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On Hari Raya Haji, I had a wonderful dim sum breakfast cum lunch at a restaurant locate in somewhere around Old Klang Road which the name I do not remember. It was a dim sum heaven recommended by the prestigious Brigid Cotter Prize holder whom in person can devour 6 pieces of char siew pao anytime so long as there's char siew in it. He's a char siew freak. You can tell this by his overweight figure. XD
Moving on, brother and I decided to hit the Sungei Wang mall as he need to purchase some body accessory while I need to update my (pirated)video collection. It was Hari Raya Haji , a public holiday and within my envisage, the mall is packed like a market la. It wasn't really that packed but just packed la. ( I know, I'm making senseless talk here haha...)
I finally managed to get Two and a Half Men Season 5 to fill up my utter boredom time during weekends as I don't have to attend any academic course for the moment unlike the prestigious Brigid Cotter Prize holder and his cronies.
There happen to have a Gundam model competition at the lobby on that day. I managed to snap few of the good looking ones and decide to share them with my readers afterall I always share the best thing that happens to me with all my friend.
Mind my poor photography skill as I only utilise an amatuer Canon PowershotSX1 IS. Feel kinda inferior when there' bigger boys carrying bigger guns to capture all the Gundam for competition on display. There's one point where there's this guy who carry super huge SLR for whatever brand I'm not familiar of actually gave me a condescending scorn when he notice of my miniature camera. This is really psychologically demeaning expecially for us guys you see because guys hate when people find ours SMALL! Guys always want BIG BIG things for themself as their ego and pride demands them to.
Plus girls don't like small wiener. Opps I mean small toys. Oppss I mean smaller gadget.


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The Bullies on the Bus: End of Innocence
In case you live under a rock, the 68 year old bus monitor bully video Making the Bus Monitor Cry – Karen Klein Bullied by Kids on Greece District School Bus topped nearly 2 million hits on YouTube and the savages were fully on display.
Not unlike the marooned boys in the 1954 classic novel, Lord of the Flies, the Greece Middle School bus bullies relinquished their humanity, banded together to verbally savage a kind and sweet grandmother. Their conduct turned innocence on its head; instead of children exhibiting innocence, an elderly woman is the innocent victim of youthful brutes.
After a week of the media incessantly replaying the video while superficially discussing punishment options for the hellions, the story abruptly ends. The bad boys are now disciplined, the elderly bus monitor is going to Disneyland and the generous public appeal endowed grandmother with over $650,000. Happy ending, folks, all nicely tied up. End of story, and let's move on to the next breaking news alert.
Not so fast…This incident signals a new generation of children lacking empathy which bodes disaster for society. Empathy is the primary civilizing factor in a society. It is the glue that binds together communities in a civilized society. Otherwise, chaos and violence reigns with citizens coveting their neighbors' goods, homes, children, and spouses. Not surprisingly, our prisons are full of criminals who had no empathy for their victims.
In his book, "Born for Love, Empathy is Essential and Endangered," Dr. Bruce Perry, renowned child psychiatrist and foremost child trauma expert advises that the roots of empathy begin early in childhood. Perry counsels that "babies cannot develop the foundations of empathy without frequent, nurturing contact with a few consistent caregivers. Social development requires multiple, repeated face to face interactions."
Children learn to be social beings through the loving and caring interaction of significant adults in their lives.
The lessons of empathy start early in infancy and must be nurtured throughout childhood. Ironically, Karen Klein, the bus monitor, is just the sort of kind grandmotherly type that exudes the prototype of kindness and empathy.
In an attentive family, children learn that hurtful words and actions cause pain by seeing the painful reaction on a human face. They learn to feel the discomfort of pain when they hurt someone. By feeling another's pain, they develop empathy. Sadly, the bus bullies saw, but didn't feel Grandmother Klein's pain, as she wiped away her tears. Otherwise, they would have stopped tormenting her.
The value of empathy goes beyond feeling another's pain. It is the primary building block in a civilized society of compassionate citizens. Children are taught rules at home, in play, and at school. Spontaneous play imbues children with the value of rules, negotiation, team building, and imagination–all critical skills which are essential to empathy.
Oddly, communities ban lemonade stands and sidewalk chalk writing, yet ignore x rated video games and pop-up porn websites. Perry's cautionary admonition that the "brain becomes what it does" is a wake up call to parents and schools when boys play the violent video game appropriately named, "Dark Souls."
Today's child plops in front of an uncensored television screen, violent video games, inert social media networks, and computer monitors, for nearly 7 1/2 hours a day. That leaves little time for human face-to-face interaction, instruction or direction. Dr. Perry often cautions, "Children aren't resilient, but children are malleable." Technology, rather than human discipline, is shaping children by teaching violence, sex, and cruelty without consequences.
An inanimate LCD screen cannot replace the human face. No computer monitor is going to teach a child thoughtfulness, kindness, or empathy. Sadly, there are no consequences if you kill, maim, or bully, in the virtual world.
Finally, Dr. Perry points out "that consideration of others is a cornerstone of morality. All of these 'Golden Rules' show how greatly morality depends on empathy and our ability to see the world from other points of view." He finds that most schools are designed to be "relationally impoverished." In other words, students are lacking quality relationships with caring adults. Schools focus almost entirely on cognitive development and leave values education at the school door.
Are public schools or parents teaching the "golden rule" anymore? Not likely.
The school curriculum insists on sex education, but eliminates character and values based education.
Instead of teaching the values of kindness, courtesy, discipline; schools teach children how to put on a condom.
Instead of teaching value of the elderly and oral history, they teach the value of oral sex.
Instead of the search for truth and honor, schools must search for guns and drugs.
Throughout human history, the aged were revered for their knowledge, experience and wisdom. The death knell of elderly respect is apparent in Greece, New York when 13 year old boys relentlessly taunt an elderly woman and take glee in her pain. This portends the death of the golden rule.
William Golding wrote at the end of his allegory on good and evil about the main character, a boy, "Ralph, who wept for the end of innocence, and the darkness of man's heart."
Are we going to sit idly by, in horror, at the end of innocence?

subset: commoncrawl


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It's been just nine months, and already our 20 incredible Green for All fellowship candidates are making big changes in their communities. Our fifth cohort of Fellow candidates wrapped up their term of service in March and joined a growing network of fellows around the country who are leading efforts to create a healthier, greener, more equitable world—one neighborhood at a time. Members of our fifth class hailed from epicenters of change spanning the entire country, from Las Vegas, Nevada to Rich Square, North Carolina. They came together in Oakland, California last July for several days of training, then headed back home more ready than ever to engage their communities in building green solutions and new economic opportunities.
These 20 incredible individuals put together over 750 events to train and mobilize more than 18,000 community members. Their accomplishments are impressive.
A few highlights:
- Developing a farmers' aquaponics collaborative made up of workers displaced by the BP oil spill in New Orleans
- Coordinating community participation in public hearings about the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline in Omaha
- Distributing fresh fruits and vegetables to 100 families a week in Nashville
We believe you'll be just as inspired by these local 'solutionaries' as we are: To get more ideas for how to begin or strengthen your efforts to create the world you want to live in, click on the photo below.
You can help build the movement, too—by sharing your solutions and ideas with us on Twitter.
And don't forget to sign up here to get Green for All updates and learn how you can help.


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We pride ourselves on our relationships. Whether these are relationships with our clients growing number of international partners the ability to come together as a team with a common goal is the key to our success.
From our early days with the TCT Conference back in 1997 we have always worked hard to deliver return on investment for all participants, whether they have learning or commercial objectives. The intersection of these two groups is where business happen.
Since 2015, we have made a significant strategic shift in emphasis towards emerging growth markets fuelled by joint venture partnerships and the leveraging of market-leading Rapid brands in new territories.
Our team's ability to develop stunningly aesthetic products, that have at their core world class content, aligned with the best audiences in their marketplace means we are now in demand as a strategic partner for a range of world class organisations who see our core skills as important to their growth and success. You can see some of these partners on the right.
Our ability to deliver high quality conference programmes, sales results and return on investment, aligned with our relationships with the key players in all of the markets we operate in means we are uniquely positioned to drive growth not only for ourselves but also for our partners.


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This past Friday, July 22, 2017, students who participated in the third annual UC Maker Fair exhibited their news skills for their family, teachers, and friends.
This event is the culmination of an intensive four-week program where students learn to combine STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Coding Skills.
To view the album click here


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Reserve Your Bed
Stay at HI New York City and get to know the city like a local.
Let HI New York City be the home base for your unforgettable NYC visit. Join our free tours and activities and experience the spirit and energy of the city with like-minded travelers from across the country and around the world.
With rates starting from $49, and rooms to suit every preference, book now – we look forward to welcoming you soon.
- Free programs, activities and events to meet fellow travelers
- Complimentary continental breakfast (for guests staying in 4 & 6 bed dorms)
- 1 block from metro/minutes from Times Square
- 2 blocks from Central park
- Newly renovated common spaces
- Comfortable beds
- Rooms are divided into male, female, and co-ed rooms
- Shared hallway bathrooms
- In-hostel cafe serves delicious food all day
- Largest private green space in Manhattan
- Modern, fully-equipped guest kitchen
- Laundry
Free, recently upgraded Wi-Fi
Free charging stations
Free daily tours
Free weekly welcome reception
Free itinerary planning
Free linen & terry
Free in room lockers
Free breakfast with premium dorms
* NOTE: If you are interested in bringing a group to New York, please use our group information form (this is not a reservation) and a group coordinator will reply within 24 hours (Monday through Friday). For more information on groups click here.
HI USA Membership
HI USA is a non-profit membership organization. If you are not a member, you can buy an annual membership at check-in or pay a daily membership ($4) fee for each night of your stay.
- Big savings and discounts for HI Members
- Access to 4,000 hostels in 80 countries
- Youth membership is FREE
Get Your HI USA Membership Now!
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations may be made at no charge up until 6 p.m. the day before your scheduled date of your arrival. Reservations cancelled after 6:00 p.m. ET prior to the day of arrival will be charged for the first night's stay. Please call +1 (212) 932-2300 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to cancel.
If you are interested in bringing a group to New York, please use go to our Groups section to learn more.
Please be as flexible as possible with your dates in order that we can assess all of the options for your stay. Group rates and services apply to groups of 10 or more participants.
You can also fill out our online application and we will get back to you right away to confirm availability.
Useful Information
- The hostel has a fully equipped kitchen, laundry room and game room.
- Linens, pillows and blankets are provided free of charge. Sleeping bags are not permitted.
- There is a 20 night maximum stay per year.
- Hostel is open 24 hours/day.
- Individual guests under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- Guests 16 or under must be in a private room or exclusive dorm room with a parent or legal guardian.
- Check-in time begins at 4pm. If you will after 10pm, give us a call to let us know.
- All guests must present a valid driver's license or passport upon check-in.
- For more information on the benefits of being a member of HI click here.


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Intrigued to discover that the Windows Store has an Ubuntu app and decided to try it out and see how functional it is. Very, it turns out. Took a while to get started as I had to set up the PC for Insider Preview Fast Ring to get the required Windows build level. Once that was done, it was all pretty straightforward.
The app is a command line Ubuntu version. I tried installing ubuntu-desktop but that didn't really work. However, lots of other things did work including network servers (that need to listen on ports for connections) and things like that. The Windows 10 desktop's drives are visible at /mnt/x where x is the Windows drive letter. The app runs .bashrc and .profile scripts at startup so it is easy to get things to run automatically. As you can see from the screen capture, it has access to all of the CPU resources unlike a virtual machine where you can partition the cores (and RAM for that matter) – I was able to get all 12 cores running compilations simultaneously. However, in most cases the apparent inability to control the number of cores used by the Ubuntu app is probably unimportant (I didn't find any way of changing settings).
The Ubuntu app appears on the same host adaptor as the Windows desktop so they share an IP address and port space. I was unable to ssh into the app for example. However, I was able to run webservers on non-standard ports and that worked just fine.
There is no /dev directory and therefore no way to access USB devices such as webcams. USB flash drives do not appear either – only the internal drives are visible to the Ubuntu app as far as I can tell.
All in all there are some caveats but it is essentially a very useful app for situations where it is important to be able to run Linux programs on a Windows machine without the overhead of running a virtual machine.


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I'll be attending WorldCon again this year (labeled in 2015 as Sasquan, for it's Pacific NW location). Please feel free to say "hi" if you see me!
In addition to the panels I'll be moderating and guesting on, I'm also doing a reading and volunteering at the SFWA table on Friday morning. I've sold a very, very short (400 words) story to the new ezine Mothership Zeta, and it'll be circulating at the con on the back of a postcard. I'll try to bring some copies to hand out at my reading, as well as any extra copies of the Galaxy's Edge sampler I can nab (my story, "The Unchanging Nature of Stones" is in it), extra copies of my book, Loose Changeling, and Changeling Wars bookmarks. So there SHOULD be enough free stuff for everyone!
Female Characters in Video Games
Thursday 12:00 - 12:45, Bays 111C (CC)
How are female characters rendered and scripted in video games? How can we get more realistic female characters rather than the juvenile male fantasy that predominates the field?
Andrea G. Stewart (M), Tanglwyst de Holloway, Annalee Flower Horne, Lauren Roy
Worldbuilding And Sandbox Games
Thursday 15:00 - 15:45, 303A (CC)
Fantasy games such as Skyrim and Dragon Age: Inquisition, along with science fiction games such as Elite: Dangerous and Great Big Sky, provide an enormous open-world sandbox for players to explore. What is the draw of these games, and the challenge of designing them? What lessons can authors learn from games like these?
Brooks Peck (M) , Esther Jones, Lauren Roy, Andrea G. Stewart
We Won: How SF, Fantasy and Comics Have Taken Over TV
Thursday 17:00 - 17:45, Bays 111B (CC)
Not very long ago it was hard to find any SF on TV, let alone good SF. But today, every night has multiple shows. Some of the most talked-about shows on TV -- Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead -- are genre shows, Doctor Who is a worldwide phenomenon, and even shows that started as thriller shows like Person of Interest are clearly SF. Agents of Shield, Grimm, The Flash, Gotham, Orphan Black ... the list goes on. And what about the shows that start of promising and collapsed quickly (Twelve Monkeys)? Is the zombie-takeover of TV starting to peter out?
Darlene Marshall (M) , David Peterson , Andrea G. Stewart , Annie Bellet
Reading - Andrea G. Stewart
Friday 13:00 - 13:30, 301 (CC)
The Best Video Games Ever!
Saturday 17:00 - 17:45, 300D (CC)
Halo? Tomb Raider? Mass Effect? Pac-Man? What are the best video games ever?
Joy Bragg-Staudt (M) , Caren Gussoff , David Peterson, Andrea G. Stewart


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C'est mon rêve joli: It's my pretty dream...
C'est mon rêve joli: It's my pretty dream...
Fine Art Photographic Print on 100% cotton archival rag
23 inches x 34.5 inches (58.4 cm x 87.6 cm)
Limited Edition of Three
"Paris, I believe, jolts the capillaries, awakening the sleepy, dormant self in its inhabitants, snapping them out of their slumber.
"In the morning, as soon as we open the doors of our dwellings and head out into the street, it shouts at our sense of smell, sight, taste, touch and hearing - WAKE UP. Easygoingness is not the nature of this beautiful city. Passion is what this city thrives on.
"Paris stole my heart, yes, but then gracefully, she gave it back to me. With no intention of keeping it, she just wanted to wake it up, to remind me of its existence.
"Paris reunited me with mon cœur (my heart) and for that, I love her so. "
Excerpts from My Heart Wanders, Chapter 7: Acceptance, going with the flow.
++Click on the image to see the full photograph. ++
This series of five, limited edition of three fine art photographic prints is in celebration of the City of Light; of love; of opening our hearts & connecting us to the incredible beauty of nature, and the wonder of humanity.
C'est mon rêve joli: It's my pretty dream...
This photograph is a multiple exposure of L'Écurie restaurant in the Latin Quarter, taken just before diners arrive, and the stunning gardenia flower which symbolises intuition, love, clarity, and friendship.
Each photograph comes with a hand signed and numbered certificate which can be adhered to the back of a frame.


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Our Famous Four Roast Carvery
Our Famous Four Roast Carvery
We've always said it: the secret to a great roast is preparation. From the time we take choosing the very best produce to the expertise of our master chefs, it's good hard work that makes us home of the roast. Choose whichever slow roasted meats you fancy or enjoy a mixture of all four with your Yorkshire Pud.
Roast Gammon with a Pomegranate Glaze
Roast Turkey Succulent British Farm Assured
Roast British or Irish Beef with a Beef Dripping Glaze
Roast Pork with an Apple & Sage Glaze
Then just help yourself to our freshly steamed vegetables and roast potatoes from the deck.


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Apple Posts Samsung Judgement Notice In The UK/
The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."
"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.
Contrary to the UK judgement, in Germany, Apple points out that it has won the same case against Samsung which was found guilty of infringing on Apple's design and utility patents.


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Still haven't mastered how to say Murciélago? That's OK, because in terms of Lamborghinis, it's on to the next one. While we've seen teasers here and there, the brand's fifth generation V12, the Aventador LP700-4 was officially revealed today at the Geneva Auto Show. Though not worlds different from its successor, this new Lambo flagship sports a more muscular stance with intricate lines, but a much cleaner look overall.
We'll bring you more intricate details soon, but here's a little info to hold you over. Lamborghini says the Aventador will hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 217 mph. To own one of the 35,000 models sold each year, you'll have to drop around $380,000. You're going to have to spend a couple more G's to keep the car fueled as it's rated at 13 mpg. For now, peep at the pictures and try not to drool on your keyboard.
Source: Lamborghini


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Tim Allen didn't hesitate in identifying the key to a wire-to-wire win in the fifth annual Ed Gibbons Memorial at Fayetteville Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
"Horsepower," the Kannapolis driver said. "Horsepower. We've finally got us a motor."
Allen led all 40 laps of the Carolina Clash series show - the main event of the season opener at the 4/10ths-mile dirt track. He made it look easy, too, darting past pole winner Johnny Pursley in the first turn on the opening lap and forcing the opposition to chase him the rest of the night.
Nobody was up to the task.
Even when a final caution bunched the field for a restart with six laps to go, Allen powered away, and he widened the gap to 3.3 seconds at the checkered flag to earn $4,000.
Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., Scott Autry of Autryville, Kennie Compton Jr. of Bland, Va., and Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., rounded out the top five. It was the 50th Clash race at the track since the series' inception in 2000.
The win was the fifth in Clash competition for Allen, who last won on the regional circuit in October 2009 at Lancaster, S.C.
"I didn't think it was going to happen again," Allen said. "We've been down for awhile, and here we are."
Franklin, the 2010-11 Clash champion, said that a suspension problem limited his ability to overhaul Allen, but added that he didn't know whether he could have.
"I bent the end of the right-front shock" absorber, Franklin said. "He was good - ain't no doubt about it.
"The last 20, my car just took a turn for a the worse. . I'm proud of Tim Allen. If I couldn't win it, I'm glad Tim did."
While Allen, Franklin and several others in the field already had a handful of races under their wheels in 2013, it was Autry's first outing of the season. He said he felt rusty.
"It felt like I hadn't been in (a car) in a long time out there in practice. Wolf Pack Racing and my crew, they gave me a real good car," the former series titlist said. "I should've made a few more adjustments - we thought the track was going to stay heavier. .
"It was a good learning experience because everybody else has got three or four more races in, so I'm very pleased with how it turned out."
Though Allen was without peer Saturday night, there was plenty of action back in the pack. Compton provided much of the excitement, using a higher line through the corners - a tactic usually avoided by drivers - to pass four drivers on four consecutive laps.
"Billy McFayden and Freddie Maynor did a great job" preparing the racing surface, Autry said.
"Overall, it was A-plus. There were a few little bumps, but it's a dirt track - it's supposed to have a little ripple in it. There was no dust, the fans could see the race, and for the most part the drivers drove a great race."
The next Clash race will be April 6 at 311 Motor Speedway in Madison. The circuit makes it second of four Fayetteville stops June 8.
Sports editor Thomas Pope can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 486-3520.


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In Australia, we consume much more salt that we need. Salt, sodium, and rock salt – It's all the same! The average Australian consumes a huge eight – nine times more sodium than we need for good health.
How much salt should we consume each day?
Australian dietary guidelines recommend adults keep sodium (salt) intake to 1600 mg each day. An 'Upper Limit' or maximum of 2300 mg per day has also been set, with intakes above this level likely to cause harm.
Why salt is bad for our health
Too much salt increases the risk of high blood pressure (also known as 'hypertension').
A small amount of salt is actually important for good health – it helps regulate the amount of fluid in our body. However, the more salt you eat the more your blood vessels retain water. This extra water increases the volume of blood in your arteries, causing high blood pressure.
High blood pressure has a number of dangerous long-term health outcomes, greatly increasing your risk of stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.
The good news is, by making some simple adjustments to your diet you can reduce your salt intake and help drop your risk of developing high blood pressure.
Foods high in salt:
If you add a heavy shake of salt to a meal i.e. ½ teaspoon of salt, this equates to half the adult daily allowance! Further, a seemingly harmless ham and cheese sandwich can provide a four year old; with more than one and a half times the amount of salt they need each day!
Most of the salt we consume comes from the processed foods we buy. Foods particularly high in salt include:
- Bread (lower sodium options are available)
- Fast foods including pizza and hot chips
- Dehydrated or packet foods, such as instant pasta or soups
- Processed meats
- Sauces and condiments, such as tomato and soy sauce
- Parmesan cheese
- Many canned foods, including vegetables
- Potato chips
Salt also occurs naturally in many foods we eat such as meat, fish, milk, eggs and vegetables, though in smaller amounts.
To eat less salt:
- Eat fresh food instead of processed food where possible
- Use cold roast meat or poultry for sandwich fillings instead of processed meats
- Use herbs and spices such as garlic, oregano and lemon juice to add flavour to meals in place of salt
- Use small amounts of salty sauces (i.e. gravy, stock powder, soy sauce)
- Cut back on takeaway and fast foods
- Buy 'low salt' or 'salt free' versions of commonly used foods, such as tomato sauce and canned goods
When ordering takeaway:
- Opt for steamed rice over fried
- Minimise the amount of stir-fry sauce
- Improve pastas by skipping the parmesan
- Choose pizzas without olives, anchovies or processed meats
Understanding salt in food labels:
A big step in the right direction is getting into the habit of reviewing the nutrition information panels on products. Choose products with 120mg of sodium/salt per 100g or less or no more than 600mg of sodium per serve.
Reducing your salt intake need not be difficult; it can be as easy as switching brands for the lower sodium option and preparing your meals with largely fresh ingredients.


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So.......I drew the next card- the four of clubs with an instruction to either make a new sheet of reduced (1/16) images or, if I didn't have the scans I needed to do that then to do more scans from where I left off last time. I haven't checked yet to see which will happen.
Then I counted down four sheets in the current stack I am working on (N1 and N2). That took me to the sheet above, N1/W24. I made two copies. The original (a generation II) will be archived, one copy will become the new generation III, and the other copy will be offered on eBay soon. The colors came out way off from the original, but part of the random function of my rules dictates that the miscolored print must be used as is. Tomorrow I will try to resolve the printing issue.
I am working now on adding collage to N1/W24 and adjoining panels. I work in a clockwise manor along the periphery of what had been painted in generation I. Had the card been a red suit I would have worked counter clockwise.
Any questions?


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Folklife and Lyft Team Up for Memorial Day Weekend
According to Northwest Folklife Festival, the theme of this year's event is "The Power of the Human Voice through Song." It's described as a place where "communities bring their traditions, artists showcase their talents and audiences of all ages share and participate in the magic." So why should you check it out this year?
1) Indie Roots bands are taking over the music scene. Don't miss these artists:
FRIDAY, MAY 27: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage: Kickin' Up Dust Showcase featuring The Lucky Shots, The Gortexans, Johnson Country, and The Fentons
SATURDAY, MAY 28: 7:00 – 9:55 p.m., Vera Project: Next Generation: Indie Roots featuring Crow's Share, Dark Madrona, The Banner Days, and The Bruised Hearts Revue
SUNDAY, MAY 29: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Vera Project: Folk, Redefined featuring Familiar Wild, Shelita Burke, Intisaar, and Aimee Wilson
MONDAY, MAY 30: 3:45 – 5:45 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage: Treefort Music Showcase featuring Hillfolk Noir, Rabbit Wilde, and Karl Blau
2) Folklife offers the opportunity for people of all ages to participate and learn new dances:
SATURDAY, MAY 28: 2:00 - 2:45 p.m., Armory Count Stage: Hula Dance. Learn to dance the Traditional Hula with Gloria Nahalea and friends.
SUNDAY, MAY 29: 1:00 - 2:50 p.m., Fisher Pavilion: Western Swing and Country Barnburner. Join the Wiretappers, and Wylie and the Wild West for a rootin', tootin' barn-burner.
MONDAY, MAY 30: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., Fisher Pavilion: Monday Closing Contra. Close out the festival with a major bang with these three bands with a big sound!
3) And don't forget to enjoy the food and beer that is available all around the festival:
FRIDAY, MAY 27: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m., Fisher Green Beer Garden: "Fields Under Clover" singing Irish Pub Songs, tunes, and more.
SATURDAY, MAY 28: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m., Fisher Green Beer Garden: Saturday John Bartlett and Rika Rubesaat will be leading "Salty Songs and Shanties."
SUNDAY, MAY 29: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m., Fisher Green Beer Garden: Bruce Baker, David Perasso, and Wendy Joseph.
MONDAY, MAY 30: 4:40 - 5:30 p.m., Fisher Green Beer Garden: David Perasso and David Kessler will be closing out with "The Last Pub Sing."
New to Lyft? Use code FOLKLIFE16 for up to $10 off your first 5 rides. See you there!


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The Lawrence International School is one of the best school in India. The Lawrence Group has been started by entrepreneur team. Mr. Surinder Jaggi and Miss. Priyanka Singh is the promoter of the group. Mr. Jaggi has started his entrepreneurial journey from childhood. Born and brought up in the Himalayas and did his schooling from Himachal. Then he moved to Noida to pursue his another challenging stincts. He is Master of Computer Application Graduate from C-DAC Noida. Started his first software company names Bellwort Technologies and later joined Pepper Square, a Bangalore based company. Got mentorship from #Muki, founder of #PEPPERSQURE. Now his is running the #THELAWRENCEGROUP at #JAISINGHPUR.
#jaggi #thelawrencegroup #priyankajaggi


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Wildcats (16-10, 6-7) at Cougars (21-5 overall, 9-5 Pac-10)
Kind of like when the Cougs played Oregon, there aren't a lot of mysteries here: When Arizona shoots well, it wins. Simple as that.
According to kenpom.com, Arizona has a strong correlation between effective field goal percentage and offensive efficiency. Remember, effective field goal percentage is one number that combines 3-point and 2-point percentage, appropriately giving more weight to the 3s because (duh) they're worth more points.
In terms of eFG%, 50 percent is roundly recognized as the benchmark of good shooting. Consider this:
- Arizona's record in games in which the Wildcats shoot over 50 in eFG%: 13-3. They've won 11 of the last 12 such games in a row.
- In games which the Wildcats shoot 50 or less in eFG%: 3-7. They've lost the last seven such games in a row.
If you're wondering, Arizona shot 70.0 eFG% in the first blowout win over WSU. Can we expect that to change this time around? I think so, for three reasons.
First, 70 eFG% is a ridiculously high number that is nearly impossible to duplicate under any circumstance. To get that high, you've got to get extraordinarily hot from long range — the kind of hot you only get once or twice a year. For perspective, the Cougs' highest eFG% in conference this year is 67 (in the second game against USC); UCLA's is 66; Stanford's is 57.3.
Second, Arizona is missing one of its prime long-range shooters, Nic Wise. He's missed the last four games, and I don't think it's a coincidence that Arizona is 1-3 with eFG% of 45.1, 52.9, 42.2 and 45.5. This is a team that has virtually no depth and the Wildcats miss his ability to stretch the defense.
Third, this Cougar defense has undergone a remarkable transformation that, frankly, I didn't think was possible. We are doing a much better job of containing penetration while simultaneously doing a great job getting out on 3-point shooters.
In short, this is a WSU team that is much better than it was in the first matchup, and an Arizona team that is worse. While Jarryd Bayless and Chase Budinger probably will get theirs, these are two teams heading in opposite directions. It should translate into a big home win for the Cougs.
Oh, and FYI: I probably won't be around to comment on the game as it happens. I'll be on the west side again at that point and probably won't be able to get to a computer. But I'm sure Jo-Jo will be here to feed your in-game analysis needs.


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Welcome to WebmasterWorld Guest from 126.96.36.199
If I sign up to become an Associate, can I use email address 2 and establish a new account or do they connect the two accounts - the customer account and the Associate account?
If I can establish two different accounts with them, a customer account and an Associates account, does their cookie recognize me as the customer or as the Associate when I visit Amazon in the future?
I don't know if that helps, but there it is.
So, yes, you can use 2nd email address and they will not try to collapse your two accounts (as long as there is no shady stuff going)
It would be hard to be shady with amazon, unless you really knew what you were doing.
That is very true. Early on they had Associates who would, in effect, buy items for themselves or for resale at a discount. They are very hip to that now.
They look at methods of payment, addresses shipped to and perhaps more in order to prevent that. Amazon will certainly grab back the commissions and perhaps kick a person out if the violations are persistent.
It seems to be okay to set up an informal reciprocal agreement with a fellow Associate where s/he buys from your site and vice versa. Or find a charity you admire with an Amazon link....


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Celebrate Diversity Week 2012 with today's event, Post Secrets, taking place all day in the LSC Atrium.
Post Secret is a community project where people at JCU can tell their story of experiences with and confronting bias, discrimination, and intolerance in an anonymous forum. Check out some of the stories in the LSC Atrium. You may even add your own story with postcards available at the table in the LSC.


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Bowling Green Metalforming
Bowling Green, Kentucky
A new manufacturing facility located on a 132 acre site, the building is 920,000 sf of which 47,000 is office area. The building has a typical roof height with two high-bay areas, five cranes running in various areas of the building, and several systems to ensure that the facility is environmentally sound. The project had an expedited design schedule with a Shell Package in 2 months and a Core Package completed 3 months later all while coordinating with several processes such as an E-Coat area, QA/QC labs with vibration isolation, 10 presses ranging from 800 ton to 2500 ton and many others.


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I am a Minnesota native, born and raised in the Twin-Cities area, where I also completed my education and training. Given my roots, I am well adapted to the cold and am skilled at driving in the snow and ice. I decided to pursue a career in medicine in high school. After earning my emergency medical technician certification, I knew that emergency medicine was the best fit for me — the active engagement, teamwork, and daily problem-solving are a great fit for my interests and skills. I love sports, especially football and hockey. My wife and I are avid travelers, with a particular interest in camping and in international travel. My most medically relevant trip to date was to Zambia, Africa, where I spent the summer working at a rural village hospital.
I chose to practice emergency medicine because I enjoy working with a variety of people with diverse medical issues. I like working with all body systems, and I love that emergency medicine involves both the application of medical knowledge and the practical and hands-on skill set. I like to problem-solve and see results, which also makes emergency medicine a great fit for me. Teamwork and team sports are a particular interest of mine, and I enjoy that Kaiser Permanente also allows me the privilege of working and communicating with a team of providers.
I am an active person — those who know me well would say I struggle to sit still. I have interests and activities to suit all seasons. In the summer, I play football, run, bike, canoe, camp, and hike. In the winter, I enjoy playing hockey and snowboarding. My faith keeps me spiritually grounded. My wife shares my many interests, and her companionship makes everything more fun. I prioritize travel and have a particular interest in traveling abroad, which enriches my life and understanding, challenges and broadens my perspectives, and allows me to better appreciate my own and others' cultures and ways of life.


text: I know its abit too early to mention this sort of thing but will RD be featuring GT5 if it has a good online mode capable of passworded lobbies with the option to turn of all aids etc? Bene on my mind since E3. I think the fact the G25 is compatible with the PS3, peeps will be putting in in there basket...... whenever it releases.


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You may have heard of amino acids before but maybe you weren't really sure what they are? How do they work? Or what they can do for you?
If there is anything that is certain, you can't escape amino acids. They are literally everywhere around you, inside and out. Every living thing that exists or will exist is made up of amino acids.
One of the things that are often said about amino acids is that they are the "building blocks of life". This isn't just a saying, they really are the puzzle pieces that make living things live.
This guide is meant to help people who don't quite understand what amino acids are in an easy way without too much scientific jargon.
Our guide can be used by beginners who don't know anything about amino acids. Or it can be used by students who just need to brush up before the big exam.
This guide is the complete resource on amino acids. If you want to know anything and everything about amino acids you will find it right here on this page. Countless hours have been spent crafting this guide for you. We really do hope you like it!
Table of Contents
- 1 What are Amino Acids?
- 2 Essential Amino Acids
- 3 Non-Essential Amino Acids
What are Amino Acids?
Most people have probably heard of "amino acids", but not everyone knows exactly what they are. Amino acids may sound like a complicated scientific term but really they aren't that hard to understand.
Amino acids are molecules that make up the protein in the body, and your body both uses amino acids to make proteins and breaks down proteins to make amino acids.
For instance, when you eat protein-rich food, your body breaks down that protein into individual amino acids. Those amino acids are then used to make proteins, like muscle tissue.
A great example of amino acids is to think of them as legos. One lego piece could be the equivalent of a single amino acid.
Now, if you combine many lego pieces together you will form some kind of structure. The same is true when many amino acids come together they will form a structure called protein.
What are the Different Kinds of Amino Acids?
There are two types of amino acids, essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids are not made by the body. They are called "essential" because you need to include them in your diet for optimal health.
Non-essential amino acids are amino acids that can be made in the body. They are called non-essential because you do not need to include them in your diet as long as you are consuming all of the essential amino acids.
How Many Amino Acids are There?
There are hundreds of amino acids that are known. In the future, there could be much more found or created in a lab. In total, there are only 20 basic amino acids that are in the standard genetic code. This means that the amino acids that make up living things only consist of these 20 amino acids.
With that said there are actually 22 proteinogenic amino acids. Proteinogenic means protein creating, the 2 additional amino acids can be incorporated by "standard translation mechanisms".
The 21st and 22nd amino acids are selenocysteine and pyrrolysine. There are 54 known human proteins that contain selenocysteine. While pyrrolysine does not exist in humans.
The 20 basic amino acids in the human body are responsible for creating more than 50,000 proteins and over 15,000 enzymes. It's amazing that just 20 amino acids can make up so many different combinations of proteins and enzymes that are vital for life as we know it.
Why are Amino Acids Important?
While essential amino acids tend to be fairly ubiquitous in dietary protein sources like meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and even some types of nuts and grains, non-essential amino acids can also be found in food sources, albeit to a lesser extent.
Making sure you get enough essential amino acids (and that your body can produce the non-essential ones) is vital to your health. Since amino acids are needed for virtually every metabolic process that the body has.
If your body didn't have amino acids, then your body wouldn't be able to make proteins. Every tissue in your body contains proteins, if there were no amino acids there would be no me or you.
Health Benefits of Amino Acids
Different amino acids have different health benefits. Some amino acids are especially important for the growth of nerve cells that form the myelin sheaths that cover nerves. A deficiency in this amino acid could lead to serious nervous system issues.
Other amino acids have been shown to assist with mood elevation and maintaining general motivation. While there may be others that assist with fat metabolism.
Since they are the building blocks of protein, nearly all amino acids help with muscle growth. This is why there are many different kinds of amino acid supplements that exist online and at health food stores.
The amino acids you see in workout supplements are likely to be branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, which make up human muscle tissue. However, many good-quality protein powders contain a complete amino acid profile.
Getting all the amino acids you need is very important for good overall health. Whether you get all your essential amino acids through a balanced diet with a lot of variety or opt to fill in some dietary gaps with supplements, getting enough of each is likely to improve your general sense of health and well-being.
Essential Amino Acids
Amino acids are the main building blocks of proteins that are present in every cell in the human body. There are as many as 50,000 different proteins. The largest of these is titin, a chain of more than 34,000 amino acids.
Ironically, there are only 20 different amino acids in proteins. Of these, eight are known as essential amino acids. Unlike the other 12, they cannot be synthesized by the body and must be ingested as part of the diet or in a nutritional supplement.
Some proteins have a fibrous structure. These proteins hold cells together, while another type, globular proteins, act as catalysts that speed up the thousands of biochemical reactions that take place in everybody every day.
Not all amino acids are incorporated into protein molecules. Some of them serve as neurotransmitters or hormones in their own right, while others are the precursors to other molecules.
All amino acids are organized the same way. Each one has a central carbon atom, which has the same three attachments. These are a hydrogen atom, (H-).
Other groups common to all 20 amino acids are the carboxyl group (-COOH) and an amino group (NH-2). What sets one amino acid apart from all the others is what is called its 'R' group.
The nature of the 'R' group has a profound effect on the chemical behavior of an amino acid. It can make it basic, acidic, hydrophobic or hydrophilic.
It may contain sulfur or it may bear an aromatic ring structure. Sulfur is significant because it is a component of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA.
Essential amino acid supplements are commercially available in powdered form, often incorporated into whey or other protein products, and as tablets or capsules.
They are particularly popular with athletes, bodybuilders, and anybody wishing to build up lean muscle. They are designed to minimize the tissue damage that sometimes occurs after intense strength training.
Histidine is one of the 20 amino acids required for our bodies to function properly. According to a 2013 study published in the Chemistry Central Journal, Histidine is the most active and versatile member of the amino acids and plays multiple roles in protein interactions.
Other studies suggest that our bodies do not naturally produce histidine. This amino acid must be obtained from dietary sources. High-protein sources are red meats, parmesan cheese, pork chops, poultry, fish, as well as soy, seeds and nuts, lentils, and other whole grains.
Histidine is essential because it works with the other amino acids to produce red and white blood cells by regulating antibody activity, contributing to metabolism, and serving to insulate nerves. Histidine also plays a part in producing histamine, which helps detect allergies and fight infections.
A diet high in histidine has many health benefits due to the protein component. For example, those who go to the gym regularly benefit from eating foods high in histidine because protein helps repair muscles broken down during heavy weight lifting.
Also, taking an L-histidine supplement with vitamins B3 and B6 can raise the levels of histamine, a hormone essential to heightened sexual pleasure and orgasms in women.
The proper balance of histidine in the body promotes sound mental and physical health, may help relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and helps relieve stress and anxiety.
Isoleucine is an amino acid with a branched molecular chain. It is frequently referred to as a branched-chain amino acid, or BCAA, and sold in supplements alongside the two other BCAAs, leucine and valine.
These supplements are often sold in a 2:1:1 (leucine: isoleucine: valine) ratio, which mimics the natural concentrations of these amino acids in muscle tissue.
While you can find isoleucine in workout supplements, it is also found naturally in several types of meats, eggs, lentils, and cashews. Because the body has an optimal ratio of isoleucine and the other branched-chain amino acids, you will seldom see a supplement that contains isoleucine alone.
Isoleucine is very similar, in terms of both molecular structure and practical function, to the amino acid leucine. It is used medically for the healing of wounds. For fitness enthusiasts, it promotes muscular repair, which is vital for muscle hypertrophy.
However, while many people already know that isoleucine stimulates muscle growth alongside the other BCAAs, many don't realize that it also has other major benefits for bodybuilders and those who just like to train.
Isoleucine can help to regulate your blood sugar, and it also can stimulate the release of human growth hormone. Blood sugar stabilization is good for overall health and can help your energy levels stay consistent. Human growth hormone can help to promote muscular growth as well.
While this amino acid helps with general health, it has some major benefits for the fitness enthusiast who wants to improve health and body composition. Even though it is not generally considered to be the strongest BCAA of the three, it is vital for muscle growth and can help people take their fitness to the next level.
Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid or BCAA. It has the greatest physiological effect of any of the BCAAs, the other two of which are isoleucine and valine.
This amino acid is naturally anabolic in the sense that it stimulates the release of human growth hormone, which in turn stimulates the growth of new muscle tissue. Like other BCAAs, it can be used medically to help heal wounds and for preventing muscle wasting.
In terms of fitness supplementation, most experts recommend taking the BCAAs together, but because leucine is most instrumental in muscle synthesis, it is generally recommended that users take twice as much leucine as each other BCAAs.
This is because the idea of taking BCAAs is to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, and the ratio of leucine to isoleucine and valine in muscle tissue is naturally about 2:1:1.
Supplementing with leucine and other BCAAs is especially helpful for bodybuilders who are on a cut and therefore consume fewer calories.
And while leucine is unquestionably the strongest BCAA, research has indicated that taking all three together has a stronger effect than leucine alone. This is part of why it's virtually unheard of to see a leucine-only supplement on the market.
While leucine is commonly sold as part of bodybuilding supplements, it also can be found in food sources. It is available in virtually every protein source available, which means that most people already consume a fair amount of it already.
It is even found in food sources that only have small amounts of protein, like brown rice and whole wheat. While leucine is a vital part of everyone's diet, it has additional benefits in terms of physique improvement and muscle growth for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts alike.
Lysine (lahy-seen, -sin) is one of three positively-charged amino acids. Amino acids are small molecules with an average molecular weight of about 135 daltons. All contain a central carbon atom that is linked on three sides to a hydrogen atom (-H), an amino group (-NH2), a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) and a uniquely defining 'R' group. The 20 most common amino acids form the structural basis of proteins.
Lysine is significant to the laboratory cell biologist. The enzyme trypsin, itself composed of a long string of amino acids, hydrolyzes other proteins wherever they encounter a lysine residue. Scientists use it to separate cultured cells from each other and from their flasks, enabling them to be divided and propagated.
Lysine is one of eight essential amino acids, meaning it cannot be manufactured in the body and must be taken in as part of the diet or as a nutritional supplement. The function of lysine in the human body is to:
– Build muscle and collagen.
– Promote the absorption of calcium from the intestine.
– Facilitate synthesis of antibodies, enzymes, and hormones.
– Increase creatinine production. Creatinine helps the body convert fatty acids into usable energy forms and reduces levels of LDL, the so-called 'bad' cholesterol.
Lysine is taken as a supplement to alleviate the symptoms of shingles (caused by the herpes zoster virus), and cold sores and genital herpes (caused by the herpes simplex virus). Some people take it to support immune and respiratory function, assist weight management and development of lean muscle mass, or to promote the health of teeth and bones.
In summary, lysine is an essential amino acid and cannot be synthesized by the human body. It has several functions in human physiology and may also be used as a chemical screwdriver in the laboratory.
Methionine is one of two amino acids that contain sulfur. The other is cysteine, which relies on methionine to provide its S atom. Because methionine cannot be synthesized in the body, it is an essential amino acid.
As long as cysteine has a steady supply of methionine, it is not regarded as essential in this context. Methionine is a vital source of sulfur, a key element in the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA.
As mentioned above, methionine provides a source of sulfur for the amino acid cysteine and for the production of nucleic acids. It has other important roles in human physiology.
– Methionine plays a huge role in our lives as a critical part of a molecule called S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe, or SAM, for short). SAM is a key player in the Methylation Cycle, a life-critical process involving the transfer of one-carbon methyl groups (-CH3) from one compound to another.
– Methylation occurs in all cells of the body and is crucial for immune function, detoxification, energy production, mood balancing, gene regulation and controlling inflammation.
– Methionine is important for the growth of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis.
A healthy adult should consume about 19 mg of methionine per kilogram per day. If you have allergies, a liver condition or frequent urinary tract infections, then a methionine supplement may help. These conditions create high demands for the amino acid.
Methionine is also sometimes used to treat depression. In cases of acetaminophen poisoning, methionine is administered to prevent liver damage.
Phenylalanine is an aromatic amino acid, a reference not to the way it smells, but to the six-carbon aromatic ring contained in its structure.
It occupies a pivotal position in human metabolism, serving as a precursor for the amino acid tyrosine, the skin pigment melanin, and the monoamine neurotransmitters adrenalin (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and dopamine. Because phenylalanine can be manufactured by the body, it is not one of the essential amino acids.
Phenylalanine is converted in the liver to tyrosine, itself converted in neurons to dopamine and noradrenaline, hormones which are depleted by stress, exhaustion or by the action of certain drugs.
Phenylalanine therefore indirectly enhances mental energy levels and makes people feel emotionally calm and content.
People who cannot break down phenylalanine accumulate the amino acid to toxic levels, leading to a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU) and brain damage. At around five days of age, newborns are tested for PKU.
Treatment involves a special diet and regular blood tests. Unfortunately, "special diet" means eliminating phenylalanine, which is present in dairy products, meat, and eggs. It is also found in products that contain the artificial sweetener aspartame.
Fortunately, the risk of brain damage and learning difficulties diminishes after the age of about 12, although adults who maintain a low-protein diet function better.
Phenylalanine is available in a powder, tablets or capsules. Individuals who do not have PKU take these supplements for:
– Depression
– Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
– Chronic pain
– Parkinson's disease
– Osteoarthritis
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Some individuals apply it directly to the skin for relief of the symptoms of vitiligo, a skin condition.
Threonine (three-uh-neen, -nin) is an alpha amino acid, one of the structural building blocks of protein molecules. An alpha-amino acid contains a central carbon atom surrounded by an amino group (-NH2), a hydrogen atom (-H), a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) and a unique 'R' group (-R) that distinguishes it from the other amino acids.
Because the 'R' group in threonine consists of a hydroxyl group (-OH), it is known as a polar amino acid. Threonine is also one of the essential amino acids and therefore ingested as part of the diet or as a supplement because it cannot be synthesized in the body.
Threonine is converted to another amino acid, glycine, which works within the brain to combat muscle spasticity. It is no good administering glycine itself because it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Threonine also:
– Maintain proper protein balance in the body.
– Promotes cardiovascular, liver, immune and central nervous system function.
– Maintains elasticity of blood vessels.
Symptoms of threonine deficiency include digestive problems, emotional agitation, confusion and fatty liver.
Threonine is available as a powder or in tablet or capsule form. The standard dosage is between 103 and 500 milligrams daily. Exceeding the recommended dose can cause ammonia toxicity and disrupt liver function.
People take threonine primarily to treat nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease), spinal spasticity or familial spastic paraparesis.
In summary, threonine is a polar essential amino acid. It is used to treat central nervous system problems, especially those that cause muscular spasticity.
Tryptophan is an amino acid that the human body does not naturally produce. Instead, it is acquired by eating certain dairy products, such as milk and cheese.
Tryptophan is also found in chicken, eggs, turkey, soy, tofu, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and chocolate. Tryptophan can also be purchased over-the-counter as a supplement.
The body uses tryptophan to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter. Serotonin sends signals between nerve cells, which probably accounts for its ability to impact a person's mood.
Because serotonin has the power to influence mood, tryptophan is often purchased in pill form to combat insomnia and depression.
Along with riboflavin, vitamin B6 and iron, tryptophan works to produce niacin, a compound essential to many bodily processes. Lack of niacin in the body may lead to anemia, nausea, headaches, and fatigue.
Because serotonin and tryptophan are often tied to affecting a person's mood changes, tryptophan is often used to treat the following conditions:
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Insomnia
– Sleep apnea
– PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
– Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
In addition to treating the above conditions, tryptophan is also used to treat certain behaviors, such as helping a patient quit smoking or preventing a person from grinding his or her teeth while sleeping. Scientists are currently researching other possible uses for tryptophan.
Valine is one of three branched-chain amino acids or BCAAs. The "branched" refers to the fact that the molecular structure has several branches.
The BCAAs are integral components of muscle tissue, and supplementing with them or obtaining them through the diet can help to support general health as well as to support muscle growth.
Valine is found naturally meat, dairy, mushrooms, grains, and even in peanuts and soy.
While getting enough valine in the diet is important, additional supplementation of valine along with the other two BCAAs can help with muscle repair, which in turn can lead to greater muscle hypertrophy.
It is important to take the BCAAs together, as they exist naturally in muscle tissue at a leucine: isoleucine: valine ratio of about 2:1:1.
Additionally, research has shown that over-supplementing one and not the other two may even lead to a deficiency of one of the others in the body.
While valine needs to be taken alongside other branched-chain amino, it does have some unique benefits of its own. Valine helps the body use glucose, and it also can help you preserve nitrogen balance.
Nitrogen balance refers to the ratio of nitrogen consumed to nitrogen excreted, and it is very important for anyone trying to build muscle. If you are excreting more nitrogen than you consume, your body is breaking down muscle tissue, which is something to avoid.
One important point regarding valine is the fact that a deficiency can lead to serious health issues. For most people, becoming deficient in valine is very unlikely, but a deficiency may lead to the development of maple syrup urine disease or MSUD.
In short, while valine is a vital part of everyone's diet and is important for general health, supplementing with it alongside other branched-chain amino acids can help support muscle growth and repair for anyone trying to improve their physique.
Non-Essential Amino Acids
To the uninitiated, non-essential amino acids may sound like unnecessary amino acids. However, the term "non-essential" just means that these amino acids are produced by the body.
While they are also found in foods, they are not present to the degree that essential amino acids, or amino acids not produced by the body, are. There are 11 non-essential amino acids that are produced by the body when needed.
These amino acids are important to the body because they are one of the major building blocks of proteins, and your body needs them for virtually every aspect of metabolism.
Although the body can make non-essential amino acids, this is contingent upon your consuming all of the essential amino acids, as well as consuming enough of them.
Your body does not store amino acids as it does fat, so it is important to eat enough essential amino acids daily.
Each non-essential amino acid has its own unique function that supports general health and wellness. For instance, cysteine can help protect the liver, and it also helps with insulin release, and arginine can help increase gains in muscle mass while also improving workout performance and reducing fat.
Glutamine is often taken as a muscle recovery supplement, and it can help provide the body with energy when glucose is relatively scarce.
Although the health benefits of non-essential amino acids are diverse and vary between the different amino acids, their health benefits all share the commonality of optimizing a host of metabolic functions.
While the body can make these amino acids from essential amino acids, certain health issues and other adverse events may negatively impact your body's ability to produce them.
Some people prefer to also make an effort to obtain these amino acids through diet or supplementation. This can be especially helpful if you are dieting or if your diet does not have a lot of variety, as missing even one essential amino acid can adversely affect your ability to produce and use the non-essential amino acids.
Amino acids found in humans assist in all life processes, especially ones involving protein construction and metabolism. Alanine, an amino acid that helps convert glucose into energy for bodily functions while eliminating toxins, like nitrogen, from the liver, is nonessential. This simply means that a healthy body can manufacture a supply of alanine without help.
During the alanine cycle, excess proteins in cells and tissues are sent to a receptor molecule known as pyruvate, something produced during the breakdown of glucose.
Pyruvate is converted into alanine and transferred to the liver, where nitrogen is extracted before converting some of it back to its original form of pyruvate.
This step allows more glucose to be produced. Excess nitrogen is classified as waste and is passed through the body during urination. This process ensures a constant supply of pyruvate, resulting in the healthy mixture of amino acids and glucose throughout the body.
Being an important source of energy for muscles and the central nervous system, alanine plays a crucial role in preserving balanced levels of glucose in the body.
In addition to this, alanine strengthens the immune system, reduces cholesterol levels, and has even been associated with regulating blood sugar.
Low levels of alanine can be dangerous and have been found in patients with hypoglycemia, diabetes, and hepatitis. Many things like poor nutrition, environmental factors, a low protein diet, and even stress can lead to a deficiency of alanine.
Luckily, there are various supplements containing alanine that are available over the counter. Fish, eggs, dairy products, and some protein-rich plant foods, like avocados, are also good sources of alanine.
Arginine is an amino acid that is commonly used as a sports supplement. Generally, it is sold in the form of L-Arginine, which is used to increase the body's production of nitric oxide.
Arginine has been used in the fitness community for years, and it was used to increase workout performance even before users knew exactly how it worked.
A team of researchers opted to study the effects of arginine and found that it increased nitric oxide production, which in turn led to a dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow to working muscles.
This study ultimately won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine, and it validated the fitness community's long-standing belief that arginine was helpful for sports performance.
But how exactly does vessel dilation improve sports performance? To start, since blood delivers both oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues, it helps ensure that muscle tissue is adequately oxygenated.
This is important when exercising- if you've ever felt a benign sensation as you begin to get tired, you know what it feels like when muscle tissue is no longer getting enough oxygen.
The delivery of nutrients is also important, especially if you take supplements like creatine. Since many workout supplements are designed to increase explosive power when lifting, taking arginine can help make sure your muscle tissue receives these supplements quickly.
Arginine is also helpful for muscle recovery since it expedites the delivery of your post-workout meal to your muscle tissue.
Arginine's stimulation of nitric oxide is safe for the body because, although it increases blood flow, it also dilates blood vessels, which means that blood flow is increased without increasing blood pressure.
Exercise, and especially strength training, already temporarily raises blood pressure, so a further spike could potentially be dangerous.
Amino acids are essential for basic health and wellness. However, arginine has several benefits and advantages specific to athletic performance. Therefore, it is commonly seen in pre-workout supplements and other athletic formulations.
Asparagine is all about balance. This amino acid is important in balancing the central nervous system — one sign of an asparagine deficiency is a temperament that is inexplicably too calm or too nervous.
It is also important to the immune system: other signs of deficiency include fatigue, susceptibility to infection, or severe allergic reactions.
Besides keeping the central nervous system in balance and supplementing the immune system, asparagine is also important for building proteins (including muscle) in the body.
This is why a deficiency in asparagine can cause fatigue. Supplementation of asparagine has decreased the levels of fatigue in athletes while increasing concentration and focus.
It also helps the body to transport nitrogen: without this function, the body would build up too much urea, which could cause mental problems, including depression, irritability, and even psychosis.
If the body has enough asparagine, the liver will use the excess amino acid to make other necessary amino acids, especially aspartic acid, which is important for metabolism and the removal of excess ammonia.
Asparagine is a non-essential amino acid, which means that under normal conditions, the body can manufacture it on its own — so a diet lacking in it will not necessarily affect a person.
However, sometimes the body may need more asparagine than it can make. In these cases, a person can take a supplement, or eat foods rich in asparagine.
These foods include dairy, poultry, nuts, whole grains, asparagus, beef, and fish.
Aspartic Acid
In the body, protein is made of a variety of "building blocks" called amino acids, arranged in endless combinations to create the structure and functionality that drive all of our biological processes.
Aspartic acid is a particular amino acid, and a further subclass is D-aspartic acid (DAA – referring to a specific molecular shape). In recent years, DAA has gained some press as a health supplement.
What does DAA do?
Naturally produced DAA works with the central nervous system to regulate the production of testosterone through communication with a complex network of other hormones.
The D-form we are talking about is not an actual building block, but a signaling device to other cellular structures to start the building process.
What does DAA supplementation do?
Some companies market DAA as a body-building supplement for men, citing the testosterone boost as a vehicle for muscle stacking.
Limited research so far has not shown any benefit for DAA as a workout supplement, as there was no evidence of weight gain or increase in muscle mass, but have proven positive for a temporary increase in testosterone levels.
The increased testosterone was accompanied by increases in sperm motility and male fertility as well. Although more in-depth research is needed, DAA does seem to help with male fertility issues.
Is DAA safe?
The short answer is…maybe. No harm was demonstrated in the studies, which used the recommended dosage of 2000 to 3000 mg.
It could be used as a natural alternative to prescribed testosterone gels and injections for men who suffer low levels of the hormone or are having trouble conceiving a family.
Since elevated testosterone levels come with their own health risks, it's wise to check with your doctor before supplementing DAA for any reason.
Cysteine is the beauty amino acid. It is essential for the formation and maintenance of skin, hair, and nails. It is used to make collagen, which ensures that skin has the right elasticity and texture. Researchers believe that cysteine can slow the aging process.
But there's more to cysteine than just keeping you beautiful: it also defends the body against toxins we take in through with our food, drugs, and air. When cysteine is taken in conjunction with selenium and Vitamin E, it is an incredible warrior against free radicals.
Free radicals do more than just damage skin: they are also a major factor in cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, asthma, dementia, and many other ailments. The body transforms cysteine into glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant.
Cysteine is a non-essential amino acid, which means that the body can manufacture its own cysteine under normal circumstances.
Deficiencies in cysteine are rare, but they can happen in vegetarians and people who do not get enough protein in their diet.
Some symptoms of cysteine deficiency include decreased pigmentation in hair, skin lesions, muscle loss and weakness, liver damage, and lethargy.
Cysteine deficiencies can be addressed through supplements or diet. Foods that contain cysteine include chicken, turkey, oatmeal, granola, yogurt, cottage cheese, and lunch meats.
Although cysteine is good for the body, it is important to discuss supplementation with your doctor, as it can interact poorly with other medications.
Too much cysteine can cause nausea, drowsiness, and low blood pressure. These side effects are rare and usually the result of excessive supplementation, but it is important to be aware of them.
Glutamic Acid
Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid. This means it's naturally occurring in the body, and it doesn't need to come from outside sources.
It functions in the central nervous system as an excitatory neurotransmitter and has many health benefits for the immune and digestive systems.
Glutamic acid is also involved in the synthesis of glutamine, another amino acid essential for muscle health, glutamates, which are derivatives of glutamic acid with varying functions, and GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Glutamic acid is essential to the health of the brain and spinal cord. In the central nervous system, it's the most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter.
It promotes energy, memory, and mental alertness. Glutamic acid is sometimes used to treat mood disorders, such as bipolar, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc. because they have been linked to low GABA levels in the brain. Since it promotes mental acuity, it is sometimes used to treat attention disorders too.
Other parts of the body benefit from glutamic acid too. The synthesis of glutamine from glutamic acid cleanses the body by removing toxic ammonia. Glutamine itself is used by muscles and is essential to their growth and health.
Glutamic acid and its derivatives are also implicated in immune health, prostate health, heart function, and digestive health. It is also said that it helps control cravings for sugar and alcoholism.
Glutamic acid is essential for a healthy body. It has many important roles, and it performs them all admirably. Whether it's the head or the heart, glutamic acid is fundamental to its function.
Glutamine is an amino acid, which is a key building block for proteins that are found naturally in the human body. Glutamine is actually the most common amino acid found in the bloodstream and accounts for roughly 30-35% of the amino acid nitrogen found in your blood.
This makes it a conditionally essential amino acid because of the large amounts of it used consistently by the human body.
Glutamine has many uses and health benefits. It improves gastrointestinal health by being an important nutrient needed by the intestines to both rebuild and repair themselves.
Glutamine acts as the main fuel source for cells in the small intestine, which helps combat symptoms of ailments like leaky gut syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. It also helps heal ulcers by acting as a patch for protection from further damage caused to the affected area.
Glutamine is also a key neurotransmitter in the brain. This means it helps with focus, concentration, and also memory retention.
Like other proteins, Glutamine helps promote muscle growth and decrease waste, which leads to an increase in athletic performance and faster recovery times from training and exercise. It basically acts as a kind of buffer and converts excess ammonia into other amino acids, amino sugars, and urea.
Its dietary benefits also include improving metabolism and cellular detoxification, while helping curb cravings for alcohol and sugar. Studies have shown that glutamine helps promote human growth hormone as well, which aids fat metabolism and new muscle growth.
Glutamine also helps fight cancer and improve blood sugar, which combats diabetes. Ingesting supplemental glutamine helps strengthen the immune system and is known to help fight the side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
Glycine is a glucogenic amino acid. This means it helps to supply glucose that is later converted to energy in the human body. It is a building block for protein, and humans make it naturally from other chemicals. Glycine is found in foods that are high in protein, including milk, cheese, fish, meat, peas, beans and other legumes.
This amino acid is also found in supplements, including capsules and powders. Glycine can be consumed by mouth or applied to the skin to treat certain bodily ailments.
Glycine is used by the body to make protein. It helps form muscle tissue and transforms glucose into energy. Some researchers theorize that glycine may help prevent cancer because it appears to impact the blood supply that is essential in some tumors via antioxidants.
Glycine is often used for the following purposes:
– To treat stroke patients
– Aid in muscle growth
– To treat skin ulcers
– Repair joints and cartilage
– To treat schizophrenia
Researchers also believe glycine has many protective properties. For instance, glycine is used to protect kidneys from the detrimental side effects of many drugs. Those who consume large quantities of alcohol might also be given glycine as a means of protecting a damaged liver.
Glycine helps transmit chemical signals in the brain, which is why some believe it aids in improving memory. It is often used as a memory enhancer and to treat sleep disorders in patients who are fatigued or suffer from Parkinson's or Huntington's disease.
Glycine can be converted into serine, a neurotransmitter, some researchers believe it can aid in treating schizophrenia.
Tyrosine is an amino acid that can be made naturally by the human body. It is made from phenylalanine, another amino acid. Tyrosine is found in certain foods, such as dairy products, oats, wheat, fish, meat, nuts, eggs, and beans.
Tyrosine is used in the human body to make chemical messengers involved in processes concerning the brain. Tyrosine is believed to support mental alertness. Thus, people often take it to improve mental functioning and focus.
Tyrosine is also used in protein supplements to treat phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited disorder. People with PKU can't process phenylalanine efficiently, so they are unable to make tyrosine. To meet their bodies' needs, they take supplemental tyrosine.
Tyrosine is taken for a number of health problems and conditions, including the following:
– Depression
– Attention Deficit Disorder
– Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
– Stress
– Parkinson's
– Alzheimer's
– Premenstrual Syndrome
– Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
– Schizophrenia
It has also been used to treat sleep problems, such as narcolepsy or to improve alertness in patients who suffer from sleep deprivation.
Tyrosine is also sometimes used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), stroke and heart disease. Sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction and the loss of sexual appetite are also often treated with tyrosine.
However, there is still some debate about whether or not tyrosine can effectively treat any of the aforementioned conditions.
Proline (pro-leen) is an amino acid, one of 20 building blocks that make up the proteins in the human body. Proline is one of the most abundant amino acids, second only to alanine and glutamine.
If you were paying attention in biology class, you might remember that proline has a reputation as a 'helix-breaker,' meaning it has a key role in shaping structural features of proteins such as alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets.
Present in nature in L- and D- forms, depending on the way it interacts with polarized light, it is only the L-form that is any use to us.
In the human body, proteins that contain high levels of proline:
– Repair damaged tissue
– Maintain blood pressure
– Prevent atherosclerosis
– Build collagen, necessary for skin, tendons, ligaments, and muscle
L-proline is commercially available in capsule form or as a powder. People who need to take a proline supplement for medical reasons include those who have spent prolonged periods in institutions where they have not had access to an adequate diet, in particular, diets that are low in protein.
L-proline may also help those individuals who have a wound that is not healing properly. People with chronic injuries and illnesses have problems synthesizing enough proline. Individuals with fine lines and wrinkles also use proline, either orally or as a topical preparation.
If you are taking proline to promote collagen formation, you should take it alongside supplements containing vitamins B, C, and niacin. This is because the enzymes that incorporate the amino acid into collagen depend on these nutrients.
Atherosclerosis is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the arteries nearest the heart. Proline allows the blood vessels to release these clumps of fat into the bloodstream, thereby reducing the size of the blockages and helping to protect against heart disease.
To summarize, L-proline is an amino acid that is present in almost every protein in the human body.
Although it is manufactured from other amino acids and ubiquitous in the diet, there are times when it is necessary to take a proline supplement.
The amino acid serine is a substance that your body produces by combining the amino acids, glycine, and threonine. You need serine for your brain and central nervous system to function properly.
Serine plays an important role in your body.
– It makes up the phospholipids, which are necessary for creating all of your cells
– It also assists with RNA and DNA functions, as well as the metabolism of fatty acid and fat, forming muscles, and maintaining the health of your immune system
– It helps to make creatinine that works together with water to build muscles
– It lets you fight infections as a significant aspect of antibodies and immunoglobulins
– It also helps the myelin sheaths to protect your nerve cells; they would fray and become incapable of sending messages between the brain and nerve endings
To stay healthy, you need serine for the production of tryptophan; it is the amino acid responsible for serotonin. Serotonin is necessary to stabilize your moods.
When your level of serine is low, it causes anxiety and depression, along with confusion and insomnia. When you have enough serine, you will have a healthier immune system and stronger muscles, which includes your cardiac muscle.
The non-essential amino acid, serine, is a major player in your overall health.


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