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Study: Seniors Not Quite Embracing Generic Drugs
Seniors who switch between low-cost generic drugs and the original products based on who's footing the bill are likely driving up the cost of the government's Medicare drug plan, according to a new study.
Figures released Thursday show seniors are more likely to ask their pharmacist for generic medications when they are paying, but choose the more expensive originals when the government is covering the costs.
The study was published by Medco Health Solutions Inc., a drug benefit manager that handles prescriptions for about 20 percent of Americans. Prescription benefit managers earn more money when patients choose cheaper medications.
While the Medicare drug benefit has pushed up the country's overall health care spending, the program's budget has actually come in below estimates, which federal officials attribute to a greater use of generic drugs and competition among insurance companies.
Generic drugs are medically indistinguishable from the original products, and can cost up to 80 percent less. They account for two-thirds of all prescriptions dispensed in the U.S, according to research firm IMS Health.
However, the figures from Medco suggest some patients are still more comfortable taking medicines from the original manufacturer.
"It may be a question of education, that some people simply believe brand-name drugs work better than generics," said Tricia Neuman, a vice president with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Research also shows that doctors often don't talk about the potential cost savings of generic drugs, she added.
Kaiser, a nonprofit research group, estimates the average out-of-pocket expense for seniors in Medicare taking generic drugs will be $5.32 this year, nearly six times less than the $29.86 paid by seniors taking branded drugs listed by insurers.
Despite the potential cost savings, Medco found that nearly two-thirds of prescriptions initially filled by patients in Medicare were for branded medications.
The majority of seniors only switched to generics after they reached the point in spending when users must pick up the whole cost of prescriptions.
"Medicare beneficiaries become acutely aware of the cost difference between brand-name and generic drugs and most make the switch," said Medco Chief Medical Officer Woody Eisenberg.
But Medco also found that when seniors' drug costs reached the "catastrophic" phase and are again covered by Medicare, 59 percent of prescriptions are for branded drugs.
An official from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the agency could not confirm the figures cited by Medco.
Overall, the federal government and beneficiaries through their monthly premiums will spend about $47 billion on the Medicare drug benefit this year.


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By Kalayna Colibri
At first glance, our living room is a mess, yeah? Well, if you could vibe yourself here to be in this room right now, the mess wouldn't matter… this is the best room in Gabriel and I's house right now. The warmth as I sit here and digest what moved between Gabriel and I as well as within us individually and within the hearts and souls of my other beloveds in this space today, I feel the warmth of the love container that held us all… the love energies coming from our hearts to our parts, our hearts to each other and each other's parts. It's a powerful energy to be in and around and not one that comes without cost, without constant and consistent choice, without courage and a deep trust within that love is carrying us to our next layers within and within relationship to each other too.
This was one of our last group healing spaces together before Jelelle, Raphael and Raianna go back to Canada, where we all came from 4 years ago, nearly to the day. It was a beautiful weekend of connection and process. It was a time of bittersweet celebration and abundance of love… digestions of our journey together so far and how much we are going to miss each other too.
We are choosing this next phase of separation so that Gabriel and I can build our kingdom together as a Sacred Union couple, an arising King and Queen. Jelelle and Raphael have their next phase of leadership too, moving on from this geography to be in a new phase of grist for their own processes and also to continue expanding our community. Raianna will be making connections of her own back in Canada too. In all cases, the intention holding all of it and all of us is to serve love… to ourselves, between each other, and with others. We ultimately want more of YOU to be able to access and experience what we experience together… the gifts and growth crucibles of soul family connections and the catalytic nature of this work.
So, a messy living room to some… but a warm LOVING room to me. And you're all invited to take part in your next steps, feeling how they may even connect you more to us in the ways you're ready for.
Follow along on all our Facebook feeds, our website (soulfullheartwayoflife.com) our blog (soulfullheartblog.com), our YouTube (SoulFullHeart Experience), and/or sign up for our free weekly Museletter on our website.
I wish you much love… from my heart to yours. ❤
Kalayna Colibri is a SoulFullHeart co-founder, soul scribe, and poetess. Visit https://www.soulfullheartwayoflife.com for more information about space holding sessions, group calls, videos, community, etc. Visit our Patreon page to offer a money donation to support our offerings at https://www.patreon.com/soulfullheart.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hunting youthful and fresh is one thing we all favor but occasionally you can accomplish the opposte if you make the incorrect options when it comes to makeup. It's effortless to make these problems if you're not mindful and normally this occurs when you try out also considerably.
One particular of the most widespread makeup problems girls make is wearing too significantly bronzer. It's understandable to want a flawless look but wearing bronzer across the whole encounter can make you appear older.
Yet another huge blunders is making your eyebrows search as well thin. Eyebrows have a tendency to fade as we get older so don't attempt to hurry the approach. Really don';t pluck your brows as well thin and, if you do, appropriate the error with an angled brush and a powder.
Runny mascara also ages you so be careful. To keep away from this, really don';t apply mascara to your reduced lashes. You cannot control your mascara but you can make certain you use a high quality brand and that you apply it properly.
Dark lips appear thinner and this can also make you seem older. As you age, your lips become thinner so wearing dark lipstick would be like getting thin eyebrows: you'd be intentionally making you look older.
Be careful when you apply powder because this also can have an undesired impact. Getting also a lot powder on your encounter can make your skin come to feel heavy and wrinkly. Consider rather something lighter.


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Veuve Clicquot "Yelloween" Event
4 October 2016
Veuve Clicquot Halloween Event - "Veuve Clicquot Yelloween" opening. In collaboration with L'Atelier Joel Robuchon, Veuve Clicquot "Yelloween lounge" will shows up in Roppongi, the heart of Tokyo's Halloween. Please enjoy Roppongi's Halloween with Veuve Clicquot.
Veuve Clicquot & Joel Robuchon Special Yelloween Week.
A special moment entranced of Veuve Clicquot champagne and L'Atelier Joel Robuchon food.
Please enjoy with your special person this long and exciting Halloween night, accompanied by champagne and delicious food.
Veuve Clicquot x L'ATELIER de Joel Robuchon Special Yelloween Week
◆Date: from Oct.27th (thu) to Oct. 31st (mon)
◆Opening hours:
Lunch 11:30-14:30 (weekdays) – 11:30-15:00 (weekend)
Dinner 18:00-21:30
◆Address: Roppongi Hills 6-10, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
The dreamy "Veuve Clicquot Yelloween" Halloween night will be limited for 2 days only.
Veuve Clicquot Yelloween Lounge will appear only for 2 days in Roppongi, the most exciting Halloween spot in Tokyo!
A night full of unique performances in a gorgeous event space, beautifully colored with Halloween colors, will charm you with Veuve Clicquot champagne and gourmet food. Do not miss this once a year special Halloween Night and have fun with Veuve Clicquot!
Veuve Clicquot Yelloween Lounge
◆Date: from Oct.28th (fri) to Oct. 29th (sat)
◆Opening hours: 18:00-25:00 (last order 24:00)
◆Advance tickets: COMING SOON
◆Address: 7-15, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
【Yelloween Find more.】


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Like Trent Reznor before them, three young artists are drafting music's future.
In the latest episode of The FADER Interview podcast, Holly Herndon talks about her latest project, a deep fake AI, digital twin called Holly+.
Experimental musician Holly Herndon has debuted a new voice instrument and "digital twin" named Holly+.
Read an interview with Holly Herndon on the Travis Scott-based A.I. program Travisbott.
shure24 debit holly herndon
Holly Herndon, an expert on the intersection of music and AI, has penned an essay on Grimes' AI comments.
Holly Herndon's Proto is an engrossing testament to the power of multiple voices singing in unison. One of those voices is a computer named Spawn.
Check out the lineup for the Red Bull Music Festival 2019 in New York City, featuring FKA twigs, Rosalía, Tierra Whack and more.
Holly Herndon will release "AI-assisted" album Proto on May 10 via 4AD.
Watch the music video for Holly Herndon and Jlin's "Godmother."
Cardi B, Missy Elliott, Syd, and Lil Yachty tell us what they were listening to this year.
Shabazz Palaces and Holly Herndon are opening for Radiohead on select tour dates.
Composer Holly Herndon gave a lecture on production at the Ableton Loop Summit.


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so that the mantle can be
decorated for Spring :)
but this post isn't about spring decorating,
better suited to our 1905 home.
When we moved in the only thing that I did
and remove two round crackled glass globes on
Then a year later
Steve built me this new mantle.
and installed this thermostatic


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Wolmar Restaurant
Situated in the heart of La Pirogue, this exceptional open-plan restaurant offers a host of incredible gastronomic experiences for diners with an impressive selection of breakfast options and excellent themed dinner buffets with live cooking stations. Each evening promises an extraordinary culinary adventure but the Mauritian Barbeque, which takes place once a week in the tropical gardens next to the restaurant, is not to be missed.
Early bird continental breakfasts are served between 6:30 and 7:30, the buffet breakfast runs daily from 7:30 to 10:30 and the dinner buffets are from 19:00 to 22:00.


text: A Fixed Income Waiver extends the penalty grace period from 2 days to 7 days after the due date of your utility bill. You will still receive a disconnect notice and all shut-off dates will continue to apply if your payment is not received by your disconnect date. In order to qualify, the customer must receive their money/check once a month. If there is more than one source of income, all must be received approximately at the same time of the month. Contact the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Customer Service Office to see if you are eligible for this waiver.


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(Yes, today is Tuesday, and I should be posting a picture for Time Warp Tuesday, but last night my computer informed me I have reached my quota for photos and I'm not sure what to do about that).
Did you ever cry in a Target? I did today. This past weekend, my husband bought my six year old some Angry Bird decals to put on his bedroom walls. He already had a sports themed bedroom, with footballs, soccer balls, baseballs, and basketball decals on his walls, so now the room is a bit confusing... and overwhelming, but that's another story. This morning he asked if he could "Please, please go to Target after school, so I can get some more Angry Bird stickers with my birthday money?" I explained that there probably wasn't any more room on his walls for more stickers, and he said he would like to put them on paper and make a book. "Hey, it's your money!", I answered.
Now, this is the flashback part of the story, and when I say flashback, I mean WAY BACK. Like, me in elementary school back. There's cute little me, standing there awkwardly, looking like I wish I could shrivel up and disappear. I'm standing in line, waiting to be picked to play kickball. Gym class - I'm sure some kids enjoyed it, but I was never one of them. I would stand there, praying in my head, "Please don't let them pick me last... Please don't let them pick me last...", looking down, so they wouldn't see the desperation in my eyes. I was awful at kickball. Really awful. I kicked it up every single time, and I got out almost every single time. I can still hear the taunts of "Easy out!" Also, I certainly wasn't popular. I always had friends, but never in the popular crowd. From my memory, we played kickball A LOT, and the popular kids were always chosen to be the "pickers". Maybe gym teachers were popular kids, because they certainly never seem to understand the plight of the unpopular.
Back to the present. I picked up my son, and started asking him the same ridiculous questions and getting the same ridiculous answers.
"How was school?"
"What did you do?"
"I don't remember".
Today, though, was a conversation that completely shook me, and one I don't want to ever forget.
"How was gym class?"
"Good... We played hockey again... I got two goals!"
"Two goals huh? Good job!"
"I was finally on the blue team today!"
"Oh yea? How did you get on the blue team today?"
"Alyssa picked me. She was the captain on the blue team".
"Cool! I'm glad she picked you. Did she pick you first?"
"No, I think I was picked last".
"She picked you last?! That stinks!" (my brain flashing back to cute little me again)
"It's okay. I usually get picked last".
"You do?!" (trying to keep the hysteria out of my voice and not punch my hand through the dashboard)
"Does that bother you?"
"What do you mean, bother me?"
"Does it make you sad when you get picked last?"
"It makes ME sad that you get picked last"!
"It's not my fault, Mom".
(Instant tears welling up in my eyes) "Oh honey, I know that! Of course it's not your fault! I'm not mad at you. It just makes me sad because I used to be picked last in gym class and I didn't like it".
I was going to let it end there. I really was, but I just kept thinking about my sweet boy standing there waiting and waiting to be picked.
"Dylan? Who do you like the most in school?"
"I don't know. Maybe Alyssa?"
"Who do you think likes you the most?"
"I don't know".
"Do you think Alyssa likes you the most?"
"I don't know. I think she likes me, but maybe not the most".
"Who does she play with the most?"
"I don't know".
"Who does Arjun play with the most?"
"I don't know".
"Dylan! Don't you pay attention to the other kids? Maybe if you paid attention more, they would play with you more!"
"I like to play by myself sometimes, Mom".
"I know... but..."
(He already knew what I was thinking and what I was going to say). "That's just how YOU feel. I'm sorry, Mom. That's just how I am".
I felt like someone was squeezing my heart. I couldn't breathe for a minute. As I fought back a full on sob fest, I grabbed Dylan in my arms and hugged him.
"Dylan, you don't have to apologize for who you are. I love you just the way you are. I am SO sorry. I guess I just worry about you having friends so much, because I just want you to be happy".
When his little eyes looked up at me and he said "I AM happy", I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.
I cried in Target. I would like to think that crying in Target would be so memorable that I will be changed from this moment on. I like to think I will stop trying to force my child to be the person I want him to be, but if I'm being honest, I'm not sure that is the case. Why do we do that? Why do we try to change our children, instead of accepting that they are perfect exactly the way they are? Why do we project our fears, goals, and dreams onto them? It's a heavy weight for their little shoulders to carry. We tell ourselves we just want them to be happy, but they already are. They are happy, just the way they are. I'm going to read this post every time I need to remember that.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
To Dylan On His 6th Birthday
Today you are six! This fact seems bizarre to me, and yet at the same time... completely right. Something started happening back in September. You suddenly seemed so much taller, leaner, and more mature. Maybe it has something to do with school? You are in kindergarten now, and it seems to be going very well. You don't complain about going, like you used to do with preschool. You tell me more about your day, although I usually have to ask a lot of questions to get the information out of you. You don't want to get up in the morning, though! You are "SO tired" that Daddy usually drags you out of bed. You don't seem to mind wearing the uniform, even on chapel days, when you have to wear a tie. One of the things you hate to do, though, is change your clothes when you get home. To you, this is a huge chore, and a waste of valuable play time.
Play time has become very sacred to you since you have less of it now. There are times that you are content to play on your own, busily carrying out one of your plans. Your play often involves recreating things you've done or seen.
You love a challenge. When we got you a hula hoop, and your friend next door, could do it better than you could, you practiced and practiced until you were a pro. When you saw a show about Speed Stackers you wanted to buy them and learn to stack the cups yourself. Then, we had to get a paddle ball (also on that show), so you could try that. You love to try new things and go new places. You are not afraid to take risks. Not many things scare you. In fact, I'm not sure I can think of anything!
Although you don't giggle as much as you used to, you still like to laugh, and you have a good sense of humor. I love it when we share an inside joke, like "Chicken!", or "How Not To Feed Your Family Dinner". "Chicken!" came about when Daddy and I were deep in conversation at the dinner table on evening, and you suddenly blurted out "Chicken!" You wanted to say something about Chicken Little, but forgot what you wanted to say. "How Not To Feed Your Family Dinner" came about when I forgot to turn on the crock pot one night and we came home to an uncooked meal. You thought of a great name for a cookbook and made us laugh when you said "Yummies for Dummies".
You are really a good reader these days! The books sent home from school (and the rest of the homework for that matter) are too easy for you, but that's how you like it. That way, you can get it done quickly and get back to playing!
You still love math and sports. You played t-ball in the spring, and soccer this fall. You enjoyed t-ball, but soccer seems to be a better fit for you. At this age, the coaches don't keep score, but of course, you do.
You are such a sweet boy, Dylan. One day, Daddy told you the story about the time he sent me flowers at work and someone stole them. You got up and drew me a picture of flowers saying that I should have flowers. You are so sweet to Daddy, too. When we are out, you often ask if we can buy him a Hershey bar, since he loves them, rather than asking for candy for yourself.
You have an innocence and a sweetness that I hope you keep for a while longer. You still climb in my lap occasionally for a snuggle, and even though your long limbs are barely contained in the space, those moments are my favorite and I cherish them. I love you so much and I am so proud of you.
Posted by Jen at 1:37 PM 4 comments:
Monday, November 12, 2012
Time Warp Tuesday - Birthdays
For Time Warp Tuesday this week, (over at Juggling Life), I wanted to look back at Dylan's birthdays. We'll be celebrating his 6th next week, so here is a blast from the past 5.
First Birthday Party - in a hotel party room - we learned that blue icing is a bad idea.
Second Birthday Party - At Steel City All Stars (gym)
We had the Third Birthday Party at our new house.
Fourth Birthday Party - at SeaBase (indoor play area)
The Fifth Birthday Party was at another gym! (Gymkhana)
We are looking forward to birthday number 6!
Posted by Jen at 6:45 PM 6 comments:
Friday, November 9, 2012
The Lunch Notes
My mom used to pack my lunches for school. Every day, she would pack a healthy lunch, and add a little note inside. I'm not sure when she started doing it, or when she stopped doing it. I don't even really remember what the notes said. To my memory, I never commented on the notes, and I certainly never thanked her for them. I bet she wondered sometimes, "Why am I even doing this? She doesn't appreciate it. She doesn't care".
Now, my little boy is going to kindergarten, and I am packing his lunches. Yes, they are healthy, and yes, each lunch since the first day of school has had a little note inside. There are days when I stand there for several minutes, trying to decide what to write, thinking "Why am I even doing this? He doesn't appreciate it. He doesn't care".
There are so many "little" things we do as parents that we might feel go unnoticed. Pats on the back of encouragement, home cooked meals, bedtime rituals, countless car rides, birthday balloons, snuggling in bed on a Saturday morning, patiently answering question after question. We don't often hear "Thank you". We aren't always sure those "little" things are making an impact.
Sometimes, though, if we are lucky, we get a reminder.
Yesterday, my son wanted to play "school". He said that I was going to go to school, but first he had to pack me a lunch. When I saw my lunch, I knew...
Now, my little boy is going to kindergarten, and I am packing his lunches. Yes, they are healthy, and yes, each lunch since the first day of school has had a little note inside. There are days when I stand there for several minutes, trying to decide what to write, thinking "Why am I even doing this? He doesn't appreciate it. He doesn't care".
There are so many "little" things we do as parents that we might feel go unnoticed. Pats on the back of encouragement, home cooked meals, bedtime rituals, countless car rides, birthday balloons, snuggling in bed on a Saturday morning, patiently answering question after question. We don't often hear "Thank you". We aren't always sure those "little" things are making an impact.
Sometimes, though, if we are lucky, we get a reminder.
Yesterday, my son wanted to play "school". He said that I was going to go to school, but first he had to pack me a lunch. When I saw my lunch, I knew...
All those "little" things? They do matter. A lot.
(Mom, thank you for the healthy lunches, the notes, and the countless other "little" ways you showed your love).
Posted by Jen at 6:27 AM 2 comments:
Monday, November 5, 2012
Time Warp Tuesday : Love at First Sight
It's Time Warp Tuesday time again, over at Juggling Life! As I mentioned in my last post, after two very long years, two lines had finally appeared on the stick. As I sat there staring at it, it hit me that I would never be the same. It was a huge moment. So was the moment I heard his little heart beat for the first time. Truly, though, the moment I saw this little profile was when I realized I was in love...
When I was in elementary school, I wrote this poem..
When I was in elementary school, I wrote this poem..
My dream came true, almost 6 years ago...
Posted by Jen at 7:04 PM 5 comments:
Thursday, November 1, 2012
A Photo A Day Challenge : October 2012
I finished my newest challenge for myself - The Photo A Day Challenge over at "A Grande Life".
I am happy to report that for the most part I didn't cheat. I kept to the daily theme, and only forgot to take a picture one day (the 25th, so that picture was taken the next day). I found some prompts harder than others, but for the most part, I am really glad I decided to participate. It made me realize that I've been missing taking pictures, and missing the creative part of myself.
(The big one is a close-up of my favorite of these - Black & White - It's the little girl I'm a nanny for).
October 1-Leaves / 2-In My Cup / 3-Shoes / 4-Up / 5-Light / 6-Orange / 7-Flower / 8-Shadow / 9-Me / 10-Up Close / 11-The Letter A / 12-Black & White / 13-Happiness / 14-Pumpkin / 15-Good Nt. Moon
October 16-Guilty Pleasure (I keep kissing my sweet boy's cheeks, even though at this point, he doesn't like it. He usually gives me that tiny smile that says he'll let it slide this once. But look at them! How can I help myself?!) / 17-Comfy / 18-Hands / 19-Laugh / 20-Something Old / 21-Home / 22-Grass /
23-Busy / 24-Pretty / 25-Something You Made / 26-Dots / 27-Your Pick / 28-Simple / 29-9:15 am /
30-Pillow / 31-Boo!
Posted by Jen at 11:14 AM 2 comments:
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text:
Sales Layer - Product Information Management for Large Catalogs
price: Starting @ $400 per month
Sales Layer Product Information Management allows easy control and management of your product catalog no matter how big.
- Add, edit, and complete product information, saving time and avoiding repetitive tasks
- Check catalog completeness and find product information gaps in real time through robust reporting
- Share content and syndicate all of your sales channels
- Strategic consulting services available
* This knowledge base contains affiliate links to products and services provided by 3rd party vendors. Please see our affiliate disclaimer page for more details.


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On the Hamster Wheel, Running
I'm here. Just got caught up in a work crunch, car trouble, etc. and don't have any recent images inspiring enough to post.
I ran across this post at Tao of Phography, which sort of nicely sums up some recent thoughts I've run across elsewhere in the personal photography blogosphere on this general topic: not feeling inspired, how to get yourself back in the zone. I need to get out there and take some photos. The weekend beckons. I've been satisfying myself by making some prints, having replentished my ink supply. And that's been good, all good. But to be out there making photographs in the zone, that's where the real joy lies. And I don't even need to shoot much, just enough to catch the current, so to speak.
And if I had that photo project or two on the back burner it would provide some ready made traction. I keep coming back to that.


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Canada | 2012 | 52 min | STC
She was the first Canadian author to win a big international literary prize. She wrote a popular 16-volume series about a dynastic Ontario family and had sold 11 million books in 93 languages by the time she died in 1961. She lived at various addresses in Toronto, including 157 Dunn Ave. in Parkdale.
Who was she? Mazo de la Roche, who is the subject of our next Extraordinary Women event, presented by Back Lane Studios in partnership with the Revue. Filmmaker Maya Gallus will introduce her impressive documentary The Mystery of Mazo de la Roche, and discuss the author's life and work.
Director: Maya Gallus
Cast: Deborah Hay, Jordyn Negri, Severn Thompson
This event, part of the Extraordinary Women Series, is presented by Back Lane Studios as a fundraiser to support its video and photography programs for students and seniors.
General Admission: $15
Bronze Members, Seniors, and Students: $13
Silver Members: $12
Gold Members: FREE
Prices include taxes. Membership free event not applicable.
All advance tickets are available for $13 on Eventbrite.


text:
The cost of replacing an A/C depends on a number of factors, and different homes receive different estimates. This is because homes all have different cooling needs. Air conditioners and their cooling abilities can be varied. Typically, air conditioners are customized by size and priced...Read More
With a hot Chicagoland summer approaching, it's time to think about your A/C. Nobody likes having to blow their summer budget on ridiculously high energy bills, so it's useful to find ways to curb the cost of your home cooling system. A common--and important--question that homeowners often h...Read More
Today is March 17, and this marks the official start of the Four Seasons A/C Season! The weather has now been well above freezing for over a week, and though we may get one or two more cold snaps, the worst of the winter is behind us! It is now time to start turning our attention over to our air con...Read More
We only use our furnaces for a portion of the year. But did you know they never truly get a break? Air conditioning systems use furnace blower motors to move cool air through our ductwork. This means your furnace--and your furnace filter--is being used for the majority of the year even if you d...Read More


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UGG Neumel Split LogoBoys' Grade School
Product #: G054KBLK
Classy, cool, and comfy, the UGG Neumel Split Logo lets your grade-schoolers stay locked up in snugness through the day. Made with premium cow leather and textile upper, these shoes offer durable style and snugness through your boys' active days. Pairing perfectly with all their outfits, the UGG Neumel Split Logo adds spice to their seasonal rotation.
UGG Neumel Split Logo features:
- Polyester/recycled polyester binding gives added durability.
- Cotton laces provide a locked-in feel.
- UGGplush lining and sockliner offer added comfort.
- Rubberized graphic prints, UGG Tasman braid, and heat-embossed UGG logo add brand rep and style.
- EVA Treadlite outsole brings comfort and traction.
- Weight: 8.7 oz.


text:
This turned out to be the embedded file, and with the help of PDF StreamDumper it could be extracted. It turned out that it was an XML file, with JavaScript embedded in it. It had been compressed in the PDF.
More JavaScript is revealed with some Base64 encoded data. The interesting piece of the code here is this string concatenation below:
The first part sets a variable equal to "qmnfkyns" which is equal to "SUkqADggAACQAll". When that string is Base64-decoded we get the hex bytes 0x4949002a. These are the first four bytes of the file magic of a tiff image, in little-endian representation.
The JavaScript continues to build a TIFF image by appending base64-encoded to the end of these bytes. I followed along and built a segment of this TIFF image and using ClamAV identified the exploit :
$clamscan tiff-image
tiff-image: Exploit.CVE_2010_0188-1 FOUND
While the original article's claims of a 0-day attack didn't pan out, this PDF is still interesting, given the level of obfuscation used to hide the underlying attack: a Base64-encoded TIFF built with JavaScript that is hex encoded in more JavaScript that is embedded in an XML which is compressed inside a PDF. What's more interesting - at least from our perspective here on the VRT - is that our generic detection of embedded files within PDFs would have caught this in the wild. Though rules such as that will, by their very nature, have some false positives - there are legitimate reasons to embed files in PDFs - if you have the manpower to examine all of the alerts generic rules generate, you're likely to find plenty of malware that might otherwise go undetected.
Some additional info from Hendrik Adrian @unixfreaxjp shows that the image object is part of a widget and will be opened by the Flash Player via CVE 2011-0611. His detailed analysis is available here


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Beijing Wangfujing under blue skies
A Brief History of the Sino-Indian Border Dispute and the role of Tibet
On 3rd July 1914, as Ivan Chen made his way down the steps of the Summit Hall building in Simla, he must have been aware of mixed feelings rising up inside him. He had done something which would have far reaching repercussions; and which would for years be remembered by many people on both sides of the Sino-Indian border, albeit in very different ways – He had just left the Simla conference.
After refusing to sign the agreement himself, he was made to sit in a separate room, and behind his back, was signed one of the most controversial and bizarre treaties in human history – The Simla accord.
For over a century, the intricacies of the border between India and China/Tibet have baffled scholars. In fact, the plot leading to the Simla conference and beyond actually plays just like a thriller movie or book. The sheer complexity of this problem can be judged by the fact that 36 rounds of negotiations have taken place between India and China at different levels since 1981; but they have yet to reach a settlement.
Chinese Rock n' Roll!
We've done some posts on China and Taiwan music in the past, but those were about the general music scene. Today I'd like to feature two videos created by Brendan Madden, who lives in Qingdao, is a teacher and member of the band Dama Llamas, and keeps up with the scene in northern China. I'll also feature a few other bands you might not know, and some comments about where I think things are headed.
These two mini-documentaries show the trials and tribulations of trying to establish modern music venues in China. So far, the audience has too many non-Chinese expats along with too few locals, though locals form most of the bands themselves. Right now, Beijing is the hot spot in northern China with the most popular bands in the country. Outside of Beijing, legitimate venues are hard to come by and the money isn't very lucrative. In these places, rock n' roll comes strictly from the heart.
Iran & China: Is World Press Coverage Similar or Different?
Events of the last week in Iran have been widely reported by the world press. Not long before, the press also reported on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989. Were these two distinct events reported in a similar manner or were they treated as different and unique events? Let's take a look at each and see what we can find.
1) Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?
Based on the coverage I've seen, both governments were cast as being in the wrong and both protest movements as in the right. In the case of China, the government sent in tanks and used live ammunition to break up a protest movement that was alleged to have turned violent. Most of the reporters in the world press were located in or near the same area, and their reports reflected what occurred in that vicinity. Analyzes of this event in most cases pointed to the government as the culprit and the demonstrators as being victims and responding in a suitable fashion. Is this an accurate assessment? The Chinese government attempted to confiscate film of the event from foreign sources but those attempts were successfully evaded in most instances.
Blue Sky in Beijing
Last time I was in Beijing was two and half year ago. Beijing now is once again a very different city, the investment must have far exceeded $40 Billion.
The most impressive is the frequent return of blue sky in Fall Beijing, here is the evidence:
(Letter) Beijing Paralympics Opening Ceremony
China kicked off 2008 Paralympics on September 6 (h/t to CBC for covering it): Read more…
(Letter) Yang Peiyi and Lin Miaoke inside the Bird's Nest
Here's a photo of the two girls inside the Bird's Nest, which makes Times UK's "banned" reporting less reliable:
Beijing Welcomed You … so did you remember its song?
The Olympics are over (except for the Paralympics, that is) and people have trickled out of Beijing, but still in their heads and mine is probably this catchy (some say annoying) song that was sung by an ensemble of veritable who's-who in today's Chinese popular music world. Chinese people seem to really like this kind of qunxing (群星) or star-ensemble singing, where phrases are sung by their favorite stars.
Japanese athletes and spectators brace against booing in Beijing. Are they over-reacting?
How will Japanese athletes and their supporters be received during the Olympic Games in Beijing? Will they be booed by Chinese spectators? Will the Chinese show the propriety to stand up in respect when the Japanese national flag is raised and the Japanese national anthem played in the award-giving ceremonies?
From their past experiences in sports engagements with China, the Japanese are worried. How are they preparing themselves for possible slights and confrontations with the Chinese?
Do you think the spirit of hospitality in the Chinese governments' adivce on the 8 questions Chinese shuold not ask foreigners during the Olympics will help put our Japanese visitors at ease?
This article is from the Sankei website (original in Japanese). 北京五輪で日本人の気骨を, by 平和・安全保障研究所理事長, 西原正, Fujisankei Communications Group, Opinion Magazine, July 29, 2008. Read more…
(Letter from es.nautilus) Handling Olympic protests in Beijing – a 'test case'?
Four members of the activist group, Students for a Free Tibet, have staged a lamppost protest in Beijing, unfurling a banner that read, 'One World, One Dream – Free Tibet', as the Olympic torch relay entered its final stage in the host city on Wednesday 6 August. All four – two British and two American nationals, holding tourist visas – have been arrested and are currently in police custody. In their interviews with the BBC, parents of the two British protesters spoke of their pride and explained that they were otherwise not unduly concerned about their children's safety. They added that following the arrests the British students had made direct contact with their respective families, confirming that they had been treated well in custody. It is believed that they will now be entered into the deportation process within the coming days, whilst human rights campaign groups, including Students for a Free Tibet, have claimed further protests will follow in the weeks ahead. Read more…
Snapshots from Beijing
I've been in Beijing for a little over a week. While Western media seems mostly intent on investigating nail-houses and Internet access in the Olympic media center, I've been playing tourist. But because I've been to Beijing numerous times, no pictures of the Great Wall or Forbidden Palace. Here are a few stories from every-day life that caught my eye:
First, the first day of what I hope are numerous days of blue skies. This picture comes from Friday afternoon, looking at the Beijing railway station:
(Letter from xiaotaibei) Hospitality in China
A first-person account of a trip to Beijing: I'm pretty amazed by the hospitality in China, especially how it keeps getting better and better. It's not just the hospitality, it's all the little things of general people behavior.
Can the Chinese government let people have a good time?
Here is a article "Wild dogs of nationalism let off the leash" on Beijing 08 blogs of Sydney Morning Herald by award winning sports writer John Birmingham. The Article starts with
Picture a couple of Falun Gong dudes, or a Tibetan Monk sitting in a cell, waiting for the Games to finish so they can be executed and give up their organs for harvest. Read more…
Buxi is home – 7/25 update
Quick update… although we don't use this as our personal blog, this is a good time to mention I've just arrived in Beijing. Everyone in my family is fighting upper-respiratory infections (picked up in the US), and at times I wasn't sure we'd make the flight… but we're here.
(Letter from Brandon) The Butterfly Effect – How to Unite the Chinese
– written by Brandon
It has been the case for well over 2000 years that with a huge population and rich diversities in custom, cuisines, dialects, culture, religions, ethnicities, and political views, it's always a challenge for any Chinese government to unit its people. However, recent events provided the Central Empire another silver bullet in its arsenal to achieve just that, the butterfly effect.
It takes a real expert to explain the effect in details. The short and layman version is that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear. In other words, a small disturbance might have huge and unintended consequences somewhere and somehow.
Examining what happened since middle of March will better illustrate my point.


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POLL: 53% of Iowans support marriage equality.
Angels in America revival mounted off-Broadway, Zachary Quinto to star.
Well, this is one way to avoid paying a toll.
Openly gay conceptual artist and designer Tobias Wong takes his own life.
Boy Culture has a thorough report on Belinda Carlisle's Q&A with Sandra Bernhard at NYC's Barnes & Noble on the release of Carlisle's book, Lips Unsealed.
Nebraska Catholic groups blocking 'sexual orientation' anti-discrimination regulations at the Board of Psychology, the Mental Health Practice Board and the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Board.
Johnny Weir knows where to get a good sparkly headband.
PREVIEW: RuPaul returns with Drag U.
Rue McClanahan gets a memorial Facebook page.
White House hosts first-of-its-kind summit on Black men and HIV: "Doctors, activists and several key members of the Obama administration convened at the White House Wednesday to address AIDS and its relationship to African-American men. Called the "White House Meeting on Black Men and HIV," the event, an effort of both the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and the Office of Public Engagement, brought together 13 speakers over three panels to discuss how best to eradicate AIDS among African-American men, who as a group have by far the highest HIV infection rate in the nation."
Kellan Lutz is Da (wet) Man.
OUT reports on how a "slightly furry, pale and, well, sort of skinny man" was chosen to model in 42 Below's martini ads.
Sundance Digital Shorts presents Lizzy the Lezzy.
Progressive Baptist group supports "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal: "While a number of conservative Christian groups have argued lifting the ban would infringe on the religious liberty of chaplains who believe homosexuality is immoral, Chris Copeland of the Alliance of Baptists said it would 'benefit our current and future chaplains who desire to minister without prejudice to all military personnel.'"
Video: Watch that asteroid I mentioned yesterday crash into Jupiter.
Are cameras the new guns?
Torchwood comic book on the way.
Ed Westwick doesn't have a girlfriend, doesn't want one.
Pictory: NYC.
Pakistani gay-trans couple granted bail: "A local court on Thursday granted bail to a transvestite, Rani, and a local, Malik Iqbal, arrested because they were allegedly about to marry.
Police had arrested the couple on May 24 and they had been in police custody since. On Thursday, the court of additional sessions judge Tahir Mahmood granted the pair bail on two sureties bonds worth Rs 100,000 each.
Police had earlier arrested 45 people including 16 transvestites from the alleged wedding party from Dalazak Road."
Université de Franche-Comté in Besançon holding international confrence on homophobia and education.
Gays throw a classy debate for lieutenant governor in Nevada: "'We will be outdoors under the setting sun listening to music and enjoying a friendly game of Bocci Ball along with your very last chance to choose which Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor you'll be voting for,' the invitation states for the event at The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd.
In such a congenial setting it is hard to imagine candidates Jessica Sferrazza, Paul Murad, Robert Randazzo and Robert Goodman will want to shatter the mood with debate tactics as gauche as ugly personal attacks or accusatory 'gotcha' challenges."


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The time travel show we keep meaning to watch…
When a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, planning to use it to change past events to destroy America in the present, the only hope is a team of unexpected heroes composed of a scientist, a soldier and a history professor.
The trio must use the stolen machine's prototype to journey back in time to critical events, being careful not to affect history themselves, while working to stay one step ahead of the villain who would unravel the timeline and understand the mystery driving his mission before it's too late.
The show was canceled after one season but 3 days later was resurrected. Sadly, was canceled again after season two. On a cliffhanger. NBC consented to give a 2-episode finale wrap up in lieu of a full season three, but we'll take what we can get.
Queer Plotline Timeline
While Denise is a main character, she's not the main character, and as such only gets an episode a season to shine. Still, she's there being a successful gay the whole time.
Notable Queer-Centric Episodes
- Season 1, Episode 10 "The Capture of Benedict Arnold" – Facing a situation where time might be re-written and erase her family, Denise invited Lucy over to meet the wife and kids, so if that happened, Lucy could remind Denise and they could correct history and bring them back.
- Season 2, Episode 8 "The Day Reagan was Shot" – The whole episode revolves around Rittenhouse trying to ensure Denise never joins Homeland (and thus never makes the team). This doesn't happen, as Lucy and Jiya make sure Denise knows it'll get better, prompting her to come out to her family.
There are 2 queer characters listed for this show; none are dead.


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Commonly known as heartburn and acid reflux disease, this illness is due to damage of the esophageal mucous membrane and the esophageal sphincter. Damage occurs when stomach acid reaches the lower part of the esophagus.
Under normal conditions, the esophageal sphincter opens to allow food and drink to enter the stomach but closes right after to prevent stomach acid from affecting the tissue above. In GERD, however, the closing action is temporarily incomplete, allowing acid to reach unprotected tissue and cause damage.
Rated 3.3 / 5 (How Ratings Work)
Likely probability of the efficacy of cannabis for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (gerd).
Based on 3 Studies from 1996 - 2016
Study Name, Description & Year
Gastric Acid Inhibitory And Gastric Protective Effects Of Cannabis And Cannabinoids
Meta-analysis — 2016
Effect Of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, A Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist, On The Triggering Of Transient Lower Oesophageal Sphincter Relaxations In Dogs And Humans
No description — 2009
Gastric Cytoprotection Of The Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Sesquiterpene, Beta-caryophyllene.
Animal study (rats) — 1996


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Hey All!
Hope you all are having a fantastic week! Sorry for the lack of posts this week, but the weather is so beautiful and the kids and I have been doing our best to enjoy it!
I thought I would tell you guys all about a fantastic contest that you should all enter - my super talented friend (and family photographer) Alana, of Alana Joy Photography is having a draw for a FREE photo session!
The session could be a newborn, maternity, family, grad, or just "hey take some pics of me because I won this awesome contest" photo shoot!
How do you enter? Well it is really quite simple….do any of the below and you will get an entry into the giveaway. The more you do, the better your chances of winning.
Leave a comment below on Alana's blog = 1 entry
Go to her Facebook page here and hit the "like" button = 1 entry
Share this post either on your Facebook or Blog and let me know = 1 entry
(yes you will get 2 entries if you share on your Facebook and blog)
You may enter until July 21, 2012 and then the winner will be chosen via Random.org.
**This giveaway is open to BC residents only and the session must take place somewhere in the lower mainland before the end of 2012. All portrait session rules apply. This giveaway has no cash value.
Please visit Alana's site, she's awesome and takes beautiful photos!! Good luck in the contest!!


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Charlotte's Web Holdings' New Hemp Patent Could Be a Game Changer
It was recently discovered that Charlotte's Web Holdings (CWBHF) has been awarded what appears to be the first U.S. patent for a hemp strain, according to US Patent and Trademark Office filings.
A report from Leafly noted that the related "documents describe CW2A as a hardy plant, resistant to cold and capable of producing up to 6.24% CBD and only 0.27% THC."
In the fast-growing CBD market, a patent like this could be a huge competitive advantage for Charlotte's Web.
The patent itself
The first thing to understand about this patent is it's a plant patent, not what is identified as a utility patent. That means the patent held by Charlotte's Web gives it legal protection from a competitor growing that specific cultivar from a clone.
Charlotte's Web may have also been awarded a Utility patent as well, but that isn't available to the public until after a waiting period of 18 months. The basic difference between the two is a Utility patent also covers seeds and the various chemical compositions of the plant. A Utility patent gives a plant a wider range of protections.
As for the characteristics of the plant itself, it would yield a significant amount of dry weight CBD which would be then extracted and sold to consumers. It also appears to have the ability to be grown in a number of different environments, providing more flexibility on the production side of the equation.
With a number of U.S. hemp farmers struggling at times to keep their hemp from getting hot, which means from exceeding the legal 0.3% THC threshold, the low amount of THC in CW2A would provide a wide margin of safety.
Keep in mind that this is a hemp patent, not a cannabis patent. There have been a number of cannabis patents that have been applied for and approved of.
The difference between hemp and cannabis isn't botanical, but legal. Hemp is identified legally as having no more than 0.3% THC in it.
Significance of the patent
I've been saying for some time the long-term profitability in the cannabis sector is going to eventually come to those companies that are able to develop various strains or research-backed characteristics that differentiate themselves from competitors.
In the short term recreational pot will continue to be the biggest generator or revenue, but CBD and medical pot are eventually going to be the products that generate the widest margins and strongest earnings.
As for this hemp patent and Charlotte's Web, this could be a huge competitive advantage for the company. It's interesting that the company didn't tout the patent, which suggests to me it either is waiting for a Utility patent to be revealed, or for those of us that discover it and report on its potential.
With the well-known Charlotte's Web strain, and the Stanley brothers adding a hemp patent to their arsenal, it could be a tremendous branding and marketing opportunity for the company, which could be more important than the hemp patent and the accompanying positive characteristics.
The Stanley brothers, the founders and operators of Charlotte's Web Holdings, are excellent at branding and marketing. It's easy to see how they could leverage this to take a commanding lead in the CBD market.
That's why it's puzzling as to why they didn't go public with their achievement. It's also why I think there's more to come, by which I mean a potential Utility patent to be revealed.
Now that the cat is out of the bag, I wouldn't be surprised to see some branding and marketing movement on this front.
Whatever the timing ends up being, it's apparent the company has taken a lead on its competitors, and if consumers perceive the brand to be superior to other brands, it will be a moat that the company can defend; it would win a lot of market share in the current CBD commodity market.
Consensus Verdict
The cannabis player stands as a 'Strong Buy' name among Wall Street analysts. In the last three months, Charlotte's Web has won three bullish recommendations. With a return potential of close to 40%, the stock's consensus price target lands at $23.17.
There are several things to like about the hemp patent. It adds another arrow to the branding and marketing quiver of Charlotte's Web; provides a quality product that should result in higher extraction of CBD and the ability to grow under various conditions; and most importantly, should allow the company to leverage products derived from the strain to be differentiated from competitors.
With the proven branding and marketing expertise of management, this could be a significant step into winning market share in the CBD market, which is projected to quickly grow into a double-figure multi-billion dollar market.
This is going to be a big growth catalyst for the company if the traits listed in the hemp patent are proven to be consistently accurate, and consumers consider it to be a better product than other CBD offerings.
This hot cannabis stock is also resonating with investors, with individual portfolios in the TipRanks database showing a net increase in Charlotte's Web.


text: Beginning with the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa and panning out to the other corners of the continent, this dramatic video showcases Africa's immeasurable beauty. The four-minute film, presented by Rhino Africa Safaris, took three years to make and is captured entirely by drone, offering birds-eye views of wildlife, waterfalls, and even ziplines through lush, green forests. If you have yet to consider a trip to Africa for yourself, you should, and you can consider this video proof to exactly why.


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One of the important considerations when selecting flowers to give for a particular occasion is whether the flowers are in season and in bloom. When a specific flower or plant is in season, they are plentiful and therefore less expensive. Even better, these flowers are at their peak of freshness, meaning longer lasting blooms at their most beautiful and vibrant . Because of this, opting for flowers that are in bloom is always a smart choice if you're looking to brighten someone's day. So which flowers are in bloom in Autumn?
The crocus is a very popular bulb during the Autumn months. During the Fall, their bright white, red, pink or purplish-blue flowers sprout out, providing much-needed color to any garden or flower arrangement. Because Crocus colors and shape stand out, yet have shorter stems, the crocus flower is perfect for low and compact floral designs featured in a low cube or cylinder vase.
Considered by many as among the most elegant flowers out there, the Gladiolus is one of the most stunning flowers in bloom during the Fall months. They come in many gorgeous colors such as white, red, yellow, pink, coral, green and a rich deep, dark purple. The Gladiolus flowers open wide, perfectly complemented with tall stems that curve at a lovely angle. Even better, these flowers are exceptionally fragrant. Gladiolus is an absolute treat for the senses.
Lavender is popular all year round flower due to its ease in drying. However, this flower is at its absolute best during the months of Autumn. It can grow tall stems that hold long clusters of fragrant flowers. Its light purple color is also very distinctive, and can stand out in just about any garden or flower arrangement. Lavender is a wonderfully scented flower in bloom during Autumn that is hard to miss.
The Chrysanthemum is considered by many as their favorite Autumn flower. Also known simply as Mums, its flowers can be found in many vibrant colors. However, it is most commonly seen in shades of white, lavender, purple, red, orange, and yellow. There are also multiple forms of this flower. Mums come in many shapes and styles…there are Daisy's with their yellow/green centers, Button Mums that are small and compact like a button, Cushion Mums which have multiple sprays of petals and Fuji Mums or also called Spider Mums that have many spiky petals shooting forth from the center. With its positive and cheerful vibes, the Chrysanthemum flower, in all of its shapes and forms, is the perfect flower during Fall.
Also known as the coneflower, Echinacea is a very popular flower in bloom during the Fall season. Growing from perennials that stay in bloom almost the whole year round, its flowers open wide, providing brightness to any garden or flower arrangement. Its flowers are usually pink or purple, with both its petals and center standing out effortlessly.
Are you looking for flowers for that special occasion? Fiesta Flowers have a complete list of flowers that are in bloom during the Autumn season. Our professional team of Florists can design the most stunning array of bouquets for any purpose. Check out our Autumn category on our website today!


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A Brief History of the Marques
There were two Atlantic marques built in Germany in the 1920s, possibly concurrently. There was also the Atlantis.
ATLANTIC (Berlin)
1924-1926 Atlantic Automotive AG, Berlin
The Berlin Atlantic built in Berlin was a forerunner of Bastert-Einspurautos of the 1950s and was made from 1921 to 1926. The Atlantic was powered by a BMW M2B15 engine and was based on the Mauser Einspurauto. The Atlantic corporation promoted the Einspurwagen with the slogan: "The smallest and cheapest car in the world, reliable and solid." Production ceased in 1926.
ATLANTIC (Brackwede)
1923-1924 Fahrzeugfabrik Atlantic, Stapelage Meyer & Sons, Brackwede
Theodor Meyer Stapelage and his sons founded in late 1923 in Brackwede Atlantic and the vehicle factory set forth light motorcycles fitted with four-stroke engines. Records indicate some 200 models were built with 1.5 hp engines and the 250 with 2.5hp engines. All models had belt drive. In November 1924 the firm became insolvent.
Atlantik (Bamberg) - 173cc twostroke from Germany, 1925 to 1926.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, Henshaw, et al.
If you have a query about an Atlantic motorcycle please contact us


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OURAY — Without a doubt, Red Mountain Pass has a notorious reputation for being one of Colorado's most difficult and dangerous mountain passes to drive over.
At 11,018 ft. in elevation, the pass connects Silverton and Ouray.
"[It's] infamous because of cliff drop-offs, no guardrails, but it's also incredibly beautiful! It is so gorgeous!" said Kat Papenbrock, the Executive Director of the Ouray Tourism Office.
Papenbrock is correct. The beauty up there is unmatched. A portion of U.S. 550 on the pass called, 'The Million Dollar Highway,' is known for its million dollar views.
According to C-DOT, the average daily traffic at the summit of Red Mountain Pass is 2,100 vehicles.
Despite its dangerous reputation, the Ouray Tourism Office just received a huge award for the 'Million Dollar Highway' from the popular travel company, 'Arrivalist'.
"Turned out that the Million Dollar Highway was the big surprise for most visited attraction!" Papenbrock said. "We beat out the Denver Zoo, the Botanic Gardens, the Museum of Nature and Science and even Red Rocks".
Granted accidents do happen on the pass from time to time and it is prone to avalanches, Papenbrock said it's safer than most people think.
"I'd say probably driving on I-25 outside of Denver is probably more dangerous on a daily basis than driving Red Mountain Pass or the Million Dollar Highway," Papenbrock said with a laugh.
The award from 'Arrivalist' is currently on display at the visitor's center in Ouray.
Colorado is home to 35 accessible Mountain Passes, according to C-DOT.


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NAB 2012: Adobe AfterEffects CS6
After the long wait, Adobe showed NAB what to expect out of the new CS6 AfterEffects. Many believe it will prove to be their best
NAB 2012: Interview with Andrew Kramer from Video Copilot
While in Vegas at NAB, we had a chance to chat with the founder of Video Copilot and well respected motion graphics guru Andrew Kramer.
This seems to be the year of 4K at NAB, and Canon followed suite with the release of a 4K capable DSLR camera that will
NAB 2012: IKAN Gear, Bags, Rigs, and Much More
Ikan has proven itself to be a great resource for the small item needs of the filmmaker. This year at NAB, they released some great
NAB 2012: Kupo Grip Gear & Viztool's HandiZoom up close
The great thing about NAB is the ability to find products you didn't know existed. Kupo proved to be an innovated company with some gear that
NAB 2012: Atomos – Ninja 2
Atomos releases the new Ninja 2 mobile recorder. Those who are familiar with this product line know that the Ninja was an affordable solution. This
NAB 2012: JVC Releases 4K Camera & New 600 Series Camera
JVC, just like many other manufacturers, has released a new 4K camera here at NAB 2012 that is more compact in design than other cameras.
NAB 2012: JAG35 & D|Focus Releasing a Ton of New Gear
This year, JAG35 has released a version II of last year's remote follow focus, showed off some new rig systems – including every type of
NAB 2012: Panasonic – Solid State Storage, HPX 600, and Vericam 4K
Jan Critterden shows us what's up their sleeve, and it's Vari cool
NAB 2012: BlackMagic Design 2.5K RAW 13 stop Cinema Camera for $3K
Dan May from BlackMagic Design introduces and walks us through one of the most talked about cameras at NAB 2012, a 2.5K, 13 stop, selectable


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EDITOR'S NOTE: Two events cited here were postponed in advance of Hurricane Irma. The Members Council on Library Services Quarterly Meeting set for September has been rescheduled for Nov. 1 as a virtual meeting. The Florida OER Summit, also originally planned for September, is to be rescheduled.
Another summer break has gone by all too quickly, and we're now at the beginning of a new fall semester. I hope that all of you had a chance to get some much needed – and much deserved – time away for rest and relaxation. Here at FALSC, we've spent the summer working on a variety of projects that will hopefully help make your fall semester a success.
In thinking of fall semesters, I remember the fall semester of 1990, when I paid $65 for a new copy of the textbook for a World Civilizations I course. I was pretty happy to learn that the textbook would also be used for World Civilizations II in the next semester, which meant that I could stretch my meager funds a little further. I also remember that the book was huge, that I enjoyed reading it, and that by then end of World Civ II, we had read the entire book.
A great deal has changed since 1990 in the world of college textbooks.
In August 2015, NBC News reported that the cost of college textbooks had risen 1,041 percent since 1977. In a 2014 report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, researchers found that 65 percent of college students chose not to purchase at least one required textbook because of the high cost. Of those students, 94 percent also acknowledged that not purchasing the textbook would likely have a negative impact on their grade for the course. Nearly half of all college students have chosen either not to take a specific course or to limit the number of courses taken in a semester because of the high cost of college textbooks.
Those of us who work in academic libraries often associate textbooks more with the college bookstore than with the library. On some campuses, the library might have some copies of textbooks on reserve, but we generally don't think of college textbooks as within the purview of the library. However, it's time for us to rethink the library's role in supporting student success through low-cost or no-cost textbooks and supporting materials.
The conversation about the high cost of commercial textbooks and ancillary materials, and the resulting impact of that cost on student success and completion rates, has been growing louder over the past several years. Textbook affordability and the use of open educational resources (OER) will be high priorities for colleges and universities over the next several years, and I believe that our academic libraries are uniquely situated to take a leadership role in this area.
Over the next few months, you can expect to see additional support from FALSC in the area of textbook affordability and OER. In September, several FALSC staff will be attending the first-ever Florida OER Summit, at which attendees will learn more about the many ways to support student success through textbook affordability initiatives. At the September meeting of the Members Council on Library Services, our keynote speaker will be Jeff Gallant, program manager for Affordable Learning Georgia. Affordable Learning Georgia is an initiative of the University System of Georgia that is managed by GALILEO, Georgia's library consortium. Over the past four years, ALG has had an amazing impact on student success in Georgia, and the college and university libraries in the USG have been central to this success.
Academic libraries face many challenges, not the least of which is the pressure to constantly reinvent ourselves and reinvigorate the services that we offer to our students. By taking a leadership role in the area of textbook affordability and support for OER, we have an opportunity to reshape the perceptions of our libraries and to put a spotlight on yet another way that our libraries are essential to student success at each of our institutions. It is my goal for FALSC to play a key role in that process by providing resources, services, and training to enhance this work at all of our member libraries.
Here's to another successful fall semester!
– ELIJAH SCOTT, Executive Director, Florida Academic Library Services Cooperative
Governance and Advisory Processes
MCLS Executive Committee – Aug. 16
The Executive Committee of the Members Council on Library Services met by conference call on Aug. 16 with new MCLS Chair Kathleen Miller, Dean of the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Library, presiding. The committee:
- Agreed to adopt a "consent agenda" format for MCLS meetings, which is expected to speed up the approval process for items that do not require discussion.
- Heard an update on standing committee applications, 26 of which had been received for two new and two existing committees by Aug. 16, two days ahead of the Aug. 18 application deadline.
- Reviewed and approved a request to expand the charge of the Collection Management and E-Resources Standing Committee (CMESC) to include the responsibility to "periodically review guidelines and processes relating to e-resources procurement."
- Heard updates on the Sierra/Encore Duet Implementation, efforts toward formulating a legislative budget request (LBR) centered on textbook affordability and open educational resources, and FALSC's hiring efforts.
- Discussed future meeting topics and dates.
The Executive Committee meets next on Sept. 20.
Find agendas and minutes for past Executive Committee and MCLS meetings here.
Sierra/Encore Duet Implementation
A NOTE ON WIKI ACCESS: Many items in this section refer readers to wikis for more information. Since there is proprietary information on the wikis, a generic password is required to view content. Access is available to staff at Florida's public higher-education institutions. Please contact your local ILS Coordinator or the Help Desk, email@example.com or (877) 506-2210 (toll free), to request login information.
Project Status and Next Steps
Library and technology staff from the Florida Academic Library Services Cooperative (FALSC), Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), system vendor Innovative Interfaces, and the colleges and universities are moving ahead on development and testing for the implementation, which is scheduled for Go Live in July 2018.
The reloading of millions of records onto our Sierra Production server will wrap up Sept. 30, opening the way for extensive system testing with fresh data in October. This will be the final, crucial stretch for testing before the new ILS undergoes an executive review and approval process in December. FALSC, FLVC, and the Working Groups will kick into high gear for testing with the newly loaded data, and library staff are invited to pitch in, test-driving their own data and processes on the Production server during October.
A detailed October Testing Plan, with a checklist and workflow structure test scripts, will be emailed in mid-September to members of the ILS Working Groups and to participating FALSC and FLVC staff. The formal testing program is expected to require a substantial time investment over several weeks, and we thank Working Group members for their commitment to the process.
At this time, the Production server is unavailable for data manipulation and workflow testing through Sept. 30 as data is reloaded. Data manipulation and workflow testing continue on the Test and Training servers. We are using version 3.2 of the Sierra software and version 4.6.2 of the discovery tool, Encore Duet. A new version of the Sierra software, 3.3 Beta, will be installed on Test on Aug. 30. Check server status at any time on the project wiki.
Other recent work on the project includes:
- Ongoing creation of staff user accounts by FALSC, pending the return of user-information spreadsheets from the institutions
- Continued discussions with Innovative and the libraries for Authentication setup
- Patron data migration and ongoing patron loads meetings with Innovative
- Continued discussions with Innovative on necessary requirements for OAI-PMH Harvesting
Overall, system provider Innovative Interfaces is making good progress on our list of identified issues, and a majority have been resolved. Development work is ongoing.
For more details on current project status, please see the late August/September edition of the Sierra/Encore Duet Implementation Update newsletter here or on FALSC.org, or visit the project wiki.
Opportunities for Participation
Put that training to work now: Library staff who have been through in-person training can review data and practice workflows on Sierra Test.
Pitch in for October Testing: After Sept. 30, staff who have been trained on Sierra can access the Production server to review, test, and customize local loan policies, review records, and customize templates and other functions in the new system. To learn what others are finding and report what you see, please join one of the eight ILS Discussion Groups focused on various areas of the new system. A dedicated mechanism for reporting issues may be established later this fall.
Brush up on the new system: There is no active in-person training at the moment, and won't be until refresher classes start in Spring 2018. However, that doesn't mean training isn't available. Library staffers can review a wealth of materials on the Training Tracks wiki.
Staying Informed
There are many paths for finding more information about the ILS project:
- The Sierra/Encore Duet Implementation Wiki, which includes links to training recordings and to wikis for the Working Groups, Implementation Team, ILS Coordinators, and ILS IT Contacts
- The monthly Sierra/Encore Duet Implementation Update newsletter, which is sent via Listservs to all library staff and posted on this website
- This website's ILS Implementation section, including Information Technology pages intended to help library staff communicate with institutions' IT departments.
Other Library Projects
Open Educational Resources
Making higher education more affordable through the use of open textbooks and open educational resources is one of FLVC and FALSC's legislatively mandated goals, and we're happy to report that our state's OER efforts are picking up steam.
Following on FALSC Executive Director Elijah Scott's essay above, here's a summary of some OER-related events and developments of interest to our library community.
Florida OER Summit: On Sept. 7-8, we look forward to seeing university and college staff from across the state at the first-ever Florida OER Summit, in Daytona Beach. The event will feature Dr. Cable Green, Director of Open Education at Creative Commons, and other national and campus leaders involved in driving and defining OER strategy and initiatives. There's even a presentation focused on our favorite institution: "The Library Role in Supporting OER." To learn more or register for the summit, go to https://www.flvc.org/oersummit.
MCLS keynote speaker: On Sept. 13, Jeff Gallant, Program Manager of Affordable Learning Georgia, will be the keynote speaker for the Members Council on Library Services meeting at New College of Florida, Sarasota. Jeff will talk to the group about open educational resources and Affordable Learning Georgia, a University System of Georgia (USG) initiative focused on promoting student success by providing affordable textbook alternatives. Affordable Learning Georgia acts as a "one-stop service to help USG faculty and staff identify lower-cost, electronic, free, and open educational resources (OER), building on the cost-effective subscription resources provided by GALILEO and the USG libraries," its website explains, and is a California State University-MERLOT partner benefit service.
New standing committee: The MCLS is currently establishing a Textbook Affordability and OER Standing Committee (TAOSC), with committee members to be announced soon. The TAOSC will:
- Assist and advise the MCLS regarding creation, development, adoption, and use of affordable textbooks and OER in Florida's public colleges and universities.
- Collaborate with the Digital Initiatives Standing Committee (DISC) and Collection Management and E-resources Standing Committee (CMESC) to use existing digital platforms, initiatives, and e-resources collections in support of textbook affordability and OER.
- Identify and share current trends and best practices in textbook affordability and OER, with an emphasis on the role of the academic library.
- Provide recommendations to the MCSL for resources and activities to support textbook affordability and OER initiatives in all FLVC libraries.
- Provide regular reports to the MCLS.
Focused leadership: At FALSC, we plan on hiring a Director of Digital Services and Open Educational Resources this fall. Applications and nominations are being accepted now, with preference given to those received by Sept. 15. To learn more, please see the job Profile.
For our 2018 statewide collection of e-resources, FALSC staff have been requesting pricing from vendors for our renewals. As usual, we are requesting that vendors hold our renewal pricing flat for 2018, in light of our unchanged statewide allocation. We hope to have a complete picture of the budget and pricing in time for the Members Council meeting in September, in order to finalize the collection for 2018.
FALSC's annual Group Licensing Process is gearing up for 2018. In this process, FALSC will act as agent on behalf of institutions wishing to join a shared license, using local funds, in order to take advantage of group participation discounts and single invoicing. A webinar for liaisons was held Aug. 23 and 24, in order to provide an understanding of the process, the timeline, and the responsibilities and expectations of FALSC and the participating institutions. A survey of interest will be distributed Sept. 1. We look forward to another successful collaborative licensing effort this year.
FALSC licensing staff are pursuing license agreements with Cambridge, Oxford, and SAGE, all of which are up for renewal in 2018. We will be working with participating institutions throughout the rest of the summer and fall on title lists, cost and terms.
Staff from several institutions delivered a Talking Tech on Aug. 29, on Making Sense of E-Resources Usage Statistics. Athena Hoeppner (UCF), Pamela Herring (UCF Health Sciences Library), Shelly Schmucker (Tallahassee Community College) and Scott Schmucker (FALSC) presented on the challenges of gathering accurate usage statistics and using this data to support collection decisions. The session was well attended and generated much useful discussion. A recording is available on our FLVCLearn site.
Centralized Data Loads, Extracts, and Reports
SUS Aleph record counts for August are complete.
July monthly FCS reports have been released.
Ad hoc reports for various institutions were prepared on:
- List of print materials published before 1923
- Holdings records with no items for several institutions
- Deleted "ghost" item records for several institutions
- Report of items with no loans in specific call number ranges
- Updated Arrow reports with drop down for fiscal year (to include FY 2018)
- Report of items that are tagged as Dewey call numbers that aren't
- Report of number of loans for past 3 years for 9 campuses and 51 call number ranges
- Report of circulation for DVD material types with specific item statuses
- Report of unique titles to 3 specific collections compared to the rest of the institution
- Report of titles in a specific collection AND in FLARE
- Report of HOL with active items for several institutions
- Report of HOL with all items "withdrawn"
- Report of items in a sublibrary with a specific note; then deleted that note (which we had added for all the items in that location in October 2009)
- Report of titles returned not on loan for last FY
- Report of items returned for last FY
- List of ISBN for all records at an institution
- Report of textbooks on reserve and the associated course
- Report of number of intra-campus loans for the past 3 years
In addition, FALSC wrote a new shell script to automate running an SQL report of no circulation for three years. This report needed to run 51 times (call number range) and for each of MDC's nine campuses, which is a total of 459 reports.
Recent data loading and extracting projects include:
- Periodic loads:
- August loads: SUS GPO and Serials Solutions e books
- MARCit! load for August for USF
- Serial Solutions for August for FIU and FAMU
- Transitioning FGCU, UF & FSU from Serial Solutions to EBSCO for ejournals -- not complete
- LC authority loads complete through 1732
- Periodic subscription loads:
- PDA Updates: Safari, Rittenhouse
- New PDA plans for UCF Cambridge -- not complete
- Genload profiles were created for USF Alexander Street performance videos, USF Alexander Street Scores and FGCU McGraw-Hill: the FA Davis PT Collection
- RapidILL eJournal updates for August done for FAMU, FAU, FGCU, New College, UCF, UF and USF
- FSU extract of BIB, Item, and limited Circ data for OCLC's Sustainable Collection Services – for Eastern Academic Scholars' Trust participation
- Genload profiles for FAU Digitalia Hispanica
In other work:
- SUS Coutts PDA Wrap-up: Coutts provided a final list of purchased titles for the shared SUS PDA plan that ended in January, but did not provide bib records for all purchased titles. FALSC identified 428 missing bibs. ProQuest, which has purchased Coutts, provided the missing records. As of Aug. 15, records for all 1804 titles purchased on the plan have been loaded into UXU01, and the remaining discovery records have been deleted from PDA01. This wraps up the shared SUS PDA plan with Coutts.
- Modified LAPS code to email all colleges when loading Statewide FMG files.
- Added Sage trial database stanza for FCS statewide.
- Updated Sage Publications database stanza for FCS statewide.
- Working with UF to add three new UBorrow pickup locations for Sept. 1 launch. – in
Digital Services
- Progress continues on the Florida Islandora Institutional Repository Transformation (FLIIRT) project. FLIIRT builds on Islandora and includes extra tools for better presenting and representing faculty and student research. For institutions new to Islandora, basic tools for uploading PDFs and sharing out metadata are already available today on all sites. In August 2017, some features related to FLIIRT development were enabled on FSU and FAU's production sites, and full functionality was enabled on Broward College's test site.
- New statistics are available through Islandora. Download and view counts were incorporated into the display of PDFs in all Islandora sites. For site administrators, a limited dashboard of view counts for all items in a collection is available for each collection from the collection's "Manage" tab. Development is available for viewing on the test sites to show download and view counts for various formats of content. FALSC is collecting feedback on these statistics displays, and libraries are encouraged to share feedback on the ISG listserv, http://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?A0=FLVC-FL-ISLANDORA .
- FLVC has begun development related to how deletions work on Islandora sites. Currently, once an item is deleted on an Islandora site, the item is completely gone. New development will keep deleted items in a holding area for a set amount of time. Ultimately, the goal is to allow Islandora sites to provide information about tombstones via OAI-PMH feeds, which will allow better integration with the coming discovery tool, Encore, and to allow roll backs in case of accidental deletions. At this time, tombstones and roll backs of deletions are not supported on Islandora sites.
Florida OJ:
- In July 2017, OAI-PMH was disabled on Florida OJ because of an inefficient query related to the OAI-PMH repository functionality in the software. A code fix has been tested on the Florida OJ development server, and is ready to move through to the test and production servers. It is anticipated that OAI-PMH functionality will be available again on the site in September 2017.
Florida Digital Archive:
- The storage disk refresh project is nearing completion. This involves copying all disk archival masters to new storage hardware and includes as set of checks to ensure that all migrated copies are correct and complete.
Professional development:
- FALSC E-Resources Coordinator Amanda Yesilbas has successfully completed all requirements for a Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Certificate from the Society of American Archivists (SAA).
We Want Your News!
We'd like to make FALSC.org a prime source for news on the libraries and library staff of Florida's public colleges and universities. To that end, please email us your items! No need to write a whole article – short news tips are fine. We would appreciate information on hires, promotions, presentations, publications, awards, notable library initiatives and events, renovations and building projects, and other items of interest that you would like to share.
Staff Update
We are sad to report that Help Desk Analyst Christine Freeland is leaving FLVC after three and a half years. Christine plans to return to the Virgin Islands to be closer to family, and will pursue other interests. Her last day on the Help Desk is Sept. 15.
We will be hiring for Christine's position this fall. FALSC is now in the process of hiring a Library Services Analyst in the Gainesville office, and we hope to have a person in place soon.
Three FALSC leadership positions also are open. If you'd like to apply or make a nomination, please do! The preferred date for applications and nominations for the three jobs has been extended from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15. For more information, visit the website of search firm Myers McRae:
- Director of Library Support and Training
- Director of Digital Services and Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Director of E-Resources
Upcoming Events
The Members Council on Library Services will meet Sept. 13-14 at New College of Florida, Sarasota, and Dec. 7-8 at FLVC headquarters, Tallahassee.
See Previous Updates


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Looks like someone has a new favorite spot.
Freshly painted fabric, smart boy.
I have had this sofa/settee for about 7 years. I lent it to an artist friend when he was here, then it went into storage. Then it came to a shed. Then it went into the gallery.
And now, it's gotten a makeover.
You see, I love old fabric, and often gasp when people paint their fabric. But in person, the fabric below just seemed dingy and out of place in all my rooms...
The wood was super dry, and it really needed an overhaul.
I didn't want to have it re-upholstered.
So, on the 4th of July I decided that very soon, I was going to paint it.
I did it in a couple of hours last Thursday.
I have painted fabric chairs and such many times, so I wasn't afraid to just slather paint on this piece.
The after, looks like this...
I wasn't careful, or proper or cautious.
I wasn't going for a particular look. I just was simply sick of the old fabric.
I am pleasantly surprised at the painted fabric.
Here is an up-close photo below.
It is firm, but in a good way.
When you sit on it, it feels good and pliable.
And, bonus, it wipes up paw prints with windex and a paper towel.
It sort of feels like, leather or pleather or oil cloth.
But more leather than plastic.
(It was so hard for me not to doodle and sketch on the fresh white)
Once (18 years ago), I painted a bunch of kitchen seats in fabric paint. It worked great, and when I got sick of that look, I used plain old acrylic.
So, I tried it again on the sofa.
I covered the wood in blue tape first.
Then -
I took a paint brush and #987 Wicker White acrylic paint by Folk Art, and squirted it all over the sofa fabric. Then I just slathered it all around with my brush.
Once that had dried, I used my go to house paint for a second coat. I only did this because I was out of the Folk Art paint, and didn't feel like going out to buy more.
The latex house paint worked great.
This is the same paint that is on my floors and walls all over the country house.
It is Benjamin Moore Regal, in Super White, N310 02.
I use it in my house in satin or pearl on the walls, and glossy on the floors.
It worked great as a second coat on the sofa.
I used the little gold tube of #707 Rich Gold hue by Daler-Rowney on the wood.
I didn't fully cover the wood with gold, but instead brushed a thin coat all over. This took away the dry wood feel.
So, that's that.
We are happy :)
Keep in mind...
There are lots of tips all over the internet for painting fabric, including using Delta Ceramcoat Textile medium, which I have used before. It allows for a softer feel, and dries flexible.
Here is a wonderful example online, you must see. Although, I sorta love the fabric before, in that delicious sea foam green. But it does look great painted too. The gal did an amazing job.
So, that's the topic of painted fabric for the day.
As for garden chatter...
The dahlia flowers are waking up.
Last year I planted one tuber and loved it all summer.
So this year, I ordered 8 more tubers from Holland, and planted them in very early spring.
This week, they are blooming.
The super tall one in the photo below is last year's gal. I protected the ground where she was planted over winter by putting a metal ring around where the tuber was planted, and then put foil over that, which stayed in place all winter.
It worked, the tallest dinner-plate dahlia is back with a vengeance, hooray!
And, it has a bevy of new friends too.
Below is the one I planted last year, today.
The blooms get a little bigger over summer.
Just amazing isn't it?
Plant, water, voila...
I put them in bottles and gave them to my neighbor.
What's the point in growing them if you don't share them, I say.
We have also had some delicious fresh eats the last few days.
More pesto.
Green beans...
A little olive oil, garlic, beans, heat, balsamic, salt, cook, eat - yumm!
The good news, I have crawled in tomato vines, and no horrid relapse.
(I also ate some garden parsley, nada, fine as can be, hooray!)
I am extra enjoying the garden, and have taken back all my garden chores over the last couple weeks, so Lovee can do other things.
The tiny tomatoes are so delicious.
I was always a tomato hater.
Hated tomato sauce, tomato everything.
That is until a few years ago I started growing my own tomatoes.
The flavor floored me.
These below taste like tomato soup.
I collect a few for dinner every night.
A little basil, a little arugula...
Pesto and french bread, and fresh tomatoes off the vine, oh my!
I also made an experimental dish below, which is now a fave.
I never use recipes, just a dash of this and that.
Using a dutch on the stove, I put in olive oil, chopped raw chicken, and sweet onions.
If you put in garlic and onions before your chicken or vegetables you get a heavier smokier taste, I find at least.
So, in this case, pop your onions and chicken in at the same time, for a lighter flavor.
After the chicken was half-way cooked, I put in some chopped mushrooms.
(And of course, season to your liking)
While the chicken was cooking, I made farfalle pasta, a coated it with pesto after it was cooked and drained.
Once the chicken was cooked, I put in chopped arugula from the garden, tossed and turned off the flame, and closed the lid.
As I served each plate I first put in the pesto pasta, then some chicken mixture on top, and sprinkled fresh cherry tomatoes (halved, on that).
And, there you have it.
Experimental cooking with me.
It was sooooo ridiculously good, and I don't usually like pasta.
Okay, have so much to do.
Do you love Monday?
I am not sure how I feel about Monday.
Looove, V
ps: For pointless fun, we should try to name all the songs that have the word Monday in them...


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The Town of Paris Fire & Rescue Department is a combination department which includes Paid-on-Call and Daytime Staffing. The department covers 36 square miles of Kenosha County and is led by Fire Chief Roland Iwen.
In case of emergency, please dial 9-1-1. In non-emergency situations, please contact the Fire/Rescue Office at (262) 859-3009. Use the links below to view a listing of the current members of the department, learn about joining the department, view the department\'s apparatus, view the latest training schedule and learn about the Town of Paris Open Burning regulations and how to obtain a burning permit.
Paris Fire & Rescue Department sub-pages:


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The discreet charms of the international go-between
A murky world of back-channels, secret meetings and close encounters for a new breed of problem-solver, both secular and (see article) religious
FOR two months, Kenya, East Africa's most prosperous and supposedly stable country, hovered on the brink of self-immolation as two warring political factions ripped the country apart after a disputed election at the end of 2007. Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the United Nations, was brought in to try to resolve the conflict between the ruling party, which was accused of rigging its presidential victory, and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). As ethnic violence raged nearby, negotiators from the two sides would sometimes almost come to blows themselves as Mr Annan tried to find common ground between them.
But when deadlock loomed, both sides' negotiating teams were smuggled off to a secret location in a game park for two days, with just Mr Annan and his secretariat, including a team from a little-known group called the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD). There, with no distractions from the media and far from the political circus in the capital, Nairobi, came the vital breakthrough. The main outlines of a deal between the two sides were talked through in an atmosphere of relative calm; a new national unity government, comprising both the ruling party and the ODM, was inaugurated a few weeks later.
Originally, Mr Annan had flown into Nairobi with just two people from the CHD, a Swiss-based organisation of mediators. During his six weeks or so of mediating he drew on the considerable resources of the UN, but he also made constant use of his CHD backup.
They provided him with tactical advice on the mediation process, such as when to take the negotiators on "retreat" and how to involve the media. And they also drafted agreements as the two sides spoke during the negotiations, so that at the end of a day an agreed statement could be issued immediately to the press. This gave the mediation the vital momentum that Mr Annan wanted.
The Kenyan talks provide a good example of the sort of skills that a new kind of international mediator can bring to the age-old work of conflict resolution. For as the nature of the world's conflicts has changed in the past decade or so, so the demand for a new type of mediator has grown too.
The CHD, for instance, founded by just four people only nine years ago, now has a staff of over 70. The UN has traditionally provided a forum for the discussion and resolution of international disputes. However as Kreddha, a Dutch-based mediation group, argues: "There are no equivalent mechanisms for intrastate dispute resolution...despite the fact that most violent conflicts today are not international but intrastate in character." The new mediators provide the new mechanisms.
Many of these contemporary conflicts involve insurgents, secessionists or even "resource-warriors", like those in the oil-rich Niger Delta of Nigeria, who clash with governments. Rival politicians can be brought into open conflict by elections, such as in Kenya, or now Zimbabwe.
The new kinds of disputes involve non-traditional parties such as international mining or oil companies pitched against indigenous people, as well as national governments tackling more established terrorist groups. One study has shown that over the past 15 years military victories have resolved only 7.5% of conflicts, while negotiations have prevailed in 92% of cases; "the challenge is thus not being a skilful warrior but a skilful negotiator."
The UN might, at best, offer some bureaucratic and political clout, but it is also big, cumbersome and leaky. In its place, the new mediators operate on a much smaller scale and offer discretion, secrecy and flexibility. Mr Annan used the CHD in Kenya because it has no political agenda, so could be relied upon not to leak material in order to influence the talks one way or another. These mediators are ideal for getting involved in highly charged disputes between governments, for instance, and indigenous "terrorist" groups; they can set up back-channels, of the sort that proved vital in bringing about the eventual peace deal between the British government and the Irish Republican Army.
Thus the CHD provided a first conduit between the rebel Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian government, as the Indonesians refused to use the UN because of anger over its role in East Timor. In Nepal, the CHD established the first links between the government and the Maoist insurgents in 2000. Here a key factor was "plausible deniability", as was trust. Andrew Marshall, who sought out the first Maoist interlocutors, says that "neither side wanted their own people and cadres to know they were talking to the other side", so the leaders of both the government and the rebels invested their trust in the third party, CHD, to keep the talks secret. Eventually, several countries got involved and this year the Maoists prevailed in elections.
The CHD also acted as a back-channel between the Spanish government and the Basque separatist movement ETA leading up to a ceasefire in 2006; it is currently trying to bring together the Darfur rebel groups in Sudan as one negotiating body. Kreddha has been involved in mediation work in the Niger Delta, and in New Caledonia between a mining corporation, Goro Nickel, and an indigenous environmental organisation called Rheebu Nuu. Such disputes are often called "resource conflicts", and require specialist mediators with a knowledge of international law. Another new organisation called Conflicts Forum, founded by a former British intelligence officer, Alastair Crooke, attempts to serve as an interlocutor between militant Islamist groups, such as Hamas and Hizbullah, and the West.
Some mediation work can be instantly glamorous and hugely fulfilling, as in Kenya, but most of it is attritional; often it is pretty boring. Negotiations can drag on for years, but here again the small mediators can add a lot of value. Foreign politicians from America and Britain, for example, may bring a lot of pressure to bear on a dispute for a short amount of time, but inevitably they come and go according to the whims and demands of domestic politics. Professional mediators can stick with a conflict for years, thus building up a level of trust and knowledge that cannot easily be replicated. Much of a mediator's work lies in getting the logistics right; trusted third-party interlocutors are needed simply to arrange meetings and book hotel rooms which will not be bugged by the other side.
In the case of CHD, it can also get visas and facilitate travel for "terrorists" taking part in talks in neutral venues like Switzerland or Norway. Both are strong financial backers of the centre, and neither is a member of the EU; they are thus outside the conventions restricting travel for those on some terrorist watch lists. Small countries backing small mediators can make a big difference; the betting now is on Mr Annan and his team trying to repeat their Kenya trick in beleaguered Zimbabwe.
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline "The discreet charms of the international go-between"
International July 5th 2008
From the July 5th 2008 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
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Vladimir Putin is keen to see a Russian lead the International Telecommunication Union


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Carbondale's lodging tax sets a new record
The town of Carbondale's lodging tax increased 17 percent between 2015 and 2016. The five years between 2011 to 2016: 109 percent.
The town's voters approved a two percent lodging tax in 2003. This included any and every overnight stay, from a room at the Comfort Inn to a hookup at the Gateway RV Park. In 2016, this generated more than $100,000 in tax revenue.
Andrea Stewart, the executive director of the Carbondale Chamber, said the town has been trying to market itself as "base camp." Go ski in Aspen, go soak in the pools in Glenwood but eat and sleep in Carbondale.