Goal: Create an abstract model of an ideal system designed to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world. A model that could be applied to any and all aspects of life from Software Architecture to Digital Strategies to Government and beyond. While specific use cases, technologies and techniques are used as examples, the model itself is intended to be timeless.
High level description of Responsive Systems.
Describes the broadest possible, most abstract view of 'Responsive Systems'. While some examples and case studies are included, it is intended that these descriptions are use-case agnostic and timeless.
Explain the various ways the abstract Responsive Systems model applies, in very broad terms, to specific systems found in the real-world.
Explains how the characteristics of Responsive Systems might break down to specific, actionable techniques.
Exploration of how the abstract Responsive Systems model applies concretely to specific use cases like Software, Government and Education. Again specific technologies and techniques will be used as examples that may change over time but the way in which the general model is applied for the specific use case should hold true over time.
Responsive Systems is a model for designing and implementing systems (E.g. software, governments, companies etc) that survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
It's clear that the rate of change is accelerating. The inexorable path to singularity is self-evident. If rapid change defines our personal and professional lives then it should be no surprise that systems that understand and respond most efficiently to change will be the systems that survive and thrive.
It seems, though, that every new system (be it a piece of software, a government department or a new corporation) tends to re-invent or re-discover core principles that make a system respond efficiently to their environment. Also, established systems that survive for any length of time (like old companies) accrue legacy debt and bad habits that slows innovation. The problem gets worse when new technologies and techniques (like social media, mobile, big data etc) tend to throw systems into periods of turmoil as stakeholders try to understand how these new tools fit into or change their organization.
Responsive Systems is a term used to describe, in extremely abstract terms, an idealized system that is highly adaptive, consistent, innovative and thrives in rapidly changing environments. This model is designed to be applicable to a wide range of concrete use cases.
The intention is that the model is so abstract that it acts as a framework for thinking about problems in a wide range of use cases, at different levels of granularity and throughout the advancement of technology, techniques and cultural trends. Throughout these various scenarios the model itself does not change. The only thing that changes is specific tools and the resulting latency of responsiveness.
This model should help systems digest day-to-day change or fundamental disruptions in a methodical way ensuring that new tools and data inputs are put into the right context and leveraged as part of a system wide process.
Interestingly the ideas in this document are not necessarily new. In fact it might be noted that the characteristics of a Responsive System (as described in the section 'Definition of Responsive Systems') are actually the basic biological functions of receiving sensory information (through eyes, touch, taste smell etc), routing them through a decision making process (the brain) and triggering nerve impulses and actions in the real world. With this in mind, biological analogues are included along side each of the Responsive Systems characteristics listed below ("Definitions of a Responsive System").
Understand that most systems follow much the same patterns.
Establish a common dialogue when discussing the systems in our world.
Extract and share best-practices across all fields.
More quickly jump to better answers when designing new systems or refactoring old ones .
Quickly and correctly understand the best fit for new technologies or techniques that might improve the responsiveness of a system.
A good example of these challenges and opportunities in the real world is the emergence of Social Media and its disruptive effects on business and relationships. Upon its emergence and rapid rise to popularity, trying to digest the tools and techniques of Social Media introduced a wide range of new challenges and opportunities for organizations of all types and sizes.
In response to Social Media, companies were reinventing the wheel, creating new departments and making poor investments in shiny new objects that were ultimately abandoned. Countless books and blog posts were then written trying to clean up the craze explaining how Social Media was 'just a tool' and should be part of a 'strategic communication strategy' etc. To this day the proper place and purpose of Social Media is not well understood by agents of many companies.
Using the Responsive Systems model, these organizations can better understand how Social Media can provide meaningful (yet surgical) contributions for appropriate areas of the system (E.g. 'Situational Awareness', 'Low Latency' and 'Service Oriented Architecture' - explained in detail later in this document) without going through the highs and lows of the hype curve.
This pattern has repeated over and over throughout history and will continue unabated into the future - from the invention of publishing to the advent of mobile, wearable computing and increasingly bioengineering and new energy technologies.
Responsive Systems use smart governance to ensure focus, gracefully handle exigent circumstances and enforce accountability for bad actors. The governance model must include a mission, vision, guiding principles and laws. Some of these might be imposed by the environment, others might be defined at inception. They must always be subject to review and refinement based on the principles outlined above. Responsive systems are democratic.
Responsive Systems are observant of changes and patterns in their environment - changes that are both subtle and gross. They track with the state of the art and extrapolate based on current trend lines. They identify and measure the right things in real-time. They create meaningful and causal inferences from the measured data. They make that data available to as many appropriate stakeholders or subsystems as possible. Most recently this connects to trends in Big Data and Mobility.
Responsive Systems are observant of past patterns and lessons, respectful of todays constraints and, most importantly, embrace the potential of the future. Calculations are optimistic. Most recently this connects to trends in Social Login and Open Standards.
Responsive Systems make decisions and execute actions (including changes to the system) with minimal delay and in an experimental and iterative fashion. At each iteration, Situational Awareness provides insights into success or failure. The cycle then repeats. Feedback Loops, however, are always in the context of future proof strategy and an awareness of the overall Service Orientated Architecture that stays consistent over the long term. Most recently this connects to trends like Mobile, Real-time and Agile/Lean development.
Responsive Systems are based on Services. Common or 'Primitive' patterns are baked into baseline capabilities that are drawn on by domain or project experts at the 'application' level to achieve day-to-day tasks. Services have defined APIs that encourage an ecosystem of value creation on top. Most recently this connects to trends in discrete Cloud Services, PaaS, BaaS etc.
Designs that refactor themselves organically around the available screen real-estate and form-factor.
Software that is designed for rapid iteration and interoperability. It allows for a mix of 'off-the-shelf' building blocks with extreme customization and custom development. Service oriented architecture.
Support that assists customers with planning a long-term strategic success path, collaborates with tactical deployment/execution and ensures life long learning and improvement. Support that is proactive about finding faults using monitoring (both technical and social monitoring).
Education that teaches students to be responsive and creative by example and curriculum. Curriculum frameworks that are allow for the rapid development and delivery of new courses in niche subjects as things become relevant. Teaching how to think vs. what to think/know.
Offices that act as co-working spaces for customers, partners and colleagues. Open, multipurpose plans. Hotelling. Multiple physical spaces might be connected via telepresence. Street frontage, Open door policy.
Content that change as the underlying dataset changes - no need to refresh the page. Content that is personalized (by friends and interests). Content that allows for social engagement. Aka: Real-time and Social.
A version of democratic decision making that allows every stakeholder to participate to their fullest desired ability.
An economy that is build on responsive systems whereby prices and products find their level without artificial tariffs or subsidies. Where inefficiency is vacuumed out.
Since any system is built and run by people, each of the characteristics of a Responsive System needs to be part of the core skill sets of every stakeholder. Ideally, these skills might be instilled via training/education program as a prerequisite to participation in the System. This must be the first step to any successful design and implementation of a Responsive System.
While clear examples of education in society (schools, colleges) and professional environments (professional development) exist, typically they lack a focus on the why and how the given system works and instead focus on rote repetition or outcomes. An emphasis on teaching the principles of Responsive Systems specifically will change outcomes dramatically, as all stakeholders begin to understand how the system works and how they might improve it.
Every Responsive System must have a vision. A clear statement about how it sees its environment today and how the environment will change over time.
Every Responsive System must have a mission. A clear statement about for how it will change its environment as a result of its input and output process.
Every Responsive System must have guiding principles. A collection of statements describing its core beliefs and assumptions about the world and its operation within it.
Every Responsive System must have laws governing the behavior of its stakeholders, sub-systems and services. Some laws are imposed by the environment, others are inspired by the vision, mission and guiding principles and imposed from within.
Every Responsive System must be aggressive about reducing redundancy, refreshing outdated approaches and pruning any aspect of itself that no longer serve its stated vision, mission, guiding principles and laws.
Every Responsive System must have a living roadmap that assists internal and external stakeholders to predict its trajectory over time. The further out the time slices the more susceptible to change the roadmap items might be, however even a rough sketch is better than nothing.
Identifying the key performance indicators of a system and then finding ways to accurately measure those KPIs in real-time is critical.
For example a new government program would include KPIs (as well as, perhaps, indicators for potential unintended consequences) and a review process by which those KPIs are evaluated on an ongoing basis.
Another example would be a piece of software that measures performance, uptime, rate limits, number of clicks to complete a task etc will result in better software.
Once measured, objective issues revealed by underperforming KPIs or subjective insights 'on the ground' need a clear, crisp and effective way of flowing into and out of relevant stakeholders. The methodology must include real-time updates as well as a way to pool and prioritize items for regular review.
In government this might include continuous reporting to responsible departments and, most importantly, to the people being served by the program. In software this would include monitoring for uptime, capacity and/or changes data being propagated in real-time vs. in batches. In companies this would might manifest in real-time dashboards rather than weekly or monthly reports.
Maintaining documentation about past system behavior/outcomes, collecting documentation/outcomes of similar systems and evaluating that collective dataset when making decisions is critical to optimizing future behavior. History (The facts, patterns and metaphors) repeats.
In government, examples might include observing what other countries or departments have implemented that has worked well. In companies a study of broad market trends and patterns is essential to predicting the future and picking a winning strategy. In software, common software patterns are often times used to ensure architecturally sound choices even at prototyping stage.
Constraints are often times creative forcing functions that impose efficiency through focus and prioritization. Therefore carefully measuring the available bandwidth of every component of the system is essential as well providing mechanisms to (when appropriate) allow for autoscaling.
While constraints might constrict throughput, they should never be an excuse for a lack of process (which in fact leads to waste) or executing an action that is outside the vision, mission or laws of the system (further detailed in the 'Governed' section). In the long run a lack of process or an ill-conceived action will always cost more in soft and hard terms.
Examples in government might include scaling a program based on available revenue vs. arbitrarily setting goals that latter need to be funded. In companies, building departments and processes that are thoughtful about limitations but are designed as building blocks to a larger play ensure that the business can scale as market traction hits. With software, designing clean abstractions, throttling mechanisms and implementing good patterns ensures that new features and scalability can be built in later with minimal breaking changes.
Perhaps the most important function of time is it allows for the evolution of technological and cultural realities to unlock economies of scale, change minds, open markets, create new efficiencies and drive demand. As such, Responsive Systems must factor in the trajectory of current trends and idealistic projections to catch opportunities as they crest.
In a Responsive System, all stakeholders are welcome to provide input. This might include stakeholders that are outside what might be considered the traditional decision making circle.
While all stakeholders can provide input, a small executive process must ultimately be relied upon to make the final decision and manage the execution. This executive process is accountable for successful execution.
In government, this might include a broadening of the democratic process to include real-time polling of the electorate while the President and her team are responsible for execution. In companies this might include involving all staff and even customers and partners in the decision making process while the CEO and other executives are ultimately responsible for execution.
Responsive Systems deliver value as early and often as possible and iterate quickly. It's also critical that changes to, or outputs from, the system are tested in the real world. As such, actions taken by the executive process are chunked into release stages over time.
Each iteration is influenced by the Situational Awareness, Four Dimensions and Service Oriented Architecture characteristics of the system. In other words iteration does not mean 'hacks'. Effectiveness of each iteration are measured, the iterations are future proof and they are designed as shared services.
In startups this is known as 'Lean'. In software, 'Agile'.
As iterations are released, all stakeholders are notified live so that they can make the best possible decisions at any given time.
Each system eventually establishes recurring patterns or 'primitives'. These are core characteristics of the overall system that have become regular, predictable and occur across many applications or use-cases.
A good example of such a primitive in Government is the post office. While the post office in the United States of America is, in many ways, faltering, it is a great example of early Service Oriented Architecture that served the system well for a long time. It was seen that 'messaging' between people within the society was a common requirement capable of clean abstraction and delivery with a simple API - stamps and addresses. In many ways Government itself is a kind of 'Primitive' of society at large allowing for group action for the common (shared) good.
Had this service kept up with modern messaging technologies such as online identity, email and instant messaging then the Post Office would continue to provide a valuable service as a or 'Service' of the 'US Government' fulfilling the 'Primitive' of 'message delivery'. Other government services exist, of course, including the Military, FBI, CIA and more.
In software, a great example of this include Amazon Cloud Services, Twillio and Echo. In families the shared bank account and car. In companies the common kitchen and break room.
Responsive Systems use this methodology liberally and have pro-active methods of detecting, defining and formalizing this primitive patterns as 'Services' that are consumed through Application Programming Interfaces. The services must be discrete and undergo a continuous cycle of refresh (and pruning) as the needs of the system and available technologies change.
It's important to note that this is a reductive process. The intention is to identify and operationalize the fewest possible services with broadly useful functionality. As one moves up the 'stack' (towards the application layer) these services and processes become more specialized.
It's essential (and often overlooked) that the services are provided through simple, open and well defined interfaces and that any redundancies are avoided and that horizontal dependencies on peer services are either loosely coupled or abstracted from consumers.
In Responsive Systems 'Services' are implemented in the 'real world' via 'Applications'. Applications consume and combine the primitive functionality of services and offer either permanent, reusable or bespoke combinations that fulfill use-cases in user-friendly, value creating and innovative ways.
In society, Government provided Roads, Police, Mail etc are used to to build Businesses, Families and successful personal lives. In software the use of Amazon Web Services to build websites or mobile applications. In families the use of the family car to create routines to the park or basketball practice are all 'Application Layer' use cases of services.
Rather than allowing engineers to work in a vacuum, it's essential that a concerted effort is taken to sync all participants in a software project(s) on the various moving parts, patterns and use-cases. This might take the form of weekly or monthly meetings to take a new look at the current and high-level landscape of the system in question.
These meetings are also a great opportunity to define and refine the analytics KPIs, Communication Processes, Trend Analysis, Iterations, Core patterns, Vision, Mission and Laws of the system as detailed below.
These regular syncs (not just about the work, but the system and process) provide a formal opportunity to sync implementation decisions with all aspects of Responsive Software.
Finally, teaching the principles of Responsive Systems generally and Responsive Software specifically, will ensure that all stakeholders understand how to implement its ideals at all levels (in their department, in their code, in their user interface etc).
Beyond the general recommendations of a Responsive System described above, the specifics of your Software governance is dependant almost entirely on your project. It's only essential that the following questions are considered and answered to define the constraints of your software system.
Writing software takes time. What you know of the world now will possibly change by the time your software drops and/or during the lifecycle of your software's iterations and use in the wild.
It's essential then, to give some consideration about the future inside which your software will live so that what you deliver will not be obsolete on arrival, limit your upgrade path or fundamentally become irrelevant within too short a time period.
How will it affect the world or solve a real problem.
What is the core proprietary value of the software being built? This is especially important when understanding what to build, buy or partner on.
How can it co-exist with other pieces of software or business systems?
It's essential to set high level principles that create consistency across the software project by asking and answering questions that are give clear guidelines to the engineering and design team.
Is this team a build, buy or partner team?
Is this an easy to use tool for the mainstream or a sophisticated tool for power users?
Are the use of open standards helpingful?
What are the coding, documentation, release, versioning and naming conventions?
What are the user interface design language and interaction models used?
How are the techniques of Responsive Systems expressed in the architecture and the user experience of the software?
What are the operating tolerances of your system?
What is the trust model?
Rather than adding a new feature or checkbox, how can an existing feature be modified to be more generally useful.
How can existing features be pruned when they are no longer necessary.
How can unnecessary UI clutter be removed to help the user focus?
It's important to have a living roadmap that assists internal and external stakeholders to predict the trajectory of the softwarever time. The further out the time slices the more susceptible to change the roadmap items might be, however even a rough sketch is better than nothing.
Identifying the key performance indicators of the software system (both as it relates to performance and business goals) and then finding ways to accurately measure those KPIs in real-time is critical.
Performance, uptime, rate limits, number of clicks to complete a task, A/B testing etc are all essential to influence systems design based on quantitative data.
Once measured, it's essential that these software and business indicators are communicated to the relevant stakeholders in real-time.
System performance should be reported not only to engineers and ops personnel, but directly to subsystems responsible for auto-scaling.
Business performance should be reported to all stakeholders in the business all the way up and down the org chart.
In software, there's nothing worse than inventing a new data format or technology when an industry standard exists. When evaluating a data format or API the decision making stack must follow this list of questions. Each is terminating.
Can this use case be fulfilled using an existing open format/protocol? Use it.
Can this use case be fulfilled using an existing extension to the format/protocol? Use it.
Can this use case be fulfilled using a well known microformat or emerging pattern? Use it.
Is there a generic way we can describe the data or handle this transaction? Invent it and propose it as an extension. Where possible the extension should try to follow established naming conventions and implementation patterns.
Is there no existing open standard or generic approach? Clearly define it as an Echo proprietary extension and document the exception. This should be considered a failure state and should be slated for re-evaluation by the strategy team and our developer community who might have new/different ideas.
In all cases the bias should be to using the standard, even if it isn't an exact fit. The benefits of leveraging (and contributing to) existing work far outweigh the perceived costs of sticking to someone elses format.
Further, evaluating implementation and UI patterns that have worked in the past (including software pattern) are essential to make architecturally sound choices even at prototyping stage.
While development constraints might constrict the pace of development, they should never be an excuse for a lack of process (which in fact leads to waste) or implementing too many hacks. In the long run a lack of process or a short term hack will always cost more in soft and hard terms.
Designing clean abstractions, throttling mechanisms and implementing good patterns ensures that new features and scale can built in later without breaking changes. Avoiding hacks means that investments in time are never wasted and outcomes are more predictable. It also avoids inevitable hacks on top of hacks.
Building a piece of software that's good enough 'for now' is essential for quick prototyping and MVP however even at this stage of development there are ways to build a UI and use-cases that are forward leaning.
In the most recent cycle building social, streaming and mobile software over static, desktop web pages (early) was a good example of leaning into future trends before they became obvious to most. Think Instagram beating Flickr by leaning forward into emerging trends.
At later stages of development, the need for future-proofing the UI, UX and Architecture choices of your software based on the latest technology and interaction trends ensures that by the time your work ships (or by the time people discover it) it will be relevant and durable.
As technologies evolve and mature over time, it's also essential to keep an eye out for custom built innovations that become commodities in the open market. It's essential that your team identify these early and cannibalize internal/proprietary subsystems as soon as appropriate. An alternative approach is to make open source your subsystems so that they become the commodity.
Development: The ultimate democratic software development is open source. Short of this (or perhaps in concert with it), however, it is desirable to democratize the process of bug fixes and feature requests using real-time polling of stakeholders while a benevolent dictator, product manager or CEO are responsible for execution.
User experience: Discovery is driven by user engagement and personalization. Actions are logged and displayed in human readable stories for users to see. Stories are social.
Development: Agile development is an established software development model that addresses the need of Responsive Systems to be iterative. It's essential, however, that each iteration is influenced by the Situational Awareness, Four Dimensions and Service Oriented Architecture characteristics of the project. In other words iteration does not mean building hard coded features based on proprietary formats that are 'good enough for now'. Iterations must be done right vs. done quickly.
User experience: Outcomes are visible in a side-by-side preview pane. Administration tasks are possible from the front end without having to switch to a heavyweight 'administration' mode. Rollback is possible.
Development: Checkins made into public code repositories, clean and clear inline documentation and thoughtful release notes are essential to involving all stakeholders in the development process.
User experience: All changes to underlying data sets are propagated to all clients in real-time - no need to refresh the page.
Development: Each piece of software utilizes core patterns. Not merely software design patterns, but common business entities or application capabilities. It's important to identify these core application primitives early and often and build them as (or better, leverage existing) core services.
How might the capability you're enabling be reusable in a broader range of contexts?
How might it co-exist with other pieces of software or services.
What existing cloud services might be leveraged for areas of your application that are not unique or proprietary?
By developing all aspects of your software system as a series of discrete, loosely coupled services, your software becomes more reusable, more broadly useful, more fault tolerant and ultimately easier to scale as various sub-systems are improved individually.
User experience: How might you provide the user a central UI metaphor around which other features of your app rotate. This core pattern or UI element ensures that users don't get lost. If possible the core UI metaphor is repeated with clear landmarks used along the way so that the user is always clear what entity or process they are engaged in.
Development: Your services, then, are implemented in the application layer. Applications consume and combine the primitive functionality of services and offer either permanent, reusable or bespoke combinations that fulfill use-cases in user-friendly, value creating and innovative ways.
This technique also helps to better balance between productized work and implementation time customizations. Common application scenarios can be developed as shrink wrapped applications while specific customizations for customers can be novel implementations of the cloud services.


Infant Rynli KaeAnn Eleanor Adkins, the still born daughter of Jon Eric and Elizabeth Adkins of Corbin, was still born Saturday evening at St. Joseph Hospital of London.
Graveside services and burial were conducted on Tuesday afternoon at the Calebs Creek Cemetery in Hinkle, KY with Pastor Ronnie Smith officiating.
Laurel Funeral Home was honored to be of service to the Adkins family.


Welcome to Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy's patient resource about Impingement Syndrome.
Impingement occurs to some degree in everyone's shoulder. Day-to-day activities that involve using the arm above shoulder level cause some impingement. Usually it doesn't lead to any prolonged pain. But having poor posture, continuously working with the arms raised overhead, repeated throwing activities, or other repetitive actions of the shoulder can cause impingement to become a problem. Impingement becomes a problem when it causes irritation or damage to the rotator cuff tendons.
Raising the arm tends to force the humerus against the edge of the acromion. With overuse, this can cause irritation and swelling of the bursa. If any other condition decreases the amount of space between the acromion and the rotator cuff tendons, the impingement may get worse. For example, poor posture that involves an increased forward curve in the upper back (kyphosis) and rolling inward of the shoulders affects the alignment of the humerus under the acromion. This alters the biomechanics of the shoulder (the ability of the shoulder to move freely and effeciently in space) which means even daily activity such as reaching increases the contact under the acromion.
In some people, the space is too small because the acromion oddly sized. In these people, the acromion tilts too far down, reducing the space between it and the rotator cuff.
Impingement syndrome causes generalized shoulder aches in the condition's early stages. It also causes pain when raising the arm out to the side or in front of the body. Most patients complain that the pain makes it difficult for them to sleep, especially when they roll onto the affected shoulder.
The diagnosis of bursitis or tendonitis caused by impingement is usually made on the basis of your medical history and physical examination. When you visit Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy our Physical Therapist will ask you detailed questions about your activities and your job, because impingement is frequently related to repeated overhead activities.
Some patients may be referred to a doctor for further diagnosis. Once your diagnostic examination is complete, the Physical Therapists at Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy have treatment options that will help speed your recovery, so that you can more quickly return to your active lifestyle.
Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy provides services for Physical Therapists in Bedford and Irving.
Whenever possible, it is best to begin by trying nonsurgical treatment. You may be prescribed anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Resting the sore joint and putting ice on it can also ease pain and inflammation.
Even if you don't require surgery, you may need to follow a program of rehabilitation exercises. When you begin your rehabilitation at Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy, our Physical Therapist can create an individualized program of strengthening and stretching for your shoulder and rotator cuff.
At first, we will use various treatments to calm inflammation, including heat and ice. Our Physical Therapist will also use hands-on treatments and stretching to help restore full shoulder range of motion. Any problems with shoulder and upper back posture will need to be corrected first to improve alignment and shoulder biomechanics. Improving strength and coordination in the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles lets the humerus move in the socket without pinching the tendons or bursa under the acromion. Although time required for recovery varies, as a guideline, you may need Physical Therapy treatments for four to six weeks before you get full shoulder motion and function back.
It is important to maintain the strength in the muscles of the rotator cuff. These muscles help control the stability of the shoulder joint. Strengthening these muscles can actually decrease the impingement of the acromion on the rotator cuff tendons and bursa. Our Physical Therapist can also evaluate your workstation or the way you use your body when you do your activities and suggest changes to avoid further problems.
Rehabilitation after shoulder surgery can be a slow process. Although the time required for recovery is different for each patient, as a general rule, patients with impingement syndrome usually need to attend Physical Therapy sessions for several weeks, and should expect full recovery to take several months. Getting the shoulder moving as soon as possible is important. However, this must be balanced with the need to protect the healing muscles and tissues.
You may be required to wear a sling to support and protect the shoulder for a few days after surgery. Our Physical Therapist may use ice and electrical stimulation treatments during your first few therapy sessions to help control pain and swelling from the surgery. We may also use massage and other types of hands-on treatments to ease muscle spasm and pain.
Physical Therapy can progress quickly after a simple arthroscopic procedure. Your Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy treatments will start out with postural correction and range-of-motion exercises and gradually work into active stretching and strengthening. You just need to be careful to avoid doing too much, too quickly.
Physical Therapy goes slower after open surgery in which the shoulder muscles have been cut. Our Physical Therapists will usually wait up to two weeks before starting range-of-motion exercises. Exercises begin with passive movements. During passive exercises, we will move your shoulder joint while your muscles stay relaxed. Our Physical Therapist gently moves your joint and gradually stretches your arm. We may also teach you how to do these passive exercises at home.
Active Physical Therapy usually starts four to six weeks after surgery. We will have you use your own muscle power in active range-of-motion exercises. Our Physical Therapist may have you begin with postural correction and light isometric strengthening exercises. These exercises work the muscles without straining the healing tissues.
At about six weeks you start doing more active strengthening. These exercises focus on improving the strength and control of the rotator cuff muscles and the muscles around the shoulder blade. Our Physical Therapist will help you retrain these muscles to keep the ball of the humerus in the socket. This helps your shoulder move smoothly during all your activities.
Some of the exercises you'll do are designed get your shoulder working in ways that are similar to your work tasks and sport activities. Our Physical Therapist will help you find ways to do your tasks that don't put too much stress on your shoulder. Before your Physical Therapy sessions end, our Physical Therapist will teach you a number of ways to avoid future problems.
Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy provides services for Physical Therapy in Bedford and Irving.
If the pain doesn't go away, an injection of cortisone into the joint may help. Cortisone is a strong medication that decreases inflammation and reduces pain. Cortisone's effects are temporary, but it can give very effective relief for up to several months.
The most common procedure for AC joint osteoarthritis is resection arthroplasty. A resection arthroplasty involves removing a small portion of the end of the clavicle. This leaves a space between the acromion (the piece of the scapula that meets your shoulder) and the cut end of the clavicle, where the joint used to be. Your surgeon will take care not to remove too much of the end of the clavicle to prevent any damage to the ligaments holding the joint together. Usually only a small portion is removed, less than one cm (about three-eighths of an inch). As your body heals, the joint is replaced by scar tissue. Remember, the AC joint doesn't move much, but it does need to be flexible. The scar tissue allows movement but stops the bone ends from rubbing together.
An arthroscope is a special type instrument designed to look into a joint, or other space, inside the body. The arthroscope itself is a slender metal tube smaller than a pencil. Inside the metal tube are special strands of glass called fiberoptics. These small strands of glass form a lens that allows one to look into the tube on one end and see what is on the other side - inside the space. This is similar to a microscope or telescope. In the early days of arthroscopy, the surgeon actually looked into one end of the tube. Today, the arthroscope is attached to a small TV camera. The surgeon can watch the TV screen while the arthroscope is moved around in the joint. Using the ability to see inside the joint, the surgeon can then place other instruments into the joint and perform surgery while watching what is happening on the TV screen.


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It's possible for a borrower's situation or market conditions to change during the repayment term of a personal loan. It is therefore worth checking whether a cheaper personal loan might be available. You are allowed to switch to a different lender free of charge at any time. You can also check the conditions of your current loan without obligation or increase the loan amount. The team of experts at Credaris, an independent partner service of comparis.ch, will be pleased to help you select the right lender and the best personal loan for your needs.
Loan illustration: Loan amount of CHF 20,000. Effective annual interest rate of 1) 4.4% to 2) 9.95%. Over 36 months, this generates interest or costs of 1) CHF 1,357.90 to 2) CHF 3,071.55 and a monthly instalment of 1) CHF 593.30 to 2) CHF 640.90.


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Your anniversary times are some of the best reasons to celebrate. If you have any favorite, Anniversary Wishes Quotes and Messages that we've missed, please let us know.


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Hi! Sign in to let us know how All Protection Alarm was?
by lucky7to7 at Citysearch Nov 10 .
My house was broken into and then I called All Protection Alarm. They provide the quality service that every alarm company should strive for. They are 100% professional and the installation looks like it originally came with the house. If they ever offer their services in Las Vegas I will be switching my primary house to them! They are exceedingly polite, clean, and always available.
Pros: Alarm systems are monitored locally in Big Bear.
Cons: Should have called sooner.
by BackboneRC at Citysearch Nov 10 .
I use All Protection, signed a 4 year protection plan but after the 2nd year of service I changed my phone number.. Updated All Protection?s records. But their dispatcher got my number wrong. Several months later they sent a tech to my home to retrieve the correct number from inside my home. I had given All Protection a key to my home with the understanding would only be used in a smoke detector or alarm malfunction whereas the alarm stays on. Instead they inappropriately used my key to access my home (my cars were parked as well as to the rear). I was home cleaning my guns, someone knocked at the front door loudly. I?ve got four guns apart; parts are in my lap i.e. I have NO intension of opening the door. But the All Protection alarm tech guys decides since no one answered he should go around to the back door, use the key that I gave them for emergencies only. He opens the rear door to my home. In turn I dumped all the parts off my lap grabbed my SigSaur 9mm .... Luckly for the tech guy my girl friend?s in the kitchen, sees the guy as he?s coming thru my back door ? I called their office. Fellow on the other end said they were just trying to retrieve my phone number. Well there are other ways to get someone phone number. I never received any mail pertaining to the wrong phone number nor was anything posted on the door of my home. There was no warning what so ever. With that said I do not recommend there protection plan to anyone!! Plus the tech guy looked shady, I wouldn?t ant that guy in my home.
My feeling is that All Protection Alarm has taken away my rights to privacy! what is this country coming to??
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Tag: Nuclear Waste Policy Act
DOE Seeks Public Comment re Interpretation of High-Level Radioactive Waste
Posted on December 3, 2018 December 17, 2018 by MidwestCompact
On October 10, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or Department) issued a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the Department's interpretation of the definition of the statutory term "high-level radioactive waste" (HLW) as set forth in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.
DOE interprets the term "high-level radioactive waste," as stated in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as amended (AEA) and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 as amended (NWPA), in a manner that defines DOE reprocessing wastes to be classified as either HLW or non-HLW based on the radiological characteristics of the waste and their ability to meet appropriate disposal facility requirements. The basis for DOE's interpretation comes from the AEA and NWPA definition of HLW:
the highly radioactive material resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products in sufficient concentrations; and,
other highly radioactive material that the Commission, consistent with existing law, determines by rule requires permanent isolation.
In paragraph A, according to the Federal Register notice, Congress limited HLW to those materials that are both "highly radioactive" and "resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel." Reprocessing generates liquid wastes, with the first cycle of reprocessing operations containing the majority of the fission products and transuranic elements removed from the spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Thus, in paragraph A, Congress distinguished HLW with regard to its form as both "liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing" and "any solid material derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products in sufficient concentrations," states the Federal Register notice.
In paragraph B, Congress defined HLW also to include "other highly radioactive material" that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determines by rule "requires permanent isolation," continues the Federal Register notice. HLW under paragraph B includes highly radioactive material regardless of whether the waste is from reprocessing or some other activity. Further, under paragraph B, classification of material as HLW is based on its radiological characteristics and whether the material requires permanent isolation, states the Federal Register notice.
According to the Federal Register notice, the common element of these statutory paragraphs defining HLW is the requirement and recognition that the waste be "highly radioactive." Additionally, both paragraphs reflect a primary purpose of the NWPA, which is to define those materials for which disposal in a deep geologic repository is the only method that would provide reasonable assurance that the public and the environment will be adequately protected from the radiological hazards the materials pose.
The terms "highly radioactive" and "sufficient concentrations" are not defined in the AEA or the NWPA. By providing in paragraph A that liquid reprocessing waste is HLW only if it is "highly radioactive" and that solid waste derived from liquid reprocessing waste is HLW only if it is "highly radioactive" and contains fission products in "sufficient concentrations" without further defining these standards, the Federal Register notice asserts that Congress left it to DOE to determine when these standards are met. Given Congress' intent that not all reprocessing waste is HLW, the Federal Register notice states that it is appropriate for DOE to use its expertise to interpret the definition of HLW, consistent with proper statutory construction, to distinguish waste that is non-HLW from waste that is HLW.
The DOE interpretation is informed by the radiological characteristics of reprocessing waste and whether the waste can be disposed of safely in a facility other than a deep geologic repository. The Federal Register notice explains that this interpretation is based upon the principles of the NRC's regulatory structure for the disposal of low-level radioactive wastes.
In its regulations, NRC has identified four classes of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) — Class A, B or C — for which near-surface disposal is safe for public health and the environment, as well as Greater-than-Class C (GTCC) low-level radioactive waste for which near-surface disposal may be safe for public health and the environment. This waste classification regime is based on the concentration levels of a combination of specified short-lived and long-lived radionuclides in a waste stream, with Class C LLW having the highest concentration levels. Waste that exceeds the Class C levels is evaluated on a case-specific basis to determine whether it requires disposal in a deep geologic repository or whether an alternative disposal facility can be demonstrated to provide safe disposal. According to the Federal Register notice, the need for disposal in a deep geologic repository results from a combination of two radiological characteristics of the waste: (1) high activity radionuclides, including fission products, which generate high levels of radiation; and, (2) long-lived radionuclides which, if not properly disposed of, would present a risk to human health and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years.
Because the NRC has long-standing regulations that set concentration limits for radionuclides in waste that is acceptable for near-surface disposal, the Federal Register notice contends that it is reasonable to interpret "highly radioactive" to mean, at a minimum, radionuclide concentrations greater than the Class C limits. Reprocessing waste that does not exceed the Class C limits is non-HLW.
DOE interprets "sufficient concentrations" in the statutory context in which the definition was enacted, which is focused on protecting the public and the environment from the hazards posed by nuclear waste. In addition to the characteristics of the waste itself, the risk that reprocessing waste poses to human health and the environment depends on the physical characteristics of the disposal facility and that facility's ability to safely isolate the waste from the human environment. Relevant characteristics of a disposal facility may include the depth of disposal; use of engineered barriers; and, geologic, hydrologic and geochemical features of the site. Taking these considerations into account, the Federal Register notice states that it is reasonable to interpret "sufficient concentrations" to mean concentrations of fission products in combination with long-lived radionuclides that would require disposal in a deep geologic repository.
Accordingly, under DOE's interpretation, solid waste that exceeds the NRC's Class C limits would be subject to detailed characterization and technical analysis of the radiological characteristics of the waste. This, combined with the physical characteristics of a specific disposal facility and the method of disposal, would determine whether the facility could meet its performance objectives and if the waste can be disposed of safely. The waste characterization and analysis process would govern this approach, as well as the performance objectives for the disposal facility established by the applicable regulator, to ensure that it is protective of human health and the environment.
The DOE interpretation does not require the removal of key radionuclides to the maximum extent that is technically and economically practical before DOE can define waste as non-HLW. According to the Federal Register notice, nothing in the statutory text of the AEA or the NWPA requires that radionuclides be removed to the maximum extent technically and economically practical prior to determining whether waste is HLW. DOE has determined that the removal of radionuclides from waste that already meets existing legal and technical requirements for safe transportation and disposal is unnecessary and inefficient, as well as does not benefit human health or the environment. To the contrary, the Federal Register notice states that it potentially presents a greater risk to human health and the environment because it prolongs the temporary storage of waste.
Therefore, under DOE's interpretation, waste resulting from the reprocessing of SNF is non-HLW if the waste:
does not exceed concentration limits for Class C low-level radioactive waste as set out in section 61.55 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations; or,
does not require disposal in a deep geologic repository and meets the performance objectives of a disposal facility as demonstrated through a performance assessment conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Reprocessing waste meeting either I or II of the above is non-HLW. Therefore, according to the Federal Register notice, such waste may be classified and disposed in accordance with its radiological characteristics in an appropriate facility provided all applicable requirements of the disposal facility are met.
For additional information, see 83 Federal Register 50,909 (October 10, 2018). Interested stakeholders may also contact Theresa Kliczewski at HLWnotice@em.doe.gov or at (202) 586-3301.
Posted in Comment SeekingTagged fission products, Greater-than-Class C (GTCC) low-level radioactive waste, high-level radioactive waste, Nuclear Waste Policy Act, radionuclides, spent nuclear fuel, transuranic elements, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Final Supplement Issued for
Yucca Mountain EIS
Posted on May 20, 2016 June 6, 2016 by MidwestCompact
In early May 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published the staff's final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) supplement on a proposed permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The supplement analyzes potential impacts on groundwater and surface groundwater discharges and determines all impacts would be "small."
The May 2016 NRC document that supplements Environmental Impact Statements that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) prepared on the proposed repository. DOE issued the final EIS in 2002, then supplemented it in June 2008 when it submitted a construction authorization application to the NRC.
Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the NRC is to adopt DOE's EIS to the extent practicable. In September 2008, NRC staff recommended adoption of DOE's Environmental Impact Statements, but noted the need to supplement the study of groundwater effects in the Yucca Mountain aquifer beyond DOE's analyzed location at the site boundary. DOE ultimately deferred to the NRC to prepare the supplement.
In August 2015, NRC published a draft of the supplement for public comment. (See LLW Notes, July/August 2016, pp. 28-29.) During the 91-day comment period, NRC staff conducted public meetings to present the report and receive comments in Rockville, Maryland and in Las Vegas and Amargosa Valley, Nevada.
The NRC received more than 1,200 comments on the draft supplement, including comment letters and oral comments. The NRC staff's responses to these comments, and descriptions of changes made to the final report in response to comments, can be found in Appendix B of the supplement.
The supplement to the Yucca Mountain EIS is available on the NRC's website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr2184/.
For additional information, please contact David McIntyre of the NRC at (301) 415-8200.
Posted in Reports and other PublicationsTagged Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), high-level radioactive waste, Nevada, Nuclear Waste Policy Act, spent nuclear fuel, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Yucca Mountain

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Exclusivity is key. Travelers want to taste, see, and be at popular, rare, pricey, unobtainable and sold out experiences - and they want it now. The best way to make this happen is through a concierge. That's why a hotel needs concierge software. 74% of guests find the most stressful aspect of travel to be figuring out the details (Source). At ALICE, we fervently believe in the concierge and their role in successful, guest-satisfying hotels. ALICE Concierge hotel concierge software empowers the hotel to meet guest expectations, at scale.
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Modern Times: Staying human in the race for artificial intelligence
As global competition for leadership in the domain of artificial intelligence emerges, Andrew Hunter asks what we can learn from the natural world, and whether this technology could be used for the greater good.
12 June 2018 by Andrew Hunter
When Vladimir Putin suggested last year that "whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world", the seriousness with which we should take this new field of battle, which has taken on the characteristics of an arms race, was abundantly clear.
Putin claimed that AI was the future, not just for Russia, but for all humankind. It is disarming to consider the accelerated progress of artificial intelligence when humankind has yet to come close to natural intelligence, despite millennia of lived proximate experience. Schools of fish, swarms of bees and flocks of birds act with such coordination that they appear to have a collective mind.
If understood, the capacity in these species for groups of individuals to act in perfect, harmonious coordination may assist in the evolution of human societies increasingly disinterested in collective action. The opportunity to learn from nature has been there since the beginning of time, yet scientists are only just starting to understand how individuals can act with such collective purpose. These learnings are important, but our attention is elsewhere.
Putin asserted that AI offers offers both "colossal opportunities" and dangers. The fear — that rapid technological progress has the capacity to irrevocably alter our way of life — is not new. If it is true that humankind has adapted and persevered, it is also true that not all technological advancement has been for the betterment of humanity. The speed and scale of progress in the field of artificial intelligence will change our lives beyond imagination. It may even render human beings obsolete.
Power tends to be a zero-sum game. Putin's interest in leading the AI arms race is directly related to the power he believes it will deliver. This informs the way in which advances in AI will be deployed. Sometimes, the greatest threat exists within. A country without stability will struggle to assert power externally if it is internally weak.
Those who dismiss Japan due to its relative size, for example, ignore its incredible resilience and social harmony. Those who assume China's dominance overlook its history of fragmentation and restoration. "Long united must divide, long divided must unite," according to the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber. The future pays little attention to such linear logic. AI will help define a future that will not be defined by AI alone.
How we use AI is every bit as important as our mastery of it. Can we make the collective decision to avoid crossing a line, beyond which AI will pose an irrevocable risk to humanity? Can we consider how AI could improve the lives of the masses, rather than considering it an instrument to be deployed to achieve world domination? Human nature is anything if not predictable, and it would take a substantial departure from historic norms for us not to invite disaster and welcome it with open arms.
There remains a compelling case to persist with an ancient area of learning in our modern education: philosophy. Why we do something is more important than how we do it. It is unfortunate that philosophy is increasingly considered obsolete and we lack understanding of natural intelligence, despite our historic opportunity to observe and learn from nature. Advances in technology without a parallel focus on why and how to deploy these new understandings and capabilities is dangerous.
Most would argue that humanity has always coped with and adjusted to technological advances. This will remain true until it is no longer true.


The latest Wall Street analyst to start coverage of Apple Inc. took a relatively fresh take on the company, suggesting that investors view Apple as a data storage play.
Apple has long derived high profits from the markup on memory sold within its devices. Case in point: an iPad mini with 32GB of memory is $100 more than the same device with 16GB. With no other differences in the hardware, that means consumers are paying about $100 for 16GB of memory, while flash cards and thumb drives of the same capacity can be had on Amazon for as little as $10 (and Apple no doubt gets top-notch pricing from its memory suppliers).


Don't get carried away and promise to yourself you'll exercise 4 times a week - you will be in for a disappointment. Your starting goal should be to work out twice a week. It doesn't have to last for more than 30 minutes and it will allow your muscles enough time to recover (you will DEFINITELY be sore). Slowly increase the length and intensity of the exercises and add one more day after a month of a regular workout. Lastly, pick a time of day that really suits you - don't force yourself to get up at 6 a.m. if you're not a morning person.
If you choose to join a gym, do yoga or aerobics, make sure you sign up for the intro classes. You will have lower intensity classes, the ones you can keep up with. The point is for the exercise to be challenging enough, but not too challenging to make you feel frustrated and discouraged. In case you can't find a beginner class for the activity you're interested in, have a private talk with the instructor and explain to them you're a complete beginner. That way, you'll get modified exercises and longer breaks when you need them. Have in mind that you don't have to force yourself to keep up with the others - follow your own body rhythm.
No matter how dedicated you are to exercising regularly, there will still be days when you aren't feeling motivated to go to class or exercise. This is why need to have an "insurance policy". Find a friend that also works out and let them know your schedule. Whenever you need a boost, they will encourage you. Also, make sure you always have your gym bag packed and ready. Even if you feel grumpy and lazy 30 minutes before the workout, it will be much easier to push through when you know you just need to put on your shoes and get out with the bag.
Finding quality, comfortable clothes is very important - if you don't feel well in your clothes while sweating and working out hard, you won't be very motivated to go on. Supportive athletic shoes are the first step, and don't hesitate to ask the shop assistant for help to find the right size and model. A supportive bra is also extremely important for women, as well as a few sweat-absorbing tops and pants. Many active people find their thighs rubbing very discomforting and even painful, but there will be no chafing if you wear clothing that protects your thighs and skin. Keep in mind that there are products such as No More Chafe that will provide you with the necessary comfort during your training session.
Don't expect to immediately discover the type of physical activity that suits you. Flirt with different activities in the beginning to determine what really gets you going and what suits your personal taste and abilities. Just don't start with the type of exercise you hate just because others say it's good for beginners or simple. Allow yourself some time to explore. In the end, the best physical activity for you is the one you will keep on doing.
Identify why exactly you are ready to commit your time to working out. Everybody has some goal they want to achieve, so make sure your goal and your reasons are very clear to you. It's what will help you stay focused and consistent. Whether it's losing weight, gaining strength for physical challenges that are ahead of you or fighting bad mood, your goal is what will keep you on track when a bad day comes.
Working out regularly is all about you and your feelings. Don't be too strict on yourself and never fail to realize that you do it for yourself, not for anybody else. And celebrate every little improvement along the way.


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I feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. I've felt myself close to tears numerous times today. No, this is not PMS. I am truly working to embrace this completely different lifestyle for me. I'm asking myself: What am I really feeling? Why am I feeling this way? What is really bothering me? On and on I go. I'm wrestling with not working a job. I'd like to generate income but how do I do that with my skills and not get hooked into regular employment? I'm aching with loneliness, yes Tim is great company. We have friends here, but they are all gone on trips. I'm chatting with friends all over the place, but the connection is missing. Connection is a big thing for me, that connection to what I'm in the middle of with others.
I'm feeling limits on me because of cash flow. We are trying to make the little fund we have last as long as possible. When I am working I enjoy a massage two times a month and getting my hair done every two months. As I am moving around and doing life, I'm aching physically and when I look in the mirror my hair looks weird. Numerous reminders every day of a life that's not present anymore. Sure I can go and spend the money on these things but that will limit us in the days ahead.
For the last 5 years at this time of the year I had daily interactions with over 100 students, 7 or so colleagues, and family and friends. Its football season and I worked the gates on Friday nights at the games interacting with the public, students and staff. I had a 5 days a week schedule and a daily schedule. I ran labs where students were discovering and learning new things. Yes, it was full and busy, but ever so fulfilling. Now here I am, interacting with few people each day, and connecting with my computer screen and I'm the lab rat as I conduct my own experiments with the information and skills that I am gaining. I lose track of the dates, days and schedules of people. Life is so very different I think I am just having a hard time reconciling the now to who I've been and who I am now. I feel like a baby just learning to walk, all off balance and uncoordinated.
I feel frustrated that it is taking us so long to get things done. I really don't like shopping and I've had my fill. When will our vessel documentation finally be done? We can't travel into Mexico until we have it. What's our plan? How do I make no plans and keep up those things that have need of my attention like payroll and a couple non-automated bills without spending money to hire someone to do it for me?
Then I have a question of influence. As a teacher I have influence, I get to make a difference in the lives of others, where is that now? I know we are influencing people with our lives with our blog of our adventures, but is it of any quality? Furthermore, why do I like to have influence? Its connection with others I suppose. Influence helps my life feel meaningful and gives my life purpose. For the last 32 years I have been in the service of others, touching lives, and making a difference. Now, I am in the service of self, not knowing in reality or with clarity how I'm touching lives or making a difference. Obviously I'm having a problem with being self-serving and un-regimented.
Switching into this lifestyle is not an easy task. I've done all the right things on the outside to take the steps to get here as far as I have been able to go, but reconciling these internal feelings is difficult and feels so unnatural to who I am as a person. I'm sure I will get past this issue, but this one is maybe the biggest and hardest yet. I have to find freedom to be this way that I have not been before. This is now 143 days since my job went away.


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US admits 'Iraq progress mixed'
Assessment report says Iraq government has met less than half the US goals.
The White House admitted unhappiness over the war had become the 'central fact' of US politics [AFP]
The Republican revolt and the interim assessment on the success of the US troop surge could accelerate a Democratic-led effort to try to force Bush to start scaling back troop levels in Iraq.
Democratic leaders have said they expect to soon pass a bill requiring the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq by April 1, 2008.
A redeployment would begin within 120 days and the president would be forced to report to Congress on why soldiers should stay in Iraq for "limited purposes".
"Hope and reality"
Although Republican discontent is growing over Iraq, it is not clear if the Democrats have drawn enough former allies of Bush to clear the 60-vote hurdle in the 100-seat Senate which is needed for success.
Meanwhile, the political debate over the war took a new twist on Wednesday, as another Republican senator bowed to public opinion and declared she would back a Democratic bid to enforce troops withdrawals by next year.
Olympia Snowe, senator for Maine, said the US had arrived at a "crossroads of hope and reality" on the war and it was time to embrace "reality."
The White House, under political fire, has admitted unhappiness over the war had become the "central fact" of US politics, but rejected demands to reverse Bush's surge of 30,000 extra troops into Iraq.
Tony Snow, White House spokesman, said: "There's a lot of skepticism among Republicans ... they're getting an earful from constituents."
In a separate development, in a rare moment of unity on Iraq, the Senate voted unanimously to pass a measure censuring Iran for what it said was complicity in the killings of US soldiers.
Senator Joseph Lieberman, who framed the legislation, said: "Today's unanimous vote sends a strong, clear message from the entire Senate to the Iranians that we know what they are doing in Iraq, and they must stop."
Wednesday's amendment laid out what it said was evidence about proxy attacks by Iranian forces on US soldiers in Iraq and called for a regular US government report to Congress on Tehran's role in Iraq.
A USA Today/Gallup poll this week showed more than seven in 10 Americans favour withdrawing nearly all US troops by April.


This is a really nice Corelle Christmas Joy 10 1/4 Inch dinner plate made by Corning Glass. This plate is signed CORELLE by CORNING MICROWAVABLE NO BROILER OR STOVE TOP MADE IN U.S.A. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks or scratches. The Christmas decoration is all very good. Be sure to search our other kitchen glass available. We guarantee items to be as described. THANK YOU.


Home / Bollywood / #UKAsianReview: Sonam Kapoor delivers a soul-stirring performance in 'Neerja'.
#UKAsianReview: Sonam Kapoor delivers a soul-stirring performance in 'Neerja'.
After winning awards for his numerous ad films, Ram Madhvani has made his way back to Bollywood with the gripping 'Neerja'.
It tells the story of the 23-year-old braveheart Neerja Bhanot who died a tragic but heroic death while saving the lives of 359 passengers on board the ill-fated Pan Am 73 flight, which was hijacked in 1986 by Palestinian terrorists in Karachi.
Madhvani, in his previous film 'Let's Talk' (2002) acquainted the world with Boman Irani, but that's not what he's going to be remembered for.
He will be remembered as the director that introduced to the world Sonam Kapoor, the actress.
Little did she know, she was describing what was going to be the fate of her life.
The movie begins by giving us a glimpse into Neerja's ordinary life, introducing us to her parents (Shabana Azmi and Yogendra Tiku) in celebratory mode in their middle class residential complex in suburban Bombay.
Mitesh Mirchandani does an incredible job with cinematography, using lots of handheld shots to constantly contrast the two environments – the fun-filled and safe little world of Neerja vs. the grim, dark world of the terrorists.
I loved the constant intercutting between Karachi and Bombay and the play of sound to highlight the stark differences – sounds of children bursting balloons while the terrorists on the other hand, make their bombs.
The film picks up from when Neerja enters the airport after bidding Jaideep goodbye.
Despite the miniscule length of his role, Ravjiani delivers and is extremely convincing as her lover. Who would've thought this music-director could act?
Every scene in the film before the hijack only adds the intensity and drama that's about to unfold. You know the outcome of the film, yet you root dearly for her and hope for a miracle so she escapes uninjured.
As the flight lands in Karachi, it's hijacked by the terrorists and this is where Neerja's incredible journey as a fighter begins. Madhvani hasn't just portrayed Neerja in a unidimensional way.
I love the fact that we get to see her vulnerability when she fears for her life but remembers her father's teaching "Bahadur bachcha, kaun?" and musters the courage to act against the terrorists.
She hides the passports of the American passengers on the plane so that they are not targeted by the terrorists; she takes care of the unaccompanied minors and opens the emergency exits, which saved the lives of 359 passengers.
During these moments, we're shown flashbacks of Neerja's abusive marriage with Naresh (Kavi Shastri) in Doha, Qatar, who berates her for coming to Doha empty handed.
Credit must be given to Monisha R Baldawa's effortless editing. The precision with which she juxtaposes the memories of her past life with Bhanot's near death situation in the plane is commendable.
It's quick, crisp and neat.
Sonam Kapoor shines as the vulnerable yet courageous Neerja Bhanot.
I must admit I was skeptical about her performance in the film given that it rode on her shoulders. With their eerily similar physical appearance, I couldn't have imagined anybody else playing the character with such ease as Sonam has done here.
A riveting and completely honest performance, this will be etched in Bollywood as one of her finest works.
Shabana Azmi holds the film together in her role as Rama Bhanot. Her powerful monologue in the end is absolutely heart-breaking and will make you weep like a child.
Kudos to Kanika Berry for casting every role to perfection – including those of Neerja's colleagues and passengers on board. Khalil, the hot-headed terrorist played by Jim Sarbh is outstanding.
Saiwyn Qadras and Sanyukta Shaikh write a gut-wrenching and extremely gripping tale that is bound to melt your heart. Neerja proves that good writing really is key to making a good film.
While the film is brilliantly made, it does come with its fair share of flaws. Madhvani adds a song to the second half of the film, which seems badly placed and makes no difference to the movie.
It's about time filmmakers got rid of unwanted songs, especially in a film like this. It drags the second half, left me distracted and bored in a couple of scenes but these moments were short-lived, and Madhvani goes back to engaging you with his well executed screenplay.
Overall, Neerja is a film that will tug at the corners of your heart and will leave you moist eyed.
You don't want to miss this as it truly is one of the best films to have come from Bollywood in recent times.
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But with anything social, there is sometimes a spark. But once there is a connection, there isn't much holding me back." For instance, this guy in Wales."There was a very strong attraction on both of our parts," she recalls.
But it's not a dating site, she insists, "It's a social site. "I have high standards, I don't just sleep with any guy I think is hot.I didn't know CS was a bangtool," reads one response. just turned in her two-weeks notice, a final preparation for her upcoming road trip through the Americas along the Rocky/Andes mountains to arrive in Brazil just in time for World Cup 2014. "But I have made out with about 10 different guys." While she encounters plenty of prospects in Philly — men she works with, men from her martial arts school, men on her community soccer team — she prefers to do her hunting further afield.Currently she lives in her hometown of Philadelphia, and though single and actively looking, the early twentysomething hasn't met anyone of interest locally. "I've decided it's really not worth it to get romantically involved with any of those guys."My first Couchsurfing hookup happened when I was staying with my friend in Miami," Riccardo recalls. Months later Riccardo got a phone call from the same girl, asking if she could stay at his place in New York City. "I never talked to her again," he admits, adding, "I mean, we're friends on Facebook." Couchsurfing was born after a budget-conscious traveler named Casey Fenton sent out a mass request for accommodations in Iceland and received 50 invitations from students with a free spare futon."He has a studio and was hosting two girls from France." He slept on an inflatable air mattress with one girl, while his friend shared his bed with the other. Fenton soon realized people all over the world might not mind sharing their extra space gratis while making new friends in the process.Riccardo G.'s profile on Couch Surfing.com, the website that partners intrepid wanderers with willing hosts, notes that he lives in the "best neighborhood to go out and have drinks," that he offers a "cozy/clean/nice sofa/couch" and that he'll even let you bring your "small dog, if you just can't live without him." He describes himself as "amazing, outgoing, funny, smart" and says his interests include friends, eating, drinking, the gym and puppies.


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text:
Clearance rates spark seller's market
By Steven Cross 08 July 2013 | 1 minute read
With auction clearance rates around the country rising, it's quickly becoming a seller's market according to the director of wHeregroup, Todd Hunter.
According to data released by Australian Property Monitors (APM), Sydney's residential auction clearance rate hit 77.5 per cent, a rate which has only been matched a handful of times in 2013.
Mr Hunter told Smart Property Investment that examining a property's time on market and auction clearance rates are important in assessing what sort of market there is.
"Vendors tend to want to have it sit on the market for some time to get a feel for the market," Mr Hunter said.
"The two elements to look out for are clearance rates – the proportion of signed contracts of sale within an auction process – and the time a property has been on market. These will tell you whether a market is best for buyers or sellers.
"A buyer's market is when there are many houses in the area on sale with few buyers and as a result, prices are lower. A seller's market is the opposite, with more buyers than sellers and consequently higher prices."
According to APM, 189 of the 223 properties put to the hammer in Sydney were sold for a median price of $879,000 for houses and $671,083 for units.
It was an even busier weekend in Melbourne, with 363 properties up for grabs. However, just 196 were sold for a clearance rate of 66.3 per cent. While still a great result, the Victorian capital took a tumble, from 69.5 per cent the weekend before.
From the 32 properties auctioned in Adelaide this weekend, 19 were sold for a total over $4.7 million and a clearance rate of 57.9 per cent, while Brisbane managed to sell just over half of its stock for a clearance rate of 53.3 per cent – up from 49.3 per cent the week prior.
Last Updated: 22 December 2017 Published: 08 July 2013
Fixed interest rates account for 25pc of loans
Owner financing in the USA


Mold and mildew are more than an annoying problem, they can lead to serious health complications and even damage the structural integrity of the surface it is living on. Thankfully, you can get rid of the fungal growth without toxic chemicals that can cause more harm than good.
Oxygen bleach is a safer alternative to traditional chlorine bleach. Unlike chlorine bleach, which can damage and discolor various surfaces, oxygen bleach can be safely used on just about anything, while still killing mold and mildew. Oxygen bleach contains sodium percarbonate and can be use around plants without the fear of harming them. Furthermore, oxygen bleach is safer around children and pets than the traditional bleach counterpart. To make the mold killer, mix 1 cup of oxygen bleach with a gallon of water. Use the mixture to wash the surface clean.
Baking soda is an extremely common kitchen staple that is a major part of various recipes, such as cookies and cakes. It can also deodorize your home and kill mold and mildew. Baking soda is safe for use around children and pets, but that doesn't mean you should let them play with or consume the baking soda. To kill mold, simply dissolve 1 cup of baking soda into a gallon of water. Use this mixture to scrub the mold and mildew off the affected surface.
Distilled white vinegar is a versatile liquid that has hundreds of uses both inside and outside the house. One of those uses being an all-natural, non-toxic mold killer. White vinegar can be used on any surface without worry about causing damage. Unfortunately, vinegar's pungent odor is something that keeps people away from this natural solution. Thankfully, this smell dissipates relatively quickly and usually won't be a problem after a few hours. If you want to give this effective mold killer a try, simply mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water together. Clean the mold and mildew off the surface with the mixture.
No matter what natural mold killer you choose, make sure to rinse the homemade cleaner off the surface with cool water before wiping it dry. Furthermore, sf the fungal problem is large or extensive, you will need the help of professional mold remediation Maryland. Expert mold removers have the tools and know-how to properly get rid of a large mold infestation, something that most consumers don't have.


Ian joined HM Revenue and Customs in January 2012. During the previous 12 months he was head of internal audit for both the Department of Education and the Home Office.
Ian is keen to improve the internal audit service both in HMRC and across Government and is leading many changes within Internal Audit with his newly developed Change Programme. He is also taking an active role in establishing the internal audit shared service for Government as referred to in the Civil Service Reform Plan.
Ian graduated from York University in 1992 and has since worked for a variety of organisations in both the public and private sectors. Ian is a Chartered Accountant by profession and latterly has worked for Norwich Union Life and Asda in a number of finance and internal audit roles before joining the public sector in 2008.


text:
from . import views
from django.contrib import admin
from django.conf.urls import url,include
from django.views.decorators.cache import cache_page

urlpatterns = [
    url(r'^login$', (views.login), name="login"),
    url(r'^logout$', cache_page(60 * 60 * 24)(views.logout), name="logout"),
    url(r'^register$', (views.register), name="register"),
]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub