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How sharper than a serpent's tooth to have a despotic pediatric dentist.
Parents who decide, for whatever reason, that they don't like their children's oral care provider should be forewarned. Empowered by government "mandatory reporter" laws, dental offices are now using their authority to threaten families with child abuse charges if they don't comply with the cavity police.
Mom Trey Hoyumpa shared a letter last week on Facebook from a dental office called Smiles 4 Keeps in Bartonsville, Pennsylvania. It informed her that if she did not make a dental appointment for "regular professional cleanings" for her child, she could be charged with "dental neglect."
Citing a law called Pennsylvania Act 31 on child abuse recognition and reporting, the dental office threatened to report the mom to state authorities if she did not schedule an appointment.
Hoyumpa wrote: "Smiles 4 Keeps bullies the parents, controls the care behind closed doors, and turns parents into villains … and I will not stand for it anymore!!!"
On social media, parents who've encountered the toxic alliance of snoopy medical providers and child welfare agencies shared their own experiences with government bullies who operate on a presumption of guilt.
Brett Darken wrote: "Anyone familiar with 'family court,' DCF, state probate, and guardianship courts know well this story. In any other context, it would be considered a threat, coercion, and intimidation under RICO laws. But because it's the government, it's legal."
This is a menacing threat to have hanging over customers of dental practices, or any medical providers for that matter: If you leave, you better tell us where you are going or we could report you to government child welfare agencies for suspected abuse.
One Twitter commenter wondered: "Is this fake?"
Unfortunately, it's all too real, and the dental office is championing an intrusive practice that is likely to spread.
Smiles 4 Keeps replied to parental criticism on Facebook by quoting the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry definition of "dental neglect" as the "willful failure of parent or guardian to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a level of oral health essential for adequate function and freedom from pain and infection."
The dental office also defended its intimidation letter to the mom by explaining that physicians and dentists are "mandated reporters" who are "required to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect to social service or law enforcement agencies in order to prevent such tragedy."
But as investigative reporter Terri LaPoint at MedicalKidnap.com points out, nowhere has Smiles 4 Keeps provided any evidence that Hoyumpa was neglectful or abusive in any way.
Moreover, Smiles 4 Keeps insists that parents provide the name of a new dentist if the family chooses to find a new provider. Hoyumpa was just one of 17 recipients of the threatening Smiles 4 Keeps salvos.
Dr. Ross Wezmar of Smiles 4 Keeps actually boasted to local news station WNEP about the snitch letters' ability "to jar the parent to realize that with a child comes responsibility." Benevolent Dr. Marcus Welby he is not.
Wezmar claimed his bully notes are the first in the nation to be dispatched. With the encroachment of socialized medicine in America, they certainly won't be the last.
Think it can't happen to you? Last year, in Ontario, Canada, mom Melissa Lopez wanted a second opinion on getting fillings for her daughter and decided to change providers. The jilted dentist, as Lenore Skenazy reported on Reason.com, called Child Protective Services to report possible "oral neglect."
The case was dismissed, but Child Protective Services refuses to remove Lopez's file from its books—it is part of a permanent record that keeps a permanent cloud of suspicion over her.
Skenazy drills down to the core: "The issue here is how easy it is to drag a family into an abuse investigation, and how hard it is for the family, like an impacted molar, to get itself extracted."
Indeed, the partnership between medical providers and government child welfare services has threatened innocent families across the country under the guise of "protecting the children." It is a short hop from cavity-shaming and misdiagnoses to ripping families apart.
Don't forget the case of Justina Pelletier, savagely torn from her family by Boston Children's Hospital after the prestigious medical institution wrongly accused her parents of causing her chronic illness. Boston Children's Hospital locked Justina in a mental ward until her sister published an undercover video of Justina pleading to be reunited with her family.
Public outrage forced her release and now the Pelletiers are suing the hospital.
Big Nanny monitors hostile to family privacy and autonomy are everywhere—in your kids' classrooms, cafeterias, and doctors' and dentists' offices. Eternal vigilance against government intrusion is the price of parenthood.


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How a Youth-Led Project is Sparking Hope for Canada's Indigenous Communities
The House of Hope is a community-based project in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., that was established to provide youth with a place to go and something to do. The program offers sewing classes, cooking lessons, music sessions and more, all led by community members who want to help the youth stay away from drugs and alcohol. According to Nathan Kuptana, one of the program's founders, the House of Hope has already made a difference in the lives of many young people in Tuktoyaktuk.
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Golden Retrievers Have Been the Mayor of This Town for More Than a Decade
In the charming town of Idyllwild, Southern California, the role of mayor has been filled by three generations of golden retrievers, starting with Mayor Max I in 2011. Phyllis Mueller and her husband saw an opportunity to use the mayoral position to do good for the town and beyond, using Max I's charisma and love to connect with people at various events and gatherings. Max II and now Max III have continued this legacy, and Max III just completed his first year in office, filled with public appearances, visits to schools and hospitals, and belly rubs.
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This Ballet School is Breaking Racial Barriers and Inspiring Young Girls
Ruth Essel, the founder of Pointe Black Ballet School in London, has created a safe and empowering space for Black dancers, inspired by her own experiences of discrimination within the ballet world. Pointe Black aims to provide an inclusive environment where students can feel accepted and celebrated for who they are. By incorporating African steps and music styles in their shows and embracing diversity, Essel is working to make ballet more accessible and welcoming for dancers of all backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and empowerment.
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Astronomers Are Stumped By a Pair of Planets Floating Through Space
It's a discovery that has astronomers scratching their heads. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found two Jupiter-sized "planets" floating freely in space and appear to be moving in pairs. Dubbed Jupiter Mass Binary Objects or "JuMBOs" for short, scientists say they might have been ejected from star systems. This may reshape our understanding of planetary system formation and the dynamics of objects in space, offering exciting opportunities for further exploration.
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Simone Biles is Back at the World Stage - This Time, With a Historic Vault Named After Her
Simone Biles, the seven-time Olympic medalist, has once again made history by becoming the first woman to successfully land the Yurchenko double pike in international gymnastic competition at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastic Championships. This remarkable feat has earned her the honor of having the skill named after her, now known as the "Biles II." Biles, who already has four other gymnastic skills named after her, continues to push the boundaries of the sport, inspiring athletes and fans worldwide with her incredible talent and determination.
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Meet the Self-Taught Musicians Taking Africa's Music Scene by Storm
Lionel Obam, also known as DJ Jeune Lio, started as a self-taught DJ in Paris and has now become one of the most influential music personalities in Francophone Africa. He co-founded La Sunday, one of Ivory Coast's largest music festivals, where he captivates audiences with his vibrant and diverse music sets. With his unique style and energetic sets, DJ Jeune Lio continues to make a significant impact on the African music scene.
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How One Hero Saved an Indigenous Hawaiian Community From the Wildfires
Shaun "Buge" Saribay, a Native Hawaiian, went to great lengths to protect the Villages of Leiali'i, a homestead community in Lahaina, Hawaii, during a devastating fire. These homestead communities provide affordable land to Indigenous Hawaiians, and they serve as reserves of Hawaiian culture and traditions. Saribay and others' efforts helped save most of the Leiali'i neighborhood, demonstrating the resilience and unity of the Hawaiian people in the face of adversity.
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The Scientists Behind Pioneering mRNA Technology Just Won a Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Professors Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their pioneering work on mRNA vaccine technology. This technology, which was experimental before the pandemic, led to the rapid development of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, such as those from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, now administered to millions worldwide. Their breakthroughs have not only been vital in the fight against COVID-19 but also hold promise for developing vaccines against other diseases, including cancer.
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Sally the Sea Lion Had an Exciting Adventure When Heavy Rains Gave Her a Free Swim
Sally, a sea lion at the Central Park Zoo, had a playful adventure after heavy rain caused her pool to flood, briefly allowing her to escape her enclosure. The mammal was seen swimming out of the flooded pool and exploring the surrounding area before eventually returning to her habitat. The zoo was closed due to severe weather, and zoo personnel ensured that no staff or visitors were in danger during Sally's escapade.
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See Lasers Cutting Through a Trail of Stars in This Latest Image From the ESO
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has shared a breathtaking image of star trails captured at its Paranal Observatory in the Chilean Atacama Desert. The image shows stars appearing to trail across the night sky due to a long exposure technique used by astronomers. In addition to the mesmerizing star trails, the photo features two bright orange lasers, known as laser guide stars, which are used to correct the distortion of starlight caused by Earth's atmosphere, providing sharper images of the sky.
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This 107-Year-Old Shares Her Secret on How to Create a Long and Happy Life
Shirley Hodes, who recently celebrated her 107th birthday, offers valuable insights on finding happiness as you age. Her philosophy emphasizes appreciating what you have, finding joy in small things, and reframing negative thoughts. Hodes' positivity mindset, focused on gratitude and resilience, has contributed to her long and fulfilling life. Her advice reminds us that happiness can be found in the simple pleasures of everyday life and in being content with who we are.

subset: commoncrawl


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In 1984, Maureen Dowd, now an op-ed columnist, was a reporter on the "Metropolitan staff" of the New York Times. This excerpt (from a 5112-word piece) ran in the Times magazine on November 4, 1984, with the headline "9PM TO 5AM." (It's behind the paywall here.)
On Monday nights, Area offers ''obsession'' nights—with fixations such as sex, pets and body oddities. At a recent ''sex evening,'' nude jugglers and whip dancers moved in and out of the crowd while an ex-nun heard sexual confessions in the ladies' room and an old man played with inflatable dolls in a pool.
This evening, the theme is ''confinement,'' and the club is decorated with dolls in pajamas chained under water, a caged rabbit and go-go dancers armed with guns and dressed in Army fatigues.
''Where's Andy Warhol?'' asks a young punk, dragging on a joint and scanning the crowd. ''I want to get a good look at him.''
''I think he went to Limelight,'' says his friend. At Limelight, a church- turned-club on the Avenue of the Americas at 20th Street, halolike arcs of light stream from stained-glass windows.
''We should go there,'' says someone else.
''We should go there immediately,'' says another.
They scurry off to Limelight, unaware that their quarry, wearing corduroys and a backpack, is standing unobtrusively at the bar.
''This is the best bar in town,'' Andy Warhol says. ''You could take everything out and put it in a gallery.''
Matt Dillon, Vincent Spano and Mickey Rourke, each confident in his role as a teen idol, make their separate ways through the crowd, as young girls reach out to touch their arms, backs, anything. Director Francis Ford Coppola is talking to the actress Diane Lane.
Nearby, Don Marino, an up-and-coming actor, is talking to Brian Jones, an up-and-coming director. ''L.A. is a whole different world,'' the actor says. ''You go to the A party, the B party and you are home in bed by 11 for your 5 o' clock call the next morning. In New York, you've got to be seen at night, you've got to get around.''
The young director scans the room. ''I know people Coppola knows,'' he says. ''I wonder if I could go say hi.''


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What's on the regulatory radar in 2013? From sugar reform to advertising to kids… PART ONE
To find out what's on the radar for next year, and get their take on the highs and lows of 2012, FoodNavigator-USA sounded out some of the sector's key trade associations…
In part one, we look at bakery and confectionery. In part two (click here) we look at sugar and corn, dairy, and natural products and supplements.
NCA: Reform of the archaic US sugar program is vital for candy companies across the US
At the National Confectioners Association, not surprisingly, the top lobbying priority next year is securing reform of the sugar regime, says Susan Smith, senior vice president communications and outreach.
"Reform of the archaic US sugar program is vital for candy companies across the US. Sugar is a crucial ingredient in most confections and it's impossible for many companies to maintain or expand jobs in their communities without relief from a federal program that places them at a competitive disadvantage with foreign candy companies in the US market.
"For the first time in decades, we were able to achieve a close vote on program reform in the US Senate this year, but the bill is stalled in the House. Reform of this program remains our top legislative priority."
Another goal in the coming year will be spreading the message that consumers "can eat small amounts of candy every day or larger pieces 2 or 3 times a week", says Smith.
"One of our goals is to help consumers understand that candy, in small portions, is very much a part of a healthy happy lifestyle."
Bakers Association: Watching out for changes to the school meals program and the sugar program
The American Bakers Association, meanwhile, predicts 2013 will be "the year of regulations – from food safety to health care to labor to many other issues all impacting the baking industry".
According to Lee Sanders, senior vice president of government relations and public affairs, and Cory Martin, director of government relations, the key priorities it will be preparing its members for are:
"The implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), specifically ensuring that the intent of Congress regarding user fees is not overlooked by the FDA and that new regulations can be practically applied…
"Rolling out Obamacare – ensuring that bakers are up to speed on new proposals including the employer 'Pay or Play' mandate…
"Numerous and onerous proposed labor regulations from the US Dept of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board, including ambush elections and a regulation altering the ability for employers to use outside counsel during labor negotiations."
The biggest frustration in 2012 was the uncertainty coming from Washington D.C
They add: "These are the regulations we know are coming our way. There are many more initiatives that have been floated over the past couple of years by the Administration that may be pushed into regulation now that the President has won another term.
"There are also many additional issues in both the legislative and regulatory arenas that will most likely be taken up in 2013, including possible changes to the school meals program and the current U.S. sugar program."
As for 2012, they say, "ABA played an integral part in beating back proposals that would have severely limited many forms of advertising considered to be geared toward children…However, we expect the Administration to revisit this issue in the coming year.
"ABA has also led the charge to reform the current US sugar program… This issue will most likely not be addressed until the Farm Bill is passed, which may not happen until spring 2013.
"ABA also held back user fees from passing as part of FSMA, which would have had a disproportionately negative impact on the baking industry."
An environment ripe for stagnation
And the biggest frustration to bakers in 2012? "The uncertainty coming from Washington, D.C. Bakers, and most other manufacturers in the U.S., operated under no certain assumptions from the government over the past couple of years", argue Sanders and Martin.
"Policy and economic uncertainty, continuing commodity market volatility and the seemingly constant push from the Administration to pass regulations that result in bakers spending more on compliance than on growing their business and creating jobs has created an environment ripe for stagnation."
Click here to read part two.


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Introducing the SprintCoach Sport Limited Edition (LE) EMS. Improved functionality at an economical price.
The SprintCoach Sport-LE adds (in addition to all the programs of the SprintCoach Sport) the following: 5 Rehab programs (Tone, Cramp, Atrophy, Recruitment, and Endurance)
The new SprintCoach Electrical Muscle Stimulator series is not available anywhere else.
The purpose of the innovative "SprintCoach" series is to provide specialized programs directed at improving an athlete's speed with an approach that integrates planned electrostimulation sessions with the actual speed, power and strength training performed on a weekly basis. The Globus "SprintCoach" electrostimulators include scientifically proven training protocols that build up the key muscles required for running fast.
Because "SprintCoach" technology preferentially recruits the fast-twitch muscle fibers using specific stimulation frequencies, speed athletes are provided with a more efficient means of training their muscles. No other product on the market provides this level of precision when it comes to speed training.
Other benefits with EMS units include recovery and rehabilitation protocols.
Unlike regular EMS units, the "SprintCoach" series is bundled with a comprehensive training manual that guides you through both your regular training and your electrostimulation sessions to ensure an optimal balance is achieved. Globus has been a world leader in the electrostimulation and electrotherapy field for over 20 years.
Contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com for Canada and International orders, or any other questions.
Setting up the SprintCoach EMS Unit is Quick and Easy
What Our Customers Say
"I have been using the Globus SprintCoach with my players for a number of years and have found that it has become an integral part of our off-?season preparations and our in-?season recovery efforts.
We have devised an approach that maximizes the use of the Globus SprintCoach programs with very little effort and inconvenience. The user?friendly nature and customizable features of the Globus SprintCoach are a big part of the attraction to this technology. And, the support provided by the Globus SprintCoach team is amongst the best in high performance sport."
Mark Uyeyama, Head Coach – Strength and Conditioning, San Francisco 49'ers
"The Globus SprintCoach electrical muscle stimulation unit has been an invaluable tool in assisting our athletes maintain their state of readiness throughout the course of the season. As the bumps and bruises build, the ability to maintain their strength without the additional stress to the joints, tendons and ligaments is paramount.
Additionally, when our athletes are rehabbing an injury, we are still able to train all their other body parts that we could not work conventionally (i.e. high ankle sprain?still able to strengthen the calves, quads, glutes, and hamstrings)."
Tom Myslinski, Head Coach – Strength and Conditioning, Jacksonville Jaguars
"The Globus Speed Coach has become an integral part of our practice.
It has proven itself to be the most effective unit available for neuromuscular rehab. It has allowed us to develop individual programs isolating muscle groups in a manner described in the old Soviet sports literature. My athletes have utilized the unit for both athletic performance development as well as reeducation from injury. In either case we have had only satisfaction with the results."
Dr. Donald Chu, PhD, author of 6 books on plyometrics; Director, Athercare Fitness & Rehabilitation, Castro Valley, CA; President, National Strength & Conditioning Association, 1994-?1999
"The Globus SprintCoach units have been a beneficial addition to the Baylor Athletic Performance program. Using the Active Recovery setting to help manage muscular fatigue and tightness is worth the price of the unit alone.
We have seen good results from the strength protocols as well and look forward to expanding our use of these settings in the future. Bottom line, the SprintCoach units are easy to use and very effective."
Chris Ruf, Director of Football – Athletic Performance, Baylor University
"The Globus SprintCoach is an essential part of any athletic performance enhancement program. No area is left untouched from recovery to strengthening protocols. The Globus SprintCoach has all the modalities needed for athlete development built into one high quality unit.
A 'return-to-play' athlete will dramatically improve neuromuscular control and muscular strength in an accelerated manner as well as decrease inflammation and swelling with the programs on the unit. The SprintCoach accelerated my rehab from major knee surgery tremendously via the use of max strength and active recovery modes. The Globus SprintCoach has all bases covered when it comes to the complete athletic performance enhancement. I would not operate without one."
Ryan Reynolds, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, UCLA Football
"The Globus SprintCoach is the best electrical muscle stimulator I have ever used. It has special programming for the development of speed in a periodized training plan, and also includes programs for muscle tone reduction and rehabilitation applications.
I highly recommend this product and I use it on myself on a regular basis."
Al Vermeil, Former Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Chicago Bulls, San Francisco 49'ers Championship Rings from both the NBA and NFL
Coach Al Vermeil on the SprintCoach EMS Unit
In this video, Al Vermeil provides his thoughts on the new SprintCoach Series of Globus Electronic Muscle Stimulators.


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Home Winemaking – 'Z' for Zymology, Zest and Zinfandel! Wrapping up the #AtoZChallenge
Welcome to the World of Winemaking! I'm having fun alphabetizing the home winemaking process – you can find the links to the other letters at the end of this post. We're wrapping up this A-Z Challenge with the letter "Z" … Continue reading


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2017 remastered 2LP and 2CD version available here
This album is actually really good in a lot of ways. Too much reverb here and there, but not as intrusive as some other Swans releases (I used to be infatuated with Phil Spector and naively figured that adding reverb could get the same effect). Anyway, I think this album holds together well. It was a complete nightmare to make (but then, all the Swans albums were!).I lived in a tent in a mosquito infested studio right next to Cabrini Green in Chicago for what (?) something like 3 months, rarely leaving. Band members and Jarboe and Bill Rieflin etc came and went, and somehow we crafted this thing into what it became. I can still listen to most of this sometimes, so that counts for something. There's some reviews below if that's any help to you - Michael Gira/Young God Records 2008
The San Francisco Bay Guardian
Jan. 25-31, 1995
by Neva Chonin
The Swans are a study in metamorphoses. In 1983, when Melody Maker magazine dubbed the NYC noise mavens "a deeply repulsive form of audio pornography," it was more a compliment than a slam. Cacophonous, confrontational, and unrelentingly loud, the band used vocal rants and bone-crunching distortion to achieve unparalleled levels of sonic pain.
Then, around '87 or so, rock's ugliest ducking found its inner Swan and blossomed into a vehicle for sweeping, complex arrangements of keyboards, strings and evocative sound effects. Vocalist Michael Gira traded his guttural growl for the croon of a balladeer, and the latter-day Swans were born.
Their 12th album, The Great Annihilator, is a majestic symphony of haunting melodies and shifting moods. Spirituality - or rather the absence of it - provides the linking motif. With a kinetic industrial goose step, "She Lives!" plays with chanted images of madness and martyrdom, while the jagged coda of "Celebrity Lifestyle" lays the groundwork for a cutting look at material dreams: "She's just a drug addiction/ And a self-reflecting image of a narcoticized mind." "Warm" forms the album's thematic center, overflowing with ethereal vocal loops and drums that patter like raindrops accross the lyrical landscape. On "Mother/Father" and the mantric "My Buried Child," vocalist Jarboe outdoes herself with a spectrum of darkly distinctive voices.
Taken on its own, this album is a vivid example of how to combine the dissonant with the dulcet while retaining a dangerous edge. Viewed in the context of the Swans' 12-year journey from audio pornography to majestic romanticism, The Great Annihilator serves as an epic apotheosis.
1/1/1995 | Puncture | Paula Keyth
Swans | The Great Annihilator | Review
The Great Annihilator is another sweeping rock opera.
This is the eighteenth Swans record released since 1982's Filth set a precedent for painful soul-searching dirge. Their first new release in three years, it combines the hard-hitting percussion of the earlier albums with the prettier, ballad-heavy later songs.
The Great Annihilator is another sweeping rock opera. Songs are accented with samples and eerie keyboards, supported with powerful drumming by Ministry's Bill Rieflin and other guests. Snippets of horror-movie soundtrack back Michael Gira's low thorazine crooning. The music is tightly orchestrated, with dynamics added by rhythmically chugging acoustic guitars and keyboards sounding at times like the stringboards of a broken piano, or a demented new-age synthesizer.
Gira, a lugubrious songwriter on a par with Ian Curtis, has a way of hitting the lyrical nail on the head with one deft slam of his hammer. When he says "I love everyone," we know exactly what he means (he doesn't). His words are disturbed expulsions of fear and anger that take on a sarcastic, bitter tone, as in the opening lines of "She Lives!": "Now I just want to thank you for going insane; every second that you suffer is a loss that I gain." Gira bellows from deep inside his thin frame, his delivery calling up a crooning, Sinatra-esque character—perhaps a bit more monotone: a calm, mellow front masking something ugly and forbidden.
Jarboe's singing styles vary from childlike voices to climbing choral backups sung with space-odyssey breathlessness. The outstanding song here, "Mother Father," with Jarboe leading, is belted out with delightful viciousness. "Buried Child" uses whispers to call up a Macbeth-like witches' spell. Certain songs suggest the funereal, march-like beating of a drum on a slave ship. The Swans are a dark band, often criticized for their solemnity. The lyrics' visceral, graphic quality is not for the faint-hearted, nor is the music. But given the right mood, this record is uplifting, hypnotic: "dissolve your body today, there is no in- or outside." Float on, SWANS.
1/1/1995 | Option Magazine | Lang Thompson
Swans | The Great Annihilator | Review
This music is both grandiose and meticulously detailed.
For nearly two decades, Swans have pursued their own vision despite fickle fans who don't want them to change, critics who don't really listen and several indifferent record labels. But they have faith in the compelling power of their work, and remain undaunted by trends and pointless expectations. The group's newest album, The Great Annihilator, as always, demands an open ear. Put too much faith in the printed word and you might think the lyrics excessively weighty. You might wish the beat was less static, that the vocals were more varied, that the mood a bit more optimistic. Which only means you'd be happier with the Go-Go's. This music is both grandiose and meticulously detailed; rather than pop's recklessly forward momentum and instant gratification, Swans write pensive songs with unflinching but subtle humor. They layer sounds rather than put the melodies up front, giving lines of chiming guitars as much weight as the trance-like drumming or the direct vocals. The cumulative result is beguiling and moving. "She Lives!" is a series of moody, minor-key tumbles between sparse piano chords, distorted guitar riffs and Michael Gira's tense vocals. "Mother/Father" could almost be an offbeat club hit with it's danceable (but eccentric) rhythm, Jarboe's weaving vocals (and screams) and the sheer sonic splendor of massed guitars. Though destiny to be as underrated as other Swans' albums, The Great Annihilator is compelling, thoughtful music and a good way to enter the Swans' unique world.
7/28/1995 | Washington Post | Mark Jenkins
Swans | The Great Annihilator | Review
The best songs here manage to transcend trendiness
(Special to the Washington Post)
On their earliest albums, Swans made brutally basic proto-industrial music. The band gradually mellowed, however, incorporating acoustic guitars, female vocals and Eastern melodies into a style that led to an alliance with a major label. The relationship didn't last long, but the group (long based in New York but now resident in rural Georgia) hasn't entirely abandoned its sound from that period. Its latest album, "The Great Annihilator," successfully incorporates aspects of both eras.
By now, combining a sinuous crypto-Islamic vocal with a fierce beat is not a novel idea. Still, Swans meld the two with more potency than most; such songs as "Celebrity Lifestyle" and "Mother/Father" (the two "Annihilator" tracks recycled on a new three-song CD) are both ethereal and earthy. Indeed, the best songs here manage to transcend trendiness. By contrasting floating melodies with thumping beats—and M. Gira's bass vocals with Jarboe's soprano—Swans crafts music of such incantatory power that lyrics about the "place in space where violence and love collide" don't seem overreaching.


text: The Grutatxt markup =================== This document describes the markup supported by Grutatxt. It's specially designed to be as _natural_ as possible, so reading a source file should feel as reading a plain text file. Ideas were taken from conventions used in pre-web email messages, README files and Wikis. http://triptico.com/software/grutatxt.html Text paragraphs --------------- A text paragraph is any group of lines containing text delimited by one or more blank lines, provided that none of them beings with a blank space. So, you just write lines as usual (wrapping or not), and separates paragraphs as in a word processor. Headings -------- A line is understand as a heading if it's immediately followed by another one that contains only a repetition of a special character (see 'Text paragraphs' and 'Headings' for an example). There are three heading levels depending on this special character: if it's a line of = (equal sign), it's a first level heading, used for titles and tagged with h1 HTML tags. If it's - (hyphen), it's a second level heading, and if it's ~ (tilde), a third level one. This document shows the three heading levels. It's suggested that the first level heading is used only once, as it's magically taken as the title for the HTML page, if one is not overriden as a command line argument. Text effects ------------ If some text is surrounded by asterisks, as *this one*, it's marked as bold (you probably wrote text this way in email to emphasize something). As well, text surrounded by the _ symbol (underscore), as _this one_, is marked as italic. Bold can also be marked up surrounding the text with three apostrophes ('''this way''') and italics with two (''this way''). If you ever used a WikiWikiWeb system you'll be familiar with these ones. Other special text is automatically recognized, as URLs (so that the URL http://triptico.com should be clickable). Text beginning with ./ is interpreted as relative URLs, so ./index.html should also be clickable. Grutatxt can also be useful when documenting source code, as function names like printf() or variables like $username are also highlighted. There are command line arguments to make the parenthesis and / or leading dollar to disappear from the output document. Other than the function names and variables, inline literal texts can be marked up surrounding the text with a backtick and apostrophe (`like this'). URLs are simply substituted as shown above; if an URL is followed by a phrase surrounded by parentheses (just like you naturally would do to explain the contents of a web), this phrase is used as the link text, as in this example pointing to http://triptico.com/software/grutatxt.html (the Grutatxt Home Page). Lists ----- Grutatxt is powerful rendering lists. There are three types of lists: unnumbered ones (bulleted), numbered ones and definition lists. They are recognized as lines starting with a blank (space or tab) immediately followed by an special character. * Unnumbered lists start with some blanks, followed by an asterisk, followed by another blank. If the following lines are space indented, they are assumed as part of the same list element. The asterisk can also be a - (hyphen). * Lists can have multiple levels. To add another level, * Just indent a bit deeper, * and have hours of fun * nesting. * Numbered lists are marked up almost the same, just by substuting the asterisk by a # (sharp) or 1 (number one). * Definition lists are marked up almost the same, but delimiting the definition term from the definition itself by a colon. List examples ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unnumbered list: * First element. Elements at the same level must be indented by the same number of spaces. * The second one. * The second element has one sub-element. * And another... * that, itself, has another one * The third one... * Has another extremely long sub-element to show that long ones are rendered correctly. Please note that the elements of a list cannot be separated by blank lines or they will be interpreted as different lists. * The 4th and final one... * And its final child. Ordered list: # First element. # The second one. # The second element has one sub-element. # And another... # that, itself, has another one # The third one... # Has another extremely long sub-element to show that long ones are rendered correctly. Please note that the elements of a list cannot be separated by blank lines or they will be interpreted as different lists. # And another sub-element, to show this is not a cut & paste from the unsorted example. # The 4th and final one. Note also that ordered and unsorted lists cannot be combined. Definition list: * first: the first element * second: the second element * third: the third element Preformatted text ----------------- A text that should be rendered as is should be written with at least a blank in the beginning of all lines. This can be an example: int main(int argc, char *argv[]) { /* an example of useless C code */ return 0; } If you ever wrote any Perl POD documentation, you'll be familiar with this. If you write preformatted text and its first line collisions with list definitions (i.e. text with lines beginning with blanks and an asterisk or sharp) just insert a line containing only spaces before it. Cites ----- If you want to quote a (possibly long) paragraph of text, use a blank followed by a " (double quote) in its first line, as in the following example: "BRAIN, n. An apparatus with which we think what we think. That which distinguishes the man who is content to _be_ something from the man who wishes to _do_ something. A man of great wealth, or one who has been pitchforked into high station, has commonly such a headful of brain that his neighbors cannot keep their hats on. In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, brain is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office." -- Ambrose Bierce The leading double quote remains as part of the cited paragraph. HTML ---- If you need to insert HTML as is (for rendering, say, images or complicated layouts), you can also do it. Anything between two < symbols and two > symbols will be passed without any further processing. So, to insert an image, just do this: <<


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Tag Archives: Kathleen Quinn Votaw
Building bold leadership for change
Posted on 25. Jun, 2009 by admin.
By Kathleen Quinn Votaw A recent Forbes article by Matthew Kirdahy titled "Filling the Talent Pool" begins: "The focus at private equity firms is shifting. Cash will always be king, but looking ahead, the most important type of capital may very well be human. It's a company's bold leadership that carries it into financial prosperity—not […]


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A resource adapter can be started and stopped just like any other enterprise application. If the resource adapter is deployed as part of an enterprise adapter, it is started and stopped whenever the enterprise application that contains it is started or stopped. Starting a resource adapter makes the application available to WebLogic Server clients; stopping it makes it unavailable.
When you start an application, you can make it immediately available to clients, or you can start it in Administration Mode to first ensure that it is working as you expect. Starting in Administration mode allows you to perform final checking of the distributed application directly in the production environment without disrupting clients.
Similarly, you can stop an application so that no clients can use it, or you can stop it in Administration mode so that only administrative tasks can be performed.
Stopping an application does not remove its source files from the server; you can later redeploy (also called update) a stopped application to make it available to WebLogic Server clients once again.
To start or stop an installed resource adapter, follow these steps:
A table in the right pane displays all deployed enterprise applications and application modules.
When you start an application, you must pick one of the following options:
Servicing all requests: Specifies that
WebLogic Server make the application immediately available to all
Servicing only administrative requests:
Specifies that WebLogic Server make the application available in
Administration Mode only.
When you stop an application, you must pick one of the following options:
When work completes: Specifies that WebLogic
Server wait for the application to finish its work and for all
currently connected users to disconnect.
Force stop now: Specifies that WebLogic
Server stop the application immediately, regardless of the work
that is being performed and the users that are connected.
Stop, but continue servicing administrative
requests: Specifies that WebLogic Server stop the
application once all its work has finished, but to then put the
application in Administration Mode so it can be accessed for
administrative purposes.


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Inspiration is a fickle thing. It comes and goes with little warning. The good news is, you can always reignite inspiration when you're feeling uninspired.
While normally "back to school" is reserved for children, it turns out that this time of year is important for every age. That's because you're never too old to continue learning, and it can help you live up to your true potential in everyday life.
Life happens, and focusing on all aspects of your health is easier said than done. Take small steps in each area to start building solid habits!
Making a difference in a child's life sounds like a daunting task, but small acts of kindness can add up and make a huge difference. Start small, like an hour spent volunteering or mentoring.
While summer is a time of fun, it can also be a time to help mold amazing qualities, like giving back to the community. Ask your children to choose an activity that also gives back
If you're able, use World Blood Donor Day as a time to give back and save lives by donating blood. If you aren't able to safely do so, consider helping out in one of the various other ways to help spread awareness.
Weather across the country is heating up, and it's the perfect time to get out and enjoy mother nature. As it turns out, when it comes to spending time outside, the benefits go far beyond the fresh air.
You have the power to continue to do good in the world and be the positive change, even with everything going on around us.
While the future is uncertain, mankind remains resilient. We've learned to adapt to a "new normal" and are slowly making our way back to activities that we set aside for more than a year. A lot has changed, and some of the new techniques and processes surrounding fundraisers, volunteering and fundraising are here to stay.
The upcoming Memorial Day holiday is all about honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This is the perfect holiday to exercise taking a day "on" instead of a day off.
To lead a fulfilled life, being healthy is about much more than just the physical. It involves your mental well-being, too.
You don't have to choose just one cause or organization to support. You can provide support for various causes and various organizations. Take the time to figure out what feels right for you and your own goals for doing good in the world.
May is recognized as National Recommitment Month. It's a time of renewal and even to build new habits or relationships. What will you recommit to this month?
Now that the world is showing signs of getting back to a sense of "normalcy," use this Earth Day as a reminder that when we all work together, we can make a difference.
If you're looking for a reason to get out there and do more good, look no further. April has been named Global Volunteer Month as a time to bring people together to volunteer from across the world.
While times are undoubtedly hard, there is hope on the horizon. Use April's National Month of Hope as a reminder to be a light in somebody's life this month, including your own!
When you feel good, you're more likely to do good in the world and at work. Make sure you're able to set boundaries to help improve your work-from-home life.
You may not win the lottery tomorrow, or ever for that matter. But what we're talking about is a different kind of 'gold' to make you feel rich in other ways. Check out these ways to feel fulfilled in your everyday life and to make each day golden.
There are those who enjoy crunching numbers, and those who would love to be doing anything else. With March underway and April just around the corner, you may be dreading a certain time of year that's all but looming—tax time.
It's impossible to put the best version of yourself out into the universe if you're already starting at a disadvantage. Make sleep a priority and see the health benefits that affect your overall wellbeing.
Whether it's doing something for you, your loved ones or members of your community, check out these ways to boost serotonin levels throughout these cold months.
Giving back your time as a board member is a fulfilling way to help make a difference for a cause that you love.
Giving back to the world starts with you. How will you focus on your mental health this week?
This year, instead of simply focusing on your loved ones, consider using February as a time to spread love all over your community. From small acts of kindness to lasting community connections, there are so many ways you can show love this month.
Helping others can provide a new sense of purpose that may have been dwindling as a result of the new way of life we've endured in 2020. So in order to breathe new life into 2021 and beyond, it's time to look outside ourselves and focus on others.
The good you put out into the world will not only benefit the organization you're volunteering with, but also will leave your family feeling good about the positive work you've accomplished together.
People in your everyday life may be struggling much more than you know. So what can you do to help?
Just when you thought the holidays were over, the season of giving has extended into 2021. Use this month as a time to put good vibes out into the universe and continue giving.
While there may only be a few days left, there's still time to put forth your best effort in 2020. Close out the year with one of these five acts to end on a high note.
While you've probably been looking ahead for quite awhile, it's now time to think about how you'll spread kindness and love in the coming year.
Giving back and spreading the love this holiday season is sure to make your friends, family and loved ones smile.
Whether donating money or time, giving back has been shown to make a positive impact that goes far beyond the initial act of giving.
On Giving Tuesday, every contribution counts, whether monetarily or otherwise. Check out these ways that you can participate in Giving Tuesday 2020 and beyond.
As the weather outside takes a downward dive, there are plenty of ways to lift spirits this holiday season. It's time to spread warm wishes and cheer.
For nonprofit organizations around the world, year-end giving is a major boost to help reach giving goals.
While we can't control what happens in 2020, we can all take steps toward remaining positive even on the most challenging days.
How will you practice thankfulness this November? These small but thoughtful actions can help remind you that there's a lot to be thankful for this year.
On this holiday that usually centers around the scary, consider using it as a force for good.
There are plenty of ways to cheer up somebody you love, many of them only involving your time.
It's never too early to start teaching your children about the impact they can have in the world by spreading kindness.
Whether it be adopting an animal or helping in various other ways, we hope you'll take part in Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.
Before you totally 'write off' the idea, consider the benefits that come along with journaling a little every day. Check out these five ways that getting your thoughts down on paper (or on your laptop) can help cultivate a more philanthropic focus.
With changing seasons comes more than just pumpkin-spice-flavored everything and crunchy fall leaves. The new season also brings forward new opportunities to do good out in the world.
What are you waiting for? The benefits of mentoring will not only give back to your mentee, but also to your community, and even to you.
While it's easy to get wrapped up in checking in on others, it's important for your mental health to practice self-care.
Who knew that making a difference in the world could be as easy as wi-fi and your own couch? Leave it to the world of do-gooders to find ways to volunteer, even in the midst of a global pandemic!
When it comes to giving back, there are many ways for you to help out your local nonprofits without having to leave your home.
Motivational quotes inspire us to do more, be more and become more of who we are. Each and every one of us can make an impact or difference in this world and leave it better than when we came.
This back-to-school season, do more than simply prepare for a new school year—help those in need.
In 2020, you might be wondering if being happy is something you could admit to—but even during challenging times, there are ways to boost your mood and try to celebrate the good things in life.


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Network: ABC
Episodes: 13 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: September 27, 2012 — January 24, 2013
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Daisy Betts, Robert Patrick, Daniel Lissing, Dichen Lachman, Camille de Pazzis, Sahr Ngaujah, Jessy Schrams, and Autumn Reeser.
TV show description:
Created by Shawn Ryan (The Shield, The Unit, The Chicago Code) and Karl Gajdusek (Dead Like Me), this TV series takes place 500 feet beneath the ocean's surface, on the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado. Over a radio channel, designed only to be used if their homeland has been wiped out, the personnel are told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan.
A man of principle, honor, and duty, Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders and is then unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. A pragmatic man of action, XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) finds himself suddenly in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit.
The submarine and its crew find themselves crippled on the ocean floor, declared rogue enemies of their own country. With nowhere left to turn, Chaplin and Kendal take the sub on the run and bring the men and women of the Colorado to an exotic island called Sainte Marina. There, they find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life, even as they try to clear their names and get home.
Lieutenant and Chief Navigator Grace Shepard (Daisy Betts) who's among the first wave of female officers to serve on US submarines. Her commission is made more difficult by being tinged with nepotism. Grace's father, Admiral Arthur Shepard, not only has an office at the Pentagon, he counts Marcus as a longtime friend. Grace has to endure the grumbling of the enlisted men, knowing that, on some level, their resentment is justified.
Master Chief Joseph Prosser (Robert Patrick) is the designated leader of all enlisted crew on the Colorado. A career military man, Prosser is the rusty nail that holds the boat together. A longtime confidant to Marcus, Prosser nonetheless finds himself on the other side of the philosophical abyss that starts the trouble.
A Navy Seal named James King (Daniel Lissing) finds himself on a Zodiac in the middle of the Indian Ocean after a mission in Pakistan goes terribly wrong. With members of their team dead, and another gravely wounded, James and the Seals are on a short fuse by the time the Colorado picks them up.
Tani Tumrenjak (Dichen Lachman) is a native of the island. Her father left the island as a young man, and met Tani's mother in Australia where they lived for many years, before he decided to take his young family back to his home.
A native of France and a citizen of the world, Sophie Girard (Camille de Pazzis) is a trained scientist who happens to be employed by NATO in Sainte Marina when Marcus pulls up his nuclear submarine on the island's shores. A deeply empathetic person, Sophie is troubled by the death and disruption that the Colorado has brought to Sainte Marina.
Growing up in the killing fields of Liberia, Julian Serrat (Sahr Ngaujah) was born looking for ways to survive. Small of stature, but large of presence, Serrat learned early on how to command respect – by exploiting every loophole, extorting any mark, and cutting off the hands of anyone who steals from him. Serrat found his way to the island via the black market.
Christine Kendal (Jessy Schrams) Sam's wife of only two years. She's spent more days without her husband than with him. Before Sam left on this tour, she made him promise it would be his last. That he'd come home to her so they can start a family. After the incident, Christine is forced to find a resolve inside herself to find the strength to defend her husband against accusations of treason.
Kylie Sinclair (Autumn Reeser), a notorious rich girl and the golden child of a leading defense contractor, is afraid of nothing — until she's given very good reason to be afraid. A prototype of her "baby" — a high tech device that masks sound and disrupts the magnetic signature of submarines, essentially making them invisible — is aboard the Colorado.
Episode #13 — "Controlled Flight Into Terrain"
Three Chinese warships are converging on the island of Sainte Marina. Zheng lets Marcus know that it was only a matter of time before someone called his bluff. The captain heads back to the Colorado to engage the Chinese fleet. Sam accompanies him in handcuffs due to his mutinous partnership with the COB. After Marcus has the XO locked up below, he heads up to the Conn where armed men are waiting for him. They are following the lead of Prosser, who relieves Marcus of his command. He also takes both of the nuclear firing keys before tossing the captain into a locked room with Sam.
Serrat and Zheng take over the command station on the island. Sophie throws a monkey wrench into their plans by taking the computers offline. Now Chinese ships can't find a rendezvous point to take over the Colorado. This also complicates things for some crew members on the sub. Prosser learns that his mutiny crew made a deal with Zheng. Their new leader is Hal Anders. When the COB is stabbed in the gut with a screwdriver, Grace grabs a discarded weapon and starts firing. She and Prosser are able to escape from the Conn. They barricade themselves in the torpedo room.
Sam manages to grab a knife when men come to take the captain away. He uses the weapon to initiate an escape. When Anders leaves to deal with the situation, Petty Officer Brannan uses the opportunity to free the captain. There's a gunfight as Marcus and Sam meet up. Brannan holds off the hostile fire until Anders shoots him in the back. Marcus and Sam hole up in an area where they make contact with Sophie. Sam wants her to give the U.S. their coordinates so they can initiate an airstrike on the Colorado. It's the only way to stop it from falling into enemy hands. Sophie knows this means everyone onboard will die.
Serrat is furious. He knows Sophie helped with the airstrike initiative. Zheng wants Cortez to help him convince Marcus and Sam to deviate from their plan. That's not going to happen. On the sub, Marcus and Sam share a moment of levity when they argue about which one of them in more need of a psychiatric evaluation. They take their argument to the intercom where Sam asks their captors to weigh in on the debate. This has an increasingly-agitated Anders planning to nuke Marcus's hometown in Maryland. Fortunately, the captain and the XO still have rudder control.
Prosser lets Grace know that torpedo fuel becomes cyanide gas when it burns. This leads to a plan to deal with the mutinous men who are trying to break into the torpedo room. When the bad guys finally arrive, they see the wounded COB on the floor with a gasmask on his face. A leaking fuel line drips next to him. Prosser flips a lighter to ignite the gas. One man goes down from the poison while Grace takes out the other. She fears Prosser is dead until he gives her a wink from behind his mask.
A desperate Anders prepares to launch missiles on the United States until… CRASH. The Colorado is grounded at the outer shores. Its nose points up above sea level. Anders is injured on the Conn. He sees that the launch has been aborted. The Colorado's angle and depth are outside the necessary parameters. Anders finds Chaplin grieving over Brannan's dead body. The captain turns with a gun in hand. He empties his clip to shoot Anders dead.
Tani lets James know that prospectors infiltrated her family's land. They beat up her brother, wounded her father and killed a friend. They were Zheng's men. She asks James to help her eliminate the problem. If Zheng goes away, the prospectors go away, too. James reluctantly agrees to do as she asks. He sets up in sniper mode to take out Zheng as he prepares to return to China in disgrace. James is truly struggling with what he's about to do. Thankfully, he doesn't have to go through with it. Tani approaches him at the last second. She doesn't want him to be a killer anymore. James doesn't want this either.
Hopper takes the money he got from Kylie Sinclair to Manila where he pays off Wes, who turns over Christine. In Washington, Robert is getting sloshed in a hotel room. Kylie receives a call from her dad telling her to retrieve a gun that's been left for her. The President of the United States then gets on the line. He wants proof of Kylie's loyalty. Robert knows that means she has to kill him. He wants her to do this so she'll be able to prove her allegiance. It's the only way she'll be able to take down those who are responsible for all that's happened. BANG! Robert is shot dead. A horrified Kylie had no choice.
U.S. fighters are still scrambling towards the Colorado. The Chinese are on the way, too. Grace and Prosser are ready to escape the sub at the main hatch. Sam lets Marcus know that it's time to roll, but the captain isn't going anywhere. He's not leaving the Colorado empty. Too many things could still go wrong. Marcus says he's all out of moves, but his XO still has a fight to champion. Sam assures his captain that he will tell the world what they did and why they did it. These two old friends share one final salute with no regrets.
In Washington, Kylie gives Christine the incriminating flash drive. She wants her to tell the press everything. Kylie then heads off to a party where the most powerful people in the country have gathered. Her father tells security that she's one of them, so there's no need to search her. Kylie gives her dad a kiss before moving over to the special guest in the center of the room. She calls out to the President of the United States. Kylie then pulls out a hidden gun and shoots the president dead.
Sam, Grace and Prosser make it to shore. They see the fighters lock in on the Colorado. Aboard the sub, Marcus dons the sunglasses he wore when he and his crew last crossed the equator. He lets out a little laugh. The fighters fire missiles at the Colorado and a direct hit results in a massive firestorm. The Colorado and its captain are no more.
Sam addresses to the press corps that's waiting for the Colorado crew when they return to American soil. He speaks of his captain. He speaks of their mission. He speaks of their long journey to get back home. He fights through the crowd when he sees Christine. The two of them hug each other like they never want to let go. For the first time in a very long time, Sam knows that he truly is home. As for the Colorado, the sub was ultimately lost at sea as was its captain, Marcus Chaplin, who is also now truly home.
First aired: January 24, 2013
What do you think? Do you like the Last Resort TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for another season?


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Germ Layers
A germ layer is a group of cells in an embryo that interact with each other as the embryo develops and contribute to the formation of all organs and tissues. All animals, except perhaps sponges, form two or three germ layers. The germ layers develop early in embryonic life, through the process of gastrulation. During gastrulation, a hollow cluster of cells called a blastula reorganizes into two primary germ layers: an inner layer, called endoderm, and an outer layer, called ectoderm.
Format: Articles
Fetal Programming
Fetal programming, or prenatal programming, is a concept that suggests certain events occurring during critical points of pregnancy may cause permanent effects on the fetus and the infant long after birth. The concept of fetal programming stemmed from the fetal origins hypothesis, also known as Barker's hypothesis, that David Barker proposed in 1995 at the University of Southampton in Southampton, England.
Format: Articles
Subject: Processes, Theories, Reproduction
The Role of the Notch Signaling Pathway in Myogenesis
Among other functions, the Notch signaling pathway forestalls the process of myogenesis in animals. The Notch signaling pathway is a pathway in animals by which two adjacent cells within an organism use a protein named Notch to mechanically interact with each other. Myogenesis is the formation of muscle that occurs throughout an animal's development, from embryo to the end of life. The cellular precursors of skeletal muscle originate in somites that form along the dorsal side of the organism.
Format: Articles
Julia Barlow Platt's Embryological Observations on Salamanders' Cartilage (1893)
In 1893, Julia Barlow Platt published her research on the origins of cartilage in the developing head of the common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) embryo. The mudpuppy is an aquatic salamander commonly used by embryologists because its large embryonic cells and nuclei are easy to see. Platt followed the paths of cells in developing mudpuppy embryos to see how embryonic cells migrated during the formation of the head. With her research, Platt challenged then current theories about germ layers, the types of cells in an early embryo that develop into adult cells.
Format: Articles
Subject: Experiments, Theories, Processes
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Mammals (1938-2013)
In the second half of the
twentieth century, scientists learned how to clone organisms in some
species of mammals. Scientists have applied somatic cell nuclear transfer to clone human and
mammalian embryos as a means to produce stem cells for laboratory
and medical use. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a technology applied in cloning, stem cell
research and regenerative medicine. Somatic cells are cells that
have gone through the differentiation process and are not germ
cells. Somatic cells donate their nuclei, which scientists
Format: Articles
Subject: Theories, Technologies, Processes
Frederik Ruysch, working in the Netherlands, introduced the term epithelia in the third volume of his Thesaurus Anatomicus in 1703. Ruysch created the term from the Greek epi, which means on top of, and thele, which means nipple, to describe the type of tissue he found when dissecting the lip of a cadaver. In the mid nineteenth century, anatomist Albrecht von Haller adopted the word epithelium, designating Ruysch's original terminology as the plural version. In modern science, epithelium is a type of animal tissue in which cells are packed into neatly arranged sheets.
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The endothelium is the layer of cells lining the blood vessels in animals. It weighs more than one kilogram in adult humans, and it covers a surface area of 4000 to 7000 square meters. The endothelium is the cellular interface between the circulating blood and underlying tissue. As the medium between these two sets of tissues, endothelium is part of many normal and disease processes throughout the body.
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Reassessment of Carrel's Immortal Tissue Culture Experiments
In the 1910s, Alexis Carrel, a French surgeon and biologist, concluded that cells are intrinsically immortal. His claim was based on chick-heart tissue cultures in his laboratory that seemed to be able to proliferate forever. Carrel's ideas about cellular immortality convinced his many contemporaries that cells could be maintained indefinitely. In the 1960s, however, Carrel's thesis about cell immortality was put into question by the discovery that human diploid cells can only proliferate for a finite period.
Format: Articles
The French Flag Model
The French flag model represents how embryonic cells receive and respond to genetic information and subsequently differentiate into patterns. Created by Lewis Wolpert in the late 1960s, the model uses the French tricolor flag as visual representation to explain how embryonic cells can interpret genetic code to create the same pattern even when certain pieces of the embryo are removed. Wolpert's model has provided crucial theoretical framework for investigating universal mechanisms of pattern formation during development.
Format: Articles
The Role of the Notch signaling pathway in Somitogenesis
Among other functions, the Notch signaling pathway contributes to the development of somites in animals. It involves a cell signaling mechanism with a wide range of functions, including cellular differentiation, and the formation of the embryonic structures (embryogenesis). All multicellular animals use Notch signaling, which is involved in the development, maintenance, and regeneration of a range of tissues. The Notch signaling pathways spans two cells, and consists of receptor proteins, which cross one cell's membrane and interacts with proteins on adjacent cells, called ligands.
Format: Articles


text: We Came as Romans is a post-hardcore band from Detroit, Michigan, that was formed in 2005. They have released two EP's and one full length album. Their debut album To Plant a Seed was released on November 3, 2009.[2]. We Came as Romans has toured across the U.S. with bands such as The Chariot and have done work with the band The Word Alive. In April 2009 they signed with Equal Vision Records[3]. They are currently on tour to promote their new album.


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Deep Drawable Steels: Part One
Thermo-Mechanical Treatment (TMT) of Non-Ferrous Alloys: Part One
Material Console provides multiple functionalities to support more efficient, accurate and personalized material selection decisions.
Click here to see more.
Total Materia has allowed us to solve in a definite way all problems we had for the search of alternate materials in foreign countries. Thanks to Total Materia we have issued real "international" specs for purchase of steels in foreign countries.
Total Materia remains the only tool which will be used for this purpose.
Massimo Manfredini
Bonfiglioli Industrial Gearmotors, Bologna, Italy
Our mission is simple;to make Total Materiathe one-stop place andfirst choice of engineersworld wide.
Prof. Dr. Viktor Pocajt, CEOKey to Metals AG
All steels contain some nitrogen which is effective in improving the mechanical and corrosion properties of steels if it remains in solid solution or precipitates as very fine and coherent nitrides. When nitrogen is added to austenitic steels it can simultaneously improve fatigue life, strength, work hardening rate, wear and localized corrosion resistance.
High nitrogen martensitic stainless steels show improved resistance to localized corrosion (pitting, crevice and intergranular corrosion) over their carbon containing counterparts. Because of this, the high nitrogen steels are being considered a new promising class of engineering materials.
All steels contain some nitrogen which is effective in improving the mechanical and corrosion properties of steels if it remains in solid solution
or precipitates as very fine and coherent nitrides. When nitrogen is added to austenitic steels it can simultaneously improve fatigue life, strength,
work hardening rate, wear and localized corrosion resistance.
High nitrogen martensitic stainless steels show improved resistance to localized corrosion (pitting, crevice and intergranular corrosion) over their
carbon containing counterparts. Because of this, the high nitrogen steels are being considered a new promising class of engineering materials.
The nitrogen solubility data are summarized by the following equations and are shown graphically in Fig.1
The equilibrium constant for nitrogen absorption is therefore:
K=[ppmN] / (pN2)½ (2)
And reaction constant of this equation is related to the free energy;
which becomes zero in case of equilibrium leading to:
If it is assume that the activity of the nitrogen dissolved in the steel is approximately the same as the chemical concentration (Henry's law),
then this concentration can be calculated as:
[%N]=KN(pN2)½ (5)
Numerous sources of nitrogen exist during the melting, the ladle processing and the casting operations. Sources of nitrogen in oxygen steelmaking
include the hot metal, the scrap, the impurity nitrogen in oxygen and the nitrogen used as a stirring gas.
Nitrogen pickup from the atmosphere can occur during reblows in which case the furnace fills up with air, which is then entrained into the metal
when the oxygen blow restarts. Also during the tapping of steel, air bubbles are entrained into the steel where the tap stream enters the bath in the ladle.
Other sources may include atmosphere (through ladle slag), coke (carburizers) and various ferro-alloys. Ladle additions often contain moisture.
The otherwise, to get an impression of the sources of nitrogen during the melting process, Table 1 shows the amount of nitrogen present in each of the
feed materials typically used in the EAF.
While steel is liquid the nitrogen present exists in the solution. However, solidification of steel may result in three nitrogen-related phenomena:
formation of blowholes; precipitation of one or more nitride compounds; and/or the solidification of nitrogen in interstitial solid solution.
The maximum solubility of nitrogen in liquid iron is approximately 450 ppm, and less than 10 ppm at ambient temperature, as shown in Figure 1. The presence
of significant quantities of other elements in liquid iron affects the solubility of nitrogen. More importantly, the presence of dissolved sulfur and oxygen
limit the absorption of nitrogen because they are surface-active elements. This is exploited during steelmaking to avoid excessive nitrogen pickup,
particularly during tapping.
Figure 1: Solubility of nitrogen in iron for temperatures of 600-2000°C
The effect of nitrogen on steel properties can be either detrimental or beneficial, depending on the other alloying elements present, the form and quantity
of nitrogen present, and the required behavior of the particular steel product.
In general, however, most steel products require that nitrogen be kept to a minimum. High nitrogen content may result in inconsistent mechanical properties
in hot-rolled products, embrittlement of the heat affected zone (HAZ) of welded steels, and poor cold formability. In particular, nitrogen can result in
strain ageing and reduced ductility of cold-rolled and annealed LCAK steels.
Figure 2 shows that the strength of LCAK steels decreases slightly and then increases with increasing nitrogen. Conversely, the elongation decreases and
the r-value increases with increasing nitrogen. The r-value is the average ratio of the width to thickness strain of strip tensile specimens tested in
various orientations. It is an inverse measure of formability. Hence, high nitrogen content leads to poor formability of LCAK steels, even after annealing.
Figure 2: Effect of nitrogen on yield strength, tensile strength, r-value and elongation of LCAK steel in the annealed condition
The effect of nitrogen on mechanical properties is the result of interstitial solid solution strengthening by the free nitrogen; precipitation strengthening
by aluminum and other nitrides; and grain refinement due to the presence of nitride precipitates.
Hardness is the resistance of a material to surface indentation. The Figure 3 shows that hardness increases linearly with increasing nitrogen content.
Nitrogen absorbed during steelmaking results in interstitial solid solution strengthening and grain refinement, both of which increase hardness.
Further, the diagram shows that nitrogen absorbed during the steelmaking process has a more significant impact than that absorbed during batch
annealing in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, although both have a measurable effect.
Figure 3: Increase in hardness of aluminum-killed sheet steel with respect to increasing nitrogen content
Strain ageing occurs in steels containing interstitial atoms, predominantly nitrogen, after they have been plastically deformed. After deformation, the nitrogen
segregates to dislocations causing discontinuous yielding when further deformed. Not only does strain ageing result in increased hardness and strength, and
reduced ductility and toughness, but it may also result in the appearance of 'fluting' or 'stretcher strains' on the surface of deformed material. Duckworth
and Baird have developed a measure of strain ageing termed 'strain ageing index'. This is based on an empirical equation to calculate the increase in
yield stress when deformed material is held for 10 days at room temperature. Figure 4 shows that increasing nitrogen results in a higher stain-ageing index,
and therefore greater propensity for surface defects.
Figure 4: Effect of nitrogen on strain ageing in mild steels with varying manganese content
The ability of a material to withstand impact loading is commonly known as toughness. It is sometimes quantified by measuring the amount of energy that is
absorbed by a test piece of known dimensions prior to fracture. It is further analyzed by determining the fracture mechanism upon impact over a range of
temperatures. As temperature is decreased, the fracture type will change from fibrous/ductile to crystalline/brittle. This arbitrary temperature is termed
the 'ductile-to-brittle' transition temperature. The lower the transition temperature the better the impact properties, since failure via ductile
fracture may be less catastrophic than that via brittle failure. Figure 5 demonstrates that as free nitrogen increases, the transition temperature increases,
and therefore toughness decreases. This is attributed to solid solution strengthening.
Figure 5: Effect of free nitrogen on impact properties
Conversely, limited amounts of nitrogen present as precipitates have a beneficial effect on impact properties. Nitrides of aluminum, vanadium, niobium and
titanium result in the formation of fine-grained ferrite. Further, the smaller the grain size the lower the transition temperature, hence improved toughness.
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully control, not only the nitrogen content, but also the form in which it exists, in order to optimize impact properties.
Nitrogen is known to affect the toughness of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of welded steel. This is important, since the weld metal should not be a point of
weakness in a welded structure. This loss in toughness is often referred to as HAZ embrittlement. It is thought this occurs when the nitrides present in the
HAZ are dissociated as a result of the elevated temperatures that exist during welding. The absence of precipitates results in grains of larger diameter.
Also, the metal cools quickly producing low toughness martensite or bainite, which contain high levels of free nitrogen further exacerbating the loss of
toughness. Using lower heat input and several passes to prevent dissociation of the nitrides may prevent this.
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text: SOS Children's Village Cajamarca Not all that glitters is gold in a rapidly expanding mining town. Environmental problems, health hazards, and a lack of education and opportunity still deprive thousands of children of the secure and healthy childhood they deserve. Large-scale mining draws people to the area but infrastructure is not in place Preparing to start school soon (photo: F. Espinoza) Cajamarca is a city located in the district of the same name in the northern highlands of Peru. In just two years, the city's population increased by over 30,000 to 188,363 inhabitants in 2007. It is an important emerging city in the Peruvian Andean region, not least due to the Yanacocha gold mine, which is located nearby and is one of the world's biggest and most profitable mines. However, poverty remains extremely high in the region at 64.5 per cent. There are 17 shanty towns in Cajamarca and a total of 28 neighbourhoods living in poverty. Almost half of the houses here are built from adobe and many of them have only one room, which the whole family shares. The rapid expansion and population growth of the city, in combination with the intensive mining activity, has had severe environmental impacts on the surrounding rural areas that rely on small-scale agriculture. Rivers have been polluted, and a mercury spill in 2001 impacted the health of many. Education and vocational training as a way out of poverty for the next generation Less than a quarter of the local population have completed primary school and illiteracy remains high at 13.2 per cent. The majority of men in Cajamarca work as miners, bricklayers, drivers or street vendors. Only about 30 per cent of mothers in the area work, mostly as domestic helpers, laundresses or likewise as informal street vendors. They make around US$ 140 a month; even combined with a husband's income, this is not enough to cover basic necessities. Low wages and the insecure nature of informal work also mean that they have to work long hours, leaving their children in the care of a relative or older sibling. In order to sustainably improve the situation of children in the area, families urgently require support and education, which is why SOS Children's Villages Peru began implementing a programme here in Cajamarca. What we do in Cajamarca A safe environment where children can be children (photo: F. Espinoza) SOS Children's Villages began its work in Cajamarca in 2010. The SOS Social Centre here provides a family strengthening programme that focuses on children under the age of six who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it. One important aim is to improve health and nutritional conditions. The psychological development of the children is another important priority, as is ensuring inclusive education. A childminding programme is available, which makes it possible for parents to leave their children in safe hands while they go out to work. The social centre also endeavours to provide the community with the resources it needs so that long-term stability for families can be ensured, for example training courses on various subjects such as self-esteem or family violence. For children in Cajamarca who are no longer able to live with their parents, as of 2011 there are eight SOS families where up to 72 children can find a loving home, living with their brothers and sisters and affectionately cared for by their SOS mothers.


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Happy Book Birthday UNTIL BETH! We're so excited to be sharing this fantastic Young Adult novel by Lisa Amowitz with you today! Be sure to stop in at the bottom, and enter the giveaway for books, swag and a guitar pick necklace! The giveaway is open internationally!
About The Book
UNTIL BETHAuthor: Lisa Amowitz
Release Date: September 29th, 2015 Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press ISBN-13: 978-1633920330
Release Date: September 29th, 2015 Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press ISBN-13: 978-1633920330
She doesn't just play, she kills it.
Talented rock guitarist Beth Collins has been barely holding herself together for months, ever since her boyfriend and bandmate became the latest victim in a string of suspicious disappearances. When her brother is injured an accident and she sees something dark billowing around him as he hovers close to death, she's convinced her sanity is collapsing for good.
Then she's accepted by a boarding school for the musically gifted. All of her new friends are bursting with talent, but they're also keeping secrets. Can she trust Vincent, who's so sweet that his very touch makes her fears melt away? Or Xavier, who's trying to tell her something but is hiding even more?
And will anyone be safe when her true Talent comes out?
Praise For Until Beth"I wish I could have read about a protagonist like Beth when I was growing up--a girl who doesn't fit into her society and must learn to use her abilities for good instead of evil. Her struggles will resonate with teen readers, and the hidden agendas of the school and its students will keep readers guessing up to the final page." - Lyn Miller-Lachmann, author of Rogue
"This unique and compelling novel grabbed me on the first page and wouldn't let go. With unforgettable characters and a story that is by turns heartbreaking, thrilling and uplifting, UNTIL BETH is a must-read." - Christine Johnson, author of The Gathering Dark
About The Author
Lisa Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied ant hills. And drew. A lot. She is a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly twenty years. She started writing eleven years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children. Lisa is represented by Shannon Hassan of Marsal-Lyon Literary Agency. email@example.com GLASS, released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series was released September, 2014. FRACTURED, a novella combining the worlds of BREAKING GLASS and VISION releases as an ebook only, June 7, 2015. UNTIL BETH, the first in the Life and Beth trilogy will be released September 2015.
Lisa Amowitz is available for guest appearances, Skype visits, school visits, libraries & interviews. Please contact her for scheduling.
Grand prize US:$25 gift certificate to Amazon, Powell's or B&N (Winners Choice)
Ebooks of Breaking Glass, Vision & Fractured also by Lisa Amowitz
Swag AND a hand made (by the author!!) guitar pick necklace.
(International will only be ebooks and gift certificate)
Ebooks of Breaking Glass, Vision & Fractured also by Lisa Amowitz
Swag AND a hand made (by the author!!) guitar pick necklace.
(International will only be ebooks and gift certificate)
Second prize:Ebooks of Breaking Glass, Vision & Fractured also by Lisa Amowitz
(International: ebooks only)
(International: ebooks only)
Must be 13+ To Enter | Open Internationally with restrictions
Please see Terms and Conditions for full contest rules.
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Fans of Carl Sagan's cherished 1980 astronomy miniseries Cosmos rejoice! A lost fourteenth episode — about the awe-inspiring Meat Planet — has been found after decades of neglect. In this rediscovered footage, such geological features as the gristly mantle and Mount Sustenance are given their documentary due. Additionally, there is a website that explains the planet's most succulent features, such as its weather:
High pressure areas can lead to a lack of sweat clouds, allowing the exposed land masses to cook and burn in the noon sunshine. In temperate areas, the meat is often cooked to perfection, whereas on the equator giant scabs and blisters of burnt flesh blight the landscape, a blackened, arid desert of scorched carbon and crackled fat. The largest known blister discovered was photographed in 1997 by the Hubble Space Telescope and measured 6,500 horrible miles in diameter.
As well as grease mists and sweat clouds, evaporated blood plays a large part in the weather system of The Meat Planet. Extracted by the sun's rays from the deep oceans of liquid meat, the blood clouds are pushed by flatulent winds over the continents where they rain back down on bulbous hills and corpulent meat mountains, helping to moisturise and irrigate the land, keeping the ground plump and fresh.
Yes, it is truly a privilege to ogle the marbled marble that is Planet Meat. The Pork Volcano, it is breathtaking.
[Via MeFi]


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From your ski-in/ski-out condo rental or relaxing mountainside vacation home, you'll be well-located to experience all this Colorado resort town has to offer - lattes alongside ham and Swiss croissants at the Mug Shot Cafe, a scenic hike along the six-mile Mohawk Lakes trail, jewelry shopping at Two Wild Sisters boutique, or an afternoon on the slopes at Breckenridge Ski Resort. When you stay in one of our Breckenridge vacation cabin rentals, the possibilities are endless!
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