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15 Jan Top 3 Indicators You're Ready for Security Automation
By Tom Young, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales
Winston Churchill famously spoke of readiness in his "finest hour" speech, "To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour."
There's rightfully a groundswell of chatter about Security Automation across industries in this early new year. Everyone acknowledges that Security teams cannot keep pace with the alert overload, staff shortages, threat landscape complexity, and attack surface expansion (IoT, Cloud, etc.). However, few fully understand what it takes to be ready to step into this exciting new world of security automation. Doing so without properly readying the process, people and technology will never yield the intended results. In fact, I'd argue doing so when not ready threatens to take the bloom of the budding Security Automation rose.
Thankfully, there's plenty of help. A great place to start is Stacey Collett's CSO Online article, 'Keeping pace with security automation," https://www.csoonline.com/article/3245171/security/keeping-pace-with-security-automation.html
One section of the article in particular, comments from Jon Oltsik, senior principal analyst at ESG, rings true to my experience with customers. Out of those comments, I'm highlighting what I consider the three key indicators you're ready for Security Automation:
- Identified priority use cases (which ones pose the most risk)?
- Detailed triage and IR processes (including systems/data source used).
- Found your appetite for automation (what will you IT team let your do)?
Take a Guided Tour
Complete the form to schedule a demo of Syncurity's award-winning IR Flow Security Operations and Incident Response Platform.
1) Priority Use Cases
When looking to alleviate the SecOps pain created by the factors mentioned earlier, there's a temptation to boil the ocean when taking on automation. Remember, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. As Olstik suggests, "Talk to your people and figure out where your biggest pain point is. Where does it take two hours to resolve issues? Where is it difficult to get people to work together or get the data that you need for investigations or forensics?"
However, I'd suggest that understanding your priority uses cases is not simply listing the most time-consuming and painful types of events/alerts. What's equally important is which ones pose the most risk. Although responding to a subpoena is a time-consuming and coordination challenged task, it may not represent significant cyber risk (the fact it might represent legal risk is a different issue). Botnet callbacks from database server hosting sensitive customer information does. Prioritizing use cases on the basis of both operational pain and cyber risk is imperative. If you're not sure which events/alerts pose the most risk, that in and of itself speaks volumes about your readiness for automaton.
2) Defining the corresponding triage and IR processes
When I ask potential customers about their processes for triaging, and if escalated to Incidents, the different types of User-submitted Phishing, SIEM or MSSP alerts they receive, I'm always surprised by the variations. Sometimes I find four analysts who each describe a different process for the same event/alert type, while others point to a Wiki or Intranet page they've created to guide the analysts. I've seen MS OneNote documents that serve as poor man's audit trail of what every person has done, and still others point to out-of-date spreadsheets or documents that outline their preferred approaches. The one constant among all these approaches is that they're not defined as they need to be for automation. They are often out of date, don't reflect how analysts are actually doing the work, and they lack specifics about which systems are used to complete a given step, how the information captured instructs the next step in the process. Perhaps most challenging to capture is what criteria does an analyst use to make a determination about escalating to an incident. All of these specifics should be fleshed out before attempting to encapsulate these processes into what Gartner calls a Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) technology platform.
3) Finding your appetite for automation
As Joseph Blankenship, senior analyst serving security and risk professionals at Forrester Research, says in Collett's article, "In the past, [automation] has caused us problems. We've stopped legitimate traffic, caused outages. There's a lot of issues with taking automated action without necessarily having somebody look at the action and verify it." For good reason, many organizations are hesitant to turn on Security automation. Think back to the early days of IPS, when "blocking fear" prevented inline, active prevention of malicious network traffic. However, there are two things to consider when looking to implement automation; a) times have changed, and b) not all automation is created equal.
With respect to the, "times have changed," point, Blankenship also says in Collett's piece, "Not until recently have we opened up APIs where we've got the ability to not only pull data out beyond just plain and simple log data, or to push an action back. There's more sharing between platforms, and we've created this automation and orchestration layer thanks to APIs that allow a little more free-exchange of data." Firms like Syncurity now provide purpose-built, enterprise-class platforms to address this layer, where there was no clear solution before.
More importantly, though, is recognizing where in the process automation adds high value with minimal risk. As Syncurity Founder & CSO, JP Bourget, explained in his Dark Reading article, "Finding Your Appetite for Automation (And Why it Matters)," automation introduces disruption risk at different levels at depending on the stage of the triage and IR lifecycle. For example, using automation to look up a suspicious IP address across multiple threat intel sources, both public and private, and presenting back their malicious score and confidence ratings can dramatically reduce the time it takes an analyst to triage an alert, and poses very little risk of disrupting any business processes. However, deciding to automatically block an IP address across the network based on the intel source feedback could. Recognizing where automation can quickly expedite and actually reduce risk vs. where it might introduce disruption risk is critical to early success. Once people begin to have confidence in the triage and IR processes, and the accuracy of recommendations for action, the ability to automate more of these steps becomes more feasible.
Security Automation has Great Promise; Proceed with Caution
One caveat – I'm always telling customers, be careful. Automatically updating your firewall rules 400 times in a day, means 100,000 new rules/year. That's a lot of strain on the appliances themselves, not to mention the migration nightmare should the enterprise decide to switch platforms/vendors. If automation isn't applied thoughtfully, and doesn't include human oversight informed by supervised learning technology, the technical debt generated by this effort will be crippling.
Security Automation holds great promise in dealing with system issues plaguing the good guys in the cyber wars. However, if you're not ready, having identified top use cases, defined the associated processes in sufficient detail, nor established what your IT team will/won't allow you to automate, you'll fall short of your "finest hour."
What did we miss as far as top security automation readiness indicators? Join the discussion on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Peerlyst.


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Meet Your Team
Fearrington has one of the most experienced wedding teams in the business. Many started out in our catering and kitchens, so they know how all the parts come together to make your wedding special. They bring extraordinary knowledge, confidence and commitment to what they do. Why trust your special day with anyone else?

subset: commoncrawl


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FDA Approves Vismodegib (ERIVEDGE) for Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment
This week brings announcement of a new medication for adults with metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the oral capsule vismodegib (ERIVEDGE) to treat adults in advanced stages of BCC, the first drug of its kind to be given approval for basal cell carcinoma. The drug is intended for those with BCC recurring post-surgery, or for those who are not candidates for either surgery or radiation.
Today we examine a multi-clinic study which evaluated the drug for effectiveness and safety.
Quick Glance at the Study
+ 96 patients with BCC took part
+ Patients received 150 mg of vismodegib daily
+ 33 patients had metastatic BCC, 63 with locally advanced BCC
+ Median age was 62, 61% male
+ 97% of patients had been previously treated through surgery, radiotherapy or systemic therapy
Objective Response Rates
+ 33 patients with metastatic BCC had only partial responses to treatment
+ Of the 63 patients with locally advanced BCC, 14 had complete responses
+ Median duration was 7.6 months for both types of BCC
Side Effects of Vismodegib as Monotherapy for Metastatic BCC and Locally Advanced BCC Include:
Muscle spasms, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, alopecia, dysgeusia, decreased appetite, constipation, arthralgias, vomiting, and ageusia (occuring in more than 10% of patients).
Adverse Reactions Occurring in more than 1% of Patients Include:
Weight loss, fatigue, muscle spasms, and decreased appetite.
Vismodegib and Pregnancy
It is very important for health care providers to understand and discuss the effects of vismodegib on the embryo/fetus. Because the drug inhibits a crucial embryonic developmental pathway, it is important to verify pregancy in patients before the drug is prescribed.
[image by Tony the Misfit]


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Nikos Oikonomopoulos talks to "Ego Weekly" magazine
Having family is a dream of Nikos Oikonomopoulos and he reveals in an interview to the magazine "Ego Weekly" that as soon as he find the woman for him he will go with her up the stairs of the church!
Meanwhile, the singer talks about the difficulties he has passed through, his faith in God and the love of people!
"I like family and many children. That is the purpose of every human life, "says Nikos and not hiding, that, though he still did not reach his 30, he hopes in near future to wear a groom suite.
The charming singer admits he has been fascinated many times, but has not found the right woman yet! "I think it will happen right," he says and describes her as a woman with who he will meet a mutual love, respect of each other and understanding.
"From my young age I have been through many tests. Thanks God I made it through and I am glad and happy that my life went ahead. So I wish all the people who have lived in difficult situations ", says Nikos, who frequently visited a church near his home and met there two wise men who, he says, helped him a lot psychologically.
Referring to the fact that he became known through television broadcast, the singer emphasizes that it was not a reality, but a talent show, to which he would go again if to turn the time back.
"There is no easy way. I went to a talent show trying to highlight my talent. With my effort I managed to do what I have made so far, whether it is little or much ... ", he adds.
"I like the laika song and will serve it as long as I sing", Nikos makes it clear, refusing the possibility to see him in Eurovision since, obviously, it is a party to entertain some people and not to serve something about the music of our country.
Finally, the singer notes that he is a spender and tries to manage his finances properly.
He wishes himself and all the people to be healthy and to make things better for everyone, and concludes: "I do not want to be pessimistic. I believe things will work for everyone. I do not believe that such a decent nation after so many years will not reach its target. Just we need to be united and not to look how everyone fills up their pocket. "


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tldr; see Solution
I've been working on redoing my portfolio site, it's still a WIP - that being said here it is so far. I need to polish my portfolio section functionality in mobile view and some other tasks, and I need to refactor the code yet. I'd say it's about 90% done.
It needed a huge change from what it originally was to better reflect my skills since last year. I'm thinking a new redesign every year or so is a good time to keep reiterating and updating a portfolio. I went from using Foundation and jQuery to React, Flexbox, and p5js!
Speaking of React, before I began my portfolio, I wanted to make sure I could easily publish my project as a Github User Page! You know the one's where you can access a site as:
https://yourUserName.github.io/ as opposed to a Project Page:
https://yourUserName.github.io/yourProjectRepo. I always get the naming of those confused and forget them. Thankfully you can deploy as a user page or project page with the
gh-pages package!
I got to the point of needing to test my site on mobile and had to do some digging around to find out how to deploy a
create-react-app project as a User Page. If you're looking to deploy a Project Page with via
create-react-app, check this documentation out here - there are a few subtle differences between deploying as a user page and project page that aren't completely covered for a project page.
I made the mistake of going through the above steps, not realizing there would be differences. I deployed my project!! My project was not showing up on
https://javascripterika.github.io/, and my
master branch had all of the build code. I wanted to push changes to my
master branch, but of course, I'm not going to pull in the build code with 5k changes, and I can't push changes without pulling. Whoa, and now I have a random
gh-pages branch? And my master is just showing up as all HTML (that big long red bar). WTF! Noooooo! Where is my JavaScripts??! 😭
The Solution
This tutorial assumes you have a working project and created your repo as
username/username.github.io, are using
create-react-app, and yarn
While in the current directory of your project:
$ yarn add gh-pages
In your
package.json file, add
"homepage": "https://yourUserName.github.io/",
- I added this right above
Still in your
package.json file, add the following INSIDE of
"predeploy": "yarn run build",
"deploy": "gh-pages -b master -d build",
Next, let's create a new branch...since
master will contain our build files pretty soon and minifiy, bundle and get weird, we need a new branch that will serve as our source code - so we can make changes and we don't lose our beautiful human-able readable code.
While in the
master branch, let's create our
source branch... you can name it whatever you want.
$ git checkout -b source
$ git push origin source
Yay! Our
source branch is a direct copy of our
master. Now, on Github we need to update our Default branch,
master, to our
source branch...and that's also why we pushed it (so Github knows it exists).
Navigate to your repo on Github, and select "Settings".
On the left-side panel, click on "Branches".
Next, you're able to select your
source branch and update it under the Default branch heading.
Now while you're in your
source branch via your terminal, run:
$ yarn deploy
AND! That's it! Your master branch will contain the build code. Give it a couple of minutes and visit your site at
Making Changes
Let's say you want to make changes, your
source branch acts like your
master. So branch away using
source, and merge your branches into
source as needed. Other than what's mentioned below, you don't need to do anything else with
master now.
Let's say I make some "testing" changes in
source. I push it as usual to github:
$ git push origin source
Switch to
master in the terminal,
git merge source or whatever branch you want, switch to your
source branch and and run:
$ yarn deploy
There you go! Those changes are published and deployed.
A Quick SideNote
I ended up deleting my
gh-pages branch and retried the deploy, and it works just fine! I no longer have the big red bar of HTML as my Default branch is
source and my changes work! All is good with the world now!
If a
gh-pages branch is created via Github after you deploy, go ahead and delete it! According to Github, "User pages must be built from the master branch." If you navigate to your repo under Settings, and scroll down to the "Github Pages" section, you will see a grayed out option there under Source!
Update and Edit 5/30
I was working on my project and realized a MAJOR issue! More than likely MOST of us will use the user page as a portfolio page and link to our project pages via Github.
If you are using React Router, the Service Worker will cache your project pages & they won't direct correctly (all of my project pages appeared as a blank page a part of my portfolio only with its menu)...this will happen whether or not you click on the links to your project pages in your app or copy and paste it in your browser. Even if you do not use a project page in your user page, it will still be affected!
To fix this, you have to delete the service worker file and any references to it in your
index.js file... & remember to clear your browser cache (a hard refresh doesn't suffice).
Posted on by:
front-end dev | web animator | CSS artist | copywriter | wifey | plant-based
Yesterday I got the idea that I'd replace my old Jekyll based personal GH-page with React site built with GatsbyJS. Unfortunately I forgot the whole point with version control and deleted the old site's repository before building the new one. I ended up not liking Gatsby, so currently I have no site. So, yeah, this is couldn't have come at a better time.
Haha, I did the same thing with my previous user page; I deleted my repo, and started fresh (with my current project) as I had to do something super wonky with the build files with my previous setup (I really had no idea what I was doing at the time)!
I definitely feel confident with this method now, especially for any needed updates or complete redesigns in the future.
Would this work just as well with Vue? or just React?
I did some digging around, here's what I found for vue:
^ This method appears to be the most straightforward for vue, as you don't need to add any dependencies. I'd still recommend creating a
source branch as you'd be pushing your build files directly to master.
I would imagine every framework will work which builds everything into HTML, CSS and JS files; you are manually building it when pushing it to master.
I am not familair with Vue (at least, haven't tried it) but I would imagine it is quite a similar process as you are essentially building the proper files.
This was really helpful.! I've been trying to add a custom domain name to my repo. This article saved at least me a couple of hours. However, I don't understand why we need to be in source to run build?
Hi, thanks for writing this tutorial!
I followed the instructions but I'm still getting an error after running deploy from the source branch.
'fatal: A branch named 'master' already exists.'
Do you have any idea why?
Never mind , I managed to get it work. Thanks again for the instructions! :)
I am having the exact same problem right now but I could not get it work. Could you please share how did you solve it?
EDIT: for anybody who would face the same problem: refer here
I could not solve this problem so I came up with another solution: -check out a new branch called "source" which is an exact copy of "master".
-deploy the site to branch "gh-pages" with usual gh-pages npm module. (I use npm in my example, but the script is same.)
- rebase "master" to "gh-pages" and simply push it. So "master" will have what "gh-pages" will have.
It is a not a clean solution though. Any feedback is much appreciated.
Useful article for the most part; however, I don't understand this step:
"Switch to master in the terminal, git merge source or whatever branch you want, switch to your source branch and and run:
$ yarn deploy"
If this step instructs you to merge the source branch into the master branch, then the master branch is ahead by 1 commit of 'origin/master':
"$ git checkout master
Switched to branch 'master'
Your branch is ahead of 'origin/master' by 1 commit.
(use "git push" to publish your local commits)"
So I tried pushing the master branch with 'git push origin master', but I receive an error which says I would have to first do a git pull, yet I know from trial and error that'll be a bad move, pulling down 5k items hence the reason why I searched the internet and finally found this helpful article.
I'm just concerned about why my master branch is not on par with the origin/master branch on Github, but maybe it's not so big a deal ?
Great post! I was looking for a tutorial on how to do this just now. Thanks!
Awesome - thank you so much!
I JUST updated the article to hopefully save some people some time if you are using React Router and deploying as a user page! Cheers to a successful deploy!
Great post, I was having a bit of trouble with this myself, really helped me out :)
You're awesome!! Thank you for posting this tutorial! I've been fighting with this and you cleared it up, and made it make sense. Thanks again!
Hey thanks. This saved me pulling my hair and digging over google only to find solution for project sites.
I absolutely needed this. I learned (the hard way) that directly connecting the app to GitHub was a mistake. Thank you for this!
You're welcome - thank you for your feedback!!! I got hung up on it after working on my portfolio and wanting to test it out - it was frustrating because it didn't feel like there was cohesive documentation out there and I wanted to fix that problem! :)
Thank you so much! I found this a very elegant solution and in just a few steps ❤
After hours and hours searching for this issue, you finally gave me the right answer, thank you so much! <3
Awesome! Thanks for being easy to understand, direct and thorough. Will be sharing.
Thank you! I was having some issues while rebuilding my github page with react, thanks you I solved the problem. It helped me a lot!


text: 16-Year-Old Callie Reiff Is Ready to Leave Her Mark on NYC's Dance Scene Brian ManningThursday, March 10, 2016Mix0 Comments At just 16 years old, Callie Reiff is preparing to open for Big Gigantic and Wolfgang Gartner at Terminal 5 and Webster Hall respectively in New York City Making it in the music industry is a tall task, and trying to break through in dance music right now is even tougher, as there has been an ever-growing influx of new music and new artists saturating the market. However, none of that matters to the 16-year-old Callie Reiff, who is making a name for herself in New York's thriving dance scene. The talented youngster was first exposed to the music industry as a ballerina for the New York City Ballet, before going on to teach herself how to play the drums by watching YouTube videos. Reiff was soon inspired to being DJing, teaching herself how to do so on vinyl, while taking production classes at Dubspot in New York to hone her skills. Now, as a teenager, she's primed to turn the page in her career, and she's introducing herself to the world with a stellar, 30-minute minimix. Featuring select cuts like Skrillex and Must Die's "VIPs," deftly mixed in with a slew of Callie Reiff IDs and edits, this 30 minute minimix is the perfect segue into the weekend.


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A collection of gift items ideal for the Equestrian lover.
We have manufactured handcrafted fine English tack since 1880. Our shield is a symbol of uncompromising quality and absolute integrity. Now in its fourth generation, Bobby's English Tack is recognized as a reputable and popular brand name across riding disciplines.
Copyright © 2020 Bobby's English Tack. All rights reserved.Powered by PinnacleCart Ecommerce Software


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Spring cleaning
I hate cleaning. Anyone who's known me for an interesting amount of time knows how messy I am. A tidy house, or even a tidy work surface, are usually quite beyond me, and if you see my place in a clean, tidy-ish state, you can safely assume something is up.
Like my mum, the only time I really clean is when I'm upset. And given that I'm generally a very happy person, I don't get upset very often, or at least not long enough to find the rubber gloves.
But even I can't live in this mess any more, so it's spring cleaning time. I'm optimistically taking it one day at a time, but I *know* it's going to take me all week. Bleagh.
Today, I managed about half of the kitchen and the lounge. They're both not finished (I'm better at starting than finishing, gee, sounds familiar?), but they look what I'd call clean. Very rewarding. Tomorrow, I'm taking a pitchfork to the office. once the paper piles get too high for you to step over, it may be time to tidy and toss.
I look forward to having a cleaner space. I don't look forward to getting it there.
Clean freak or messy missy, which one are you?
8. October 2008 5:44 pm
Well I do like things being tidy, but can definitely live in a mess – as my trusty study would attest to. Have just done a major clean up myself, though I still have a long way to go – yes, I'm Eleni and I'm a hoarder…..
And yes Dianne, Flylady says 15 minutes at a go….. and set routines (that's probably my problem, no set routines). And yes, 15 minutes of this with 15 minutes of that – it does add up Kiki….


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The grandeur of Africa is manifested in the beauty of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area. From the rolling savannah abundant with game to the resplendent waterfall born from the River Nile, Murchison Falls holds so many of those alluring features that call travellers to return. Immerse yourself in the treasures of the park and enjoy days of traversing the vast savannah, cruising down the Nile, and tracking chimpanzees in Budongo Forest.
Safari Highlights
- Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Spot animals on a game drive and boat cruise along the Nile
- Enjoy a spectacular view from the top of Murchison Falls
- Meet the primates and birds of Budongo Forest
Day 1: A Night in the Capital
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be received by a concierge, who will whisk you away to your booked accommodation in Kampala, or Entebbe.
Day 2: The First of the Big Five
Our journey to Murchison Falls National Park begins in the morning. We can't resist stopping in at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track and spot endangered Rhinos, the first of the Big Five of East Africa. We get the opportunity to track rhinos with experienced guides as a chef prepares a barbeque for us. We travel on and make our grand entry to Murchison Falls River Lodge.
Accommodation: Fort murchison
Meal Plan: Half-Board
Day 3: Cruising the Nile and the Savannah
We tour the north of the park, which teems with buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, hartebeests, and elephants grazing in the grasslands. The diverse wildlife keeps us alert, seeking out one fascinating creature after another. The lucky seeker might even spot the elusive, nocturnal leopard. After lunch, we set out on a launch trip to the base of the falls. Buffalo, crocodiles, hippos, and a multitude of aquatic birds lounge at river banks. Birders are guaranteed to spot many of the 450 bird species at Murchison Falls, including the elusive shoebill, dwarf kingfisher, the white-thigh hornbill, and the Goliath Heron. From the base of the fall, we begin our hike, headed for the top. The peak awaits us with an unrivalled symphony of nature set to the crescendo of the waterfall.
Accommodation: Fort Murchison
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Day 4: The Primates of Budongo Forest
The thriving vegetation of Budongo Forest, just south of Murchison Falls, hosts 24 mammal species, over 360 bird species, 289 butterfly varieties and 465 plant species. This diverse forest is also home to a large primate population, including 800 chimpanzees. Today we set out into the forest to track chimpanzees, but stay alert for signs of black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. At dusk we return to our lodge, savouring a spectacular foray into Budongo Forest.
Accommodation: Fort Murchison
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Day 5: Homeward Bound
We journey back to Kampala/Entebbe, with a lunch-stop en-route.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Note: Although we strongly recommend a hike to the top of the falls due to the amazing vantage points, it is optional, and you can instead drive to the top of the falls for viewing.
- Activities as specified in the itinerary
- Chimpanzee Permit (per person)
- Entrance fees for National Parks
- Private 4WD Vehicle with an experienced guide
- Road transfers as specified in the itinerary
- A pair of Binoculars
- International flights
- Airport taxes
- All meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Items and services of a personal nature
Terms and conditions
* The mentioned rates are in US dollars and subject to change.
* The high season period includes January, February, June, July, August, September and December.
* The low season period includes March, April, May, October and November.
* Availability of accommodation, permits and activities is not guaranteed until confirmation by your contact person at Bushman Safaris. Permits are sold on 'first come first serve' basis.
* The chimp tracking in Budongo Forest may take place either in the morning or afternoon, depending on the availability of permits.


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33 United States Universities visit Karachi to Promote Higher Education Opportunities in Pakistan
Karachi, October 07, 2018 (PPI-OT): To promote higher education opportunities for Pakistani students, representatives of 33 U.S. universities travelled to Karachi this week to host the biggest U.S. College Fair in Pakistan from Oct 7 – 8. The 13th biannual South Asia Tour provided thousands of Pakistani students, parents, counsellors, and local university officials from Sindh with an opportunity to explore a wide array of academic programs and receive first-hand guidance on applying for admission.
"We are fortunate to have representatives from over thirty three American colleges and universities here today to recruit local students. That's the most that have visited Pakistan in recent years, and it shows that our colleges realize how many excellent students there are in Pakistan. The institutions represented here also showcase the diversity of American higher education. No matter your interests, you can find a good match among our thousands of excellent colleges and universities," said JoAnne Wagner, United States Consul General in Karachi.
This year, EducationUSA Pakistan at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) hosted the largest group of U.S. university representatives to ever visit Pakistani schools and universities. Of these 38 U.S. universities visiting Pakistan, 17 were visiting for the first time. They include, Ohio University, Boise State University, Colby-Sawyer College, New York Institute of Technology, Kent State University, Louisiana Tech University, University of Illinois – Chicago, Monmouth University, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, The University of Texas at Arlington – College of Engineering, State University of New York at Fredonia (SUNY), Michigan State University, Florida International University, Pittsburg State University, Augustana University, Coe College, and Fordham University.
For further information about EducationUSA's services, please visit www.usefpakistan.org.
For more information, contact:
Consulate General of the United States of America
Plot No 3-5, TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road,
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35275000 Ext: 5242
Fax: +92-21-35275985
Cell: +92-302-8294015
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://karachi.usconsulate.gov
Category: General, Official News


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Twelve participants from the Asia Pacific region recently attended an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regional Training Course at ANSTO on 'Assessing the vulnerability of coastal landscapes and ecosystems to sea-level rise and climate change".
The training, which was undertaken under an IAEA Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) project, was led by Course Director, Dr Debashish Mazumder, with the participation of Lead Country Coordinators, Associate Professor Kerrylee Rogers of the University of Wollongong, Professor Henk Heijnis (ANSTO) and IAEA Technical Officer, Dr Paul Morris.
Under the RCA project, each participating country selects and implements a project focused on a local coastal environment.
The training was highly interactive including a mix of classroom lectures, laboratory-based practical sessions and fieldwork to enhance the technical skills of participants in using nuclear techniques and stable isotope analysis to gain a better understanding of coastal processes and the response of coastal landscapes and ecosystems to climate change.
For the fieldwork, participants travelled to Sydney Olympic Park saltmarsh and mangrove wetlands to learn sediment sample collection techniques and ecological functions from Rogers, Heijnis and Mazumder.
Lecture topics included dating environmental samples using radioactive isotopes and X-ray fluorescence ITRAX scanning and related techniques.
Other ANSTO presenters included Dr Geraldine Jacobsen, David Child, Atun Zawadzki and Patricia Gadd.
Atun Zawadksi (centre) led one of the practical sessions
Representatives from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam all participated in the course.
"We had a very competent and enthusiastic group, who all face a very different set of environmental challenges. These sensitive and powerful techniques can be applied to diverse locations and conditions. We have used them widely in an Australia context for a decade or more. I am confident they are returning to their respective countries well prepared for the challenges ahead," said Mazumder.
"Participants will be able to evaluate the vulnerability of coastal areas and assess how resilient they will be to climate change. This understanding will improve their ability to plan management scenarios such as setting aside land for shoreline and ecosystem migration or removing barriers to the supply of sediments to coastal landscapes, such as dams, levees and floodgates. The information can also be used to identify adaptation options that improve shoreline resilience," said Heijnis.
Rogers, Mazumder and Zawadzki were part of the team that received the Eureka award this year for environmental research.
The International Affairs team at ANSTO assisted with arrangements for the training course.
ANSTO has led, participated in, and supported RCA projects for over forty years.


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Introduction: Attic Stair Cover
Here is away to reduce heat transferred during the winter and summer by encapsulating your folding attic stairs. Folding attic stairs, unlike your ceiling, does not have any insulation. Because of this, heat is transferred between the attic and your living space.
Last spring I built 2 Attic Stair Covers and monitored the results. In short my living space was on the average 12 degrees F cooler then without the Attic Stair Covers (your results will differ). I had been monitoring the attic temperatures for 3 years. Looking for ways to reduce the heat being transferred.
Because of these ASCs I didn't run the AC at all. I look forward to tracking the results this winter.
Are you ready to make your own Attic Stair Cover.
Step 1: Materials
1)*Ridged Insulation sheet (4 x 8),
2) Aluminum Tape (10 yrds),
3) Duck Tape and
4) Self adhesive Foam Insulation strip (I needed 13 feet).
* I used 1 * 4 * 8 with an R value of 3.85. If I had more space between the rafter and the attic opening I would have used a thicker sheet. Even at 1 inch thick, there was only 2 inches between the finished top and the rafter. Just enough to lift the Attic Stair Cover up and move it over to enter the attic.
Step 2: Tools
1) Knife,
2) Tape Measure,
3) Straight Edge and
4) Pencil.
Skill Level:
Time to Complete:
1 – 2.5 hours
Now that you have your materials and tools, let's go and make an Attic Stair Cover.
Step 3: The Opening
Measure the Opening - Width & Length & Height*
* The Height is measured from the casing to the highest point of the folding stairs.
Step 4: Sides
Measure, Score and Cut the sides.
Step 5: Top
Measure, Score and Cut the top.
Step 6: Insulation Strip
Peal the strip off the Insulation and place the sticky side to the Attic Frame.
Step 7: Secure Sides
Frame the sides and Duck Tape the sides together.
You may not notice how close the roof rafter is to the top edge of the side. I only had 3 inches from the top edge of the side to the rafter.
Step 8: Secure Top
Add the Duck Tape to secure the top to the sides.
Step 9: Aluminum Tape
Peal the backing off the Aluminum Tape and seal the sides and top. Also, tape the bottom edge of the cover where it will rest on the frame.
Once I Duck Taped the top to the sides I had to work in the attic to complete this section. Because of the location of the roof and the opening I could not make the Attic Stair Cover and then put it into place. I had to assemble the whole thing in the attic.
Step 10: Observations & Summary
The benefits of this design are:
1) Inexpensive, $20 USD, and easy to make,
2) Reduce heat transferred during the summer. I took 3 measurements - in the Attic, inside the cover and 4 feet from the floor of the room.
5/26 - 95 attic; 71 cover; 70 room
June Average - 101 attic; 80 cover; 77 room. Norm without Attic Cover: 89 room.
July Average - 125 attic; 87 cover; 85 room. Norm without Attic Cover: 94 room
August Average - 120 attic; 83 cover; 82 room. Norm without Attic Cover: 93 room.
Your result will differ.
3) Reduce heat transferred during the winter. Result will be posted when they are measured.
4) Eliminated fecal droppings when opening the stairs.
I am satisfied with the results.
Then I saw, and considered it well. I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Participated in the
Winterize Challenge
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18 Discussions
Thank you, "Perfect" is the only thing to say. I made the attic stair cover based on your instructable last night. In the past i was concerned about the amount of light and air that seeped from the attic, while the stairs were in the up position. I was cleaning up the attic and noticed a major temperature difference while climbing up the attic stairs. so It became the top priority on this cold winter night. I had all the materials from another project and the build took me about a hour and a half, with breaks. Very glad i found your, example keep sharing.
I am glad your project came together so well for you. It really is great in reducing heat transfer. We recently had some sub-zero weather and there was 30 degrees difference between the attic and the bedroom. Enjoy the saving in heating costs and feeling warmer. Thank you for reviewing and commenting.
Nice, clean and straightforward instructable. It went together so well that I went back out for another sheet to box in my through the wall air conditioner.
Thank you for commenting. I am glad your build went well. I would like to see a snapshot of your Attic Stairs Cover as well as your wall air conditioner build.
Maybe you could create an instructable on how to build Wall Air Conditioner Cover?
Thank you for a solid and worthwhile instructable. I am travelling but will send a picture in a week or two. The thru-the-wall A/C cover went just like your instructable except I added a few pieces of velcro to the A/C and the interior of the box as well as a bungee cord to keep it all in place when wind and inside/outside air pressures vary.
You are very welcome. Your thru-the-wall A/C cover instructable would be helpful to anyone who would need to create one; specifically noting your Velcro and bungee cord modifications. They sound like a great way to secure the cover, not just 1 but 2 methods to keep the cover in place.
Great idea!!!! I made mine this afternoon.
That Looks Great!! Great Job! Was it easy enough? Did you have to build it in the attic or were you able to build it outside and carry it in?
Thank you for reviewing, commenting and building an Attic Stair Cover.
Yes, fairly simple. Measured the opening in the attic, cut pieces in the garage, dry fit the items in the attic so I could make final trims. Taped it on the floor and installed. Took about an hour.
Your project went easy, that is great. Thank you again, stay warm.
Very well done. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reviewing and commenting. It was my pleasure to share this project.
"4) Eliminated fecal droppings when opening the stairs."
Say what? My English isn't perfect, but I do suggest you google that word as I think you've used the wrong one.
I assume he is refering to either the droppings of rodents or bats.
I did something very similar to this but added additional pink non-faced insulation you would usually find in your attic around the entire box. Can't remember details of attaching the pink insulation to box. I think possibly some sort of spray sticking can or maybe double sided tape. Both would probably work well. Then also wrapped string around the sides of the box somewhat loosely to make sure sides stayed on.
That sounds interesting; you found another way to accomplish the same end, to keep the house at a more constant temperature. Good job.
Thank you for reviewing and commenting.
Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for reviewing and commenting. I am really looking forward to analyzing the winter's data. I feel warm already.


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Trusted Building
Granny Flat, Mount Warrigal
Granny flat renovation.
Mount Warringa
After many years of use, this granny flat cum holiday house was looking old and worn. The location is excellent so the owner wanted to bring it into the 21st century. Right next door is a cycleway, a play park for the kids, and a jetty to fish from. We were contracted to spruce it up, bringing contemporary living to the old place. There is something to be said for the charm of weatherboard!
This project included:
- Freshly painted walls right through
- Newly laid floating floorboards in the living space
- lush dark grey carpet in bedrooms
- New holland blinds on every window
- Large built in robes with mirror sliding doors in each bedroom
- Luxurious bathroom
- Open planned living space with an as new kitchen including stainless steel appliances
- Dishwasher
- Small grassed yard
- Over sized front porch to relax on


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text:
"Lisa Ritter is a knowledgeable, dedicated real estate professional. Lisa has experience in all aspects of buying and selling, including management and training of other realtors. Lisa is a straight shooter all the way. She means to keep each customer for life, and she does that by being honest with us about what we want, what we can afford, and what makes sense for our families.
When searching for my present home, I wondered why buyers would need an agent, anyway, as there is so much information available on the internet these days. But that's one of the problems. Even before the internet, I made house-hunting miserable by refusing to limit my search in any way. Lisa helped me figure out what I wanted before I trucked all over town. She also suggested I view my present home again, even though I had already seen it and rejected it on MLS. This is the best home I have ever lived in and I wouldn't have found it without Lisa.
Call Lisa if you're considering getting in the market. A fabulous buyer's agent like Lisa is the best bargain out there, providing you with immeasurable value and satisfaction."
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View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
May 20, 2019, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM @ Hollis and Sue Jones Meeting Room
Our kindergarten readiness program provides an opportunity for parents or caregivers to observe their child doing activities so they know how to help them continue to develop. This is a multi-session program for children ages 4 to 5 who will be starting kindergarten in the fall.
May 20, 2019, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM @ Hollis and Sue Jones Meeting Room
Middle schoolers can spend Monday & Wednesday afternoons at DPL doing fun activities, reading, eating and doing homework. Come join the fun!
May 20, 2019, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM @ Hollis and Sue Jones Meeting Room
Join genealogist Patti Gillespie for a 5-week genealogy course for beginners.


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In Razz Poker, sometimes also known as Bizarro Stud, it can be confusing to the beginner to know what beats what. Unlike standard poker in which the best hand usually forms something nice, like two cards of the same rank together with 3 cards of the same rank to form a full house, in razz you have to make lowest possible hand to win. In standard poker, the highest possible hand is the Royal Flush, which technically is an Ace-high straight in which all the cards are of the same suite.
In razz however, the best possible hand is the Wheel, which is an Ace-to-Five straight and the suits do not matter. In standard poker, the Ace can play for high or low. In Razz, the Ace always plays low. Do not worry, because after reading the following examples, you will know once and for all exactly what beats what.
The basic principle is that any X-high hand will beat any X+1 high hand all the way up to K-high, which is the worst possible card you may have. In the same vein, any high-card hand beats any one-pair hand, any one-pair hand beats any two-pair hand, and so on and so forth. Oh, and suits don't count. In a nutshell, if hand A beats hand B in standard poker, the reverse is true in Razz.
A good way to get a visual on this is to look at your hand placing your cards high to low instead of low to high. That is, looking at 6 5 4 2 A instead of A 2 4 5 6. Keep in mind that the first 2 cards on the left are only visible to YOU! It makes a huge different having A2/8 versus A8/2. Having the 2 shown instead of hidden is more powerful.
Order of Winning Poker Hands in Razz
Top Playable Starting Hands in Razz
Ace – Deuece – Three (Any Combination)
Low Aces
Low Without an Ace
Cards under 8
Starting Hands you Should NEVER Play in Razz
Big Pairs
Rolled Up
Cards Above 8
Best Made Razz Hands (Ranked in Order)
Think you have what it takes? Check out the Hero vs Villain Razz quiz on the left and see if you can figure out who wins!
Razz is a great game to play, and will definitely offer some variety for those that primarily play NLHE. Now that you have read this concise Razz Hand Rankings guide, you also know what beats what, so go out there and pwn n00bs, Tiger!
Hero vs Villain
Looking at a ranking chart like on the left is easy, but now the challenge comes seeing the board, Hero's and Villain's hand. Who wins? Remember, the first, second, and seventh card are hidden so only the player who holds them can see!
Results: Hero has 2d5c6c9hJs, Villain has 7s8s9hThJc. Hero would win in a showdown. The Jacks are tied, but the next lowest card belongs to Hero, because 9 is lower than a T.
Results: Despite the fact that Villain currently holds a straight AND a flush, he would still win a showdown vs. Hero who is seemingly holding very small cards, because pairs count very heavily against you in Razz. In Razz, pairs are like the plague and should be avoided at all costs. Do not even mention two pairs, but if you actually somehow manage to end a hand holding two pairs, a one-pair hand or less hand will beat you.
Results: Hero started with the best hand by far, but somehow Villain found a way to make a wheel! What was he doing in the hand after 4th street?!?
Results: It's a tie, despite Hero holding all cards of the same suit. Remember, colors DO NOT count, only card ranks do.


text: Just like I love mom, I love you. There are no words in this world that I can use to describe my love for you two. The night that I found you, I had so much hope that I still had a chance to save you. I had so much hope. I remember when I got there I felt as if my soul had left my body, I felt as if I had no air to breathe. As soon as I got there, I knew there would be a possibility that you were gone and it instantly killed me. When they didn't let me get close, this despair attacked me. I felt something that I had never felt in my entire life. I felt like someone took the air out of me, I felt as if someone punched a hole through my chest. The pain is indescribable, it is excruciating. I don't understand why you were murdered. I don't understand who would want to take your life away from you. Since that day, I have never been the same, and I will never be the same. I once had hope in a better life. A life where I could make you and mom proud. A life where I could get married and have kids so that you and mom could enjoy them. Now everything is different. I am trying to move forward but how can I move forward when your killer or killers are still out there. I think of you every single day. I miss you. I love you. It kills me and it torments me every single day to know that you were murdered. To know that they hurt you and took everything away from you. You had this faith in God, you believed that the day you'd die, you'd go to heaven. I try to tell myself that you are OK. I try to tell myself that you are in a much better place than earth itself. Some days I panic, some days I cry, some days I want to kill whoever did this to you but I wont do it. I owe it to you to do something much better with my life, and I owe it to mom too. Lately I've been spiraling and I truly don't mean to but how else should I be? My heart is broken. I thought I knew what a broken heart was but clearly I didn't know. I would usually thank God for you and mom and everyone and everything. But somehow I feel as if I wasn't grateful enough and that is why I lost you. Everyday I fight a new demon. Everyday I find a different way to blame myself. Everyday it's a new and different kind of guilt. I don't understand.. and I am not sure that I will ever understand. Every day is a different kind of hell for me. I wish I could make mom happy. I wish I wasn't angry or bitter but I am. I am worried that I will not be able to dig myself out of this hole. I know that you would never want me to be a coward but maybe I am a coward. Maybe I miss you too much and maybe I just can't live with so much pain. I feel empty, useless, sometimes numb. Drinking is my new habit so that I can forget that you are gone, so that I can forget that the pain is there in my chest everywhere that I go. I am so afraid that I will forget you. I am so afraid to find happiness because I will only feel guilty. God I wish I could have been there to protect you and defend you dad. I would have given my life for you if it came down to that. Wherever you are, I hope that you are OK. I hope that you didn't disappear to a world that I wont make it to. I wish I could tell you that you are the best dad I could have ever asked for. I wish that I could tell you that I love you and I miss you dearly. I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go. I'm afraid that I wont find my way through life the way I am supposed to. I feel so alone. In a way I feel like I am dead too. I put on this fake smile and this fake show but in all reality I have never been this lost Dad. I just hope that when my day comes you'll be the first to grab me into your world. I hope that God forgives me for all I have done in this cruel world. I know how much you believed. I know how important it was to you. I know you wanted me to be good with God but at the moment I can't even be good to myself. Sometimes I find myself in denial. Other times I find myself accepting that you're gone and I lose it. I don't want to forget you, it's my worst fear. That's why I hold on to the pain, so that I never forget you and who you are and what you did for me and everyone. I still can't seem to believe that you're gone. My mind can't truly handle or accept it. I'm so sorry that they hurt you dad. Your family. Your enemies. I'm so sorry that I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry that I wasn't more loving and supporting. I should have visited more often, I should have put my pride aside all those times that we argued. Just know dad that I will always love you. Just know that I'm holding on for mom and for you, because I need to make it to where you are. Please come to me… somehow. In a dream, but somehow… I need to know that you are OK.


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"Complaining Is Not A Strategy Canvas"
Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon
Figuring out what the next step is going to be, is much more productive than standing around and complaining about it. What is your strategy going to be?
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The Cultural Story of Menstruation
Elissa Stein and Susan Kim
St. Martin's Griffin
Chapter 1
FOR YEARS, FEMINIST SCHOLARS COMPLAINED BITTERLY that menstruation was a taboo subject in the United States. Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, you could hear the dark mutterings in women's health collectives and alternative bookstores across the country: Society kept any serious discussion of a woman's monthly cycle locked away in a figurative hut of superstition, sexism, and ignorance, far away from men, children, and the rest of polite society.
But of course, that was then, this is now. These days, what subject isn't talked about in broad daylight, right out loud--not only at home and at work, but on TV, in so-called family movies, on your very computer as you sit there innocently surfing the Web? It's quite possible, in one not very exciting day at home, to stumble upon detailed descriptions and actual videos that explicitly refer to not only menstruation but numerous other bodily parts and functions that would make even your hard-boiled, tough-talking Aunt Freida blush.
Menstruation is everywhere! Why, in 2007, they even ran a nationwide commercial promoting menstrual suppression right before the Oscars, for Pete's sake! Check out the commercials on daytime programming, pick up any magazine aimed at women or teenage girls. It's like the tampons and pads are practically leaping off the screen and out of the pages to get at you! If there really was any kind of taboo against menstruation, it's a thing of the distant past, isn't it?
Well, yes ... and no.
The catch--and it's a big one--is that whenever menstruation is mentioned these days, it's only because there's an underlying sales pitch. Either that, or it's the subject of a complaint or the punch line to a joke. Or all of the above. There's no real discussion of the actual event itself--not just the physiology and hormones of menstruation, but its complex history, its place in society, the inescapable role it plays in every woman's life, and its ramifications for our health, the environment, and our lives. (And we're sorry, no matter what any fifteen-year-old tells you, vulgarity alone does not count as honest discourse.)
The sad fact is that menstruation--the process, the images, the word itself--is as unspeakable and undercover as it ever was. Think about it--even in movies, TV shows, and commercials that actually mention menstruation by name, you never, ever see any sign of it. In fact, although you can watch buckets of fake blood merrily sploodging out of heads and torsos because of fists, bullets, knives, car accidents, grenades, bombs, breaking glass, garrotes, machetes, falling buildings, swords, laser beams, airline crashes, or hungry mutant zombies, rarely will you ever see a single drop as a result of menstruation. In 1995, a Village Voice cover featured a tasteful photo of a naked woman in profile, with a white string nonchalantly dangling between her thighs (the article was on Toxic Shock Syndrome), and from the subsequent outcry from readers, you would have thought the paper had endorsed Satan for president. (And this is theVillage Voice we're talking about, the paper that has routinely covered everything from genital piercing to golden showers.)
Even in the most up-to-date print ad or TV commercial, you will never once see a menstrual product being unwrapped, applied, inserted, tugged at, yanked out, pulled off, wadded up, wrapped in toilet paper, flushed, or thrown away--God forbid showing a before-and-after shot of a tampon (now that's a memorable visual!) or what it looks like when you accidentally spring a leak. The ads don't even show the inside of a bathroom, which is weird, considering that's where most tampons and pads are inserted or applied in the first place.
Whenever menstruation is mentioned these days, it's only because there's an underlying sales pitch.
The accompanying ad copy is invariably as bloodless as the images--neutral, soothing, and maddeningly vague. You can stare endlessly at a print ad featuring a beautiful woman walking across a field in a flowy gown, ponder the tagline "fresh, free, and natural"until your head feels like it's going to explode, and still come away not knowing what the hell they're selling: Is it air freshener? A new line of hemp clothing? A timeshare in the Poconos?
The first time the word "period"was even mentioned in the entire history of TV advertising was in a Tampax commercial starring, funnily enough, Courteney Cox Arquette--and that wasn't until 1985! The Red Dot campaign by Kotex was the first to use the words "period" and "red," and that rabble-rousing piece of subversion didn't even occur until 2000.
Yet despite the ad world's contorted attempts not to show or say anything that could be seen as even remotely scandalous or off-putting, their efforts are apparently still not enough for most people. From what we can tell, public attitudes haven't changed much at all over the decades; as a result, menstrual ads have remained so incredibly sterilized and unspecific, you could look at them and honestly not even realize human blood was involved.
And it's not just a problem with advertising. Our language itself has essentially been purged of menstruation, like there's been some kind of creepy propaganda campaign forcing us to discuss it (if we do at all) in a mysterious code known only to CIA operatives. If you don't believe us, take a moment to consider the many, many ways we all refer to menstruation.
You're on the Rag. Your Friend's in Town, or maybe it's your Aunt Flo Who's Come to Visit, or your Aunt Ruby, or, for the sports-minded, the Red Sox Have a Home Game. Expressions for menstruation range from the jaunty (Saddling Up Old Rusty, the Tomato Boat Has Come In, a Visit from Cap'n Bloodsnatch) to the descriptive and occasionally gross (the Bleedies, the Dam Has Burst). There's also the essentially grim and resigned (the Curse, the Crud, the Misery, Monthly Trouble, the Nuisance, Being Unwell, Out of Commission).
Hey, it's always fun to complain, especially if it's about something inevitable (taxes, jury duty, that weird skin under your chin once you hit forty). Humor, after all, is the time-honored way we deal with discomfort, anxiety, and fear. What fits the bill better than menstruation? Even if you're a perfectly well-adjusted, in-your-body kind of gal, who can resist telling her friends she's like Picasso in His Red Period or that she's Riding the Big Red Cadillac Down the Avenue of Womanhood?
There are creative film references for the pop culturists out there (Taking Carrie to the Prom, Miss Scarlett's Come Home to Tara), as well as endless uses of the word "red" (Code Red, Wearing the Red Badge of Courage, Off Visiting the Red Planet, Riding the Red Tide, Driving Through the Redwood Forest). If you're Having Ketchup with Your Steak, you might have to Walk Like an Egyptian or go Ram a Tam; if the Communists Have Invaded the Summer House, you probably need to go Change Your Cooter Plug or Straddle a Pad.
Look, we enjoy a good laugh as much as the next gal. Yet what freaks us out is that beneath all the bonhomie lurks the very real and unspoken message that as much as we're encouraged to make light about menstruation, we're somehow not supposed to be talking about it seriously. Is it just us, or don't you find it sinister when, say, a female lawyer in her thirties who can usually discuss anything from the G-8 summit to Etruscan pottery coyly lets slip that It's Arts and Crafts Week at Panty Camp?
And in case you were wondering, this isn't just the crazy, puritanical ol' US of A we're talking about here. Even those hip, sexy, sophisticated countries you think would be so over body shame have jokey expressions for the whole process. Worldwide, we've lost count, but we think there are currently about sixty trillion euphemisms for menstruation.
In the Netherlands, you might say De Tomatensoep Is Overgekookt (the Tomato i Soup Is Overcooked); if you're Brazilian, it might be Estou com Chico (I'm with Chico); if you're Chinese, it's Little Sister Has Come; in Latin America, Jenny Has a Red Dress On; in Australia, I've Got the Flags Out; in Denmark, Der Er Kommunister i Lysthuset (There Are Communists in the Funhouse); in Ireland, I'm Wearing a Jam Rag.
People around the world have apparently taken to creative euphemizing with the zest of game show contestants. In England, there's I'm Flying the Japanese Flag (get out your Flags of the World placemat if this one eludes you); in Japan there's Ichigo-chan (Little Miss Strawberry); in France, Les Anglais Sont Arrives! (The English Have Arrived, presumably in their traditional red coats). In Germany, it's Die Waldbeerfrau Kommit (the Cranberry WomanIs Coming) or Ihren Kram Haben (Have Your Trash); in Puerto Rico they ask, ¿Te Cantó el Gallo? (Did the Rooster Already Sing?). In South Africa, Granny's Stuck in Traffic. And in Finland, PMS is charmingly referred to as Hullun Lechman Tauti, or mad cow disease.
1. Your period on the Pill isn't really a period.
2. Doctors once stimulated patients to clitoral orgasms as treatment for hysteria.
3. Bloodletting came about to mimic menstruation, which was seen as a way to relieve bodies of noxious blood.
4. Hormone replacement drugs are made from the urine of pregnant mares.
5. There's a thriving menstrual porn industry.
Despite the humor and even the occasional grossness used to describe this most basic of female functions, what's actually taboo is any serious discussion of menstruation. If you don't believe us, just try this experiment: stroll into your next dinner party, family cookout, postwork happy hour--anywhere there's a reasonable mix of men and women, young and old--and try striking up a serious group conversation about, say, dioxin in tampons and its possible link to endometriosis. Watch as the faces around you swiftlyturn to stone, as elderly relatives start to choke on the three-bean salad, as mothers whisk the kids away, as the menfolk get that strained look we know so well. Skirts will be drawn aside, and voilà! In a New York minute you will have become persona non grata.
Now, why is this?
We're not being annoyingly naïve here, so please bear with us. To you, this may seem like a weird question because the answer is so obvious. Nobody talks about menstruation because it's so, well, inherently distasteful. Plus, it's personal. Right? To many if not most women, a serious discussion about one's monthly flow in polite society is about as much of a conversational nonstarter as religion, how much money people make, and an in-depth analysis of one's genital warts.
Yet we have the sneaking suspicion that these seemingly unshakeable convictions of ours actually arise from centuries of calculated shame, moderated by money--with a dash of internalized objectification thrown in for good measure--as well as a genuine, centuries-old fear and suspicion of female body processes.
Paranoid? Who, us? Like flat-earthers laughing at crazy old Christopher Columbus who was so obviously about to go sailing off the edge of that ocean, many women may find it hard to believe that we all in fact have swallowed a line so completely that we can't even imagine life without it. And yet, bear with us a second as we mull this further.
In her book The Curse: Confronting the Last Unmentionable Taboo: Menstruation, Karen Houppert makes the point that even in these supposedly modern times, menstruation is always referred to with depressing, loser-ish verbs ("decay," "shred," "shrink," "slough," "disintegrate," "dribbles," "discharge"), whereas ejaculation gets all the sexy, empowered, action-hero verbs (like "spurt," "spray," "pump," "shoot"). Be honest--with verbs like those, if you had to be a biological process, which would you rather choose? Even textbooks and gynecological literature make menstruation seem so, well, dweeby and passive: that what's actually going on, far from being the dynamic, incredibly complex process it is, is instead vaguely pathetic. We are left with the impression that the sad-sack uterus (pun intended) has once again not been asked to the pregnancy prom, so it just stays at home and lets it all go--that menstruation is, essentially, a lame combination of inertia and failure.
Language illustrates a basic tension: that people may talk about menstruation, but only when they reduce it somehow, dismissing it as the disgusting, eye-rolling nuisance everyone agrees it is. Periods are thus perceived as a dreary thing that happens to us--and not a complex and active process that is actually an integral part of our breathing, sweating, digesting, thinking bodies.
The underlying problem is something that the canny French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir put her nicotine-stained finger on in her groundbreaking 1949 book, The Second Sex: that in a world pretty much defined and dominated by men, women are seen as nothing more than the "other" sex, existing relative to the guys. Therefore, we stare with dismay at our own bodies, the way a landscaper might when faced with an especially unpromising patch of weedy, rocky, lumpy ground that must be ruthlessly weed-whacked into shape. Ever critical of the nagging unpredictabilities of our bodies, we're beset by anxiety, knowing we're supposed to be clean, dainty, and in control--and periods (All that blood and bloating! Those cramps! Such a temper!) are anything but.
So how does language fit into all of this?
In every conversation we have, the words we use to describe our bodies and their processes not only reflect but actually reinforce how we feel about them and how other people perceive them. This is why certain spokespeople get to go on the lecture circuit and make tons of dough talking about the power of positive talk ... because it's actually true. The same is true for negative language. If, say, you decide to introduce a new proposal at the office with, "Here's another bad idea you're gonna think really sucks," chances are pretty good you've already shot yourself in the foot.
What makes all of this especially sinister is when we suddenly realize (like in our favorite scary story when the babysitter realizes the killer is actually calling from upstairs!) that the words we use, along with all their associations, have been already chosen for us years ago, in some cases even centuries ago. And by not questioning the words we've been programmed to use, we have indirectly absorbed their witchy power.
Consider the word "hysteria." A rampantly popular diagnosis for centuries, it comes from the Greek word hystera, or "uterus." The ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates (ca. 460 B.C. to 370 B.C.), normally such a swift guy that he was known as the father of medicine, seriously believed that the hystera was wont to wander around a woman'sbody. We're not kidding; he thought the uterus literally liked to mosey around a woman's torso, into her chest, and sometimes right up into her throat, in its never-ending search for children. Those ramblin' ways allegedly caused hysteria, a supposed illness that was still being diagnosed in women up until the early twentieth century.
In terms of language, there were no separate words for female genitalia for thousands of years. That was mostly because women were considered pretty much the same as men, only of course flimsier, more poorly designed, and incapable of writing in the snow. As a result, people used the same words to describe male and female organs: the ovaries were considered the female testicles, the vagina a penis, and so on. So how did anyone talk about menstruation, you might wonder? The answer: rarely, and in the vaguest possible terms.
Even today, advertisers and manufacturers tiptoe around the actual words, which are presumably too scary and horrible for our ladylike ears. Commercial menstrual products are commonly referred to as feminine "protection"; but this begs the question, protection against what? Against our big, mean uteruses and those psychokiller ovaries? Not to put too fine a point on it, but would you ever call a tissue "nose protection"?
Even the expression "feminine hygiene" implies that menstruation is fundamentally dirty, yecchy, bad, as does the expression "sanitary pad." Depending on your taste, menstrual flow may not be the most aesthetically bewitching substance you'll ever hold in your hand, but it's certainly not inherently unsanitary, either. Yet advertising, by continuing to refer to menstruation in such unrelentingly negative terms, reinforces the same message, over and over: that our monthly flow is a disgusting problem, a hygienic Three Mile Island, something so scary and awful that it definitely needs a solution. And don't worry, little lady: like a Fortune 500 knight in shining armor, guess who's volunteering to come rescue us from all that blood, that mess, our bodies?
In fact, menstruation isn't a Thing that just happens to poor, passive, slobby ol' us a few days every month for a few decades. It's actually a complex event, so much so that doctors and scientists don't even fully understand it yet or what exactly it does. While it's true that most of us picked up the uterus-preparing-for-a-baby part by fifth grade, what we still don't know could fill a medical library. Only a few animal species on earth actually menstruate, humans among them. Why is that? How exactly is monthly bleeding tied to our health?
A big part of the problem is that, overwhelmingly, studies on menstruation tend to be funded by the "femcare" industry itself, and only, of course, to better develop and market their products. (As a rule of thumb, if you ever wonder about a particularly upbeat study plugging a product, just follow the money, honey! You'll find that, routinely, experts and pundits are quietly on the payroll of the companies whose products they're so enthusiastically endorsing.)
There have been more objective, scientific studies conducted over the years, but by and large, they tend to focus almost exclusively on the so-called pathological expressions of menstruation--not just the familiar downers like fibroids, endometriosis, and Lizzie Borden-esque PMS, but genuinely bizarro stuff (like the way women living together seem to bleed together, or when menstrual blood actually comes out of your nose).
Not to sound paranoid or anything, but we can't help but note that very few, if any, science foundations, universities, and places of higher learning frankly give a rat's ass about healthy menstruation. The U.S. gov ernment itself created the Nationa Institutes of Health's Office of Women's Health in 1990, and for a while, their single most burning question about menstruation was, "Does it make women unfit for combat?"
So where does that leave us? Totally in the dark? Screwed again?
Well, we do know some things, for certain. We know that for nearly all women, menstruation is a normal, if wildly variable and profoundly subjective, life experience. Another thing we know is that it seems to involve not just our uteruses, ovaries, and vaginas, but much of the rest of our bodies, as well: our brains, glands, hearts, and other organs. What's more, no matter how old we are, if we're female, we're actually menstrual our entire lives: either pre-, menstrual, peri-, menopausal, or post-. And the stages of our lives are in a sense defined by where we are on the menstrual time line.
Okay, we hear you demur. But why talk about it? We can envision certain relatives, friends, and colleagues pursing their lips en masse and rolling their eyes heavenward. "So this is what you want to talk about? With so much going on in the world, so many things to discuss, this is really so important?"
To which we reply: absolutely.
Recent studies show that up to 10 percent of girls still get their first period without any clue whatsoever as to what's going on (shower scene from Carrie, anyone?). What's more, college women consistently exhibit an amazing level of ignorance about the underlying biology of menstruation.
It's downright bizarre that what's called "discussion" about this most complex yet universal of processes has become one almost completely moderated by business and medicine. We've been taught our talking points by people who are frankly far more concerned with their bottom line than with any of those pesky questions we might have.
Hey, look--we're not saying that the pharmaceutical companies and femcare manufacturers are evil per se, or that their decisions are necessarily driven by some deep-seated misogyny or sexism. But business is business, and as of 2001, the so-called feminine hygiene business was a cool $2 billion industry--and that's just for the products themselves, not including related drugs or advertising.
Whether we're aware of it or not, our relationship to menstruation is one that has been brokered not in our own homes, but at the supermarket, the pharmacy, and the doctor's office. The conversation about menstruation (if you can call it that) is strictly one-sided and has been smoothly co-opted by big business, with a little help from religion,history, and society ... and boy oh boy, do they have a lot to say.
So what can we do?
We can start by setting aside all the judgment and reexamining some of those crazy-making questions we've been ordered by society to be obsessed with since girlhood. (Do I smell? Does my pad show? Am I leaking? Did Harry from Accounting notice when the tampon fell out of my handbag?) How about we start asking other questions that are a lot more relevant to our lives today, like: Am I healthy? Is what I'm experiencing normal? Am I making the right choices for my body, my love life, my lifestyle, my planet? What's right for me? Am I teaching my daughters, my grand-daughters, my kid sister good lessons about being a woman?
Enough with the ignorance and shame already! We say it's high time for a little more transparency. Let's perform a communal end run around the usual secrecy and embarrassment. Let's wrest control of this deeply personal topic away from the forces that have controlled it for so long. Armed with information and insight, maybe we can even figure out how to bring up the subject in polite company, without dying of mortification. Perhaps that way, we can spark a truly meaningful dialogue with ourselves, our friends, and our families about this most basic of functions ... and how it affects us all.
FLOW. Copyright © 2009 by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y 10010.


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Leviticus 17:14 (ESV)
For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life….
I know, I know, blood isn't a pretty thing to think about, but bear with me for a minute…
Blood is necessary for life – both physically and spiritually.
Although the book of Leviticus can be a pretty brutal book to read through, it's necessary. The sacrifices and bloodshed chronicled throughout the book is a reminder to us of the brutal consequences of sin. Romans 6:23 says, "the wages of sin is death." When sin is committed, death is mandated.
Death has been the consequence since the very first sin in Genesis 3. Genesis 3 says God clothed Adam and Eve with "garments of skins." An animal (I'm guessing a spotless lamb) gave its life so Adam and Eve's sins could be covered, creating a precedence for the future.
In my Bible, I've underlined every time the word "blood" is used in the book of Leviticus…and it's used a lot! 87 times in 65 verses, to be exact. Blood is splattered, thrown, dipped, drained, and poured throughout the book. But "blood" isn't the only word I have underlined throughout Leviticus; I've also underlined a much more positive word, "atonement." It's used 52 times in 46 verses. A simple way to define "atone" is to take the word apart. The blood of the lamb makes us "at one" with God.
The sacrifice is gory, but the result is glorious: sinful man is made "at one" with the holy God through the blood of the Lamb.
We don't love the gory, but it's necessary to access the glory!
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If you're in Clarksville, join us TONIGHT (Fri, April 14) for our Good Friday service at Awaken Church at 6:30pm! If you're not in Clarksville, join us online at awaken.church at 6:30pm CT!


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In Canberra last night (19th of November 2012), the SSP was awarded with an Award for Programs that Enhance Learning in the 2012 Australian Awards for University Teaching. Announced by Senator Chris Evans, the Minister commented that the Program "… has set a benchmark for ongoing learning and teaching activities in Australian higher education institutions and the dedication of your team will continue to significantly impact student learning".
Back in September SSP was awarded with an Australian Award for University Teaching Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Announced by Senator Evans, the Program was awarded 'For a sustained commitment to proactively delivering tailored advice and referral to students so that they are empowered to reach their individual academic goals'.
These awards follows an institution gong back in July and continues the recognition of the impact of monitoring student learning engagement activities and programs.


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Founded in 1812, Citibank is consumer banking division of Citigroup, an American financial services corporation. Citibank offers retail and commercial banking products and services in four regions: Asia; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Latin America; North America.
CITITRUST (CAYMAN) LIMITED has Category B banking license number 73012 issued by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. This type of license allows CITITRUST (CAYMAN) LIMITED to conduct banking and trustee operations with non-residents and domestic banking business with other Cayman Islands licenced entities.
There is no deposit guarantee scheme in the Cayman Islands: in the case of CITITRUST (CAYMAN) LIMITED failure its depositors will not get any compensation.
CITITRUST (CAYMAN) LIMITED was authorized and supervised by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.


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COPENHAGEN, Denmark--In the next 18 months Microsoft will replace BizTalk Server, Commerce Server and Content Management Server with a suite called "Jupiter."
The software maker said here at the IT Forum that it would replace its three products in the e-business area with one suite, which will probably sell at a reduced price.
The suite, code-named Jupiter, which will combine the features of BizTalk Server, CMS and Commerce Server, will ship around the end of 2003, and replace all three of the servers on the market today.
"The current products will be broken down into components and put into Jupiter," said Dave Wascha, product manager for the new program. "We want to reduce the overlap and redundancy."
Wascha said that customers want to have features unified around business processes, not products, and that the suite will, like the Office suite before it, take previously separate functions and put them in one box. The functions of the three current products will be referred to under the headings processes, data and people.
Because Microsoft is still a newcomer to this area, the product will emphasize interoperability with others in the area of EAI (enterprise application integration) and business-to-business commerce, said Wascha.
The aim is to produce something that makes it all a lot simpler, he said. "We want business process analysis to be as easy for analysts to use as Excel." The product will use the Business Process Engineering Language (BPEL) proposed by IBM, Microsoft and BEA Systems as a standard.
Among the redundant tools that Wascha wants to clear out are multiple workflow analysis tools. "We have four, in CMS, BizTalk, Exchange and Commerce Server."
Because this is a bid to expand into a new market, Microsoft will probably make its Jupiter offer very tempting. "All current CMS, Commerce Server and BizTalk customers with maintenance agreements will get the full Jupiter suite automatically," said Wascha. "The price will not be the sum of the three current products--it is more likely to be the average."
This would imply a price of around $30,000 to $40,000 per server.
The "process" functions will be delivered first, as BizTalk 2002 (delivered in February) is replaced by Jupiter modules in the second half of 2003. The other two products will be replaced and Jupiter completed early in 2004.
Until then, the Jupiter code name will be promoted by pictures of the planet Jupiter and its moons--which amateur astronomers here said had errors such as including the moon Io twice. "Duplicating Io removes a single point of failure," quipped Wascha.
ZDNet UK's Peter Judge reported from Copenhagen.


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Check in every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they discuss the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com. Tonight we discuss Tiger Woods's rules fiasco from the second round of the Hero, his schedule for 2019, Patrick Reed doubling down on his post-Ryder Cup comments and more.
1. Tiger Woods wasn't penalized for double-hitting a shot out of the bushes on Friday at the Hero World Challenge, even though he admitted it was double-hit after seeing the slo-mo replay. (According to a recent rules revision, Woods was not penalized because HD slo-mo video replay was required to see the violation and Woods couldn't have been reasonably expected to detect the double-hit in real time.) Our Michael Bamberger argued that Woods did the right thing "for himself and the game" by not taking a penalty even though he could have. Any issues with the HD rule? Does it in any way violate the spirit of the game?
Sean Zak, assistant editor (@sean_zak): The "right thing" that Tiger could have done was 1. Take a legit backswing, whether that's two inches or two feet. Then 2. Hit the ball forward and think about how that felt. If you do both those things legitimately, and think you only hit the ball once, didn't scoop or push the ball, then yes, Tiger was fine in what he did. I'm very skeptical about it, beginning with the lack of any backswing. That being said, I have no issue with the high-def rule, as long as players are honest enough with the entire process. Kudos to the first player who rewatches something in HD and notices that, "Yeah, that did feel weird," en route to penalizing themselves.
Dylan Dethier, associate editor (@Dylan_Dethier): I was initially of this same camp, that this was the perfect opportunity for Tiger to step up and show his appreciation for the integrity of the game and all that — quieting any doubts about previous sketchy rulings in the process. But Bamberger's piece has me convinced that Woods did the right thing for his fellow players. The way the rules are now set up, players should accept the rulings handed down by officials. Golf's officiating is getting more similar to other sports, and I think that's okay.
Josh Sens, contributing writer (@JoshSens): Dylan mentions those previous sketchy rules incidents, and it's hard not to look at this weekend in the context of those prior moments. To my mind, Woods did indeed miss an opportunity to make an "I'm not bigger than the game" gesture and say, "You know what? Looks like I did hit it twice," and call a penalty on himself. In his column, Michael wrote if Woods had done that, he would have placed an unfair burden on other players to do the same. I'm not convinced that's really is an unfair burden. It seems like the least we can ask, no? I'm open to being persuaded otherwise but haven't yet been.
Alan Shipnuck, senior writer (@AlanShipnuck): We all know I'm Bamberger's de facto publicist but I have to part company with him here. A player with Tiger's exquisite feel has to know if he hit the ball twice — the hitter always knows. He shoulda manned up and taken the penalty.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer: I don't know if my judgment is being clouded here by my overall positive impression of Tiger's evolving personality. I'm not sure he double-hit it at all. I wonder more if he scooped it or pushed it. Hitter does know, as Alan points out, in normal conditions. These were unusual, because of the short, flat swing, the bush fronds, the sand. I really am inclined to believe him, despite Woods's poor track record. I do think, Josh, if you honestly could not have known without intense photographic evidence, it's asking too much of the player. We're going to find, and only more so in the future, that when a player puts his clubhead down to address the ball, especially in the rough or on zoysia fairways, that ball moves insignificantly. That should not be a penalty. Now if you review and conclude, "I can see it now and I should have seen it then," then you should call it on yourself. But Tiger's situation was not — I don't think — that. He still had a bad 2013, rules-wise. Brandel had it right then.
2. Woods said Sunday he's still ironing out his schedule for next year, although he did say he won't be playing as much as he did in 2018. While that news isn't necessarily surprising, Woods might have to say no to many events he's played in past years. Last season he played 18 events — 20 if you include the Hero and Ryder Cup. Put on your Woods whisperer hats and tell us what Woods should, or shouldn't do, when it comes to his 2019 schedule.
Zak: I think he should do exactly what he did last year because it was enough competitive golf to get him fine-tuned but not so much golf that he was too worn down to compete at a high level at any point in the season. So, that means something like Torrey-Riviera-Honda-API-Players-Masters, etc. Throw in another event when it feels right and he should be able to contend in all the big ones.
Dethier: I'm just sad he's not going to play the Valspar…I was there last year and boy did the Tampa crowds love them some Tiger. But if The Match and the Hero reminded us of anything, it's that an apathetic Tiger doesn't do anything for the game anyway. Fewer is fine.
Sens: I'm with Dylan here. Scarcity is a powerful commodity. It's also good for a 42-going-on-43-year-old surgically repaired back.
Shipnuck: Since the U.S. Open is being played at Pebble Tiger would be crazy not to play the Clambake, which means dropping Riv the following week. Yeah, his foundation is now involved in that event, but this year made clear he needs to be ruthless in his scheduling and preparing for the U.S. Open is more important. Ditch Bay Hill and Valspar. Add the new event in the Twin Cities, which is midway between the Opens. Skip the middle FedEx Cup event because his back is more important than the points.
Bamberger: I admire Alan's Chamber of Commerce position. C'bake does not help you for June at Pebble and maybe hurts. Eighteen seems like too many. Hard to say no to Bay Hill. You could see him not playing The Players, except for the fact that Tiger never does anything eccentric.
3. Tony Finau entered the final round of the Hero tied for the lead with Jon Rahm and Henrik Stenson but made a costly double bogey and two other bogeys to shoot 69 and finish alone in 2nd. The 29-year-old entered the week with the most top 10s without a win since the 2016-17 season (20), 10 more than the next guy, Luke List. Are Finau's Sunday woes evidence that he lacks the clutch gene?
Zak: No, screw the clutch gene. Rory McIlroy hasn't been much different the last few years, and we know damn well he still has a tendency for "clutch" golf. Finau is still ascending. He's just played his first Ryder Cup. He's a newbie to the world top 15. You play A LOT of clutch golf to get there. He's also just kind of now feeling like he can stand up among his peers — the best in the world. Let's not treat the many top 10s and few wins as a bad thing. It's a process, and Finau is going to have a yooooge 2019. Book it now.
Shipnuck: Wait, Rory is still clutch? I hope that's true because his soft play in clutch situations over the last couple of years has left me wondering. Anyway, I salute Finau's consistency, and it's true that learning to win is a process, but he has now had a ton of experience in these situations. It's time to cash in a few of these opportunities.
Dethier: I'm not much of a "clutch gene" guy either, but there's a little something more than randomness to this: Finau hasn't been quite as good on the weekend and hasn't thrown down a door-slamming win. He's not a stone-cold killer yet, but that's not to say he's incapable.
Sens: I am an ardent believer in the clutch gene. There's little doubt that some players bear up to pressure better than others. But I don't sense that's the issue with Finau, who held up pretty nicely in the cauldron of the Ryder Cup. I think the issue is that it's very difficult to win on the PGA Tour. Finau will be back in the winner's circle before long.
Bamberger: Finau is such a jock and such a work-in-progress I suspect his Sunday play is the last real missing piece in his golfing evolution and the only way to get better at it is to fail first. He's doing the first part now. He'll get the second part soon enough.
4. Finau's playing partner at the Hero, Jon Rahm, made no mistakes on Sunday. He was bogeyless en route to a 65 and four-shot victory. While Finau couldn't keep pace with Rahm, he did birdie the 72nd hole to prevent Justin Rose from taking over the No.1 spot in the World Ranking from Brooks Koepka. That top spot has been held by several different players in the last few months. Does Rahm get there at some point in 2019?
Zak: I'll take the easy route and say no. There are too many phenomenal players for him to compete with for that top spot. He plays well in a lot of big events. He's really good. But the lot of DJ, Rose, Koepka, Thomas, et al are an easy team to choose over Rahm getting to No. 1.
Sens: Any number of guys could get scorching hot and snag No. 1. It's been happening over and over the past few years. But Sean has it right on the odds front. Stellar as he is, Rahm would not be listed as a favorite to grab it, not with so many others in the running.
Dethier: Nah, I don't think he gets there. But will Bryson?!
Shipnuck: This was actually an important win for Rahm, who since his victory at the Hope in January had been pretty quiet. He's so young and talented it seems likely he'll get to No. 1 at some point but I don't think 2019 is the year, given how stacked the top of the Ranking is.
Bamberger: Number 1 is a fluky thing and predicting who gets there is beneath the high-octane abilities of this distinguished group. I'd be more interested in hearing whether we would bet real money at low odds that he would win a major in the next five years. And I would bet yes. Augusta, in the 2020s. Might contend in some others.
5. Patrick Reed reignited the story that's rocked the golf world since the Ryder Cup when he spoke with the New York Post at the Hero World Challenge. Reed, doubling down on his post-Paris comments, said it was unwise to split up him and Spieth and Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler and that he's been treated unfairly when compared to Phil Mickelson's 2014 Ryder Cup remarks (Mickelson was praised by many for calling out his captain, Tom Watson). Does Reed have a point?
Zak: He does…and he doesn't. To say that there's a double standard with Mickelson is correct, but it fails to recognize WHY a double standard has always existed with the Ryder Cup. Mickelson earned that double standard. Sometimes when you're a 20-something and still learning things in the public sphere of the PGA Tour, you'd be keen to note how a 48-year-old has done exactly that for almost as long as you've been alive. Also, the U.S. won at Hazeltine, which validated Mickelson. If Reed plays well on a winning 2020 team at Whistling Straits, he'll be forgiven.
Dethier: This is the same guy who said Spieth got different rulings and took a complaint about Red Sox tickets public, among other things. His shtick of perpetual unfair treatment is not lost on golf fans. But he's still a breath of fresh air and he has made (some) sound points about the team's construction. More Reed interviews, please!
Sens: Who said life is fair? And as Dylan points out, Reed's sense of justice is a fairly privileged one. But I do admire the forthrightness. What you see does appear to be what you get with Reed. And it's certainly not dull.
Shipnuck: Why does Jordan have to be the one to pick up the phone? Unlike Reed, he played his heart out in Paris. Now that we're reminded yet again of Reed's dysfunction, who can blame Spieth for wanting a new partner?! As for the Mickelson jab, it misses an essential point: Phil's comments were a calculated attempt to bring about systemic change, not a cop-out for his own abysmal play.
Bamberger: Phil's comments were rude and effective, because he has been one of the prominent players in the world FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. Patrick Reed is just topping off his second cup of coffee. Cool your jets, kid. Also, truly, this is not rock-our-world stuff. Koepka winning two majors is rock-our-world stuff. This is just blah-blah-blah mindless entertainment. Not that there's not a lot of that going around these days.
6. How many mulligans are too many mulligans? Our etiquette expert, Josh Sens, broke it down for us last week. What's your policy when it comes to this controversial practice?
Zak: My father is barely a golfer, but he has long believed in this rule: one mulligan, to be used exclusively with tee shots, per nine holes. It makes for closer matches, especially with players who are susceptible to the blow-up hole.
Sens: "Etiquette expert?" You clearly haven't seen me fight my kids for the last egg roll. Though it's probably poor etiquette to agree with myself, I'll double down on what's already on the record. One is ok on the first hole if agreed upon by all beforehand. Multiple mulligans or mulligans taken anywhere but the first hole are okay too, but only if you have no shame and are not really playing golf. That's called practice, and it's acceptable. Just call it what it is.
Bamberger: The Etiquette Whisperer, Mr. Sens, speaks for me. One if you haven't been to the range. Otherwise, none. Not that I would take one. If I can find it I want to play it, just in case I shoot a course record that day. (I did once shoot 77.)
Dethier: As I've started playing less golf I've become increasingly fond of the breakfast ball. Everyone should start off the day with a good swing, and it lessens first-tee jitters. After that, I'm anti-mulligan…but I'm all in on extremely generous drops, especially if a player is struggling.
Shipnuck: If you're playing for money, no mulligans. Ever. That the first tee shot is hard and nerve-wracking is exactly what makes it so fun. If it's a very casual game, a breakfast ball is okay, but nothing more.


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I love Vietnamese food, and that includes pho. While Grand Rapids may not provide the widest range of cultural fare, we are lucky to have several restaurants that provide delicious Vietnamese cuisine.
So who has the best in town? I have had some bad pho in the past, before I started this blog, so there won't be any entries for those within the challenge. I can't bring myself to spend money or my appetite on them again.
Restaurants In Grand Rapids With Not So Great Pho
- Indochine. Very friendly service, but not so good food
- Bamboo. Good dishes but the pho wasn't as good as others I've had
- Fusion Dish. Fun menu! Boring pho
- Bangkok Taste Cuisine
Restaurants In Grand Rapids Included In My Pho Challenge
- Golden 28
- Pho Soc Trang
- Asian Palace Pho 99
- Pho Anh Trang
- Lai Thai Kitchen
Am I missing a place? Please let me know!