text:
Peter V. Brett (born February 8, 1973) is an American fantasy novelist. He is the author of the Demon Cycle, whose first volume was published in the UK by HarperCollins's Voyager imprint in 2008 as The Painted Man and in the US by Del Rey Books as The Warded Man.

Early life
Peter Brett studied English Literature and Art History at the University at Buffalo, graduating in 1995, after which he spent more than ten years working in the pharmaceutical publication field before writing full-time. He developed an interest in fantasy from an early age.

Career
Brett wrote his 2008 novel The Painted Man (The Warded Man in the US) and much of his second novel on his HP iPaq 6515 while on the New York City subway.

The novel takes place on a formerly advanced civilization world that has now been reduced to a dark age by the attacks of demons known as Corelings. These are powerful beings with magical abilities and differing elemental natures, and each night they emerge from the planet's core to feed on humans, who must take care to be indoors before dark. Against this backdrop the three main characters Arlen, Leesha, and Rojer, pass into maturity and begin individual quests to bring an end to the terror. The book and its sequels have been translated into twenty three languages, including German, French, Greek, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Chinese, Dutch, Korean, Estonian, Turkish, Italian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, Brazilian Portuguese and Danish.

In The Desert Spear two men are claimed by their own followers to be humanity's prophesied Deliverer. One is Arlen Bales, formerly of a small hamlet who, after many hard lessons, has become the Warded Man (so called because he has covered himself in demon-warding runes). Another contender is a desert warrior, a former friend and betrayer of Arlen, who carries a mystical spear (stolen from Arlen) and heads a vast army intent on a holy war against the demons and anyone else who stands in the way.

Brett's novellas include the 2010 book The Great Bazaar and Other Stories, the 2011 book Brayan's Gold, and the 2014 book Messenger's Legacy.

The Demon Cycle novel has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.

Personal life
Brett lives in Manhattan with his wife Lauren and his daughters Cassandra and Sirena. He also enjoys comics and role playing games.

Bibliography

The Demon Cycle
 The Painted Man (UK title; Voyager, 1 September 2008) (US title The Warded Man; Del Rey, March 2009)
 The Desert Spear (Del Rey March 27, 2010)
 The Daylight War (February 12, 2013)
 The Skull Throne (March 31, 2015)
 The Core (October 3, 2017)
Novellas
 The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold (2015)
(Takes place during "The Painted Man")
 Messenger's Legacy (2014)
(Takes place between "Daylight War" and "The Skull Throne")
 Barren (2018)
(Takes place during "The Core", with significant flashbacks to before "The Painted Man")
Short Story
 Mudboy, included in Unfettered from Grim Oak Press (May 2013) (Included in "Messenger's Legacy" Novella)

The Nightfall Saga
Set 15 years after The Core
 The Desert Prince (August 3, 2021)
 The Hidden Queen
 TBD

Comic Books
Red Sonja:
 Red Sonja: Unchained, published by Dynamite Comics (March 19, 2014)

References

External links

 Video interview on YouTube
 Brett at Fantasy Literature

1973 births
Living people
21st-century American novelists
American fantasy writers
American male novelists
Writers from New Rochelle, New York
University at Buffalo alumni
Writers from Manhattan
21st-century American male writers
Novelists from New York (state)


text:
Retired World Projects
Magic: The RPG
[Greel] Debts Unpaid
This thread was automatically marked as Locked.
#176 Sep 13, 2011
Cyouni
Non-Staff Quasi-Mod
World Project Leader
Silver Will, Golden Wings
Yes, you may ask. I have prodded, and I'll see if I get any result. Certain things may happen if I don't. (I will make the quest a little easier, as well.)
The akki looks at Talnin as though he's an idiot.
z00t
Talnin puts the gag back on the Akki.
"You know, he's much better this way!" Talnin says to Uldran with a satisfied grin.
"I saw a path earlier through the mountains that takes us away from both the bandits and these caves. I wouldn't mind going there, except...I wouldn't know what to do with our prisoner over here. "
A slight pause.
"So I'm thinking of something really crazy right now. Did you see that their leader wasn't shooting the griffin that you and I were on, Uldran?" Talnin says to the vampire. "These must not be like normal goblins - maybe their kin mean more than I thought. And you saw how loyal these guys are to their 'boss'. We've got to at least try to reason with him. He seems to call all the shots here, maybe he will understand that we only defended ourselves if we only get the chance to talk to him."
Talnin takes the captured Akki, making sure he's still bound by rope, and heads back into the cave. His movement is cautious, but he does not slink about in the shadows - he wants the Akki to know that he knows they know he's here.
Although he still holds the captured Akki in front of him with one hand for good measure. His other hand is raised, attempting to not look threatening.
"I'd like to speak to your boss...please." Talnin calls into the cavern.
The akki that'd been throwing fire at them earlier comes out of the darkness, stopping halfway up the tunnel. No other akki are visible.
The akki leader eyes the prisoner, then looks directly at Talnin.
"Why're you back?"
Anaklusmos
When Talnin began heading out with the akki, Uldran thought momentarily of stopping him.
However, he quickly realized that they didn't really have any better options, so he followed behind, but far enough so that he wouldn't interrupt Talnin's plan.
The realization that this was their best shot made him shake his head though. He wasn't thrilled with their position.
Unsure of what to do, Uldran cloaks himself and hides in the shadows, generating a bit of mana just in case.
"This better work you crazy human." he mutters under his breath.
[Unlike Yours, [The Family]'s Uncle Isn't Creepy]
Quote from Seppel »
Anaklusmos at one point asked me if it meant there was or wasn't a cop role in the game and I responded with "yes."
Talnin gulps.
"We don't want to fight - you have us outnumbered and we have come back with this fellow here when we could have escaped." Although Talnin couldn't see any other Akki, he was fairly certain that the cave was still full of them, if not lurking in the darkness immediately behind the leader.
Talnin lets the captured Akki go in what he hopes the Akki leader will appreciate as a sign of good faith.
"I'm sorry that we had to do what we did, but please understand that it was only in self-defence. None of us would kill in cold blood!" Despite his words though, he was admittedly uncertain about Uldran.
"We were just trying to find someone like you - someone who knows these parts - to help us find a goblin we are looking for. We weren't looking for trouble."
Last edited by z00t: Sep 23, 2011
Uldran went from feeling hopeless to skeptical. Talnin was coming across and genuine. He also hadn't been killed yet. Although he wasn't sure which was a bigger point in his favor.
That being said, Uldran didn't move from his spot. He generated a bit more mana, enough to buy them some time if everything went south. At least, that's what he hopes.
"And I would never kill in cold blood. It tastes terrible." chuckling to himself quietly. He would have to tell Talnin that one, Uldran's sure he would appreciate it.
Oh, dear. Why, oh, why did you have to start drawing mana?
Two d20 rolls from Anak. First one with no modifier, second one with -2.
Dice Roller2 D20s rolled
Dice Roller1 D20 rolled
then 2 less. I don't know how to do the - modifier.
EDIT: Oh, dear
Before the Akki leader responds, Talnin feels a palpable tinge around him - the unmistakable sense of mana being drawn. This particular tinge was one that Talnin was familiar with.
"Hey, cut that out!" Talnin says hushed, but urgently to Uldran.
OOC: Oh dear. 0_0
OOC: Not sure if this is in time, or if I am allowed to do this, but will try it anyway.
"Fine!" Uldran stubbornly admits, and releases his mana. However, he is still watching over Talnin, just in case something goes wrong.
"If you're not looking for trouble, then what was with that?"
The goblin leader points at Uldran, obviously having sensed the drawing of mana. A single pinpoint of red mana swirls lazily around his finger, waiting for release.
1x Mountain
Uldran steps out of the shadows, hands raised. He REALLY didn't want the situation to get any worse than it was.
"I'm sorry, " he says softly. "I just wanted to make sure we had a bit of protection in case you weren't willing to listen. We truly mean you no harm."
#188 Oct 3, 2011
"He's just a little jittery is all!" Talnin says apologetically and raises his own hands to try and reassure the Akki leader. "We're only looking for that goblin. If there's anything at all you know that could help us, that's all we're asking for."
"What. Goblin?"
#190 Oct 10, 2011
"Um....he'd be like one of you, but he's not from...these parts. He's from very far away. He would have looked very weird. He wouldn't have had a shell on his back like you, for one thing, and he may have had really big ears."
Talnin notices that the Akki have pretty small ears, so he pinches the tips of his own ears and pulls them, for effect.
The akki leader's eyes narrow. "And what would you want with this goblin if I did know?"
OOC: Just want to see if Uldran wants to say anything before I do :p.
Uldran's eyes flick over to Talnin, in a I have no idea what's the right answer kind of way.
Considering he is already on extremely thin ice, he is hoping that Talnin catches his drift and answers for him. Last thing they need is for this to get any worse.
Last edited by Anaklusmos: Oct 19, 2011
"He stole something from some people back home, I...think you can figure out the rest."
Seeing the Akki leader's wariness, Talnin continues: "I don't know for sure if you guys are in league with the bandits in these parts, but from what I've seen today, you're not quite like them or I probably wouldn't be talking to you right now."
Turning them against their enemy, I like that. Uldran is impressed by Talnin's quick thinking, although doesn't show it beyond a thin smile.
Maybe there is something beyond this human than complete naivete.
OOC: Talnin's not actually that calculating - he's just a 'good' guy at heart and was brought up with certain values...he is a White mage, after all. Of course, that could also be Uldran's Black worldview influencing his perception of other peoples' actions in terms he understands :p.
OOC: You nailed it on the head there at the end. I try to act and think as he would, and not as how I would. I'm not great at it haha but I try.
#198 Dec 23, 2011
The tile in Talnin's pocket shatters unbidden, and a portal opens up next to the two. Greel stands at the other end. "We have an urgent issue. Return immediately. You can continue this later."
Before either get the chance to speak, they're pulled through the portal, landing back in Greel's office. The Mind Raker wastes no time in dragging their current results from their mind. "Not bad. At least you have a lead." A small pouch of gold is slid across the table. "For now, take this as a reward."
Quest closed temporarily. Both of you get get 3 XP and 75 gold for now, with options to resume at a later date.
"House Shimia has been destroyed."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


To clean, use a soft-bristle brush to remove excess dirt from leather and textile.
For additional cleaning, conditioning and protection, apply a saddle soap to leather.
To fortify your boots against the elements treat leather and textile with a protectant spray.


Christina Wolbrecht is associate professor of political science and director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame. She received her Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Wolbrecht's areas of expertise include American politics, political parties, gender and politics, and American political development. She is the co-author, with J. Kevin Corder, of Counting Women's Ballots: Female Voters from Suffrage through the New Deal (Cambridge 2016), a project supported by the National Science Foundation. She also is the author of The Politics of Women's Rights: Parties, Positions, and Change (Princeton 2000), which received the 2001 Leon D. Epstein Outstanding Book Award from the Political Organizations and Parties section of APSA. Wolbrecht's work on party position-taking, women as political role models, the representation of women, and support for political institutions has appeared in journals including Perspectives on Politics, American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and Legislative Studies Quarterly. She has co-edited books on the American political parties, women as political actors, and democratic inclusion.
Wolbrecht is a co-editor of Cambridge Studies in Gender and Politics for Cambridge University Press, and serves or has served on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, and Politics & Gender. She has been active in the discipline, chairing or serving on a number of APSA, MPSA, and SPSA committees and caucuses. Wolbrecht is an editorial board member of the #WomenAlsoKnowStuff initiative.
The APSA should serve the interests of all of its members, at every stage of their careers, in every kind of position, and at every type of institution. I am particularly committed to improving APSA's efforts on behalf of under-represented groups in our discipline, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and LGBT scholars. Key issues facing our discipline and profession include challenges to academic freedom, tenure, and research funding, the impact of technological innovation on both teaching and research, and new opportunities for effective and meaningful public engagement. APSA should be at the forefront of defending and advancing its members' interests on all of these issues.


I'm super lucky, because I've loved my town since I first laid eyes on it. In many ways, it chose me first.
But ever since then, I've chosen it over and over again, and I feel rooted here. But when I read this book, I realized that my roots aren't nearly as deep as they could be.
And I liked the book so much, I didn't even mind the discovery that I still had a lot of work to do.
This book is a wonderfully pleasant mash-up of personal narrative and handbook.
As the book begins, Warnick and her family are on the verge of moving to Blacksburg, Virginia, after several moves in their recent past. And she's decided to love where she lives.
So she does the research, and then she walks the walk.
It's rather Happiness Project-esque, and coming from me, that's a huge compliment.
Warnick is a cheerful guide through the ways a person can become more attached and more fond of her community. I liked hanging out with her in these pages.
And I was impressed by the work she did to connect herself to her new city.
Though occasionally I longed for introvert-friendly variations on some of the steps. I just gotta tell you: There ain't no way I'm inviting everyone on my block to my home for dinner anytime soon.
But many of the tips are easy and fun.
Each chapter concludes with a "Love Your City Checklist," and while some of the stuff I'm not doin', I was glad to have some items to put on the to-do list.
And I walked the walk a little bit, too… literally.
I walked (walking is one of the ways to love your city) to a locally owned cafe (buying local: that's another way) that's a few blocks from my house, and I sat in the shade and looked at the sunshine on the old buildings, and I ate wonderful food and I read my book.
This is what it looked like, and it was heaven.
So this book offers tips for people who already love where they live — you can always take it up a notch — but especially for those who don't feel particularly connected to their town.
So, good people… What do you love most about where you live?
I have been meaning to read this book. I have never felt settled no matter where I am so this will be interesting.
I live on Long Island New York. While my home has its downsides I really do love it. Staying engaged on multiple levels is a good way to go.
This sounds like such a great book. I moved to my city for college, but I didn't feel connected to it until my senior year, when I did an internship with the local tourism bureau. I learned so much about the city, and they sent me around to a bunch of different cultural institutions. When I finally got off campus and saw what the city had to offer, and the incredible transformation it's been going through over the last few years, I fell in love. Four years later, I still live here, and I really love living in an urban neighborhood within walking and biking distance of restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques, free outdoor fitness classes, and street festivals. I think engaging with the treasures your community has to offer is key to loving where you live!
Hillary — I'll be eager to hear how it goes! I've been experimenting with small steps, and it seems to make a difference.
Brian — This concept really appeals to me, too. The whole "bloom where you're planted" thing. Plus: historical research can be a big part of it!
Leah — So true! It's great to hear how your experience matches with so many of the recommendations in the book.


text:
Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae): genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe
Jian Gao, Pei Chun Liao, Bing Hong Huang, Tao Yu, Yu Yang Zhang, Jun Qing Li
Department of Life Science
Biogeography is the study of where, when, and how modern species evolved and diversified. Acer L. (maple) is one of the most diverse and widespread genera in the Northern Hemisphere. It comprises 124–156 species in the world, approximately 80% species of Acer are native in Asia. The current diversity center of Acer is not congruent with the distribution of the oldest fossils of the genus. Therefore, we herein used 84 species and subspecies to reconstruct the phylogeny and investigate the biogeographic history of Acer using nuclear ITS and three cpDNA fragments (psbA-trnH spacer, rpl16 intron, and trnL-trnF spacer) with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The analyses showed that the current diversity center and the origin center of Acer is Asia. Additionally, the North American and Euro-Mediterranean species originated from multiple sources from Asia via the North Atlantic Land Bridge and the Bering Land Bridge, and intercontinental migration has mainly occurred since the Miocene. This study not only provides a novel insight of the origin and dispersal routes of Acer but also exemplifies how past climatic changes affect the diversification-rates of Northern Hemisphere forest trees.
Published - 2020 Dec
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae): genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Sapindaceae Medicine & Life Sciences
Acer Medicine & Life Sciences
North America Medicine & Life Sciences
Northern Asia Medicine & Life Sciences
Bayes Theorem Medicine & Life Sciences
Forests Medicine & Life Sciences
Phylogeny Medicine & Life Sciences
Introns Medicine & Life Sciences
Gao, J., Liao, P. C., Huang, B. H., Yu, T., Zhang, Y. Y., & Li, J. Q. (2020). Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae): genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe. Scientific reports, 10(1), [21178]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78145-0
Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae) : genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe. / Gao, Jian; Liao, Pei Chun; Huang, Bing Hong; Yu, Tao; Zhang, Yu Yang; Li, Jun Qing.
In: Scientific reports, Vol. 10, No. 1, 21178, 12.2020.
Gao, J, Liao, PC, Huang, BH, Yu, T, Zhang, YY & Li, JQ 2020, 'Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae): genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe', Scientific reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 21178. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78145-0
Gao J, Liao PC, Huang BH, Yu T, Zhang YY, Li JQ. Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae): genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe. Scientific reports. 2020 Dec;10(1). 21178. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78145-0
Gao, Jian ; Liao, Pei Chun ; Huang, Bing Hong ; Yu, Tao ; Zhang, Yu Yang ; Li, Jun Qing. / Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae) : genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe. In: Scientific reports. 2020 ; Vol. 10, No. 1.
@article{b11095bc960e4723a6b5c260ffe94ec3,
title = "Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae): genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe",
abstract = "Biogeography is the study of where, when, and how modern species evolved and diversified. Acer L. (maple) is one of the most diverse and widespread genera in the Northern Hemisphere. It comprises 124–156 species in the world, approximately 80% species of Acer are native in Asia. The current diversity center of Acer is not congruent with the distribution of the oldest fossils of the genus. Therefore, we herein used 84 species and subspecies to reconstruct the phylogeny and investigate the biogeographic history of Acer using nuclear ITS and three cpDNA fragments (psbA-trnH spacer, rpl16 intron, and trnL-trnF spacer) with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The analyses showed that the current diversity center and the origin center of Acer is Asia. Additionally, the North American and Euro-Mediterranean species originated from multiple sources from Asia via the North Atlantic Land Bridge and the Bering Land Bridge, and intercontinental migration has mainly occurred since the Miocene. This study not only provides a novel insight of the origin and dispersal routes of Acer but also exemplifies how past climatic changes affect the diversification-rates of Northern Hemisphere forest trees.",
author = "Jian Gao and Liao, {Pei Chun} and Huang, {Bing Hong} and Tao Yu and Zhang, {Yu Yang} and Li, {Jun Qing}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Shi-Yao Chai from Baotou Teachers{\textquoteright} College for her insightful comments on this paper. We also gratefully thank Editage (www.editage.cn) for English language editing. This research was financially supported by the program "The biogeographical feature and competitive hybridization of Maple (Acer L.) in East Asia" of National Natural Science Foundation of China (41901063) and Research Program of Science and Technology at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (NJZZ19185) to Jian Gao, "Reintroduction Technologies and Demonstration of Extremely Rare Wild Plant Population" of National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFC0503106) to Jun-Qing Li, and Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan (MOST 108-2628-B-003-001) to Pei-Chun Liao. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
doi = "10.1038/s41598-020-78145-0",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
T1 - Historical biogeography of Acer L. (Sapindaceae)
T2 - genetic evidence for Out-of-Asia hypothesis with multiple dispersals to North America and Europe
AU - Gao, Jian
AU - Liao, Pei Chun
AU - Huang, Bing Hong
AU - Yu, Tao
AU - Zhang, Yu Yang
AU - Li, Jun Qing
N1 - Funding Information: We thank Shi-Yao Chai from Baotou Teachers' College for her insightful comments on this paper. We also gratefully thank Editage (www.editage.cn) for English language editing. This research was financially supported by the program "The biogeographical feature and competitive hybridization of Maple (Acer L.) in East Asia" of National Natural Science Foundation of China (41901063) and Research Program of Science and Technology at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (NJZZ19185) to Jian Gao, "Reintroduction Technologies and Demonstration of Extremely Rare Wild Plant Population" of National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFC0503106) to Jun-Qing Li, and Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan (MOST 108-2628-B-003-001) to Pei-Chun Liao. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
N2 - Biogeography is the study of where, when, and how modern species evolved and diversified. Acer L. (maple) is one of the most diverse and widespread genera in the Northern Hemisphere. It comprises 124–156 species in the world, approximately 80% species of Acer are native in Asia. The current diversity center of Acer is not congruent with the distribution of the oldest fossils of the genus. Therefore, we herein used 84 species and subspecies to reconstruct the phylogeny and investigate the biogeographic history of Acer using nuclear ITS and three cpDNA fragments (psbA-trnH spacer, rpl16 intron, and trnL-trnF spacer) with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The analyses showed that the current diversity center and the origin center of Acer is Asia. Additionally, the North American and Euro-Mediterranean species originated from multiple sources from Asia via the North Atlantic Land Bridge and the Bering Land Bridge, and intercontinental migration has mainly occurred since the Miocene. This study not only provides a novel insight of the origin and dispersal routes of Acer but also exemplifies how past climatic changes affect the diversification-rates of Northern Hemisphere forest trees.
AB - Biogeography is the study of where, when, and how modern species evolved and diversified. Acer L. (maple) is one of the most diverse and widespread genera in the Northern Hemisphere. It comprises 124–156 species in the world, approximately 80% species of Acer are native in Asia. The current diversity center of Acer is not congruent with the distribution of the oldest fossils of the genus. Therefore, we herein used 84 species and subspecies to reconstruct the phylogeny and investigate the biogeographic history of Acer using nuclear ITS and three cpDNA fragments (psbA-trnH spacer, rpl16 intron, and trnL-trnF spacer) with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The analyses showed that the current diversity center and the origin center of Acer is Asia. Additionally, the North American and Euro-Mediterranean species originated from multiple sources from Asia via the North Atlantic Land Bridge and the Bering Land Bridge, and intercontinental migration has mainly occurred since the Miocene. This study not only provides a novel insight of the origin and dispersal routes of Acer but also exemplifies how past climatic changes affect the diversification-rates of Northern Hemisphere forest trees.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-78145-0
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-78145-0
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
M1 - 21178


Oil and gas companies in Texas may face a severe shortage of water for their fracking operations if they continue to drill at current rates, according to a new report.
Oil and gas companies in Texas may face a severe shortage of water for their fracking operations if they continue to drill at current rates, especially in the southern part of the state, a report by Boston-based sustainability advocacy group Ceres has shown.
Water consumption for hydraulic fracturing operations varies significantly from county to county, the report found. Although the amount of water used for hydraulic fracturing in the whole state accounts for less than 1 percent of its total water use, in McMullen County, where the population is below 1,000, the amount of water used for fracking in 2012 was larger than the amount used in the entire county in 2011. In several other counties, the use of water for fracking in 2012 represented at least at 50 percent of the county's water usage in 2011.
In counties located in the southern part of the state, where production is increasing in the Eagle Ford Shale and new wells are being drilled on a daily basis, the use of water for fracking in 2012 seems alarming, according to the Texas Tribune.
Overall figures for water consumption in Texas counties for 2012 have not yet been published by the Texas Water Development Board, but predictions are for higher figures than in 2011. The increase is expected mostly because of a pickup in fracking activity on the one hand and a rise in population on the other.


That being said, the only option I have is Vitamin E. It costs $150.00 a tube. All I want at this point is to find a natural way to feel better so I can become more active. I don't want to be put on man made medications to cover up the problem. I want to be healthier overall.
I was taking 3 ibuprofen a day and it was working great, but my doctor said it was terrible for my liver, so I stopped. What do I do now to at least make exercising less painful?
I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering with morphea and other painful symptoms.
Please note that I have no medical training, apart from an out of date first aid certificate and a fondness for telling my medical team how to do their job. However, although we do have a medical page on Alternative Treatments I would advise consulting a scleroderma expert who can give you more specific advice on treatment and ways to help you improve your fitness and quality of life. With such a complex disease as scleroderma, you do need to consult someone with specialist knowledge and expertise and although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen do have their place, I think they really should be taken under the supervision of your consultant, particularly as you have other health problems as well.
I'm not keen on taking a lot of medication (prior to having scleroderma, I seldom took even an aspirin) but I very soon realised that without suitable medication I would be very ill, or even dead, which tends to concentrate the mind wonderfully. Eight years on and my symptoms have stablised and settled down, due in part, I'm sure to the conventional medications I take.
Welcome to Sclero Forums! I'm sorry you have morphea and other health issues, too. Like Jo, I also have no medical training at all.
I just thought you may also want to look into UVA1 Phototherapy, which is now widely considered to be the first line therapy for morphea.
It's very noninvasive. It's like a tanning booth, but available only in some dermatology offices. Treatments are only a matter of seconds. The major side effect is getting a nice tan, but because it is also a form of sun exposure, regular full body skin exams are part of the treatment program.
Exercise can get difficult with any sort of chronic illness. If you have a warm pool available, you might want to try out gentle pool exercises, or even just floating in a warm pool, for pain relief. It's amazing how comforting it can be for many people, and especially for arthritis-type pain. And of course, a scleroderma expert who treats morphea is always nice to have on your team, but they are few and far between in the U.S. but a good dermatologist with interest in skin diseases (not just cosmetic procedures) and a UVA1 phototherapy booth might be quite helpful.


This message is generated by the Apache web server and is usually just informative, but can sometimes help to reveal if malicious persons are looking for vulnerabilities on your server that they can exploit.
This message is telling the server administrator that a client, for example a web browser, search engine spider or vulnerability scanning tool, has requested a resource that is not accessible to them.
Drupal makes use of .htaccess files in directories where content is not expected to e served directly and those .htaccess files contain instructions to block direct access to the resources stored in those directories and this will result in this error appearing in your error logs when a request is submitted for a resource in a directory that is protected in this way.


text:
« All My Tweets For the Week Ending 2010-10-10
All My Tweets For the Week Ending 2010-10-24 »
Towards a "canon of publishing"
Oct 22, 2010 //
As part of my talk at this year's Books in Browser's conference hosted at the Internet Archive, I discussed the creative possibilities of a Canon. Over the last few months, I've unscientifically, and completely biased-ly approached a number of smart people involved in publishing and the hacking of books to make suggestions about titles to include.
Here's the current big list as it stands. Where possible, I've included a link to the file to read (and a 'gray' copies of some of the shorter texts).
Have a suggestion? Add it as a comment to this post and I'll add it. Then, on December 1st, I'll be opening the list up to an (unscientific) polling process to see if we can whittle down the list to a smaller core selection of works.
So without adieu.
Proposed works to include in a Canon of Publishing
Anderson, Chris. 2004. "The long tail" in Wired Magazine. New York: Hyperion. (external link)
Christensen, Clayton M. 2003. The innovator's dilemma: the revolutionary book that will changed the way you do business. New York: HarperCollins.
Lessig, Lawrence. 2004. Free culture: how big media uses technology and the law to lock down culture and control creativity. New York: Penguin Press. (external link to download)
Levitt, Ted. 1960. "Marketing Myopia" in the Harvard Business Review. (pdf)
Simon, Herbert. 1971. "Designing Organizations for an Information-Rich World" inComputer, Communications and the Public Interest, Johns Hopkins University Press.
Gill, Eric. 1936. An essay on typography. London: Sheed & Ward.
McCloud, Scott. 1994. Understanding comics: the invisible art. New York: HarperPerennial.
Warde, Beatrice. 1955. The Crystal Goblet. (pdf)
Bradbury, Ray. 1953. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Balzac, Honore´ de. 1901. Lost illusions. London: Privately printed for members of the Society of English Bibliophilists. (Ellen Marriage, Translator) (external link)
Borges, Jorge Luis. 1964. Labyrinths; selected stories & other writings. New York: New Directions Pub. Corp.
Cortazar, Julio. 1963. Hopscotch. Dewey. (Gregory Rabassa, translator)
Doctorow, Cory. 2006. Printcrime. (external link)
Miller, Walter M. 1975. A Canticle for Leibowitz. Boston: Gregg Press.
Sloan, Robin. 2009. Mr. Penumbra's Twenty-Four-Hour Book Store. (external link)
Stephenson, Neal. 1995. The Diamond Age, or, Young lady's illustrated primer. New York: Bantam Books.
Vinge, Vernor. 2006. Rainbows end. New York: Tor.
Hustwit, Gary. 2007. Helvetica. (external link)
Pakula, Alan. 1976. All the President's Men. (external link)
Welles, Orson. 1941. Citizen Kane. (external link)
Web and New Media Publications
Codex Sinaiticus Project. (http://www.codex-sinaiticus.net)
Joyce, Michael. 1987. afternoon: a story. Eastgate Systems
Pullinger, Kate, and Chris Joseph. Inanimate Alice. (http://www.inanimatealice.com/)
Wikimedia. Wikipedia. (http://www.wikipedia.org)
Media, Reading, & Writing
Adams, Lisa, and John Heath. 2007. Why we read what we read: a delightfully opinionated journey through contemporary bestsellers. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks.
Anderson, Benedict R. O'G. 1991. Imagined communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. London: Verso.
Benjamin, Walter. 1923. Task of the Translator. (Harry Zohn, Translator) (pdf)
Benjamin, Walter. 1931. Unpacking my Library. (Harry Zohn, Translator) (pdf)
Benjamin, Walter. 1936. Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. (Harry Zohn, Translator) (pdf)
Bolter, J. David. 1991. Writing space: the computer, hypertext, and the history of writing. Hillsdale, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Fitzpatrick, Kathleen. 2006. The anxiety of obsolescence: the American novel in the age of television. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press.
Illich, Ivan, and Barry Sanders. 1988. ABC: the alphabetization of the popular mind. San Francisco: North Point Press.
Innis, Harrold. 1949. The bias of communication. Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science, 15(4), 457–476. University of Toronto Press. (pdf)
Lanham, Richard A. 2007. The economics of attention: style and substance in the age of information. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lethem, Jonathan. Feb 2007. "The Ecstasy of Influence" in Harper's Magazine. New York. Vol. 314, Iss. 1881; p. 59. (pdf)
Levy, Steven. November 26, 2007. "The Future of Reading" in Newsweek. (external link)
McArthur, Tom. 1986. Worlds of reference: lexicography, learning, and language from the clay tablet to the computer. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press.
McLuhan, Marshall. 1964. Understanding media; the extensions of man. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Meyrowitz, Joshua. 1985. No sense of place: the impact of electronic media on social behavior. New York: Oxford University Press.
Ong, Walter J. 1982. Orality and literacy: the technologizing of the word. London: Methuen.
Popper, Karl R. 1972. Objective knowledge; an evolutionary approach. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Arnold, Bruce. 1992. The scandal of Ulysses: the sensational life of a twentieth-century masterpiece. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Bennett, Paul A. 1963. Books and printing; a treasury for typophiles. Cleveland: World Pub. Co.
Chappell, Warren, and Robert Bringhurst. 1999. A short history of the printed word. Point Roberts, WA: Hartley & Marks Publishers.
Cerf, Bennett. 2002. At Random: the reminiscences of Bennett Cerf. New York: Random House.
Eisenstein, Elizabeth L. 1983. The printing revolution in early modern Europe. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press.
Epstein, Jason. March 1, 1990. "The Decline and Rise of Publishing" in the New York Review of Books. (pdf)
Epstein, Jason. April 27, 2000. "The Rattle of Pebbles" in the New York Review of Books. (pdf)
Epstein, Jason. 2001. Book business: publishing past, present, and future. New York: W.W. Norton.
Febvre, Lucien Paul Victor, and Henri-Jean Martin. 1976. The coming of the book: the impact of printing 1450-1800. The foundations of history library. London: N.L.B.
Greco, Albert N., Clara E. Rodriguez, and Robert M. Wharton. 2007. The culture and commerce of publishing in the 21st century. Stanford, Calif: Stanford Business Books.
Miller, Russell. 1998. Magnum: fifty years at the front line of history. New York: Grove Press.
Owen, David. 2004. Copies in seconds: how a lone inventor and an unknown company created the biggest communication breakthrough since Gutenberg : Chester Carlson and the birth of the Xerox machine. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Potter, Clarkson N. 1990. Who does what and why in book publishing. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Pub. Group.
Ransom, Will. 1929. Private presses and their books. New York: R.R. Bowker company.
Rogers, W. G. 1965. Wise men fish here: the story of Frances Steloff and the Gotham Book Mart. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World.
Silverman, Al. 2008. The time of their lives: the golden age of great American book publishers, their editors, and authors. New York: Truman Talley Books.
Shatzkin, Leonard. 1982. In cold type: overcoming the book crisis. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Striphas, Theodore G. 2009. The late age of print: everyday book culture from consumerism to control. New York: Columbia University Press. (external link to download)
Thompson, John B. 2010. Merchants of culture: the publishing business in the twenty-first century. Cambridge: Polity.
Unwin, Sir Stanley. 1946. The truth about publishing. London: G. Allen & Unwin Ltd. (internet archive)
Bush, Vannevar. 1945. As We May Think. The Atlantic.
Raymond, Eric. 1999. The Cathedral and the Bazaar. O'Reilly.
Pool, Ithiel de Sola. 1983. Technologies of freedom. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press.
Chris Kubica says:
http://gettingreal.37signals.com/toc.php for the design section
Fresh news The book industry is trying to get a good read on its future | wikiread blog says:
[…] for some time, and Matthew Bernius from RIT, who closed the conference with the presentation of a canon of publishing, continue to lead a vanguard that increasingly has less and less to do with what's happening in […]


Our Orsett funeral directors was established in 1820. Formerly known as A G Butler, we are proud to have been of service to generations of local families for 97 years.
It is our duty at W Howard & Son to give your loved one a unique and dignified farewell, and to make sure that you and your family have our have our undivided attention and support after the loss of someone dear to you. Please do not hesitate to contact our compassionate team.
Call us today on 01375 891238 to talk through your personal requirements.
At W Howard & Son Funeral Directors, we understand how special life is with those that you love. For us, every funeral is unique and personal. We have a service to fulfil every wish, with every detail carried out with the same uncompromising quality of care. From a traditional service, to a colourful woodland burial, your options are limitless with our Full Service Funeral. If you have a little more flexibility when it comes to arrangements, then we can provide a Simple Funeral for a lower cost.
There is paid car parking available behind the branch or on surrounding streets.
We are located opposite village green.
Our staff are available 24 hours a day on 01375 891238 if you require our services outside of these hours.
Excellent service received from the initial conversation to the cremation and beyond.


Whenever a seller on Ebay claims they have some really old, awesome, stuff in unused condition, I put on my sleuthing hat. I naturally doubt statements like, "found in an attic at my dead uncle's house. He never wore any of the clothes he bought, so it's brand new!" or "I knocked down a wall in my new home and found the world's most pristine collection of Battle Beasts." I just don't buy it.
So where do I stand on this Marvelman/Miracleman shirt? Dude says he bought a store and this was one of the stock items he found. Unused. Hm. Certainly seems old. But the seller's name is Toastedbudman. Doesn't make him seem like the most reputable character. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine there being such a demand for Marvelman merch that someone would go to the trouble of bootlegging it now.
Either way, this shirt is a cool piece of crap for very little money. Pick it up and if it happens to NOT be the genuine article, just keep the lie alive.
Comments Off on Am I Too Skeptical?
I try not to swear on this site, but holy fn' sh!t.
Over 20 boxes of comics, with a .98 cents starting bid. Wow. Including issues 1-24 of Miracleman. That's right, a complete run of Miracleman. Double wow. It almost doesn't even matter what else is in this massive lot of comics, that right there is money in the bank for the seller. In fact, I almost want to say he should be either focusing on that more in his description (it's just kind of sandwiched in the middle of a GIGANTIC list of comics), or he should have listed them as a separate auction.
Shipping this is going to be the death of somebody, I just know it. Whether it's the seller having a massive heart attack while packaging everything, or the buyer when he sees what's left of his bank account, I haven't decided yet… hopefully whoever wins lives close enough to go pick everything up. That's gotta be preferable for both sides.
Whatever happens, this is definitely a COLOSSAL auction worth keeping an eye on.
Comments Off on Boom: Instant Comic Collection.
When I sold my Miracleman collection 5 years ago, I got $300 for graphic novel collection of the first 3 issues, plus an additional 3 issues and a copy of Kimota! the Miracleman Companion.
It wasn't worth it. I really miss them. But it was probably worth it for whoever bought them from me. Whoever wins this auction for the complete run of the series will undoubtedly pay much more than $300, but they will definitely be just as worth it for them as it was for the guy who bought mine.
Oh, that's right, I was recovering from surgery and couldn't work and need money for necessities like food.
I should have just starved.


Are you dissatisfied with your current job? Do you want to give it a switch? Have you heard about the role and responsibility of business analyst? Considering the rise in demand of business analysts, QA BA Training has come up with an intensive practical course for aspirants looking for job as BA. Starting from requirements gathering to testing, the course covers it all. The course content lays emphasis on learning practical techniques and tools that can be used almost immediately. Primary techniques – both Object and Structured Oriented are well taken care of. When you get enroll for BA Training Chicago with us, you will get a hard copy of a Job Aids booklet and course material comprising guidelines, glossary, examples and useful templates.
We along with our team of highly industry experienced professionals strive hard to impart the best possible knowledge required in the field of business analyst. So, far we have been successful in this endeavor of ours. Our course lays emphasis not only on theory aspect but also on practical classes without which learning will not help much. We aim to impart in our candidates strategic skills while honing existing skills. We ensure that your concepts related to the profession are clear so that you can get job easily.
When it comes to BA Training Chicago, we have taken every possible measure to ensure that you can get the training which lets you carve out a niche in this highly competitive world. We job prepare you by ensuring you get skills which can be your key to achieve success. You will get to attend practical training classes which let you get a better idea of how things work while on job. Also mock interview sessions enhance your confidence while facing the actual interview. Our experts create resume for you which can further increase your chances of getting selected.
Enrolling for BA Training Chicago with QA BA Training is a decision which you will cherish as we provide smart classes to smart generation.


text:
import { Component, OnInit, ChangeDetectorRef } from '@angular/core';
import { NgForm } from "@angular/forms";
import { Router, ActivatedRoute } from "@angular/router";

import { ProjectService } from '../Service/Project.service'
import {ProjectTypeService} from'../Service/ProjectType.service'
import { Project } from '../entity/Project.entity'
import { ProjectType } from '../entity/ProjectType.entity'

@Component({
    selector: 'researchLap-project-add',
    templateUrl: './../view/viewProject.html'
})
export class ViewProjectComponent  implements OnInit
{
    projects=new Array<Project>();

        ngOnInit(): void {
            this.projectService.getAllProjects().subscribe(
                (data:any)=>{
                    this.projects=data;
                    console.log(data)
                }
                );
        }
        constructor( private projectService: ProjectService,private projectTypeService:ProjectTypeService) { }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Cenk Uygur. Trump lies about his relationship with Cohen. Sessions was appointed AG for his supposed loyalty. Trump sounds like he's in the mafia. National Enquirer CEO David Pecker granted immunity. CNN commentator Paris Dennard suspended over sexual misconduct allegations.
Cenk Uygur, John Iadarola. Trump's manic claims against impeachment. Trump comments on South Africa farm killings with white nationalist photo. Duncan Hunter says indictment is part of a Deep State plot. Athlete support for Beto O'Rourke over his anthem protest defense.
Jimmy Dore, Stef Zamorano, Abby Martin and Mike Prysner. Jake Tapper misleadingly fact checks Bernie Sanders on Medicare-for-all cost. How switching to single-payer would save the US trillions of dollars. Facebook restores Telesur page after posting a vague explanation for its removal. Dozens of Yemeni children killed after US-backed Saudi coalition bombs school bus.
Dan Rather reporting on children being separated at the border; Paul Manafort sent to jail; Andrew Wheeler to be offered the deputy administrator position at the Environmental Protection Agency; What has changed since Parkland?
Cenk interviews Acorns CEO Noah Kerner on entrepreneurship, millennials and hip hop culture.
If you miss Murder With Friends, then you're in luck! Enjoy this never-before-seen exclusive on Philadelphia serial killer Harrison Graham.
Cenk and Ben on this week's Old School!


I'm excited to announce the release of my 2nd short story, Love Leaps on Amazon Kindle as an e-book. It will be coming to other outlets soon. If you have a minute, I'd love for you to check it out.
Love Leaps is a short story for anyone who's ever wondered whether they should take a leap of faith on love.
Emma thought she'd be the next of her friends to get engaged but when her boyfriend, Gray, says he needs some space, she has no idea where this leaves their relationship. As she struggles to deal with her emotions, in walks Sam, a man from her past who's ready to declare his love for her. Luckily, she has her best friend, Jessica, to help keep her head on straight and to remind her to keep her clothes on too! Should she wait for her boyfriend to come back to her or should she revisit love with an old flame? No matter which man she chooses, Emma knows one thing, love leaps.
Approx. 8,000 words, 40 pages – perfect for a quick read anywhere you have a free 30 minutes. Written as a first person narrative, set in Raleigh, NC.
This entry was posted in book news and tagged bargain books, chick lit, contemporary romance, Karen Jerabek, kindle freebie, love, Love Leaps, romance. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Gunboats, Super-Torpedoes, Sea-Bots: U.S. Navy Launches Huge Iran Surge
Spencer Ackerman
The U.S. Navy already has more seapower off Iran's shores than most of the world's navies combined. And it's not enough. Joining the two aircraft carrier strike groups are new minesweepers, helicopters, tricked-out patrol boats with Gatling guns and missiles, infrared night vision -- and maybe even more carriers. Get ready for the new surge. And hope Iran doesn't freak out.
Sending more aircraft carriers to the waters near Iran, it turns out, was just the start. Yes, the U.S. currently has more seapower aimed at Iran in the Persian Gulf than in the fleets of most countries on Earth, Iran included. But that was just the Navy cracking its knuckles.
In the next few months, the Navy will double its minesweeper craft stationed in Bahrain, near Iran, from four to eight. Those ships will be crucial if Iran takes the drastic step of mining the Strait of Hormuz, one of the global energy supply's most crucial waterways. Four more MH-53 "Sea Stallion" helicopters, another minesweeping tool, are also getting ready for Bahrain, to give the U.S. Fifth Fleet early warning for any strait mining.
Then the Navy will prepare to get closer to Iranian shores. Much closer. It's got five close-action patrol boats in the Gulf right now. Once the Coast Guard returns three that the Navy loaned out, the Navy will have five other patrol craft in the United States. All those boats are getting retrofitted. With Gatling guns. And missiles.
Sure, the guns aboard the two aircraft carriers currently near Iran are the seapower equivalent of high-powered, long-range rifles. "But maybe what you need is like a sawed-off shotgun," capable of doing massive damage from a closer distance, said Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the Navy's senior officer. All 10 of those patrol boats, Greenert told reporters at a Friday breakfast in Washington, will get strapped with the Mk-38 Gatling Gun and should make it to the Gulf next year. (Though, alas, they won't have the Gatling/laser gun mashup BAE Systems is working on.) They'll also get close-range missiles that can hit Iranian shores from four miles away -- the same kinds Navy SEALs use.
Consider it Teddy Roosevelt's gunboat diplomacy for the 21st century. Over plates of greasy eggs and bacon, Greenert outlined a plan to give the U.S. what is almost certainly the biggest stick the Navy has ever had in the Gulf. The idea, which he didn't make explicit, is to convince Iran to think long and hard before ever messing with either the U.S.'s Arab allies across the Gulf or disrupting a narrow transit point through which a fifth of the world's energy supplies flow.
Add up the aircraft carriers, the Gatling-packing patrol craft, the Orions, the Sea Stallions and the minesweepers, and Greenert still isn't finished with the surge. Then come the new, advanced torpedoes that can compensate for the "turpidity [and] particulate" drags of the Gulf waters. And the drone subs -- or, as Greenert put it, "some underwater unmanned neutralization autonomous units" to help hunt mines. And every Navy ship that sails through the strait will come equipped with new, modular "infrared and electro-optical" visibility systems that clarify the foggy Gulf even at night. Extra spare parts and contractor crews will sustain the surge.
And if all that wasn't enough, Greenert disclosed that he and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will soon ask themselves if the Navy needs to rotate more aircraft carriers to the Gulf. That decision, so important that it's Panetta's to make, will come "in the next few months."
"I looked in every domain, undersea, surface and air," Greenert said, "to make sure that we're doing our best for the guys that are over there."
Even with the prospect of an Israeli bombing campaign lingering overhead, the Navy has already proven it can get Iran to back off its bellicose rhetoric. Tehran hasn't attacked the U.S. carriers, and it hasn't mined the strait. Yet.
Greenert suggested that Iran's naval forces are too sensible to actually challenge the vastly superior American force nearby. The regular Iranian navy is "professional, courteous [and] good mariners," he said. Even the radical Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps isn't "ramping up" in the Gulf and keeping its activities "normal."
Perhaps true. And once the Navy's surge forces all get into the Persian Gulf, the Iranian sea forces might not have any choice, if they want to continue existing. But if Iran's pattern of miscalculation continues, then the larger Navy force nearby might be a provocation -- and will have to end a fight quickly if it breaks out.
Danger Room senior reporter Spencer Ackerman recently won the 2012 National Magazine Award for Reporting in Digital Media.
TopicsMiddle EastminingMullah MenaceNavyRogue StatesShips and SubsDanger Room
WhatsApp Launches a Tool to Fight Internet Censorship
Amid internet shutdowns in Iran, the encrypted messaging app is introducing proxy connections that can help people get online.
Welcome to the Era of Internet Blackouts
New research from Cloudflare shows that connectivity disruptions are becoming a problem around the globe, pointing toward a troubling new normal.
The Biggest US Surveillance Program You Didn't Know About
Plus: A leaked US "no fly" list, the SCOTUS leaker slips investigators, and PayPal gets stuffed.
Don't Panic, but Slack's GitHub Got Hacked
Plus: Russian spies uncovered in Europe, face recognition leads to another wrongful arrest, a new porn ID law, and more.
11 Details You May Have Missed in the January 6 Report
The January 6 Committee's 841-page report will go down as one of the most important documents in US history. These key details stand out.
A Link to This Site Can (Technically) Land You in Russian Prison
Plus: Hive ransomware gang gets knocked offline, FBI confirms North Korea stole $100 million, and more.


The latest shameful milestone in the corruption of Britain by its own press was passed last week, an event only sparingly reported by that same press. Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Mills and two others accepted out-of-court settlements for their phone hacking claims against the Murdoch papers.
That may sound like justice at work but it is the polar opposite.
One giveaway is the timing. These deals were done virtually on the steps of the court; that is to say, the claimants were persuaded to settle only days before their cases were due to be heard in a public civil trial, complete with evidence, witnesses and cross-examinations.
Another, a little more discreet, is the money. The cash sums paid were not disclosed but I understand that some of them were extraordinarily high. Not so long ago, serious, well-documented hacking claims were settled for £50,000 and less. Murdoch's company is now paying ten times that.
This now happens regularly. It is the fourth occasion in 18 months on which News Group Newspapers ("NGN"), the publisher of the Sun, has paid whatever it took to prevent a hacking trial. The company is, shall we say, extremely keen to avoid such an event, for two main reasons.
First, lawyers acting for the claimants have amassed a mountain of evidence suggesting not only that the illegal practices of hacking and blagging were rife in the company over a long period, but also that this was endorsed and driven by senior executives who subsequently engaged in an elaborate, criminal cover-up.
Second, the claimants' case was that it was not only the now-defunct News of the World that engaged in these activities but also the Sun, still extant and still the UK's best-selling daily paper. The Sun's involvement is something the corporation continues to deny.
If NGN were to defend such allegations in a civil trial, their stonewalling and bland denials would not be enough; company executives would either have to answer allegations in detail under cross-examination or be seen to be refusing to respond, and be judged accordingly.
And at the end of such a trial the Sun might be formally declared to have hacked phones under the editorship of Rebekah Brooks (still, today, CEO of the Murdoch papers in the UK), and executives such as Brooks and James Murdoch might be found to have lied and destroyed evidence.
Pause a moment to think what this means. In broad daylight, and perfectly legally, Rupert Murdoch's company is repeatedly buying its way out of civil court accountability for its past actions.
And if you want to know what that kind of accountability looks like, read this judgment. It is the little-publicised 2015 judgment against the Mirror papers in the phone hacking case brought by Shobna Gulati and others and it is an astonishing and devastating indictment of the Mirror papers and their management.
What NGN is doing might be thought corrupt, yet there are people in the press industry prepared to make excuses for it. Let's look at those excuses.
'It's just rich celebs topping up their wealth.' Rubbish. First, everything we know tells us that something like three-quarters of those whose phones were hacked were not wealthy or famous. If these less well-known people find it harder to achieve any kind of justice it is not their fault, but because it's harder for them to mount a case and because news publishers refuse to admit the scale of their fault.
'It's all a long time ago and the industry has changed.' Rubbish. Even if phone hacking has stopped (and we only have their word for that), the industry has not cleaned house and nothing credible has been done to ensure that journalists and other employees or contractors don't continue to break the law in other ways. And remember such crimes are normally all but untraceable, only ever surfacing by accident.
'The law is taking its course so there's nothing to complain about.' Rubbish. The cash that Murdoch's company is paying in settlements, high as it is by UK court standards, is peanuts to them. They are mocking the justice system and dodging genuine accountability before the law.
'It's not the Murdoch payments that stop the cases going to trial, it's the claimants accepting them.' Rubbish again. Any claimant rejecting payment and insisting on going to trial would risk having to pay the huge costs afterwards. They can't be blamed for settling, or for a system that leaves them little choice.
There is no escaping it: what is happening is an outrage. The civil courts are simply the wrong place to deal with very serious allegations of criminal wrongdoing. This raises a big question. Where are the police? The evidence against the papers has been piling up, so is it not time that the Metropolitan Police looked into this again, to establish whether there are grounds for criminal charges?
Given that Leveson evidence was given under oath, there seems to be a finding here of both perjury and hacking, yet Weaver has never (how shall I put this?) been given the opportunity to clear her name in the criminal courts.
The Metropolitan Police has not covered itself in glory on hacking in the past and it should take care not to repeat past mistakes.
In 2006/7 it knew there had been numerous perpetrators and hundreds of victims, yet it let the matter drop after two token convictions and without informing victims. And when Nick Davies blew the scandal open in 2009 the Metropolitan Police publicly disputed his account. We needed an avalanche of evidence before they began to do their job, and even then, though eventually there were convictions, they were merely of foot soldiers (the one exception being former News of the World editor Andy Coulson).
Of course the best way of addressing this large-scale scandal in a fair, open and holistic way would be a judge-led public inquiry, but since the government saw fit to oblige its press chums by cancelling Leveson 2 last year that is not a prospect for the moment.
Murdoch and company should not be allowed to buy immunity from justice for senior employees past and present. The Mirror should not be allowed to escape a full accounting for crimes the company has admitted. The Metropolitan Police should open a new inquiry and look afresh at the phone hacking evidence that has been piling up in the civil courts.
And, just to emphasise how corrupt this country and its institutions have become, the one demonstrably honest, brave and innocent journalist in the UK, Julian Assange, is effectively being kept a prisoner whilst being smeared by those not fit enough to lick his boots.


Buy Oscar Murillo Men Jersey, 2016 Colombia Soccer Men Oscar Murillo Jersey at Official 2016 Colombia Soccer Shop. Buy our Our huge selection of Oscar Murillo White Men Jereys ,Oscar Murillo White & Red Stripes Men Jerseys and Oscar Murillo Grey Men Jerseys, Oscar Murillo Authentic Jerseys and Oscar Murillo Replica Jerseys, Oscar Murillo Home Men Jerseys, Oscar Murillo Away Men Jerseys and Oscar Murillo Third Away Men Jerseys for 2016 Colombia Soccer fans. Size in XS, S, M, L, XL.


The Torre Dell'Alto Mare, located in the countryside of Alliste, 12 km south of Gallipoli and about 200 meters above sea level, is part of the chain of watch towers that the ancient regent had reinforced along the coast of Salento protect the hinterland and its riches from the Saracen threat. Today the Tower is a pearl of this part of Salento, far from the chaos and mass tourism, together with the church of Madonna Dell'Alto Mare and the church of Madonna del Casale, linked by an ancient legend: it is said that a sailor , during a terrible storm, he had entrusted himself to the Madonna and, having saved himself, had the churches built on the top of the coast, from where they protected the whole coast and the villages nestled among the greenhouses. Immersed in the nature of Salento, among olive trees and prickly pears, in an area that leaves the Mediterranean scrub uncontaminated, Torre Dell'Alto Mare wakes up with a bright sunrise that embraces the whole coast from Gallipoli to Leuca and thrills with the magnificent sunsets on the sea. In this setting, the Torre Dell'Alto Mare invites you to abandon yourself in the hammock, relax by the pool, enjoy a typical Salento breakfast or an aperitif at sunset, or to launch yourself to discover the tourist cycle path that climbs up to the church of the Madonna dell ' High. There are two Family rooms, with 4 beds each. The units, equipped with bed linen and towels, internally consist of two bedrooms, one double and one twin with single bed and smurf, bathroom with shower. In common with the other guests there are washing machine, swimming pool, footing area also equipped with tools, bike service, massage area (by reservation, not included in the living room). Also included in the estimate are air conditioning and breakfast.


text:
Everything You Need to Know About Retinol
Including how, when and why you should use it—straight from the pros
by Souzan Michael
Retinol might be skincare's most loved and feared ingredient. (Photo: Getty)
Let's be honest, building a skincare regimen can be intimidating. From the valid financial concerns (which products are worth the splurge, anyway?) to which ingredients should and shouldn't be mixed, not to mention the entire concept of 10-step routines, there's a whole world of information out there that's just waiting to be absorbed as rapidly as hyaluronic-acid-rich face cream applied to desert-dry skin. At the very top of that list? Retinol, and the many (*many*) questions about the tempting ingredient.
There's still lots of confusion about how to use it, when to start and, most importantly, whether or not it's suitable for everyone, so it's no wonder retinol is the number one growing Google search term when it comes to face care. When something sounds so good (see ya later, dark spots and wrinkles; hello, firmer skin and smaller pores!) but also kind of scary (ever heard the term "face dandruff"?), intrigue is inevitable.
If you're looking for answers to every question you've ever had about retinol, you've come to the right place. We've tapped the pros to clear up, once and for all, any misconceptions about skincare's most beloved (and feared) ingredient.
So, what is retinol and what does it do?
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative. It's used to address a wide range of skin concerns (hence its popularity), from fine lines and wrinkles to dark spots and acne.
"When retinol is applied topically, it breaks down into retinoic acid," says Joie Tavernise, aesthetician and founder of NYC-based JTAV Clinical Skincare. "This acid directly impacts the cell structure in the skin, stimulating collagen production. In turn, increased collagen reduces the appearance of wrinkles, helps fade dark spots and evens out tone and texture."
Read this next: The 5 Most Common Skincare Ingredients—and How to Actually Use Them
Has its use evolved over the years?
Actually, yes! "As a commercial skincare ingredient, retinol was initially used to treat acne, blackheads and dead-cell buildup in pores," says Dr. Howard Murad, the dermatologist and founder of LA-based Murad Skincare. In fact, the very first study on the effect of retinoids on acne was published back in 1943. "But early on, we discovered that it also had some useful properties in terms of helping reduce fine lines and wrinkles," explains Dr. Murad. "These days, retinol works in three ways: It exfoliates, aids in the production of collagen and fights free radicals."
What's the difference between retinol, Retin-A and retinoids?
"Retinol and Retin-A are both forms of retinoids," explains Tavernise, who suggests thinking of them as all existing under the retinoid umbrella. "Retinol is the most common form, which you see in retail skincare products. Retin-A, also known as tretinoin, is a prescription topical cream typically used to treat acne. It is very strong and can cause severe dehydration in the skin."
"Retin-A is a much stronger and more powerful alternative for treating severe acne and scarring," agrees Dr. Murad. However, he says that regular use of a topical treatment that contains retinol will still result in improvements in acne and scarring due to the exfoliation and removal of dead skin.
Can anyone use retinol?
Contrary to popular belief, retinol is actually suitable for most skin types—it's just about finding the right percentage and formulation for you, especially if you're someone with sensitive or reactive skin. If you have extremely sensitive skin (think: prone to rosacea or psoriasis), then retinol may not be recommended, but you can consult your dermatologist to determine whether or not that's the case.
Read this next: Should You Switch Up Your Skincare Routine When You're on Your Period?
What about the new "retinol alternative" that everyone's been talking about?
You may have heard of a new, plant-based ingredient called bakuchiol, which is being touted as a gentle, non-irritating alternative to retinol that provides similar benefits. As mentioned above, most people can tolerate retinol if they land on the right percentage and formulation for their skin type (something that can be done with the help of your dermatologist). But if you're finding that retinol just isn't agreeing with you, Tavernise says that bakuchiol is a good alternative. "Some people are unable to use retinol due to pregnancy, vitamin A allergies or other reasons, and this is a great way to receive the benefits of cell turnover," she explains. "Studies have shown bakuchiol to be effective in providing a significant decrease in fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots and loss of firmness without any harsh side effects."
But while studies have shown that bakuchiol certainly has some great benefits, it's still a bit too soon to draw definitive comparisons with retinol. After all, the first study on bakuchiol's effects on skin was just published in 2014—that's after more than 70 years of retinol research and studies. "The research is promising," says Jordan Pacitti, aesthetician and founder of Jordan Samuel Skin in Seattle. "However, to me, it is not truly an alternative to or replacement for retinol." Our advice? Definitely keep an eye out for new findings on bakuchiol, and give it a try if you have ultra-sensitive skin (or if you're just curious!), but if retinol has been working for you, there's no reason to stop using it.
Is there a "right age" to start using it?
Since it's a more intense ingredient and can also be on the pricier side, feel free to hold off on incorporating retinoids into your routine until your mid- to late-20s, which is when the first signs of aging show up on skin. "However, if you have acne, you may be prescribed a retinoid as early as your teenage years," says Dr. Murad.
What's the best way to incorporate retinol into a skincare routine?
"I recommend working it into your existing routine slowly at first and then building up usage over time," suggests Tavernise. "Start by using it once a week to allow your skin to become accustomed to the new ingredient, and then after about three to four weeks you can use it three to four times a week, at night. Use a pea-sized amount before your moisturizer, and be sure to use a sunscreen during the day," she adds, as the use of retinoids increases skin's photosensitivity and may make you more prone to sun damage and burns.
Is there an ideal percentage of retinol that consumers should look for?
"The percentage situation has gotten out of hand," says Pacitti. "Many companies promote vitamin A 'blends.' This doesn't really paint the whole picture of its strength. As they blend together weaker derivatives of vitamin A, it can be hard to tell what percentage of pure retinol you are actually getting. Pacitti says as a general rule, you can start anywhere between 0.25% and 1% and adjust up or down as needed."Everyone is very different and will need to see what strength they can tolerate."
Read this next: Let's Get to the Bottom of the "Right" Way to Apply Your Skincare
Some brands are coming out with body-care products that feature retinol. Is this necessary?
"I firmly believe that treating the skin on your body is just as important as treating the skin on your face," says Tavernise. "Your skin is your body's largest organ, and it's very important to take time to treat the skin from the neck down. Retinol can be helpful when treating stretch marks, keratosis pilaris (which is also known as 'chicken skin' and often appears on the back of the arms) and overall tone and texture."
Below are six of our favourite retinol skincare products—three for more experienced retinol users and three others that are great if you're just getting started, as they feature soothing, nourishing ingredients alongside the retinol to ensure your foray into the world of vitamin A is as smooth as your skin will soon be.
And one last reminder to wear sunscreen—always, but especially when using retinol.
Best Retinol Products
Retinol Products
Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask, $56, sephora.com
Not only is this eye mask formulated with antioxidant-rich avocado oil and avocado extract to soothe and deeply hydrate skin, it also contains encapsulated retinol, which allows it to sit on top of your skin for longer, only releasing small amounts at a time. The result? A truly gentle retinol experience.
Product Round-up
Subscribe to FLARE Need to Know for smart, sassy, no-filter takes on everything you're interested in—including style, culture & current events, plus special offers—sent straight to your inbox each day. Sign up here.


20 LBS. 40 LBS. 60 LBS.
Save big on shipping when you buy any of our unfilled bags. Fill them yourself with old clothing, foam etc. Heavy Bag work is one key to the success of almost every single fighter in the world.


text:
BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum
BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum - Provo, UT
Monte L Bean Museum
645 E 1430 N
(801) 422-5050
Endowed: Monte L. and Birdie Bean
Originally Opened: March 1978
Expanded an additional 32,400 SqFt in 2014
Our Living Planet
The unique, life-sustaining characteristics of planet Earth, featuring an eight-foot-in-diameter fiberglass globe, mapped with the most current NASA satellite images.
Life on Top - Apex Predators
See what it's like to live at the top of the food chain with this display of animals as they might be found in the wild.
Expansion:
The new space includes a new two story atrium, new exhibit spaces, new gift shop, classrooms, exhibit preparation space, work shop and features two special exhibit halls. The Mountain Valley Stone used on the exterior of the building is found on many other BYU buildings including the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni Building.
The honed finish quartzitic stone was chosen not only because of its local history but because of it natural movement inherent in the material. A honed finished was chosen because of its ability to show off this movement.
Into Africa
The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum has a collection of 2.8 million specimens, the oldest dating back to 1900, carefully maintained and made available to research scientists and educators, with exhibits and educational programs for the public.
The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and maintains membership in the Natural Science Collections Alliance.
Boyd K Packer Gallery
This exhibit features the wildlife art of President Boyd K. Packer, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including animal carvings and paintings.
Morris Bird Gallery
A collection of more than 100 species of birds donated by Fred and Sue Morris.
Research collections of vascular and non vascular plants, invertebrate and vertebrate animals are maintained and made available to research scientists and educators.
Public exhibits and educational programs are offered.
Whooo Lives Here?
Play area designed just for toddlers that teaches young children about animal homes with a talking owl, a bear cave and a tree nest with slide
Why Insects
An exhibition of insects including a butterfly made of butterflies!
Realtor Provo
It would be our pleasure to help you buy or sell a condo in Provo or Orem and surrounding areas.
Provo Homes


text:
CTP Expands Service Offerings with Digital Services Group
CTP Blog
CTP is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean McDevitt to serve as the Director for our newly formed Digital Services Group (DSG). The DSG group will build upon CTP's established online and digital services capacity to meet the needs of an evolving market place. Sean will apply his 20 years of website production, user experience, and media expertise to help CTP deliver high quality eLearning, online engagement, and 508 compliance services.
Having worked closely with CTP for the past ten years, Sean has led and supported a number of CTP contracts. From 2013-2015, he led CTP's 508 Compliance Services contract with the Department of Veterans Affair, ensuring that all their web-based content and services were accessible to the handicapped. Sean also played an integral role in CTP's contract with the Department of State, providing user research, content strategy, and usability testing for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Office of Anti-Crime Programs (INL/C).
Sean comes to CTP with a background of diversified practical and managerial experience. For the past 12 years, he has owned and operated Ideas2Image where he supported clients such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of State, the Federal Aviation Administration, T. Rowe Price, Edward Jones, the History Factory, and others. Sean holds a Masters of Business Administration from George Mason University and is credentialed as a Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) and Certified User Experience Analyst (CXA).
If you are interested in developing or refining an eLearning program, enhancing your online engagement with customers, or bringing your site and services into compliance with the Section 508 guidelines, contact Sean McDevitt at 703-373-8145.
Get the latest news and insights from CTP, delivered to your inbox. Sign up for alerts:
By Rick Phipps|2020-02-05T21:08:22+00:00May 8th, 2018|Categories: CTP News|
CTP Provides Critical Staffing Solutions to USAID
CTP Webinar: Maintaining Compliance in Turbulent Times
The Logistics of International Business Development
The RTC Has a New Facility!


Be swift of foot and appropriately shod for an engaging stroll into the Middle Ages. The Ritter Cunibert Shoes are a perfect fit for historical reenactments and LARP events. Many a role benefits with the addition of this fine pair. These period costume shoes take inspiration from the Late Middle Ages, but offer the comfort and durability of modern footwear. The uppers are made from a water-repellent, easy to clean synthetic leather, while the TPR rubber soles offer resistance to normal wear and tear. A cushioned insole and Viscose lining increases the comfort and fit when worn. The uppers are long, narrow, and slightly pointed at the toe. The topline flares upward at the heel and tongue. An ornate buckle strap adjusts the fit.


text:
Groups sue to block medical marijuana compromise in Utah
BRADY McCOMBS and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
Published: December 06 2018 1:53 PM
Updated: December 06 2018 1:52 PM
SALT LAKE CITY - A pair of advocacy groups in Utah sued Thursday to block a compromise agreement legalizing medical marijuana, accusing the Mormon church of unconstitutional domination and interference in a process that led to the gutting of a measure approved by voters.
The lawsuit alleges the revised initiative creates overwhelming obstacles for suffering patients who want to obtain the drug. It also asks a judge to set aside the revision passed by lawmakers and keep the original version that won with 53 percent of the vote in November.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints didn't immediately comment.
Mormons have long frowned upon marijuana use because of a key church health code called the "Word of Wisdom," which prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. However, it previously stood behind the work it did to help craft the compromise before the election that it considers a safer medical marijuana program.
The changes signed into law on Monday ban many marijuana edibles; prevent people from growing their own marijuana if they live far from a dispensary; and narrow the list of eligible medical conditions for which the drug can be obtained. Smoking marijuana wasn't allowed in the original ballot measure and won't be permitted under the new version.
The legal challenge isn't a surprise. The plaintiffs — an organization called Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education, or TRUCE, and the Epilepsy Association of Utah — had warned they would sue if the ballot measure was altered. They were upset that the primary organization backing medical pot in the state agreed to the compromise before the election.
Utah law gives state legislators the authority to change the language of laws passed by voters.
Supporters of the compromise, including some advocates of medical marijuana, say it was a key to guaranteeing quick legalization and convincing conservative lawmakers not to repeal the law.
The Utah Patients Coalition, the main medical marijuana group that backed the ballot measure, has said it agreed to the compromise so it could prevent radical changes to the measure after the election and to gain widespread community acceptance. It acknowledged that the Mormon church has a powerful voice in Utah politics.
About two-thirds of the state's residents belong to the religion and nearly nine in 10 members of the Legislature are Mormon along with the governor, the lawsuit states.
It says Mormons are taught to follow and trust the direction of their leaders, who opposed the ballot proposal over fears it could lead to broader use of marijuana. As the proposal seemed to gain support, the church agreed to the pre-election deal to allow access for people with serious medical needs.
The lawsuit notes that church lobbyist Marty Stephens told a gathering of local church leaders two days before the Nov. 6 election to "follow the prophet" and vote against the ballot proposition. The Utah Constitution bars any church from dominating or interfering with state functions, the lawsuit says.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed the revised compromise law Monday after he called a special legislative session.
He didn't comment on the lawsuit itself Thursday, but said the compromise restricting access has broad support in Utah.
"The concern we had was this is too loose, which leads to recreational marijuana," he said.
Patients can now use medical marijuana legally in Utah but likely won't be able to buy it legally in-state until at least 2020, officials said.
The state will need time to build a database to start issuing patients medical-cannabis cards, and to grant licenses for dispensaries.


Helper class for working with InternaionalString and other forms of Text.
Create a international string based on the provided English text.
Create an international string based on provided key, and resource bundle.
We will hook up this method to a properties file at a later time, making other translations available via the Factory SPI mechanism.
resources - The name of the resource bundle, as a fully qualified class name.


Many factors enter your organizing your Brazilian vacation, the timeframe, places, and when to see all must be decided. Make organizing easier with your tips about local plumber to visit the most used destinations inside Brazil. With advice in regards to the best weather conditions and steer clear of the throngs of people, planning the Brazil getaway just received easier.
Rio de Janeiro otherwise called the "Marvelous City" can be a popular vacation spot for tourists, full regarding culture, historical past, and fantastic attractions this is a must to your Brazil plans. Weather inside Rio de Janeiro shouldn't be a concern when organizing your vacation dates. However in case you are planning to check out the neighborhood Copacabana temperatures are generally cooler through the months regarding May by means of October, and it's also unlikely to find out many locals around the beach. The particular high time of year for Rio de Janeiro will be between 12 , and Goal, and crowds tend to be likely at the most popular sights for instance Corcovado Hill the location where the Christ the particular Redeemer figurine sits.
If the Brazil itinerary carries a trip to be able to Iguazu Falls you might be best worthy of travel inside the months regarding April and may even or September through Nov, the weather is normally great during this time period yet as it is not in the high season you can find fewer throngs of people. The large season regarding visiting the particular falls is through the months regarding January, Feb ., and Come july 1st, it is usually to be noted in which weather is often hottest coming from December to be able to March like the two weeks of large season inside Brazil's summer season. The large season calendar month of Come july 1st also sits inside the rainy time of year which works from Summer to September.
For search of a few of Brazil's finest wildlife inside Panatal or inside the Amazon Marketplace at Manaus you can find months in which travel the following is discouraged as a result of flooding from your rain. Check out the Panatal among April and also November, otherwise through the rainy time of year between 12 , and Goal the wetlands are bombarded and travel the following is nearly difficult. As regarding Manaus inside the Amazon the particular wet time of year runs coming from December to be able to May, though happen to be this area is achievable, it is probable you'll get wet, so emphasis your vacation dates involving the months regarding June and also November when possible.
Finally in case you are headed for the beaches regarding Florianopolis, local plumber to get some light is among December and also March which usually coincides with all the high time of year. The weather conditions in Florianopolis is fantastic throughout every season but many ponder over it too cool between Apr and Nov to sunbathe around the beach.
Whether you might be traveling to be able to Rio, Florianopolis, and even the jungle Psychology Posts, the warm weather regarding Brazil can typically enable travel year-round creating Brazil a fantastic South The usa destination. Planning the Brazil getaway doesn't must be a hassle in the event you keep these kinds of facts at heart while choosing your vacation dates it helps to make sure you get the most from the trip to be able to Brazil.


I've been thinking a lot about that word lately. The theme of control has come up again and again in my design work. For a long time, I've thought of control as the other half of "creative control." I saw control in a design context as the ability to decide an object's color, or the amount of kerning in a title. Lately, however, control has taken on a very different meaning.
In design, control is so rarely about the inconsequential creative details. It is instead about about the ability to act and navigate without interference. Even more significant, control has become more about an inability to control how the ideas and actions of others and their affect on how a design evolves. It becomes less about what we are able to control and so much more about what we are not able to control. For every precaution we put in place, life seems to have a way of throwing a wrench in the mix.
How much, then, does control affect creative control?
Case and point: Since January of 2016, I have been working in a local charter school prototyping the Spark Corps design education curriculum. For almost one year, I have been part of a team working hundreds of hours on a 5 month long curriculum. We are taking on the seemingly impossible task of using design as a vehicle for behavioral change. Can design build teamwork skills? Can design increase self-esteem? Can design foster the development of empathy? We said, "yes," to all of these questions. When you spend as much time as you have on a project this complex, you have to say, "yes." The moment you start to question yourself, you're done for.
But what happens when you put this labor of love and hope into the hands of 6 unpredictable little humans. What happens when your design is confronted with unabashed, honest, and ruthless feedback. If a kid is bored, they tell you. If they think your worksheet is stupid, they tell you. If they don't want to complete a task, they tell you. The user will take your gift to the world and crush it, twist it, mash it, and spit on it.
On top of this, what does the day look like if you run out of snacks? How do they behave if they failed a test that day? Got yelled at by their parent that morning? Or are fighting with their best friend. How these kiddos react each day so often has nothing to do with the design itself and everything to do with the health of their social ecosystem.
Finally, what happens when the social ecosystem throws something at you that you could possibly never have predicted?
On Thursday, our agenda included having the students present projects they had spent the past 3 weeks developing. I came into the room ready to set up only to find that the storage unit which held each of the projects was empty. To the naked eye, these projects looked like a heap of trash. To my students, they were classrooms of the futures, recreation centers, and playgrounds. I sat stunned. Each project was gone, and none of the 10 teachers, staff of administrators I spoke with had any idea where they went.
The most surprising thing ended up being not even about the missing work, but about my students' reactions. They were devastated, upset and angry. For 3 weeks, all I had heard about was their boredom. But now? I suddenly saw how proud of their work they had actually been.
So, I did what any good designer would do and utilized the resources around me. In 30 minutes, each team had created a new poster, and they were in their seats ready to present. The day was shaky at best and emotions were on edge, so I was definitely happy to see 5:00 roll around. But, I came out the other side and in one piece (with only a minor bruises).
What does this all mean, then? Honestly, I have no idea. I think the best thing we can do as designers is not to prepare for every possible scenario or overly orchestrate any given design. The best we can do is be comfortable with the fact that there are things about our design that will always be out of our control. All we can do is prepare to the unexpected and be ready to adapt when it inevitable arrives.


In 1973 Norma Millay Ellis, sister of the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, founded The Millay Colony for the Arts in beautiful Upstate New York as a residency center for visual artists, writers and composers. The first artists arrived in 1974 and lived and worked in a small building on the Millay estate. In 1976, Norma gave to the Colony the barn her sister had built from a Sears & Roebuck kit. It was soon renovated to accommodate four artists. With studios looking out on meadows and forest, the barn has provided hundreds of artists with an inspiring and tranquil home.
Norma Millay Ellis died in 1986 at the age of 92. With the inspiration of her life and warmth and of Edna's amazing legacy, the Colony has continued to grow and thrive.
In the mid-1990's, the Colony brought together a team of six artists with disabilities to design an environmentally-friendly building for the Colony using the principles of universal access. The resulting building is our lovely Main Building that houses our offices and all public rooms for residents with all levels of physical ability. You can read all about our campus here.
Now in its 43rd season, The Millay Colony has already offered residencies to more than 2,500 artists.
Millay and her sister Norma soon became members of the Provincetown Theatre Group, and in 1918, Millay directed and took the lead in her own play, The Princess Marries the Page. In the next several years, she explored sexuality and feminism in her poems and attracted a series of high-profile male and female lovers. By 1923, her poetic reputation on the rise, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
In 1923, Millay married the Dutch merchant Eugen Boissevain. Their "open marriage" was a source of both controversy and admiration. In the mid-1920's, they purchased a 635-acre blueberry farm in Austerlitz, a country hamlet north of Manhattan in Columbia County, New York. Millay named the property "Steepletop" after a flowering bush that grew in the fields, and here she lived, worked, and hosted contemporaries from the literary and art world from 1925 until her death in 1950.
In 1951, the poet's sister, Norma Millay Ellis and her husband, the painter Charles Ellis, came to live at Steepletop, where they continued Millay's legacy of artistic pursuit and eventually founded The Millay Colony.