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Regression the way of metal or just another word for Retro?
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Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 23732
Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:25 pm
Post subject: Regression the way of metal or just another word for Retro?
I think most of you here are fans of the old, be it old metal, old layouts, old underwear, old women, etc. At what point does regression turn into retro bandwagon crap like what we see in LA today? Is there such a thing as refreshingly old? To me there is something to be said about creating something new using the old formula that's worked for the past 25-30 years of metal history. I am not saying that there is nothing new that can be done with metal. I don't need a breakfast burrito with three kinds of cheese and whatever. Just give me a rice and beans burrito please.
I don't read DMs.
NWN carries all IBP releases.
IBP carries all NWN releases.
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Invictus Productions
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 673
Location: Dublin, IRELAND
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:46 pm
Post subject:
I think it has been that way since the second wave of early 90s Black Metal when long forgotten bands like Sodom, Frost/Hellhammer etc were being touted left, right and centre and when primitive sounds & styles were lauded. Retro fashion exists because, by and large, nothing that is created today is created with a genuine spark of creative evolution and trying to force things/challenge the status quo like Motorhead, the Sex Pistols, Venom etc did.
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Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 23732
Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:52 pm
Post subject:
I think there are plenty of bands trying to shake up the status quo. The difference between now and then is that most of these new bands suck. Just because they're doing something different doesn't mean that they are good. I'm talking about bands like newer DHG or Arcturus.
I don't read DMs.
NWN carries all IBP releases.
IBP carries all NWN releases.
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Invictus Productions
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 673
Location: Dublin, IRELAND
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:06 pm
Post subject:
NWN PROD wrote:
I think there are plenty of bands trying to shake up the status quo. The difference between now and then is that most of these new bands suck. Just because they're doing something different doesn't mean that they are good. I'm talking about bands like newer DHG or Arcturus.
People said the same in the 80s. When Frost did Into the Pandemonium they were laughed at by fans and media alike. Some fans understood what they were trying to do and it produced a whole wave of bands later on that began to evolve musically because of that one album. In ten odd years time people will look back at some of the sort of gear you mentioned like DHG (not me personally) and possibly see it in a similar context. I think a lot of retro bands are contrived whether they be Blasphemy clones or Exodus clones.
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Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 1405
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:57 pm
Post subject:
Retro, for the sake of being labeled retro, sucks. I will always prefer a clone copy of old Slayer than let's say an Emperor clone or a band trying to be too original. But if that Slayer clone is just doing it for the sake of a rising thrash popularity, no matter how good the music could be, it just will leave a bitter taste after all.
For new bands, more than a style, I am looking for passion of playing this music. For example Nocturnal Graves, although they can be compared to many bands, they are the kind of music that nowadays I like, and they do not intend to be retro for the sake of it. And they can be labeled as a new band. By the way, one of my fave releases, great job Yosuke!
On the other hand, bands like Bonded by Blood are just a pathetic excuse to play metal.
This might have been ignited by those countless reunion$. To be honest, it is really sad to see so many of my old time heroes to be such a poor copy of themselves, yet they are a great for marketing purposes.
I guess that fashion, in all forms tends to repeat itself after a while, and now it is turn for metal. Probably the only good thing will be a temporal revival for vynil (to be as ld school as possible) but that's about it.
Unbound celestial assassins...
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krawling kaos
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 194
Location: Chicago
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:03 pm
Post subject:
I think the primary difference is spirit; and because it's such an intangible quality, it's really hard to explain why some bands so clearly suck, while other bands absolutely slay.
It's hard to see originality in the present, because these things are cyclical; nothing is formed without some evolutionary precursor. I think when you have a trend or movement, there's a first wave of people that move on really quickly; to them it was just a fashion statement or whatever (like the first wave of punk, or 70s hard rock). Then the second wave, like the originator's younger siblings, embrace it for it's own sake, not because it's the trend , but because they genuinely dig it(this is where hardcore punk and NWOBHM comes in). Because they are approaching it on their own terms, they mutate it, making it their own rather the going by the dictated formula. So the evolution comes from the old spirit being carried on by the younger generation; a synthesis of old and new. At least that's what Hegel would say ha ha!
So, if you go to Chicago, you'll have the best burritos in the world. But then if you try to recreate that back home, you'll start the new burrito generation. NWOBHM=New Wave of Burrito Hungy Masses!
"Great holes secretley are digged where earth's pores ought to suffice, and things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl..."
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krawling kaos
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 194
Location: Chicago
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:07 pm
Post subject:
Oh yeah, to get back to the original point: I guess the difference between the retro crap and brilliant stuff in the old vein is if you are embracing it as a trend, or just doing what you love. If you do what you love, it kinda becomes your own anyway, because you put your spirit into it. Yeah, I like talking; gift of gab, right?
"Great holes secretley are digged where earth's pores ought to suffice, and things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl..."
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:22 pm
Post subject:
In a few years we'll see if it was just a trend or there was something true behind all those bands playing old school music.
I think my band is not retro, but old school. Mainly because we don't want to sound like X band, we want to have our own sound, but respecting the values of the old school. I think that's the difference between trendy bands and bands that play old school style. For example, when I listen to Violator and all those bands, I get bored and wonder why I am listening to that instead of Hirax, Exodus, Destruction. Those bands don't give me anything that the other bands already have. But when I listen to Funerot I feel like listening a totally fresh band, even though they play old school thrash and aren't pushing the boundaries or anything of the sort.
I don't know if I explained it well, because is hard to put the sensations you have with music in words, and even harder if it's in a foreign language.
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Blood Of Von
Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 812
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:07 pm
Post subject:
for us old farts on here, it's simply the music we grew up with and know and respect most. I personally find, for my taste , the olden days of metal far better than todays, even though there are some fucking ripping and "honest" bands around (in regards to their music and why they are doing it)
I listen to the older vinyl in my collection that I grew up with far more than I do the more recent. I agree, I would rather a slayer clone, than and emperor clone, as long as it's done "honestly". I think this is an "issue" in other forms of music as well, not just metal.
At the same time though... a band that's doing something "different/original and well performed" can be totally slammed for it. So it's "Damned if you fucking do, Damned if you fucking don't"
Glorious Dawn Upon The Plateau Of Might Now Burns!!
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Endless Morbidity
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 2108
Location: New York
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:19 pm
Post subject:
There is nothing to over analyze. The old bands were better, it's as simple as that. In the 80's there was distinct differences between all the bands and they wrote memorable songs. They didn't sound like anything else, because there wasn't much of anything else and everyone would strive to have a unique face.
What I don't understand is peoples need for more. This need to progress, this need for more records. What use is a parody like Merciless Death when you can listen to "Bonded by Blood" or "Possessed by Fire"? Why the fuck should I spend hard earned dollars on Warhammer when I can listen to "Apocalyptic Raids"?
Retro Thrash bands are moronic, but at the same time terms like "old school" are useless too, because any real Metal band is just a continuum of the 80's and early 90's. It's just that few are able to do it with any conviction or originality.
Simply put, most bands today are shit. But I'm not complaining, because there are enough old records and the few good bands today are good enough to keep me satisfied.
I think most people whine about how poor "the scene" is, because all they want is a social club and they will root on any worthless band who say the right things. I never needed the company of others to enjoy a record, so let "the scene" burn!
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Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 2747
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:27 pm
Post subject:
I agree totally with Endless Morbidity. Mostly on the scene part. I've always disliked scenes, never wanted to be part of one. I hate how everyone likes to put you in a corner just because they know you listen to some more "Extreme" music then they do...so you're automatically put as a metalhead with these other numbskulls who just use it as a fashion statement than really enjoying the music. Probably the reason I just like to listen to music alone...cause I don't feel any of my friends appreciate it as much as I do. And I'm not saying that as being closed-minded, but I dislike being mocked for the music I listen to.
And again with the "retro" bands. There are so many from where I live...it's ridiculous, and they treat it like it's their own thing when they are a huge lie in front of a bunch of eat-it-up high schoolers.
But like I said, I just keep my own things to myself and that's about it
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Joined: 05 Jan 2008
Posts: 369
Location: Sodom
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:28 am
Post subject:
retro bands = the organic burrito? Or free range burritos.... (burritos, running free through the fields and rivers) Whilst the first ones with the idea were honest about their intentions, it's since been abused by others, just another money making sceme.
But I couldn't agree fully on the 80's being a pure age. There were shit bands then, and there are shit bands now. Just that all the unoriginal ones from 20 years ago have been forgotten. And drummings inproved ALOT over the past 20 years. There are still plenty of diamonds left to dig up in the fields of shit, you've just got to be willing to look for them.
Perhaps one problem is that bands these days don't have varied enough influences (the first wave bands would listen to everything from Rush, Kiss to Blue Cheer. And I'm sure that Blasphemy, Root and Samael mention alot of Classical work in interviews - Stravisky etc) whilst now it's all from one single genre- trying to recreate their heroes.
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Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 1267
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:07 am
Post subject:
Thazz some shit I've been contemplating a lot before, too, like were those old bands and releases simply better, or is it plainly because you grew up with them, and that's the plain and simple reason I prefer HELLHAMMER and VENOM over _________(insert modern band name of your liking here)? I actually don't want to dwell exclusively in the past, and I think there's still some really great Metal released nowadays, but the main problem is obviously, that nearly EVERYone has the urge to do SOMETHING just for the sake of it, be it forming a band, operating a label from your grannies cellar or coming up with a kvlt zine. I don't want to sound pretentious, but when observing all that MASSIVE slab of mediocre "Metal"-related releases, one should really start questioning the impulse behind it... And don't even get me started about the "scene"!! Irish mate "Invictus Productions" came up with the "Pandemonium"-era FROST vs. DHG comparison and although I perfectly get your point, I sincerely DON'T think that "666 International" will receive the same status after a decade (or so) has gone by, simply because the impulse (there you go again) wasn't the same. You can be as retro as Hell itself or as "original" and daring as possible, if it is just for the sake of it, it's bloody useless!! If music isn't deriving from a particular impulse, and just "conceived" it may be even OK, but will eventually not stand the test of time. Why do people still, after all those years, talk about "Apocalyptic Raids" "Black Metal" or "Don't Break The Oath", although there's been zillions of albums following? Simply because those were the ones that had the IT factor (as I call it)!! The same with early BLACK SABBATH albums, that still attract several generations after their initial releases. It's all about the impulse not about "participating"!!
"Slit my eyes, for they'll remember..."
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Hellfire Commando
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 2655
Location: Lac Simon, Canada
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:27 am
Post subject:
I dont know about you guys, but I certainly feel/hear it when I hear a band that tries to live a past that never existed, and a band that plays for themselves because they just live for music.
Cochino, I was just listening to FUNEROT yesterday afternoon and was telling myself the same thing. This band plays really fast thrash but doesnt sound like they want to imitate a million other bands. It clearly shows that they do it for themselves. Same thing with ARES KINGDOM, NOCTURNAL GRAVES etc.
Yosuke, ever heard AFTER THE BOMBS? Sure, they are labeled crust but fuck, their latest EP Relentless Onslaught is really something
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Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3421
Location: Athens, GA
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:59 am
Post subject:
Plenty of bands do bad, thrift store versions of the music they are influenced by. A rare few sound like they could be from that era themselves, or are carrying the torch with due respect and the right spirit behind it. For me it's just a gut feeling when I listen to 'em. Pentacle is a perfect example - you could point out a hundred (or a thousand) retro-death bands that are just boring, but Pentacle gets it completely right, at least to me.
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Want to be a rental property owner? Here's some good and bad news for you.
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A simple way to do a quick analysis is to take the conservatively estimated monthly rental income and divide it by the purchase price of the house. You still need to pencil out your deal with rents and actual conservatively estimated expenses, but this back-of-the-napkin test is a quick and easy test to see if it makes sense.
Example of a good deal: If you can collect $1,600 per month in rent and you paid $200,000 for the property, you are collecting rent that is 0.8 percent of the purchase price (0.8 percent = 80 basis points in financial terms). And that's probably a really fair deal.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Another Project Euler problem has me checking the internet again. Among other conditions, four of my variables satisfy:
$$a^2+b^2+c^2=d^2 .$$
According to Wikipedia, this is known as a Pythagorean Quadruple. It goes on to say all quadruples can be generated from an odd value of $a$ and an even value of $b$ as:
$$c=\frac{a^2+b^2-p^2}{2}, \quad d=\frac{a^2+b^2+p^2}{2} ,$$
where $p$ is any factor of $a^2+b^2$ that satisfies $p^2<a^2+b^2$.
However, I can't see how or why this works. I also can't seem to see how this works for $\lbrace 4,4,7,9 \rbrace$. Am I missing something here?


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Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
On-line version ISSN 2219-0635
Print version ISSN 0030-2465
Onderstepoort j. vet. res. vol.82 n.1 Pretoria 2015
Spatio-temporal patterns and movement analysis of pigs from smallholder farms and implications for African swine fever spread, Limpopo province, South Africa
Folorunso O. FasinaI; Japhta M. MokoeleI, II; B. Tom SpencerI; Leo A.M.L. van LeengoedI, III; Yvette BevisIV; Ingrid BooysenIV
IDepartment of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa
IILimpopo Department of Agriculture, Groblersdal, South Africa
IIIDepartment of Farm Animal Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
IVCentre for Geoinformation Science, Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Infectious and zoonotic disease outbreaks have been linked to increasing volumes of legal and illegal trade. Spatio-temporal and trade network analyses have been used to evaluate the risks associated with these challenges elsewhere, but few details are available for the pig sector in South Africa. Regarding pig diseases, Limpopo province is important as the greater part of the province falls within the African swine fever control area. Emerging small-scale pig farmers in Limpopo perceived pig production as an important means of improving their livelihood and an alternative investment. They engage in trading and marketing their products with a potential risk to animal health, because the preferred markets often facilitate potential longdistance spread and disease dispersal over broad geographic areas. In this study, we explored the interconnectedness of smallholder pig farmers in Limpopo, determined the weaknesses and critical control points, and projected interventions that policy makers can implement to reduce the risks to pig health. The geo-coordinates of surveyed farms were used to draw maps, links and networks. Predictive risks to pigs were determined through the analyses of trade networks, and the relationship to previous outbreaks of African swine fever was postulated. Auction points were identified as high-risk areas for the spread of animal diseases. Veterinary authorities should prioritise focused surveillance and diagnostic efforts in Limpopo. Early disease detection and prompt eradication should be targeted and messages promoting enhanced biosecurity to smallholder farmers are advocated. The system may also benefit from the restructuring of marketing and auction networks. Since geographic factors and networks can rapidly facilitate pig disease dispersal over large areas, a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the complexities that exist around the animal disease epidemiology becomes mandatory.
Infectious and zoonotic diseases outbreaks have intensified in past decades through more intense interconnectedness, rapid transport, the opening-up of borders and increasing volumes of legal and illegal trades (Jones et al. 2013; Perry, Grace & Sones 2013). Spatio-temporal analyses have been used in veterinary medicine and other fields in recent times (Jiang, Ediger & Bader 2009; Paul & Dasgupta 2012; Rivas et al. 2012). Specifically, geographic factors such as roads, water bodies, distances from other outbreaks and markets, among other factors, have been found to play important roles in disease transmission (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO] 2013; Jori et al. 2009; Korennoy et al. 2014; Pastrana et al. 2014; Rivas et al. 2010, 2012; Sánchez-Vizcaíno, Mur & Mártinez-López 2012). In addition, trade practices have played major roles in the spread of infectious diseases among livestock (Fournié et al. 2013; McCarron et al. 2015).
Limpopo province is very important in the epidemiology of some transboundary animal diseases in South Africa. In particular, the province has been designated as a control zone for African swine fever together with certain areas of the North West and Mpumalanga provinces (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry [DAFF] n.d.; Penrith 2013). Furthermore, the province provides an active domestic animal-wildlife-human interface, making it an ideal location for One Health studies involving zoonoses or disease interactions between wildlife and domestic animals.
Pig production systems and the particular contributions of the emerging small-scale pig farms (ESSPF) in the Limpopo have been described recently (Mokoele et al. 2014). However, the presence of a deeprooted dual market structure remains a major challenge facing small-scale pig producers in the province (Antwi & Seahlodi 2011). While the commercial pig farmers use the formal markets (standard abattoirs, processing plants and supermarkets), the ESSPF farmers can access only the informal markets (local auctions, backyard slaughter, pension sale points and local abattoirs/slaughter slabs).
The most popular auction point and abattoir used by the ESSPFs from Limpopo are Belfast (Mpumalanga) and Bronkhorstspruit (Gauteng) respectively. These locations, which are outside the province, present the ESSPFs with better marketing opportunities and higher incomes for their products. While the commercial interests of the ESSPFs are being secured through these more affluent markets, breach of biosecurity remains evident and the risk of introducing infectious pathogens to non-endemic areas remains high, with imminent threats to the pig industry nationally. Martínez-López, Pérez and Sánchez-Vizcaíno (2009) and Lindstróm et al. (2009) have previously identified such risks elsewhere.
ASF is a severe, highly transmissible viral infection of domestic pigs that manifests itself as a haemorrhagic fever, which can cause mortality of up to 100% in domestic pigs with consequent devastating effects on the livelihoods of farmers who depend on pig production (Bastos, Fasina & King 2014; de Glanville et al. 2014; Fasina et al. 2012a; Penrith 2013). To date, three types of epidemiological cycle have been described for ASF in southern Africa (Penrith, Thomson & Bastos 2004).
Historical perspective on the disease in South Africa with emphasis on Limpopo
The first documented outbreak of ASF in South Africa was recorded in 1928 and this was related to contact between wild pigs and domestic pigs (Penrith 2013; Penrith & Vosloo 2009). Between 1933 and 1939, historical outbreaks of swine fever were documented (De Kock, Robinson & Keppel 1940); cases may have been classical or African swine fever, as no clear distinction was established between the two diseases in earlier years (Penrith 2013). Since 1939, South Africa has experienced only sporadic outbreaks that have been limited to the ASF-controlled zones of Limpopo and the Kruger National Park (Boshoff et al. 2007). Although parts of the North West province are designated within the control zones, ASF had not been reported there (DAFF 2014, Table 1). Recent events have, however, proved that the virus, although contained, has the capacity to spread rapidly from the controlled areas to new locations within South Africa (Table 1).
In South Africa between 1993 and 2012, 1309 cases of ASF were documented between 1993 and 2012 from 71 outbreaks in South Africa (Table 1; DAFF 2014). Limpopo has accounted for 76.1% of all outbreaks to date and the majority of outbreaks from other provinces have links with Limpopo (Table 1).
In September-October 2011, Mpumalanga and Gauteng experienced the first outbreak of ASF to occur outside the control area in recent times. Briefly, some pigs died in a small piggery within the ASF control area in Lephalale (Ellisras), Limpopo with the subsequent sale of surviving pigs at an auction in Sundra, Mpumalanga, and their transportation to Rietpoort abattoir in Gauteng. By January 2012, a total of 172 farms including some 10 374 pigs have had primary or secondary contacts with the index farm and only the prompt and co-ordinated intervention of the meat inspectors, private and government veterinarians, the industry and the laboratory (Transboundary Animal Diseases Programme (TADP)) curtailed the outbreaks and eradicated the infections (Evans 2012; Spencer 2012; Spencer & Penrith 2014).
In this study, we used the spatio-temporal data of locations, possible interactions and marketing structures practised by the emerging small-scale farming communities in Limpopo to draw a network of ESSPF, conduct some spatio-temporal analyses and integrate the outcomes with historical and recent reports of ASF outbreaks in South Africa to map the probable risk, spread and consequences of ASF. In addition, because Limpopo has played a significant role in the outbreaks and dissemination of ASF in South Africa and the province has been declared an ASF-endemic location, we used ASF as a model for a rapidly spreading transboundary animal disease amongst pig populations.
Materials and methods
Data collection
As part of the questionnaire survey conducted for a study on the production systems and dynamics of the ESSPF in Limpopo (Mokoele et al. 2014), the geo-coordinates of all the surveyed ESSPF were obtained using the Garmin Nuvi® or the Nokia Lumia 635® and entered into a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Briefly, Limpopo consists of five districts, namely Sekhukhune, Capricorn, Waterberg, Vhembe and Mopani. A purposive sampling method was targeted at all the available ESSPF farmers (n = 185) in these districts.
An original list of 85 small-scale pig farmers was produced by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture but an additional 100 farms that fall within this category but were not listed were recruited into the survey because the preliminary evidence from the field suggested that there were many unlisted ESSPF in the province. The inclusion criterion for the present study was pig farms with < 50 sows, located within the five districts of Limpopo that have been active in pig production for at least one year (Mokoele et al. 2014). A participatory research model approach was used to collect information from the farmers (Raman, Sanghi & Chambers 1989).
Of the 185 ESSPFs sent questionnaires, a total of 164 (88.65%) participated fully and filled in the questionnaires completely. All the data were entered into Microsoft Excel® and checked for consistency, correctness and validity. A preliminary map was drawn to check that all the places surveyed fell within the correct locations within Limpopo, based on the data obtained.
Data were formatted to meet the need for cartography software in ESRI's ArcGIS/ArcView, the R and the NodeXL software and exported appropriately. Extracts of the reports on the ASF outbreaks to date in South Africa were integrated into the final social network maps in order to predict the risk of ASF and advise on intervention strategies.
Data analyses
Cartography, point mapping and one-way linkages
ESRI's ArcGIS 10.1 software was used to add into the GIS all the specified geographic co-ordinates of the ESSPF farmers as XY co-ordinate data. The resulting event layer was then displayed as a point symbol (red dot) portraying the locations of the small-scale pig farmers on an administrative map of Limpopo (Figure 1, Census 2011). Additional fields were added to the initial attribute table of the feature to enable the selection of farms by their designated abattoir. Thereafter the 'XY to Line' feature tool was used to construct geodetic lines or linkages (Figures 2a and 2b) representing the shortest distance between the farm and the destination point (the abattoir or auction point). Pig farmers who used local slaughtering points within their localities were represented by symbols (red dots) on these two maps. In addition, layers of the primary and secondary road networks within Limpopo and contiguous provinces were made on the map previously generated (Figure 3).
Social network analyses
Unidirectional networks: Firstly, filtered data were imported from the open Microsoft Excel® workbook into the NodeXL environment and manipulated appropriately for analyses based on the software manufacturer's instructions (NodeXL version 188.8.131.526, Connected Action). Unidirectional graphs with 28 vertices were produced. The graph's vertices were grouped by cluster using the Clauset-Newman-Moore cluster algorithm and laid out using the Harel-Koren Fast Multiscale layout algorithm. The edge colours, widths and opacity were based on edge weight values. The vertex sizes were based on betweenness centrality (BC) values. For emphasis, a graph or network is a set of vertices and edges connected together [G = (V, E)], edge [E] is an association linking two vertices, and vertices [V] are points or locations joined by edges (Jiang et al. 2009).
Multidirectional graphs: In the second instance, data were exported into the R software environment and mapped for in-going (in-degrees) and out-going (out-degrees) contacts using the modified method of Noremark and Widgren (2015). Multidirectional graphs were produced separately for in-degree and out-degree links. In addition, the k-cores (strength of contribution of each vertex in the total network) were produced based on the number of links that influence each vertex.
Farm characteristics and trade relationship
A total of 164 ESSPF were categorised based on the number of sow units (SU) as follows: 1-10 SU (n= 124; median = 4, CI95% = 4-5); 11-20 SU (n = 17; median = 15, CI95% = 13-16); 21-30 SU (n= 7; median = 26, CI95% = 23-29); 31-40 SU (n = 2; median = 38, CI95% = 6-69); 41-50 SU (n = 1; median = not applicable, CI95% = not applicable). An abattoir was the preferred slaughter point for the majority of respondents (105/164; 64%) and the abattoir of choice for the ESSPF from Limpopo was Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng (55.9%) and Phalaborwa (26.2%) and Thabazimbi (10.4%), both located in Limpopo. A total of 97.6% of the surveyed ESSPF preferably chose the Belfast auction in Mpumalanga to source their pigs or sell whole animals (Figures 2a and 2b). Importantly, some ESSPFs (34.1%), especially those from Capricorn district prefer to slaughter pigs within the communities or at pension points (Figures 2a and 2b). Up to 306 pigs were marketed monthly (mean/month = 283) by the surveyed farmers and a total of 3396 pigs were sold in the year 2011 preceding the survey.
The ESSPFs were randomly dispersed throughout Limpopo, with a tendency for greater farm concentrations around Capricorn, Mopani and Greater Sekhukhune districts (Figure 1). However, no specific pattern exists for the farm distributions or choice of slaughter or sale facility and for the distances from the closest national or secondary road(s) to the farms (Table 2; Figure 3).
The average distances between each of the slaughter or sale locations and the nearest national or secondary road networks are shown in Table 2. In addition, the distance covered to travel with the animals to the Belfast auction may be as short as 50 km up to a distance of about 400 km. The distances travelled to get to local abattoirs or slaughter points were within 5 km for local slaughter points, 150 km for Phalaborwa abattoir, 200 km for Thabazimbi abattoir and up to 400 km for Bronkhorstspruit abattoir (Figures 2a and 2b; Mokoele et al. 2014). The preferred means of transportation includes own vehicle (34.5%), hired vehicle (5.4%), shared vehicle (1.4%) and other means (58.8%, n = 148).
Social network analyses
Using the in-going (in-degree) and out-going (out-degree) movement to and from the vertices, the most important nodes for disease spread are locations (Phalaborwa, Tzaneen, Belfast auction, Bronkhorstspruit abattoir, Elias Motsoaledi, Molemole), pension points or local markets, Tubatse, local slaughter points and Polokwane in that order (Figures 2a and 2b, 4-7). Phalaborwa also has the highest degree of centrality whereas the top ten vertices ranked by BC were the local slaughter points, Phalaborwa, Thabazimbi, Bronkhorstspruit, Molemole, Ephraim Mogale, Letaba, Tzaneen, Makhado and Blouberg (see Figure 5 and Online Appendix 2).
Overall, the unidirectional graph has 28 vertices and 2 unique edges with a total of 161 edges. There were 4 connected components with an average geodesic distance (shortest path between points) of 1.48. The graph density (a function of the edges and vertices that make up a network) had a value of 0.06 and an average clustering coefficient (a measure of the degree to which nodes cluster together within the network) of 0.000 (Online Appendix 2).
This study revealed that informal pig movements and trade networks in Limpopo exist. While we did not investigate the specific role of each farmer and the middlemen, we confirmed that trade-associated short and long-distance movements of pigs and pig products exist within the province (5 km -400 km).
Monthly, up to 306 pigs may be transported individually or collectively in shared facilities over a short or long distance to major abattoirs or auction points and these transports may facilitate long-distance risk of disease dispersal. In a case of a rapidly spreading disease outbreak, trade by these farmers could facilitate the rapid spread of disease across broad geographic areas as was the case of the Lephalale-Sundra-Rietpoort (Limpopo-Mpumalanga-Gauteng) African swine fever outbreak of 2011-2012. It will be necessary to target the ESSPFs and associated downstream sector traders in this sector for animal health and biosecurity training. In addition, animal health intervention and prevention strategies should target these ESSPF (McCarron et al. 2015). Previous reports have confirmed that the majority of the past outbreaks of ASF have involved ESSPF from Limpopo (DAFF 2014).
Several important nodes (towns and cities) with high levels of interactions and the potential to contribute to or rapidly spread pig pathogens inadvertently were identified. These nodes acted as dispersal and sometimes collection points. Phalaborwa, Thabazimbi, Bronkhorstspruit and Belfast are among such important points and there is a need to create surveillance points and inspection nodes around these locations. The first two locations are within Limpopo but the last two are located in the adjacent Gauteng and Mpumalanga, where higher market values are the main drivers for the ESSPFs travelling these distances. It will be important to improve pig marketing locally and add value to pork products in Limpopo to discourage long-distance travel, because such trips can pose a risk of spread of infection outside the control area. Although a movement control policy is implemented in South Africa, which includes a prohibition of the movement of pigs out of the ASF control area without a veterinary permit only issued under specified conditions, emergency situations and economic imperatives often challenge such policies. There is therefore a need for enhanced vigilance on the part of the authorities, including active surveillance and participatory epidemiology among the ESSPFs.
In addition, there is a need to motivate ESSPF to apply good farming practice with improved biosecurity, which will be rewarded by access to a scaled-up pricing system for pork certified by local veterinarians through a government support system (Fasina et al. 2010, 2012b; Logar 2014).
Since local slaughter and pension point sales were also revealed as important trade nodes, these activities may conceal the existence of subclinical infections and prevent early detection of rapidly spreading transboundary animal diseases. Limpopo is of major interest because the great majority of ASF outbreaks over decades have occurred or originated there. It is an important disease node not only for ASF but potentially for other pig diseases.
While the movement of pigs between farms was not evaluated in this study, we are aware that such movements exist (Mokoele et al. 2014). Social networks associated with pig farms are important factors in the transmission of infectious diseases (Leslie et al. 2015). Our model has identified local slaughter points and other abattoirs as potentially having the greatest influence on disease dispersal. Strict anticipatory planning should be implemented in these locations and controlled slaughter should be encouraged (Kao et al. 2007; Lindstróm et al. 2010).
Our evaluation and analyses are based on certain assumptions. First, we assumed that the records are complete and the data used in the evaluations are accurate; it is important for recording officials to pay particular attention to data entry in the future, as critical analysis based on available data may be warranted. We have made every effort to verify the data and confirm certain facts where there are doubts; secondly, we did not discriminate between respondents, partial respondents and non-respondents as we eliminated all partially filled-in questionnaires. This resulted in differing denominators and may sometimes hide some important answers. Some degree of recall bias may have occurred with regard to certain questions that made reference to the past years. Moreover, since only the surveyed farmers were included in the networks, it is possible that some other smallholder pig farmers exist whose inclusion may significantly influence and change the strengths and directions of the networks. Thirdly, the social network analytic method used in this study has certain limitations including the following:
An assumption that all disease algorithms often exhibit 'small world' properties in a situation of close interconnectedness in temporal and spatial locality (Jiang et al. 2009); in the real world this may not always be true.
An assumption that an analysis kernel of BC can resolve all complexities of interconnectedness by measuring the shortest distances passing through vertices (Freeman 1977).
The networks can sometimes identify false positive edges and false negatives especially where background noises are high in the dataset (Ufimtsev & Bhowmick 2013). False positives may arise when two vertices have low to medium BC scores, which can combine to produce one with a high BC score. We have reduced this by creating four different networks for each identified node.
Finally, the threshold in a given group testing may be affected by the false positive BC values. We have corrected for this influence in the course of the modelling.
In conclusion, we have produced evidence that geographic factors and trade-movement networks played roles in ASF dynamics and dispersal in South Africa and that managing these in Limpopo province is critical for pig disease control.
The degree of interconnectedness of the ESSPF in the province may facilitate disease spread by people, trade, animal movements and also possible sharing of transport and farm equipment as has been describe elsewhere (Kao et al. 2007; Leslie et al. 2015). While we have made effort to integrate the dynamics of recent and historical outbreaks of ASF in South Africa geo-temporally, it will be worthwhile to re-evaluate the specifics of the Lephalale-Sundra-Rietpoort outbreak of 20112012 and determine quantitatively the potential implications of 'along-the-road networks', the effect of delayed response due to travel time to auction time and treatment using antibiotics. These may reveal important hidden evidence of disease dynamics in the pig industry in South Africa
We acknowledge the Limpopo Department of Agriculture as the provider of funds for this survey as part of a postgraduate programme through the Human Resource Development Section, the Director of Veterinary Services in Limpopo province, Dr Mampane, and his team of managers in the districts and all the veterinary officials for their help with the collection of data in their respective districts. The Department of Production Animal Studies and the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort partially supported this work with funding and resources. We thank Marc A. Smith and the team at Connected Action Consulting Group (http://www.connectedaction.net/) for assistance with SNA mapping. We gratefully acknowledge the input of Assoc. Prof. Eric Etter (University of Pretoria) for assistance with multidirectional SNA.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
Authors' contributions
F.O.F. (University of Pretoria) and J.M.M. (University of Pretoria) designed the study. J.M.M. carried out the field survey. F.O.F. carried out the statistical analyses. B.T.S (University of Pretoria) and L.A.M.L.v.L. (University of Pretoria) supervised the project. Y.B. (University of Pretoria) and I.B. (University of Pretoria) drew the maps and contributed materials for the study. All the authors contributed to the writing and revision of the manuscript and its final approval. F.O.F. was the project coordinator.
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Folorunso Fasina
Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110
South Africa
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received: 24 June 2014
Accepted: 28 Aug. 2015
Published: 27 Nov. 2015


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A new leading committee was elected after the veterans went to Erets Israel. Its members were Nekhama Lunin, Borukh Mordkhe Meyirson, Kopl Kagan, Isroel Berkovitsh Benyomin Kleynbord, Peshke Rogovin and Eliezer Maza as the nest head.
The nest members increased to hundred sixty Brothers and Sisters during the last years before WWII. Influenced by their teachers Yakov Lifshits and Gliker many Tarbut students and graduates joined the nest.
Mr Aron Propus the Beytar governor in Poland arrived in Volozhin to give the nest an award of excellence.
The years passed, years of hope and faith until the skies darkened and announced the disasters of the oncoming war. The events developed rapidly. The Polish rule collapsed quickly after the outbreak of the war. The Soviets occupied Volozhin two weeks later. Tsviya Maza, Dovid Shmerkovitsh and Tzipora Shepsenwoll ran to Borukh Mordkhe Meyirson, took the keys to the nest, went to the hall, opened its doors, gathered all documents they could find and burnt them. They dug a hole and concealed the banner and the award of excellence inside it. The Beytar members knew what they might expect from the Bolsheviks. They decided to leave Volozhin and strive to reach Palestine.
Some Beytarim ran away from Volozhin and went to Vilna, from where it was possible to emigrate. Among them were: Sara Bunimovitsh, Nekhama Lunin, Tsvi Lunin, Borukh Mordkhe Meyirson, Yakov Finger, Yakov Kagan, Peshke Rogovin, Leybl Shvartzberg, Dovid Shmerkovitsh, Hay-Liba Shepsnvol, Tsipora Shepsnvol.
Dovid Shmerkovitsh brought the can with the award and banner to Vilna. The banner was concealed again this time in the soil of Vilna. The award was given to Tsipora Shepsnvoll. She guarded it during all her wanderings and brought it finally in Israel.
Translator's note
Bela Saliternik-Kramnik has kept a copy of the award.
She asked me to scan and to put it on line.
The Beytar organization was active in Volozhin during eleven years. The Beytar organization became the leading Zionist movement in our town. Due to the inspiration of Beytar two organizations were founded in Volozhin: the Revisionist- Zionist Union, headed by Shlomo Hayim Broodno and Avram Tsart; and the second one, The Soldiers League headed by Avrom Berkovitsh, Shneur Kivilevitsh, Onie Rubin and others, all of them soldiers in the past.
Beytar graduates and Soldiers league members during the
visit of Lipa Leviatan from Erets Israel on November 13, 1934
From Left to Right, Rows from above down:
1st row: Hayim Itshe Ore, Feygl Kramnik, Benyomin Kleynbord, Shriro, Rasl Shlosberg, Asher Yotser's daughter, Tsila Perski, Leybl Shalman, Tsviya Lunin, Pessah Berman, Freydl Kramnik, Yona Shapiro
[Page 422]
The Hakhshara was lodged in a small house near Polak's sawmill where we worked to earn our piece of bread. The Hakhshara house contained a small dining room, a kitchen and a bedroom common to all of us. It was impossible to put forty beds in a so small an area. We installed two surfaces along the room's length, one over the other, made from boards. It served us as a long common two-story sleeping bed. We did sleep very densely, young boys and girls, but as well as I can remember the behavior was irreproachable, compatible with the Shomer Hatsayir spirit.
We were young girls but our work was very hard. However we did not grouse. It was our way of life, we wanted it and chose it. At the sawmill we gathered the saw dust (so called opilki) from under the sawing machines, put it into sacs and dragged it on our shoulders to the saw-dust hill where the sacs were emptied to repeat the cycle anew.
The other frequent job was the dragging the fall-out from sawing the boards sides (so called obrezki). We pulled it in bundles shaped as long besoms with the ends dragged upon the soil.
Some days we we arranged the sawn boards length and width into high quadratic towers. Another manner of bread winning was wood cutting. We would be rented by shtetl house owners to saw wood lumbers to pieces 15 length and then to cut the short but thick pieces to make them suitable to be put in oven. It was hard work in the shtetl courtyards. The price of our work was very low, and there were days we were unemployed.
No wonder our nourishment was poor: bread, potatoes, tea and potage. Our most preferred dish was fresh black Russian bread and we will remember our benefactor, Hirshl the baker who let us have his good and so tasty bread in never ending credit.
Not only the Baker, most of Volozhin inhabitants received us in a friendly way and tried to help. I was sent to the more wealthy houses as a seamstress. I had to cut material and to sew underwear. But my experience in this work was almost zero and I did more dammage than was useful. Despite this my employers were gentle, did not reprimand me and paid my fee.
We were proud with our hard labor and of the style of common life. We were pedantic about guarding the rules of equality.
We had our leisure culture: Singing in common for long hours, reading, typical Kibbutz conversations, and walking around the Shtetl.
We had a frightful experience in common with the town inhabitants. A Volozhin Jew was murdered on his way to a nearby hamlet. The bandit was caught. All of us we went to see his execution by hanging. Until now I can see the drama: The green meadow, the hangman dressed in black, the sun in the skies, the brigand without expression led to his death and the stool overturned from under his feet.
A murderer had been punished. Who will revenge the innocent blood of the thousands of Volozhin Jews? Who will punish their murderers? How can we imagine Jewish Volozhin without Jews?
Hashomer Hatsayir in Volozhin 1934
Standing from left to right: From Vilna, Gitl Rapoport, Avrom Perski, Yokh Dolgov, From Vilna
Sitting: Itskhok Kaplan, Leah, From Vilna, Hinda Rudnik, From Rakov, Rohl Perski
Sitting below: Mordkhe Eli Guirson, Elta Horodishtsh, Eliyahu Naroshevitsh
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for verification.
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Updated 23 Sep 2006 by LA


text:
Teaching. Research. Service. As a caring community dedicated to healthcare education, Midwestern University puts you first in all we do.
We're here to support your academic, personal, and professional success — from helping you feel at home on campus to collaborating on research projects, modeling the whole-person approach to teaching and patient care, and staying connected with you throughout your career and your life.
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text:
(Reuters) - The Willard Bay State Park in Utah was closed after around 4,200 to 6,300 gallons (100-150 barrels) of diesel leaked from a Chevron Corp pipeline that runs just north of the park, the Salt Lake Tribune reported on its website on Tuesday.
The pipeline carries diesel from Chevron's Salt Lake refinery to Boise, Idaho, according to the article.
Chevron could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Tribune report said the company had dispatched more than 100 cleanup workers, who laid down absorbent booms to sop up the diesel.
Reporting By Shruti Chaturvedi in Bangalore


text:
Breaking NewsDwight Howard has decided to make the entire city of Los Angeles hate him (except for the ever-growing number of Clippers fans) by spurning the Lakers and signing with the Houston Rockets.
No word on whether he will sign outright with Houston or work out some sort of sign-and-trade with the Lakers (which would net him more money).
D12 cannot officially sign any deal until July 10.
Howard spent one disastrous, injury-plagued year with the Lakers after they acquired him in a trade from the Orlando Magic.
The Black Mamba will not take this lightly.
While severeal well-respected writers have reported the move, Dwight's agent says he has not made a decision ... and Howard is known to change is mind. So stay tuned ...


text:
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text:
Fairies are elusive, and will only choose to inhabit a cozy home! Create the perfect fairy nook at Salisbury. We have the expertise and the selection of plants and accessories to help you make a garden as individual as you are. A perfect activity for kids!
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Physical Education and Health Education
Our Healthy and Balanced Living Curriculum consists of health education and physical education. This curriculum forms the framework to make our department mission a reality.
West Hartford Health Education and Physical Education Mission
To inspire and prepare students to live a healthy and balanced life to achieve their potential and enhance our global community.


text: On Tue, Feb 23, 2010 at 06:23:59PM -0500, Brian Dobbins wrote: > Actually, it's often *for* performance that we look towards hybrid > methods, albeit in an indirect way - with RAM amounts per node increasing at > the same or lesser rate than cores, and with each MPI task on *some* of our > codes having a pretty hefty memory footprint, using fewer MPI processes and > more threads per task lets us fully utilize nodes that would otherwise have > cores sitting idle due to a lack of available memory. If you have data structures which are identical in every process, you might be able to mmap them shared, reducing your memory usage even for the hybrid case. I have only once before heard this kind of thing reported, and perhaps it was you (can't remember who). I don't think it's a big driver for hybrid programming. Anyone else? -- greg


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The 30% Solution
I would like to be an abolitionist also, and I think I have some pretty good reasons for wanting to do so, to think that way, to consider myself an abolitionist.
Moral status is for many ethicists independent of the claimant's social position in the 'hierarchy' (phylogenic scale, in this case) or their role in socially constructing ethical theory. In other words, moral status is not a private social product; it's public to the extent that it is widely accorded the belief that it's morally true (in some meaningful sense).
In other words, to claim that nonhumans ought not to be brutalized is somehow believed to be a morally true statement, and the place and status of the 'ought' will be thought to be correct. Is 'ought' indicative of a duty that is 'owed' to the claimants (in this case, those for whom the claim is made)? Yes.
To claims that animals ought NOT to be brutalized is further qualified by 'in science' or 'in the name of science'.
There are at times qualifiers which modify the 'ought' (as in 'just war' theories), and I do NOT believe that science qualifies as a 'just war' modification of our obligation to not harm vulnerable sentient beings. Lab animals are not individually out to harm us deliberately; if rodents were to consume our grain or other crops, we with capacity to construct our social relations with the ecological 'others' could be expected to do so in order to protect OUR interests without negating ours.
We have many moral illustrations of the long history of attempting to benignly address the needs of others without harming ourselves – some more gracious, some more loving, some more brilliant than others. Consider one which many of us know: the Hebrew proscription (as in the narrative about Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz) to leave the corners of the field ungleaned so that the poor scavengers could find enough to get by with some reasonable effort. They didn't have a free food pantry as such, but they were given (by conscious forethought) enough to take by a modest amount of effort on their parts – and it was 100% plant-based food, too, unlike many of the free food pantries you and are asked to support, which conflicts with many of OUR deeply-held moral values about not trading off the interests of some – the animals – in order to address the interests of others – the class of persons benefitting from our exploitation and abuse and murder).
But this illustration shows how those without ready access to meeting their needs are seen as morally significant persons with interests that we ought to consider. Short of socializing all effort and recruiting these persons (perhaps they were antisocial or uncooperative, but the narrative doesn't paint them that way, nor even suggest as much), the social 'solution' seems to have been widely affirmed – at least b y those who subscribed to the moral teachings of 'leaving the corners of the fields' (of grain) for the outsiders to glean after the 'main' gleaning had been finished.
Was this a potential 'waste' of edible grain? Perhaps. Is there a risk of inefficiency? Perhaps. But the system was widely known.
In thinking about nonhumans in the context of our (socially constructed) 'duties' to care for our fellow human beings AND to provide extra for them (as a safety net when they are injured or get ill, whether because they have been personally careless or inept, or because they were vulnerable to the malice of others), one claim (the appeal to do science on behalf of future victims and potential victims) runs afoul of the prior moral claims of nonhumans to not be harmed by direct intentions, by direct interventions.
Given that there are these claims to provide a medical safety net, even those who favor those socially-constructed claims can understand that killing or harming unwilling animals because of their vulnerability is morally objectionable. In other words, it can REASONABLY be considered objectionable based on the physical characteristics of these sentient nonhumans.
Given the 'moral difficulty' of solving these problem, compromise solutions are often presented, as the 'public option' is offered in the USA as a compromise between single-payer and what single-payer's opponents call 'market-driven' solutions. SP friends are unhappy with the compromise; free-market advocates are unhappy; whether the compromise works for the greater benefit and satisfaction of the vast majority is not yet known (and can only be reasonably predicted).
In the vegetarian (and vegan) world, we have the 10% solution, which is offered to meateaters to consider life with meatless meals. One meatless day per week would be about 1/7 (or 14.2857%), which they TERM 'the 10% solution) in that (THEORETICALLY) it could free about 10% of agricultural land (and presumably return it to a 'wild' state (though it's likely to be exploited by real estate developers). The term 10% is widely-known in monotheistic religious contexts when talking about 'tithing' (giving 10% 'off the top').
But I've long suggested the 30% solution as follows:
The overwhelming proportion of researchers in the life sciences (whether they use animals or not) are researchers only, not fund raisers. They depend upon funding (for laboratories, salaries, supplies, and animals). They seek funding from corporations, government grants, private foundations, individual benefactors, and some other sources. Grant money typically has an overhead percentage that goes to the hosting institution(s).
I propose that a 'first 30%' be given to fund aggressive research INTO nonanimal research methods – methodological research into developing and validating nonanimal research methods.
This suggestion itself is likely to make me (in the aggregate) far MORE enemies in the vegan world than I've already made in my 30-35 years of veganism, but let it be discussed.
It's not abolitionism; it's likely to be termed 'welfarism!
However, short of addressing the CLAIM that is widely-accepted that some things NEED to be researched and understood and that, to date, nonanimal research methods (for doing WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO DO/RESEARCH) are not yet available with a confidence level sufficient to warrant their use instead of animal methods (not in conjunction with animal research methods), we have no quick response EXCEPT the moral argument that animals are not ours to eat, wear OR EXPERIMENT UPON.
(I accept fully that NO person is ours to eat, wear, or experiment upon, and I wish folks like Bill Maher and the 'social deconstructionists' we accept into our camp would understand that some interpersonal social behaviors that are widely accepted by the morally casual' either are or lend themselves more to experimenting upon sentient beings (and as such, should be frowned upon and denounced. But I digress.)
But let's do a little analysis here of my suggested "30% solution" that would fund the development and validation of nonanimal research methods in the same way that tobacco taxes and penalties on tobacco companies fund aggressive health education about the risks and harmful effects of tobacco use. In a libertarian political context (and more and more dietary vegans are TERMING themselves libertarians; I'll see HUNDREDS of such 'libertarian vegans' at the upcoming Boston Vegetarian Food Festival), what else can we do? Yes, it's a political and moral compromise, and we're not coming back to the animals OR 'the district' with the solutions we had wanted. But in the same spirit that we send elected representatives to our democratic legislative bodies and expect them to bring SOMETHING back that is better than no representation at all, is the 30% solution a totally contemptible half-way 'solution ' in light of the historical hope that we WILL – with the intelligence, ingenuity, collaboration, funding, and moral will to do so – be able to develop somehow the social consensus that replacing animal models in ALL basic science (as in toxicology and other research, including military wound research) is both desirable AND feasible, and we offer a provisional means to help our societies get to that point of total abolition of animal research?
Here's the current downside of NOT replacing animal models:
Not only are animals sacrificed in research facilities, but the credibility of the moral claim that NO animals are ours to eat, wear OR EXPERIMENT UPON is diminished BECAUSE we've already consented to let them be experimented upon BECAUSE of the moral gravity of the moral claim that our fellow humans need a medical 'safety net' that is perpetually improved.
Yes, we are being asked to trade off our abolitionism for two things: (a) funding (finite) and (b) widespread public support for the belief – consensus – that research on animals is something that is morally objectionable, needs to be replaced, and MUST be replaced within the foreseeable future. The 'win' here is that we work for the public agreement on the 3 Rs agenda, which they don't FORMALLY approve or support AT THIS TIME.
This suggestion MAY be all wrong, but I'd like to see us incubate a discussion.
I further suggest that CLAIMS by researchers to love their animals because we can see that they love their dog(s) and/or cat(s) cannot be trusted BECAUSE they are not signing on to the replacement agenda in the 3Rs: reduce, refine, and replace.
For nearly 3 decades of street outreach, particularly at Harvard, when I see that I can make NO headway with researchers (some really DO want to see some possible consensus, perhaps because they tend to like me – as a bright person, accepted collegially), I suggest that the ACID TEST of whether or not they ARE talking in good faith is their public and wholehearted acceptance of the 3 Rs standard and THEIR willingness to fund and support replacement research. Short of that WHOLEHEARTED acceptance of the 3 Rs to the point of sharing funding, I call their 'moral pleas' (of innocence and good will in a morally difficult context) 'mere huff' (and something to be publicly protested).
Of course, if NO experiments on nonhumans have ANY applicability to human beings [http://www.safermedicines.org/faqs/faq16.shtml], then the 3Rs is moot and we should reject all medical experiments on animals (for human interventions) as unscientific . However, the 3 Rs seems to suggest that (a) some experiments on nonhumans are less than optimal and should be replaced; (b) some experiments on nonhumans are less than optimal and should be refined, and (c) some experiments on animals are morally objectionable but AT THIS TIME are scientifically necessary to get WHAT WE THINK we need to know (and we may find that there are other ways to reach the goal of health populations without pharmaceutical or surgical interventions.
That's not how the 3 RS is always read, but closer study of the 3 Rs does seem to suggest that as a valid reading.
At the Longwood Medical Area's annual lab equipment 2-day exhibition, a number of research facilities DO offer nonanimal research methods, but in that context there's a certain anxiety about billing themselves as nonanimal research method developers. But here are some of the non-ethical 'drivers' or forces moving less-than-concerned animal researchers towards replacement of animal models wherever possible:
(a) Cost – experimental animals are VERY expensive to (i) purchase, (ii) house, and (iii) maintain, and (iv) hygienically and safely dispose of
(b) Contagion – working with experimental animals poses some health risk to human researchers AND to those (i) associated with those human researchers [cleaning cages, cleaning labs, in the department, traveling with them on public transportation, family members and friends, other colleagues] AND (b) those who deal in animals [hopefully HIPAA-compliance in the USA reduces some of this concern, but it's still there].
(c) Ethical discord among researchers and their communities
(d) Risk of violence developing among researchers who work with animals (a recent study, I believe at Cornell, showed that interpersonal violence among researchers who deal with animals is potentially volatile).
(e) Potentially better results from nonanimal research methods
(f) Repeatability of experiments is easier and cheaper, and science is nothing if not repeatable.
(g) Training (surgical training specifically) needs to be done FAR more times than is affordable using animal-based models for surgical training; healthcare is plagued with medical errors, and systems- research, including work offered by Dr. Donald Berwick of Cambridge-based IHI – the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, suggests that we need to require much higher levels of surgical practice and that is not affordable without shifting to simulation modules, as offered by SimuLab and a few other providers (in the USA).
So let's think NOW about the 30% solution and, as we near the tipping point for shifts in research paradigms, perhaps th entire house of cards (or most of it) will fall IN OUR LIFETIMES.
Vigorous debate is encouraged!
Labels: abolition, abolitionism, abolitionist, animal rights, animal-rights, medical, medicine, research, science, welfarism


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Metallica Release 'Beyond Magnetic' EP
With Metallica's intimate, 30th anniversary shows in San Francisco now in the rear view, leaving indelible memories for those who attended and causing those who couldn't make it to curse their fate, the band is continuing the celebration with a special EP.
'Beyond Magnetic' is available exclusively via iTunes in North America for one week only. Once the week expires, the songs will be available via all digital retailers. The EP features a batch of songs that were recorded during the 'Death Magnetic' sessions but didn't make the album. The band performed each of the EP's four songs live during the anniversary celebrations and then gifted the rough mixes of the studio versions to fan club members afterwards. Now the whole world can enjoy 'em. Metallica are nothing if not generous and considerate of their fans.
The band released a statement about the EP and why they choose to release the songs now:
"During the 'Death Magnetic' album sessions in 2007 and 2008, we originally recorded 14 songs. When it came time to pick the songs for the final album, we decided on 10 songs that you've all come to know over the last three years. Some of you may have heard bits and pieces of those other songs on 'Mission Metallica' (remember 'Mission Metallica'?!) or heard rumors about them during the recording process, and wondered, 'What ever happened to those other four songs???.' We kept them in the vault and decided to pull them just for this special celebration, so here are the four leftover tracks from the 'Death Magnetic' sessions. They are ROUGH mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March '08. These four songs were released as gift to our closest fans, the members of our Fan Club, to enjoy. Now they're being made available to you."
Now that all is said and done, here is a little mathematical breakdown. It was four nights, with 80 songs and no repeats across the shows, save the set-closing anthem 'Seek & Destroy.' The guest list featured former members (Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney) and influences (Diamond Head and Danzig.)
The complete list of "friends" that shared the stage with 'Tallica in the celebration were as follows: Apocalyptica, Armored Saint, Geezer Butler, John Bush, Bif Byford, Jerry Cantrell, Nick "Animal" Culmer, Glenn Danzig, Death Angel, King Diamond, Diamond Head, Marianne Faithfull, Lloyd Grant, Rob Halford, Ray Haller, Pepper Keenan, Kid Rock, Laaz Rockit, John Marshall, Jim Martin, Mercyful Fate, Ron McGovney, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Ozzy Osbourne, Rebel Souls Brass Band, Lou Reed, Bob Rock, Gary Rossington and Hugh Tanner.
Each night the finale featured all the evening's guests joining the band on stage to perform "Seek & Destroy."
'Beyond Magnetic' Track Listing:
'Hate Train'
'Just a Bullet Away'
'Hell and Back'
'Rebel of Babylon'
The anniversary shows are over. The EP is available. And drummer Lars Ulrich told fans that 'Tallica news would come to light in mid-January regarding a "special interactive fan event" that will occur in June and may require a little traveling. The suspense is killing us, but at least we have 'Beyond Magnetic' to keep us occupied until we find out the news.


text:
Fluid Master Primer
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An innovative primer for the face that visibly smoothes skin's surface, refines pores and creates a flawless canvas on which to apply foundation.
Silky, gliding texture imparts a matte, yet transparent glow to skin Smoothes away fine lines and imperfections Perfectly even facial canvas for ideal application of foundation High comfort and make-up hold application techniques
Perform usual skin care routine to ensure a cleansed and moisturized face. Apply a small amount of product to the back of the hand. Using the fingertip, begin application to the center of the face, working outwards to cover the entire facial canvas, in upwards strokes.


text:
NHL CapsulesNHL.com @NHLdotcom
WASHINGTON (AP) - Jason Chimera tipped in a rebound 2:30 into overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Thursday night.
The Capitals had a 3-on-2 rush, resulting in Brooks Laich's shot that goalie Steve Mason couldn't handle. The rebound went to Chimera and he tapped the puck in to give Washington its 12th victory in March.
The Capitals reached 101 points, crossing the 100-point plateau for the third straight season, to move within a point of Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference lead.
Scottie Upshaw forced overtime for Columbus, fighting off two Washington defenders to score his 22nd goal of the season with 5:37 remaining in the third period.
John Carlson, Mike Knuble and Jason Arnott also scored for Washington.
Antoine Vermette and Fedor Tyutin added goals for Columbus.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Nik Antropov scored the only goal, and Chris Mason stopped 43 shots for his first shutout of the season and 21st overall in Atlanta's victory over Philadelphia.
Antropov scored his 15th goal midway through the third period.
Mason was outstanding in the final minute. He made a kick save off his left leg and Jeff Carter's quick rebound knocked off the post with 4.7 seconds left.
The Flyers have lost five straight at home.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Martin St. Louis scored his 30th goal of the season, helping Tampa Bay clinch its first playoff berth since 2007 with a victory over Pittsburgh.
Steve Downie also scored for the Lightning, who have won three in a row following a four-game losing skid.
Pittsburgh, which had won its previous four road games, got a goal from Michael Rupp.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby, sidelined for nearly three months with a concussion, resumed skating with his teammates in the game-day practice. The Pittsburgh captain, out since Jan. 6, isn't ready yet to participate in full practices. A return to game action for the postseason hasn't been completely ruled out.
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) - Radek Martinek and P.A. Parenteau both had a goal and assist during the Islanders' four-goal second period, and the Islanders put the rival Rangers back into postseason peril.
After Blake Comeau got the Islanders even 1 at 3:24, Martinek put them in front 33 seconds later.
Things settled down for a bit, but the Islanders struck for two more goals 1:16 apart - the first by Jesse Joensuu at 13:28 and the second by Parenteau to turn it into a rout. Matt Moulson scored his 31st goal of the season against backup Chad Johnson with 11:22 left, and Trevor Gillies made it 6-1 at 14:00.
The Rangers were seemingly cruising for a playoff spot on the strength of an 8-1-1 spurt, but have dipped to eighth in the Eastern Conference and lead Carolina by three points with four games remaining. Carolina has five games to play in the final 10 days.
Vinny Prospal and Brandon Prust scored for the Rangers.
BOSTON (AP) - Nazem Kadri scored the only shootout goal to help Toronto beat Boston.
With the point for reaching overtime, the Bruins clinched a tie for the Northeast Division title. The next Boston win or loss by Montreal will give the Bruins the division title.
Toronto is 10th in the Eastern Conference, five points behind seventh-place Buffalo and the New York Rangers for one of the eight playoff spots.
Joffrey Lupul scored twice for Toronto, Luke Scheen added a goal and former Bruins forward Phil Kessel had a pair of assists. Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Andrew Ference scored for Boston.
Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, who made 28 saves, made a right-pad save on Mikhail Grabovski's penalty shot 43 seconds into overtime, but Kadri beat him with a backhand shot over the left shoulder in the shootout.
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - Rookie Colin Greening scored twice in the second period for Ottawa, and Craig Anderson made 37 saves to improve to 9-4-1 since being acquired in a trade with Colorado in February.
Nick Foligno and Filip Kuba also scored for Ottawa. The Senators swept the season series and have won six in a row against Florida dating to last season.
Michal Repik scored for Florida. The Panthers have lost seven straight.


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North Carolina cotton, corn and soybean farmers are making money with herbicide-tolerant crops, according to a recently released survey.
Herbicide-tolerant crops gave a total benefit of more than $20 million to farmers in North Carolina.
Corn farmers calculate they made $957,390 by switching to herbicide-tolerant crops and conservation-tillage. Cotton farmers found the switch worth more than $7.7 million. And soybean farmers had a benefit of more than $12 million.
The telephone survey, conducted in 2003 by Doanes Market Research based on the crop year 2001, asked growers about the three crops that rank as their most profitable ones.
North Carolina State University Extension economists Michele C. Marra and Nick Piggott, along with Olga Sydorovych, a graduate research assistant, reported the results of the survey, in the paper "The Impact of Herbicide Tolerant Crops on North Carolina Farmers."
The survey was designed to compile a partial budget on the crops and asked cost and benefit questions in terms of gains versus herbicide-tolerant and non-herbicide tolerant crops. The researchers point out that the results must be viewed as a "baseline that will be refined over time."
It covered weed control costs; seed and harvesting costs; convenience; human and environmental safety; tillage benefits and costs; yield and net benefits per acre. The survey also touched on potential disadvantages of herbicide-tolerant crops.
The number of acres of herbicide-tolerant crops has been rising steadily. The system lends itself to farming with less tillage. While the reasons farmers give as to why they have switched vary, the bottom line is it's more profitable, easier and more convenient.
The net benefit of herbicide-tolerant crops compared to conventional crops was similar across the board.
The total net benefit among corn, cotton and soybean growers planting herbicide-tolerant crops was $9.30 per acre per year.
The benefits of conservation with herbicide-tolerant crops ranged from $43.67 per acre for corn farmers to $48.22 per acre for cotton growers.
Combing conservation-tillage and herbicide-tolerant crops gave growers a net average benefit of $53.54.
Since a large portion of farmers have already gone 100 percent herbicide tolerant crops, the survey asked them to guess at what they would have to pay if they didn't use the technology.
In cotton and soybeans, there was no statistical difference in the costs for non-herbicide tolerant crops and herbicide-tolerant crops.
Corn farmers averaged paying about $4.50 more per acre with non-herbicide tolerant crops than with herbicide-tolerant technology.
There were no statistical differences between herbicide costs. Herbicide application costs averaged about $10-11 per acre.
The survey expected to see higher seed costs because technology fees are included in the price of herbicide-tolerant seeds. All of the seed costs for herbicide-tolerant crops averaged higher than non-herbicide tolerant crops with the exception of corn.
Herbicide-tolerant cotton seed averaged $9.50 per acre higher than non-herbicide tolerant seed. For soybeans herbicide-tolerant seeds average about $6.30 higher than conventional seed. There were no differences in costs for harvesting.
It's been noted that convenience is one of the big draws for herbicide-tolerant crops. Researchers point out that it's typically not a characteristic they seek to quantify when asking questions.
But in this case, convenience includes savings in management time; simplicity in herbicide selection; and more flexibility on herbicide rates, time of application and placement.
Farmers placed a dollar value of $14 per acre for corn and $18.40 per acre for cotton.
"We believe farmers can assess these changes competently, as they make these comparisons frequently each season," Piggott says.
Growers put the "convenience" value at $10 to $12 per acre when they use herbicide-tolerant crops based on the saving of time.
In terms of equipment savings, corn farmers saved $5.50 per acre; cotton farmers, $8.50 per acre; and soybean farmers, $7 per acre.
Farmers valued any additional "convenience" beyond time or equipment at $1.50 to $2 per acre.
Just as difficult to measure as the "convenience factor" was the human and environmental safety aspect.
Farmers were asked to place a value on the human and safety benefits from switching to herbicide-tolerant crops. All farmers reported an increase in human safety from using herbicide-tolerant crops. Human safety was valued at $3.65 per acre while environmental safety was pegged at $3.80 per acre for switching to herbicide-tolerant crops.
Conservation-tillage figures heavily in both herbicide tolerant and non-herbicide tolerant crops. About 75 percent of the herbicide-tolerant crops are under conservation-tillage while 64 percent of farmers use the practice on conventional crops.
Corn farmers tend to use more no-till and reduced-tillage in herbicide-tolerant varieties. The trend for cotton and soybean farmers is the opposite.
"Overall, we found a savings in direct tillage costs of about $1.70 per acre with conservation-tillage in herbicide-tolerant crops," Piggott says. "The savings were not significant for cotton or soybeans. Corn farmers reported savings of about $6 per acre by switching to conservation-tillage in herbicide tolerant crops.
Time saved ranged from $11.60 per acre for corn farmers to $18 for cotton farmers. Overall, the average value of time with conservation-tillage in herbicide tolerant crops was $14.67 per acre.
As to the environmental benefits, corn farmers reported $17.59 per acre; cotton farmers, $17.22 per acre; and soybean farmers, $19.78 per acre. Additional benefits from the use of conservation-tillage ranged from $8.54 per acre for corn farmers to $12.99 per acre for cotton farmers.
Yield was hard to measure because of differences in weed densities, weed types and soil types, but farmers reported no significant differences in yield between herbicide-tolerant crops and conventional ones.
Marketing uncertainty, which is usually omitted in production studies, and higher harvest costs were mentioned as potential disadvantages of herbicide-tolerant crops.
The average value of the loss from marketing uncertainties was estimated to be $15.40 per acre for corn growers. Cotton farmers reported the lowest average market uncertainty loss at about $7.82 per acre. Soybean farmers estimated the loss at $9.75.
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