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Friday, Jan 15, 2010
Melville, New York and South San Francisco, Calif. -- January 15, 2010 --OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP) and Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the review period for the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Tarceva® (erlotinib) as a first-line maintenance therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by an additional 90 days. The extension follows OSI's submission of further data in support of the application. The original Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date was January 18, 2010. The companies now anticipate FDA action on the sNDA by April 18, 2010.
OSI and Genentech will work closely with the FDA during this extended review period.
About SATURN
SATURN was an international, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, Phase III study that enrolled 889 patients with advanced NSCLC at approximately 160 sites worldwide. Patients were treated with four cycles of standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and then randomized to Tarceva or placebo if the cancer did not progress. The co-primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) in all patients and PFS in patients whose tumors over-expressed the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as assessed by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). PFS was defined as the length of time from randomization to disease progression or death from any cause. Secondary endpoints included overall survival, safety and an evaluation of exploratory biomarkers.
About Lung Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It is estimated approximately 159,000 Americans died from the disease in 2009. Most people are diagnosed with advanced stage disease and only 15 percent survive five years. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer.
About Tarceva
Tarceva is a once-a-day pill that targets the EGFR pathway. Tarceva is designed to inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGFR signaling pathway inside the cancer cell, one of the critical growth factors in NSCLC and pancreatic cancer. Tarceva is indicated as a monotherapy for people with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose disease has progressed after one or more courses of chemotherapy. Tarceva is not intended to be used at the same time as chemotherapy for NSCLC.
Tarceva is also indicated in combination with gemcitabine chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of people with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cancer that cannot be surgically removed or pancreatic cancer that has spread to distant body organs.
Tarceva Safety
There have been infrequent reports of serious Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)-like events including deaths in patients taking Tarceva. Serious side effects (including deaths) in patients taking Tarceva include liver and/or kidney problems; gastrointestinal (GI) perforations (the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine); and severe blistering skin reactions including cases similar to Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Patients taking Tarceva plus gemcitabine were more likely to experience bleeding and clotting problems such as heart attack or stroke. Eye irritation and damage to the cornea have been reported in patients taking Tarceva. Women should avoid becoming pregnant and avoid breastfeeding while taking Tarceva. Patients should call their doctor right away if they have these signs or symptoms: new or worsening skin rash; serious or ongoing diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting or stomach pain; new or worsening shortness of breath or cough; fever; eye irritation. Rash and diarrhea were the most common side effects associated with Tarceva in the NSCLC clinical study. Fatigue, rash, nausea, loss of appetite and diarrhea were the most common side effects associated with Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy in the pancreatic cancer clinical study.
For full prescribing information, please call 1-877-TARCEVA or visit http://www.tarceva.com.
About OSI Pharmaceuticals
OSI Pharmaceuticals is committed to "shaping medicine and changing lives" by discovering, developing and commercializing high-quality, novel and differentiated targeted medicines designed to extend life and improve the quality of life for patients with cancer and diabetes/obesity. For additional information about OSI, please visit http://www.osip.com.
About Genentech
Founded more than 30 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.


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Sunday, December 10, 2006
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Overwork? Lack of sleep?
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Baroque Cycle and Change
Unlike most of Stephenson's earlier works, the Cycle is set in the past, during the 17th and early 18th century, when the world was moving from one dominated by religion and aristocracy to one driven by science and economics. The characters include most of the prominent members of the Royal Society (Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, etc.), Louis XIV of France, William I of Orange and James II of England. The fictional ones include vagabond Jack "Half-Cocked" Shaftoe, Eliza, a former harem slave turned duchess, and a smart but underachieving member of the Royal Society named Daniel Waterhouse. The action moves through India, North and South America, Europe and North Africa. A reviewer for the Telegraph put it best: you don't just read the Baroque Cycle, you move in and raise a family.
Like all good science fiction, the tension in Stephenson's stories comes not from prediction, but from responding to dramatic or catastrophic shifts in perception. That's why Jules Verne or H.G. Wells novels remain good reads, even if little of what they say have or will occur. It's about contemporary humans confronting a new world, one where the old rules no longer apply, and they must adapt.
The Cycle is about a time when almost all modern concepts in science, such as physics, computing and cryptography, first crop up, even if the inventors didn't yet have the resources (i.e., engines) to put all of them into practical use. At the same time, politics was being transformed by the rising power of the "Mobb," the common man, and nations were beginning to grasp the power of currencies and international trade. Battles were still fought with guns and swords, and obviously will continue to be, but economic warfare was already becoming crucial. A smart investor with some cash could bring down a government, then as now. Those several decades were the historical equivalent of a perfect storm.
Half the fun of reading such a novel is to put myself in some of the characters' places and imagine how I would respond, whether I would recognize the changes in time, or know how to take advantage of them. With Stephenson's story, we know what happens next. It took another 200 years before economists understood fully that money is a confidence trick. It isn't based on gold, but on the belief that a nation can generate the wealth to back it up. And we're still grappling with the implications of our understanding of the universe, and our relatively minor role in it.
We're also living in interesting times now: We have all of the world's knowledge at our fingertips. Anyone can write, film or record something and have it instantly read or viewed by a billion people. And, on the negative side, any tin-pot nut case can acquire the know-how to kill thousands. I wonder how long it will take us to fully grasp today's changes?
Monday, October 23, 2006
rly fun
"I went huntin. It was rly fun."
"What were you hunting?" I replied. "And did you kill one?"
"4 pheasants and partridges. I didn't kil. any but they (chris+his dad) got 3 pheasants + 1 partridge."
I'm sure trooping around the French countryside killing birds is improving his French...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Free software
Free software is a bit like science. Scientists publish. The data is then ripped apart by other scientists. What holds up to scrutiny becomes the foundation for the next discovery. That process is the way, as Isaac Newton put it, that scientists "stand on the shoulders of giants." Few would argue that science lacks value, or that it would be worth more if kept secret.
Software used to work more like science, back when the commercial value was thought to lay purely with the hardware. Software (in source code form, so that you could see how it worked) was freely distributed and shared. It was when the tide was turning toward closed, commercial software that Richard Stallman, a programmer at MIT, formed the Free Software Foundation. His aim was to create everything you need to use computers -- the operating system, the applications, etc. -- in a free and open way. His genius was to use copyright law to ensure that the software stays free. The FSF's General Public License gives you the right to use the software (for any purpose), share it without anyone, view the source code and modify it. The catch is that you can't remove any of those rights. If you modify the software and distribute it, you have to pass on the same rights. That restriction is enforced by copyright law, which gives the creator of the software the ability to dictate the terms of use. In this case, the terms are the opposite of the usual restrictions ("all rights reserved"), hence the GPL's nickname: copyleft. There are several other free software licenses, but the basic concept is usually the same.
One point of confusion comes from the limitations of the English language. One of the rights isn't that the software should be free, as in no cost. Free software means freedom. You're perfectly entitled to sell your modifications, and people do, but the Internet and its easy copying has led nowadays to most free software developers making their money by selling their skills (e.g., getting a job with a company that uses free software) or by offering technical support (such as Red Hat Inc. or Canonical Ltd.). What's interesting about free software is that the economic incentives, plus "copyleft," ensure that the general level of quality rises. If you're looking to sell your skills, you're going to want to make your work (free for anyone to see) as high quality as possible. If you are selling technical support, you better make your software as trouble-free as possible, to lower your costs. And, in both cases, you're obligated to share your work with everyone else. But what I found most interesting is that much of the work, maybe the majority, is done by people who get no economic benefit whatsoever. They do it because they find the work engaging and they believe in freedom.
Whatever the motivation, the system works, and has generated billions of dollars in market value. Every time you use Google or Amazon, you're using free software. The majority of the Internet is built with it. As thousands of developer tweak, twiddle and fix, that work goes back to the community. Everyone benefits.
As an end user, however, benefiting used to be hard. I remember starting with GNU/Linux, a combination of the Free Software Foundation's applications and a free operating system, back in 1993. Hardware support was limited and it was a real effort to learn. Nowadays, it is so easy it's almost boring. I currently use Ubuntu, one of many "distributions" of GNU/Linux, which handle the work of combining the applications and the operating system into a usable package. A new version is due out this week (Oct. 26). You can try it before installing it by running the software from a CD. Wireless networking can still a be bit tricky, but almost anything else I throw at it (digital cameras, iPods, etc.) is handled with aplomb. Today, you don't even need to use a free operating system to try free software: just try Firefox.
I'm not against commercial software. I use Windows for 10 hours a day. It's fine. But I do believe free software will win out in the end, just as open science won out over alchemy, which was also based on secrecy. What holds back most people from using free software is the subject of another post, but basically it's responsibility. People don't want to take it. Using free software when no one else you know is means taking responsibility for your own computer. People would much rather just let Microsoft (or whoever) handle it. It gives them someone to blame. It's why my children's schools all sign expensive contracts with Microsoft Solution Providers. They don't want the responsibility. I can understand that and feel no compunction to "evangelize."
But personally, 25 years of using computers is enough to demonstrate that commercial companies don't give a fig about me. I'm only valuable to them if I keep on buying. Putting important information in their hands -- such as your photos, important documents and music -- is nuts. I've pumped out a lot of information into proprietary applications that is no longer accessible. I've paid a lot of money just to keep what I have. I'm motivated to take responsibility, and to help our where I can. I report bugs, test new software and helping others when asked. It's the least I can do, and in the meantime I get to watch a revolution unfold.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
I don't believe "affirmations" are anything new. They were probably invented around the same time as stone tools. People used to call it prayer. Repeating something often enough, in a positive way, obviously has an affect. It keeps the goals in the forefront of our mind and alert to opportunities. Adams certainly has a long track record of achieving his.
But Adams's post brought up a troubling thought: I don't have any idea what I would write down as goals. I have wishes -- I want every member of the family to be happy, for example -- but those are mostly out of my hands, more the domain of prayer than affirmations.
So what would I write down, assuming (and this is a big if) I'd have the patience and the self discipline to do it several times a day? On this side of 40, the question has become more difficult. I wanted to be a journalist and I succeeded. I could always be better, of course, but I've definitely achieved that one. Marriage, family, buy a home? Check. Travel and live abroad? Doing that. Most people at this stage just carry on as before. I'd rather have a more definite destination in mind for the second half of my life. It shouldn't just be a 40-year winding down.
Financially, I don't necessarily want to be rich, but I do want the flexibility to trade money for time. I want to be able to work less and spend more of my time with the family, to pursue my interests, to get involved in causes I'm passionate about. At the moment, I spend the great majority of my waking hours on making money, all of which goes right out the door again to house, feed, clothe and entertain a family of seven in one of the most expensive cities in the world. The rest of the time is spent taking care of -- fixing, filling, emptying, watching, listening to or cleaning -- all of that accumulated "stuff" that seems to gather around us like dust bunnies. Life is upside down. The important is crowded out by the mundane.
Of course, it's not really a finance issue. If I were richer, the ratio of my time spent on "taking care of stuff" and on food and shelter would just shift a bit. It's really about priorities -- setting them and sticking to them -- and then I'm back to the problem of goals.
I started out writing this thinking I'll just list some, but I'm realizing now that it isn't that easy. I'm already making choices -- every time I buy more stuff or stay late at the office -- but with no definite plan. I'm just going with the flow, unsure of where it's taking me.
Answering that question is tougher than I thought -- a worthy goal.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Child Prodigies
One of my favorite writers, Malcolm Gladwell , gave a speech, summarized here, that's really worth reading on the "myth of prodigy." It's a good reminder that I need to worry less if not all my children are at the top of the class. A snippet:
Gladwell cited a mid-1980s study (Genius Revisited) of adults who had attended New York City's prestigious Hunter College Elementary School, which only admits children with an IQ of 155 or above. Hunter College was founded in the 1920s to be a training ground for the country's future intellectual elite. Yet the fate of its child-geniuses was, well, "simply okay." Thirty years down the road, the Hunter alums in the study were all doing pretty well, were reasonably well adjusted and happy, and most had good jobs and many had graduate degrees. But Gladwell was struck by what he called the "disappointed tone of the book": None of the Hunter alums were superstars or Nobel- or Pulitzer-prize winners; there were no people who were nationally known in their fields. "These were genius kids but they were not genius adults."Now look at it the other way:
The other way to look at precocity is of course to work backward — to look at adult geniuses and see what they were like as kids. A number of studies have taken this approach, Gladwell said, and they find a similar pattern. A study of 200 highly accomplished adults found that just 34 percent had been considered in any way precocious as children. He also read a long list of historical geniuses who had been notably undistinguished as children — a list including Copernicus, Rembrandt, Bach, Newton, Beethoven, Kant, and Leonardo Da Vinci ("that famous code-maker"). "None of [them] would have made it into Hunter College," Gladwell observed.In fact, being considered a child prodigy can be a handicap, Gladwell says. The one "poster child" for precociousness, Mozart, in fact, isn't. What he did, perhaps via a pushy father, was work his tail off.
Here in the U.K., even more so than in the U.S., the focus is on spotting talent early, and giving up on the rest quickly. You're pegged as university-bound at 11 and football-player material at 7 or 8. Students here have to make drastic choices on their future at 13 or 14, deciding whether to stick with maths and science, or give up on foreign languages. At that age, I'd be pegged as a non-achiever and relegated to stopping after high school (if I even made it that far).
My advice to my kids is to keep your options open, with basic and broad subjects, and don't get pegged. It's hard work, like swimming upstream. The schools want you to decide, or they'll decide for you. I need to send a few of those teachers a copy of Gladwell's speech.
In the meantime, though, all of my kids are more socially adjusted and doing better at school than I ever did. Their struggles are minor, not major. They'll be OK.
Cures for the Common Cold
With little else to do, I've been thinking about all of the proposed cures. My mother's latest preventative, if not cure, is to take a protein drink a day. Yes, the same stuff bodybuilders drink to "bulk up." My very thin mother needs to bulk up, I don't. My wife Theresa swears by Echinacea, an herbal remedy. I believed it worked if I started taking it just at the beginning of a cold, but it hasn't touched this one as far as I can tell. Vitamin C is one of those cures that only seems to work if you believe it does, same with Zinc. The Wikipedia article on the Cold lists a few more, albeit similarly iffy, cures.
For now, the only cure I've found is to sleep through it.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Family at a Distance
I was home over the weekend for my sister Dara's birthday and, finally, got a few of the family members on Skype. We haven't tried to use it yet, but I'm hopeful it'll let me hear their voices now and again. At the moment, we see each other only every couple of years, at most. I met my youngest nephew for the first time and reacquainted myself with the older ones, so that I'd at least recognize them if I met them on the street. I also got a quick top-up on Americana -- watching a school football game, in person, and a baseball game or two on my father's giant-screen TV.
But the most important thing I've learned in the last two trips to the U.S. (the prior one being for my mother-in-law's funeral) is that I need to do more on my end to keep in touch. Letting this blog languish isn't helping, nor am I going out of my way to email. So, for the time being, I'm back to posting and will try to keep it up, even if I don't have anything brilliant to say.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
A life well lived
Life comes in waves of weddings, baptisms and, finally, funerals. They're our periodic reminders of what life is about.
The impact of Elaine, my mother-in-law, was evident at her funeral last week. Nine daughters, 38 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, who all owe their very existence to her, are just the beginning. A lifetime of involvement in the community made a deep impression on the world. Her departure leaves a void, especially for her husband, with whom she shared more than 64 years.
But what was evident in the family gatherings after the funeral is that Elaine's love, her compassion, her commitment to the family and community and her humor live on in her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even her friends. That's the legacy of a life well lived.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Second Life
It's the name of Second Life that put me off. I don't have time for my first life, let alone another one. But if something doesn't grab me initially, it's usually because I don't know enough about it. And there's no doubt that this is the future, or something very like it. I need to learn more.
Second Life is more of a place than a game. It's created by the people who use it. Participants make and animate a graphical representation of themselves, called avatars, and walk, fly, drive around a large continent and surrounding islands, chatting with others, building or buying things, and almost anything else you can imagine.
Although this metaphor will probably offend anyone remotely connected to Second Life, the most accurate way of describing the whole experience is that it's like playing with dolls. Mind you, these are very cool dolls. They can do and say anything at all. You build your own accessories, such as a house and furniture, clothes, car. You can also buy any of the above, at miles of shops in the world itself.
The imagination of some of the residents is impressive. One avatar I met over the weekend was a cartoon rabbit. He was wearing a t-shirt that changed its slogan every minute or so ("There's no place like 127.0.0.1" "Touch my carrot"). I've also met a dinosaur, a sphinx and a Luke Skywalker look-alike, complete with storm trooper outfit, light saber and R2D2.
My avatar is vaguely a copy of me, albeit thinner and with better hair -- no imagination! I haven't progressed far with making accessories, either. The best I've been able to create was the beginnings of a snowman. While I was struggling to do that, someone next to me was practicing with a motorcycle. She drove away before I got my snowman's head on straight. With built-in 3D designing software and scripting language, or using an external free application such as Blender, there doesn't seem to be too much you can't do.
Although there are no clear goals in Second Life, participants seem to treat it like a game of Life. They aim to sustain and grow their character over a long period, master the environment, create an interesting alter-ego and get "rich." Getting rich is at least possible. Second Life may be virtual, but the economy is real. The currency, called Linden dollars, has a floating exchange rate against the U.S. variety. The rate is currently about 250 to 1, so you'd have to be the Second Life equivalent of Bill Gates to be rich in reality.
You get 250 Linden dollars when you join. You own, and can sell, anything you make. Don't have much money? Get a job. The most skilled can work as a builder, the lucky as a fashion model for one of the many clothes designers. Residents who sign up for a monthly plan (instead of the free membership) get a plot of land to start off with, giving them a leg up onto Second Life's property ladder. Monthly subscribers also get a L$500 weekly stipend.
I find the culture a bit baffling, even after a few days. It seems to be bad manners to ask about, or even reveal, much about your "first life." To view someone's profile, you right-click on their avatar. Although there's a section for describing who you are outside of Second Life, I'm the only one who seems to have anything in there. That brings up an interesting question. What do you talk about? I like meeting people, not avatars. I don't need a name, age, address and social security number -- I just want to know where they are from (generally), what attracted them to Second Life, what work they do. I also want to know how old they are. How rare are 43-year-old residents? The main topic of conversation seems to be Second Life, or what accessories you have, or what you're building. As a newbie, I don't have much to contribute to the discussion.
Finding people and things to do and see is harder than I thought. Although there are a quarter of a million residents and several thousand online at any given time, the place is huge. There are several ways to get around. You can just walk or, with a keystroke, fly, just like in dreams. You can also teleport from one place to the next by clicking on a spot on the map or choosing a location from a list.
When I just wandered or flew around, I ended up finding mostly dull shops and casinos. My initial impression was that Second Life is a giant shopping mall with almost no one in it. I also ran into a lot of "mature" areas. I had no idea that anyone older than 12 got their kicks out of posing their "Ken" and "Barbie" into erotic poses. I don't feel enriched by this discovery. But once I figured out how to find "events" and centers catering to newbies, the experience has picked up a bit. I found a couple of wonderful parks, art galleries and "sandboxes," where you can try building things.
I'm also starting to understand the advantage of Second Life over more traditional text- or even audio-based communication on the Internet. You can use four of your five senses, making communication a lot richer and easier to assimilate. I can spot groups of people talking from a distance, for example, and swoop in to join the conversation. There are cinemas (videos), concerts and dance clubs. People have organized presentations in Second Life and play their own selection of music at their "house" or shop.
You also get a richer idea of a person by the avatar they choose. It doesn't tell anything about the more superficial aspects -- what they do or where they are from -- but you definitely get a quick impression of their personality and (possibly) world view.
I still don't have much time for a "second life," but as I get the hang of it, it's seems worthwhile dropping in when I can. I'm "Eamonn Supplee" (you have a limited number of surnames to choose from). Stop by and say hello!
Monday, May 15, 2006
This is my first, very poor attempt at making a dorodango. It's not supposed to look this rough (I used soil that was too gritty), but I was still very impressed that it worked at all. You can't tell from the photo, but the ball is rock-hard and heavy. It looks exactly as if I found a nearly perfectly round rock and gave it several coats of enamel. I only dimly remembered reading about the Japanese art of making these things (I read the linked Web page a year ago), but while watching my son play baseball it occurred to me that the soil at baseball fields, with its mixture of sand and clay, would probably be perfect for making one. I just threw some water on the soil, formed a ball, and started polishing using dry soil. This is the result after a hour and a half or so. It would have come out smooth if I had sifted out the pebbles, which I may try next time.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Another year
Originally uploaded by ailishsul.
The beer, the TV remote control and lots of candles on the cake... The parallels with Homer Simpson are becoming scary.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Roman Holiday
Theresa looking out over the forum
Originally uploaded by Eamonn_Sullivan.
Theresa and I are back from a short trip to Rome, our first. The city wasn't high on my list of places to see. Iceland was considerably higher, to give you an idea. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As usual, I set out to learn the language before we went and didn't get far. My excuse this time was that my iPod died -- complete hard drive failure. That happened about three days into my attempt to get through an Italian audio course and it meant I had to listen to it in the car (30 minutes a month, approximately) instead of the tube (2.5 hours a day). I ended up barely knowing how to say non parlo italiano by the time we arrived.
We saw the usual sights -- Vatican, Coloseum, the Roman Forum (that's the Arch of Septimius Severus behind Theresa). We walked about 10 miles on the first day, so had to take a break on the second and hang around a huge public park near the hotel, filled with local families and some sort of African festival. We ended the day at a wonderful little trattoria (family restaurant) in an alley in the Trastevere neighborhood.
On the third (and final) day, we spent most of it in at the Vatican museum and St. Peter's. The museum was fabulous, but the crowd going to see the Sistine Chapel wasn't so fab. We felt like cows being herded. We quickly broke off and made our way to the quieter exhibits. For lunch, we ate at a pizzeria recommended by a colleague at work. We ended the evening at a more upscale restaurant near our hotel for a complete, six-course meal. It was wonderful, but I feel like I brought some of Rome home with me, around my middle...
The complete set of photos from the trip is here.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
A more fruitful approach is to integrate quiet time into daily life, like regular exercise. My first encounter with that idea was the Rule of St. Benedict, a guide for monastic life written in the sixth century. I became familiar with it while attending Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, which is run by Benedictine monks.
You don't have to be religious to appreciate the central theme of the Rule: balance. The monks' days are divide into manual labor, quiet contemplation, socializing and service to others. The balance still fits well, even after 800 years. Labor was set at about six hours a day, which is bang on for productive work, in my experience. Sufficient food and sleep was considered important and the rule has little of the gratuitous austerities then fashionable. It was written for real human beings, exhorts them to be human, and it's still going strong.
Alas, modern life often isn't very amenable to balance. I may only be truly productive for six or seven hours a day, but my bosses don't want to hear that. So I'm in the office, typically 11 or 12 hours a day, eating both breakfast and lunch at my desk. Couple that with about 2 1/2 hours commuting, seven hours or so of sleeping, and that leaves about two hours a day to accomplish everything else.
That doesn't mean I can't integrate quiet time in my life, of course, but it does mean I have to make trade-offs that are difficult. I already spend too little time with my family and don't exercise enough, for example. I'm also an insatiable student. I've spent many hours of that free time this year learning Common Lisp, just for the heck of it. So, what goes? And when? It's an ongoing struggle.
Another approach is to make whatever I'm doing a quiet meditation. This idea is a heck of a lot older than the Rule of St. Benedict, stretching back at least to Buddhism. Basically, it's the belief that life is what is happening right now and that most of us wander through existence in a dream-like state, worrying about the future, dwelling on the past or feeling deprived of some imagined need, such as money or time. Those who reach enlightenment, Buddhists say, are fully present, fully aware of life, and at peace.
That idea is behind the "mindfulness" approach that has taken off lately. See here, for just a very recent example. And it's no wonder. "Continuous partial attention" is the norm today. We're always doing several things at once, while planning our next steps and worrying about the previous one.
Escaping from this is so hard that people try to find easy short cuts. One is extreme sports, which force you to be fully here, fully focused on the present moment, more alive. But thrill-seeking is a cheap, shallow copy of what an enlightened, mindful Zen Master can accomplish while washing the dishes, sweeping the floor or simply sitting under a tree. What the parachutist accomplishes is more basic -- a survival mode, an adrenalin-fueled rush. What the mindful can accomplish, even while skydiving, is to be fully human.
Learning to quiet that constant, inane chatter in our heads takes practice, however. And fighting it doesn't work. Try telling yourself to think of nothing... The way Zen Masters do it is to develop a level of detachment, so they can observe themselves wandering and gently bring their minds back.
Although gaining that skill takes a lifetime -- or several, according to Buddhists -- even the first faltering steps are worthwhile. Just yesterday, I was dwelling on all of the things that are hanging over my head, such as the big news events coming up at work that I must prepare for, the seemingly endless list of repairs needed on the house and the worries about my wife and children. And then I looked up and paid attention to what was happening around me. I was walking the dog, with my beautiful wife, on a gorgeous, sunny day. The birds were singing, the blossoms blooming and the only thing that needed doing, right now, was to be here and enjoy the walk.
Even in my busiest, most hectic moments, the contrast between my harried mind and the what is actually happening is stark. I may be jamming under a very tight deadline, with multiple people demanding my attention at once, but the present moment consists of making the sentence under my cursor read well, with no errors or awkward phrases. The present moment is always quiet, always peaceful.
I'd like to try a day of silence sometime, maybe 24 hours on a shoreline with a pup tent and a sleeping bag. But I suspect it wouldn't improve my life as much as the essay writer thinks. A better approach would be to just pay attention to the quiet around me. Right now.
Tags: Life
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Time to come out of hibernation yet?
Originally uploaded by Eamonn_Sullivan.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
A Man for All Seasons
We went to see A Man for All Seasons with Martin Shaw last night with my parents, who are visiting from the U.S. It was excellent. I only dimly remember the film and never saw it on stage before, but my father watched the play in the early 1960s, with Paul Scofield, and he enjoyed this production as well. If you get a chance, catch it before it closes on April 1st.
My favorite part of the play is when More defends the law against the ultimate in "the end justifies the means" arguments. The character Roper and More's daughter Alice beseech More to have his eventual betrayer arrested before he leaves the house, even if he has to make up some pretext. More argues that doing that would be a very bad idea:
Alice: While you talk, he's gone!
More: And go he should, if he was the Devil himself, until he broke the law!
Roper: So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law!
More: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
Roper: I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you - where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast - man's laws, not God's - and if you cut them down - and you're just the man to do it - d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.
Roper's sentiment is as strong as ever. Terrorism, or whatever the evil du jour, may seem to justify sweeping away inconvenient laws, as long as it makes us safer. But it has the opposite effect in the long run.
Tags: Theater, Legal
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Programming and Writing
I was speaking to a fellow editor recently and confessed my secret: I program computers for fun.
"Are you sure you're in the right job," she asks.
Yes, I reply, because programming and writing, especially non-fiction writing, are essentially identical skills. I believe that's why there are many good programmers who are also good writers -- Paul Graham, just to take one example. That we don't see too many examples of the reverse is because few writers understand the symmetry.
Both aim to convey information -- ideas, images, numbers and text -- in the most concise and efficient way possible. And both achieve beauty when they succeed. I wouldn't compare programming to Shakespeare, but there's not much separating a good software application from a well-written news story or essay. Software conveys information to a computer initially, while the written word is read directly by a human reader. But even that difference is just a distraction. The ultimate target of both is a person.
I've written for a living and programmed for fun for at least 20 years now and find that practice in one improves the other. Neither can be done well unless I'm thinking very clearly about the problem I'm trying to solve or the ideas I want to convey. Building logically from one point to another, in the simplest, clearest way possible makes good source code and good writing.
And just as learning different human languages can make you a better writer, learning other computer languages makes you a better programmer. I'm absolutely hopeless at learning human languages, and struggle enough with English to keep me well occupied. I studied French for years and still can't ask for directions or understand the answer. I don't remember much about the Latin I studied in High School, nor the Russian I spent two years wrestling with at university, but I do believe I've received benefits from them. I may not remember many specifics, but I do remember the ideas, recognize a Latin root or two and have observed the pluses and minuses of their different approaches. A phonetic alphabet (Russian) is a good thing, for example, as is precision in the choice of words.
I can't claim to be any better at computer languages, but at least I pick them up faster. I've programmed in Basic, Pascal, Fortran, C, C++, Java, Perl, Visual Basic and lots of different application-specific macro languages. My current favorite is Python, and I've written fairly complex graphical programs in it. As with the human languages, I've absorbed them to varying degrees. I can still pick up a Basic program, even though I haven't programmed in the language in any serious way since the Apple IIe, while I would have to learn C++ and Java again from scratch. And, again, I've benefitted from each, because each has a unique way of approaching and solving problems.
Since the beginning of the year I've also been putting in some serious effort into learning Common Lisp, so I'll use that to illustrate some of the benefits.
Lisp has been compared to Latin. In computer terms, it's certainly as old as Latin, dating back to the mid 1950s. But I think it's closer to a language with a completely different alphabet or wholly unfamiliar grammar, like Greek, Japanese or Hebrew. Unlike most modern languages, which are based on a predecessor known as Algol, Lisp isn't written in a way that would look familiar to most people.
The Pythagorean Theorem --
c = √(a²+b²)
-- might be written in a Algol-derived language such as Python, like this:
c = sqrt(a**2 + b**2)
Most people would find that at least familiar, once told that sqrt means square root and ** means exponent, anyway.
In Lisp, however, one way to write the same thing might be:
(setf c (sqrt (+ (* a a) (* b b))))
The inside-out style is definitely unfamiliar, but it doesn't take too many bouts with really hairy algebra or tricky text manipulation to understand that it is more efficient for some problems. There are many tasks that would take several steps in an Algol language, but can be solved with a tight one-liner in Lisp that, once you get used to it, is still readable. Learning a new language, in other words, is forcing me to think differently, out of the box.
Another benefit of putting effort into both disciplines is that it puts you in charge of two essentials of the modern world: communications and computers. The latter is getting as ubiquitous and as necessary as the former. Just as illiteracy can turn a free human being into a slave, computer ignorance will make you steadily less and less in control of your life in the next decades. Kids today are being taught nothing about computers in school except how to run Word and Excel. Who's the master in that relationship? It isn't the student. Programming has made me as confident in wielding a computer as the written word. (Read: not very, but I'm learning.)
The original question -- about whether I'm sure I'm in the right job -- assumes a divide between the sciences and the liberal arts, math and art, computers and words. I don't think it exists. I'm proud to be interested in both.
And, anyway, it's a lot more interesting than doing a crossword puzzle.
Tags: Programming, Writing

subset: commoncrawl


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Newborn leaving massageАвтор: admin Дата: Птн, 20 Янв 2012 05:43:00 +0000
Careful note should be given the child's ration. There are many issues that worry to every parent - as to disaccustom a child from diapers . Issues however to disaccustom a baby from the pacifier is extremely serious. Occasionally themom lack a skills and information wean a child from thumb-sucking . Occasionally extremely significant time to take leaving of a baby. Is your baby still can not take care of themselves so is needs of maintenance parent. Читать полностью -->
Childbirth and newborn leavingАвтор: admin Дата: Втр, 17 Янв 2012 16:41:00 +0000
After a birth of a child require doctor maintenance other. How to look for a newborn - responsible mother cares. There are many problems that worry to normal father and mom - however to wean baby to suckle . Thinks however to wean a newborn whining is extremely important. Occasionally thefather and mother lack a knowledge and skills how to disaccustom a newborn to write at night . Often highly serious time to take care of a baby. Читать полностью -->
Care for child bathingАвтор: admin Дата: Срд, 23 Ноя 2011 12:38:00 +0000
Not any correct to feed the child breastmilk. There are a lot of problems of concern to normal father and mom - however to disaccustom a baby drink at night . Thinks however to disaccustom a newborn from a swing is very influential. At times amom lack the skills and knowledge as to disaccustom a baby from the hands of . Sometimes extremely significant time to take leaving of a child. Is your child still may not take maintenance of himself and so is needs of maintenance parents. Читать полностью -->
Newborn maintenance up to a monthАвтор: admin Дата: Чтв, 06 Окт 2011 13:40:00 +0000
Special attention should be given to child health. Thoroughly wash the newborn 3 times daily. Special attention requires be paid to schedule for and nursing. Not anything better to nourish a newborn thoracal milk. There are a lot of thinks of worry to modern father and mother - however to wean a baby from the habit . Problem however to disaccustom a newborn from feeding is very important. Читать полностью -->
Child care nursingАвтор: admin Дата: Срд, 28 Сен 2011 01:20:00 +0000
Particular attention should be given to diet and nursing. A lot of thinks of concern to normal parent - however to disaccustom a child whining . Issues however to wean baby from bottle is very significant. Sometimes aparent lack a skills and information how to wean baby from swaddling . At times very serious time to take care of a baby. Is your baby still may not take care of himself and why is needs of care parent. Читать полностью -->
Maintenance for premature infantsАвтор: admin Дата: Птн, 26 Авг 2011 14:12:00 +0000
How to care for the newborn - any mom cares. Careful attention should be given the child's diet. Not any better to feed the child breastfeeding. A lot of problems of concern to each parent - how to disaccustom a baby from a fit . Issues as to disaccustom child from a breast is extremely influential. Often theparent lack the information and skills wean a newborn from thumb-sucking . Читать полностью -->


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Supercow is an arcade platformer game depicting the fight of a Supercow as she confronts the evil professor and releases her captured comrades.
Average rating: 4.3 Votes: 148
Game Video
Game CategoriesArcade Platformer 2D Cartoon Family Animal Superhero Small File Nevosoft
Game Popularity
411.9K Downloads
In Supercow, all the animals in sunny valley farm have been abducted by an evil professor, Duriarti. With all the inhabitants captured, he decides to clone these animals. These clones will be used to carry out his sinister plan of destroying the earth. Having heard of Professor Duriarti's evil plan, Supercow is here to put a stop to it. The fight between good and evil begins here. Supercow is a comical arcade game that is suitable for the whole family.
Supercow features:
- Over 50 levels of exciting game-play;
- Filled with humorous characters which make the game both fun and interesting;
- Family friendly and it is suitable for all ages;
- Supercow is a free full version game to download and play.
- File Size: 30 Mb
- Windows 98/XP/Vista/7/8/10
Licensing InformationAll free full version games provided at this web-site were licensed, sublicensed for distribution by other game developers, game publishers or developed by internal game studio and provided free legally.
If you have questions about Supercow game, please contact us using this form.


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Criminology & Criminal Justice
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Meagan J. Miller earned her Master of Education in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University. She specialized in Counseling and Career Development with an emphasis in Career Counseling. For her undergraduate degree, she studied Sociology and Peace & Conflict Studies, earning her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO.


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Turn to CARQUEST Auto Supply for All of Your Auto Part Needs
CARQUEST Auto Supply is a locally-owned auto parts store in the McCormick, SC 29835 area, specializing in Counter Services and Hoses since 1995.
We hold ourselves to a higher standard, and will make sure that you get the best parts and customer service available. We use the latest technology to assess the situation and offer you alternatives. We guarantee all of our parts and know you'll be happy with the product. Stop in or give us a call at 864-852-2639 to let us know how we can help you!


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$1,400.00 $1,600.00 You Save 12% ($200.00)
A friendly flat center section provides the stability you need in the line-up or whenever paddling out.
The concaved full nose shape and low entry rocker will allow you to enter the waves easily and maintain speed at the same time.
The softer rails and the extra lift tail section will make the Classic turn on a dime and work as a high performance longboard.
The light and durable carbon ACT technology gives you the 3D flex when needed and is offered in our special edition.
Volume: 145 Liters
Weight: 21lbs
Construction: Carbon ACT
Rider body weight capacity up to:
Novice - 150lbs
Intermediate - 180lbs
Pro - 205lbs
I was looking for a board I can grow into since I'm new to SUP but old school surfer. This board is perfect. Great for flat water and surfs great! Sales staff at Focus are great! Highly recommend their all their products.
howdy! just added this board to my quiver (I also have a Focus SUP "Smoothie") and very happy I did. it's great for all manner of local breaks around LA. also just surfed it last night down in OC in Crystal Cove. pretty big out there (shoulder to head high) and board held up great. quick and versatile.
Very fun and lively board in the surf, fast down the line and easy to turn. Much better shape and performance characteristics than other all-around boards, which are usually much chunkier and overly wide, yet the Classic is still stable enough to cruise around on depending on your weight and skill. The 9'10 has the perfect volume for my specs: advanced rider, 185lbs. 5-fin modularity is a big plus and the carbon construction makes it nice and light of course. I definitely recommend this board and was extremely pleased with the customer service. Also got a free tapered carbon paddle upon purchase, which is a real cherry. Thanks FOCUS!


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- Server 1
Note: Please wait up to 30 seconds for the above video until the advertisement not finished.
If the video player does not load, please try Mirror 2 or 3.
Despite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.Watch Coco Full Movie Online Free
Views: 258
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Hollywood
Director: Adrian Molina(co-director), Lee Unkrich
Actors: Alanna Ubach, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin Bratt, Edward James Olmos, Gael García Bernal, Renée Victor
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Quality: English
Release: 2017


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The YIT-W10 is a wireless transmitter designed for iPhone or iPod products. It employs the Yamaha "yAired" technology to establish a wireless connection with another Yamaha product that supports "yAired" and enables playback of the iPod or iPhone on your Yamaha product. Also the charging cradle can be used for charging the iPod or iPhone, or to play music or movies for an extended time.
This product is included with the YSP-5100 and YSP-4100 Yamaha Digital Sound Projectors.


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Choose your room
Property Location With a stay at Hotel Jadran Karlovy Vary in Karlovy Vary, you'll be minutes from Church of St. Mary Magdalene and close to Karlovy Vary Municiple Theater. This hotel is within close proximity of Mill Colonnade and Diana Lookout Tower.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 12 guestrooms featuring refrigerators. Conveniences include safes and coffee/tea makers, and you can also request irons/ironing boards.Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Enjoy the recreation opportunities such as a sauna or make use of other amenities including complimentary wireless Internet access.Dining A complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily.Business, Other Amenities Free self parking is available onsite.


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Alder Creek Farm Community Garden kicks off its 2016 season this month.
This is the 10th year of the Community Garden operation at the farm and
community members are welcome to join the team.
The program is focused on teaching organic gardening in a coastal climate and growing food for use as well as sharing with the North County Food Bank.
Garden kick off is set for Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farm.
Garden members commit to three hours of volunteer work per week, pay a nominal fee, and learn techniques for growing fruit and vegetables in our maritime climate.
A traditional row garden is grown as well as a permaculture application that can be integrated into a home landscape for an ornamental and edible approach to gardening. Gardeners should be physically capable to bend, stretch, and occasionally
lift 25 pounds, but there jobs that don't require as much demanding capability.
Community members who are interested in joining the garden team are encouraged to visit www.nehalemtrust.org/community-engagement/garden/ or contact the Trust to learn more about the program.


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AIU seizes two kg gold from Hyderabad airport
| Updated: Aug 23, 2017 11:20 IST
Hyderabad [India], Feb.12, (ANI): Officials of the Air Intelligence Unit on Sunday seized two kg of gold concealed in LED lamp fixtures from Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The AIU personnel recovered 800 grams of gold while checking a passenger's baggage at the airport. The passenger was reportedly travelling from Singapore to Hyderabad. On investigating, the officials further confiscated 1200 grams of gold from the passenger who hid it in his private body part. The passenger has been arrested for additional inquiry. Further details are awaited. (ANI)


text: Sarah and Neil's Wedding was held at St Cuthberts-in-Marton church. This building which is over 800 years old and has a beautiful atmosphere and setting. Apparently this is the church where Captain Cook was christened which shows how long this building has stood here. As a Middlesbrough Wedding Photographer it is great to work here and to see many of the historic buildings in the area. I'd actually met Sarah and Neil before at a previous wedding – for another member of their family. It's always great when someone likes your approach and wants to work with you again. Next to the Church is Stewarts Park which made for a fantastic setting for the group shots and bride and groom portraits. Neil and Sarah had hired a beautiful white Rolls Royce which we managed to squeeze through the parks gates for the main portrait above. For the wedding breakfast the party continued onto Jury's Inn in Middlesbrough for the reception and evening party. The dining room looked fantastic and Sarah had made cupcakes for all the guests – an amazing feat given the party numbered nearly 100 guests. On the night, the couple had hired the band, Land Anthem. If you've attended other events and weddings in the area I am sure this band will be very familiar to you. It was a great way to end a great day which I am sure the photos will show. Congratulations to Neil and Sarah. Thank you for asking me to be your wedding photographer. I wish you all the best for your future together as husband and wife.


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About Star Trek Online PS4 Items
Related Products:
Select Category
Buy Star Trek Online PS4 Items
In Star Trek Online you can get some locked boxes by completing the missions or buying at C-Store. The Cryptic Store in Star Trek Online is a transaction store to Buy STO Items (Personnel, Bridge Officers, Combat Companions, Companions, Species, Tribbles, Ships, Bridge Packs, Duty Officers And Master Keys). These boxes(Privateer Lock Box/Undiscovered Lock Box/Sphere Builder Lock Box...) may have a surprise and require STO Master key to open the boxes. If you want to get some Star Trek Master key at a lower price then Come to our website to buy it. Cheap price and fast transfer with 24/7 live chat help!


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GoldMoney founder and GATA consultant James Turk tells Eric King of King World News that more short covering in the precious metals seems likely next week as today's precious metals markets look increasingly like those of the late 1970s, as price suppression came undone.
For thousands of years Precious Metals (PM) such as Gold (Au) and Silver (Ag) have been utilized as real money for exchange, wealth store, and metric of value. While I am NOT an advocate of one single commodity backing our money (like a gold standard), I do believe that the price trend of PMs are the most important indicators of the value of fiat money, plus the crimes of corrupt banking corporations and governments that manipulate PM prices. The "Canary in the coal mine" is Gold - AuCanary.
Today's FINVIZ 5 Minute Charts - (for other charts go to the bottom of this page)
Click HERE for more real-time ADVANCED CHARTS and see the bottom of this page for more real time price updates.
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This was a rebranding exercise we completed back in 2001 for a full service law firm in Cheltenham – and it still looks as fresh as a daisy.
The key task for the new Rickerbys' identity was to convey the image of a modern, progressive law firm in a distinctive and memorable way.
The R does it. And many years on, it's still doing it.
Implementation included stationery, a website, a suite of literature, digital presentation materials and internal and external signage. We also helped the firm's marketing team manage the project internally and advised on external and internal communications throughout the pre and post launch period.


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Just outside of Picton, on highway 49, is the new-since-spring Blumen Garden Bistro, a remake of the Hidden Bistro, but blessedly stripped down and now operated by Swiss chef Andreas Feller. Lunch was a bowl of soup – black bean and butternut squash with a coriander crème fraiche – and a chicken pot pie, with oyster mushrooms and double smoked bacon in the mix along with roasted peppers, and perfect peas. The extensive garden in the back is a real summer draw, now being readied for winter, but with giant pumpkins still colouring the back field.
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Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history's most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately
- reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
- can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions
Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The programmes of study are, by necessity, organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects.
Please click on EYFS Maths Workshop to view the slides of the session.
And below are some exciting Maths links:
Maths Chase is a completely free site where you can quickly test your times tables.
Mathletics is an exciting web-based learning programme that integrates home and school learning via the internet; it is one of the world's most used educational websites. Mathletics is the next generation in learning, helping children enjoy maths and achieve improved maths outcomes. It is famous for the 'Live Mathletics' mental maths activities where children can compete with others across the world, or their peers at school.
Your child has access to Mathletics through a unique username and password. This means that they can work at their own pace; anywhere, anytime. Children will use it every few weeks in class and for homework. We also encourage short periods of independent use at home, such as 15 minutes twice a week, to help children feel more confident with their maths.
Below you can find some useful documents regarding Mathletics, as well as a link to the website.
Mathletics guide for Primary children
Mathletics guide for Parents and Carers PAGES 1-4 ONLY
Mathletics guide for tablet devices


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Computer New Jersey1 - 4 of 4 listings
Yahoo customer care 1-800-721-0104Computer - Carteret (New Jersey) - October 23, 2017 1.00 Dollar US$
Yahoo, an email service provider with millions of users all across the globe is one of the top email service provider in USA. Yahoo Users have an luxury to contact yahoo Customer care number 1-800-721-0104 and get a dedicated representative to fix th...
android application development servicesComputer - Flemington (New Jersey) - September 8, 2017 Free
Hakuna Matata is a renowned IT firm constantly provides customized android application development services and solutions. We delivered to the clients in the decided time frame and in reasonable budget completely as per their requirements. Our ...
Yahoo 800 Phone Number 1-800-721-0104Computer - Carteret (New Jersey) - September 4, 2017 7008.00 AED
We are in the consumer world where everything depends on the basis of consumers. Yahoo evolved itself with the modern technology. Users of Yahoo can contact directly to the Yahoo 800 Phone Number number +1-800-721-0104 if they face any technical issu...
SBCGlobal Customer Support 1800-721-0104Computer - Carteret (New Jersey) - August 30, 2017 7008.00 AED
SBCGlobal is one of the top leading brands and based on modern technology with the extra storage capacity among the Email service providers. Due to its latest technology the users face some technical issues which can be resolved by SBCGlobal customer...
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As most of you know my go to class is Hot Yoga! But what if you want more cardio in your workout, what class should you take?
Maybe you are like my roommate who loves cardio kickboxing, or my friend who loves spin classes. There is a class out there for everyone!
DietsinReview talk about the 6 most popular fitness classes of 2012, along with letting you know more about them and how many calories you burn an hour.
Try these classes out and see which is your favorite; you have nothing to lose. Give it a shot!


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Since childhood I have been fascinated by islands, and for 27 years I was fortunate to live in the Hebrides, firstly as teacher on Colonsay, and latterly on Islay. Holidays were almost always taken on other Scottish islands. Each one different, each with its own unique history, and all endowed with a wealth of varied landscape and abundant wildlife.
In combining my interests in islands and writing, I have written many poems about islands and I hope, one day, to put them into a new collection. In these poems I aim to capture something of the essence of each island. I have visited almost all of the inhabited islands of the Hebrides and a few uninhabited islands have been explored too. Each island has resulted in scores of photographs, wildlife records and a poem or two. One visit is never enough. I hope to be able to return to all of them.
Colonsay where I was Headteacher of Kilchattan Primary School from 1991 to 1997, and Islay where I have lived since 1997 will have a prominent place in the collection. The rest will range from Lewis to Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides; from Skye and the Small Isles to Gigha in the Inner Hebrides and from Orkney to the Clyde islands. I will probably include poems from Lindisfarne and from the islands of the Pembrokeshire Coast.
The poems will be concerned with landscape, people, natural history, history and incidents that have captured my imagination. As long as there are islands I will continue to visit and write about them so this project is likely to continue for a very long time. In the meantime, some of the poems have already appeared in magazines and anthologies, and it is likely that others will follow.
From One Island to Another
Sometimes there is nothing to show there's land across the sea. When clouds convert to mist that sits on the sea's surface, the mind relies on memory to add the lines of islands, the rise of distant hills. When mist drifts and lifts, the outlined islands, shapes of distant hills emerge like wraiths, like shadows of themselves, until sun scalpels through, reveals each detail sharp against a blue so clear, the miles of ocean seem to disappear and I could walk across the water.
This poem, First Published in 'These Islands, We Sing' – Ed. Kevin MacNeil, Polygon, 2011, was written about the view from my Islay cabin but it applies equally to the views from many other islands.
In 2015 this poem featured on the Crionn Photography website along with some beautiful photographs of views from Skye.


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Is Mother's Labor Market Participation Related to Childhood Weight Changes in the United States?: Evidence from Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Cohorts (ECLS-K)
Haeil Jung, Indiana University, Bloomington
Chaeyoung Chang, Indiana University, Bloomington
Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten cohort of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) data sponsored by U.S. Department of Education, we examine whether there is a contemporaneous and lagged effect of maternal employment on the likelihood being underweight, as well as being overweight and obesity; whether the association differs among subpopulations, such as children in different weight classification of the earlier time period, and children in different household income groups; whether family structure variables, such as marital status, cohabitation with siblings, and cohabitation with older adults, are associated with having childhood weight problems. To address our research questions, we pay attention to the multinomial weight classification and BMI percentiles (from CDC growth chart) of 6,481 fifth grade children who have full information of demography, maternal work history, and family structure. The preliminary result shows that while maternal work deteriorates children obesity, it has different effect on children in previously different weight group.
See paper
Presented in Poster Session 4


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What is CarbonBlue?
Walas has continued to look for ways to improve and build on the success of the Carbon6 project. The CarbonBlue project offers a solution to further reduce the energy costs and reliance on the energy grid, and to transition to cleaner energy sources in a wholistic and integrative way.
Innovative ideas
The Walas team was concerned about the energy use of Carbon6 and tackled this problem with their signature creativity and systems thinking approach. Leveraging the spacious parking lot, they came up with a comprehensive solution. While parking space cannot be eliminated, mounting panels on an elevated structure that covers the lot will not only solve the problem of the solar panel placement, it can also provide filtered light during the day, capture rain water, clean the surrounding air and water, create jobs and provide a green retreat for the community, all while making the project economically profitable. New business models including a car wash and energy storage will add to the financial success.
The CarbonBlue project will feed the solar energy into the building as well as charging stations for electric vehicles, meeting an expected 30% of the energy demand of the Carbon6 complex. The first solar structure is well under way, and already showing returns, with the remainder of the structure expected to be complete by the spring of 2018.
The official opening of CaronBlue in Heerlen
On July 19, 2018 World of Walas celebrated the opening of its ambitious CarbonBlue project in Heerlen, The Netherlands.


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SCARBOROUGH Town have appointed Shaun Rennison as their new manager.
Rennison, who played 150 games for the former Scarborough club, has been managing Saturday League side Cayton Corinthians for the past few seasons.
One of Rennison's first duties will be to host a trial evening at the University of Hull (Scarborough campus) on Wednesday. This event starts at 6.30pm and is open to any local players.
Rennison's appointment follows a flow of names being linked with the club, who were accepted into the Humber Premier first division last week. Among these was former Edgehill manager Sean Chapman, who has since joined Scarborough Athletic's coaching set-up.
Club secretary Sean Hunter said: "We've done the approaching, but we are delighted to have Shaun on board.
"He came to see us midway through the week and he said that he sees the role as an opportunity.
"We are hoping to confirm his assistant over the next few days."
Town had been forced to postpone their opening two friendly games of their pre-season campaign.
Their opener was set to be at Selby Town today, and their clash at home to Barton Town has also been called off.
Town's first friendly will now take place on July 13 when they play host to Redcar Athletic.
They are also poised to tackle Pontefract, Huntington Rovers, Handsworth, Pickering Town and Knaresborough Town.


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Published at Sunday, May 12th, 2019 - 16:10:24 PM. Coffee Table. By Deniece Merlin.
Coffee tables can make or break a room. The right one can make a stylish statement bringing all of your furniture together into a unified whole. However, one element that many people fail to consider is whether their coffee table is actually safe.
Unique tables have been prominent in the homes of Americans since the 17th century when they became popular in the west. And if you are looking for different and unique tables you have very many different types to choose from. They come in all kinds of different styles and shapes and sizes.
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Three Amazing Things You Can Do For Your Loved Ones
Three Amazing Things You Can Do For Your Loved Ones
- Remember The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- Make The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
- Learn The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Read or listen to these three books, and the way you interact with those you love will change forever.
1. "The Power of Now" By Eckhart Tolle
"Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now." – Eckhart Tolle
Staying in the moment with those we love is difficult in our plugged-in society. Constant distractions from texts, social media notifications, video games, or a new series that just dropped on Netflix are all relationship killers.
The Power of Now reminds us that happiness lies in the present moment. Our minds, however, tend to anxiously contemplate the future or ruminate in the past, neither of which we can change. If our thoughts are not in the past or future, we find ourselves numbly scrolling through social media posts, gaming for hours upon end, or watching the entire series of a show in a few days. We can't build intimacy and strengthen relationships by checking out on one another.
Don't lose another minute.
The Power of Now teaches us strategies to reside in the present moment and not in our heads.
Suggested Read: Finding Gratitude In Life's Ordinary Moments
2. "The Four Agreements" By Don Miguel Ruiz
"If I love myself I will express that love in my interactions with you, and then I am being impeccable with the word, because that action will produce a like reaction. If I love you, then you will love me. If I insult you, you will insult me. If I have gratitude for you, you will have gratitude for me. If I'm selfish with you, you will be selfish with me." – Don Miguel Ruiz
In "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom", Don Miguel Ruiz draws upon the wisdom of the ancient Toltecs, an indigenous people of Mexico, to establish a personal code of conduct.
Be Impeccable with Your Word
Speak kindly toward yourself and others. We are quick to put down others and even quicker to put down ourselves. In the heat of a conflict, it's easy to lash out at loved ones with unkind words that we don't mean. Unfortunately, those words stick like the strongest epoxy in the minds of those we love.
Suggested Read: The Importance Of World Kindness Day
Don't Take Things Personally
As a teacher, I would not be effective if I took everything personally. What people say and do has nothing to do with me and everything to do with them. We all have different perceptions of the world, and our minds work in different ways. Instead of taking a word or deed personally, strive to better understand the other person's world.
Don't Make Assumptions
Humans naturally have judgy minds. Putting judgment on others helps us define our world; however, most of these judgments are wrong and lead to unnecessary fights and misunderstandings. Instead of making assumptions, ask questions and clarify a person's intent.
Always Do Your Best
We will never be perfect as humans; therefore, don't expect perfection from yourself or anyone else. As long as we do our best, we free ourselves from judgment and regret. Our best may change on any given day. When we're tired or sick, our best may look a little differently. When we keep this agreement in mind, it helps us remember that others are usually doing their best on any given day, so it is important to have forgiveness in our hearts.
3. "The Five Love Languages" By Gary Chapman
"Love is something you do for someone else, not something you do for yourself." – Gary Chapman
According to Gary Chapman, there are five ways people communicate love, and when we are feeling unloved, it is often based in miscommunication. Everyone gives and receives love in different ways. Until we uncover our preference for receiving love and our loved one's preference for receiving love, we may never feel satisfied in our relationships. It is important to speak the love language of those who matter most.
Below Are the Five Languages of Love:
- Words of affirmation: Expressing affection through words.
- Quality time: Giving a loved one your undivided attention.
- Receiving gifts: Associating gifts as an expression of love and affection.
- Acts of service: Expressing love through actions rather than words.
- Physical touch: Communicating affection through physical contact.
Strengthening Our Relationships
Once we discover how our loved ones prefer to receive love and act on those preferences, our relationships have the power to become stronger and more enduring.
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text: I was driving with my friend who was in the Army home on leave. Riding through the boring streets of Waukesha, Wisconsin. My best friend was stationed in Seattle, this was the early 90's. So he was really up on new music. He told me of this band he saw at a small club that was full of people down from Canada. He said they're called The Tragically Hip. I said pop in a tape. Three Pistols started playing, I listened for a minute and started feeling goose bumps up my arms and on the back of my neck. Seventeen years later I haven't miss a Hip show in Milwaukee and Madison. Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI I was able to walk right up to the stage between Paul and Gordon and enjoy the BEST show I EVER saw. And I've seen The Clash, U2, The Who and Springsteen to name a few.


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Writer: Frances Poet Director: Jemima Levick Reviewer: Dominic Corr Right now, any number of men, women and possibly children are sitting at home with a poison resting inside them. Waiting. The most depraving fact about this? Chances are, their employers, shareholders and managers have an idea that they may have these tiny grey-speckled time bombs, but money has the deciding ...Read More »
Tag Archives: National Theatre Of Scotland
Midsummer – The Hub, Edinburgh
Writer: David Greig Composer: Gordon McIntyre Director: Kate Hewitt Reviewer: S.E. Webster A whole decade has passed since acclaimed playwright David Greig's Midsummer first premiered at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. Since then the play has toured across the world from New York to Seoul. 2018 now sees this fun, carefree musical theatre production return to the city of its ...Read More »
NEWS: Return of festive favourite for Citizens Theatre's first season at Tramway
Tickets are now on sale for the first two productions to be staged during the Citizens Theatre's first season at Tramway: Cyrano de Bergerac and the return of one of the Citizens Theatre's most successful productions to date, A Christmas Carol. While temporarily presenting work at Tramway, Citizens Theatre have stated that audiences can be assured that productions will retain ...Read More »
Ma, Pa and the Little Mouths – Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Writer: Martin McCormick Director: Andy Arnold Designer: Charlotte Lane Lighting Design: Dave Shea Sound Design: Ross Brown Reviewer: Lauren Humphreys It's into the insular world of the reclusive Ma and Pa that we eavesdrop in award-winning actor and playwright Martin McCormick's Ma Pa and the Little Mouths. The play, presented as a rehearsed reading as part of last year's Mayfesto, ...Read More »
How to Act – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Writer and director: Graham Eatough Reviewer: Gareth Davies In an age of 'fake news' and #MeToo, the National Theatre of Scotland's exploration of the intersection between narratives of reality and power seems eerily prescient. Under the guise of a masterclass hosted by a world-renowned theatre practitioner Nicholl (Robert Goodale), what transpires is a provocative questioning of the very nature of ...Read More »
The Whip Hand – The DOOR, Birmingham REP
Writer: Douglas Maxwell Director: Tessa Walker Reviewer: John Kennedy See y'man, Dougie? He has a moral imperative to right some historical wrongs and he has his presentation all prepared on PowerPoint but that all goes west – as once did the countless slaves, he announces, their family ancestor, millionaire, Saracen Bell, condemned to the sugar plantations. Jonathan Watson's, at first amiable, ...Read More »
This Restless House – Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
Writer: Zinnie Harris Director: Dominic Hill Reviewer: R G Balgray Plays seem to come in threes this year (no jokes about Glasgow buses, please). Hot on the heels of the James Plays comes the Citizens and the National Theatre of Scotland's modern production ofThe Oresteia. The doomed house of Atreus is reimagined by Zinnie Harris as This Restless House – ...Read More »
The James Plays – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Writer: Rona Munro Director: Laurie Sansom Reviewer: Gareth Davies Eighteen months after the National Theatre of Scotland staged this modern trilogy of Scottish history plays at the Edinburgh International Festival, the company have reunited for a mammoth six-month international tour. With a collective running time of nearly eight hours, Rona Munro's epic cycle of stories takes us on a ...Read More »


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We've rounded up all the best trends from the streets of London Fashion Week…
This season we have seen huge changes to the London fashion scene. Christopher Bailey at Burberry surprised all. He moved away from his usual, English heritage looks and produced a much more contemporary collection. And on the streets, a city synonymous for minimalistic monochrome looks has taken a united turn to inject bright hues of pink and size-up silhouettes, with ballooning sleeves and oversized outerwear.
However scarred you may be by Paris Hilton's head-to-toe pink looks circa 2002, incorporating some pink into an outfit and moving away from the usually coveted comfort blanket of all black – is key. It may be the colour of candyfloss and barbie, but worn in the correct way it is not all too garish and girly. At Chanel and Stella McCartney AW16, we saw bright pinks matched with raspberry and wintery reds. This was emulated by Pandora Sykes, former Fashion Features Editor at The Sunday Times Style magazine, who paired a deep red pair of flared trousers with a brighter shade of pink on top. A nod to wearing head-to-toe pink and not looking brash is by loosening up. Designers such as Victoria Beckham and Rick Owens often prefer loose dresses and this is how Florrie Thomas, Harpers' Fashion Editor, has worn her all pink ensemble this season. This season, Thorton Bregazzi had hints of pink running throughout the collection, Peter Pilotto too.
If you spent your childhood drowning in 'hand-me-downs', then you might be surprised (and even unhappy) to hear that oversized clothing is going to be a big thing this summer. Eighties power shoulders have migrated South in favour of a much more flattering and contemporary look – ballooning sleeves and extra-long sleeves. However, not in the way as we may have formerly known it (boho and hippy) but, in a much more contemporary tailored way, taking inspiration from our Tudor ancestors and Jonathon Anderson's SS17 Tudor inspired collection. Wide leg trousers are also back, again. Sonia Rykiel and Stella McCartney are two designers who have often shown an abundance of wide leg trousers in their collections. If you do not feel bold enough to take everything as full as possible, pair big trousers with a fitted top – but the fashion bold will be oversizing everything.
At first glance, wearing a dress over trousers may seem like one of those trends to raise your eyebrows at and question whether or not you got dressed in the dark. Givenchy Couture utilised trousers to give their usual glamorous gowns an edgy twist – however the majority of the street style looks we saw followed the lead from Valentino, with laid-back floaty dresses over trousers or jeans. Whilst this is the perfect casual option, a pair of more tailored trousers or a pair of heels will give you the glam Givenchy effect – either way, it's a great cheat to transition those summer dresses into fall (or from winter into spring, if you're desperate to pull them out).
Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rachelaurahagan


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thats a huge spike for a beutiful orchid
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This is a discussion on Mtdm Cleo's Pride 'HOF' within the Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, & Intergenerics IN BLOOM forums, part of the Orchid Photography category; I have a few of these in bloom in the greenhouse. They have a very ...
I have a few of these in bloom in the greenhouse. They have a very strong perfume. I like how thick the blooms are and how long the spikes grow on relatively small plants.
Mtdm Cleo's Pride 'HOF'
thats a huge spike for a beutiful orchid
Oh Bruce thats WONDERFUL! I just love oncids, the perfume is a great bonus.
They look like little dancing ladies waring aprons.
Lovely Bruce.


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Blues The Ski Shop
Winter Kit For Walkers 2019Walking in the hills is the most accessible mountain sport, and on a good day, can be a complete joy to experience. Winter conditions can enhance the experience ten-fold, or can turn a good day out into a dangerous situation. However, with a little preparation, the right kit (plus the knowledge... Read more 02-12-19 •
Buying Guide: Ski BootsThe right pair of boots can make or break your time on the slopes. Get it right and you can ski to your heart's content in comfort and control. Get it wrong and each run can be a battle to keep going. Here's our guide to picking the right pair and finding the optimum fit. Read more 18-11-19 •
Gavin's recent domestic adventure to Lochnagar | Tiso BlogGavin shares his recent adventure with his friend Euan up Lochnagar Read more 05-11-19 •
Choosing a compass | Tiso BlogSupported by Tiso Ambassador, Nigel Williams, discusses how to best choose a compass Read more 25-10-19 •
Gavin's Recent Adventure In RomaniaGavin shares the story of his recent trip to Romania Read more 15-10-19 •
Trek E-Bike CompetitionElectric bikes are the transport of the future, allowing you to ride further, ride faster, and in more comfort. Whether for commuting, for exploring, for leisure or any other type of cycling, electric bikes are making cycling more accessible and practical than ever before. This season we've... Read more 14-10-19 •
Meet Hazel RobertsonIn this article Hazel Robertson talks ks about her adventures as the host of the AW19 Tiso Outdoor Experience Nights. Read more 10-10-19 •
Mental Health & The Outdoors | Recharge Your MindIn this article therapist Andy Hardie, discusses the importance of nature for mental health Read more 10-10-19 •
A Mid-Week Mission | The Alps with GORE-TEXEarlier this year we sent Tiso Ambassador Mollie Hughes and her team on a mid-week mission to the Italian Alps to test our new season GORE-TEX products. Read more 18-09-19 •
Rab Kangri Jacket | Gore-Tex | Tiso ReviewSupported by Tiso ambassador, Nigel Williams, has owned a fair few Gore-Tex jackets in his time. He has worn and tested them in some of the most extreme conditions on earth! We therefore knew he would be perfect for testing our new season RAB Kangri Gore-Tex jacket. Read more 06-09-19 •
Blues Grand Prix 2019 ResultsThanks to everyone who came along to compete and support our 34th Blues Grand Prix - hope you all had a great day of skiing! Thanks also to the Alpine Training Centre and Lothian Ski Racing for their free race support. Results are below by category and in PDF format. Please click to download. Read more 03-09-19 •


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The first time I read about Taaruk Raina was during the launch of Star Plus' reality show, Dil Hai Hindustani, and I remember asking my friend about the two new hosts, of which one was this talented young boy. The channel had launched their first season with a new face as a host, where Taaruk did an impressive job. Little did I know that he was extremely talented, not only as an actor but as a complete performer. He can sing, dance, act and do a lot more at once. I watched him perform LIVE at the media screening of Disney's Aladdin, where he was loved and much spoken about.
I met him, along with the lead cast of this BookMyShow musical, to understand his hard work and efforts behind this character.
For a lot of us, the 'Aladdin' brings back many memories. On being asked the same, Taaruk said, "My first memory of Aladdin is being a little kid, watching the show on TV and wondering why the carpet is not flying. I always wanted it to fly and this is a memory that I have always had, ever since a child."
The team of Aladdin the musical is full of experienced actors and technicians. For Taaruk this was a big move, as he was only a few shows old. Talking about joining the team and experiencing the first day at the workshop, he said "When I came for the workshop on the first day, I did not know anyone, until I saw Mantra and Sid. I felt a sigh of relief as I knew the team was great, and these two friends of mine (Mantra and Sid) helped me a lot."
Taaruk has been trained by the best hands in the country. Being a part of one of the best production houses of India is something many crave for. He has worked with Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films' banner. Sharing some thoughts of taking his learning and using them in the musical, Taaruk said, "I definitely would say that I know what goes behind the production. I understand the technicalities of the performance and production, and hence it was easy from day one. I was aware of what was exactly needed and expected from me. Working in the production department has helped me to keep my focus strong. I was never confused, and I always found logic in the scenes given to me and this is because of my experience as an AD.
Taaruk shares this role with ace theatre artist, Siddharth Menon. Both play 'Aladdin' on specific days but share an endearing chemistry. Talking about the same, he said, "Sid and I understand each other quite well. Despite separate modules, we always work out together and help each other. We train under Nupur Shikare, who is a master with his skills. We trust each other and share a great rapport. As artists with hectic schedules, it is necessary for us to have fun, and we always look forward to it during the workshop or rehearsal. Although we perform on separate days, we stay in touch every day. If one notices, we add our own touch to our performances and make it different, in our own ways."
Finally, I asked him about the character he'd love to play besides Aladdin, and one wish he'd ask Genie if he was given a chance, to which he quickly said, "I have never got a chance to be evil in my life, and just to challenge myself I want to play Jaffar if given a chance. And one wish, if given a chance, would be the power to be able to spread love and care for everyone."
Noble! Isn't he?


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The Perils of Paraiba-Jewelers Tears #2September 23rd, 2010 by James L. Sweaney, CGA, FGA. GG
This tale of woe illustrates some of the risks and challenges we jewelers face in our fascinating business.
Last year, I had seen this lovely and large reddish purple tourmaline several times. Gem dealer Jack had tried mightily to tempt me with it, an unheated stone from the country of Mozambique in East Africa, an area that is producing controversial vivid blue and green tourmaline gems.
The controversy arises from new finds of tourmalines in both Mozambique and Nigeria that are very much like the famous and hugely expensive "Paraiba" tourmalines mined in and around the Paraiba state in Brazil. Discovered in the late 1980's, the Paraiba gems "electrified" the gem world with their previously unseen exotic colors, only to be followed by discoveries of similar material in Nigeria in 2001 and Mozambique in 2004. Like the original Paraiban material, some of these African tourmalines turn to vivid blues and greens when carefully heat treated.
The best of these rare colors have been described as "neon" and "electric", with some top echelon gems fetching five figures per carat. This museum quality 10 carat stone (the picture certainly doesn't do it justice) was offered by a friend of the author last year for just under $200,000!
The controversy within the gem trade is one of nomenclature–whether the bright blue and green material from Mozambique and Nigeria can properly be designated and marketed as "Paraiba" tourmaline. Various gem labs and ruling bodies have taken up the question, conferences have been held, blogs and insults have flown back and forth, with no clear resolution. While the purists say that only gems mined in or near the Brazilian state of Paraiba can truly be labeled as "Paraiba" tourmaline, owners of the African gems often sell them as "Paraiba" tourmaline.
As we have seen with Burma ruby, Kashmir sapphire, and Colombian emerald, the power of name association creates a very strong brand that can be an extremely powerful marketing tool. It's especially useful when introducing a heretofore unknown product such as this type of tourmaline. Just google "paraiba tourmaline" and you'll see more than 35,000 results, many from mass market merchandisers like Home Shopping Network, Jewelry TV, and Ebay, selling everything from fine "Paraiba" gems for tens of thousands of dollars to "bargain" stones priced at tens of dollars.
One of the real problems is how to distinguish the Brazilian "Paraiba" gems from the African "Paraiba-like" stones. Color is not a reliable standard because there is so much natural variation in the desired hues, nor is size is a reliable test. Although stones mined in Brazil are usually smaller than the African goods, with few gems exceeding 3 carats, some Brazilian stones are good sized, witness the 10 ct. gem shown above.
These elbaite varieties of tourmaline are all characterized by traces of copper in their chemistry which can be reliably detected by spectroscopic analysis. Some of the gem labs have been designating type but not country of origin. More recently, with the new material coming into the market place, the science has progressed to the point that there are reliable ways to distinguish country of origin. In general, the process is too technical and costly to be practical on an every day basis, especially for more ordinary stones.
The consensus has been to create a "Paraiba-type" classification, and a few of the labs have the skill and technology to issue reliable country of origin documents. While some gem dealers continue to use "Paraiba" as a trade name for bright blue to green copper bearing tourmalines, many of the more conscientious dealers avoid the controversy by selling their African gems as cuprian (copper bearing) tourmaline.
The use of this trade name brings up another issue– how much color should a stone have to be considered "Paraiba" or "Paraiba-type?" Many of the pale stones being marketed via Internet vendors at bargain prices have little resemblance to the vivid stones that originally created so much excitement.
The Lab Manual Harmonization Committee, representing GIA, AGTA, and other elite international gem labs, defines the color of Paraiba tourmaline in it's LMHC Information sheet #6 as "a blue (electric blue, neon blue, violet blue), bluish green to greenish blue or green elbaite tourmaline, of medium to high saturation and tone."
Many of the bargain stones (and some not so bargain priced) we have seen could only be described as light in tone and weak to moderate in saturation. The question of whether a gem is Paraiba or Paraiba-type tourmaline is usually answered by the market price.
There is in fact a bifurcated market– the Gem Guide price book currently lists wholesale prices for 1 – 2 ct. cuprian tourmalines starting at $750-1,200/ct. for stones graded fine for overall quality, level 6-8 and $1200-1,800/ct. for extra fine gems, level 8-10. Stones with legitimate lab documentation as having originated in the Paraiba region of Brazil and having the signature bright blue to green colors wholesale for the astronomical prices of $4,500-7,000/ct. for 1-2 ct stones graded fine, 6-8, $7,000-16,000/ct., for extra fine, 8-10!
This writer's advice is to carefully research and understand what the Paraiba-type colors truly are, and don't buy based solely on the trade name or lab document. It's best to buy gems like these from experts who truly understand this difficult market and can objectively evaluate the gem in question based on its merits.
Back to my story of the beautiful purple tourmaline from Mozambique. Having read the excellent article on Mozambique Paraiba-type tourmaline in the Spring 2008 issue of Gems and Gemology , I knew that this purple material could yield beautiful vivid blues and greens when carefully heated. When Jack offered me his moderately included stone again, this time at a rock bottom price, I bought it– it was a gorgeous deep reddish purple, well worth what he was asking. Of course, I had the thought that it might be possible to heat treat it to a Paraiba-type color– even a moderately good color could quadruple what I had invested.
Later that spring, while working with a gem dealer from Germany whose family is very well connected to the centuries old gem trade in Idar-Oberstein, I showed him the stone and asked if he knew anything about heat treatment. While tourmaline was not his specialty, he assured me that he could easily get the stone treated in Germany. Though the stone was moderately included (perhaps why it had not already been heated?), he didn't think that would be a problem– his people heated similarly included stones "all the time." So I took a big gulp, gave him the stone, and said "Go for it."
It took about six weeks for the stone to make the round trip. When I got the stone back and opened the paper, my heart sank–this is what I saw!
My Paraiba-type tourmaline is now not worthy of the name– just a faint hint of the desired color, and the inclusions really stand out. So we managed to transform a richly colored gemstone into an essentially worthless rock, a ghost of it's former beauty. It's an example of nature's booby trap or faulty heating technique– we'll never really know.
So the moral of the story is that sometimes you go for the brass ring and you miss! But that's what makes it exciting! Oh well, maybe I'll sell it on Ebay.
Tags: AGS, AGTA, Cuprian Elbaite Tourmaline, GemGuide, GIA, LMHC, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraiba


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Unicorn kisses make everything better. Look after any grazes, bumps or blisters with these deluxe multicoloured plasters featuring unicorns, rainbows and sparkles to make you smile again. Stylish tin holds 24 sticking plasters in a variety of shapes and sizes.
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