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Automated XTT Assay for Cell Viability Analysis
Michael Kowalski, Staff Applications Scientist | Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Indianapolis, IN USA
Cellular viability assays are valuable for numerous workflows—from establishing proliferation rates to drug toxicity screens. XTT assays are a simple way of determining the number of viable cells; however, a reliable assay requiresa standard curve of cell dilutions and optimized incubation times. Automation of the cell dilution and plating, reagent addition, and analysis can enhance the consistency of these steps while also minimizing the resources required for higher throughput screens.
The XTT assay1 is a simple way of quantifying relative cell densities to determine the growth rate of cells or the sensitivity to toxic compounds or other cellular treatments. Cell numbers are measured by absorbance as the XTT reagent undergoes a color change upon reduction within the electron transport chain of viable cells. The rate of this coloration is proportional to the number of viable cells in a well and the intensity of coloration increases over time. Because of this, optimal incubation times must be determined for a given range of cell numbers. While the assay is simple to execute (add, incubate and read), challenges arise when requiring higher throughputs, multiple time points and/or consistent timing across multiple plates. Automating the sample preparation, incubation and analysis of XTT assays, as well as upstream steps such as cell plating and treatment, can help overcome these challenges.
Automated Solution
Biomek Workstations provide flexible automation solutions to accommodate a variety of workflows and throughputs. Pipetting tools can vary from single to 96 channels across the platforms, and transfer steps can be customized with features such as tip touches or mixing. Configurable deck layouts and the ability to integrate additional devices also increase the utility of the system. To automate the XTT and other absorbance assays, the EMax® Plus Microplate Reader from Molecular Devices, LLC was integrated to the deck of the Biomek NXP Span-8 Workstation. The Biomek Workstation automated the serial dilution and plating of cells, the XTT reagent addition and the reading of the plates on the EMax® Plus Microplate Reader. The reader is controlled through a step in the Biomek method that runs the selected analysis protocol in the SoftMax® Pro (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Automated XTT cell viability assay. Screen capture showing a Biomek method that serially dilutes and plates cells, adds activated XTT reagent, and analyzes absorbance at three time points using an integrated EMax® Plus Microplate Reader. The "SoftmaxPro" step allows the user to select a predefined SoftMax® Pro protocol to control the plate analysis. The entire workflow can be automated without intervention through the integration of a humidified 5% CO2 incubator.
While the automation of all components of the assay can improve assay consistency, the workflow for this and other cellular assays are further enabled by integrating additional components to the Biomek Workstation. A sterile environment for automated cell manipulations can be achieved through the use of a HEPA-filtered enclosure, and the integration of an incubator allows for automation of a complete screening workflow—from cell plating and treatment to preparation and analysis. Assays that require incubations can be tightly controlled with scheduling software to ensure that each plate receives identical incubation times following reagent addition—a necessity for comparing results across plates. In addition, the reduction in user interventions improves data integrity by reducing the opportunity for errors while also freeing up resources, particularly as throughput increases.
We utilized the XTT Cell Proliferation Assay Kit (ATCC) to assay HCT 116 cell viability. Cells were trypsinized, counted on a Vi-CELL XR Cell Viability Analyzer and resuspended to a concentration of 200,000 cells/mL. This cell suspension was added to one well of a deep well plate and the Biomek NXP Workstation was used to serially dilute and plate 100 μL of cells in triplicate in a 96-well tissue culture plate (Figure 2). Cells were placed in humidified 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C for 24 hours.
Figure 2. Images of HCT 116 cells following automated dilution and plating. A starting solution of 200,000 cells/mL was added to the Biomek NXP and serially diluted. 100 μL of cells were plated in triplicate and assayed by XTT addition after 24 hours.
The following day, the Biomek Workstation was used to add 100 μL activated XTT reagent to the wells and gently mix the plate by shaking before it was returned to the incubator. The plate was manually returned to the Biomek Workstation and read on the EMax® Plus Microplate Reader every hour for three hours. Well absorbance was measured at 492 nm as well as at 650 nm to assess nonspecific absorbance. One of the advantages of the XTT assay is that the signal increases over time, allowing for wells to be assayed at multiple times to expand the dynamic range of the assay.
Figure 3A (see next page) shows the assay results at one hour, which allows the linear range of the standard curve to extend to the high-end of 20,000 cells/well. Figure 3B (see next page) shows the assay results at three hours, which can better detect differences at the lower cell numbers. Both curves show excellent linearity (R2 of 0.978 and 0.994 respectively), and the R2 value for the one hour curve improves to 0.997 if the 20,000 cell value is removed, suggesting the reagent may be saturated or the well did not provide for a full doubling of the plated cells at this higher concentration. These data indicate this automated XTT assay would provide reliable quantification of viable cells to determine proliferation curves or compound sensitivity. In addition, the coefficients of variation (CVs) were at or below 13% for all triplicate wells. For a biological assay that includes the variability in cell and reagent addition, cell proliferation and metabolism and the analyzer itself, these CV values indicate the automated preparation of these steps is highly consistent.
Figure 3. XTT absorbance curves after one-hour (3A) and three-hour (3B) incubations. Excellent linearity (R2 values) indicates the curves provide a reliable standard for unknown samples in a proliferation assay or compound screen. The 20,000 cell data at one hour suggest a plateauing of the curve, indicating a shorter incubation time would be recommended for these cell numbers.
The simplicity of the XTT assay, with a single reagent addition, lends itself to high throughput applications.
As a 96-well plate can be processed and read in less than 10 minutes on the Biomek NXP Workstation, the main impediment to increasing throughput is the manual transfer to and from the incubator. By utilizing an integrated incubator and scheduling software, this assay can easily process numerous plates while maintaining tight controls on incubation timing. The automation of this complete process also frees up resources from these time-consuming and tedious responsibilities.
This work provides a demonstration of the utility of the Biomek NXP Workstation to automate XTT cell viability assays through integration of an EMax® Plus Microplate Reader. The automated system was able to automate all steps of the workflow – from cell dilution and plating to reagent addition and analysis. Low CVs and high standard curve linearity highlight the consistency of these steps and integration of an incubator would further free scientists from the bench by providing a complete walkaway solution for the entire workflow.
1. Scudiero DA, et. al. (1988). Evaluation of a soluble tetrazolium/formazan assay for cell growth and drug sensitivity in culture using human and other tumor cell lines. Cancer Res. 48(17): 4827-33.
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News & Noteworthy
In U.S. Accu-Measurements v. Ruby Tuesday, Inc., ("USAM"), 2014 WL 197878 (D.N.J. Jan. 14, 2014), the Court lucidly explained a number of recurring contract issues: (1) quantum meruit as a substitute for a 'straight' contract claim; (2) the interplay of such an issue with the covenant of good faith; and (3) the availability of punitive damages (or alternatively, similar evidence) in a contract claim. The Court held as follows:
1. (a) Punitive damages are presumptively not available for a contract claim that does not allege a fiduciary relationship or aggravated facts. The Court focused more on the special relationship than the potentially egregious facts; and it does appear that an argument could have been made in USAM that the facts were egregious.
(b) Perhaps implicitly recognizing this, the Court indicated that its ruling striking punitive damages was "provisional", in the sense that more evidence might develop on the issue; but explained that that Court's ruling should not be an impediment to the progress of the case, because the Court felt that any triable punitive damages issue should (in any event) be tried separately only after a plaintiffs compensatory-damage verdict might come in.
(c) Apart from the failure to focus on the egregiousness of the facts--whether they were tantamount to a tort--the Court's solutions are interesting: allowing the case to proceed without prejudice to the substantive issue eventually being raised, but with the knowledge that the Court felt the facts probably did not present a triable issue on punitive damages.
(d) The Court emphasized this practical approach by indicating: "much evidence relevant to punitive damages would also be relevant to show a contractual breach1 or ordinary damages. Such dual-purpose evidence is not excluded by this ruling [provisionally striking punitive damages]."
2. Unjust enrichment and contract breach may be pleaded alternatively--and even submitted to the jury alternatively.
3. (a) Quantum meruit (or any other contract-substitute or quasi-contractual claim) cannot be applied when an express contract exists concerning the identical subject matter--although, as refined by the USAM Court, this means that the precise subject must be covered by express contractual language in order for the contract-substitute claim to be out of bounds.
(b) Thus, for example, in the contract at issue in USAM, there was an auditing-services component which recited a specific consideration. Ostensibly, quantum meruit could not substitute for that formula--except that quantum meruit could apply in one of two circumstances, according to the Court:
i. If there were additional services not covered by the express language of the agreement, even if related to its subject matter; or
ii. If the contingent benefits upon which payments were premised were in effect achieved through a more global settlement (as discussed in USAM), then quantum meruit might apply. This is because a benefit would have been conferred based on a usage of the work product (called for in the contract) that was not precisely the type of usage expressed in the contract, but consistent with its sprit and intent (to paraphrase the Court).
(c) These formulations arguably have a logical and precedential grounding; but present a slippery slope, since the contract could have expressly provided for compensation in these 'other circumstances'--but didn't.
4. The conduct in question, whether intentional or possibly not2, nonetheless could constitute a breach of the covenant of good faith. In other words, the plaintiff's work product might have been utilized to achieve a pecuniary benefit that either intentionally or knowingly3 encompassed the kind of benefits intended--albeit in a more indirect fashion, by way of cancelling the leases rather than reducing the payments in question. The Court held that this could also be a breach of the contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
The Court again agreed that these issues should be kept open until the end of the case; to the extent of its ruling being 'without prejudice' (paraphrase) until the trial concluded.
USAM provides us with an interesting insight into a Court intending to weave contract principles into what it felt was the most equitable decision, both substantively and procedurally. The Opinion is worth consulting
Contact & Legal Disclaimer
Clark Alpert is the author of Guide to New Jersey Contract Law, published by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and now in its third edition. His updates on New Jersey contract law are based on recent issues and practical methods for addressing similar situations in your practice or business. They are not intended to serve as legal advice. Clark welcomes your questions and comments.
1 Which, as it turns out--further along in the Opinion--included potential breach of the covenant of good faith.
2 If intentional, thus rising to or near the level of a tort; bringing us back to the punitive damages question--or even the possible pleading of a tort claim.
3 Or--perhaps/arguably--having no scheme in mind, but being unwilling to compensate once the benefit became apparent.
Windels Marx helps you harness opportunity and mitigate risk with a team that provides your business with the service, quality and value essential to a trusted relationship.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Thomas Mayer Thomas Mayer is a designer and manufacturer of Vinyl Savor Amplifiers and Elrog vacuum tubes. The amplifiers are hand built in Germany. Please call to discuss these amplifiers if you are interested as there are several options available for some of the models. The ultimate purpose is to be able to reproduce 'genuine music' and not to simply highlight details within an unrealistic soundstage image. In order to achieve this, I have spent over 20 years developing high-end amplification, including preamplifiers and power amplifiers alike within the truly balanced format, with continued improvements and redesigns in order to present some truly outstanding musical products. Simply the best HiFi money can buy Imperial HiFi, 25 High Street, Hampton Wick, Greater London KT1 4DA 0208 9779996 Visit our showroom We offer a full demonstration at our Hampton Wick showroom. Contact us here


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Stay Updated
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Recent Articles
HR's Post-Open Enrollment Checklist for the New Year
With open enrollment in (or almost in) the rear-view mirror, it may seem like a good time to sit back and relax before the new year ramps up. You've sent all of the necessary files to your carrier, and your employees have their ID cards in hand, but the process isn't over just yet. Seasoned HR professionals know that the end of open enrollment is a critical time to get your benefits strategy in order before the new year.
What Makes for a Good Employee Goal?
How cool would it be if every time an employee goal was met, an enormous cry of "GOOOAAALLL!" erupted through the office? Unfortunately, our offices aren't stadiums, and not all goals are winners. Goals can be useless to employees—not because they're poor workers, but because the goals themselves are poorly designed.
Are You Promoting for the Right Reasons?
Promotions are an upgrade for everyone in your organization—when done right. They're excellent employee encouragement, the kind that really makes people stick around. They're also a symbol of upward mobility to all workers. Finally, they save you money on an external hire, both in hiring costs and salary (external hires are paid about 18-20% more than internal workers for the same job).
Q&A with Nick Sanchez, Namely's Chief People Officer
Nick Sanchez, the new Chief People Officer at Namely, found an introduction to the power of human resources in a place you might not expect—the Olive Garden Restaurant. During his time studying at UCLA and working there, it was the first time he truly understood that working conditions, career mobility, perks, and so much more were largely influenced by the restaurant's leaders and HR team. "This was my true introduction to the concepts of occupational psychology and HR," he says.
2016 Is the Year of HR Compliance—Here's Why
It's undeniable: this year is shaping up to be one of the most groundbreaking—even tumultuous—years for new workplace legislation in recent memory. While it feels like there may be too many new laws to count, Namely's new report, The Pro-Employee Tide: Trends in HR Compliance, collects original research and commentary on the four most important HR compliance trends for professionals to keep abreast of this year, featuring analysis from Namely's new VP, Legal & Compliance, Manuel Martinez-Herrera.
How CSD & Namely Are Making Work Better for the Deaf
Many organizations and HR departments consider "diversity and inclusion" a point of improvement in their own workforces—a pillar of strategic HR to be improved and achieved. And then some organizations have diversity and inclusion built right into their products and services, and therefore the DNA of their org.
Our Favorite Moments from #SHRM16
It was an amazing week for the Namely team out in Washington D.C. at this year's SHRM Annual Conference! A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth—including our clients for chatting about why they love Namely—plus all of the great conference speakers for presenting another excellent year of content.
How TSheets Empowered Culture With HR Tech
It's tricky to describe the company culture at TSheets—the fast-growing time tracking software startup—because frankly, it's pretty unique. The company, now over 120 employees, has doubled business for each of the past three years—but that's where the Silicon Valley stereotype starts to fade. TSheets is based in the heart of Idaho, and a can of PBR labeled with the TSheets company values awaits every new hire. They're a tech company with high software standards—who also enjoy heading out to see professional bull riding.
The Key to Employee Engagement Is Easier Than You Think
Brace yourself: It's time to discuss one theme in human resources that causes many to shudder—if not from anxiety than perhaps sheer buzzwordyness. Employee engagement.
Inside Namely's First Hackathon: The Winners
This spring, Namely held one of its most exciting company events ever: our very first hackathon, Engage Namely. For 24 hours, 17 teams—each featuring members across all Namely departments—collaborated in a product designing blitz to create our next brand new HR tech tool or feature enhancement.
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|Another view of the unsmiling face!
|It's a lovely but cold day here and we went out to the paddocks to see if the boys had finished their sugar beet. Looks like they've been there and eaten it all and only the bowls remain!
|Gully in front with Gaucho (left) and Faro behind. Behind them lies the veg garden, almost ready for the first dig over before Spring. A dusting of snow appeared over the hills again last night, so it is pretty 'nippy' today.
|The grass is well cropped at the moment but the boys seem to like that. They will spend hours nibbling away at nothing it seems, but they can obviously get at small shoots and blades of grass.
|And finally..........I couldn't resist putting up another photo of Gully with his inquisitive look - and the usual piece of moss sticking out of his mouth!


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Work on the spawning tables and new sanctums is going well! About 2/3rd the way done. Probably going slower than people might expect, but inserting around 20 new characters throughout the entire Tower is effectively a revamp of all the spawning tables in the entire game.
Fun note on the addition of 2 new sanctums: that will mean that a full clear of the Tower now has 1 more floor than before, so Demon will be a slightly longer game.
Some other fun quirks to shake out of the encounter table revamp so far:
- Many sanctums / side-dungeons have more rare encounters than before. (This doesn't mean you're more likely to get rare encounters in a given area, it just means that when you do get one, it will be selected from a larger pool.)
- Turdak's Sanctum, which for some reason was on average *easier* than a typical Tower floor, has been brought back in line with the difficulty you should expect from a Sanctum. Gone are the days of running into packs of fodder demons. It also now has rare spawns, which were for some reason completely absent from its table!
- Some truly nasty groups were able to be formed with some of the new demons. Nobody is going to like Mandrake groups… at least, not until they make their own perhaps.


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1 Samuel 23:1 Then they told Dauid, saying, Beholde, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floores. 1 Samuel 23:2 Therefore Dauid enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said vnto Dauid, Goe, and smite the Philistines, and saue Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:3 And Dauids men said vnto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Iudah: how much more then if wee come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 1 Samuel 23:4 Then Dauid enquired of the LORD yet againe: And the LORD answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliuer the Philistines into thine hand. 1 Samuel 23:5 So Dauid and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistins, and brought away their cattell, and smote them with a great slaughter: so Dauid saued the inhabitants of Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:6 And it came to passe when Abiathar the sonne of Ahimelech fled to Dauid to Keilah, [that] hee came downe [with] an Ephod in his hand.
1 Samuel 23:7 And it was told Saul that Dauid was come to Keilah: and Saul said, God hath deliuered him into mine hand: for he is shut in, by entring into a towne that hath gates and barres. 1 Samuel 23:8 And Saul called all the people together to warre, to goe downe to Keilah, to besiege Dauid, and his men.
1 Samuel 23:9 And Dauid knewe that Saul secretly practised mischiefe against him, and hee said to Abiathar the Priest, Bring hither the Ephod. 1 Samuel 23:10 Then saide Dauid, O LORD God of Israel, thy seruant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the citie for my sake. 1 Samuel 23:11 Will the men of Keilah deliuer me vp into his hande? will Saul come downe, as thy seruant hath heard, O LORD God of Israel? I beseech thee tell thy seruant. And the LORD said, He will come downe. 1 Samuel 23:12 Then said Dauid, Will the men of Keilah deliuer me, and my men, into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliuer thee vp.
1 Samuel 23:13 Then Dauid and his men, [which were] about sixe hundred, arose, and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoeuer they could goe: and it was told Saul that Dauid was escaped from Keilah, and hee forbare to goe foorth.
1 Samuel 23:14 And Dauid abode in the wildernesse in strong holds, and remained in a mountaine in the wildernes of Ziph: and Saul sought him euery day, but God deliuered him not into his hand. 1 Samuel 23:15 And Dauid saw that Saul was come out to seeke his life: and Dauid [was] in the wildernes of Ziph in a wood.
1 Samuel 23:16 And Ionathan Sauls sonne arose, & went to Dauid into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 1 Samuel 23:17 And he said vnto him, Feare not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not finde thee, and thou shalt be king ouer Israel, and I shall be next vnto thee: and that also Saul my father knoweth. 1 Samuel 23:18 And they two made a couenant before the LORD: and Dauid abode in the wood, and Ionathan went to his house.
1 Samuel 23:19 Then came vp the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not Dauid hide himselfe with vs in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] on the South of Ieshimon? 1 Samuel 23:20 Now therefore, O king, come downe according to all the desire of thy soule to come downe, and our part shall be to deliuer him into the kings hand. 1 Samuel 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed [be] yee of the LORD, for yee haue compassion on me. 1 Samuel 23:22 Goe, I pray you, prepare yet, and know, and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who hath seene him there: for it is told mee that he dealeth very subtilly. 1 Samuel 23:23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himselfe, and come ye againe to me with the certainty, and I will goe with you: and it shall come to passe, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Iudah. 1 Samuel 23:24 And they arose, & went to Ziph before Saul: but Dauid and his men [were] in the wildernesse of Maon, in the plaine on the South of Ieshimon.
1 Samuel 23:25 Saul also and his men went to seeke [him], and they told Dauid: wherefore he came downe into a rocke, and abode in the wildernesse of Maon: and when Saul heard that, he pursued after Dauid in the wildernes of Maon. 1 Samuel 23:26 And Saul went on this side of the mountaine, and Dauid and his men on that side of the mountaine: and Dauid made haste to get away for feare of Saul: for Saul and his men compassed Dauid and his men round about to take them.
1 Samuel 23:27 But there came a messenger vnto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come: for the Philistines haue inuaded the land. 1 Samuel 23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after Dauid, & went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-Hammahlekoth.
1 Samuel 23:29 And Dauid went vp from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.


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Everyone loves a Friday. Knocking off early, heading down the pub, a whole weekend to yourself, can't beat it!
And, well, these three tradesmen certainly got in that Friday Feeling mood when they hit the streets of Birmingham. Check them out:
Created as an On The Tools original piece, this weird dance video certainly went down well with our audience. Looks like everyone has that Friday feeling!
Not ready to leave the site yet though? Want to watch more of our videos? Well then head over to our videos category, or check out the On The Tools video of the week now.


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The state of sync in web apps is that sync sucks. GTalk loses messages inbetween desktop and mobile. Apple iCloud can't merge back document replicas if those were edited concurrently. Google Docs needs some ungodly chemistry to resync after working offline. These are SNAFUs I personally experienced and I have also heard other folks complaining about Evernote, Skype, Dropbox, you name it.
Skipping collaborative apps, these days even a single user needs to sync his/her devices (see continuity). The device landscape is getting predominantly mobile, so an average user has multiple powerful devices with unreliable internet connections.
Popular solutions suck for one simple reason: common sense fails us in distributed systems. Proper sync needs some math like a GPS device needs some relativity formulas. Yes, that is just a box that says your x and y. No, it can't work by common sense alone; it needs math.
In 2013, we released the 0.1 version of Swarm, which was, basically, some slap-together per-column last-write-wins solution, like Firebase and many others are using. We already had the experience of implementing a real-time collaborative editor and we knew that LWW was not enough. So we reimplemented Swarm from scratch (twice) to have proper op-based CRDT as its base.
The result was like magic.
TodoMVC: real-time + offline, the holiest grail
Switching from theory to practice, we decided to approach the standard TodoMVC app a bit more creatively to showcase all the interesting capabilities. Actually, the first Swarm+React TodoMVC was created by Andrey Popp on 15 July 2014, but that one was not idiomatic. The new demo can:
- synchronize in real-time (WebSocket),
- cache data at the client (WebStorage),
- load and work completely offline (Application Cache).
Importantly, it employs a linear CRDT collection (Vector). That is different from both Swarm v0.1 and the July demo which used a set-sorting hack to make collections sort-of linear (same as Firebase). That is particularly important because serious approach to collaborative editing requires advanced linear collections (text is linear).
The app employs Swarm models and React views. It is important to notice that the code is written like it is a local MVC app. The only network-aware call in client-side code is connect() which "plugs" the model into the server's sync "outlet". Later on, all the sync is done by Swarm in the background; update events are delivered to views using the popular on()/off() subscription pattern, and even that is hidden inside ReactMixin.
The app is optimized for instant load using the Holy Grail approach. All the views, models and even the router are shared between client and server. The server-side code prerenders React views so the browser gets static HTML (fast). The page is made live once scripts and data arrive (slower). Holy Grail is critical, considering that React.js is rather heavy. The resulting page load latency is quite close to RTT.
Another interesting part is offline work. Swarm is able of caching all the data in the browser's local storage. Thanks to CRDT merge features, the app may work offline and synchronize to the server on reconnect. That relieves the developer from the necessity to workaround temporary network failures. Swarm syncs the entire chain of replicas: back-end storage to server-side objects to client-side objects to browser storage. Every step of that chain may fail - because of server restarts, intermittent connections or simply a user closing his/her laptop. All such interruptions are solved by the unified syncing protocol that re-syncs data on re-connection. Just for comparison, Meteor's DDP lacks such versioning/resync features, which fact essentially turned it into yet-another rediscovery of RPC API.
Thanks to HTML5 Application Cache, the app essentially installs itself into the browser, so you may load and run it entirely offline. Thanks to CRDT, it can always resync later. Actually, it is often hard to tell whether the app is online or not. That provides some native-like app experience, except maybe for the fps aspect.
One more fine detail that is easy to miss. The app is able to sync by multiple channels at once. While other users and browsers are synced through the server, browser tabs sync by WebStorage events.
To explore the app's collaborative features, please send the exact page link to your friend or open it in another browser.
What is the big picture?
Essentially, Swarm is a data event bus shared between client and server. We think that such a data/event bus will become a standard component of the stack, very much like a database is today. Such a bus does a great deal of work to overcome friction in distributed systems, especially as the client becomes a full-featured part of it. Our idea is not entirely new; see e.g. Apache Kafka. The new part is to extend that bus to the client using CRDT.
I remember the times when my fellow developers were leery of the CVS optimistic model. Back then, relativism of git was entirely unthinkable. On hearing of CRDTs, folks often ask about ACID which, most likely, they don't actually need. We believe that real-time sync middleware will have a transformative effect on the domain of web/mobile app development. That effect would be comparable to the one TCP had on internetworking, containerization had on international logistics or git on version control systems. To arrive at the destination, we need to solve many difficult issues, like access control (more on that later) and reasonable consistency guarantees.
Once you have this kind of platform-level sync, features of user collaboration and continuity come virtually for free and server-side scaling becomes easy and robust.
So, feel free to play with the app, check it out on GitHub, try the lib and subscribe to our twitter account.


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We provide services through 3 major types in printing industry (digital, large format and Offset). There is no longer secret, we like to PRINT…books, brochures, banner etc. Simply name it we print it. We create marketing tools which commensurate with the current fast-moving market.
In business world, we understand delivering top quality printing that matches needs – at the right time and at the right price.


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The Road Safety Engineering Toolkit is a reference tool for road engineering practitioners in state and local governments. It outlines best-practice, low cost, high return road environment measures to achieve a reduction in road trauma.
The Toolkit seeks to reduce the severity and frequency of crashes involving road environment factors. It draws together existing road safety engineering knowledge as far as possible into one Toolkit for easy access by practitioners. The presented knowledge has been updated with recent experience from local and state government agencies, and with the results of comprehensive road safety research reviews.
The information included in the Toolkit is based on extensive research into the effectiveness of crash countermeasures. Nonetheless, the Toolkit is not a replacement for sound engineering judgement or good design. In-depth investigation is required at locations which have a crash history or high crash risk to identify causes or potential causes of crashes. If necessary, seek professional advice from practitioners specialising in road safety engineering.
Note: the Toolkit was last updated in 2015. A project is underway to review Austroads' online road safety tools.


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Greetings from beyond the Jam - An Obscuria Postmortem
This was my first game jam and what an experience it was. The sheer mind bottling force of trying to create just a playable prototype from scratch in 48hrs is incredible in so many ways its almost indescribable... but here it goes.
- obscuria
- postmortem
- Jman's blog
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- Read more
Obscuria Post-Mortem
Rough Post-Mortem for GGJ10 - Project Name: Obscuria
Having just completed my first 48 hours game design/development jam, I must record my initial thoughts and impressions before passing out for many hours. This was more of a Survival Endless mini game... not our project , but the daunting task of focusing/refocusing/innovating/debugging/coordinating/communicating/simplifying/ designing . Never have I crunched so much and produced such a collaborative, useful, working design AND had a lot fun while sustaining the torture! Simply surviving the 48 hours of mind olympics coupled with eye strain and fatigue is a victory.
OBSCURIA theme: Deception contraints: Rain, A Plain, in Spain
After simplifying a few basic designs revolving around the themes of painting/color/camouflage/rain/surrealism, we started to tackle the technology. As Justin and I both had some recent Flash/Flex experience, we thought we could bang out a quick bird's eye view, keyboard controlled flex app. After the rest of the team spent the first night prototyping different ideas, I officially joined around noon on Saturday (27 hours to go!). We set up an svn repository and taught our artists how to export flex components from flash (from photoshop from sketchbook from brain). Once that was up and running and we started hashing out basic code structures and functions, and from there 20+ straight hours of jamming. a few notes:
- 48 hours
- actionscript
- flash
- flex
- ggj10
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- One Life Left -- s20e21 -- #406 -- Distracted News


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The part of life I am not ready for
The past nine days of my life have been stressful and scary, to say the very least. I'm just now coming down off of my stress high, and I'm looking forward to a week of my normal routine and getting my life back on schedule.
My stepmother called last Saturday night to let me know that my father had suffered a mild heart attack. Apparently, he had been having telltale signs for a couple of days - the aching of the arm, the pressure on the chest - and he finally gave in to her nagging and agreed to go to the doctor. He was starting to get scared, I guess. While he didn't have a sudden attack, blood tests revealed that a heart attack had occurred, and the doctors checked him into the hopsital in New Bern and scheduled a cardio catheterization for him two days later on Monday. We all felt lucky that he hadn't had a major attack up to this point, and we felt optimistic about the what the catheterization would show.
The results of the catheterization showed that dad had three blocked arteries, and the doctors were recommending triple-bypass surgery. They scheduled him for Wednesday morning, and my fears were kicking into high gear when I heard this. I was overcome by the emotion of possibly losing my dad.
Let me just say that parental mortality sucks. Suddenly, the realization that my parents won't be alive forever - even though I have known this as long as I have known that death is a part of life - was right there in my face. I was now very anxious to visit with Dad and spend some time with him. I also volunteered myself to go to the beach and work at the Big Oak, figuring anything I could do to decrease his worrying and stress about the restaurant's operations over a holiday weekend would be a good thing and hopefully would ease his mind. My sister offered me a place to spend the night - she lives 45 minutes away in New Bern - and I agreed. We didn't want to put any additional stress on my stepmother while she took care of my dad after the surgery, and this was a good chance for us to be sisters to one another, which is a rare thing in itself.
I drove to New Bern on Tuesday to visit with my father, and I decided I would return the following day to wait with my family as Dad's triple bypass was performed. My sister and my stepmother and my uncles and a long-time friend of my father's were all there on Wednesday. Family becomes clearly defined in moments of uncertainty, and I felt hopeful that perhaps we weren't as fractured as sometimes it seems that we are. It was good to talk and visit with my uncles and feel that underlying family tie and connection to Dad.
Within two hours, Dad's nurse came into the waiting room to tell us that the bypass had been successful, and the doctors were now finishing up the operation. I breathed a sigh of relief, as my worst fear of something going wrong during the surgery had just been overcome. Just a couple of hours later, my sister and I were able to go into the ICU and see Dad. He was in a sedated sleep state, but we could touch him and talk to him and see that his color had returned and his lips were rosy. He looked fantastic to me, considering what he had just been through. After talking to my stepmother a bit more, I left the hospital and returned to Raleigh with a lot of relief.
I worked Thursday and was off of work on Friday (the College was closed), so I was able to do laundry and clean up around the house and prepare for my weekend of working. Jon and I left around 7 a.m. Saturday and headed to the coast. On the way, we stopped by the hopsital to see my father, and he was doing extremely well. It was good to see him and talk to him about everything, and my spirit was renewed.
I worked 12 hours this weekend - certainly not a lot but definitely more than I'm used to working on weekends. It was continuous and steady (and hot and greasy) work, and after 12 hours of filling orders of shrimpburgers and cheeseburgers and fries and drinks, I was ready to return home. When I did get home, I learned that Dad had been dicharged from the hospital and was finally back at home himself. It's great to see him making such terrific progress.
If I ever needed motivation to keep on track with my diet and exercise, I certainly have it now. I also hope that my Dad will take his second chance and do the things he needs to do to keep himself healthy. While parental mortality is inevitable, I'd like to keep him around as long as possible. There are some things I'm not ready to deal with just yet.


text: It's not official but that image above sure as hell looks like an official AT&T training document. AT&T already announced that it would carry the Samsung Galaxy Tab but has been coy with details about launch date, pricing, and custom apps. Now, if the screengrab above can be believed, we know that it'll hit AT&T shops on November 21st for a "HQ recommended" price of $649.99 without contract and featuring the same data plans (250MB for $14.99 per month or 2GB for $25 per month) AT&T offers alongside its $629 16GB WiFi + 3G iPad offering. Right, that's 20 bucks and change more for half the display and $50 more than the base price of T-Mobile's or Verizon's Galaxy Tab offering. Of course, AT&T will preinstall the Nook eReader and the AT&T Account Manager app for on-device activation and monthly credit refills. Not sure that's worth the premium though. Hold tight to see how this plays out as we should see an official pricing and launch date announcement any day now.%Gallery-107189%\n[Thanks, tipster]


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Maggiano's Italian Restaurants Near 32217
Salute! Dine At Maggiano's Italian Restaurant Near 32217
Take a seat and enjoy a wholesome Italian meal at Maggiano's Little Italy. From season-fresh salads to classic pastas, we combine the flavors of Nonna's authentic Italian recipes with the joy of friends and family. Find your local Maggiano's Italian restaurant near 32217 today and reserve a table online or over the phone!
Maggiano's Banquet Halls:
The Perfect Place For Your Event
For Italian food near 32217 that doesn't disappoint, come to Maggiano's Little Italy. Make a reservation or stop by your nearest location for brunch, lunch, dinner, or a quick appetizer and drink at the bar. No matter the time of day or the size of your dining party, you'll be treated like a special guest at Maggiano's. At our table, everyone is family!
From scrumptious antipasto dishes to made-in-house desserts, we believe that the essence of Italian cooking is simplicity. Our chefs use only the freshest seasonal ingredients to bring out the rich, natural flavors at the heart of our handcrafted recipes. With vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, and classic Italian options, Maggiano's has a plate for every taste. Order a Chef-prepared pasta entree, refreshing salad, hearty soup, or cheesy flatbread and prepare yourself for an Italian treat, with an American twist!
Eating Italian style is about more than simply eating. It's about reconnecting with friends and family, unwinding after a tough day, and savoring each and every bite of food. It's always delicious, never rushed. At our restaurants, your next meal can be memorable, but so can your next event. With wonderfully decorated banquet halls and private dining rooms, plus an experienced, attentive staff to match, Maggiano's is the best party venue near 32217 for any sized group. Whether you're planning a bridal brunch, rehearsal dinner, or simply want a larger space for a birthday celebration or business meeting, let our Private Dining Managers make your next gathering easy, memorable, and above all—delicious!
Reserve your table online or call your nearest Maggiano's today and see how we're different from other nearby 32217 Italian restaurants. Experience something exceptional at Maggiano's!


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Most School Staff Victims Of Attacks At Work
Almost one in five experience violence every week, with more than half of the violence coming from children.
Shocking new figures from GMB show more than half of school support staff experience violence at work.
The disturbing statistics come from a nationwide survey of members, completed in time for GMB's 100th Congress, which starts in Plymouth today.
They survey also reveals that:
- 18% of support staff experience violence on a weekly basis
- 30% have been injured by violence at school
- 14% of incidents are not recorded, while in 22% of cases the victim doesn't know if it was recorded or not
- 57% of violence comes from pupils
Incidents highlighted in the study including members of staff being strangled, punched, kicked, having tables and chairs thrown at them and working in fear of violent gangs marauding the school corridors.
Some even suffered false allegations of abuse.
Effects cited by the victims include physical injury, stress, anxiety and depression.
One respondent, who asked not to be named, said:
"I was extremely shocked and frightened and feel emotionally exhausted.
"I am very worried this child will attempt to attack me again.
"I have said I don't want the child anywhere near me."
Another added:
"Heads and senior management should show that they are backing their staff by setting appropriate measures when a pupil shows signs of violence.
"Will it take a death before schools take notice?
"Maybe this is a factor why so many teachers leave the profession."
GMB, the union for school support staff, is determined to put a stop of the violence.
Karen Leonard, GMB National Officer, said:
"No one should have to put up with being attacked while at work – and our members are no different.
"The results of this survey make truly disturbing reading, with teaching assistants, caretakers, lunch time supervisors and more experiencing shocking levels of violence.
"Many are left with terrible mental and physical scars.
"GMB demands a zero tolerance approach to violence in schools – with proper, reliable support systems in place for those who do experience it.
Contact: GMB Press Office on 07958 156846 or at email@example.com
Notes to editors:
Contact the Press Office for a redacted version of the survey results


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Shop Hours
Stefan's is located in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore City between 41st Street and 36th Street.
Our Hours
Tues thru Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Sat: 9am – 4pm
We are Closed on Mondays and Sundays.
Online orders are open 24/7.
Our Address
3810 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21211


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October 09, 2018
October is many things! One of them is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month! So join me on Monday Oct 8th at 8pm for "Let's Talk About It"!! My guest will be Kim Paris @mskimparis Upshaw @mskimparis the Author of Sunshine & Daniel- Seeking Grace in Lost Motherhood. I will also be sharing my personal testimony.
If you have experienced this type of loss or know someone who has, you don't want to miss this show! Listen at www.iworship96.com/live or download the app! #iworship96fm #letstalkaboutit#lifeaftermiscarriage #silentwomensclub#pregnancyandinfantlossawareness
Featuring Music From:
1. Give Him Praise by Latia Johnson @iamlatiajohnson
2. The Power of His Name by Kim Paris @MsKimParis
3. He Lives in Me by Erek McFadden @erekmc_tpa


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Conservation and Development of The Niger Delta
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Conservation and Development of The Niger Delta
S. W. Petters
The Niger Delta of Nigeria is among the richest deltas in the world. Other major deltas are either famous for crude oil and natural gas (Amazon in Brazil, Orionoco in Venezuela, Mississippi in the U.S.A., Mahakarn in Indonesia) or grow mainly rice (e.g. Indus in Pakistan, Ganges in Bangladesh, Mekong in Vietnam).
The Niger Delta however has huge oil and gas reserves and ranks as the world's sixth largest exporter of crude oil and the second largest producer of palm oil, after Malaysia, which even obtained its palm seedlings from Nigeria.
Environmental conservation and economic development in the Niger Delta depend on the flow of federal funding and goodwill into the region, and on improved understanding of the delta, its petrole um occurrences and its peoples. But the historical background and human dimensions of the unrest in the Niger Delta have, hitherto, not been sufficiently highlighted in the search for lasting peace in the oil producing communities.
Since pre-colonial days, the Niger Delta has played a crucial role in the Nigerian economy. Its ports and rivers provided access for the British to penetrate the Nigerian hinterland; the gateway for the trade in slaves, and later export commodities such as palm produce, timber, rubber and even groundnut and cotton from the distant northern parts of Nigeria.
The potentates who ruled the Niger Delta city states and neighbouring kingdoms were also the sentinels that guarded the lucrative trade routes of the Niger Delta. They either received or resisted British mercantilism and imperialism. But through negotiations, the Europeans, principally the British secured the co-operation of the rulers of the Niger Delta city-states, who then became the middlemen in the slave and palm oil trade.
Participatory conti nuity is what their descendants in present-day petroleum-rich Niger Delta seem to be clamouring for. Whether for peaceful resolution of the unrest in the Niger Delta, or for environmental protection and development, the human factor has a crucial role to play.
The Niger Delta is also among the world's major wetlands; with one of the largest mangrove ecosystems. Environmental degradation, arising from total dependence of the rural population on unsustainable agriculture, fishing, forestry and wildlife exploitation, has seriously threatened the Niger Delta.
Land resource degradation, renew able resource depletion and oil pollution are now the irreversible consequences of prolonged dependence on the natural resources of the region by the indigenous population and the nation. But conservation must start with human con siderations before it can succeed. The social and political impact on the attitudes of the local people of centuries of exposure to colonial and national economic pressures should also be examined.
The following questions are pertinent for the Niger Delta: Are there any social dislocations; political alienation and discontent; and the erosion of tradi tional values along with environmental degrada tion? These questions are prompted by the serious unrests in the Niger Delta and the urgent need to restore peace and security.
Identifying the geographical extent and the component ethnic communities of the Niger delta region, a more appropriate term than the conven tional Niger Delta, is problematic. A geographical definition of the Delta is offered in Module 1.1 while a geological definition is provided in Module 3.1. Takena Tamuno, an authority on Nigerian history and an outstanding scholar from the region, stated that "linguistically, ethnographically, culturally, the Niger Delta of the pre-crude oil and gas era, com prised a bewildering mix of ethnic groups" among which "the communities of ljo (in eastern, western and central Niger Delta), the Ogoni, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, lkwerre and Delta lgbo hit more h'eadlines and covered electronic waves more than others." (Tamuno, 1999)
Furthermore, Tamuno pointed out that the Niger Delta comprised about 70,000 sq. km. This contrasts with the 1995 World bank Technical Report which gives the total land area of the Niger Delta as 20,000 sq. km. "located in south eastern Nigeria" (World Bank, 1995).
An even more restricted concept of the Niger Delta has, unfortunately, been espoused by the Niger Delta Environmental Survey (NDES), a non governmental organisation funded by the Oil Producers Trade Sector (OPTS) of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce. The NDES placed the limits of the Niger Delta at Aboh to the north, the Imo River estuary to the east, the Benin River lo the west, and down to Akassa and Nun River Estuary to the south.
The term "Niger Delta Oil Province" was intro duced at the 7th World Petroleum Congress in 1967 by Franki and Cordry for the region southward from Onitsha, Benin and Umuahia, where oil and gas occur in commercial quantities. This is the petrole um definition of the Niger Delta. But it must be emphasised that for development purposes it is the coastal, riverine parts of the Niger Delta that is problematic.
The definition of the Niger Delta can be likened to the proverbial elephant that was described in the fable about the seven blind men of Hindustan. Each blind man touched a different part of the elephant and described it differently. The his torian, the geographer, the petroleum geologist, the politician and even the fanners and the fishermen of the Niger Delta all perceive their delta differently.
But what is needed is a bird's-eye view of the entire Niger Delta region. The recent Niger Delta Development Bill equates the Niger Delta with the South-South geopolitical zone, comprising Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa lbom and Cross River States, to which neighbouring oil-producing parts of Ondo, Abia and Imo States must be added.
The Niger Delta has to be meaningfully and compre hensively defined to be useful to the people that live there, who are exposed to oil pollution and environ mental degradation, and have suffered from neglect and poor infrastructural development. It is perhaps equally instructive to view the Niger Delta from the perspectives of both human and natural history, in order to be able to trace the roots of the discontent in the Niger Delta region today.
Mankind has a past which we study as history. Similarly, nature has a past which is referred to as natural history. And since the Niger Delta is an inte gral aspect of nature, that is so paramount to Nigeria, it is pertinent to briefly examine it histori cally, just as we earlier considered the history of the Niger Delta peoples. From this, we shall appreciate how long it took for the delta to accumulate the petroleum resource we have been exploiting.
Apart from deepening our understanding of the enormous length of time - millions of years - it took for petrole um to form and accumulate, time and natural histo ry dimensions to natural resources management will engender greater sense of equity in the devel opment of the oil-producing communities.
Furthermore, what in nature may constitute an entity may not necessarily translate to a political or an economic unit. This paradox is exemplified by the Cross River Basin, a geographical entity by itself with a delta of its own. One of the areas where deltaic sands accumulated most rapidly over the past ten million years along the coast of southern Nigeria was the estuary and offshore region at the mouth of the Cross River. (Evamy et al., (1978) Re'ljers et al., (1997) have recognised a separate
A reopie unitea, A future Assured - volume i Cross River delta as extending from east of the Imo River into nearby Cameroun Republic, where it is to referred to as the Rio Del Rey basin. The entire easternmost part of the Nigeria oil-producing off o- shore region belongs to and was constructed as the Cross River delta, a process which was greatly accelerated by the rise of the Cameroun Mountain is some three million years ago. This uplift supplied enormous amount of deposits into the Cross River delta.
In spite of its distinctiveness geologically, and the fact that the Cross River delta is the most prolif in ic oil-producing area in the entire Niger Delta is region, the practice has, however, been to consider of the Cross River delta as a part of the Niger Delta ... in fact a sub-delta within it. Thus, although no petroleum discovery has been made in Cross River State, the river that courses through it and from of which the state derives its name has produced ly. enormous oil, condensate and gas accumulations in nearby states and in Cameroun.
Cross River State as a political entity can, as yet, be likened to the petroleum barren zones that lie between the giant oilfields in the Niger Delta shown in Fig. 2. The question then arises: Are these barren zones of that lie next to the oilfields not entitled to develop e ment as the rest of the oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta? For equity, a regional approach to the development of the Niger Delta will provide the most appropriate strategy and framework for mobil ct ising petroleum revenue into the region, specially M as the Niger Delta presents, in reality, a tale of two deltas.
in Petroleum occurrence in the Niger Delta does not comply with state or any other political bound aries. What then governs the distribution of oil fields? Essential though petroleum is to everyday as life, knowledge about the petroleum industry is rather poor, except among the highly skilled and to capable Nigerian labour force that operates this industry.
A salutary development is the fact that oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria is completely manned by Nigerians, with the foreign multinational corporations providing a small super irt visory and monitoring workforce, the size of which JS is strictly regulated by the Federal Government through its Department of Petroleum Resources.
This point is emphasised in order to underscore the fact that the expertise for petroleum, natural 31- resources and environmental conservation and development in the Niger Delta is available within in the country.
Furthermore, the main centres where the delta piled up the oil-and-gas bearing sands have shifted their positions over the past 50 million years during which the Niger delta has existed. Known as depo belts the thick piles of oil-bearing sands represent the coastal zones where the ancient River Niger and the Cross River entered the Gulf of Guinea.
Initially, the Gulf of Guinea itself extended as far as across Benin-City and received the sediments of the ancient Niger Delta, giving rise to what petroleum geologists refer to as the Northern Delta Depobelt, with many oilfields.
Then, the ancient coast shifted southward as the Gulf of Guinea had also retreated southward and stretched across Ughelli from east to west, with corresponding oilfields. Younger depobelts where the Gulf of Guinea paused in its southward retreat are today represented by the prolific oilfields in zones stretching across Warri; across Port Harcourt to Aba; and across Nembe (Bayelsa) in the centre of the delta to Eket and offshore Akwa lbom State.
The present coastal zone of the Niger Delta and the offshore belt contain the youngest oilfields where the Niger Delta has been almost stationary with minor oscillations over the past five million years. It is important to understand the above geological scenario so that development and conservation efforts in the Niger Delta region can be properly focussed but equitably distributed.
The peoples of the Niger Delta are, like other Nigerians, highly diverse culturally. Historical differ ences in their political behaviour have been imposed by their peculiar riverine geography in which isolated settlements on the little available dry land, surrounded by mazes of anastomosing creeks, fostered small ancient city-states and king doms such as Bonny, Brass, Akassa, Kalahari, Okrika, Nembe, Ogoni, Opobo, Bassan, Andoni, Itsekiri and Urhobo, which were contemporaries to their much larger neighbouring Old Calabar, Arochukwu Trading Empire, Benin Empire and lbadan Empire of the late 19th Century (Ajayi and Crowder, 1985).
The harsh physical background induced a somewhat more republican political behaviour among the peoples of the Niger Delta, than among those Nigerians who were traditionally used to more centralised authority. Youth alienation, dissent and radicalism have bordered on open rebellion against unemployment, frustration and exclusion from the flourishing petroleum economy of the delta.
In their more confrontational attitude towards constituted authority, it is not unusual for the youths of the Niger Delta to dethrone and desecrate traditional authori ty whenever they suspect that their chiefs and kings have colluded with oil companies to deprive them of what they consider their legitimate benefits from petroleum.
Another backlash of youth unemploy ment and alienation in the Niger Delta is their atavistic recourse to organised resistance and tactics similar to that which their ancient kings employed in colonial days against the British.
Just as King Jaja of Opobo (1821 - 1891) resis ted British traders and missionaries, proclaimed the autonomy of Opobo, which he founded, and con trolled the supply of palm oil to European mer chants, through recourse to arms and African Traditional Religion, some youths in the Niger Delta have resorted to cultism in their quest for similar control of their natural resources.
Ethnically, the people of the Niger Delta com prise those in Rivers and Bayelsa States (Kalahari, lkwerre, ljo, Okrika, lbani, Nembe, Ekpeye, Ogba, Engenni, Epie-Atissa); Akwa lbom State (Ibibio, Anang, Oron); Delta State (Urhobo, lgbo, Isoko, Itsekiri, ljo); Ondo State (Yoruba, ljo llaje); Edo State (Edo, Etsakos, Yoruba, lgbirra, Okpameri); Cross River (Efik, Ejagham, Bekwarra), and the lgbo in Abia and Imo States. These are the indige nous peoples of the oil fields of the Niger Delta. Besides, since the great-grandfathers of today's Niger Delta youths were oil merchants, there is a perceived need for continuity and participation in the oil business.
Violent agitation by the people of the Niger Delta for the control of their petroleum resources and involvement in the petroleum industry is a most serious threat to the Nigerian economy and nation al security. These protests involve loss of human life, damage and seizure of oil installations and hostage-taking. Attempts to suppress them have not restored peace.
Rather, violence has escalated into inter-communal hatred and bloody clashes as was the case in Warn between the ljos, the Itsekiris and the Urhobos; and between the llaje-Ugbo and the Arogho-ljo communities in Ondo State.
At the root of these violent agitations is the fact that there is a missing link between past and present control and management of the economy of the oil-produc ing communities; and an apparent lack of consider ation by the operators of the petroleum economy, of the role of the Niger Delta peoples during the colo nial days of the Oil Rivers.
The Oil Rivers (Tasie, 1978) was the name given to all the oil trade regions of the Niger Delta and Calabar since the 1830s when, with the aboli tion of the slave trade which had existed right from the early Portuguese contacts in the 16th Century, the region then switched to the palm oil economy.
Western industrial demands for palm produce greatly stimulated the palm oil trade. Bonny and Calabar, two rival city-states since the days of the slave trade, became the dominant ports that con trolled palm oil export. Bonny emerged as the most powerful state, with larger interior markets in Essene in Ibibioland and Ngwa, Obunku and Ndele in lboland. In 1890, Bonny defeated the Kalahari kingdom and forced its people to route their palm produce through Bonny.
Today, although Bonny is not an oil-producn community, its strategic natural port is serving tl petroleum industry as in the days of palm oil expo Bonny kingdom hosts Shell's export termin. Mobil's gas refining plant and the Nigerian Uquefli Natural Gas (NLNG) plants. The Bonny peof have shut down these plants before, and demanded commensurate benefits, development and employment in the petroleum exporting facilities.
It is only natural that they should be involved. Bonny's case history should serve as a model for oil-community development and participation in the oil industry, as was the case in the days of the Oil Rivers. As for Bonny's pristine rival city-state Calabar, the petroleum industry is yet to make ar impact.
Another lesson from the days of the Oil Rivers is that the coastal communities did not try to conduct the palm oil business in isolation. The coasta city-states from Koko (Warri) in the west to Calaba' in the east realised that the oil palm did not grow solely in their areas; but also in the hinterland, anc in places as far away as Uzuakoli in lgboland, which was a major producing area.
Through middlemen and cordial inter-ethnic relations in a region tha was as ethnically diverse then as it is now, the Niger Delta kingdoms on the coast ensured the supplies of the commodities from the hinterland. That unity is still needed today for the development of the entire oil-producing region.
Petroleum, too, is not a monopoly of the riverine communities of the Niger Delta. There is more petroleum in the hinterland the coastal zone and offshore than along the creeks and swamps. The reason is that in the ancient geologic past, the hinterland of the delta used to occupied by coastal creeks and swamps.
Delta shorelines are not static features on the earth's surface. They are "here today and gone tomorrow, but they leave their oil and gas behind. Similarly what is now offshore, was coastland in the past hence offshore petroleum belongs to the coasta communities which also suffer the effects of oil spillage and pollution.
To reduce the role of the Niger Delta people in Nigerian political and economic development mere ly to violent agitators for environmental and natural resources rights, amounts to acknowledging only the negative aspects of the region's contributions. There were political contributions as important as the physical and petroleum resources of the Niger Delta.
Also, the search for the origins of the politi cal aspirations and identity of the Niger Delta peo ples should include the antecedents of post-inde pendence crusaders like Isaac Boro and Ken Saro Wiwa. Demands by the various ethnic nationalities embodied in the Kaiama Declaration, the Ogoni Bill of Rights and many other declarations that have sought to draw national attention to the need for equity, echo from colonial days. The case of King Jaja of Opobo was mentioned earlier.
Agitations for a separate political region for the Niger Delta begai al, since the 1950s, culminating in the Willink Commission (1957-58). This led to the establish ile ment of the Niger Delta Development Commissior the precursor of the present River Basil Development Authorities throughout Nigeria.
The first Niger Delta patriot and nationalist was a vocal missionary convert, Prophet Garrick Sokari Braide (1882-1981) of the Niger Delta Pastorate Church, who with over a million followers (Tasie, 1978), started a radical African religious movement that threatened not only the foreign missionary influence, but sowed the seeds of Nigerian nationalism through passive resistance to colonialism of Kalahari origin, Braide made tremendous impact locally by organising religious crusades against idol-worshipping and by enjoining abstinence from alcoholic drinks and witchcraft.
Tasie (1978) recalled that in 1916 during World War 1, Braide said in Abonnema that "the white man's day were over and that it was up to the native peoples to determine their fate." Percy Amaury Talbot, the British district officer for Degema, who eventually arrested and detained Braide, charged that the Prophet's movement was "essentially one of Ethiopianism, of blacks against whites, and to a cer tain extent against all authority."
Braides movement drew support even from far away Lagos, where the leader of the African Native Churches and columnist in the Lagos Weekly Record, the Rev. S. A. Coker, delivered a l'ecture on April 10, 1917, in support of Braide. The lecture was enti tled: 'The Rights and Duties of African Natives of Organised Indigenous Churches Uncontrolled by or Unattached to Any Foreign Organisation" (Taise, 1978).
Braide's case was both that of a demand for freedom of worship and an expression of national ism far ahead of the better known, later pioneers of Nigerian nationalism, such as Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and the Sarduana of Sokoto. It is, therefore, possible that the current demand by the Niger Delta people for reforms in the control of petroleum and mineral resources will ultimately be accepted by the entire nation, leading to a mineral ownership arrangement similar to those in other world democracies.
But in order to appreciate the need to conserve the Niger Delta and develop it, it is important to emphasise what the region has contributed to the nation. In its June 7, 1999 article on "Pouring Oil on Troubled Waters," Time Magazine reported that not less than 300 billion U.S. dollars accrued from crude oil sales in twenty-five years (1974-1999) to Nigeria. No single region has contributed so much to our national development.
Persistent flames of passion in the Niger Delta and ad-hoc stakeholders, (federal government, oil companies) piecemeal responses and interventions warrant clearly defined, credible policy focus, framework and institutions that have the continuity to effect short, medium, and long-term environmen tal conservation and regional development pro grammes in the Niger Delta.
The development concept has to expand beyond satisfying parochial oil-community demands; and be positioned within a national socio-economic development matrix, in which case the delta is made to offer opportunities and attractions to all Nigerians in a manner compa rable with Lagos and Abuja.
A broader mind-set is required, taking cognisance of the fact that invest ments and developments usually do not just fly into any region; but, rather, have to be purveyed through vendors who must first have confidence in the secu rity of life, property and investments. The Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) that was established in 1992 failed in both confidence-building and capaci ty-building because, since it had no planning and executive ability, it tended to rely more on contrac tors to define and implement its conservation and development mandates. The result was a colossal failure.
The establishment of the Special Project Division in the Presidency for the Niger Delta, and the Presidential Committee on Development Options for the Niger Delta were public admissions of defective planning or lack of it, which these spe cial presidential ad-hoc bodies were meant to address. Research institutes and well-funded uni versities are needed in the Niger Delta to generate conservation and development data and action plans; and monitor them.
Since the Niger Delta region stagnated over a period of four decades of oil production, during which the population grovelled in poverty, the lists of community demands are endless, confused and conflicting. Like Rip Van Winkle the delta had slept for too long only to wake up one morning, visit Abuia. and discover that the face of the rest of
Nigeria had changed beyond recognition. This is what happened in March 1998 when the youths of the Niger Delta joined the 2 million-youth rally in Abuja. Environmental conservation issues that have to be prioritised and tackled in the Niger Delta include agricultural land degradation, flooding, fisheries depletion, deforestation, biodiversity loss, Nipa palm invasion, water hyacinth proliferation, toxic and hazardous waste, oil spillage and pollution, sewage disposal and municipal solid waste disposal.
There is an acute shortage of infrastructural development in the Niger Delta, in which case strategies are urgently needed to provide roads and transportation (land and water); potable water; elec tricity; telecommunications; housing; reclaimed land; planned settlements (towns); finished petrole um products distribution depots and pipelines; as well as health and educational facilities.
But sustainable development of the Niger Delta will hinge on massive industrialisation of the region based on its cheap supply of energy (natural gas). More heavy industries are needed than the existing skeletal, epileptic or moribund refineries, petro chemical plants, aluminium smelter, fertiliser plant, newsprint and power plants found in the delta. The regional skyline of the delta must change from gas flares to the chimneys of manufacturing industries. Such developments will persuade the Niger Delta people to beat their ancient swords into plough shares.
Treasure-trove though the Niger Delta region is, it is lacking in development, peace and harmony. But the region has a long history of mercantilism, since colonial days, when the palm oil trade flour ished. Lack of participation in the petroleum econ omy, unlike colonial days, when the delta was referred to as the Oil Rivers, has contributed to community unrest in the Niger Delta.
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Learn How to Rig a Squid . Hi all of fishing lovers, Today's post is "Learn How to Rig a Squid ". Hopefully this article is useful for you, all fishing lovers.
Learn How to Rig a Squid
Fishermen account consideration squid to one of the greatest carcass intended for sport fishing. They are effective for marlin, swordfish, tuna, dolphins and many other species. Especially since squids experienced soft, boneless body, game fish fly these people aggressively, which resulting in frequent and inexpensive hook-ups. Some fishermen not to use squid, believe actually difficult to rig designed for trolling. anglers can rig a new squid effectively by adopting a manner used in Thailand.
- 1
Cut single wire which is about twice the SQUID the system body. two fold and twist along its entire length, to create a rigid needle with a small eye with the folded end. Being small incision in the middle of the squid system is about two-thirds of the way you can see the tail. Slide the needle thread in the sheath and pokes the eye of a person by means of this slash. Loop the end of the leader through the eye of the specific needle and pull to get off the hook the lead end of each shell.
Bind the hook at the end of the very best with the aid of a clinch knot or perhaps nail. Insert the hook out of your valve in the height of the squid and the beak. Pull the slack, while the leader.
Cut a little thread about 8 ins tall. Plug this wire horizontally from the body of the squid comes about halfway between your tail and where the leader. Take each end of the wire, bend it in the direction of the tail and stabbing the tip through the tip to the tail so you two wire ends cross your tail.
Thread one end of the wire back in order that it is next to the lead. Wrap the other end part of the wire very tightly around the leader and that thread, whereby at least seven or seven turns. Cut or bust wire very close to the wraps to ensure no sharp edge is unrelated or rubs withstand the leader. Wrap tenacious end of the wire within the conductor, again with no less than seven tight wraps, and with the end stop. The wire will secure the squid in appropriate form for trolling or just drift fishing.
Article source: fishingstory74.blogspot.comAdditional Tags for this post:
how to rig up squid |


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Freshwater trout. (Photo Credit: Danforel/FIS)
Friday, July 18, 2014, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
Danforel's Christiansminde Freshwater Farm in Denmark has become the first farm certified to the ASC Freshwater Trout Standard for responsible aquaculture.
"The certification of the first freshwater trout farm this week brings ASC a step closer to becoming a truly global programme. I am thrilled to get the trout programme off the ground, and I would like to extend my congratulations to Danforel for their tremendous achievement," said Chris Ninnes, CEO of the ASC.
"This certification is a testament to the diversity of our programme and, since the launch in 2012, we have seen the number of ASC certified farms grow to nearly 80 across the globe throughout Asia, Scandinavia, Australia, Europe, and South, Central and North America. There are also over 50 farms under assessment".
"Danforel prides itself in only supplying the best quality seafood that has been responsibly farmed to minimise potential environmental and social impacts. ASC certification fits perfectly with our strategy. It allows our farms to demonstrate that they comply with the most rigorous farming standards and shows our customers that we are a responsible organisation," said Erik D. Hansen, Managing Director Danforel A/S.
Danforel's Christianminde farm gained its certification following an independent, third party assessment against the global ASC Trout Standard conducted by the certification body Bureau Veritas Denmark.
The ASC Freshwater Trout Standard was developed by a diverse group of stakeholders, including farmers, conservationists, scientists, seafood buyers, processors, government officials and other interested parties.
Farms certified against the ASC Freshwater Trout Standard must demonstrate that they use farming methods that minimise the environmental impacts. They deliver a cleaner seabed, cleaner water and healthier fish, preserve the diversity of the species and wild population, and follow strict feed requirements and ensuring social responsibility.
A further six trout farms are currently awaiting the outcome of their assessment against the ASC standard.
Other ASC standards species that are due to hit the market this year are bivalves and shrimp. Five scallop farms were audited in Peru in May this year. And, 14 shrimp farms in Vietnam and Ecuador have already entered the ASC certification programme.
ASC certified trout, scallop and shrimp products are expected to enter the market later in 2014.


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OTTAWA, ON — Chances are that if you personally don't snore, you know someone who does. And if you know a snorer, then you may very well have been disturbed by it. Snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, and according to the National Institutes of Health, sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans. Sleep apnea is a medical condition where an individual suffers from breathing irregularities during sleep due to blocked airways in the nose, mouth, or throat.
Figuring out that snoring is caused by blocked airways is easy enough. But there are far greater problems caused by sleep apnea than obnoxious nightly sounds. Breathing problems associated with sleep apnea deprive oxygen to the body and brain, which can contribute to severe conditions such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, premature death, low blood-oxygen levels, and other conditions as well. All of a sudden snoring and sleep apnea are much more than nighttime nuisances for bed partners. They're risk factors for life-threatening illnesses.
Thankfully, snoring and sleep apnea can be treated. Discovering the best treatment for sleep apnea starts with discovering where the airway blockage starts. According to Ottawa, ON dental Practitioner Dentist, Dr. Pamela Li, airways can be obstructed by a number of things including: poor alignment of the jaw, weak throat muscles, a long soft palate or uvula, blocked nasal passages, throat tissue buildup, or sleeping on one's back.
There are treatments available that correct blocked airways. For example, dentists provide oral appliances that adjust airways to provide better breathing passages during sleep. These appliances mainly come as lower jaw or mandibular repositioning devices. These appliances are preferred for mild to moderate sleep apnea.
"Oral appliances are very comfortable. There are many different kinds to suit the patient's individual needs,†said Dr. Li. "These oral appliances help maximize sleep hours, promote long-term health, and keep bed partners from waking up from snoring.â€
There are also CPAP masks (continuous positive airway pressure) that force a stream of air down airways to keep them open throughout the night.
"Though the CPAP masks are a preferred method in severe cases of sleep apnea, they can be irritating and uncomfortable to wear,†said Dr. Li. "Also, CPAP compliance decreases to 20-30% after one year. There are several oral appliances dentists offer that help open airways, while avoiding uncomfortable, bulky masks and noisy machines.â€
After completing a questionnaire at Dr. Li's Ottawa, ON dental practice, patients will bring Dr. Li's ambulatory sleep test equipment home and perform a screening test from the comfort of their own beds. If a patient were to check into a hospital for sleep apnea tests, he or she would have to stay at the hospital overnight, which patients often hesitate to do commented Dr. Li. This will give the patient a good idea if he has sleep apnea or not. Afterwards, they can then follow up with a physician.
"With proper treatment, individuals suffering from sleep apnea can correct the blockage and see significant benefits,†said Dr. Li. "The obvious benefit to this is a good night of sleep. Patients treated for sleep apnea experience less morning fatigue, which in itself is a revelation. Also, when the body receives a regular oxygen supply, the immune system, heart, and lungs become stronger.â€
Dr. Li, Ottawa dentist, uses the MediByte ambulatory polysomnograph (PSG) unit for sleep apnea testing. This equipment is used by doctors and hospitals across the world. The PSG unit tests for sleep disorders by recording data such as snore volume, airflow, oxygen saturation levels, sleep positions, teeth grinding, chest and abdominal movement, and other factors that determine whether or not an individual is suffering from sleep apnea.
Dr. Pamela Li is an accredited Ottawa, ON dentistry practitioner who also provides dental services such as sleep apnea oral appliances, TMJ treatment, and PPM sports mouthguards. Dr Li. is also an Ottawa, ON Invisalign provider.
Learn More
To learn more about sleep apnea treatment or Dr. Li's sleep apnea test, browse her Web site: http://www.drpamelali.com/, visit her practice at 227-267 O'Connor Street, Ottawa, Ont., K2P 1V3; or call: (613) 232-0550 to schedule a consultation.
About Dr. Pamela Li
Dr. Pamela Li graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1988 with a BSc in chemistry. She then completed her dental training in 1992 at the University of Toronto. Afterwards she completed a general practice residency at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital in Utica, N.Y.
Dr. Li worked at Moose Factory General Hospital on the Moose Factory Indian Reservation in Northern Ontario. She travelled up to Kasheshewan reservation monthly to service the needs of the remote aboriginal communities.
In 1994, Dr. Li returned to Ottawa, her hometown, to go into private practice. She has been practicing downtown since 1997 and has recently moved to her present location in August 2008.
She has taken extensive continuing education courses. She has attended the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI) and has completed comprehensive post-doctoral courses in neuromuscular dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. She is certified in oral conscious sedation with the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). She is also one of the few dentists in Ottawa certified in the Pure Power Mouthguard (PPM), the revolutionary new sportsguard.
Dr. Li is certified in Invisalign, the clear retainer alternative to braces. She is a member of the AADSM (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine). She is also a member of the Argyle Associates and Gumdocs implant study clubs.
Dr. Li volunteered for a 2 week medical/dental mission in the Dominican Republic. She along with 3 other dentists extracted over 1000 teeth in the remote mountainous region of the Dominican Republic. She also volunteered for one month in a hospital in St. Lucia. She performed general and emergency dentistry.
When she's away from the office, Dr. Li enjoys the company of family and friends, traveling, skiing and skating.
Dr. Li has been married to Clinton for 11 years. They have two beautiful daughters, Sophia and Meagan, which keep them busy with piano, dance, swimming and skating lessons.
© 2009 Master SEO Google and Dr. Pamela Li. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.


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WFR07S 2.4 GHz 7ch receiver
Could be applied to all the common models.
●Signal fast recovery(most stable)
When WFR07S lost control in complicated circumstance,MCU will search the channels signal and reconnect rapidly,which could utmostly reduce the possibility of losing control.
●Fail-safe function(safest)
Even if the receiver lost the signal from the transmitter,WFR07S can still work according to the beforehand establishment condition.
This also utmostly reduce the possibility of model damage.
●Linear distance:farther than 800m
Under ideal conditions,the control distance will be up to 800m,or even farther beyond your sight.
Receiver Model: WFR07S
Use in: airplane, helicopter, glider, car, boat
Band: 2.400GHz-2.483GHz ( varies with different country and region)
Receive sensitivity: -97dBm
Fail safe , quick recover signal
Modulation: PPM/PCMS 1024/PCMS 4096
Power: 4.8-6V
Dimension: 40.42×27.27×11.88mm
Weight: 9.6g
Range test in ground: more than 800M
WFLY 2.4Ghz System
1. WFLY 2.4GHz system uses the DSSS frequency-hopping technology . DSSS is direct sequence spread spectrum which is one of the most strongest anti-interference ability in the modern digital communications.
2.The DSSS application in the WFLY 2.4GHz systems is also designed the hopping function .The current system is can hopping in three channels , the width of each channel is 1Mhz. Once a channel is interference, will communicate in another channel. Improve the Interference and the reliability .
3. Each device has a separate identification code, will improved the anti-interference when more than one device work together.
4.Automatic channel scan. Each WFLY 2.4GHz transmission equipment automatically scan the available channels, to ensure the equipment can more reliable work.
5.Communications data cheakout are according to the identification code for CRC to ensure that a large number of 2.4GHz devices will not interfere with each other while working to enhance immunity and reliability.
6. Selected high-tech electronics optimized design are provided a powerful guarantee to the reliability and robustness of the equipment .
7. WFLY uphold the traditional software development with high reliability to ensure that each WFLY 2.4GHz equipment is reliable and stronger anti-interference ability.


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You don't have to have lots of money to make a difference in these children's lives. With a bit of enthusiasm and determination, as well as imagination and creativity, you can raise money for us!
Sponsored Events
How about taking on a sponsored event? You can run, swim, walk, cycle or do a sponsored fast or a sponsored slim! We have now signed up with a fundraising platform called GoGetFunding which enables you to create your own online sponsorship page with details of your event which you can then share on social media sites.
Buy our cards, crafts and gifts
Buy some of our beautiful cards, crafts and gifts made by Rainbow House children. Please contact us for more information of our current stock
Hold a craft sale
Hold a craft sale of gifts and cards made by our Rainbow House children – we sell crafts made by our children, such as candles, bags, hand made cards and jewellery. Some of our crafts are also handmade by the parents of our CBR children. You can host a craft stall, or invite our team to come and man the stall.
A Successful Sponsored Event!
Ride for Rainbow is an annual cycle from Ayutthaya to Rainbow House (a total of 70km). Every year it is organised by Harrow International School with nearly 100 participants, some of whom are our own volunteers or staff from CCD. Our older residents from Happy Home and Vision House often join in too. Alex Williams took part in Ride for Rainbow in 2016.
Would you like more information?
Email for more ideas, help with planning,
leaflets, and a DVD about our work which you can show at your event.