Article: Blood Transfusion Standards (Boston.com)

Full Article

Excerpt:

"a government advisory committee is calling for national standards on when a transfusion is needed — and how to conserve this precious resource."

England vs. UK vs. Britain vs. Commonwealth vs. Common Knowledge

Wow...I did not know all this Geography. What a tangle for British children to learn in school.

"As a rule, city life seems to generate mental illness" - Wired Blog

Visiting New York City is usually a traumatic experience for me...even if I'm able to hold it together just fine and leave sane. Wired has a good blog post [FULL ARTICLE] on some new research from Germany in a field that already has been studied with conclusive results before.  Here are some key quotes:

"Compared to their rural counterparts, city dwellers have higher levels of anxiety and mood disorders. The schizophrenia risk of people raised in cities is almost double."

"Too much stress may ultimately alter the brain, leaving it ill-equipped to handle further stress and prone to mental illness."

"The city kids displayed heightened levels of activity in two brain regions: the amygdala, which is central to processing emotion and stress, and the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex, which regulates the amygdala. In short, city brains had disproportionately amplified responses to social stress. They’d become sensitized."

"[Nebraska] Nuclear Plant...suffered a “catastrophic loss of cooling”"

US orders news blackout over crippled Nebraska Nuclear Plant

         "A shocking report prepared by Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (FAAE) on information provided to them by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that the Obama regime has ordered a “total and complete” news blackout relating to any information regarding the near catastrophic meltdown of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant located in Nebraska.
          According to this report, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant suffered a “catastrophic loss of cooling” to one of its idle spent fuel rod pools on 7 June after this plant was deluged with water caused by the historic flooding of the Missouri River which resulted in a fire causing the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to issue a “no-fly ban” over the area."

Rut rhoh george....

Deleting, not deactivating your facebook account

I just deleted my Facebook account.

I thought I did this initially, when Facebook allowed me to Deactivate my account...but this does not delete the personal information. It just stores it in case I ever want to go back to it. If you want to delete your account rather than deactivate it, you'll need to follow this link:

http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account

FB to the ground...Peace.

This one's for you facebook:

No One's Safe...

"People Argue Just to Win, Scholars Assert" (NYTimes.com)

LINK: People Argue Just to Win, Scholars Assert - NYTimes.com

Obviously, I don't think we "evolved" rationality, but it is interesting how many people use this gift of reason today. The conclusions drawn are more a reflection of our society and civilization's mental health...hurt, defensive, insecure, and/or selfish.

Excerpt:

   "For centuries thinkers have assumed that the uniquely human capacity for reasoning has existed to let people reach beyond mere perception and reflex in the search for truth. Rationality allowed a solitary thinker to blaze a path to philosophical, moral and scientific enlightenment.

   Now some researchers are suggesting that reason evolved for a completely different purpose: to win arguments. Rationality, by this yardstick (and irrationality too, but we'll get to that) is nothing more or less than a servant of the hard-wired compulsion to triumph in the debating arena."

Chinese, Iranian presidents discuss friendly cooperation, nuclear issue

Chinese, Iranian presidents discuss friendly cooperation, nuclear issue

Excerpt:

"Hu called on both countries to push forward pragmatic cooperation by maintaining the momentum in bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

He said that the two countries should expand cultural exchanges and encourage the two peoples to increase contact so as to let the China-Iran friendship take root deep in the hearts of the two peoples.

Hu said the two sides need to strengthen communication on international affairs, so as to promote peace and stability in the region and the whole world."

Quote from "All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace"

   “It is fashionable to suggest that cyber-space is some island of the blessed where people are free to indulge and express their individuality, this is not true. I have seen many people spill out their emotions - their guts - online and I did so myself until I began to see that I had commodified myself.

   Commodification means that you turn something into a product which has a money value. In the 19th Century, commodities were made in factories, by workers who were mostly exploited. But I created my interior thoughts as commodities for the corporations that owned the board I was posting to - like Compuserve or AOL - and that commodity was sold onto other consumer entities as entertainment.

   Cyber-space, is a Black Hole; it absorbs energy and personality and then re-presents it, as an emotional spectacle. It is done by businesses that commodify human interaction and emotion - and we are getting lost in the spectacle.”

---Carmen Hermosillo

Link: The first episode on Vimeo.

How the 'ecosystem' myth has been used for sinister means | Environment | The Observer

A fascinating evaluation and critique of self-organizing systems...conclusion, they are a fantasy.

How the 'ecosystem' myth has been used for sinister means | Environment | The Observer

Excerpt

"Biosphere 2 was a giant sealed world. Eight humans were locked in with a mass of flora and other fauna, and a balanced ecosystem was supposed to naturally emerge. But from the start it was completely unbalanced. The CO2 levels started soaring, so the experimenters desperately planted more green plants, but the CO2 continued to rise, then dissolved in the 'ocean' and ate their precious coral reef. Millions of tiny mites attacked the vegetables and there was less and less food to eat. The men lost 18% of their body weight. Then millions of cockroaches took over. The moment the lights were turned out in the kitchen, hordes of roaches covered every surface. And it got worse – the oxygen in the world started to disappear and no one knew where it was going. The 'bionauts' began to suffocate. And they began to hate one another – furious rows erupted that often ended with them spitting in one another's faces. A psychiatrist was brought in to see if they had gone insane, but concluded simply that it was a struggle for power."

BBC News - President Obama hails 'special relationship' at banquet

"The Queen opened proceedings by telling Mr Obama and his wife Michelle that she was "so glad" they were visiting the UK again.

She said: "I firmly believe that the strength of our links and many shared interests will continue to ensure that, when the US and the UK stand together, our people and other people of goodwill around the world will be more secure and can become more prosperous."

She proposed a toast to "celebrate the tried, tested - and, yes, special relationship between our two countries".

The president then told the guests: "As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I'm particular grateful for the solidarity that the United Kingdom has shown to America over the past decade.

"From that day to this you have been our closest partner in the struggle to protect our people from terrorism attacks and violent extremism from around the world despite very heavy sacrifices here."

To conclude, the president proposed a toast to the Queen, but there appeared to be a mistake as the band played the opening bars to God Save the Queen before he had finished."

LINK: BBC News - President Obama hails 'special relationship' at banquet

"The Secret to Increased Productivity – Single Tasking"

Article Link: SimpleProductivityBlog.com— The Secret to Increased Productivity – Single Tasking

"When I was doing the research for this article, I tried to pull up articles that said that multitasking was actually beneficial. However, all the articles I found, including studies, and articles from reported on years ago, multitasking has been shown to be very bad on the people. The Time cover story, says “There’s substantial literature on how the brain handles multitasking. And basically, it doesn’t.”

“When people try to perform two or more related tasks either at the same time or alternating rapidly between them, errors go way up, and it takes far longer–often double the time or more–to get the jobs done than if they were done sequentially.”"

Amen! Let me do my work...

this OR that

"[The Catholic Church] do[es] not have the answers" --Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict stumped by Japanese girl's question about suffering | World news | The Guardian

Excerpt

"'I am very frightened because the house where I felt safe really shook a lot and many children my age have died. I cannot go to play in the park. I want to know: why do I have to be so afraid? Why do children have to be so sad?' said seven-year-old Elena [a victim of the recent tsunami in Japan].

Benedict admitted: 'I also have the same questions: why is it this way? Why do you have to suffer so much while others live in ease? 'And we do not have the answers, but we know that Jesus suffered as you do, an innocent, and that the true God who is revealed in Jesus is by your side.'

Whether Elena was satisfied with that answer was unclear. But the studio audience gave the pope a hearty round of applause."

Shocking...well actually...no...it's not.

The hardest part was letting go...not taking part...

And the hardest part
  Was letting go, not taking part
Was the hardest part

And the strangest thing
  Was waiting for that bell to ring
It was the strangest start

I could feel it go down
  Bittersweet, I could taste in my mouth
Silver lining the cloud
  Oh and I
I wish that I could work it out

And the hardest part
  Was letting go, not taking part
You really broke my heart

And I tried to sing
  But I couldn't think of anything
And that was the hardest part

I could feel it go down
  You left the sweetest taste in my mouth
You're a silver lining the clouds
  Oh and I
Oh and I
  I wonder what it's all about
I wonder what it's all about

Everything I know is wrong
  Everything I do, it's just comes undone
And everything is torn apart

Oh and it's the hardest part
  That's the hardest part
Yeah that's the hardest part
  That's the hardest part

Why is my heart marooned without you?

Why is my heart marooned without you
  The sun goes down
My dreams begin their refrain
  I call to whatever holds you
My beloved
  I wait and I wait

Why is my heart marooned without you
  A tiny light upon the sea
My heart is so afraid
  You have broken away
Tell me, darling, I pray
  You will come to me soon

Our lives begin to end...

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"


:: Martin Luther King, Jr. ::

My Body Is A Cage

My body is a cage that keeps me 
From dancing with the one I love 
But my mind holds the key


My body is a cage that keeps me 
From dancing with the one I love 
But my mind holds the key


I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway


My body is a cage that keeps me 
From dancing with the one I love 
But my mind holds the key


You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key


I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head


I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving 
Still my heart beats so slow


My body is a cage that keeps me 
From dancing with the one I love 
But my mind holds the key


You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a


My body is a cage 
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten 
That don't mean you're forgiven


I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight


My body is a cage that keeps me 
From dancing with the one I love 
But my mind holds the key


You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key


Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free

Separation anxiety disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A little homework after a now apparent misuse of the term.

Separation anxiety disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Separation anxiety disorder is a psychological condition in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home or from people to whom the individual has a strongemotional attachment (like a father, mother, grandparents, and brothers or sisters). Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), is characterized by significant and recurrent amounts of worry upon (or anticipation of) separation from a child or adolescent's home or from those to whom the child or adolescent is attached.

Those suffering from SAD may worry about losing their parents and/or getting lost or kidnapped. They often refuse to go to certain places (e.g., school) because of fears of separation, or become extremely fearful when they are left alone without their parents. These children and adolescents may also refuse to sleep alone, experience nightmares about separation, or experience various physical complaints (e.g., body-aches, nausea) when separated from their parents. Separation anxiety may cause significant impairment in important areas of functioning, (e.g., academic and social). The duration of this problem must last for at least four weeks and must present itself before the child is 18 years of age.

YouTubez - Cats Try to Understand Treadmill & Dog Vs. Bubbles...

This is soooo funny...I wonder how often we look like this when we discover new things...





YouTube - Cats Try to Understand Treadmill

"The Mountain" - Awesome Time Lapse Photography From Spain

Link to Vimeo's Site: The Mountain on Vimeo


The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Article: "Is Sugar Toxic?" NYTimes.com

Is Sugar Toxic? - NYTimes.com

The hour and a half long video lecture from UC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

Small Excerpt

     The viral success of his lecture, though, has little to do with Lustig’s impressive credentials and far more with the persuasive case he makes that sugar is a “toxin” or a “poison,” terms he uses together 13 times through the course of the lecture, in addition to the five references to sugar as merely “evil.” And by “sugar,” Lustig means not only the white granulated stuff that we put in coffee and sprinkle on cereal — technically known as sucrose — but also high-fructose corn syrup, which has already become without Lustig’s help what he calls “the most demonized additive known to man.”

     It doesn’t hurt Lustig’s cause that he is a compelling public speaker. His critics argue that what makes him compelling is his practice of taking suggestive evidence and insisting that it’s incontrovertible. Lustig certainly doesn’t dabble in shades of gray. Sugar is not just an empty calorie, he says; its effect on us is much more insidious. “It’s not about the calories,” he says. “It has nothing to do with the calories. It’s a poison by itself.” 

     If Lustig is right, then our excessive consumption of sugar is the primary reason that the numbers of obese and diabetic Americans have skyrocketed in the past 30 years. But his argument implies more than that. If Lustig is right, it would mean that sugar is also the likely dietary cause of several other chronic ailments widely considered to be diseases of Western lifestyles — heart disease, hypertension and many common cancers among them.

As if his soul in that one word he did outpour...

:: The Raven ::

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

"Sword of Damocles" (from Damocles on Wikipedia)

Link: Damocles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Note: The way I pronounce the names...probably with room for improvement (American Accent):
  Damocles - Dam' ah-kleez
  Dionysius - Die-oh-niss' ee-us

  Syracuse - Seer-ah' queues
  Cicero - Siss' uhr-oh

Excerpt:

   "The Damocles of the anecdote (of Greek Legend) was an obsequious courtier in the court of Dionysius II of Syracuse, a fourth century BCE tyrant of Syracuse, Italy. Pandering to his king, Damocles exclaimed that, as a great man of power and authority surrounded by magnificence, Dionysius was truly fortunate. Realizing the folly of this courtier, Dionysius offered to switch places with him, so he could taste first hand that fortune. Damocles could think of no other place he would rather be and quickly accepted the King's proposal. Damocles sat down in the king's throne surrounded by every luxury, but Dionysius arranged that a huge sword should hang above the throne, held at the pommel only by a single hair of a horse's tail. Damocles finally begged the tyrant that he be allowed to depart, because he no longer wanted to be so fortunate.

   Dionysius had successfully conveyed a sense of the constant fear in which the great man lives. Cicero uses this story as the last in a series of contrasting examples for reaching the conclusion he had been moving towards in this fifth Disputation, in which the theme is that virtue is sufficient for living a happy life. Cicero asks:

   "Does not Dionysius seem to have made it sufficiently clear that there can be nothing happy for the person over whom some fear always looms?"

Caveat Emptor | Wall Street is a cybernetic Las Vegas

YouTube - TEDxConcordia - Yan Ohayon - The Impact of Algorithmic Trading

This presenter is actually pretty dry and boring, but his points are sound.

The world economy is headed for some rough times ahead because of the machines we've built and the greed that drives men. Wall Street is a cybernetic Las Vegas. Caveat Emptor.

"Education may be the only thing people still believe in in the United States"

Article Link Peter Thiel: We’re in a Bubble and It’s Not the Internet. It’s Higher Education.

"Instead, for Thiel, the bubble that has taken the place of housing is the higher education bubble. “A true bubble is when something is overvalued and intensely believed,” he says. “Education may be the only thing people still believe in in the United States. To question education is really dangerous. It is the absolute taboo. It’s like telling the world there’s no Santa Claus.”

Like the housing bubble, the education bubble is about security and insurance against the future. Both whisper a seductive promise into the ears of worried Americans: Do this and you will be safe. The excesses of both were always excused by a core national belief that no matter what happens in the world, these were the best investments you could make. Housing prices would always go up, and you will always make more money if you are college educated."

Men and women see colors differently

HHjH ~Yellowberri Unprofessional

Quote. Witticisms

Original Link: ~ Manners, Culture and Dress of the Best American...

Quote:

Witticisms. Do not be always witty, even though you should be so happily gifted as to need the caution. To outshine others on every occasion is the surest road to unpopularity.

From the book Manners, culture and dress of the best American society, including social, commercial and legal forms, letter writing, invitations, &c., also valuable suggestions on self culture and home training (1891)

Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site: March 31, 2011

Public Announcement: Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site: March 31, 2011:

Excerpt:

"NEW YORK—During the month of April, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world will be putting forth extra effort to dramatically increase their participation in the public ministry for which they are well-known.

The Witnesses are planning to collectively spend more time teaching the Bible in April 2011 than they have in any other month in their modern-day history. Many Witnesses are viewing this shared goal as an opportunity to reach new heights in their Bible education work, individually volunteering to schedule 30-50 hours during the month for this activity."

Are huge earthquakes linked? | The Big Picture

Are huge earthquakes linked? | The Big Picture

Excerpt:

“What is clear is that for the 6.2 years since 2004, there have been more great earthquakes around the world than in any 6.2-year period throughout the 110-year history of seismic recordings.”
-Thorne Lay at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Link: "You Are Solving The Wrong Problem « Aza on Design"

You Are Solving The Wrong Problem « Aza on Design:

Excerpt:

"There is some problem you are trying to solve. In your life, at work, in a design. You are probably solving the wrong problem. Paul MacCready, considered to be one of the best mechanical engineers of the 20th century, said it best: “The problem is we don’t understand the problem.”

Story time....

...What’s the take-away? When you are solving a difficult problem re-ask the problem so that your solution helps you learn faster. Find a faster way to fail, recover, and try again. If the problem you are trying to solve involves creating a magnum opus, you are solving the wrong problem."

Jean Ritchie - Shady Grove (Rainbow Quest)

This song is strangely enchanting...I was fixated.

YouTube - Rainbow Quest: Jean Ritchie - Shady Grove

Intolerance: Illegal Minority Profiling and Persecution in Russia

According to recent ECHU interpretations of Eurpoean Law, Russia is in clear violation of Human Rights by it's current campaign against individuals whose only "crime" is being one of Jehovah's Witnesses. This is not an isolated incident with over 300 reported cases recently with as many still being processed for publication.

Article: Russia deports foreign student because of religion

Excerpt:

"Daisuke Nomura, a student studying the Russian language at the Buryatia State University, will be deported back to Japan. According to local authorities, a foreign student in Russia is not permitted to profess the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nomura, a 28-year-old from the city of Osaka, Japan, had only four months left to complete his studies and receive a diploma."

A Legal Manual for an Apocalyptic New York (NYTimes.com)

Full Article is here: A Legal Manual for an Apocalyptic New York - NYTimes.com:

Excerpt:

"Quarantines. The closing of businesses. Mass evacuations. Warrantless searches of homes. The slaughter of infected animals and the seizing of property. When laws can be suspended and whether infectious people can be isolated against their will or subjected to mandatory treatment. It is all there, in dry legalese, in the manual, published by the state court system and the state bar association.

The most startling legal realities are handled with lawyerly understatement. It notes that the government has broad power to declare a state of emergency. “Once having done so,” it continues, “local authorities may establish curfews, quarantine wide areas, close businesses, restrict public assemblies and, under certain circumstances, suspend local ordinances.”"

The full manual is available here.

The Milky Way's Dance Over Lake Tahoe (Time Lapse)

What's awesome is when you realize that we're the ones moving...but then again everything is moving, isn't it?

“I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes, - and the stars through his soul.” -Victor Hugo

Watch it in HD by following this link: Lake Tahoe Milky Way Night Time Lapse on Vimeo

The artist stated the following on Vimeo: "This has has not been processed, this is straight from the camera. I still have to color correct it. Milky Way Time lapse over Lake Tahoe on 9/4/2010. Shot with a Canon 5d Mkii, Sigma 24mm f1.8, Opteka Battery grip to hold two battery's so I can get 9 hours of run time, Canon intervelometer, and a tripod. Shot 30 sec exposures at f1.8 every 35 seconds."

Artist's contact information: justinmajeczky@varient3.com

Special Friends

  One consistent thing throughout life has been the persistent feeling of being misunderstood.  A constant nagging sensation of the need to explain myself to my companions. It often leads to a containment of thoughts and a habit of the phrase, "never mind", or "oh, nothing".  Not because I am really thinking nothing or that what I have to say is inconsequential, but because I don't feel that my listener would understand or even could understand. I shrink from the idea that my idea is above the person or superior to them, rather it's just a different perspective or way of thinking that I feel is hard to explain or grasp. My thinking is not superior, just alien.  And often my statements come out in fragments, half way in the middle of a thought, lacking context for my listener(s). Free association often strikes fast and leads me down various pathways at once abandoning my companions in what is to me, the past.

Scatterbrained? I'd like to think not. In my own world? In some ways; nevertheless I feel that I have a tight grip on reality. I believe my reality just has more dimensions than that of some. Why? That my patient reader, is the quest that has been thrust upon me and is, in some ways, a personal burden.

When I was a teenager, my mom once said that I was on a "different frequency". At first glance, one could interpret that to mean that as a kind way of saying that I was not normal, that I was strange. That leads to the discussion of "normal" and "strange"; a multi-paged essay in its own right. She didn't mean broken though, or outcast; her context was in relation to what has lead to this entry. She followed that by saying that an older male friend of mine, older by a span of decades, was on the "same frequency" as me. This was to explain how a youth could feel a real friendship with an older person, and yet not have many with those of his own peer group. Which leads to a discussion of who are really an individual's "peers".  To prevent infinite digression, while still having taken a moment to establish some context, I'll press to the conclusion.

When true peers feel to be far and few between, it's refreshing and invigorating to stumble upon one. Their identity is known very quickly and is often a surprise. That fragmented thought can come out of your mouth and the other person is somehow able to understand. When that seemingly random statement of mine springs into dialog, and it can automatically be linked to the common source experience we've shared with a look or a single follow-up word; sometimes without any further explanation at all. It's almost as if some telepathic link is there...as if there is really an invisible frequency that you both can hear. That multi-dimensional reality that often feels exclusively personal is perceived and occupied by others!

It's a reminder that you're not alone. That you are understandable and are understood. It's reaffirming and is special. These people are rare and precious, more so that any possession. Their acquaintance must be guarded and protected. These are my special friends.

One World Trade Center - Photo Update - 56th Floor

Steel is now up to the 56th floor at One World Trade Center.

Progress Tracking Website: http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/index.html

Photo Journalism: Libya: Unrest and uncertainty (The Big Picture)

Photo Library - Link: Libya: Unrest and uncertainty - The Big Picture - Boston.com

The clay and the iron just don't mix...

Excerpt:

"Living Life is better than Dying in College" --Altucher Confidential

LINK: Living Life is better than Dying in College Altucher Confidential:

An essay on why kids should not go to college at 18...I share many of his sentiments.

Excerpt:

"Colleges have made use of the myth that you can’t get a job unless you have a college education. So young people feel a rush to get that college out of the way so they can get a job and “begin” their adult lives. I think kids should begin their adult lives at 18 by experiencing what else the world has to offer other (see my eight alternatives to college) than a classroom (which they’ve all just been locked in for the prior 18 years). A rose needs space to bloom."

"To summarize:

A) you learn very little that you use in real life

B) you are so burdened by debt that you can’t use your new-found knowledge to create real freedom and joy for yourself

C) a young person can use their energy in many other ways than just college"

Good read from Wikipedia: "Rosenhan experiment"

LINK: Rosenhan experiment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Excerpt:

"The Rosenhan experiment was a famous experiment into the validity of psychiatric diagnosis conducted by psychologist David Rosenhan in 1973. It was published in the journal Science under the title "On being sane in insane places." The study is considered an important and influential criticism of psychiatric diagnosis.

"Rosenhan's study was done in two parts. The first part involved the use of healthy associates or "pseudopatients" who briefly simulated auditory hallucinations in an attempt to gain admission to 12 different psychiatric hospitals in five different states in various locations in the United States. All were admitted and diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. After admission, the pseudopatients acted normally and told staff that they felt fine and had not experienced any more hallucinations. Hospital staff failed to detect a single pseudopatient, and instead believed that all of the pseudopatients exhibited symptoms of ongoing mental illness. Several were confined for months. All were forced to admit to having a mental illness and agree to take antipsychotic drugs as a condition of their release.

"The second part involved asking staff at a psychiatric hospital to detect non-existent "fake" patients. No fake patients were sent, yet the staff falsely identified large numbers of ordinary patients as impostors.

"The study concluded, "It is clear that we cannot distinguish the sane from the insane in psychiatric hospitals" and also illustrated the dangers of dehumanization and labeling in psychiatric institutions. It suggested that the use of community mental health facilities which concentrated on specific problems and behaviors rather than psychiatric labels might be a solution and recommended education to make psychiatric workers more aware of the social psychology of their facilities.""

Earthquake: Christchurch earthquake - The Big Picture - Boston.com

LINK: Christchurch earthquake - The Big Picture - Boston.com

"With hundreds still missing, and 75 already confirmed dead, rescuers struggled to find survivors on the second night after a devastating earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city Tuesday. Buildings crumbled into the streets after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake, which geologists consider an aftershock to a 7.1 earthquake that caused no casualties in September. Tuesday’s temblor was more devastating and deadly because it was centered only six miles from the city's center and hit during the middle of a workday. The Government has declared a national state of emergency. Officials estimated there could be 100 people trapped in the CTV building alone. -- Lane Turner (36 photos total)"

Uzbekistan - Government Officials Seize Bible Shipments - Censor Those Allowed

Link: Forum 18 Search/Archive - UZBEKISTAN: "No need to import Bibles"?

Excerpts:

"Justice Ministry officials told the Bible Society 'there is no need to import Bibles into Uzbekistan since there's an electronic version on the internet.'"



"As seen from the Chilanzar Court decision, the first shipment of books to the Bible Society...are roughly 5,000 Russian Bibles as well as roughly 7,000 books – mostly Children's Bibles – in Uzbek and Karakalpak languages (the figures on the literature in Uzbek and Karakalpak were confirmed by the Religious Affairs Committee)."

From the New Yorker: Paul Haggis Vs. the Church of Scientology : The New Yorker

Long read from a former Scientologist. Link: Paul Haggis Vs. the Church of Scientology : The New Yorker

Excerpt:

"I once asked Haggis about the future of his relationship with Scientology. “These people have long memories,” he told me. “My bet is that, within two years, you’re going to read something about me in a scandal that looks like it has nothing to do with the church.” He thought for a moment, then said, “I was in a cult for thirty-four years. Everyone else could see it. I don’t know why I couldn’t.”"

quix·ot·ic (kwikˈsätik)

1. Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

Usage

• "Placing product first forces the bizarre behavior that Apple is well known for: being innovative and quixotic. It makes them foolish and hungry. Sometimes it even makes them catastrophically destructive to competitors."
• Paul Keating says he'll always remember Button's "penchant for devilment, for the zany and the unpredictable" and "the fun in being around such a quixotic character".
• In 1985, Pickles accused the lord chancellor, England's senior judge, of being a "brooding quixotic dictator" born with a golden spoon in his mouth.
• "I knew the enemy was beyond tolerance. In my quixotic mind, there was no alternative left but to face the threat. I could get hold of a gun and I would keep it on me," Castro said.

--Google Dictionary Results

BMW Documentaries Presents: "Wherever You Want To Go: The New City"

BMW Video on future transportation in cities.

This video is kind of a promo-video for urbanization, being constantly surrounded by people...the ironic thing is that all of the solutions involve being alone.

Lonely cities.

Loneliness: "People can experience loneliness for many reasons and many life events are associated with it. The lack of friendship relations during childhood and adolescence, or the physical absence of meaningful people around a person are causes for loneliness, depression, and involuntary celibacy. At the same time, loneliness may be a symptom of another social or psychological problem, such as chronic depression."

It seems that a lot of innovation comes from cities and urban environments because they have complex PROBLEMS that do not exist in more suburban/rural environments or are at least less complicated and perhaps less urgent.

P.S. - If you're only travelling a few blocks, you really need to walk...it's better for you.

Outbound - Dante Bucci

Dante's got a whole band since the last time I saw him on Youtube...very nice.

Photo Essay: A harrowing, historic week in Egypt - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Large photo documentation of the situation in Egypt: A harrowing, historic week in Egypt - The Big Picture - Boston.com

The Arab Spring « Iconic Photos

Interesting thoughts about the recent political developments in North Africa: The Arab Spring « Iconic Photos:

Excerpt:

"2011 may or may not be another 1989, but for the time being, it is satisfying to entertain the comparisons with that pivotal year when Communism died in Eastern Europe. Like the Revolution in Hungary which opened that annus mirabilis, Tunisia had unleashed glimmers of hope, if not winds of change, for the Arab world. Comparisons with 1989 are still immature, but it is only January, and a year is a longtime in politics."

Article: The Reason The Rich & Famous Commit Suicide

Main Article: Adventures in Capitalism: The Reason The Rich & Famous Commit Suicide:

Excerpt

"Many of us go through life dreaming about being rich and famous. Maybe we think that next company will get acquired. Maybe we're secretly practicing for the next round of American Idol tryouts. But as fruitless as those dreams might be, they still give us hope.

We believe that special something might be around the corner, might be able to change everything.

But the rich and famous don't have that luxury. They already have the worldly success that so many of us think will make us happy. And they've discovered that it doesn't."

Vatican Bank | Money Laundering | IOR | Catholic Church

Good article: Vatican Bank | Money Laundering | IOR | Catholic Church

Excerpt: 

"Only Vatican employees and religious institutions are allowed to open accounts in the bank — which you’d think would make it the most moral bank in the world...So why is its chief, economist Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, under investigation for money laundering?"

"...Until now, IOR's secrecy has been assured by the loyalty and frugality of its employees, mostly priests, and by the fact that the Vatican, a sovereign State, operates as a financial black hole, exempt from all international disclosure and transparency obligations..."

"What's Happening in Egypt Explained"

Good summary of the situation in Egypt here: What's Happening in Egypt Explained. (UPDATED):

Excerpt:

"What’s happening? Inspired by the recent protests that led to the fall of the Tunisian government and the ousting of longtime Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Egyptians have joined other protesters across the Arab world (in Algeria, notably) in protesting their autocratic governments, high levels of corruption, and grinding poverty. In Egypt, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets. Here’s a photo of one of the protests in Cairo, the capital (via Twitter):"

YouTube - Mree Covers: You and I (Ingrid Michaelson)

YouTube - Mree Covers: You and I (Ingrid Michaelson): "

Improv Everywhere...Ice Skater

YouTube - WORST ICE SKATER EVER?: ""

Oh no..."Mammy" died on the Oregon trail. Loose 2 days to mourn her.

This vaguely reminds me of playing the Oregon Trail as a kid.

What's crazy is the buses seem to line up for this...WHO NEEDS A BRIDGE!?

"The very act of creation reveals his love..."

"Certain facets of Jehovah’s personality are revealed by his creative works even prior to his creation of man. (Ro 1:20) The very act of creation reveals his love. This is because Jehovah is self-contained, lacking nothing. Hence, although he created hundreds of millions of spirit sons, not one could add anything to his knowledge or contribute some desirable quality of emotion or personality that He did not already possess in superior degree.—Da 7:9, 10; Heb 12:22; Isa 40:13, 14; Ro 11:33, 34."
...
"As revealed to man in Eden.  As what kind of person did Jehovah reveal himself to his first human children? Certainly Adam in his perfection would have had to concur with the later words of the psalmist: “I shall laud you because in a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, as my soul is very well aware.” (Ps 139:14) From his own body—outstandingly versatile among earthly creatures—on outward to the things he found around him, the man had every reason to feel awesome respect for his Creator. Each new bird, animal, and fish; each different plant, flower, and tree; and every field, forest, hill, valley, and stream that the man saw would impress upon him the depth and breadth of his Father’s wisdom and the colorfulness of Jehovah’s personality as reflected in the grand variety of his creative works. (Ge 2:7-9; compare Ps 104:8-24.) All of man’s senses—sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch—would communicate to his receptive mind the evidence of a most generous and thoughtful Creator."

--it-2 pg. 14, Jehovah

CocoRoise - Lemonade (Music Video)

I have no idea what this song is about, but the video, the sound, and some of the poetry that I can make out is pretty cool...only the creatives need watch.


CocoRoise - Lemonade from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

The German Texans

The German Texans

Interesting History of the Immigration of Germans in Texas. Althtough Texas as a whole has strong German undercurrents, the strong outward culture was hidden and lost after the USA's war with Germany in WWI and II.

"Emphasis always lay on the preservation of German identity. In schools, students learned both English and German. German settlements usually offered free schools. New Braunfels eventually offered all of its young students a completely free primary education. In 1853, the singing society Sangerbund held its first German music festival. It has grown in popularity among not only German Texans, but also out-of-state participants of different ethnicities. While many German activities dissipated during World War I and II due to discrimination, the Boerne Village Band maintained an important presence. It has been applauded by Germany and the Texas Legislature for its preservation of German music. Ludwig von Roemer and Louis and Robert Kleberg, who settled the town of Cat Spring in 1832, are known for introducing Texas to its first piano, which they shipped from Germany. Kleberg’s son eventually became the owner of Texas’ famous King Ranch. Newspapers like the Galveston Zeitung and Der Bettelsades also helped perpetuate German heritage. August Siemering, who became a lieutenant in the Confederate Army, published the newspaper Freie Presse für Texas. Texas continues to celebrate the Texas-German heritage with events such as Octoberfest, Wurstfest, Schützenfeste, and German Culture Month.

The German immigrants’ mark on Texas is found in place names, like Schulenburg and Shiner; it’s heard in the popular cultural influences of Adolf Hofner, and the accordion in Tejano and Zydeco music; and it’s experienced in the easy-going temperament in the face of tremendous obstacles that gave Texas its motto, “the friendly state."

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Advanced Rules

I'm still trying to figure out how this would work...

Goal: Get 10 points...or get thrown out of parties :)

Source

Landslides in Brazil - The Big Picture - Boston.com

"Last week, a series of flash floods and mudslides struck the Serrana mountain region near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, destroying buildings roads and more. Nearly 14,000 people are now homeless, 759 are reported to have been killed and another 400 remain missing in this, Brazil's worst-ever natural disaster. As soldiers make their way to remote towns with aid and transportation, Brazil's government has said it would accelerate efforts to build up a nationwide disaster-prevention and early-warning system. Collected here are photos from the mountainous regions near Rio that were so hard-hit by these landslides."

Here's a series of a few dozen photographs with a sample below: Landslides in Brazil - The Big Picture - Boston.com

PSFK » Reading Patterns Of Mobile Device Users

PSFK » Reading Patterns Of Mobile Device Users:

"The graph of when users are reading on the iPad shows the biggest time for reading: personal prime time.

This is generally the most relaxing time of day. After a long day, work is done, dinner is resting in your belly and there is nothing left to do but put your feet up and relax. This time slot is the same one coveted by television. When the majority of people are consuming content it seems perfectly natural that people would use this time to do their reading as well.

Not surprising, if you look back at the graphs for computer and iPhone reading, you’ll see spikes during this same time (8 – 10 PM) appear on all graphs."

Space Hoppers in Venice

SPACE HOPPERS in VENICE on Vimeo

2 min video, how fun!

SPACE HOPPERS in VENICE from bayougirl on Vimeo.

FP Explainer: Who Are the Knights of Malta -- and What Do They Want? - By Joshua E. Keating | Foreign Policy

FP Explainer: Who Are the Knights of Malta -- and What Do They Want? - By Joshua E. Keating | Foreign Policy:

"Despite having no fixed territory besides its headquarters building in Rome, the order is considered a sovereign entity under international law. It prints its own postage stamps and coins -- though these are mostly for novelty value -- and enjoys observer status at the United Nations, which classifies it as a nonstate entity like the Red Cross. The Knights maintain diplomatic relations with 104 countries. The order does not have official relations with the United States, though it has offices in New York, for the United Nations delegation, and Washington, for its representation at the Inter-American Development Bank."

Close Encounters of the Buddhist Kind - An FP Photo Essay | Foreign Policy [#ForeignPolicy]

Close Encounters of the Buddhist Kind - An FP Photo Essay | Foreign Policy:

"The Bangkok-based Dhammakaya movement dons saffron robes...its flamboyant ceremonies have become increasingly bold displays of power for this cult-like Buddhist group that was founded in the 1970s, ironically, as a reform movement opposed to the excesses of organized religion in Thailand...Dhammakaya has diligently worked to avoid the limelight. Until now. Over the past year, photographer Luke Duggleby and reporter Ron Gluckman have been granted unrivaled access to the facilities and ceremonies of Dhammakaya, and they provide an exclusive look at this mesmerizing movement."

How Music Works - Part 2 - Rhythm

Here's the 2nd hour in the series, all about Rhythm.

Rhythm (from Greek ῥυθμός – rhythmos, "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") is a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." In other words, rhythm is simply the timing of the musical sounds and silences. While rhythm most commonly applies to sound, such as music and spoken language, it may also refer to visual presentation, as "timed movement through space."

Part 1 of 5


Part 2 of 5


Part 3 of 5


Part 4 of 5


Part 5 of 5

How Music Works - Part 1 - Melody

There are 4 parts to this Series.

Part 1 - Melody
Part 2 - Rhythm
Part 3 - Harmony
Part 4 - Bass

This is all the videos in Part 1, Melody.

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"[Football] isn't just violent, it's a 'celebration' of violence..."

Violence in football: 'Animalistic' but necessary - The Week:

"last weekend, two players were battered in bone-shattering plays that could have sent them to the hospital. Yet there's no reason to 'feel the least bit upset or concerned,' says Bissinger. Football can't be tamed — it is by nature 'animalistic' and 'raw.' The sport isn't just violent, it's a 'celebration' of violence. Take away the 'savagery' and 'the game will be nothing.' Here, an excerpt:"

"...I will lay me down."

Touching and powerful.

"I'll take your part when darkness comes and pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water...I will lay me down."

Definition of Henchman

Dictionary - Definition of henchman:

Excerpt: "The word henchman (Germanic irregular plural: henchmen) referred originally to one who attended on a horse, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a (subordinate) official in a royal court or noble household. It is now used primarily to describe a stock character in many adventure stories: the villain'sPublish Post lackey."

No One Sees You Like Your Dog Does

Love it! Wish we could have dogs here...I miss my golden.

"Eminence grise"

"Eminence grise"

  "An éminence grise (French for "grey eminence") is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or unofficially. This phrase originally referred to François Leclerc du Tremblay, the right-hand man of Cardinal Richelieu. Leclerc was a Capuchin friar who wore grey, or rather brown, robes. Brown or light brown (now called "beige") was called grey in that era...Although Leclerc du Tremblay never achieved that rank, it is probable that those around him may have addressed him thus in reference to the considerable influence this "grey friar" held over "his Eminence the Cardinal".

  "A grey eminence may alternatively mean an elderly (grey-haired) individual who is eminent for accomplishments in the past, but today acts as an advisor rather than a principal actor, and may be politically influential as a consequence of his honored status. For example a distinguished retired physics professor; a politician who retired with a good reputation; etc."  --Wikipedia

Also: "The power behind the throne"


  "The phrase power behind the throne refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of an office. In politics, it most commonly refers to a spouse, aide, or advisor of a political leader (often called a "figurehead") who serves as de facto leader, setting policy through influence or manipulation.

  "The original concept of a power behind the throne was a Medieval-era figure of speech referring to the fact that the king's policies could be set by a counselor not seated in the throne but standing behind it—perhaps whispering in the king's ear—out of common sight. Among the earliest examples of such powerful advisors were the Mayors of the Palace under the Merovingian kings."  --Wikipedia

Rise of the Hans - By Joel Kotkin | Foreign Policy

Rise of the Hans - By Joel Kotkin | Foreign Policy

Just a sample of what he's reasoning on:

"With China's new prominence in global affairs, the Han race, which constitutes 90 percent of the Chinese population, is suddenly the most dominant cohesive ethnic group in the world -- and it is seeking to remain that way through strategic alliances, aggressive trade policy, and attacks on racial minorities within the country's boundaries. The less tribally cohesive, more fragmented West is, meanwhile, losing out.

Almost 20 years ago, I wrote a book called Tribes that sought to trace the role of ethnicity, race, and religion in economic and geopolitical affairs. At the time, there was some skepticism about the continuing influence of ethnicity; some considered the work, frankly, regressive and racist. Now, however, my thesis from 1992 has really come to fruition. We are living in the age of tribes -- and China is just the start.

Such primitive racial instincts were supposed to be long ago passé: We're supposed to be living in Thomas Friedman's "flat" world or Kenichi Ohmae's "borderless world." By now, supposedly, everyone is increasingly interconnected and undifferentiated. Affairs should be managed neatly by deracinated professionals, working on their iPads from Brussels, Washington, or any of the other "global" capitals."