So I know I've been neglecting my blog lately, and mega apologies for that. I'm going to pull the "I'm immigrating in possibly as little as two months from now" card on that.
To rectify the lack of serious blogging going on (and it will return soon, please believe me, please keep coming back), I'm going to start a series I've been meaning to start for, oh, roughly ten years now.
An old friend (okay, boyfriend) of mine and I used to collect photos of church signs. If we were driving anywhere and saw a stellar church sign with an incredible message, we would pull over (if we were lucky enough to have a camera with us - this was the 2000s, we didn't have camera phones yet) and take a photo. For posterity. We dreamed of one day publishing a coffee table book of authentic epic church signs.
Yeah, it's been ten or so years, and I've made no progress on it.
So to keep the blog active, I'll be posting random photos from our collection whenever I feel it's time to blog but don't have the time to write.
I've just never been able to decide if this would be the first photo to introduce the book or the grand finale. I think it might just be both.


text:
Subendran, A Good Man Final
A sermon preached by Ajith Fernando at the funeral of his friend and colleague Sebamalai Calistus Subendran on 9th October 2016 at the Youth for Christ Centre in Mannar.
SUBENDRAN: A GOOD MAN
Sebamalai Calistus Subendran was 17 years younger to me, but we were very close friends. He wasn't at an age when people start preparing for their death. But I am at that age. So I have been thinking about my funeral. I had planned to have Subendran to speak at my funeral; and now I have the sad task of preaching at his!
When I think of Subedran, I think of Barnabas the encourager. He was a person who had a wonderful ministry of encouraging others. Our reading today (Acts 11:19-24) described how Barnabas encouraged the church in Antioch. Verse 24 of Acts 11 describes the qualifications he had for being an encourager: "…for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." I want to speak about how Sube exemplified the three features of an encourager described in this verse.
A GOOD MAN
When I gave people in the Youth for Christ family the news that Sube had died, the common response I got was one of weeping. One brother in the Philippines did not respond to my message for over an hour saying he was crying and could not reply. When our Youth for Christ National Director Leonard Fernando, who is abroad at present, called me on hearing the news, he could not speak because he was crying. Why such a reaction? Sube was a good man. Our former Youth for Christ colleague Richard Brohier wrote from Australia to say that Sube should have been named Nathaniel, who was described by Jesus as a person with no deceit (John 1:47). Good people are people of integrity who sincerely seek to follow the right principles and genuinely act for the welfare of others without personal agendas.
Often when we hear someone say something, we think, "What is he really trying to get at? What is the real motive behind his words?" Today we see so much lying, so much hurting people in order to get ones agenda fulfilled, so much politicking, and so much selfishness! We find it difficult to trust people and what they say and do. But we could trust Sube. This is such a rare quality today, and how urgently we need people like this in Sri Lanka!
This is why Sube was made Policy Director in Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka. He had a sharp mind, and an honest character, and he had a thorough grasp of our ethos. We felt he was the best person to set up the policies which are good for our organisation and its people. He was not a public figure; he was quiet and soft-spoken. Yet, he played a key role in YFC. Everybody trusted him, and because of that he became one of the most influential leaders in YFC. He helped bring stability to our movement, especially after I stepped down from the leadership over five years ago. I knew that Sube's gracious and wise spirit will help the movement to go through uncertain and difficult times. I knew that our new leader Leonard had a person he could lean on for guidance and strength.
Yet today most people think that following principles fully is a task that is neither possible nor worthwhile. So we find people compromising for short term gain. Not Sube! How could he steadfastly stick to his principles? This brings us to another quality about Barnabas. He was "a good man" because he was "full of …faith."
Subendran committed his life to Christ as a young man and he experienced the amazing change God made in his life. He entered into a relationship with God and followed him as the Lord of his life. He began to study the Word of God diligently. And he sought to practice what he learned. Everything he did came out of faith in God and his ways as given in the Word. In this way he was a true Methodist who had a sound mind and a warm heart.
Sube knew that there is no use lying because he believed God will honour those who tell the truth.
He was not afraid to tell the truth and fight for it because he believed truth was worth fighting for.
He was always forthright in speaking against wrong.
He did it because he believed in the truth; not because of a personal agenda he had. But he always did this with grace. He never resorted to insulting those who opposed him because he believed there was no need to do so. That was not God's way of battling for the truth.
He believed there was no need to cut others to push forward his agenda because we do not use Satan's methods to fight God's battles.
Whatever the situation, he was always polite, and he always treated people with respect.
His conviction about the faith was so strong that he yearned to tell others about it. So he talked about Jesus with whoever would listen, so that they too could experience the salvation he knew. He often told me of conversations about Christ that he had in the bus while making his long Mannar-Colombo bus journeys.
So Sube believed God and his Word and realised that it was worth paying the price to follow it. That's why he was a good man.
FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Our verse says one more thing about Barnabas: he was a man "full of the Holy Spirit." When we believe in Jesus and entrust ourselves to him, he comes and lives in us as the Holy Spirit. As we give him room he fills us and we become more and more like him. Our life begins to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. This was another great Methodist emphasis. The fullness of the Holy Spirit was equated with holiness of life. We saw this in Sube. He was an encouragement to others in their walk with God because he was like Jesus in the way he behaved.
One of the best evidences of the fullness of the Spirit is when we respond to hurt the way Christ did. Jesus forgave those who killed him; and those who are filled with the Spirit of Christ also forgive those who hurt them. Let me give one example of this from Sube's life.
Sube was probably the most theologically astute person on our staff. He was known for his deep, rich and innovative Bible teaching. Someone giving a tribute at the funeral said that Mannar was a district where the church generally received help from outside. But with Sube's teaching ministry throughout the country, this was reversed, and Mannar began to contribute to the life of the wider church in Sri Lanka. He would like to keep up with theological trends and would sometimes ask me to get him some significant theological books.
But Sube did not have a theological degree. He went to India for theological studies, but because of a serious need in YFC Mannar, we asked him to come back a few months before he completed his studies. He came back and helped to bring the ministry into a healthy position which we see even today. With marriage and parenthood he was never able to go to and complete his degree.
I always felt that we had wronged Sube. But he never complained. He never seemed to blame us. He took this as something God allowed, and therefore he did not think there was a need to blame anyone. Yet we were keen to help him get his degree. About twenty years later we were able to find a way. The Association for Theological Education by Extension agreed to accept a lot of his credits. He would need to do seven more courses with a tutor using their curriculum and they said they would award him his degree, if he succeeded in those courses.
I tutored him over a period of two to three years and we completed six of the seven courses. What a rich experience this was. It was one of the happiest experiences I have had in my forty years of ministry with Youth for Christ. There are few joys on earth that can match that of studying the things of God with a saint. He had only one more course to complete. But he died before that. He missed the honour.
But what is that in comparison to the greatest honour that he has received? Listen to what Paul says at the end of his life:
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
The greatest day in the life of those who know Jesus is the day they die! Because Jesus died and rose from the dead, they don't need to die eternally. Their sins are all forgiven. They're on their way to heaven. Then they will see how worthwhile it was to live in obedience to Christ. Subendran has received the greatest honour anyone could get: a crown of righteousness. His great services have received their real reward.
I know that Sube would want me to tell you this at his funeral….
If you do not yet know Jesus, come to him.
He is a wonderful Saviour.
He will forgive you of all the sins that you have committed.
He will come and live with you and give you a life of purpose.
He can give you also a place in heaven.
But what about Merhala, and Ben and Jenisha? He was so proud of you. He often spoke about you will great joy. Merhala, he would have loved to grow old with you. Ben and Jenisha, he would have loved to have been with you in the crucial times in your lives in the future. That is not to be. But let me tell you this….
Your husband, your father was a great man.
And he followed a great God.
He earnestly prayed about you to this great God.
Those prayers will surely be answered.
God will look after you!
And we will do all we can to be agents of that care!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Harold Gray, creator of America's favorite plucky cartoon orphan, created a Christmas card each year for decades. Thanks to the collection and generosity of Richard Olson, we are privileged to share those cards with Hogan's Alley readers.
"Santa's Secrets" was NEA's Christmas sequence for 1940 and was written by Hal Cochran and drawn by Howard Boughner. It ran from November 25 through December 24, 1940. Like all of NEA's Christmas packages, it didn't offer Sunday strips; hence the skipped dates.


text:
Team News: Brentford v Norwich City
Norwich City have no new injury concerns following Saturday's game against Derby County at Carrow Road.
The match against Brentford will be City's third game within the space of six days, with the Canaries drawing against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day before losing against Derby County on Saturday.
Moritz Leitner [ankle], Emi Buendia [ankle] and Jamal Lewis [hamstring] were all ruled out of action by City boss Daniel Farke last week and remain out for the game on New Year's Day.
Leitner and Buendia are expected to return towards the end of January, while Lewis is expected to return within the next few weeks.
Despite those three absences, Farke provided a positive update on the rest of his squad.
Farke said: "Everything is ok, there has been a lot of load in the recent days, a few of the players are a bit tired. Ben [Godfrey] wasn't used to playing that much at the beginning of the season and he has played four games in 10 days.
"He was perhaps a bit tired in the last 10 minutes, like most of the players, but he has been there with some really good performances."
The City boss said one of the main differences between his City side last season and this season is the amount of rotation between each matchday squad.
"Each and every club will feel tired after this period, but it's the last league game within this period so we don't have to rest the players to keep them fresh for the next league game because that is in 12 days," Farke said.
"We have rotated a bit less than last season and have got the deserved result, but we have to analyse the offensive players, as they have lots of work load.
"Teemu [Pukki] is delivering with goals nearly in each and every game, but it's also a lot of work load. It's always a question, can he again have such an impact or should we change the offensive positions.
"To create something special you have to be fresh, so it's a tricky balance to make without breaking the rhythm and rotating too much."
Brentford vs Norwich City on 01 Jan 19
Moritz Leitner


We commissioned artist Rick Almanzan, who is well-known for his micrographical art style, to create this oh-so-awesome Sugar Skull exclusively for us!
What is a "Sugar Skull" you ask; It's a type of folk art where the skull is decorated to symbolizes death in a positive manner. ( i.e. Flowers are meant to symbolize a new life, flames for remembrance, hearts for always loved ). Mr. Almanzan took some of the raw essential oil elements along with the names of oils that are traditionally used to anoint and prepare bodies for burial to decorate our Sugar Skull. OMG, right?!?
Mr. Almanzan's work can be seen at Ripley's Believe or Not museums, Las Vegas Mob Museum, Planet Hollywood and Bed Bath & Beyond. We are big fans of his and are proud to offer our tribe of oil lovers this unique piece of art. You are sure to catch people's attention when you wear it.
**Because of the nature of the artwork, we can only offer this design in black.


text:
Drimia sphaerocephala är en sparrisväxtart som beskrevs av John Gilbert Baker. Drimia sphaerocephala ingår i släktet Drimia och familjen sparrisväxter. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Sparrisväxter
sphaerocephala

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Kids score healthier hearts through iPlay
Cardiovascular disease risk in kids due to poor aerobic fitness has been cut by more than half in primary schools using a new online physical activity training program for teachers.
Developed by the University of Newcastle's Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition and the Australian Catholic University's Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, the pilot program delivered the dramatic heart health and aerobic fitness improvements in a published study of 460 children.
The study evolved from a project called SCORES, which was seed-funded by the Hunter Medical Research Institiute through the Newcastle Gastronomic Lunch and Newcastle Jets. Now named iPLAY, it has now been rolled out to more than 20,000 NSW state primary school students in 83 schools throughout the state.
iPLAY aims to involve students in 150 minutes of planned physical activity each week, including high-quality physical education and school sport, and two to three 'classroom energiser' breaks.
Schools are also encouraged to provide physically active homework once per week, after-school physical activity at least once a week, and physical activity during recess and lunch. Parents are engaged through physical activity newsletters and parent information evenings.
University of Newcastle's Professor David Lubans, co-creator of SCORES and iPLAY, said the program helped teachers to promote physical activity at school as well as forge crucial partnerships with parents, community sport and recreation clubs to encourage activity beyond the school setting.
"Currently in NSW, primary school teachers' university training tends to focus largely on teaching of literacy and numeracy, with little time spent specifically on physical education and physical activity promotion," he said.
"iPLAY gives teachers the confidence to ensure they are running effective PE and sport lessons. It provides them with fresh, evidence-based content to enhance health, wellbeing and learning. It also shows teachers how to use physical activity breaks between academic lessons to enhance student concentration. In short, it gives the students both fitness and focus."
iPLAY co-creator, ACU's Chris Lonsdale, said it was a game-changer for improving aerobic fitness and heart health in children.
"As much of the course is online, teachers can learn iPLAY at any time," Professor Lonsdale said.
"Teachers can also download hundreds of additional resources and lesson plans to help them improve students' fitness and fundamental movement skills."
Originally trialled in eight NSW schools, the study was published in Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise which found students increased their aerobic fitness by more than 20 per cent over a 12-month period when their teacher had completed the professional development.
"This fitness increase was triple the amount when compared with children in schools that did not participate in the program," Professor Lonsdale said.
"We are now testing iPLAY in a larger study with schools across NSW. Early results show the program is having a similar effect to what we saw in the original study.
"In the schools we studied that hadn't received iPLAY, 16% of children showed aerobic fitness levels that were poor enough for them to be considered at risk of cardiovascular disease, but in the iPLAY schools fewer than 8 per cent of children were below this threshold. These are really encouraging findings."
Funded by the NSW Department of Education and the National health and Medical Research Council, iPLAY is offered free for up to 150 NSW government primary schools.
Marton Public School principal Andrew Doyle said teachers had found iPLAY helpful when developing physical activity across the school.
"Marton Public students like to be active and this program has led to our students being engaged in fun and easy to follow physical education lessons," Mr Doyle said.
"The sequence of lessons from the warm-up to the skill development and skills application is excellent and hopefully our students go home to enhance the skills learnt at school.
"Keeping our students active, healthy and motivated not just in the classroom, but outside as well, is the key to learning success. At Marton Public School we will continue to develop our knowledge and skills by using iPLAY successfully to keep our students fit, healthy and engaged learners."
The free online program for teachers to use in the classroom is accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and NSW government primary schools can register their interest at: http://iplay.org.au/
Physical activity study for schools scores $1.3m boost
SCORES proves a winner for children's fitness
David Lubans


text:
RESPECT Act Passes House of Representatives, Will Go To President's Desk for Signing
WASHINGTON —The U.S. House of Representatives passed the RESPECT Act on Wednesday after it was introduced earlier this year in the Senate by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD).
If signed, the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act would abolish 11 outdated federal laws that are related to the treatment of Indians, including provisions on hostile tribes, alcohol, work requirements, penalties for truancy, and placement of youth in reform school without the consent of a parent or guardian.
One of the laws paved the way for the federal government to forcibly removed American Indian children from their families to place them in Indian boarding schools.
https://nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/respect-act-passes-house-of-representatives-will-go-to-president-s-desk-for-signing
Gov. Tim Walz proposes boost in education spending, tax credits for Minnesota families
Garland appoints special counsel to investigate Biden docs
Free school meals would be standard in Minnesota under proposed legislation
Trump claims he took only classified folders to Mar-a-Lago as 'a cool keepsake'
What Minnesota's new tax law means for student borrowers, restaurants and other businesses


I was able to get a great deal of reading done last week due to our school's midwinter break so that made me very happy.
I've been on a huge Harlem Renaissance kick lately. I just love this era of American history.
I'm sorry to announce that I didn't love Code Name Verity with the same fervor as so many others did. I just could not emotionally connect with the characters. I didn't even cry, which was a huge shock to me given the fact that oft dry-eyed readers even admitted to sobbing over this book. I will fully admit I am perplexed over my lack of crying with this one.
Wow! This book is fantastic! No wonder it won so many awards! It reads just like a spy novel. If only all nonfiction were this exciting to read. But based on the first sentence of Sheinkin's author bio, you can definitely tell he's not your run-of-the-mill nonfiction writer: "A former textbook writer, Steve Sheinkin has dedicated his life to making up for his previous crimes by crafting gripping narratives of American history." Boom. I'm sold.
Again with the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes is my favorite poet of all time so I wanted to learn more about his life by reading his autobiography. So far I have to say I prefer his poetry to his prose writing, but I'm enjoying learning more about his life nonetheless.
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis.
I own a copy of Peter Sis' The Wall which I bought while I was in Prague - but haven't read it yet as I am saving it for our 'war and peace' theme probably next year (haha). My daughter is enjoying the Babymouse books we found in our libraries - this title though, we haven't seen yet. The Lonely Moose also seems to be receiving a lot of love, will check that one out too. Thanks for sharing all these.
I loved Bomb! I agree.. it is like reading a spy novel. I learned so much about the race to build the atom bomb that I had never known before, even though I am a history buff.
I have been wanting to read more about The Great Migration since reading Mathis' "The Twelve Tribes of Hattie," which I thoroughly enjoyed. I too love reading Langston Hughes but I have never read The Big Sea. I am adding it to my list now. Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
I think the Wall is such a fantastic read! I also love The Golden Keys (fictional) by Sis Have you read it? RE Code Name Verity - I did really love it. But it is a different sort of book so I can see there being other reactions. I even suggested it to my Dad as he loves all things WWII - even though he doesn't typically read fiction.
Yay! I pick up Bomb from the library tomorrow. So glad to hear it is living up to the hype and accolades. P.S. I didn't cry at Code Name Verity either.


text:
Imaging in Child Abuse
Caffey's landmark article of 1946 noted an association between healing long-bone fractures and chronic subdural hematomas in infancy, and it was the first to draw attention to physical abuse as a unifying etiology. [1] In 1962, Caffey and Kempe et al proposed manhandling and violent shaking as mechanisms of injury and emphasized the acute and long-term sequelae of abuse as serious public health problems. [2] Since these early reports, investigators have more clearly defined the pathophysiology of abusive injuries (see the images below). Community-service and law-enforcement authorities have taken a role in protecting potential victims and in prosecuting perpetrators.
In the United States, in 2015, there were 683,000 victims of child abuse, and approximately 1670 children died of abuse and neglect, a rate of 2.25 per 100,000 children. Almost 75% of those deaths occurred in children younger than 3 years. Most reports of abuse were submitted by educational personnel (18.4%) and legal and law enforcement personnel (18.2%). Approximatley 9% of reports were submitted by medical personnel. [3]
Preferred examination
For infants and children younger than 2 years, a skeletal survey should be performed as the initial screening examination when child abuse is being considered. [4, 5, 6, 7] The survey consists of the acquisition of a series of images collimated to each body region. [8] The series includes frontal and lateral views of the skull, frontal and lateral views of the spine, frontal views of the chest (ribs) and pelvis, and frontal views of the extremities, including the hands and feet. [9, 10]
The skeletal survey is widely available and inexpensive in comparison with alternative imaging modalities. Other important advantages of the skeletal survey include a high sensitivity for most acute and healing fractures and a relatively low radiation burden. [11]
A babygram, in which the entire skeleton is depicted on a single image, is not an appropriate substitute for a properly performed survey. Geometric distortion and varying exposures are unacceptable limitations of this image. Use of a high-detail, high-contrast, screen-film system with good spatial resolution is mandatory. All abnormal areas should be viewed on at least 2 projections.
Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the head is the imaging modality of choice for evaluating a child with acute neurologic findings or retinal hemorrhage on physical examination. It is more sensitive to acute intracerebral and extra-axial hemorrhages than is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain MRI may be helpful as an adjunct for the evaluation of axonal shear injuries and for a precise dating of intracranial hemorrhage. [12, 13]
Subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) are best demonstrated on CT scans. The use of MRI to detect acute SAH remains controversial. However, MRI is superior to CT scanning for differentiating a hypoattenuating subdural hematoma from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and for detecting small and chronic extra-axial fluid collections. (See the images below; both images reveal a subdural hematoma, the first with a CT scan and the second with an MRI scan.)
(See the images below.)
Classic metaphyseal lesion (CML), as represented by a corner fracture of the lateral aspect of the humeral metaphysis.
Rib Fracture. Image shows multiple bilateral rib fractures that are healing. Note the callus formation at the posterior and lateral aspects of the ribs and the healing left clavicular fracture with callus formation.
Cerebral Contusion. Acute cerebral injury in a victim of child abuse. Nonenhanced head CT scan shows a left parieto-occipital contusion, a subdural hygroma, a skull fracture, and swelling of the scalp.
Most child abuse–related injuries are readily detectable during imaging. Radiologic examination is the mainstay for diagnosing physical abuse in children. [14, 15, 16] Careful correlation of the observed radiologic findings with the proposed mechanism of injury and with the child's clinical status is imperative in the evaluation of any child in whom abuse is suspected. If such correlation is not performed, important clues of an inflicted injury may be overlooked, and the child may be returned to an abusive environment—with potentially disastrous consequences. [17, 18, 19, 20]
The radiologist has important medical and legal roles in cases of child abuse. The radiologist may be the first to raise a question of abuse if characteristic or unexplained findings are encountered during imaging. Immediate, direct communication with the referring physician is imperative in such cases.
A radiologist's testimony regarding findings of possible abuse may be required, and the radiologist may be asked to give an opinion as to the likely age of the child's fractures and about the possibility of alternative diagnoses. Familiarity with radiographic patterns and mechanisms of abuse generally allows the radiologist to give an interpretation with a high degree of certainty.
Because imaging studies document occult injuries, they may justify the implementation of protective measures when the patient's clinical presentation suggests abuse.
Kleinman et al reported the utility of high-detail, postmortem radiography in identifying skeletal injuries that had otherwise been overlooked. [21]
Skeletal injury is the most common form of injury (excluding external soft-tissue injuries) in child abuse. Fractures are documented in 11-55% of physically abused children. [14]
ACR Appropriateness Criteria
The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria for suspected physical abuse in children includes the following recommendations [22, 23, 24] :
The appropriate imaging of pediatric patients being evaluated for suspected physical abuse depends on the age of the child, the presence of neurologic signs and symptoms, and evidence of visceral thoracic or abdominopelvic injuries.
A skeletal survey is indicated in the initial imaging evaluation of children 24 mo of age or younger. In
older children, it is usually appropriate to target imaging to the area(s) of suspected injury.
Skeletal survey and CT of the head without contrast are indicated in the emergent/initial imaging evaluation of a child with neurologic signs and symptoms, complex skull fracture, apnea, multiple fractures, spine trauma, or facial injury. These examinations are not indicated for general screening.
MRI of the head may provide additional diagnostic information to head CT in about 25% of children.
MRI of the cervical spine should be considered at the time of head MRI, because unsuspected injury (usually ligamentous) may be present in over 33% of children with intracranial injury.
Skeletal survey and CT of the chest/abdomen/pelvis with IV contrast are indicated if there are signs or symptoms of intrathoracic or intra-abdominal visceral injury (eg, abdominal pain/distention/bruising, abnormal liver, or pancreatic enzymes).
In children 24 mo of age or younger with equivocal skeletal survey or with a high clinical suspicion for abuse and a negative initial skeletal survey, a repeat limited/focused skeletal survey performed at 2 wk may add diagnostic information.
Long-bone injuries
Injuries to the long bones are the result of a direct blow or, more commonly, a shear force. [1, 25, 26] (See the image below.)
The resulting fracture may cross the diaphysis in an oblique or transverse plane, or it may create the highly specific and classic metaphyseal lesion (CML). The classic metaphyseal lesion is also referred to as a corner fracture or a bucket-handle fracture. A CML occurs when a torsional force is applied to the immature primary spongiosa adjacent to a cartilaginous growth plate.
Classic metaphyseal lesion (CML) in the distal humerus, in the form of a bucket-handle injury.
Rib fractures
Rib fractures occur when a compressive force is applied simultaneously to the sternum and to the costovertebral junction during violent shaking as the perpetrator compresses the child's chest using both hands. [27]
The posterior ribs are most commonly fractured, because the greatest force is imparted to the articulation of the head and to the neck of the rib with the transverse process of the vertebral body.
However, fractures are not limited to the posterior aspects of the ribs. Anterolateral fractures are also common. Rib fractures are typically noted at several contiguous levels; they are frequently bilateral.
(See the image below.)
Head injury accounts for 80% of deaths associated with abuse in children younger than age 2 years. Mechanisms of injury include forceful shaking, either by itself or accompanied by abrupt impact. [12, 13, 25, 26] (See the images below.)
Skull fracture secondary to child abuse horizontally crosses the left frontal region superior to the orbital rim.
Subdural Hematoma. Acute subdural hematoma and chronic subdural hygroma in the left frontoparietal area. Note the contralateral midline shift and compression of the occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle.
Subdural Hematoma. T1-weighted MRI of the brain shows bilateral chronic subdural hematomas related to child abuse.
In an acute setting, CT scanning is more readily available and more cost-effective than MRI. MRI is used as a problem-solving modality when CT findings are unexplained or confusing.
CT scanning of the abdomen is indicated if abdominal injury is suspected. CT scanning demonstrates visceral injuries and retroperitoneal hematomas.
Gastrografin upper-GI study under fluoroscopic guidance is occasionally indicated for evaluating submucosal hemorrhages of the duodenum or for identifying perforation of the duodenum.
Skeletal scintigraphy may be used when clinical suspicion remains high despite normal findings on a skeletal survey. [28] Advantages of scintigraphy include increased sensitivity for acute posterior rib fractures, because the spine tends to obscure these injuries on radiographic examination. Fractures of the spine may be better depicted with scintigraphy than with radiography.
Limitations of techniques
Fractures that are parallel or nearly parallel to the section orientation may be missed during CT scanning. Therefore, radiography of the skull is preferred over CT scanning for examining these injuries.
The disadvantages of scintigraphy include diminished sensitivity in detecting skull fractures and CMLs, as these are contiguous with the normal isotope-avid growth plates. In addition, because all abnormal sites must be confirmed radiographically, an osseous survey is the preferred initial examination.
Scintigraphy is also limited because of its expense, lack of availability, amount of gonadal radiation exposure relative to plain radiography, and lack of reader expertise.
Evan Geller MD, Bernard Coombs MB, ChB, PhD, David Levey MD, Eugene Lin MD, Beverly Wood MD MSEd PhD, Avneesh Chhabra MD, Eleanor Smergel MD | March 23, 2017 | https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/407144-overview


text:
Mar 21, 2019 - World Expert Voices
U.S. handwringing overplays importance of Belt and Road agreements
Jonathan Hillman
China's President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Rome's Fiumicino airport on March 21, 2019. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images
Xi Jinping arrived in Italy today to sign a memorandum of understanding for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a development that has already drawn criticism from the U.S.
The big picture: Washington's frustration is understandable, but it plays right into Beijing's hand. Publicly criticizing Italy's decision gives unwarranted weight to vague documents that, like the BRI itself, overpromise and underdeliver.
If anything, these memorandums of understanding (MOUs) highlight some of the BRI's biggest flaws:
Weak terms: As Italy's draft document notes: "This Memorandum of Understanding does not constitute an international agreement which may lead to rights and obligations under international law. No provision of this Memorandum is to be understood and performed as a legal or financial obligation or commitment of the Parties."
Vague and generic promises: Chinese officials make a point of claiming that the BRI will be tailored to promote local development goals, but the MOUs use boilerplate language. Occasionally, a mention is made to "link" or "align" the BRI with a partner's development plan, but how that will happen is not spelled out.
Narrow, typically bilateral scope: China is pushing to give the BRI a multilateral sheen, but in practice, it is a sea of bilateral deals. That way Beijing always gets to be the big party at the negotiating table.
Diluted value: Chinese state media claim that cooperation documents have been signed with over 150 countries and international organizations, but participation is no guarantee of investment. The longer the list of BRI cooperation documents grows, the less signing them means.
Between the lines: Rather than inflate the importance of these documents, U.S. officials should continue to focus on the BRI's specific failings. There are plenty to highlight — lack of transparency, contributions to corruption, unsustainable debt, environmental damage, bias toward Chinese firms — and many countries that have signed BRI cooperation documents have found the experience disappointing, even painful.
The bottom line: Ultimately, nothing speaks louder than better alternatives. Consider the difference between a BRI MOU and a high-standard regional trade deal. The former is weak, vague and bilateral. The latter is legally binding, specific, multilateral — and conspicuously absent from the U.S. economic playbook.
Jonathan Hillman is director of the Reconnecting Asia Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.


Multifunctional platform which can be adapted for the fulfillment of different tasks, such as logistic support, humanitarian aid, and commercial load transportation.
The LPR acts as a command boat for the group of tactical riverine combat boats operated by the Colombian Marine Corps. It is equipped with the required features to undertake surveillance, intelligence, communication, command and control operations.
The Coast Patrol Vessel is a modern and sophisticated design developed by Cotecmar (CPV 46m) used for a broad range of tasks at sea.
Modern patrol vessel, functionally adapted and built with outstanding performance in seagoing conditions for worldwide missions, operations with helicopter and fast boats.
Military patrol vessel with the necessary capabilities to perform border control operations, riverine security, search and rescue, environmental control, and humanitarian aid.
Designed as a platform for communications, intelligence, and logistic support operations for riverine combat elements.
This fully armored river patrol ship is designed to operate in main rivers, serving as a mobile logistic support platform to increase deployment timeframe and range for riverine operations.


FORTUNA Tokyo SS18 – Tokyo. | #StyleHeirs.
[TOKYO, JAPAN.] The definition of Tokyo fashion intermingled with western culture can only be found under the Japenese label FORTUNA Tokyo. To start off the show, Akiko sent out an amazing choreographed display of Samurai sword fighting. The Samurai model sported a stunning leather jacket that showcased the brand's identity with pairing two cultures together. The pieces that I gravitated to the most were the suit coats with hoodies. That entire concept is brilliant, Akiko pulled that inspiration from the idea of a Samurai helmet.
Another piece that captured my attention was the cobalt blue bomber jacket that had a similar enclosure to a traditional Samurai's everyday attire. Something I wish Akiko did with the Samurai battlefield inspired jacket was instead of having a solid black jacket, have an actual Samurai print. Perhaps, that will have to be a made-to-order custom jacket I need to request since that's a service FORTUNA offers. Most of the looks that were sent down the runway I would totally wear out and about. It's a brand that I've recently been introduced to and I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for what other designs Akiko create in the future.
← Nerd Unit SS18 – Tokyo.


Every year SR&R Environmental provides safe, legal disposal of thousands of waste drums for clients large and small across the Southeast. Whether you have a single oil drum in need of disposal, or are a Large Quantity Generator with a warehouse full of hazardous waste drums, SR&R has you covered. And with our field chemists, we can help characterize and dispose of drums even if you don"t know what's in them.
Our licensed and trained technicians can come to your site and ensure that everything is packaged, labeled, and documented in accordance with local, state, and Federal regulations. As an EPA licensed Hazardous Waste Transporter, we can then provide safe transport in a fleet of DOT compliant trucks and trailers covered by insurance above and beyond the industry standard, thereby limiting your liability during transport. We also receive loads for disposal at our Wilmington facility by appointment.
For more information on how SR&R can provide turnkey waste disposal services, please contact us.


In times of crisis it's important to show the community that you are in control, well-trained and competent to handle any incident. Unfortunately, we lost yet another student to a senseless act of school violence just a mile from my home here in Colorado in December of 2013. I wanted to share with you some excerpts of Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson's LIVE news conference following the shooting. Sheriff Robinson did an excellent job of conveying information. I have superimposed on the screen, some of the action words and phrases the sheriff used to help calm the community, while at the same time reassuring the public that his agency was up to the tasks it faced that day.


text:
AliAnalysisTask *AddTaskJPSIFilter(TString period="", Bool_t storeLS = kFALSE, Bool_t hasMC_aod = kFALSE){
  //get the current analysis manager
  AliAnalysisManager *mgr = AliAnalysisManager::GetAnalysisManager();
  if (!mgr) {
    Error("AddTaskJPSIFilter", "No analysis manager found.");
    return 0;
  }

  //check for output aod handler
  if (!mgr->GetOutputEventHandler()||mgr->GetOutputEventHandler()->IsA()!=AliAODHandler::Class()) {
    Warning("AddTaskJPSIFilter","No AOD output handler available. Not adding the task!");
    return 0;
  }

  //Do we have an MC handler?
  Bool_t hasMC=(AliAnalysisManager::GetAnalysisManager()->GetMCtruthEventHandler()!=0x0)||hasMC_aod;

  //Do we run on AOD?
  Bool_t isAOD=mgr->GetInputEventHandler()->IsA()==AliAODInputHandler::Class();

  //Allow merging of the filtered aods on grid trains
  if(mgr->GetGridHandler()) {
    printf(" SET MERGE FILTERED AODs \n");
    //mgr->GetGridHandler()->SetMergeAOD(kTRUE);
  }

  //gROOT->LoadMacro("$ALICE_PHYSICS/PWGDQ/dielectron/macros/ConfigBJpsi_ff_PbPbFilter.C");
  //  gROOT->LoadMacro("$ALICE_PHYSICS/PWGDQ/dielectron/macrosJPSI/ConfigBJpsi_ff_PbPbFilter.C");
  gROOT->LoadMacro("$ALICE_PHYSICS/PWGDQ/dielectron/macrosJPSI/ConfigJpsi_nano_PbPb.C");
  AliDielectron *jpsi=ConfigJpsi_nano_PbPb(0,hasMC,period);

  if(isAOD) {
    //add options to AliAODHandler to duplicate input event
    AliAODHandler *aodHandler = (AliAODHandler*)mgr->GetOutputEventHandler();
    aodHandler->SetCreateNonStandardAOD();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsHeaderReplication();
    if(!period.Contains("LHC10h")) aodHandler->SetNeedsTOFHeaderReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsVZEROReplication();
    /*aodHandler->SetNeedsTracksBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsCaloClustersBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsVerticesBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsCascadesBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsTrackletsBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsPMDClustersBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsJetsBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsFMDClustersBranchReplication();
    //aodHandler->SetNeedsMCParticlesBranchReplication();
    aodHandler->SetNeedsDimuonsBranchReplication();*/
    //    if(hasMC) aodHandler->SetNeedsV0sBranchReplication();
    if(hasMC) aodHandler->SetNeedsMCParticlesBranchReplication();
    jpsi->SetHasMC(hasMC);
  }

  //Create task and add it to the analysis manager
  AliAnalysisTaskDielectronFilter *task=new AliAnalysisTaskDielectronFilter("jpsi_DielectronFilter");
  task->SetTriggerMask(AliVEvent::kMB+AliVEvent::kCentral+AliVEvent::kSemiCentral+AliVEvent::kEMCEGA+AliVEvent::kEMCEJE);
  //  task->SetTriggerMask(AliVEvent::kMB+AliVEvent::kCentral+AliVEvent::kSemiCentral);
  if (!hasMC) task->UsePhysicsSelection();

  //   //Add event filter
  //   AliDielectronEventCuts *eventCuts=new AliDielectronEventCuts("eventCuts","Vertex Track && |vtxZ|<10 && ncontrib>0");
  //   if(!hasMC) eventCuts->SetRequireVertex();
  //   if (isAOD) eventCuts->SetVertexType(AliDielectronEventCuts::kVtxAny);
  //   eventCuts->SetMinVtxContributors(1);
  //   eventCuts->SetVertexZ(-10.,10.);
  //   eventCuts->SetCentralityRange(0.0,90.0);
  //   task->SetEventFilter(eventCuts);

  task->SetDielectron(jpsi);
  if(storeLS) task->SetStoreLikeSignCandidates(storeLS);
  task->SetCreateNanoAODs(kTRUE);
  task->SetStoreEventsWithSingleTracks(kTRUE);
  //task->SetStoreHeader(kTRUE);
  mgr->AddTask(task);

  //----------------------
  //create data containers
  //----------------------

  TString containerName = mgr->GetCommonFileName();
  containerName += ":PWGDQ_dielectronFilter";

  //create output container

  AliAnalysisDataContainer *cOutputHist1 =
    mgr->CreateContainer("jpsi_FilterQA",
                         THashList::Class(),
                         AliAnalysisManager::kOutputContainer,
                         containerName.Data());

  AliAnalysisDataContainer *cOutputHist2 =
    mgr->CreateContainer("jpsi_FilterEventStat",
                         TH1D::Class(),
                         AliAnalysisManager::kOutputContainer,
                         containerName.Data());

  mgr->ConnectInput(task,  0, mgr->GetCommonInputContainer());
  mgr->ConnectOutput(task, 0, mgr->GetCommonOutputContainer());
  mgr->ConnectOutput(task, 1, cOutputHist1);
  mgr->ConnectOutput(task, 2, cOutputHist2);

  return task;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Bettiol gets 1st Grand Tour stage win, Bernal keeps Giro d'Italia lead
STRADELLA, Italy — Italian cyclist Alberto Bettiol timed his attack perfectly to win the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia for his first victory in a Grand Tour, and Egan Bernal kept the leader's pink jersey at the end of the race's longest leg.
Bettiol, who rides for EF Education-Nippo, had plenty of time to sit up on his bicycle and repeatedly lift up his hands to encourage the home fans that lined the route to cheer louder as he approached the finish line.
"It means really, really a lot for me, for my team, and for the people that always believe in me," the 27-year-old Bettiol said. "It's a gift that I want to go to my former agent, Mauro Battaglini, that passed away last year, and was like a second father for me, so this victory is for him that for sure he looks on me from the sky."
The 231-kilometer (144-mile) route from Rovereto to Stradella was mainly flat but ended with a series of short climbs through the rolling Pavia winelands.
Remi Cavagna appeared to be heading for the win after attacking on the approach to the fourth-category Castana climb and crossing with a 28-second advantage, but Bettiol had set off in pursuit and caught and passed the French time-trial champion with about seven kilometers remaining.
"The final was really hectic because a lot of guys looked at me, everybody were in my wheel, and I was sure that a strong guy like Remi Cavagna would try something," Bettiol said. "Fortunately the final was really, really strong and really, really hard, and I could use my legs … and in the end I catch him, and I immediately attacked."
Simone Consonni led the rest of the breakaway across, 17 seconds behind Bettiol. Nicolas Roche was third to complete an all-Italian podium.
Bernal crossed the line in the peloton, more than 23 minutes behind. The 2019 Tour de France champion maintained his lead of 2 minutes, 21 seconds over Damiano Caruso and 3:23 ahead of third-place Simon Yates.
"You can't say you are overconfident because in just one bad day, you can lose everything," Bernal said. "I have a lot of respect for the other guys and I need to be focused and just try do my best and that's it."
Friday's 19th stage has been modified to bypass the top-category climb of the Mottarone after a cable car disaster there killed 14 people on Sunday. The new, slightly-shorter route nevertheless includes three categorized climbs – including a top-classed one to the finish – on the 166-kilometer (103-mile) leg from Abbiategrasso to Alpe di Mera.
The Giro finishes on Sunday in Milan with an individual time trial.


text:
September Books 6) The Third Policeman
September 25, 2005 fromtheheartofeurope	56 Comments
6) The Third Policeman, by Flann O'Brien
One of many benefits of going through the bookshelves for the sake of Library Thing is the rediscovery of old friends. This is such an enjoyable work of genius. I don't think I'd picked it up for ten years, but at one point in my life I was able to quote wholesale from the atomic theory:
What is a sheep only millions of little bits of sheepness whirling around and doing intricate convolutions inside the sheep? What else is it but that?
This seemed to me hilarious when I was seventeen, and then the follow-on, that you gradually turn into a bicycle if you ride over poorly kept roads for too long, turned out to have wider application the first time I looked into a mirror and was reminded of looking at my girlfriend's face.
But I'm realising that there is more to it than that. Most of the chapters begin with reflections on the works of de Selby and his commentators – the footnote at the start of the penultimate chapter rambles on across the bottom half of six pages, starting from de Selby's inability to tell women from men and ending with the disappearance of Hatchjaw (including the troubling speculation that Hatchjaw was not Hatchjaw at all, but someone else of the same name). O'Nolan/O'Brien was of course a partial fugitive from the lore of ancient Irish literature, which may be where he drew some of his material on de Selby. He also famously took the piss out of Erwin Schrödinger, complaining that de Valera's Institute for Advanced Studies had doscovered two St Patricks and no God.
But I felt particularly on this reading that the shadow of Joyce, and of Joycean scholarship, looms over The Third Policeman; I know it was published long after, but the commentators' hunt for meaning in de Selby reminds me a lot of Declan Kiberd's annotations completely missing the point in a recent edition of Ulysses. I went hunting on-line for a bit more evidence, and found to my delight that O'Nolan/O'Brien's article about Joyce, "A Bash in the Tunnel", is on-line. One passage that seems to me particularly important is this:
A friend of mine found himself next door at dinner to a well-known savant who appears in Ulysses. (He shall be nameless, for he still lives.) My friend, making dutiful conversation, made mention of Joyce. The savant said that Ireland was under a deep obligation to the author of Joyce's Irish Names of Places. My friend lengthily explained that his reference had been to a different Joyce. The savant did not quite understand, but ultimately confessed that he had heard certain rumours about the other man. It seemed that he had written some dirty books, published in Paris.
'But you are a character in one of them,' my friend incautiously remarked.
The next two hours, to the neglect of wine and cigars, were occupied with a heated statement by the savant that he was by no means a character in fiction, he was a man, furthermore he was alive and he had published books of his own.
'How can I be a character in fiction,' he demanded, 'if I am here talking to you?'
That incident may be funny, too, but its curiosity is this: Joyce spent a lifetime establishing himself as a character in fiction.
I won't go on about this at length, as I've discovered as a result of further googling that (perhaps unsurprisingly) I'm not the first person to have this thought; when I have a moment I'll read through David M. Haugen's essay on the subject from 1994. But it seems to me closely linked with the fact that the narrator of The Third Policeman has completely forgotten his own name.
One other small point that clicked with me more on this reading than before was the paint of no known colour, which Policeman MacCruiskeen puts on his bicycle to defeat the one-legged men who will be driven insane when they see it. Surely, surely, this must have been inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "The Color Out Of Space"? And it must also be an ancestor of the "Blit" stories by David Langford, collected I see in Different Kinds of Darkness. But in The Third Policeman it is only one surreal idea among many.
Some day I'll write something deep and meaningful about the descriptions of landscape in this book; or the use of mathematical concepts of topology; or the possible links with the Dunsink Observatory. But it's a nice Sunday, and there are other things to do.
bookblog 2005writer: flann o'brien
Previous PostHelp scientific research!Next PostSeptember Books 7) The Family Trade
56 thoughts on "September Books 6) The Third Policeman"
mr_renaissance says:
The Literary Encyclopedia tells me: "The Third Policeman" is a story about academic obsession, a fable about crime and punishment, and, according to some, it is even a commentary on Einsteinian physics.
I'm intrigued (academic obsession also reminds me of the last Vila-Matas novel I read and enjoyed), I feel I just have to read this now…
I think it would be right up your street!
Plus, I have a spare copy. I'm in the Balkans all next weeek but perhaps we can catch up in October and I can lend it to you.
I've still got enough books to tide me over for a while, even at the rate I'm going through them lately. *lol*
sammywol says:
Molycules! gotta love those molycules!
communicator says:
I love that book. Have you read 'At swim two birds' a retelling of the Frenzy of Suibhne?
Yes, of course! Though I still think The Third Policeman is his masterpiece.
slovobooks says:
Flann's brother, Micheal Ó Núalláin, who is an artist, once did a mural in the form of a map of Ireland, based on incidents from his brother's work. He even had it made into a poster, although he never went to the trouble of putting this on the market, and, to the best of my knowledge, has them still. I mention this because I was going to write to him this week, to see if I could inveigle a few of them from him. If that happens to be the case, do you want one?
Gosh, yes!


Chances are you bundle your services like phone, internet and TV because it saves you money. But do you bundle your insurance policies too? Probably not. More than 70 per cent of recent InsuranceHotline.com shoppers who came to the site to get car insurance quotes opted NOT to bundle their auto insurance with their home insurance.
In dollars and cents, that totals about $140 in savings missed (we completed a quote, with and without the multi-line discount included) and the difference between the two lowest quotes was $143. But the savings missed, could in fact be more, because often the multi-line discount is applied to both policies; the auto insurance policy and the home insurance policy.
Multi-line is insurance jargon for what might be better described as, multi-product. Auto insurance and home insurance are different products, and when you buy them from the same insurance company they'll often reward you for bundling. In the insurance world this is called a multi-line discount and it can range from anywhere from five to 15 per cent off of one, or even both of your policies.
Did you know? You don't have to be a homeowner to qualify for the multi-line discount. A homeowner's policy, condo and tenant (e.g. contents) policy qualifies too.
Another way to bundle your policies is by insuring all your vehicles with the same insurer; doing so, could qualify you for a multi-vehicle discount. There's more to this discount than just the autos you regularly drive; think motorcycles and recreational vehicles too.
Some things just go well together, like peanut butter and jam. When you get auto insurance, talk to your provider about your home insurance too. If you don't, you may find that you're missing out on one of the most common, and valuable discounts available.


text:
Christophe PERIGNON
perignon@hec.fr https://people.hec.edu/perignon
Christophe Pérignon is Professor of Finance and Associate Dean for Research at HEC Paris, France. He is also the co-holder of the ACPR (Banque de France) Chair in Regulation and Systemic Risk. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the Swiss Finance Institute and has been a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Prior to joining HEC Paris, he was an Assistant Professor of Finance at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. His areas of research and teaching interests are in derivatives markets, financial risk management (measurement, model validation, regulation), and AI/machine learning. Christophe published a dozen of articles in top finance journals (Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Business, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and Review of Finance) or in general-science journals (Science). In 2014, he received the Europlace Award for the Best Young Researcher in Finance. As an open-science evangelist, he contributed to develop innovative tools to help fellow researchers to make their research easier to use and to reproduce: in 2012, he co-founded RunMyCode.org, an academic website allowing researchers to share the code and data associated with their scientific papers; in 2019, he launched cascad, the first Certification Agency for Scientific Code and Data.
AllScientific articlesBooksChapters in edited booksProceedingsWorking papers
The Private Production of Safe Assets
Journal of Finance (The), April 2021, vol. 76, n° 2, pp 495-535, (in coll. with M. KACPERCZYK, G. VUILLEMEY)
What if dividends were tax‐exempt? Evidence from a natural experiment
Review of Financial Studies, December 2021, vol. 34, n° 12, pp 5756-5795, (in coll. with D. ISAKOV, J.-P. WEISSKOPF)
Certify reproducibility with confidential data
Science, 12 July 2019, vol. 365, n° 6449, pp 127-128, (in coll. with K. GADOUCHE, C. HURLIN, R. SILBERMAN, E. DEBONNEL)
The Counterparty Risk Exposure of ETF Investors
Journal of Banking and Finance, May 2019, vol. 102, pp 215-230, (in coll. with C. HURLIN, S. YEUNG, G. ISELI)
Machine learning et nouvelles sources de données pour le scoring de crédit
Revue d'Économie Financière, 2019, vol. 135, n° 3, pp 21-50, (in coll. with C. Hurlin)
Pitfalls in Systemic-Risk Scoring
Journal of Financial Intermediation, April 2019, vol. 38, pp 19-44, (in coll. with S. BENOIT, C. HURLIN)
Wholesale Funding Dry-Ups
Journal of Finance (The), April 2018, vol. 73, n° 2, pp 575-617, (in coll. with D. THESMAR, G. VUILLEMEY)
Where the Risks Lie: A Survey on Systemic Risk
Review of Finance, March 2017, vol. 21, n° 1, pp 109-152, (in coll. with S. BENOIT, J. E. COLLIARD, C. HURLIN)
CoMargin
Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, September 2017, vol. 52, n° 5, pp 2183–2215, (in coll. with J. A. CRUZ LOPEZ, J. HARRIS, C. HURLIN)
The Political Economy of Financial Innovation: Evidence from Local Governments
Review of Financial Studies, June 2017, vol. 30, n° 6, pp 1903-1934, (in coll. with B. VALLEE)
Marchés Financiers: Gestion de portefeuille et des risques
Dunod 2014 (in coll. with B. JACQUILLAT, B. SOLNIK)
Dunod 2009 (in coll. with B. SOLNIK, B. Jacquillat)
La gestion des risques fait sa révolution
Réinventer L'Entreprise - Repères Pour Une Crise Qui Va Durer, B. Ramanantsoa, J. M. Le Roux (eds), Pearson - Collection Village Mondial
Runmycode.org: a novel dissemination and collaboration platform for executing published computational results
Proceedings of IEEE 8th International Conference on e-Science , 2012 (V. STODDEN, C. HURLIN)
Explainable Performance
Cahier de Recherche du Groupe HEC , 2022
Non-Standard Errors
SSRN Electronic Journal , 2021
The Fairness of Credit Scoring Models
Reproducibility Certification in Economics Research
Habilitation to conduct research, Université Paris Dauphine - France
Postdoctoral Studies, UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles - USA
Ph.D. in Finance, Swiss Finance Institute - Switzerland
M.A. in Economics and Finance, Université de Genève - Switzerland
B.A. in Economics, Université de Genève - Switzerland
Academic Responsibilities at HEC
2018- Professor, Finance HEC Paris
2007-2018 Associate Professor HEC Paris
2016- Directeur du Laboratoire GREGHEC - UMR CNRS 2959 HEC Paris
2016- Associate Dean for Research HEC Paris
2011-2015 Responsable Track Finance MBA HEC Paris
2012-2014 Deloitte and Société Générale "Energy and Finance" Chair HEC Paris
2007- Member of GREGHEC, the joint research laboratory CNRS-HEC Paris HEC Paris
External Academic Responsibilities
2003-2007 Assistant Professor of Finance Simon Fraser University
2001-2003 Chercheur post doctoral UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles
Membership in Academic or Professional Organisation
Member, French Finance Association
Member, European Finance Association
Member, American Finance Association
Editorial activities
Reviewer, Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Review of Finance, Journal of Banking and Finance, Financial Review, Journal of Empirical Finance, Journal of Risk.
Conference organisation
2021- 2021 HEC Data Day organizer
2020- 2020 HEC Data Day co-organizer
2019-2019 Co-organizer HEC Data Day
2018-2018 Big Data Day @ HEC conference organizer, 1st edition
2009- Co-organisateur, "6th HEC - INSEAD - PSE 2009 Workshop on Economics & Finance"
Membre du Comité de programme: Financial Management Association, European Meeting, 2008, 2009
Membre du Comité de programme : Conférence de l'AFFI, since 2007
Referee for European Finance Association since 2010
2016 Best AFFI 2016 Paper Award for the paper "Wholesale Funding Runs"
2012 Winner of the 2012 HEC Foundation award for Teaching Innovation for the project "RunMyCode: Bringing Research into the Classroom"
2009 Award for the Best Paper in Risk Management at the Midwest Finance Association Conference, Chicago


The Only 12 Chocolate Face Mask Recipes You Need For Amazing Skin!
Is chocolate your guilty pleasure treat? I mean, who doesn't like chocolate, right? If you don't, then there's something seriously wrong with you, buddy! But if you thought chocolate was just for consumption, you couldn't be more wrong! Here we present to you a list of homemade chocolate face mask recipes that will do wonders for your skin!
Chocolate, especially cocoa, contains numerous antioxidants, that are super beneficial in fighting free radicals that cause premature aging, and all its related signs. Flavanols contained in cocoa help improve skin texture and hydration, while the minerals present in it promote tissue repair and cell growth. So you see, chocolate is not just for making tempting desserts like cakes, pastries, cookies, brownies, and puddings, but a beautifying agent too.
Chocolate helps improve blood circulation, thereby reducing early signs of skin aging. If the chocolate you use is milk, then it helps soften and moisturize your dry, dull skin. Dark chocolate is highly beneficial, both for consumption as well as for your skin, because it gives you naturally glowing skin. Plus, the numerous antioxidants help increase collagen production, which keeps your skin elastic and supple. Chocolate is known to protect your skin from sun damage and harmful UV rays.
Chocolate face mask recipes are known to reduce spots on your skin, along with any other blemishes. Let's take a look at some of the face masks made from chocolate, that you must try!
Also, hot cocoa/chocolate mix or chocolate milk mix is different from cocoa powder. Be careful what you purchase for your face mask.
While honey nourishes and moisturizes your skin, chocolate helps fight off early signs of aging.
In a clean bowl, add 1 tablespoon of chocolate/cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons of honey, half a teaspoon each of butter and sugar. Mix together all the ingredients to form a granular paste. Gently massage this on to your skin for about 60 seconds, and then leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water, followed by a cool rinse.
Pro tip: Use this mask twice a month for best results.
Olive oil provides deep nourishment and hydration for your skin, while the antioxidants in the chocolate help moisturize it.
To 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate, add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and 1 egg yolk, and mix well. Spread this paste all over your face and neck, leaving it on for about 15 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Pro tip: Instead of olive oil, you can use almond oil, grape seed oil, or linseed oil.
Fruits like apple, strawberries, watermelon, and banana when mixed with chocolate can become the best toner your skin needs.
Take a 3-4 pieces of apple, strawberries, watermelon, and banana and blend them into a smooth puree. Take 3 tablespoons of this purée and mix 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate. Mix well and apply this on your face and neck, letting it sit for about 20 minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Pro tip: Don't waste the rest of the fruits smoothie in your blender. Drink it!
Oatmeal helps promote soft and smooth skin by cleansing the clogged pores. Yogurt moisturizes and adds a youthful glow to your skin. Plus, the lactic acid in it helps exfoliate your skin, tightening the pores, while simultaneously reducing skin blemishes.
In a clean bowl, add 1 tablespoon each of cocoa powder and oatmeal, 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix all the ingredients well and spread this paste on your face and neck, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes. Remove the dried mask with a wet paper towel, and rinse with lukewarm water.
Pro tip: Use this face mask at least twice a week for best results.
While honey moisturizes and hydrates your skin, cream, which contains lactic acid, helps cleanse your pores.
In a clean bowl, add 1 tablespoon each of melted chocolate, milk cream, and honey. Mix well to form a smooth paste. Spread this on your face and neck, letting it sit for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Gram flour is known to help absorb excess oil from your skin, without leaving it dry. When mixed with yogurt, gram flour is an excellent home remedy for oily skin.
In a clean bowl, mix together one-third cup of cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of gram flour, 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt, and 4 tablespoons of honey. Once mixed well, spread this paste on your face and neck, leaving it on for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Pro tip: Gram flour is nothing but chickpea powder.
Almond works wonders on your skin to reveal the hidden glow of your skin. Mixed with chocolate, it's a wonderful face mask.
Mix together 2 tablespoons of chocolate and 1 tablespoon of almond meal. Mix well and spread this mask all over your face and neck. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Essential oils help regenerate your skin cells, while the chocolate helps tone and hydrate your skin from within.
In a clean bowl, add 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate, with 1 teaspoon each of rose hip oil and almond oil, and 1 drop of rose essential oil. Mix well, and make sure that it's at a comfortable temperature. Apply this mask on your face and neck, leaving it on for 20 minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water, and pat dry your skin with a soft towel.
Coffee is an underrated ingredient when it comes to skin care. Anyway, the caffeine found in coffee helps remove your skin's dullness and brightens it up. Coconut milk has a soothing effect on your skin, while also nourishing and moisturizing it.
In a clean bowl, put 1 tablespoon each of unsweetened cocoa powder and freshly ground coffee powder, along with 1 teaspoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of coconut milk. Mix all the ingredients together to form a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your face and neck, letting it sit for 30-45 minutes. Wash your face with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
Pro tip: For best results, use this mask at least once a week.
While cinnamon has anti-microbial properties, honey has antioxidant properties, both of which are essential in fighting off infections and microbes that cause acne, and other skin infections.
Take a clean bowl. In it, add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and honey. Mix together all the ingredients to form a thick paste. If you want, you can add a few drops of water to adjust the consistency. Now apply this paste on your face and neck, letting it sit for 20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
Pro tip: Use this face mask at least once a week for best results.
Turmeric has antiseptic properties, which not only gives a glow to your skin, but also help fight any skin infections. Fuller's Earth has the capacity to remove dirt, grime, and other impurities from your skin, while helping lighten your skin tone.
Take a clean bowl, and add 1 tablespoon each of unsweetened cocoa powder and Fuller's Earth, along with a pinch of turmeric and 1 tablespoon of rose water. Mix well to form a smooth paste. Now, spread this paste on your face and neck, letting it sit for half an hour, before rinsing it off with tepid water.
Pro tip: For best results, use this mask at least once every week.
Just like chocolate, orange is rich in antioxidants, and is good for your skin in that it helps fight off skin infections. Also, oatmeal is the best to help remove all the dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling fresh and soft.
Take a clean bowl and add 1 tablespoon each of unsweetened cocoa powder, ground oatmeal powder, and orange juice, along with half a teaspoon of orange zest. Mix all of the ingredients well to form a smooth paste. Spread this mask on your face and neck, letting it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry with a towel.
There you have it – all the amazing homemade chocolate face mask recipes for glowing, healthy, soft, and supple skin. If you try these, you're never going to look back or try any other face masks! Give them a shot!
These chocolate face mask recipes will do wonders for your skin! Just try them once, and you'll never go back!
10 Super Easy Homemade Turmeric Face Mask Recipes Your Skin Would LOVE!


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Home»Posts tagged with»syrian peace
"We cannot remain silent," say fifty Syrian women at United Nations
By WNN Editors Team on January 14, 2014 >United Nations, WNN Breaking
WNN Breaking (WNN/UN) United Nations, Geneva, SWITZERLAND, WESTERN EUROPE: The voice of Syrian women must be heard in all efforts to resolve the civil war that is tearing their country apart, a United Nations-sponsored conference declared on January 13, stressing that women's participation is vital in shaping a peaceful future for the strife-wracked Middle Eastern […]
Syrian women will join peace talks at UN Geneva
By WNN Editors Team on December 19, 2013 >Syria, WNN Breaking
WNN Breaking (WNN/UN) United Nations Geneva, SWITZERLAND, WESTERN EUROPE: As incidences of intimidation, exploitation, early marriage and sexual assault rise for Syrian women and girls during the conflict in the region, Syrian women are now pushing back against the trauma of war in hopes of gaining their own form of empowerment. Syrian actress Ms. Nanda […]
Peace advocates speak out against U.S. military intervention in Syria
By WNN Editors Team on June 14, 2013 >Syria, WNN Breaking
WNN Breaking (WNN) New York, New York, UNITED STATES, AMERICAS: Speaking out today against the U.S. government's decision to send military arms support to Syrian opposition forces, MADRE, an international women's human rights organization with an office in New York city, spoke out today to oppose what the U.S. president Barack Obama has coined in […]
United Nations Navi Pillay calls for investigation of Syrian 'crimes against humanity'
By WNN Editors Team on June 1, 2012 >United Nations, WNN Breaking
WNN Breaking (WNN) United Nations, GENEVA: U.N. human rights chief, Navi Pillay, is calling for an independent investigation into last week's slaughter of dozens of civilians in the Syrian town of Houla, even as activists on Friday reported the killing of at least 12 more civilians. Pillay's comments were provided in a statement to the […]


SAFARI Montage announces the expansion of its K-12 digital relationship with PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). With this expanded relationship, beginning July 1, 2012, SAFARI Montage will become the only major commercial digital distributor of PBS' full-length programs to schools nationwide.
During 2012, SAFARI Montage will be adding 300 of the latest PBS/WGBH programs and series to the 650 programs currently available, such as Ken Burns' The Civil War, NOVA, Frontline, Between the Lions, Cyberchase, Liberty's Kids, Masterpiece Theatre and We Shall Remain. New PBS offerings to SAFARI Montage during 2012 include Ken Burns' The War and Prohibition, Freedom Riders, America Goes to War, The Human Spark, Wild Kratts, Your Life, Your Money, Telescope: Hunting the Edge of Space, American Experience: Clinton and others.
Although PBS National will not be renewing their digital distribution agreements with other major players, other digital providers continue to maintain close ties to PBS member stations. Discovery Education customers will continue to have access to PBS content as part of its ongoing agreement with PBS member stations such as WETA, SCETV, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, among others. Discovery Education also works with independent producers that provide PBS content aired on TV and will continue to offer many popular programs including Sid the Science Kid, Reading Rainbow, The PBS NewsHour and WordGirl, among others.


Safety is our first priority!
While the education of our students is our core business value, we will not compromise the safety of students, parents and visitors. We will maintain a safety and health program conforming to best standards and practices.
Management accepts responsibility for providing a safe working environment and students are expected to act in accordance with safe standards and practices. Students are encouraged to report unsafe conditions or the actions of others that may jeopardize the safety of the people or facilities.
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Bio enzyme is an eco friendly soil supplement which contains growth stimulants made from vegetables and fruit peels. It comprises of potassium humate, amino acids derived from protein fractions and vitamin B complex.
Plant growth and development: Its application helps in uniform growth of the plants.
Flower and fruit enhancer: Controls flower and fruit drop and hence help in retaining more flowers and fruits.
Increases immunity: Due to the presence of proteins and different amino acids it develops resistance against pests and diseases.
Increases yield: The application of bio enzyme helps in retaining more flowers and fruits which in turn increases overall yield of the plants.
Package quantity – Available in 500mL bottle.
Dosage- Add 6 mL of Bio Enzyme in 1 litre of water, mix well and apply to the soil.
Note: Nutrient application must be done 2-3 inch away from the stem.Quantity of nutrient application also depends on growth stage of the plants .


October 18, 2013, another version of Stephen King's classic Carrie will be making it's film debut. This version stars Julianne Moore and Chloe Moretz. Having recently read the book and seen the 1976 film (PTSS book/movie review), I am somewhat interested in seeing how this version compares to the book and original film. When it comes to adapting a book to the screen, it can be a hit or miss. Carrie and Margaret White are very well written characters. King gives great physical as well as mental and emotional descriptions. Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek were incredible in their depictions of the 1976 version. Although Spacek didn't fit the physical description of Carrie (overweight with acne), her vulnerability, "plainness" and acting skills definitely compensated for not following the book. For this movie fan, no one can touch Spacek's interpretation, but I hope I can be pleasantly surprised. If you have not read the Young Adult novel, I would suggest reading it. It's short and well worth the read. I admit that the Spacek version is slow until the Prom sequence, so hopefully the new adaptation will be a bit more attention grabbing without going off the rails.
← LIH: Must See Cinema Therapy!
Ok, I'm having a really difficult time believing Chloe as Carrie. The girl is not homely and in the book, part of the reason Carrie gets bullied so much is because of her physical appearance (see article). Argh! Why has every director gone against the book!!!!????
I DO like the fact that we witness the town of Chamberlain being destroyed. That was awesome in the book!
Have u seen the film yet? I really like u and Jess review of the book on PTSS. Yeah, the 1976 performances look better. The book really does a great job in creating and defining Carrie's world than any of the films. I think by focusing on the world Carrie lived in, it really allowed u to sympathize with her character more. It's sad they did not follow the book more in defining Carries physical appearance. ITA the Carrie's in both films were too attractive but Spacek still turned out a believable performance as a wallflower IMO.
Ugh. How many times does this story need to be redone?
I'm with u on that!


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4" Gravity LED fog lights are IP68 rated, protected against EMI interference and feature a 6,500K color temperature.


Calculator by Xlythe is another intuitive application which comes with almost 4 functional calculators along with a panel that has even more ultimate functions based on your needs. This app includes real-time history, graphics, base conversion, and much more. It comes with a lock screen widget, a wear app, a floating calculator, etc. so that you can use whichever you want. Calculator by Xlythe is a simple to use and uncluttered app which helps you get the proper and precise solutions for each of your transactions regarding simple plus or minus queries or multi-line complex transactions. This application allows you get a full replacement for your stock calculator and lets you work even smoother. For its proper use, it recommends you to disable your original calculator by checking its App Info and disable it where you find the uninstall button. You can enjoy all your scientific calculations right using this app and also get their proper graphs as well. Its scientific mode comes with more functions, and you can also have sin, cos, tan, ln, log, pie, exponent, brackets, !, X, *, square root, and more. You can easily get Calculator by Xlythe from the store and get its benefits for free.


In the tradition of Sweet Briar College's successful Explore Engineering and Explore Environmental Science weekend camps for high school girls, the College will start an Explore Computer Science session this spring. Open to sophomore, junior and senior girls from high schools anywhere in the U.S., the event will take place April 7-8, 2017.
The focus of the weekend will be the intersection of computer science and biology — computational biology. Computer science is essential for analyzing and understanding information about life. Computer science plays a role in everything from the analysis of protein shapes to the study of gene networks to predicting the behavior of biological systems.
Working in teams, participants will work with programs written in popular programming languages Python and NetLogo to explore biological applications and simulations. All activities will provide practical experience. At the end of the weekend session, students will showcase their projects to family and friends.
No prior programming background is required.
Students will stay in Sweet Briar's historic residence halls with engineering student mentors. The $35 cost includes room and board, meals, snacks, supplies and a T-shirt.
Online registration is at sbc.edu/computer-science. Registration is due by March 22 for highest priority. Space is limited.
This article reprinted from materials provided by Sweet Briar College.


TRI-COLOR GLOW NECKLACES. Great for clubbing, Each unit in display tube. Mardis Gras or Halloween!
I got these and the Bracelets for a night-time party. I used the necklaces to surround the plates on the tables and the Bracelets to surround the glasses. It looked impressive. Once seated they wore the items for the night! Got a Ton of compliments!


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The Veneration of Emperor Nikephoros Phokas on the Island of Crete and His Cross in Cortona, Italy
Nikephoros II Phokas was Roman Emperor from 963 to 969. His brilliant military exploits contributed to the resurgence of the Roman Empire during the tenth century. His administrative policy was less successful, as in order to finance these wars he increased taxes both on the people and on the Church, while maintaining unpopular positions and alienating many of his most powerful allies. These included his nephew John Tzimiskes, who would take the throne after killing Nikephoros in his sleep on 11 December 969.
Nikephoros joined the army at an early age. He was appointed the military governor of the Anatolikon Theme in 945 under Emperor Constantine VII. In 954 or 955, Nikephoros replaced his father, Bardas Phokas, as Domestic of the Schools, who consistently and disastrously lost battle after battle both to the Hamdanids and to the Abbasids, essentially taking charge of the eastern Roman army. From 955, the Hamdanids in Aleppo entered a period of unbroken decline until their destruction in 1002. In June 957 Nikephoros managed to capture and destroy Hadath. The Romans would continue to push their advantage against the Arabs until the collapse of the Hamdanids, however, from 960-961, the army turned its focus to the reconquest of Crete.
The fall of Crete at the hands of the Arabs was a matter of paramount importance, since it essentially changed the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean. The Arab invasions in the area put at risk not only the sovereignty but also the Roman presence itself on the Aegean islands and coasts. The Roman state, realizing the seriousness of the situation, repeatedly attempted to recapture the island from the Arabs. Four major campaigns were organized for this purpose, 829, 843, 911 (or 912) and 949 (or 956) and others of lesser importance, but all of them ended up failing and at great cost to the Roman army.
From the ascension of Emperor Romanos II in 959, Nikephoros and his younger brother Leo Phokas were placed in charge of the eastern and western field armies respectively. In 960, 27,000 oarsmen and marines were assembled to man a fleet of 308 ships carrying 50,000 troops. At the recommendation of the influential minister Joseph Bringas, Nikephoros was entrusted to lead this expedition against the Muslim Emirate of Crete. Nikephoros successfully led his fleet to the island and defeated a minor Arab force upon disembarkation near Almyros. He soon began a nine-month siege of the fortress town of Chandax. Following a failed assault and many raids into the countryside, Nikephoros entered Chandax on 6 March 961 and soon wrested control of the entire island from the Muslim Arabs.
Statue of Nikephoros Phokas in Prophet Elias
In Constantinople Nikephoros was met as a victor at the Hippodrome. The Roman general and his soldiers marched in front of the emperor; followed by Emir Abdal-Aziz, the son of Anemas, all the members of his family and his relatives, the other Saracen rulers, the endless array of spoils. Romanos bestowed upon Nikephoros great gifts and honors.
The re-occupation of Crete by Nikephoros Phokas in 961 is undoubtedly the most important event in the reign of Romanos II and one of the most significant successes of the Romans against the Arabs in the second half of the tenth century.
Leo the Deacon narrates in his work History, the richest source of the 960/1 events about Crete, this battle with a few more interesting details. After Nikephoros Phokas divided the army into three parts, thickening the formation, he ordered the True Cross to lead the army, then after a war cry they attacked the enemy. This portion of the True Cross that led the Roman army to recapture Crete has survived, and today rests in the Church of San Francesco in Cortona, Italy.
When Nikephoros became emperor, in thanksgiving to God for his victory over the Arabs in Crete, he gave thanks to God by offering the True Cross that was carried in the battle to the Church of Hagia Sophia. The keeper of the treasures of Hagia Sophia, Stephen, had this relic brought to the Monastery of Saint Euphemia also in Constantinople. In 1243 Baldwin II, the last Latin Emperor of Constantinople (1228-1261), gave it as a gift to the Franciscan Friar Elias Coppi of Cortona, a close disciple of Saint Francis of Assisi. Friar Elias was sent by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1220-1250) on a diplomatic mission to Constantinople with the aim of contributing to the peace negotiations between Baldwin II the Latin Emperor of Constantinople and John II Vatatzes the Roman Emperor of Nicaea. A year later, in 1244, Friar Elias brought the True Cross of Nikephoros Phokas to Cortona in Italy and placed it behind the altar of the Church of San Francesco, where it can still be seen today.
In Crete today Emperor Nikephoros Phokas is still honored with celebrations on his feast day, which is December 11th. Locations are also associated with Nikephoros Phokas, such as the village of Kalonychtis, meaning "Good Night", which was named after the victorious army of the Roman general rested the night there. At Prophet Elias he also built a fortress called Temenos for the protection of Heraklion. It was one of the largest fortresses in the east of the time. In the center of Prophet Elias a statue of Nikephoros Phokas was inaugurated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on June 15, 2002.
One of the greatest contributions of Nikephoros Phokas for the island of Crete was that he had the island placed under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, since previously it had been under the Pope of Rome. This allowed for the island to be Orthodox following the Great Schism a century later instead of Roman Catholic. Furthermore, after he conquered the island, holy missionaries established the island in its Orthodoxy, such as Saint John the Stranger and Saint Nikon Metanoete. In the historic Church of Saint Nektarios in Chania there is beautiful icon depicting the arrival of Nikephoros to the island of Crete along with the holy missionaries that followed. His icon is also found in the Church of Saint Titus in Heraklion, since Nikephoros Phokas built this church after his victory.
Nikephoros Phokas was a holy figure. Under his imperial garments, he wore a monastic schema. He was an ascetic who slept on the ground. When he was younger he wanted to become a monk under the spiritual guidance of Saint Athanasios the Athonite, but politics eventually won him over. When he liberated Crete, he sent to Saint Athanasios a part of the spoils he received from the Arabs for the founding of the Monastery of the Great Lavra, the first historical monastery of Mount Athos. He also sent him two castle doors of Chandax which are still used today. According to historians, when he was murdered in his sleep, he died praying to the Mother of God. His veneration as a saint came early, judging from an old Divine Office dedicated to him among the manuscripts of Mount Athos. The current Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes has also composed a service in his honor.
Front and back of the True Cross
Posted by John at 4:02:00 PM
Labels: Orthodoxy in Crete, Orthodoxy in Italy, Relics, Roman Emperors, Saints of December


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Valerie Harper brings comedy, grief to 'My Mom and the Girl'
"Awards are nice," says Harper. "But any light we can shine on Alzheimer's — or any other devastating disease — is a win for us."
Valerie Harper brings comedy, grief to 'My Mom and the Girl' "Awards are nice," says Harper. "But any light we can shine on Alzheimer's — or any other devastating disease — is a win for us." Check out this story on jacksonsun.com: http://www.jacksonsun.com/story/entertainment/2017/09/26/valerie-harper-balances-comedy-and-grief-my-mom-and-girl/703320001/
NICK THOMAS, Special for the Sun Published 9:28 a.m. CT Sept. 26, 2017 | Updated 11:38 a.m. CT Sept. 28, 2017
Peter Falk and Valerie Harper in a 1972 episode of 'Columbo.'(Photo: NBC)
Off-screen, Valerie Harper has been an inspiration to many following her optimistic defiance to her well-publicized life-threatening medical diagnosis in 2013. The star of the hit '70s TV series "Rhoda" now brings her indomitable spirit to the big screen to hearten families dealing with Alzheimer's disease.
Harper stars in Susie Singer Carter's short film "My Mom and the Girl," currently showing through Sept. 28 at the Laemmle Playhouse, Pasadena, with additional film festival screenings in Edmonton, Alberta, Columbus, Georgia, and Carmel, California, in October (see www.mymomandthegirl.com).
The film has also Oscar qualified in the Short Film category, a preliminary step toward the shortlisting of 10 films from which five eventual nominees will be selected.
Based on Singer Carter's own mother's battle with Alzheimer's, the writer, director and co-producer wanted Harper to play her mother, Norma Holzer.
Valerie Harper and Susie Singer Carter (Photo: Photo courtesy Susie Singer Carter)
"I was giving a live reading of the script at the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and was asked who I could see playing my mother if I had to cast it immediately," recalled Singer Carter from Los Angeles. "I said, Valerie Harper! We didn't know each other, but she's such a good role model in real life and turned out to be perfect in this role."
Harper, too, saw the part as an opportunity.
"As soon as I read the script I thought it was wonderfully written," said Harper from L.A. "I remembered seeing another film ("Still Alice") with Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin, which was a dramatic portrayal of Alzheimer's effect on a family. But Susie's script was unusual because it introduced humor. Not actual jokes, but comedic moments that could be used to soften a real-life tragedy."
Singer Carter says she can't take all the credit for the humor thread throughout the film.
"My mother lived with me for a year, and there were terrible times when she wouldn't recognize me, or accused me of horrible things like stealing her baby or calling me a whore. But between those difficult moments, she could be a treasure-trove of humor fodder. She would see a good-looking valet and say to him 'How ya doing? I'm very wealthy — just saying!' You can't make that up. I wanted to get that on film so families embarking on this journey can know there are two sides to this disease, and not every day will be a dark one."
"When humor is grounded in reality, it can stir up a lot of emotion," adds Harper. "That's when comedy is at its finest."
Valerie Harper and Dick Van Dyke in 'Merry Xmas,' 2015. (Photo: Cinco Dedos Peliculas)
Well-known for her TV comedies as well as theater work, Harper has appeared in over a dozen feature films, but only one previous live-action short, the 2015 comedy "Merry Xmas" with Dick van Dyke. "Dick loved to dance!" she recalled, laughing.
Harper and Singer Carter also share a link to classic television. One of the first shows each appeared in — albeit some 20 years apart — was "Columbo."
"Oh, Peter Falk!" remembered Singer Carter. "He was from New Jersey like my mom, so we hit it off. He could be tough, but if he liked you, he loved you. And he liked me. I played a dancing mermaid in a bar who appeared to be in a fish tank. At lunchtime, he'd invite me to share his pasta and tell me old Hollywood stories. Before we wrapped, he signed my script, which I still have in my office. He wrote on it: "Susie — that's your name, it ain't fancy but it's yours. You're lovely and terrific and I wish you the best. Peter.'"
Peter Falk and Susie Singer Carter in a 1991 episode of 'Columbo.' (Photo: ABC)
Interestingly, Falk was an Emmy nominee for "Columbo" in 1994, as was Liz Torres for "The John Larroquette Show" the same year (neither won). Torres co-stars in "My Mom and the Girl," playing Irlanda, the caregiver to Harper's character, Norma.
"The serendipity of the casting was beautiful because Val and Liz had also worked together before," explained Singer Carter, referring to the short-lived '90s CBS series "City."
Adds Harper, "Liz is a brilliant actor who can be funny or dramatic, and we have an on-screen relationship that parallels the real bond between Susie's mother and her caregiver."
While some dramatic scenes of the 20-minute film are drawn from the year mother and daughter lived together, Singer Carter crafted the story around one incident when her mother, followed by her caregiver, impetuously left home late one evening. As she roamed the streets of L.A., an encounter with "The Girl" (played by Harmony Santana) led to an interesting evening where the lives of the unlikely trio briefly intersect.
Valerie Harper in 'My Mom and the Girl.' (Photo: Tibrina Hobson Photography)
"This absolutely happened to my mother," noted Singer Carter. "Alzheimer's was slowly stealing away her memory, but when she met this stranger crying on the street, it pulled her 'mommy cord' and she continued to be who she was, despite the illness."
Incidents like this, says Singer Carter, can give families hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. "Doctors who work with Alzheimer's patients have told us that we have accurately portrayed what happens. So, hopefully, we can distribute the film to caregivers — not just of Alzheimer's patients, but to families dealing with any debilitating disease."
This is another reason Valerie Harper can identify with the film.
"My husband has been my wonderful caregiver for 5 years now, although I was only given 3-6 months," she said, referring to her rare brain cancer diagnosis. "My thing is called leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and it affects the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain). It's been difficult, but I've found the best way to get over your own tragedies is to focus on helping and supporting others."
"That's why I wanted Val in this film," added Singer Carter. "I remember seeing her interviewed 3 months after her diagnosis and saying something like 'I'm not going to my funeral before I have to.' I thought, what a spirit, just like my mom."
Now in her 80s in a nursing home and becoming increasingly engulfed in the fog of Alzheimer's, Singer Carter says her mom doesn't have a handle on vocabulary all the time.
"But when someone brings her food, she'll say 'Oh my God, I love you — you're gorgeous!' and that person breaks out in a smile. She knew I was making a film about her and was okay with it. But she hasn't had the attention span to watch the whole film, although she saw the trailer and totally got it."
So, too, have film judges at festivals across the U.S. and overseas, where "My Mom and the Girl" is already a multi-award winner. Harper and Singer Carter say they're gratified their film found its way onto this year's highly competitive Oscar qualifying list.
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 650 newspapers and magazines. See www.tinseltowntalks.com
Valerie Harper and costar Liz Torres, who plays Harper's caregiver in 'My Mom and the Girl.' (Photo: Tibrina Hobson Photography)
Read or Share this story: http://www.jacksonsun.com/story/entertainment/2017/09/26/valerie-harper-balances-comedy-and-grief-my-mom-and-girl/703320001/
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