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Similarities between Asperger's Syndrome and NLD
It has often been the case where patients are wrongly diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome when they actually have NLD and vice versa. However these disabilities are very similar so is no wonder they are getting mixed up.
The Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a neurologically-based disorder and it is one of the autism spectrum disorders. Just like the other disorders which are part of this category the patient shows signs of repetitive behaviors, has problems with social interaction and communication. However AS is slightly different than the other disorders in the autism spectrum because the patient diagnosed with AS displays higher cognitive abilities and language skills. Also, people who suffer from this disorder have normal intelligence and that's why professionals are debating if AS is any different from high functioning autism.
Individuals with AS have problems socializing with other people, they seem to be unable to interpret and respond to social cues. Difficulty in changing from one topic to another is why they always seem to do things their way and just follow their agenda. Children with AS sometimes are unwilling to communicate with someone their age which results in their inability to form friendships.
It is important to note that individuals with AS are often able to form proper sentences but their use of the language is very unusual. They have troubles with controlling their speech, sometimes they speak very fast or they use formal vocabulary, other times they talk with a monotone voice. If a topic is interesting to them they continue to revert to it, not allowing the topic to be changed by someone else.
Nonverbal communication seems even harder for AS patients. Their use of body language and gesticulations is very limited and they also have problems reading other people cues. They often turn away as to avoid eye contact and their facial expressions can be either non-existent or very inappropriate.
Individuals with AS have rather odd behavior. They could be doing particular routines over and over again, finger flicking, body rocking and similar movements are also noticeable with this patients. They pick a particular interest and they become obsessed with it spending all of their time on that subject. However there is a good side to this behavior as patients with AS having this intense interests can sometimes show outstanding talents the in the particular area they were interested in.
Nonverbal Learning Disability or NLD is slightly different than AS and people who are diagnosed with it show difficulty in using academic and other life skills. That is because they have deficiencies in some areas like visual organization, motor coordination, interpreting information and similar. These weaknesses lead to social difficulties because they can't communicate properly and also areas like mathematics and handwriting are very limited to patients that have NLD. However they have great verbal memory, strong vocabulary and usually individuals with NLD have higher scores in the verbal parts of an IQ tests in comparison to the tests in nonverbal sections.
As we can see this areas of difficulty can bring about the same symptoms that we can see in individuals that are diagnosed with AS. NLD patients are unable to understand nonverbal communication because they don't show any facials expressions which leads to problems when they respond to others and with respectable turn-taking in a conversation. These difficulties slow down their social interactions making other people avoid them which results in social withdrawal. Developing proper motor skills and problems with changing topics are some of the other difficulties individuals with NLD have.
We can't deny the fact that these two disorders both have symptoms that are very similar. What is undeniable is that there are individuals out there who are meeting the criteria for both NLD and AS. That is why different studies have given different results on this topic. Some researchers feel that NLD is just a profile found with AS patients instead of being a disorder itself. Others on the other hand are sure that these two syndromes can overlap but are still very distinctive.
The difference between these syndromes can be found with the people who provide the diagnosis for them. Psychiatry is the field that diagnoses AS which is a disorder that goes along with four other disorders together known as pervasive developmental disorders. These disorders are diagnosed based on the observed behavior of the patient. AS, autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder being the three most known to the public. All of these disorders are very similar and Yale researchers are trying to find out what distinguishes AS from high functioning autism. Even though they are extremely similar AS shares a neuropsychological profile with NLD.
NLD on the other hand is diagnosed in the field of neuropsychology unlike AS and is not diagnosed based on the observed behaviors of the patient. Dr. Byron Rourke has written a book that mentions NLD stating that there are several neurological disorders that share the NLD profile. Dr. Rourke is one of the above mentioned Yale researchers. Lots of Psychiatrists and psychologists have stated that NLD is just a learning profile, arguing with neuropsychologists who strongly believe that NLD is a diagnosis. One thing they do agree at is that there is an existent overlap between these two disorders.
One important thing to add is that NLD has in incidence of 1:1 meaning that the number of individuals that have this disorder is equally divided between girls and boys. On the other hand AS has a higher incidence towards boys.
To summarize NLD and AS are both neurologically based disorders that have similar symptoms like motor clumsiness and difficulties with any kind of nonverbal communication. The way of which both of these disorders are diagnosed is different but we must agree that there is an overlap between NLD and AS.
This article doesn't prove why that overlap exists but rather agrees to the fact that whether the individual is going to be diagnosed with NLD or AS highly depends on the person who is doing the diagnose.


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Nestled in a desirable area w/ north/south exposure, this location is hard to beat! Just minutes away from the best shopping & restaurants in Paradise Valley. This home definitely gives you that new, never lived in feeling. Kitchen features new custom cabinets w/ soft closing latches, quartz countertops, full tile backsplash & custom burnt wood open shelving. The Oversized master suite is sweet! It has plenty of room for any size bed & large walk in closet. Master bath has all new large walk in shower & rare double vanity. Guest bath offers all new cabinet, quartz countertop, sink, faucet, tub, floor tile, shower tile & bath fixtures. Home also features open floorplan, indoor laundry, office/den , custom barn style doors, dual pane windows, hard surface flooring in living areas & newer roof.
The Top Realtors in Fountain Hills Arizona
Featured Sold
4030 E Aster Drive, Phoenix AZ 85032
Phoenix, Arizona 85032, United States
- Bed3
- Baths2
- Sq Ft1516
- Property ID#5872973

subset: commoncrawl


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Monthly Archives: November 2016
Will + Rachael | Lake Powell, AZ
Last month, I had the immense pleasure of photographing my first destination wedding. When my cousin Will asked me if I would come to Arizona and shoot his wedding at Lake Powell, I could hardly believe my luck. Not only was I getting to spend a weekend doing a thing I love in one of … Continue reading


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I'm going to start a new tradition here. I'm going to talk about two books that have changed my life every Tuesday. (Hence the title). Sometimes, they will have related themes and sometimes they will be totally different from each other. Today's two have related themes.
The first is To Kill A Mockingbird, which I am sure is on everyone's list. But. This book is what made me decide I wanted to be a lawyer (in 4th or 5th grade). And I refused to deviate from that path. I still love this book and try to reread it every year. I think it's one of the most important books every written in this country. It speaks to discrimination – not just based on race (see Boo Radley.) It speaks to family. It speaks to justice. It speaks to race. It is a book that I think every school aged child should be required to read – "N" words and all. The book not only made me want to be a lawyer, it informed how I think of race and people who are "different" in all the best ways.
It also made me curious about Harper Lee. Until Go Set A Watchman was published (which I think was wrong on many, many levels), it was the only book she had ever published. And the only book published during her life time. Some people may only have one story to tell. In this case, it was one of the most important stories that could be told.
Fast forward to 2017. I picked up The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas when it first came out. I had read some rave reviews and heard fabulous things about the book. And it did not disappoint. Far and away the best book I read last year (and I read some really good books), The Hate U Give is the To Kill A Mockingbird for the 21st century. Starr Carter is the only witness to a police officer shooting and killing her best friend. The book hits all the hot-button issues of today – race, policing, poverty, wealth, inter-racial dating. And it hits them perfectly. I still am in awe that this book was Angie Thomas' first. The characters are fully developed and the story is compelling. I really didn't want it to end. It was the perfect story, as far as I am concerned.
Having a teenage son (albeit not a minority), who attends a minority school, this book gave me a glimpse of high school today and the issues that teenagers have to confront. I never had to worry about whether my African-American friends were going to be killed by the police when I was in high school, something my son worries about every day. I am thankful that Angie Thomas wrote this book.
Both of these books had a profound impact on me. While separated by 57 years, the themes and issues presented in each book are extremely similar. The injustice of a black man wrongfully convicted for raping a white woman and a white police officer who wrongfully kills a black teen present the same questions – What is justice? Is the system inherently racist? Why do people automatically shun those who are different? Why do people automatically believe a white person's version of events? What do you do in an inherently unfair world? These questions are not answered in this books, at least not completely. But they do provide food for thought.
I'll be back next Tuesday with two more books that changed my life. Happy reading.


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Improved operational performance at South America-focused gold miner Yamana Gold Inc (TSX: YRI, NYSE: AUY) is starting to take hold as the group posted solid second quarter results and revealed it was on track to beat previous production guidance for the year.
Shares in the precious metals producer were up 2.72% to US$2.82 in New York in pre-market deals. In the regular session, they surged over 11% to US$3.08.
Net earnings were put at US$18mln for the three months to end June, marking a sharp turnaround from a net loss of US$39.9mln in the same period of 2017. Revenue was US$431.5mln compared to US$428.1mln in the same period last year.
Total gold production in the period came in at 248,177 ounces from its producing mines.
The group also produced 31.1mln pounds of copper, higher than expected, while silver production climbed to 1.31mln ounces from 1.18mln, which was lower than expected but Yamana thinks it will improve in the second half.
"Higher than expected gold production at Chapada, Canadian Malartic, Jacobina, and El Peñón together with the favourable ramp-up at Cerro Moro has the Company well positioned to exceed previously provided guidance of 900,000 ounces of gold for Yamana Mines," it said in a regulatory statement last night.
"While the production plan for Gualcamayo this year is lower than previously indicated, total Yamana Gold production including Gualcamayo is expected to also exceed previously provided guidance."
The group has cash and cash equivalents of US$114.4 million and available credit of $765mln as at June 30.
The company also declared a third quarter 2018 dividend of US$0.005 per share.


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Welcome to Nijmegen!
Welcome to the ENAS Nijmegen 2018 webpage. On this page, you will find everything there is to know about the 21st ENAS Forum & Assembly taking place in Nijmegen between 11th and 16th November 2018.
We will also give you updates about the Forum via the ENAS newsletter and Facebook page.
If you didn't find the answer to your question on this page? Do not hesitate to get in touch via email@example.com.
You know enough and want to register immediately?
"Sustainability in University and College Sport – making our future the concern of the present"
Sustainability does not only concern the environment around us, and the impact we have on it. In the business world, the concept involves management of the impact on people, profit and planet alike – a triple bottom line! Under the influence of these sustainability pressures, the university sports services mission has evolved from organizing sports activities to the much broader remit – the development of healthy campus life. The Okanagan International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges (2015) suggests that: "Health promoting universities and colleges transform the health and sustainability of our current and future societies, strengthen communities and contribute to the well-being of people, places and the planet."
Your sports service has a social, financial and environmental responsibility. You can contribute to sustainable development in education, research and operational management of your institution. You can support and stimulate sustainable behaviour among staff and students. And you can help develop a sustainable work, study and sports environment in which the impact on our resources continuously decreases.
Through expert presentations and practical sessions, we will understand and address the challenges and opportunities of sustainability in the university and college sports context. Join us to become lean, mean and green in 2018.
Fit For Life
Sustainable Events
Green Facilities
Fees & Registration
Member pricing:
|Pre-Forum + Forum
|Single room
|Shared room (price per person)
Non-member pricing:
|Pre-Forum + Forum
|Single room
|Shared room (price per person)
Pricing is based on early bird registration before 15 September 2018. After that date, additional fees will apply up to €150.
The closing date for all registration is 3 November 2018.
Additional nights' accommodation can be booked in the registration process. Prices are:
|Price per night per room
Register via our Evenium page for one or several participants at the same time and get access to the ConnexMe wall immediately.
Prices for per day are available on request. Please contact Marieke Rasing Van Bremen via email@example.com.
Get Funded
The ENAS Forum & Assembly qualifies as an Erasmus+ staff training opportunity enabling European funding. Such funding has to be requested directly at your home institution. Your institution may not be fully aware of this option
For more information, click here or get in touch with Margo on email@example.com.
- Contact the international department of your institution to request staff training funding
- Contact our hosts in Nijmegen to get pre-event paperwork filled out and signed
- Submit post-event paperwork at the registration desk during the event
- Funded participation for the event: flights + accommodation covered with lump sum fee
Find the event via the official IMOTION Exchange Platform here.
PLEASE NOTE: A different venue and hotel is used for the Pre-Forum and the Forum.
Pre-Forum Hotel
Hotel Papendal
Forum Hotel
Van der Valk Hotel Nijmegen-Lent
Hertog Eduardplein 4
6663 AN Nijmegen
How to get there?
Nijmegen and Arnhem are very centrally located in Europe on the Eastern border of the Netherlands with Germany. The city is very well connected by train with international high speed train hub Arnhem closeby and different airports within 2h travel distance.
Plan ahead and make your journey to Nijmegen as comfortable and sustainable as possible. We encourage carpooling for those travelling to the Forum by car. Share your journey via the ENAS Facebook page or on the ConnexMe wall to find out who is driving and who needs a ride.
By train
Final stop: Nijmegen Lent
Arnhem Central is the closest hub for high speed connections. From there it takes about 20 minutes to get to the hotel by local train.
By airplane:
|Weeze Airport
|Shuttlebus to Nijmegen upon reservation.
Duration: 1h30
|Eindhoven Airport
|Bus towards Eindhoven Centraal.
From there:· Train to Nijmegen Lent via Hertogenbosch (1 change).· Flixbus to Nijmegen Centraal. Change to local train to Nijmegen Lent.Duration: 2h
|Düsseldorf Airport
|Bus towards Düsseldorf Hbf
From there:· Train to Nijmegen Lent (several changes)· Flixbus to Venlo and train to Nijmegen Lent (several changes)Duration: 3h
|Amsterdam Schiphol
|Direct train to Nijmegen Centraal every 30 minutes at XX:00 and XX:30. From Nijmegen Centraal, bus or local train to Nijmegen Lent.
Duration: 2h
|Maastricht Airport
|Bus towards Maastricht Centraal.
Train to Nijmegen Lent (several changes)
Duration: 3h
|Brussels Airport
|Train to Nijmegen Lent via Breda every hour.
Duration: 3h
Plan your trip via https://www.goeuro.com/ to see all different travel options.
Flyer (PDF)
The Radboud Sports Centre (RSC) is the sports centre of the Radboud University in Nijmegen. It was founded in 1966 and nowadays we have nearly 20,000 members and more than 80 different sports on offer. Visit our website for more information: http://ru.nl/sportscentre/
Click below to watch the video of the LOC Nijmegen that we showed at the ENAS Forum & Assembly 2017 in Trondheim.
About Nijmegen
Nijmegen is situated on the banks of the Waal, a branch of the Rhine in the region of the 'Great Rivers', and a mere 10 kilometers from the German border. Of Roman origin (its name derives from 'Noviomagus' meaning 'new market') the city celebrated its 2000th anniversary in 2005. This makes Nijmegen the oldest city in the Netherlands. Nijmegen was also the imperial residence during the Carolingian period. The 'Valkhof' – 'Falcon's Court' – is the highest point of the city overlooking the river. It was once the site of Charlemagne's castle. From this vantage point, which is now a scenic park, the typically Dutch polder landscape and rolling hills provide a beautiful panorama.
The Great Rivers marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, and no doubt the Romans settled here because of the splendid strategic view of enemy territory across the river. For similarly strategic reasons, subsequent kings and other rulers chose Nijmegen as their place of residence.
Until a century ago, Nijmegen was a fortified town, its surroundings the scene of many fierce battles. However, in 1879 the old city defences were torn down, as they posed an increasing obstacle to the city's prosperity. A period of spectacular growth followed, and within a few decades the railway bridge across the Waal was constructed, and gas, electricity and water mains were installed in the city.
The Second World War is a black page in Nijmegen's history. On February 22, 1944, allied forces bombed the city by mistake, killing 800 people. A few months later, Nijmegen was liberated following the U.S. airborne landings of 'Operation Market Garden', which freed the southern part of the Netherlands on September 17, 1944. Badly damaged in the war, much was done to rebuild the city in the post-war period and a new city centre arose in which the remaining monuments of Nijmegen's rich history occupy a special position.


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I have been super busy these days.
The truth of it is, there is an election coming up. And while I have no idea which of the candidates in my own town who are best suited for the job, it's the election in the fabulous city that I cover for the local newspaper that is keeping me stressed and excited all at once. Tuesday isn't just election day, it's the day we lay out the paper. So my usual one-week deadline has dissipated, and it's like I'm back in big news-land, where I have to get my reporting as accurate and quickly as possible.
Why this has me so wound up I do not know, it's not like I cannot handle it. But I think part of the issue is the fact that while the election has been smooth sailing for months, it appears that in the last three weeks or so, someone trucked in a big bucket of mud and all the candidates picked up their best shovels and started tossing. It's typical, on one hand, but still creates a lot of excess news for me. When it comes to small town news, there is a fine line between news and gossip. And I am standing on it like it's a freakishly thin tightrope.
Anyway, it's my preparations for next week that have turned me into the mother of the year. Because you know what? It's spring break, and Wii is a good babysitter. Jim pointed out that there is a picture of Anakin Skywalker from the new Lego Star Wars game burned into the TV screen. I replied by telling him off. He did not like that.
Today, I let them play while I was doing some other various work, when I suddenly realized that the smell in the room was, in fact, me. So I hopped in the shower, and when I got out, I realized that the one really cute part of my body — my toes — needed some work. So for the first time since last summer, I slapped a coat of paint on my little piggies. Instant cuteness. If it wasn't so chilly, I'd put sandals on.
So I head down to where the boys were being babysat by Wii again. The conversation went like this:
Hank: "Man, do we have to turn it off already?"
Me: "No. Look at my toes."
Hank, not looking at my toes: "Looks good."
Me: "You didn't even LOOK, look at my toes!"
Hank, glancing down briefly: "Yeah, looks good."
Me: "YOU ARE NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THEM! Don't they look cute?"
George: "They look BEAUTIFUL mom!"
Me: "See, that's how you answer! Who's winning the favorite son award today?"
Hank: "They look good."
And that's how you torture your kids.


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This is the week-long (ish) tale of where I was a year ago today, which was on a Bermuda cruise with Prince Charming.
For Part 1, go here.
For Part 2, go here.
For Part 3, go here.
For Part 4, go here.
For Part 5, go here.
For Part 6, go here.
We woke up when it was barely dawn I looked out the door to the outside of our cabin, and I could see some of the New York skyline. We were already going very slowy in the river.
The first picture is fuzzy because it was too dark (at least for me) to make it any other way.
I went out on the balcony to take the photo and was greeted with an unpleasant odor. I do not know if it was the river or just air that was not fresh and clean. It was not the best welcome back to the mainland, but we were so ready to go home and see our girls. We were supposed to arrive around noon Albuquerque time.
The next photo is right before we turned the corner to dock.
We decided we ought to shower and get ready at this point, but we were not to disembark until around 9, so we cleared out and went to wait in one of the common areas with my friend. It had been a lovely time–one of the loveliest of my life. But that was important because the rest of the day turned out to not be so lovely.
I will not bore you with the details because everyone has airline horror stories. I will just say that we had a canceled flight and were met with incompetence at every turn. The only intelligent people we dealt with the rest of the day (which lasted until 1 a.m. the next morning for us, and we were still not home) were the flight crew of the plane on which we finally flew out of New York–around 8 p.m.–after standing in the galley for two hours because we did not actually HAVE seats on that plane. It was really amazing. And don't even THINK our luggage arrived with us! We got home around noon the next day–10 days after we left our daughters. They had been troopers, but they were finished, too! We were lucky and grateful for some wonderful friends that took care of them while we were away.
So I will end with the rest of the towel animals since several of you asked about them! The last two were my favorites.


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Johnson High School is a Crown Finalist
"The Pride," the online student newspaper of Johnson High School, is a Crown finalist for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). The Crown awards are one of the highest honors a scholastic or collegiate publication can receive. Only 19 online publications in the country were selected as finalists and only three of those were in Texas. "The Pride" will be awarded either a silver or gold Crown at the CSPA spring convention during spring break, Mar. 14 – 18.
"My staff feels very honored and privileged to receive this recognition," said Velisa Jewett, journalism teacher. "Considering that only two other high schools in the San Antonio area have ever received a Crown award in any category in the past 20 years, they are especially proud of this moment."
Jewett feels this recognition for the students means that the hard work they do is not going unnoticed.
"It makes them more confident in their skills in new judgment, reporting and writing and really just providing a service and a product to readers," said Jewett.
While moving from pint to online is a definite change for any paper, according to Jewett, the transition has been easy.
"After the initial shock at how fast the pace of online journalism can move–even in a scholastic environment–it's easier than you would think to move the publication primarily online," said Jewett. "The kids are producing a record amount of content–there is no shortage of news and sports coverage on a high school campus–and enjoy getting feedback from their readers, their peers and others in the community via comments."
Students are able to track how many people view their site each day, as well as where they are viewing the site.
"It is thrilling when the staff gets to see that the Web site is actually being viewed all over the world," said Jewett. "That very real sense of communicating at that level, at a faster pace, is rewarding for them and therefore more enjoyable."
View "The Pride" online at www.myjagnews.com. For a list of all 19 finalists, visit cspa.columbia.edu/docs/no-show/2011-online-crowns-finalists.html (external link).


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Top 10 Weather Headlines of 2011
On both a national and a local scale, extreme weather events in 2011 captured our attention. A record-breaking spring flood season dominated the weather news for weeks. Flooding on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers brought national attention to our region. Record high water levels were observed at several locations on area rivers and lakes. The annual rainfall totals at Paducah and Evansville were the highest on record.
1. Late April / Early May Flooding - The wettest spring on record at Paducah, KY contributed to record flooding along parts of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, as well as Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The economic impact on our local area was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The New Madrid Floodway was activated by detonating portions of a Mississippi River levee for the first time since 1937. Fortunately, there was not one injury or fatality directly attributable to the flooding. (Photo taken in Metropolis, IL near the Ohio River.)
2. May 25 Severe Weather Outbreak - What began as an outbreak of supercells and tornadoes in southeast Missouri gradually evolved into a line of storms with widespread damaging winds and embedded tornadoes. An EF-3 tornado that passed through the Ozark Mountain foothills of Carter and Wayne Counties produced a total damage track about 48 miles long. Widespread damaging winds from 60 to 75 mph occurred across western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana. There were a few injuries and no fatalities. (Photo taken at Ellsinore, MO courtesy of Janet Leach).
3. April 19 Bow Echo - Widespread wind gusts from 60 to 80 mph, with pockets of 90 to 100 mph winds, accompanied a bow echo during the evening of the 19th. Isolated EF-1 and EF-2 tornadoes occurred. Damage was in the millions of dollars across southern Illinois and southwest Indiana. In farm country of the Wabash Valley region, there was widespread damage to agricultural facilities such as grain bins and barns. (Radar image of bow echo across southern Illinois).
4. April 22-27 Severe Storm Outbreaks - Daily rounds of severe storms and flash flooding plagued our region for nearly a full week. There was at least one tornado each day for six consecutive days. About two dozen tornadoes occurred during this six-day stretch, including one EF-3 and several EF-2 tornadoes. Also see pages for April 22 event and April 26 event. (Tornado path map for 35 tornadoes April 19-27.)
|5. Feb. 7 Heavy Snow - Southwestern Kentucky was surprised by a blast of heavy snow that dumped 5 to 10 inches in the morning. A band of heavy snow produced snowfall rates from 2 to 3 inches per hour. The snow occurred during the peak travel time as commuters headed to work or school. Several school busses slid into ditches. (Snowfall map for the Feb. 7 storm).
6. April 4 Tornadoes - An EF-2 tornado near Hopkinsville, KY received national media attention after striking a manufacturing plant and injuring about seven workers. A few other tornadoes occurred in western Kentucky, including one that injured a farm worker in Ballard County. (Tornado path map for the EF-2 tornado in Christian County).
7. Feb. 24&27 Flooding/Severe Weather - Flooding was the main concern on Feb. 24, followed by a round of severe weather on Feb. 27. Over 3 inches of rain fell at Paducah on the 24th, setting a daily rainfall record. An Amish family suffered the tragic loss of four family members when their horse-drawn buggy was swept away at a flooded low-water crossing on the Graves/Hickman County line in Kentucky. On the 27th, the most significant damage was north of I-64 in southwest Indiana, where homes were damaged by an EF-2 tornado. See also tornado damage surveys for southwest Indiana. (Photo of grain bins damaged by EF-2 tornado in Christian County.)
8. Jan. 25-26 Heavy Snow - A large part of western Kentucky received 3 to 6 inches of snow during the night of the 25th. Two heavy snow bands over the Pennyrile region produced at least one inch per hour. The morning commute was heavily impacted, and there were a couple of fatal accidents. (Snowfall map for the Jan. 25-26 storm).
9. Aug. 3 Excessive Heat - Heat indices peaked between 112 and 126 degrees at airport observing sites during the afternoon of Aug. 3. This day was the worst of a 30-day stretch of hot and humid weather that resulted in two fatalities in southeast Missouri. July was the 5th hottest July on record at Paducah and Evansville. (NWS heat index chart).
|10. April 15 Severe Weather Outbreak - Large hail occurred in many places across southeast Missouri, southwest Illinois, and the Purchase area of western Kentucky. There were isolated damaging wind gusts, and even a couple of tornadoes in Trigg County, KY. The tornadoes were rated EF-0 and EF-1. Half-dollar size hail dented vehicles at the Paducah NWS office. (Photo of tree uprooted in Trigg County, KY).
Have a safe and happy 2012!


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After finishing the second book in my Badlands series, I was finally able to take some time in December and revamp my sales reporting. My existing sales spreadsheet was clunky and difficult to maintain, and it didn't allow for the depth of analysis I really needed. I design and build data warehouses in my day job, so it seemed only natural that Elegy Publishing should also have a data warehouse for its sales reporting.
That work is now complete and I've been running the new reports for a couple of weeks now. Analyzing this data, I've discovered some interesting things. I thought I'd take some time to share those with you. If you're a reader, you probably don't care about this. But if you're another indie writer/publisher, you might find these numbers interesting. You might even be able to apply some of these insights to your own business.
Sales Have Fallen
It seems that the ebook market has cooled. Kindles are no longer new, nor are ebooks. Publishers have dropped their prices now that agency pricing is dead and output of new ebooks has finally started to catch up to demand. Readers now have plenty of books for their e-readers and big-name authors have lower-priced backlists available. Indies aren't dominating the low-cost market any more; we're sharing the space and sharing the sales.
Personally I had a killer Christmas season in 2012. December, January and February were $2,000 months. Things started to drop a little in March and April. Even May was decent, earning around $1,000 in royalties.
Then June hit and sales dropped off a cliff. Units dropped 35% compared to June of 2012. Revenue dropped 26%. July was worse, with revenue and units dropping 65%. It steadily plummeted, down 77%, 79%, even down 85% compared to the prior year. $800 monthly norms dropped to a couple hundred dollars.
With the release of Badlands #2, I've seen sales climb again (albeit slowly). Not to the levels seen in the heyday (2011 & 2012), but an uptick, nonetheless.
So what does this mean? Well, the gold rush is over. The fair-weather writers who aren't selling now have likely moved on to other things, leaving behind the die-hards who know that success comes after lots and lots of hard work. The market has reached an equilibrium and writers who continuously improve and release consistently will be the ones who succeed.
KDP Select Probably Isn't Worth It
At one point KDP Select delivered. Now, not so much. I spent most of 2012 in Select, opting out in 2013. I earned around $700 from Select borrows last year vs. $600 from non-Amazon channels this year.
The verdict? Stay out of Select. The post-free bump in paid sales is gone. And what I'm earning outside of Amazon is pretty damn close to what I *might* earn from Select borrows. But staying out of Select means I can branch out to other markets, namely Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo. While this doesn't earn me quite as much as Amazon borrows, being on all devices (and in all markets) is worth it.
Amazon Continues to Dominate
Amazon drives more than 97% of my revenue. It's pretty easy to see why they're still so important:
Note: My "REU" term means a Revenue Earning Unit (a sell or a borrow)
Of the 3% of my non-Amazon sales, here's how it all breaks out (by sales channel):
Of the little guys, Barnes & Noble continues to dominate. Apple outsells Kobo by units, but is a close third in revenue (I earn more by going to Kobo direct). Smashwords earns me a little here and there and Sony is laughably small.
Armed with this data going into 2014, I can be confident in my decision to stay out of Amazon exclusivity and in all other markets. I also know that going direct with Kobo is worth the effort. It really doesn't require much of my time to distribute outside of Amazon, so the return on my time investment is worthwhile.
Performance by Title
Into the Badlands (my debut novel) is clearly my biggest earner over all time. It was published during the heyday and has been out the longest. The Desolate, my second novel, has been available since summer, 2012. Beyond the Badlands, my third novel (and #2 in my Badlands series) has only been available for a month. Here's the breakdown between titles:
It's interesting to note that in one month Beyond the Badlands has earned 25% of what The Desolate has earned in a year and a half.
This information, combined with fans' requests for the remaining books in the Badlands series, has prompted me to change direction. Instead of focusing on my sci-fi thriller in 2014, I'll be directing efforts toward the final two books in the Badlands series. Fans want them and I want to write them. Not only will I make readers happy, I'll earn more money. I'll get to the sci-fi thriller, just not as quickly as I'd originally planned.
The other thing you'll notice here is that my novella (Muster Drill), my short story (Wishes and Desires) and my short story collection (Walking At Night) sell much more slowly than even my worst-selling novel. Those experiments have proven that the money is in novels. While I enjoy writing shorter works, it doesn't reward monetarily. That said, I'm sure I'll return to these shorter forms of storytelling, but they'll likely be side projects, taking a back seat to novels. Besides, I'm convinced people find me through my novels and then pick up my shorter works (not the other way around) and I prefer writing novels anyway.
Paperbacks have never been a big seller for me. But my new sales reporting has revealed something I hadn't noticed before: I'm losing money on non-novel paperbacks. My novella and short story collection still haven't earned back my proof copy costs.
So going forward, only novels will likely see paperback. And even then, demand for paper is almost non-existent. I make them because it's fairly easy to do now that I've figured out the process and I like seeing them on my bookshelf. And some readers do still want them. I can make a paperback for less than $10 now (and maybe four hours of my time), so it's still worth the effort.
Other Book Stats
Some other stats I found interesting about my books…Beyond the Badlands cost nearly $500 to produce and earned its production costs back after 24 days. Knowing that, if I release the next two Badlands novels ASAP I can feel confident they'll earn out quickly, providing me with enough money to subsidize my sci-fi thriller (it'll likely take longer to earn out).
Since September, 2011 I've sold 14,256 books. I had 344 Amazon Prime borrows. I've spent roughly 1,000 hours writing these books, earning an estimated gross of nearly $27 per hour. Not huge money, but decent. Since September '11 I've averaged around 17 books sold per day.
Assuming each novel I wrote *might* have earned a $5,000 advance from a traditional publisher, only Into the Badlands has surpassed that amount. The Desolate has earned a little over two grand. (Beyond the Badlands hasn't been out long enough to consider).
If I'd taken an advance for Into the Badlands, I would've left money on the table. Publishing that book myself earned me more money than if I'd taken a publisher's deal.
But if I'd taken an advance for The Desolate, I would've earned more money (so far, at least). Of course there's no guarantee The Desolate would have been picked up by a traditional publisher and I would have lost creative control if it had. And I still have the rest of my life for that book to earn money at a higher royalty rate.
Truth is, some books are going to earn more than others. But even my slowest-selling novels have earned back their production costs (and more). I'm not getting rich, but revenue is in the black. In the end, if I had it to do over again, I'd still choose to publish them myself.
All in all, business is still looking good. Things have normalized, but the recipe for success hasn't really changed: hard work, continuous improvement and steady production. I'm looking forward to a very busy, but hopefully successful 2014 (and beyond)


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I've been using my IC-706MKIIG on aircraft com for a couple years now and works fine. (obviously for test purposes only)
The bandpass filters on the Tx driver stage has a pretty severe rolloff down at 118 mhz, but you can still get 0.5 to 1.5 watts out to the antenna and with a tuned antenna, -works great. See Jose Monroy's writeup at: http://www.aircraftdelivery.net/ferrypi ... rplane.pdf .
He does a little pwr out check in the last couple pages.
I've done a couple of HF installs similar to his, but with a trailing wire antenna, and with properly integrated audio wiring (using the aircraft audio panel and headsets). I'm planning on a trailing wire system on the Highlander, but I've got to get it flying first!


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Hiya Everyone,
Hope you are all doing ok
Its time for a New Challenge over at Art by Mi Ran
Thanks for joining us last week
Once again our theme is
"Anything Goes"
I have used the super cuteness that is
Yes she is named after me looooool
When Mi Ran first showed us this image, I asked Ella what should her name be she said "You MUMMY"
I told Mi Ran, and Cheeky Joey got her name :)
You will find heaps more of gorgeous girls over in the Shop
I do love her :) I coloured her up with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils, but cannot find the colour list anywhere grrrrrr, I mounted her using 3d foam on to the card, the sentiment is from my stash, as are the ribbons and embellies, the embossing folder is from Crafter's Companion.
I added a touch of white pen.
I would like to enter her into
Simon Says - Any Goes
Squirrel and the Fox - Girls
That Craft Place - Ribbon
Created with Love - Layers
A Creative Romance - Girls
Thanks for popping by
x x x


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14 KT White Gold Diamond Cut "Breast Cancer Awareness" Pendant Ribbon
Pretty satin, diamond cut finish
14 KT White Gold breast cancer ribbon
Would look great on a short or long chain
Measures 25 mm x 12 mm including bail
This exact one also comes in Yellow and Rose Gold versions
Bail allows for necklaces up to 2.7 mm
Made in the USA
Portion of this sale will go to the Susan G. Komen 4 The Cure
Checkout faster with your own account. Create one.
When you create an account we can store payment and shipping information for quick future access.
We accept all major credit cards.


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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by HerCampus and Affinitas. All opinions are my own.
Now that I work two shifts, one in the office and one as a cross country coach, I need to get all my gym stuff ready in the morning and bring it with me. I go directly to the gym or for a run after work.
Here's a peek into what I have in my gym bag at the moment:
Side note: I love my hair brush that says "Is it Friday yet?" No really….is it?
Anyway, here are the items that are always in my bag starting from top left:
- Sports bra
- Small towel
- Workout top
- Workout shorts
- FlipBelt for my runs
- Hair brush
- Deodorant
- Change of clothes for after my shower
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've meant to shower at the gym and forget something, like my towel or underwear…ugh the worst.
Well, that's where Cupcake Panties come in handy!
What? Cupcake Panties? Yes you heard me right. Now, if you're like me, you may have immediately thought these were some sort of edible underwear or something. They're not. They're underwear that come in a little cupcake packaging, which makes it the perfect on-the-go item to carry in your gym bag or purses!
It's discreet and you'll never have that embarrassing moment of grabbing something out of your bag and accidentally pulling your underwear out as well.
I really do love the packaging, and the underwear is super cute too! Cupcake Panties come in lacy hipster and lacy thongs, so you can keep them in your bag and always be prepared.
I personally love these because, as I mentioned above, I have pulled stuff out of my bag before and had my underwear come out too. This also happens probably because sometimes I pack my gym clothes in my normal bag, but still. The cupcake packaging is cute and very useful! I plan on keeping these in my gym bag so I'm prepared next time I need to shower at the gym.
Hey College Students!! Win a $1,000 scholarship. Find the full instructions here. It's super easy to enter:
Cupcake Panty $1000 Scholarship and "Super Bakers Dozen"
Prize is $1000, plus a "Super Bakers Dozen" (16) Cupcake Panty
Only three steps to enter:
1) Follow Affinitas on social media: FB, Twitter, Instagram
- FB: facebook.com/AffinitasIntimates
- Twitter: @AffinitasIntima
- Instagram: @Affinitas
2) Post a pic of your acceptance letter next to your congratulatory cupcake
3) Tag Affinitas and hashtag #wearacupcake
Good luck if you decide to enter!
Have you ever had any embarrassing gym moments or forgotten things in your gym bag? I seem to always forget my towel!
Follow Reach Your Peak:
- Facebook – http://facebook.com/reachyourpeakfitness
- Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/reachyourpeak
- YouTube – http://youtube.com/reachyourpeak
- Twitter – @pattyrivas13
- Instagram – @pattyrivas13


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Brown, Ron
Brown, Ron(Ronald Harmon Brown), 1941–96, American politician, b. Washington, D.C. Raised in New York City's Harlem, he attended Middlebury College (grad. 1962) and St. John's Law School (grad. 1970). A lifelong Democrat, he worked at the National Urban LeagueUrban League, National,
voluntary nonpartisan community service agency, founded in 1910, whose goal is to help end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, especially toward African Americans, and to help economically and socially disadvantaged groups to share
..... Click the link for more information. (1966–78) before becoming a top aide to Senator Edward KennedyKennedy, Ted
(Edward Moore Kennedy), 1932–2009, U.S. senator from Massachusetts (1962–2009), b. Boston, Mass., youngest son of Joseph P. Kennedy and the last survivor of brothers Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy.
..... Click the link for more information. (1979–81). After a stint as a partner in a private law and lobbying firm in Washington (1985–88), he managed the presidential bid of Jesse JacksonJackson, Jesse Louis,
1941–, African-American political leader, clergyman, and civil-rights activist, b. Greenville, S.C. Raised in poverty, he attended the Chicago Theological Seminary (1963–65) and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1968.
..... Click the link for more information. (1988) and was the first African American to serve as chairman of the Democratic National Committee (1989–92), where he successfully charted a centrist course. A skilled political operative and deal maker with an engagingly suave personal style, Brown had an ideology that mixed liberal concerns with capitalist savvy and was a classic Washington insider. He played a key role in unifying Democrats behind the presidential candidacy of Bill ClintonClinton, Bill
(William Jefferson Clinton), 1946–, 42d President of the United States (1993–2001), b. Hope, Ark. His father died before he was born, and he was originally named William Jefferson Blythe 4th, but after his mother remarried, he assumed the surname of his
..... Click the link for more information. (1992) and made an effective secretary of commerce (1993–96) in Clinton's administration. Brown was killed in an airplane crash while on a trade mission to Croatia.
See biography by S. A. Holmes (2000).


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Ray Kurzweil, the author, inventor, computer scientist, futurist and Google employee, was the featured keynote speaker Thursday afternoon at Postback, the annual conference presented by Seattle mobile marketing company Tune. His topic was the future of mobile technology. In Kurzweil's world, however, that doesn't just mean the future of smartphones — it means the future of humanity.
Continue reading for a few highlights from his talk.
On the effect of the modern information era: People think the world's getting worse, and we see that on the left and the right, and we see that in other countries. People think the world is getting worse. … That's the perception. What's actually happening is our information about what's wrong in the world is getting better. A century ago, there would be a battle that wiped out the next village, you'd never even hear about it. Now there's an incident halfway around the globe and we not only hear about it, we experience it.
Which is why the perception that someone like Trump sells, could be false and misleading. But more importantly, what actions we take based upon that information. If I respond differently, then my perception has directly changed my actions, which has unforseen ramifications when multiplied by millions.
Brexit could be an example of exactly this.
On the potential of human genomics: It's not just collecting what is basically the object code of life that is expanding exponentially. Our ability to understand it, to reverse-engineer it, to simulate it, and most importantly to reprogram this outdated software is also expanding exponentially. Genes are software programs. It's not a metaphor. They are sequences of data. But they evolved many years ago, many tens of thousands of years ago, when conditions were different.
Clearly our genome is not exactly the same. It to has evolved. This may have been through random mutations, in which certain recipients thrived in a changing environment.
How technology will change humanity's geographic needs: We're only crowded because we've crowded ourselves into cities. Try taking a train trip across the United States, or Europe or Asia or anywhere in the world. Ninety-nine percent of the land is not used. Now, we don't want to use it because you don't want to be out in the boondocks if you don't have people to work and play with. That's already changing now that we have some level of virtual communication. We can have workgroups that are spread out. … But ultimately, we'll have full-immersion virtual reality from within the nervous system, augmented reality.
One of my favorite novels is Asimov's "Foundation" series. The planet Trantor….entirely covered by a city. Is that what we want?
On connecting the brain directly to the cloud: We don't yet have brain extenders directly from our brain. We do have brain extenders indirectly. I mean this (holds up his smartphone) is a brain extender. … Ultimately we'll put them directly in our brains. But not just to do search and language translation and other types of things we do now with mobile apps, but to actually extend the very scope of our brain.
The mobile phone as a brain extender. Possibly true for 1% of all users. Most use facebook or whatever other time wasting application, and essentially gossip. A monumental waste of time. Far from being a brain extender, for most, it is the ultimate dumbing down machine. Text language encourages bad spelling, poor grammar etc. So you can keep your brain extenders.
As far as directly connecting your brain to the cloud….that sounds like 'The Matrix", which is of course the subject of philosophical musings about the brain in a vat. The potential for mind control would seem to be a possibility here. Not for me thanks.
Why machines won't displace humans: We're going to merge with them, we're going to make ourselves smarter. We're already doing that. These mobile devices make us smarter. We're routinely doing things we couldn't possibly do without these brain extenders.
To date, I would argue that the vast majority are significantly more stupid because of them.
As to robots and AI, imagine a man, Spock, who's choice making is driven 100% by logic, rather than by 50% logic and 50% emotion. How long does the emotional decision maker last? Most emotional decisions get us in trouble. The market is an excellent example. Politics is another, ie. Trump.


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A web service makes software application resources available over networks using standard technologies. Because web services are based on standard interfaces, they can communicate even if they are running on different operating systems and are written in different languages. For this reason they are an excellent approach for building distributed applications that must incorporate diverse systems over a network.
The following topic outlines the standard technologies that you use to build web services and the advanced functionality available through asynchronous web services.
Web services are able to expose their resources in this generally accessible way because they adhere to recognized standards. A web service:
The Web Service Description Language (WSDL) is a standard XML format for describing web services. A WSDL file describes a particular web service so that other software applications can interface with it.
WSDLs are generally publicly accessible and provide enough detail so that potential clients can figure out how to operate the service solely from reading the WSDL file. If a web service translates English sentences into French, the WSDL file will explain how the English sentences should be sent to the web service, and how the French translation will be returned to the requesting client. For more information on WSDL files see WSDL Files: Web Service Descriptions.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) messages provide a common language by which different applications can talk to one another over a network. Most web services communicate via XML. A client sends an XML message containing a request to the web service, and the web service responds with an XML message containing the results of the operation. In most cases these XML messages are formatted according to SOAP syntax.
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) specifies a standard format for applications to call each other's methods and pass data to one another. The types of messages supported by a particular web service are delineated in the service's WSDL file.
Web services receive requests and send responses using widely used protocols such as HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Java Message Service (JMS). A web service may support more than one protocol. The protocols that a web service supports are published in the WSDL file.
The following illustration shows the relationship between a web service (in the center), its client software applications (on the left), and the resources it uses, including databases, other web services, and so on (on the right). A web service communicates with clients and resources over standard protocols such as HTTP by exchanging XML messages. The WebLogic Server on which the web service is deployed is responsible for routing incoming XML messages to the web service code that you write. The web service exports a WSDL file to describe its interface, which other developers may use to write components to access the service.
Many business processes take more than a few moments to complete, but traditional architectures make it hard to handle long-running tasks efficiently. Workshop for WebLogic helps you architect asynchronous web services easily using conversations and callbacks. Conversations help manage the typical problems in asynchronous messaging, namely correlating messages and managing some information or state between message exchanges. In an ongoing conversation, a web service can notify a client when the results of an operation are ready using a callback.
In addition, WebLogic Sever supports the use of Java Message Service (JMS) queues as message buffers to ensure that web service messages are not lost regardless of server load. JMS can also be used to communicate with back end resources. For more information on using buffers see Creating Buffered Web Services in the WebLogic Server documentation.
BEA WebLogic Platform supports two models for asynchronous web services. One model uses "callbacks"; the other uses "asynchronous request-response". The two models differ in the way that the web service and the client divide up the work of coordinating the asynchronous communication.
On the callback model of asynchronous web services, both the web service and its client (a web service control) are specially designed for asynchronous communication with one another. On this model, the web service is explicitly designed to be called asynchronously, including specially annotated callback methods that send data back to the client. Similarly the web service control is explicitly designed to listen for and receive callbacks from the web service using specially annotated event set methods.
For more information on the callback model see Web Service Callbacks.
The asynchronous request-response model places all of the burden of asynchronous coordination on the client. On this model the target web service does not need to be explicitly designed to be asynchronously called. The only requirement of the target web service is that it comply with the WS-Addressing standard. The client takes on all of the burden of coordinating the asynchronous response or failures that are later returned by the web service.
For more information on the asynchronous request-response model, see Invoking a Web Service Using Asynchronous Request-Response.


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Liberty Fabrics
Proposal Tana Lawn™ Cotton
Liberty Fabrics
Proposal Tana Lawn™ Cotton
Editor's Notes
Proposal is lustrously detailed and rich in colour, printed at the Liberty Printing Mill on our inimitable Tana Lawn™ cotton.
Painted in vibrant watercolours, Liberty Fabrics' Proposal is an English garden border design where foliage and flora overlap into a tapestry of shimmering colour. Our Tana Lawn™ cotton is a fabric built by obsession, perfected into a modern masterpiece of production through a bespoke process that has evolved over a century. Printed in our very own Liberty Printing Mill, located between Milan and Lake Como in northern Italy, Tana Lawn™ realises unmatchable fluidity with a silk-like touch, unique print quality and striking colour vibrancy. Machine washable and durable enough for daily wear, it can be used to create everything from simple separates to spectacular statement pieces.
Pricing: All fabrics are priced per metre length
Click here for our Fabric Size Guide.
Liberty Fabrics' From London With Love collection for Spring Summer 2020 is inspired by eight epic love stories that have played out throughout our city across the generations. Muses of the season include creative London couples spanning from royals to artists, students and poets, exploring the way they met, the gifts they gave, the places they studied and the artworks they created for one another. The collection offers a journey though the people, places and spaces of London – a letter of love from Liberty, to the city that will always have our heart.
- Name: Proposal
- Fabric Type: Tana Lawn™ Cotton
- Composition: 100% Cotton
- Roll Width (finished/usable): 1.36m/1.33m
- Weight: 76 g/sqm, 104g/lm
- Care: Wash 40°C, line dry


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Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Giving a corporate look to traditional post offices is good in theory but a raft of regulatory and logistic issues need to be solved before making any structural changes, says Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, CARE ratings.
The idea of converting India Post into Post Bank of India is quite tempting when we look at the basic structure of the postal system in India. There are around 155,000 post offices against around 98,000 bank branches.
There is one post office for every 21.21 square kilometres of area and 7,817 people. These offices have 287 million accounts (2012); in contrast, the entire banking system has 903 million (2013) accounts.
They have 116 million depositors with deposits of Rs 3.96 lakh crore (Rs 3.96 trillion) (the number for banks is not available). If certificates are added, the amount would be Rs 6 lakh crore (Rs 6 trillion).
Click NEXT to read more.....
Image: Traditional post offices are becoming reduntant due to mobiles phones and emails
Photographs: Courtesy, Anu Raj/Wikimedia Commons
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
The postal department has 474,000 employees--or an average of three people for every branch. Banks, on the other hand, employ 1.096 million people, with an average of 11 for every branch, we can think of the business correspondent model taking off.
Add to this the fact that postal services are progressively becoming less relevant today as a result of the proliferation of mobile telecom services and private couriers.
The postal material carried fell from 91.63 million in FY 2003 to 63.71 million in FY 2013--only speed post and packets showed an increase.
Click NEXT to read more.....
Image: The postal dept in India employees around 4.74 lakh staff
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Moreover, the number of postcards, unregistered letters and parcels has fallen dramatically. Therefore, there is a demand for this department to reinvent itself, since it is a matter of time before most of these services become anachronistic.
Thus, the prospect of India Post turning into a bank sounds like a capital idea, especially since we are talking about inclusive banking and around 90 per cent of the country's post offices are located in rural areas.
There are also moves to computerise around 25,000 of these post offices, which adds weight to this thought process.
Click NEXT to read more...
Image: The tradition of posting letters and parcels has fallen drastically
Photographs: Reuters
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
This is where the good story ends. If one looks at the practical side of this conversion, several questions arise that do not have easy answers. On the technical side, if India Post becomes a bank, who will carry out postal services?
Banking regulation does not allow banks to provide these services and one will have to meander through this regulation. If this bank is allowed to offer postal services, can other banks also offer courier services?
Click NEXT to read more...
Image: Most experts disagree of transforming India Post into a bank
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Second, the deposits held by these post offices are of a different type, ones that are used by the governments (Centre and state).
Do we stop these deposits-- and if we do, what happens to the existing deposits with the government? Post offices are merely pass-through vehicles for such money, which has made the rather deprecating term of "being a post office" legendary in corporate jargon.
Third, are we now thinking of creating another public sector bank afresh, considering that it will be new from the start?
Our entire thinking is focused on bringing in more private players and investment in this segment.
The idea of having a new public sector bank sounds out of place and contradictory to the new line of thinking.
Click NEXT to read more.....
Image: Huge investment is required to modernise post offices across India
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
On the operational side, there are even more interesting puzzles. First, the 474,000-strong workforce consists of 263,000, and another 203,000 gazetted Group C staff. The so-called office cadre would not be more than 7,000.
Most of the others would be barely literate and could classify and stamp documents but may not be expected to go beyond that.
In fact, they would more likely be conversant with only the regional language.
Can they actually pick up banking and go through the normal training courses and exams that bankers are expected to undertake?
Click NEXT to read more....
Image: Transforming post offices into modern-day banks involves technical issues
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Second, none of the staff members would know how to garner and use deposits.
At present, customers come and deposit money and the postal official really does not care if it happens.
The quality of service is quite mediocre in a monopoly-cum-government set-up that lacks incentive to perform and where the "baksheesh" culture dominates for many transactions.
A metamorphosis is needed as far as mindsets and culture are concerned--it is a challenge and costs money.
If we replace the entire staff with trained bankers, what will happen to the existing ones?
Click NEXT to read more....
Image: Post offices are not considered efficient as compared to online transactions
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Third, specialised functions, such as treasury, lending, investment and balance sheet management, require skill sets that even the existing gazetted officials do not possess.
This will mean wholesale recruitment where the logistics will be mind-boggling.
The only way out is if it becomes a payments bank the recommendation in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) report on inclusion. But then, it is already performing this function and need not be converted into a new bank.
Click NEXT to read more......
Image: Skill set of exisiting staff of Post India needs to be upgraded
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Fourth, most of these post offices in rural India are too small, probably just a little room where stamps and letters are dispensed and letters picked up and distributed.
They may not be stand-alone branches for a bank. Fifth, starting the business will be complex, considering that the balance sheet has a size of Rs 6 lakh crore on the liabilities side, with no assets as such, with these funds being provided to the government.
Based on just the deposits, the size of this department would be as large as that of Bank of India or Canara Bank. How does one reckon capital adequacy when there are only liabilities and no assets?
Click NEXT to read more....
Image: Post offices are in demand only in rural India
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
At Rs 6 lakh crore (Rs 6 trillion) and with a capital adequacy ratio of 10 per cent, the government will have to put in Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion). Where will this money come from?
Once we put all these considerations together, it seems an India Post Bank will probably not work. Several regulatory and logistic issues have to be surmounted.
One line of thought is that if the infrastructure is the premise on which post offices can become banks, then these post offices should ideally be leased wherever possible to banks on rent-- which will help the department cut its losses.
Click NEXT to read more....
Image: There are questions raised about private participation in modernising post offices
Photographs: Rediff archives
Why 'Post Bank of India' is not a workable idea
Moreover, this will get us out of our predilection to create new structures instead of integrating the existing ones with the present system.
In FY 2012, India Post reported a loss of Rs 5,805 crore ( Rs 58 billion). In fact, the new banks, which are expected to allocate at least 25 per cent of their new branches in unbanked rural areas, could leverage these structures so that it becomes a win-win situation for banks, the RBI and post offices.
Image: India post is a loss-making entity
Photographs: Rediff archives


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Mission Leaders Conference 2017
The annual Good Samaritan Education Mission Leaders Conference was held at Mount Saint Benedict Centre at Pennant Hills on the 2nd and 3rd March. This conference brings Mission leaders from all ten Good Samaritan Colleges in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria together to meet, re-connect and discuss current issues relating to our leadership.
The theme this year, 'Exploring Catholic Identity in a Good Samaritan Education School.' Ms Audrey Brown, the Director of Catholic Education Ballarat, facilitated three sessions on Day One, focusing on this theme.
The first day of the conference was divided into three sessions examining aspects of Catholic identity in schools today. In the first session we explored the purpose and theological foundations of the Leuven Research Project. We reviewed the types of religious beliefs, particularly the Post Critical Belief Scale, attitudes and pedagogical approaches to profile the religious identity options taken by members of Catholic Schools in Australia, Europe and the US.
In the second session we were given the time to think about making connections to our own schools – focusing on our students and staff in the context of the GSE Mission Framework. Session three concentrated on the practical applications of this research in our ministry. There was much discussion about what this affirms and confirms for our individual approach to leadership as well as looking at the opportunities and challenges this may present to us as leaders of Mission in our Colleges.
Audrey Brown delivered a very interesting and thought-provoking presentation about Catholic identity. Her experience, insights and good humour all contributing to an informative presentation for all of us in our diverse roles as leaders of Mission. The day finished with prayer with the community of sisters at Pennant Hills before gathering for dinner and casual conversation in the evening together.
Day Two began with Sr Meg Kahler leading discussion about a part of the Rule of St Benedict titled, 'A School for the Lord's Service (Prologue 45-50). We engaged in discussion about the importance of service in the Rule and the understanding of 'schola' in the 6th Century.
Pat O'Gorman – Director of Mission Integration for GSE facilitated the next session titled, 'Doing Mission Together'. After briefly reviewing a chapter of Roger Schroeder's book, 'What is the Mission of the Church? A Guide for Catholics', we discussed what Schroeder identified as six key aspects of mission and the relevance of this in our individual College communities.
Our final session led by Monica Dutton concluded our time away with an open forum and update on Mission Team Programs.
Thank you to Sr Meg Kahler and Monica Dutton for putting together an excellent conference program that was truly enriching and challenging. In our many diverse roles, as leaders of Mission, we were given time and space to reflect on our Catholic identity and to unite with old friends and colleagues who share in the Mission of our Good Samaritan Colleges.
Frances Vella
Head of Mission
St Scholastica's College, Glebe


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Collecting Collections8
June 11, 2012 by Marj Hatzell
I'm the first to admit I don't always understand my kids.
And I don't mean understand, in a communication way. I mean understand, as in "what the heck are they thinking and how do I get inside that brain?"
To wit:
Bugaboo's collections. As long as this child has been mobile he has had little "collections." He'll pick up odds and ends from around the house and take them back to his "home base." Home base is wherever he decides he is hanging out that day. For example, the trampoline. Daddy's closet. The basement playrooom and/or swing. The Living Room couch. And now that the floors are torn up and there's no furniture except in the Family Room, he hangs out there. Now, we have this GIGANTIC sectional. HUGE. It's bigger than two full-sized couches put together. We bought it a few years ago because, well, large family. Family gatherings. 'Nuff said.
Anywho, Bugaboo can fill the entire couch with his "collections." And lately, since he's been in that fantastic mood, he's got days worth of stuff surrounding him.
But this isn't good for him. I know that. I KNOW he needs to get out and play. I KNOW he shouldn't be sitting at home with a blanket over his head, playing the ipad for hours. We're really struggling. But when he jumps around the house and has his little collections going? I know he's doing better.
Because if he's making a holy mess? Eating lotion? Stealing my utensils? He's back to being Bugaboo.
8 thoughts on "Collecting Collections"
You know I have very deep feeling about doing what makes YOU happy and not letting someone else's opinion of what you "should" be doing get in the way of your peace.
If I lived by the code of "shoulda's", I would have already had that nervous breakdown I keep threatening to have. If he's happy, then go with it. Just go for little excursions when you can, like to the store. I wouldn't worry too much about him roosting in his nest because, frankly, that's what I'd do if I didn't have to leave the house and be gainfully employed.
my son is a collector, too! every ball we own is on the trampoline, AND he still jumps on it to create that popcorn effect. He has been doing this for years and somehow has managed to NOT sprain an ankle! (knock wood)
often his collections have a theme…lately everything has to be a rainbow. He was very upset yesterday because there were no more purple water balloons! Luckily, he is still way into the pool, trampoline, and swingset…with intermittent breaks on the computer 🙂 Hope your Bugaboo rediscovers the great outdoors soon!
He's doing what he needs to do to feel right with the world again. You might never find out why he needs to do that, but for now this is him trying to get some order and make sense of things. To feel safe. And to him, this is play. It might not look like what everyone says play should look like, but it's achieving all the same goals… exploring and learning about the world, having fun.


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Sharia and Moderate Muslims
The IRS, Congress, and Jihad
Sleeper Cells in the USA
"The Curse"
Secrets Your Government Hides From You
Do Americans Really Care About Our National Security?
TSA: America's Number One Joke
The Fallacy of the "Moderate Muslim"
Exclusive: Who is an Islamic Terrorist Supporter?
Exclusive: A Retired Airline Pilot Speaks Out on Airline Security
Exclusive: Why Do Major News Outlets Refuse to Investigate Terror Groups' Saudi Connections?
Exclusive: Define Terrorism Supporter
Exclusive: For Some Muslim Police Officers: Which Comes First – Islam or America?
Exclusive: Did Federal Agents Torture Iranians in Iraq in 2003?
Exclusive: 50 State Counterterrorism Research Tour Stops in Nashville
Exclusive: Who Controls America? Americans or a Few Elites?
Read more: Family Security Matters http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/authors/detail/dave-gaubatz#ixzz3HqszlRE2
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution


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On February 11, 2017 we will be releasing the Vans Gilbert Crockett 2 in two color ways in-store and online. We'll have the Black/White and the Ivy Green/Black Color ways available. The new Crockett Pro 2 model introduces a new outsole that utilizes the performance advancements of Vans Wafflecup technology, providing the premium support and unrivaled grip demanded by skateboarders everywhere. Gilbert's second edition highlights new blind-seam suede overlays on the toe cap, maximizing Vans' Duracap reinforcement capabilities while employing Vans' proven Ultracush HD drop-in sockliners for the highest level of impact cushioning.
Check out Gilberts newest part from Venue's "Gospel" which will be for sale in-store next week.


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Nov 15, 2017
Well, it's alright, as the traveling Jonathan Maberry returns to join Christopher Golden and James A Moore.
The Beards catch up and answer your questions and Jonathan presumes he's the only one who will get that pun.
Nov 1, 2017
James A. Moore and Christopher Golden, two-thirds of the beards, sit down together at Spooky Empire convention in Orlando FL along with two other guests: author and podcaster Armand Rosamilia as well as book reviewer and podcaster Shelly Rosamilia, the owners of Project Entertainment Network. They talk about conventions...


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Pacific e-Education Aids and Resources for Schools and Libraries and ADLSN worked together on a Greenstone on DVD teaching and learning resource for the South Pacific.
PEARLs is an initiative between FAO, USP and SCP to provide Digital Education Resources to all Pacific Schools and Libraries that have computers. It provides documents and videos on Pacific issues for teachers, parents and students. We have complied over 500 documents and videos on many Pacific issues and topics with a focus on Basic Education, Health, Climate Change, sustainability and security


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The Tigers exploded out of the blocks against Manly, dominating Manly in the first half to score a big 38-12 win at Lottoland.
The first half belonged solely to Luke Brooks, who had arguably the best half of footy in his career. His first grubber forced a drop out and on the next set, his next grubber kick produced a try for Lawrence, which Marsters converted.
The Tigers marched downfield quickly and Brooks put in another grubber, forcing a drop out. From the next set the Tigers got a penalty and Marsters kicked a penalty goal.
From the restart the Tigers again made in-roads. Brooks ran to the left shortside before turning the ball inside to Naiqama who burst through and ran 40 metres before passing to Watene-Zelezniak who scored a great try out of nothing. Marsters was successful with his conversion from out wide.
The Tigers dominated possession and field position for the next 15 minutes before finally adding to their score again when that man Brooks dived over from dummy half and planted the ball on the stripe, between Tom Trbojevic's legs. Marsters converted from in front.
It was only 3 minutes later and Brooks held up a pass nicely for Marshall and the veteran number 6 sliced through the edge defence to score on the right side. Marsters again added the extras to give the Tigers a brilliant 26-0 lead at half time.
The second half opened with Manly fumbling the ball twice before we saw some old school Benji Marshall sidesteps, as he stepped right and then left before diving over for a try just four minutes into the second half. Marsters converted.
Six minutes later and Manly finally got on the board after Thompson shrugged off a tackle by Marsters to score out on the left side. DCE's sideline conversion bounced off the crossbar and over for the goal.
The next 20 minutes became a bit sloppy for both sides before Manly scored a lucky try after Parker pounced on a Kelly grubber. DCE was again good with his sideline conversion.
Right on full time the Tigers were awarded a penalty try after Liddle soccered a loose ball into the Manly in-goal but was held back by Cherry-Evans. Marsters converted to give the Tigers a healthy 26 point victory.
Next weekend the black, orange and white are headed to Tamworth where they'll host a home game against Newcastle on Saturday, while Manly are away to the Eels at ANZ Stadium next Sunday.


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It's monsoon again here in Singapore. It's cool and rainy, and there's a sense of resigned calm. Construction workers sleep and play on their phones under makeshift shelters, people huddle under umbrellas and stand on their balconies, waiting for a break in the weather. It's a fairly gloomy way to start the New Year, but perhaps an apt one.
2014 was a pretty shitty year. We're supposed to have reflected on what we've achieved and learned, and then set some well-meaning resolutions for this New Year. But 2014 sucked. It was a year of fear and suffering: Daesh, Ebola, the endless conflict in Syria, airplane disasters, thinly-veiled and institutionally-sanctioned racism. It sucked. 2015, so far, hasn't been much better.
I had a conversation with a friend on New Year's Eve about 2014. She'd had a shitty year on a personal level as well, so I told her vehemently that 2015 would be better.
"It has to be," she said. It was said without self-pity and without melancholic longing, just a statement of fact. A resolution in itself.
It's the time of year when we're supposed to be writing lists about how we're going to start exercising and drinking less and about how we're sticking to it this time, dammit. But the only resolution I have is to make 2015 better. There's not much I can do on a global level. But I can refuse to be intimidated. I can learn more about those who are misunderstood and misrepresented. I can smile at strangers, I can mean it when I ask how you are or when I tell you to have a good day. I can call my family and friends more often. I can be there when they need me, even if it's from afar. 2015 will be the year of making the best of things. 2015 will be doing what we can with the hand we're dealt, even if it's just throwing the cards into the air and laughing.
It's still raining outside but, in the manner of those who live in the tropics, I'll shrug and get on with it. It's good weather for thinking and writing, for eating noodles, and going for a walk, believe it or not. It's cool, a rare respite from the exhausting humidity. There's an upside, there always is. And despite the rain, life goes on. It has to.


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W Taipei (February 14, 2011) – GA Design International has created a "nature electrified" design concept that fuses the rural surroundings of Taipei with the vibrant, high voltage core of the city. W Hotels Designer of the Future winner Zigelbaum + Coelho has also been commissioned to create an interactive chandelier for the hotel.
W London – Leicester Square (February 14, 2011) – Debuting as the 40th W Hotel globally, W London has been designed by renowned London architects Jestico + Whiles and Dutch interior design agency, Concrete. Veiled in translucent glass that will change color according to the time of day or happenings in the city or hotel, the 10-story hotel is sure to become the epicenter of entertainment. Interiors are based on the "dual personality" of the Englishman – buttoned-up by day and uninhibited and free-spirited by night.
W St. Petersburg (March 2011) – With architecture by Grigoriev + Partners and interior design by Milan-based Antonio Citterio and Partners, W St. Petersburg will be located in a historic building near the lavish Winter Palace, a new place to experience the white of night. Inspired by the jewel-tones and layers of a Fabergé Egg, the "hidden gem" design of the hotel will reveal surprises throughout the guest experience.
W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak (March 2011) – For its latest Retreat experience, W Hotels has partnered with SCDA Design International and AB Concepts Hong Kong. An island marked by worship and celebration, the design of W Bali was inspired by the more than 20,000 temples that populate the Island – each with private inner courtyards and public outer courtyards that constantly "conceal and reveal," introducing a new scene unseen.
W Paris – Opéra (December 2011) – Located steps from the world-famous Opéra Garnier, W Paris – Opéra has been designed by Rockwell Group Europe ("RGe") and inspired by both the energy of New York City – W's birthplace – and Paris as the "City of Light." Sure to light up the refined district, W Paris will melt the somber traditions of the 1870s Haussman-era building in which it will be housed with a "spark" of modern radiance.
W Guangzhou (December 2011) – With architecture by Hong Kong-based Rocco Design and interiors by renowned Yabu Pushelberg, the design of W Guangzhou, located in the city's buzzing Zhujiang district, has been inspired by the region's ancient Kesi Tapestries. Throughout the hotel, guests will find themes around unraveling, mesh work and emerging patterns.


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Sep 242017
3 Responses to "Joe Brandie"
Rest in peace, Joe. Thanks for the drams and memories. I count myself among the lucky ones who briefly shared your company.
I googled him and saw the video attributed to you Curt. I meet a lot of people in their later years (sadly, not for long) and there are quite a few of whom I think "I wish I had known XXX when he/she was healthier".
From a 30 second video it's quite clear that this gentleman probably made a lot of people happy they had known him.
RIP. Good man.


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Better cocktails are just a click away. We've got full profiles and menus in the works, and in the meantime you can browse our full list of quality cocktail destinations from A-Z, search by Neighborhood or by Activity, or just use our handy map below.
Still not sure where to to? Get personalized recommendations by tweeting @dipsology or texting us at 347-674-8206!
Happy drinking!


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The forms on the right are usable only in Serbian and Macedonian typography.Andreas Stötzner said:what I wonder about is this: ⟨…⟩
македонски текстови filetype:pdfand found a few texts with italics. Most were using the Russian italics but when not, most often the following choice was made:
Whether or not it is consistent, I suspect, even with my very limited acquaintance with the Slavic languages, that it is correct. Stylish Russian fonts will sometimes make the letter L look like a Greek lambda. But if you tried to make the letter D look like a Greek delta, you are making a more extreme change, although not one that's impossible - if, and only if, your typeface is caps-only and sans-serif.Andreas Stötzner said:Only one thing I'm wondering about: in the Bulgarian column (Regular) it records a flat-top de but a pointed-top el. Is that consistent?
Oh, I'm sure you are correct. But I'm amazed that the Macedonian names for the two styles of printing being illustrated are "Regular" and "Italik".Thomas Phinney said:For those who are unfamiliar with Cyrillic and the abbreviations involved for various countries/languages I believe the headings across the top are: Macedonian, Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian.
Lasko Dzurovski has the font Skorid on MyFonts where you can try those substitutions as stylistic sets. Here is one of his figures.
Aside from unicode codepoints that seem to have been merged for Serbian, that leaves me wondering which substitutions are considered to be normative and which are rather stylistic.


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first AL.com user to add photos or videos of Gulf Coast Internet
Gulf Coast Internet is located at 41 N Jefferson St Ste 106A, Pensacola, FL. This location is in the Downtown neighborhood. This business specializes in Internet Services.


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Jeff Novick is truly a unique dietitian and nutritionist. With over 24 years of experience in nutrition, health, fitness and natural living, he offers expert health advice distilled into powerful, easy-to-understand language on a variety of current topics.
Jeff's insightful and humorous approach to nutrition and health has helped thousands worldwide make the transition to healthy living. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana State University in nutrition, with minors in Exercise Science.
Jeff serves as Vice President of Health Promotion for Executive Health Exams International and lectures at the McDougall Program in Santa Rosa, California and at the Engine 2 Immersion program in Austin, TX. He is also the Director of Nutrition for the Meals for Health community project, which helps empower low-income families to achieve optimal health. Jeff worked with Whole Foods Market in the development of their Wellness Club program, their healthy eating initiatives and their food rating system.
For almost a decade Jeff served as the Director of Nutrition at the Pritikin Center in Aventura, Florida, and as Vice President of the Board of the Directors for the National Health Association (NHA). He also served as the Director of Health Education for the NHA and as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Health Sciences for Kaplan University.
Jeff has also taught nutrition classes at Indiana State University, Indiana University Medical School, the University of Miami Medical School and for the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, and lectures at medical conferences around the country on a regular basis. While in Indiana he created and taught the Nutrition Education Initiative, a preventive medicine curriculum for medical doctors, residents, and medical students. In recognition of this groundbreaking project, Indiana's governor awarded him the Indiana State Public Health Excellence in Health Science Award, and Indiana State University awarded him the Graduate-of-the-Last-Decade Award.
He has been interviewed by Newsday, Parade Magazine, Men's Health, Shape Magazine, Women's World and has appeared on Fox News, Discovery Health, the Today Show and other media nationwide. He appeared in the documentary Processed People and the movie Fatboy, which won the best documentary award at the Fort Lauderdale and Queens Film Festivals.
Read an in-depth interview with Jeff Novick here.


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Dearest Creeps:
Today we shall address the band Ghost or Ghost B.C. To be clear, I honestly don't know what they go by because one minute they are Ghost and the other moment they are referred to as Ghost B.C. They are in fact on the Metal-Archives: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Ghost/3540309157 and that is where my love and I stumbled upon them.
So let's get started with this review!
When you first listen to this band, you'd think you were back in the times of Iron Butterfly… even their music videos remind me of Black Sabbath's cheese factor from back in the day. The band is full of nameless ghouls except for the singer who is Papa Emeritus II. For present day, their sound is unique and these Swedish fellas know how to be satanic, evil, and dark. In a way, they raise the hairs on your arms because you listen to the music and his voice… it sounds almost super cheerful. As if it were to brainwash you to join some cult or as a matter of fact, if this was the 1980s with the PMRC… I think this band would have been blamed for everything and they probably do have hidden messages in their lyrics that might sound evil but might be just like "Vilda, go make me a sandwich."
Kinda art-rocky but not overboard art rocky where you want to be Andy Warhol.
I think it's a refreshing band to emerge in today's world of music. Check them out below:


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Correction Appended.
Through a fall Group Independent Study Project, Saturday night dinners and a series of other initiatives and projects, a new student group is looking to reignite discussions about the University originally inspired by the New Curriculum. Born over conversations between 10 to 20 students, Brown Conversation aims to continue the dialogue about Brown, its educational philosophy and its place in higher education.
The group emerged from dinner conversations last semester between Evan Schwartz '13, an independent concentrator in community development and education, and Anish Sarma '12, an electrical engineering concentrator. Promoted solely via word of mouth, the group's listserv now boasts 142 members, and 20 to 35 people show up at any given meeting. Around 100 individuals in total have attended meetings at some point, Schwartz said.
With the administrative turnover taking place, now could be a particularly opportune time for students to consider the identity of the University, Sarma said, but he added that timing is "coincidental to the fact. … It's sort of fundamental to what Brown is that students engage with these questions."
"Part of being educated is knowing why you have the education that you have," Sarma said.
The New Curriculum, born from the efforts of a GISP led by Ira Magaziner '69 P'06, P'07, P'10 and Elliot Maxwell '68, was implemented in 1969. The new guidelines did away with distribution requirements and added the Satisfactory/No Credit option in place today.
Schwartz said the original effort to revamp the University's curriculum was not meant to be a "one-off thing," but rather a spark to get students to constantly reflect on their education and how to improve it. He said there have been different "pockets of conversation" since then, and Brown Conversation aspires to unite those "different voices" in a collaborative setting.
The group's purpose is intentionally imprecise. Some people come with concrete goals for structural reform at the University level, whereas others simply want to talk about their own education. Schwartz said upperclassmen might be drawn by controversial issues related to the University, such as those explored in The Herald's "Mission Drift?" series last semester, but first years seem to want to explore their education personally first. "You can't have a sense that Brown has changed … if you just got here," Sarma said.
Some projects that group meetings have precipitated are the Outgoing Senior Interview Project and a GISP for next semester. While the group itself may avoid taking stances on particular issues, it hopes to bring people of similar goals together "to catalyze projects that they care about," Sarma said.
Schwartz emphasized the diversity of group members and a desire for fresh faces, adding that the breakdown by class years is almost even. The group is especially interested in recruiting first-years so they can start thinking about their education to shape their four years purposefully.
"It seems like this sort of discussion often happens largely among seniors," Schwartz said. But Nikhil Kalyanpur '13, a Herald opinions columnist, said it seems like underclassmen are more represented at the meetings than seniors are – something he called crucial for sustaining the conversation.
Many of the current members are involved in student groups or committees that pertain to Brown Conversation's mission. Several members of the Undergraduate Council of Students, including Anthony White '13 and David Rattner '13, have attended meetings. As a UCS member, White said he brings certain insights to the group about administration, adding that he is also interested in the group as a student who wants to make the concentration declaration process more meaningful.
Rattner said he has been working with a committee within Brown Conversation to circulate information about the New Curriculum to incoming students.
Kalyanpur and Schwartz are independent concentrators, and Schwartz works at the Curricular Resource Center. Peggy Chang '91, director of the CRC, said Brown Conversation shares similarities with the center's mission in that they both are peer advising resources that "help any student who seeks advice to make the most of his or her time at Brown."
The GISP for next semester, for which about a dozen students have expressed intent to enroll, was designed to "contextualiz(e) the Brown Conversation," Schwartz said. Pedagogically, it will "analyze different philosophies of education … and then through them analyze Brown's philosophy historically as well as what it is now," Kalyanpur said.
He added that one goal will be to "cement our own practical philosophy" that will inform Brown Conversation's future projects and direction.
Last week's discussion topic was about whether Brown should have requirements. After asking what departments people had deliberately avoided, the group realized that for every department someone had ignored, there was another person who was concentrating in that or a similar discipline. Members then pitched their concentrations to get people to "reconsider departments that they'd written off," Schwartz said.
One potential project the group is planning is a Curiosity Fair, inspired by the discussion about requirements, where students would talk to people in departments they had avoided to be convinced to explore different areas.
An article in Thursday's Herald ("Brown Conversation examines U.'s identity," April 12) stated that Brown Conversation began over dinner between just two people. In fact, it arose from conversations with a mix of between 10 and 20 underclassmen and upperclassmen. The Herald regrets the error.


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News » Premier League news » Arsenal news
Man Utd target Elseid Hysaj
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly weighing up a winter move for Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj. The 22-year-old was a transfer target for Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Hysaj, who represented Albania at Euro 2016, made 43 appearances for the Naples outfit last term following his move from Empoli.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal have all been previously credited with interest for the full-back, but according to II Mattino, the Red Devils are favourites to pursue the player's signature in the New Year.
Napoli only recently committed the right-back to a fresh five-year contract, and this is likely to urge them to demand fees of around £40m for their asset.
Mourinho is desperate to reinforce the right side of the defence in January with Matteo Darmian tipped to seal a return to the Serie A.


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Posts Tagged 'Festival'
A Lott of Style
The most exciting news that I've heard all week is that Brit-nominated songstress Pixie Lott has agreed to design a new range for Lipsy, my favourite high street designer. The style icon has agreed to design a summer and winter collection for the brand, each revolving around two distinct looks : "Pixie Festival" and "Pixie Party", and with every purchase Lipsy will also be giving away 3 Pixie Lott downloads, absolutely free!
Pixie said: "I have always been a big fan of Lipsy and regularly shop in their stores. I love what Lipsy stands for and I am very excited at the thought of working with such a talented and creative team. It's going to be great fun."
Indeed it seems that Pixie really can't get enough of Lipsy at the moment, recently being spotted in their sell out black lace prom dress from their new spring/summer collection.
Low Back Lace Cut Prom Dress £55; available at http://www.lipsy.co.uk/
I personally can't wait for the new collection to hit my local Bank store in Kingston, and add some of Pixie's "Festival" look to my holiday suitcase!


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Sometimes I just feel like something a little sweet for dinner...which was the case tonight. I could have gone with the usual pancakes with fruit, or belgian waffles, but I decided I wanted something a bit on the lighter side, but with plenty of creamy filling. Crepes came to mind...the wonderful little french creations with endless filling possibilities. I wanted to go the non traditional route however, so I decided on corn crepes instead of the usual flour. I used a mixture of corn flour and corn meal, so that the batter would remain light. Tonight I decided that a bit of chevre filling would be nice in the crepes...so I guess these are similar to blintzes in that sense. I spiked the chevre with a bit of honey and lime since lime loves corn. Not being one to leave fruits or vegetables out of any meal...I had to make a fruit compote that complimented the crepes...and strawberries and mango seemed like a wise choice. Since the fruit was perfectly ripe, it hardly needed to be sweeened, so I simply added a touch of honey, and some lemon juice to keep the flavor bright. They were wonderful...the creamy tangy chevre married well with the sweetness of the corn in the crepes and fruits...heavenly! Try these if you feel like a treat for dinner...and you won't need any dessert!
Corn Crepes with Lime Honey Chevre and Strawberry Mango Compote
Serves 3 (9 filled crepes)
1 medium organic mango, diced
1 1/2 cups sliced organic strawberries
juice of one lemon
1 Tbsp honey
12 oz chevre
juice and zest of 1 large lime
3 Tbsp honey
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 large organic egg
1 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup corn flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 Tbsp maple sugar
butter or non-stick spray
To make sauce, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until fruit is just starting to soften. Remove from heat. To make filling, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well until completely blended, then set aside in the fridge. To make crepes, combine all batter ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Let rest 15 minutes. Heat a non-stick 8 inch pan over medium heat and melt a small amount of butter in it (or use non-stick spray if you are not a butter fan). When hot, add about 1/4 cup batter and swirl to spread out batter a little. Let cook until the surface is dry, then loosen edges with a spatula and carefully flip to the other side, and cook 30 seconds more. Place on a plate. Repeat with remaining batter using more butter or spray if necessary and stack crepes on the plate. To assemble, place about 2 Tbsp of the chevre filling on each crepe in a line down the center, then roll up. Repeat with remaining crepes, and place 3 on a plate spooning the fruit compote over.