cell phone so he wouldn't have to run home between each visit (or attempted visit if his friend wasn't home or couldn't play).
He's starting to stutter some becasue his mind is working so much faster than his mouth can speak. - 1/20/12, 10:32 AM
- Grandma Bee said...
Our family has the genetic whammy for autism spectrum issues. Our Apserger kids have needed help from the school system. We have also home-schooled one of them for part of her school career. The therapies they received in school and through other sources, with help from SSI and Katie Beckett program, are their ticket to independence. One has completed a vocational program, one is in a vocational program, and the other stands a chance to make it in college if we can help him put some extra structure in place. So our kids, assuming that the economy opens up, will be taxpayers themselves and their taxes will more than make up for the therapies they have received.
It has taken a lot of work, extra energy, and creativity for our kids to realize these goals. The difference that therapy has made is the difference between a productive life and a struggle to survive.
Some Asperger people are able to go to University. Long before anybody ever heard of Aspergers, my dad, who is an Aspie, earned a masters in chemistry. Personally and emotionally, he is paranoid because he never has understood how people tick; but he was able to earn a good living and work well for his company. His company took the view that "he's a nut, but he knows his stuff, so just leave him alone to do his thing."
Unfortunately, other aspies have difficulty dealing with necessary skills for dealing with school, work, and life. Aspergers people often lack intuition about social situations. So while your neurotypical child learns by steps A, B, and C, the Aspie child has to learn steps A.1, A.2, A.3, A.n before he can get to B.
I grow weary of people who don't have kids with Autism Spectrum disorders making pronouncements. Yes, people game the system. That doesn't invalidate the real need for services. - 1/20/12, 12:19 PM
- Bryan C said...
I can't shake the feeling that Aspergers, in particular, is just taking a perfectly normal set of personality characteristics and packaging them into an illness. Like a modern variation on Hippocrates' Four Temperaments.
- Grandma Bee said...
just taking a perfectly normal set of personality characteristics and packaging them into an illness.
When these characteristics appear in an extreme form, when they interfere with one's ability to handle normal daily interactions and tasks, then it's a problem. I have a son who can teach himself the grammar of any foreign language with a dictionary and a textbook, and is absolutely brilliant within a narrow field; but he also lacks a normal sense of proportion and functions at daily tasks like somebody with Alzheimers.
I agree with you that people are too eager to label some things as mental health issues, and maybe some clearer definitions would be helpful. Bur I have had so many people make "helpful" observations without knowing the situation, that I get really frustrated. - 1/20/12, 5:01 PM
- Teri said...
I was elated when I heard the news that the autism diagnosis may be defined more strictly/narrowly.
My son was diagnosed in 1993 at the age of 2 1/2. His verbal abilty was measured in the bottom one-tenth of the bottom one percentile. He was 12 before he said "Mommy" and very rarely says it unless someone prompts him (rarely being about once a year, if that). He'll be 19 next month.
Making the diagnosis under the DSM-IV is like ordering from a Chinese menu: 2 things from Column A, one thing from column B, etc. See here: http://www.autreat.com/dsm4-autism.html
I've had people come up and tell me that their child has autism, and then go on to say that they are just graduating from college and about to get married. (True story, I'm not kidding.)
As for the endless IEPs, I was at a meeting once where a woman got up to complain about how the IEPs are harming her children's education because the teachers are "constantly" away from class because there have to be 18 people at these meetings. Out of those 18 people, 16 of them are getting paid to be there and 2 of them have taken off work.
With the current rules it's just too easy for parents of a kid who's socially awkward to fiddle things around and scrape up their "2 from A and 1 each from B and C". It's like hypochondriacs diagnosing themselves on the Internet and shopping around for doctors who will sign the papers.
I would be so thrilled if my son were to become functional. I'd give up everything I have, not only his $698 a month, to just have a 10-minute conversation with him. - 1/21/12, 12:38 AM


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"A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes"--
sigh. Just lovely.
"Oh, By The Way" is my digital scrap book of things I like, things I would share with a close friend and say: "Oh, by the way, do you know of this artist/ clothing or interior designer/ model/ singer/ actor/ gorgeous man… or, have you seen this video/ photo/ film... or heard (or do you remember) this song/ band... or, read this book/ poem/ inspiring quote... or, visited this place/ museum/ restaurant/ famous building... or, have you heard of this amazing new scientific discovery?"
I am dedicated to posting the positive, the fascinating, the beautiful, the interesting, the moving, and the inspiring and uplifting. Sometimes I post cultural as well as personal observations, milestones, and remembrances. And just like life, all of these things may often have a bit of melancholy or even sadness in them, which is what makes our time here so lovely and bittersweet and precious.
Some of the photos, art, poetry, and prose are my own original work, credited with my initials, JEF. When it isn't, I always try to post links to the original source material, but often I find photos on the web that are not linked or other material that is not sourced. In these instances, I post them without malice since it is assumed that such things, by being globally posted on something as uncontrollable as the internet to begin with, are in the public domain. If you identify the source of an image that is not linked, please politely let me know (without accusing me of theft) and I will be happy to provide a link. If you are the owner of an image and would prefer it be removed, I am happy to do that as well.
I hope to inspire and entertain my readers with things that inspire and entertain me. There is a startling amount of beauty and creativity in the world and it enriches us all to participate in it.


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Secretary of State John Kerry says that tests have shown evidence of Syria's use of the chemical agent sarin in an attack on the opposition last month that the White House has blamed on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
"I can share with you today that blood and hair samples that have come to us through an appropriate chain of custody from East Damascus, from first responders, it has tested positive for signatures of sarin," Kerry told CNN on Sunday.
"Each day that goes by, this case is even stronger," he said on the cable network's State of the Union program.
Kerry said the U.S. obtained the samples "independently," giving no indication the results came from the United Nations chemical weapons inspectors, who left Syria with samples on Saturday.
The U.N. has not said how long it would take to test its samples, but speaking on Saturday, a spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon suggested it might be days or a week.
Kerry said "we have confidence" that Congress will authorize the use of force against Syria.
"They are good people in the Congress," he tells CNN. "Politically, it's been difficult, but this is a matter of national security, it's a matter of the credibility of the United States of America, it's a matter of upholding the interests of our allies and friends in the region."
Update At 4:22 p.m. ET:
Arab League officials called for action against the Syrian regime for its use of chemical weapons, according to Reuters.
In a resolution issued at the conclusion of an emergency session on Sunday in Cairo, the Arab League foreign ministers said the United Nations and international community to "take the deterrent and necessary measures against the culprits of this crime that the Syrian regime bears responsibility for."
The foreign ministers said those responsible were "war criminals" who should face trial.
NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, reporting from Cairo, says Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal, speaking in Arabic at a news conference, had described the attack on Syrian citizens "inhumane" and said it was time to take action. But he and Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said their preferred solution would be to bring the warring sides together for talks in Geneva.
Update At 4:20 p.m. ET:
Several key Republicans, led by Arizona Sen. John McCain, are calling on the administration to lay out a comprehensive "strategy and a plan" to ensure that Syria is never again able to use chemical weapons as a condition of their vote to authorize the use of force.
Speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, McCain said he and others believe "the best way to eliminate the threat of Bashar Assad's continued use of chemical weapons would be the threat of his removal from power. And that, I believe, has to be part of what we tell the American people."
Meanwhile, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), on NBC's Meet the Press, said Congress should vote against authorizing force unless the White House can provide assurances that the U.S. will not be drawn into a wider war.
Update At 10:10 a.m. ET:
Reuters reports that Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is quoted by the semi-official Iranian Labor News Agency on Sunday as saying Syria, an ally of Iran, had used chemical weapons:
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Welcome to Dragon Cave! Dragon Cave is an online adoptables game. Collect eggs, raise them to adulthood, and then breed them to create interesting lineages. New dragons are added regularly!
Waterhorse Dragons received their name due to their horse-like physique and endearing behavior. They are capable of surviving out of water, and when on land their skin secretes a gelatinous goo to retain moisture. However, their large paddle feet are better suited for swimming, and waterhorse dragons tend to move very awkwardly when on land. Waterhorses are very friendly dragons and enjoy playing with humans.
Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling's wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.


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Baronet Coffee Pods
Baronet Coffee Pods Description
These Baronet Coffee Roasters coffee pods can fit your standard coffee pod machine for a delicious mug of joe. The bag-packaged Baronet pods can fit your Senseo Coffee Pod Machine as well, so you can brew your java in this non-standard machine too! See product descriptions for details. Baronet Coffee Pods now available at CoffeeForLess.com help you keep your home or office stocked with the coffee roasts and flavors you love.


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It seems that scientists find more and more evidence to prove the existence of parallel worlds. Physicists at Stanford University managed to calculate the hypothetical number of universes that were formed as a result of the Big Bang. According to them, the Big Bang created 101016 universes.
It is quite possible, though, that they may exist inside one another, including our planet. Therefore, there is probably another Earth hidden inside planet Earth.
The hollow Earth theory can be traced back to ancient periods of the history of human civilization. Ancient wise men believed that there was a whole underground world with its underground creatures living inside the planet. It may seem to many that it is only a primeval and naïve perception of the structure of the world.
In Ancient Greece, there was a myth about Tartar – the ominous underground world. Philosopher Anaxagoras (5th century A.D) built a model of creation made of the flat earth surrounded by the air sphere and the cloud of ether.
He wrote about the existence of the parallel world with its people, cities and even celestial bodies. If planet Earth is the center of the universe, where do these people live? Do they live under the ground?
Hypotheses about the existence of hollow space inside planet Earth appeared later as well. The theory was put forward by Galilei, Franklin and Lichtenberg among others.
In 1818, John Cleves Symmes showered the US Congress, universities and prominent scientists with messages, in which he was trying to prove that the Earth was made of several concentric spheres with openings near the poles.
Soviet academician V. Obruchev put forward a hypothesis about a giant meteorite that rammed into Earth in primeval times. According to him, the meteorite may have broken through the planet's crust and created hollowness inside.
US researcher Cyrus Teed said that the surface of the Earth might be the interior shell of a sphere. The theory became known as "concave hollow Earth" hypothesis. According to this theory, we all live on the inner shell of the Earth.
Let's just assume that the underground world exists and that there is someone living there in that world. What may those creatures look like? Can they be the aliens, ghosts or mysterious monsters, the existence or non-existence of which has been perplexing mankind for centuries?


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It's always excited to see someone realize their dreams. Pick up their courage, their doubts, their talent and creativity and just go for it. I got excited when Beatrice announced she was writing a cookbook and I got even more excited when I finally held in my hands. "La Tartine Gourmande, Recipes For An Inspired Life" was no doubt a labor of love for Beatrice. It shows. From the colorful imagery to the detailed recipes, one can tell she did put a lot of care and perfectionism into her first cookbook.
I have Bea met once before on a press trip and it was a delight to see that the book matches the person in real life. Deeply French, but also very much in love with the flavors and aesthetics of other countries she visited. The book achieves what I look for most times in cookbooks: it reads like a novel with prose and anecdotes and at the same time it serves the purpose at hand, giving you plenty of recipes and creative ideas for casual to sophisticated plates.
The book is divided in two major parts; one where Bea goes through core recipes used in various chapters, as well as covering the flours, sugars and utensils she favors. The other parts covers all the recipes, from breakfasts to picnic, to casual lunches with friends, to sophisticated or simple dinners. One thing I really appreciated in Bea's writing is the fluidity of the recipe writing as well as the simple yet to the point style of the headnotes.
If you are familiar with Bea's blog, the book is indeed, its perfect extension. Recipes that are simple to make, full or flavors and leaving you inspired to go create more of your own. I made 3 batches of these Chocolate Financiers in the span of a week. They disappeared as fast as I was pulling them out of the oven. (Recipe for the financiers after the jump)
Bea was kind enough to answer a little fun interview I prepared so you could get to know her better. For more descriptions and excerpts from her book, you can check her amazon author page, here.
1/ Which person in your life influenced your cooking the most?
My mother. No doubt. I learned by her side. But in many ways too, it's my upbringing in France. And the fact that I come from a family where there's always been a clear passion for food, home cooking, and making someone happy with a meal. My brother and sister-in-law whom I am very close to love to cook and eat–like my mother, they keep an amazing vegetable garden to feed our crave for homegrown foods. Whenever I am in France, we spend a lot of time cooking together. Talking about food. So I know that it's really us all, as a family, that rooted this love for food inside me. And the way I cook.
2/ Which culinary traditions or family habits have you kept from France?
The fact that I cannot skip lunch. Ever 😉 I am so French in that way. Lunch is cooked and needs to be a sit down meal during which I leave work and other things I am doing behind–to enjoy my meal. And it does not matter if I will have that meal alone. Everyone deserves that treat. As a family, Lulu, P. and I always eat together. Sharing our meals is a very important time of our day. Lulu is only 3 but she understands and loves it.
When I look at the dishes I make, no doubt, my cooking is French in essence. But I don't perhaps cook what most people think of as French cuisine. I like to reinvent classics, which connects me to my roots and the foods that I loved to eat as a child. And then I personalize them to my taste and the influences my cooking gained from traveling and living in different countries. So in the end, it's French but with a twist and exotic touches. I am curious about food, so I also like to constantly try new ingredients and build recipes around them.
At home, we always cared how food was presented on a plate. And we also always made sure that our meals were balanced in nutrition as well as in texture–hence I will always eat something cooked with something raw (ie there will always be salad that accompanies my meals). I think these definitely explain why I love to play with food the way I do. I like to make a dish pop onto a plate, looking light and colorful. And not overly complicated. I believe that we eat with our eyes first. I believe that what makes a great meal is quality ingredients, attention–and the rest follows naturally. That's the way I was brought up to think about food.
3/ If stranded on a deserted island, which of the following would you miss the most?
– vegetable
– fruit
– spice and/or herb
vegetable: carrots from my mother's garden
fruit: I'd say I'd miss the taste of a wild strawberry. So concentrated. So delicious and unique.
spice: cumin
herbs: parsley, coriander, chervil
4/ What is your favorite meal to cook for a romantic dinner "a deux"?
Not sure. It changes all the time since my creative flow keeps coming. I know there'd be chocolate somewhere during the meal (hello Molten chocolate cakes!). And we'd have a stunning looking refreshing appetizer, most likely a dressed-up salad or a verrine, with tons of zest (grapefruit, orange or lime), avocado and crab meat. As a main, I could easily imagine a creamy red kuri squash risotto finished with truffle oil and served with clams cooked in white wine, garlic and .fresh herbs.
5/ Favorite word? Least favorite word? Favorite color? Two things you can't stop eating lately?
Favorite word: Maman….it's filled with so many meanings and special things for me.
Least favorite words: Dépêche toi! (hurry up!) I hate when I have to rush….
Favorite color: That's a hard one as I love most of them. Right now, I'd say red as I can see myself buying a lot of fabrics, bowls and home textiles with different hues of red on them. I also also love spring green and turquoise blue.
Two things I can't stop eating right now: fine slices of apples enjoyed with pecans and honeycomb; coconut milk tapioca pudding with stewed fruit.
Bea and her publisher were also very kind to share two copies with two readers. To enter the giveaways for a copy of "La Tartine Gourmande, Recipes For An Inspired Life" – all you have to do is leave a comment (no anonymous, one entry per person) on this post between Monday March 5th and Thursday March 8th, midnight EST. You must claim your prize within 48 hours or two other winners will be picked. I know this sounds harsh but many enter, I announce winners and prizes stay unclaimed for months and/or are never claimed which is not fair to the other participants who really do care about a gift.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of the book by the publisher. All images (except the book cover) and opinions are my own.
Chocolate Financiers, slightly modified from La Tartine Gourmande:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup almond meal
2 tablespoons millet flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
A pinch of sea salt
1/3 cup powdered sugar
4 large egg whites (beaten slightly)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350F, position a rack in the middle and line the inside of 10 muffin tins with wrappers.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and cook until it starts to turn brown and smells smells like hazelnuts, between 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the almond meal, millet flour, cocoa powder, salt, and sugar. Mix until blended. On low speed, beat in the egg whites.
Add the butter and vanilla and mix for another 30 seconds.
Divide the batter evenly between the muffin tins and bake the financiers for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the middle comes out clean. Let cool and dust with more cocoa powder if desired.


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- Thicker, stronger, more absorbent, & softer medical-grade cloth.
- Gently cleanse & soothe with plant extracts that promote healthy skin.
- "Cheek to Cheek" versatility - this wipe can do it all.
- No parabens, chlorine, phenols, or risky chemicals (ever!).
- 72 wipes, unscented and measuring 7.1 x 8 in.
Honest Wipes - 72ct.
from The Honest Company
The Honest Co.'s all natural wipes are unbeatable! Thick and absorbent, botanically infused, "Cheek to Cheek" versatility - this wipe can do it all.
- THICKER, stronger, more absorbent, & softer medical-grade cloth
- Gentle, yet effective ingredients gently cleanse & soothe with plant extracts that promote healthy skin
- Infused with a botanical blend of pomegranate (antioxidants), chamomile & cucumber (to soothe), and masterwort leaf (to moisturize)
- "Cheek to Cheek:" from sensitive, wet bottoms and messy fingers, to sticky countertops, pacifiers, and gunked-up toys - this wipe is ultra-versatile & can do it all
- NO parabens, chlorine, phenols, or risky chemicals (ever!)
- 72 wipes
- Unscented
- 7.1 x 8 in
- Biodegradable* / Hypoallergenic / Chlorine-Free / Medical Grade Cloth / Sustainably Harvested
Honestly Free of: alcohol, chlorine, phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, SLS & SLES, lanolin & unnecessary additives
Purified Water, Citric acid (fruit-based stability agent), Silver Dihydrogen Citrate (all natural, water-soluble preservative), Decyl Gulcoside (sugar-based cleanser), Sodium Citrate (corn-based antioxidant), Punica Granatum (pomegranate fruit) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (licorice root) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (chamomile) Extract, Cucumis sativus (cucumber fruit) Extract, Peucedanum Ostruthium (masterwort leaf) Extract
*Will Compost in Municipal / Industrial Facilities According to ISO, ASTM, and EN Regulations
Designed in California.
Responsibly Made in China.
Manufactured in a Nordic Swan, ISO 9001, GMPc, BCR, GMP, and EPA certified facility.
No animal testing or by-products.


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Mr. Manners: "It hurts when I climb stairs, and... Hey, how is that lime-flavored Diet Coke? I've never tried it."
Dr. Grumpy: "I like it, I go back and forth between it, regular Diet Coke, and..."
Mr. Manners reaches over, picks up my Diet Coke, and freakin' DRINKS SOME!
Mr. Manners: "Hey! That is good! I'll have to buy some."
Dr. Grumpy: "Uhhh, you can keep that one."
Mr. Manners: "Really? Thanks, doc! Anyway, sometimes the foot goes numb and..."


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Monday, December 13, 2010
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Welcome to my art room. I've created this gallery so that i can share my artistic endeavors with you. Each piece has been created by me and most are acrylic paintings and/or collage. I then use Photoshop to enhance them just a little. Hope you enjoy my daily offerings.


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This is the day set aside for prayer for you.
If you have a prayer request, please list it in the comments below. You don't have to give any information you don't feel comfortable with (a simple "unspoken" comment is sufficient).
If you would like to pray, please pray for the comment above yours.
Also, if you would like to share a "praise" for a blessing you have received, please feel free to list those also! I'd love to hear of it so we can rejoice with you.


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As more becomes known about the strong, 7.7-magnitude earthquake that rocked southern Pakistan on Tuesday, we're hearing that:
-- The death toll has risen to at least 327, local officials tell Reuters. That's higher than earlier estimates. But as Pakistan's Dawn newspaper wrote when it reported there had been at least 264 deaths, the toll had been "expected to rise as rescue teams reach more villages in the remote area." So, the total may go up even further.
-- "A small island created in the Arabian Sea by the huge earthquake that hit southwest Pakistan has fascinated locals but experts say it is unlikely to last long," according to Dawn.
NBC News says that "seismologists suspect the island is a temporary formation resulting from a 'mud volcano,' a jet of mud, sand and water that gushed to the surface as the temblor churned and pressurized that slurry under the ocean floor."
The network adds that "older residents of the coastal town said the land emergence was déjà vu — an earthquake in 1968 produced an island that stayed for one year and then vanished, Ali Mohammad, 60, and Azeem Baloch, 57, told NBC News."
According to Dawn, "the island is about 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 metres) high, up to 300 feet wide and up to 120 feet long. ... It sits about 200 metres [656 feet] away from the coast."
The earthquake hit hardest in Pakistan's Baluchistan province. The island appeared near the coastal town of Gwadar.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Interplay: Material, Method and Motif in West African Art
Interplay: Material, Method and Motif in West African Art
Interplay explores the dynamic intersections of materials, methods and motifs in four West African contexts. Beginning with the Yoruba of Nigeria, the first section illustrates how artists have applied a single material, indigo, as both a dye and a pigment, to reference core concerns of the social, political and spiritual realms. The Cameroon Grasslands segment of the exhibition brings into focus the use of specific motifs to reinforce messages about the royal court and its leadership across a wide range of media. Similarly, examples from the royal arts of the Akan (including the Asante and Fante of Ghana and the Baule of the Ivory Coast) demonstrate how the majority of motifs allude to a common corpus of verbal expressions, which communicate important cultural maxims. The final section of Interplay examines Bamana bogolanfini (mud cloth) in Mali and the interrelationship between traditional-style cloths and more contemporary forms.
The majority of arts on display in this exhibition were not meant to be viewed in isolation; instead, they were conceived as active components of thriving communities. For example, when appearing in public, an Akan chief would display all of his regalia (stool, swords, jewelry and textiles, etc) together. For the Akan, this amalgamation of diverse art forms and their attendant proverbs would amplify, not obscure, the aesthetic and socio-political power of a single object. By juxtaposing art forms that share common elements, Interplay invites viewers to consider the ways in which understanding the relationships between different objects enhances wider appreciation of the richness of West African arts.
Pieces displayed in this gallery are from the University of Iowa Museum of Art's permanent collection, and will be on view through October 21, 2012.


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This video presents "[NEW] Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH3 Product Introduction Video":
Engineered For The Multimedia Photographer
September 17, 2012 (Secaucus, NJ) – Panasonic is proud to introduce the new Digital Single Lens Mirrorless DMC-GH3. The LUMIX GH3 is not just a compact, lightweight camera. It is an attractive, top-of-the-line mirrorless single lens system camera that is tough enough to withstand the extreme conditions of heavy field use.
The new Live MOS Sensor achieves high-resolution images with minimum noise. And the new Venus Engine attains high-speed, high-quality signal processing. These features combine to maximize shooting fun and operating ease. Another prominent feature of the LUMIX GH3 is a tough body that is rugged enough to stand up to professional use. It features a magnesium alloy full diecast body and advanced splash / dustproof construction that was achieved by sealing the sections of the camera body to enable shooting under extreme conditions. Although the LUMIX GH3 integrates features a class above other G Series models, it is still compact when compared with an SLR camera featuring equivalent performance and functions. The body has enabled a new control layout with three dials on the front and back as well as single-function buttons. The LUMIX GH3 allows users to capture images in extreme environments and provides superb mobility. It also records still images consecutively at a rate of about 6 fps. The LUMIX GH3 is proud to assume the role of Panasonic's flagship digital single-lens mirrorless camera.
The video recording capability, which is highly acclaimed in the GH2, now comes with more variety of options in its format and bit rate to meet wide-ranging needs. It is packed with advanced technologies developed by Panasonic for professional video creation.
The LUMIX GH3 uses OLED displays both in its viewfinder and in the rear free-angle monitor. Panasonic has also developed optional accessories to expand the shooting possibility of DMC-GH3. A detachable battery grip DMW-BGGH3 for vertical viewing angle, integrates control featuring splash/dustproof design. The external TTL flash DMW-FL360L comes with wireless function and even integrates LED for video recording. A Stereo Shotgun microphone DMW-MS2 is also available. They represent a first of their kind for Panasonic LUMIX cameras.
Panasonic also offers a full lineup of lenses that reinforce the LUMIX GH3. The LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. (H-HS12035) is currently on the market. In addition to this, Panasonic is releasing a new fast F2.8 telephoto zoom lens LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm / F2.8 / POWER O.I.S. (H-HS35100) to introduce with the LUMIX GH3. These two lenses achieve high resistance performance against splash and dust when combined with the LUMIX GH3.
The LUMIX G lens lineup includes a variety of models with superb image rendering, such as Leica lenses and smooth, silent power zoom lenses suitable for video recording. *This is the largest lineup of interchangeable lenses for a digital single lens mirrorless camera*. And Panasonic will continue to develop and introduce new lenses with distinctive features.
*As of 17, September 2012.
1. Delivering the highest ever picture quality with a new Live MOS sensor
The DMC-GH3 realizes high-quality photo images with real-to-life details through excellent resolution, image rendering and color reproduction; high-grade lens and precision AF achieves high resolution, optimal balance of resolution and noise reduction achieves lifelike image rendering and high precision auto exposure and white balance with live light metering results in faithful color reproduction.
The newly developed 16.05 effective megapixel Live MOS sensor boasts wide dynamic range and high sensitivity image recording even at ISO 12,800 or ISO 25,600 in extended mode. The key point here was reducing noise, for which Panasonic focused on the following three areas: (1) minimizing noise in the sensor, (2) preventing sensor noise from entering the output signal, and (3) preventing noise from entering the signal processing circuit, power supply line and grounding line. To reduce noise, it is also important to design the power supply wiring and the signal wiring connected to the engine to be as close to the same length as possible. These measures not only suppress noise but also help to improve processing speed. Standard sensitivity is from ISO 200 to ISO 12,800, but the user can set sensitivity to ISO 125 or ISO 25,600 by using an extension function. The LPF (Low Pass Filter) has been also newly designed to minimize generation of moire while drawing maximum resolution of the image out of the sensor.
The image processor Venus Engine is also refined to achieve superior noise reduction. With a combination of 3DNR (3D Noise Reduction) and MNR (Multi-process Noise Reduction), both bright area and dark area are faithfully reproduced with minimum noise across the entire focusing range in high sensitivity image recording.
The built-in flash is enhanced to feature more power and flexibility. The new built-in flash of GN12 equivalent (ISO 100 •m) / GN17 equivalent (ISO 200 •m) covers 24mm wide angle of view. Synchronization for flash dimming and exposure compensation is available with adjustment of 1/3EV Step ±3EV. Manual control and a sync terminal are newly added for more versatile use of external flash.
The GH3 also integrates HDR (High Dynamic Range) to cope with the extreme bright and dark contrast that you get, for example, with backlighting, or when consecutive photos are taken with different exposure levels and overlapped. Blown highlights and blocked shadows are then deleted and a single photo is composed. All processing is done in the background, so you can take your next shot without having to wait, ensuring that you don't miss a photo opportunity.
Other practical shooting functions including Time Lapse Shot or Multiple Exposure are available on DMC-GH3. The electronic shutter with silent operation prevents pixel declination which is undesirable in photographing of commercial products.
2. Awesome quality of video for unlimited expressions – versatile recording formats, bitrate and frame rates
Panasonic defies the conventional boundaries of a digital camera elevating the potential of video recording capability even higher. Users can freely choose the format from AVCHD, AVCHD Progressive, MP4 or MOV with the frame rate at 60p(NTSC), 30p(NTSC) or 24p according to the usage*. The DMC-GH3 is capable of recording ultra high bit rate video recorded at 72 Mbps (ALL-Intra) or 50 Mbps (IPB). And it is capable of recording continuously for an unlimited time**.
Heat generated during long continuous recording can cause problems. It not only affects internal components but can also degrade image quality. Effective thermal diffusion is an essential design challenge. By drawing on the expertise accumulated through its many years of developing camcorders, Panasonic has revamped and redesigned the electronic parts arrangement and internal structure to achieve the optimum layout. This has eliminated heat problems in the LUMIX GH3.
When recording the video in MOV, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD, the DMC-GH3 automatically generates multiple seamless files for continuous recording. During playback, the AVCHD Progressive / AVCHD files are reproduced with seamless, interruption-free continuity. The DMC-GH3 also embeds SMPTE-compliant Time Code either in Rec Run or Free Run count-up methods, which makes it easy to synchronize the multiple video footage or sound source in the post production workflow. Time Code Value can be started at any point of [Reset], [Manual Input] and [Current Time]. Drop frame or Non Drop Frame time code is selectable***.
For high quality sound recording, DMC-GH3 adopts Dolby Digital® for AVCHD Progressive /AVCHD videos and linear PCM(LPCM) for non-compressed video recorded in MOV. In addition to the built-in stereo microphone, the GH3 is equipped with two 3.5mm terminals for an external microphone and headphones to facilitate sound recording.
The DMC-GH3 also features Creative Video mode: Exposure mode and Slow/Fast-Motion mode. In the Exposure mode, four manual video modes: Program AE / Aperture-Priority / Shutter-Priority / Manual Exposure can be selected and they will faithfully reflect your shooting intent, and give you a wide range of video images. The Slow/Fast-Motion mode enables slow-motion (40% / 48% / 80%) and fast–motion (160% / 200% / 300%), all in Full-HD.
Not only full-time AF, AF Tracking and Face Recognition AF are also available. The Touch AF in video recording also lets users enjoy professional-like rack focusing. Just by pointing at the subject, the focus is shifted to it and lets it stand out to attract attention.
*60p(NTSC) video recording is not available in AVCHD and MP4 video recording.
**In the model for PAL areas, motion image can be recorded up to 29 min 59 sec.
***Available in the model for NTSC regions.
3. Intuitive response with nimble movement
All cameras in the LUMIX G assortment adopt Contrast AF for their focus system. Compared with the Phase difference system AF, the Contrast AF boasts higher accuracy when shooting with a bright lens with a wide open aperture.
The DMC-GH3 features ultra-high-speed AF which makes it possible to capture fast-moving subjects clearly. Both accuracy and speed are improved over high-end DSLRs with Phase difference AF with the GH3's advanced Contrast AF system. The camera and the lens exchange the digital signal at 240 fps to minimize the time to focus. Together with the quick start-up and short release time lag, the DMC-GH3 never lets photographers miss fleeting shooting opportunities.
The DMC-GH3 boasts high-precision, high-speed dual OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays for LVF (Live View Finder) and rear monitor. Increasing the resolution of the display area to 1,744K-dot equivalent, the new 16:9 Wide Screen LVF boasts approx.1.34x / 0.67x (35mm camera equiv.) magnification and 100% field of view and eye point of approximately 21 mm. By adopting the OLED display, the time lag is minimized dramatically compared with the predecessor DMC-GH2. The image output between the LVF and the rear monitor is switched automatically with the eye sensor on the LVF, which features options of sensitivity – high, low and off – to reduce accidental activation of the rear monitor.
The 3.0-inch 614K-dot free-angle OLED rear monitor (3:2 aspect) with wide-viewing angle rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down offers approx. 100% of field of view. The OLED rear monitor adopts static touch control for smoother operation either in shooting or in playback.
The DMC-GH3 captures moving subjects clearly with the burst shooting at 6 fps in full resolution (max. 18 consecutive shots of RAW+JPEG) and 20 fps in 4-megapixel recording using an electronic shutter(max. 80 consecutive shots of JPEG).
The DMC-GH3 comes with a Level Gauge which lets the camera detect the horizontal/vertical angle of view with its internal level working with the acceleration sensor. Photos shot in a portrait aspect will be automatically displayed vertically whichever lens is used.
4. Superb controllability and rugged design
Panasonic developed DMC-GH3 in pursuit of the best-balanced body design possible with the ergonomic grip and optimum layout of control buttons and dials. Each button has a single function to allow intuitive operation. Major controls such as shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO and white balance settings can be quickly adjusted with the front/rear dials and rear jog dial. Users can customize a total of 7 function buttons (5 in buttons and 2 in the touch menu tab) by allotting a function they use often. The control panel is fully redesigned enabling even more intuitive operation. Using the LUMIX G Series' first detachable battery grip with integrated controls for vertical shooting angle, which was developed concurrently with the LUMIX GH3, the user can operate the dials and buttons easily in virtually the same way when shooting horizontally.
The new LUMIX GH3 is tough enough to withstand heavy field use. The main structural features of the LUMIX GH3 are its magnesium alloy full diecast frame and splash / dustproof construction.
Like previous models, the LUMIX GH3 has many moving parts, such as the free-angle OLED rear monitor. Thus, ensuring a high level of splash / dust resistance was not an easy task. In particular, careful attention was given to the popup flash. To prevent vignetting caused by the lens, the popup flash incorporates a sliding mechanism that raises the flash to its operating position. Panasonic has taken thorough measures to prevent the entry of dust and water from this section. There are also splash/dust-proof interchangeable lenses (LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. and LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm / F2.8 / POWER O.I.S.) and the new Battery Grip DMW-BGGH3 to secure its high resistance.
5. A variety of interfaces
The DMC-GH3 comes with a variety of connection terminals for more flexible shooting options. The newly added 3.5mm microphone jack allows high quality audio recording using an external microphone. It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack enabling monitoring the recorded audio while shooting video real-time. The DMC-GH3 is also capable of real-time image output not only on the OLED display (LVF or the rear monitor) but also on the external monitor via an optional HDMI mini cable simultaneously while recording video. It is suitable for professional video that requires serious monitoring of the imagery. Users can choose to output only the recording content or the content with the setting menus individually depending on the display.
In addition to these, the DMC-GH3 offers remote control with optional Remote Shutter DMW-RSL1 and AV output (Audio 2ch, Composite). The compatibility with the UHS-I (Ultra High Speed I) SDXC/SDHC Memory Card allows faster data writing even in RAW recording mode.
6. Wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi ®
The DMC-GH3 integrates a built-in Wi-Fi® module for wireless connectivity (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) to expand shooting possibilities. A smartphone or a tablet can be used to remote control and a remote monitor. What the camera is seeing is displayed live smoothly on the smartphone/tablet, and it is possible to set various controls including focus, exposure compensation, ISO, WB and Photo Style in addition to shutter release via live view using Wi-Fi.
After shooting, images including RAW files can be transferred to a smartphone or tablet immediately. Users can choose to upload images to the LUMIX CLUB Cloud Sync. Service via Wi-Fi- tethering and to send them to the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) -compliant AV equipment via a wireless router at home. In addition, it is possible to tag the location information to the image by utilizing the GPS (Global Positioning System) log of a smartphone/tablet. All these flexible shooting / browsing / sharing styles are made possible with the DMC-GH3 and Panasonic's dedicated application software "LUMIX LINK" for Android / iOS smartphones.
Archiving of images can be accomplished wirelessly with the DMC-GH3. Users can save precious images to the Panasonic's exclusive "LUMIX CLUB Cloud Sync. Service". In this cloud service, a personal folder is allotted to the GH3 users to upload image data anytime to transfer the image saved at this space to Facebook™, Flickr™, Picasa™, Twitter™ or YouTube™. With the LUMIX CLUB Cloud Sync Service, not only full-resolution photos but also HD quality videos can be synchronized among the compliant electronic devices you are using (e.g. PC, smartphone and AV equipment) or transferred to the websites you like. The Wi-Fi function also allows playback of images on the DLNA-compliant VIERA HDTV for viewing in private or public*.
*The wireless access point (router) is required.
7. Creative Expression
The DMC-GH3 incorporates Photo Style and Creative Control for more unique expression tailored for the photographer.
With Photo Style, users can manually choose from 6 color types to get even more detailed image settings, or to match the shooting situation. In addition, the contrast, sharpness, saturation or noise reduction for each mode parameter can be customized in 11 steps and stored in memory. In Custom Mode, finely customized settings can be stored for easy recall and use.
The Creative Control lets you enjoy making the image even more impressive. A total of 14 filters are available – Expressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Miniature Effect, Soft Focus, Star Filter and One Point Color. Most of the filters can be used in video recording, too. With the new GUI and menu tabs, switching filter effect is extremely easy and is possible to preview via the Live View. Effect parameter, defocusing area and exposure compensation are also adjustable.
8. Rich options for further expandability
Micro Four Thirds System products provide customers with even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. In addition to LUMIX G lenses, the LUMIX DMC-GH3 can use any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds System standard via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R Lenses via DMW-MA2M or MA3R. This gives the user access to an unlimited number of lens properties.
Also, the LUMIX DMC-GH3 offers a wide variety of options to choose from to match every shooting situation and shooting style.
New Battery Grip DMW-BGGH3
The ergonomically designed Battery Grip DMW-BGGH3 enables the GH3 to offer a longer battery life of more than 1,000 pictures*. It offers comfortable grip and easy handling even when shooting vertically.
*When using LVF and the battery inside the body.
New External Microphone DMW-MS2
The new plug-in power type External Microphone DMW-MS2 with windjammer enables high quality audio recording. Directional control Stereo/ Shotgun is switchable in the menu. The holder is designed with a vibration absorption mechanism. This advanced external mic suppresses the camera's motor noise and handling noise, to capture the sound that you're aiming for.
New External Flash DMW-FL360L
The new GN36( ISO100・m) flash complies with useful bounce lighting. A wireless capability is handy for multiple-flash shooting. The LED light is especially useful for video shooting. Charging is fast at only about 2 seconds, to provide comfortable and easy flash shots.
• "AVCHD Progressive", "AVCHD", the "AVCHD Progressive" Logo and the "AVCHD" Logo are trademarks of Panasonic Corporation and Sony Corporation.
• Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
• HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
• All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective corporations.
•This unit is compatible with both SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards. You can only use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are compatible with them. You cannot use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are only compatible with SD Memory Cards. (When using an SDHC Memory Card on another device, be sure to read the operating instructions for that device.)
• Some accessories are not available in some countries.
• The use of recorded or printed materials that are protected by copyright for any purpose other than personal enjoyment is prohibited, as it would infringe upon the rights of the copyright holder.
• Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
About Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Flat Screen TV's, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness and Personal Care products and more.
Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2012 ranking. Follow Panasonic @panasonicdirect, and additional company information for media is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.


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Princeton-led discoveries show up not only on the pages of scientific journals — they are also on the shelves of major retailers. At the Celebrate Princeton Invention reception Nov. 29, the University honored its faculty, staff and student inventors for their role in technology transfer — which includes patenting and licensing of inventions — to bring research innovations to the marketplace.
The featured inventions included Princeton technologies in various stages of development, from prototypes to finished products such as those presented by Vorbeck Materials, a company that manufactures graphene-based printable electronics using intellectual property licensed from the University.
Celebrate Princeton Invention, now in its fourth year, attracted representatives from investment capital firms, the entrepreneurial community and technology companies to displays and a reception at the Chancellor Green Rotunda.
Early-stage innovations on display included: a sensor system for detecting cracks in bridges that could prevent collapses; an inexpensive replacement for platinum in manufacturing; a system that researchers can use to turn genes on and off; an efficient method for computer processing units to talk to each other; new materials for harnessing energy from sunlight; and a sensor that can detect poisonous gases from a distance.
"These discoveries are the future of innovation in the country, and at Princeton we are committed to technology transfer and working with our partners in industry to develop University inventions so they can benefit society," said Dean for Research A.J. Stewart Smith, who is also the Class of 1909 Professor of Physics.
"At Princeton we pride ourselves on streamlining the disclosure and licensing process for our faculty researchers as well as our industrial and investment partners," said John Ritter, director of Princeton's Office of Technology Licensing.
Keynote speaker John Lettow, a member of the Class of 1995 and president of Vorbeck Materials, spoke favorably of working with Princeton to license and develop technologies invented in the laboratory of two Princeton professors of chemical and biological engineering, Ilhan Aksay and Robert Prud'homme.
"There is a unique quality to the technology licensing department here, a flexibility that was beneficial both for Princeton and for us as a small company," said Lettow. He also praised the high caliber of Princeton research and the importance that the University places on having world-renowned faculty work directly with undergraduates and graduate students.
Another factor in Vorbeck's success, said Lettow, was the continued involvement of Aksay in an advisory role as the company moved Aksay's technologies for the production of graphene, a novel carbon-based material with excellent electrical conductivity, toward commercialization.
Vorbeck's technology can be found in tamper-proof packaging used by major retailers to discourage product theft. The company creates very thin electronic circuits by printing graphene liquid (ink) onto a surface. Vorbeck has teamed with packaging manufacturer MeadWestvaco to create an electronic sensor web that is sandwiched between layers of cardboard in retail product packaging. If the item is broken into or the product removed from the package, the electronic circuit activates an on-package alarm.
The ink is one of several applications — including longer lasting batteries — that Vorbeck is developing for graphene, which has unique electrical and thermal properties. According to Lettow, Vorbeck is the first company in the world to have a product based on graphene, a novel material that is exciting interest in the electronics industry and was the subject of the 2010 Nobel Prize in physics.
Novel research ideas are in great demand, especially in a changing world, said guest speaker Ralph Izzo, chairman and chief executive officer of PSEG, the parent company of the utility group Public Service Gas and Electric (PSE&G). Referring to Hurricane Sandy, which hit the Eastern United States on Oct. 29, Izzo said that PSE&G coped with unprecedented challenges to its electrical supply and distribution system. "If this is the 'new normal,' then we need to completely reinvent the way we manage the system," he said. "I picked up a couple of new ideas while I was here tonight."
Izzo, who prefaced his comments by asking if anyone in the room was still without power a month after the storm, said that needed technologies include new methods for distributed generation of electricity, improvements in solar energy efficiency, cost-effective ways to store electricity and sensors that can detect customer outages. Prior to becoming an executive, Izzo worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
PSEG is a charter member of Princeton's Energy and Environment Corporate Affiliates Program, which supports research that addresses global energy needs and environmental concerns and is organized by the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, the Princeton Environmental Institute, the School of Architecture, and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
Among this year's featured technologies:
A sensor system for detecting cracks in large structures such as bridges. Methods for detecting deterioration of large structures could prevent disasters such as the 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis. Princeton engineers have developed a detection system embedded in customizable plastic sheets that could be applied to large structures. The inventors are Naveen Verma, assistant professor of electrical engineering, and Branko Glišic, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, along with Sigurd Wagner, professor of electrical engineering, and James Sturm, the William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Engineering and Applied Science.
A new method for using inexpensive iron metal in place of expensive platinum. Iron can be used in industrial chemical reactions that are needed for making silicone, which is used in making consumer products including waterproofing for blue jeans and anti-foaming agents for beer. The technology developed by Paul Chirik, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Chemistry, with the assistance of Aaron Tondreau, who received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 2011, and graduate student Crisita Atienza, could make manufacturing less expensive and reduce the environmental impact of mining for precious metals.
A system for detecting gases from a distance. Accurate measurements of greenhouse gases and smokestack exhaust are vital to our understanding of how pollution influences climate change. Developed by assistant professor of electrical engineering Gerard Wysocki, this gas-detection system could also be used to detect poisonous gases after a chemical plant accident or as part of routine monitoring of smokestack exhaust.
Novel methods for improving solar energy devices. Solar energy has the potential to reduce reliance on nonrenewable fuels, but efficiency and durability remain issues of concern. Emily Carter, the Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, has developed novel materials that can significantly boost the ability of solar cell materials to convert sunlight to electricity.
The Princeton Entrepreneurship Club. A new addition to the event this year was the presence of the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club, a student organization that supports entrepreneurial activities such as visits to start-ups and networking with established entrepreneurs.
A more power-efficient way for computer processing units (CPUs) to communicate with another piece of hardware known as the graphics processing unit. The technology, which could be used to improve scientific computing, data analytics and medical imaging, was presented by Daniel Lustig, a postdoctoral researcher working with Margaret Martonosi, the Hugh Trumbull Adams '35 Professor of Computer Science.
A new system to turn on single genes and turn off single proteins. This technique, which can be used by researchers to explore gene functions, was presented by David Botstein, the Anthony B. Evnin '62 Professor of Genomics, and his colleagues in the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics.
The event featured a variety of notable guests from major companies and firms engaged in intellectual property law, venture capital and technology, including Lockheed Martin, Dupont, SAP and Banco Santander, parent company of Sovereign Bank. Also in attendance was New Jersey Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who represents Princeton Borough and Township.
"Intellectual property is the future of innovation," said Smith. "We have to nourish it, support it, encourage it and protect it, because it if it is not protected, it is no use to anybody." Patents encourage innovation, Smith added, because they provide companies with the ability to develop technologies without fear that competitors will develop a similar device or application.
The event, organized by the Office of the Dean for Research, was sponsored by a donation by the law firm of McCarter & English. Support for the research at Princeton comes primarily from federal sponsors and also foundations and corporations.