text:
\section*{Acknowledgements}

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIGMS/P20GM109090), the National Science Foundation (CNS2016714), and the University of Nebraska Collaboration Initiative.

\bibliographystyle{IEEEtran}

\section{Introduction}
\label{sec:intro}

A number of clinical populations experience difficulty in controlling gait during locomotion, and such difficulties increase the risk of falling. Hence, there is a strong interest in developing easy-to-use technology to improve gait, and ultimately, prevent falls. In recent years, a number of researchers and clinicians have noted the benefit of using metronomes to improve the control of human gait in cases of aging and neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's Disease~\cite{cubo2004short,vaz2020gait}. Similar improvements have been observed in athletic training, where the effect of metronomic training has been suggested to exhibit a general effect on motor coordination.  Hence, the use of metronomes shows great promise in these clinical and exercise science settings~\cite{kim2019effects}. An issue, though, is that those studies have largely used isochronous interbeat intervals for training and rehabilitation. An alternative approach is the use of irregular metronomes based on the statistical regularities observed in gait patterns of young, healthy people~\cite{hunt2014influence,kaipust2013gait}. Results from our research team suggest that this alternative approach may be effective in restoring healthy gait patterns in older adults~\cite{vaz2020gait,kaipust2013gait}.

The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, we present a laboratory study that employs irregular metronomes within the context of mechanical perturbations to gait. Second, we discuss our ongoing work re-thinking these metronomes as devices with advanced networking capabilities, enhanced with immersive technologies, such as Augmented Reality. Our paper is organized as follows. In Section~\ref{sec:relwork}, we give a brief background and discuss related work, while in Section~\ref{sec:experiments}, we present our methodology. In Section~\ref{sec:results}, we present our evaluation and, in Section~\ref{sec:nextgen}, we discuss directions on developing the next-generation of network-capable metronomes. Finally, in Section~\ref{sec:conclusion}, we conclude our work.

\section{Background and Related Work}
\label{sec:relwork}

Variability is a fundamental feature of both human movements and the underlying physiological processes that support them~\cite{Aks2002Memory, Stergiou2011Human, Peng1995Fractal, Peng1995Quantification, Ivanov2001From, Kello2010Scaling, cavanaugh2017multifractality}. For example, gait variability reflects how gait parameters (e.g., stride time, stride length) change over many successive steps. Physiological variability may be observed by successive observations of physiological events such as the timing of breaths or heart beats. The study of variability in overt movements and physiological events has revealed systematic patterns of variability associated with both health and disease. Historically, variability was thought to be synonymous with error such as a faulty execution of an intended motor program~\cite{Fitts1954information,Reason1990Human,Schmidt2003Motor}. Evidence supporting this point of view is the frequent observation that novices, older adults, and those with neurodegenerative diseases often produce greater variability than young, healthy, experts. From this point of view, variability is something to be reduced or eliminated. This perspective has become increasingly difficult to support given the growing evidence that structured variability is essential for a healthy, adaptive system~\cite{Stergiou2006Optimal,harrison2015complex}. Elimination of variability introduces the possibility of a system that is inflexible in the face of novel circumstances. Novel circumstances are the rule in locomotion which involves an ever-changing environment. In contrast, optimal variability should strike a balance between complexity (i.e., behavioral richness) and predictability. Too much predictability leads to robotic movements; too little predictability leads to randomness. Both overly predictable and overly random behavior has been associated loss of adaptability associated with aging and disease.
\subsection{Fractality in Human Movements}
Human movements entail the coordination of many nested neuromuscular processes~\cite{cavanaugh2017multifractality,kelty2013tutorial,Likens2014Neural,Likens2015Experimental,Goldberger2002Fractal, Ivanov2001From,harrison2015complex}. The successful interaction of the many components that make up such a system are reflected in the time varying properties (i.e., variability) observed in movement. Movement and physiological patterns represent a form of variability known as "multifractality" that has been suggested to represent the coordination of motor degrees of freedom~\cite{cavanaugh2017multifractality}. Fractals (aka monofractals) are geometric objects that are self-similar over different scales of analysis~\cite{Goldberger2002Fractal}. Fractals are observable from time series data (e.g., a sequence of stride times) by investigating how statistical properties (e.g., variance) change according to scale. When the logarithm of variance increases linearly with the logarithm of scale, the time series is said to exhibit fractal scaling. The slope that relates these quantities is the fractal scaling exponent, sometimes referred to as the Hurst exponent, $H$. Monofractal scaling suggests that single scaling exponent is sufficient for characterizing the dynamics of gait events. Furthermore, monofractal scaling does not in itself support the conclusion of interactions among the time scales that make up movement. Hence, this one-size fits all approach may not reflect the adaptability needed in human motor control. Multifractality, on the other hand, suggests that fractal patterns may be context dependent, changing to reflect the adaptive nature of the human neuromuscular system.

Although there are exceptions~\cite{ashkenazy2002stochastic,dutta2013multifractal,west2005multifractal}, the majority of work investigating fractal characteristics in human gait have been conducted from a monofractal perspective~\cite{Hausdorff1995Is,hausdorff1996fractal,hunt2014influence,kaipust2013gait}. Furthermore, although the influence of metronomes on monofractal properties of gait are well known~\cite{kaipust2013gait,hunt2014influence,hausdorff1996fractal}, we are not aware of any studies that have systematically investigated the effect of metronomes on mulitfractal patterns in observed in human gait. The current work addresses this gap in the literature while also providing critical information regarding the role of gait fractality in resilience to mechanical perturbations.
\subsection{Metronomes as Assistive Devices to Prevent Falls}
Auditory and visual metronomes have emerged as promising rehabilitation tools for restoring healthy motor patterns in a number of domains including stroke, Parkinson's disease, aging~\cite{hollands2015feasibility,vaz2020gait,hunt2014influence,baker2008effect,spaulding2013cueing}. For example, pacing people with an isochronous metronomes seems to increase gait speed and stride length~\cite{spaulding2013cueing}. At issue, though, is that studies of this nature often employ isochronous metronomes, which runs contrary to known properties of human movement variability~\cite{kaipust2013gait,hunt2014influence, hausdorff1996fractal}. This is problematic because, while some studies show improvement in gait parameters using isochronous metronomes, other studies have shown that isochronous metronomes may actually alter healthy dynamics in such a way that mimics pathological gait variability~\cite{kaipust2013gait,hunt2014influence,vaz2020gait}. In contrast, using metronomes that exhibit the same properties as found in healthy gait does not degrade healthy gait dynamics~\cite{hunt2014influence} and may have exert a restorative effect on gait patterns in older adults~\cite{van2016efficacy}.

\subsection{The current study}
In this paper, we present a novel study in which we demonstrate that metronomes may be effective in reducing the risk of falling due to an unexpected perturbation. Participants walked on a treadmill while either being paced by one of several metronome types or walking at a self-selected comfortable pace. During the trial, participants experienced a mechanical perturbation (a treadmill belt was briefly halted). We hypothesized that a metronome with statistical characteristics similar to those of healthy, self-paced walking would exhibit more resilience to perturbation as compared with other metronome types.

\section{Methodology}
\label{sec:experiments}

\subsection{Participants}
Thirty-three healthy young adults (age: 19 – 30 years; height: 1.75 ± 0.91; weight: 71 ± 0.1 kg; 13 females, 20 males) volunteered to participate in this study. All participants reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing, and the ability to walk for $>=$ 45 consecutive minutes. Participants reported no neurological, movement or vestibular disorder, dizziness, impairments to vision or hearing, current musculoskeletal injury or pain. Participants had no cardiovascular events, and had not experienced surgery within the previous 6 months, and were not pregnant. The institutional review board approved all procedures.

\subsection{Experimental protocol}
Walking trials took place on an instrumented, split belt treadmill (Bertec Corp., OH, USA). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups, corresponding to each of the four metronome conditions; no metronome (or none), isochronous, random, and 1/f noise. Participants wore tight-fitting clothing and were fitted with a ceiling-mounted harness. We determined self-selected walking speed by  increasing and decreasing treadmill speed until the participant reported that the speed was 'faster than comfortable' or 'slower than comfortable'. We averaged the first three 'faster' and 'slower' to estimate a comfortable, self-selected speed and used that value for the duration of the session.

\subsection{Baseline trial}
Participants walked on the treadmill for 25 minutes at the self-selected walking speed but without a metronome. After the baseline trial, participants rested for 20 minutes. Right foot contact events from the last 3 minutes of the baseline trial were used to compute inter-stride intervals (ISIs; mean and SD) based on the trajectory of the vertical velocity of the left and right heel markers.

\subsection{Stimuli creation}
Baseline gait characteristics for each participant were used to construct 45 minute metronomes, appropriate to group, using MATLAB (The MathWorks Inc, Natick, MA, USA). Inter-beat (IBI) intervals for the isochronous condition were set to each participants' mean baseline ISI. For the random condition, a random sequence of values between -1 and 1 was generated normalized baseline ISIs means and variances. 1/f noise time series were generated using custom MATLAB scaled in a manner similar to the random condition. Metronome intervals were converted to 4-beat drum patterns wherein beats were sounded by a closed hi-hat. A base drum and snare were played on the first and third beats, respectively. The bass drum signaled start of stride; the snare drum signaled contralateral limb foot contact. Stimuli were converted to MIDI sequences, and played by drum generator app (Drum Studio, Rollerchimp, Sydney, Australia). Participants in the metronome condition groups were asked to time their steps to beat of the metronome while walking. Before beginning experimental trials, participants demonstrated synchronizing their steps with beats. If initially unable to synchronize, researchers coached them and then participants practiced 2 additional minutes. Some participants required minor coaching but were all able to walk in time with the beat.

\subsection{Perturbation trial}
Thirty-nine retroreflective markers were affixed to anatomical landmarks to define a nine-segment (left and right foot, left and right shank, left and right thigh, pelvis, trunk, head) mechanical model of the human body. Clusters of rigid reflective markers were also placed on the thigh and lower leg. Participants walked for 45-minute in one of three metronome conditions (1/f noise, random, or isochronous) or at a self-selected speed. Metronome beats were played speakers at the same volume for all conditions. Twenty-five minutes into the trial, we halted one treadmill belt for 500ms, providing a mechanical perturbation meant to approximate a trip. The perturbation was timed to when the ankle of the dominant limb in swing passed the ankle of the support limb. Treadmill acceleration and deceleration was set to 3 ms-2. Participants were asked to resume walking after the normal belt movement resumed. The trial continued for 20 more minutes. Kinematic data was recorded at 100 Hz using an 8-camera, 3D motion capture system (Vicon Motion Systems, Oxford, UK).  The timing and duration of the treadmill perturbation were controlled by D-Flow (Motek Medical BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Participants only received a single perturbation to prevent learning effects. Participants were naive to the trip.

\subsection{Analysis}
Periods before (PRE) and after the perturbation (POST) were identified from the 45 minutes walking trials and the foot contact events were estimated based on the trajectory of the vertical velocity of the right heel marker using custom Matlab code. Foot contact events were also identified from the 25 minute baseline trial. ISIs were calculated as the time elapsed between subsequent heel strike events of the same foot.

After extraction, ISIs were used as input to a time series method called Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MFDFA)~\cite{kantelhardt2002multifractal}. MFDFA is a generalization of well known Detrended Flucatuation Analysis \cite{peng1994mosaic} and has been used in numerous disciplines to study the correlation structure of time series data, including relevant areas such as physiology and movement science~\cite{Hausdorff1995Is,hausdorff1996fractal, hunt2014influence, kaipust2013gait,Goldberger2002Fractal, Likens2014Neural, Likens2015Experimental}. See~\cite{kelty2013tutorial,ihlen2012introduction} for tutorials on this and related methods. We used MFDFA to characterize the time-varying properties of gait at baseline and during each experimental task segment (PRE/POST perturbation). Kantelhardt et al.~\cite{kantelhardt2002multifractal} describe MFDFA as an algorithm involving five steps.
\begin{itemize}
    \item Step 1 involves determining the \emph{profile} as the cumulative sum of a mean-detrended time series according to
    \[Y(i)=\Sigma_{k=1}^i(x_k-\Bar{x}),  i = 1,...,N\]
    where $N$ is the length of the series, $x_k$, and $\Bar{x}$ is mean of $x_k$.
    \item Step 2 requires dividing $Y(i)$ into $int(N/s)$ non-overlapping segments of length $s$. Because $N$ will not always be a multiple of $s$, the procedure is repeated twice, once from each end of $Y(i)$ to avoid dropping data. This results in $2N_s$ segments.
    \item Step 3 calculates local trends in each of the $N_s$ segments by ordinary least squares regression. The variance is then estimated as:
    \[ F^2(v,s)=\frac{1}{s}\Sigma_{i=1}^{s}\{Y[(v-1)s+i]-y_v(i)\}^2 \]
    for each segment, $v, v = 1,...,N_s$ and
    \[ F^2(v,s)=\frac{1}{s}\Sigma_{i=1}^{s}\{Y[N-(v-N_s)s+i]-y_v(i)\}^2 \]
    for $v=N_s+1,...2N_s$. $y_v(i)$ is the local trend determined by OLS regression. Here, $y_v(i)$ is assumed to be a first order polynomial, but higher order polynomials may also be used\cite{kantelhardt2002multifractal}.
    \item Step 4 entails estimating the $q$th order fluctuation function by averaging over all $2N_s$ segments according to
    \[ F_q(s)=\{ \frac{1}{2N_s}\Sigma_{v=1}^{2N_s}[F^2(v,s)]^{\frac{q}{2}} \}^{\frac{1}{q}}\]
    where $q$ is a real number. When $q=2$, the procedure reduces to the standard DFA\cite{peng1994mosaic} procedure. Steps 2 through 4 are repeated for several values of $s$ where $s\geq m+2$, where $m$ is polynomial order of $y_v(i)$. In the current work, we used $s_{min}=16$ and $q=-10,-9,...10$.
    \item Step 5 identifies the scaling behavior of $F_q(s)$ by regressing its logarithm against the logarithm of $s$. If the time series exhibits long range correlation, then $F_q(s)$ increases like a power law as a function of $s$, $F_q(s) ~ s^h(q)$, where the generalized Hurst exponent, $h(q)$ is the slope of the log-log plot of $F_q(s)$ and $s$. In the case of of multifractality, the collection of slopes, $h(q)$ will not be equal for all $q$. When $s$ is large, only a few values are included in calculation of $F_q(s)$. Hence, by convention, we chose $s_{max}=N/4$ for the current analysis. Lastly, $h(q)$ as $q$ tends toward 0, so $h(0)$ is estimated according to:
    \[F_0(s)=\exp{\frac{1}{4N_s}\Sigma_{v=1}^{2N_s}\ln[F^2(v,s)]} = s^{h(0)}.\]
    Other scaling exponents may be calculated based on $h(q)$. See \cite{kantelhardt2002multifractal} for details.
\end{itemize}

After extracting $h(q)$ by applying MFDFA to each ISI time series, $h(q)$ were analyzed via linear mixed effect models (LMEs). Models were fit using forward selection of parameters starting with fixed effects, adding higher order interactions one at time. Model terms were retained based on significant likelihood ratio tests.
\section{Evaluation}
\label{sec:results}
LME results are presented as an analysis of variance in Table~\ref{table:anova}. That table indicates that all main effects and interactions were significant. Main effects and two-way interactions are not interpreted further because their implication in a three-way interaction among time, group, and q-order.
\begin{table}[ht]

\centering
\begin{tabular}{lrrrrrr}
  \hline
 & SS & MS & DF1 & DF2 & F \\
  \hline
q & 5.48 & 5.48 & 1.00 & 1879.60 & 268.53  \\
  g & 1.68 & 0.56 & 3.00 & 27.61 & 27.48  \\
  t & 22.81 & 11.40 & 2.00 & 1887.16 & 558.63 \\
  q$\times$g & 0.73 & 0.24 & 3.00 & 1879.60 & 11.87 \\
  q$\times$t & 0.22 & 0.11 & 2.00 & 1879.60 & 5.46 \\
  g$\times$t & 30.79 & 5.13 & 6.00 & 1886.43 & 251.36 \\
  q$\times$g$\times$t & 1.57 & 0.26 & 6.00 & 1879.60 & 12.83\\
   \hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{\label{table:anova}Type III Analysis of Variance Table adjusted with Kenward-Rogers method. Results suggest a three-way interaction among q-order (q), group (g), and time (t). All $p < .01$}
\vspace{+0.5cm}
\end{table}

Model implied means are depicted in Figure~\ref{fig:qorder} as a way to visualize this interaction. Based on that figure, several general trends seem apparent. First, both the random and the isochronous metronomes reduced the central tendency of $h(q)$. On average, $h(q)$ appears lower in those conditions than either none or the 1/f conditions, replicating known trends in the literature\cite{hunt2014influence}. Second, the range of $h(q)$ appears to be larger when paced by a 1/f metronome than when paced by a either a random or isochronous metronome. To investigate the influence of group and time on $h(q)$, we performed a series of simple effects tests at extreme values of $q$ included in the MFDFA procedure i.e., (-10,10). These tests are presented in Table~\ref{table:hq_table}. When $q=-10$, small fluctuations dominate the estimation of fractal scaling. In that case, the none condition did not vary across time. However, large decreases in $h(q)$ were observed in the isochronous and random conditions, pre- and post-perturbation relative to the baseline. In contrast, the 1/f condition increased $h(q)$ relative to baseline. Only the 1/f condition showed a pre-post decline in $h(q)$, possibly due to floor effects in the other two conditions. When $q=10$, large fluctuations dominate the estimation of fractal scaling. In this case, all conditions showed differences in scaling behavior relative to baseline. However, only the none and isochronous conditions showed differences between pre- and post-perturbation.

\begin{table}[ht]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{lrrrrl}
  \hline
contrast & estimate & SE & df & t & p \\
  \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = None, q = -10}\\
base - pre & 0.02 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & 0.63 & 0.806 \\
  base - post & 0.03 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & 1.01 & 0.569 \\
  pre - post & 0.01 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 0.40 & 0.916 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = Isoch., q = -10}\\
base - pre & 0.65 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 20.36 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & 0.71 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 22.11 & $<$.001 \\
  pre - post & 0.06 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 1.76 & 0.185 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = 1/f, q = -10}\\
base - pre & -0.20 & 0.03 & 1888.66 & -5.85 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & -0.09 & 0.03 & 1888.66 & -2.80 & 0.0143 \\
  pre - post & 0.10 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 2.97 & 0.009 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = Rand., q = -10}\\
base - pre & 0.29 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & 9.75 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & 0.33 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & 11.14 & $<$.001 \\
  pre - post & 0.04 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 1.44 & 0.321 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = None, q = 10}\\
base - pre & -0.18 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & -5.97 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & -0.07 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & -2.53 & 0.031 \\
  pre - post & 0.10 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 3.56 & 0.001 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = Isoch., q = 10}\\
base - pre & 0.64 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 19.96 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & 0.53 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & 16.39 & $<$.001 \\
  pre - post & -0.11 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & -3.57 & 0.001 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = 1/f, q = 10}\\
base - pre & 0.20 & 0.03 & 1888.66 & 5.85 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & 0.15 & 0.03 & 1888.66 & 4.44 & $<$.001 \\
  pre - post & -0.05 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & -1.37 & 0.354 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{group = Rand., q = 10}\\
base - pre & 0.41 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & 13.97 & $<$.001 \\
  base - post & 0.39 & 0.03 & 1882.06 & 13.27 & $<$.001 \\
  pre - post & -0.02 & 0.03 & 1880.01 & -0.72 & 0.752 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{{\footnotesize Degrees-of-freedom method: kenward-roger}}\\

\multicolumn{6}{l}{{\footnotesize P value adjustment: tukey method for comparing a family of 3 estimates}}\\
\end{tabular}
\caption{\label{table:hq_table}Pairwise comparisons of $h(q)$ as a function of time and group at extreme values of q.}
\vspace{+0.1cm}
\end{table}

To understand the influence of various metronomes and a mechanical perturbation on gait variability, we investigated how the slope relating $q$ and $h(q)$ changed according to time and group. These results are presented in Table~\ref{table:slopes}. A general finding is that the $q \times h(q)$ slope differed between baseline and pre-perturbation for all conditions except the isochronous condition. In addition, the $q \times h(q)$ slope differed between baseline and post for the isochronous and 1/f conditions. Lastly, the pre-post differences in the $q \times h(q)$ slopes were only observed in the isochronous and 1/f conditions.

Collectively, these results emphasize a few key points related to the effects of various metronome types and fractal scaling in ISIs. First, the current results bolster previous observations that suggest isochronous and random metronomes produce gait patterns more consistent with pathology than with healthy gait \cite{kaipust2013gait,hunt2014influence,hausdorff1996fractal}. Second, the results while not entirely consistent, suggest that metronomes exert a profound effect over gait fractality, affecting the scaling properties of both very small and very large fluctuations, alike. The current slope analysis was limited to extreme values of $q$, but there is good reason to suspect that fluctuations of intermediate size would likewise be affected. Third, and surprisingly, our results did not produce a consistent pre-post perturbation effect with respect to either the central tendency of $h(q)$ or the $q \times h(q)$ slopes. There are several possible explanations for these pattern of results. Some conditions such as the random condition could have produced a floor effect, preventing successful reorganization of motor degrees of freedom to be detectable post-perturbation.    This is consistent with our hypothesis concerning 1/f noise where measurable pre-post perturbation effects were observed.  Another possibility is that post-perturbation incorporated in our analysis were too long. A limitation of MFDFA is time series need to quite long in order to obtain stable estimates. Hence, it is possible that the post-perturbation multifractality included too many strides after recovery to capture nuanced effects of perturbation. Future research should explore the use of a modified MFDFA procedure better suited for 'short' time series.

\begin{table}[ht]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{lrrrrl}
  \hline
contrast & estimate & SE & df & t & p \\
  \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{g = NONE}\\
base - pre & -0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -3.87 & 0.0003 \\
  base - post & -0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -2.08 & 0.0944 \\
  pre - post & 0.00 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & 1.84 & 0.1556 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{g = Isoch.}\\
base - pre & -0.00 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -0.23 & 0.9716 \\
  base - post & -0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -3.34 & 0.0024 \\
  pre - post & -0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -3.11 & 0.0053 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{g = 1/f}\\
base - pre & 0.02 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & 6.90 & $<$.0001 \\
  base - post & 0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & 4.27 & 0.0001 \\
  pre - post & -0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -2.54 & 0.0300 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{g = Rand.}\\
base - pre & 0.01 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & 2.47 & 0.0359 \\
  base - post & 0.00 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & 1.25 & 0.4238 \\
  pre - post & -0.00 & 0.00 & 1880.01 & -1.26 & 0.4173 \\
   \hline
\multicolumn{6}{l}{{\footnotesize Degrees-of-freedom method: kenward-roger}}\\

\multicolumn{6}{l}{{\footnotesize P value adjustment: tukey method for comparing a family of 3 estimates}}\\
\end{tabular}
\caption{\label{table:slopes}Analysis of $q\times h(q)$ slopes as a function of time and group.}
\vspace{+0.1cm}
\end{table}

\begin{figure}
\centering

\includegraphics[width=1\linewidth]{images/model_implied_means.pdf}
\caption{Generalized Hurst exponent, $h(q)$, as a function of time and group.}
\label{fig:qorder}

\vspace{+0.5cm}
\end{figure}

\section{Next-Generation Networked Metronomes}
\label{sec:nextgen}

In this section, we describe directions for building the next generation of metronomes, featuring advanced networking capabilities in conjunction with technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR), to provide an immersive and interactive quality of experience to participants~\cite{shannigrahi2020next}.

\subsection{Smart Phone Metronome Applications}

A direction for the implementation of gait metronomes nowadays is through smart phone applications. Such applications will be installed on the research participants' phones, while parameters, such as the type and frequency of the auditory beat, can be adjusted as input parameters of the applications. Such metronomes enable flexible mobility opportunities, so that experiments can be performed outside of laboratory spaces in daily living contexts (e.g., walking on a university campus, working out at a park). This is particularly important because laboratories may restrict the flexibility of the performed experiments (e.g., treadmills constrain participants to walk on fixed directions). On the other hand, daily living contexts can offer insights to habitual behaviors, which may not be feasible in laboratory spaces.

\subsection{Augmented Reality and ``Gamified'' Metronomes}

So far, we have focused on auditory gait metronomes. The auditory stimuli is discreet and limited in nature. To this end, gait metronomes can be augmented with visual effects, so that they provide visual (continuous) stimuli to research participants, offering new opportunities for gait-related research. In Figure~\ref{fig:glasses}, we present a prototype of a visual metronome. This metronome is implemented through a pair of glasses that participants wear. These glasses are powered and are directly connected to a tablet device. The stimuli are visualized through a bar that moves vertically. When the bar reaches its highest point, the participants are instructed to touch the ground with their feet as they are taking a step.
\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=1\linewidth]{images/glasses_wide.png}
    \caption{Prototype of visual metronome. A moving bar depicted on right hand side is displayed on a video screen mounted to a non-prescription pair of glasses.}
    \label{fig:glasses}
    \vspace{+0.5cm}
\end{figure}

This visual metronome prototype, however, requires that participants carry a tablet device with them while walking. Technologies to connect the glasses wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi) to the tablet may be useful, however, still such glasses have limited capabilities in terms of graphics. A direction that is worthy of exploring is the integration of AR to provide immersive graphical experience that enhances the research participant's perception of the world. In Figure~\ref{fig:AR}, we present an early prototype of an AR-based metronome that we implemented based on Unity. We have deployed this prototype on a Hololens 2 headset. This metronome is a direct conversion of the metronome of Figure~\ref{fig:AR} to an AR environment.

Leveraging AR, a direction to explore is ``gamifying'' gait metronomes in order to provide an interactive, gaming-like experience to research participants. For example, participants may be instructed to synchronize their steps with visual targets (e.g., collide with 3D bulls-eye objects). Another example may be a metronome, where participants need to step on 3D tiles of a certain color or shape that the AR headset projects on the floor. At the same time, participants can receive real-time feedback about their performance in this gaming experience (e.g., through messages displayed on the headset's screen), being: (i) encouraged to step on 3D bulls-eye objects or certain 3D tiles if they do not follow the instructions of the game; and (ii) praised for their performance if they follow the instructions of the game.

\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=1\linewidth]{images/hololens.pdf}
    \caption{Prototype of a AR-capable metronome developed based on Unity and deployed on a Hololens 2 headset.}
    \label{fig:AR}
    \vspace{+0.5cm}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Cloud and Edge Computing Technologies}

Gait metronomes coupled with wireless capabilities and potentially based on AR may need to utilize remote computing resources for computationally expensive operations (e.g., 3D rendering, object detection). Cloud computing technologies could facilitate the execution of computationally expensive operations on remote computing resources. However, cloud computing resources may result in high response times, which can be problematic in cases of low-latency applications, such as interactive AR. To this end, edge computing~\cite{shi2016edge} has emerged as a paradigm that features computing resources physically close to users (at the edge of the network), subsequently resulting in fast response times.

Edge computing solutions open opportunities for future computer networking research. Such opportunities include mechanisms for the allocation and discovery of computing resources at the edge~\cite{mastorakis2019towards, mastorakis2020dlwiot}, as well as the dynamic offloading of computational tasks at the edge~\cite{mastorakis2020icedge}. For example, if multiple edge servers are available, we may need consecutive computational tasks to be offloaded to the same edge server. This is due to the fact that the processing of these tasks may determine whether a participant follows the provided instructions (e.g., whether the participant is stepping on projected 3D tiles of the right color) not only momentarily, but over a certain period of time. The processing outcome of such tasks will subsequently determine the feedback to be provided to the participant (e.g., the message to be displayed on the headset's screen). In addition, mechanisms for in-network computing coupled with advanced wireless capabilities (e.g., LTE/5G) could further increase the available bandwidth and reduce response times~\cite{nour2020compute, ullah2020icn}.

\section{Conclusion and Future Work}
\label{sec:conclusion}

In this paper, we have presented a preliminary study investigating the utility of different metronomes as assistive devices. Our results showed that, when followed by healthy adults, metronomes typically used for rehabilitation (i.e., isochronous metronomes) produce gait patterns more consistent with pathological gait than variability observed in typical walking. In contrast, metronomes based on healthy gait patterns left those patterns unperturbed, even after experiencing a strong mechanical perturbation. Lastly, we provided initial plans for enhancing metronomes as assistive devices through the use of advanced networking and computing technologies as well as augmented reality. Our vision is that these technologies will advance these promising tools by allowing better graphics, faster calculations, and more freedom of use. Our goal is to increase the efficacy of metronomic rehabilitation tools by: (1) using metronomes that take into consideration the natural regularities in healthy gait, (2) providing a better user experience in a broader range of settings. Ultimately, these improvements may encourage broader use of these tools and prevent falls.

\section{Introduction}
This document is a model and instructions for \LaTeX.
Please observe the conference page limits.

\section{Ease of Use}

\subsection{Maintaining the Integrity of the Specifications}

The IEEEtran class file is used to format your paper and style the text. All margins,
column widths, line spaces, and text fonts are prescribed; please do not
alter them. You may note peculiarities. For example, the head margin
measures proportionately more than is customary. This measurement
and others are deliberate, using specifications that anticipate your paper
as one part of the entire proceedings, and not as an independent document.
Please do not revise any of the current designations.

\section{Prepare Your Paper Before Styling}
Before you begin to format your paper, first write and save the content as a
separate text file. Complete all content and organizational editing before
formatting. Please note sections \ref{AA}--\ref{SCM} below for more information on
proofreading, spelling and grammar.

Keep your text and graphic files separate until after the text has been
formatted and styled. Do not number text heads---{\LaTeX} will do that
for you.

\subsection{Abbreviations and Acronyms}\label{AA}
Define abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are used in the text,
even after they have been defined in the abstract. Abbreviations such as
IEEE, SI, MKS, CGS, ac, dc, and rms do not have to be defined. Do not use
abbreviations in the title or heads unless they are unavoidable.

\subsection{Units}
\begin{itemize}
\item Use either SI (MKS) or CGS as primary units. (SI units are encouraged.) English units may be used as secondary units (in parentheses). An exception would be the use of English units as identifiers in trade, such as ``3.5-inch disk drive''.
\item Avoid combining SI and CGS units, such as current in amperes and magnetic field in oersteds. This often leads to confusion because equations do not balance dimensionally. If you must use mixed units, clearly state the units for each quantity that you use in an equation.
\item Do not mix complete spellings and abbreviations of units: ``Wb/m\textsuperscript{2}'' or ``webers per square meter'', not ``webers/m\textsuperscript{2}''. Spell out units when they appear in text: ``. . . a few henries'', not ``. . . a few H''.
\item Use a zero before decimal points: ``0.25'', not ``.25''. Use ``cm\textsuperscript{3}'', not ``cc''.)
\end{itemize}

\subsection{Equations}
Number equations consecutively. To make your
equations more compact, you may use the solidus (~/~), the exp function, or
appropriate exponents. Italicize Roman symbols for quantities and variables,
but not Greek symbols. Use a long dash rather than a hyphen for a minus
sign. Punctuate equations with commas or periods when they are part of a
sentence, as in:
\begin{equation}
a+b=\gamma\label{eq}
\end{equation}

Be sure that the
symbols in your equation have been defined before or immediately following
the equation. Use ``\eqref{eq}'', not ``Eq.~\eqref{eq}'' or ``equation \eqref{eq}'', except at
the beginning of a sentence: ``Equation \eqref{eq} is . . .''

\subsection{\LaTeX-Specific Advice}

Please use ``soft'' (e.g., \verb|\eqref{Eq}|) cross references instead
of ``hard'' references (e.g., \verb|(1)|). That will make it possible
to combine sections, add equations, or change the order of figures or
citations without having to go through the file line by line.

Please don't use the \verb|{eqnarray}| equation environment. Use
\verb|{align}| or \verb|{IEEEeqnarray}| instead. The \verb|{eqnarray}|
environment leaves unsightly spaces around relation symbols.

Please note that the \verb|{subequations}| environment in {\LaTeX}
will increment the main equation counter even when there are no
equation numbers displayed. If you forget that, you might write an
article in which the equation numbers skip from (17) to (20), causing
the copy editors to wonder if you've discovered a new method of
counting.

{{\rm B\kern-.05em{\sc i\kern-.025em b}\kern-.08emT\kern-.1667em\lower.7ex\hbox{E}\kern-.125emX}} does not work by magic. It doesn't get the bibliographic
data from thin air but from .bib files. If you use {{\rm B\kern-.05em{\sc i\kern-.025em b}\kern-.08emT\kern-.1667em\lower.7ex\hbox{E}\kern-.125emX}} to produce a
bibliography you must send the .bib files.

{\LaTeX} can't read your mind. If you assign the same label to a
subsubsection and a table, you might find that Table I has been cross
referenced as Table IV-B3.

{\LaTeX} does not have precognitive abilities. If you put a
\verb|\label| command before the command that updates the counter it's
supposed to be using, the label will pick up the last counter to be
cross referenced instead. In particular, a \verb|\label| command
should not go before the caption of a figure or a table.

Do not use \verb|\nonumber| inside the \verb|{array}| environment. It
will not stop equation numbers inside \verb|{array}| (there won't be
any anyway) and it might stop a wanted equation number in the
surrounding equation.

\subsection{Some Common Mistakes}\label{SCM}
\begin{itemize}
\item The word ``data'' is plural, not singular.
\item The subscript for the permeability of vacuum $\mu_{0}$, and other common scientific constants, is zero with subscript formatting, not a lowercase letter ``o''.
\item In American English, commas, semicolons, periods, question and exclamation marks are located within quotation marks only when a complete thought or name is cited, such as a title or full quotation. When quotation marks are used, instead of a bold or italic typeface, to highlight a word or phrase, punctuation should appear outside of the quotation marks. A parenthetical phrase or statement at the end of a sentence is punctuated outside of the closing parenthesis (like this). (A parenthetical sentence is punctuated within the parentheses.)
\item A graph within a graph is an ``inset'', not an ``insert''. The word alternatively is preferred to the word ``alternately'' (unless you really mean something that alternates).
\item Do not use the word ``essentially'' to mean ``approximately'' or ``effectively''.
\item In your paper title, if the words ``that uses'' can accurately replace the word ``using'', capitalize the ``u''; if not, keep using lower-cased.
\item Be aware of the different meanings of the homophones ``affect'' and ``effect'', ``complement'' and ``compliment'', ``discreet'' and ``discrete'', ``principal'' and ``principle''.
\item Do not confuse ``imply'' and ``infer''.
\item The prefix ``non'' is not a word; it should be joined to the word it modifies, usually without a hyphen.
\item There is no period after the ``et'' in the Latin abbreviation ``et al.''.
\item The abbreviation ``i.e.'' means ``that is'', and the abbreviation ``e.g.'' means ``for example''.
\end{itemize}
An excellent style manual for science writers is \cite{b7}.

\subsection{Authors and Affiliations}
\textbf{The class file is designed for, but not limited to, six authors.} A
minimum of one author is required for all conference articles. Author names
should be listed starting from left to right and then moving down to the
next line. This is the author sequence that will be used in future citations
and by indexing services. Names should not be listed in columns nor group by
affiliation. Please keep your affiliations as succinct as possible (for
example, do not differentiate among departments of the same organization).

\subsection{Identify the Headings}
Headings, or heads, are organizational devices that guide the reader through
your paper. There are two types: component heads and text heads.

Component heads identify the different components of your paper and are not
topically subordinate to each other. Examples include Acknowledgments and
References and, for these, the correct style to use is ``Heading 5''. Use
``figure caption'' for your Figure captions, and ``table head'' for your
table title. Run-in heads, such as ``Abstract'', will require you to apply a
style (in this case, italic) in addition to the style provided by the drop
down menu to differentiate the head from the text.

Text heads organize the topics on a relational, hierarchical basis. For
example, the paper title is the primary text head because all subsequent
material relates and elaborates on this one topic. If there are two or more
sub-topics, the next level head (uppercase Roman numerals) should be used
and, conversely, if there are not at least two sub-topics, then no subheads
should be introduced.

\subsection{Figures and Tables}
\paragraph{Positioning Figures and Tables} Place figures and tables at the top and
bottom of columns. Avoid placing them in the middle of columns. Large
figures and tables may span across both columns. Figure captions should be
below the figures; table heads should appear above the tables. Insert
figures and tables after they are cited in the text. Use the abbreviation
``Fig.~\ref{fig}'', even at the beginning of a sentence.

\begin{table}[htbp]
\caption{Table Type Styles}
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\textbf{Table}&\multicolumn{3}{|c|}{\textbf{Table Column Head}} \\
\cline{2-4}
\textbf{Head} & \textbf{\textit{Table column subhead}}& \textbf{\textit{Subhead}}& \textbf{\textit{Subhead}} \\
\hline
copy& More table copy$^{\mathrm{a}}$& &  \\
\hline
\multicolumn{4}{l}{$^{\mathrm{a}}$Sample of a Table footnote.}
\end{tabular}
\label{tab1}
\end{center}
\end{table}

\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centerline{\includegraphics{fig1.png}}
\caption{Example of a figure caption.}
\label{fig}
\end{figure}

Figure Labels: Use 8 point Times New Roman for Figure labels. Use words
rather than symbols or abbreviations when writing Figure axis labels to
avoid confusing the reader. As an example, write the quantity
``Magnetization'', or ``Magnetization, M'', not just ``M''. If including
units in the label, present them within parentheses. Do not label axes only
with units. In the example, write ``Magnetization (A/m)'' or ``Magnetization
\{A[m(1)]\}'', not just ``A/m''. Do not label axes with a ratio of
quantities and units. For example, write ``Temperature (K)'', not
``Temperature/K''.

\section*{Acknowledgment}

The preferred spelling of the word ``acknowledgment'' in America is without
an ``e'' after the ``g''. Avoid the stilted expression ``one of us (R. B.
G.) thanks $\ldots$''. Instead, try ``R. B. G. thanks$\ldots$''. Put sponsor
acknowledgments in the unnumbered footnote on the first page.

\section*{References}

Please number citations consecutively within brackets \cite{b1}. The
sentence punctuation follows the bracket \cite{b2}. Refer simply to the reference
number, as in \cite{b3}---do not use ``Ref. \cite{b3}'' or ``reference \cite{b3}'' except at
the beginning of a sentence: ``Reference \cite{b3} was the first $\ldots$''

Number footnotes separately in superscripts. Place the actual footnote at
the bottom of the column in which it was cited. Do not put footnotes in the
abstract or reference list. Use letters for table footnotes.

Unless there are six authors or more give all authors' names; do not use
``et al.''. Papers that have not been published, even if they have been
submitted for publication, should be cited as ``unpublished'' \cite{b4}. Papers
that have been accepted for publication should be cited as ``in press'' \cite{b5}.
Capitalize only the first word in a paper title, except for proper nouns and
element symbols.

For papers published in translation journals, please give the English
citation first, followed by the original foreign-language citation \cite{b6}.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


The Bluetooth padlocks are designed to work with devices that are built to Bluetooth v4.0 (or higher) specifications and implement the capability to communicate with Bluetooth peripherals. iOS and Android platforms are currently supported.
You can determine your device's OS version in your phone's settings.


text:
Maximilian J. Fürnsinn CanReg (* 5. Mai 1940 in Herzogenburg, Niederösterreich) ist ein römisch-katholischer Ordensgeistlicher. Er war von 1979 bis 2019 der 68. Propst des Stiftes Herzogenburg. Seit 1. Juli 2021 ist er Administrator des Stiftes Klosterneuburg.

Leben
Maximilian Fürnsinn, der Sohn einer Fleischhauerfamilie, erlernte vorerst ebenso den elterlichen Beruf, obwohl sein Wunsch, Priester zu werden, bereits in der Volksschule bestand. Er arbeitete noch als Drittbester bei der Gesellenprüfung in Niederösterreich drei Jahre lang im väterlichen Betrieb. Er machte die Matura in Horn und trat anschließend in das Stift Herzogenburg ein. An der Ordenshochschule in Klosterneuburg und in Wien studierte er Philosophie und Katholische Theologie. Er empfing 1972 die Priesterweihe.

Im Stift Herzogenburg war er zunächst als Kaplan, Novizenmeister und Bauamtsdirektor tätig. Im Jahr 1979 wurde er zum 68. Propst und 17. lateranensischen Abt in Herzogenburg gewählt. Die Benediktion spendete ihm der Bischof von St. Pölten Franz Žak. Sein Wahlspruch ist Christus, qui habitat in nobis ("Christus, der in uns wohnt"). 1989, 1999 und 2009 wurde er jeweils auf zehn Jahre wiedergewählt. Am 9. April 2019 wurde Petrus Stockinger als Nachfolger von Fürnsinn zum 69. Propst des Stiftes Herzogenburg gewählt.

Von 1981 bis 2008 war er Vorsitzender der niederösterreichischen Äbtekonferenz und Vorsitzender der Ordenskonferenz der Diözese St. Pölten. Von 1998 bis 2013 war er auch Vorsitzender der Österreichischen Superiorenkonferenz der Männerorden.

Die Kongregation für die Institute geweihten Lebens und für die Gesellschaften apostolischen Lebens hat auf Antrag des päpstlichen Delegaten für das Stift  Klosterneuburg, Bischof Josef Clemens, mit Dekret vom 4. Juni 2021 den emeritierten Propst des Augustiner-Chorherren-Stiftes Herzogenburg zum Administrator des Stiftes Klosterneuburg ernannt. Er hat dieses Amt mit 1. Juli 2021 angetreten.

Fürnsinn wurde am 22. Juni 1991 in Graz als Großoffizier in den Ritterorden vom Heiligen Grab zu Jerusalem investiert. Seit 1990 wirkt er schon als Prior für die Komturei St. Pölten. Von 1996 bis 2008 war Maximilian Fürnsinn Großprior des Ritterordens vom Heiligen Grab zu Jerusalem, ab Oktober 2008 Großprior emeritus und ab 2009 Ehrengroßprior. Er ist des Weiteren Ehrenmitglied der KAV Danubia Wien-Korneuburg, der K.Ö.H.V. Nordgau Wien und der K.A.V. Norica Wien im ÖCV sowie der KAV Capitolina zu Rom im CV und der K.Ö.St.V. Vindobona II im MKV.

Ehrungen und Auszeichnungen
 1992: Silbernes Komturkreuz des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um das Bundesland Niederösterreich
 1999: Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich
 2007: Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse
 2010: Verleihung der "Medaille für Verdienste um den Denkmalschutz" der Republik Österreich
 2012: Verleihung des Berufstitels Ökonomierat

Schriften
 mit Veronica-Maria Schwed Aus ganzem Herzen leben. Gedanken zu Maria, Molden 2007, ISBN 3-8548-5203-7
 mit Ulrich Mauterer: Augustiner-Chorherrenstift Herzogenburg, Residenz-Verlag 2008, ISBN 3-7017-3004-0
 mit Christiane Scholler: Leben, einfach leben: Eine Spurensuche, Styria Premium 2012, ISBN 3-2221-3362-X

Literatur
 Augustiner-Chorherrenstift Herzogenburg (Ulrich Mauterer): Wohnt Gott in uns?! Suche und Versuche. Festschrift zum 25-jährigen Amtsjubiläum von Propst Maximilian Fürnsinn. Augustiner-Chorherrenstift Herzogenburg 2004, 443 Seiten.

Weblinks

 Webseite des Stiftes Herzogenburg
 Audioaufnahmen mit Maximilian Fürnsinn im Onlinearchiv der Österreichischen Mediathek (Interview, Radiobeiträge)

Einzelnachweise

Römisch-katholischer Geistlicher (20. Jahrhundert)
Römisch-katholischer Geistlicher (21. Jahrhundert)
Stiftspropst
Stift Herzogenburg
Träger des Silbernen Komturkreuzes des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um das Bundesland Niederösterreich
Träger des Großen Silbernen Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich
Träger des österreichischen Ehrenkreuzes für Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse
Komtur mit Stern (Ritterorden vom Heiligen Grab zu Jerusalem)
Großprior (Ritterorden vom Heiligen Grab zu Jerusalem)
Ökonomierat
Korporierter im CV
Augustiner-Chorherr
Person (Herzogenburg)
Österreicher
Geboren 1940
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in partnership with Reboot, will host the National Day of Unplugging (NDU) on March 7th, 2015 with unplugged activities throughout the day. The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the SF Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) will also join the partnership, urging parents to unplug with their kids for the day.
Last year, Mashable, an online news and information source for the "Connected Generation", cited the Nielsen cross-platform report, which notes that Americans spent an average of 11 hours a day with electronic media. As smartphons invade people's daily activities, parents are increasingly less present and available for their children. In a study released in 2014, researchers at Boston Medical Center observed 55 groups of parents and young children eating at restaurants and found that 72 percent of caregivers pulled out a mobile device right away and mostly ignored the children.
Reboot's National Day of Unplugging is once a year but it is designed to remind the public of the importance of unplugging regularly at times throughout the year to refocus our attention on the world around us and reconnect with family, friends and ourselves. NDU is a 24 hour period – running from sundown to sundown – and starts on the first Friday in March. This year it will be celebrated from sundown March 6th to sundown March 7th, 2015.
SFUSD is the seventh largest school district in California, educating over 57,000 students every year. While its mission to ensure each student academic excellence, it also has long term partnership with SF Rec Park to promote healthy recreation for physical and mental health fitness so that each student can achieve his or her maximum potential.
DCYF creates and facilitates innovative citywide policies and projects in support of children, youth and families. As a result, SF Rec and Park and DCYF have been long-time partners in serving the children, youth and families in San Francisco, providing support to their health and wellness through many recreation programming and parks projects.
Visit http://www.nationaldayofunplugging.com/ and https://sfrecpark.org/ for more information about specific activities and to get inspired for the 2015 NDU.
The National Day of Unplugging is a project of the nonprofit Reboot. Reboot affirms the value of Jewish traditions and creates new ways for people to make them their own. Inspired by Jewish ritual and embracing the arts, humor, food, philosophy, and social justice, Reboot produces creative projects that spark the interest of young Jews and the larger community.
Get out and play with SF Rec and Park for fun unplugging activities throughout the day, and get geared up at Sports Basement with 10 percent off if people mention the National Day of Unplugging.


Is your management style contributing to your growth and quota attainment, or is it holding your company back?
Ok. That's about enough of that. Do you think you are moving the team forward or holding them back?
I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how the Staffing Industry has changed (Here!) and I talked about it again on the Podcast (HERE!). In both places the focus was on how customer interaction has changed and what we need to do in order to thrive.
Here's the thing, the way to effectively MANAGE has changed as well. Gone are the days when a manager can have a monthly (or even weekly) meeting with a staff member and go over their metrics, check their progress to quota, and send them on their way with a pat on the head or a kick in the pants.
I said 100 calls a day NOT 99!
Not only do sales and recruiting professionals (or any other professionals for that matter!) no longer respond to those heavy-handed tactics, but the use of metrics (I'm a HUGE advocate of tracking anything that can be tracked) as either a carrot -pat on the head- or a stick -kick in the pants- no longer works to move a team forward. At best they don't do anything, at worst they alienate and dis-engage your team.
The key to effective management is to coach your team toward's tomorrow. Instead of focusing on your team's success or failure at reaching yesterday and today's goal, you need to be looking at tomorrow. Yes, we need to talk about how last week's or last month's plan was executed. But that conversation should be brief (no more than the first few minutes of a coaching meeting) and it should be used to set up the conversation for next week's plan.
The manager that focuses on tomorrow and preparing their team for tomorrow's calls, meetings, interviews, and negotiations is focusing on what they can INFLUENCE. The manager that is focused on how well their team did or didn't achieve last week's goal can only praise or punish them for past events. They can not INFLUENCE them.
Which manager or owner has more control over their own destiny?
Which is MANAGING and which is LEADING?
For my money, I'll take the option that allows me to exert influence over the one that only allows me to reflect on yesterday all day, everyday.
Have weekly 1-on-1 meetings with your team members.
Spend the first 5-10 minutes of the meeting reviewing last week's plan and seeing how well it was executed.
Find out what your direct SUPPORT has planned for next week (important calls, client visits, interviews, etc.) and ask her about them.
Make the time during the week to check in with your direct support to ensure she is fully prepared for the events you discussed, and do this with enough time to provide guidance if she is not.
As you implement this strategy remember that change is a process, not an event. It is going to take time for both of you to become accustomed to this shift in management strategy and you will both make mistakes. But, by focusing on the upcoming week, instead of the past one, you will be able to help your team to achieve their goals and (as importantly!) they will see you doing that.
In other words, you will be developing your talent and supporting their growth and that's why you became a manager, isn't it?


text:
Reaching the Isolated
MV Koha Fiji Mission 2022
Four Outreaches, One Goal - Empowering Health
Suva-Nausori - Macuata - Toyota Island - Rabi Island
Under a Coconut Tree
Have you ever sat in a camping chair at the dentist's office?
It's probably unlikely!
Our local dentist offers comfortable armchairs and something to read while you wait for your name to be called. Yet, in many island nations of the South Pacific, there are few dentists and even fewer dental offices.
On a remote Fijian island located in the South Pacific (like Kavewa which is a mile long by half a mile wide, with no more than 25 houses dotting the shore) a villager who had suffered a stroke desperately needed dental treatment. Yet, hoping to gain relief from the pain onboard the medical mission ship anchored offshore of the island, they were too fragile to be transported.
This didn't stop the dentist who had joined the volunteer team that was offering free medical and dental services to the islanders.
Finding a camping chair they positioned themselves under a coconut tree, for relief from the tropical sun, and the dentist proceeded to extract the decayed tooth!
"Bula (hello) from Fiji"
Fiji is comprised of islands ranging from the main island of Viti Levu, which means Great Fiji, to the Yasawas, pronounced "isawa" and the Island of Vanua Levu. Fijians are really affable and kind and a strong familial bond runs through their communities.
Yet, there are dozens of small remote islands that lack access to basic primary and oral healthcare, with just 1 dentist per 14,000 people.1 Due to the pandemic, this has become even more pronounced as the economy struggles and many people are unable to access healthcare.
Oral healthcare is among the most underrated needs for many outside the western world and through poor diet and the love of sugar cane, many Fijian patients are beyond having their teeth repaired, with extraction the only option.
So, where did the ship come from?
Koha is a Māori word for "gift" and the hospital ship YWAM Koha is a gift of practical hope and healing to the Pacific islands.
Launched for its first three-month overseas mission this year, from its operations base in New Zealand, the volunteer crew worked with Fijian national authorities and local health workers to serve these isolated communities.2
This allowed for training and building partnerships while successfully meeting the needs of those in pain, or requiring healthcare assessments, during the three-month deployment to twenty-nine villages visited by the crew.
A Ten-Year Wait
In 2012, an island chief from the northern Macuata Province of Vanua Levu met a visiting land-based YWAM team who asked him if he would like a ministry ship to serve his people.
After a ten-year wait, the crew of the Koha arrived in August this year, providing medical and dental treatment to 28 patients and training their village health workers.
A Life Saved
An islander in her early twenties arrived on board the ship with a toothache, mentioning her teeth used to cause more pain but that it had gone away. Checking her teeth, the dentist discovered that her teeth were so badly infected that it was either going to impact her lungs or her brain.
Removing these teeth saved the woman from what could have developed into potentially life-threatening complications.
"The ship coming was a demonstration of Jesus' care and compassion."
- Talei, Kavewa Island, Fiji
Dental care is just one way to show God's love and that he cares for the many people living in isolated island communities in the South Pacific, even when treatment is under a coconut tree!
Soko vata kei Karisito (Sailing with Christ)
PS: Enjoy the video!
#reachingtheisolated #mvkoha #fijimission2022
1 https://knoema.com/atlas/Fiji/topics/Health/Human-Resources-for-Health/Dentists
2 Impact stories from YSA FIJI YWAM KOHA 2022 MISSION REPORT

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Marvel Releases THE AVENGERS Movie Timeline
by Dave Trumbore May 17, 2012
On the seventh day, Joss Whedon created The Avengers. Marvel has released a new infographic movie timeline that highlights specific super-heroic instances in time and places them in the context of The Avengers and the individual movies that built up to it. While The Avengers franchise no doubt revolves around Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, the new infographic has made him into a pseudo-Christ figure by demarcating the timeline with BIM ("Before Iron Man") and AIM ("After Iron Man"). While it's true that Iron Man had more movies than the rest of The Avengers (excluding 2003's Hulk, which the timeline wisely forgets), I'd much rather see the scenes relative to one Special Agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) or even the beloved Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg). Hit the jump to check it out.
The reportedly "Official Marvel Timeline" might have been featured in a new book released by Marvel titled, "Avengers: The Art of Marvel's THE AVENGERS," which you can find at Amazon . Here's the book's synopsis followed by the timeline:
Marvel Studios takes readers behind the scenes of one of the most eagerly anticipated films of all time in THE ART OF THE AVENGERS. This keepsake volume is an experiential journey through the entire film from beginning to end – featuring stunning concept art; full-color photographs from the set, as well as the finished film; excerpts from the script; and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, including writer/director Joss Whedon, producer Kevin Feige and, of course, the Avengers themselves. From costume and production design to visual effects and creature creation, THE ART OF THE AVENGERS is a lavish showcase of all the artistry and creativity that brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe to life onscreen. Avengers Assemble!
Here's the timeline (click to embiggen):
Alex Proyas in Talks to Direct GODS OF EGYPT
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES NBA Playoffs TV Spot
• Avengers • Captain America • Chris Evans • Chris Hemsworth • Clark Gregg • Cobie Smulders • Entertainment • Gwyneth Paltrow • Hulk • Images • Iron Man • Jeremy Renner • Joss Whedon • Mark Ruffalo • Marvel • Movie • Robert Downey Jr • Samuel L. Jackson • Scarlett Johansson • The Avengers • Thor


text:
Analysts Weigh in on Pacific Biosciences (PACB)
About 2.55M shares traded or 147.98% up from the average. Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:HOLI) has risen 5.83% since January 27, 2017 and is uptrending. (NASDAQ:PACB) for 172,258 shares. If Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc . (NASDAQ:PACB) for 74,400 shares. Spears Abacus Advsrs Ltd Company holds 0.03% of its portfolio in Visa Inc.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 gets new 4GB RAM variant
Xiaomi launched the Redmi 5 - alongside the Redmi 5 Plus - in China recently. Listed on the official Xiaomi store, this will be the third variant in the Redmi 5 range that was previously launched in 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM options. A 12-megapixel snapper is placed on the back of this budget handset, while a 5-megapixel shooter is available on its front side. All of the physical keys lie on the right side of this phone, while the device also features a 3.5mm headphone jack, at the very top of ...
United Nations agency seeks $800M in lifesaver for Palestine
UNRWA released a statement on Tuesday saying that the agency's Commissioner General, Pierre Krahenbuhl, was launching an $800 million appeal for its emergency program - $400 million for Syria and $400 million for the West Bank and Gaza. In the 1967 war Israel took over the eastern part of the city as well as the West Bank from Jordan. A week ago, in response to an unprecedented financial crisis, UNRWA launched the global fundraising campaign #DignityIsPriceless.
Digital Still Camera Global Market Report Segment (2018 to 2023)
First, the Instant Camera report illustrates a conventions, terminologies, and notations. Digital Still Camera market is a vast market. In addition, company profile information of top leading players of Gamma Camera market , market positioning, and target customers, production value, gross margin from 2018 to 2022.
Super blue blood moon enchants skygazers
A supermoon occurs when Earth's natural satellite is close to its nearest approach to Earth. NASA program executive Gordon Johnston said: "For the continental USA, the viewing will be best in the West". The planetarium chief senior assistant director, Mohd Zamri Shah Mastor, said a total of 14 telescopes were prepared for the public to view the phenomenon that was supposed to take place from 7.48pm until 11.11pm.
Saudi anti-graft drive ends with $106 bn in settlements
Ibrahim "was fully exonerated and declared innocent of any wrongdoing, no corruption charges, no charges actually whatsoever", a senior executive at MBC group told Reuters . "This was completely unprecedented - not only in Saudi Arabia, but among all Arab monarchies", said Steffen Hertog, a leading Saudi Arabia scholar at the London School of Economics.
Cheerleaders dance to Deepika's Ghoomar during NBA Match, actress shares the video
Well, it seems that the massive outrage by several fringe groups like the Shri Rajput Karni Sena has done a lot of free publicity for the film. The song Ghoomar from the movie also received flak a soon as it got released. Later, an administrative official in Rajasthan's Udaipur issued a circular to district education officers to not perform on the Ghoomar song of the period drama at cultural programmes on Republic Day.
All teams to play Vegas Summer League for first time
It will take place from July 6-17 and will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, both of which are on the UNLV campus. Each team will play at least five games and some will have as many as eight. Not being able to attend the Orlando Summer League has been an unfortunate thing for Pacers fans because they have missed the performances of key players like Paul George and Myles Turner in recent seasons.
Stormy Daniels refuses to confirm, deny alleged Trump affair with Jimmy Kimmel
On Kimmel's show, Clifford ducked most of his questions about the alleged affair by either remaining silent or cracking jokes. The post-State of the Union forecast is looking ever stormier: Porn star Stormy Daniels , who alleges that she had an affair with President Trump , is set to appear Thursday on ABC's " The View ".
Cardi B Now Voices Amazon Alexa, Which Is Actually a Perfect Idea
Ramsay berates a man asking Alexa how to make a grilled cheese while Cardi B wonders why anyone would want to go to Mars after a teen asks how far it is to the planet. The ad is being handled by Lucky Generals and Amazon's internal creative agency, D1. Lucky Generals ECD and co-founder Danny Brooke-Taylor says: "The Super Bowl is advertising's noisiest day of the year, so it takes a courageous client to lose its most iconic voice".
Train Carrying GOP Members to Retreat Hits Truck, Injuries Reported
There are now fears that one person who was in the truck at the time was killed when the collision occurred in West Virginia. "The train stopped just at the crossing, after striking the truck and fortunately several members of Congress are physicians - Dr.
Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Dept. Brace for Possible Release of Secret Memo
Television cameras captured the exchange as Trump was leaving the chamber. This comes within days of reporting that Trump attempted to fire Mueller but was stopped by the White House counsel. Mr. Bannon was interviewed by the committee earlier this month but refused to answer questions about his time in the Trump administration at the direction of the White House counsel's office.
Sand tunnel collapse buries man alive on Florida beach
Police said Goggin had gone through a "Do not enter" sign to get to the sand dune, WFAA-TV reported. His sister, Rachel Burt, told St. Johns County sheriff's deputies that their families had been traveling since Friday night, on the way from Texas to Disney World, the station reports.
Turkey: court orders Amnesty chair released from jail
He is on trial with a group of 10 other activists detained in a police raid in July while attending a workshop on digital security. Authorities accused Kilic of having an encrypted messaging application on his phone in August 2014 called ByLock, which Ankara claims was especially created for Gulen supporters.
Train carrying GOP congressmen to retreat involved in accident
Oklahoma GOP Rep. Tom Cole says a person on the truck may have been injured. That source said members "hit the deck". President Donald Trump was meeting with senior national security officials and was made aware of the crash, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Chevy Chase Trust Holdings Inc. Decreases Position in Raytheon (RTN)
The company has a market cap of $60,880.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.58. The stock decreased 0.97% or $2.04 during the last trading session, reaching $209.18. Windward Management Ca invested in 2,059 shares. Glg Ptnrs LP has 1.31% invested in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYRG) for 164,556 shares. (NASDAQ:MYRG) for 830 shares.
Cole Sprouse Joins 'Five Feet Apart' Movie
According to The Hollywood Reporter and Cole's Twitter, he's in negotiations right now to star in romantic drama Five Feet Apart , which has a synopsis that will leave you feeling just a little teary eyed. The show is now in its second season. But between his Disney days in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and his more recent breakthrough on Riverdale , Sprouse has been acting exclusively on television for some time.
Trump zeroes in on North Korea, Iran threats
Otto Frederick Warmbier (C), a University of Virginia student who was detained in North Korea, in this photo released by Kyodo on March 16, 2016. "The Trump administration must continue to strengthen the coalition of United Nations member states it has mustered in its thus far highly successful sanctions campaign", he said.
Tyjon Lindsey, Dylan Owen Hospitalized After Nebraska Football Workout
Rhabdomyolysis occurs when muscle fibers are damaged and get released into the bloodstream, causing kidney problems. After being treated for rhabdomyolysis, both players were released from the hospital after a couple days have since returned to the team.
Stun grenade hurled at Kalonzo's residence
He said "if the motive of this attack is to have us bend our knees, we will not". Speaking on Wednesday, Wetangula said that the government should take the responsibility of protecting every citizen. The former Vice President was at home at the time of the incident. Though the men who attacked the politicians home remain unknown; the police have launched an investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.
Trump sends Letter to African Leaders, Voicing Deep Respect For the Continent
He said the Le Monde claim was "absurd" and "very hard to understand". AU commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat played down the allegations during a press conference after the summit's close, saying he had seen "no evidence of espionage in the building", a sentiment shared by at least one African leader.
Lebanese Senior Officials Warns against Israeli Comment on Offshore Energy
Regarding Iranian involvement in Lebanon, Lieberman said that Israel recognizes many sites in Lebanon supposedly designated for construction but are actually used as factories for the manufacture of weapons and missiles in Lebanon. The minister noted that Israel will prepare to send soldiers on the ground, as he claimed conflicts in the Middle East do not come to an end without them.
Trump announced that USA aid will only support American allies and supporters
The president gave ground on one thing, legal status for some Dreamers , and expects massive concessions on multiple facets of immigration in return. He wants to end the diversity visa lottery, which provides green cards to people from countries with low immigration levels, many of them in Africa ― some of which he reportedly called " shithole countries ".
Afghan intelligence chief, interior minister in Pakistan for bilateral talks
It said Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called Ghani last night to pass on his condolences but Ghani refused to take his call. The Afghan daily said President Ghani had sent a delegation "to handover evidence related to recent attacks in Kabul" to be shared with Pakistan's army.
Santander Consumer USA (SC) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at Oppenheimer
Insider trading over the last 12 months, however, paints a different picture. On the surface, it seems as the higher the 50-day moving average goes, the more bullish the market is (and the lower it goes, the more bearish). The company was upgraded on Monday, September 21 by Tudor Pickering. The firm earned "Buy" rating on Wednesday, May 31 by BMO Capital Markets. Jefferies has "Buy" rating and $116 target.
« Back 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 1172 1173 1174 1175 1176 1177 1178 1179 1180 1181 1182 1183 1184 1185 1186 1187 1188 1189 1190 1191 1192 1193 1194 1195 1196 1197 1198 1199 1200 1201 1202 1203 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1212 1213 1214 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 1230 1231 1232 1233 1234 1235 1236 1237 1238 1239 1240 1241 1242 1243 1244 1245 1246 1247 1248 1249 1250 1251 1252 1253 1254 1255 1256 1257 1258 1259 1260 1261 1262 1263 1264 1265 1266 1267 1268 1269 1270 1271 1272 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 1279 1280 1281 1282 1283 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 1298 1299 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 1310 1311 1312 1313 1314 1315 1316 1317 1318 1319 1320 1321 1322 1323 1324 1325 1326 1327 1328 1329 1330 1331 1332 1333 1334 1335 1336 1337 1338 1339 1340 1341 1342 1343 1344 1345 1346 1347 1348 1349 1350 1351 1352 1353 1354 1355 1356 1357 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 1364 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 1370 1371 1372 1373 1374 1375 1376 1377 1378 1379 1380 1381 1382 1383 1384 1385 1386 1387 1388 1389 1390 1391 1392 1393 1394 1395 1396 1397 1398 1399 1400 1401 1402 1403 1404 1405 1406 1407 1408 1409 1410 1411 1412 1413 1414 1415 1416 1417 1418 1419 1420 1421 1422 1423 1424 1425 1426 1427 1428 1429 1430 1431 1432 1433 1434 1435 1436 1437 1438 1439 1440 1441 1442 1443 1444 1445 1446 1447 1448 1449 1450 1451 1452 1453 1454 1455 1456 1457 1458 1459 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 1467 1468 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 1498 1499 1500 1501 1502 1503 1504 1505 1506 1507 Forward »


Get connected with us and get updated when we make a new post!
The goal of this site is to make you a more confident traveler. Brix Travel Blog shares tips and tricks we've learned traveling the world.
Brix Travel Tips & Information. 2018.


Merlin turns people into animals.
Okay, so, I don't know how the movie gets made today. Whatever. Sword in the Stone is extremely silly. I like silly, but seriously – this movie is 70 minutes of disjointed episodes followed by 5 minutes of Arthur pulling the sword out and becoming king. C'est la vie.
Merlin and Arthur underwater is a grand adventure.
Regardless of how weird the movie is, I really liked the scene in which Merlin turns Arthur into a fish. I found it to be incredibly imaginative, and I LOVED the cinematography inside the moat. It's not like the images can rival Finding Nemo or some other photorealistic animation, but somehow, the artists used just the right colors/shading and nailed the look. I really, really, really liked that.
Something else I liked was the relationship between Merlin and Arthur, though it didn't seem to go anywhere beyond student/teacher. I was expecting there to be adventure; needless to say I was disappointed. Regardless, I liked the interplay between the two characters – Arthur does a nice job of setting up Merlin for all kinds of magical moments. My favorite (besides the fish thing) is when Merlin convinces Arthur to let him do the dishes magically. Good stuff.
In closing, Sword in the Stone is a silly movie that has hardly anything to do with its strong title and epic-looking picture on the cover. I guess the lesson is, you cannot judge a movie by its cover. Still, there were elements of the movie I liked such as the underwater section and the relationship between Merlin and Arthur. In all, this feels like a lower point for Disney. Perhaps there are some who would watch the movie and find it incredibly enjoyable (I certainly would recommend it for kids), but since I'm writing this, I'm going to give my opinion, and that is a 3.8/10. Just kidding, I'm not that biased. I would give it a 3.9/10. Jk jk. Jokes!! I would seriously give it a 6.3/10. Final answer.
The Lion King is a great film.
I feel like someone should make a movie called The Liger King and have the guy from Napolean Dynamite be the narrator. #amirightoramiright Anyway, so, The Lion King is amazing blah blah blah, it's the best animated movie of them all blah blah blah it transcends the animated medium blaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh blah blah you're heard it all before. Like, just because it has beautiful visuals, a captivating story, well-crafted characters, terrific voice-acting, a meaningful message and some of the greatest movie music ever, everyone wants to bow down before it and crown it the king of animation. I guess that means it's my turn to praise it. UGH!
The Lion King is a Broadway musical.
But seriously, this isn't just one of the best animated films ever – it stands as one of the best and most successful films of all time. As of 2011, it's earned $951 million at the box office, making it the highest grossing hand-drawn animated movie and the highest grossing 2d animated movie of all time, not to mention the 17th highest grossing feature film. It garnered Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, and it won Golden Globe awards for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. It spawned the 6x Tony Award-winning Broadway musical as well as the only Disney soundtrack to be 'Diamond' certified (1ox platinum). Basically, this movie was and is a juggernaut.
Like I said above, the movie has beautiful visuals, a captivating story, well-crafted characters, terrific voice-acting, a meaningful message and some of the best movie music ever. I want to touch a little on each of those before closing.
Visuals – After watching all these Disney movies so close together, I feel pretty confident in saying this film has some of the most vibrant colors of the whole bunch. The bright tropical hues and gorgeous vistas are astounding. The animation is smooth, and the CGI is integrated pretty seamlessly. Strangely, most of Disney's top-tier animators chose to work on Pocahontas, which was also in development, for they thought it would be the higher-profile release between the two. The animators assigned to The Lion King were in some cases resentful of having to participate, many thinking the project didn't have much potential. Still, they nailed it.
Captivating Story – I've read the screenplay was based on the Biblical accounts of Joseph and Moses, and it was also derived from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and "MacBeth". It certainly performs like the best of epics – the young prince is driven away by a jealous family member only to return and claim his rightful throne. On top of that, Disney was on a role with their comedic timing; the interjection of Timon and Pumbaa really balances the heavy story elements with humor. I especially loved the conversation about the stars – I feel like it's a prime example of bringing levity to an important and heavy story moment. The scene where Rafiki hits Simba over the head to explain how the past works is another great example.
Well-crafted Characters – Simba, Mufasa, Scar, Timon/Pumbaa, Nala, Rafiki, Zazu, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed – each of those characters is very well done. They each fill a role marvelously, and they generate the right feelings. We hate Scar for his treachery while loving Mufasa for his wisdom and power. We feel for Simba when he loses his dad and understand when he makes mistakes. We laugh at Timon and Pumbaa, and we have quite respect for Rafiki. Some movies never establish a reason why we should care about any of the characters, but in The Lion King, they all fill their roles extremely nicely. Well-crafted indeed.
Timon and Pumbaa bring levity.
Terrific Voice-Acting – Of course, the characters are only as good as the actors portraying them. In this case, the actors couldn't have fit their roles any better. I particularly thought Matthew Broderick did a perfect job as Simba. Somehow, his voice still has a boyish quality while being mature. Not sure how that works, but it does, and incredibly well. Of course, James Earl Jones as Mufasa is a stroke of genius. His voice fit Mufasa's persona just as well as Broderick's voice fit Simba's persona. In other words, it was perfect. And Jeremy Irons as Scar is brilliant. The only thing I remember from watching The Lion King in the theater was some guy in the audience yelling, "Scar's an a**hole." That audience member was and is exactly right. Scar is a complete jerk, all thanks to Irons' great voice-acting. I could go on and on – pretty much every voice is amazing.
Meaningful Message – I guess this could be lumped in with the section on story, but I feel it deserves its own attention. I found the movie to be filled with wonderful messages. From Hakuna Matata to responsibility to respecting elders, the film draws attention to several key life lessons everyone would do well to learn. Of course, the "circle of life" is the over-arching message, and it is a good one too. Disney has frequently done a good job of bringing not just a story but a lesson, and this movie accomplishes that in spades.
Simba is analogous to Joseph, Moses and Hamlet.
Some of the Best Movie Music EVER – Well, I already mentioned the 'Diamond' certified soundtrack and multiple awards for best score and song. I feel there isn't much more to say to establish the quality, so I want to draw attention to the three men most responsible for that success. By now, most people probably know Elton John and Tim Rice wrote the songs, and boy did hey annihilate it. 'Hakuna Matata', 'Circle of Life', 'I Just Can't Wait to Be King' and 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' – what a murderer's row of tunes. I bet you can hum most of those just having heard the titles. If that's not enough, Hans Zimmer wrote the score. What??? Hans Zimmer? Yep, Hans Zimmer. He drums up supremely awesome sonic textures in this thing, and it is breathtaking.
In all, The Lion King is an incredible film. Several great elements come together to make the movie what it is, including beautiful visuals, a captivating story, well-crafted characters, a meaningful message and some of the best movie music ever. Most consider it one of the best animated movies ever, and so do I. 8.7/10.
Grant Stevens is a big fan of animated films. He is thoroughly enjoying revisiting Disney's traditionally animated catalog, and he hopes to one day win the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in reviewing these seminal films. While not watching gobs of movies, he enjoys basketball, Halo and learning about apologetics. He is also really into music. Check out his latest musical works at www.grantstevensgroup.com.


text:
Tag: Fukushima
Beyond Japan in the Post-Fukushima World Order: Japan's Gamble on the Asian Nuclear Renaissance
Despite and perhaps directly resulting from the unending crisis in Fukushima, Japan is now aggressively pursuing nuclear supply agreements with emergent nuclear nations across Asia and the Middle East.
Solidarity from Australia: Mullumbimby says NO to India-Japan nuke deal
Japan, one of the world's most technologically advanced countries, could not prevent Fukushima. And India, a country where millions still live below the poverty line, a country with a poor record of safety and corporate responsibility – witness the Bhopal tragedy of 1984, with people still waiting for any compensation, still waiting for decontamination of the site – is happy to accept this failed technology.
Bhopal victims' letter to Japanese PM: stop India-Japan Nuclear Agreement
December 5, 2015 Japan
. Ours is a city in India which has witnessed the world's worst industrial catastrophe. As you may be aware, the disaster,itself a result of criminal neglect by callous profiteers, was only followed by political complacency and administrative apathy. The victims of Bhopal continue to struggle for justice, adequate compensation and proper medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation In our city, we have a commemorative statue of a mother and her child with "No More Bhopal, No More Hiroshima" written beneath it. And in the fifth year of the ongoing disaster in Fukushima, we can identify with the continued suffering and struggles of its residents.
For a nuclear free world: nuclear victims from all over globe to meet in Hiroshima this month
November 3, 2015 Japan, Nuclear Disarmament
In the 70th year of atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the major groups of nuclear victims and civil society organisations have come together to organise a World Nuclear Victims Forum in Hiroshima between 21-23 November. The initiative aims at bringing together radiation victims of uranium mines, nuclear power plants and nuclear test sites from all over the world. The eminent experts and scientists who have worked on the issues related to nuclear victims will also make presentations in the forum.


text:
Lynchview Park plans solidify
See what neighbors will gain when this Centennial neighbored park opens. If you missed the latest open house, you have until April 16 to chime in …
At an open house on the edge of outer East Portland, folks meet to look at plans for the Lynchview Park Project.
Since it was purchased by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), Lynchview Park has simply been several acres of grassy lawn, with few amenities other than a sign noting its presence, placed just west of Patrick Lynch Elementary School.
But, after a nine-month process, the Lynchview Park Advisory Committee has shown off the results of its efforts to select improvements and amenities for the park. It happened at an open house on the evening of April 5, in the nearby elementary school's gym.
Here, examining one of the displays highlighting the new park's playground area, are Russian-speaking community representative Hanna Grishkevich and Spanish community representative Gloria Vilchis – standing with PP&R Bond Community Engagement Maija Spencer, and Lynchview Park Advisory Committee member Amber Stadler.
"Now, Lynchview Park is a wide-open grassy field with a grass soccer field, and nothing else," said PP&R Bond Community Engagement spokesperson Maija Spencer at the open house.
"Tonight is our final public meeting; we've been holding community meetings since last September about how to develop this park," Spencer said. "Here, were showing the final Draft Plan of the improvement project that we'll be building next year, in the summer of 2019.
"And, along the way, we've also had a Project Advisory Committee giving input along the way as well," Spencer told East Portland News.
This PP&R illustration shows improvements to the park.
Amber Stadler, a member of the committee, commented, "The outcome is great; I think this will be a park that serves a community of all different ages.
"I've taken the time to be involved in this project, because it's been a vacant field for so long," Stadler said. "It's going to be exciting, and is going to become a usable space for the community. We can have a nice new public space for people to gather, meet, play, and celebrate our neighborhood."
Here's a closer look at the proposed play area. PP&R illustration
All amenities considered, the main new feature will be a playground.
"It'll be a modern-type playground; it's good to have a large climbing mound, sliding and swinging options, and some interactive water play that kids can manipulate. The park will have 'modern design' playthings that don't tell kids what to do and how to play with them," Spencer remarked.
The play area will likely be similar to playgrounds at the recently-opened Lents Park, and Luuwit View Park in the Argay Terrace neighborhood [click on those links to see stories about each park's grand opening].
A tasty part of public meetings are meals, like this one – with food from Tienda De Leon at NE 167th Avenue and Gleason Street.
PP&R Project Manager Gary Datka said that these park improvements are being paid for with about $1.4 million in funds coming from the 2014 "Parks Replacement Bond", and $1.8 million from Portland Parks & Recreation System Development Charges.
The open house was the last public meeting opportunity for the community to comment the finalizing design. But wait! You can still comment online!
Didn't get to comment on Lynchview Park Project? There's still time to do so, online.
First, check out the PP&R page for this site: CLICK HERE. Then, click on their SurveyMonky page: CLICK HERE, to comment.
And, keep watching next year for the announcement of the grand opening of the finished park.
© 2018 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland NewsTM


Over the years I have been blessed with some extremely keen students who have developed a passion for training their dogs. This passion led them to take a giant leap and enter in the competition ring to exhibit their hard work and incredible bond with their dog. I don't have words to express how proud I am of these dogs and their people and that I could be their mentor in their journey. The following are dogs that have trained their obedience with me exclusively. Congratulations to these hard working students!
Cleo the Standard Schnauzer is an amazing little girl who achieved a Canine Good Neighbour certificate after training with Seriously Dogs Inc. She later moved on to compete in agility and has done very well! Congratulations Heike and Cleo!
After training Lady for only 7 months and completing several levels of training with me, Michelle and Lady achieved a Companion Dog title in the obedience ring their very first time! 3 legs in one weekend for a first timer! Lady is now a seasoned and titled agility dog. I am so proud of the success these two have achieved!
There's nothing like a Shepherd girl, let me tell you! And Brynn is the apple of her momma's eye. Kelly works and works and works with this lucky girl and has learned a skill set and created an everlasting bond that will stand the test of forever. These two are lovely to watch work together and for a first time competitor in the Obedience ring, Kelly holds herself with composure and grace and guides Brynn as if it were a regular training session. That's true talent! With a Companion Dog title and a Canine Good Neighbour they are training for their Companion Dog Excellent and going to show what the can do in the Rally ring soon! I can't wait!!! Way to go you two!
Gunner and Paige are a great team! In their first Rally trial ever, they cleaned up with 3 legs in one weekend and high in class with near perfect scores of 98-97-98 and earned Gunner the title of Rally Novice! Check out Paige & Gunner doing their routine here. When I see these two I beam with joy and honour that I was able to guide them to their achievements. There's more coming so watch out for these two!
Who says you can't train a Husky? Sara adopted Ryder from death row when he was just 6 months because he was "untrainable" and "out of control". He was an extreme handful, but Sara buckled down with her boy and has achieved a level of obedience that puts even the super trainable Labradors to shame. With that sassy Sibe attitude Ryder is always full of surprises, but he achieved his Rally Novice and almost passed his Companion Dog! More to come from this rescued boy that no one wanted! What an awesome team.
Pisco is a jack of all trades with a dad who got bitten by the "working bug". Pisco originally trained for Search & Disaster work and achieved his goal of IRO certification Rubble A. This test required extensive obedience training very similar to Schutzhund obedience requirements. Pisco had a bit of a hard time in the very beginning getting motivated to do the searching, but we thought about it and chose to use Schutzhund techniques for a bark and hold to bring out the drive. It worked!! And once Pisco was searching the rest was history. Pisco also achieved a Schutzhund Begleithund title. All of Jason's obedience was taught with me. Pisco is Jason's first dog. How bout that, eh?
Bear and Gabby had quite the journey together as Bear was not an "easy dog" to raise. But Gabby proved her dedication to her boy and trained like mad! Bear achieved his Canine Good Neighbour. Check out his test in this video! Hats off to you Gabby for being an amazing doggy momma to a special and amazing boy.
Bella's mom, Mea took her job seriously from the very start. She wanted an ambassador for her breed and that's what she got in Bella. Mea and Bella worked very hard and achieved at just 23 mo. old! Congratulations Mea and Bella. You two are beautiful!
Caryl and The Amazing Morgan are a force to be reckoned with!! I can not take credit for Caryl's amazing training ability, but she and I train together and help each other out. You always need a training buddy to point out what you're doing wrong! I am very lucky to have some of the training partners that I do. Morgan is going to eventually have every title that ever there was if Caryl keeps doing what she's doing!!
Keeva is a "jack of all trades" one might say. She's competed in conformation and Rally-O; is training for field work and SAR. She is a high spirited, wonderfully tempered dog who will continue to do well in all that she does!
Keeva took all her foundation obedience with me.


Dealing with skin discoloration and an uneven skin tone can cause the skin to lack radiance and luster. This soap helps to tone and brighten the skin. For maximum benefit, it is best when purchased with the skin brightening kit.