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The gender gap between what unionized male workers make and what unionized female workers make is just 9.4 cents, meaning that women working full time make more than 90 percent of what men do, according to an analysis by the National Women's Law Center.
Among non-union workers, on the other hand, the wage gap is 18.7 cents, about double the gap between union workers. And while the gender wage gap overall hasn't improved in five years, it's been shrinking among workers who belong to a union, declining 2.6 cents between 2013 and 2012. All workers typically make more when they're unionized, but women's bonus is even bigger than men's, boosting their pay by $222 a week. The premium women see from joining a union is equivalent to the increase in pay from a year of college. And when it comes to benefits, unionized women are far more likely to have health insurance and retirement plans, effects that are even greater than getting a four-year degree.
But not many women are taking advantage of these benefits. Just 11.3 percent of the workforce belongs to a union, the same as last year, compared to more than 20 percent 30 years ago. That's the lowest level the country has seen since the Great Depression. While women have become a larger share of the unionized workforce, now at more than 45 percent, the share of women workers who are in a union overall has declined.
One reason belonging to a union may have such an impact on the wage gap is that pay tends to be more transparent. On the other hand, about half of all workers are either discouraged or banned from discussing pay with coworkers, making it difficult to root out potential discrimination. The Paycheck Fairness Act would prohibit this practice, among other things, giving women more tools to seek pay equity.
But the benefits of unionization accrue to all workers. Falling rates closely track falling wages, but if the share of workers who belong to a union were 10 percent higher, middle class workers would make nearly $1,500 more a year whether or not they belonged to one. Higher rates are also linked to higher economic mobility to move up the income ladder, while falling rates have come alongside rising income inequality.


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Saturday, February 9, 20197:00PM - Saturday, February 9, 20199:00PM
At R. R. Moton Museum 900 Griffin Blvd. Farmville, VA 23901
Organized by R. R. Moton Museum
February 9, 2019
900 Griffin Blvd.
Farmville, VA 23901
Join us for jazz night and enjoy great music. Cash bar will be available. The event is free and open to the public!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Pre-Trial Consolidation of Patent Cases is Within the Court's Discretion By R. David Donoghue on August 2, 2013 Posted in Federal Rules Unified Messaging Sols., LLC v. United Online, Inc., MDL No. 2371, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. May 3, 2013) (Lefkow, J.). Judge Lefkow denied defendants' United Online, Juno Online Services, Netzero and Memory Lane (collectively "UOL Defendants") motion to deconsolidate their case from this earlier consolidated patent litigation. The Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation transferred the … Continue Reading


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Another entry in my series on US Cities. Using 2000 Census data I have mapped % of people living in poverty in Houston's metropolitan area. If you would like to see the original interactive map go to Social Explorer and choose "Poverty" from the second drop-down, then select the magnifying glass to zoom in on Houston.
For reference, I am including a Google map of Houston, TX. You can use this map just like the regular Google map and close the white message box.


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I must comment on one very common misunderstanding –
If you turn a pair of right handed scissors upside down, they are STILL RIGHT-HANDED SCISSORS! The top blade is on the right so you can't see your cutting line if you hold them in your left hand and you are still pushing the blades APART with your natural squeezing motion so they don't cut.
To be LEFT-handed, scissors have to be made specially with the blades reversed so the LEFT blade always on top.
See our video here:
Turn right-handed scissors upside down?
I must comment on one very common misunderstanding –
Leave a Reply to Tanya Cancel reply
13 comments on "Turn right-handed scissors upside down?"
Achiral objects that don't have a mirror plane actually exist but scissors are not one of them. For example, an object with inversion centre symmetry is achiral. There are probably even some people who believe an asymmetrical object like a can opener can be rotated into its mirror image because they haven't figured out the math that shows that you can't get a reflection out of a continuous changing rotation.
The benefit of being able to do complex tasks with either hand is not restricted to left-handers adapting to a right-handed world. I was born right-handed but in 2009, I purposely decided to start using my left hand for a lot of things like in http://speedydeletion.wikia.com/wiki/Self-induced_left-handedness and now I'm mixed-handed but very close to ambidextrous and I can quickly and accurately cut cords out of shrimp with my left hand. There was no need for me to live in a left-handed world for me to enjoy that benefit because I was smart enough to purposely decide to change hands for the purpose of gaining that benefit later.
I have never used right handed scissors with my left hand; if I have, it's too awkward. I prefer to cut with my right hand.
Until they came out with left handed scissors, that's exactly what I would do with right handed scissors. They felt better upside down I hand.
idea of left-handed scissors is nice, but if there is ambidextrous scissors, it's better because left-handed can lend it to the right-handed
I am in my mid-thirties now and I only discovered the left-handed scissors when I was in university. It took a while to adjust to the different position of the blades cos I was used the squeezing the handles of a right-handed scissors in a certain way so the blades cut better (I'm sure you all know what I am talking about! 🙂
While I am truly grateful for the invention of the left-handed scissors, I am also thankful that growing up in a right-handed world, I can do a lot of things with either my right or left hand, and I learned to adjust and use right-handed stuff (like a pair of scissors, certain cooking spatulas, even cameras). For example, I hold a scissors with my left hand and I can use any pair of scissors, whether left-handed or right-handed, without a problem. My stationary often goes missing (I'm a teacher) but my 3 pairs of left-handed scissors have never ever gone missing! A right-handed person can't use my left-handed scissors so it's never been 'borrowed'. Now I tell my brother (who's 2nd daughter is left-handed) to let her learn with a right-handed scissors first before giving her the left-handed one, just to develop her motor skills.
I guess it's a left-handed thing that because of growing up in a predominantly right-handed world, we have less trouble doing tasks with either hand, as compared to right-handers.
I purchased a pair of left handed scissors a few years ago. When using right handed scissors in my left hand, it makes my thumb sore as the handles are designed for right hand use. Sadly i found the left handed scissors impossible to use. The handles were great and so comfortable but I could not get used the the blades being reversed. I still use right handed scissors but I try to purchase ones that do not have handles solely for right hand use. I'd love a pair with right hand blades but left hand handles.
Since scissors with right-handed blades and left-handed handles don't exist, I think you'll be glad later if you start using scissors with left-handed blades and handles and put up with the temporary bother of practicing the skill of using them until you master it.
I have to admit, I am very skilled in using right handed scissors or any other tool for that matter. I have become amidextrous. I still prefer the left hand over the right, but I do not struggle with having to use the right hand. Though, when I sit at a table with others i choose the outside left chair so that I may eat and cut without bumping elbows.
That does not work for me. Still can't cut anything very well. How about power tools, they are for right's. 62 years old, and I have learded to adapt.
Quite right. They have rotational symmetry so the only way to turn a right handed pair of scissors into a left handed pair of scissors is to live in a non-euclidean hyperplane.


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Reach new customers via well-thought-out social media updates...
You'd like to reach new customers but you'd like a leg up? No problem. Or maybe it's simply that you spend all your time 'on' the business and not 'in' it - and you'd appreciate someone stepping in, jumping on the back of key sales periods and shouting about your products and services on your behalf?
Via cleverly-crafted, SEO-focused blog posts and regular, timely social media updates, I've helped a host of brands reach more people online. Just take a look below to see how I've lent my time - and some words - to brands big and small.
Personal highlights include writing for the Oxford Dictionaries site, and taking a family-run furniture firm's Facebook followers from 90 to over 10,000. Find out how I can help you by getting in touch here.
'The changing language of Christmas cards' blog - December 2017, OxfordWords
A snippet from a blog for beauty salon, The Face Beauty.
'An aromatic journey into the language of coffee' blog - 2016, OxfordWords
A snippet from a buyers' printer guide for the site, Printernet
A section of a blog for the skincare site, Greenwood Organics


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Wales escort agency directory only accepts listings from the very best and most respected Wales escort agency sites in your area. All of the Wales escort agency companies listed here charge for their time only and anything that occurs of a sexual nature is a matter of coincidence between two consenting adults.
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It's time to take a look through our collection of escort girls in Wales. To get started you just need to select your location below. You will then be presented with our growing collection of Wales escorts. There will be profiles that feature Agency girls as well as Independent escorts, so you are able to locate the perfect escort with our help.
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Locksmith in Wolverhampton
Locksmiths Wolverhamton is a local, reliable and trustworthy locksmith in Wolverhampton, serving Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas.
Having traded locally for well over a decade, we provide a service our customers trust and rely on, working with both domestic and commercial clients we can cater for all of your locksmith requirements. Locksmiths Wolverhamton is routinely required for a variety of lock out situations, from a basic residential lock out to helping the police or local authorities gain access where required. We pride ourselves on offering a prompt and reliable service in Wolverhampton – this ensures that our clients always come back if they ever require the services of a reliable locksmith in Wolverhampton in the future.
So whatever your situation is, whether you are locked out, need to secure your business premises or have recently suffered a break in and need to repair the damage and secure your home, our locksmiths inWolverhampton can help. If you want to be in the hands of experienced professionals who offer an unrivalled service, call Locksmiths Wolverhamton, the locksmith you can trust!
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Our locksmiths are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies in Wolverhampton. So if you're locked out or if you've just had a break-in our team can be with you in minutes. When people call us out for an emergency they can rest assured that they will be feeling warm, comfortable and secure in their home in no time!
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Lost Time--A Short Story
About this Story
I wrote this story about seven years ago and still remember how nervous I was about trying my hand at science fiction for the first time. I never did find a home for it, but I never regretted writing it anyway. The research alone was a learning experience!
Lost Time
*Please do not copy without permission from the author. Use the links on this webpage to share. All rights belong to the author*
Her head hurt. She strained to open her eyes and winced from the pain that shot through her skull. She immediately closed them in response and tears ran down her cheeks. She took several deep breaths, bracing herself against the pain she knew would come and forced them open again.
Light. Too much light. It burned. She squinted through it, ignoring the pounding in her head and tried to take in her surroundings. Where was she? She was on a bed, a pillow beneath her head and blankets covered her legs. The room was tiny with white walls and it smelled sterile.
"Hello?" She rasped. Her voice was barely audible in the stark room. She cleared her throat and called out again, this time forcing her voice louder. Sharp pain shot through her head for her effort. No answer came.
She pulled herself into a sitting position, her body protesting against the movement. She let out a groan from the effort. Why was she so weak? She moved slowly to the edge of the bed and got ready to slide off to stand. She hesitated a moment, becoming more aware of the weakness in her limbs. It took all of her concentration to make her body obey her commands to move.
"Don't try to get up too quickly, I'm not sure you're ready just yet," a man's voice interrupted her concentrated effort.
She jerked her head in surprise and looked at the man who had just entered the room. "Who-?"
"Don't start talking too much now. Let's get you some water first. You've been sleeping for quite awhile. We were hoping you would wake up soon."
He came toward her slowly with his arms extended out; his hands raised so she could see his palms. Did he think she was going to attack him?
She watched him in confusion as he came closer. She guessed he was a doctor, though his clothing was a bit different than what it should be.
Where did that thought come from? Did she see many doctors to know the difference? She tried to recall, but nothing came to mind. Everything was a blank. Her head throbbed painfully as she tried harder to think, to remember.
"Can you tell me your name?" He asked her as he reached the bed.
She opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Who was she? As she realized she didn't know, her eyes widened and the breath stopped in her chest.
"I—I don't know…" Tears flooded her eyes and she scrambled to get up from the bed. Adrenaline momentarily took away the weakness she'd struggled against only moments earlier. The need to get out of there overcame any other thought.
"Hold on, hold on. It's okay, just lie back," he tried to soothe her.
"No, no!" She tried to run for the door, hysteria filling every fiber of her being. She felt the sting of something sharp penetrating her skin and looked back at the doctor who now had a firm grip on her. Her eyes darted from him to the needle he had just jabbed into her arm.
Her thoughts became cloudy, her head heavy. The light dimmed around her and her body felt faint as the strength the adrenaline had given her vanished. The man's arms wrapped around her as she collapsed.
"I'm sorry I had to do that. You just need to calm down. You'll be okay. Close your eyes and rest for now," she heard him say somewhere off in the distance.
She felt him lift her to the bed and made a futile effort to see him. Her heavy eyelids refused to obey her weak command. She felt his fingers against her cheek as he smoothed her hair away from her face.
Before complete darkness overcame her, she thought she heard him whisper, "You have to be okay. We need some answers from you. Why were you alone in the ocean? Who are you?"
* * *
She was flying. Never had she felt so free as when she took flight. It made her feel powerful and exhilarated. She didn't care if anyone thought she overstepped her place by doing it. No one could stop her from doing what she loved.
"See that clearing there?"
She turned briefly to her navigator and gave him a beaming smile. "I see it."
She maneuvered her plane through the clouds and enjoyed the rush of blood through her veins as she got ready to make her descent…
"How do you feel this morning?"
She opened her eyes and saw the same man from before. Her chest tightened as anxious pressure built up inside of her all over again. She fought to push it down this time, not wanting a repeat incident. She needed her own questions answered.
She cleared her throat before responding, "Fine."
"Glad to hear it. Can you tell me your name today?" She shook her head. "Okay, well I'll tell you mine. I'm Dr. Murray." He gave her a soft smile and waited for her to digest that bit of information before continuing. "You were brought in here a few weeks ago, on July 3, when you were found drifting in the ocean on what looked like a piece of wreckage."
She swallowed hard as she absorbed this bit of information and nodded for him to go on.
"Do you remember how you got there?"
She closed her eyes and tried to think. Nothing. She lowered her head in defeat and whispered, "No."
He let out a disappointed sigh and then gave her a weak smile, "Is there anything you want to ask me?"
"I'm in hospital?" He nodded. "What day is it today?"
"July 24, 2037."
No, that didn't seem right. She shut her eyes against the sudden headache that threatened.
"Are you okay?"
She couldn't answer, could only think that something was wrong. She must be going crazy.
"Can you tell me the last date you remember?"
She nearly answered no, when one suddenly came to mind, "July the second."
"The day before you got here?"
"I don't think so. It's a different day…" She breathed in carefully and pushed through the blackness of her mind, at a memory tickling her subconscious. "I was flying."
"That would explain the ocean."
"No, you don't understand. It was July the second, but not 2037." Her voice wavered as she tried to understand what was going on in her mind.
"Then when was it?" He asked patiently.
"It was 1937."
He stared at her as if she were insane, before hastily disguising his disbelief. "Alright then. Why don't we take a break now? We can talk after you've had something to eat and maybe a rest."
* * *
This wasn't the way it was supposed to go. Where was the island? The weather didn't help at all. The forecast had been completely wrong in predicting clear skies. They were flying through gray clouds and rain.
"Can you see anything yet, Fred?"
"These maps are all wrong. It should be here, but obviously it's not."
"We'll have to radio."
She tried not to let the fear take hold as she made the transmission asking for Itasca's location.
"It'll be okay, Amelia. We'll get there," Fred comforted her.
"Of course we will." She prayed to God that he was right…
"I've brought another doctor here to talk with you. She's a psychiatrist. Is that okay?"
She knew it, he thought she was crazy. She looked up to see Dr. Murray standing with the other doctor. This one was female. She smiled in surprise at the woman, liking her already despite her reason for being there. "A woman doctor?" She asked.
"I hope that won't be a problem?" The woman asked.
"No, not at all. Good for you," she put her hand out to shake the woman's hand.
"Well… …thank you. I'm Dr. Aspen." She accepted the proffered hand as she introduced herself.
"I'm glad to see a fellow woman doing something meaningful with her life." She glanced at Dr. Aspen's hand and saw a wedding ring. "Is your partner supportive?"
"Partner? Oh, you mean my husband? Yes, of course he is." Dr. Aspen smiled.
"There's no 'of course' about it. I'm lucky to have such an encouraging partner. George is…" She started in shock as she realized she'd had another memory.
"Are you remembering something?"
Flashes of how she met her dear husband, and of the last time she'd seen him went through her mind. Her heart filled with the memory and her arms suddenly felt very empty. Would she ever see him again? She remembered the letter she'd given him at their parting, in case anything happened to her. Then she'd gotten into the plane and left with…
"Did they find Fred, too?" She held her breath as she waited for the answer.
"Who's Fred?"
"My navigator. Please tell me he was rescued, too." She looked at them both anxiously. She couldn't imagine losing her good friend too.
"Ah. I'm sorry, I'm not aware of anyone else at this hospital with that name. Dr. Aspen looked down at her clipboard before asking; "do you remember your name now?"
"Amelia. Amelia Earhart," she answered quietly. Her heart ached for her friend who must've drowned where she'd survived. She suddenly felt very alone, despite the two doctors in the room with her. It didn't help that they were looking at her like she'd just announced she was an alien from another planet.
Dr. Aspen raised her eyebrows, but managed not to show any other reaction. "When were you born?"
"July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas." A chill went through her as more memories flooded into place. She had no idea where they'd gone before, but as quickly as she'd known they were gone, they were rushing back.
"Do you know the date today?"
"I guess, from what Dr. Murray said, it would be July 25, 2037. But really, that can't be right." She shook her head in denial. A heaviness settled into Amelia's chest as she realized for the first time that this meant that her husband would've been dead for many years now. Could that really mean that she would never see him again? Or feel the warm, supportive strength of his arms? Her nostrils flared as she fought the urge to cry. She was stronger than that; she knew she was. She wouldn't break down again in front of these strangers who didn't believe her.
"I assure you, it is right. Do you know how old that would make you? Over a hundred years old." Dr. Aspen lifted a mirror that Amelia hadn't noticed before. "I can't deny that you resemble her, but you don't look like a 140 year old woman. You couldn't be much over forty."
Amelia shook her head to clear it. "I don't know how to explain that. I only know who I am. I remember now. My name is Amelia Earhart and I'm a pilot. I don't know how to prove it to you, but that's just the way it is."
The doctors looked at her in concern. At the rate this was going, she was sure they would be getting out another of those needles. Amelia searched for something to say to convince them. How had this happened? One minute she was flying over the Central Pacific, searching for the landing dock, and now she was apparently lost in time.
She could now clearly remember her last transmission…
"We are on the line of position 157-337. Will repeat this message… …We are running north and south."
There was no response from the Itasca. She looked again at the fuel gage. She knew what she would see. The plane was low on fuel. She looked at Fred and knew he shared her fear. Would they be making their graves in the bottom of the ocean?
Amelia scanned the passing water below and knew Fred was doing the same. It had to be there. It just had to! Desperation filled her mind as they looked for somewhere, anywhere to land.
She was nearly ready to give up. "There's nothing," She said in defeat, her voice shaking from the sobs she struggled to hold back. Just then, something caught her eye. A light? A brightness in the sky that hadn't been there before. Was the weather clearing? But it wasn't rays of the sun she was seeing. "Do you see that, Fred?"
"What is it?" He asked, but she knew he didn't expect an answer.
Her eyes watered and burned from the brilliance of the manifestation, but she couldn't look away. It was the oddest-looking phenomenon she'd seen in all her years of flying. It was blazing and white, and looked like a crack in not only the gray of the clouds, but in the sky itself. It was almost like God had turned on His light on the other side, and there was tear through the veil that separated His world from ours, allowing us to see its brightness.
Their plane continued toward it and like moths being attracted to a flame, neither Amelia nor Fred thought to change course. By the time it did occur to her that they should probably go around it, it was too late. First, there was panic as the light engulfed them. Then there was nothing…
The next thing Amelia remembered was waking up with a headache in a small room in 2037.
New York Times—A woman found in the ocean on the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated flight of Amelia Earhart and Frederick Noonan claims to be the famous pilot. At the time of her rescue, the woman was wearing aviator clothing, which looks authentic to the clothing the real Ms. Earhart wore on her last flight. Doctors are scrambling to find an explanation for the woman's knowledge of Earhart's personal details, life and disappearance. In other related news, a man in another hospital, who was found by a cruise liner near the same site as the aforementioned woman, has recently come out of a coma and is, perhaps coincidentally, calling himself Fred.
nell-- I am teh first to admit I see greatness here! I am soo pleased to finally get to read your work. I am going to be back.
I am stating this-- and you know why, you have talent you are a great writer, and I stand by this staement 10000%
Let me scrutinize my memory, going a few days back. The story is intensely written, close-up personal, and then - not merely in one round but more than that - you have injected "factual" elements, news stories, which leaves the reader bewildered. So it is science fiction, all right, but not of the cold and clinical kind. Rather, the reader is trying to cling onto a main character whom we'd like to rescue, yet at the end of the day we must realize that history, supernatural forces, illusion, or simply "government" are all too powerful for us. Alas, you make us learn that wave goodbye to our hero we must, and finally we sit up there like in a 007 movie looking down at the ocean, where pieces of debris float around in memory of a strange woman, a heroic pilot, and a less than transparent set of circumstances indeed. That is what "because" meant.
Absolutely entertaining, a major accomplishment! I am very impressed by this story, especially because... No, I will not elaborate, because you may then start telling me it isn't that great after all. But it is, it really is.
Voted up as this was an enjoyable and interesting read.


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Link to introductory page
See also pages for individual regions and towns in France.
Older manhole covers in France have all the monumentality of French public buildings. Their bold lines are deeply cast with proud large letters for the inscriptions. A good example of this style is furnished by the anonymous example above, seen at Coutances and the cover by A.Durenne, Maitre de Forges of Paris. Unfortunately many of these early examples are now disregarded, often covered by tarmac, their inscriptions barely visible or replaced by the omnipresent PAM productions or other anonymous examples with feeble low relief patterns. Rarely are there individual designs for municipalities. The main historic interest is furnished by the names of the different foundries.
Many manhole covers in France, and increasingly in many other counties, bear the brand name PAM with its distinctive bridge trade mark. The new Princesshay development in Exeter installed some of their products in 2007. They are manufactured by Saint-Gobain PAM, a metallurgy company which is a branch of Saint-Gobain Canalisation. The birth of the enterprise was in 1854 when the discovery of iron ore deposits was made in Lorraine at Marbache, in Meurthe-et-Moselle. The factory at Pont-à-Mousson (hence the initials PAM) was founded in 1856 and the first cast-iron water-main was produced in 1866. During the 19th century the firm supplied many towns in France and Europe with iron water mains and in 1886 the creation of the Société Anonyme des Hauts-Fourneaux et Fonderies de Pont-à-Mousson reflected the main area of activity of the firm - cast ironwork. Activities spread to South America in 1937. In 1970, bringing together several industrial firms in France, Germany and Brazil, Pont-à-Mousson S.A. merged with the Compagnie de SAINT-GOBAIN. International development continued from the 1980s, spreading to Spain, to Great Britain, to Asia in 1997 and to South Africa in 1998. In 2006 Saint-Gobain Canalisation employed more than 9,000 persons world-wide, of which 2,850 were employed by Saint-Gobain-PAM. A visit to the town in 2007 ascertained that the firm had full order books for the next four years. Website: www.pamline.fr.
PAM InterAx. Seen in Newton Ferrers, Devon. A typical example of the style of cover to be found across Europe.
Isard & Favre, Annecy
Isard & Favre, Annecy
Chappee & Fils, Le Mans. Seen in Caen
Link to introductory page
See also pages for individual regions and towns in France.


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Alba is located in the vibrant East Village district of downtown Des Moines, an area known for its eclectic shopping and nightlife. Gift certificates are available.
Alba - whose name was inspired by the white oak trees in front of the building and featured on the dining room mural - opened its doors in February 2008.
Located in the Historic East Village of Des Moines, Alba is recognized for its contemporary American cuisine, as well as its 1950's Art Moderne exterior and its unconventional interior. Besides the colorful artwork that adorns the walls, one of the most noted features of restaurant is the colorful mix of wood-panel doors that suspend from the ceiling.
In addition to the dining room and seasonal patio, Alba also offers a full-service wine bar. The space's long-winding bar and high-top tables are a great way to experience Alba's cuisine in a more casual environment.
Finally, Alba offers a semi-private dining room that seats up to 20 guests and is available upon reservation.
Alba was nominated in 2010 and 2016 for a James Beard Restaurant Award and was voted "Best Restaurant" by the Des Moines Register in 2010 and 2011. Alba has also appeared in the New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Midwest Living magazine, and Jet Set Delta Sky magazine.
524 E 6th St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-0261
Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m. to Close
Happy Hour
Tuesday-Saturday 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.


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Hello! I'm Sherree Chamberlain- a designer, interior stylist, and small business owner. I am a lefty, a musician, and have always had an eye for aesthetics. After studying interior design and apparel design at Oklahoma State, I ended up with a B.S. in English education. Because that makes sense.
For the past few years, I have been an Art History teacher while designing on the side. In the spring of 2014 stopped teaching to pursue interior design full time. I work one-on-one with clients whose needs range from simple styling to full service design. I also run a small shop full of vintage furniture and accessories that turn my hoarding tendencies into a socially acceptable art form.
I am passionate about art, travel, and music. I have a special affinity for chrome, lucite, Moroccan rugs, and Cy Twombly. My style can be described as comfortable, collected, modern, and organic. As a designer, I truly enjoy getting to know my clients on a personal level and tailoring my designs to their personal tastes, while pushing them to stretch a little outside of their normal comfort level.
I believe interior design should be affordable, enjoyable, and accessible to all clients on every budget level. I work hard to stretch every dollar, hunt down every bargain, and be completely transparent with my pricing. Design should be fun and collaborative without a fear of hidden fees and miscommunication. If you want to learn more about me as a person, you can check out my music here, creep on my husband here, or just google around for weird youtube videos.
If you want to learn more about working with me as a designer, Shoot me an e-mail here. I would love to talk to you about your project!
My Design Process
Coming Soon...


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Geneviève David, M.Sc., CAPM.
Centre of Excellence in Partnership with Patients and the Public (CEPPP)
Geneviève David is a coordinator at the CEPPP and Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research of the Quebec SUPPORT Unit. After her training in biomedical sciences in Montreal and Boston, she worked in various research teams in France and Canada in the fields of genetics, bioethics and scientific communication. She has been the project and ethics manager for a national biobank and has sat on scientific and organizing committees for conferences.
As a coordinator within the CEPPP, Geneviève is involved in various projects, one on the ethical issues of the patient partnership and another on the presence of the patient's family in the new CHUM.
Our Team
An initiative of the Université de Montréal
Supported by
Direction collaboration partenariat patient
Faculté de médecine de l'Université de Montréal
Canada Research Chair in Patient and Public Partnership
CHUM Research Centre
Institut de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal
Canadian Foundation for Innovation


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(AOL Autos) -- Regular readers of AOL Autos know that we have done a series of stories on the development and increasing popularity of cars that run -- or will eventually run -- on alternative fuels.
The mandatory use of CNG in public service vehicles began in New Delhi, India in 2000.
We've written about hybrids, clean-diesel engines, fuel-cell technology, ethanol and more.
That brings us to another entry in the auto industry's ongoing research and development of green-technology: compressed natural gas (CNG). Scientists are trying to determine which alternative fuel will best strike a balance between being environmentally friendly and commercial viability.
CNG might be the answer.
Vehicles running on CNG have actually been around since the early 1990s, but have not been a dominant force in the marketplace mostly because the infrastructure (i.e. re-fueling stations) is not yet in place to support high-volume sales of CNG-powered cars. Presently, there are only about 1,600 CNG refueling stations in the U.S, compared with up to 200,000 gas stations.
Currently there is only one CNG-powered model sold on the consumer market that is actually manufactured as a CNG-powered car. That's the Honda Civic GX, which boasts an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24/36 miles per gasoline-gallon equivalent. AOL Autos: Best hybrids
Rich Kolodziej, president of Natural Gas Vehicles for America said there are other natural-gas-powered vehicles on the road -- about 130,000, he estimates -- but that the vast majority of those are part of commercial or transit fleets or have been converted from gasoline-powered cars.
"They're mostly fleet vehicles, like transit buses, delivery trucks, and the fleets maintained by the gas company, the electric company, etc," he said.
"We don't have hard figures about conversions, but I'd bet that about 25 percent of those 130,000 were once gasoline-powered vehicles that have been converted to CNG vehicles," Kolodziej said. "There are a growing number of companies making certified conversion systems and installing them."
NGVAmerica maintains a list of certified conversion systems on its Web site: www.ngvc.org. AOL Autos: Fuel-efficient used cars
Some of those 130,000 are also natural-gas-powered vehicles manufactured and sold by Ford, Chrysler and GM back in the early '90s, he says -- back when the U.S. manufacturers were still in the business of making CNG-powered cars. But we'll get back to that later.
But with the price of gasoline currently averaging over $4 a gallon nationally, Kolodziej predicts there will be more and more demand for CNG-powered vehicles like the Civic GX.
"I went to a conference a couple of months ago, and every manufacturer we talked to said that their phones were ringing off the hook, from people who are saying they'd be interested in buying a CNG-powered car," Kolodziej said. "And there are more and more people and companies who want to get into the conversion business." AOL Autos: Hybrid SUVs
The cost of conversions varies by the type of vehicle, Kolodziej noted. "But most cost in the $10,000 range. Most conversion systems are certified for Ford and GM models, among others," he said.
On the financial side, natural gas is about 30 percent less expensive than gasoline when it is purchased at a refueling station. It's about 50 percent less expensive when you fill 'er up at home, via home refueling appliance that tap into your natural gas line, Kolodziej said. Owners of the Honda Civic GX in New York and California who have natural gas piped into their homes can purchase the "Phill" re-fueling system for about $3,500.
This Phill system can be used whether your CNG vehicle was manufactured that way or converted, he said. AOL Autos: Luxury cars with best gas mileage
"The Phill is about the size of a pay phone, and you hang it on the garage wall, and vent it like a dryer and plug it into a gas line and also into an electric socket," Kolodziej explained.
The primary environmental benefit of a CNG car is that it produces 90 percent fewer smog-forming pollutants (oxides of nitrogen), compared to the output of a conventional gas engine, said Steve Ellis, manager of alternative fuels for American Honda Motor Co.
The Civic GX has reaped many environmental awards. This year, it was named by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as the "greenest vehicle in the nation -- for the fifth consecutive year." The GX, which was first introduced in 1998, has the cleanest internal combustion certified by the EPA, Ellis noted. AOL Autos: Most-popular fuel-efficient cars
The Civic GX is not a high-volume vehicle in terms of sales. Ellis said annual sales have fluctuated between 500 to 1000 units a year since it was rolled out, with sales of 1,100 units last year. He expects that to go up in 2008. For comparison purposes, about 40,000 Honda Civic Hybrids were sold last year, with sales of 48,000 anticipated for this year.
Most of the sales of the Civic GX are concentrated in southern California, followed by Phoenix and Salt Lake City -- primarily because those markets are where many of the 1,600 re-fueling stations are presently located.
"As the infrastructure builds up, we'll sell more of them in other markets," Ellis predicted. "Right now, this is a car that people use regionally. If you live here in Los Angeles, you can drive to Las Vegas and back and not worry about being able to find a refueling station.
As for cost, the GX natural-gas vehicle is priced at about $24,500, compared to $17,000 for a comparably-equipped Civic LX, Ellis said -- except that buyers get a $4,000 tax credit on the purchase of the GX. And until recently, California buyers got an additional $3,000 rebate from the California Air Resources Board. "But the program was so popular, they are out of funds, and looking to add more money to the coffer so they can continue with the rebates," Ellis said.
"But people who buy a Civic GX, when we ask them about the math, in term of comparing those two Civics, they sort of give us blank stares," Ellis continued. "Most of these folks who are buying the GX are trying to get out of having to commute to work every day in a pick-up truck, SUV or even a passenger car that's only getting 15 or 20 miles a gallon. And they're also the same kind of people who've said they'd pay $25 or $50 a week to be able to drive in the car-pool lane."
Interestingly, many of the automakers, like Volkswagen, Mercedes, Fiat, GM Opel, Ford Europe, Peugeot and Renault, do produce CNG-powered vehicles for other countries, said NGVAmerica's Kolodziej, who noted that "about 1.5 million of the natural gas vehicles have been sold in Brazil, another 1.5 million in Argentina, another 1.5 million in Pakistan, and so on."
And, once upon a time, in the early '90s, U.S. automakers did sell CNG vehicles in the United States. "But the federal government kept adding more loopholes to the energy policy that was supposed to encourage the increased manufacture and sales of CNG vehicles," Kolodziej said. "Then the government opted not to expand the coverage of the program the way the law allowed -- or the way the automakers expected. Without that demand pull, the U.S. automakers didn't believe they could sell enough of them here."
"U.S. automakers zigged when they probably should have zagged" added Ellis of American Honda. "They turned their backs on CNG and began to focus on bio-fuels."
But, noted Ellis, "We're definitely keeping our stake in the CNG business, because we know we can add it to other platforms. We used to think of the Civic GX as 'The Little Engine That Could' -- you know, saying, 'I think I can, I think I can' in terms of becoming more commercially viable.
"But, with gas prices going up and up, now we're thinking more along the lines of 'I know I can, I know I can.' And more and more people are genuinely interested in going more green because of the environmental impact," he said. "A lot of people got into the hybrids, and then, after a while, began to ask, 'How can I do more?' And they're looking to natural-gas-powered cars as the answer to that.
"So, we're in this for the long haul," noted Ellis, who said the company is definitely looking to do bigger business and make a profit from the GX. "Now, it's just a matter of society continuing to change, and to continue to become more environmentally-minded. As they do, we think there will be increasing interest in CNG, and we'll see a shift in emphasis toward CNG and away from bio-fuels."
All About Gas Prices • Hybrid Vehicles


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Patricia Wells
Easy Weekend Entertaining
By deeann on August 17, 2012
Happy Friday! I'm looking forward to a weekend full of gatherings with family & friends, a trip to the farmers market, coffee on the porch, and time with my cookbooks – yes, I'm a cookbook junkie! Cookbooks and magazines are a great source of inspiration for me. One of my go-to cookbooks for summer is […] [more]
Posted in Entertaining Articles, Recipe Articles, Uncategorized | Tagged avocados, Bacon, Corn, DeeAnn McArdle, Easy Weekend Entertaining, farmers market recipes, farmers market salad, Feta, heirloom tomatoes, Patricia Wells, Salad As A Meal cookbook, sweet corn recipes, Tomato and Avocado Salad recipe, Unleash Your Inner Foodie | Leave a response
Martini & Mistletoe Party
By admin on December 17, 2009
Looking for a fun, last minute Holiday Party idea? How about a Martini & Mistletoe theme! It's retro, fun, and sure to be the buzz with all your friends this season. Here's a menu and music list to get you started Unleashing Your Inner Foodie! Martini and Mistletoe Party.09 [more]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Barefoot Contessa, creating memorable experiences, DeeAnn McArdle, Entertaining for the Holidays, Holiday party, hosting parties, Julia Child, martinis and mistletoe, music, Patricia Wells, Unleash Your Inner Foodie | Leave a response


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There are many different Tribes in North America with many different cultures and dances specific to their region and culture. This is much like the differences you would find in Europe. There is no one dance that applies to all Native American people.
Most Common Dances
When thinking about authentic Native American dances most people would think of the pow wow dances. This is due to the fact that despite this not being every tribes traditional dance it is still the most wide spread set of dance styles. For that reason this is the most common type of dances you will see. However this is also very diverse. Below are the difference dances and the sub classes of these dances. Each one of these categories can be split into sub classes or old style and contemporary. In addition, at a pow wow each categories will be split into age groups. Finally most dances can also be broken down into southern and northern styles as well. So these dance styles can be broken into 28 difference sub-categories and 6 different age groups. Even still this is only a small fraction of the enormous number of different dances that are part of the many different Native American cultures in North America. The dancers also spend a life time perfecting these dances. The children begin their learning soon as they are able to walk and will not be recognized as an expert likely until their mid to late twenties. It will likely take two decades for each dancer to learn every aspect of their specific dance style and the pow wow culture itself.
Tiny Tots - 0-6 years old
Juniors - 7 - 12 years old
Teens - 13-17 years old
Junior Adults - 18-34 years old
Senior Adults - 35-54 years old
Golden Age - 55 year old and up
Mens Dances
Mens Traditional - This is one of the oldest mens styles. It is recognizable by the single bustle. These dancers are representative of warriors and will often carry items like spears, axes and shields. While they dance they are often telling stories through the dance of a hunt of a battle.
Chicken Dance - The chicken dance resembles the traditional dance in regalia however it is more minimalistic and has a very distinct dance style. The dancers will carry different items like small hoops, mirrors, or fans while they dance. They mimic the mating dances of the prairie chickens. This makes it an extremely entertaining dance.
Grass Dance - The Grass dance is recognizable by their regalia that has yarn, or ribbon the streams down across their entire bodies. The dancers often mimic the flow of grass. This is a dance that originates from an ancient dance society. They were originally the first dancers to dance at any celebration as they would bless the dance area and flatten the grass.
Fancy Feather - This is one of the most excited dances because it's intense speed and energy. The dancers dance as fast as possible and create very elaborate movements. Their regalia is characterized by double bustles and very bright colors. They are often representative of the speed and energy of horses.
Women's Dances
Women's Traditional - This is the oldest of the women's dances. They represent the poise, respect, honor, and pride of women of the past and present. The dancers will often have the most elaborate bead work. They dance very proud and steady. Some dancers will dance in one spot while others will travel very slowly across the dance area.
Jingle Dress - This dance is characterized by the metal cones on their dresses. These cones bang together making the signature "jingle" sound that the dance is named after. This is considered a healing dance. They dancers demonstrate poise through a strong and proud posture while dancing. The intricacy of this dance is demonstrated through the fancy movements made by the dancers feet while still holding a poised posture.
Fancy Shawl - This dance is recognized by the colorful designs and ribbons. They dancers wear a large shawl over their shoulders. It is very graceful but also very fast. The dancers are supposed to be fast but also as graceful as a buttery making them look like they float across the dance area.
Please see at the gallery below to see examples of these styles
These are only a few examples of the many dances that are performed throughout North America. There are many more, however because they are often more regionally specific they are not as wide spread.


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The Morning Ledger: A Leaner, Stronger Corporate America
No pain, no gain. Cost cuts during the downturn and caution during the recovery have made big U.S. companies more efficient and more profitable. The Journal's Scott Thurm dug through S&P 500 financial reports for this A1 splash and found that "cumulative sales, profits and employment last year" bested 2007 levels. Thurm's research backs up what we noted recently — capital spending is beginning to rebound. Capex rose 19% last year at S&P companies, more than double the 9% increase in 2010. "The sharper increase brought capital spending back to 5.8% of total revenue for the companies in the Journal's analysis, equal to its level in 2007."
The question of course is how much longer this will continue. And as we note below, there are already signs that we're hitting the limits — several bellwethers may show weaker profits in coming days.
And as Friday's dismal jobs report shows, there's still plenty of caution when it comes to hiring. Agilent CEO Bill Sullivan says he's still "very, very cautious" about hiring. "That's a lesson current leaders of industry will not forget."
QUESTION FOR LEDGER READERS: How surprising was the March jobs report and does it make you more cautious on hiring? Email us your thoughts.
Welcome to earnings season. Alcoa kicks things off on Tuesday and could demonstrate how we're hitting the limits of cost cutting amid tepid growth. It's expected to swing to a loss, setting the stage for what could be a gloomier crop of corporate results. Analysts are expecting the lowest rate of year-to-year growth since the end of the financial crisis. And companies have been issuing a lot more negative earnings guidance than positive forecasts.
But "comments from corporate chieftains, and their outlooks for the year, may be more important than the numbers the companies produce," says the Journal's Jonathan Cheng. There could even be an upside to all the pessimism. One analyst tells the FT that Q1 estimates have been ratcheted down so much that "that many companies should beat expectations."
Earnings highlights: Alcoa, Google, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo
The March nonfarm payrolls report has reignited QE3 hopes, so three March inflation readings out this week take on added importance. Import prices – out Wednesday – are expected to rise 0.8%, sharply higher than February's increase, thanks to higher imported petroleum costs. The other two reports are likely to be more subdued. PPI – out Thursday — is expected to climb 0.3%, and on Friday we're likely to see CPI inch up 0.2%. Thursday's weekly jobless claims are also expected to rise slightly to 359,000.


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Featured Project
Purse?! Sweater?! Purse!!
DIYStyle Vodcast Episode 19
Supplies Needed
- Sweater (Ladies' or Men's, shrunken or felted)
- ½ yard woven cotton print
- 1 set of circular or oval purse handles
- Water soluble marker
- Baby Lock sewing machine
- Coats and Clark Dual Duty XP sewing thread
- The KIT (Sewing Box Essentials)
How to Make It
- Cut body of purse from washed and shrunken/felted sweater (see notes below about how to do quick felting in your washer/dryer), incorporating the neckline as the opening of the purse. 16" x 16" is a good general size; your purse can be cut to whatever dimensions will fit your needs. Set aside the arms and scrap pieces.
- Lay out the cotton lining right side facing up. Place the cut sweater face up on the lining, centering the neckline opening. Draw around the opening of the neckline. Set the sweater aside, and cut the circle open in the lining. Clip the circle all the way around, about ½" in to the body of the lining.
- Lay the sweater/purse out flat again, wrong side facing up. Place the lining back over the sweater and tuck the raw edges under, around the opening of the neckline, pin securely.
- Stitch the lining to the sweater/purse around the neckline edge. Remove pins.
- Fold the sweater/purse in half with right sides facing and the lining showing. Mark the bottom and top sides of the sweater/purse using a dinner plate to make a smooth curve.
- Pull the sweater taut between the linings and pin the edges.
- Stitch around the edge of the purse on markings. Trim the extra fabric and sweater knit. Clean finish the raw edges. Turn the purse right sides out.
- For handle casings, cut two strips from sweater remnants that measure 7" across and 6" from top to bottom, using the ribbing along the 6" edge for a nice finish.
- Fold both 7" side edges of each strip under and stitch. Repeat for the second strip.
- Pin the raw edge of each strip to each side (outside) of the purse opening (what had been the neck opening of the sweater!) right sides together, stitch securely.
- Loop the strip through a purse handle and pin the ribbed edge over the seamed edge of the strip inside of the purse, stitch securely.
design NOTES
- Check out the knit from the wrong side, oftentimes that can be a great contrast within your design.
- If you can't find a handle to match, buy one in any color and paint it the color you need!
- Look for sweaters with interesting details such as necklines or ribbings that can be incorporated into the design of the purse.
- If the sweater has been washed and felted, normally it becomes so dense that it will not unravel. So, cutting the sweater apart and re-piecing it back together with exposed seams can add a really fabulous look.
- Look for large sweaters made from 100% wool; these can be felted to add more body to the purse before it is sewn. To felt a sweater, run it through the wash cycle with very hot water; allow the sweater to agitate for along period of time, then place it in the dryer, on high heat until dry. The sweater will shrink, sometimes to half the original size and become very dense.
Most Popular Sewing Projects
- Quick-Stitch Dog Bed
- Simple Scarf Halter Top
- Party Dress in an Instant
- Quickie Robe
- DIY Sewing Accessories: Magnetic Wrist Pincushion
- Chic Foldover Clutch Purse


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The Assistance League of Glendale hosts a "Christmas in July" sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday at the Assistance League Thrift Alley, 314 E. Harvard St., Glendale. There will be ornaments, books, jewelry, crafts, formal outfits, fabrics and more for sale. The thrift alley will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Proceeds support the organization's philanthropies, some of which provide clothing and school supplies for children and academic scholarships. Visit www.alglendale.org or call (818) 246-2294.
The Burbank Salvation Army Community Center hosts a monthly fundraiser at Shakey's Pizza Parlor, 1300 San Fernando Road in Burbank, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Place your receipt at the counter or notify the cashier that you support the Burbank Salvation Army Community Center. One hundred percent of proceeds benefit the center's programs that serve all ages. Call (818) 845-7214.
Free swing dance lessons begin at 6 p.m., and Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums perform jazz, rhythm and blues and swing at 7 p.m. on the AMC Walkway at San Fernando Boulevard and Palm Avenue in Burbank. Call (818) 238-5180.


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- Song: Hold Music
- Release: 05.07.15
Rare MP3s is on hold, thanks for bearing with us! We'll be back with new music May 5th, and we're excited to share new things with you, one of which will be Rare MP3s coming to clubs / venues / concert spaces this spring. Thanks for the love so far,
Art by GlassFace (as always)


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Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former Kent wicket-keeper batsman Simon Willis as the SLC high performance manager.
The appointment comes after Sri Lanka's disappointing innings loss to England in the opening test in Headingly on Friday.
According to SLC sources, Mr. Willis will be contracted from the 1st of June and head the National Cricket Academy.
This will be the second high profile coaching appointment in the national setup after the new board was elected in January this year.
In February, Former head coach Graham Ford was reappointed as the national coach on a 45 month contract.


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Diwaka Tours & Travel
Aqua Plaza, 4th Fl.
P.O. Box 17001-00100, Nairobi - Kenya
Telephone: +254.20.268.5134 / +254.20.375.0391
Fax: +254.20.2685134
Email: email@example.com
Website: diwakasafaris.com
Escapees in search of an island may be tempted to head for old favorites such as Southeast Asia or the Caribbean. But don't overlook Africa. This huge landmass is splattered with sand-fringed isles, from country-sized behemoths to single-shack atolls.
When mentioning an African holiday, most people will probably think of a safari tour, a visit to an ancient Egyptian monument or perhaps a trip to Cape Town or Marrakesh. However, Africa also has some amazing islands lying off its coasts. Madagascar, the 4th largest island in the world is the obvious one but there are also some smaller islands that are definitely worth a trip. These African islands have a fascinating history, unique wildlife and beaches that easily rival those of the Caribbean.


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If you stretch out on your bed or your couch, you LIE down.
If you put something on your bed or your couch you LAY it down.
There: is that so hard to keep straight?
Lately, I've heard even respected journalists make the mistake of saying "lay" when they mean "lie."
So, at least on this blog, I am laying down this grammatical law for all to see.
And now, I shall go into the adjacent room and lie upon my couch.
I could also lay my self down upon my couch, but in this instance,
I prefer to be true to lying.


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A plentiful ingredient found in human semen drastically enhances the ability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to cause infection. The findings of a recently published report help to understand the sexual transmission of HIV and suggest a potential new target for preventing the spread of AIDS, the researchers said.
Collaborating research groups in Hannover and Ulm, Germany, show that naturally occurring fragments of so-called prostatic acidic phosphatase (PAP) isolated from human semen form tiny fibers known as amyloid fibrils. Those fibrils capture HIV particles and help them to penetrate target cells, thereby enhancing the infection rate by up to several orders of magnitude.
"We were not expecting to find an enhancer, and were even more surprised about the strength," said Frank Kirchhoff of the University Clinic of Ulm, noting that they were initially looking for factors in semen that might help to block HIV infection. "Most enhancers have maybe a two- or three-fold effect, but here the effect was amazing–more than 50-fold and, under certain conditions, more than 100,000-fold. At first, I didn't believe it, but we ran the experiment over and over, always with the same result."
"The fibrils act like a ferry," said Wolf-Georg Forssmann of VIRO PharmaCeuticals GmbH & Co. KG and Hannover Medical School. "They pick the viruses up and then bring them to the cell."
HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS, has infected about 60 million people and caused over 20 million deaths, the researchers said. More than 90 percent of those HIV-1 infections are acquired through sexual intercourse. Globally, most infections result from genital exposure to the semen of HIV-positive men, earlier studies showed. Women who acquired HIV-1 through vaginal intercourse constitute almost 60 percent of new infections in Africa. Yet the factors influencing the infectiousness of HIV in semen are poorly understood.
To identify natural agents that might play a role in sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS in the new study, the researchers sifted through a complex peptide/protein library derived from human seminal fluid in search of novel inhibitors and/or enhancers of HIV infection.
That comprehensive search turned up PAP fragments as a potent enhancer of HIV infection. They then verified that synthetic PAP fragments also enhanced HIV, confirming it as the active ingredient. Interestingly, they found that individual PAP fragments are inactive but efficiently form amyloid fibrils, which they call Semen-derived Enhancer of Virus Infection or SEVI, that enhance HIV-1 infection by capturing virions and promoting their physical interaction and fusion with target cells.
The enhancing activity of SEVI is most pronounced when the levels of infectious virus are low, resembling the conditions of sexual HIV-1 transmission, they reported. Physiological concentrations of SEVI amplified HIV infection of immune cells known as T cells and macrophages, most likely the cell types first targeted by HIV-1. SEVI lowered the amount of virus required to infect tissue taken from human tonsils and significantly enhanced the viral infection of transgenic rats with human receptors for HIV-1 infection.
The researchers said they will continue to explore SEVI's role in HIV transmission. While the peptide that conglomerates into fibrils is always present in large quantities in semen, they don't yet know if the absolute levels vary from man to man. "We also plan to further explore how exactly the fibrils allow the virus to enter cells and to search for compounds, with our technology, that might block the process," Forssmann said.
If such inhibitors can be found, they might be added to microbicide gels now under development for HIV prevention, added Kirchhoff. There could also be other ways to take advantage of the fibrils. "The high potency of SEVI in promoting viral infection together with its relatively low cytotoxicity suggests that it may not only play a relevant role in sexual HIV transmission, but could also help to improve vaccine approaches and gene delivery by lentiviral vectors," the researchers said.
Cell, Vol 131, 1059-1071, 14 December 2007
Semen-Derived Amyloid Fibrils Drastically Enhance HIV Infection
1 Institute of Virology, University Clinic of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
2 IPF PharmaCeuticals GmbH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
3 Hannover Medical School, Center of Pharmacology, 30625 Hannover, Germany
4 VIRO Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, 30625 Hannover, Germany
5 Department of Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
6 Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB/CSIC), Madrid 28040, Spain
7 Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid 28034, Spain
8 Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
9 Section of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, USA
10 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Corresponding author
Wolf-Georg Forssmann
Corresponding author
Frank Kirchhoff
Sexual intercourse is the major route of HIV transmission. To identify endogenous factors that affect the efficiency of sexual viral transmission, we screened a complex peptide/protein library derived from human semen. We show that naturally occurring fragments of the abundant semen marker prostatic acidic phosphatase (PAP) form amyloid fibrils. These fibrils, termed Semen-derived Enhancer of Virus Infection (SEVI), capture HIV virions and promote their attachment to target cells, thereby enhancing the infectious virus titer by several orders of magnitude. Physiological concentrations of SEVI amplified HIV infection of T cells, macrophages, ex vivo human tonsillar tissues, and transgenic rats in vivo, as well as trans-HIV infection of T cells by dendritic or epithelial cells. Amyloidogenic PAP fragments are abundant in seminal fluid and boost semen-mediated enhancement of HIV infection. Thus, they may play an important role in sexual transmission of HIV and could represent new targets for its prevention.
3 Responses
Respected Sir,
I read your abstract in Clinical update of IAS, Newsletter March 2008. I have done my Ph.D. on Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. from the Department of Zoology and Biomedical Technology, Gujarat University, Gujarat state, Ahmedabad. I m interested to know Sir, that other than Acid Phosphatase any other other enzymes had Key role in faster progression of HIV infection. I also want to know if you saw any subtype specific HIV -variation in diseases progression.
Thanking you
Burzin Kavina
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A friend and colleague, Tigran Matosyan, put together a video explaining what Find Policy is about.
Tigran put this together using a videoscribe service called Sparkol, which goes to show how much you can do with online tools nowadays. I love the simplicity, and how quick it is to explain things that way. So as we are updating the usability of Find Policy, we will develop more videos like that.
Tigran does extremely interesting research in Armenia, and you can find some of his work on Academia.edu.


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Renegade Craft Fair
'Tis the season for Renegade Craft Fair's annual holiday show in Chicago! We're thrilled to be there with more than 250 emerging and established makers.
The fair kicks off this weekend at the beautiful Bridgeport Art Center! On December 5 + 6 from 11 am to 6 pm, you can shop for the perfect handmade gift, take part in DIY workshops, eat, drink, and be merry!
This is the perfect opportunity to find unique gifts this holiday season and support the growing handmade economy.
We will be on the 5th floor in booth 177 with a selection of fine jewelry, one of a kind pieces, and all of your favorites...we look forward to seeing you all there!


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Here ericdress.com shows customers a fashion collection of current cyber monday skirt deals.You can find many great items. They all have high quality and reasonable price. You can get big discount sometimes, because we always do promotions. If you need cyber monday skirt deals,come here to choose. We give you good items and services.
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Color Block Flower Print Women's Mini Skirt
Lace-Up Plain Women's Mini Skirt


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Heavy Rust What To Do??? I'm asked this question frequently especailly by quilters who are battling shredding threads, broken needles, etc. Following is a multi part tutorial that will hopefully reduce the frustration of shredded threads etc.
As you can see in the above photo there are heavily rusted areas that appear to be actual rusted metal. That's because it is rusted metal. The rusting process allows rust particles, iron oxide, to accumulate on the surface of the fibers/fabrics. The end result, depending on the length of time the fabric is allowed to rust, is sharp jagged metallic edges that shreds thread, dulls needles, and leaves little flecks of iron oxide everywhere.


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Spring Fine Arts Festival 2016
Location: William W. Stuart Forum at Genesee Community College, 1 College Rd. Batavia, NY 14020
Tuesday, March 22nd, the arts will be highlighted at GCC, presented by the GCC Fine and Performing Arts Committee. Join us in the William W. Stuart Forum for numerous workshops demonstrating creative endeavors such as drawing, painting, origami, bookbinding, printmaking, weaving and much more including a carnival style photo booth!
Papercraft Miracles will be returning for the 4th year, doing bookbinding demos and mini-workshops throughout the day!
Free! Available to GCC students and the community.
For more info click here: http://www.genesee.edu/calendar/4172/


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[Verse 1: C.L. Smooth]
I make it move like I wanna move with them horns
Let 'em play with them strings
While I spit the life of kings
Put a could in it
Stood with it, we at it
Dudes that was meant to have it
Fans wanna reach out and grab it
I'm just an ordinary man
With an un-ordinary lifestyle
Seen early, I would live as a child
I was conceived a mistake
But through God was really all it take for me to be born
And make the earth shake
This was raised from the bottom
So before them plain cones got 'em
Soak up the four square miles to pop 'em
It's me in the flesh
Here to put the rumours to rest
And let you celebrate hip hop's best
From the womb to the tomb
Hit the game real soon
With a tune that's gonn' take sun
Straight to the moon
See it's my turn now
All competitors bow
All you sayin' is "WOW"
All I know
It's the way it gotta go
And everything you take to hold me down
All I see
It's the way it gotta be
If you came to see me hit the town
This is my vibe
The way I survive
And peoples can't play me out of bounds
Here's my point
On the Jazzy Jeff joint
That's why C.L. can wear the crown
[Verse 2: C.L. Smooth]
When you think about the pedigree
I own the whole catalog
All I'm sayin' is
Don't sleep on me dawg
I really waked them streets there
Schooled them young wolves
C.L. will slay anything in his way
Okay it's all about the aura I project
That ultimate connect
And how you see me as a man of respect, right
So it's like a mutual agreement
All your feed is in the seamon
Learn the rules
Let you earn your pay sure
Knows of when you think of what it cost me
And how the world forced me to kill 'em softly baby
How the music sound from the basement
And how the world blessed me
Who let you see the fame don't impress me, dig it
Why it's cut from a different cloth
Blood it, set it off
Keep a real nice piece of the love easy
Anytime you can hold ya head
Then you can hold some bread
And relate to what C.L. said
[Verse 3: C.L. Smooth]
It's Jazzy Jeff on the turntables
C.L. on the M-I-C
Philly on up to the N.Y.C
And breakdances, God
Tags in the trainyard
Wild style fat laced
Thugs locked up
From a 1980's case
Goons with them grown kids
Used to them long bids
Meet you on the dance floor
Slash the visit then
A lot from the rep to
And seein' it all makes sense
If I'm the king
Then that should make you the fresh prince
Send for the driver
You lookin' at the real soul survivor
Like my man J. Period
Mix tape
The man on fire
Featuring the guested Jeff host
You marvel at the up close and personal
Meetin' other minds
You should read the signs
This is what reclines
The thoughts in my lazy boy
Fit like a hand and glove
Through the city of brotherly love


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An American in Paris
About the WorkComposer: George Gershwin
© Richard Freed
The impactive success of the Rhapsody in Blue catapulted Gershwin into a totally new status. He was acknowledged everywhere as a major figure in American music and in asserting an American influence in Europe. At the end of 1925 he performed with a symphony orchestra for the first time, as soloist, under Walter Damrosch, in the Concerto in F which he composed under Damrosch's commission. He orchestrated the Concerto himself, having taught himself from some orchestration manuals, but after that premiere he took lessons in harmony from Edward Kilenyi Sr. and Rubin Goldmark, and in counterpoint from Henry Cowell and Wallingford Riegger. He began visiting London and Paris, and in the French capital he applied to Ravel, who had given lessons in orchestration to several respected composers but who said to Gershwin, "Why would you want to risk being a second-rate Ravel when you are already a first-rate Gershwin?" (Gershwin did have some lessons from Arnold Schoenberg, with whom he played tennis in Hollywood, though Schoenberg suggested, in remarking on their respective incomes, that it was Gershwin who ought to be giving him lessons.)
Gershwin made his first trip to Paris just after the premiere of the Rhapsody in Blue. Two years later (1926), when he was in England for the London and Liverpool openings of his musical comedy Lady, Be Good, he took a few days to visit Paris again, and the idea came to him of composing an orchestral work describing his impressions of that city. He even bought some authentic Parisian taxi horns, after deciding to use the real thing rather than attempt an imitation with conventional instruments.
It was two years after that, though, before he got round to serious work on the piece, to which he gave the title An American in Paris, and which he promised to Damrosch for premiere in December 1928. Following another London opening in the spring of that year (this time the show was Oh, Kay! ), Gershwin went to Paris for a longer visit, during which he had stimulating meetings with Ravel, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Poulenc and Milhaud--and bought more taxi horns. He returned to New York on June 20, completed the piano sketch for An American in Paris on August 1, and in an interview published in the August 18, 1928, issue of Musical America made this statement on the work:
This new piece, really a rhapsodic ballet, is written very freely and is the most modern music I've yet attempted. The opening part will be developed in typical French style, in the manner of Debussy and the Six, though all the themes are original. My purpose is to portray the impression of an American visitor in Paris, as he strolls about the city and listens to various street noises and absorbs the French atmosphere.
As in my other orchestral compositions, I've not endeavored to represent any definite scenes in this music. The rhapsody is programmatic only in a general impressionistic way . . .
The opening gay section is followed by a rich blues with a strong rhythmic undercurrent. Our American friend, perhaps after strolling into a café and having a couple of drinks, has succumbed to a spasm of homesickness. The harmony here is both more intense and simpler than in the preceding pages. This blues rises to a climax, followed by a coda in which the spirit of the music returns to the vivacity and bubbling exuberance of the opening part with its impression of Paris. Apparently the homesick American, having left the café and reached the open air, has disowned his spell of the blues and once again is an alert spectator of Parisian life. At the conclusion, the street noises and French atmosphere are triumphant.
Actually, not all the themes are original. Helping to establish the atmosphere early on is a brief but emphatic citation of the tune known as La Maxixe. Among the "various street noises" are the aforementioned taxi horns, and the title page of the score pointedly identifies Gershwin as both composer and orchestrator. He completed the orchestration on November 18, less than four weeks before the work's premiere, given by Damrosch and the New York Philharmonic (which had just absorbed his New York Symphony Orchestra) on December 13, 1928. Eight months later Gershwin made his first appearance as a conductor, presiding over a performance of this work at Lewisohn Stadium.


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shades of juice
I recently started going to the gym again after a very extended sabbatical. 💪 And earlier this week, I left there feeling like I had totally kicked ass. Just kidding. I totally got my ass kicked. 😳 After sitting outside on a tire for a good ten minutes trying to catch my breath and not throw up, I was eventually able to get myself in the car to head over to the grocery store and pick up some post-workout fuel.
Well, as soon as I got there and stepped out of my car, I was feeling just as bad as I was when I stepped off of the stationary bike that nearly did me in... 🚴😵 The soreness was already setting in and I just couldn't shake the queasiness. 😷 So I decided to pick up some of nature's best medicine in the produce section and go home and make myself some fresh juice. 🍋🌱
I made a little 2 ounce shot of lemon-ginger-turmeric juice to help soothe the soreness and kick the nausea. And I made a nice, refreshing, slightly sweet green juice as a chaser to just help bring me back to life. 🙌
I immediately felt better after drinking theses babies and felt so great for the entire rest of the day that I might just have to make these juices a regular post-gym treat. Or a whenever-i'm-feeling-in-need-of-some-life treat! And, of course, I had to share the recipes with all of you!
//For the Yellow Shot//
- 1-inch piece of turmeric
- 1-inch piece of ginger
- 1 lemon, peeled
//For the Green Juice//
- 2 handfuls of kale
- 1 small handful of mint
- 1 Granny Smith apple
- 1 cucumber
- 1 lemon, peeled
- Place all the ingredients in a juicer and juice away!
Toddler Tip:
The yellow shot will almost definitely be too spicy for your little ones, but the green juice is totally kid friendly!


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Save the date: 10. September 2019
In modern democracies, societies are built not only on checks and balances but also on the notion of trust. In the digital age, trust is strengthened through a variety of technologies that provide for online privacy and security. Encryption technologies are one key example. They allow users to securely communicate and do business online, and to protect data on a computer, a phone or in the cloud. However, those technologies are also available for less benevolent purposes, providing criminals with means to protect their communication and data. This has put encryption at the centre of a debate on the tension between online security and the notion of national security. Even after years of struggles - most recently between the FBI and Apple - battle lines remain murky, and key questions unanswered. Are law enforcement agencies really "going dark"? Should (and can) societies make any compromises on the use of encryption technologies? What are the ethical obligations for the technical and academic communities? If multistakeholder institutions, such as the IETF, set standards on encryption that will be adopted broadly, how does multistakeholder governance impact best practices, the development and the implementation of such standards? What effect had the Snowden disclosures on IETF processes? If we accept the broad and easy use of encryption technologies, should government agencies have other tools at hand to fight criminals? And finally, where do we stand on this debate in Germany and what can we do to help define a united European position?
Networks & Politics is a platform for all those interested in global Internet policy and its impact on the national level. Read more...


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Charges for burglary, robbery, or theft can have severe consequences ranging from time in prison to hefty fines if you are found guilty. If you have been charged with burglary, robbery, or property theft, you need a lawyer that will be aggressive in defending your rights. You also need a lawyer with experience to navigate through the complex legal system for you. I have successfully defended numerous clients against charges such as these during my 29 years practicing criminal defense. I will provide you aggressive and skilled legal representation to obtain the best possible outcome in your case.
Please contact me at 210-227-4529 for a free consultation if you are facing charges of burglary, robbery or theft, or if you anticipate that you may be charged in the future.


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JACKSON — The University of Mississippi Medical Center is seeking approval from the College Board to buy the vacant Landmark Center office building in downtown Jackson for $6.25 million. UMMC says it would move some operations downtown to the 300,000 square-foot building to move some offices out of rented quarters and eventually free up more space on campus. » READ ...Read More »
Tag Archives: South Pointe
Department of Revenue workers thrilled with new home
Here's proof that things can seem horribly bad one week and just peachy the next. On March 18, employees of the Mississippi Department of Revenue endured the ear-splitting sound of a hail onslaught banging on a tin roof and aluminum walls. Seven days later, they heard the wonderful words they've awaited for nearly two decades: "We're moving." With that announcement, ...Read More »
Clinton's South Pointe wins Department of Revenue headquarters bid
Aggressive last-minute price cutting did the trick for Clinton's South Pointe Business Park in the competition to become the new home of the Mississippi Department of Revenue, the state says. The selection came down to price, with representatives of the former WorldCom headquarters presenting a lease offer too attractive to pass up, said Kevin Upchurch, executive director of the state ...Read More »
Clinton mayor wants competition – not politics – to decide DOR issue
Clinton Mayor Rosemary Aultman very much wants the Mississippi Department of Revenue to move its headquarters to the former WorldCom headquarters, now South Pointe Business Park. What Aultman says she doesn't want, however, is for legislative politics to decide the outcome. If the DOR moves to Clinton's South Pointe, she wants her town to win the competition on its merits ...Read More »
Legislature divided over Department of Revenue destination
Whiplash could be a consequence of watching recent action in the Legislature to determine the next home of the Mississippi Department of Revenue. The day before a bill to put the DOR headquarters in downtown Jackson's Landmark Center via a purchase passed the Senate on a 48-2 vote, House Speaker Philip Gunn successfully pushed a bill through the House on ...Read More »
Competition for DOR lease carries big build-out costs, quick prep mandate
The building owner who wins the upcoming competition to lease 175,000 square feet to the Mississippi Department of Revenue must be willing to spend tens of millions of dollars to ready the building. And the owner must also be willing to move quickly to have the building ready for the DOR to move into by late spring 2014. The requirements ...Read More »
State seeks proposals for new Department of Revenue HQ
In a clear sign that state leaders have decided against further delays in getting the Mississippi Department of Revenue out of its metal warehouse headquarters in Raymond, the state has issued a request for proposals to building owners interested in leasing to the department. The move represents a change of heart by state leaders who last legislative session rejected a ...Read More »
Landmark Center, South Pointe top candidates in DOR search
A tug-of-war between two major office properties could occur in the 2013 legislative session as the Landmark Center and South Pointe vie to become the new headquarters of the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Both buildings will lose major tenants in the next few months and look to rebound by securing a long-term lease for several hundred thousand square feet from ...Read More »


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In the sixth of our weekly podcasts, the Trust's Head of Education Alex Maws talks to archaeologist Dr Caroline Sturdy Colls about her pioneering research on Nazi camps and its implications for our understanding of the Holocaust.
Click here to read a transcript of the podcast.
Read more by Caroline Sturdy Colls:


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Written on:
13 June, 2017
Lack of Parenting Skills
Lack of parenting skills can have long-term effects on children and on society. Poor parenting can happen for different reasons and will manifest in a variety of ways. Learning good parenting skills will help children be happier and have a greater chance of success in life. There are many support options for parents, including classes, support groups and community outreach programs.
Causes of Poor Parenting Skills
According to PubMed, one of the most common reasons for lack of parenting skills is low socioeconomic status. Parents living at or below the poverty line often have less access to parenting resources. There is a larger chance of having inadequate healthcare if you're struggling financially. Teen parents might have a hard time developing parenting skills, as they may not have the emotional or financial support to effectively parent. Young parents can be more immature and less capable of making the sacrifices sometimes required of parents. Parents that have substance abuse issues might be more likely to make bad parenting choices.
A lack of parenting skills can be manifested in different ways for different people. Physical abuse shows a lack of coping skills on the parent's part. Exposing children to violent, illegal or sexual behavior shows lack of insight into appropriate parenting. Excessive criticism or demeaning children are signs of having poor parenting skills.
Crimes committed by juveniles have been linked to illegal adult activity, reports the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Violent crimes committed by kids account for 15 percent of all violent crimes. Children raised by those who have a lack of parenting skills are more likely to make poor decisions with their own children later on, since they did not have good role models.
Solutions for America recommends parents seek out support and parenting classes, particularly at times of transition within the family--for example, when a new child is born, during a divorce or re-marriage, and during the teen years. Programs to help at-risk children, such as the Head Start preschool program, can assist parents and children.
Fixing the Problem
Parents with drug or alcohol addictions can benefit from treatment for these issues. Support groups and parenting classes can help parents improve parenting skills. If financially possible, therapy can help parents work through the issues that cause lack of parenting skills.
- XiXinXing/XiXinXing/Getty Images


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Design, manage, and deploy your Puppet architecture with the help of real-world scenarios
In Detail
Puppet has changed the way we manage our systems, but Puppet itself is changing and evolving, as are the ways in which we use it.
A clear, updated, practical, and focused view of the current state of the technology and the evolution of Puppet is what we need to tackle our IT infrastructure challenges and avoid common errors when designing our architectures.
This is a detailed, practical book that covers the different components of the Puppet ecosystem and explores how to use them to deploy and manage different kinds of IT infrastructures.
Updated with the most recent trends and best practices, this book gives you a clear view on how to "connect the dots" and expands your understanding to successfully use and extend Puppet.
What You Will Learn
Downloading the example code for this book. You can download the example code files for all Packt books you have purchased from your account at http://www.PacktPub.com. If you purchased this book elsewhere, you can visit http://www.PacktPub.com/support and register to have the files e-mailed directly to you.


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Language, Literacy, & Communication
Confidence in the ability to communicate effectively empowers children to approach new milestones in social and emotional learning with ease. Similarly, children who love reading from the start approach lifelong learning eagerly and confidently. Language, communication & literacy development unfold simultaneously and benefit tremendously from a nurturing early learning environment - beginning in infancy and transitioning smoothly from toddlers to twos and preschool to prekindergarten so that by the time children reach kindergarten, not only do they grasp the fundamentals of reading, phonetics, writing and spelling, but they also have established a love of stories, books, and learning in general.
Teaching infants as young as four months to communicate basic feelings and needs through infant sign language combines language and fine motor development. This process begins with adults modeling associations between words, concepts, and gestures until babies' motor skills are strong enough to express their needs for themselves. Sign language gives infants a tool to communicate effectively without frustration - aiding in long-term emotional, verbal, and cognitive development. Learning to sign prior to speech can accelerate verbal development as babies learn and practice word associations at an earlier age.
Toddlerhood is a great time to begin actively promoting early literacy when children are progressing from communication through gestures to using one, two, and then eventually three word sentences. Language development typically takes off around 18 months. By age two, children have learned between 100-1,000 words and are actively experimenting with plurals and tenses. Providing children with consistent and engaging stimulation at this age will help ignite their vocabulary development as their curiosities are piqued about fun and engaging activities and topics.
Twos are able to comprehend most of the language that they hear, and they are developing an awareness of print. In terms of their own verbal development, their vocabulary and language explodes from two word sentences to six or more word sentences by the time they are three, and they begin to use pronouns appropriately. During this year, children's natural love of inquiry takes root; they are eager to learn as much as they possibly can, learning new words and expressing themselves in new ways more every day. A classroom environment helps two-year-olds make the most of this natural curiosity by guiding and building on their interests with lesson plans and activities tailored to this unique stage in language and literacy development.
Between three and four, children begin to notice print more and more every day. They begin to realize that letters make words and want to know the meaning of every word they see. They are experimenting with writing letters and are very excited to write familiar names and words. They speak in full sentences the majority of the time and can carry on a conversation for at least two turns, and their vocabulary expands to over 500 words. Their love of books expands with their growing attention span, and now they are able to sit for longer stories as well as remember and understand more complex books.
Promoting literacy in prekindergarten builds upon the natural curiosities of students when the complexity of their speech, conversations, writing, and storytelling are evolving immensely. Pre-K students share their experiences through language and creative expression, whether it be about their day at school or a memory that inspires them. Teachers can use this as an opportunity to incorporate literacy initiatiaves wherever possible. Surrounding students with words and letters in the classroom and practicing writing daily helps students to eventually recognize sight words and develop enthusiasm about literacy and language expression before kindergarten.