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Evidence on the Determinants of the Choice between Wage Posting and Wage Bargaining
NBER Working Paper No. 16033
Some workers bargain with prospective employers before accepting a job. Others face a posted wage as a take-it-or-leave-it opportunity. Theories of wage formation point to substantial differences in labor-market equilibrium between bargained and posted wages. We surveyed a representative sample of U.S. workers to inquire about the wage determination process at the time they were hired into their current or most recent jobs. A third of the respondents reported bargaining over pay before accepting their current jobs. About a third of workers had precise information about pay when they first met with their employers, a sign of wage posting. About 40 percent of workers could have remained on their earlier jobs at the time they accepted their current jobs, indicating a more favorable bargaining position than is held by unemployed job-seekers. Our analysis of the distribution of wages shows that wage dispersion is higher among workers who bargained for their wages. Wages are higher among bargainers than non-bargainers, after adjusting for the differing compositions of the groups. Our results on wages give substantial support to the job-ladder model--workers who had the option to remain at their earlier jobs when they took their current jobs can earn higher wages than those without that option.
A non-technical summary of this paper is available in the September 2010 NBER Digest.
You can sign up to receive the NBER Digest by email.
Supplementary materials for this paper:
Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w16033
Published: "Evidence on the Incidence of Wage Posting, Wage Bargaining, and On-the-Job Search" (with Alan B. Krueger), AEJ: Macroeconomics , October 2012, 4(4) 56–67
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We embrace a wide range of tools, languages, and frameworks, and we are always tracking the latest trends and technologies in the world of HTML5, web, and Javascript development. That said, we have a few favorite tools that we use again and again to deliver polished and high-performance applications to our clients.
Hoist: our toolkit for rapid application development
Built on a tight integration of server and client technologies, Hoist provides an opinionated yet flexible foundation for building and operating enterprise web applications.
Support for soft-configuration, user preferences, activity tracking, and more come ready to use with client and server-side APIs and utilities. Developers and DevOps admins can adjust configuration parameters across multiple environments, view and search server logs, and access application-specific admin modules from within a dedicated and extensible management application.
Simple but effective activity, error, and performance tracking is integrated with core operations such as application loading and Ajax requests. The admin application allows for browsing, searching, and quick charting of activity data and daily visits. Monitoring APIs are provided by the server-side libraries to collect and check business-specific metrics. Runtime checks and alert thresholds can be configured and run via the admin client or monitored via JSON endpoints.
Custom components and plugins provide some large and small additions to the standard toolkits we deploy toolkit. Examples include a grid-based editor for streamlined CRUD interfaces, bundled and customized D3 visualizations, tools for dashboard layout and management, and specialized components for data-dense mobile views.
React: A framework for modern JavaScript UIs
The fundamental technology for the Hoist front-end is React, the innovative (and industry standard) framework for creating modern JavaScript UIs. React provides a declarative, flexible, and predictable glue layer for building components and applications. We provide a suite of highly customized React components for data manipulation, layout, and visualization. Using React, we are able to integrate best-of-breed libraries such as BlueprintJS, HighCharts, AG Grid and D3 seamlessly into Hoist.
Along with React, we make extensive use of MobX, an observable-based state management system. MobX is ideal for building highly Reactive applications with minimal boilerplate, allowing developers to focus on business logic, and user experience, rather than state management.
Grails: enterprise-ready Java servers for an agile world
We make extensive use of Grails, a framework for rapid web application development underpinned by enterprise-grade Java technologies such as Spring and Hibernate. Grails provides a flexible yet robust MVC architecture, strong support for data validation and transactions, and a wide ecosystem of plugins (including our own custom plugin, Hoist).
Grails is based on Groovy, a dynamic language built on Java that brings the expressiveness and power of modern scripting languages (such as Python or Ruby) to the JVM. Groovy is fully interoperable with Java, allowing us to integrate our clients' existing Java services and APIs with a modern web toolkit.
With much of our development work in the financial sector, we've found the combination of a modern web framework and enterprise-grade Java support to be an especially winning combination. We've integrated our applications with industry-standard APIs from Bloomberg, FIX messaging feeds, Documentum, realtime pricing providers, and more.
ExHI also has extensive experience with JavaScript frameworks from Sencha. We have worked with ExtJS and Sencha for years, and are expert developers on this highly productive and groundbreaking framework.
While most of our new client-side development has moved to React, we have learned much from the highly declarative and modular style of ExtJS application development, and strive to bring many of its innovations and best practices into our ongoing work. Please don't hesitate to contact us regarding Sencha and how Sencha apps might be adapted to the modern Javascript landscape.
Modern web tech: Javascript data visualization, HTML5 canvas, and CSS3
Hand-in-hand with Grails and React, we employ a range of other web technologies to bring our clients' ideas to life. These include web-based data visualization libraries such as the D3 Toolkit and advanced charting libraries such as Highcharts. We've leveraged tools like these to build high performance custom components: canvas-based heatmaps that can visualize the performance and risk of huge portfolios at a glance, or charting tools to review multi-year performance histories or data-dense price charts.
We have embraced CSS tools such as Less and Sass, and can't imagine working without them. We consider the visual presentation, iconography, and typography of all our projects to be essential components to their effectiveness and success.
Project spotlight: Zolio
Zolio is a client that's bringing investment training and financial industry career prep to new levels of realism. We built their technology platform using the tools outlined above. We also help to manage their infrastructure on Amazon Web Services to provide a scalable, fast, and reliable service.
Zolio offers participants a rich simulated trading environment, allowing them to paper trade a portfolio of equities with other participants using realtime market feeds. The platform offers realtime P&L, order management, trade journaling, and more via both desktop and mobile applications. It also provides a rich set of search, analytics, and comparison tools for investment managers seeking the next source of trading talent.

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Our programs focus on the study of new and exciting technologies through a combination of theory and practical, hands-on learning.
College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology
Building a habitat to sustain life on Mars, coding video games and designing robots for competition are just a few ways EAST helps young learners explore the world.
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For over 125 years, WSU and the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology (EAST) have grown and adapted to meet student, community and industry needs.
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Six Great Minnesota Home Builders
Great Locally Owned & Operated New Home Builders
Twenty One Oaks offers a variety of floor plan options from six experienced new home builders. Whether you are looking for portfolio plans or custom home designs, the builders in Twenty One Oaks can accommodate you. Click below to visit the home builders' websites.
Click below to visit the home builder's sites.
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- Our building process is guided by a step-by-step "Now That You've Purchased" program. This enables our customer to create a customized home that is uniquely their own.
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Starting in the $500's
Also building in: Village Preserve, Lake Elmo
- At Stonegate we strive to provide an exceptional home building experience. From start to finish, we focus on you – your priorities, your lifestyle, your future home.
- Stonegate Builders' homes feature architecturally designed plans, soft close cabinet doors & drawers, designer light packages, site painted millwork, and professional interior design selection service.
- Designing from the ground up is a big job, but it doesn't have to be an overwhelming one. With out expertise at your disposal, we aim to cultivate a collaborative, open, expectation-focused design process.


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17 April 2012
April Diary
18 comments
love the new jewels and shoes! those shoes will be so hot for spring!!ReplyDelete
Laura x
love love love the shoes! <3ReplyDelete
Flowers are gorgeous , and love all the new jewels!! Seems like a great April for you so far xoxoReplyDelete
LOve all the jewellery!ReplyDelete
Where did you get your metal cuffs from as I have been looking everywhere but haven't found any I like!
These look amazing!
Take a peak at my blog<3
Project Rattlebag
I love the shoes!ReplyDelete
lovee the picturesReplyDelete
and where did ya get your magazines?
loving all the pics, especially the magazines and the shoes(Zara right?) <3ReplyDelete
Great shots! I love your accessories! XReplyDelete
that shoes are so popular. i tried it but so uncomfortable..maybe because im not used to heels!ReplyDelete
a/way, love these shots!
Those shoes and jewelry are super nice :DReplyDelete
Those flowers are so pretty and I love the orange, black and taupe heels! :)ReplyDelete
Gem x
Please tell me where you got those single ring bands from????????ReplyDelete
Ahh.. those shoes <3ReplyDelete
Looooved the flowers and the bling bling ;)ReplyDelete
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So many cute things! ^^ReplyDelete
Wedges shoes in army green, I love comfortable shoes with lace, I love high heels in red.ReplyDelete
Your work is very good and I appreciate you and hopping for some more informative posts. happy new year 2016 new year 2016 happy new year 2016 images feliz año nuevo 2016 imagenes de año nuevo 2016 feliz año 2016 happy new year images 2016ReplyDelete


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Sydney has an advanced market economy with strengths in finance, manufacturing and tourism. Its gross regional product is the largest in Australia. There is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as Asia Pacific's leading financial hub. Sydney is also a gateway to Australia for many international visitors. Its natural features include Sydney Harbour, the Royal National Park, Bondi Beach, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Man-made attractions such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are also well known to international visitors.
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Cleaner steel production can drive global economic growth, improving quality of life without compromising human health and the environment. This will be particularly important in China and developing countries, who are increasing steel production to meet demands associated with growing population, incomes and urbanization.
China's pollution problems are well documented, with implications for environmental and human health impacts worldwide. Its iron and steel industry has been identified as the largest contributing industrial source of pollutants. It is also a significant contributor of dioxins (PCDD/Fs), persistent organic pollutants that can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems.
In light of these trends, China is implementing regulatory policies to curb pollution. In July 2018, it released the Blue Sky Action Plan, targeting reductions in PM2.5, VOCs, NOx and greenhouse gases. For the Chinese iron and steel industry, this signifies capacity reductions, and industry consolidation that will phase out small mills and rely more on large blast furnaces.
It may also result in the increased sourcing of higher-grade raw material inputs to reduce pollution impacts per ton of steel production. Research and regulatory studies have demonstrated emissions improvements that Chinese mills will experience by switching from use of sinter to iron ore pellets.
Click to Enlarge
The results of one study (Wu et al. 2015), captured in the chart below, show the estimated ranges of pollutants emitted by Chinese mills through the use of sinter versus the use of pellets. The range of emissions from pellets is consistently lower than that of sinter.
Moreover, the same study found that dioxin emissions and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) were non-detectable in the pelleting process, whereas the dioxin emissions factor could exceed 1000 ng I-TEQ per ton from sintering and the NMVOC was estimated at 0.219 kg per ton.
A study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also suggests that CO2 emissions per ton could improve by 85% through using pellets over sinter.
Shifting towards use of pellets as iron feedstock is necessary should Chinese steel mills wish to achieve environmental improvements that make their performance comparable to American counterparts. In 2009, the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) published a report that compared emissions per ton of steel produced in the U.S. and China.
While the scale of environmental benefits achievable in China remains uncertain due to limited data availability, the positive impacts of switching feedstock are well documented and there is a strong basis for structural change in the Chinese steel industry.


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Get the Look of Angelica Panganiban's Outdoor Nook
Charming and whimsical—her space will inspire you to revamp your lanai or balcony
Whether you live in a sprawling house or a condo unit, having an outdoor nook has a lot of benefits. A balcony or a lanai can serve multiple purposes—some use it as an extension of the living area, others opt for a dining nook, and there are many who turn it into a green corner filled with plants and blooms. For actress Angelica Panganiban, her outdoor area is versatile, functional, and envy-worthy.
Not only is it the best spot to view the sky and her surroundings, it's perfect for catch-up sessions and get-togethers with friends, too. On days when she'd like to take in the beauty of the city, it's also a cozy option for hearty breakfast meals.
If you've been planning to change the look of your outdoor nook, you may want to use Angelica's space as inspiration. Filled with color, warm lights, and inviting seating pieces—it has everything you need in a lanai that'll make you want to stay for hours on end. Get started with these picks:
More on Realliving.com.ph


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|This article is out of universe from Kung Fu Panda.
|This subject has been distinguished as part of the real world and therefore should not be taken as part of the fictional universe of the Kung Fu Panda franchise.
- This article is about the episode. For other uses, see Midnight Stranger (disambiguation).
"The Midnight Stranger" is the sixteenth episode from season two of Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
When kung fu is outlawed, Po turns to donning a mask to fight crime.[1]
Po is placed in jail by Constable Hu, having once again employed Kung fu without going through the process of applying for a permit. Po argues that the application process is impractical, but Hu refuses to bend on the matter and-according to the authority granted him by the Imperial emblem-bans the practice of Kung fu. Released into the custody of the Furious Five, Po and his teammates quickly become frustrated, as crime is running rampant and they are forbidden by law from stopping it. The group are forced to wait, hoping that Shifu will resolve the matter after he returns from a trip. However, while walking late that night, Po witnesses a robbery in progress, and decides to intervene after spotting a nearby suit of armor in his size and donning it to hide his identity.
After fighting off the bandits, Po is addressed by the beneficiary of his efforts as the Midnight Stranger, a term he is unfamiliar with. Spending the night at the Noodle shop, he questions his adopted father about the Stranger and is told the legend; in the process his father is revealed to be an avid fan of the Stranger. The reaction to the Stranger's efforts among the villagers is fairly positive, but Constable Hu is outraged by a vigilante taking the law into his own hands. Discussing the matter with the Furious Five, Po learns that while most of them disapprove of the Stranger's actions, Tigress is enamored of the idea of the heroic outlaw.
Po continues to don the armor and fight bandits in the valley, much to their dismay and Hu's consternation. Several of the outlaws then ambush him at the Noodle shop, where his father is briefly thrilled to see him until Po-in his Midnight Stranger guise-destroyed much of Ping's property, including quite a bit of Midnight Stranger fan memorabilia. The bandits, realizing that they can't defeat the Stranger, decided to get help, while the next day Po learns of his father's outrage and contempt for the false Midnight Stranger. After encountering Tigress, who is out looking for the Stranger in hopes of winning his affections, he is approached by Hu, who asks for his help in apprehending the Stranger. The pair soon hold a stakeout, in which Po is confident that they won't see the Stranger, only for Ping to arrive in a homemade Stranger helmet and thwart a robbery.
Believing Ping to be the Stranger he has been looking for, Hu takes him into custody with the intent of sending him to Chorh-Gom Prison, only for Po to don his armor in an effort to prove his father's innocence. After Po's identity is revealed, Hu lets Ping go free and arrests him instead, intending to take him to prison. However, the Pig bandits then arrive, and surprise Hu by thanking him for banning Kung fu and making their criminal enterprise easier. They then introduce their new ally, Lidong, who quickly battles Po but inadvertently frees him from Hu's handcuffs. Hu, meanwhile, is so outraged by the mockery the criminals have made of him that he joins Po in battling them down, even bringing down Lidong with a powerful body slam.
Pleased by the victory, Hu announces that the ban on Kung fu is lifted, but then informs Po that he doesn't have the ability to change the process and make permits unnecessary. The Five then arrive in response to the disturbance, and Tigress is horrified to learn that the object of her affections was Po in disguise.
Voice cast
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
See also
External links
|Legends of Awesomeness Season 2 episodes


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"I dig old books." ™
Est. 1998
Related Quotes Childhood History Live Now Nostalgia Past
Memory takes a lot of poetic license. It omits some details; others are exaggerated, according to the emotional value of the articles it touches, for memory is seated predominantly in the heart. The interior is therefore rather dim and poetic. ~Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie, Scene One, 1945
How often do our thoughts play "hide-and-seek" with us in our memory! ~James Lendall Basford (1845–1915), Sparks from the Philosopher's Stone, 1882
Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest"
It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life. ~P.D. James
Whoever snatched my formerly reliable, sharp short-term memory: I'd like it back now, please. ~Dr. SunWolf, 2016 September 2nd tweet, professorsunwolf.com
Years fold their mantles
Round those dead blisses...
~J.J. Britton (1832–1913), "Long Ago"
Point is, you hardly remember the perfect things. But when perfect goes wrong, those are the memories that last forever. ~Steven White and Yamara Taylor, black‑ish, "Just Christmas, Baby" [S3, E10, 2016, Dre narrating]
And even if you were in some prison, the walls of which let none of the sounds of the world come to your senses — would you not then still have your childhood, that precious, kingly possession, that treasure-house of memories? ~Rainer Maria Rilke
I enjoy, occasionally, a day with my memories — these paintings hanging on the walls of my mind. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
Notice how your memories nest, one inside another — so close-fitting that you can't peel one free without releasing others. ~Dr. SunWolf, professorsunwolf.com
The leaves of memory seemed to make
A mournful rustling in the dark.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume. ~Jean de Boufflers
I have memories — but only a fool stores his past in the future. ~David Gerrold
A happy childhood can't be cured. Mine'll hang around my neck like a rainbow, that's all, instead of a noose. ~Hortense Calisher, Queenie, 1971
Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door. ~Saul Bellow
Memory is not an instrument for surveying the past but it is theater. It is the medium of past experience, just as the earth is the medium in which dead cities lie buried. He who seeks to approach his own buried past must conduct himself like a man digging. ~Walter Benjamin
Memory itself is an internal rumour. ~George Santayana, The Life of Reason
There's nothing in the world that clings
As does a memory that stings...
~Georgia Douglas Camp Johnson (1880–1966), "Inevitably," The Heart of a Woman and Other Poems, 1918
Recalling days of sadness, memories haunt me. Recalling days of happiness, I haunt my memories. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
A childhood is what anyone wants to remember of it. It leaves behind no fossils, except perhaps in fiction. ~Carol Shields
It is singular how soon we lose the impression of what ceases to be constantly before us. A year impairs, a luster obliterates. There is little distinct left without an effort of memory, then indeed the lights are rekindled for a moment — but who can be sure that the Imagination is not the torch-bearer? ~Lord Byron
The past is never dead, it is not even past. ~William Faulkner
Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart. ~Thomas Fuller
Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
~T.S. Eliot
With most men, scarce a link of memory holds yesterday and to-day together. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Letters and Social Aims, "Inspiration"
What we remember from childhood we remember forever — permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen. ~Cynthia Ozick
Memory is what tells a man that his wife's birthday was yesterday. ~Mario Rocco
Memory's time-worn — a crumbling wall. ~Terri Guillemets, 2018, blackout poetry created from Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, 1850, page 55
Tonight, as I looked out my window
At the snowflakes, lovely and white,
I thought of the days of my girlhood
Long past, all so happy and bright!
~Gertrude Tooley Buckingham, "The First Snow of the Season" (1940s)
Living in memories is an empty gesture. ~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
All our lives we are engaged in preserving our experiences and keeping them fresh by artificially sprinkling the water of memory over them. They have ceased to retain their original smell and fragrance. Do you call it life— this effort at the preservation of a phantom freshness in something that is withered and gone? ~Vimala Thakar
To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell, Hallowed Ground
In memory's telephoto lens, far objects are magnified. ~John Updike
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember. ~Seneca
The happiest memories are of moments that ended when they should have. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains; another, a moonlit beach; a third, a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth. ~Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses
I am a miser of my memories of you
And will not spend them.
~Witter Bynner, "Coins"
Memory is second sight. ~James Lendall Basford (1845–1915), Seven Seventy Seven Sensations, 1897
The man with a clear conscience probably has a poor memory. ~Author Unknown
...Therefore let the moon
Shine on thee in thy solitary walk;
And let the misty mountain winds be free
To blow against thee: and in after years,
When these wild ecstasies shall be matured
Into a sober pleasure, when thy mind
Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms,
Thy memory be as a dwelling-place
For all sweet sounds and harmonies...
~William Wordsworth, lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey, on revisiting the banks of the Wye during a tour, 1798 July 13th
There are memories I choose not to live with, but we hang out at the same bar. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collector's passion borders on the chaos of memories. ~Walter Benjamin
Memory is time folding back on itself. ~Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain, 2008
The sense of smell can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back pictures as sharp as photographs of scenes that had left the conscious mind. ~Thalassa Cruso, To Everything There is a Season, 1973
Indeed, let us not forget,
But also let us not dwell!
~Terri Guillemets
The two offices of memory are collection and distribution. ~Samuel Johnson
Adulthood is when the ghosts of childhood appear. ~Terri Guillemets
The world shrieks and sinks talons into our hearts. This we call memory. ~Tim O'Brien, Tomcat in Love
Hmmm, how to "can a day?" You know, those days that seem just perfect you want access to them whenever the need arises. ~Jeb Dickerson, @JebDickerson
The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: it is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant. ~Salvador Dali
What are memories but dreams of a better past. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it. ~Michel de Montaigne
Life is a rough biography. Memories smooth out the edges. ~Terri Guillemets
The faintest waft is sometimes enough to induce feelings of hunger or anticipation, or to transport you back through time and space to a long-forgotten moment in your childhood. It can overwhelm you in an instant or simply tease you, creeping into your consciousness slowly and evaporating almost the moment it is detected. ~Stephen Lacey, Scent in Your Garden, 1991
She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes. ~Frank Deford
The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time. ~Friedrich Nietzsche
You can be sad recalling sad times, but if you really want to be sad, recall happy times. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
...and torture myself with happy thoughts... ~Terri Guillemets
Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. ~From the movie An Affair to Remember, written by Delmer Daves, Donald Ogden Stewart, Leo McCarey, and Mildred Cram
It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
Memory is a complicated thing, a relative to truth, but not its twin. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
I'm always fascinated by the way memory diffuses fact. ~Diane Sawyer
You can accept a falling out that changes your plans, but it's hard to accept a betrayal that changes your memories. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward. ~Margaret Fairless Barber, The Roadmender
No Such Thing As Forgetting...
Memory only slumbers—never dies. ~Thomas Paine (1737–1809) + Chambers's Journal, 1868
There is no such thing as forgetting possible to the mind; a thousand accidents may, and will interpose a veil between our present consciousness and the secret inscriptions on the mind; accidents of the same sort will also rend away this veil; but alike, whether veiled or unveiled, the inscription remains for ever; just as the stars seem to withdraw before the common light of day, whereas, in fact, we all know that it is the light which is drawn over them as a veil — and that they are waiting to be revealed, when the obscuring daylight shall have withdrawn. ~Thomas De Quincey, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, 1821
The existence of forgetfulness has never been proved. All we know is that recollection may not be within our power. Up to the present we have filled that gap in our power with the word "forget," just as if it were another addition to our list of faculties. ~Friedrich Nietzsche, The Dawn of Day, 1881
Your memory is a monster; you forget — it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you — and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory; but it has you! ~John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany, 1989
The brain remembers and recalls everything that's happened to us, something that comes out under hypnosis and brain stimulation. While we may not immediately recall some bit of information, that particular memory isn't lost; it's merely inaccessible and may be triggered later by some sight, smell, sound, or other stimulus. ~Peter Russell, 1979


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Christina Bejarano
Christina Bejarano is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. She received her B.A. from University of North Texas, and her Ph.D. and M.A. from University of Iowa. Her research and teaching interests are in American politics, particularly areas of gender, race/ethnicity, and political behavior. She focuses on Latino political candidates and voters in U.S. electoral politics. She is the author of The Latina Advantage: Gender, Race, and Political Success (Texas, 2013) and The Latino Gender Gap in U.S. Politics (Routledge, 2014).


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The following interview with Stephanie Quirk was first published in "Yoga Samachar", magazine of The American Iyengar Yoga Association.
It is tempting to list here all the marvelous things therapeutic yoga can do—what it can heal, calm, and alleviate —and I know there is a lot of interest in this. This shows people's interest in the subject. Therapeutic yoga is often seen and understood on this layer of physical ailments only. But I thought I'd take this conversation in a way I hope might be more interesting and point out that therapeutics is actually benefiting all of us in Iyengar Yoga—the teacher as well as the student or patient.
A therapeutics class is often seen as one for people who cannot or should not attend a general class. These people come with various diseases, complications, and disabilities and are recommended to the medical class instead. It is viewed as not 'real yoga,' but something offered that is manageable for people. But in fact the people attending medical classes are being introduced to yoga in the way we are all meant to follow it.
Right from the beginning, their practice of yoga fulfills the aims of yoga (see Yoga Sutras I.2, 3, 4, 5 and II.1) For them, it is imperative that it does so, to reduce the afflictions and bring to a halt the distorting movements in the consciousness. (By consciousness I mean the whole manifestation of consciousness: the organs of action, senses of perception, elements and tanmatras, mind, intelligence, "I"-ness and inward-moving sensibilities.) Within a yoga therapeutics class, all this is undertaken through the implementation of restraint, rectification, extension, balance, "in-line-ment," and integration. All these qualities are present in the sadhana (practice) the patient is introduced to. Like all practitioners, having undertaken the first steps on the yogic path, he or she still has a long long journey to undertake, but is fortunate to be positioned on the path.
The other person involved in the process is the yoga teacher. While training teachers, I have come to realize the enormously important role therapeutics plays in Iyengar Yoga. I am training them not to be an instructor of classes, though instructing skillfully and effectively is a great service, but training them to guide students and patients on the path, to awaken them to their inner content: breath, organs, energy, and mind. To awaken them through the 'critically' correct approach of yoga asanas and Pranayama. Everything has to work, or the outcome impacts straightaway on the already weakened and disturbed patient.
Through upaya-kausalam—skillful means in liberative technique—in the therapeutic situation, student and teacher together come closer and closer to the true subject of yoga, each learning and benefiting from the other. Because of the patient's need to proceed skillfully to rectify the inner disturbing factors, and with the teacher's skillful guiding, both come closer to the true practice.
This shared experience is a beautiful result of the therapeutic approach in Iyengar Yoga. In any therapeutics class people have to work together. It is hard work; often assistants are required. It is a communal activity. To learn, I encourage teachers to re-practice together what we cover in my workshops. Often teachers report back how
much they appreciate this; they find that each of them recalls a different aspect of the work. Reviewing it together gives them a broader insight into what the "patient/student" is experiencing. This is coming together for learning and is outside the usual model of yoga teaching.
Most teachers learn from another teacher, then begin to teach themselves. Too often in the west, the new teacher leaves his teacher to embark on a teaching career, stepping away from the richness of learning. Here, in studying therapeutics, teachers return once again to learn. They learn with one another and share information, notes, and experiences. This sharing occurs because therapeutics as a study isn't conducted with the teacher isolated on a platform. Everyone has to work together. There is no such thing as "in isolation" in teaching or learning therapeutics, even at very high levels. Instead, it is a process of giving to others, tirelessly, as we see with our own Guru.
Stephanie Quirk: Often therapeutic yoga comes in the guise of an alternative health therapy, along the lines of the medical model. It is acclaimed for the illnesses and diseases it can cure. The teacher can fall into the error of hiding behind the role of clinician. This way of seeing tends to make teachers search out only lists of props and sequences. This is like wanting a prescription to cure the ailment. But for the teacher this doesn't work. Teachers aren't physicians; they are yoga practitioners. I often have to remind them to look to their own years of study as yoga practitioners.
Therapeutics isn't a separate specialty. There is not yoga here, and "therapeutics" over there. Therapeutics isn't another clinical method—these ideas are actually nearenemies
for the teacher. Many try to make therapeutics fit those models, but truly it is the approach of yoga that most suits yoga. I try to get teachers to look at their own practice of
yoga, and take direction from inside yoga.
To begin, teachers need to stop and think of what Sutra II.16, heyam duhkham anagatham implies—its message and what it is spelling out to them! That Sutra implies a radical
turnaround of all one's actions and behavior, both in and out of practice time. If suffering can or is to be avoided, what has to change from the way things are now? To be honest, truly taking on just this single and apparently simple Yoga Sutra requires courage, faith, determination and an open, positive approach ready to adapt, learn, and absorb. Everything has to change, and this is so very true for the patient who is suffering.
Then we have Abhyasa and Vairagya. No alternative health method has this. Your job as a yoga teacher isn't to be someone's doctor, nurse, or psychiatrist. Your job is to put the patient/student on the path of yoga. They must become followers and practitioners if they are to finally eradicate all trace of what disturbs them (dosha). Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (detachment) are at the core of everything one has to undertake. They are the irreducible plinths upon which yoga is based, and what truly separates the yogic path from other alternative health therapies.
Another aspect that defines therapeutics as Iyengar Yoga is "technique and precision, or technique applied with precision." Along with the technique appropriate for the patient's conditions, we must find the precision in asana that is specific to that condition. Finding that precision also means finding what is missing in the asana. We must trace what is obvious, seeable, and do-able, as well as what is hidden and dormant. We must observe where there is liveliness, where dullness. We have to know the asana and, by observing the patient's presentation of it, find out: Is the asana integrative or disintegrative? How does it affect all the layers (kosas) generally, and how does it target the disturbance specifically? these are abstract, but can be addressed by the techniques we have all learned, but with increasingly refined precision and subtlety.
When we achieve this, we are doing what Guruji has tried to present to us as "Iyengar Yoga," simultaneously multidimensional and comprehensive. This is "whole-istic," not just muscular-skeletally and physiologically, but yogically. Through that experience, the student finds their own experience and their connection to a sense of wellbeing.
RJ: How does Iyengar Yoga's rigorous training prepare teachers for therapeutics?
SQ: We have a seemingly long process of study in Iyengar Yoga. Many other systems award certificates after a weekend course, but we have years and years of study and absorption and integration ahead of us before our observation and teaching become mature. No accumulation of information, no adeptness at entwining a limb here or there in advanced
poses, can bring this maturity. One has to be forever a student. Guruji himself often says he is only a learner (though not a beginner). Recently he made a statement very pertinent to this topic: "I trace the defects; so for me what I am doing is not important, it is what I am not doing that is important."
His one simple statement sums up the entire approach needed to progress in one's own art as well as the art of helping others. This approach in Iyengar Yoga of tracing defects, of bringing asana and Pranayama to a state of refined excellence, is a very long process. By careful attention and correction, we cultivate our ability to make further refinement.
In tracing defects in practice, the teacher delves deeper and deeper into the techniques of the asanas and Pranayamas. One employs these techniques in one's own practice for the knowledge they bring. Gradually those means are used with increasing precision as they bring insight into that which covers or veils the truth or the view of the self. It starts right at the beginning, though in a rudimentary way. In this way, beginner students and teachers may have been training for therapeutics for quite a number of years.
A common catchphrase is often applied to Iyengar Yoga from outside: "alignment." However, this word can become superficial; it can begin to mean only outer measurement and placement. Perhaps a better guideline is "in-line-ment"; the teacher should look to see if all the sheaths or layers of the self are in line. Is the mind equally placed throughout the pose? Is there an even feel of the skin touching everywhere, or are there some parts untouched and unfathomable? This is where alignment progresses to in-line-ment. With further precision the teacher can evaluate: Is it exactly in line, equal? Is it dual or non-dual? Is there any trace or place unknown? Here the teacher's inquiry needs to move from what is disproportionate to proportionate, from disparity to parity, in order to nullify the dueling vacillations in the body-breath-mind complex.
The techniques we train in are those of measurement or placement, contact or touch, of tracing, expansion, elongation, and extension. They are the techniques of stabilization, grounding (or "descendance"), and ascendance. They are making lighter, making heavier. Balance and arrangement. Aerating, fanning, and moistening. Moving and restraining –
the list goes on. Too often the teacher knows the correct outer frame of an asana, but unless they study the contents of that frame, what is happening is virtually unknown territory. That's why so many questions still come to the Iyengars about what to do in therapeutic situations.
I have noticed that the success of a therapeutic approach seems to depend on the patient's own vision. No matter the state they are in, at some stage they must pick up and grasp hold of the yogic process and make it their own (carpe diem). This is a vital step. The student must have a view of the larger path he is following. The teacher needs to help the
student develop the aspiration to follow this path beyond his immediate painful situation.
So too must the teacher cultivate their own inspiration, their connection with the aims of yoga. Otherwise they will fail to take the next necessary step. Once we determine our true "self," beyond the ego based on possessions and needs, will we have the clarity and lucidity of head and heart to truly act as though heyam duhkham anagatham is in fact possible?
In its multidimensional yet comprehensive approach, the truly outstanding qualities of Iyengar Yoga make themselves apparent.
RJ: Can you share some of your experiences in the Medical Classes at R.I.M.Y.I.?
SQ: I cannot actually replicate for teachers what I have learnt through all those years of climbing the stairs. I can't give them the experience of daily helping in the Medical Classes. One thing teachers don't understand is that everything they need for teaching in Medical Classes is actually what they have been studying all along. They have been practicing the asanas for years. Often they seem to be waiting to be shown something they don't know. It is quite amusing for me to be teaching them asanas which they have repeatedly practiced, but haven't really delved into, to find their inner qualities and properties. I find it hard to describe the vibrant emotional force and moral strength the Iyengars bring into the Medical
Classes. Sometimes people find it disturbing. The Iyengars are legendary for their fierceness and passion. I have come to appreciate more and more their strength and the emotional presence they bring to the class. Certainly their years of experience and knowledge can't be equaled, but it is their personal connection that gives them something deeper than any clinical expertise. Their involvement reaches across the divide between themselves and the student they are trying to help.
RJ: What advice would you give teachers about therapeutics?
SQ: You have a great resource at your fingertips: You need to study and learn from each other. Teachers must meet in community to study and practice what is presented in workshops so they understand it first in their own bodies. Geetaji said in Portland that we must all spend at least a year digesting what she taught there. Don't be afraid, don't worry about how other methods don't take the time we do for study. Unfortunately this is a sign of how the world sees yoga—as a hobby, a sideline. They don't give it credibility. It is the same for many disciplines that have their root in eastern spiritual traditions. The materialistic world of today won't give credibility to something that is as creative as the yogic approach to health.
RJ: What about cautions and guidelines?
SQ: Yes, I do give cautions—not so much about what to do and not do for a particular disease, not contraindications like in a pharmacological manual—but more about protecting the teacher from error. A harmful error is a tragedy for the teacher. It is shattering. When working directly on a patient's asana, the teacher needs to think of how the patient is able or not able to absorb or tolerate being in the pose. There is no point in taking them to a pose that is too strong, too far for them to reach. The reverse is also true. It is a common misunderstanding that therapy is all about "resting" or restorative poses. There may be fatigue or circulatory problems or mental imbalances that have to be released at
the beginning of an asana session, but to allow the patient's circulatory, nervine, and mental systems to sink into dullness can create more problems.
To help teachers avoid injuring students, I give teachers some very simple guidelines. The first is asking—often repeating—"How do you feel now?" Teachers should observe the patient's color and their breath; they should watch especially the neck and abdomen for signs of imbalance and stress. They should touch and see if there is any inner shaking. Too often the teacher may be skilled at adjusting and placement of props, but may fail to see what transformation is gained from them. When adjusting, "listen" through your hands to read the resistance or acceptance of the movement.
Today so much information is available; compare that to years back where information was scarce. Now you have to approach learning in a different way. Be prepared to create your own learning, to make mistakes, and to learn again. Learning has to include failure because failure is instructional. You have to "do it," to play, to inquire. To enter into the real space and find your hand, your vision. That's why I have so many sessions where teachers work together and on each other, to give them a chance to find their eye, to find their hand in the subject. They don't just watch me doing the work on someone and take notes. They do it themselves. There are many good books available (all that information again!), but teachers still ask what to do. They have to "get their hand." They have to develop skillfulness, compassion, and wisdom (kausalam, karuna, and prajna). The techniques and information will be there, but more important, there has to be immersion in the subject with a full heart. Only then will these qualities come.
Stephanie Quirk has been observing and working with the Iyengars at R.I.M.Y.I. since 1994, assisting in all the classes including the medical and women's classes. For the last several years, she has been conducting comprehensive six-part training workshops on therapeutics, sharing her knowledge and expertise with Iyengar Yoga teachers around the world.


text: Previous page Rosendahl Karen Blixen Heart Picture Frame Silver-plated, 6,5 cm 22.9500 EUR 22,95 Find retailer Product description Rosendahl has always respected ancient traditions, and has interpreted Karen Blixen's passion for her loved ones. For the Karen Blixen's Christmas collection, Ole Kortzau has created a heart-shaped decoration. This is a heart-shaped picture frame - perfect for your favourite photo. The heart is 6.5 centimetres in height and is available in silver-plated zinc alloy, which looks simple and refined. You can choose to combine it with other decorations from the same Christmas collection or hang it up alone. One blue and one red ribbon are included. Details Series Karen Blixen Designer: Ole Kortzau SKU: 31313 Colour Silver-plated Material: Zinc alloy Height: 6.5 cm Please note: Not suitable for polishing agents or dishwashing.


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Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Below are the winners from my draw:
The first prize winner is Gaby Bee, thanks for entering Gaby and for your lovely comment.
FIRST DRAW GIFT to Gaby Bee
The second prize winner is Shelly Schmidt. this is amazing because of Shelly's comment regarding my second gift, so it's will be on the way to you in the next couple of days Shelly, hope that you kept that spot for it.
SECOND DRAW GIFT to Shelly Schmidt
The third prize winner is Wendy at Dragonfly Dreams. Thanks for your lovely comment.
THIRD DRAW GIFT to Wendy at Dragonfly Dreams
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful comments on my OWOH post, they really are appreciated. What a joy to be a part of this great event.
Thanks again to Lisa Swifka for organising again this year, hopefully we will be back on the wonderful world tour again next year.
7 comments:
- Jona Panesa said...
congrats to the winners. OWOH was really fun. Hope Lisa will do it again next year!
- 16 February, 2010 13:11
- Theresa MacNaughton said...
What beautiful gifts for some very lucky winners! It was a pleasure to meet you through One World One Heart!
- 16 February, 2010 15:11
- Regina said...
Congratulations to your winners!!! I think that we all walked away from this amazing journey with a gift....the gift of finding kindred spirits...new friends and seeing that we all have things in common.
- 16 February, 2010 16:19
- Gaby Bee said...
I won the first prize!!! Oh Happy Day! I am really thrilled to have been chosen. Your art work is amazing! I feel so fortunate and honored! You are a generous OWOH player. Thanks Rob!
Greetings from Germany,
- 16 February, 2010 20:30
- Diane said...
Congrats to your lucky winners! I am so happy for Gaby..I LOVE her winning. It was a wonderful event!
- 18 February, 2010 10:45
- Trudy Callan said...
I wanted to thank you for entering my OWOH Giveaway. It was great fun. It was so crazy with so many blogs to visit that it was hard to really take a look at each one. So I invite you to come back and take a look around both of my blogs and see what you think. If you like them, I hope you will consider signing up as a follower and/or placing my blog on your blog list so that you can better keep up with me and know when I post. Thank you for taking the time, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Have an awesome day!
My 9 year old daughter's blog is www.sewingsister.blogspot.com if you would like to pay her a visit as well.
- 19 February, 2010 10:41
- Nam Lương said...
5000 template free for joomla, extensions for joomla
- 22 January, 2011 20:38


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September 2019
Recent Releases
When Hell Struck Twelve
James R. Benn
The problem:
Two months after D-Day,
a French traitor has been delivering classified plans to German leaders in Nazi-occupied Paris
The solution:
The Allies leak false information, and
U.S Army Captain Billy Boyle and his friend Kaz must prevent the traitor's capture by the French Resistance until the fake plans are delivered, while also investigating a murder.
Series alert:
This well-researched 14th Billy Boyle novel provides a fascinating mystery and a compelling look at the realities of war.
Twisted at the Root: A Jane Lawless Mystery
Ellen Hart
Minneapolis restaurateur/private detective Jane Lawless, her retirement-age lawyer father, Ray, and her best friend, vibrant theater director Cordelia Thorn.
What happens:
When new evidence surfaces, Jane helps her dad work to free an innocent man (whom he defended in court four years earlier) and try to locate the real murderer.
Series alert:
This is the tightly-plotted 26th entry in the Lambda Award-winning Jane Lawless series, and newcomers can start here.
The Pawful Truth: A Cat in the Stacks Mystery
Miranda James
widowed grandfather and kindly college librarian Charlie Harris, whose Maine Coon cat, Diesel, goes with him almost everywhere.
What happens:
After Charlie enrolls in a history course at his Mississippi college, another older student is found dead. With the help of friends, Charlie investigates in this 11th Cat in the Stacks series entry.
Who it's for:
cat fanciers and fans of small-town mysteries where the characters are as important as the plot.
Paper Son
S.J. Rozan
Chinese American private detective Lydia Chin and her Kentucky-born partner, Bill Smith, who work out of New York's Chinatown.
What happens:
On orders from Lydia's domineering mother, Lydia and Bill head to the Mississippi Delta to prove the innocence of Lydia's distant cousin, who's been accused of killing his father.
Welcome back!
This 12th Lydia Chin and Bill Smith novel has terrific dialogue and is the first book to feature the entertaining PIs since 2011.
The Bird Boys
Lisa Sandlin
Beaumont, Texas, 1973:
PI Tom Phelan tries to keep his assistant Delpha Wade out of jail (she killed someone in self-defense while already on parole). Meanwhile, they are hired to find an elderly man's brother, but quickly realize there's more to the story, including murder.
Series alert:
This is the critically acclaimed 2nd Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan novel; the 1st book is the Hammett Prize-winning
The Do-Right
For fans of:
mysteries with a hardboiled feel, well-realized characters, and atmosphere to spare.
This Poison Will Remain
Fred Vargas; translated by Sian Reynolds
What happens:
Called away from a trip to a remote Icelandic island
Chief Inspector Adamsberg reluctantly returns to Paris to solve the cases of a woman who'd been fatally run over crossing a street and the strange spider-related deaths of several elderly men.
Series alert:
This is the cunning, compelling 10th book in the Chief Inspector Adamsberg series.
Reviewers say:
"combines the depth and detail of a satisfying police procedural with a devilish mystery" (
Kirkus Reviews
If You Like: Downton Abbey
Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman
Tessa Arlen
What it's about:
The morning after Lady Montfort's annual summer costume ball, the murdered body of her husband's unpleasant nephew is found and two others go missing, causing Lady Montfort and her housekeeper to set out to solve the mysteries together.
Series alert:
This initial entry in the Lady Montfort series is set in 1912 and offers an engaging, well-researched depiction of the era.
Downton Abbey
fans might like it:
the country estate setting, the Edwardian time period, and the upstairs-downstairs relationships.
The Mitford Murders
Jessica Fellowes
Louisa Cannon, a down-on-her-luck young Londoner in 1919 who finds work as a nursemaid to the (real-life) Mitford family.
What happens
: She investigates with teenage Nancy Mitford and a handsome railway cop when a retired military nurse is killed on a train.
Downton Abbey
fans might like it:
it's set during the
inter-war period, examines social classes, and
Jessica Fellowes is the niece of
Downton Abbey
creator Julian Fellowes and has written several nonfiction books about the show.
A Pinch of Poison
Alyssa Maxwell
What it is:
a delightful historical cozy that follows Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her maid, Eva Huntford, as they investigate a poisoning death at a girls' boarding school.
Series alert:
This 2nd in a series that now numbers four offers likable characters, hints of romance, and a traditional mystery feel.
Downton Abbey
fans might like it:
the post-World War I setting, the interplay between aristocrats and servants.
A Duty to the Dead
Charles Todd
What happens:
After being injured, World War I nurse Bess Crawford is recovering back in England where she delivers a dying soldier's strange message to his family. Bess stays on with the family for a while...and becomes embroiled in a murder case.
Series alert:
This is the 1st in a popular, atmospheric series. The 11th entry,
A Cruel Deception
, comes out in October.
Downton Abbey
fans might like it:
the World War I setting at a family estate where secrets and allegiances prove life-changing for many.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Contra Costa County Library
777 Arnold Drive, Suite 210 | Martinez, California 94553 | 800-984-4636


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Back in 2011 we featured astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson's list of the books "every single intelligent person on the planet" should read. His picks include the Bible ("to learn that it's easier to be told by others what to think and believe than it is to think for yourself"); Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations ("to learn that capitalism is an economy of greed, a force of nature unto itself"); and Machiavelli's The Prince ("to learn that people not in power will do all they can to acquire it, and people in power will do all they can to keep it"). The list, which has generated a great deal of interest and discussion, leads you to think about the very nature of not just what constitutes essential reading, but what defines an "intelligent person." Should every such individual really read any book in particular? Does it matter if others already acknowledge these books as essential, or can they have gone thus far undiscovered?
Admirably, Tyson manages to compile his selections of books well-known across the English-speaking world into a list that, as a whole, somehow avoids dullness or predictability. In eschewing obscurantism, he makes the perhaps daring implication that an intelligent person must connect to a widely shared culture, rather than demonstrating their brainpower by getting through volume upon little-read volume, written in the most labyrinthine language, expounding on the most abstract subject matter, or grappling with the knottiest philosophical problems. This inspires me to highlight five more pieces of reading material, all intellectually stimulating but accessibly written, all referenced frequently in countless areas of human endeavor, and all available in our collection of free eBooks:
- Marcus Aurelius' Meditations (iPad/iPhone – Kindle + Other Formats), because the ideas that "you have power over your mind, not outside events," or that "the happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts," or that "everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact" and "everything we see is a perspective, not the truth" apply as much today as they did in antiquity.
- Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote (iPad/iPhone (Vol 1 – Vol 2) – Kindle + Other Formats – Read Online), because we could all use a firmer grasp on what we mean when we label someone "quixotic," a simple description that takes its name from a surprisingly complex and unexpectedly admirable character.
- James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (iPad/iPhone – Kindle + Other Formats – Read Online) because, whatever ideas you may have about Joyce — positive or negative — if you haven't yet cracked his first novel, I guarantee a reading experience unlike any you might expect.
- Michel de Montaigne's Essays (iPad/iPhone – Kindle + Other Formats - Read Online), because not only do his pieces exemplify (because they practically invented) the strongest short form to capture the paths of human thought, but they feel especially relevant now in this internet-driven "age of the essay."
- Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (volume 1: iPad/iPhone – Kindle + Other Formats - Read Online; volume 2: iPad/iPhone - Kindle + Other Formats - Read Online), because the Frenchman's diagnosis of the advantages and liabilities of this then-young and experimental country still give us much to consider today, not just in regard to America, but — now that so many countries have gone democratic, each in their own way — most of the world.
None will have come as news to you, but some it may take you a moment to realize that, hey, you never did get around to them in the first place. Take in books like these, and not only will they resonate richly with everything else already knocking around your brain — you do read Open Culture, after all — but they'll let you in on what, exactly, all those readers and writers around the world and through history have meant when they cite them so readily.
We also invite you to tell us: which books, freely available or otherwise, do you consider essential reading for the intelligent? Have I missed the boat by failing to include Finnegans Wake (Kindle Format - Read Online), say, or the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (iPad/iPhone - Kindle + Other Formats - Read Online)? Let loose your own recommendations and we'll create a compilation of your best picks in the comings days.
Colin Marshall hosts and produces Notebook on Cities and Culture and writes essays on cities, language, Asia, and men's style. He's at work on a book about Los Angeles, A Los Angeles Primer. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.


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Find a Hotel
Give them a gift they'll never forget.
This year, give the gift of experiences, new destinations and quality time together during our Cyber Sale.
Book: December 7 – December 25, 2019
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*The Cyber Sale promotion is valid only for bookings made from November 11, 2019 through December 25, 2019 using the "Cyber Sale" & "Cyber Sale – IHG® Rewards Club Member Rate" rate(s). All bookings must be consumed by May 31, 2020 at participating IHG® hotels and resorts. The discount is up to 20% off the Best Flexible Rate with an additional 5% discount for IHG® Rewards Club members. Booking requires non-refundable, full pre-payment for the entire stay at the time of booking. Advance purchase requirements and discount vary by hotel. Blackout dates apply and rooms are subject to availability. Certain room types may be excluded from the promotion. Hotel policy varies in regard to the minimum length of stay required and number of guests allowed per room. Not applicable with other discounted rate promotions. Not applicable to group bookings. Hotel specific early departure fee applies. The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas and IHG® Army Hotels are excluded from the promotion.
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The InterContinental® Ambassador enrolment offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night: Valid on the second night of a paid weekend stay on the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night Rate. Weekends may vary by region. Must present ID & member number at check-in. Reservations must be cancelled at least 48 hours prior to the day of check-in in order to avoid a cancellation fee. Complimentary weekend night is valid at all InterContinental Hotels & Resorts globally, excluding InterContinental Alliance Resorts. Advance reservations are required and when joining the Ambassador programme in hotel, the weekend night cannot be redeemed for the current stay.
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Welcome to the terms and conditions, a.k.a. "small print," where we are obliged to let you know this member exclusive offer is subject to availability and valid for stays from November 14, 2019 through May 31, 2020. Offer must be booked by December 17, 2019 under this exclusive rate code. This offer is prepaid and non-refundable. The $5 per night donation is made by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and is distributed evenly between No Kid Hungry and The Trevor Project. This donation will be made for each paid night booked at a Kimpton hotel located in the Americas during November 29, 2019 and December 6, 2019 on direct channels only. This donation has no cash value and cannot be used towards a future stay or anything else. The world being the way it is, additional taxes and fees may apply. Not valid in conjunction with any other promotions or offers. Not valid for discounted or negotiated rates, groups or existing reservations. Certain restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Finally, Kimpton Hotels reserves the right to cancel reservations booked with erroneous room rates.


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Jim Marshall (not a doctor) said ... If your first treatment for prostate cancer is radiotherapy, getting to each session, five days a week for several weeks can be a problem. These researchers asked whether this would affect your results. Their answer - it does not make a difference in the first four years. Four years because that is the length of time they studied their patients. Longer time results will have to wait more years. ... end Jim J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2018 Feb;62(1):116-121. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.12675. Epub 2017 Oct 13. Effects of interruptions of external beam radiation therapy on outcomes in patients with prostate cancer. Dong Y1, Zaorsky NG1,2, Li T3, Churilla TM1, Viterbo R4, Sobczak ML1, Smaldone MC4, Chen DY4, Uzzo RG4, Hallman MA1, Horwitz EM1. Author information Abstract INTRODUCTION: To evaluate if interruptions of external beam radiation therapy impact outcomes in men with localized prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: We included men with localized PCa treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) of escalated dose (≥74 Gy in 1.8 or 2 Gy fractions) between 1992 and 2013 at an NCI-designated cancer centre. Men receiving androgen deprivation therapy were excluded. The non-treatment day ratio (NTDR) was defined as the number of non-treatment days divided by the total elapsed days of therapy. NTDR was analysed for each National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk group. RESULTS: There were 1728 men included (839 low-risk, 776 intermediate-risk and 113 high-risk), with a median follow up of 53.5 months (range 12-185.8). The median NTDR was 31% (range 23-71%), translating to approximately 2 breaks (each break represents a missed treatment that will be made up) for 8 weeks of RT with 5 treatments per week. The 75 percentile of NTDR was 33%, translating to approximately 4 breaks, which was used as the cutoff for analysis. There were no significant differences in freedom from biochemical failure, freedom from distant metastasis, cancer specific survival, or overall survival for men with NTDR ≥33% compared to NTDR<33% for each risk group. Multivariable analyses including NTDR, age, race, Gleason score, T stage, and PSA were performed using the proportional hazards regression procedure. NTDR≥33% was not significantly associated with increased hazard ratio for outcomes in each risk group compared to NTDR<33%. CONCLUSION: Unintentional treatment breaks during dose escalated external beam radiation therapy for PCa did not cause a significant difference in outcomes, although duration of follow up limits the strength of this conclusion. © 2017 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. KEYWORDS: outcomes; prostate cancer; quality; radiation therapy; treatment interruption PMID: 29030906 This extract can be found on http://PubMed.com, and is in the public domain. On PubMed.com there will be a link to the full paper (often USD$30+, sometimes free). Any highlighting (except the title) is not by the author, but by Jim Marshall. Jim is not a doctor.
Jim Marshall (not a doctor) said ... Metastases (mets) are cancers growing away from the original cancer. In prostate cancer, metastases are often found growing in bone. This can become very painful. A common treatment for a painful met is a strong dose of radiation (X-rays) focussed on the met. A special problem arises at the end of life. No one wants to give a treatment that won't work in time. So Rachel McDonald and her colleagues looked at how quickly radiation to one or two mets gave pain relief and a better quality of life. The answer: Men who responded (around 40%) reported significant pain relief at day 10, and a greater quality of life at day 42 in a number of ways. The authors conclusion: ... end Jim The link below is to a page or document that we do not control. Parts of it may be wrong or misleading. Check with your doctor if something interests you. You may need to subscribe to the site to view the article. If it is temporarily or permanently unavailable, you may receive an error message. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2601221
European Society for Medical Oncology Annual Conference
alanbarlee posted a topic in Articles on other sitesThe European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has just had its Annual Conference in Copenhagen. Click here and here for 2 reports from Practice Update about some of the things discussed at ESMO 2016 and the implications for patients.
National Proton Beam Therapy Centre
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Radiation, diagnostic imaging, bones and other prostate cancer topicsSince the start of this century there are been a number of proposals to establish a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Australia. The New South Wales Government has done a number of feasibility studies for a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Eastern Sydney. The South Australian Government put forward a proposal for a Centre in South Australia. In 2014 an alliance between a commercial company, Proton Therapy Australia and Mater Health Services, Brisbane announced the building of Australia's first proton therapy facility. On 8 August 2016 the Victorian Government announced the establishment of a National Proton Beam Therapy Centre to be located in Melbourne's Parkville Medical Research Precinct. It will be operated by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre with assistance from the University of Melbourne and other partners of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Proton Beam Therapy is mainly used for adult cancers in the head and neck and cancers in children, due to its precision, reduced toxicity and reduced risk in causing cancers later in life. Take a deep breath Proton Beam Therapy is the much hyped latest and greatest technology and is extremely expensive. But is it any better than existing conventional radiation treatments? At the moment there's little scientific evidence that Proton Beam Therapy is better than existing conventional radiation treatments. In June 2016 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Scientific Meeting data was presented from the very first randomized clinical trial of three-dimensional proton beam radiation therapy (3D-PBRT) compared to intensity-modulated radiation therapy in the treatment of any type of cancer - non-small cell lung cancer. The "New" Prostate Cancer Infolink commented: "Obviously this is not prostate cancer, but the outcomes of this trial do seem to confirm the suggestions that PBRT is not necessarily any better than other modern forms of conventional radiation therapy in the treatment of at least some common forms of cancer." Click here to read the The "New" Prostate Cancer Infolink article.
Is prostate-specific radiation of any value in men diagnosed with distant metastases?
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Articles on other sitesSome men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have metastases at the time of their diagnosis. Until recently the primary treatment for these men was Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT). Since the CHAARTED and STAMPEDE trials, ADT + Chemotherapy (Docetaxel) has become the standard of care for these men. What about ADT + Chemotherapy + Radiotherapy for these men? Maybe. Removal of the primary cancer has been used effectively in other cancers, either using radiation or surgery to increase cancer-specific survival time. "Whether radiotherapy or surgery is of any benefit after early chemotherapy is still very much an open question" for prostate cancer. Mike Scott and Allen Edel of the New Prostate Cancer Infolink suggest that it's something that a patient who is diagnosed at the outset with metatastes should discuss with their radiation oncologist. Click on this link to read the article.
Treating Liver Metastases with SIR-Spheres
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Articles on other sites"Much that has been learned about the treatment of liver metastases comes from reviewing common methods for managing metastatic colon cancer. The liver is the cancer's preferred site of metastatic spread for colon cancer. Treatments that have been employed include surgery, radiation and blockage of the blood supply to the liver by embolization of the arteries, all with variable success. More recently, radioactive microspheres injected directly into the tumor, called SIR-Spheres, have shown notable efficacy with very tolerable side effects." Dr Mark Scholz is now using SIR-Spheres to treat some of his prostate cancer patients who have liver metastases. To read more about this, click on this link. SIR-Spheres® Y-90 resin microspheres are tiny radioactive 'beads' used in selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
Stereotactic Radiation - Anecdotes and Impressions
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Radiation, diagnostic imaging, bones and other prostate cancer topicsThe Pilot study of Patients with Oligometastases from Prostate cancer treated with STereotactic Ablative body Radiosurgery (POPSTAR) trial is no longer recruiting. I was at Peter Mac for one of my regular follow-up visits (21 months after stereotactic radiation). No results have been published for this study but apparently some trends are developing. Talking to my radiology oncologist I got the impression that, although the stereotactic radiation had successfully sterilised the metastases being treated, many of the patients (including me) had further metastases develop. There were a few patients who had not had any recurrence after their treatment. Were the patients on the study who progressed after stereotactic radiation truly oligometastatic? Or did we already have the further metastases which did not show up on imaging at the time but are being detected now by improved imaging technology? I've recently read a study* which said that it is important to define the true oligometastatic stage and suggests that there are differences between polymetastatic, oligometastatic, or oligo-recurrent disease. The study said that a patient who is oligometastatic on diagnosis is not the same as one who is oligometastatic after treatment. Poly = many. Oligo = few. Improvements in imaging (eg Ga68 PET Scans) are going to make easier in the future to define the true oligometastatic stage. In my opinion (I'm not a doctor) there is a benefit in sterilising known metastases with stereotactic radiation even in cases which are not truly oligometastatic. Although not curative, this treatment reduces cancer load in the body, eliminates a potential source of further metastases and hopefully delays progression of the cancer. My radiology oncologist says that he'd like to think this too but at present we don't have any evidence. * Oligometastases in prostate cancer: restaging stage IV cancers and new radiotherapy options Moreno et al. Radiation Oncology2014,9:258 http://www.ro-ournal.com/content/9/1/258
Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Radiation, diagnostic imaging, bones and other prostate cancer topicsThe Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has posted a video on YouTube of the following talk on Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer given by radiation oncologist A/Prof Michael Izard at Sydney Adventist Hospital on 22 June 2015 .
Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy for Brisbane!
Geoff Buttfield posted a topic in Radiation, diagnostic imaging, bones and other prostate cancer topicsAn article posted on the ABC news site (12 May 15) has revealed a Gamma Knife Radiation Treatment System is being installed at the PA Hospital. While the article focuses on it's capability to more safely treat brain cancers, it does note the following-"The machine can also be used on benign and cancerous tumours in other parts of the body" Here is the link - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-12/radiation-machine-will-turn-brain-surgery-on-its-head-oncologist/6463294 EDIT-(2hrs later) Unfortunately, from further research It appears that this machine (as pictured) is not capable of full body treatment, as it is not a full tunnel through the back, so may not be much use for other parts of the body. The Hospital press release does not mention 'other parts' http://www.health.qld.gov.au/metrosouth/news/150512-pah-gamma-knife.asp Geoff.
Stereotactic Radiation in the Press
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Articles on other sitesAn article from today's Herald-Sun newspaper about stereotactic radiation at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne To read the article, click on this link.
Treating Ogliometastatic Disease with Radiation
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Radiation, diagnostic imaging, bones and other prostate cancer topicsOn 13 November 2014 Snuffy Myers's weekly video was on the subject of "Treating Ogliometastatic Prostate Cancer." On 26 November 2014 a copy of a letter by Dr Michael Dattoli was posted on the internet to the Malecare Advanced PCa Group in which he said; "I have recently viewed a video from a prominent Oncologist, entitled "Treating Ogliometastatic Prostate Cancer." I found this presenting Oncologist to be woefully mistaken about numerous issues" and gave his comments on what he believed to be "the misinformation promulgated in the video blog". This came as a surprise to those of us familiar with Snuffy Myers's cancer journey. Dr. Dattoli was the Radiation Oncologist who treated Snuffy Myers with aggressive radiation therapy and seed implantation and Snuffy Myers subsequently referred patients to Dr. Dattoli many times. On 5 December 2014 Snuffy Myers has done a further video "Treating Ogliometastatic Disease with Radiation" to clarify his earlier video.
Rectal & bladder cancer - Be aware of the symptoms
Paul Edwards posted a topic in Radiation, diagnostic imaging, bones and other prostate cancer topicsOverall the risk of getting bladder and rectal cancer is very low. But if you have received radiation therapy for Prostate Cancer, long term surveillance is important. You and your doctor should be careful to monitor for symptoms of bladder and rectal cancer in the long term. This is the advice of Dr Kathleen A. Cooney, the senior author of a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre. The researchers looked at the number of second primary cancers that developed 10 or more years after men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer patients typically survive a long time, it raises concerns about the risk of second cancers. As a whole, men diagnosed with prostate cancer were at a lower risk of developing a second cancer than the general public. But when researchers looked at patients who received external beam radiation therapy, they found these patients were more likely to be diagnosed in the long term with rectal cancer or bladder cancer than the general public. Radiation therapy is a standard treatment for prostate cancer and the researchers stressed that their findings should not prohibit anyone from choosing this treatment, in particular men who are not good candidates for surgery. Reference: "Risk of second primary tumors in men diagnosed with prostate cancer: A population-based cohort study Issue" published in the Journal "Cancer" Volume 120, Issue 17, pages 2735–2741, September 1, 2014.
My Prostate History - No Warning - No Symptoms
Paul posted a topic in My storyHi all My story is going on this post as a quick overview and account from the first diagnosis of Prostate cancer to the present In the hope that others may see similarities and possibly help others One good bit of advice is DONT PANIC just make a decision thats best suited for your stage, get a second opinion if needed and follow through It was December 2010, just at my 51st birthday my wife insisted I get a check up with the doctor I protested and made the point that I don't get sick, I don't take any prescribed medications, and in fact I haven't been to the doctor for about 12 years ( hence the title of my post ) Last time I visited the doctor was for a bone fracture in the hand. It's true I simply don't get sick, I have a physical job that keeps me fit and trim, I am 3/4 vegetarian, don't drink except a glass of beer on special occasions ect That equates to a healthy lifestyle by anyone's standards The physical or check up consisted of a blood test and a follow up appointment to evaluate the findings Dr said PSA level looks high Paul but I don't think it's an issue with you ? But just in case I better send you to a specialist Specialist appointment A poke up the rectum and the answer was - Paul just by the feel of it you have an 80% chance you have prostrate cancer but will need to do a biopsy Biopsy showed that I had a 3+4=7 - T2 on the Gleason scale and he gave me many options to consider Christmas was a few days away but I found it more comforting to tell the family over holding the news inside me I returned to the specialist with a list of what I wanted 1) I want to save my nerves if possible 2) I want a fall back if needed in the future 3) I want the procedure ( irrespective of pain ) that gives me the longest observed success rate 4 ) I don't like radiation if I can avoid it He advised me and referred me to a another specialist of the Robotic Prostatectomy procedure I did that and booked in the operation for January 2011 This is the funny bit, my operation was scheduled to be done and the Brisbane floods were in full swing. My operation had to be rescheduled for a week later due to The Wesley Hospital being cut off Procedure done on a Da Vinci robot with all my requests achieved, recovery was a fast but not completely pain free 6 weeks Lots of walking as therapy around the neighbourhood gave me a pleasant feeling of being alive And the reason for that was that I had a phone all from the specialist to inform me that the post operation biopsy came back as a 4+5=9 T3 on the Gleason Scale The next hurdle was to become continent again that took 2 years and only archiving 80% At this time on my last follow up with the specialist my PSA started to rise again and I was referred to a radiation specialist in prostrate oncology Advice was get a sling procedure to be 100% continent and return 4 months after the operation Also in the meantime I was prescribed 2 doses of a hormone therapy capsule that is inserted under ones skin and slow releases over 3 months I think it was Zoladex Sling procedure was booked in and done within 3 weeks with a successful and desired result achieved I am 100% dry hooray Last PSA test, only a few weeks ago has shown that its now 0.1 or negligible due to the hormone therapy another hooray That brings us to the present - This Thursday I am starting on a seven week radiation therapy programme to eradicate any stubborn cancer cells that refuse to give up Well the little buggers won't get a chance to regroup if I have anything to do with it Back soon with an update on the current treatment Be positive and in control - think like a general in the battlefield Regards Paul


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In a shocking and unprecedented interview, directly exposing the inhumanity of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's religious regime in Iran, a serving member of the paramilitary Basiji militia has told this reporter of his role in suppressing opposition street protests in recent weeks.And here was I, thinking that men can't be forced against their will to have intercourse. But whatever. Maybe finally, at last, somebody maybe, perhaps will take notice.
He has also detailed aspects of his earlier service in the force, including his enforced participation in the rape of young Iranian girls prior to their execution.
Elsewhere, the publication of a guidebook for politicians, police and public servants on how to talk about Muslims and terrorism without implicating the religion of Islam was announced for the end of the year.
Edited to add:
Hat tip: A Daily Briefing on Iran and PI English.


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Big Wave Updates
Sydney gets its first big-wave event with Red Bull Cape Fear comp
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 19 March, 2014 - Red Bull Cape Fear is a new invitational only big wave surfing event held at one of the world's most challenging and dangerous waves located in Sydney, Australia, and features 14 of the world's best "slab" riding specialists, who all dedicate their lives to finding and riding waves that many would fear to look at.
In a world's first, Red Bull Cape Fear will employ an overlapping heat format where surfers compete in designated battles in a new competition style; surfers are pitted against each other in a thrilling wave arena combining paddle and tow in surfing and each man-on-man clash will result in a winner. This battle style format is used to maximize the short waiting period and potential peak in a large swell and will give fans the chance to witness epic contests and the settling of old scores.
Red Bull Cape Fear. The name says it all. And for the uninitiated, it's a deadly wave break that is even more daunting than it sounds. In the very bay where Captain Cook landed and settled Australia more than two hundred years ago, Red Bull Cape Fear has been the site of many a wreck – both man and craft – over the years.
An angry Pacific Ocean stirs and jerks like a mad witch's melting pot, pushing into the bay before pitching furiously on a shallow ledge so sharp is has the Gillette scientists baffled. Within a matter of seconds a 10-foot slab is formed and races towards a cliff-face just metres ahead before imploding on itself and anyone who dares attempt ride it.
"Pound for pound, Red Bull Cape Fear is the heaviest and most dangerous wave in the world," says big wave surfer and one of the brains behind the concept, Mark Mathews. "There's no wave in the world from six to 10 feet that is heavier than it. Deep water swells pitch on a super shallow ledge that's covered with razorblade barnacles and then it breaks only 10-15 metres from the cliff face. So if you fall off and don't hit the bottom, chances are you're going to get washed in to that cliff face. There are plenty of dangers and few people willing to navigate them."
Red Bull Cape Fear has a waiting period from April 17 through to August 1 and the ocean wave forecasting expertise at Coastalwatch.com will liaise with Red Bull to call the day. A Cape Fear location is searchable on Coastalwatch.com for the duration of the waiting period.
The field for Red Bull Cape Fear brings together a unique breed of surfers from around the world capable of taking on this wave and the call up list includes – Hawaiians Jamie O'Brien, Ian Walsh, Shane Dorian, Bruce Irons and Makua Rothman, USA's Alex Gray and Australian's Mark Matthews, Ryan Hipwood, Koby Abberton, Richie Vaculik, Laurie Towner, Dave Rastovich, Jesse Polock and Dean Morrison.
In a world first, Red Bull Cape Fear consists one-on-one battles, and each battle will consist of the two best-matched surfers. Like a boxing card, the first five battles are on the under card for the main event. Consider it a series of consecutive finals if you will. Each battle will consist of approximately 20-minutes of paddling in and 20-minutes of towing in, and surfers will be judged by wave size and difficulty. There will be four surfers in the water at all times – two contesting the paddle-in element and two contesting the tow-in element. Each battle will crown a winner.
Paddle-in: The traditional act of using one's arms while lying facedown on a surfboard to propel the surfer forward and into the wave before attempting to stand-up. The slower-moving the wave is, the easier it is to paddle in to.
Tow-in: A little like wake-boarding, the surfer is given a tow rope attached to a jet-ski and pulled to his feet outside the breaking zone. The jet-ski operator, or tow-in partner, then tows the already-standing surfer at speed into the next wave where the surfer lets go of the rope and attempts to ride the wave. The quicker the wave the more speed the jet-ski requires to whip the rider in safely. The major benefit of the tow-in is it allows surfers to ride much bigger waves.
The location of Red Bull Cape Fear will not be precisely disclosed as this is a closed event, but fans are able to watch all the action live and exclusive on redbullcapefear.com or Fuel TV.
A 60 minute documentary will be created by Red Bull Media House following the event, realised by Mint Pictures and directed by AFI winner Macario De Souza.


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Posts Tagged Wednesday
MasterCard Priceless Presents Bon Jovi
Posted by Cindy Robinson, Life on the Scene in Concert, Contests, Enter to Win on November 20, 2012
MasterCard Priceless Los Angeles presents GRAMMY artist Bon Jovi live in concert on Saturday, December 1st at the Paramount Studios back lot in Los Angeles. Wednesday, November 21st is your last chance to win a pair of FREE tickets. Wouldn't that make a great present to start off the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with?
Sign up now so you know when to log in for the chance to get your complimentary tickets! When you sign up you will also receive a code to watch a live stream of the concert if you don't win tickets.
The New Jersey natives are playing a handful of shows before 2012 ends including the Concert for Sandy Relief benefit in NYC on 12.12.12 with Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel and more.
In 2013 Bon Jovi will head out on a coast to coast Because We Can tour of the United States.