text:
Foreign-Born Teaching Assistants and the Academic Performance of Undergraduates
George J. Borjas
NBER Working Paper No. 7635
The large literature that analyzes the impact of immigration on the United States typically focuses on measuring the labor market and fiscal consequences. This literature, however, has ignored the impact of immigration on other sectors of society. One sector that is of great interest is the American university, where the share of nonresident aliens in the graduate student population rose from 5.5 percent in 1976 to 10.5 percent in 1996. Despite the rapid growth in the number of foreign students, little is known about their impact on the educational process. Nevertheless, undergraduates frequently complain that the lack of English language proficiency among many foreign-born Teaching Assistants affects adversely their understanding of the material. This paper addresses the question that is at the heart of these complaints: Do foreign-born teaching assistants have an adverse impact on the scholastic achievement of American undergraduates? To provide empirical evidence on this issue, I use data drawn from a survey of undergraduates enrolled in economics principles classes at a large public university. The data suggest that foreign-born Teaching Assistants have an adverse impact on the class performance of undergraduate students.
Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w7635
Published: Borjas, George J. "Foreign-Born Teaching Assistants And The Academic Performance Of Undergraduates," American Economic Review, 2000, v90(2,May), 355-359. citation courtesy of
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text:
Hi Everybody! Preciousang Valeria has moved to
To get in touch and read more posts, please click on the link.
Thank you!
Hello dearies! How were your Valentine's Day? Single or not, hope it turned out well!
For today, I would like to share with you my nails of the day (NOTD) for Valentine's and my thoughts and first impressions about this newly opened nail salon I went to.
The color I chose was not at all Valentine's-ey, I wanted to try something different. Also, the salon only have 5 Orly nail polishes at the moment and the rest were just regular nail polishes.
Green With Envy is a fun, teal color, great for summer. It's greener in actual. Think Incredible Hulk green, just a tad darker.
About the nail salon:
If you were wondering, I soaked all major CUTS that my manicurist gave me, thus the cotton around my fingers. When she did my first hand, I told her (calmly and in a very good way) that my fingers were stinging and maybe they were cuts due to her cleaning. She answered, "No Ma'am, I don't see any blood.". While she was cleaning the ring finger of my other hand, my finger already bled and she didn't even notice even though she was cleaning that finger. So I told her, "Look, it's bleeding", she answered, "Oh, you're right.". And that's all she said. No apologies or anything. She did not even believed me when I told her the first time. I knew the cuts were many because almost all my fingers stung when she rubbed my hand with alcohol. Actually, the woman beside me who was having a pedicure, yelled "ouch!" discreetly several times.
If you look close at my pinky, you'll notice that bits of the polish were outside my nail and it's lighter compared to my other nails. The manicurist forgot which nail were already two coats and which were one, I even have to remind her that this and this is still one coat. She also accidentally hit/touched my wet nails so she redid it twice (she hit it twice).
I had my manicure the night before I took this photo, about 12 hours after. After the manicure, I went home, had dinner, slept, woke up and took this photo. I believe that Orly nail polishes do not chip this fast, that means there's something wrong about the application or the cleaning.
The people who work at the salon were nice and friendly but there's an attitude I think they need to improve. I was just done with my manicure, waiting for my nails to completely dry when some customers arrived but then walked away. There were still two available seats. After that, two attendants approached me and asked me (in a hurried and tensed manner) if I was still waiting for other services to be done. I answered, "None, I'm just waiting for my nails to dry.". Then the other one asked me if I wanted to use their nail polish drying machine for an extra fee. I really felt that they wanted me to go away now because some customers might arrive, so I just requested that they apply a quick dry solution on my nails then I would be on my way.
They could have suggested the drying machine or quick dry solution immediately after she painted my nails. Suggesting it now (nobody mentioned the quick dry solution to me, by the way) only seemed that they really wanted me to go away immediately. With that experience, I did not complain or showed how disappointed I was.
I decided not to name the nail salon right now. This nail salon just opened their business a week ago, so maybe they still need time to adjust and get used on how things should be done. I'll be giving them a second chance then will I reveal the name.
Right now, I'm still observing and taking care of the cuts the manicurist gave me. Hope it won't get infected.
Do you have bad salon days too?

subset: commoncrawl


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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had an MRI Monday that revealed he has sprained his right ankle. However, he is expected to be back in action for the team's divisional round playoff game in two weeks, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Brady was clearly limping and claimed that he was "pretty sore" after the Patriots lost 20-10 to the Miami Dolphins in their final game of the season Sunday. Brady received a huge hit from Dolphins defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh early in the second quarter.
Though Monday's MRI revealed a sprain, it did not reveal any breaks or fractures, ESPN reports. That's good news for the Patriots as Brady is an integral component to the team's success.
Brady had some medical attention on the sideline after that scary hit, and athletic training staff along with medical staff re-taped his right ankle. That hit nor his injury stopped him from playing in the game, though.
He was eventually replaced by the Patriots' backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on their final drive of the game with only one minute and 56 seconds left when they were trailing the Dolphins 20-10.
Brady made his weekly appearance on Dennis & Callahan with Minihane on Monday and said that he'd "be doing everything I can to be out there" for the team's first playoff game.
"I'm doing all right. I'm doing all right," he said. "We'll see how it goes this week. Going to be some treatment, as always. A lot of guys are banged up. Just part of football season…I've had worse. I've had plenty of worse injuries than this one."
Brady also spoke on Suh's hit:
"Suh's a big guy. He just came down on the back of me," Brady explained. "Obviously however big he is–300 pounds–he just kind of collapses on the back of your leg, there's going to be some residual damage to that. It's part of football. I'll just work hard to get the right treatment. I've always dealt with injuries. I'm very confident I know how to deal with injuries. Believe me, I'll be doing everything I can to be out there. There's nothing else in my life that's a priority at this point other than getting to feel like I'm a hundred percent."
When asked if the injury would have affected his play time next weekend had the team not had a bye, he said:
"I don't know. We'll see how it goes. I'll just say I'm glad we have a week off. That obviously helps. I wanted to stay in there and play yesterday and see if I could do some stuff to help our team. We just couldn't make enough plays. I feel like I've said that a lot the last six weeks, but we're going to have to make more plays offensively if we want to keep advancing. It's a challenge. You get every team's best effort. They game-plan us. They're trying to slow the things down that we do well. We're going to have to in a way kind of reinvent how he won, and do the things that we need to do to win the game."
You can listen to the full interview on the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page here.
The Patriots finished the season 12-4 and at No. 1 in the AFC East. We'll see what they can do in the playoffs. Best of luck to Brady!


text:
Alarms and technology aids can make life at home so much easier. Stay connected with family and friends using social media. Check in with health professionals over the phone or via remote monitoring. Install the latest personal safety aids or wear a personal alarm so you can move with confidence around your home.
The great news is you can fund a number of these products through a Home Care Package. Your Wellbeing Manager will work with you to understand what your goals are. They will suggest ways that technology might be able to help you stay healthy, active and living in your own home. You're in the driver's seat so it's your decision what you choose to go ahead with.
If you'd like to see what technology you may be able to access call the friendly team at Feros Care on 1300 090 256 today!


text:
Stain Guide for Upholstery Fabrics
IODINE (tincture)
Important - Always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the upholstery manufacturer. Upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact the manufacturer or a cleaning professional for advice/service. Also follow the General Rules for care and stain treatment.
Topo Designs and Salomon got together to create these fashionably functional shoes that are "Dedicated to authentic mountain heritage and functional design". Made with CORDURA® Classic fabric these shoes are built to last and look great while doing so!
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Dr. Cool's Reversible Chill Wristbands, sold as a pair, will keep your pulse points cool, dry and comfortable. They are made using Coolcore's patented cooling fabrics, which are sweat activated to provide three distinct functions: wicking, moisture circulation and regulated evaporation. Unlike other cooling accessories, Dr. Cool's wristbands are chemical free, so the cooling benefit will never wash out. Colors: Black, Fuscia, Monaco Blue, Red, Striped Fuscia, and Watercolor.
Learn more about this technology.
Shop for this technology.


text:
1. I am thankful for my big 'ole comforter and duvet cover. There is nothing so nice as getting under that when it's cold outside, which it is. And bonus: it makes making the bed, oh, so easy!
2. I thankful for my little dog Samson. (Pictured here and here). This little guy has much to teach me about unconditional love. He is always there to love up on me no matter what my mood is. And he keeps my feet warm at night.
3. I'm thankful for the Word of God. And how blessed we are in this country to be able to have it in our possession. It brings me comfort, strength, conviction and direction. To be honest, I don't know how I ever lived my first 20 years without it.
4. I am thankful God is my provider. He knows exactly what I need. It's me that needs to remember to cling onto him and cast my cares to Him. Way too often I try to provide my own needs and then wonder at my frustration. I am thankful that I can take it all to Him and He will provide exactly what I need.
5. I am thankful for my friends. I am so grateful I am able to get together with them once in a while and just have a good time full of laughter and encouragement.
6. I am so thankful for my slow cooker. I think I use this small appliance more than any other. Well, other than my coffee pot.
What are you thankful for today?


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I was working recently on an ANTLR based parser for the DDT project. As a phase 1. I'm trying to get the current AST hierachy working under this new parser without having to rely on the Descent parser. It isn't finished yet, but it is at the level of progress where it worthy perhaps for other to look at it. To see what is missing here's my sketchy list:
- Missing import expression node in the AST
import expression : 'import' '(' assignExpression ')' ;
- Clarify the function literals
- Missing static if expression.
- Missing static assert expression.
- How to deal with conditional statements (version, debug, and such)?
- Struct initializer must be implemented.
- What is ExpIftype is for? Is that something to do with the template stuff? Or static if?
- IsExpression in the AST somewhere? (It's pretty tough expression btw).
: is ( Type )
| is ( Type : TypeSpecialization )
| is ( Type == TypeSpecialization )
| is ( Type Identifier )
| is ( Type Identifier : TypeSpecialization )
| is ( Type Identifier == TypeSpecialization )
| is ( Type Identifier : TypeSpecialization , TemplateParameterList )
| is ( Type Identifier == TypeSpecialization , TemplateParameterList )
- Template declarations are missing in the parser rules.
- Template instances are missing in the parser rules.
- Proper attribute specifier implementation. (That is, accumulate all the attribute specifier to the corresponding definition).
- Error handling and error recovery resembling to the Descent's parser's one.
The actual state is on my clone's master branch here:
As I try to replace the current parser without changing much of the current state of the code (I made very few, the most obvious
modifications, such as constructors for creating AST nodes without the conversion process, and in very few places I added extra fields to currently existing nodes.), I wouldn't add at this point any new features, or mess with the AST hierarchy.
This is my first try to create parser with a parser generator, and I admit, many places there's need to improve the current state. Later on, we should change the ASTNeoNode hierarchy to work with on the CommonTree ANTLR object, which would eliminate the need for individual object creation as an action code. (Not sure completely how, but I think it is possible to create heterogeneous trees with ANTLR using factory pattern which in turn would need the ASTNeoNode classes and
interfaces to be more consistent as they are today. As an example of inconsistencies, at the current state some nodes are using ArrayView, others use simple arrays of objects, and so on.


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This is my monthly off the edge quilting project to go along with the so scrappy rainbow quilt challenge where she tells us a color each month and quilters do blocks with scraps with that color.
This month was light blue.
I used a novelty print square for this one and a nice light blue mottled batik for the background.
As you can see I held myself back from doing a lot of coloring in like my last few off the edge projects and I have to say that sometimes less is more. I like it :-)
I started by drawing the trees, snow and bunny in his hidey hole in pencil, then free motion quilted over the pencil with black thread. (These illustration photos were taken inside and the finish at the top outside which shows you what a difference taking your photos with natural light makes)
But I digress :-)
Sky is stippled with light blue thread.
I had to do some color so dabbed some pearl white fabric paint on some of the snow and colored the background snow with white thread.
Colored in the bunny's eyes with black micron pen and with colored pencil his "lair".
You can see him better now. He's so cute!
Go to the rainbow scrap challenge every Saturday to see all the blocks of a different color.


text: The University Colleges of Merit are legally recognized private institutions with purposes of public interest. From a legislative point of view the history of the Colleges starts on August the 31st 1933 with the Royal Decree n. 1592 (Consolidated Law on Higher Education), which established in the art. 191 that "entities and foundations whose aim is the promotion of higher education and the assistance in various forms to study in universities and higher education institutes, are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education." This article was the legal basis for the recognition of the existence of some institutions, including private bodies, which, by statute, had the purpose to widen the access to higher education and to assist students during their university studies. Because of these purposes, these institutions were under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.The University Reform Law (Law 240/2010), states in art. 5 the objective of supporting the Colleges of Merit, through the definition of a specific regulation, which is the final step of a process that defines the institutional, juridical and administrative role of the Colleges as a tool to improve the quality of the Italian university and to promote merit.Legislative decree N. 68/2012 defines the University Colleges of Merit as residential structures open to Italian and international students, with a high quality educational offer, pursuing the promotion of merit and interdisciplinary education, ensuring each student a personal development path made of training services, guidance and enrichment of university activities. The decree N. 68/12 defines two kinds of University Colleges: the 'recognized' University College of Merit and 'accredited' the University College of Merit.Accreditation is granted by the Minister through a decree, after an application presented by the interested Halls of residence as prescribed by D.M 672/16 and D.M. 673/16.


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Development of a multimetric index for assessing the biological condition of the Ohio River
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
By: E.B. Emery, T.P. Simon, F.H. McCormick, P.L. Angermeier, J.E. Deshon, C.O. Yoder, R.E. Sanders, W.D. Pearson, G.D. Hickman, R.J. Reash, and J.A. Thomas
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
The use of fish communities to assess environmental quality is common for streams, but a standard methodology for large rivers is as yet largely undeveloped. We developed an index to assess the condition of fish assemblages along 1,580 km of the Ohio River. Representative samples of fish assemblages were collected from 709 Ohio River reaches, including 318 "least-impacted" sites, from 1991 to 2001 by means of standardized nighttime boat-electrofishing techniques. We evaluated 55 candidate metrics based on attributes of fish assemblage structure and function to derive a multimetric index of river health. We examined the spatial (by river kilometer) and temporal variability of these metrics and assessed their responsiveness to anthropogenic disturbances, namely, effluents, turbidity, and highly embedded substrates. The resulting Ohio River Fish Index (ORFIn) comprises 13 metrics selected because they responded predictably to measures of human disturbance or reflected desirable features of the Ohio River. We retained two metrics (the number of intolerant species and the number of sucker species [family Catostomidae]) from Karr's original index of biotic integrity. Six metrics were modified from indices developed for the upper Ohio River (the number of native species; number of great-river species; number of centrarchid species; the number of deformities, eroded fins and barbels, lesions, and tumors; percent individuals as simple lithophils; and percent individuals as tolerant species). We also incorporated three trophic metrics (the percent of individuals as detritivores, invertivores, and piscivores), one metric based on catch per unit effort, and one metric based on the percent of individuals as nonindigenous fish species. The ORFIn declined significantly where anthropogenic effects on substrate and water quality were prevalent and was significantly lower in the first 500 m below point source discharges than at least-impacted sites nearby. Although additional research on the temporal stability of the metrics and index will likely enhance the reliability of the ORFIn, its incorporation into Ohio River assessments still represents an improvement over current physicochemical protocols.
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text:
Creating a Learning Environment in the Home
For childminders and home‑based childcarers (2015)
Member price: £14.95
Standard price: £22.95
Ref. A021
Please note, orders for this publication will be despatched within one week of payment.
This publication recognises the aspirations of every child‑carer to make learning exciting for children of all ages and abilities. Research tells us that home‑based learning is vital, offering real life experiences for young children that mirror those that they have within their own families. Childminders have the unique opportunity to create a home learning environment that is both familiar and stimulating, making the most effective use of the space and resources that are readily available to them.
Everyday activities such as gardening, shopping, mealtimes, walks and outings to the local park, offer real‑life learning experiences that have relevance to all areas of learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children will also have valuable social experiences as they play and learn alongside children of different ages.
Because few childminders will have the luxury of a dedicated playroom for the sole use of the children they are caring for, the innovation and creativity required to create a positive and enabling learning environment needs thought and flexibility. This publication aimed specifically at childminders and home child‑carers looks at some of the challenges and opportunities for adapting a home into a 'setting' whilst maintaining the uniqueness of the environment.
Chapters include, meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, the challenges of a home‑based setting, making the best use of the outdoors and providing for the Characteristics of Effective Learning. Each chapter will also contain case studies and ideas for activities that can be adapted to suit a variety of situations and mixed age groups.
I found the book enjoyable and easy to read, which I did from cover to cover! It is also a book that can be dipped in and out of, to aid reflective practice and also to provide ideas and inspiration.
Penny Webb, Ofsted Registered Childminder


text:
Welcome to MeCycle Café
MeCycle is a combined café and bike shop located on the corner site on Station Road, Ainsdale.
Within MeCycle's spacious environment, you'll discover its decor has been creatively fashioned entirely from recycled materials and objects, yet has a wonderfully welcoming and relaxed feel to it.
Our carefully prepared menu comprises of fresh locally sourced and home-made produce including cakes and daily soup. We also offer a range of mouthwatering vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as soya milk and gluten free options.


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We understand that many of our clients will have been on holiday during their lifetime, or maybe it's your first time; if so congratulations! There are many things to consider even when going on a standard package family holiday. So, when you introduce cycling to the equation, then this raises even more questions and considerations for our clients. We want you to enjoy a stress free, enjoyable experience. Whether you're thinking about booking with us, or you've already booked with us and are just counting down the days to your exciting cycling adventure.
Hopefully we will have the answer to your question. If you can't find what you're looking for, please feel free to email us at email@example.com or contact us directly on 01989 477 011 and speak to a specialist or your existing personal advisor, who will endeavor to help with your query.


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Rachel Loischild (USA): Estate Sale
Gallery offline – updating soon
Estate Sale is an investigation of the estate sales of New England documenting the objects and domestic spaces that remain when someone dies. Estate Sales becomes a collection of environmental portraits that tell a story about individual lives, families, and an entire generation which is quickly evaporating. Details of ones life are laid out and exposed, allowing for the examination of the physical relics of someone's life. This work examines these domestic spaces that have been very clearly shaped by women. In doing so, I am both creating portraits of these women and examining the cultural nuances to which they subscribed, as well as comparing them to our own schema today. This can be seen in the pieces of cosmetics remaining on a dressing table and the ornamentation of a house; even the choice of wall paper reflects such subtleties.
The overwhelming prevalence of religious iconography with in these homes also reflects the distance between contemporary life and the cultural norms of the decedent. The prevalent repetition of dualities within the home remind us the Dick and Jane / Fathers Knows Best fantasy that we share about this time period, being so focused on "traditional" nuclear family, while other visual clues key us in to the realities of the lives that existed within the spaces.
Somber but curious – well worn surfaces, upholstery faded from decades of sun. Illumination plays a key role in the work, aesthetically adding life back into a space that is now defined by death. What remains becomes still life as anthropology, these homes become a part of both art and social science. The miniature as the grand and the grand as the miniature, like museum dioramas tell us of an ancient past, these still lives speak to us of the recent past allowing us to create our own dialogue with this time gone by.


text:
Reverbs don't get much bigger than Lexicon, used by countless pro guitarists and studios. They can be quite literally huge, with hall emulations or take things into another dimension using the unique Halo reverb or psychedelic reverse.
The Polara's flexible reverbs cover a full spectrum, from the intimate warmth of "Room", to the vast expansiveness of "Hall", through time with the cosmic power of "Reverse", and anchored by Lexicon's revered "Modulated", "Plate" and "Spring" reverbs. In addition to those classics, the Polara introduces the new "Halo" reverb. The "Halo" reverb with cascading octaves interspersed in the reverb decays will cast a heavenly glow over your tone.Included Items:
- Polara Reverb Pedal
- StompLock™ - This unique new device fits snugly over the Polara's control knobs to protect your finely-tuned settings from drops, bumps and kicks that inevitably take place when you perform.
- Die cut Hook-and-loop Pedalboard Pad - This is a high-density mounting pad for stick and stay, semi-permanent mounting of the Polara on pedalboards. It is also easily unmounted for pedalboard reconfiguration.
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text:
The Scottish Government's response to the infamous Economist article last week was to assert seven key strengths of the Scottish economy. They were clearly right to do this because there is no doubt that the Scottish economy is one of the strongest parts of the UK economy both in terms of GDP per head and employment. In any event the Economist article was more balanced than implied by the silly map mock-up on the cover of the magazine. See here
The cover was clearly more about marketing the article than an objective comment on the Scottish economy either now, or post independence. But it did downplay some of the strengths of the Scottish economy. Hence, the justification for the Scottish Government's response.
The key strengths as seen by the Scottish Government are:
1. Overall Wealth: An independent Scotland would be ranked 6th in the OECD in terms of GDP per head, compared to the UK's sixteenth place (in 2010).
2. Oil: There is up to 24 billion barrels remaining in the North Sea. Such a figure equates to a wholesale value of some £1.5 trillion in today's prices.
3. Renewables: Scotland has around 25 percent of Europe's potential offshore wind and tidal energy, and a tenth of Europe's wave power potential.
4. Food & Drink: The latest food and drink export figures show exports are at an all time high of £5.4 billion, and growing.
5. Public Finances: In terms of our public finances, Scotland is better off than the UK as a whole to the tune of £510 for every man, women and child in Scotland in the most recent year (2010/11).
6. Education: Scotland has five of the top 200 universities in the world.
7. Inward Investment: Scottish Development International are an award winning agency, with major companies continuing to locate in Scotland.
The problem is that the list looks as if it has been cobbled together in a hurry and some of the so-called "key strengths" appear more another marketing exercise to sell independence to the Scottish people than real economic strengths. And where there are doubts, qualifications and questions to be raised about such 'strengths' they are, not surprisingly, ignored.
Strength 1 is disingenuous to say the least. The difference between the 6th position of Scotland and the 16th position of the UK is due to the addition and subtraction of oil GDP to current Scottish GDP and UK GDP. But most of this additional income is not income for Scottish residents it is paid in profits to the oil majors and other multinationals headquartered outside Scotland. For countries, with a high multinational component in their GDP the better estimate is GNP - or GNI - which is GDP plus/minus net income from/to abroad. If the Scottish GDP/GNP ratio with oil GDP added was similar to the Irish ratio of around 0.84 - see Justin Doran here - (There is no published estimate of Scotland's GNP) - then Scotland's ranking would fall from 6th to 18th between Iceland and France. Incidentally, Ireland would also fall from 8th to 19th. For most of the other states in the top 20 of the Scottish Government's table the use of GNP shouldn't change the rankings over much since net income from/to abroad is relatively small in relation to GDP. And for some small countries such as Switzerland GNP is greater than GDP.
Strength 2, oil, is certainly correct but no mention is made that oil production from the North Sea is in decline that there are no more big fields like Brent and Forties still to be discovered even west of Scotland.
Strength 3, renewables, is also correct. But Scotland has a lot to do to capitalise on its potential in renewables and there is a great risk that renewables may not be the driver of the re-industrialisation of Scotland as the Government hopes. And, as Peter Jones has explained this is an industry that enjoys many benefits from the Union, particularly subsidies financed by UK consumers, which are likely to be lost if Scotland becomes independent.
Strength 4, food and drink, and particularly the whisky industry, appears to be a major asset to the Scottish economy. But the performance of whisky is dangerously over-hyped and much of the sector is now owned by foreign companies where there is significant profit outflow - the GNP issue again. As Colin Donald in the Herald has argued, the success of the industry and its contribution to the Scottish economy is not beyond question. And he cites the eminent economist John Kay, and ex member of the Scottish Government's Council of Economic Advisers, who contends that
Value added from Scotch whisky is reported as around £3 billion – about 2.5% of Scottish GDP – but this figure reflects essentially arbitrary transfer prices and export valuations. Wages and salaries and purchases of goods and services used in whisky production amount to only about £400 million. To this should be added the returns to beneficial Scottish ownership of whisky-related assets. With retail sales of whisky around the world totally perhaps £25bn, the Scottish economy appears to derive modest benefit from its most famous product. (Chapter 2 in Scotland's Economic Future 2012 (ed. Sir Donald Mackay)
Strength 5, public finances being in a better state than the UK as a whole so that Scottish families are better off, is a major distortion of reality. As I demonstrated in this post this is not money in the Scottish peoples' pockets, or the annual fiscal dividend from independence. Rather it is that an independent Scotland's fiscal deficit would have been slightly less worse than the UK if in 2010-11 it had received its geographical share of oil revenues. But a large deficit is still a deficit.
Strength 6, education and the excellence of Scottish universities, is a clear strength of the Scottish economy. But to support this statement by the claim that the Scottish universities are benefitting from unprecedented funding is only a half truth. It omits the fact that the charging of fees in England, for better or worse, is raising the funding of universities south of the border to a level which will make it increasingly hard for Scottish universities to compete in both research and teaching excellence. Moreover, there are real concerns about the extent of knowledge transfer from the Scottish universities to Scottish firms and whether economic development policy is properly capitalising on the strengths of the universities.
Finally, strength 7, inward investment and the success of Scottish Development International in attracting companies to Scotland is not to be disputed as I noted here. But there are real issues about the nature and significance of inward investment policy in Scotland as the recent debate about the role of Amazon has demonstrated.
There are other strengths that the Scottish Government appears to have ignored. Stephen Boyd tweets that it is surprising that no mention is made of financial services. I agree with him. The Government may be ashamed of the banks but financial services accounts for a rising share of 10% of GVA with more than half in non-banking such as asset management, pensions, and life assurance. Then there are the other industries that Scottish Enterprise sees Scotland as having major strengths: creative media, enabling technologies, business services, life sciences, and tourism. None of these is mentioned.
Added to this is the evidence that Scotland has high levels of social capital: trust, mature institutions, which make Scotland a 'good place to do business' and which are increasingly seen as a critical ingredient in economic growth. Finally, there is the evidence of Scotland's high amenity where, for example, Edinburgh ranks high as 'place to live'.
All of these are key strengths of the Scottish economy and will influence its future growth.
So, why were they ignored?
A cynic might say that they have little to do with the case for independence. Maybe that is going too far. But the Scottish government can do a better and more accurate job of documenting Scotland's economic strengths than the heavy dose of spin that it offered in response to the Economist.


text:
Apr 29 2015
No Offence
Christopher Spivey
I have now had a reply from Katia Vandenbroucke of the HCPC in regard to my complaint against the social workers, Nicole Miles & Julie robinson.
You will notice that Vandenbroucke reply has a bit of a 'devil may care' attitude about it.
It was also interesting to note that the email wasn't marked "strictly private & confidential" – unlike her email prior to this one.
Indeed, it also has to be said that instead of putting the onus on me to send her a copy of the report and evidence contained within it – probably in the hope that I would lose interest – all she had to do was request a copy from the social workers.
And once having done so, should the social workers copy not tally with the evidence that I have already provided her with, then she could request our copy.
Yet despite the very serious nature of our complaint, the inference in Katia Vandenbroucke's email is that if we don't jump through hoops to provide her with the requested information, then the investigation will grind to a halt and the case closed.
Furthermore, Vandenbroucke completely ignored the question that I asked her to answer in my last email, in order that she may set my mind at rest.
Indeed you may remember that I asked her for a simple "yes" or "no" answer to the question:
Being as a social worker's completed assessment has potentially life changing, devastating consequence for a child and indeed that child's parents and will form the basis of any court proceedings on which a judge will heavily rely on when making a final decision – do you agree that nothing less than an unbiased, clearly set out, complete in content, totally accurate, mistake free, assessment which leaves nothing open to interpretation or misguidance, is acceptable?
The fact that she chose to ignore the question does fuck all to allay my fears.
Nevertheless, the following is a copy & paste of her email:
Dear Mr Spivey,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your email dated 11 April 2015 and the further information you sent, which was received on 17 April 2015. The further information you provided included screen shots of parts of various documents.
I understand from your last email that you are providing further documentation and we will await receipt of that.
In addition to any other documents you wish to provide, we ultimately seek a full copy of the:
1) Assessment prepared in relation to your grandson.
Please note that all cases are reviewed on a case by case basis in terms of whether they meet the Standard of Acceptance and require further investigation. As such I am unable to provide you with a definitive answer at this stage whether this matter will proceed to the next stage in the process, which is consideration by the Investigating Committee Panel.
We look forward to receiving the additional documentation from you in due course.
Kind regards,
Katia Vandenbroucke
Case Team 3
It is also interesting to note Vandenbroucke's reply to my friend "Pongos" email.
You see, Pongo had emailed her asking the following question:
Dear Ms Vandenbrouche: Is your discipline legal or social work?
To which Vandenbroucke replied:
Please be advised that I do not work in a social work capacity or legal capacity for the HCPC.
Case Managers are neutral and do not take the side of either the Registrant or the person who raised the concern with us. The role of the Case Manager is to manage the progress of the case throughout the process, to gather relevant information and explain how the process works.
Kind regards,
Katia Vandenbroucke
Now, since Vandenbroucke is supposedly a qualified solicitor/barrister I find it strange that she is not working in her chosen field… But maybe that is just me.
Nevertheless, all the evidence to what I have alleged was sent off via recorded delivery mail along with a copy of our full complaint and I will be sending her a copy of the social workers report in full tomorrow via the same method.
It is also worth mentioning a Chimp article sent to me today by my friend Eric.
The article is about former Monty Python cameraman (is that the only program that he filmed?) who was arrested at home at 3AM in the morning on allegations of harassment… Hence it would seem that harassment is now a much more serious crime than say armed robbery since armed robbers get knocked up at around 6.30 AM in the morning.
Now Eric sent me the article to point out the similarities to my arrest but added that it could just be the Chimp following an agenda to 'normalise' arrests in the middle of the night regardless of the severity of offence – the latter being a theory that I am more inclined to agree with given the scant details in the article.
Course, the only real thing that is similar between mine and this short-term career cameramans is the ridiculous time of the arrest.
After All, the Monkey-nutz did not condemn my arrest, despite the fact that it was:
- Illegal
- and carried out despite having no evidence to do so
- by 4 very aggressive thugs
- who burst into my home at 1:30AM without arrest or search warrant
- and proceeded to steal and plant child porn on my computer
- after which I was held at Southend Central police station for 19 hours
- in which time a malicious, completely without foundation referral was made to Social Services.
Moreover, the fella in question, John Wellard was actually sending – or encouraging/inciting others to send – material to his alleged targets, as well as attaching insulting (albeit doubtlessly accurate) drawings & allegations about his victims to lampposts.
Course, that isn't to say that I believe that the plod were right in their action in this instance.
On the contrary, this is just another example to add to the already countless examples to suggest that we are living under a dictatorship, policed by mindless thugs… An unacceptable situation which needs to change.
Just sayin'.
Six police officers arrested a pensioner for harassment and quizzed him for two hours over a series of satirical posters poking fun at local politicians.
Former Monty Python cameraman John Wellard, 71, told the uniformed officers who marched into his home on Friday night: 'I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.'
Police were responding to complaints that light-hearted posters appearing in Faversham, Kent, amounted to harassment of members of the town council who were being lampooned.
For the last year residents have clashed with councillors over fears the town's historic creek area will be turned over to developers for expensive flats.
In recent months the posters, one depicting a Tory councillor riding a donkey, began appearing in the town.
Last night Mr Wellard – who refuses to confirm or deny any involvement – said: 'It was completely Pythonesque.
'Lampoonery and satire have been part of British public life for centuries.
'Why have six policemen threatened to go through my belongings just because a few feathers have been ruffled? Freedom of speech is being whittled away.'
Mr Wellard, who was interviewed under caution at the local police station, chose to give a 'no comment' answer to every question.
He said: 'It's irrelevant who's done what because I do not believe any offence has been committed.


text:
What Matters — Choice and Opportunity
by Jo Ann Skousen | Posted March 11, 2017
I Am Not Your Negro is one of the most important films of 2016, but it has received scant attention, beyond being nominated for an Oscar. It expresses the African-American experience by transcending political philosophy and social theory to engage the emotion and empathy of the viewer. Using movie clips, newsreels, television interviews, and the poignant and elegant words of James Baldwin, it guides the viewer to enter the celluloid world and experience, with the protagonist, what it has meant to be black in America.
The documentary relies heavily on film artifacts from 1940–1980, yet it feels as fresh and current as if the speeches had been written last week. As much as we like to think we have made progress in race relations (and certainly we have enacted numerous laws that eliminate segregation, favor diversity, and punish racism), the individual experience for many African-Americans continues to be problematic.
With his crisp Oxfordian erudition, Baldwin explains to Dick Cavett in one series of clips and in a debate with William F. Buckley at the Cambridge Union hall in another what it was like for a black man growing up surrounded by popular culture to which he could never belong. As children he and his friends put on cowboy hats to mimic John Wayne as they shot at imaginary Indians, never realizing until much later that the enemy they were shooting "was me." He notes bitterly, "They needed us to pick their cotton, and now they don't need us at all. So they're killing us off, like they killed off the Indians [in movies]."
As much as we like to think we have made progress in race relations, the individual experience for many African-Americans continues to be problematic.
Instead of presenting the black experience through a didactic, lecturing, and angry harangue, director Raoul Peck immerses us in the experience through carefully selected film clips, some showing the "Stepin Fetchit" stereotype of the grinning, scraping, terrified Negro servant; others showing the pathos of the black child trying to pass for white, as in Imitation of Life, or black characters sacrificing their own security or happiness to save a white companion, as in The Defiant Ones; or, more often, entirely obliterating the black race from typical Hollywood films that required the black viewer either to identify with the white protagonist or step entirely out of the story. (Doris Day films, with her platinum blond hair and characteristically white costumes, are noted in particular.)
I believe this documentary, and the Doris Day musical clip in particular, influenced the sudden surge of racial criticism against La La Land during the final runup to the Oscars: viewers suddenly realized that La La Land is as white as a Doris Day musical, with the few black characters marginalized as an appendage of the white jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) — or so the argument went. Ironically (and significant to Peck's thesis) Academy members didn't even notice this whiteness at first, as they lavished LLL with fourteen nominations. I suspect they became abashedly aware of it only after watching I Am Not Your Negro (which they were required to do in order to vote for the Best Documentary category) and atoned for their oversight by voting Moonlight as Best Picture (read my review of the Awards fiasco here).
And that's the point: as whites, we don't even see the problem until it is pointed out to us. And then we go overboard in the other direction, as the Academy did in selecting Moonlight at the last minute. Peck's argument — and the argument of many black activists — is that white Americans simply take for granted that what they see on the Hollywood screen, the television screen, the Facebook screen, and the textbook page looks just like them. Because whiteness is presented as ubiquitous and universal, white Americans learned to feel entitled to that sensation. So when we hear an impassioned "Black Lives Matter!" we often respond reflexively, "All lives matter!" We completely miss the point that "all lives" has seldom included "black lives." Not culturally, at least. And saying, "I'm not racist," or "Many of my friends are black," even if it's true, misses the point as well. We may very well not be racist. Most of us probably aren't, in fact. But when we defensively change the subject to ourselves, we unintentionally silence the voice that is straining to be heard.
Viewers suddenly realized that La La Land is as white as a Doris Day musical, with the few black characters marginalized.
Toni Morrison makes this point in her novella The Bluest Eye, in which a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove, wants desperately to look like Shirley Temple, whom she watches at the movie matinees every Saturday. Even Pecola's own mother shoves her aside and prefers the pretty little white children whom she cares for as a domestic servant. I Am Not Your Negro demonstrates powerfully what it's like to grow up knowing that you are inherently unlovable and the antithesis of cultural beauty or heroism.
As a young man, Baldwin moved to Paris, where he could move freely in public without the sensation of being watched, feared, and suspected. Nevertheless, he returned to the US frequently to lend his voice to the Civil Rights movement. In 1979 he was commissioned by McGraw-Hill to write a book, Remember This House, about his personal remembrances of three assassinated black leaders: Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. Baldwin never completed the book, but the 30 or 40 pages he did write are powerful and eloquent, and they form the central storyline of I Am Not Your Negro, narrated in voiceover by Samuel L. Jackson. The sections that focus on these three men, told with intimate home movies as well as official news footage, are some of the most impassioned of the film.
As a result of this documentary I came to a better understanding of the phrase "Black Lives Matter," and why the response "All Lives Matter" is irrelevant and trivializing. But I didn't come to any sense of a solution. Half a century later, despite desegregation, affirmative action, welfare, fair housing laws, reversed cultural appropriation, a black president, and a white population fairly begging to be inclusive and non-racist, we're still dealing with some of the same problems. Where do we go from here? Baldwin suggests that whites "invented the nigger," by which he means created the trope of the black who is defined as rapist, violent, lazy, foolish, incapable, and immoral, and that "it can't be fixed until whites can figure out why." He also had harsh words for the NAACP, believing that it created class distinctions of its own by privileging light-skinned blacks over dark-skinned blacks. Is class distinction innate in the human psyche? Can it be overcome?
We may very well not be racist. But when we defensively change the subject to ourselves, we unintentionally silence the voice that is straining to be heard.
After watching the film I began to contemplate the black experience through the lens of the women's movement. Women, too, suffered from the way they were portrayed culturally, through art. Women, too, had to watch "their kind" stand in the shadows or the sidelines of the movies while male protagonists saved the day. Like Baldwin, I can remember playing cowboys and Indians with the neighborhood children in the 1950s; I don't remember any of us wanting to be "Miss Kitty." Also like blacks in the movies, girls were taught through the movies (especially in the 1950s) that a woman needs to be slapped around a little bit to calm her down and make her more compliant, and that she needs to give in to a man's passionate, if unwanted, embrace because "no" really means "yes." We also learned that bad boys were good, and we set our eyes on marrying one of them as the ultimate goal.
What made the difference for women? It wasn't saying, "Women's Lives Matter." Everyone already knew that. Women mattered in the kitchen, in the laundry room, in the nursery, in the bedroom. Men were wont to say with a patronizing chuckle, "Without women the human race couldn't even continue, God love 'em." But it was belittling praise. Women were also told how they mattered in lyrics like these:
Hey! Little girl
Comb your hair, fix your makeup
Soon he will open the door
Don't think because there's a ring on your finger
You needn't try anymore.
For wives should always be lovers too
Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you
I'm warning you — (Burt Bacharach, "Wives and Lovers")
My friends and I used to sing along to those subversive lyrics with their catchy tune while teasing our bouffant hair and painting on our eye makeup, never realizing how songs like these were holding us back from the truth that "Girls can be anything."
Is class distinction innate in the human psyche? Can it be overcome?
Where women did not matter was in the workforce and in the marketplace of ideas. Here's an example: in the 1970s and '80s my husband and I wrote several books together, almost a book a year. He would do the research and write the outline; I would write the actual book. We published the books under his name, and they sold like hotcakes. Our biggest seller was High Finance on a Low Budget, selling over 300,000 copies in a dozen years. When it came time to write the 6th edition, he didn't have time to update it, and I balked at being the ghostwriter again, so we published it with both our names. It was 1992, after all, and I had a financial résumé of my own by then — I was the editor of a monthly financial newsletter called "Money Letter for Women," and I spoke frequently at investment conferences. Sadly, that 6th edition sold fewer than 4,000 copies. The next edition was published without my name, and it sold like hotcakes again. It wasn't my husband's fault, and it wasn't the publisher's fault. The market had spoken resoundingly. It would accept a woman writing a financial letter for women, but it did not want my name on the cover of that investment book.
Twenty-five years later, that wouldn't be the case. Now women practically dominate the nightly news as political pundits and expert guests. If I were writing an investment book today, no one would ask me to use my initials instead of my name. This is what I think made the difference: a generation of parents and teachers began telling little girls, "You can do anything. You can be anything." It was said in school, in homes, in books, in movies. And everyone began to believe it.
The market had spoken resoundingly. It would accept a woman writing a financial letter for women, but it did not want that woman's name on the cover of an investment book.
Black Lives do matter, but it's not enough to matter. Mattering leads to victimhood and paternalism. In Africa, blacks built civilizations, led tribes, cultivated lands, created art, and fought wars to protect their turf and their way of life. In the antebellum South, blacks worked in the blazing sun while the master provided their housing, their clothes, their food, and their healthcare (meager though it was). Post-Civil War, they continued to receive food, shelter, and healthcare from the "government plantation." James Baldwin complained about government paternalism in the Cambridge debate, declaring calmly and forcefully that the black man should be seen "not as a ward, and not as an object of charity, but as one who built America." He added, "The story of the Negro in America is the story of America. It is not a pretty story."
Now, nearly 40 years later, his words seem as timely as if he had spoken them yesterday. And yet I think Baldwin would be pleased by some of the changes in media. Films like Hidden Figures do offer the message that blacks — and black women at that — can do anything. Moreover, black actors are now being cast in parts where being black doesn't matter, and that's a good thing. Think of Denzel Washington in Flight, for example. The role of the alcoholic pilot who successfully lands a damaged plane could just as easily have been played by Tom Cruise — or by Meryl Streep, for that matter. We have come a longer way than Peck's documentary might suggest.
Black Lives don't just matter. Black lives can do anything. Maya Angelou wrote about the humiliation she felt at her high school graduation when the white (of course), male (also of course) school superintendent proudly told everyone about the progress his administration was making in the school district. He told them about the new science labs at the white high school, and the wonderful new athletic fields they would be installing at the black high school. Maya was stunned. The black students mattered, yes, but they wouldn't be scientists or mathematicians. They would be athletes. August Wilson (a black playwright) does the same thing with his black characters in Fences, when young Corey has only two options available to him, a football scholarship or the Marines, and his brother Lyons is a jazz player. By contrast, Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is determined to start a business because he knows that in the absence of an education, business is his only path to success. On the night when he invests his father's insurance money in a liquor store with two of his friends, he says to his ten-year-old son Travis, "Son, what do you want to be? Because you just choose it and you can be it. Anything at all." That his son could have such opportunity — the infinity of choice — matters to Walter.
Hansberry knew that Travis could be anything, because that's what her parents had told her. Her parents counterbalanced the white cultural bias she saw in the movies and on the streets with a constant parade of black poets, writers, and activists who visited their home. She knew such heroes as Langston Hughes and James Baldwin personally. And armed with that knowledge — I can be anything! — she became an educated, talented, successful playwright.
Could it be as simple as that? Or am I being naïve? As a white woman do I even have the right to suggest it? All I know for sure is that all the government programs of the past 50 years have made little progress, and the demands made by the official "Black Lives Matters" organization are focused on more government programs with more government subsidies. More paternalism from the government plantation. Could the solution be as simple as mothers and fathers and teachers telling black children everywhere, "You can do anything. You can be anything"? Maybe not. But maybe it's worth a try.
Editor's Note: Review of "I Am Not Your Negro," directed by Raoul Peck. Magnolia Pictures, 2016, 93 minutes.
Jo Ann Skousen is the founding director of the Anthem Libertarian Film Festival and the entertainment editor for Liberty. She teaches English literature and writing at Chapman University and Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
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Gary Jason
As I haven't seen the picture, I won't comment on it. But I will comment on Ms. Skousen's apt query, "where do we go from here?" regarding race relations. My view is that by and large, America has succeeded in removing all barriers to black achievement that anti-discrimination legislation can achieve. But so much of contemporary black thought—fanned by Democratic identity politics—is that somehow, more legislation is needed, as whites are still the problem they have always been.
I find that sadly mistaken. White racism is not what today holds black folk back—it is lack of equal opportunity in education. The major thing we should all agree upon is the need for vouchers across the board—a national, unlimited full privatization of the schools so that all kids who want a decent education can get one, just as the "socialist" Sweden passed a quarter of a century ago. Pass that, and in a generation black incomes and educational attainments will equal the white levels. But without that, all the irrelevant Black Lives Matter demonstrations won't change a thing.
Of course, what is especially annoying is that the Party that most affects a racially enlightened perspective—the Democratic Party—itself is the major barrier to school choice. Why? No so much racism as greed: the greed for teachers' union dues.
Tue, 2017-03-14 15:28
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text:
Another performance on the Engadget Show this Saturday
Happy New Year! Glomag and I have been invited to do a couple songs on the Engadget Show again this Saturday. If you would enjoy (or at least not utterly detest) the discussion of gadgets, gaming and technology by wisecracking bloggers, do come. It's free (but you have to queue for tickets), their guest is Google's senior product manager for Android, Erick Tseng, and they'll be raffling off CES swag, too. Details below but please be sure to check the Engadget post for updates.
The Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (Google map). Tickets are — as always — free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served… so get there early! Here's all the info you need:
- There is no admission fee — tickets are completely free
- The event is all ages
- Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2PM on Saturday, doors will open for seating at 4:30PM, and the show begins at 5PM
- You cannot collect tickets for friends or family — anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
- Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
- The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
- The show length is around an hour
Miss our first performance? Head to Engadget.com to watch Show 003. Go down to the video player and skip to 69 minutes in if you only want to see glomag and me play.
Took me long enough…here's the video.


text: Jaruff 2 Report post Posted May 9, 2004 http://rerevolution.com This is a new forum I just started. It is dedicated to Webmasters. It has forums dedicated to PHP, ASP, HTML, and etc. We also have forums that are dedicated to discussion on webmaster necessaries such as e-mails, domains, and hosting. Soon there will even be a program where a registered user will be able to design their own webpage by use of buttons. We also offer free e-mail redirection ([email protected]) and other services may be open soon. Our motto is "Your Key To The Webmaster World". We are trying to keep to that motto closely. I am also looking for staff and that can be found at the forums also. We may have a site up in a few weeks so stay tuned for information on that also. Regards, Jaruff *Yes, I have over 30 posts and I am going to be active here now and I see no problem with advertising to anyone that my question me advertising my site* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Entertainment industry lighting sales specialist TMB Associates has changed its name to TMB.
The decision to drop 'Associates' from the title was taken last month. "At first we were quite embarrassed about losing our Associates, we couldn't figure out where they'd gone," stated California-based CEO Colin Waters, "but once we got used to it, we decided we really liked it. Everyone knows us as simply TMB, so now we've made it official".
With offices spanning three continents and over 100 full time employees, TMB felt that the term 'Associates' was no longer appropriate for its global, 21st century, commercial operations.
The company has also launched a new logo, reflecting its growth as a diverse, worldwide, and high-tech company. The new logo also echoes elements of the old one, showing a focus on maintaining the friendly, service-oriented operation and attention to detail that's been a key to TMB's success.
The name-change and the new logo give TMB a more consolidated approach to international trading and marketing. It also helps streamline and integrate the company through its headquarters in Los Angeles, London, New York, and Beijing.
Waters adds, "The changes underscore the close relationship between our worldwide offices. TMB's professional customers can expect the same quality of service, wherever they happen to be on the planet. We're going to keep it that way, as we continue to grow".
TMB is a value-added distributor of entertainment lighting equipment, supplies and services, and has been helping the world's most successful lighting companies for over 19 years. A diverse product range includes all major quality US and European brands used in all areas of performance lighting.
Rush Service Normal!
For further information, please check out the TMB website at: www.tmb.com


text:
On Friday, March 31, elementary school students without any previous exposure to the field of neuroscience were guided in constructing a network of neurons using pipe cleaners. The exercise was part of an effort by University students to expose students at the Christina Seix Academy to a field often excluded to more privileged environments.
The Princeton Neuroscience Network, a student-led group that fosters greater awareness and appreciation for neuroscience, held its first major outreach event on March 31. The fourth-grade students from Christina Seix Academy, a school founded to provide education to children from low-income, single-parent households, were brought to the Princeton Neuroscience Institute to engage in a series of activities about science and the brain during the University's first Neuroscience Fair.
"I liked it a lot. It taught us a lot of things we didn't know before. We went in not knowing a lot about the brain, but we came out knowing much more," said Serenity Davis, a student at Christina Seix.
Heads of the PNN Outreach Committee Chi-Chi Azoba '18 and Selam Zenebe-Gete '18 explained that it was important to them as STEM students to spread awareness of neuroscience and to share the University's many resources.
"As women of color, getting students to come here and see us perform as student leaders has been empowering" Azoba explained.
Azoba and Zenebe-Gete, both juniors concentrating in Molecular Biology at the University, have been planning this event since their freshman year, when they started the Outreach Committee of Princeton Neuroscience Network after meeting one of PNN's co-founders, Seong Jang '18.
"We had this vision freshman year to expose younger students to neuroscience since neuroscience had never been introduced to us as children," Azoba noted.
Since its creation two years ago, PNN has been engaging with University students through study breaks, movie screenings with professors, and research symposiums. According to Jang, however, the group felt that it was time for PNN to engage with a wider community.
"We want PNN to grow from all branches," explained Jang, referring to PNN's events, research, and outreach efforts.
Jang hopes that through outreach efforts such as this fair, those interested in neuroscience at the University can enhance their experiences while positively impacting the surrounding community.
Consisting of a series of blocks or activities the children rotated through, the Neuroscience Fair engaged students in a variety of ways as they learned about the different parts of the brain, their functions, and how these parts of the brain affect perception and understanding. For example, one block allowed the children to watch Princeton students dissect a sheep brain, during which PNN volunteers showed them the functions of each part of the brain. Another block allowed the children to monitor the electrical activity of muscles using a Muscle SpikerBox.
Students of Christina Seix Academy left the University not only with a stronger understanding of the brain and of the field of neuroscience, but with an appreciation for science and a desire to pursue neuroscience in the future. In addition, exposure to the University community delighted Academy students, who expressed their fascination with the campus.
"Have you seen the movie "Groundhog Day"? I wish today was my groundhog day so I could come here every day!" said Academy student Justin Hogue.
Some children, according to teachers at the academy, have even set goals since their visit of becoming students at the University someday.
"The Neuroscience Fair sparked something in our students. It made them curious and excited to learn more about their brain and learning, " said Nicole Morillo, a teacher at Christina Seix.
"The students absolutely loved every minute of the Neuroscience Fair. It broadened their understanding and increased their enthusiasm about science," said Ashley Umberger, another teacher at the Academy.
Seeing their project come to fruition with such success, PNN leaders said they encourage and are optimistic about their organizational goals. One of these goals is to hold a conference here at the University that will bring together professors, students, and researchers from other institutions who are interested in neuroscience.


text:
The pious miscellany and other poems, by Tadhg Gaolach or Timothy O'Sullivan now for the first time collected.
by O'Sullivan, TimothyPublished by : John O'Daly, 1868 (Dublin) Physical details: xii, 96 p. 14 cm. Green leather cover.
Subject(s): Modern Irish | Poetry | Texts | Eighteenth Century | Religion | Ireland
|Item type
|Current location
|Call number
|Date due
|School of Celtic Studies Main Library - Special Collection
|SC 891.621 O'S (Browse shelf)
|Available (Short Loan)
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Posting temporarily disabled due to a rather aggressive spambot...
Hurricane Sandy damage toll
So who got hit the hardest?
|I know there's a Richard Phillips thread already on this but... I hears all his paintings from that Gagosian show got completely destroyed by Sandy. Don't know if it's true, also, if the thread above is true, it wouldn't take him long to make some more.
|Dec. 6, 2012, 8:44 p.m.


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Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral
Open year round. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. First Catholic cathedral west of the Allegheny Mountains, the church was built in 1816-1819. This historic edifice contains fine paintings, gifts of Francis (King of the two Sicilies) and Pope Leo XII. Donations requested. HA.
- Website: http://www.stjosephbasilica.org
- Email: email@example.com
- Phone: (502) 348-3126
- Fax: (502) 349-0941
Address310 W. Stephen Foster Ave.
Bardstown , KY 40004


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Ark, a Singapore-based medtech enterprise focused on early cancer detection, has raised a record US$40 million in Series A funding. Ark's vision is "a world without late-stage cancer" and its mission is to eliminate late-stage cancer related death by 2048 through the introduction of accurate, affordable, and actionable cancer detection technologies. This record-breaking Series A round was led by shareholders of Venturecraft and backed by Gaorong Capital (formerly known as Banyan Capital), one of China's top 5 venture capital firms with a portfolio of over US$1.7 billion in committed investments.
Established as a result of a merger between MiRXES and Venturecraft, Ark is kicking off by launching a blood test for early detection of stomach cancer in Asia. Spun off from A*STAR in 2014, MiRXES had developed a highly sensitive and robust microRNA (miRNA) detection technology and identified novel bloodborne cancer biomarkers that detects early-stage cancer before clinical symptoms appear. Formed in 2014, Singapore-based Venturecraft, who has been investing in global growth-stage and late-stage ventures in MedTech, BioTech, and Digital Health, invested in MiRXES in 2016. Venturecraft has since been actively supporting MiRXES to commercialise and scale its technologies and products.
With this latest development, MiRXES combines its R&D, manufacturing and commercialisation capabilities with Venturecraft's clinical assets and venture financing resources to form Ark, an end-to-end solution provider focused on early cancer detection. The Series A funding will enable Ark to accelerate its internationalisation from Singapore to China and beyond. MiRXES' founding team and shareholders of Venturecraft will remain as key strategic shareholders of Ark.
Isaac Ho, co-founder and co-CEO of Ark, shared, "In many ways, the creation of Ark through this merger simply formalises a long-standing relationship between MiRXES and Venturecraft. We have been working together from the very beginning to disrupt cancer via early cancer detection in Asia and the rest of the world and are excited to do this officially as Ark."
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Cancer statistics show that early detection of cancer will improve patient survival rates from as low as 10% to as high as 90%. Furthermore, 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries where people have no access to early cancer detection technologies. Ark is targeting this vast population in Asia that is at risk of developing cancer, an estimated US$50 billion market. With its headquarters in Singapore and operations in China as well as the United States, Ark will build up necessary infrastructure, including sales channels and diagnostic laboratories, to reach consumers directly with more affordable early cancer detection solutions.
Ark's first product will be a stomach cancer blood test, developed to detect early stage stomach cancer before symptoms appear. This test was developed in collaboration with the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium (SGCC), A*STAR's Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD hub), National University Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital; and has recently completed a three-year, multi-center clinical study involving more than 5,000 matched control and stomach cancer subjects. These collaborations with DxD Hub and other ecosystem players have been crucial for the successful launch of this product in regional markets.
Dr Yeoh Khay Guan, Lead Principal Investigator of SGCC, Deputy Chief Executive at National University Health System (NUHS) as well as Dean, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine said: "Currently there is no reliable blood test for the diagnosis of stomach cancer. The blood test developed by Ark is the first of its kind available. Such a test will allow stomach cancer to be detected early so that it can be cured and has the potential to save many lives."
With the injection of funds, Ark will be scaling up multi-centre clinical studies focused on early cancer detection. Ark has already set in motion a plan to launch Asia's largest clinical study that aims to enroll 50,000 participants through partnerships with local governments and medical institutions. The funds will also be used to develop and launch new blood tests for early detection of other high prevalence cancers such as lung, breast and colon cancer.
Last month, Roche announced the launch of FoundationOne CDx, Foundation Medicine's comprehensive companion diagnostic test for personalised cancer care in Singapore. FoundationOne CDx supports clinicians in their decision-making by providing a clear, in-depth report that describes the unique genomic profile of a patient's tumour as well as associated, approved therapies and relevant clinical trials.


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AutoRacing1 is an
independent internet online publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed
by CART Inc., NASCAR, FIA, FedEx, Winston, or any other series sponsor. This material may not be published,
broadcast, or redistributed without permission.
Copyright 1999 - 2000, AutoRacing1, Hamilton, NJ
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If you haven't got in the Christmas mood yet, then this is the weekend to start, with the arrival of the German and Craft Markets, the Big Wheel and the ice rink.
Of if you'd prefer to escape to another world, then visit Birmingham Comic Con or become immersed in the magical world of Fantastic Beasts.
All this and music and comedy from Jess Glynne, Laura Mvula and Jarred Christmas.
Here's our pick of the best shows, comedy, gigs, food and days and nights out from Friday to Sunday, November 18-20.
Or why not check out our ultimate guide to things to do in Birmingham? It's full of great ideas for ways to spend your time in our fair city.
Friday November 18
German Christmas Market
Victoria Square and New Street
10am - 9pm
Love it or hate it, for many it's become a welcome annual fixture and a true sign that Christmas is coming.
The German market opens on Thursday, November 17 so this is the first weekend you can spend there. And this year, for the first time, it will run over Christmas until December 29. Lots of time to enjoy the gluhwein, bratwurst and schnitzels!
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
Mockingbird Theatre
Custard Factory
0843 455 0399
Friday - Sunday
This magical new film by JK Rowling, a prequel to Harry Potter starring Eddie Redmayne and Colin Farrell, opens at all cinemas today. But it's especially good to see it at Birmingham's newest independent cinema, the Mockingbird, which is showing blockbusters full-time from today. Screenings are at 11am, 2.15pm, 6.30pm and 9.30pm – and don't forget to check out the food too.
Jess Glynne
Getting Arena, NEC
0844 338 8222
Friday, 7.15pm
Chart topping Jess is on her Take Me Home Tour, which actually takes her anywhere but home but does include Birmingham. Expect to hear hits like Hold My Hand, Right Here and Don't Be So Hard on Yourself.
The Full Monty
Birmingham Hippodrome
0844 388 5000
Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm
Based on the smash hit film, this production about a group of unemployed Sheffield steelworkers who decide to strip to make money is getting great reviews. It stars Gary Lucy, Anthony Lewis, Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Chris Fountain and Kai Owen.
Midnight in Paris
220 Corporation Street
0121 36 1171
Annexe restaurant is holding one of its themed nights, where you can be transported to another age or country. This time it's Paris in the 1920s, with cocktails, dining and live gypsy jazz music.
Saturday, November 19
Ice Rink and Big Wheel
Centenary Square
10am - 10pm
These popular attractions open today and operate until January 8 next year, every day apart from Christmas Day. You can get your skates on in festive entertainment and go up in the air to get a bird's eye view of the city.
Santa and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham will open Ice Skate Birmingham - along with the Big Wheel and Christmas Craft Market - at noon on Saturday, November 19. This year there are also professional skaters, Rock Choir and Steve Denyer from Heart Radio helping with the official launch of the rink.
Opening times are 10am to 10pm seven days a week, except for New Year's Eve when it's open from 10am to 1am.
Craft Fair
St Martin in the Bullring
Saturday, 10am - 4.30pm
The Craft Market in Centenary Square opens today next to the ice rink and big wheel and runs until December 20, but don't miss this one-off event at the church next to the Bullring. There will be a wide range of stalls and a great place to find presents and raise funds for St Martins.
Birmingham Comic Con
Birmingham NEC
Saturday & Sunday
This is a weekend-long celebration of all things geeky. Special guests include Sam J. Jones, aka Flash Gordon, Manu Bennett from Arrow and The Hobbit, Chris Barrie and Danny John-Jules from Red Dwarf, Peter Davison from Doctor Who and Ian McElhinney from Game of Thrones.
It's worth noting that children aged five or under get in free before 11am and those 10 or under are free after 11am.
Laura Mvula
O2 Institute, Digbeth High Street
0121 643 0428
Saturday, 7pm
Birmingham's own beautiful singer performs a homecoming gig in the intimate surroundings of the O2 Institute. She'll be playing tracks from her Mercury-prize nominated album The Dreaming Room, with support from Olivier St Louis.
Rep Comedy Club
Birmingham Rep Studio
0121 236 4455
Saturday, 8pm
This comedy night at the theatre features a great line-up of Jarred Christmas (he's called that all year round but is particularly festive at this time of year), Patrick Monahan and Australian paper-puppetry from Bec Hill. The night is compered by Tiernan Douieb.
Sunday, November 20
John Otway
Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath
0121 444 2081
Sunday, 7pm
Chase away the Sunday night blues with an evening spent in the surreal company of John Otway. The singer songwriter has built up a large cult following, attracted by his eccentric sense of humour and the manic energy he puts into his live performances.
RAF in Concert
Symphony Hall
0121 780 3333
This annual visit from the Royal Air Force's finest musicians is always uplifting. They will perform a mix of show tunes, classical pieces, big band numbers and stirring military marches.


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Men are fascinated by blonde girls, as they tend to look more innocent and easier to fool or to fool around with. The blonde hotties you'll see in our selection of videos on Adultinc.com will definitely blow your mind in terms of sexual gratification. Prepare yourselves for an avalanche of climaxes as you watch these hot blondes getting nasty and screaming with pleasure!


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Hi !
I'd promised to show the new embroidery project,but am posting an image of a painting (only a part) today.
I've been practising to paint waterfall for quiet sometime.I can't undo the mistakes here,
so it was really frustrating when I couldn't nail it.
I was so.. happy when I got this right atleast to some extent,thought I should share this with my blog friends.
What do y'all think?.Did I get it or not?
I'd like to hear from y'all,so please do post a comment or mail me.


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French-born diplomat claims victory in Georgia vote
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A French-born former foreign minister of Georgia celebrated what she claims is her victory in a tight presidential runoff Wednesday that marks the last time Georgians elect their head of state by popular vote.
An exit poll conducted by Edison Research for Rustavi 2 television showed the 66-year-old Salome Zurabishvili backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party winning 55 percent of the vote, while her rival, the 60-year-old Grigol Vashadze, who was supported by a coalition of opposition forces, was trailing behind with 45 percent.
The Central Election Commission said that with just over half of all the precincts counted, Zurabishvili was leading with 58 percent while Vashadze had 42 percent of the ballot.
Polls opened at 8 a.m. (0400 GMT) and closed at 8 p.m. (1600 GMT).
Edison Research interviewed 15,000 voters across 115 precincts in Georgia. It said its poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Vashadze, who also served a stint as Georgia's foreign minister, refused to concede defeat, saying he would wait for full preliminary results, which are expected Thursday.
Georgia, a nation of nearly 4 million people in the volatile Caucasus region south of Russia, is transitioning to a parliamentary republic. Presidential powers have been substantially reduced with the prime minister becoming the most powerful figure in the country. After the new president's six-year term ends, future heads of state will be chosen by delegates.
"Our choice is peaceful Georgia, united country and of equal citizens," Zurabishvili said after seeing the exit poll showing her victory. "Our choice is the dialogue with those parts of the society who today has not voted for me and who today don't agree with us. But we all are citizens of one country."
Though the election lacks the usual importance, it is seen as a crucial test for Georgian Dream that is led and funded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili who made his fortune in Russia.
It has dominated the nation's political scene since defeating former president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement in 2012. Ivanishvili briefly served as prime minister in 2012-2013 and has remained a prominent force in Georgian politics ever since.
After the polls closed, Saakashvili spoke on Rustavi 2 television, claiming that the vote was rigged and calling for protests to annul the results.
Zurabishvili ran as an independent but was backed by Georgian Dream, while Vashadze was supported by a coalition that includes the United National Movement. They won 39 and 38 percent respectively in the first round last month.
Zurabishvili was born in France and served as French ambassador to Georgia until becoming Georgia's foreign minister in 2004. She was fired the following year and some Georgians still look at her foreign background with suspicion and criticize her for her contention that Georgia started the 2008 war with Russia.
Zurabishvili's opponents cast her as a pro-Russia candidate — the claim she and Georgian Dream strongly denied. Zurabishvili argued that her background is a strong qualification for serving as Georgian president as the country seeks closer ties with the European Union.
"Diplomatic work in France for me was also a work for Georgia," Zurabishvili said. "Everyone knew that I am Georgian who fights for its country. I knew very well the price of independence and freedom, because I am the child of the country whose ancestors have sacrificed themselves for the independence and freedom."
Vashadze, who served as Georgia's foreign minister in 2008-2012, vowed to re-establish control over the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by peaceful means. Georgia entirely lost control over both provinces after the war with Russia a decade ago, which erupted when Saakashvili made a failed attempt to reclaim sovereignty over South Ossetia.
"Georgia has outlived many empires and will definitely outlive the current Russian empire," Vashadze said.
He also vowed to pardon Saakashvili, who was stripped of his citizenship in 2015 and sentenced in absentia for abuse of power.
Observers saw the vote as a key test before the 2020 parliamentary election.
"For Georgian Dream, the stakes are especially high and it struggles very much ... to win in the second round," said Gia Nodia, the founder of the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development, an independent think-tank.
Earlier this month, the Georgian government announced that a charitable foundation controlled by Ivanishvili promised to write off the debts of 600,000 people, a move described by critics as an attempt to buy votes before the runoff.


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PVC is quite literally a sustainable product. A PVC pipe can easily last for 100 years, and PVC window frames have a service life of 30 years. Other plastics have a much shorter service life. Rigid PVC is extremely strong and ideal for recycling: it can be reused at least four times.
Source PVC4pipes
Source British Plastics Federation


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I'm in an Art Show at Carnival of Collectables!
I have exciting news (at least, I think it's exciting…) I have a piece in an upcoming art show!
About the art show:
Sometimes a story comes from the past..but is it true? Myths and legends surround real and imaginary people, places, and events. Let's explore these legends together with the Legends Show at the Carnival of Collectables! Local and International artists featured!
Artists include:
Candice Angelini, Christophe Prades, Rachel Adams, Jason Norman, Rebecca Graham, Mike Sgier, Jacqueline Hines, Robb Spath, Karli Bresler, Benjamin Martins, Therese Lavery, Kimberlee Traub, Chrysta Hooper, Pat Strube, Ulana Zahajkewycz, Mary Kamphausen Shadbolt and more!
The show will run from November 26th to December 26th
Opening Reception
Saturday, Nov. 26th 4-7pm
I am so excited to see the show! I love the concept for the theme and I'm eager to see what my fellow artists have created!
If you're in the Sicklerville area and want to check out an awesome art show, head on over to Carnival of Collectables! After you look at the show you can also go through their awesome antiques mall!
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The new Sherlock Holmes movie is rollicking, steampunkish, and artfully dark and bleak in its cinematographic depiction of Victorian London. The fast-moving plot calls to mind old-time, Saturday-at-the-movies serials. The gothic darkness reminds me of the first Batman movie with Michael Keaton.
This production goes over the top with its amount (rather than severity) of cartoonish fisticuffs and James Bond-like physical predicaments. Not the about-to-be-caught-with-Miss Moneypenny, sexy-fun kind of predicaments but the about-to-be-sawn-in-half, always-in-peril kind of predicaments. The Holmes-Watson relationship in the film has been much discussed, but it's really only suggested rather than explicit. The critics may have it otherwise, but this is no Brokeback Baker Street.
The dialogue is quick, mumbling, and often hard to hear with a loud, action-movie soundtrack behind it. For that reason alone, those with reduced hearing capability will find the movie's wit and subtleties -- and there are plenty of both -- difficult to follow.
Robert Downey Jr. chews the scenery, of course, and Jude Law's version of Dr. Watson shows deeper depth than some other Watson depictions. This Irene Adler is a fetching but shallow character, as is Watson's fiancee, Mary. The dark-caped villain Lord Blackwell, an antagonist of evil intent, calls to mind the dark Don Giovanni figure in Amadeus, or even Darth Vader. Have I mentioned that the movie is dark?
Appropriately, we saw Sherlock Holmes at a holiday week matinee. We enjoyed it but were glad for the early show discount. I hope these facts provide you with enough clues to deduce our summary rating.
3 years ago