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Friday, September 2, 2016
multiband acquisition sequence testing: respiration
During our acquisition testing session, our participant did breath-holding for one set of MB8 runs, instead of the hand/foot/tongue movements, using the task cues to pace his breath-holding periods.
Regardless, the breath-holding periods are clear, and it's also clear that the oscillations in the movement regressors are related to the breathing. The start and stop of motion is also visible in a movie of the raw (before preprocessing) image, which can be seen here: the brain "jitters", then stops, then jitters, then stops (the movie is of the PA MOTORbreath run).
Here are two traces from the MOTOR task runs; plots for the rest of the runs can be downloaded here. The oscillations in the movement regressors is clearly closely linked to the respiration.
Interestingly, the biggest oscillation in the movement regressors here is split between several columns (dark blue, medium blue, light red), where before it was confined to one column (same participant as here); perhaps the head position or packing varied a bit?
Again, it's not new to note that fMRI is affected by breathing. What does seem different is the magnitude of the effect: these scans seem more affected, both in the motion regressors and (more importantly for us, the BOLD). For example, this last set of images shows the movement regressors for the MB0 (no multiband) runs from or test session, and a person from a different MB0 dataset ("BSF117"; a different scanner). A few blips are visible, but smaller. The MB8 and BSF117 examples below were downsampled to match the MB0 TR; note that these are the same MB8 movement regressors as above: after downsampling the oscillations no longer tightly match the respiration, but are still more prominent than the others.
2 comments:
Excellent stuff, Jo. For those following along at home, we're now looking at the particular aspects of the MB acquisition that may make it more sensitive to respiratory frequency shifts than conventional EPI. One possibility is/was the transmitter (Tx) frequency feedback, but tests on a Skyra scanner suggest this isn't the cause. The magnitude of oscillations was similar with the Tx freq feedback feature disabled (a new option for R014 of MB-EPI from CMRR).ReplyDelete
So now we're looking at the particulars of axial MB-EPI. For instance, the SMS method uses blipped CAIPI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21858868), which comprises small gradient episodes added along the slice direction during the EPI readout. For axial slices, the slice direction and hence the orientation of the CAIPI blips is along Z, the magnet axis. This axis will likely exhibit the largest spread of respiration-induced frequency offsets.
Imminent tests will compare, for example, sagittal MB-EPI to axial MB-EPI. I may also try different blipped CAIPI factors in axial MB-EPI, other parameters constant, to try to change the magnitude of oscillations. Keep up with Jo's blog for more information soon!
Another possibility for those wanting to run their own tests: the flip angle. The Human Connectome Project used a TR of 720 ms and FA of 52 deg, to approximate the Ernst angle (max. SNR per unit time) for the T1 of gray matter. Similarly, Russ Poldrack used TR of 1160 ms and FA of 63 deg in his My Connectome project (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4682164/). In my tests I've used much lower FA. I recently tested several MB factors on my Trio and the fluctuations observed were smaller than others are seeing. There also didn't seem to be much of a dependence on MB. However, I used TR=1200 ms and FA=35 deg throughout. Why such a low FA? Partly to ensure the heating (SAR) remains low, even with high MB factors, but mostly because there is a lot of evidence suggesting that BOLD sensitivity is independent of FA whereas physiologic noise, and presumably motion sensitivity, scale with FA (up to the Ernst angle).ReplyDelete
I've mentioned the work of Bandettini's group before on my blog, for example in an intro post to MB-EPI:
Here's the pertinent section from the blog:
"Flip angle: The HCP used an approximate Ernst angle for their TR; 52 degrees for TR = 720 ms. I tend to use a lower FA than the Ernst angle for two reasons. First, as shown in this paper from Gonzalez-Castillo et al. (doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.076), reducing the FA can reduce physiologic noise without reducing BOLD sensitivity. (Years ago on a 4 T we always used a very low FA, such as 20 degrees for a TR of 1-2 seconds, in order to reduce the inflow effects. It worked very well.) The second reason might be less of an option. The amount of subject heating (assessed by the specific absorption rate, SAR) scales as the square of the FA. So even a small reduction in FA can reduce SAR considerably. If you find yourself running into the SAR limit then you can reduce the FA until you're good to go. The down side to a lower than Ernst angle FA? Image contrast may be affected slightly, but since we prefer temporal stability over anatomical content then altered contrast shouldn't be a huge burden. (For Gonzalez-Castillo et al. it was an advantage because they were using water-excite rather than fat presaturation on a GE scanner and so they had low anatomical contrast at the Ernst angle.)"
If, as I suspect, everyone is using relatively high FA as their TR reduces with MB factor, then what looks like an MB dependence may actually be an FA,TR dependence.


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By Bernie Whitmore
People on their first drive down Water Street in a year or so are amazed at the transformation ~ not only has the streetscape itself undergone a major improvement, but there are crowds of people in the street, music and raucous good times spilling out of clubs… It may not be Bourbon Street, but it just got a lot closer, cuisine-wise, with Gumbo Restaurant.
Gumbo has three distinct dining areas: two are lounges and a third, the dining room, may be the most unusual room in town. Below street-level, its walls are made of huge slabs of ancient rough-cut rock; the floor is some sort of cast fieldstone and the ceiling features huge wooden beams. A stained glass window looks as if it were pried from an old chapel, but the mood is anything but pious. Each time I've dined at Gumbo, the energy level's been set to high.
From my first sampling of their Oysters Rockefeller, Gumbo joined a small group of Worcester restaurants, each of which is a special niche of specialized cuisines that make up my favorites. But on a recent evening I joined a friend for dinner at Gumbo with the goal of delving deeper into their menu.
We started with the French Quarter Tart appetizer. A shell of rich pastry was filled with onions caramelized in ale 'til they were dark and soft and sweet, then enhanced with herbes de Provence, topped with Gruyere cheese and baked 'til the flavors merged. Served drizzled with balsamic vinegar reduction for an additional touch of sweet richness, sharing was the only downside: I wanted all of it.
Gumbo has a surprisingly large list of beers –~ both bottled and draft. In the spirit of autumn I sampled Shock Top's Pumpkin Wheat. Yeah, I know Shock Top is really Anheuser-Busch's "artisan line," but maybe all the indie beer makers have taught the big guy how to make a balanced flavorful brew; there was no cloyingly-sweet pumpkin pie in your face here.
For his entrée, my friend chose Blackened Catfish. In the past decade or so, the process of blackening has been dealt a major black eye as it become synonymous with salty, dry and overcooked. But Gumbo's menu explains the proper blackening process as developed by the master, Paul Prudhomme.
And true to their word, the large, thick filet of catfish had flavor and juices locked in by a crust of herbs and spices; "Nice afterburn," my friend proclaimed. The mild white fish was served over a bed of spicy beans and rice. He ordered it with remoulade sauce and raved with every bite.
I chose one of Creole's classic dishes, Seafood Étouffée. Gumbo's chef deftly combined spices, vegetables and roux into a succulently rich stew-like étouffée that smothered tasty bits of crawfish and other shellfish served over tasty rice. Most of the mussels had fallen out of their shells and joined tender scallops and shrimp; until the very end of the dish each forkful contained some specimen of shellfish and rice. And that was the problem… it came to an end. I understand why Gumbo has earned such loyal customers!
Prior to this evening, each of my meals at Gumbo has ended with a slice of decadent Chocolate Pecan Pie and I swore I'd remain forever faithful to it. But the today's objective was exploration so my friend chose Banana's Foster and discovered another winner! Ripe bananas were flambéed with brandy, and then tossed with pecans and brown sugar. They were served with two large scoops of vanilla ice cream. The lava-hot bananas melted the ice cream and hid chunks of brittle-like sugary crunchy pecans. The portion was huge, so plan on sharing.
Ignorant of the fact that Gumbo's dessert sizes tend toward "huge," I also ordered Bread Pudding. This cube of French bread based pudding, though mousse-like and fluffy-smooth in texture, was firm and kept its squared edges. It was served with a dollop of whipped cream and drenched with butterscotch sauce. Too many sweets? No way; I found myself forking the last dregs of butterscotch off the plate. It might take a week, but I'll run off the calories.
Water Street has regained its historic role as a major gathering place in town. But with Gumbo restaurant we've gained something just as important: superior casual dining with a Creole kick.
65 Water Street, Worcester

subset: commoncrawl


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The whole OCA situation is even stranger. They're granted autocephalous status by an uncanonical, soviet-created Church
The problem that people have seems to be with 'self-styled' traditionalists. Self-styled Traditionalists seem to be mostly converts. They seem to lack the stability that comes from being long-term Orthodox. They seem to lack the spiritual balance that Orthodoxy encourages, having what seems to be an obsession with just a few aspects of Orthodoxy.Peter Theodore
Often "traditionalists" are painted as being divisive, schismatic, "of irregular status," and so forth. I find this curious on all counts.
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The Refugees from Darfur
"A series of paintings expressing the experience of the African refugees after being driven from their homes in Sudan, experiencing violence, murder and rape, and falling prey to wild animals during their escape.
"And the world kept silent!!!!
Ben Rotman met these exiles and monitored their activity after the horrors, and expressed his impressions in perspective paintings emphasizing their fate and the essence of their lives.
"The prominent figures in these paintings are women, men and children in various situations reflecting sorrow and despair. In one of the characteristic paintings depicting the escape from Sudan, the exiles have their backs to the viewer and, wearing their traditional robes and head coverings, march through the desert to the open horizon, beating their drums. Another painting shows the figure of a young boy crouching in what appears to be a more urban environment, on a stairway, with his head between his hands, his face concealed, with an older person?s hat flung into space.
"The refugees, who are forced to come to terms with their fate, express this through their traditional dress, their lifestyle and their difficulty in assimilating in modern society, while continuing to bear the scars inflicted on them by the horrors they experienced.
"The paintings express tremendous compassion for those who survived the horrors, while rebuking and defying wealthy, well-fed western society."
Ben Rotman's art on the Web
Ben Rotman's AutoGallery exhibit


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With over 20 years of experience, Kathleen has become an industry leader with her beautifully sculpted photographs portraying the best of every occasion. Her artistically discerning eye behind the camera is responsible for her characteristic compositions, vibrant colors and perfect lighting in every situation.
To create the perfect image, it is paramount to work with a photographer that understand the style and feel you want to create. A photographer that will help position and light you in a way that brings your inner beauty and finest features to the forefront.
Kathleen has an innate knowledge of how to bring out the best in her clients, whom she considers friends by the end of their photography session. Working with people is fun and exciting and once you get someone to relax it is easy to guide them into a pose that flatters their face and body, ensuring the best pictures possible.
Whether you are after family portraits, high school seniors, children, corporate, or food and still life, Kathleen has a vast amount of experience to call on to suit your needs.
Kathleen has a studio in the Redland area advantageously situated on a sprawling 7 acre yard to use as a lush, natural backdrop. Her approachable and friendly manner make your photography sessions a pleasant experience from beginning to end.
Kathleen's enthusiasm continues to build as she sees what she can do with each new situation.


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It's Valentine's Day again, gentlemen. That's right.
You've probably already bought your wife/ girlfriend/ mother/ grandmother/ secretary/ secret crush the perfect gift and made reservations at the perfect restaurant where you'll watch her eyes light up as she opens that beautifully wrapped symbol of your love and devotion. But, if that's not the case and you find that you're at a loss this year, fear not – Seiko has you covered. Yep, the Japanese watch guys. Really. Not only will this sweet gift impress the lady in your life with your sense of style, it will also show her how much you care about her heart. Literally.
Seiko Corporation of America, a subsidiary of one of the world's best-known manufacturers of timepieces has launched a 'Giving Hearts' campaign this year in support of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women® crusade.
Concerned that heart disease claims the lives of one in three women who suffer from it, The American Heart Association has committed to educate and raise awareness of a disease that many tend to associate primarily with older men. The website at GoRedForWomen.org provides a valuable resource for women seeking information, needing to connect or looking for solutions. "We are committed to fighting this #1 killer that is preventable," says the site. "We encourage women and the men who love them to embrace the cause."
To support and help publicize this noble endeavor, Seiko USA has designed a special watch this year and is contributing $15 of every one sold through March 1, 2012 (with a minimum $100,000 contribution.). The company has also launched a 'Giving Hearts' web page on their site where consumers are invited to design their own virtual hearts and dedicate them to loved ones via email or for display in the public forum. (You can pick from a variety of patterns, borders, decorations and dedications.) Visitors may vote on their favorite designs and enter to win a free watch.
Called the Go Red For Women Seiko Tressia, it's a slender women's dress watch with a black ion bangle-style bracelet with a jeweler's clasp, Swarovski crystal accents and an AHA heart logo on the face. It's selling for $177 online and is even water resistant up to 30 meters. "Tressia's heart is in the right place," says Seiko. Now you can be sure your special valentine knows that yours is too.
Save a woman's life. Give her pretty jewelry.


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Find schools and get information on the program that's right for you.
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"Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don't
know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but
it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose . . . . The bullet
is in me now, so that I cannot make a very long speech, but I
will try my best . . . . First of all, I want to say this about
myself; I have altogether too important things to think of to
feel any concern over my own death; and now I cannot speak
insincerely to you within five minutes of being shot. I am
telling you the literal truth when I say that my concern is for
many other things. It is not in the least for my own life. I want
you to understand that I am ahead of the game anyway. No man has
had a happier life than I have led; a happier life in every way.
I have been able to do certain things that I greatly wished to
do, and I am interested in doing other things. I can tell you
with absolute truthfulness that I am very much uninterested in
whether I am shot or not. It was just as when I was colonel of my
regiment. I always felt that a private was to be excused for
feeling at times some pangs of anxiety about his personal safety,
but I cannot understand a man fit to be a colonel who can pay any
heed to his personal safety when he is occupied as he ought to be
occupied with the absorbing desire to do his duty."
"I am very grateful for the honor you confer upon me by
nominating me as President. I cannot accept it at this time. I do
not know the attitude of the candidate of the Republican party
toward the vital questions of the day. Therefore, if you desire
an immediate decision, I must decline the nomination.
"But if you prefer to wait, I suggest that my conditional refusal
to run be placed in the hands of the Progressive National
Committee. If Mr. Hughes's statements, when he makes them, shall
satisfy the committee that it is for the interest of the country
that he be elected, they can act accordingly and treat my refusal
as definitely accepted.
"If they are not satisfied, they can so notify the Progressive
party, and at the same time they can confer with me, and then
determine on whatever action we may severally deem appropriate to
meet the needs of the country.
"Theodore Roosevelt."


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Having got all the stations fitted, I now take the moulds down, one by one. Firstly, I have to cut them in half and then hold the two halves together by butt-straps.
|Three butt straps holding the two halves of the mould together
The reason I have to do this is that I will not be able to remove the moulds from the finished boat as they will be too tight a fit. So what I have to do, when the boat is finished, is remove the butt-straps and then the moulds can be taken out of the hull in two halves.
Whilst the mould is out, I cut out a notch 1" x 3" (25 x 75mm) to accept the hog: which is a long piece of timber (1" x 3") that lies on top of the keel.
|The notch for the hog
I now return and secure the mould back on its station, making sure it is exactly vertical and aligned along the centre line. To do this I tie and stretch a piece of string along the centre of the notches I have cut for the hog (remember the boat is built upside down, with the keel on top.)
Having got the station accurately back in place I give extra security to it by adding stays that secure the uprights to the strongback
|Stays holding the station in the correct posotion
As you might have noticed, constructing the building jig is very time consuming, but, just like a painting is only as good as the drawing beneath it, so a boat is only as good as the building jig upon which it is built.
I have to resist adding, in every post: 'fingers-crossed', 'hopefully', 'with any luck'.


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You've settled down and mellowed a bit, but your driving record still haunts you. If your youthful indiscretions include being caught for utterly irresponsible, devil-may-care driving escapades, you will need an SR-22 insurance certificate. Your car insurance company issues this badge of past dishonor. It informs the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state that you have become a law-abiding driver who carries car insurance according to its rules.
General Requirements
Driving without insurance is the most common way to get into the SR-22 program. Drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked also need SR-22 certificates before they can hit the road again. It also applies to anyone convicted of alcohol-related offenses, or someone who caused an accident through reckless driving.
Most states require drivers to carry an SR-22 certificate for three years after they find out they need one. If you're living in Alaska or a few other states, you'll need your certificate for five years for alcohol-related offenses. You'll wind up needing an SR-22 for life if you manage to achieve five drunken-driving offenses in Alaska. Texas gives bad drivers a bit of a break, as its irresponsible drivers carry an SR-22 for only two years.
By State
Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania do not require high-risk drivers to file SR-22 certificates with their motor vehicle departments. However, a driver with an SR-22 from another state isn't off the hook if he moves to one of these states. He must keep the SR-22 from his former state until the end of the mandated period. Only drivers who commit offenses while residing in these states get away without an SR-22.
Getting Insured
Contact your insurance company as soon as you can drive again after a period of license suspension or other offense. That company has to the send the SR-22 certificate to your state's motor vehicle department. If you switch insurance companies, let the new company or your broker know you need an SR-22. Most companies ask you this when you apply for a new policy. Otherwise, you are liable because your old company cancels your SR-22 along with your old policy.
- Progressive Insurance: SR-22: What You Need To Know
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Form SR-22 Insurance Certificate
- Alaska Department of Administration: State Department of Motor Vehicles: SR-22 Insurance Information
- Nebraska DMV: SR-22 For Revocations/Suspensions
- Carinsurance.com: What states mandate the sr22?
- What Is an Insurance Certificate Holder?
- Is It Possible That Insurance Companies Will Reject a Claim?
- How to Obtain Car Insurance After a Policy is Cancelled
- New Car Insurance Requirements
- How Much Auto Insurance Liability Is Enough?
- What Is PIP Stacking?
- Can I Cancel Insurance With Open Claims?
- Does Insurance Cover a Tree Falling on Your Car?


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I received a really special surprise in the mail the other day! It was such an unexpected and lovely surprise- the best kind of surprises! When I saw the box waiting for me at my door step, I couldn't figure out what it could be. I don't know if anyone else is like this, but when I see a unexpected box at my doorstep, I stop and stare at the box from approximately two feet away and check to make sure it isn't some sort of mirage. After confirming that it is indeed real, I usually lunge for the box and check out who the name of the package! There is always those few minutes of dread that creeps in that maybe the package was meant to be delivered to a neighbor instead (doesn't THAT suck!). After confirming that yes, it is a real package, that yes it is for ME, I allowed myself to get all giddy.
The Husband asked, "what did you order now?" as I wracked my brain with my recent Amazon purchases. As far as I could recall, I already received all my recent orders. I checked the return address label and saw that package was from a shop called The Run Home. This only made me even more curious and even more excited to rip open the box! Of course, my son wanted to inspect the box for a bit so the anticipation of what could be inside just kept building. It was killing me!
I finally got the box away from my son by enticing him with one of his blocks. I ripped open the box like a five year old on Christmas morning and found a cute little box with a silver bow. Inside the box was this:
The card with the package told me that my friend, Courtney sent this incredible awesome necklace in honor of my personal record from my last race! Let me tell you a little bit about this necklace. As you can see, the necklace has a couple of charms surrounding the I AM A RUNNER charms. One charm says the date of my last race in Illinois and a charm says 5K, the distance I ran. There is another charm which you can't see from this picture, it says the time I finished the 5K: 34:27. It's the fastest I have ran 3.1 miles to date. I was just really blown away by the sentiment and the thoughtfulness. I have a hard time considering myself a runner so seeing this necklace really melted my heart. I told Courtney that I considered this my first race medal, haha.
Thank you so much, Courtney! I wish I could tell you exactly how receiving that necklace made me feel! It was such a fun race for me on so many levels and it's really special to have something tangible to commemorate that race. You have been such a power house when it comes to supporting me and my running. Running is something I thought I would never do, and you have helped me get out there and do it so many times with your motivational words and genuine interest.
I really am a lucky girl to have a great set of friends that help me push myself. We should all be so lucky to have that in our lives.
Do you have someone in your life that inspires you, motivates you or is supportive in your endeavors?


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Though this is not a new area of discussion, the topic of solar energy still fascinates many. You need to know as much about solar energy as possible to help you fully realize its potential. Keep reading to find out more about solar power. Solar Powered TIP! Photo-voltaic solar panels come in two varieties. Poly-crystalline […]Read More...
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- Can Solar Energy Be An Option For You? Check Out These Helpful Ideas!
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- Valuable Insights On The Benefits Of Solar Energy
- Read About Solar Energy And Get Some Great Tips!


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Work: Art Director, 72andSunny; Former Cast Member of the Bachelor, Season 17
Education: BFA, Otis College of Art and Design
Hometown: Evergreen, CO
Current Hinge City: Los Angeles
Influence: 166 friends on Hinge
Your most embarrassing date moment?
One time I was dating a guy who was a former marine, and for our third date he wanted to take me on a day hike. I'm from Colorado and love the outdoors, so I was really excited about our common interests. We set out on this very long hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. About two miles into the hike, he was telling me about his time in Iraq and impressive military training stories while I was huffing and puffing, trying to keep up. Suddenly I had to interrupt him to tell him I was about to puke... which I did, all over the trail.
What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
In 2014-2015 I had the opportunity to work on the Truth campaign for the American Legacy Foundation. The campaign empowers teens to be the generation that will end smoking. Working on this campaign has been one of my proudest accomplishments, because I've created work that motivates society towards positive change. Working for nonprofits is very humbling, but it's also exciting to be a part of something that's going to change history.
Meet her on Hinge


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I'm a huge fan of the senior pastor at our church, Grace Outreach Center. Gerald Brooks has over 30 years of ministry experience. He prides himself in a constant message of change and he is a leader among leaders.
I appreciate his messages and love how God is using him. Here's a quote from his teaching from yesterday... "If you don't like what you are getting, then change what you are saying." In his message, he referred to Proverbs 12:14 "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him."
Simply put, our words affect our lives!


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Eastgate SurgeryTel: 01423 788300
The Health CentreTel: 01423 788300
Did you know we can now offer appointments with The Extended Access Service? This is an extension of your usual primary care practice. It is not a walk-in service – you need to make an appointment. The Service is located at Mowbray Square in Harrogate and appointments are booked by us at Eastgate Medical Group for our patients. You can get appointments up to 8pm weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Ask our receptionists about this when you call.
Follow us on Twitter
The new data protection regulations (GDPR) came into effect on the 25th May 2018. Please click on the quick link 'Data Protection, Record Sharing and GDPR' for further information and to view our Privacy Policy.
There are now more primary care appointments available making it easier for you to get an appointment at a time that suits you in the evenings and at weekends.
The Extended Access Service is an extension of your usual primary care practice. It is not a walk-in service – you need to make an appointment.
The Extended Access Service is located at Mowbray Square in Harrogate and North House in Ripon. You can get appointments up to 8pm weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Information about the new service is available here or contact reception.
To download an information leaflet about the service Click Extended Primary Care Service
Convenience doesn't stop there and you can now access a number of services online. Ordering a repeat prescription or sending us your comments are both just a click away.
Our team are dedicated to your continued good health and approach your care with professionalism, discretion and friendliness. You can count on a warm welcome from everyone involved here at the practice.
You can now view a summary of your record online using your SystmOnline account. You can also use the same account to order repeat prescriptions and book appointments with doctors. If you would like to register for SystmOnline, please speak to a receptionist. If you are already registered, ask a receptionist to add this new service to your account.
Video - Online Access
Please click here to view our Statement of Intent
With effect from 1 December 2014, when you visit our surgeries, you will have the opportunity to take part in the Family & Friends Test by answering a simple question about your experience. Your response is anonymous and you will be able to post this in a ballot box in reception. Alternatively you will be able to complete the survey by clicking on the link "Friend & Family Test" on the right of this screen
We will review your responses each month and provide feedback, where possible.
Private Vaccines:
Unfortunately, it has been widely reported, there is a national shortage of the vaccinateion Bexsero (against Men B) and as such we are unable to obtain a private supply. We would, therefore, recommend that parents wishing to vaccinate privately keep in touch with the larger private clinics who will most likely be the first to obtain stock when it becomes available.
This supply issue does not affect our younger patients currently being or due to be vaccinated against Men B as part of the NHS Vaccination programme.
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After his 1991 videotaped beating by four white Los Angeles police officers whose acquittal touched off the 1992 riots, Rodney G. King became an overnight celebrity who symbolized for many the perception of unfair treatment of young black men by police.
But, since then, the spotlight has shifted to King's long series of run-ins with police and domestic disputes.
Television cameras swarmed his house once again Thursday after an incident Wednesday night in which he told authorities that he was riding his bicycle after 11 p.m. in a dicey area near the border of San Bernardino and Rialto and was sprayed with pellets from a shotgun.
He reportedly pedaled his bike for roughly a mile to his Jackson Street home in Rialto before calling police and heading to the hospital in an ambulance.
Rialto police, who were the first to respond, said King was intoxicated when they arrived and that it was difficult to decipher what had happened.


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I'm Daniel S. Katz (or less formally, Dan), and I'm have two relevant roles in the context of this blog. First, I'm a researcher, specifically a Senior Fellow in the Computation Institute at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, where I work on the development and use of advanced cyberinfrastructure to solve challenging problems at multiple scales. My technical research interests are in applications, algorithms, fault tolerance, and programming in parallel and distributed computing, including HPC, Grid, Cloud, etc. I am also interested in policy issues, including citation and credit mechanisms and practices associated with software and data, organization and community practices for collaboration, and career paths for computing researchers. (I also have been blogging a bit at another site, and I will cross-post part of this post there.)
Second, I'm currently a program officer at the National Science Foundation in the Division of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (ACI.) At NSF, I am managing $25m-$35m of software programs, including leading NSF's Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation (SI2) program, and I currently lead ACI's participation in Computational and Data-enabled Science & Engineering (CDS&E), Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF), and Computational and Data-Enabled Science & Engineering in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CDS&E-MSS). I previously led ACI's participation in Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) and Exploiting Parallelism and Scalability (XPS). I also co-led writing of "A Vision and Strategy for Software for Science, Engineering, and Education: Cyberinfrastructure Framework for the 21st Century," and led writing of "Implementation of NSF Software Vision." [This leads me to add: "Some work by the author was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) while working at the Foundation; any opinion, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF."]
Given these two roles, a researcher and a funder, it's clear to me that reproducibility in science is increasingly seen as a concern, at least a high level. And thus, making science more reproducible is a challenge that many people want to solve. But it's quite hard to do this, in general. In my opinion, there are a variety of factors responsible, including:
- Our scientific culture thinks reproducibility is important at a high level, but not in specific cases. This reminds me of Mark Twain's definition of classic books: those that people praise but don't read. We don't have incentives or practices in place that translate the high level concept of reproducibility into actions that support actual reproducibility.
- In many cases, reproducibility is difficult in practice, due to some unique situation. For example, data can be taken with a unique instrument, such as the LHC or a telescope, or the data may be transient, such as seismometer that measured a specific signal, though on the other hand, in many cases, data taken in one period should be statistically the same as data taken in another period.
- Given limited resources, reproducibility is less important than new research. As an example, perhaps a computer run that took months has been completed. This is unlikely to be repeated, because generating a new result is seen as a better use of the computing resources than reproducing the old result.
We can't easily change culture, but we can try to change practice, with the idea that a change in practice will eventually turn into a change in culture. And we can start by working on the easier parts of the problem, not the difficult ones. One way we can do this is by formalizing the need for reproducibility. This could be done at multiple levels, such as by publishers, funders, and faculty.
Publishers could require that reviewers actually try to reproduce submitted work as a review criterion. Funders could require the final project reports contain a reproducibility statement, a demonstration that an unrelated group had reproduced specific portions of the reported work, with funders funding these independent groups to do this. And faculty could require students to reproduce the work of other students, benefitting the reproducer with training and the reproducee with knowledge that their work has been proven to be reproducible.
What do we do about work that cannot be reproduced due to a unique situation? Perhaps try to isolate that situation and reproduce the parts of the work that can be reproduced. Or reproduce the work as a thought experiment rather than in practice. In either case, if we can't reproduce something, then we have to accept that we can't reproduce it and we need to decide how close we can come and if this is good enough.
Let me close by going back to Twain's definition, and asking, will reproducibility become one of the classic books of the 21st Century, praised but not carried out? Or will we choose to make the effort to read it?


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On International Day for Biological Diversity, IUCN Members in Sweden celebrated the Union's 70th anniversary.
Your Royal Highness, Prince Carl Philip
Your Excellency Minister, Karolina Skog
Friends, Members, Partners
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today is World Biodiversity Day, and I am delighted that you have chosen this important day to celebrate IUCN's 70th Anniversary. I want to thank our Patron, HRH Prince Carl Philip, Minister Skog who represents Sweden as an IUCN State Member, and all our members and partners in Sweden for their commitment to the work of IUCN.
The pressure on nature has never been so great. IUCN is designed to not only withstand but counteract this pressure through the provision of knowledge and tools critical for ensuring that human progress, economic development, and nature conservation take place together.
Established in 1948, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Sweden is among our founding members, through the Swedish Society for the Conservation of Nature, and it is with Sweden's support that IUCN has influenced the global conservation agenda over decades past.
During these past 7 decades, IUCN's work has evolved immensely. In the 1950's, IUCN focused on human impacts on nature, such as pesticides and landscape planning. In the 1960's, IUCN focused on protecting species and habitats as well as on climate change and corresponding impacts. It was also at this time that IUCN created the World Wildlife Fund and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the 1970's, IUCN made significant contributions to the development of international conservation law through the creation and implementation of UNESCO World Heritage (1972), CITES (1973), and Ramsar (1971) Conventions. By the 1980's, IUCN had elevated conservation to an international strategic level by dent of the World Conservation Strategy, fostering national conservation strategies, and by illustrating the importance of traditional knowledge. In the 1990's, IUCN gained international momentum as seen by the emergence of the Rio Conventions in 1992, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the first IUCN World Conservation Congress (1996) and by obtaining UN Observer Status as an intergovernmental organization (2000).
In the 2000's, IUCN reached out beyond conservation, focusing on poverty reduction and human rights and through cooperation with the private sector. In the 2010's, IUCN championed nature-based solutions to societal challenges, such as climate change. The Bonn Challenge, for instance, sets a goal of restoring 150 million hectares of degraded lands by 2020 and 350 million by 2030. As of the 2016 World Conservation Congress in Hawaii, Indigenous People's organizations became a distinct membership category. IUCN's mission was also furthered through its status as a Global Environment Facility Project Agency (2014) and as an Accredited Entity to the Green Climate Fund (2016).
Projections currently indicate that we are on course to miss our commitments to halve the loss of natural habitats by 2020 (Aichi Target 5); avoid overfishing and keep the impacts of fisheries within safe ecological limits (Target 6); and prevent species' extinctions and improve the status of known threatened species (Target 12). Only last week, articles published in Science reported that one third of global protected land is under intense human pressure, and that the projected effect on insects, vertebrates, and plants of limiting global warming to 2°C, rather than 1.5°C, is catastrophic.
However, this is not to say that we're not having successes, without which we would be in a much worse situation. For example, wildlife reserves, while subject to human pressure, cover 10% of the Earth's land. This is an area equivalent in size to India and China combined. We have also already achieved over 160 million hectares in pledges to the Bonn Challenge, surpassing the 150-million-hectare goal. Additionally, discussions are underway to codify the major principles of International Environmental Law in the form of a Global Pact. The Ozone-Montreal Protocol has been ratified by every country in 1987 and, to date, the Parties to the Protocol have phased out 98% of ozone-depleting substances globally compared to 1990 levels. The Protocol is expected to save, by 2030, an estimated two million people each year from skin cancer.
Naturally, some countries are doing better than others. Sweden is a leader, with some 14% of the country's total surface under protection. Additionally, the number of large carnivores (bears, lynx, and wolves) has increased in Sweden in recent years, and the Government of Sweden has banned cosmetic products containing plastic particles included for cleansing, exfoliating, or polishing purposes. Nonetheless, this is only one part of the puzzle, as the average Swedish citizen has an ecological footprint 3 times larger than the global average.
As we move into post-2020 discussions, we must take stock and define a new and improved framework, based on measurable targets. Part of this process is learning from our mistakes, achievements, and from successes elsewhere – such as from the Paris Agreement. One example is to invite nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from Parties. This 'bottom up' / 'voluntary' approach, combined with a mandatory 'review and ratchet up' approach, could help push the political landscape of the CBD in a more positive direction by promoting ambitious country-led action and collaboration; it would also provide a more productive template for international/north-south cooperation on biodiversity conservation in the post-2020 period. The NDCs' 'bottom-up' approach has yielded a sense of responsibility and ubiquitous ownership of climate action. This approach could also work for biodiversity and we must consider it. The climate community has additionally been able to galvanize worldwide public engagement and support, thus putting crucial pressure on decision makers.
With all of that in mind, the obvious question is, what would an effective post-2020 biodiversity framework look like?
First of all, it would be aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and tracked systematically to demonstrate its contributions towards achievement of the SDGs. Of course the 'biodiversity gaps' in the 2030 agenda should be addressed, and the relevant goals and targets should be updated, strengthened, and meaningfully taken up in the SDG process. The framework would also facilitate enhanced synergies and cooperation between the CBD (and its Protocols), the other two Rio Conventions, and the biodiversity-related conventions. An effective post-2020 biodiversity framework would be supported and owned by all parts of society, from the private sector to religious groups to the new generations, and it should include a long-term vision for biodiversity conservation up to 2050. Our vision for this framework includes a 2030 Mission, which constitutes an overall science-based target for biodiversity that can be quantified and tracked through implementation. An appropriate equivalent of the 2°C/1.5°C temperature rise cap agreed under the Paris Climate Change Agreement could be explored. Additionally, this crucial framework will address drivers of biodiversity loss and policy barriers to implementation.
In sum, an effective post-2020 biodiversity framework must be ambitious, achievable, action-driven, science-based, communicable, and measurable.
Ultimately, 2020 represents THE opportunity to shape a new grand narrative for conservation – we have no choice but to seize it. Indeed, the road to 2020 is absolutely vital; we must use every occasion and opportunity we have to shape the grand narrative.
In this year of 2018, there are plenty of opportunities for us to look back while looking forward: IUCN is celebrating its 70th anniversary and the CBD is turning 25; SBSTTA-22, SBI-2, and COP14 are approaching, as are the HLPF, UNGA, Ramsar COP13, and the UNFCCC COP 24. Additionally, the mid-term review of the implementation of the IUCN European Work Programme is, of course, an opportunity to reflect on what we are doing in Europe and plan better for the future – as well as for the IUCN post-2020 Programme. As you know, we are gathering information on the implementation of the IUCN European Programme by IUCN Members and we look forward to receiving inputs from our Swedish Members.
Speaking of our Swedish Members, it is without a doubt that Sweden is a crucial leader and ally in steering this transformational change. IUCN has been working closely with Sweden on a number of areas, including on the SDG 14 Ocean conference and follow-up. Considerable focus is given to ocean risks, ocean deoxygenation, ocean warming, blue carbon, and ocean acidifications. Ocean plastics is also a joint area of work, with progress in the Baltic and Arctic as well as globally. Micro-plastics in the ocean have been a special focus. We are additionally working together on standards for MPAs and joint efforts to achieve the Aichi targets and beyond. Sweden is also leading on the implementation of IUCN Resolution WCC-2012-Res-100, "Incorporation of the Rights of Nature", and I am pleased to note that the second Earth Rights Conference will take place in 2019 in Sigtuna.
What most pleases me however is that, when I look around this space in which we have convened together, I see a diverse union of individuals who stand united in support of biodiversity. While this International Day for Biodiversity brought us together today, it is our mutual commitment to conservation throughout the days, years, and decades to come that keeps us in lockstep, and I very much look forward to a rich discussion on how you as Members can further contribute to achieving the transformational change we all seek.


text:
A jilted woman has set her boyfriend's balls on fire while he was sleeping, after finding out that her man had slept with her co-worker.
In the picture, the man was seen fast asleep in a white bed wearing just underwear and a pair of high socks.
A woman carefully and quietly removed the blanket that is partially covering him.
She then opened a bottle of nail polish remover and slowly poured some of the liquid over the groin area of his underwear.
With a long lighter, she sets the front of his underwear on fire. It only burns for about a second before her boyfriends jolts awake, screaming and batting at the flames.
"You cheating on me with my f***ing co-worker, you didn't think I was gonna find out?' she is heard saying as he rolls over and moans, holding his crotch. Get your s*** and get the f*** out," she said, as he falls off the bed and stumbles off camera.


text:
With ice coating the roads in much of the Washington, D.C. metro area Wednesday morning, the Office of Personnel Management announced that federal agencies would be open under a two-hour delayed arrival status.
The announcement means "non-emergency employees who report to the office will be granted excused absence (administrative leave) for up to two hours past their expected arrival time," OPM said.
Employees with telework arrangements in place can also take unscheduled telework for the day.


text:
Hiya Jammers! I'm very very, VERY sorry I haven't been posting, My laptop Was away for a few umm.. weeks. So, I hadn't anything but my uncles laptop to do little posts, From Time to time. But Now I have it back (For a while, anyway) and I'm going to try and keep up-to-date, with posting. anyways, todays new item is Freedom Puppies, from the Summer Carnival.
I'm sorry, I made a mistake! That's yesterdays Item. Todays, Is the rare-one-day-only, Freedom glove! Sold in the freedom party! For 1 DAY ONLY!
The blog E-mail, Is (With a capital A) email@example.com


text:
a swarm of thorns flash book vol 1
Sold out
this book is my first flash book.
it's a selection of many designs i did the last two years.
each books are numbered and signed
it's a limited run of 50
cover in gold risograph printing on black paper
and all designs are printed on satin white 90 g paper


text:
You have no items in your shopping basket.
FREE Delivery Available
The Woodstock bed frame from Birlea constructed from oak and pine is strong and sturdy featuring a solid slatted base and metal centre leg the bed offers the best in strength and support.
The frame looks striking in appearance and would stand out in any style bedroom. The ideal choice for anyone wanting a quality frame built to last.
- Oak and Pine Construction
- Available in all sizes
- 210mm Clearance
- Solid slats
Additional Information
Free Delivery Service on every order over £100.
Across mainland UK we offer a free delivery service, for orders under £100 we ask for a delivery contribution of £9.99.
Areas including Isle of Man, Scottish Highlands, Scottish Isles and the Channel islands may require a delivery contribution at checkout.
We currently do not ship to Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Choose your preferred delivery date at checkout.
- Express delivery available on most frames with the option to select a preferred date at checkout.
- Divans beds and Ottoman divan beds normally 5-7 working days.
- Delivery to your room of choice as standard on all our divan beds & mattresses with a 2 man service.
- Saturday delivery, if available, can be purchased through checkout.
- For any other information regarding delivery please contact us online or call 0800 138 8288.


text:
Today I went for a hike in the mountains. The sun was shining and a breeze was blowing as usual. A great day for a Sunday stroll with the dogs. The snow is finally starting to melt away on the higher slopes. I saw some crocuses in a clearing. The first flowers of spring.
While I was looking at the flowers and enjoying the scenery, the dogs were finding their own treasures. Yum, yum.
There were piles of bones everywhere. Much to the their enjoyment.
Then Ande found something way better than old bones.
A muddy little creek. I hope those other two don't get any ideas!
Thank goodness for blankets in the back seat of the car.
A few hours later after a lot of play we headed back home.
And now the dogs are sleeping. Yahoo!


text:
Making small changes can differentiate your practice from others for sale.
When my clients and I review their exit strategy we discuss the importance of investing into their practice in order to get the best price possible. There are many variables used to determine a "value" of a practice, and often one important variable for best results is missed – Buyer Appeal.
Selling a business is more complex than an ordinary real estate transaction. The majority of a healthcare practice's value, for instance, likely lies in its patient base more than the physical location and equipment.[1] But that doesn't mean you should ignore the physical aspects of your practice as you consider putting it up for sale. In many cases, small investments in improvements can make it more attractive to buyers and stand out from the competition.[2]
First, take a tour of your offices as though you were a potential buyer. Better yet, ask a friend to play the part, so they can give everything an unbiased eye. Does the exterior look fresh and inviting? Is signage clear and up-to-date? Check for wear, such as scuff marks on walls, worn upholstery and faded carpets. Consider cleaning, repairing, replacing and painting as needed. Bear in mind that many buyers may have their own decorating ideas, so they may want to replace even the newest decor. The goal is to convey the impression of a practice that is modern, busy and well maintained. Small details, such as fresh flowers and recent reading material, can also contribute to that impression. Remember, too, that an interested buyer will be peeking into every corner of your space, so you and your staff should make a concerted effort to keep bookshelves, closets, cabinets and back offices clean, tidy and well organized.[3]
When it comes to upgrading your equipment, keep a careful eye on costs. Some upgrades—particularly those that replace outmoded technologies with current ones—may be more cost-effective than those that are merely aesthetic. Before you make any major investment in improvements, consider preparing a cost-benefit analysis. There are several aspects of such a calculation, but the primary considerations are time horizon, cost and potential return, including savings. Take the example of purchasing an updated piece of equipment, such as replacing film radiography equipment with a modern digital system. Does the cost of the equipment, minus savings in taxes (due to the capital expense), supplies and labor, if any, yield a profitable increase in your practice's sale price? If not, a lower asking price might turn out to be the more profitable avenue to attract buyers.[4]
The sooner you start planning for a sale, the greater the chance you have for improving not just the ability of your practice to attract buyers, but also the final price you are able to negotiate. A fresh, pleasing office space can go a long way to spurring prospective buyers into action.
If you need help with making a decision that is financially impactful to your practice…. just ask me for assistance!
By Jeff Holt, CMPE, VP, Senior Healthcare Business Banker with PNC Bank
- http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/know-what-your-practice-worth?page=full
- http://beginningstransitiongroup.com/blog/selling-your-dental-practice-curb-appeal-matters/
- ibid.
- http://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-100/issue-7/columns/proper-timing-of-pre-retirement.html
The third-party trademarks referenced in these articles are owned by and are the registered trademarks of their respective third-party owners. There is no affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement relationship between PNC or its affiliates and any such third party.
PNC is a registered mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (''PNC'')
Business Insights is prepared for general information purposes by Manifest, LLC and is not intended as legal, tax or accounting advice or as recommendations to engage in any specific transaction, including with respect to any securities of PNC, and do not purport to be comprehensive. Under no circumstances should any information contained in the presentation, the webinar or the materials presented be used or considered as an offer or commitment, or a solicitation of an offer or commitment, to participate in any particular transaction or strategy or should it be considered legal advice. Any reliance upon any such information is solely and exclusively at your own risk. Please consult your own counsel, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation.
Neither PNC Bank nor any other subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will be responsible for any consequences of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained here, or any omission. The opinions expressed in these materials or videos are not necessarily the opinions of PNC Bank or any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees. Banking and lending products and services, bank deposit products, and Treasury Management products and services for healthcare providers and payers are provided by PNC Bank, National Association, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC and Member FDIC.
Lending and leasing products and services, including card services and merchant services, as well as certain other banking products and services, may require credit approval.
Jeff Holt is a Senior Healthcare Business Banker and V.P. with PNC Bank's Healthcare Business Banking and is a Certified Medical Practice Executive. He can be reached at (352) 385-3800 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Clifton Collins Jr. and Clancy Brown want to take some demons straight to Hell in the red band trailer for Hellbenders
I thought this evening we could use something a little silly.
The red band trailer for horror comedy HELLBENDERS has made it online, and I want to know why I didn't know about this sooner. You've got Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins Jr, and Dan Fogler as a group of unapologetic sinners who just happen to be qualified exorcists. Their mission in life is to take demons back to Hell no matter what the means.
The story comes from the comic from JT Petty (THE BURROWERS) who is also serving as writer and helmer on the film. It's nice to see something like this when half-assed found footage and possession films take over the horror genre. Thank you James Wan for the break with THE CONJURING and INSIDIOUS 2. I'd actually like to see more legit horror comedies, and I don't mean those awful horror spoofs.
Check out the trailer below. HELLBENDERS opens in limited theaters and VOD on October 18, 2013.
Synopsis: There are demons so terrible that no mortal man of God could successfully drive them back to Hell. The only option is for the exorcist himself to invite possession and then commit suicide, dragging along the demon to damnation -- so the Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints -- or Hellbenders -- was formed. A group of elite, highly-trained exorcists, they live in a constant state of debauchery so they will be ready to go to Hell at any moment. When an infernal Norse demon called BLACK SURTR escapes into New York City intent on cracking open the gates of Hell, the Hellbenders must use every ounce of their debauchery to battle the demon and save the planet from eternal damnation.
|Crave Online


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13 April 2018, New York City, United States – Mr. Marco Suazo, head-of-office of the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office, met with 13 delegates from Hiroshima City Council, Japan. The meeting was held in the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations on Friday morning, 13 April 2018.
Mr. Marco Suazo welcomed delegates with an opening speech addressing the special ties between the city of Hiroshima and New York – UNITAR's offices are located in both cities and they are constantly contributing to capacity building and peacebuilding in conflicts driven regions around the world. During the opening speech, he also introduced the mission, duties, and responsibilities of the UNITAR New York office. UNITAR is aiming to elevate the skills of diplomats from developing countries by providing diplomatic trainings in corporation with both private and public sectors. UNITAR appreciates the sponsorship from the Hiroshima prefecture and their supports on a wide variety of programmes, especially on the peacebuilding and conflict resolution programs in Africa.
Delegates from Hiroshima City Council expressed their visions on increasing UNITAR's impact on both local and global level. They encourage UNITAR to express their needs to the local government and the Hiroshima City Council would like to provide supports. UNITAR's visions are well-perceived by Hiroshima because of its distinct past and its reconciliation from nuclear attack. Hiroshima City Council would like to embrace and extend the message of peace, encourage more local involvements on subject matter and educate both locals and the world on nuclear proliferations, conflict resolution, capacity buildings, and persistent peace. Hiroshima City Council also expressed their hopes on increasing the global impact and it is looking forward to working with Geneva and New York to increasing its global influence and pursuing long-term peace.
Mr. Marco Suazo expressed his positive hopes on further collaborations with Hiroshima prefecture and Hiroshima city. UNITAR will further strengthen their ties in the future to raise more awareness and achieve better results on conflict resolution, nuclear proliferations and capacity building.
Photos: Members of the HIroshima City Council with the UNITAR colleagues


text:
Last five or six years have witnessed the Internet based tools and technologies changing at an alarming pace. This has also transformed the way in which the web user searches and digs out information. These days, the information retrieval is so fast (Example: I Am Feeling Lucky makes way for multi-page SERPs browsing) and hence it requires a change in the way in which SEO Optimization is done as well.
Search User Access Points
The traditional way of searching directly from the search engine web site is still the most popular method but it has been complemented well by the new channels such as:
- Web browser Toolbars (e.g. Google Toolbar)
- Desktop Widgets
- Instant Messenger Clients
- Pervasive Devices (e.g. Smart Phones)
- Search Engine powered local site searches
- …
The above search access channels along with the new usability aspects that control the search user behavior (in terms of 'what he searches for' and 'what he does with the Search Engine Result Pages) is throwing a set of new challenges at the SEO gurus.
New Challenges and hence new SEO requirements
I Am Feeling Lucky attidude: Google did a good thing by introducing this feature because they were too quick to realize that the search users are loosing patience faster. Search users of today want results within four or five seconds which also means that nobody has time to go beyond the first (or in worst case the second) page of the search results. Hence, getting on to first page of the search results pages (and even first spot there in) is becoming even more important but not necessarily via the hottest key phrases.
Hot key-phrases may not remain hot any more: Another innovation that Google brought into search is the 'Did you mean this?' question in case of a potentially wrong input. This has resulted in decision making even before actual search is initiated. Even better is the new AJAX based autofill capabilities that is available with most of the search engines (e.g. Yahoo Search Assist) and toolbars these days. What this means is that hot keywords do not necessarily get searched for but whatever might attract the user in terms of the first 10 (or visible droplist items) suggestions or so get searched for more often. Challenges here are the focus on the long tail, importance of the alphabetical order and natural sequencing, focus on the first word of the keyphrase etc
Promotion and Demotion of SERPs items: Oh well, now this is the newest thing with the Google. The user now has the chance to promote his own search results making the promoted entries kind of their favorites so that subsequent similar searches list them on top. What does this signify? It only means that if the same client is searching for a particular keyphrase again, the SEO has no major role to play if already promoted entries exist. Though, this scenario is highly unlikely to have a huge impact it is definitely a trend. Who knows, probably Google is using this promotion preferences to rank search results better in the future.
Site Searches loosing importance: Google came up with the Google-enabled site search sometime back. Unfortunately, the importance of site searches is fast disappearing except for an old visitor vaguely remembering what he has seen at a particular site comes back and searches. Basically the paradigm is that you have a lot of information centrally available and hence a search hit doesn't result in subsequent searches locally but the user goes back and searches again. However, this may be still a useful feature for huge knowledge reporitories (e.g. Online versions of Newspapers). Could internal linking – except for natural user accessibility reasons and not for searches – play a lesser role in page ranking?
Search Results Consolidation: Google's Search Engine Marketing and integration of other services into search results means that now there're more things to distract the search users. E.g. Sponsored links, Google App results, different forms of ads, Image Search results, Videos, Corporate information in case of a brand keyword search, stock quotes etc can together appear as the search result set. This would necessiate that SEO should be done towards optimizing all possible aspects of your brand (including images, videos, news, copyrighted brand subjects etc). This implies that on-page SEO has to be supplemented with image searchability, related tag optimizations, video marketing, stuffing similar keywords in related news & PRs (Press Releases), offline marketing campaigns etc. Just like Google, new innovative search engines such as LeapFish are evolving faster with consolidated search experience. Multi-facet SEO could be the next thing!
Natural Language queries: If there is a single thing, that can change the entire SEO paradigm and SEO related services around search engines drastically in the next few years, it is the natural language processing advancement – even via channels like voice on Mobile phones. If this happens at all, the importance of keywords might go away gradually.
Many of the things mentioned here are already happening though some of them are futuristic. I personally feel that Search Engine Optimization in some form or other will definitely exist. Because essentially we have to take the information seekers (e.g. search or voice users) to the right destination and tweaking those routes and destinations always have some scope.
Happy SEO and please do bookmark this post if found useful.


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Photos from our boat trip along the canals in the Marais. As posted in an earlier post (the one with the storks video): according to Wikipedia it covers about 970 square km , and according to our guide there are about 6000km of man-made drainage canals, as well as some natural ones. This work was started during the reign of Henri IV (1553 - 1610), who called in the Dutch experts, (just as the English did with the Norfolk fens in the early 17th century). We saw a lot of wild hops and teasels, there was also a lot of willow, ash, birch, alder and hazel. In the old days, according to our guide, they used to transport cattle from field to field on flat-bottomed "barges". I saw a night heron perched in some bushes, and a quick glimpse of a kingfisher. You can pre-book dawn or dusk boat trips which would probably be much more fruitful in terms of wildlife spotting. Introduced animals include the coypu - we saw their holes in a bank, but not any out and about.
The tiles on the roof of this little hut are typical of the region. They're made from local clay - at intervals along some of the canals you could see excavated areas at the edge where the clay had been quarried. Our guide could remember either his grandfather or father (I should have made a note, as at this stage I can't remember!) working in the clay pits. My recollection is that the guide told us the tiles were called dames (ladies) because originally they were shaped over the thigh, but quick research hasn't yet confirmed this.
|Wild hops


text:
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Scyld Berry
Toss: England.
"One of the great innings of all time," in the opinion of Ray Illingworth, saved England from going 1-0 down. Others acclaimed Atherton's innings as the finest by any England captain, as he had no particular partner until Russell joined him for the last 277 minutes, whereas Peter May had Colin Cowdrey to help repulse Sonny Ramadhin at Edgbaston in 1957. Possibly only the 262 not out by Dennis Amiss at Kingston in 1973-74 was a greater match-saving innings for England.
Atherton, resolutely single-minded in any event, became even more so when he saw his decision to play four fast bowlers and send South Africa in fail badly. This was his bowlers' fault as much as his. Only Cork fired until Malcolm, who had replaced Richard Illingworth, clicked with the second new ball. Gough never got going at all and while Fraser eventually did it was not until the second innings; in the first, Kirsten had frequently clipped him off his legs, and square cut and square-driven his maiden Test hundred. Kirsten also set an example by taking quick singles with Cronje to set South Africa going, whereas England were rudderless in their first innings once Atherton shouldered arms to a ball which just brushed his off stump. He later described his team's disintegration - to a sequence of soft dismissals in the face of some passionate and often short-pitched - bowling as "fairly unforgivable", although Thorpe did receive one of several debated decisions made by Karl Liebenberg. South African coach Bob Woolmer publicly criticised the umpiring, for which he was censured by Clive Lloyd, the referee.
England's bowlers, and Cork especially, kept a fuller length than the South Africans. This enabled Russell to take the world record for dismissals in a Test from Bob Taylor, who was at the ground. Russell took 11 catches out of 13 possible chances, all but one standing back. South Africa, in their second innings, scored so freely against defensive fields - Cullinan's dashing strokeplay was reminiscent of Kim Hughes - that they had a lead of 400 well before the third-day close England's mood brightened a little when they realised they would not have to bat that evening, with the ball still seaming.
South Africa indeed were so cautious that they came off for light that was not unplayably bad when 428 ahead, and with 7.3 overs remaining. Shortly beforehand, McMillan had hooked consecutive balls from Malcolm for six, four and six. Next morning, they went on for 92 more minutes to add 50 superfluous runs - and it was their bowlers who had to do the batting - just so that McMillan could complete his second Test hundred, made with three sixes in all off 168 balls.
England therefore had to survive for four overs and five sessions, not two whole days, or more. They had drawn their three previous Tests, but only after batting first and banking large totals. Atherton and Stewart, in his 50th Test, were aspiring to new heights when they set out to save the game - a target of 479 was theoretical. Only a shower was forecast, and that did not materialise. What did help was that the one lively pitch of the series went to sleep once it had fully dried, and its numerous cracks never became influential: fortunately for England, it had been moved half a pitch width in the week before the Test to avoid the worst of them. A full house of 30,000 on the fourth day waited for England to capitulate, and by the close Atherton had lost four partners twice in three balls, McMillan hit the stumps with yorkers - Ramprakash beaten in an uncontrolled drive for the second time - and yet they were not scathed again in the next nine hours.
On the fifth morning Atherton took a while to return to his groove, until his feet began moving again. On 99, he forced off his body into Kirsten's hands at short-leg, and straight out again. He hooked his next ball from Donald to bring up his ninth hundred and 4,000 runs in Tests, and celebrated with rare animation, exchanging hugs with Smith. Soon after, Smith's slash was caught at third man and Russell offered a return catch to Pringle when five, which was missed. A draw was still only the faintest of hopes.
Gradually that hope grew stronger. Back home, England's supporters hung on to television and radio commentaries, if not quite as grimly as Atherton and Russell. The captain's tempo was perfect, as he did not try an uncontrolled shot, and restricted his scoring arc to his favourite areas square of the wicket, yet he put away the bad ball to the boundary 28 times to stop the bowlers getting on top. Russell took more than his share of the strike and kept reminding his captain of England's collapse in the Barbados Test of 1989-90.
Cronje made little effort to disturb the batsmen's rhythm by varying his bowlers and fields. Donald had nothing left when the third ball was taken - and certainly no time to exploit it, owing to the timing of the delayed declaration. Atherton batted for 643 minutes in all - the fourth longest innings for England - and 492 balls, Russell for 277 minutes and 235 balls.
Men of the Match: M. A. Atherton and R. C. Russell. Attendance: 87,100.
Close of play: First day, South Africa 278-7 (S. M. Pollock 3*); Second day, South Africa 5-0 (A. C. Hudson 5*, G. Kirsten 0*); Third day, South Africa 296-6 (B. M. Macmillan 76*, S. M. Pollock 0*); Fourth day, England 167-4 (M. A. Atherton 82*, R. A. Smith 11*).


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By Steve Cichon
Longtime Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark was exactly the man he appeared to be in the quick soundbites you saw on TV or heard on the radio.
Like most who've held the title "District Attorney," Frank Clark had an insatiable passion for justice and very little time for those who tried to side-step it.
The difference with Frank Clark was the way he expressed that passion. His style displayed the grit forged as former Marine prosecutor, but also the humanity and humor of a man who clearly loved people and loved his job.
When he retired from the DA's office, I spent a day or two combing through WBEN's archives to put together a couple stories that were emblematic of Frank's style and also my appreciation for him– covering him and his office was one of my great joys in 20 years of broadcast journalism.
These stories won an Associated Press Award for Best Feature in 2009, and I've never been any more proud of an award. Frank loved it too– which made it one of my favorite stories, ever.
This is Frank Clark at his finest– making a point and turning a phrase. After he retired from the DA's office for health reasons, he remained a valuable legal resource for us at WBEN, and it was clear that he loved talking to us nearly as much. He loved getting worked up during a phone interview– which were often done while he was undergoing dialysis.
Brilliant, never plain in his plain-spokenness, a genuine good guy.
Rest in Peace, Mr. DA.


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On Monday April 3, 2000, Federal Judge Thomas Penfeld Jackson issued his ruling in the U.S. vs. Microsoft antitrust case. The verdict? Guilty. No big surprise there.
Still, this whole Microsoft trial has had me thinking….How did Microsoft get to be such a dominant force in the first place? Sure, they may have used some questionable business tactics, but what were the things they did well? Are there any lessons that the Linux community or Linux companies can learn from Microsoft? I think there just might be a few….
So how did Microsoft come to control so many standards in the software industry? Well, for one thing, they did it by setting the standards for people to write to. Now, I'm the first one to stand up and extol the virtues of the open source development methodology, but if it has one weakness, in my opinion, it's a lack of standards.
Say what you will about freedom of choice, when it comes to choosing a GUI, that freedom comes with a price. Programmers need standards to write to. If the average corporate developer looks into porting his GUI app from Windows to Linux, he will most likely be confused by the fact that Linux has more than one GUI — does the developer use KDE's Qt libraries, or would he be better off with GNOME's GTK+, or what about the Unix CDE standard Motif? In the face of this confusion, many programmers won't port their apps to Linux at all. So one could argue that we give up just as much freedom of choice (by not having those apps available) as we gain by having multiple GUI "standards."
The distro guys recognize the value of standards, and they've banded together to try to create the LSB (Linux Standards Base). Come to think of it, no one has ever complained about the fact that the Linux kernel itself is a de facto standard. Quite the opposite. People are increasingly worried about the potential for fragmenting Linux.
Recently, we had the opportunity to interview Jon "Maddog" Hall, a man who has done more than almost anyone else to evangelize and spread the word about Linux. One of the things he likes to make clear to every company that comes into the Linux community is that we simply cannot allow Linux to go the way of Unix. When it comes to kernels, "There Can Be Only One."
So why does everyone get so upset if someone suggests the idea of a "standardized" GUI with a "standardized" API? I wish that someone could give me a really good answer to this question….
See you next month,
Adam M. Goodman
Editor & Publisher
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I love donuts. They are one of my weaknesses. Unfortunately, we don't have any good donut shops close by… the nearest Krispy Kreme is over an hour away :(
Luckily I found a super easy and super yummy recipe on Pinterest for donuts. We tried it out the other day and I am hooked! I love how simple they are to make and that they come out ready to eat all hot and fresh whenever I want!
So here is the recipe for making donuts at home:
- Step 1: Open up a can of biscuits and cut into quarters
- Step 2: Plop them in oil for about one minute (make sure the oil is around 220° and remember to flip them half way through)
- Step 3: Remove and pat them off with a paper towel and then roll them in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar or douse in chocolate
Have you tried this or any other Pinterest recipe? Share it with us!!!


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Today's Social Sunday is brought to you by the number TWO:
1. If you were stuck on an island what are the two material items you would want to have?
Fishing hooks & a sturdy knife. :)2. What are two TV shows you'd watch over and over
Doctor Who & Grey's Anatomy.3. If your house was on fire what two things aside from family, pets, etc would you grab?
Aside from family & pets... Insurance information & photographs. Some stuff just can't be replaced.4. What are your two most favorite articles of clothing?
I have a black sweater that a friend bought me for Christmas that I absolutely love. Also my Source of Wisdom jeans from Torrid.5. What two movies that you saw in the past year would you recommend to us?
Wow, I pretty much live on Netflix. So, I have no idea what I would recommend. Probably the Zeitgeist films.6. What are your two biggest guilty pleasures?
The television show, Glee! That is one for sure! And, caramel drizzled chocolate covered pretzels. Oh, my, God!


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At first, phantom pain was thought to be triggered by crushed or damaged nerves at the amputation site. Now, it is known that the discomfort originates directly in the brain. The part of the brain responsible for the missing limb now has no job, and begins to fire when other parts of the body are stimulated. In some cases, stroking part of a patient's face will create the sensation of touching a missing limb.
That being the case, doctors have had some success at curing phantom limb pain by using mirror boxes to trick the brain into thinking the limb has been resurrected.
There are a couple of drawbacks to this treatment. For one thing, not all patients respond to the visual cues provided by the mirror. Perhaps more importantly, a person must have one completely sound and functional limb for the mirror to work.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology and Sahigrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden have been experimenting with virtual and enhanced reality systems to get around both of these drawbacks. They use computer algorithms to turn signals from the muscles left at the amputation site into instructions for moving a virtual limb. Because the signals originate in the amputated limb, rather than the opposite side of the body, the sensation is more vivid. Also, no intact limb is required for the therapy.
Credit: Ortiz-Catalan et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience
So far, the scientists were able to bring relief to one patient who had suffered from phantom limb pain since losing his arm nearly 50 years ago. After working with the system once or twice a week for ten weeks, the patient reported his first moments of being completely pain free:
These pain-free periods are something almost new to me and it is an extremely pleasant sensation.I'm sure it is. And let's hope he and others like him can enjoy many more pain-free moments thanks to this technology.


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Carrots Love Tomatoes - Companion Planting for Gardens
I am a "learn as you go" gardener. I plant first and figure it out second. I will be the first to say that it doesn't always work out the greatest. I had years and years of dismal gardens in Colorado. I have had a ton of success in Ohio, however the more I do learn, the more that I think it was luck rather than knowledge that has helped me up to this point. It's a good thing I do like to learn because that keeps me reading. I have wanted to read the book Carrots Love Tomatoes - Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening by Louise Riotte for a long time. I have no idea why I waited so long and now that I have read the book I wish I had read it years ago.
Carrots Love Tomatoes is a very easy read that is surprisingly full of wonderful information - much of it I had not ever heard before. As I mentioned previously I have been gardening for 14 years and have read a lot of books on the subject. To find so much new to me information was a nice surprise. Originally published in 1975 and revised and reprinted in 1998 Carrots Love Tomatoes is 206 pages and not only worth reading, but worth buying. Yes you read that right - me who almost never buys a book and always borrows from the library read the book I borrowed and then bought myself one to keep on hand at all times.
The book is divided into sections based on type of crop. Included are vegetables, herbs, wild plants, grasses, grains and field crops, fruit growing, nuts and ornamental trees and shrubs. In each chapter the book covers each food item one by one. There is a little bit of general information about each plant, how best to take care of it, plants it grows best with or likes to be paired with, as well as plants that it should avoid. Here is an example taken from page 22.
"Pea (Pisum sativum)
Peas grow well with carrots, turnips, radishes, cucumbers, corn, beans, and potatoes, as well as many aromatic herbs. They do not grow well with onions, garlic, and gladiolus.
Always plow pea vines under or return them to the compost pile. Wood ashes used around the base of pea vines help to control aphids."
There is a section on pest control with some old fashioned remedies that I have a feeling work better than anything I have tried to date. I am especially anxious to get rid of a rabbit feasting on my peas and am in the market for an old hose to cut up to look like a snake. I hope it works, since the other tidbit of information is that rabbits don't like onions and as we can see above peas and onions don't grow well together. I didn't know that before reading this book.
Carrots Love Tomatoes is a great book to have on hand especially when you are planning your garden each year. There are sample garden plans available in the back of the book to give you a better idea of how companion planting looks in real life. I dog eared so many pages to refer to in the future that by the end of the book I knew I had to own it. I have already use some of the information in my garden and can see positive results. If you are struggling with your garden and need some good old fashioned information and ideas, this is the book for you. Happy gardening!
Enjoyed reading this hub, I'll be employing some of the suggestions in my raised bed his year, Thanks!
I have heard of this kind of gardening before. I kinda have to agree with John Y. about the soil. I will have to check it out. I am sure there is a lot of good advice in Carrots Love Tomatoes. Thank you
My wife loved this book! It is a great gardening mehtod and works well with "Square Foot Gardening".
Jennifer, the problem with the truisms of companion planting is that they usually don't work. Everyone's soil and microclimate are too different. For example, Louis Riotte's mantra that legumes don't like alliums is very arguable. As a professional gardening author, I've often grown spring onions among bush beans and a friend, a market gardener, grows garlic around his climbing beans quite successfully.
Louis Riotte is the lady who once ingenuously argued that putting an electric horseshoe over plants increased their growth. By that logic, every plant grown under an electric pylon would be a giant. Frankly, Ms Riotte is one diode short of a semiconductor :)
I love your gardening style sounds exactly like mine. I have a terrace though and too try living frugally by growing tomatoes, peppers and zuccini there. Not with much success but lots of fun. I think I will try planting some carrots with them next year, that might be the secret.
I, too am a "learn as I go" gardener. This inofrmation is just great. Thanks
In regard to "learn as you go..." I learned to put the roots down first. They grow better!
Sound like a great book, I never knew it mattered. I will have to give it a go. I too borrow from the library. I order books and then have 4 or 5 waiting for me. I rarely buy a book that can be checked out. I might follow your lead with this though.
Thanks for sharing this Jennifer. Carrot loves tomatoes does sound interesting to me.
Thank you for such wonderful advise.


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Researches form the University of Kufa are published in a book of a Japanese University
Instructors from the Faculty of Engineering, Ph.D. Ali Hmood and M.A. Zainab Radeef, published a research entitled (A Study of the Characterizations of Environmental Composites). It is a whole chapter of the (Composites and their Properties) that was published by INTCH, which is an international publishing house where the 12th chapter was published (Characterizations of Environmental Composites) in a book entitled (Composites and their Properties ) for the Japanese professor Nening, the head of the Department of the Industrial Sciences at the University of Chieba. This is considered the first time Iraqi professors get to publish their researches in Japanese Universities.


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The Asia Pacific region is still key to the global downstream industry. While it was not immune to the global financial crisis in 2009, the region still provides select opportunities for growth. The future of the industry with market deregulation, liberalization, globalization, expansion, downsizing, and integration, in the face of financial crisis, investment downturn, volatile prices, and lower refining margins create not only challenges but opportunities for those with keen insights and vision.
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Interesting (fairly long) article discussing the premise that the human brain seems to have some capacity for solving non-computable problems (i.e not solvable with any Turing machine, no matter how large), And possible areas to consider how this might be possible. Of course, understanding how non-computable problems can be solve itself requires stepping outside the algorithmic world. He also addresses a lot of objections to the arguments.
If true, than despite the people who say AI is the salvation of humanity (Ray Kurzwell) or a danger to be approached cautiously (Elon Musk), real AI is not coming anytime soon.
Views: 212
Hey Jay,
Responding to your comment about "Real AI" not coming anytime soon, I think it is sneaking up on us fast and will have huge social and economic impacts long before we get to the Sci-Fi type AI, Singularity, etc.
It's not too soon for an AI Doomsday Clock,
Couldn't read this all. Too long and complicated. The parts I read didn't even address the way in which quantum randomness crosses scale in complex systems.
Tom, I think "failure to be the masters of our own creations" is already underway.
This is true when considering "turing" machines, however, quantum computers are capable of solving problems that can't be solved by "turing" machines and are vastly superior in their computing power as well. With quantum computing, I believe we will see a "quantum" shift in AI, pardon the pun. And that is when we will see self-aware and "conscious" computers. Then the world will become an interesting place indeed. Lawrence Krauss certainly believes so and who am I to disagree?
I continue to be leery of any form of AI, myself. As reference, consider any dystopian fiction regarding ultra-intelligent computers, whether you wish to cite Colossus: The Forbin Project, the HAL 9000 or Skynet. Even the First Officer of the Enterprise had similar reservations:
Computers make excellent and efficient servants; but I have no wish to serve under them.
-- Spock, Star Trek, "The Ultimate Computer"
The most likely future scenario is that we as humans will spawn a technology evolutionary branch which will evolve at a far greater are than us. Our position as dominant species on this planet will be usurped by the new technology and the only thing that can save us is if AI also develops some form of compassion. In any case, how much compassion can an advanced being have for its pet? Even if that pet was it's creator?
This is why I advocate a knife-switch at the mains power feed. It's pretty difficult to hack a double pole, single throw switch!
For an AI whose intelligence is beyond ours the way ours is beyond an ant's, or even a chimpanzee's, social-engineering us to not cut off the power would be trivial. (It could even get us to encase the switch in a glob of epoxy, as an idea we wanted for our own reasons.)
It's worth revisiting the discussion "Terminator Movies Too Comforting"! (Lots there about how a superintelligent AI wouldn't be "human" or "inhuman"; our well-being, freedom, and even existence could be either irrelevant or a threat to the AI's primary goal, whatever that is.)
From Tim Urban's article quoted there:
[...] there's a lot more money to be made funding innovative new AI technology than there is in funding AI safety research…
This may be the most important race in human history. There's a real chance we're finishing up our reign as the King of Earth—and whether we head next to a blissful retirement or straight to the gallows still hangs in the balance.
Technology has already turned human desire into a commodity. Biological beings might well be just a transitional phase in the continuing course of evolution. The Internet was at first considered a powerful and unstoppable tool for human liberation. It's quickly looking more like an unstoppable means of enslavement.
"As computer graphics get better, we believe all images less."
--Alan Warburton
Its amazing what you can do with Photoshop, these days, isn't it?
-- Rene Mathis, Casino Royale
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