text:
As movies like "Ex Machina," "Her," "The Imitation Game," and others continue to hit the big screen, we are also seeing a lot of excitement around "deep learning." Just for fun, I entered "applies deep learning to" into a well-known search engine and according to the hundreds of results, "deep learning" is being applied to: "satellite images to gain business insights," "differentiate disease state in data collected in naturalistic settings," "the task of understanding movie reviews," "emotion prediction via physiological sensor data," "Natural Language," and – probably my favorite – "the tangled confusion of human affairs" (I guess I am not the only one who would claim that the two phenomena are related). Deep learning can seemingly be applied to all of these different areas, and yet, we must first answer, where did this "deep learning" idea come from; what does it mean? To start, I think it has to do with metaphors.
Today, we will take a deep dive and see how metaphors can be powerful tools to guide our minds into new insights – but also to lure them into fresh misconceptions.
Metaphors are everywhere; I easily crammed at least seven into the last sentence (marked in italics). To recap, a metaphor applies words and concepts belonging to a certain field in order to talk about a quite different field. Take "Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll." Strictly speaking, Rock and Roll is no kingdom, but by applying the word "king" to it we mentally form it into one: with different ranks of characters and huge masses of underlings hailing their betters (i.e. the fans). Instead, one could say "most dominant artist in" or invent a new word with that meaning. But, the first alternative is clumsy and the second leaves us with an abundance of words. We would then be faced with a similar quandary when trying to find a new word for "King of Pop" to describe Michael Jackson. Evidently, metaphors are not a decorative element in elaborated speech, but instead, they are an economical instrument to save words and effort, by recycling old words to new context, en suite with all the associations they bring with them.
According to most dictionary definitions, "learning" – defined by Miriam Webster as "to gain knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something" – is something that humans do. So when attaching the word "learning" to things such as animals, substances, or even device systems in our Internet of Things world, this is already metaphorical, as it applies a human concept, involving consciousness – something that these other things don't have. You may have heard about so called shape memory alloys. Things made from these metals have an interesting feature: when you bend them from their current form into a new one, and then heat them up, they will revert back to their original form. It's tempting (and also helps with conceptualizing) to describe this behavior in metaphorical terms. Wikipedia employs this method to describe shape memory alloys, conveniently marking their use of metaphors with quotation marks:
Training implies that a shape memory can "learn" to behave in a certain way. Under normal circumstances, a shape-memory alloy "remembers" its low-temperature shape, but upon heating to recover the high-temperature shape, immediately "forgets" the low-temperature shape
I don't think anybody would take any of this at face value and assume the metal atoms have little brains, "learning" and "remembering" something. But how about computer programs, that do "Machine Learning?" Is it also purely metaphorical "learning" that they do? Or, are they complex enough to display true learning, like humans do? And why don't we reject this latter idea right away, like we do for the memory alloy?
One reason of course is that computers are more complex, and many people don't understand them well. Computers were being spoken about in metaphorical terms right from the start, referred to by the media as "electronic brains" in the 1950s and onwards. Then, Science Fiction took over and, not being tied by "technical feasibility" and other boring details, presented us with an abundance of "thinking" machines and robots that subsequently took hold in popular culture. There, they met concepts of "artificial life" rooted in western culture, from the golem made from clay, over the homunculus of the medieval alchemists, all the way to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
In order to decide if "Machine Learning" (ML) really learns or just "learns," here's a quick primer on the subject. Let's start with a mathematical model that formed the backbone of many ML systems for many years, Hidden Markov Models, or HMMs. Looking at the image to the left, they seem to be of modest complexity, made up of states (a) and possible transitions (a) between them, which come with certain probabilities and mappings (b) to input states (y). Probabilities are "learned" by the model in "training" on many samples of whatever the models are supposed to represent, for instance words or their acoustic building blocks, called phonemes. I think we can agree that "learning" is metaphorical here, as these models aren't really that different from the atoms of the memory alloy above. However, a few years ago in mainstream ML, HMMs were swapped out and replaced by a different model type, one that first gained popularity in the 1990s. This replacement nearly disappeared after a while but is now making a forceful return to the stage (we'll discuss why a little later). Problems start with the name of the model: "Neural Network" (NN). As you can see in the figure to the right, it is comprised of layers of nodes, and these nodes are supposed to be "inspired" by neurons, such as what we find in a brain: they have input coming in through the arrows on the left, similar to how neurons get (electrical) input through their dendrites, then some calculation happens, and the resulting output leaves to the right (and becomes input for the next layer) such as through the axon of a neuron. The calculation in the body of the "neuron" is typically rather trivial, like taking the maximum of inputs, or summing up inputs. In order to use this for a ML task – for example, image recognition – you assign each input node to a pixel of a, say, black and white picture, and each output node to a category of an object you want it to be able to recognize ("tree," "cow," etc.). Then, like with HMMs, you train the model with pictures and known correct results (picture shows a cow) by setting input and output nodes to the appropriate values. Then you apply a method called "back propagation" that calculates from-right-to-left (at runtime, your model works left-to-right, from input to output), adjusting probabilities attached to the arcs, so that if input of this nature occurred, it would result in triggering of the correct output when calculating left-to-right.
As you can see, the whole model is not much more complex than HMMs, or at least not so much as to justify that all of a sudden we should accept that Neural Networks can think or learn. Granted, real models have more nodes (several thousands), but still, the differences to real neurons in real brains are fundamental: the latter still has many more neurons, works in an analog way, combines electrical with chemical and even genetic effects, and yet, we don't know how things like consciousness come about. In my view, "Neural Networks" aren't any more (or less) likely to mimic brains than HMMs. But because of the "neural" in the name (unfortunately, alternative names, as "perceptron," with "perception" in it, aren't much better), the model carries a big rucksack of metaphorical meaning like we saw above: isn't it natural that an "electronic brain" using artificial "neurons" can "learn?"
But wait – that doesn't even take the "deep" in "deep learning" into account. In its verbatim meaning, "deep" is tied to spatial relations. Water can be deep, especially in lakes and seas. Other uses are nearly always metaphorical, like with the colors "deep red" and "deep blue" that are intense and/or dark variants, nothing more. And of course combinations with "thinking" are quite popular: you have "deep thinkers" coming up with "deep thoughts" after a "deep dive" into the matter.
In his "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," Douglas Adams names a computer (it works for 7.5 million years to return "42" as the answer to the only question it can answer) "Deep Thought." Later, a student and future IBM employee borrowed that same name for his real-life chess-playing computer, which gained fame in 1996 by beating world champion Gary Kasparov. And then, someone in IBM's marketing department rebranded it as "Deep Blue" – here you see the whole metaphorical path from "deep sea" to "deep blue" (like the sea, but also IBM's logo) into deep "thinking" in just two words. In actuality, there isn't much that is "deep" about a chess-playing computer: the algorithm is fairly "shallow" and brute force; "Deep Blue" was successful because it used a lot of hardware for calculating possible moves and chips cleverly designed to help with evaluating positions. Nevertheless, the "deep" was here to stay. (For what it's worth, Deep Fritz is a competing chess computer that is still commercially available today.) DeepQA was another foray into the world of "deep" things: text passage retrieval of mostly Wikipedia-originated text collections and ontologies packaged up so that a machine could beat the human challengers in Jeopardy (under the name Watson).
The scene was set years ago when Machine Learning researchers decided they would expand the middle, "shallow" hidden layer in a neural net to multiple layers and make the nodes a bit more complicated, naming the result "Deep Neural Networks" (DNNs), or "Deep Belief Networks." How would the unassuming, non-technical person hearing about "Deep Belief Networks" not apply the metaphorical associations they have been used to and connect this with "deep thinking" and Artificial Intelligence?
OK. I think we have dissected this and demystified sufficiently to see that what we have in front of us is a mathematical way of modeling that is not completely different from HMMs. And hence, despite the name, these systems can only "learn" in a metaphorical way. So, does it mean we should think lowly of it? Not at all!
First of all, DNNs help us, at Nuance, to drive accuracy up (and error rates down) for our core Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) engine – the technology behind our cloud-based offerings as well as inside Dragon NaturallySpeaking, which is currently in its 13th generation. Over the last twenty years, error rates continue to decrease version after version. Achieving this within the HMM framework was getting increasingly difficult in the end as this framework had been tuned and improved over decades and headroom was getting smaller. So not only did DNNs drive error rates down at once, but because there is such a huge space of largely untested possibilities under the umbrella of "DNNs," like different topologies, numbers of layers and nodes, how the nodes are structured, how they are trained etc., they promise a lot of potential for the years to come. And in speech synthesis, DNNs improve the mapping from the linguistic features of the text to be synthesized into the acoustic parameters of the target speech, like prosody. In voice biometrics, they help improve accuracy of speaker authentication. With all this in mind, it is no overstatement to say that DNNs were the single largest contributor to innovation across many of our products in recent years.
When I spoke of DNNs as not being complex (in the sense that it is hard to see how consciousness and true intelligence would hide in them), I did not mean that they were easy to find, or better, easy to get them to work. Again, quite the contrary. As mentioned before, Neural Nets were around already in the 1990s, but, two problems limited their success back then. For one, when you want to train them on large data sets, and when the number of nodes and layers is non-trivial, the training will take very long – prohibitively long on hardware as it existed back then. Moreover, the training can end up in a model that is better than similar models "in the vicinity," but if you look at the global search space, there would have been quite different and much better configurations. Whether or not your training ended up in such a "local optimum" or truly found the global optimum depended on random factors during early stages of the training process. The breakthrough of DNNs was made possible when both problems were solved by pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio, and many others. Of course, better hardware helped them solve the first problem, but it was clever ideas about how to parallelize the work better and how to use Graphics Processing Units, or GPUs, (i.e. special chips originally developed for computer graphics) that took them farther. Even before, the problem of local minima was solved by introducing the concept of pre-training, that is, a processing step that pre-sets the model into a state that is more likely (and faster) to end up in a global optimum than when starting from scratch.
The great thing is not only that these problems were solved and that Neural Networks now work in general. They have also opened up fields for additional research which promises more improvements for the future. GPUs get ever more powerful, driven by the games industry, and DNNs get a free ride. Speeding up training times is not only important for practical applications, indirectly it also helps progress on the algorithmic side: when DNN trainings took several weeks or months to complete on meaningfully sized data sets (as they did until a few years ago), experiments were very costly and progress was slow. Now that you can turn around these trainings in days or even hours, it is much easier to test new ideas.
Even with all of this progress, I, alongside other researchers, acknowledge that more work needs to be done. For example, using GPUs for all training steps of a DNN is a challenge because of the intertwined nature of the network. Because the output of a "neuron" potentially depends on many other neurons and the input data, and the training is not a purely local matter (and hence easily parallelizable), a lot of data needs to be transferred between compute nodes, potentially eating up the time advantage of the GPUs. How will we solve that? Also, when DNNs first took over the "backbone" of speech recognition, the speaker independent model trained off of a large quantity of data that reflected nearly all the variety of dialects, and individual speaking styles possible. The challenge here is that most practical systems use asecond, speaker-dependent training method that adapts the base model to the specific speaker. Depending on if you only have a few seconds to train on or hours of speech samples to pull from, different methods have been used. As all of these were developed for HMM-like base models they now need to be adapted to DNNs.
And so on, and so on.
Clearly, a lot of work awaits us still in the field of DNNs, but with that, a lot of excitement, too. Even if we don't get carried away by the metaphors around "Deep Learning."


text:
The Sad Flowers
Het Belgische studioproject The Sad Flowers uit Antwerpen kwam begin november met het titelloze debuutalbum. Melancholie op een bedje van moderne new wave, gothic en alternatieve rock met doordachte teksten. Zeker een wel gesmaakt debuut. Vandaar dat we de bezielers achter deze nieuwe outfit, Jany Claeskens en Jan Ooms uitgebreid aan het woord lieten.
Door: Vera | Archiveer onder alternative / pop
The Sad Flowers was formed in 2013 and still is a duo. How and when did you meet each other and how did it eventually turn into a musical cooperation?
Jan: To celebrate the 150-year jubilee of our employer a competition was organized to make an own version of a celebration song. Jany was involved early on and had a clear view on how to approach this. To record the vocals on top of the instrumental version they ended up in my studio "The Compound".
Jany: Although working for the same company for over thirty years, yet never meeting before, there was an immediate match. We knew right away our love for music went much beyond this fun project.
Jan: The version we made for our company's site was one of the runners up in the contest, but the alternative doom version that Jany had made reflected our musical preferences much more. That became our real first cooperation as a duo and led to the recording of a number of covers in the same style, including their own video clips. But it was quite clear we wanted to create our own songs using our own found style.
You are influenced by a wide range of genres and styles, although I'd say that dark wave and gothic flavours prevail on the album. Can you go a bit deeper into the background, favourite artists and leading styles of both musicians?
Jany: There are so many musical styles I like to listen to, you could call me musical gobbler. Genres ranging from hard rock, progressive rock, blues, blues rock, heavy metal, rock, AOR to folk, you name it. From AC/DC to ZZ Top and anything in between that can be referred to as music. Certain genres were more of an influence on our music, but I can't point to just a single one. There's too many to name…
Jan: Jany is indeed a walking musical encyclopedia. Me, I always have had a preference for the melodic stuff. When punk was big, I was listening to glam rock and neo Romantics formations, electro pop and American rock. But in all these genres the vocal parts spoke to me the loudest. My idols were vocalists like Bryan Ferry, Peter Gabriel, Robert Palmer or Colin Vearncombe.
Making three singles and video clips were the first steps on your way to recognition. Please tell us a bit more about these first achievements?
Jany: Our first songs as The Sad Flowers were the first steps in fleshing out our own sound, recording and production. Covers of new wave songs, but with our own dark sound. To get our music out and find an audience we produced our own video clips as well, which did get quite a good response. Producing our first three singles led even more to finding our own sound.
When did the idea of creating a full length pop up in your minds? What were the first developments in that direction?
Jan: Working on the covers and our first singles was showing a lot of possible directions we could take this. For example, for the first single 'Schmetterling' we opted for a German version. But we both come from the era of the Long Play. We bought albums of our favorite groups. While writing more and more songs together, different from each other but with our own sound, some of these seemed to fit together. We started to select the songs that would fit into the concept you can hear on The Sad Flowers.
Although there are catchy songs on the album, most compositions are longer and slower. Are these the moments when you can use more emotions than in compact songs?
Jany: Atmosphere and emotion are of huge importance in our songs. As we wanted them to become part of a concept album, we didn't feel the need to edit them into radio friendly versions. We chose to take the time to convey the feeling, in a bigger picture than the songs on themselves. As with the LP's of the past you need to take the time to listen. We don't want to produce muzak.
What can you tell about the lyrical contents?
Jan: Usually we start from a musical idea and a working title that fits the initial feel. We talk about experiences we have had, frustrations or worries and start writing them down. Over time our first working drafts develop to make it stronger, or to better fit the music. Songs can go through some iterations, but the best songs seem to write themselves. As if we were just tuning into some muse.
More precisely, a track like 'The Autumn Of Life' is one of the strongest moments. Can you tell a bit more about this song?
Jany: When coming to a certain age, with things that happened in your personal lives, you start evaluating what you experienced, what you have done, what you didn't do or postponed. Things you might never come around to any more. Things you regret but never will be able to set straight. Realizing that can make you very melancholic. That's what we wanted to express in 'The Autumn Of Life'.
Is there another song(s) you'd like to mention and tell more about, because it has a special meaning to you?
Jany: All songs have a special meaning, they came straight from the heart and express the emotions both in music and lyrics. They're all very dear to us. It varies from one moment to the other, but to me 'Liar', 'Hate' and 'The Calling' are my current favorites. But that can change over time.
Jan: Same for me. We might have quite different experiences we thought about when writing, but the emotions were very similar. 'Never Mind' has always been one of my favorites. But also 'Hate' and 'Liar'. In these songs, we try to express both sides of the story.
You did (almost) everything yourself. So tell us about the recording process at the Compound Studios?
Jan: We typically start from a rough musical idea that one of us proposes. The themes that Jany had written were usually solid demos already. Sometimes the atmosphere of the demo, in other cases the working title, leads to us brainstorming about the lyrics. We import the basic tracks into the digital audio workstation to create the initial mix. While developing the lyrics we also work on the arrangement of the song, remove or add sections or try a different tempo. Most of the times the creation of basic lyrics, arranging and recording the lead vocal track takes us about a day in the studio. Jany: At the end of that day we have a first working version we can audition. The next time in the studio we add more instruments, backing vocals, solos and effects etc. and start to develop the mix. We re-record the vocals and other parts as the song becomes more mature, more familiar. Jan has also done the mastering of all songs for the album at The Compound. But the whole process is quite a joint effort. It's a real collaboration where we inspire one another and bring our personal tastes and influences, until we feel the song is ready to be released.
Extra kudos for the beautiful artwork and booklet! Can you tell a bit more about it and about the artist Mieke Janssens?
Jany: Through the internet I got to know Mieke and her graphical work. We told our ideas and the items we had on our minds to reflect the mood and the songs and asked her if she could capture that in an album sleeve. The graphics matched the mood perfectly, we're very pleased with the outcome.
Are there plans for more video clips?
Jan: Always... But time and resources are limited. They were a nice vehicle for our first covers and singles, but they took quite some time to shoot and produce, since we have done all of these ourselves too. Time we wanted to spend more on the writing and recording of new material.
The Sad Flowers is a studio project until now. Are there plans to play live some day?
Jany: Maybe when the time is right. We love playing live and have done mostly covers. But just as with the video clips we want to produce something exceptional that can make us proud. We would need quite a solid band to play these songs live. Using electronic stems could be an option, but again it would really need to come across. For now, we are fine as a studio band.
What are further plans? Can we hope for a second album?
Jan: We have already started writing new songs, and still have a few that could fit a follow up. We do appreciate the nice feedback we're getting on this album and hope to build a core of supporters. So, if all goes well, we will definitely go for a second album.
If there is anything you'd like to add, please feel free to do it right here…
Both: Thanks to our early supporters, to the new people in our audience. We love your support and hope you keep spreading the word about "The Sad Flowers".

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Regular price €85,00
- Beautifully handmade smocked dress
- Delicate frilled collar and puffed sleeves with embroideries
- Matching fabric covered buttons fastening
- Butterfly wing sash at the back
- Fully lined
Composition : Linen and cotton
A little word from the designer :
" The colours of this dress are a tribute to the talented designer Christian Dior whose favorite colors were grey and pink.
If you take a close look at the smocks, you will spot tiny Eiffel towers, a tiny wink to one of Dior's favorite city "
Limited collection : To enable each and every little girl to have her almost unique dress we make very limited editions. For more information or inquiries please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Free shipping in Europe - product available in our Parisian boutique L'Île aux Fées 66 rue Notre Dame des Champs 75006 Paris
Ref : R-AMA-LOGGIA-4-MCA-F84-FR E1@
Size Guide
Care and cleaning tips
Tests are conducted on all our fabrics. All our garments can be machine washed at 30°C preferably on a delicate cycle. Turn the dresses inside out and wash them with similar colours. Hang dry. Do not tumble dry.
Made with high quality fabrics our clothes are made to last and be passed down from generation to generation. No specific care is required, just let your little ones wear them with love and enjoy!
Handmade clothes
All of our clothes from the fabric to to the finishings are produced in Madagacar by our talented atelier. Using traditional techniques combined with French style and elegance, our experts produce high quality pieces and pay attention to every single detail.
The pleats of our striped and checked fabrics are made by hand so as to put forward one color or the other and offer perfect smocks. All our embroideries are traditionally made with embroidery hoops. We call the result "needle painting" due to its delicacy. Thanks to this ancient know-how we achieve great precision and sophistication. The wrong side is almost as clean as the right side. Our hems are also made by and in order to obtain an invisible seam.


text:
This post is part of a daily series of posts introducing the most exciting new parts of iOS7 for developers –#iOS7DayByDay. To see the posts you've missed check out the introduction page, but have a read through the rest of this post first!
Today's post will be quite brief, but is an important one for any developers who have have been using the device unique ID to track their users. There are many reasons that you might want to use the device ID, however it can also be deemed a privacy concern – allowing tracking of users without their permission.
The code for this blog post is available in the github repo which accompanies this series – at github.com/ShinobiControls/iOS7-day-by-day.
The device UDID was deprecated in iOS5, and has been removed in iOS7. iOS6 introduced alternatives, which are now the only approaches which are supported:
Vendor Identification
The closest replacement for
uniqueIdentifier is another method on
UIDevice –
identifierForVendor, which returns a
NSUUID. This is shared between all apps from the same vendor on the same device. Different vendors on the same device will return different
identifierForVendor values, as will the same vendor across different devices.
This value provides pretty much the same functionality from the point of view of the app developer, but without the privacy concerns for the user.
It is worth noting that if a user uninstalls all apps for a specified vendor then the vendor ID will be destroyed. When they install another app from that vendor a new vendor ID will be generated.
Advertising Identification
If you need a unique ID for the purposes of implementing in-app advertising (irrespective of whether it is iAd or not) then an alternative approach is required. The
AdSupport module includes a class called
ASIdentifierManager which has a
advertisingIdentifier method. This returns a
NSUUID which may be used for the purposes of tracking advertising. There is also a method
advertisingTrackingEnabled, which returns a
BOOL specifying whether or not a user has allowed advertising tracking. If the return value is
NO then there is a short list of things that the app is allowed to use the ID for – none of which involves tracking users.
The advertising ID is unique across an entire device – so that if tracking is enabled ads can be tailored to the specific user. More often than not an app developer won't have to interact with this class, but will instead drop in an ad-serving framework which will use the
ASIdentifierManager class behind the scenes.
Network Identification
uniqueIdentifier was deprecated, using the device's MAC address became popular. A MAC address is a unique identifier allocated to every piece of networking equipment in the world – from WiFi adaptors to datacenter switches. It's possible to query an iOS device for its MAC address, which will be both unique and persistent – so ideal for tracking. However, with iOS7, Apple have made it impossible to obtain the MAC address programmatically on an iOS device – in fact a constant will be returned:
02:00:00:00:00:00. This closes this 'loophole' and will drive developers to the Apple-preferred device identification approaches.
Apple are stamping out the alternatives to device identification, so now's the time to adopt their chosen approach. This offers greater privacy for the end user, so it's a good thing to do.
The attached sample project with this post (WhoAmI) gives a brief demo of the different approaches we've outlined here.
Don't forget that you can get the code for this project on github at github.com/ShinobiControls/iOS7-day-by-day. If you have any feedback/comments then feel free to use the comments box below, or hit me up on twitter – @iwantmyrealname.


text:
All of our products are designed for the best quality, energy efficiency and reliability to deliver the total home comfort you can expect from Keeprite Heating & Cooling Products. Choose from the menu to learn more about our dependable products.
Need help deciding what kind of heating and cooling product is right for you? Take a tour around a complete heating and cooling system to discover how matched products work together for enhanced home comfort.
The new heat pump is a powerhouse unit with up to 24.7 SEER and up to 14.0 EER efficiency. Features like Refrigerant Leakage Detection and Condenser High-Temperature Protection make this unit intelligent as well as efficient. Available in sizes from 9 to 36 with four different style indoor unit options, there is certainly a system to meet your cooling and heating needs.
1 Quietest size within each model group during low fan-speed operation
2 If properly registered within ninety (90) days after original installation, parts are warranted to the original purchaser for a period of 10 years. Otherwise, parts warranty is 5 years. For other applications a 7-year parts and 7-year compressor limited warranties apply. See warranty certificate for details.
California residents please see Proposition 65.


text:
Immune repertoire analysis
Maintenance of long-term memory in the adaptive repertoire is a balance between completeness of coverage, the need to maintain large clones against common pathogens and parsimony of memory storage in a finite number of memory cells.
The B and T cells, key players in the adaptive immune system, are typically activated by antigen contact via their receptors. The receptors are diversified through a sequence of mechanisms that maximize this diversity to enable a potential response to every presented peptide. Heavy–light chain and beta–alpha chain genes, generating the B-cell and T-cell heterodimer receptor, respectively, undergo non-precise V(D)J segment rearrangements, templated and non-templated nucleotide additions and deletions. Immunoglobulin chains further diversify through somatic hypermutations – a process of stepwise incorporation of single nucleotide substitutions into the V gene, underpinning much of the antibody diversity and affinity maturation. This immense theoretical combinatorial diversity challenges immunology.
Until recently, immune receptor repertoire studies were limited by low throughput of classic sequencing. Now, with the rapid advance of NGS, we are able to perform large scale BCR and TCR repertoire studies, with a high throughput of over a million sequences per host. However, analyzing these data sets require novel mathematical methods.
We aim to develop mathematical tools to answer the following fundamental questions:
A) What elements shape the T cell repertoire in the thymus and its transition to the periphery?
B) What drives the initial B cell repertoire formation in the bone marrow?
C) What characterizes the extreme clonal amplification in B cell lymphoma?
D) How can we estimate the repertoire size?


text:
Artist: Jessie Rae; Song written by Joan Meyer and Lauren Semler; Album: Blue Funk
This song is about my father's death. He said he kept feeling like he was in a "blue funk." It turned out he had cancer and died within three months. We dropped his ashes over Mount Hood, a place he loved to go. A photo of Mount Hood is on the Blue Funk album cover along with cold wax art called Letting Go by Vicki Moser (www.vickimoser.com).
Twitter Handle: jessierae


text:
May 18, 2016
Sewing Bee book review: From Stitch to Style
With every Great British Sewing Bee series comes a book, this year it's called From Stitch to Style. …
May 13, 2016
Make it Own it Love it, Matt Chapple's debut book
I'm proud to announce Make it Own it Love it, my very own sewing book!
January 22, 2016
Small changes can have big affects
When you make your own the options to personalise your projects are endless, I show you how you can…
December 23, 2015
Christmas tree garland
The perfect festive crafternoon project, make a Christmas tree garland. Wonderfully simple materials make a effective handmade garland….
December 14, 2015
DIY Knight Costume
How to make a DIY knight costume from bright coloured felt. Simple project to make a knight tunic…
November 25, 2015
Tutorial: DIY bag
Step by step guide to make a bag with an invisible zip. The beautiful lined bag makes a…
November 24, 2015
The tales of launching a product
I share our tales of launching our first product, the SEW-A-SAURUS sewing kit. The story shares our highs…
November 9, 2015
Using a rotary cutter
During the Sewing Bee I became know as Maverick Matt with the rotary cutter, they are now my cutting…
October 25, 2015
Glow in the dark Halloween Cape
Keep little monsters warm and safe this Halloween with this glow in the dark cape. Great sewing project…
October 11, 2015
How to turn a dress into a skirt
It's heart breaking when a little girl out grows their favourite dress, so why not turn the dress into…


text:
About This Item
If you are searching for a safe, cost-effective and high quality option for storing water, This 55 gallon Water Storage Kit is the best available and most advanced package on the market!
Probably the most universally recognized container for water storage, the 55 ga. barrel is a cost-effective option for long-term use. These barrels come with two access points to fill or retrieve water. Made with non-toxic, food-grade plastic and BPA free, this barrel comes in a blue color which restricts UV rays and helps control the growth of algae and bacteria. In an emergency situation, one person could ration themselves to one half gallon of drinking water per day and survive for over 100 days! Also included is a Barrel Buddy Multi-tool for use in accessing water from the barrel and also acts as a gas shut-off tool.
The Aquamira® Home Filtration Kit is the first of its kind – A complete in-home system that allows you to access water from all areas and resources of a house while ensuring it's clean and drinkable for your family in any emergency situation. Now you can consider your water heater, sink faucets, and exterior water spigots as go-to options for water. This kit comes complete with adapters for all these options and can easily connect to the pump filter to provide the water needed to drink, wash and cook. Featuring the most state of the art filtration technology, the Aquamira® Plus BVR Filter not only protects against bacteria and cysts but also viruses! This kit is also compatible to use with your other water storage containers such as 55 gallon barrels, 5 gallon containers and other large water containers.
BVR Mixed Media Filtration Technology incorporates a unique combination of the most advanced filtration techniques and media science available today. This patent pending design and manufacturing method has been thoroughly tested and certified by independent laboratories to consistently remove protozoan cysts, bacteria, and virus to ANSI/NSF Standard 52, and US EPA standards without the use of disinfecting chemicals such as chlorine, bromine, or iodine. BVR Mixed Media filters provide high flows and long service life in the most compact, lightweight cartridge available today.
55 Gallon Barrel Features:
- Made of non-toxic, food-grade plastic (HDPE)
- BPA Free
- Two convenient access points
- Includes Barrel Buddy Multi-tool for accessing water and as a gas shut-off tool.
- Made in the USA
Aquamira® Home Filtration System Features:
- 10 ft. coiled hose with pump for ease in accessing water
- Includes adapters for use on home faucets, water heaters and exterior water spigots
- Filter is Iodine free, Chemical free and BPA free
- Expandable drop-hoses for use on 55 gallon barrels and most other water containers
- Include convenient carry pouch to keep things all components organized.
- Filters made in the USA
- Pump assembly may be blue or orange in color
Included in this supply are the following items:
- One (1) 55 gallon Water Barrel
- One (1) Aquamira Home Water Filtration Kit
- One (1) Barrel Buddy Multi-tool
- Detailed instructions for filter use
Aquamira® BVR Filter Technology: Meets or exceeds ANSI/NSF Standard 53 for removal of Protozoan, Cysts, Bacteria and Virus.
Activated Coconut Shell Carbon: Reduces waterborne chemicals, improves taste and eliminates offensive odors.
Antimicrobial: Suppresses the growth of bacteria, algae, fungus, mold and mildew within the filter media.
Filter Removal Specifications:
- Protozoan Cysts: ≥ 99.9% per ANSI/NSF 53
- Bacteria: ≥ 99.9999% per ANSI/NSF 53 (such as E-coli, Cryptosporidium, etc)
- Virus: ≥ 99.99% per ANSI/NSF 53
- Chlorine Removal: Meets or Exceeds ANSI/NSF 42
- Additional Benefits: Reduces Chlorine and emerging contaminants.
Filter Specifications:
- Length: 3.30"
- Weight (dry): 0.81 oz.
- Filter Capacity: 120 gallons
- Flow (ml/min @3psi): 600 ml Max. / 300 ml Min.
*It is recommended that all stored water should be rotated annually
Shelf Life
Sealed Shelf Life
Opened Shelf Life
*Shelf life based on optimal storage conditions.
Proper Storage
To reach the maximum shelf life, your Nutristore™ products should be stored in an environment with temperatures ranging between 55°-70° F. Ideal storing conditions are in a cool, dark, dry environment where the product will be protected from moisture, oxygen, and sunlight. Excellent storing locations are in (but not limited to) closets, under beds and in basements. All stated shelf life is based on proper storage of your Nutristore™ products.
Storing your Nutristore™ products in a location with extreme temperatures, high humidity or an area where oxygen, sunlight and/or moisture may contact your product, will decrease the shelf life. After opening a can to consume, you should continue to store the product in optimal conditions with the white plastic lid secured. Limit the amount of time you allow your Nutristore™ foods to be exposed to air and light, doing so will help maximize the opened can shelf life.
Protect Your Investment
Taking proper care of your food storage will help ensure you have great tasting, nutritious foods when a disaster or time of emergency strikes. Nutristore™ foods are designed for long-term storage. By following proper storage guidelines, you can have the assurance that your food storage will keep its delicious taste and high quality for many years to come.


text:
My Cafe Ole Cottage
This house is on eBay right now! Here is the link:
This dollhouse was an experiment of sorts; this was my first attempt at creating clay roof shingles. I used self-hardening Marblex clay and painted the roof with dark chocolate acrylic paint and a soft latte wash. My hats off to the paper-clay dollhouse artists: the process was indeed a test of my patience!
And now on to my love affair with fabric wallpaper! I discovered the perfect fabric to create my faux wood panels: it has a crackle print and comes in various colors. For this Coffee and Cream inspired home, I picked out fabrics in warm beige and pale coffee. The chair rail and moldings were created with lace, which was considerably cheaper than wood molding, and a lot easier to apply. I am in love with this combination: so much so, that I bought a yard more of the fabrics for my next dollhouse!
This house is on eBay right now! Here is the link:
Labels: cafe ole, my dollhouse, victorian cottage jr.


text:
of degrees
& programs
Fall: March 1
Written applications are thoroughly screened, and top candidates are invited to interview at Temple or one of the U/RTA audition sites. After all candidates have been interviewed, those accepted are notified by letter by April 15.
A supplemental application is required. To obtain the supplemental application, please contact the program at www.temple.edu/theater.
Number Required: 3
From whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/University Professors and Professionals in the field who are familiar with their work.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in theater.
Yes. Acting, Design, Directing.
The Statement of Goals serves as an introduction of the applicant. It is an opportunity for the applicant to set forth his or her relevant experience, values, and areas of intense interest. It is to be in proper essay form but may be personal in style, and need be no longer than 500 words.
Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted:
575 on the paper-based test or 230 on the computer-based test. Applicants who score below 600 on the paper-based test or 250 on the computer-based test will be required to take and pass a remedial English course during their first semester at Temple University.
The applicant meets with appropriate faculty, either through U/RTA or on site at the Main Campus.
A resume is required.
In addition to an undergraduate degree, applicants must have a body of professional or semi-professional experience in directing.
Main Campus
Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m.
Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 60
Required Courses:
Practicum each semester of Year One Text Analysis Dramatic Literature; History of Costume & Architectural Decor Ensemble for Directors; Actors Projects in Directing and Design; Lighting History of Modern Scenic Design Advanced Acting Film Scene Analysis; Thesis Production
15 credits to be chosen from the following: Voice for the Actor; Speech for the Actor; Movement for the Actor; Stage Combat; Stage Makeup; Stage Management.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
First Year:
Students will direct a one-act play in the studio theater and serve as assistant to the director of a mainstage show. Practical focus on supported Studio production during one of the semesters.
During the other semesters, 3 scenes, each exploring a different period/style.
Second Year:
Students will direct 2 projects in the studio theater. There will be limited financial support to allow collaboration with designers and a greater emphasis on the physical elements of production.
Third Year:
Students will direct a thesis production. This will be a fully mounted production which will be part of the mainstage season. Practical focus on the thesis production fully designed during one of the semesters.
During other semester, internship for a portion of the semester; at the discretion of the faculty, an additional option could be a freely chosen, unsupported project to allow the student to explore personal interests or career objectives in theater.
Practical Application (in addition to coursework):
First Year - Fall Semester:
Practical focus on the short scene (5-10 minutes) - 3 scenes to be presented to the department - focus on realism.
First Year - Spring Semester:
One half of the semester: stage managing a mainstage show and directing 2 short scenes each exploring a different period/style.
Other half of semester: one-act project (20-35 minutes) - (unsupported), u.g. actors.
Second Year: Practical focus on (supported) Randall production during one of the semesters.
During other semester - internship for a portion of the semester: at the discretion of the faculty, an additional option could be a freely chosen, unsupported project to allow the student to explore personal interests or career objectives in theater.
One fully supported thesis project on mainstage. This is accompanied by a written thesis which includes an account of the research and script analysis which preceded the rehearsal process, and the student's evaluation of the production. The applicant meets with appropriate faculty after the production has closed for discussion and evaluation of both the process and the production. Faculty members look systematically at all aspects of the theater production and evaluate them in terms of what was attempted and what was achieved. Theatrical concept, unity of design and stylistic approach, the visual and aural components of story-telling, and ensemble work of the actors are evaluated from the point of view of directing, acting, and design faculty.
Tomlinson Theater
1301 W. Norris Street
Philadelphia, PA 10122
Darlene Plunkett
Program Coordinator:
Joe Leonardo
Graduate Chairperson:
Joe Leonardo
Donald Heller
The focus of the M.F.A. program in Theater/Directing is to develop the directing student as a communicator who can penetrate the dramatic text and envision the dramatic event, work with fellow artists (actors, choreographers, designers and playwrights) and through that work, ultimately bring a unified vision to the audience.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Main Campus
Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m.
Tomlinson Theater
1301 W. Norris Street
Philadelphia, PA 10122
The Temple University Theater Department's M.F.A. Program was ranked 23rd for Graduate Theater Programs in 1997 by U.S. News & World Report.
The Theater Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theater (NAST).
Students will focus on the relationship of the director to the actor, the designer (set, costume, lighting and sound), and the dramatic text.
The program is primarily focused on training our students for careers in the professional theater.
Temple theater students have the opportunity to intern with many of the numerous professional theaters in Philadelphia, including the Wilma, the Arden, the Prince Music Theater and the Philadelphia Theater Company.
Students are able to take some coursework with Film Media Arts graduate students.
Not applicable.
Graduate students are admitted on a full-time matriculated basis only.
Practical production work within their area of training. Lab, studio and classroom teaching opportunities available. Assistantships carry a stipend and full-tuition scholarship.
Other Financial Opportunities


text:
No products
Would you like to have a unique jewelry piece designed just for you?
Pusseli designs and makes also unique jewelry pieces with your pictures. You can order a jewelry piece in your favourite model, color and style. We can customize some Pusseli-jewelry model for you or we can design completely new model from scratch.
You can order for example a Pusseli jewelry piece with different length or bead colors. Or we can design from scratch a new statement piece for example to complement your party dress. These customized unique pieces have 100% satisfaction quarantee. I won't send the jewelry piece until you are totally satisfied with it.
If you would like to have a unique jewelry piece designed for you, please contact: email@example.com. Let's make your dreams come true. :)


text:
Swing and a miss
So here's one more person's take.
I understand what the baseball writers' looked to do by not voting in anyone in this 2013 class, which included steroid-tainted stars such as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa. I, too, believe anybody who cheats the game does not belong in the Hall.
What I disagree with is the notion of making a stand against legitimate Hall of Fame candidates, like Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza. I'm sure both will soon, maybe as early as next year, have their Hall of Fame tickets punched, but in reality this should have been their year.
Biggio is a member of the 3,000-hit club, long considered a benchmark for making the Hall. In fact, of the 28 players in MLB history to have 3,000 hits, only four are not in the Hall. Pete Rose (banned from baseball for life for admitting to betting on baseball), Rafael Palmeiro (another steroid-tainted star), Derek Jeter (still an active player) and Biggio.
Biggio deserves to be taken off that last list.
Piazza is considered one of the top hitting catchers, if not the greatest hitting catcher, of all-time. Considered an average defensive catcher at best, his lifetime marks of a .308 batting average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBI would be good enough in most years to warrant a Hall selection. In Piazza's case, there have been whispers (I repeat WHISPERS) of possible steroid use, but that's all they are at this point — whispers.
Innocent until proven guilty, I say.
The Baseball Hall of Fame should be for the best of the best and by not allowing two truly great players in, the baseball writers did an injustice to the Hall no matter how noble their intentions might have been.


text:
The Virginia Legacy Soccer Club of Williamsburg has joined the National Premier Soccer League as an expansion team.
The club will start play in the Mid-Atlantic Conference in 2014. The conference already includes CASL Elite (Raleigh, N.C.), Chesterfield United FC (near Richmond), D.C. United U-23s, Myrtle Beach Mutiny and the RVA Football Club of Richmond.
"I'm very impressed by the club's leadership, vision, business plan and commitment to growing the sport of soccer in their market. Williamsburg, Virginia is a strong soccer market and will be a great addition to the Mid-Atlantic Conference and the NPSL," league commissioner Michael Hitchcock stated in a release.
Legacy is a full-service soccer club that is home to recreational, developmental and travel soccer teams, providing opportunities for young players of all ages and abilities. Its board of directors includes current William and Mary men's head coach Chris Norris and former coach Al Albert.
"I look forward to providing a top level of soccer for our community that has been absent
for several years," Legacy president Stu Spirn said. "Competition in the NPSL will provide an opportunity in soccer for the youth of this area to be excited about."
The NPSL operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup.
The NPSL operates in 60-plus markets. Two Major League Soccer clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.
"The NPSL is a great a fit for our club. It is a league full of great owners, teams and
players committed to growing the game," Virginia Legacy executive director Bobby
O'Brien said. "This team will provide members of our club, past and present, as well as
players throughout Hampton Roads with the opportunity to continue their soccer careers."


text:
Gangnam is the central district of the southern half of Seoul. Though Jongno and Jung to the north may claim to be the center of Seoul, in many ways Gangnam is the true center of both Seoul and the entire country, "immortalized" and parodied by Psy's infamous song "Gangnam Style". Believe it or not, fifty years ago this entire area was rice paddies and pear farms. Everything you see here has been built since then, the construction mirroring South Korea's economic rise.
Gangnam in and of itself is large enough to split into two main districts, Apgujeongdong and Cheongdamdong to the north, and Gangnam/Tehranro/Samseongdong to the south.
Apgujeongdong and Cheongdamdong are both by the Han River, and earn the distinction of being perhaps the richest neighborhoods in all of Korea. Posh cafes, brand name handbags, Mercedes and Porches, ritzy department stores, and rows upon rows of luxury brand clothing stores characterize this neighborhood. Unsurprisingly, many of Korea's movie stars and singers make their home here, and are occasionally spotted enjoying some Patbingsu or sporting new sunglasses. There is also a sizable nightlife scene here, though it is relatively laid back compare to the chaos that is Hongdae/Sinchon. Most of it caters to upper-class Korean teenagers and young adults. Strangely enough, the apartment buildings here look no different from the rest of the city; if anything, the apartment buildings here are some of the oldest and shabbiest looking. This can be explained by the fact that the upper-class elite who reside here are fiercely opposed to new renovations and expansions, as they fear an influx of new residents will drive housing prices down and make the area unbearably crowded.
Tehranro, in stark contrast, is a long avenue with many glass skyscrapers running along both sides. Nicknamed "Tehranro Valley", after Silicon Valley, most of Korea's hi-tech companies are headquartered here, such as Naver and Samsung. The east end of Tehranro is Samseong Station, which has COEX and Bongeun Temple. Seolleung Station, in the center, has a park with some ancient royal tombs. The west end of Tehranro is Gangnam Station, the busiest subway station in the country. The station opens onto Gangnamro, a futuristic avenue that is bursting with modern skyscrapers, high-end shopping (though not quite as high-end as Apgujeongdong), cafes, bars, restaurants, huge television screens, neon advertisements, and thousands of pedestrians drinking it all in. Strangely overlooked by many tourists and the Seoul Government as a tourist attraction, Gangnamro truly epitomizes the modern, hi-tech country Korea has become in the past 60 years.
Get in[edit]
See[edit][add listing]
Do[edit][add listing]
Buy[edit][add listing]
Apgujeong (압구정), widely known as "The Beverly Hills of Seoul" is the land of luxury, brand name goods. International brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci and Prada sit alongside Korean designer brands.
Near the Cheongdam Intersection lies the heart of the Korean shoe scene. Cutting edge shoe shops include Sue Comma Bonnie, Hyaang, Heels and Namuhana.
Eat[edit][add listing]
Drink[edit][add listing]
Apgujeong (압구정) is the upmarket area of Seoul. Walk around the streets and you'll see teenagers valet parking their new Benz or Audi, strutting their new designer threads, and looking generally, well, rich. That said, a lot of people who party here aren't necessarily rich and live far away. Apgujeong is rather subdued when it comes to nightlife though it has a few posh clubs and bars. Places where valet is unavailable are unlikely to be great hits traditionally. There are, however, a few small clubs in the area. Expect English to be more commonly spoken in this area, too, due many Koreans in the area having studied abroad or received a lot of private tutoring. This has also meant, however, a certain desensitization to foreigners, so don't expect people to stare or approach you as much as they would in other parts of Seoul. Consider Apgujeong a great place to hang out, not party. If you want to impress a date for example, this is a great place to go to. The backstreets of Apgujeong tend to sprout and lose new clubs seemingly at random throughout the year, so getting off the main drag from time to time can yield a new "hot club of the month."
Gangnam station (강남) is probably the No. 2 club area in Seoul. Also set up in a grid structure, clubs, bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues decorate this upmarket location. While not as upmarket as Apgujeong, it definitely is busy and lively. If Apgujeong is the place for rich kids to hang out and look cool, Gangnam is the place for those rich kids to party and look sexy. The station is a transit hub and a ton of buses run through the heart of the entertainment area, so finding your way there is extremely easy.
please note that there rare multiple, unaffiliated, Woodstock bars in Seoul - this entry is for the one on Yeoksam-dong side of Gangnam station.
Sleep[edit][add listing]


text:
Window Blinds – Find Best Window Blind And Save Money
It is really important for you to buy the right window blind, not just because of your high investments but also you won't like to see the blinds daily as the mistake. The window blinds come in vast range, styles, colors, and textures.
Selecting right plantation shutters Utah for the house could be quite difficult. You might find various window blinds made up of faux wood, wood, window shades, non-wood shutters, and mini blinds over which you can get heavy discounts.
If your room gives you the feeling of the cave, then there are various sunlight control window blinds which can be best-fit options for you. If you research the market today, you would probably find vinyl window blinds, mini blinds, bamboo blinds, roman blinds, Levolor blinds, metal roller, shutters, window shades and all of them on good discounts.
Among all of these window blinds, you can choose one according to the theme of your room. These window blinds could add up in enhancing the ambiance of your room. There are various window blinds dealers who offer their customers with various attractive offers.
As these window blinds are set of horizontal and verticals slates bound together with the help of strings, all of them are repairable and washable. If your window blinds are damaged, then you can look for window blind repair Utah service provider and get your old window blinds repaired.
If your old window blinds are dirty in the dirt, then there are various window blind cleaning methods which you can use to get your window blind cleaned. One of the most effective windows blind cleaning method is ultrasonic window blind cleaning method.
With the help of this cleaning method, you can get your window blinds as clean as new. These are some of the things which you need to consider while looking for the window blinds. You can click here and learn some tips by which you can clean your window blinds.


text:
ST. CHARLES, ILL. (08/06/2013) — A year after a historic drought punished crops, farmers faced a new threat to production in 2013: A cold, wet spring that delayed planting across the Midwest. But Farm Futures' first survey of 2013 production still shows potential for record corn and soybean crops this fall.
Farmers could harvest 13.485 billion bushels of corn, according to the magazine's producer survey, which found yields of 155.9 bushels per acre nationwide. However, the crop's potential suffered from the cold, wet spring, which cut plantings by more than 1 million acres, compared to last year. Farm Futures estimates planted acreage fell to 96.1 million, with harvested acreage down to 86.5 million. USDA estimated 2013 corn acreage at 97.4 million in its June 28 survey, with harvested acreage put at 89.1 million.
"Heavy rains washed out producers hopes in the northwest Corn Belt this spring," says Farm Futures Senior Editor Bryce Knorr, who conducted the survey. "But our survey found yields consistent with estimates made from weekly crop ratings, which still show potential for a good crop. While our estimate is lower than many in the market, it still may not do much, if anything, for prices."
Farm Futures Market Analyst Paul Burgener agrees. "Our survey shows a little smaller corn crop, but 13.5 billion bushels remains a big crop to move through a system with reduced demand after last year," says Burgener. "Carryout could double, sending prices much lower this year unless weather lowers yields."
Some, but not much, of the lost corn ground was switched to soybeans. The survey found soybean seedings of 77.9 million acres, up 1% from last year. However, wet conditions may also be taking a toll on soybeans. The survey found farmers expect to harvest 1% less ground than last year, though yields could improve to 44.14 bpa, producing a record crop of 3.369 billion bushels.
"The soybean crop looks to be larger than last year, and double the carryout is in the cards," says Burgener. "But there is little room for lower yields. Only a small change could mean another extremely tight year."
Farm Futures surveyed more than 1,350 farmers by email July 22 to Aug. 5. On Aug. 12, USDA will make its first production estimate based on in-field reports and surveys with farmers. The agency is also expected to update its estimate of soybean plantings in areas affected by wet conditions this spring.


text:
not just any cv company – we wrote the book
Many people come to us for help with a personal statement. Sometimes they require a personal statement for university undergraduate and postgraduate courses, whereas other clients require help with a personal statement for a job.
Not all jobs require a personal statement, however it is particularly prevalent in certain sectors, and statements can be required at all levels from students right up to executives.
We have a personal statement help section on our website giving tips and useful information.
Question four relates to our tip on how to end a personal statement. In this if we say that you shouldn't end your statement by doing something.
What is the thing you should not do when ending your personal statement?
We are looking for a two word answer
r______________ e______________
Tip: to find the answer you can follow the path below
1> click to open our homepage
2> click on the 'career help and advice index' link
3> go to the personal statement tips action
4> from here you can either click on the first tip and read through them until you come to the advice about ending statements, or alternatively you could click on the 'how to end a personal statement' link. It's up to you which you choose, but you will learn a lot more about personal statement writing if you go through the tips.
Once you have the answer please enter it in the box below and click next.


text:
Card Games : Movie & Television: Tie-Ins
Star Trek Fluxx
(Temporarily Out of Stock)
Monty Python Fluxx Have you seen Holy Grail, perhaps a couple of times? Have you seen a few episodes? Do you know the Dead Parrot sketch not necessarily from having seen it but from hearing it quoted so many times? Then this is the game for you! Out of Stock
The Princess Bride: Storming the Castle The Card Game Make your way through the Fire Swamp, the Ravine, and up the Cliffs of Insanity as you compete to beat your opponents to Humperdink's castle to rescue the fair Buttercup in this officially licensed Princess Bride adventure game! Out of Stock
Cowboy Bebop Collectible Card Game: Booster Pack Each Booster Pack contains 10 cards for the Cowboy Bebop Collectible Card Game. Out of Stock
Rick and Morty Deck Building Game: Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind In Rick and Morty: Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind Deck-Building Game players play as and against different versions of Rick by building a better deck than their opponents. Out of Stock
Rick and Morty: Total Rickall Card Game Rick and Morty: Total Rickall Card Game is based on the Rick and Morty episode of the same name. If you haven't seen it, don't worry. Out of Stock
Rick and Morty: Mr. Meeseeks' Box O' Fun Do you have a problem that needs fixing and you just don't know where to start? Perhaps there's some task that's beneath you? Then why not hit the button on your Meeseeks Box. Out of Stock


text:
Skype for Business / Lync
About Skype for Business / Lync
Skype for Business / Lync is a service that lets you connect with others through instant messaging (IM), video calls, and online meetings. You can use IM and video calls with other FAU users and meetings can take place with FAU users or people external to FAU. FAU desktop computers have Skype for Business / Lync installed by default.
- Install the Lync desktop client
- Add a contact
- Set up a Lync Meeting
- Start an IM conversation
Install the Lync desktop client
If you do not currently have Lync 2013 installed on your desktop, please contact your consultant and request that your Office installation be upgraded to Office 2013 with Lync 2013
Add a contact
- In the Lync main window, go to Add a Contact > Add a Contact in my Organization
- Type the person's name or email address in the search box
- Right-click the listing, click After you've added a contact you can double-click their name in the client and use the icons at the bottom of the window to start an instant message, phone call (requires a microphone or webcam with microphone), video call (requires a webcam), desktop sharing, or meeting, and select a group to add the contact to
After you've added a contact you can double-click their name in the client and use the icons at the bottom of the window to start an instant message, phone call (requires a microphone or webcam with microphone), video call (requires a webcam), desktop sharing, or meeting
Set up a Skype / Lync Meeting
If you use Outlook or Outlook Web App, you can schedule a recurring or single online meeting similar to the way you use Outlook to schedule regular meetings. The Lync Meeting link is automatically added to your meeting request.
If you don't use an Outlook program (or Windows), you can set up new meetings by using Lync Web Scheduler. Access it at https://sched.lync.com, or learn more at Lync Web Scheduler.
To set up a Skype / Lync Meeting by using Outlook 2013
- Open Outlook, and go to your calendar
- On the Home tab, on the Lync Meeting ribbon, click New Lync Meeting
- Set up the meeting as you typically would
- In the meeting area, type an agenda. Be careful not to change any of the Lync meeting information
- (Optional) On the Outlook ribbon, click Scheduling Assistant to make sure you have the best time for the meeting
- Click Send
Start an IM conversation
- Locate the person you want to send an instant message to by finding them in search, your Contacts list, or anywhere else their contact listing appears in Lync (for example, in your conversation history or a conversation window). To start the IM conversation with more than one person or with a group, see the next two sections.
- Do one of the following:
- Hover over their picture in the Contacts list and click the IM button on the Quick Lync bar.
- Double-click anywhere on their contact listing.
- Right-click their listing and select Send an Instant Message.
- Type your message at bottom of the conversation window.
- (Optional) To send a file or image, do one of the following:
- Drag-and-drop a saved file into the text input area.
- Copy and paste a saved file or any image from an Office program into the text input area.
- Press PrtScn on your keyboard to capture an image directly from your screen, and then paste it into the text input area.
- Press Enter on your keyboard to send the message. Anyone using the most recent version of Lync will see next to each instant message a picture of the person who sent it. This works for both one-to-one conversations and conferences.
- (Optional) Add others to the conversation by dragging their contact listing from your Contacts list into the conversation window.


text:
Large Infrared Optical Tweezer Array
Simmons, Cameron
MetadataShow full item record
A summary of an attempt to build a large optical tweezer array for trapping cancer cell nuclei is described. Our system was ultimately unable to trap a large array of cell nuclei but was able to trap a large array of polystyrene beads. Our optical trap array method is described as well as its drawbacks and advantages and the potential modifications that could improve the systems performance. The system utilized an amplitude-modulated spatial light modulator to generate an array of individually addressable optical traps. The optical source for trapping radiation was a neodymium-doped yttrium vanadate crystal laser (Nd:YVO4) which produces light at a wavelength of 1064 nm. (The system utilized a Texas Instruments digital micro-mirror device as a spatial light modulator, a Zeiss Axio-Imager microscope to view the sample and focus the laser light, and a Spectra-Physics CW, Nd:YVO4,1064 nm laser.)
- Electrical engineering [326]


text:
- About
- Expected Results
- Am I a Candidate?
- Become a Provider
- Find a Provider
- |
Dr. Ocampo is an expert physician specializing in anti-aging, hormone therapy, pathology and environmental medicine.He received his medical degree from Columbia State Medical School in Montreal, Canada.Dr. Ocampo's comprehensive medical experience includes working as medical officer for the U.S. Public Health Service and C.D.C, National Institute for Occupational Health, medical director for the U.S. Public Health Service, and as a Principal Investigator for American Pharmaceutical Companies.
By Alvaro Ocampo M.D.Comments are OffCialis, Drug-Free Alternative, Shockwave Therapy Research, Viagra
Prescription Medication That May Cause Erectile Dysfunction
August 16, 2019
GAINSWave Provider Dr. Joel Kahn Asks Medium.com 'Why is There Such a Limp Response?'
August 14, 2019
Dr. Amy Killen Talks Regenerative Medicine and GAINSWave® Optimization on the JJ Virgin Lifestyle Show
August 12, 2019
Does Porn Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
August 9, 2019
Stay connected
Receive A Digital Copy Of Our
Monthly GW Magazine
A Breakthrough Solution for Better Erections and Optimal Sexual Performance at Any Age
Copyright © 2017 - 2019 - Sexual MD Solutions. All Rights Reserved. GAINSWAVE and the GAINSWave ® logos are trademarks of The Anti-Aging Group, LLC, used with permission. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
2920 NE 207th St Suite 902, Aventura, FL 33180
(855) 383-5779
Contact Us


text:
Top Things to Do in Mount Tamborine
Set in the hinterland an hour from Brisbane and the vibrant Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine promises an eclectic showcase of stunning scenery and plenty of things to do. Spread out amongst a landscape of breathtaking rainforest and outdoor paradises, there is also a strong arts and crafts scene, pretty villages to explore, and many local markets and festivals to enjoy.
The best things to do if you're in the Tamborine Mountain
1. Get Adventurous
One of the best ways to explore Mount Tamborine and all it has to offer is to hit the skies or get your adrenalin pumping. There are plenty of walking tracks to enjoy, but if you want something a little more action-packed, there are plenty of opportunities to take to the sky in a hot air balloon or get to know the scenery from a 4WD.
2. Art Galleries and Antiques
The art scene in Mount Tamborine is incredibly colourful. Throughout the landscape, there are numerous locally-run art galleries and antique shops that showcase local talent and provide the perfect place to pick up any presents or souvenirs you want to take home with you.
3. Breweries
Like with art galleries, there are plenty of breweries in the Mount Tamborine region, too, giving you the perfect chance to soak up some of the unique local flavours and learn more about how some of the finest craft beers in Australia are made.
4. Restaurants and Cafes
If you're feeling peckish, Mount Tamborine has you covered. Throughout the region, you'll find plenty of unique restaurants and cafes serving a whole range of breakfasts, lunch, and dinners, including lots of Australian fare and international dishes from all over the world.
5. Festivals and Events
Mount Tamborine is a hive of local activity, and every year there are numerous events and festivals that take place throughout the stunning scenery. As well as produce fares filled with local goodies, there are festivals like the Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival that celebrates the lifestyle of the mountains.
6. Gallery Walk Shopping
For shopaholics, Gallery Walk is the perfect place to head. This stretch of road is flanked by tonnes of boutique shops and stores that you can spend an afternoon browsing at your own speed.
7. Gardens and Nurseries
Because of its incredibly beautiful natural scenery, Mount Tamborine is alive with plant life and unique species of flora. At the 27 acres Botanic Gardens you can marvel at all the breathtaking colours and smells.


text:
From the Desk of Senior Pastor, Will Spokes
Friend of Sinners
Verse 1
Redeemer! wither should I flee,
Or how escape the wrath to come?
The weary sinner flies to Thee
For shelter from impending doom;
Smile on me, Gracious Lord,
And show thyself a friend of sinners now,
Smile on me, Gracious Lord,
And show thyself a friend of sinners now.
Verse 2
Beneath the shadow of Thy cross,
The heavy laden soul finds rest
I would esteem the world but dross
So I might be of Christ possessed
I'd seek my ev'ry Joy in Thee
Be thou both life and light to me
I'd seek my ev'ry Joy in Thee
Be thou both life and light to me.
Welcome to the Red Mountain Sunday Recap!
The Sunday Recap is a brief fly-by of what we did during Sunday worship. Did anything land with you from worship on Sunday? What did it make you think? How did it make you feel? Did God "show up" in any particular way that has left an impression on you?
Q&A: Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 11. What are God's works of providence?
A. God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. - Psalm 145:17
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39
Food For Thought:
We don't figure Jesus out, we don't search Jesus out, we don't get Jesus on our terms. Jesus and the salvation that he embodied are not consumer items. - Eugene Peterson
And Jesus said to them, 'Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.' - Mark 4:24-25
Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to as much as you know of your God! - J.I. Packer
Listen To This Weeks Sermon: "Offended By Jesus"
Sermon Text: Mark 6:1-13
1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.
And he went about among the villages teaching.
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Sermon Outline
Why people were offended by Jesus?
How do you follow Jesus when you are rejected for doing so?
Where do you find the acceptance you need to follow Jesus even if it offends and leads to rejection?
Sermon Summary
The key word in this passage comes straight out of verse 3: And they took offense at him. The word translated "offense" is where we get our word "scandal." In other words, the people of Jesus' hometown were scandalized by him. Their questions in verses 2-3 illustrate something each of us either has or will experience. We want something other than what God gives. "The greatest obstacle to faith is not the failure of God to act but the unwillingness of the human heart to accept the God who condescends to us in only a carpenter, the son of Mary." (Edwards, p. 174)
And they took offense at him. (v. 3) By moving seamlessly from Jesus' visit home to the sending of the 12 to further his mission, Mark can only mean one thing. Those who follow Jesus and represent him will offend people and even be rejected. (v. 11) Unfortunately the Christian church has offended many for reasons very different from the kind of offense and rejection we read of in this passage. The offense of the gospel is very specific. It is offense at Jesus (v. 3). It is offense at his person, his work, and his word.
What then does it look like to follow Jesus, to represent him even when to do so may offend and even lead to rejection? Jesus gives us three basic principles in his directions to his disciples in verses 8-11. First, walk by faith, not by sight. For the Disciples this meant take only the bare essentials for their journey. For us it means trusting Jesus to go before us, to establish the work of our hands rather than relying on our resources and abilities. (v. 8-9) Second, be present where you are and love those right in front of you. (v. 10) Third, know when to walk away. (v. 11) "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person." (Col. 4:5-6)
How is this possible? Where do we find the acceptance, the joy, the confidence and the humility to follow Jesus and love others with this good news? Only in the rejection of Jesus for us. "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Is. 53:3) Jesus endured the rejection we deserve. He took our offended hearts and owned them as his own so that through faith in him we might always know the Father's acceptance.
One final question. Why do you need to be offended by Jesus? First, it is necessary to a vital relationship with him. "Only if your God can say things [and do things] that [offend] you and make you struggle (as in a real friendship or marriage!) will you know that you have gotten hold of a real God and not a figment of your imagination." (Keller, p. 118)
Second, it is necessary to humbly and confidently represent him to others who are offended at him. Unless you have been offended by Jesus, you will not be able to wisely and compassionately engage with others who are offended by him. Therefore, following Jesus and loving others begins with a life changing encounter with God in Jesus Christ, the carpenter, the son of Mary.
Reflection Questions
What was new or compelling to you? What stood out to you from this passage?
What questions does this passage raise for you?
Was there anything that bothered you?
What were the people offended at?
Have you ever offended someone for following and trusting in Jesus? What was the person offended at? How did you handle it?
Why is it necessary for you to be offended by Jesus?
Suggested Resources & The Week Ahead
For those of you interested in a brief, clear explanation of baptism, let me recommend to you this little book. Also let me recommend again Kevin DeYoung's little book called "Crazy Busy." It is full of honest, practical, gospel-centered wisdom on how to navigate the business of life. There is even a little study guide if you are interested.
Songs for this week:
Holy, Holy, Holy
For All The Saints
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Nearer, My God To Thee
Until next time,
There's A Wideness
Verse 1
There's a wideness in God's mercy
like the wideness of the sea;
there's a kindness in his justice,
which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner,
and more graces for the good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood
there is healing in his blood
Verse 2
There is no place where earth's sorrows
are more felt than in heaven;
there is no place where earth's failings
have such kind judgment giv'n.
There is plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed;
there is joy for all the members
in the sorrows of the Head
in the sorrows of the Head


text:
The 12th Annual Washington Brewers Festival is coming up in less than two weeks! This year's event at Marymoor Park in Redmond will feature more than 130 breweries pouring in excess of 500 different beers from Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18. The full beer list is now available here. Of course, it is subject […]
Entries Tagged as 'Washington Breweries'
Washington Brewers Festival Approaches – Beer List Now Available
June 5th, 2017 · No Comments · Events, Washington Breweries
Beers Made by Walking Hike Series Starts on May 25
May 24th, 2017 · No Comments · Events, Washington Breweries
Like hiking? Hate work? Call out sick tomorrow, May 25, to take advantage of this nice run of weather by joining Beers Made by Walking for the first of three hikes in the Seattle area this spring/summer. The hike will take place at Upper CCC Trail out near Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road and will be […]
Machine House Brewery Celebrates Four Years This Weekend
April 28th, 2017 · No Comments · Washington Breweries
A big cheers to one of my favorite breweries in Seattle. Machine House Brewing is celebrating its fourth anniversary this weekend, starting today. Get yourself down to Georgetown to drink the best English-style cask ales you can find in Seattle. More info: We are turning four! We figured we would need a bit of time […]
From Greenwood to Camano Island: Naked City Brewing Set to Open New Location This Weekend
April 18th, 2017 · No Comments · Washington Breweries
Cheers to the crew at Naked City Brewing for launching their new venture up on Camano Island! They are ready to open the doors to the public this upcoming Saturday, April 22. Press Release: Camano Island, WA – The Grand Opening celebration for Naked City Camano Island kicks off at 11am, on April 22, and continues […]
Road Trip for Bellingham Beer Week April 21 to 29
April 6th, 2017 · No Comments · Events, Washington Breweries
Looking for a road trip later this month? I'd suggest heading up north for Bellingham Beer Week, which is set to take place from April 21 to 29. With 10 breweries in a city of around 80,000 people, Bellingham's beer scene has exploded in recent years and shows little sign of slowing down (Did someone […]
Washington Cask Beer Fest Features 120 Brews This Saturday
March 22nd, 2017 · No Comments · Events, Washington Breweries
One of the first beer festivals I remember going to in Seattle is the Washington Cask Beer Fest. This longtime local brewfest features 100% cask beers poured by gravity or beer engine, all from Washington breweries. It's always a great time. More than 40 breweries will be pouring around 120 different beers at the event. The […]
Special IPA from Cloudburst First Release in New Bottle Shop Collaboration Project
March 9th, 2017 · No Comments · Beer Releases, Washington Breweries
The beer industry has had plenty of collaboration in the past, but the new Bottle Shop Collaboration Project (BCP) is a bit of a new twist. Eleven of Western Washington's best bottle shops are joining forces to team up with local breweries to craft some special releases. First up is a collaboration with Cloudburst Brewing, […]
Registration Opens March 1 for 5th Annual Washington Beer Awards
February 28th, 2017 · No Comments · Washington Breweries
The Washington Beer Awards (WBA) is a great way for our local breweries to partake in a little friendly competition against each other. There is so much good beer brewed in Washington that winning a medal at the WBA is something that any brewer can be proud of. Last year, 138 breweries competed for top […]
Reuben's Brews Expands Distribution to Portland, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
February 28th, 2017 · No Comments · Washington Breweries
Exciting news for Portland/Vancouver, Eastern Washington, and Northern Idaho. Reuben's Brews has become one of Seattle's most consistently awesome breweries, and the rest of the NW should be happy they are spreading the wealth. Press Release: SEATTLE, Wash. (Feb. 28, 2017) Starting this summer, Beer lovers in Portland, Vancouver WA, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho […]
Naked City Brewing Opening Second Location on Camano Island This Spring
January 26th, 2017 · No Comments · Washington Breweries
Exciting news for Naked City Brewing! Press Release: Camano Island, WA – Naked City Brewing is thrilled to announce the launch of its second location, a new brewpub at Terry's Corner on the north end of Camano Island opening in Spring of 2017. Naked City Camano Island features the award-winning beers that established Naked City Brewery […]


text:
"I strongly believe that there are trainers in Britain who are giving their horses drugs to get an edge. Because either every racing professional is a freak of nature and a paragon of virtue and the sport is completely clean, or they aren't and it isn't," I wrote.
Four years later, the Jockeys' Association asked me to stand as its preferred candidate for election to the British Horseracing Board. I was a shoo-in if the trainers backed me. But when I attended a council meeting of the National Trainers Federation I was given a proper kicking – particularly by trainers Mark Johnston and William Haggas. Their gripe was that I had cast aspersions on their profession. But gratifyingly, the BHB subsequently adopted many of the proposals I advocated in my book.
In 2004, they started freezing samples for analysis in the future. A wise move given that the cheats are often ahead of the testers. In 2001, random testing-in-training was also introduced. Clearly that change has now been completely vindicated by the Mahmood Al Zarooni case. And blood testing after races is now much more regular than it was in 1999, when I bemoaned the fact that urine tests would not detect the use of EPO or Equine Growth Hormone.
There is, however, always room for improvement. And I would now suggest that taking a hair from the tail of any horse tested would make would-be cheats rather twitchy. The cells in a horse's tail contain a historic record of all drugs that have passed through the system. And whilst it would be difficult to prove exactly where and when the drugs were administered, it would be a useful signpost for the testers.
In the meantime, the British Horseracing Authority needs to re-examine its role. What has become apparent from the Godolphin affair is that the BHA cannot be both the regulator and the promoter of racing. It did not sit right that Paul Bittar, the CEO, talked about vigorously upholding the laws one day and then courted Sheikh Mohammed the next.
I am not a particularly avid reader of racing books, but my attention was recently drawn to Henry Cecil, Trainer of Genius, by the subject's reaction to it. He has disowned the book and clearly feels that its author, Brough Scott, has turned him over, having given him extensive access to family, friends and employees. Scott's sin? He has written the truth.
Cecil may have wanted a work that focused solely on what an extraordinarily brilliant trainer he is, but he clearly fails to understand why the public love him so much. It is because he is damaged, and in some shape or form, always has been.
Scott is a master of his craft. He is also a very decent man who does not take cheap shots. But it is no surprise that he stayed true to the very best instincts of journalism and told this fantastic story, warts and all. I dare say Henry will not particularly enjoy his head lad Frank Conlon's description of the state he was in when Cecil discovered his second wife Natalie had been "swimming outside the ropes". But that is life; Henry Cecil's life. And plenty of readers will no doubt have been through a similar trauma.
Importantly, there is nothing cruel about the book. Knowing Henry's first two wives as I do – both extremely spirited women – I find it hard to believe that either of them can have any issue with Scott. And I would imagine Cecil's son, Jake, will feel very proud of his father when he reads this account of his life.
Scott's tour of Cecil's inner self is as fascinating as it is illuminating. But, as a has-been National Hunt trainer, I have to take issue with part of Cecil's "anthropomorphic whimsy" – his insistence that the horses he trains are his friends.
Given that he would have been turning over about 100 horses a year [a Flat horse's career only lasts a couple of seasons], the shelf life of his friendships would only be a couple of years. And I am sure that is not the case.


text:
- Page 1 Pioneer BDP-LX71 Blu-ray Player Review
- Page 2 Pioneer BDP-LX71 Review
- Page 3 Pioneer BDP-LX71 Review
- Page 4 Pioneer BDP-LX71 Review
The meticulous attention to detail continues with the Video Adjust menu, which enables you to match the player's picture characteristics to those of your display. There are specific presets for Pioneer KURO plasma, a 'regular' plasma, an LCD set and a projector, plus three memory settings that allow you to alter the parameters yourself – and the list of tweakable options will send videophiles into rapture.
The look and layout of the user interface is stunning and matches the menu system found on Pioneer's latest KURO plasma TVs, giving your system some very welcome uniformity if you're lucky enough to be pairing it with one of their sets. The cursor darts around the menus with pleasing speed and the use of white text on a moody black background makes it easy to read.
The attractive remote also plays its part in the LX71's effortless operation, sporting clearly labelled, well-spaced buttons and excellent silver menu controls. There are keys to control of all the crucial functions, including up/down buttons to change the resolution as you watch, plus buttons to turn the BonusView secondary video and audio on and off. If we're being honest, we'd like the buttons to have been a bit bigger but on the whole it's a very likeable zapper.
The LX71's disc loading times are a lot faster than its predecessor – with the "Transformers" disc, we clocked it at 49 seconds from the moment we pressed the Close button to the disc's language selection menu appearing on screen. With "Spider-Man 3", it took 1min 22 seconds for the Sony logo to appear. It's a bit slow to skip chapters and move through the search speeds but we've yet to encounter a Blu-ray deck that does this as quickly as a DVD player.
To see LX71's pictures at their best they should be viewed on a Pioneer KURO plasma, and we were lucky enough to get our hands on the company's latest flagship set, the 60in KRP-600A. And from the moment "Transformers" cranked into life, we were simply staggered by what we saw.
Most players do a decent job of bringing this disc's abundant detail and lively colour palette to the screen, but few can do so with such intensity, depth and transparency. The richly textured robot CGI looks sharper than ever before, allowing every nut, bolt, scuff and scratch on Optimus Prime's bodywork to be clearly visible.
But it's not just stuff knocked up on an Apple Mac that looks great – the deck easily picks out the pockmarks and stubble on Shia LeBoeuf's face, and lends his skin a satisfyingly realistic hue. Reproduction of bolder colours is also fantastic, with Bumblebee's bright yellow paintwork jumping from the screen and Optimus Prime's red and blue body looking deep and radiant, without a hint of garishness or edge bleed.
Skipping to the end battle scenes, the LX71 tracks the frenetic, fast-moving action without any sign of judder. The dense colours and solid blacks give long shots of the city streets a real sense of depth and distance, while the forceful detail handling continues to make those robots and the surrounding buildings look crisp and focused at all times.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.


text:
Harsh Vardhan requests CMs for action on AIIMS projects
New Delhi, June 1 - Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, has decided to request the chief ministers of all states for their cooperation to set up super-speciality hospitals modelled on All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in their states.
In the first phase, six AIIMS have come up at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh. They have all begun partial operations in giving tertiary health care as well as quality under-graduate and post-graduate medical education.
Dr Harsh Vardhan reviewed the progress of implementation of the new AIIMS projects with their Directors on Friday. The meeting, which lasted about three hours, was marked by a free exchange of views on the status of the project with respect to their construction and civil works, procurement of equipment, and recruitment of faculty and doctors.
Stressing that he was prepared to take radical steps to ensure timely implementation of the six ongoing AIIMS project, he asked the directors to submit within a week detailed status reports.
Their reports would have the benefit of guiding the Ministry's officials in the future implementation of new AIIMS projects.
He assured the Directors that if necessary he would speak to the concerned Chief Ministers on ways to remove bottlenecks to speedy completion. Most importantly, the Health Minister offered to increase their powers to take on-the-spot decisions to address situations on the field to avoid bureaucratic delays.
The Health Minister has directed the Ministry's officers to establish schools of public health in all the six new AIIMS. Presently, the International School of Public Health is functional only in AIIMS-Jodhpur and AIIMS-Raipur in partnership with Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr Harsh Vardhan said the Centre would consider having more AIIMS projects if the chief ministers show interest. In this connection he mentioned that in 2013, the West Bengal government in 2013 had expressed its inability to acquire land for a project to have an AIIMS in Raigunj which was earlier approved.
However, subsequently Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had suggested that it would be better if an AIIMS was established at either Siliguri or in Coochbehar. Dr Harsh Vardhan said he would be happy to review the suggestion.
"Land acquisition should not be a problem for a hospital because it is for a public purpose. Moreover it would be a government-run free facility and no private company would make profits. So I would request all chief ministers to avail this opportunity," the Minister said.
AIIMS, apart from bridging the yawning gap between hospital beds and demand for them (less than 1 per 1,000 population) could also develop more doctors and paramedics. The doctor-population ratio in India is at present 1 to 1,800 whereas World Health Organisation has stipulated a minimum of 1 to 1,100. (ANI)