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I do not fear the depths of sorrow. This feeling is part of me. Sadness. Yep. Anger. Yep. Agony. Yep. Striated in with all that, is pain and then happiness. Silliness. Peace. Joy. Love. A myriad of shades and colors of feeling are out there. My emotional story is just as complex as any rich soil. When you refuse your feelings, you are making yourself an arid or, even worse, sterile dirt. Embracing all of who you will help you share a better story. Don't expect anyone to exactly understand this need to experience your full range of emotions. This will be a private journey.
It is important to feel as an artist. Every time you shove something under the rug, you shove some of your story under that rug too. Live your life this way. Air things. Scribble in your journal. Record yourself. Play that music. Head over to your psychologist. Try confessing to a minister. Whatever gets the stuff hidden out, do it. The best artists have to keep in touch with their white hot centers with all the contradictions and confusion. They also have to think deeply, So stick your head in those clouds and see what dreams may come. Our thoughts and our emotions are intertwined like the chemicals in DNA. Let them mix together.
Dig into your emotional story. Search out the shades of your emotions. Feel them, and they will bleed into your work. Feelings just do that.
I will be back next week with more of the "Stuff" that makes good art happen.
Here is a doodle.
Quote for your pocket.
What your heart thinks great is great. The soul's response is always right. Ralph Waldo Emerson


text: Lucy gets excited by innovation and design. She has helped build the Nineteenth Amendment brand since its inception and is responsible for all three re-brands, including our current version. In addition to working at Nineteenth Amendment, Lucy has previous work experience as a Freelance Art Director at agencies in New York City including Grey Group, MRM/McCann Erickson and Y&R/VML. She has worked on campaigns for Marriott, Revlon, and Nivea. Lucy attended Miami Ad School in San Francisco and completed her undergraduate education at Wheaton College with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in Art History and French.

subset: commoncrawl


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D3 Lax: Teams To Watch In New England Women's Lacrosse This Spring
By NoontimeSports.com (@NoontimeSports)
With a brand new season of New England D3 lacrosse underway – yes, a few non-New England schools have already competed at least once this season – it is time to dish out our women's lacrosse teams to watch in each conference.
Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC): Endicott College will certainly be the favorite once again, but don't sleep on Roger Williams or University of New England – both teams will certainly provide challenges to the Gulls, as well as the entire conference.
Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC): Can Johnson & Wales University continue its impressive run from a year ago? Sure, they may have graduated some key pieces to a historic season, but don't overlook these Wildcats.
Additionally, keep an eye on Lasell College – the Lasers will certainly be a team that could challenge the Wildcats come late April/early May.
Little East Conference (LEC): Plymouth State secured six of seven first-place votes in this year's preseason coaches poll, so once again, keep an eye on the Panthers. Additionally, keep an eye on both Eastern Connecticut State University and Keene State – two teams that will certainly challenge the Panthers for the top spot in the conference tournament.
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC): Westfield State will again be the team to beat this spring, but what about Bridgewater State and Framingham State? Both teams could be in for an exciting spring and will provide challenges for the Owls, both in conference play and the tournament.
North Atlantic Conference (NAC): Can Castleton University make it back-to-back conference champions? Or maybe, we will see the Pilgrims of New England College earn a trip to the big dance? Both teams are scheduled to meet in late April – expect this contest to decide the top seed in the NAC Tournament.
New England Collegiate Conference (NECC): Elms College is certainly the favorite, but maybe this is the year Southern Vermont breaks through? Southern Vermont collected a pair of first-place votes on the preseason coaches poll and will certainly be a team to watch this spring.
New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): Colby College will have a target on its back after winning the NESCAC crown last year, but don't overlook Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Trinity College and Tufts University. Additionally, let's not forget about Amherst College, too – they will provide challenges for all five squads listed above.
New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC): Babson College will be the favorite, but keep an eye on MIT and Springfield College – both teams will be in for exciting springs. Additionally, one shouldn't sleep on Wheaton College or Wellesley College – both teams tied for fourth on the preseason coaches' poll.


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At The Well, our greatest hope for you, is to connect deeper on Sundays and beyond. We hope that you can build life-long relationships where you can be encouraged in deeper, more meaningful relationships with God and others.
We have several ministries, to make this happen. Our ministries are directed toward every age and stage of life, from babies to empty nesters, you'll find a place where you can thrive.
Our Table Groups were created for you to do life in community. This weekly time is all about gathering and doing life together. We've found that in relationships, authenticity, accountability and care is established. Gather around the table. The best location to get to know someone.
New Table Groups have already launched! Groups can be found on The Well Salt Lake City App downloaded via the App Store or Google Play.
Our Grow class is designed to get you familiar with who God is, The Well, your purpose and how you can put hands and feet to that purpose!
Step 1 covers the essential beliefs every Christian needs to know for a great walk with Christ.
Step 2 focuses on the story behind The Well, why we are here, our mission, vision and values and several other important things pertaining to the life of our church!
Step 3 allows you to discover your unique personality and the spiritual gifts given to you by a great God. Our hope is that out of this class you will find a release into your passions through serving in the church, community and world!
Our Grow track is designed to be completed in a 2-hour class setting. Each portion of the class compiles on top of the other and helps you know God, live in freedom, discover your purpose and equip you to make a difference!
The Grow class happens the first Sunday of every month following our 10:00am or 5:00pm (changes monthly) service. Both lunch and childcare will be available.
The Grow class happens the third Sunday of every month following our 11:30am service. Both lunch and childcare will be available.
Our kids ministry is designed to make our parents feel like they have left their children in a safe, fun and life-giving, learning environment. At The Well Kids, your children will experience a time where they can truly engage with the truths of God's love for them in a FUN and ENERGETIC atmosphere.
It's our goal to make sure they not only learn about God, but that they do so while having fun, getting creative and movin' around. We always bring it down to a place where children can process in a small group environment as well!
Our Lil' Squirts classroom is a safe and life-giving environment created especially for our babies up to walking. This is the perfect baby-friendly space for your kids.
Our Aqua Tots classroom is created specifically for our walking through 2 year olds. In this class we have lots of play time, but also take moments to sing and read from the Beginner's Bible.
Our Aqua Tikes classroom is for your 3, 4 or 5 year olds. We have created a place where they will play, laugh, sing, dance and hear stories about God!
Aqua Force is broken into two age groups: K-1st & 2nd-5th. Both classes teach the Word in a fun and dynamic way, equip kids in knowing their Savior, and spend time worshipping! Our 2nd-5th class joins their parents in worship and then heads to class (check-in prior to service).
We exist to see students experience the love of The Savior while developing life-giving relationships and engaging their community with the message of Jesus.
The Well Students is on a break for the Summer and will be back with exciting changes this fall!
Need Help?
If you are unsure what Ministry may be for you and your family, reach out to us! We would love to help you connect.


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German International School Portland
As an employee of the German International School, I designed several pieces of collateral utilized at the school for logowear and marketing purposes. Below you will see two t-shirts and a business card I designed to fit within the school's brand architecture.
These business card were designed to showcase a first impression that is both professional and friendly, just like the team of administrators and teachers at the German International School. The addition of the "Guten Tag!" speech bubble is also an opportunity for cultural exchange and knowledge.
Kindersommer is the Summer Camp Program at the German International School. While the parent-body of the school knows what this German word means, we wanted to appeal to the general public as well. The Kindersommer logo acts as a graphic visualization of what Kindersommer is.


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A charming combination of tangerine and lime blooms that will brighten your recipients day. Approx. 11" tall and 10" wide.
All fresh flowers include coordinating ribbon and greeting card.
Please note that the picture is an example only. Flowers are one-of-a-kind and not always available year round. Our floral designers will choose beautiful, healthy blooms in the colors and style shown for your unique arrangement.


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Community Potluck, October 2 @ Noon
Douglass Boulevard Christian Church and Douglass Loop Farmers Market will gather next Sunday to celebrate a great first season and honor the farmers and volunteers that made it possible.
Please, bring a dish and a healthy appetite!
The feast will begin a little after noon on Sunday and will be in the church's gym. DBCC is located at 2005 Douglass Boulevard in Louisville, KY.


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This time round I check out the new Prospex Solar Chronograph, SSC261P. This watch is pretty big and thick. The case structure is quite similar to the sawtooth with the watch module enclosed in an outer case. It is powered by the V175 solar chronograph movement and is fitted with a slide rule bezel that rotates smoothly (non-clicking).
Here is a quick photo review.
Side profile:
Note: crown does not screw in.
Bracelet and buckle:
Hang Tags:
Note: price shown is in Singapore dollar and is for reference only. I am not a watch seller.
Diameter: 46.5mm excluding crown
Thickness: 13.5mm
Lug Width: 24mm
Water resistance: 10 Bar
Seiko SSC261P featured in this post is provided by:
K2 Watch Company
845 Geylang Road, Tanjong Katong Complex, #03-K1
Singapore 400845
Tel: 6746 0270
6 thoughts on "Seiko Prospex Solar Chronograph – SSC261P"
This one is pretty cool. The new line of Propex is promising. Thanks for sharing,
- Pingback: Seiko Shrouded Prospex Solar Chronograph Fieldmaster – SBDL021 | Yeoman's Watch Review
Got the leather strap one on order. Thanks for helping me decide!


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Handmade Dutch bicycles and cargo bikes
Delivered directly from the Netherlands to the US.
Dutch bicycles and cargo bikes are famous all over the world for their upright position and relaxed ride. No wonder there are more bicycles than citizens in The Netherlands. The Dutch combine professional engineering, the latest technology and state-of-the-art components to build great looking bikes, while achieving the highest level of safety and durability.
Now they are readily available in the USA. Just choose your favorite style, size and color, order it online and we will send it directly from the Netherlands to your door, fully assembled. So you can just hop on and go.


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It serves as a source of free methyl groups.
It improves lipid metabolism, lowers blood cholesterol levels.
Involved in oxidative processes, increases the absorption of oxygen to tissues, eliminates hypoxia accelerates the recovery processes, increase the lifespan of cells.
It stimulates the adrenal glands and liver. It protects the liver from cirrhosis.
It stimulates the synthesis of proteins. Increases the content creatine phosphate muscle and glycogen in liver and muscle (creatine plays an important role in normalizing fenktsionalnoy ability of muscles and optimization energiticheskih processes in general).
Possesses anti-inflammatory properties antigialuronidaznymi gives vasodilator and ganglioblokiruyuschy effects.
Stimulates an immune response.
Has detoxifying properties, reduces the need for alcohol and prevent hangovers.
Daily maintenance
The exact daily requirement Rights pangamic acid is not set, but tentatively assumed that the adult she is 1-2 mg per day.
Symptoms of hypovitaminosis
With a lack of pangamic acid to the body may experience neurological disorders, disorders of the glands, the lack of supply tissues with oxygen and the cardiovascular system (it should be noted that the studies were limited).
Our studies allow us to recommend it pangamic acid for use in the general complex treatment of the following pathologies:
various forms of atherosclerosis
sclerosis, cerebral vascular
bronchial asthma
enfizema lung
chronic hepatitis
chronic alcohol intoxication
the initial stage of liver cirrhosis
pruritic dermatoses
Some diseases of the cardiovascular system (chronic coronary insufficiency)
Vitamin B15 is appointed for a better tolerability of sulfonamides, corticosteroids and anti-TB drugs.
Are contraindications to glaucoma, severe hypertension.
Side effects:
In the elderly can cause deterioration, progression adinamii, increased headache, the appearance of insomnia, irritability, tachycardia, arrhythmia and worsening cardiac function.
Pangamic acid effectiveness in the reception, along with vitamins A and E.
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I was just going through some photos of our old house and studio and wanted to share a few maps. I sold the map in my office at a studio sale and the yellow map was unfortunately crumpled during the move. The moving company basically just jammed it into a box.
One day I'll buy another map for the baby's room and we can learn about each state! The first state we'll talk about is Maine because I love sharing my two facts about Maine... it's the only state with one syllable! And it's also the only state bordered by only one other state (amongst the lower 48, that is). Yay Maine!


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I want to talk to you today about having an attitude of gratitude. Most people's attitude is this: "Things always happen to me," or "Why am I so unlucky?" We all know those people in our lives, that if you ask them how they're doing, you wish you could stuff the words back in your mouth.
Success isn't just money; it's, are you happy—are you living a happy life? It's to have an attitude of gratitude. Every day on the right side of the grass is a good day. Get up, get excited, be happy. If you're waiting on circumstances to make you happy, you'll never be happy. You've got to develop a happiness that comes from within.
Money will not make you happy. I've been very blessed in life. I've had things happen in my business career that have been great, but I've got to tell you—money is an amplifier. If you're basically a happy person, when you get money you're a really happy person. I know lots of wealthy, bitter, complaining, nagging people. Get happy. Be happy.
If you say, "Well, John, that's easy for you to say"—fool yourself. Smile. Act the way you want to feel and soon you'll feel the way you act. Have an attitude of gratitude. Find somebody to say something good to every day. Find somebody to lift up. Be a part of making people feel better, and I'm telling you, when you become that kind of person, it's amazing how your results in life change. So start today. Work on your attitude, and have an attitude of gratitude.
See you at the top.


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Stephen Fry in the TV series Room 101, being interviewed by Paul Merton.
The idea of this programme is that Paul Merton interviews a celebrity about what they'd like to send to "Room 101" "Room 101"– ie get rid of forever.
Back story: at the beginning of this clip, you'll see two plates displayed that have paintings printed on them, examples of supposedly "collectible" plates that Stephen would like to send to room 101.
Room 101 is produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC.


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3D Body Simulation Vectra System Announcement
NEWS RELEASE: 3D Photographic Simulation Brings a New Dimension to Plastic Surgery at Dr Michael J. Schenden's Office.
New technology allows patients to preview how they will look with aesthetic procedures. Click HERE to see the 3D simulator in action!!!
Troy, Michigan– If you are one the thousands of people each year considering aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr Michael Schenden has some good news for you. Recent advances in three dimensional (3D) photography combined with revolutionary new software allow prospective patients to preview what they will look like as the result of breast augmentation, facial procedures, and more, well in advance of any surgery.
Both the VECTRA® 3D camera and Sculptor software which make this possible were developed by Canfield Imaging Systems of Fairfield, NJ, the world's leading provider of medical photography systems. The process starts with a VECTRA 3D session which produces a three-dimensional photograph of the patient. Then, using Sculptor software, the surgeon is able to simulate the expected results of a variety of aesthetic procedures.
"My patients are going to absolutely love this," said Dr Michael Schenden. "For the first time, they'll be able to see a 3D picture of themselves with their new look. Because it's in 3D, I can rotate their picture to any viewpoint and they can really examine the desired result. We can make changes here and there and agree on a final look in advance, and this truly helps them make a decision".
Dr Schenden has more than 25 years of experience, offering professional, personalized medical care in aesthetics such as: breast augmentation, breast lift, facelifts, nose surgery, eyelid surgery, liposuction, tummy tucks and more. Dr. Schenden is a board certified plastic surgeon and is available for consultations by appointment at 248.524.0620.
For additional information:
Doctor's Name: Dr Michael J. Schenden, MD
Consultation Contact: Margaret Randall
Phone number: 248.524.0620
Website: www.DrSchenden.com
Address: 201 W. Big Beaver Rd Ste 1130, Troy MI 48084
Get Your Confidence Back! Solutions For Breast Surgery Recovery
Over the past 25 years, I have performed many reconstructive breast surgeries. Some on women who have undergone breast surgery and some on women who have undergone a mastectomy – all with a common goal to restore their femininity and natural appearance by reconstructing their breasts.
New medical techniques and devices have made it possible for surgeons to create a breast that can come close in form and appearance to matching a natural breast. There are often many options to consider and discuss with your doctor to determine what is best for you. After undergoing the surgical procedure, creating the nipple/areola is the final component to making your breast reconstruction complete; our permanent areola/nipple repigmentation techniques uses cosmetically tattooed micropigmentation as a way to restore the natural beauty of your breasts. It takes into consideration breast contour, areola position and creates the illusion of nipple protrusion factoring in your own skin tone and color.
The reconstruction of the nipple/areola helps to put the finishing touches on the new breast after a long journey in reconstruction. There are a number of factors that help determine which method of breast and nipple reconstruction are right for you. All of the options would be discussed during your consultation. For most mastectomy patients, breast reconstruction dramatically improves their appearance and quality of life following surgery.
Contact 248-524-0620 to set an appointment to discuss your options.


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Pear Ginger Steel Cut Oats
Pears are the fruit of the season and you know what that means… deliciously ripe and on sale! This week I picked up some Comice Pears for $0.99 per pound and I knew exactly what I was going to do with them. I swung by the bulk department and picked up a handful of crystalized ginger and headed home to make a new delicious flavor of steel cut oats! Ginger's spicy warmth makes these oats a perfect match for the holiday season.
Pear Ginger Steel Cut Oats
Pear Ginger Steel Cut Oats
- 1 cup uncooked steel cut oats ($0.70)
- 2 medium ripe pears ($1.17)
- 3 oz about 1/2 cup crystalized ginger pieces ($0.75)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar ($0.12)
- 1 tsp cinnamon ($0.12)
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger ($0.05)
- In a medium pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Once the water boils, add the steel cut oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Stir well and reduce the heat to a simmer (low/medium). Simmer until the oats have absorbed most of the water and they are to your desired thickness (about 30 minutes).
- While the oats are simmering, core and dice the pears. Roughly chop the crystalized ginger into smaller pieces.
- Once the oats are as thick as you would like them, add the chopped pear and crystalized ginger. Divide the oats up into 5 containers and keep refrigerated until you are ready to eat!
NOTE: I ate one serving of this right when it was finished cooking and again the next morning. The pear flavor was much more pronounced on the second day (after reheating). If you plan to eat the oats right when they are finished cooking, try adding the pear chunks during the last ten minutes of cooking so the flavor can permeate the oats.
The pears add quite a bit of bulk to this recipe so there are either 5 large servings or 6 smaller ones. I find that I can only eat smaller servings of steel cut oats because they are extremely filling. I calculated for five servings to be conservative!


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INDIA'S travel trade has responded warmly to SpiceJet's upcoming launch of New Delhi-Guangzhou flights, pointing to strong demand for services between the two countries.
SpiceJet will commence New Delhi-Guangzhou flights on February 8, and the LCC is looking at serving more destinations in Greater China including Chengdu, Macau and Hong Kong. The five-hour New Delhi-Guangzhou service will be the longest flown by SpiceJet, which also plies routes to Riyadh and Dubai.
Ajay Vinayak, CEO, Palomino Hospitality, said: "There is room for several daily flights between key Indian cities and China. Demand is not only from growing tourist interest but a fast-growing business and MICE travel market between the two countries that requires serious attention."
Anil Punjabi, chairman-east, Travel Agents Federation of India, added: "(China Eastern Airlines') Kunming-Kolkata flight carries an almost-full load daily, with passengers transiting from Kunming to other Chinese cities."
Said Neil Mills, CEO, SpiceJet, said: "The relationship between India and China is strengthening, but connectivity between the two countries is poor."


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With 300 lumens of power, the REACTIK + headlamp offers outdoor enthusiasts a compact, intelligent, connected, rechargeable solution. Thanks to the MyPetzl Light mobile app, the user may at any time consult his smart phone or tablet to check the remaining battery life and adapt the performance of the headlamp to the activity: trail running, mountaineering, trekking, backpacking. He simply downloads the profiles provided or creates his own personalized ones. During the activity, with REACTIVE LIGHTING technology, REACTIK + analyzes the ambient light and adjusts brightness instantly to user requirements. Battery life is optimized and the manipulations are reduced to a minimum!
- Bluetooth® Smart: very low battery consumption
- Compatible with the MyPetzl Light app; requires iOS 7.1 or later, or Android 4.3 or later
- Battery compatibility: alkaline, lithium and Ni-MH, with the standard battery pack (not included)
- Lamp can be used with CONSTANT LIGHTING technology, which ensures constant lighting over time
- Red lighting mode preserves night vision
- LOCK function to avoid accidentally turning it on during transit or storage
- Multi-beam lighting: combines a wide beam for proximity lighting with a focused beam for long-range vision
- Weight: 115 g
- Technology: Reactive Lighting or Constant Lighting
- Beam Pattern: Wide, Mixed or Focused
- Watertightness: IP X4 (Water Resistant)
- Recharge Time: 4.5 Hours
- Energy: 1800 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery


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I really enjoyed watching Anna and Jake from behind my camera. They had so many sincere and gorgeous moments together throughout their wedding day, that showed how their connection really shines, and were so incredibly beautiful.
Coordinator: Annie Smith w/ Holvi LLC
Venue: Abernethy Center
Hair Stylist + Makeup: Kaitlin Aho
Wedding Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero
Wedding Dress Boutique: Ania Bridal
Florist: Fieldworks Flowers
Caterer: Abernethy Center
Second Photographer: Karrissa Griggs
Anna and Jake, so wonderful working with you both, thank you for choosing me as your photographer.
I'm headed to Newport for a wedding this weekend at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, I'll be looking forward to sharing that with you alls.


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Yup, I'm finally getting the ball rolling on setting up a mailing list and newsletter! And it shall be called The Letter X:
X for Xavier, that is. This lovely newsletter will contain plenty of early announcements, excerpts, freebies, and steamy exclusive content. And probably more.
I'll be taking care of the mailing list signup and other goodies tomorrow. Stay tuned!


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Hi everybody,
I have just received my General GRE scores:
Math 800
Verbal 620
AWA 4.0 , 41st percentile (...)
I feel my AWA score is low, I expected 5.0 more or less. Do you think such a score
can hurt my application? Is it worth it to ask for a rescore? I am not English mother tongue.
Thanks in advance for any opinions on this.


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What more can I say other than AWESOME. I've had a few weeks to play with the new Radio Poppers PX system and I just love them. The PX system allow me the ability to use my Nikon CLS system at distances previously unheard of. I'm able to control my strobes remotely in both iTTL, manual, and high speed sync.
I took a walk with my hand held GPS across the field behind my house to a distance of 750 feet to the end of the field. You can see a flash at the bottom center of the image, I had complete control over all the functions of my strobe at this distance. At the Radio Poppers website they state that Radio Poppers are the most advanced wireless control system in the world, I'd have to agree.
I use a SU-800 command unit to fire my strobes, the PX Transmitter fits on the face of the SU-800 command unit, it relays the signal from the command unit to a PX receiver mounted to my SB-800 strobe. The Radio Popper took only a few moments to set up and it is absolutely seamless to use.
You don't need to use an SU-800 command unit, you can use another SB-800 as a master unit if you wish. You simply use all the menu commands on your master strobe or SU-800 command unit as you normally do. The PX system simply relays those signal, and your good to go.
Before using this system, I had an invisible leash of about 35 or 40 feet using Nikon's CLS system, even less on bright out door settings or when your strobes are place in such a position that your strobes do not see the pre monitor flash from your master.
I had an opportunity to use my Radio Poppers while giving a lighting demo at Slickrock, near Moab during my recent "Mentor Series Trek" for Popular Photography Magazine. I used a FourSquare™ to light the biker in the above photo. During the workshop, I passed around the SU-800 with the PX Transmitter attached to it and I simply hand held the strobes for the students. Everyone was just blown away by the size of the Radio Poppers and the simplicity of the system.
If you are looking for a wireless system to extend your range from the normal distance that your flash manufacturer allows, I'd say go Radio Popper. The PX system works with all sorts of other flash systems as well, just check out their website you'll be just as blown away as I am.


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Jurisprudence, legislation, regulation… there is always a wealth of headlines relating to commercial leases, real estate, social and insurance law.
We select the information that is most relevant to you.
Training program
For over forty years, corporate real estate has been CABINET CONFINO's core business.
Most notably, the company intervenes in legal cases relating to commercial and professional leases, construction law and commercial urban planning.


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Flightpattern: Gwen Vanhee
Why not, another sound reactive motion graphics piece. This time, less futuristic, less 3d. I know many of you complain about how we usually post 3d related issues. This time, although is 3d based, the texturizing and the background, gives it a flatter look. Good inspiration, it almost makes me go talk to my musical friends to start the composition while I'll go play for a while with my digital image tools. I love this style, is not like the things I usually do, but it definately looks like the things I would like to do. Let's give 3d a break and go back a step. 2d has really great things to offer. Often looks simpler, cleaner and many times, better.
Who's Gwen Vanhee? He can't negate his Dutch sirname, Belgian autodidact digital artist. He likes new age stuff, lots of code; canvas HTML5. He has hundreds and I mean it hundreds of things in the web, you name it, pictures, videos, sound sculptures etc.. Go check him out, his website is temporarily out as far as I Know, because he has some digital interactive mouse sensitive sound sculptures under revoid.be but for now it takes you to flickr. Still, try some months later, he probably has some surprises.
Try this one is great! Phenotype.


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Students may transfer a course as either a substitute for an upcoming course or as result of failing the course twice at Patten. Students must seek pre-approval from the Registrar for any transferred courses.
Can I transfer a course after I have been enrolled and am working through courses in my degree plan?
Have more questions? Submit a request
0 Comments
Article is closed for comments.


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Opportunity International helps you give families living in poverty the tools they need to transform their lives, their children's futures and their communities. As a company that gives small businesses a leg up, we feel a special affinity with Opportunity, who loan as little as $70 to individual people in more than 20 developing countries. These loans are used to start or expand a business, providing income for families, jobs for neighbours, and a safety net for the future.
To date, Silver Chef Ltd. has helped over 1,000,000 people out of poverty. By 2020, our goal is to help 1.5 million people out of poverty.
Imagine struggling to find enough to eat, not being able to give your kids an education, getting sick from sleeping on a cold floor. This is reality for many of the world's poor. For every $70 donated to Opportunity International, a family can buy a sewing machine or vegetable seeds to start their own business and transform their lives, their children's futures and their communities.
With 98% of loans repaid and then recycled, more and more families are helped over time.


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Thursday Roundup – Pizza, Dumplings, and Other Doughy Things
With a little more than a week left, there is still lots of MoFo deliciousness. Lots of bloggers are featuring pizza, sandwiches, and other creative ways to use dough. I'll eat pretty much any (vegan) thing if you stick it on crust or baked in a pie.
Vegtastic Voyage shares a pretty amazing veggie calzone with us, and In-A-Gadda-Da Vegan orders up a wonderful cheeseless pizza piled high with veggies.
Meanwhile, Amey over at Vegan Eats & Treats whips up a beautiful tomato pie in a cornmeal crust.
I've yet to make any of the recipes from Vegan Soul Kitchen, but I really want to try the BBQ Tempeh Sandwich with coleslaw that is featured over at Cooking Vegan With Soul.
Columbus Vegan whips up jackfruit carnitas and stuffs them into a lovely, cheesy chimichanga, and Veg Chef-to-be whips up some homemade arepas stuffed with black beans.
You'll want to save room for dessert, though! Dandelion bakes up some tasty and sweet apple dumplings, a perfect ending to any fall meal.
That's it for now. With a little over a week left, I can't wait to see what everyone cooks up as MoFo wraps up!


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Remembering the Pain of "Others": Reflections on the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and Beyond
Iris Pan Lu, Lecturer University of Hong Kong
Page 1
The Journey to the Far East: Jewish Refugees in Shanghai during WWII
The exodus of the European Jews to Shanghai merits attention, as it represents a special chapter in the history of their exile during WWII. For the refugees, the journey to a country that was an unlikely choice of destination for European Jews was extraordinarily long. During this period, China was not well known among Europeans, and it was battling its own war against Japan. The waves of persecution of European Jews in Germany, Austria, Poland, and other countries were motivated by the frantic racial policies of the Nazis and further aggravated by the violence during the Kristallnacht in 1938 and later by the murderous "Final Solution." Consequently, millions of German Jews and their families were forced to leave their "homeland." The early refugees were lucky enough to find shelter in the US and in other European countries, such as Switzerland. Unfortunately, not all German and Austrian Jews managed to find refuge abroad after several countries began to reject the immigration of the Jews who were fleeing Nazi Germany.
Shanghai immediately offered a light of hope into this bleak "life or death" situation. The city held a special status at that time, as it was divided into different sectors under British–American, French and Chinese, and Japanese control. As the largest metropolis in East Asia, Shanghai was the only place in the world that did not require a visa to enter and stay for an indefinite period. [1] Moreover, the cost of living in Shanghai was extremely low; an adult refugee could eat with only Sh.$ 20 per month (or approximately US$ 2.70 at the then-exchange rate). Subsequently, the Tilanqiao area in the old Shanghai Hongkew (now Hongkou) district became the only place in the world that offered a safe haven for approximately 30,000 Jews, who had come all the way from central Europe to East Asia. Many of the refugees were well educated and had proper and respectable occupations as craftsmen, lawyers, teachers, businessmen, technicians, doctors, and musicians. On top of their status as refugees and the ongoing war between China and Japan, the abrupt change in their living environment created a huge backlash in their lives in various ways. Nevertheless, most of these "Shanghailanders" not only survived the war but also built a thriving community of their own with a vibrant economic and cultural life. The children of the refugees were born in Shanghai, and some of them were receiving proper education prior to the Japanese takeover of Shanghai following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941. After the fall of Shanghai, the Jewish refugees were unable to leave the Shanghai ghetto and were only able to do so when Japan surrendered in 1945. The Jewish community began to vanish rapidly when the Communists in China won the Civil War against the Nationalists in 1949. The number of Jews in Shanghai dwindled down after 1950. The Jewish population in Shanghai dropped to 32,000 to 35,000 at the end of the Pacific War. This period in history later came under a veil of silence that lasted for decades.
Encounters between the Jews and the Chinese can be traced as far back as the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. [2] Jews from different parts of the world had already settled in Shanghai for different reasons even before the Jewish refugees from Europe fled the Nazi pogroms and came to this metropolis. The early contact between the Jews and the Chinese in the 19th century was marked by two strains of Jewish migrants.
The first was the famous merchant family of the Sassoons, who were originally based in Baghdad, Iraq, and then spread to Bombay, India, before settling in the newly opened treaty ports in China in the mid-19th century. The second strain was made up of the Russian Ashkenazi Jews, who came to China in the beginning of the 20th century, and of the white Russian Jews, whose population increased considerably after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Most of these migrants first fled to Harbin and to other parts of North China and then landed in Shanghai. The two strains were very different in terms of their backgrounds, professions, and financial status. Undoubtedly, the Sephardi Jews in Shanghai, including the famous Hardoons and the Kadoories, changed the urban space of the metropolis through the following contributions: the mansion of the Sassoons on the Bund, the Marble Hall of the Kadoories in the former French Concession, and the legendary Hardoon Garden, where the Shanghai Exhibition Hall (the former Sino–Soviet Friendship Mansion) now stands. These buildings are among the most significant architectural legacies of China's pre-revolutionary era in Shanghai. Jacob Elias Sassoon erected the Ohel Rachel Synagogue, which was named after his wife Rachel, on Seymour Road (today Shanxi Bei Road) in 1920. In memory of his father Aaron, Silas A. Hardoon built the Beth Aaron Synagogue on Museum Road (today Huqiu Road) in 1927.
Despite the significant Jewish presence in Shanghai's history, the interest in this part of local history only emerged in 1992 when China and Israel established diplomatic relations; in fact, "in the mid-1990s, the Shanghai authorities began to notice increasing pressure to recognize the Jewish history of the city." [3] This newly won interest was illustrated by the decision of the municipal government of Shanghai in 1998 to extensively renovate and reopen the former Ohel Rachel Synagogue, the largest remaining synagogue in East Asia. Another synagogue in Shanghai, the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, was turned into the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum after the Ohel Rachel Synagogue received honored guests, such as the former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder and the former First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton.
This study takes the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum as a case study and presents the subtle transformations of the war narratives in post-revolutionary China. The study also investigates the possible motivations behind the building of war memorial sites for "others," namely, the foreign communities, rather than for local Chinese communities. The case is worth exploring because it can provide insights into the broad context of memory making, history writing, and transformation of urban space in China. Without denying the historical worth and necessity of the museum as an important part of World War II memory on a global scale, this paper focuses on some critical perspectives that intend to push further the discussion on commemorative spaces and the public and war memories in China. The study contextualizes possible reasons for the erection of the museum in terms of the political circumstances of contemporary China. Moreover, the study provides two critical perspectives on the narratives of the museum, particularly with regard to those that were excluded and the reasons for the exclusion.
The Museum
Located at 62 Changyang Road, Hongkou District, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is now open to the public after it was fully repaired in 2007. It consists of three sections, namely, the renovated site of the synagogue and two exhibition halls. The ground floor of the main building was restored to its historical appearance in 1928. The second floor houses over 140 pieces of visual material, a multimedia installation, and a rich collection of artistic works relevant to the Jewish experience in Shanghai. The documentary Shanghai Ghetto (2002) by Dana Janklowicz-Mann and Amir Mann is continuously played on a screen. The museum also displays duplicates of the passport of a refugee, the Shanghai Jewish Chronicle, and a large stone tablet engraved with the handwritten message of Yitzhak Rabin during his visit to the museum. A digital database of the Shanghai Jewish community was established on the initiative of the Israeli consulate in Shanghai in 2008. The database lists the names, genders, addresses, nationalities, exile itineraries, arrival–departure dates, occupations, final destinations of immigration, and photos and contacts of about 600 of the 30,000 Jews who fled to Shanghai. Visitors can search for and enter information into the digital portal located in the exhibition hall to "give a record of the community, where its residents came from, their stories and struggles, where they have since moved and even how they might now be reached." [4] Prominent positions in Exhibition Hall No. 2 are also occupied by photos of the honored guests of the museum, most of whom are politicians and officials from Israel, Germany, and the US; staff of foreign consulates in Shanghai; and leaders of the Hong Kou District.
The third floor presents the history of the Holocaust and the Auschwitz Camp through archived and reproduced materials. Exhibition Hall No. 3, which is outside the synagogue, was erected in 2008 as a venue for past temporary exhibitions. Today, the hall displays the stories of 27 Jewish refugees and their lives in Shanghai. In the courtyard, the shop sign of Atlantic Café, which was run by Jewish refugees 70 years ago, was removed from the facade of the original building and now decorates the new Atlantic Café, the opening ceremony of which was attended by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his short visit to China in May 2013. Occasionally, the museum also hosts Jewish weddings and coming-of-age rites. "North Bank Suzhou Creek," a musical stage play about the stories of Jewish refugees in Shanghai, premiered in the museum in March 2012.
The museum proudly displays the contributions of Shanghai and China to the anti-fascist movement in WWII even beyond the East Asian context. The People's Government of Hongkou District allocated more than US$ 1 million in special funds to the full renovation of the synagogue in accordance with the original architectural drawings found in the city archives.
Commemorative Space in Modern China
From the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing to the Mausoleum of Mao in Beijing, the commemorative spaces in modern China have been carving out a new kind of public space for nation building. Built in line with various historical agendas modern China went through, these spaces play an important role in political education, the construction of Chinese national identity, and the establishment of new social norms and a specific kind of aesthetic environment for each historical context. [5] As a sub-category of modern national commemoration, war memorial sites represent the violence among human beings that is regarded as part of the founding myth of any nation state. As Nuala Johnson pointed out, "(w)ar memorials are of special significance because they offer insights into the ways in which national cultures conceive of their pasts and mourn the large-scale destruction of life." [6] Narratives associated with commemorative spaces that serve as memorial sites for both the Second Sino–Japanese War and the Civil War strictly follow the socialist tradition of eulogizing these wars as "just wars," which were waged against internal and external enemies. As the nation also largely relied on the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, the post-1949 historical narratives in China overtly emphasize the role of the Communist Party in liberating the nation and its people from suffering and humiliation during the Sino–Japanese and Civil Wars. However, by the end of the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) and the student movement in 1989, the Chinese commemorative spaces and monuments no longer possessed an ideologically straightforward function as agencies in the construction of public memory. Since the late 1970s, the national agenda of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has turned from a fierce political struggle to an economy-oriented open-door policy. Consequently, the country has been experiencing an economic boom since the early 1990s. As a result of the firm political rule of the Chinese Communist Party, the political hierarchy of the PRC is confronted with the issue on the incorporation of Chinese national monuments into a revised national ideology that is still deeply entangled in the continuities and discontinuities of the PRC's political vicissitudes.
The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum: A New Way of Commemorating WWII in China?
The conditions described above seem to indicate that the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is an unusual war memorial in China when compared with others of its kind that continue to create popular memory through orthodox political education, such as the Beijing War of Resistance Museum. [7] Particularly, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is neither dedicated to overtly praising the Communist Party nor closely related to patriotism. The neutral and somehow detached point of view of the museum in narrating the war in Europe and the sufferings of the European Jews only vaguely corresponds to the long-term anti-fascist stance of communism and to abstract internationalism. The official commemoration of World War II in today's China is deeply related to the political tensions not only between China and Japan but also between the PRC and Republic of China on Taiwan. The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum addresses neither area.
How can one understand the erection of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum in the larger context of commemorative space making in contemporary China? Does it mark a true departure from orthodox war memorials in China? The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum commemorates the suffering of others, but how are China and its people featured in its narratives? In the following, the birth of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and its historical narrative are described in the context of the status quo of World War II memory making in China and beyond as they are represented in the country's public commemorative spaces.
1. Reasons for Erection
This study considers two major conditions that can account for the establishment of the museum and its current situation. The first condition is that this commemorative space was used as a tool for making specific diplomatic profile. The principal part of cultural memory in China is still largely shaped by the state in a top- down manner. Thus, the memory discourse on "Jews in China" must be endorsed by the government. The early 1990s represent a turning point, as they gave rise to a growing interest of Chinese research institutions in Jewish studies in China; this interest is logically associated with the establishment of Sino–Israeli diplomatic relations in 1992 after the Cold War. [8] As a result of mutual political recognition between China and Israel, the rise in the number of Jewish studies in China, especially in Shanghai, is understandable; "in the mid-1990s, the Shanghai authorities began to notice increasing pressure to recognize the Jewish history of the city". [9] The motivation to rediscover the Jewish history of Shanghai does not entirely reveal an interest in understanding the city's multi-layered past as such. The salvation of the "memories" of Shanghai was prioritized for international diplomacy and not for the public participation of users in the city. As with other religious relics in China, the restoration of a physical structure does not result in the restoration of the events that were once held in the space. "Despite the narrative of an ab initio humanitarian impulse in China, being Jewish is not an acceptable ongoing identity for Chinese nationals. Judaism is not a recognized religion in China." [10] The website of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum proudly quotes the following comment of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin about the museum during his visit to Shanghai: "To the people of Shanghai for unique humanitarian act of saving thousands of Jews during the WWII, thanks in the name of the government of Israel." [11] Although it encourages local audiences to visit this commemorative space as a tourist spot that introduces the war experience of foreign communities in a "neutral" or even tenderhearted narrative, the museum is actually managed by the Foreign Affairs Office in Hongkou District; the primary target audience does not seem to be the local residential population. The entrance fee to the museum amounts to RMB 50, or approximately € 5, and is hence rather high for a visit to a museum of limited scale and may thwart a good many of local visitors. [12]
Shanghai has its own good reason for exploring the precious memory that can easily sensationalize not only the local people but also the whole world. Being a symbolic space of the rapidly developing Chinese economy and a symbol of its fast- paced modernization, cultural memory narratives about the past of Shanghai have usually been characterized by their eagerness to connect with their cosmopolitan past. A persistent wave of old Shanghai nostalgia for the interwar years when it enjoyed its alleged golden time has had its long-lasting influence on the cultural scene of the city since the 1990s. The image of Shanghai as a showcase of the post-Mao economic achievement of China and its rising role in a globalizing world finds the most suitable soil in the history of the Jewish refugees. The generosity of the nation and the practice of international humanitarianism in the city and nation, despite the change in regime, continue and deserve the respect of the world, as the scholars of the Shanghai Social Science Academy have suggested. They argue that this part of Shanghai's history can serve as "a unique 'cultural name card' for Shanghai in foreign communication and exchange," thereby suggesting that the city can be a showcase for a global audience. [13] The following is the comment of a Chinese expert on Jewish studies, Prof. Xu Xin from Nanjing University, on the launch of the database of Jewish refugees:
Academically speaking, the history of Shanghailanders is a part of the global research data on the Jewish diaspora around the world. It is therefore valuable to collect the data for the purpose of social statistics; in the meantime, most of the "Shanghailanders" have wonderful memories of China, their children would come to Shanghai for root seeking. This will increase their interest in and favorable impression of China, which will enhance mutual friendship and China's soft power. This has been the first time for both China and Israel to collect and compile such data on a remarkable scale and in such an intensive collaboration. This project is valuable in multiple reasons: in consummating social statistics, rescuing historical materials and promoting diplomatic relations. [14]
For the creation of a cosmopolitan image of Shanghai (and thus of China) in the West, the unique Jewish experience during the Holocaust becomes a highly valuable cultural capital for the global profile of the city. Jeffrey Sichel, one of the directors of the stage play "North Bank Suzhou Creek," claimed that the experience of Shanghailanders is "the Chinese version of 'Schindler's List.'" [15] Thus, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum can be seen as a process with which Chinese authorities could present China as a mirror image of the West. The museum epitomizes a historical self that is eager to be affirmed in the eye of others, that is, by assertion from the West. In this sense, this endeavor to be in line with the West, discourse serves as a means of articulating the spectacle of China's imagined modernity.


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Almost every day I listen to or read or watch the news, some days all three of these, because I want to stay tuned to what is seemingly going on in the world outside my house. These days this is an unpleasant experience. The longer I watch or listen the more worried I get. Things do not seem to be going well. The news about what is going on out there seems to rhyme with an idea of myself in here subject to these difficult conditions — and the world and that self seem mutually to freeze one another into place eventually with the sense of what seems to be the case. There's something desperate about about all this.
It occurs to me that world and the self as we usually understand them are exactly frozen: rigid, cold, and painful to touch. My personal problems, my conditioning, my attitudes, my self-definitions, what I hear from those around me, and the general conception of what the world is and where it is going - all of which are unfused with an unspoken and general sense of dread and fearfulness – all these convincing and compelling experiences chill me to the bone, fusing me to concepts, positions, anxieties icy in their effects. Palaces of ice that hold a world and a self in place, stunned and immobile. But when I switch the news off and read a poem or listen to music I begin to thaw out. The world disappears. My body and mind relax. My burden is lifted, the ice melts. I think this is more than mere distraction. The reading or the listening produce a state that may be the opposite of distraction. Art saves me from freezing.
Religious practice can have this effect too of course. It can provide me with a larger view of my life, a hopeful, flexible, warming, view. At least this is the theory. But anyone who's done religious practice for a while can tell you that it doesn't always work that way. In fact, spiritual practice too can hit you with an arctic blast sometimes, icing up the soul if you're not careful, into more grotesque shapes than the ones you were in before you began, perhaps in your desperation, to practice. Why? Because human beings naturally tend toward ice: we crave a fixed sense of things, a reliable truth we can depend on, a findable holdable world we can tame and understand. So though in the end it turns out to be quite painful, in the beginning we seem to crave frozenness, even as we long desperately to thaw. Religion always ends up being a big problem because we are problematical.
But... that aria, that string quartet, that poem, that picture, novel, film, play, installation, drawing, or dance can make a big difference. The imagination soothes the body, warms the soul in a reality wider, deeper, and more mysterious than we can directly sense or rationally know. Imagination sees into and through the apparent world to another world, luminous and significant. Without imagination there is only plodding on in the two dimensional ice cube world, merely surviving the day that hangs around our necks for twenty-four hours like a frozen weight, without rhythm, without quickness, without vitality. Living maybe but not alive.
Yet imagination is tricky. It is wild and does not play by the rules. It is impossible to control and cannot be second-guessed. Imaginations is a muse, a goddess who comes when she feels like it and leaves without notice. From the point of view of the rationally organized world, imagination is dangerous, for she scorns the world as a mere backdrop for her colorful activity. No wonder Plato wanted to exclude the poets from his Republic. And no wonder religion almost always mistrusts and fears the imagination, which is forever evoking energies—sexual and creative energies-- religion would just as soon forget they are so messy, so hard to predict, so impolite and antisocial.
Imagination feeds off desire, transmuting and magnifying reality through desire's underground energy. Fantasy is the opposite: it avoids any real or drastic confrontation with desire and flees instead into a tame, crude and far safer wish-fulfillment. Fantasy is teddy bears, lollipops, super heroes, or maybe whips and chains; it is also voices in one's head urging acts of outrage and mayhem. It is also the confused world of separation and fear we routinely live in, a threatening yet seductive world that promises us the happiness we seek when our superficial fantasies are fulfilled. Imagination, on the other hand, confronts desire directly, in all its discomfort, intensity, and impossibility, deepening and problematizing the world right where we are, opening up abysses where we thought there was solid ground. Fantasy and reality are opposing forces; fantasy is an escape from reality that can't actually hold. But imagination doesn't oppose reality: it seeks reality, shaping and evoking it at its most poignant levels.
So although religion seems to be, and has been, at odds with imagination, the truth is religion requires imagination and is imagination's chief production. If we want to go beyond the icy surface of things to the deeply hidden, passionate warm flow of the actual experience of being alive (as religion is supposed to encourage us to do), we need imagination as an ally. The senses, the reason, even the moral and emotional faculties are not enough.
Small children have an easygoing and natural sense of imagination. For them there's no serious difference between the world of matter and the world of dreams that crisscross and mix all the time. But children have to learn to freeze the world, to get it to hold still, so they can figure out how to be fixed persons in it in some organized way.
Religion is childish and it ought to be. It ought to help us recapture something that gets lost in the process of growing up. It ought to foster a sense of play, a sense of magic, a sense of humor. Probably it's too hard to cultivate these qualities within the normative forms of any religious tradition, so working with the imagination through art is good for religious practitioners. And the reverse holds as well: religious practice is good for artists. As a Zen priest I have been saved from freezing by my practice as a poet; as a poet I have been driven deeper by my practice of Zen. Zen has probably saved me from myself; poetry has probably saved me from Zen.
Working with the imagination through art requires discipline. The materials you are working with (even conceptual artists can't avoid materials) will discipline you. At first, you approach art out of passionate personal need to express your inexpressible feeling. But once you wade in, you find that the medium—the words or paint, movement or sound--is extremely resistant to your self-expression. Things don't just fall into place. You have to grapple with the materials, reshaping yourself to suit them. It turns out that making art is not so much self-expression as a dialog between what we think we want to express and the materials that seem to have their own demands. Engaging in this dialog moves you to a degree of attentiveness and concentration beyond the private and the personal. It also moves you to encounter art's own traditions, constructed on terms much different from those of religious traditions.
Art practice gives you a path into the rich and unique content of your own life. I don't need art to know what I think and feel. But without art, what I think and feel becomes quickly circular, self-centered, and limited. Making or appreciating art gives me a way to start with what I think and feel and then to plunge deeply enough into it that it becomes not only what I think and feel but what anyone thinks and feels and, even beyond this, what isn't thought or felt at all. When I write or read poems I am met, through my own thought and feeling, by what's outside my thought and feeling. In this sense, art practice promotes a profound empathy, a widening of my sphere of awareness.
Art practice can help us overcome the weakness we have for religious doctrine and dogma. Art provides a way to discover truth, but not truth that is handed to us already vetted. Instead, we find truth ourselves for the first time. This is a much more difficult, intimidating, and essentially joyful proposition.
Those of us engaged in religious practice should never forget how painful and destructive religious practice becomes when our enthusiasm for the truth of whatever tradition we are pursuing becomes exclusive and obsessive. Not only does narrowness of view cut us off from others who practice and believe differently than we do, it also cuts us off from ourselves, as we slash away at our thoughts and feelings in an effort to fit them to the shape of the doctrines we hold dear. Art practice can move the inner life of the religious practitioner out from under the dictates of tradition and challenge it with a demand for freshness. This has been my experience. My lifelong involvement with poetry has kept me sane within a fairly narrow and rigorous life of religious practice.
We need art as a form of recreation, re-creation of ourselves and our world, a freshening of what goes on day by day in our ordinary living. Viktor Shlovsky, the Russian formalist critic, arguing for attention to formal detail in art, said, "To make a stone stony- this is why there is art." In defamiliarizing the familiar, art makes it new. Artists know this, but not only artists. We all know that in looking at the world outside our own personal interests and habits we feel something of the divine, of the whole. If we approach our daily tasks with this heightened sense of things, taking care of our homes, our relationships, our communities, and ourselves, with attentiveness and love, we can live as if we were artists, grappling with these materials of our life. In fact this is exactly the intervention that conceptual art of the last century proposes, beginning with Duchamp, and no accident that Zen in particular, with its emphasis on the paradoxical and uncanny nature of time in the present moment was so influential with the early conceptualists in New York.
Being human is a big job. So much to do! Taking care of body, mind, soul, taking care of ourselves and each other emotionally and physically, repairing the world, earning a living - it's endless. There's no use worrying about finishing the job or even doing it all that well. But to brightly begin, and then having begun to continue: that's the great thing.
This essay appears in Norman Fischer, Experience: Thinking, Writing, Language, and Religion (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, Dec 20, 2015). An earlier version appeared in Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Volume 14, Number 3 (February 2005).


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Mini Air Show
On Saturday, while attending my uncle's graduation party, a mini air show was happening. It was so cool to see, apparently this happens every year and it's just a bunch of mini airplanes that put on this little air show. They fly solo, then in little packs. It was so exciting. It kind of looked like the planes were going to fly into the backyard at some points. One of the planes started making sputtering noises and we were all worried that it was actually going to fail and crash into the yard. It was a nice surprise to the afternoon. I definitely wasn't expecting to see anything like that. I guess that is a perk living close to a mini airport! Luckily, I had my camera with me, so I could grab some shots of the planes as they flew over. Here is my favorite shot:
If you want to see more pictures, check out the album on flickr!


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Even though the ground will soon be frozen solid in Tompkins County, area farmers are still offering a way to enjoy local produce, lower prices and show your support for local farmers through Winter CSA shares. Commonly associated with the summer season, CSA shares are a cooperative relationship formed between a consumer and a farmer that provides the buyer with a share of the farmer's crop in exchange for a set, up-front rate. Through this setup, local farmers get necessary capital and a known market for their produce and buyers get a direct supply of fresh, nutritious local produce for the duration of the season.
Local winter CSA options range include shares of meat, vegetables, or items like yogurt or maple syrup. Visit the CCE website for a list of farms that have offered winter CSAs in the past. Additionally, check out the full 2016 CSA Directory that describes the over 40 area farms that offer CSAs in either the summer or the winter. Whether in the summer or winter, CSAs are the best way to eat healthier, spending less, provide vital support to our local farms, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by buying locally produced, sustainable produce.


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All women should have the opportunity to lead healthier lives through
participation in sport and recreation.
The GoActive Project is a health and fitness initiative by the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) for girls and women. This initiative encourages cultural and religious diversity. Our programs cater to women who follow the Islamic faith, across Western and South Western Sydney. We provide women with opportunities to play sport and get active.
What's news?


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This was a project that was conduced in 2015 for the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA). The work was based on the red or blue pill concept from "The Matrix". "You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."
The reason I chose to tackle this concept is because working in such a company opens the doors to the world of technology and information, where one is knowledgeable about how anything console based works. Therefore they chose to be there, "taking the red pill" and indulging in all there is to know about the subject.
The materials used to make this mural was grogged clay and the size is 1.5 meters by 60cm.
Matrix Wiki. ND, Red pill. [online] Available at: <http://matrix.wikia.com/wiki/Redpill> [Accessed 20 April 2015].


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Infortrend EonNAS Pro 200 2-Bay NAS Review (Page 1)
Before Infortrend contacted us about the EonNAS Pro 200, we'd given up on dual bay NAS products. Before today, we've never seen a dual bay unit that we would even consider a true NAS as we know them as today. Most of these products just aren't worth the box they are shipped in. We see them advertised all of the time, gigabit Ethernet, but the true speed never breaks 30MB/s, feature-rich, but only if you consider instability a feature. The list goes on and on, but those aren't the kinds of features we'll talk about today.
Infortrend choose to take the effective route and gave the EonNAS 200 a real processor. The Intel Dual-Core 1.8GHz is the same processor we see in four and five bay NAS appliances. This unit also ships with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, double what has become standard in some of the larger units as well.
Looking over the spec sheet we can't find any place where Infortrend cut any corners unless you take offence to this unit only having two HDD bays. We say that because this NAS has the internals that we hope to find in four and five bay NAS products.
Today we're taking a look at the entry level EonNAS Pro models, the 200. This is the first dual bay unit we've actually enjoyed testing in our lab and if you're looking for a lower cost NAS, this is your starting point.
PRICING: You can find products similar to this one for sale below.
United States: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon's website.
United Kingdom: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon UK's website.
Canada: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon Canada's website.


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Andrew Croft
Andrew Croft became Chief Executive of CAN in 2008 having joined the organisation in 2006 with responsibility for the development of new revenue streams and replication, including CAN Mezzanine the award-winning high-quality office space for charities, social enterprise and voluntary groups. Andrew brought a wealth of experience in operations, sales, customer service, real estate and business development, with over 20 years' management experience from John Lewis Partnership to easyGroup.
CAN now has a property portfolio with an asset vale of £40m and supports over 160 organisations and 1200 people in its five office locations in London, with over £70m of assets under management.
Prior to joining CAN Andrew was based in New York as Vice President Business Development for the easyGroup of companies, reporting directly to Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, where he was involved with franchising, real estate and a major shareholder value dispute which successfully concluded with the sale of a NY listed PLC. Prior to this he was European Expansion Manager for easyGroup and was responsible for the international roll out of all the easyInternet cafes from Oxford Street, London, across Europe and on to 42nd Street, New York.
Andrew is a Non Executive Director of Social Enterprise UK, Chair of Foyer Federation, Trustee for Thare Machi Education and is an Ambassador for the UK Cabinet Office Mutuals Programme.
Andrew gained his MBA through Imperial College London, sits on the Credit Committee for the ACF Communitybuilders Fund, is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, and served under Lord Young as a panel judge for the Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of The Year Award".


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Seagate has refreshed its line of portable hard drives and introduced its FreeAgent GoFlex system (available in both portable and desktop variants), which encompasses drives, connection modules, and accessories. The portable drives come in assorted capacities and colors ($100 (£66) for 320GB in silver or black; $130 (£85) for 500GB in silver, black, red, or blue; $170 (£112) for 750GB in silver or black; and $190 for 1TB in silver or black).
The unique hook to these models is that Seagate has reengineered the devices to separate the drive from the bridge board that translates the drive's native SATA to another interface connection. As a result, Seagate can offer a variety of cable modules for use with a single drive - giving you plenty of connection flexibility.
This approach goes counter to the trend of putting multiple interfaces (for example, any combination of USB 2.0, USB 3.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and eSATA) on a drive.
One possible benefit of the new Seagate design is that you might not run into any power issues if you use the drive with an ultraportable laptop (sometimes, multiinterface drives require more power than the USB ports on such notebooks output). You could also save some money, in theory: Seagate says the new design lowers the drive's costs, as you'll pay only for the connectors you need.
However, if you do need extra connectors, your costs will add up quickly--the connectors range from $30 to $80. And if you don't keep an extra around, you'll be out of luck if you take the drive somewhere and realize only later that you need a particular connection.
Seagate offers six cable kits for the portable drive system. The USB 2.0 GoFlex Cable sells for $20, the USB 3.0 cable is $30, the eSATA cable costs $20, the FireWire 800 cable is $40, and the Auto Backup cable (which turns the drive into an automatic-backup unit much like the company's now-retired Replica drive, using disk-imaging software powered by Rebit) sells for $30. If you travel a lot and you like to have a few spare cables handy, that will add up fast. It also means you have to use a different module unit for different connectors.
Another potential issue, though, lies with the module concept itself. The drive has not one, but two connections to pass through (the bridge module's connector, and then the connection from the bridge module to your PC).
Having two potential points of failure concerned me at first, but Seagate assured me that the connector between the drive and the module has been well tested and can withstand use.
That same connector, however, was an issue on the late-beta unit I tried. I could get the module to snap securely into place, but taking the module off to swap connectors was a serious chore that made my hands hurt in the end. Seagate told me that the task shouldn't be that hard; I'll update this article with my findings when I receive a final unit. But such difficulties will be a big issue if you have to pop the module off to use it with the dock that comes with the Pro drive, for example.
Another part of Seagate's reasoning for breaking the connection module out of the drive was to make the drive more directly competitive in size with Western Digital's latest, compact My Passport series (which uses a micro-USB connector). In this respect, though, Seagate doesn't quite succeed.
The FreeAgent GoFlex comes close in basic dimensions--its official listed dimensions are 4.14 by 3.23 by 0.55 inches, as compared with the Western Digital drive's 4.3 by 3.2 by 0.6 inches--but for the FreeAgent drive, those measurements don't include the cable module. In the end, the new Seagate drive design is bigger than the competition--and even worse, the cable coming out of the module is fairly stiff, which makes popping the drive into a carrying case difficult.
We tested the GoFlex Pro version (which comes with a dock and packs a 7200-rpm drive inside, instead of the standard 5400-rpm drive). This model costs $140 for 500GB and $190 for 750GB. It performed well--but surprisingly, even though the drive ran at 7200 rpm, it performed comparably to the older 5400-rpm FreeAgent Go we'd tested previously.
In our tests, we tried the 500GB drive using both the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 modules.
Over USB 2.0, the drive took 145 seconds to read a 3.68GB folder of files (same as the previous FreeAgent Go), 182 seconds to write that same folder of files (compared with 197 seconds on the older drive), 134 seconds to read a large 3.68GB file (1 second less than its predecessor), and 155 seconds to write that large file (the same as before). Over USB 3.0, the drive performed comparably to the Seagate BlackArmor PS 110, the company's first USB 3.0 drive.
Unless you require the modular flexibility this drive provides, competing models may make a more compelling choice--especially if you need to use the drive in a dock, and then remove it from the dock to take it along with you.


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Reveal the Brighter Angles
Two dimensional thinking is: right-wrong; good-bad; yes-no, and the likes. To truly understand life, you must produce a holographic view inside two dimensional moments; get at the obscure angles; create a sort of kaleidoscopic puzzle, and break the dark fixations; the misunderstandings; the rigidity. Then, when the whole picture begins to shift, give yourself the authority to disrupt "reality" even further . . . "reality" is disrupted by everything anyway . . . that's why it's called maya . . . the grand illusion. Force your altered awareness to view the subtle inclinations revealed by this further disruption. Every situation within every moment, when the common assumptions are challenged and disrupted, acts like a touch stone, it stretches the limits of your perception to reveal the deeper, truer nature. Now it's up to you to process these revelations compassionately . . . they will express a whole lot of truth, and truth often arrives bitter and cold. Close your eyes to see more deeply, there's even ways to close off all your senses for complete clarity at these deeper levels in the disruption. Spend more time at these deeper levels -- this is being a sage with the ability to speak in melodic phrases and capture the positive imagination within profound truths. This awareness of what's actually true, will either drive you out of this awareness to avoid the agony it produces -- or drive you deeper into compassion and understanding to quell the agony . . . make certain you're the compassionate version . . . the one who understands the revelations and forgives their exposure. Here, you'll again discover your enthusiasm for conscious growth; your purpose to witness the essential relations of life . . . cell to cell, and soul to soul. Our prayer is that you consciously relate to your revelations with compassion; that you take the time to perceive the subtle truths that occur; that you disrupt any fixation on two dimensional darkness, and allow nature to naturally reveal the brighter angles.


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Uros Taquile Excursion 1 Day :
We pick you up from your hotel about 6:30 am. to leave at 7:00 in the direction of the island of the Uros. A boat will sail approximately 02:00 am arriving at the famous floating islands. These islands are made of reed throw, a plant that the mother nature provides them. The maggot in the lake has a special property, thanks to which the local people build their houses. On the other hand, they use it for the construction of its anchorage. Besides, the villagers use this material for the production of handicrafts. They are also engaged in fishing and hunting. Their native languages are the Quechua and the Aymara.
Later, visit to the Taquile island, the inhabitants of this island are artisans on wool textile products. The island is 1 km. wide and 6-7 km long. It has the peculiarity of having a stone staircase of 533 steps to climb to the village and because the altitude is a bit heavy grabs the rise.
(13,000 feet above sea level). On Taquile there are numerous archaeological pre-Inca and Inca archaeological remains. We will be returning to Puno in the afternoon.
• Guide
• Entrance
• Lunch
Not Included


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Cheap Redirect! Cheap Plug!
So, I like to seek out wackadoo unknown ingredients. Wegmans is really helpful in that regard because they are pretty progressive about their purchases. It's the reason I encountered baobab, and the reason I landed this Ingredient Intelligence story on the Kitchn. Special shout out to my photographic partner in crime, Adam Atkinson, for the beautiful images.
While you are reading that story and presumably getting curious, I'm hard at work doing a story about pumpkins (with a recipe for pumpkin ale bread to boot!) for Casey Barber's Good Food Stories and finishing up a piece on a local burger joint here in the Lehigh Valley.
I'm planning on posting a beer bread related recipe next week--one that's different from the one Casey's publishing next week. Stay tuned!


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Years ago, in the early stages of the Enron crisis, an ad agency called me to write some ads to help restore trust in the company.
As absurd as that sounds—and, no, I didn't take the job—I hear the same kinds of sentiments swirling around in financial circles today.
Image ads aren't going to solve the crisis of confidence that so may money managers face. In fact, they may just aggravate an already outraged public, particularly if the economic downturn deepens.
The Madoff mess has only stirred that pot, as this venomous piece written by Rabbi Marc Gellman for Newsweek makes caustically clear.
You can pump money into the system. But trust will take far longer to rebuild. Look for a new ROI metric in 2009: Return on Integrity.
Photo by LWPrencipe on Flickr.com, (cc) some rights reserved.


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Meet some of the Amazing EAF Summer Camp Team
Position: Leader
About Me:
I love my dog (Kevin!), playing soccer and hanging out with friends. I am entering my fourth year at the University of Guelph where I study Brain and Cognition. I am very involved in cognitive neuroscience research at the University and plan to extend this into graduate school or study occupational therapy.
Favourite thing about working at EAF: Our AMAZING clients!
I have been a staff for Extend-A-Family since the ninth grade and have had the opportunity to watch our clients grow, reach their goals and set new ones. Through my experience at EAF, I have supported some of the most kind, talented, resilient and unique individuals I have ever met. Our goal it to promote a safe and integrative environment for children and adults to have fun and explore their community.
Position: Leader
About Me: Diploma of Social Service Work from Humber College
I grew up in Kingston for the most part and have previous experience leading outdoor and artistic programming for children and adults with disabilities.
My personal interests include: the arts and outdoor activities.
My favorite thing about working at EAF: watching everyone work together to be the best and happiest they can be (sometimes with out knowing it, kinda like a real family).
Position: Physical Activity Leader
About Me: I am a third year Physical and Health Education Student at Queen's University. I hope to become a biology and physical education teacher at the high school level. I am from Kingston and I play hockey for the Kingston Voyageurs.
Favourite thing about working at EAF: Getting to spend my summer with such incredible campers and staff ... and going to the splash pad.
Position: Program Counsellor
I am currently finishing my first year at Queen's University with the goal of becoming a high school teacher. Before University, I was a competitive dancer and an avid member of the Holy Cross Arts Department - I was a member of the musicals, dance team and improv team. I try to stay busy but in my down time I love being surrounded with my friends and family. And of course, I can't forget one of my favourite places to be - Extend-A-Family!
Marissa T
Position: Program Counsellor
I am originally from Napanee, Ontario. I am currently in the process of completing my Undergraduate Degree in a double major of Psychology and Sociology at Trent University. I hope once this is completed to further my education with a Masters in Social Work. Overall, I have loved my experience working at EAF, as well as all the amazing clients and staff I get to work with. I have created so many memories and friendships and couldn't ask for a better summer job.
Position: Program Counsellor
I have worked for EAF for almost 2 years in the children's program. I graduated Regiopolis High School in 2016 and am currently completing my Bachelor's Degree in Behavioural Psychology at St. Lawrence.


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Cheeky Hipster
We promise to do no harm. Only comfort. We source 100% organic cotton: only and always. We seek out Fair Trade Certified™ factories. We use eco friendly materials and practices everywhere humanly possible, and we don't stop there. We endlessly search for ways to keep improving because comfort should never come at the cost of other people or the planet.
- Low rise waist
- Cheeky, moderate back coverage
- Low cut leg, soft lace trim detail
- Tagless, smooth flat waistband
- Prewashed fabric, shrink resistant
- Fair Trade Cotton
- Fits true to size
- Model is wearing a Pact size S
- 95% Organic Cotton
- 5% Elastane
- Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.
- GOTS Certified Organic Cotton
- Fair Trade Factory


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Hello all
Thanks for checking my first post!
I am an international student from Japan and planning to apply to U.S. grad schools this winter.
I saw in old topics that international applicants can be competitive only if they are the very best at their home universities, i.e. if they have quite high GPA and GRE physics scores.
But I still wonder what is expected for my case (which is shown below), so if there is anyone who have any idea whether I can be a competitive applicant, please leave a response.
My backgrounds are:
GRE Scores:
Verbal 380 (25%)
Quantitative 800 (94%)
Analytical 4.5 (52%)
Physics 920 (91%)
TOEFL Scores:
CBT 270/300 ( Reading 26, Writing 27, Listening 28 )
3.56 overall, 3.45 or so in physics (which is horrible...)
Summer research at UCLA on high energy experiment (while studying abroad, no publications)
Senior thesis on particle theory (no pubs)
One-semester TA experience (of E&M exercise class)
No awards
two average recommendations and one good one from an assistant professor who used to be a mirror fellow at UCB.
I am applying to:
UCLA (where I have studied abroad for one year)
Boston U.
and probably other back-up (i dunno if i can say this, though) universities like URochester, Northwestern, etc.
If you need more info to give a response, please ask me.
Thanks a lot!


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Moscow, SANA – Russian president's special envoy for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with Riyad Haddad, Syria's Ambassador in Moscow the situation in Syria and the return of the displaced Syrians to their country.
According to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides exchanged viewpoints about developments of the situation in and around Syria, including the formation of the Constitutional discussion Committee and the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland.
The meeting also paid special attention to issues related to further development of Syrian-Russian cooperation.


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"The needle rain" at platen application will recover tired nervous system, will clean pressure from your muscles, will give to the person a healthy shade and will freshen a skin. Use the obverse platen, facing to a mirror, - and you will by all means want to smile to yourselves. After all to see the fresh and healthy person in a mirror it is always pleasant.
How the platen works?
The spectrum of influence of the platen is extensive, and the effect of its application is improbably high. This universal remedy. Besides the platen - your house needleterapevt and the diagnostician, with its help you will find all points which render beneficial influence on your organism, most effectively normalise its condition.
Far not each therapist is capable to find these points so confidently as finds their platen.
These are points and the zones of various configurations located on a surface of a trunk, at influence on which often unusual sensations not only arise in the most this point or a zone, but also respond in other parts of a body. Besides the general recommendations according to which it is necessary to influence the basic, additional and auxiliary zones recommended at concrete diseases and conditions, similar to your complaints and the diagnosis, in addition it is necessary to process the platen the revealed zones - hypersensitivity sites - quickly (5-10 minutes).
Naturally, as a result of this influence the patient tests considerable improvement of state of health, disappearance of pains, increase of working capacity and the general tone, accompanied by pleasant, comfortable sensations in a zone of applications and in all body.« To run in »zones it is necessary on the person, a neck, a head or in zones of pains on a trunk and finitenesses. In certain cases very effective there is an influence carrying out on the sites opposite to sites of a pain, for example, if the right foot or a hand is ill to influence in a symmetric place on the left foot or a hand.
Width: 105 mm, diameter: 63 mm, step: 5,0 mm, quantity of needles: 570 pieces.
Additional Information
|Lyapko (Ukraine)
|Needles step
|Quantity of needles
|Silver needles are applied
Frequently bought together:
Customers who bought this product also commonly purchased the following combination of items.
This Item: LYAPKO Roller "Big" 5,0 Ag
LYAPKO Applicator "Chance"
Price for all: €73.05 Excl. VAT.
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought select all
Organic India Brahmi€16.16


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April 26, 2012 in Multimedia (E)
[prMac.com] Chengdu, China - MacXDVD, the leading destination for Mac software, and Cult of Mac, an award-winning daily news website that follows everything Apple, have partnered to deliver unlimited copies of MacX DVD Ripper Pro Streamer Edition for free to all Mac users before May 1st, 2012. Seize the chance to grab one copy of it to rip movies from DVD disc, convert into MP4, H.264, AVI, MPEG, MKV, FLV, etc, and stream them to iPhone iPad Android over WiFi, 3G/4G network.
"We're excited to work with Cult of Mac to offer this extra promotional service", said Mr. Jack, CEO, MacXDVD Software. "We are always dedicated to bringing customers efficient, easy-to-deploy Apple related tools. On this occasion, we are pleased to offer this all-in-one solution, MacX DVD Ripper Pro Streamer Edition for free to public."
MacX DVD Ripper Pro Streamer Edition consists of MacX DVD Ripper Pro and Air Playit Streamer. As the main part of it, MacX DVD Ripper Pro is designed for movie lovers to rip DVD to any video format for all popular portable devices, such as rip DVD to MP4, DVD to MPEG, DVD to iPhone/4S, DVD to iPad/3 and more.
And Air Playit works as an indispensable and powerful assistant for streaming the ripped video to iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android phone with WiFi, 3G or 4G networks. There are no wires, copying, pasting, or video conversion needed in the streaming process.
Apart from the giveaway, a special offer for MacXDVD's 2012 Magic Video Pack is unleashed simultaneously with 65% discount off. The Magic Video Pack is combined with DVD ripper, video converter and audio video streamer, more powerful than MacX DVD Ripper Pro Streamer Edition. And MacX iPhone mounter will be awarded as a free gift, which can transfer video, music from iPhone, iPod, iPad to Mac.
Pricing and Availability:
MacX DVD Ripper Pro Stream Edition composed of two programs, DVD ripper for Mac and video audio streaming software, worth $49.95, but it is available for free before May 1st, 2012.
MacXDVD Software, Inc. is a division of Digiarty Software Company, owns a professional multimedia software development team, providing a range of products for Macintosh Computer users, including a series of apps for Apple video player, iPhone, iPad 2D and 3D video games. Copyright (C) 2012 MacXDVD Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod, iPad and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.


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Small Batch Wine Kits
Interested in making wine, but worried about it being a big investment? Well then our Vintner's Best One Gallon Wine package is perfect for you. The package has two components which are sold separately: all the equipment you need to ferment the wine and the ingredient kit (juice) to ferment. There are several wines to choose from, including both reds and whites. Start a new fermentation frenzy on the cheap, with no heavy lifting, and end up with 5 bottles of great wine in the process!
NOTE: If you are already doing 1 gallon batches of beer, cider, or mead, then you probably already have all the equipment, and all you need is the ingredient kit.
1 Gallon Wine Equipment KitItem #: 3001
Product HighLights
Make excellent small batch wine with our Vintner's Best 1 gallon wine equipment kit!$59.99
California Moscato, World Vineyard 1 Gallon Wine KitItem #: 3602
Product HighLights
Lush, fruity, and delightfully sweet with juicy peach and tropical fruit flavours.$29.99
Australian Chardonnay, World Vineyard 1 Gallon Wine KitItem #: 3604
Product HighLights
The single most widely-planted wine grape in the world, it is the Australians who boast the biggest, boldest, most easily identifiable version.$29.99
Italian Pinot Grigio, World Vineyard 1 Gallon Wine KitItem #: 3606
Product HighLights
The Italians have their own way with the Pinot Gris grape variety. In the process, they create a special wine thats unmatched anywhere else in the world.$29.99
California Pinot Noir, World Vineyard 1 Gallon Wine KitItem #: 3622
Product HighLights
World Vineyard California Pinot Noir creates a lasting impression on the palate with an intense ripe-grape and black cherry aroma, accented by a spicy suggestion of cinnamon and mint.$29.99
Chilean Merlot, World Vineyard 1 Gallon Wine KitItem #: 3624
Product HighLights
Originating from the world famous Maipo Valley wine region in Chile hails this great addition to our World Vineyard Series. This reputable Merlot is a soft and supple variation with powerful fruit and spicy flavors.$29.99
California Cabernet Sauvignon, World Vineyard 1 Gallon Wine KitItem #: 3626
Product HighLights
All the classic associations with this well-known grape variety, from Californian vineyards. Rich, intense aromas, deep berry fruits, healthy tannins, and a smooth, lingering finish.$29.99


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Q: Why is UNICEF working on reducing measles mortality?
Hoekstra: Of the children that die from vaccine-preventable diseases, 45 percent die from measles. It is unacceptable that nearly 345,000 children die every year from a fully preventable disease. All these deaths can be prevented with an injection of the measles vaccine. The vaccine is highly effective and safe.
Q: Why is measles a top killer of children?
Hoekstra: Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. If you are in a room with someone who has measles and you are not protected against measles, you get measles too. In developing countries, measles can be deadly for children because it lowers their resistance to other diseases. Many children develop complications – they get a lung infection or intestinal infection with diarrhoea. As many of these children live in remote areas and have no access to health care, they can die of these complications.
Measles is definitely a top priority in developing countries where governments support efforts to reduce measles mortality. In most, we just have to mention that we have some funds, and they go ahead with the immunization campaign. In Africa, where measles takes a large toll, it is very easy for us to give the vaccine. In some African countries, mothers won't give their children real names until they have survived measles.
Q: How has measles mortality been reduced in half between 2000 and 2005?
Hoekstra: UNICEF developed a strategy with the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase routine measles vaccination coverage and conduct supplemental campaigns providing second opportunity for immunizing children. Failure to immunize children against measles at least once is the primary reason for the high number of cases in problem countries. In contrast, we have seen major progress in countries that have offered a second opportunity for measles immunization. The second dose allows us to immunize children we may have missed the first time and it enables us to administer a second dose to other children, thereby guaranteeing that they will be immune to the disease. In 52 countries that give children only one opportunity to get the measles vaccine, the death rates are much higher than in all other countries worldwide.
Q: What are some of the specific ways UNICEF is working to achieve this goal?
Hoekstra: Between September and December of 2001, we were involved with one of the largest measles campaigns ever in Africa as part of the African Measles Initiative. We vaccinated over 21 million children in eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda. WHO is a major partner in the campaign, along with several others: The United Nations Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This campaign had a major impact: we were able to avert 140,000 child deaths. In most of the countries, we were able to reach over 95 per cent of children under 14 and in others, 95 per cent of those under age five. The impact will be felt far into the future because now these countries have a good basis from which to conduct future measles immunization. In the next five years, we hope to go to all of the countries in Africa.
Q: What are the challenges going forward?
Hoekstra: The major area of concern for us is getting sufficient funding. We have a lot of technical people and partners on the ground that are very experienced at setting up good, sustainable measles programmes. To achieve the goal of reducing measles deaths by another 40 percent over the next four years, we will need $688 million.
Conflict and wars are other barriers to our immunization efforts. In Afghanistan we vaccinated over ten million children against measles. Usually we carry out a program within one or two weeks and we vaccinate five or six million children in that week. Afghanistan is so difficult that we did it over a half-year period, where we went from village to village. But, ultimately, we averted 35,000 child deaths.


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Sears Scholarship – A Great Way to Share Profit Money
Scholarships are available in large number. This is mainly because the resources have increased in figures. Today, it is not just the college or the university or federal, state and local government that provides financial assistance to students. Many private business owners and huge companies provide financial support (more…)


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Saul Greenberg on supervising, building a lab, creating good work life balance/
Saul Greenberg is an Emeritus Professor and Faculty Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary in Canada, where he led the GroupLab, doing research in the area of HCI/CSCW/Ubicomp. He discusses his experiences picking and supervising students, strategically building a research lab and community, taking control of our own work-life balance, publication strategies, remote working, and moving into retirement.
"Work will never end and it's up to me to balance my life. [...] The question I would ask myself is: if I said yes, which I really want to do, what should I stop doing?"
He talks about (times approximate) ...
02:43 Being a supervisor, how you pick good students (or not) and still learning right to the end
07:05 Students finding their own topics or working on yours, growing a lab, nurturing promising students
12:50 The strategic things to think about when designing/creating a lab, creating a community and a culture, and what wasn't so successful in setting up the lab
20:50 Choosing where he wanted to live to do the outdoor activities he loved, then choosing the job
23:00 Tele-commuting, partitioning work, walking the talk with remote working and lessons learnt
29:00 Realising work will never end, making choices, and his strategy for deciding whether to say yes or not
36:00 Sharing teaching materials as a by product of making teaching easier – "you can be both selfish and give things away"
38:00 How academic life has changed, increasing pressure to publish, and making hiring decisions
43:20 Making the decision to retire and move into emeritus status
45:30 Final tips (lots of pearls!) – no easy solutions, being strategic, scheduling time, not being driven by the next conference deadline, don't let your work take over, don't get into the vortex of more intense colleagues, and it's a great job, we're our own worst enemies
48:50 End
Related links:
Saul's Grad Tips: http://saul.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/pmwiki.php/GradTips/GradTips
GroupLab: http://grouplab.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/