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Verrill has permitted over 900 megawatts of wind energy in Maine. We have unparalleled experience with the applicable regulatory requirements and bring practical experience and ability to work with diverse stakeholders to ensure the successful permitting, construction, and operation of a project.
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Our depth of experience enables us to provide targeted and accurate guidance on development of wind power and the likely challenges and opportunities presented by such projects.
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For more information about related experience by our team, please visit our Experience page.
Juliet T. Browne
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Sale of Wind Projects
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Represented a wind developer on the environmental and land use permits for a 15-mile, 115 kV transmission line connecting the Northern Maine transmission system to ISO-New England.
Served as counsel to Novatus Energy LLC on several wind power projects it owns and operates in Maine, including the Bingham Wind Project, which at 186 MW is the largest wind power project in...
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Verrill represented Longroad Energy on development of the Weaver wind project in Maine. Longroad Energy is a Boston, MA-headquartered renewable energy developer focused on the development and operation of wind and solar energy projects...
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Posted by Eric Olsen on Jan 25, 2012 in Modern Music | 15 Comments
I recently stumbled across Quiet Company's new album, "We Are All Where We Belong."
And it's like nothing I've heard before.
Taylor Muse, originally part of the girl-led band Eisley, which opened Coldplay's Rush of Blood to the Head tour a few years back, leads this Austin Band. And it's indie rock at its best.
But, you won't get through the first song without being jarred by the lyrics. Lines that not only portray an individual's lack of hope – but that evangelize this non-belief. Using rhyme, rhetoric and repetition aimed at persuading us there is nothing bigger than ourselves to believe in – and to embrace the beauty in that.
It honestly hurts my heart to hear someone so passionately sing these lines. And I can't stop listening.
It's fascinating. It's an entire new genre of lyricism.
Secular is no longer the antithesis of spiritual. This new album from Quiet Company is. Parents should be frightened. I'm astounded by the honesty – and devastated by Muse's devastating lack of hope.
Hey Eric,
Stumbled upon this blog and wanted to say thanks for featuring the record, even though you clearly don't agree with it. I'm really excited that the record is finding listeners in the religious community, as well, and becoming, if nothing else, a conversation starter. It's also incredibly interesting how differently people view the record. You see a lack of hope, but I feel like the songs are more a celebration of humanity than anything else. Which is not to say that either perception is more valid than the other, really.
Anyway, thanks again for listening and posting, and we'll hope to see you at a show sometime.
Love the record, Taylor. Haven't listened to another more in the last 3 months.
Not only grateful to your contribution to music, but to spiritual thought.
If you happen to have any long-form explanation of the album's personal meaning to you as a writer, I'd love to see it. Is there a magazine article or a write-up somewhere you can direct me to?
Jonna
I guess one would find it hopeless or hopeful depending on what you put your hope in! I find Quiet Company's music to be uplifting because I believe in humanity and those traits unique to the human race. My thanks to Taylor for the richness of his music and its message.
Sarah Q
"Everybody really makes their own destiny. It's a beautiful thing. It's just you and me, exactly where we belong." Doesn't sounds hopeless to me. I absolutely love this album.
Not sure if there's anything like that online, Eric. But if we're ever in the same city, I'd be happy to discuss it over coffee or something.
Actually heading down to Austin end of February for business. I was hoping to catch you guys live (your dates don't specify yet). But coffee would be a great fallback plan.
Would love to work something out.
eric@relevantreverence.com.
I too am fascinated at the dichotomy of this album. What a glorious celebration of creativity and musicianship. One of the best crafted albums I have listened to since Arcade Fire. The obscene message in content leaves me so heartbroken that I can not endorse or privately listen to this album.
Reading the lyrics published by Quiet Company has only strengthened my doctrinal stance in Christianity and I pray for this band daily.
As someone who was disserved by having faith shoved down my throat as a child and who was, in my teens, on the verge of suicidal because everyone around me claimed to feel the presence and hear the voice of God, I've always found Muse's lyrics incredibly empowering and healing.
If he's a danger, it's only to the paradigm of control within which religions convince their followers to live.
Obviously, the subtle attempt at humor didn't land.
The angle I was going for is that it's usually angry metal music that most parents are afraid of. When it's actually thoughtful non-belief like this that really challenges the way we think.
Stephen Ernst
Comeon Eric, seriously? As much as I'd like to believe that QC's music is dangerous for Evangelical Christian children (the controversy would help them sell more records) it's just not. What's dangerous for your kids is modern Biblical scholarship, textual criticism, and prolonged exposure to people who are suffering — THAT will challenge the way your kids think.
This album won't de-convert your kids (just like listening to Evangelical worship music won't convert anyone — they'll either think it's weird or be appalled), but this album will bring those of us with similar beliefs closer together using rhyme, rhetoric, and repetition (the same components in your worship music).
Think of it this way: A few years ago, while I was still an Evangelical Christian missionary, I traveled to a remote village in central India and ended up meeting a Christian man who was beaten to a bloody pulp by Hindus because of his conversion. He was the only Christian in his village and his soul was was dying inside without encouragement. The moment I stepped out of the car he ran up to me and I held him (this grown man) for 5 minutes while he sobbed, staining my white shirt brown with his tears — he was so happy to know other "believers" existed. My presence revived his soul.
That is what Taylor's new album is to those of us who have de-converted and lost everything in the process — it revives our souls. It isn't evangelistic, it is humanist-worship, pure encouragement, and it is so damn beautiful.
Hey Stephen, I explain my attempt at humor in that line in the comment above yours.
Your story from central India is simply beautiful. Would love to hear your de-conversion story as well if you have the time.
You're kind of missing the point. I'm saying that QC's music isn't evangelistic-atheism at all (as you claim) instead it's more "atheist-worship" or "an atheist who is worshiping humanity" and QC's music isn't going to challenge anyone to think differently. A relationship with Taylor might change them but just hearing his songs, that won't do a damn thing. The only people who would listen to his songs and be moved by them are people who already believe the things he says or have had similar experiences.
Maybe someday we'll exchange stories. Anyways, I'm glad you're giving QC a shout-out, they definitely deserve all the exposure they can get.
We have different opinions on the power of music. And from personal experience, I can tell you that QC's music did move me, a believer. I believe there is no medium or art more powerful or more persuasive. That the Dylans of the world are the ones who change the world.
Yeah, it'll move ya but for the grand majority of people (yourself included) it moves you to solidify your existing beliefs, not in the way that'll make you change your beliefs — unless you've suddenly de-converted and you haven't told us yet.
Gotcha, I see what you're saying. That this album in particular is not a defense of atheism, but a celebration of humanism. And therefore is not "evangelical".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Book Club: 25 Years in the Making
by Celia Siegel Management | Sep 14, 2021 | Creative, Passion
There is a book I have meant to read for twenty-five years now. It is Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. I may have waited a long time to read it, but as the pandemic continues and we feel overrun by new variants and bad news, there could not be a more perfect time to...
Dan Friedman's journey from audio engineer to voice actor to VO coach!
by Celia Siegel Management | Jun 16, 2021 | Authentic Brand, Creative, Passion, VO
Meet Dan, the voiceover aficionado who understands the production, interpretation, and instruction of VO It's hard to say where you'll find Dan Friedman in the voiceover studio, only that he's definitely in there somewhere. Whether he's behind the mic as an audio...
There's no one way to define Stefan Johnson.
by celia siegel | Mar 22, 2021 | Passion, Social Media, VO
Professional voiceover actor. Viral TikTok star. Master food critic. There's no one way to define Stefan Johnson. Article by Anna Gilstrap This VO Renaissance man creates a stir with his deep, rich voice wherever he goes. Stefan Johnson is a veritable Renaissance...
The Sweet Gypsy Life of Anne Cloud
by celia siegel | Mar 12, 2021 | Authentic Brand, Passion
Anne Cloud. Sweet Gypsy Voiceover. Taking your story where you want it to go. Article by Anna Gilstrap Ever fantasized about living on the open road? Quitting your day job, selling your house, living in a van, and shaping your life into a never-ending road trip? It's...
Who really succeeds in this business?
by celia siegel | Feb 25, 2015 | Passion, VO
You are smart, entrepreneurial and creative. But, it is the passion that you bring to your work that gets attention. "There is no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." -Nelson...
We Are the Lucky Ones
by celia siegel | Jan 28, 2015 | Brand Building, Passion, VO
Check out this recent Gallup poll: only 13% of people, worldwide, feel actively engaged by their jobs. We are the lucky ones. Consider Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, Simon Sinek, and Brene Brown (watch her amazing TED talk), to name just a few, who advocate world-wide on...


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Yes, you read that right. A character known as the Caveman will have an appeal heard in Norway's Supreme Court. And like any self-respecting caveman, the 56-year-old, who appears only to go by the name 'Caveman', at least in press records, is fighting for his right to be filthy. This is not a pretty story.
Food accidents are always popular when looking for a news story that reels 'em in while skirting on the boundaries of 'good taste'. Because food accidents hit hard, in the gut. My general impression is that the quality of food products in Norway is quite high; eggs can be eaten raw without fear, and raw materials should be fresh and clean.
OK, there was a very big e-coli scare in the meat industry a few years ago, and the focus on food hygeiene did turn up some frights*. But things have been quiet on this front for a while, so confidence is restored. And so these stories about baked teeth and oblong eggs are just freak exceptions. Right?
The total destruction of a wooden church in Hønefoss was in the news, and as a quick reader comment testifies, it is almost impossible to report such an event without thinking about Norway's famed Black Metal scene. In fact, Black Metal and the burning of churches has been in focus again recently, but in – a cultural context.
Moose. The real thing. In Norway, they're called the King of the Forest. While they may make news for odd reasons, like when getting drunk on fermenting fallen apples in the fall, a close encounter is usually very dramatic. The most common moose and man meeting is an animal versus car collision; in face-to-face meetings their imposing size is awesome.


Description: Amtrak train No. 20, the Northbound Crescent, arrives at Slidell, LA.
Description: Sometimes things went well, and I got to see some trains while working. This day I was making a delivery to the Budweiser distributor in Ottumwa-which was across the street from the BNSF ex Q main. Good timing-got to see #6 roll by with 19 cars while waiting for the dock.
Description: This photo is a little bit grainy, which is a result of a high-contrast print being fed into a primitive scanner. I apologize in advance for that, but I posted it anyway because I love the composition. Maybe in the future I'll post a rescanned one, but for now this will have to do.
Description: P449, the westbound Lake Shore, at Huntington.


And we've been sweating like a hog.
And now I'm writing up my blog.
When you drive "America's Loneliest Road" for 200+ miles across high desert, at one speed FOREVER, following instructions that had exactly ONE TURN instruction ALL DAY, it was really a driver's day. As Navigator for the Incredible Ethan Corey, I might as well have gone to sleep. But then he would have gone to sleep, too. And he was on the sunny side. So I challenged him to some food tricks during the longest, last parts today. We had a bag of choco-chip cookies and attempted to flip them whole, in our mouths, before chomping: back-to-front, side-to-side, and spun around like a crumby top. Trust me, it takes practice. But that we tried is proof of how hard it is to maintain concentration when NOTHING changes for hours. We did not do very well on those last legs, but a few seconds extra error is better than a ditch ride (remember, we've been up late every night so far, fixing something)!
Our day began with a bang – literally, though a very small one, as a fuse popped just as we left the hotel and entered the freeway ramp. We have GoPro's running, but on their batteries. We thought to try an adapter in the cigar lighter – just then all the electrics quit. We had bought spare fuses in San Rafael, for all but the main one (an odd size). So we fabricated a new fuse ourselves, on the shoulder of the ramp: using strands of wire formed around the ceramic body of the dead one. Just another MacGiver moment for Team 39! We made our start time by skipping calibration and running a wee bit faster down the freeway. Sorry there was no time for pictures.
We climbed out through dry hills and crossed dead flat valleys that are really big salt pans, because the few raindrops that do fall have nowhere to go but re-evaporate. We passed a Naval Air Station. In the middle of the desert (and I thought the Swiss Navy was a funny idea)! Up over the Sand Springs Pass and the Drumm Summit at 4650 feet – no engine issues for most, thought the hot air and steep, long grades gave some challenges. Along one especially flat section between two ridges it was SO flat that they had to dig ditches on either side to lift the road above the occasional flood, as even an inch or two of rain would just stand there covering everything in sight. All along the ditch edges, people have put their initials, words, shapes in the bank using the billions of little black stones that dot the white, salty, clay pan soils. Cute. Maybe something to do next time you're bored: drive out 100 or so miles in the desert, stop, and move some rocks.
When we did climb through hills between flat pans, the scenery was notably more pleasing to the eye: stony spires and gravelly canyons. One section had clearly had a wildfire as all the trees were blackened trunks, though the ground was re-greening already (or had that taken years?).
We had to take a delay on leg 3, as in a hilly section the red speedster of Team 73, had some engine sputtering that made it impossible for them to hold speed. We dropped back 20 seconds to give them room, until we could pass (Right at a media spot)! Right after that we crested and descended into a steep canyon lined with columnar basalt outcrops. I've always been intrigued by those, knowing that from on top, they would look just like a big version of a dry-cracked mud puddle, though in this case, the mud was lava, and the cracks run down hundreds of feet, exposing the resulting columns, when the surrounding soil is eroded away.
The canyon opened out – back onto salt pan again. Then, just when it seemed we would have a boring run; our left rear tire collapsed. We pulled over but it was shredded. I had started the clock as we stopped and we got the spare on in 9 minutes flat. However, it had only about 15 psi in it – very soft. We elected to run the rest of the leg at 40 not 50, to avoid killing the spare, too. I calculated a total lost time of just over 11 minutes. We put in for an 11 minute delay, but John Classen denied it, citing rules that prohibit allowances for mechanical or personal problems. But just for the record, we were 11 minutes and 13 seconds late for that leg. I am very proud of Ethan for handling it coolly and effectively (if a tad scatalogically), and that we were able to track the error, even if not recoverable. So it's one bad leg (the worst each day gets tossed from the scoring anyway). Again; sorry not time for pictures!
When we arrived at our lunch stop in the little town of Austin, NV, the only shop had truck tires, but nothing for a fifty-year old Volvo. Imagine that. We called ahead to Elko and found a spot that did have a suitable tire, but closed at 6 PM, well before we would arrive. We asked Wally the Camera Guy if he would take our dead tire and wheel there for us (they go ahead to get in place for the evening set-ups). He and his driver – my Troy NY neighbor Dale Kasson did that while we drove the afternoon legs. Thank you, Dale! Than you, Wally. It's good to have friends in high places.
Just about then, Ethan noticed that the speedo read 2 mph when we were stopped. Oh no! That must have happened when the fuse blew in the AM, and we never re-calibrated. OK. Look. This is an endurance exercise. We are not going to win. We are not going to be in the top scoring group. We have a car we bought sight-unseen a few days ago, with no practice and no performance charts. Except for the digital Timewise speedo, this is STRICTLY seat of the pants rallying! We re-set it and rebuilt our beautiful duct-tape mount (the heat had caused it to sag and slip). With that mindset firmly embedded (HA!), we headed out for the afternoon.
Other than a brief amusing stop in Eureka, NV where we had a nice talk with County Sheriff Logan (Holy infinite highway, are we REALLY still in Nevada?), the afternoon was more drag race than rally, emphasis on 'drag': the road seemed to go on forever and our ability to focus REALLY started to drag, especially for Ethan on the sunny side of the car. We had picked up a cooler, ice, and drinks at the gas stop: GOOD move! Still, we agreed we have now done enough Nevada crossings. Being as this was a Driver's Day, it's apropos that Ethan's Swedish Nom de Guerre is STIG, Stig Toöitt (I am AXEL, Axel Brökkin)! Several times, as his foot died on the pedal, I swapped: not driving, just holding the pedal, by throwing my left foot over there so he could move his a bit while I held speed. He still had to steer, though (in theory anyway -VERY straight roads today).
We got a call from the tire store, just before they closed at six, to give a credit card number for the tire we were buying in absentia! We finally pulled into town (Elko) and the evening park. Dale brought our remounted tire back from the Les Schwab Tire Center – where they had fit a different size then the old one! Oh well, it's close. We swapped it there on the display line, which invited a lot of commentary. Next stop was the local parts store to get a bridge fuse to replace the handmade one that might not really have been a fuse at all. And we grabbed some food at the grocery.
At long last, we got to the hotel where we were told we weren't registered there. In fact, they had mixed up the names of Coker and Corey (in fairness, we're both totally cool people, so it IS understandable). It took a little input from Jeff Stumb, but since they got our room, we got Corky's 3-room suite: solid gold chandeliers, marble Jacuzzi, 90 inch plasma TV, chilled bottles of champagne on the balcony, and all on the 45th floor penthouse.
OK, I'm kidding about that – really – the TV looks a little smaller.
Actually, though Ethan installed the bridge fuse and cleaned the mouse nest out of the blower so we can get outside air into the cabin, all while I worked on whether or not we would be camping in the lobby; this is the first night we have not HAD to work on our car! Time for bed. Ethan, turn off Corky's chandeliers and 3-D TV. Tomorrow is another Hard Day's Drive – on to Wyoming.
PS: other than the 11-minute leg with the tire failure, and the 50 second last leg where exhaustion set in, we did OK. No aces yet,though.
Found your blog after seeing Team 39 just outside of Elko. Have fun and good luck!
It was nice to visit with you in Elko last night. Thanks for the enjoyable blog post! Will enjoy following the remainder of your adventure. Cheers and good luck on the road!
Really enjoying your blog! Being a Beatles fan I think the fab four would find your lyrics quite clever, after all the movie was quite a comical farce. Good luck!
We had noticed old cars driving down the road and after a bit of research, stumbled upon this blog. After reading your very entertaining story to the occupants of our car, the VERY next car we see is #39. If you remember the occupants of a brown Ford Expedition waving to you during the speed test zone, at about 2pm, that was us!
Wish we could share our air conditioning, and we hope things go well for the rest of the race. Drive safe, and we will keep up with the blog!
Enjoyed the commentary very much. When you pass through SLC, which might be about now, those of us stuck in that four-letter word called 'work', will be thinking of you. Sounds as if, even with a few hiccups, you're having fun. Safe travels.
I'm checking in from Coreys' home region, registering entertainment value of blog and events contained therein. Making a fuse entertained me, today i was on the same project on an ancient brit's trafficator. More Volvo pics, who cares about them roadside rocks.
you know…when life throws you a car that just won't move…you make volvoade!!!
KEEP ON KEEP'in ON with your great stories of the day layered with FUNNY that you are so good at. Safe Travels as your adventure continues.


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» Research & Guidelines
Screening advances that lead to early detection have been a major contributor to better survival. Some advances in this area include routine mammography for breast cancer; colonoscopy and fecal occult blood testing for colon cancer; and Pap smears for cervical and endometrial cancers. With colon and cervical cancer screening, doctors can often identify and remove pre-cancerous lesions toprevent cancer from developing.
Recently, a major clinical trial showed that CT scanning can reduce the risk of lung cancer in heavy smokers by catching more cases early. Research is also under way to develop effective screening approaches for ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, and other cancers.
2000–today
2000–today1950–19991900–19491850–1899
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Experts caution against unnecessary PSA screenings for prostate cancer
Debate continues on the value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening.
In May, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against PSA screening, concluding that it does little to reduce the number of deaths from prostate cancer and can lead to unnecessary biopsies and treatment.
Later that year, however, ASCO issues guidance recommending that physicians discuss the benefits and risks of PSA testing with their otherwise healthy male patients who have life expectancies of greater than 10 years. The guidance notes that PSA testing may still offer important benefits for this group of men, but that the risks outweigh the benefits for men with shorter life expectancies.
US Preventative Services Task Force
CT scanning reduces lung cancer deaths among heavy smokers
Results from a large clinical trial show that annual screening with low-dose spiral CT (LDCT) scans reduces the risk of lung cancer death by 20 percent, compared to annual chest X-rays, in current and former heavy smokers.
The National Lung Screening Trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, compared LDCT scanning to standard chest X-rays in this group of people at high risk for developing lung cancer. This finding marks the first-ever lung cancer screening approach that has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality. The debate about the appropriate use of LDCT screening for lung cancer among the general population, however, continues.
Cancer.Net; Expert Perspective from ASCO on the Results of the National Lung Screening Trial
Radiology 2011; 258(1)
N Engl J Med 2011; 365: 395-409
Men urged to discuss routine PSA testing with doctors
Three large, randomized trials provide conflicting results on the use of PSA screening and lead experts to question whether this screening method translates into improved survival and actually saves men's lives. Initial results from two of the trials indicate that PSA testing has a minimal effect on overall survival and leads to the diagnosis and treatment of slow-growing cancers that are unlikely to be life-threatening. The third study finds that PSA testing every two years among men age 60 and older reduces the risk of prostate cancer death by 40 percent. Given the conflicting evidence, leading medical societies urge men to discuss the risks and benefits of screening with their doctors.
Cancer.Net; Prostate Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention
N Engl J Med 2009; 360: 1310-19
Adequate bowel preparation essential for effective colonoscopy
Researchers show that proper bowel cleansing is essential to ensure the quality of results provided by routine colonoscopies. This cleansing includes adhering to a clear liquid diet and taking a bowel prep (involving a laxative or enema) the day before the procedure. Incomplete preparation is a fairly common problem, due to the dietary restrictions and the potential inconvenience involved.
Endoscopy 2009; 41(12): 1018-1025
Specialized CT scan improves bladder cancer detection
The so-called CT urograph emerges as an effective, non-invasive strategy for detecting new and recurring cancers. The test, which is done externally, evaluates both the upper and lower tracts of the bladder and nearby lymph nodes. CT urography can help determine which patients need more invasive diagnostic procedures, sparing those who do not.
Flat colon growths more likely to be cancerous than more obvious ones
While flat, or "non-polypoid," growths are the most difficult to detect during colonoscopy, researchers discover that they are more likely to progress to colon cancer than more easily-seen, cylinder-shaped polyps. Along with increased vigilance by gastroenterologists during the procedure, new techniques such as spray-on dyes may help to identify these growths.
JAMA 2008; 299(9): 1027-1035
Microscopic examination improves accuracy of skin cancer screening
A review of published studies finds that a procedure called dermoscopy – involving direct, microscopic examination of moles and skin lesions – is more accurate than a doctor's visual examination for identifying potential melanomas on the surface of the skin. The review emphasizes the importance of using dermoscopy, which has been available since the 1990s, to ensure that more cancers are detected at an early stage when they are most responsive to treatment.
Cancer.Net; Melanoma: Diagnosis
British Journal of Dermatology 2008; 159(3): 669-76
MRI screening recommended for women at high risk of breast cancer
Based on new studies demonstrating its effectiveness, the American Cancer Society releases guidelines recommending routine MRI screening for women at increased risk of developing breast cancer, in combination with standard mammography. MRI is more sensitive than mammography for finding breast lesions, particularly in women with dense breast tissue that is difficult to assess using traditional mammography. Routine MRI is not recommended for the general population of women (those not at increased risk), due to its high cost and the likelihood that it will detect abnormalities that are not cancerous.
Cancer.Net; Breast Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2007; 57(2): 75-89
Taking more time to perform colonoscopy increases screening accuracy
Researchers find that the more time a doctor takes to withdraw the scope from a patient during a colonoscopy, the more effective the test is at finding colon cancers and pre-cancerous polyps. The findings help physicians refine their use of the technique.
N Engl J Med 2006; 355: 2533-2541
Conventional colonoscopy established as optimal screening method
Two studies show that conventional colonoscopy is better able to detect colon cancer than other, less invasive screening techniques such as "virtual colonoscopy," barium enema or fecal DNA testing. Researchers demonstrate that colonoscopy detects 98 to 99 percent of tumors – about twice as many as virtual colonoscopy (the use of CT scanning to provide a three-dimensional image of the colon) or barium enema. Current medical guidelines state that colonoscopy is the superior colorectal cancer screening tool, but emphasize that some form of screening with any of these tests is better than going without screening.
Cancer.Net; Colonoscopy
Lancet 2005; 365(9456): 305–311
Digital mammography more accurate than standard mammography in younger women
A study of more than 42,000 women reports that digital mammography is more sensitive than traditional film mammography for women under age 50, who are more likely to have dense breast tissue, which is more difficult to assess. Digital mammography enables the radiologist to alter features such as brightness and contrast, improving the detection of abnormalities in breast tissue.
Cancer.Net; Mammography
Right-sided colon cancers present a challenge for colonoscopy
Researchers find that undergoing a colonoscopy every 10 years reduces the risk of cancer on the left side of the colon, but not on the right side. Subsequent studies confirm that right-sided colon cancers are more likely than those on the left to be missed during the screening procedure because it is harder to reach the right side of the colon and right-sided lesions may be flat and harder to detect.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2010; 102(2): 89–95
Gastroenterology 2004; 127(20): 452–456
Screening program for people at high-risk can detect potentially operable pancreatic tumors
Researchers begin using a combination of screening technologies – CT scan and endoscopic imaging – to screen for pancreatic tumors in patients with a strong family history or genetic predisposition to pancreatic cancer. The goal is to identify cancers at early stages so they can be removed surgically and are potentially curable. Because this screening program is expensive, involves invasive procedures, and has not yet been shown to be cost-effective, it is not appropriate for the general population.
Cancer.Net; Pancreatic Cancer: Diagnosis
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2004; 2(7): 606-21
Trial improves management of abnormal Pap test results
Ongoing results from a large clinical trial – called the ASCUS-LSIL Triage Study (ALTS) – provide important guidance on managing the mild abnormalities that often show up on Pap tests. These findings help doctors more accurately determine which women need further procedures, such as colposcopy (office procedure using a device that enables a physician to closely examine the cervix for abnormalities) and biopsy to detect pre-cancer or cancer, and which women can be spared from these procedures.
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006; 195(2): 341–348
NCI: ALTS Trial Findings
Major Milestones Against Cancer
Common Cancers
Targeted Drugs
/research-guidelines/quality-guidelines/guidelines
http://meetinglibrary.asco.org
/research-guidelines/abstract-submissions
Journal of Clinical OncologyJCO Oncology PracticeJCO Global OncologyJCO Clinical Cancer InformaticsJCO Precision Oncology
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Data LibraryResearch Survey PoolRequest Letters of SupportASCO Research & Statements
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/research-guidelines/clinical-trials
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Clinical Cancer Advances 2020State of Cancer Care in AmericaPast ReportsNational Cancer Opinion Survey
/research-guidelines/reports-studies
Forum Projects & ToolsForum Annual Meeting
/research-guidelines/research-community-forum


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Alexi Laiho Passes Away
Photo credit: Terhi Ylimäinen
What the hell 2021? You're already starting off bad just like last year. It's sadly been announced that the one and only Alexi Laiho of Children Of Bodom and Bodom After Midnight has passed away at the age of 41. The cause of death is unknown, but he has been suffering from long-term health issues during his final year.
His former Children Of Bodom bandmates posted on the band's still-active Facebook page: "More than 25 years of friendship. We lost a brother. The world lost a phenomenal song writer and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Memories and Alexi's music will live forever. Our thoughts are with Alexi's family during this difficult time. -Henkka, Janne and Jaska"
His current bandmates in Bodom After Midnight stated: "We are crushed by the sudden passing of our dear friend and band member. Words cannot describe this shock and the profound sadness that we feel."
Children Of Bodom disbanded at the end of 2019, and then Alexi and fellow COB bandmate Daniel Freyberg went on to form Bodom After Midnight, and they began working on a debut album with festival appearances booked for 2020, but those got cancelled due to the pandemic.
We in Metal Master Kingdom are just as shocked as everyone else, and we send our condolences to Alexi's family, friends and fans around the globe. R.I.P. Alexi (1979-2021)
Check out the interviews we got to do with Alexi in 2014 and 2017.


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Q: Is it possible to open a file that only works on a specific flash memory without flash? i had a presentation file named as "abc.exe" in the usb key and can only run with that usb key in it. I copied files just in case. Now usb key died and the presentation doesn't work. What can i do for this situation? Thanks..
I tried a few thing before usb key dead, which is;
-I reached the man who i bought this usb key but; he said that he can not do anything for that  except sell me another one :)
-Created a clone of my usb key(Didn't work)
-I looked for ways to overcome this situation.(Dead end)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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This wall hanging is one of the pieces I made for the City & Guilds Creative Studies Lacemaking Part 2 course which I completed in 1997. The brief was to design and make a hanging which could be either hung on a wall or in front of a small window.
The wall hanging, width 34.5 cm, height 63 cm
During the course I had also been studying the work of the textile designer Lucienne Day and this had inspired a wealth of ideas. Eventually, after working samples, I decided to concentrate on shape and texture rather than on colour in the lace.
Left: Detail showing raised tallies, spider over half stitch and area of half stitch in cloth stitch
Right: Detail showing raised tallies, overlaid petals, and two layers of half stitch
Although there are four repeats of the pattern in the hanging, it was actually worked in three strips which were joined to each other as the lace progressed. I divided the pricking into several sections and used a pillow with blocks that could be moved horizontally and vertically. The yarn was a linen and cotton mixture which I had previously used for weaving table mats. The initial planning for the piece was carried out at intervals over quite a long period but the final making took only two weeks of fairly concentrated but enjoyable work.
Working the first strip — the pairs left out at the right were incorporated into the second strip.
Working the second strip — part of the lace has been unpinned and blocks have been moved down and from left to right so that the working area is still central.
Working the final strip — again blocks have been moved down and across so that the working area is central. Extra blocks have been used at the left to support the finished lace.


XM review conducted by the team of Topforexbrokers.com for those investors want to open account with XM.com forex broker. In this review you will know about how to open a free XM forex demo account, minimum deposit, the XM trading platforms, spreads, bonus and deposit and withdrawal and commissions.
In 2009, the xm forex broker was established in the Republic of Cyprus by the name Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd. Headquarters in Limassol the broker is supervised and licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) as well as the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany (BaFin) and other regulatory agencies in the EU, all of which are known to execute strict regulatory rules on firms engaging in financial actions.
The xm broker (xm.com) was recognized by a group of interbank traders who needed to expand services provided in the forex community. The xm forex broker provides traders access to more commodities and CFDs, along with an extensive range of assets in forex markets, stock indices, energy assets and valuable metals.
The firm provides generally tight spreads on over 60 currency pairs for all trading accounts and fractional pip pricing so customers can relish tighter spreads and the most exact price quoting provided in the industry.
Depositors who select to open an xm trading account will have the profit of no hidden charges or commissions, no trade order rejections or requotes and over 99 percent of orders are implemented in less than 1 second.
The xm forex broker is presented for Macs as well as personal computers running Windows, iOS and OS and iPhone and Android mobile applications.
The xm.com broker is presented to customers around the world, comprising xm Malaysia, but does not presently accept traders who are established in Cuba, the United States, North Korea, Myanmar, Iran, Sudan or Syria.
The xm broker is presented in a large variety of languages, counting Spanish, English, German, Italian, French, Greek, Portuguese, Hungarian, Russian, Polish, Swedish, Thai, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Vietnamese and Turkish.
Subsequent the structure of its precursor xm Trading Point, the xm forex broker provides numerous XM Trading Platforms for usage by its customers that support stop, limit, market orders and trailing available from one trading account. These platforms comprise MT4, WebTrader and mobile apps for iPhone and Android mobile devices. The xm.com MAM Trader permits expert asset managers to supervise numerous trading accounts with unlimited usage of charts and Expert Guides.
The xm WebTrader permits depositors to trade in worldwide marketplaces without the essential to download any particular software. Xm.com WebTrader is well-matched with Macs and personal computers running Windows, as well as numerous mobile applications and provides traders a variety of valued tools counting no rejections or requotes, economic calendar, market analyses and streaming news feed to improve trading and form trading abilities.
You can prepare a free XM MT4 download and begin trading with xm.com Metatrader4 platform instantly after signup. The MT4 platform is the utmost popular forex broker in the world that provides a user approachable interface with a variety of features and tools for optimizing trading activities and education. The MT4 option is one required by numerous investors who want to use the prevalent platform in combination with others to maximize trading in worldwide markets.
The broker provides its platform in mobile applications for a variability of handheld electronic devices, comprising iPads, iPhones and Androids.
The xm.com MAM platform was intended for expert trading account managers who can usage the broker to supervise multiple customer trading accounts with unlimited usage of charts and Expert Guides.
Depositors can open numerous types of trading accounts with the xm forex broker that comprise xm Micro, Zero, Standard, Managed, Islamic and Demo Accounts. The xm.com broker executes a 5 dollars monthly fee for inactive trading accounts.
The xm.com Micro account was intended specially for traders who need low risk investing and necessitates a minimum original account deposit of only 5 dollars.
The xm.com Zero trading account provides depositors low spreads on 56 currency pairs and valuable metals with leverage up to 500:1.
The xm Standard Account is perfect for more knowledgeable traders and provides larger trading contracts and the similar benefits as Micro Accounts with a lowest account deposit of 2000 dollars.
For depositors who have little trading knowledge and no time to learn, the xm forex broker provides Managed Accounts that permit traders to trust on an expert Manager to supervise accounts and manage trading funds and trades.
As the xm.com broker is a worldwide trader, it provides Muslim traders the chance to open Islamic Accounts that usage Sharia principles for trading resources.
The xm.com broker provides valued Demo Accounts for customers to practice formulating, researching, tracking and placing trades in a virtual consequence. The XM Demo Account can be used for on condition that the trader needs and is equipped with 100,000 dollars in virtual funds for practice trading in a fake trading environment beforehand risking real money by dynamically trading in real marketplaces.
Following the forex business standard, the broker does not charge any XM Trading fees or commissions on trades but creates money by charging a spread on trades lead on its platform.
Depending on asset traded and account type, xm spreads start as small as 1 pip. Customers can select variable or fixed spreads and xm.com provides fractional pip valuing quoted to the 5th digit in place of 4 digits for more exact pricing.
The xm forex broker provides maximum leverage of 888:1, which is absolutely single to the industry.
The xm.com forex broker provides a 30 dollars no deposit bonus to traders opening novel accounts. The trading credit is mechanically applied to trading accounts and all returns earned can be simply withdrawn and there are no hidden conditions or fees.
The xm.com Loyalty Program is simply presented for a limited time and provides automatic instant bonuses up to 5000 dollars for traders who maximize trading actions.
Each month xm.com provides traders the chance to win 50,000 dollars and development to the annual Final Round of the Forex World Championship that provides 500,000dollars in cash prizes with no entry fees or risk. This contest comprises twelve rounds and 1,000,000 dollars in presented prizes, all of which prize money is withdraw-able from trading accounts.
The XM Malaysia and xm.com broker permit trading account deposits using a variation of methods that comprise bank electronic fund transfers (EFTs), credit cards, MoneyGram, Webmoney, Moneybookers, China UnionPay, iDeal, Western Union, Skrill, Neteller and Sofort.
Account withdrawals will be transacted by strict international financial rules executed to protect against crimes like money laundering and identity theft. Proper and present ID has to be maintained so as to speed up transactions and maximize withdrawal options. Withdrawal transactions are lead automatically 24/7 and equal day withdrawals are assured. There are no hidden commissions or fees for account transfers.
The xm Malaysia and xm.com forex broker provide numerous Personal Account Managers who speak a variation of languages and these services are presented with both live and Demo trading accounts that are available 24/5 through internet live chat, telephone or email.
For login to XM broker and to do XM Download you can visit the broker's website, After sign up you can check your email forlogin instructions and do XM login demo free of charge.
To sum up this XM Forex Broker Review, the experienced staff of professionals at xm.com broker are committed to quality customer support services and conducting all activities with the utmost integrity and transparency. The xm.com forex broker and its predecessor XM Trading Point have quickly ranked among the most trusted brokerages in the world as evidenced by favorable reviews submitted by multiple satisfied customers.
Traders who open xm Trading accounts (including Islamic Accounts) will enjoy tight spreads from 1 pip, unique flexible leverage of up to 888:1, no commission or hidden fees, no requotes, no rejection of orders (100% execution), automated trading (including phone trading), quick and easy withdrawals, 24/5 customer support services in a variety of languages, personal Account Managers and several promotional bonus opportunities.
Although the XM Broker doesn't offer many types of trading accounts and does not allow fund deposits and withdrawals using PayPal, which is one of the most popularly used online financial merchants in the world, xm forex broker is an excellent broker for all levels of traders and offers a variety of options on multiple financial assets in marketplaces around the world.
Feel free to share this XM Forex Review with anyone who may be interested using whatever social media accounts you maintain.
Visit Topforexbrokers.com often for the current news and developments in the international world of financial investments, as well as many trading platform reviews. For more information about XM forex broker you can visit XMforextrading.com as their team work delicately on XM.com review and you can find useful information about XM.com forex trading broker.


Mark D. Fulton, 44, of Owensboro died Monday February 4, 2019 at his home. Mark was born in Owensboro to Gail McCoy Fulton and the late Jerry Dwight Fulton. He was a member of Bible Baptist Church.
Survivors include his Mother-Gail McCoy Fulton of Owensboro; his brother-Robert (Susie) Fulton of Olaton; his sister-Jerrianna (Todd) Nix of Owensboro; his nieces-Alyson (Christian) Burgans and Bethany (Jared) Osborne; his nephews-Jake Fulton and Ethan Nix; his great-niece-Kennedy Richeson and his great-nephews-Chandler Buell and Oliver Richeson.


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Micrurus tener, commonly known as the Texas coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to the southern United States and northeastern and central Mexico. Five subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies, Micrurus tener tener, which is found in both the US and Mexico, and is also commonly known as the Texas coral snake. The species Micrurus tener was once considered to be a subspecies of the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius).

Geographic range

M. tener ranges from the southern United States south to northeastern and central Mexico. It inhabits the states of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, and the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Morelos.

Description
The Texas coral snake has the traditional coloration associated with coral snakes: black, yellow, and red rings. It is capable of growing to 48 in (122 cm) in total length (including tail), but most are closer to . Males are typically smaller than females. It has smooth dorsal scales, a rounded head, and the eyes have round pupils. Albinistic (lacking black pigment) and anerythristic (lacking red pigment) specimens have been found in the wild. "Pastel" (pink, translucent cream, and very light blue) coloration has been noted, and completely black (melanistic) specimens, are known. The Texas coral snake is somewhat larger (longer and stouter) than the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), and has a somewhat larger venom yield.

Behavior
All coral snakes are shy, secretive animals, typically nocturnal. They spend most of their time hiding in leaf litter, under logs. They can be seen crawling on the surface, after heavy rains, when the nighttime temperatures rise above .

When grabbed suddenly, or sometimes just when touched, they may thrash about, swing around, and bite. Sometimes they are calm, and then suddenly swing around and bite, for no apparent reason.

Diet
The primary diet of M. tener consists of other snakes, primarily earth snakes, and other small fossorial species. It is cannibalistic. It also occasionally eats small lizards, but the consumption of rodents by coral snakes is rare.

Reproduction
M. tener is oviparous.

Mimicry
Other nonvenomous snakes resemble the Texas coral snake as a form of Batesian mimicry. In the United States only, all three species of venomous coral snakes (Micruroides euryxanthus, Micrurus fulvius, and Micrurus tener) can be identified by the red rings contacting the yellow rings. A common mnemonic device is "red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack".

Venom

Texas coral snake venom is a powerful neurotoxin, causing neuromuscular dysfunction. Until 2006, no deaths from coral snake bites had been reported since the 1970s in the United States; however, rare, fatal bites have occurred, according to several scientific journals in the 1980s and 1990s.

Because of the low profits, the production of coral snake antivenin has been discontinued for several years. Prior to the availability of antivenin, the fatality rate of coral snake envenomations has been estimated at 10%, and death was primarily due to respiratory or cardiovascular failure as a result of paralysis induced by the neurotoxic venom.

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer, produced antivenin for the eastern coral snake, which can also be used for treatment of envenomation by the Texas coral snake. However, the last lot produced (Lot L67530) has an expiration date of January 31, 2020.  Pfizer indicates that antivenom is available and one source states that production has resumed.

A coral snake (genus Micrurus) is proteroglyphous, meaning it has a pair of deeply grooved, semihollow, chisel-shaped, fixed fangs in the front of its upper jaw, through which the venom is injected and encouraged via a chewing motion. Coral snakes do not necessarily need to bite and hold on for a brief time to deliver a significant amount of venom. They expel venom quickly during extraction into collection media in the lab. Severe envenomations have occurred after a quick bite. Many bites from coral snakes do not inject any venom at all (known as a dry bite).  A bite from any coral snake should be considered an extremely serious medical emergency, and medical treatment should be sought immediately, because symptoms of envenomation are known to sometimes delay manifestation for as long as 24 hours, but once present, often progress very rapidly.

Subspecies
The five recognized subspecies of M. tener are:
M. t. tener
M. t.  fitzingeri
M. t.  maculatus
M. t. microgalbineus
M. t.  tamaulipensis

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Micrurus.

M. t.  tener is found in both the U.S. and Mexico, whereas the other four subspecies are endemic to Mexico.

Etymology
The subspecific name, fitzingeri, is in honor of Austrian herpetologist Leopold Fitzinger.

Taxonomy
The Texas coral snake was once considered a subspecies of the eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius, but more recent research has determined that it has enough morphological differences to be considered its own species.

References

Further reading
Baird SF, Girard C (1853). Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpentes. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Elaps tenere, new species, pp. 22–23).
Brown BC, Smith HM (1942). "A New Subspecies of Mexican Coral Snake". Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 55: 63–65. (Micrurus fitzingeri microgalbineus, new subspecies).
Hubbs, Brian; O'Connor, Brendan (2012) A Guide to the Rattlesnakes and other Venomous Serpents of the United States. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 129 pp. . (Micrurus tener tener, pp. 89–90).
Jan [G] (1858). "Plan d'une Iconographie descriptive des Ophidiens et Description sommaire de nouvelles espèces de Serpents ". Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliquée, Paris, Series 2, 10: 438–449, 514–527. (Elaps fitzingeri, new species, p. 521). (in French).
Roze JA (1967). "A Check List of the New World Venomous Coral Snakes (Elapidae), with Descriptions of New Forms". American Museum Novitates (2287): 1-60. (Micrurus fulvius maculatus, new subspecies, pp. 27–28, Figure 10).
Schmidt, Karl P.; Davis, D. Dwight (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Micrurus fulvius tenere, pp. 274–276).

External links
eMedicine: Coral Snake Envenomations
Houston Herp: Texas Coral Snake

tener
Reptiles described in 1853
Snakes of North America
Reptiles of the United States
Fauna of the Southeastern United States
Reptiles of Mexico

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Digital Myth: The Myth of Network Neutrality
29 November 2016 |	Per Strömbäck, editor Netopia
Neutrality exists only in theory – and we're better off like that.
Any analysis of the impact of digital technology on our society starts with technology rather than society. It is built into the question: technology first, impact later. With this perspective, it may appear as if technology evolves in a vacuum, only to be released later and applied to the normal world. This attributes a lot of influence to technology: given the right circumstances, technology can be expected to create jobs and growth, but also new forms of culture and freedom for the oppressed. Or it could drive us toward a surveillance state, middle-class jobs lost to robots and hyper-capitalism with companies more powerful than states. Whether you ask a tech-head or a technophobe, the basic assumption is the same: technology impacts society.
The most recent example is the topic of network neutrality, which has been in the focus of policy-making in many jurisdictions in recent years. Again depending on who you ask, network neutrality is either the solution to freedom and democracy online, or the end of innovation and network investment. Either the Internet will end up with slow and fast lanes, further enforcing the winner-takes-all dynamics of the network economy, making bigger companies stronger and smaller ones weaker, or network neutrality regulation will stand in the way of digital life-and-death matters such as road safety management, connected or self-driving cars, remote surgery and other telemedicine applications.
If you thought network neutrality would promote competition, democratization and pluralism, think again. It's a myth!
Network neutrality is based on the idea that infrastructure is independent from content. That may have been the case with the telephone networks of the twentieth century (often state-owned) and the cables distributing television. However, today we see content and infrastructure merging. Internet services make operating systems for mobile phones, invest in data centres and even offer high-speed cable. Device manufacturers operate software marketplaces where third party developers can only offer apps tailored to its specific hardware. Internet access providers develop content services and shape traffic to protect their business models. The celebrated end-to-end structure of the network is challenged by the walled gardens of apps and the expanding domains of cloud giants. And the network technology itself changes, with content delivery networks storing popular parts of the Internet's content close to the user rather than on the original server. In contrast to this trend of centralization, there is the opposing trend of fragmentation: public Wi-Fi hotspots connecting users without involvement of telecoms operators. The machine-to-machine communication of the so-called internet of things which often use different communications channels than the regular TCP/IP-standard internet. Thumb drives with storage capacities far beyond the day-to-day needs of average users allow for swapping files in 'meatspace', the so-called 'sneakernet'. And as increasing amounts of internet content is locked away behind passwords on the deep web, there is no longer one unified internet, but many. Service providers build their own infrastructure. Facebook's 'Internet.org' is about bringing free 'basic internet' access to least developed countries. That's right, you get access to some parts of the Internet without paying and that generously includes Facebook's own service, but if you want the rest, there will be charges. Facebook experiments with new connectivity technologies like satellites, lasers and high-altitude long-endurance planes in order to make affordable Facebo— I mean, internet access available in faraway places. Google's 'Project Loon' has a similar scope, but using high-altitude balloons. This is the extreme vertical (no pun intended) integration of content, services, infrastructure, subscription offers and monetization. In such a complex landscape, is a simple principle like network neutrality relevant for regulating technology?
Dogmatic network neutrality is sometimes called 'packet fundamentalism', staying true to the idea that every packet is created equal. Its followers must make some compromises to deal with harmful code, spam and perhaps child pornography, so the slide down the slippery slope is inevitable. But attend any internet conference and you will find that packet fundamentalism is still the norm, only balanced with some necessary exceptions. The irony is that packet fundamentalism sows the seeds of its own downfall. If we take it literally that every packet should be treated equal, the carriers cannot manage traffic to make sure lag-sensitive things like video streams and telephone calls travel well while delaying less sensitive content like email or file transfer. If there's a bottleneck, it hits every packet equally. Your call quality will suffer and important signals like live medical information can be unnecessarily delayed. This is all well known from the case the telecoms have been trying to make in the net neutrality debate, but looking deeper, what about signals over distance? Let's say I'm interested in vintage Americana concert videos but all the servers that carry that kind of content are located across the Atlantic from Europe. With packet fundamentalism, the risk is great that the video stream will be very bad and there's no way around it. But bigger players with more commercial content can easily set up a server close to my location and won't have to worry too much about crowded transatlantic cables. Or perhaps those videos can be uploaded to The One Global Video Service, which of course hosts local servers, which would also fix the problem.
See how the grass-roots theory of packet neutrality in fact promotes centralization and supports the dominant players' agendas? If you thought network neutrality would promote competition, democratization and pluralism, think again. It's a myth! Much better to have transparent rules that intermediaries must adhere to.
Digital Myths is a series of posts published from the book 21 Digital Myths, Reality Distortion Antidote where Netopia editor Per Strömbäck takes a closer look at some of the concepts that have shaped the way we think, talk and make decisions about digital technology and the internet.
Digital Myth: Europe Has Failed to Create Successful Digital Companies Digital Myth: Permission-less Innovation Made the Internet Great Internet of Things – Blueprint for Action Digital Myth: Internet Brings Democracy
Digital Myths #19: The Myth of Freedom of Speech »
Digital Myth: The Internet Will Save News »
Digital Myth: Society Can't Keep Up with Technology »
Digital Myth: The Myth of the Business Model »
Digital Myth: The Myth of Network Neutrality »
Digital Myth: Internet Brings Democracy »
Digital Myth: Open Is Always Better »
Digital Myth: Privacy Through Anonymity »
Digital Myth: Permission-less Innovation Made the Internet Great »
Digital Myth: Europe Has Failed to Create Successful Digital Companies »
Digital Myth: Competition is Only One Click Away »
Digital Myth: Disruption through Technology »
Digital Myth: Freedom of Data as Freedom of Expression »
Digital Myth: Automation kills more jobs than it creates »
Digital Myth: Internet Providers Are Like the Post Office »
Digital Myth: Keep the Internet Open »
Digital Myth: Digitalization is a Force of Nature »
Digital Myth: You Can't Stop New Technology »
Digital Myth: Information Wants to Be Free »


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Saturday Forum
VDARE.com Reader
04/24/09 - A Pennsylvania Reader Says That, If We Must Have "Comprehensive Immigration Reform", Let's Put First Things First
A North Carolina Reader Says Obama's New Policy Toward Cuba Means More Chain Migration; etc.
From: J. Paige Straley (e-mail him)
I recently traveled to Miami and met with a Cuban family, spending an entire weekend enjoying their hospitality.
Most VDARE.COM readers understand that whites have largely been displaced from Miami and that it now has a pronounced Latin flavor. In fact, Americans can get a hint of their future by visiting Miami.
My Cuban hosts were nice, family-oriented people.
I asked the father, who came to America in 1969 and is now a citizen, if he would go back to Cuba if the country would repatriate its emigrants.
"No," he said, and neither would any of the other Cuban immigrants he knows. He hates the Castro regime and is keen to bring more Cubans to America, especially his extended family. Though his children are more Americanized, they, too, identify as Cuban. [Exiles Want to Expand U.S. Cuba Relations, by Damien Cave, New York Times, April 8, 2009]
President Obama wants to remove travel restrictions to Cuba and ease the regulations that govern remittances. Will we soon see the push for Cuban "family re-unification"? Bet on it!
Whether more liberal policies toward Cuba will displace the few whites that remain in South Florida is speculation. But it seems highly probable given Cubans' strong ethnic identity and provenance.
Previous letters from Straley and his column about Peter Brimelow's visit to Davidson College are archived here.
[VDARE.com note: Many Castro-era refugees from Cuba are whiter (see pictures) than the average Hispanic, being from Cuba's productive class (or if you're a Communist, from Cuba's reactionary bourgeois oppressor class) which throughout Latin America is mostly white. Cuba itself is 65 percent white. So it isn't whites who are being displaced by Cubans, it's Americans.
However, in the absence of a sudden Communist revolution, emigrants tend to not be from the wealthy, productive classes, who are generally happy where they are. They tend to be from the poorer classes of poor countries, which means that if everyone was able to leave Cuba and come to the United States, the new immigrants wouldn't start businesses, they'd go on welfare.]
[PermaLink] [Top] [Letters Home]
A Reader Who Fled Texas and Arizona Shares Details About Frightening Ride On Mexican Bus
From: Alec Chapa (e-mail him)
Re: Allan Wall's Column: More Hypocrisy: How Mexico Treats Its Own Illegal Immigrants
Like Wall, I lived and worked in Mexico for several years. I studied at one of its universities so my Spanish is fluent. And I traveled frequently through out the region, often into Central America as well.
One time I crossed the border from Guatemala to return to Mexico City by bus, a long 24-hour haul. We left the border city about 5 p.m., after which most of us dozed off.
About 1 a.m. we woke up to find the bus parked alongside an isolated road in the mountains, and someone who spoke with authority boarded asking to see our documents. We couldn't make him out in the dark but he had a small flashlight that he used to read passenger passports.
As soon as he got to the rear, he ordered everyone out except my seatmate, the only Mexican citizen on board.
We were then herded into a small shack, again with poor lighting, but enough for me to see that the "official" and his companions wore Mexican immigration service uniforms. I relaxed, thinking that at least this is not a bandit gang or an army shakedown that sometimes occurs at checkpoints on isolated roads.
He collected our passports, then dumped them in a pile on a table separating them by nation—Salvadoran in one stack, Honduran in another, etc. Then he noticed my American passport that he put it by itself.
Finally, the immigration agent demanded that we must all pay $20 (yes, dollars, the currency of my country, not his!) before we could re-board the bus and continue.
One of the Central Americans had enough courage to say that we had visas to enter Mexico legally, and had already paid all the necessary fees and should therefore not have to pay anything additional, especially not at an arbitrary inland checkpoint.
The immigration officer then stated: "Either you pay or the bus goes on without you".
He then began calling out names, collecting $20 and letting people get back on.
As I watched this blatant extortion and corruption, I told myself: "You jerk, if you think you'll get $20 from me I promise you when I get to Mexico City I'm going to create as much noise as I possibly can, will call every wire service, news agency, television station, consulate and embassy, and just make myself a real pest".
Later, I confirmed with my fellow passengers that they all, indeed, did pay. Imagine how much money is extracted from travelers: perhaps 40 or more on each bus; $20 times 40 is $800 from a single busload, a tidy sum.
And that's just one of dozens of buses that pass that route daily.
It's easy for Central Americans to get visas to visit Mexico. The government assumes that they will not stay in Mexico but will continue to the US border to cross illegally.
So Mexican officials, officially and not-so-officially, aid in this traffic to extract as much cash as they can, first by selling the visas and then, once inside Mexico, demanding more money.
To be blunt, Mexicans have a predatory culture and are very un-neighborly neighbors, not only in their own country among each other but even more so as the nation next door to America.
Most Mexicans enter any relationship, whether it's as friend, neighbor, spouse or co-worker, looking to be the dominant entity.
These are people you and I would not choose to live near if we could avoid it. But unfortunately, we are stuck with Mexico. The best we can do is to try to keep them on their side of the border. Sadly, this seemingly simple task is increasingly more difficult because of America's ongoing problem—our national leaders who are in denial about the real Mexico.
Chapa lives on a South Sea island, thousands of miles away from immigration headaches.
A Texas Marine Knows All About "Professional Minorities"
Steve Sailer's Blog: Insensitivity Toward Immigrants Caused Binghamton Massacre
I'm well aware of what my fellow Marines refer to as "professional minorities"— the people who couldn't care less about ethnic identity until there's something to be gained by it.
Jiverly Wong aka Jiverly Voong, the Binghamton assassin, was 42-years-old. No doubt Voong came to America as a child with all the sponge-like ability to learn that young children possess. Yet, we're expected to believe, according to mainstream media accounts, that his command of English was so poor that he was held up to ridicule?
If that's true, doesn't it indicate abject laziness on his part by refusing to learn English, the national language of the country he came to?
I often wonder about just how destitute some refugees are. Certainly the press plays that angle up to the hilt.
During the period when the Southeast Asian refugees were resettled in America, my mother worked in a drycleaners to pay my brother's college tuition.
Repeatedly, my mother found solid gold jewelry and coins left in their pockets. On one occasion, she found a bank savings passbook, with over $30,000 on account. Vietnamese women would bring their lingerie for dry cleaning—and this was before Victoria's Secret took the underwear world over through its catalogue and retail store sales.
I know another Marine born in the U.S. to foreign-born parents. But his family didn't feel the need to assimilate. So to this day, his speech
and written English is on a third grade level.
It isn't just the newcomers who play the victim card. There are also plenty of "old-timers" doing it.
Leverett's low opinion about fellow Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his disingenuous immigration views is archived here. Previous letters she wrote about Mychal Bell, multiculturalism gone mad at the Denver Public Library, a local Hispanic school teacher busted for drugs, Somalis who play on your sympathies and California's Octomom are here, here, here, here and here.


SPIbelt is the Original Small Personal Item belt, designed for a multitude of uses and used by many runners and marathoners. SPIbelt makes numerous different versions; the basic belt, the inner pocket belt, a waterproof belt, a water resistant belt, the energy belt, and even a belt for diabetics that has room for an insulin pump. We chose the Energy Belt with the water resistant pouch. The SPIbelt Energy Belt retails for 21.95. We received ours as a promotional sample directly from SPIbelt.
These belts are functional and simple. The belt resembles the number belt that many triathletes use. Attached to this basic belt are six elastic loops for holding energy gels and an expandable pocket to hold keys or other personal items. The actual belt is adjustable and should fit any size waist. The Energy Belt also has a small pouch in the center, designed to hold keys, your phone, or other small items.
Unfortunately, we have not competed in a race since receiving this sample, so all of our testing was done during our marathon training runs. We tested the SPIbelt Energy Belt on a variety of runs ranging from 3 to 8 miles. At the start of our testing, we only filled two of the six energy gel slots to get the feel for the belt, but eventually tested the belt with all 6 gels in place. We also tried a number of different items in the pouch, ranging from toilet paper ( to get a sense of how 'water resistant' the pouch is) to our HTC EVO phone.
During our first run, we dropped one of the gels, a Honey Stinger Energy Gel. We think the cause was not adjusting the gel before taking off on the run. Our advice here is to squeeze the gel once you get it in the loop, making the top larger than the bottom. This prevented us losing any additional gels as our testing continued. It also made the gels a bit easier to retrieve during the run if we pulled them up through the loop.
The water resistant pouch is pretty effective. On one of our hotter runs, we filled the pouch with toilet paper to see how damp things actually got inside. After a 5.5 mile run, the TP was a bit damp, but not wet and still mostly usable. During later tests, we noticed a little wetness on our HTC EVO and drivers license, but nothing damaging. If you're truly worried about moisture, SPIbelt makes a version that is totally waterproof. We generally take a small ziplock on runs where we worry about rain, so that's also an alternative.
What surprised us about the pouch was not the water resistance, but the size. Out of the package, the pouch looks tiny. We were very shocked that it could hold our HTV EVO and the keyfob to our car. The pouch was very full, but closed without problem. At the end of the day, we chose not to use the pouch to carry our phone; we use the GPS to track our runs and also for music and the pouch didn't let us control the phone. If you don't use your phone for these things, the pouch is capable of holding all you need for a long run.
With the HTC EVO in the pouch, we noticed a bit of bounce that ended once we tightened the belt. With keys, license, debit cards, etc., we didn't experience any bouncing.
Based on our testing, this is a well made product that delivers on it's claims. It's bounce free, even with the largest objects, water resistant, and adjustable. We did lose a gel during our testing, but it only happened once, so the gel loops appear to work well. The SPIbelt Energy Belt is a simple and effective way to carry your ID, keys, and even your phone on runs without worrying about having your hands full. On race day, SPIbelt claims you can squeeze 5 gels into the pouch, plus the 6 on the belt. Eleven gels should be plenty for even a full marathon.
We continue to use the SPIbelt when possible and will report back if we have anything to add about durability and long-term performance. Based on our testing, we have no hesitation recommending the SPIbelt Energy Belt to runners and marathoners looking for a simple way to carry their personal effects.


text:
Vacca may refer to:

Vacca (surname)
Vacca (grammarian), 6th Century grammarian
Vacca (rapper) (born 1979), Italian rapper
Lago della Vacca, lake in Lombardy, Italy
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency in Victoria, Australia


text:
class NameGen {
 public:
  NameGen() { }

  // Tells namegen to choose its own version number for the created name
  static constexpr unsigned ChooseVer = 0xffffffff;

  // For creating useful type, inst and block names.
  std::string namegen(const std::string &tag, unsigned expl = ChooseVer) {
    auto it = nametags_.find(tag);
    unsigned count = 0;
    if (it != nametags_.end())
      count = it->second + 1;
    if (expl != ChooseVer)
      count = expl;
    std::stringstream ss;
    ss << tag << "." << count;
    if (expl == ChooseVer)
      nametags_[tag] = count;
    return ss.str();
  }

  NameGen *nameTags() {
    return const_cast<NameGen*>(this);
  }

 private:
  // Key is tag (ex: "add") and val is counter to uniquify.
  std::unordered_map<std::string, unsigned> nametags_;
};

#endif // LLVMGOFRONTEND_TYPEMANAGER_H

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
20 October 2018 Venue Boundary Park Attendance
MATCH PREVIEW: Oldham Athletic vs. Port Vale
Oldham Athletic return to Boundary Park after the International break as they take on Port Vale in the Sky Bet League Two fixture (Kick off 3pm).
Frankie Bunn's men come into the game off the back of an impressive 1-4 win away at Bradford City in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Despite that win, Bunn knows that his team must turn around the home form if Latics are to be challenging up at the top of the table.
"I thought it was a very good performance at Bradford, scoring four games away from home is something we want to try and replicate here." He said.
"There's been a lot of goals scored at Boundary Park but unfortunately we've conceded a few, it's something we're looking to build on and improve upon.
"I've said it before, we're not the finished article yet, but we try to move forward and be positive in everything we do."
Latics have no new fresh injury concerns other than Ousmane Fane who is still recovering from his problem he picked up in pre-season.
The visitors come into the game off the back of a 2-6 home defeat to league leaders Lincoln City last Saturday.
Neil Aspin's men currently sit in 16th place in the table, three points behind Oldham, but they have also lost their last three league fixtures along with a win in the Checkatrade Trophy over Middlesbrough U21s.
The Valiants could be without Captain and star striker Tom Pope who missed the defeat to Lincoln with an ankle injury.
They will also be without the injured Scott Quigley and the suspended Ricky Miller.
However, young defender James Gibbons played 45 minutes in their Checkatrade Trophy match win over Middlesbrough U21s after his recent injury problems.
The last five meetings between the sides have finished in a draw with the latest coming in August 2017 in the Football League Trophy which finished 0-0.
Our last win against Port Vale came in 2015 after a Mike Jones goal secured a 0-1 win for Latics.
The last victory at Boundary Park came back in 2013 as Oldham ran out 3-1 winners thanks to an Adam Rooney double and a James Dayton strike.
Oldham Athletic are priced at 19/20 to claim the three points against Port Vale.
Mike Leyland and Roy Butterworth will be on commentary on iFollow Latics for supporters who cannot make the game.
To subscribe to the iFollow Latics click this link.
MATCH OFFICIALS: Oldham Athletic vs. Port Vale
Peter Wright will be the man in charge of Saturday afternoon's Sky Bet League Two match against Port Vale at Boundary Park (3pm).
MATCH REPORT: Latics Fall To Narrow Defeat At Home To Port Vale
A Tom Pope penalty was enough to see Oldham Athletic fall to a narrow 0-1 defeat at home to Port Vale, after Peter Clarke was adjudged to have fouled Luke Hannant.
Latics almost made the perfect start as Rob Hunt got down the left-hand side and put in a dangerous cross which was just inches away from Callum Lang sliding in.
The visitors themselves had an opportunity to score as a Leon Legge long throw wasn't dealt with by Oldham and Nathan Smith forced Daniel Iversen into a fine save after the Danish goalkeeper tipped the effort onto the crossbar.
Lang then cut inside from the left and unleashed an effort towards goal which just went over the bar, before Tom Conlon curled a freekick wide for Port Vale.
Moments later Dan Gardner almost set Boundary Park alight after the ball sat up nicely for a sweetly struck volley from around 30 yards out, but Scott Brown was able to push the venomous effort away.
Port Vale took the lead from a dubious penalty decision as Clarke seemed to step across Hannant to shield the box out of play and referee Peter Wright pointed to the spot to the amazement of the Latics faithful.
Pope stepped up and converted the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner, giving Iversen no chance.
Gardner fired another shot wide until a controversial moment occurred as the game approached half time.
Jose Baxter sent Lang through on goal and he was taken out by Mitchell Clark inside the penalty area, but referee Wright waved away the claims with the incident showing similarities of the penalty he gave to Port Vale.
Latics were almost level minutes into the second half as substitute Gevaro Nepomuceno put in a corner which was diverted onto his own crossbar by Connell Rawlinson.
Latics kept the ball alive and Gardner drove an effort just over the bar.
The visitors were putting in an organised defensive performance as Latics were having to efforts from distance and Baxter sliced one of them efforts wide of the goal.
Nepomuceno got down the left-hand side and crossed into Clarke, who had found himself in the box, but the Oldham Captain put his left footed shot just wide.
Latics had another penalty shout as a Baxter freekick came in, Theo Vassell seemed to have his hands all over George Edmundson, but again referee Wright waved the claims away.
Frankie Bunn's side couldn't force an equaliser as they will look to bounce back at home to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening.
Attendance 4323 (449 Away)
Iversen, Hamer, Clarke ©, Edmundson, Hunt, Branger-Engone (Nepomuceno 45'), Lyden (Benteke 70'), Gardner, Lang, Baxter, O'Grady
Brown, Joyce, Legge, Pope ©, Hannant (Dodds 81'), Rawlinson, Smith, Vassell, Conlon, Clark (Gibbons 84'), Whitfield (Kanu 75')
Don't Miss Latics Back At Boundary Park This Weekend
Oldham Athletic are back at Boundary Park this Saturday after the recent International break.
Latics host Neil Aspin's Port Vale for the Sky Bet League Two fixture on Saturday, October 20, 3pm kick off.
Frankie Bunn's side will be aiming to build on the impressive 1-4 win over Bradford City in the Checkatrade Trophy.
So far this season attendances are up, and the club would like to thank fans for their continued backing of the team.
Adult supporters can purchase a ticket in advance for as little as £16.
There is also plenty going on in the Oldham Athletic Community Trust Family Stand for people to bring their children to make a day of it.
The Junior Fan zone (located at the back of the the OACT Family Stand) will once again be open offering supporters the opportunity to take part indoor activities with the brand new FIFA 19 available amongst the activities, in addition there will be the usual competitions and games to take part in.
Families can make a day of it at Boundary Park for £42 (two adults and two under 12s).
Oldham Athletic urge supporters to purchase their tickets in advance to avoid paying extra on the day.
Ticket prices are as follows:
George Hill Main Stand (Upper and Lower), the Jimmy Frizzell stand and The Joe Royle Stand:
Advance Price
Matchday Price
OACT Family Stand:
Concessions include: Student, U21 and Over 65 with the relevant ID.
Disabled supporters meeting the requirements set out in the Disability Policy pay their age category and receive a free carer.
Match tickets are available from the club's ticket office or online here.
For more information, please call 0161 785 5150 or email supporter.services@oldhamathletic.co.uk.
Oldham v Port Vale - Extended Highlights
Oldham v Port Vale - Highlights


text:
Sorry, But the American Flag is Not Directly Related to the Banner of Christ
By Michael Brown Published on December 23, 2020 •
It is one thing to be a patriot, even a Christian patriot. It is another thing to conflate the American flag with the banner of Christ. Yet that is what General Michael Flynn did in a recent editorial.
Writing for the UncoverDC website, Flynn opined, "The battle we are engaged in cannot be fought with only human weapons: it requires the intervention of God because in a war against the forces of Evil, only the Lord can obtain the victory. And as American citizens, we must refuse to go to the funeral of our own independence."
Flynn is Right in Several Ways
Speaking in broad terms (rather than in the specific context of the 2020 elections), I second Flynn's sentiments. The ultimate battle for the soul of our nation is a spiritual and moral battle, not simply a political battle. And we can only see lasting, positive change with the help of the Lord. Amen to that.
And certainly, this is no time for passivity or cowardice. Once again, I concur.
Flynn continued, "We the people are proud to proclaim that the United States of America is 'One Nation under God' — in this public profession of faith in God, we recognize his Lordship over our country, and we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for. In scripture through the strength and commitment of Matthew, he said, 'Whoever is not with Me is against Me'."
But was Jesus, as quoted in Matthew, actually saying that the left was against Him and the right was for Him? Isn't that a massive oversimplification, to say the least? And does the fact that we recognize the Lordship of Jesus over all of life mean that we can require others to do the same?
Recognize the Vast Difference Between the Banner of Our Lord and the Flag of Our Country
The biggest concern, however, is Flynn's statement that "we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for" (sic).
How, pray tell, is the banner of Christ directly connected to the American flag? And did the countless Americans who fought in our wars all fight under the banner of Christ?
We are certainly deeply indebted to those who risked their lives (or lost their lives) fighting for our freedom. And every American should be grateful to our veterans (and their families) for their service. That is not in question, and that is a healthy part of our patriotism.
That is the type of mindset that sees the battle for the 2020 elections as a battle for the gospel, as if the anti-Trump forces are all anti-Jesus and the pro-Trump forces all pro-Jesus.
We should also deeply appreciate the incredible opportunities we have here in America, a country unlike any that came before it in many significant ways.
We can also recognize the important role that the Bible played in the founding of our country.
But all that is a far cry from viewing America as a truly Christian nation or conflating the cross with the flag.
Rather, that is the type of Christian nationalism that can be so dangerous, the kind that non-Christians (or, even simply non-fundamentalist Christians) find so concerning.
That is the type of rhetoric that can lead to calls for a theocracy, something that I want no part of until Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom.
Yes, Our Loyalty is to Truth
Flynn said, "Our protest, our denunciation of electoral fraud, is not only motivated by the fact that we are supporting Donald J. Trump as a candidate: it is above all a battle for justice and truth, which goes far beyond membership in a party or voting for a candidate."
Please Support The Stream: Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Again, I can agree with those sentiments. If the election was stolen, that would be a travesty of justice, and that should be of concern to atheists and theists, to Christians and Muslims, to agnostics and believers. We should all want justice and truth.
But as many others have emphasized, patriotism is not the same as loyalty to the kingdom of God, and we confuse the two concepts to our own harm.
Do We See the Left as Deeply Sinful and Ourselves as Mostly Free of Sin?
There is also a subtle self-righteousness that infuses this "us" against "them" mentality, as if the sins of the left are heinous and the sins of the right quite trivial. As if the left's hatred is vile and ours is justified. As if God overlooks the mountain of sin in the church, from sexual scandals to greed, and from gossip to failure to love our neighbor, because the only sin that matters is abortion. As if electoral fraud completely outweighed deception from the pulpit and slander in the pew.
Almost 2,000 years ago, Peter wrote that "it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17) That is a sobering thought. Divine judgment starts with us, the believers.
Don't Equate True American-ness With True Christianity
Austin Cline, himself a secular humanist, claimed that "German Christians supported the Nazis because they believed that Adolf Hitler was a gift to the German people from God. German Christianity was a divinely sanctioned religious movement which combined Christian doctrine and German character in a unique and desirable manner: True Christianity was German and True German-ness was Christian."
While Cline paints with too broad a brush, and while America is far from Nazi Germany and Trump is far from Hitler, the parallels remain striking and concerning.
He added, "Christian churches were willing to tolerate widespread violence against Jews, military rearmament, invasions of foreign nations, banning labor unions, imprisonment of political dissenters, detention of people who had committed no crimes, sterilization of the handicapped, etc. This includes the Confessing Church. Why? Hitler was seen as someone restoring traditional values and morality to Germany."
Again, Trump is not Hitler and we who voted for him are neither Nazis nor supporters of Nazism. But to the extent that we think that true American-ness equals true Christianity, we make a serious mistake. And to the extent we wrap the cross in the American flag, we degrade the gospel.
By all means, then, let us love our country and serve our country and pray for our country. But let us not confuse America with the kingdom of God. Many will be hurt if we make this mistake.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
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Federal Departments have been the primary organizational unit within the Executive Branch of government since the inception of the United States. The Department of State, War and the Treasury were all created with the first years of our nation. Federal Departments within the United States are equivalent to ministries in other nations.
Today the majority of federal civilian employees are employed by one of the nation's 15 federal departments. Positions related to the Legislative and Judicial Branches of government are not within any department and rather fall under independent agencies and organizations within the federal government.
Throughout our history, departments have been created, restructured and dissolved as the needs of the nation change. Each department works to develop regulations, implement policy and institute programs that advance its objective. Today we have departments dedicated to everything from Education, Energy and Commerce to Defense, Homeland Security and Veteran's Affairs. The less-known Department of the Interior is often referred to as the Department of Everything Else.
Combined these departments employee over 4 million Americans who are paid on the General Schedule (GS), Senior Executive Service (SES) Schedule, Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Schedule or the Federal Wage System (FWS). The largest is the Department of Defense (DoD) which single-handedly employs over 3 million Americans, not including active duty military personnel. The DoD is the single largest employer in the world.