text:
A year ago on Sept. 12, an unassuming fishing boat reached port after causing an international uproar by dumping tonnes of iron dust in the North Pacific, off the coast of Haida Gwaii. Today, the company behind the dumping, the Haida Salmon Restoration Corp., remains committed to ocean fertilization even as it fights the federal government in court over the ensuing investigation.
The Haida Salmon Restoration Corp. says the iron dumping causes a surge in plankton growth, boosting the food source of smaller fish upon which salmon feed, and in turn replenishes dwindling salmon stocks. Growing plankton pulls in and sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, thus making the process financially viable through the sale of carbon credits, the company argues.
Haida Salmon is scheduled to be back in court in December, arguing that a search warrant used by Environment Canada to seize digital and paper documents in March should be quashed.
Despite the harsh criticism levied against the company, those involved with the project are determined to keep going as the corporation tries to reinvent itself.
Former director and the most controversial figure — enigmatic American businessman Russ George — has been fired.
And some respected scientists are now working with the small team.
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Since 2010, Jason McNamee has been a director of the company, which spread 100 tonnes of iron sulphate and 20 tonnes of iron oxide in international waters 370 kilometres west of Haida Gwaii in the summer 2012. A 35,000-square-kilometre plankton bloom was visible from space, and some observers called it the world's largest geoengineering experiment.
McNamee believes large-scale action to save Fraser River salmon and address climate change is required. An idealist, he's motivated by fatherhood and the desire to leave his two sons, aged 7 and 9, a better world.
"If there's an opportunity whereby we can restore fisheries and we can sequester carbon, we pretty much have an obligation to see if it works," McNamee said. "It certainly feels like that to me."
The first attempts to fertilize the North Pacific were met with international derision as the stories played out in newspapers and magazines across the globe. The project was funded by the Old Massett Village Council. In a vote in which less than 200 of the 700 residents took part, about 140 people voted to spend $2.5 million of the band's money.
As for how the millions were spent — and it's all been spent — McNamee says a long-awaited audit has been completed but not yet made available. Another public meeting is planned for Sept. 12 in Old Massett.
McNamee might be at the helm now, but under the direction of Russ George, formerly known as "chief scientist" but having dubious credentials, the project was doomed. George has led other, failed carbon credit schemes such as a Vatican-supported forest in Hungary and an ocean fertilization project in the Galapagos. Neither materialized. The latter ultimately resulted in a moratorium on iron fertilization for purposes other than legitimate research by the International Maritime Organization's London Convention in 2008.
In the summer of 2012, George — who has no formal education as a scientist — would not be thwarted. He launched the Ocean Pearl, a fishing boat sailing under the Old Massett flag, on its maiden voyage to begin the iron filing experiment.
Trouble began after mere days at sea.
Tensions had been mounting between George and Craig Mewis, a young chemist hired as part of a crew of researchers. Mewis wanted to do testing before iron was dumped in the sea, to gather baseline information on nutrient content in the water. George wanted things done his way, which was dump first and test later.
McNamee had obligations at home and was not on the first trip out. He was in contact via phone and advised his chemist to record his interactions with George to ward off accusations later. Eventually, a disagreement led to a shouting match, and by some accounts, a shoving match. Mewis refused to continue working. After departing Victoria on July 14, 2012, the Ocean Pearl returned to dock in Masset on Aug. 3. Mewis returned to shore and a second trip started days later.
The company had chartered the 35-metre fishing boat and a commercial fishing crew to run the vessel while the small group of scientists worked.
Some of the fish holds and a below-deck smoking room had been converted with a coat of white paint into an on-board laboratory.
Even the deckhands were given brief training on how to operate sophisticated plankton nets. Once the Ocean Pearl left Canadian waters, they were trained how to release 100 tonnes of iron sulphate and 20 tonnes of iron oxide into the sea.
That proved easiest: Open a paper bag of the stuff and dump it off the stern.
Most of the iron was dispersed on the first of two trips. On the second, between Aug. 4 and 14, 10 more tonnes of iron oxide were spread on the west side of the Haida eddy, a natural plankton-rich phenomena, and 20 tonnes of iron sulphate to its south.
The crew finally disembarked in Steveston on Sept. 11, 2012.
Other signs the experiment was lacking in traditional scientific rigour showed through. Dozens of foam pool noodles were dropped off the side of the boat, supposedly to track the currents. But only one person on the scientific team — the sonar operator, Peter Gross — had a graduate degree, in physics. The chief biologist, Tegan Sime, was hired straight out of university. The mechanical engineer had more work experience as a soft drink ambassador, according to the LinkedIn page of David Gourlay.
Most important, the "chief scientist" did not have a university degree, although he is sometimes referred to as Dr. George, a reference to the initials for Darcy Russ George. His own LinkedIn page lists his education as "the school of hard knocks."
Once Mewis was back on land, there was no one trained to operate the fluorometer, a key piece of sensitive equipment designed to measure chlorophyll presence in plant organisms. It also measures the photosynthetic rate — an important number for measuring the rate of carbon uptake and sequestration.
McNamee, who was on the second trip, contacted Doug Campbell, a Mount Allison University professor and Canada Research Chair in phytoplankton ecophysiology, to talk the crew through its use. The conversation took place via satellite phone from four time zones away in New Brunswick.
He thought nothing of the call at first, Campbell told The Vancouver Sun last fall when the news broke. The fluorometer, known as a Satlantic FIRe, is highly specialized. Campbell is considered one of Canada's few experts.
"They were in a bind," Campbell said, adding he had a "quiet respect" for the initiative and for George: "He had amateur, unqualified staff, but he's out there. I'm ambivalent."
Campbell later applied for a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to fund a collaboration with the Haida Salmon Restoration Corp.
It was declined, and Campbell said he received some negative feedback from "incredulous" colleagues that he would consider collaborating with the company in the first place.
But, like McNamee, he sees a bigger picture.
"In a world of problems, some iron dust off the coast of B.C. is not at the top of my environmental policy concerns," he said recently.
A joint grant was later approved through Mitacs, a non-profit organization funded by provincial and federal governments, academic institutions and industry. The grant fell through when Haida Salmon Restoration could not provide matching funds.
The serious lack of scientific controls led many in the scientific community to criticize the original experiment. Many assumed the Haida community of Old Massett, which bankrolled the project, was duped by an international rainmaker, something McNamee and Haida Salmon Restoration CEO John Disney have vehemently denied.
McNamee has known George for years, and counted him as a close friend. He said George, who did not respond to a request for comment, originally came to Canada from California to avoid the Vietnam draft, married and settled in the Lower Mainland for years. George would stay at McNamee's Victoria home from time to time, and McNamee described him as "grandfatherly" at times and "a bit of a bully" at others.
The friendship and business relationship came to an end in May, when George was fired.
"Russ has wonderful ideas. He's inspirational that way. He truly means well. He's always trying to do the right thing. But he's always trying to do the right thing in his way," McNamee said, calling his former friend a "visionary" who is perhaps less competent when it comes to teamwork and project management.
"The other thing I do like about Russ is action. We could sit around and argue about 'is this the right thing to do or the wrong thing?' That's what's going on in academia, but there's no action ... we're breaking new ground."
The research work is progressing, despite the odds: the court dates, the drama with George, the lack of public support, the lukewarm support from the mainstream science community.
Sonar technician Gross co-wrote a paper with Simon Fraser University engineering professor John Bird to be presented at the Oceans 2013 conference this fall in San Diego.
The paper was reviewed by Timothy Parsons, oceanographer, marine biologist and professor emeritus at the University of B.C. Parsons even has an annual award named for him by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Parsons believes there is a strong connection between ocean nutrients and young salmon, something he began studying in the 1960s. He was first contacted by George in June 2012, before the ocean seeding took place.
Parsons told The Sun that he had been "very hesitant" to get involved. He said that he reminded George, during a tense meeting, dumping at sea was prohibited.
But Parsons also believes the 2008 eruption of Alaska's Mount Kasatoshi, which led to a massive Gulf of Alaska plankton bloom triggered by iron-rich volcanic ash, was linked to 2010s unprecedented sockeye salmon run in the Fraser River. He published a paper to that effect in the journal Fisheries Oceanography in 2012.
He said the Haida Salmon Restoration Corp. project should be done again "under more controlled conditions."
"I quite strongly support the experiment, and I think there are many others in the world who do, too," he said in a recent phone interview, adding, "Unfortunately, we won't know the results (of the 2012 dumping) until this time next year, because the salmon come back then."
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Parsons said George was difficult to work with and wanted no formal association with the project last year.
But he remains "vitally interested" in the data. And a lot of data was collected during the 2012 iron dumping voyages.
Two underwater, remote-controlled ocean gliders were used to collect hundreds of thousands of sensor readings on ocean temperatures, turbidity, oxygen levels and other parameters inside and outside the fertilized zones. Zooplankton were collected, along with 1,000 sea water samples, 50 hours of sonar readings, 700 fluorometer readings and notes on marine animal sightings.
McNamee estimates analysis of that data is a year behind schedule. But that year will give the company time to recalibrate before another experiment takes place, he said.
Reversing a former tendency toward secrecy, McNamee wants to start a Haida Ocean Centre to make all collected data publicly available.
"I would like industry, government and NGOs (to work together)," McNamee said.
"Basically, what I want is to build a huge data repository, a centre of excellence."
He's also trying to develop an inexpensive and open source shoreline monitoring system using automated cameras to capture data from intertidal zones.
McNamee sees the Haida Ocean Centre at the forefront of his future plans. He sees a time when vessels of opportunity transmit information and images of the sea to a central, open database and when so-called "citizen science" has more respect. ("You don't need a PhD to be a scientist," he said.)
The company's new direction will depend in some ways on how Old Massett, a majority shareholder, wants to proceed.
"September could change everything for us," if the issue is settled with Environment Canada, he said. They also start presenting some data from their borrowed ocean gliders in San Diego that month.
And he still sees iron fertilization as a solution to the declining salmon stocks in this province, and to climate change.
"Do we do something or do we do nothing? Right now we're doing nothing," McNamee said. "If action is clearly required and yet no action is being taken, who has the right and responsibility to act?"
Tomorrow: What did Ottawa know before iron was dumped off Haida Gwaii?


text:
look what i found on ybf.com-vh-1 managed to get lil' wayne to answer fan mail on camera. silly questions and more silly answers. he makes some valid points but this man is sooooo ignorant. hilarity ensues. watch the video in its entirety and then you gain access to the rest.
Ask Weezy
Posted by antithesis Friday, May 30, 2008 at 10:06 AM
"just my thoughts"
Posted by antithesis Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 9:34 AM
"whatever i was feelin' at the time"
* everyone doesn't do it in four years and i was so busy with school, i couldn't graduate from you.
* everyone doesn't do it in four years and i was so busy with school, i couldn't graduate from you.
*when the whites came to africa and saw the people and decided they did not like them, why didn't they just back away slowly? why did they decide to bring them where they were so they can have a constant reminder of what they hated (and were envious of)? that's like me saying, "i HATE salmon! let me buy some, put it on my plate where every other thing i like is, eat around it and occassionally prod it with my fork. then, let me sit it in the window in the sun and get all nasty and loathe it from a distance, disgusted by what it's become..."
*you're pooped and i'm pissed: that didn't last long enough
*some days, i feel like i attended Spelman Sleep-Away Camp for adults
*slap a blonde wig on it and call it a new sound!
4 thought(s) Labels: thoughts
the more you know
Posted by antithesis Friday, May 23, 2008 at 2:45 AM
this is 75 things Esquire thinks a man should be able to do: The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master.
it is advised that a man be able to cook meat other than on a grill (grill is personally more important to me b/c i dont enjoy being near them), not monopolize the conversation (that should be on there twice), and write a letter. Additionally, they thought being able to write a thank you note required a separate listing. my favorite? "give a woman an orgasm so that he doesn't have to ask after it".
i dont know if i care if someone who is courting me can do all of the things listed. further, i think some of them are abilities that women should possess as well. which do you like or dislike?
2 thought(s) Labels: men
why i am single
Posted by antithesis Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 8:43 AM
- i have no patience
- i want my way all the time
- it's hard to sleep with someone else in the bed (especially if they snore)
- i don't like to cook everyday (not even every week)
- most days i look a scary hot mess and i'm comfortable with that because i'm not going anywhere
- i value alone time probably way more than any other individual on the planet
- most males my age are ineligible to court me
- marriage is not a current interest of mine (although engagement and bachelorette parties, weddings, and honeymoons sound fun!)
- i'm more focused on trying to establish myself financially
- grad school is no joke
- i don't handle disappointment well (you have to do what you say you will do unless i really feel like you have a valid excuse and even then, it's difficult)
- i'm selfish
- i can be really mean for little to no reason
- every man i like lives somewhere else and/or is in my imagination
happy birthday to the greatest man i know, DADDY!
6 thought(s) Labels: men, relationships
will and grace quotes to live by
Posted by antithesis Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM
1. unless you're served in a frosted glass, never come within 4 ft. of my lips- karen
i ask that people not invite themselves into my personal space.
2. listen MisterSister...- jack
i have nothing against gay men. however, when they are disrespectful to me for no reason, they can expect the preceding words followed by some sort of covert insult.
3. honey, i don't care- karen
i know what you are saying bears some sort of significance in someone's life but not mine and usually not yours. sometimes i'm not in the mood for gossip. and contrary to your belief, the meaning of my AIM screename is not "tell me something no one should care about ever".
4. *knocking*
Grace: who is it?
*more knocking*
Grace: *louder* who is it?
*more knocking*
*Grace opens door*
honey, i dont yell- karen
i am not going to argue with you. very rarely are you going to get me to raise my voice at you. i will state my case in my normal tone and as your voice gets elevated and i decide you are no longer listening, i will stop talking. at that point, since everything each of us is saying is moot and neither of us is listening, there are only two options. they are: you leave my presence or you hit me and we fight. since we are no longer in grade school, the latter is HIGHLY unlikely. but i won't yell and curse you out...you'll be doing that by yourself.
5. honey that's just a saying like, "gee, that sounds like fun" or "i love you"- karen
people throw "i love you" around like it's "hello". i hate that crap. seriously, i was taught not to use words i dont know the meaning of and the same applies for phrases. if you don't REALLY know what it means, don't use it. also, if you don't REALLY mean it, don't say it.
-to be continued, maybe-
2 thought(s) Labels: quotes
look-y look-y
Posted by antithesis Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 8:17 AM
7 thought(s) Labels: pictures
movie nostalgia
Posted by antithesis Monday, May 19, 2008 at 8:55 AM
A League of Their Own
i always think about what kind of professor i would be. if i taught women's studies, this would be a required film. it teaches the concepts and it's comical.
careers and higher education are leading to the masculinization of women, with enormously dangerous consequences to the home, the children, and our country. When our boys come home from war, what kind of girls will they be coming home to? And now the most disgusting example of this sexual confusion: Mr. Walter Harvey of Harvey bars is presenting us with women's baseball. Right here in Chicago, young girls plucked from their families are gathered at Harvey Field, to see which one of them can be the most masculine. Mr. Harvey, like your candy bars, you're completely... nuts.
-woman on the radio
i watched this when i was younger with my older brother. the first time watching it, i remember thinking why would he be interested in this movie? i can;t remember why i liked it so much at the time because i didnt get nearly half the jokes. all i know is i so wanted to be a Rockford Peach (but i would later learn just how impractical those uniforms were when i played softball in high school).
4 thought(s) Labels: movies
Posted by antithesis Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM
i cant mail you all announcements but today is the day! i received my B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
8 thought(s) Labels: announcement, degree, graduation, spelman college
"flashing lights"
Posted by antithesis Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Thursday- "Cosmopolitan"
i have decided i am not going to go *tear*. the weather is not conducive to the outfit i had planned to wear. also, the location is too far to travel in this type of rain in atlanta at night. atlanta drivers are the worst in broad daylight...
all is not lost. my friend and i will find a way to party around where we live. i will dress comfortably and share drinks and merriment with friends. i'll show you what i was going to wear so you understand why i would not want to wear that in the rain.
in other news, mommy and daddy are here! auntie and uncle (my favorite) will be here tomorrow and sister and brother will be here saturday, plus brother-in-law and nieces! so excited!
4 thought(s) Labels: cosmo, senior week
"diamonds and pearls"
Posted by antithesis Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Wednesday- Senior Soiree and "Black and White"
i didnt go to the b/w party. i knew in advance that the cover would be too steep. $30+ is too much for any club, especially a monochromatic themed party. pre-sale tix were $25 and my limit for any given night is $20 because i do have bills and it aint in me to give away $100 to people who are far more affluent than me. but enough about that. i went to the Spelman College-sponsored Senior Soiree, a night celebrating the accomplishments of the senior class. it was an official welcome into alumnae-hood. afterwards, we went to rusans for sushi. i had a small get-together at my apt. (sorry no pics from that). *update* i heard people paid $40 to get in the b/w party.
5 thought(s) Labels: senior soiree, senior week
Got Money
Posted by antithesis at 3:30 PM
i strongly love/hate him. he is ILL, not sick....but in an annoying/ignorant way. i might actually be dumber from having listened to him so much.
*totatlly irrelevant to this post* but i just realized i did not stay until the club's closing on either night. sort of unheard of for me. and it's weird because these have been a couple of the best club nights ive ever had. oh well...
2 thought(s) Labels: lil' wayne
"beach chair"
Posted by antithesis at 2:19 AM
Tuesday Beach/Luau recap:
- baby girl is FUCKED UP
- i had on a white halter and plaid bermudas with turquoise sandals
- i pregamed w/ my girl april: screwdrivers
- got in for $15 (shoulda been free but whateve')
- music was crap, seriously
- paid $10 for an apple martini and i really should have stopped there
- free glass of champagne
- ol' boy who used to try to talk to me back in october was like drink the rest of this hen and coke. my dumb ass said "OK" (he's probably going to call me tomorrow, oh no!)
- then he said "what should i get next?" i said, "shot of 151". they didn't have that. in the words of my ex, "what the shit?" then i said "shot of patron" he said "let me get two".
- i had a shot of patron and was done for the nite. yes, i mixed brown and white.
- did i mention i was driver for the nite?
- i got us home in one piece. so here i am, THANK GOD, sharing with you my night.
- oh, i wanted to take a beach ball home but LAMES kept knocking them outta my hand...
"doin' the butt"
Posted by antithesis Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 2:52 AM
Monday- 80s/90s party recap
- had a GREAT time
- paid NOTHING to get in
- paid $3 for some shot that wasn't worth it
- paid $9 for a patron margarita
- music was great (the best DJ job in my ATL club experience) until about 2:15, at which point i needed to make my departure
- people were not AS obnoxious as usual
*night night*
7 thought(s) Labels: 80s/90s, senior week
Posted by antithesis Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10:32 AM
it is that time. it's senior week: the week prior to graduation filled with incessant partying!
party line-up:
Monday- 80s/90s party: i'm going
Tuesday- Beach/Luau: again, going
Wednesday- Black and White: hey, why not?
Thursday- Cosmopolitan: yea, i'm in there
Friday- Lingerie: are you stupid? NOT going!
Saturday- something Clark Atlanta- only: *shrugs*
i'll post my outfits, misadventures, and the like everyday this week. i'll let you know if i actually got in, how much i paid and where i went if i didn't get in, too! i can't promise pics because i'm terrible at remembering my camera...
he said, she said
Posted by antithesis at 12:00 AM
this is a long one. summary: lil wayne rhymed over Ciara's Promise beat. later, i wrote my own version. if you are familiar with the song already, you can just scroll down to what i said.
LIL WAYNE- PROMISE (freestyle)
damn she bad.. damn she thick
and i may not know perfect, but damn she it,
and she thick and she right,
damn she nice,
you can be my judge baby, yeah i do life,
give me life..
and i know that you be dancin til your toes hurt,
but i can make your toes curl,
i can make your soul jerk,
we can soul search,
and i also got that street credit i got more work... than any dude.. you .. knew
girl i am a blood "su wu"
i hear you want somebody you can call boo,
i will change my name to boo and fuck around and call you,
now what you wanna do?
because whateva that may be, baby, i wan`do that too,
& ooh i could g.p.s. you, what you goin through,
like a pair of wet & sticky vickys, girl, im on you,
ok ma.. the mood is so right, light,
two can take flight,
my big girl T.I. is the king i am the prince your knight,
right? you dont need a superman you just need a man like weezy
and i could make you feel the same way,
we could postpone and stay home like a rain day,
she'll have the salad just put her on wayne's plate,
what you know 'bout havin syrup poured on that pancake?
nasty as i want to be or nasty as you like me to be,
i hope you like me too now you know i like you too..3am room service,
serve ya..you can be my dessert be my caramel sherbet,
call you mama we can make a baby,
and the way you work that mic in the video is so crazy,
and that chair or stool.. move.. was cool,
you make me wanna ooh..
imma be cool i need a moment,
i think you are the finest human on earth,
we can get together i can help you with that homework.. take your ass to school too.. woo
teach you all the rules you never knew.. we need a moment we need a moment
i can be your future, i could be your teacher, be your professor. write down this lecture,
you want some extra credit?? let me check your home work..
i can be your tutor and help you with exams,
no failin' or its summer time for you,
you got them goodies and i got a sweet tooth,
now can yall blame me??shit Hov got B and i just want CiCi
i just want to see if you're taller then me,
no really i wanna see if you're my Mrs. Carter to be,
yeah i know this is pretty awkward for me but i just act like you are talkin to me when you say...
"ohh i mean everything that i say.... fom the bottom of heart....i would never, never ever hurt u..i open my heart (open my heart)"
believe that.. and i agree that,
open up your heart to me and you wont get your key back,
Ms. Ciara you are colder than blue and baby i aint talkin to no body else but you..
My Reply:
Damn he fine and he smart
And he may not be perfect, but he's a start
And he nice and he write
He could rhyme, maybe, and he'd be tight
And I'm right
I know you be putting in that hard work
But I could work you harder
I would push you farther
Rewards are hard-earned
And you can get some extra credit… I got more love… than any chick… you… met
Boy, you know I keep it wet
I hear you looking for someone that you can talk to
I can listen well and, nigga, I can talk to
So what's the subject, boo?
Cause whateva that may be I can hold a convo, too
I could cook dinner for you, what you want for food?
Like your most favorite cologne, boy, I am on you
Ok, Pa, the mood is so right, right
Music, candlelight
My baby, you are the shit my knight
Bright and shinin' armor but you don't need it, I would nev' harm ya
And I hope you would do the same
Cause if not, nigga, that would make you lame, babe
you are my match, i am so wild and you are tame
crazy as i wanna be or crazy as you like me to be
i like your attitude and i hope you like me too...plus we can get away
escape...we can take weekend trips or can go on vacations
call me mama, i will have your baby
i just hope you know that our baby will be so crazy
but anything you do...is so...cool
you make me wanna...ooh
but imma be good in just a moment
just as soon as i get you in this bedroom
when the day is over and soon as you get home from work...take you to the room too...woo
make you do the things you never do...we need a moment we need a moment
i can be your future, i can be your wifey, be your companion
if we can stand it
you want some support? i can be your confidant and help with finances
no quittin' or it's bankrupcy for you
you got your shit and i got mine too
now can you blame me?
i had B but now i want V
maybe because he is taller than me
no, really cause i dont know who else it'll be
yeah i kno.. this is pretty awkward for me but i just act like you are talkin to me when you say...
...believe that? you guarantee that? if i open up my heart to you will i get my key back? Mr. Right i dont even know you but i aint talkin to nobody else but you.
*B and V are no longer in my life
1 thought(s) Labels: inspired, writing
"beyonce- & jay-z-in'"
Posted by antithesis Friday, May 9, 2008 at 7:47 AM
i coined a phrase. it means we're connected while disconnected. i was beyonce- and jay-z-ing all last weekend with my beau. i always wanted to use that word. anyway, we've been chillin' on the couch with our laptops looking up stuff (because we're dorks), discussing sports news, and battling our itunes. so much fun!
9 thought(s) Labels: imacs, technology, weekend
i'm going to get a t-shirt with a link to this post...
Posted by antithesis Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 1:31 AM
...and i'll probably place a copy of this info. in the envelope for my announcements. here are the answers to frequently asked questions:
1. Q: when is graduation?
A (i want to give): if you have to ask, you are not invited or you don't matter
A (i will give): May 18th
2. Q: what are doing after graduation?
A: graduate school- George Washington University, M.A. Community Counseling
3. Q: What do you want to do with that?
A: *pause and blank stare* i want to be a counselor. no particular type, just a counselor. i'll do marriage, substance abuse,
guidance, whatev'.
4. Q: Where are you going to live?
A: *wonders if you are offering room/board* with my parents, rent free
5. Q: Are you sure you want to be back home with your parents?
A: *still wonders if you are 'putting in on this'* YES
6. Q: Really? You are going to work full-time, too?
A: *seriously, are you feeling like a philanthropist?* yes, if someone will hire me in this economy.
7. Q: How was Spelman? (or some variation thereof)
A: i cannot sum up 4 years of my life nor can i create a visual for you to understand an experience that is different for
everyone. in general, college is what you make it. the name of the school changes but little else. i will suffice it to say
"good or bad, i am richer for the experience".
A (i want to give): if you have to ask, you are not invited or you don't matter
A (i will give): May 18th
2. Q: what are doing after graduation?
A: graduate school- George Washington University, M.A. Community Counseling
3. Q: What do you want to do with that?
A: *pause and blank stare* i want to be a counselor. no particular type, just a counselor. i'll do marriage, substance abuse,
guidance, whatev'.
4. Q: Where are you going to live?
A: *wonders if you are offering room/board* with my parents, rent free
5. Q: Are you sure you want to be back home with your parents?
A: *still wonders if you are 'putting in on this'* YES
6. Q: Really? You are going to work full-time, too?
A: *seriously, are you feeling like a philanthropist?* yes, if someone will hire me in this economy.
7. Q: How was Spelman? (or some variation thereof)
A: i cannot sum up 4 years of my life nor can i create a visual for you to understand an experience that is different for
everyone. in general, college is what you make it. the name of the school changes but little else. i will suffice it to say
"good or bad, i am richer for the experience".
5 thought(s) Labels: FAQs, graduation
6 quirky things about me (tag)
Posted by antithesis Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Tracee tagged me.
1. i have to eat my food one at a time and different things cannot touch
2. if there is a wedding in the vicinity of me i MUST see the dress
3. my accent changes depending on who i am speaking to and/or what i am speaking about
4. i didnt get my license until i was 19 because i was terrified of being behind the wheel
5. i only wrote and ate with my left hand until i was about 16. i played sports and things like that as if i was right-handed
6. i said this to my brother and meant it:
1. i have to eat my food one at a time and different things cannot touch
2. if there is a wedding in the vicinity of me i MUST see the dress
3. my accent changes depending on who i am speaking to and/or what i am speaking about
4. i didnt get my license until i was 19 because i was terrified of being behind the wheel
5. i only wrote and ate with my left hand until i was about 16. i played sports and things like that as if i was right-handed
6. i said this to my brother and meant it:
him: you gonna have to do what i did and live at home until you get established; you're not living with me.
me: that defeats the purpose of being born last. what do i need other siblings for? if i wanted to do what you did, i would have been born in the middle.
The Rules:
Link the person who tagged you. Mention the rules in your blog. Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours. Tag six following bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
The Rules:
Link the person who tagged you. Mention the rules in your blog. Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours. Tag six following bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
im not gonna tag anyone
8 thought(s) Labels: tag
what becomes of the broken hearted
Posted by antithesis Monday, May 5, 2008 at 7:49 AM
Happy Birthday to my big brother, Kevin.
A Millie
Posted by antithesis Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 2:17 PM
i love/hate this man! he makes me laugh so much 'cause he brings the metaphors and similes that are off the wall. truly a martian! oh, mr.carter/mr.lawnmower, why won't your album be available for me to bump in my ride during senior week?
why am i not smart?
Posted by antithesis Friday, May 2, 2008 at 7:59 AM
i often find myself wondering "why are you not smart? what school system has failed you?" when interacting with others. i have to explain my sense of humor, define vocabulary, or provide multiple examples. it gets so annoying. but i've come to realize that what others are lacking in book smarts, i often lack in common sense.
there are some things i should have known a long time ago. the last time i communicated with my most recent ex i said "...it took me a lot longer to realize that i am not what you want and you are not what i need". "it took me a lot longer..." he knew long before me he did not love me and never would. now i realize that it was his loss but STILL. why did it take me so damn long?
the real problem is the one guy. four years ago when i was graduating, he wasn't around. he didnt take me to my prom eventhough i went to his two years before. i let him back into my life and here i am about to graduate and we dont speak. i feel like i should have known back in '04 that he was not the male for me. if i didnt know for that reason, there were others that should have told me to let that male go. i wont call him a man because he is not and it will be a long time before he is one.
so here i am disappointed. in him and in myself. i should have known better. i should know better. he would say "you think too much". at that time, i really didnt think enough. now, because of him and the others, i may really be thinking too much and this man who loves me now might really love me. sadly, i can't love him back...
hey, love: dont call me anymore! we are not friends!
6 thought(s) Labels: love, men, relationships
My Love
Posted by antithesis Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 9:44 AM
4 thought(s) Labels: music
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subset: commoncrawl


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Disclaimer on the Use of Data and Products from the HPRCC
Climate products and tools are developed by the HPRCC and its partner Regional Climate Centers to provide users with a means to routinely access recent weather and climate data. While applied research has demonstrated that the use of such data in decision making can reduce risk and lower a user's cost, it must be pointed out that near-real-time data are preliminary in nature and sometimes contain errors. Although care is taken to remove known errors, it is possible that some data will change after receipt of written records and final quality control steps. Users are therefore forewarned to consider any negative impact that errant data might have on their business and use preliminary data and information at their own risk.
The HPRCC is not responsible for the misuse or abuse of data provided through our services, both online and full-service.
Through use of the data services through the HPRCC website, you automatically agree to the terms of use and disclaimer.


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26 July 2012 | News | By BioSpectrum Bureau
India caps FDI in pharma at 49%
Foreign firms will need FIPB approval for acquiring more than 49% stakes in Indian pharma companies
Bangalore: An inter-ministerial group (IMG) on foreign direct investment (FDI) in pharmaceuticals, headed by Mr Shanktikanta Das, additional secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), decided that investments resulting in an equity holding higher than 49 percent in an Indian pharma company will have to apply for the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The IMG also included representatives from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Department of Health, Department of External Affairs, and overseas Indian affairs ministries.
The IMG considered various views on imposition of specific conditions on foreign investors. The ball is now in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) court, which needs to take a final view on relaxing foreign direct investment norms in the pharmaceutical sector. The IMG also decided that a multinational firm that buys 49 percent or higher stake in an Indian pharma company will maintain the same level of investment in research activities and production of essential medicines for a period five years. Investments resulting in an equity holding lower than 49 percent as-well-as those made in subsidiaries will, however, do not need approval and can go through what is called the 'automatic route'.
The finance ministry had been rooting for a capping threshold of 49 percent since the very beginning of discussions as compared to DIPP, which has been advocating 100 percent FDI through the FIPB route. Furthermore the health ministry wants that MNCs that are acquiring Indian firms should not cut production of generic medicines under any circumstances and also ensure their availability in the domestic market before exporting. Many feel that the decisions made by the IMG will adversely affect FDI. In a climate where India is already FDI-starved, any policy which restricts freedom of trade and investment will further restrict capital flows and this might also have a negative ripple effect in other industries.
The pharmaceutical industry in India has seen several major pharma deals in recent years, including the acquisition of Ranbaxy by Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo in June 2008 for nearly $5 billion; and the acquisition of healthcare solutions business of Piramal Healthcare by US-based Abbott Laboratories for close to $3.72 billion; among others.
Alarmed by such acquisitions and their possible impact on the availability of low-cost medicines, the health and commerce ministries demanded that foreign investment in domestic pharma companies be routed through the FIPB, which is a part of the ministry of finance. The Indian pharma sector saw six proposals worth $137 million being approved by the FIPB since January 2012.
Following this, a panel was set up under the chairmanship of Mr Arun Maira, member, Planning Commission, at the behest of the cabinet committee on economic affairs, which suggested a status quo in the FDI policy for the sector while recommending oversight by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on pricing and competition issues.
However, this recommendation was opposed by both the DIPP and the health ministry. Finally, a meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh in October 2011 in order to resolve the differences came to a conclusion that while 100 percent FDI in greenfield investments through the automatic route will continue to be allowed, brownfield investments in Indian pharma companies will be routed through FIPB for six months (from October) and that CCI will then take over the job.


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Now that we have an uplift completed and enough future data has been collected to ensure sustained changes in data automatically, it is time for the triple fortnightly report of what performance looks like. For reference there is some data in a blog post about general talos numbers.
Firefox 32 uplift, m-c -> Aurora (tracking bug 1004427):
- 20 – regressions (3 CART, 3 TART, 3 SVG, 3 TResize, and some one off tests)
- 18 regressions are on windows, the majority a result of OMTC being turned on (this is more of a rebaselining of tests than actual regressions)
- 3 bugs are tracking all 20 regressions!
- 43 – improvements (15 Kraken/V8/Dromaeo, 2 SVG, 7 TScroll, 4 TART/CART, 4 Paint, 9 SessionRestore, and a couple others)
- the Improvements are distributed amongst Windows, Mac, Linux
Firefox 31 uplift, m-c -> Aurora (tracking bug 990085):
- 23 – regressions (5 CART, 3 TART, 2 SVG, 2 TP5, 2 TResize, and a few others)
- CART regressions are mostly fixed already!
- 10 – improvements (Kraken/V8, Linux64 SVG, OSX 10.8 TART)
Firefox 30 uplift, m-c -> Aurora:
- 26 – regressions (4 TART, 4 SVG, 3 TS, Paint, and many more)
As you can see Firefox32 has a lot of improvements and fewer regressions (of those 20 about half are related to rebasing numbers).
Lets look at bugs:
- 36 bugs filed to date for Firefox32 Talos regressions
- 16 are resolved (7 as wontfix)
- 20 are open (this means that 17 of them are only showing up on non-pgo)
After reviewing the process of investigating alerts, it makes sense that we continue forward with the same process in 6 week intervals and any changes are made on uplift day and they would apply only to trunk. Some future changes we are considering:
- not filing bugs on minimal regressions (ex. <4%)
- not filing bugs on non-pgo only regressions (since we only build pgo on Aurora, Beta, Release)
- generating alerts for per test (not per suite) regressions (and only file bugs if a single test is >10%)
- adjust the graph server alert calculation to not drop the page with the highest value and to report the geometric mean of the pages instead of the average
- any other great ideas you have on how to be efficient with our time while continuing to identify and document our regressions
Onward to Firefox 33!


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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Langstaff Family History
It so happens that Jack Langstaff read the paper, "Buggery and Slander: The Trials and Tribulations of Moses Winter" by Guylaine Pétrin in the May edition of the Ontario Genealogical Society's journal, Families, and found out that he was related to one of the signees of the petition.
He has researched most of the early Langstaff's who came to Ontario, and if you would like to check them out, please go to his website at http://www.langstaff.net/.
In addition, Jack says that "As well, there may be Germans from Kreis Kolmar and Wirsitz who can find parts of the family in the extensive birth file".
If you go to the site, you will see genealogies for families such as KRIENKE, LONGHURST, and NEELY.
He can be contacted at email@example.com
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Stop Methyl
Iodide: Don't let EPA register new carcinogenic pesticide
(Beyond Pesticides, February 1, 2006) Methyl iodide is a carcinogenic chemical that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now evaluating for registration as a replacement for the fumigant ozone-depleting methyl bromide, which is to be phased out under international treaty. Send comments to EPA before February 6, 2006 to stop methyl iodide from being registered as a new pesticide. Submit comments to EPA through Pesticide Action Network North America's (PANNA) action alert or United Farm Workers' (UFW) action alert.
The Montreal Protocol, a 1992 commitment by the world's nations that includes the phase out methyl bromide - one of the five deadly pesticides targeted by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers - gave hope that farmworkers and others would finally stop being put at risk by this deadly pesticide. Unfortunately, EPA is not only backpedaling on this, but is also facilitating the chemical industry and agribusiness efforts to introduce methyl iodide, a fumigant that may be even more hazardous to human health than methyl bromide.
Methyl iodide and methyl bromide are highly volatile fumigant pesticides that are injected into the soil at rates of 100-400 pounds per acre to kill soil-borne pests. Because of the high application rates and gaseous nature of these chemicals, they drift away from the application site to poison neighbors and farmworkers. Fumigant-intensive crops include tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, tobacco, melons, potatoes and other root crops.
The state of California lists methyl iodide as a carcinogen under Proposition 65. EPA found that methyl iodide caused thyroid tumors--and introduced a previously unheard of cancer ranking of "Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans at doses that do not alter rat thyroid hormone homeostasis." The EPA's Cancer Assessment Review Committee used only a single study to come to this conclusion—in which 62-66% of the rats in both the control and the high dose group died during the experiment. In addition to thyroid tumors, the study showed significant changes in thyroid hormone levels, which are closely tied to metabolic disorders. Other animal studies evaluated by EPA also indicated that methyl iodide causes respiratory tract lesions, neurological effects, and miscarriages.
"This chemical represents the antithesis of modern biologically based farming," remarked PANNA senior scientist Susan Kegley, Ph.D. "We know so much more now about soil pests, plant pathology and plant breeding than we did when fumigants were first introduced in the 1920s. EPA should be helping farmers move into the future by expanding the use of new integrated pest management techniques, not by replacing one hazardous chemical with another." Dr. Kegley points out that fumigation is an inherently risky technology that endangers farmworkers, contaminates groundwater, and is a drift hazard to schools and communities surrounding the fields.
EPA is taking public comments on the registration of methyl iodide through February 6, 2006, although it says it will extend the deadline. PANNA, UFW and Beyond Pesticides are requesting the public join in expressing opposition to the registration. Please take the time to tell EPA to not allow the registration of methyl iodide for agricultural use. Submit comments to EPA through Pesticide Action Network North America's (PANNA) action alert or United Farm Workers' (UFW) action alert.


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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) From the NBA Finals to the All-Star Game to the Olympics, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have proven themselves to be one of basketball's most dynamic duos.
To lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the league's best record, they've found even more ways to make an impact - primarily by putting their teammates in better positions to contribute.
Both Durant and Westbrook are averaging career highs in assists this season while cutting down on their turnovers, helping the Thunder become the NBA's highest-scoring team with an impressive line of statistics. Oklahoma City leads the league in 3-point accuracy and free throw percentage and ranks second in overall field-goal shooting.
``We're passing the ball so much better this year,'' said coach Scott Brooks, who has long harped on the need to improve the team's assist numbers and cut down on turnovers. ``Our basketball knowledge has improved a lot the past few years just from all the experiences that we've had. Our passing and our spacing is really good. Our offense has been in a nice rhythm.''
Somehow, Oklahoma City finished third in the league in scoring last season despite the dubious combination of passing out the fewest assists (18.5 per game) while committing the most turnovers (16 per game). Loaded with individual talent, the Thunder struggled to turn it all into something even better.
``In the past, I think we were more of an isolation team. We relied on our talent, probably too much at times,'' forward Nick Collison said. ``So, we're trying to get away from that and get more to where we're executing, sharing the ball and getting easier shots.''
Although they were unable to sustain it in the NBA Finals against Miami, the catalyst for change may have been the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Down 2-0 in the series, Oklahoma City rallied for four straight wins with its best team basketball of the year.
Durant came back committed to improving his all-around game, proving it with his first career triple-double earlier this season. Westbrook, whose assist totals dropped off last season, is passing the ball better than ever. He's in the top 10 in scoring, assists and steals and is also among the top 10 guards in rebounding.
As a team, Oklahoma City is now in the top half of the league in assists.
``We're not having to rely on our guys to make incredible plays, difficult plays. We're getting a lot more easy shots. I think Kevin and Russell deserve a lot of credit for that,'' Collison said. ``They've embraced it and they're trusting everybody else. The decisions are easier when the spacing's better. I think that's part of it, too. But when we're not playing in a crowd, we get better shots.''
Some early-season growing pains after NBA Sixth Man of the Year James Harden was traded away - his role taken over by Kevin Martin - has faded away. Durant, who has won the scoring title the past three seasons, got some immediate criticism for being too passive and forcing the ball to others while Westbrook opened the season in an awful shooting slump.
Oklahoma City has dispelled any doubts with the franchise's longest winning streak since 1996 - the last time it was coming off of an appearance in the NBA Finals (then as the Seattle SuperSonics).
``We're happy with it but we're not satisfied,'' Brooks said. ``We're going to keep doing what we do, and that's play every game the best we can and live with the results. We know we're not going to win every game in this league.''
Westbrook, particularly, doesn't seem ready to accept that.
Even after Oklahoma City won its 10th straight game, Westbrook was displeased and started to duck around a group of reporters who had gathered at his locker and skip his postgame interview. When he was tracked down at the exit to the locker room, he had no interest in patting himself on the back for his seventh double-digit assist game of the season - more than he had in 86 games last season, including the playoffs.
``I can do better,'' he said.
His coach wasn't surprised.
``He never cheats the game,'' Brooks said. ``He's not a perfect player, like nobody in this league is. But his effort is always good. He plays with a lot of desire and a lot of heart and determination.''


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Found myself shouting at the radio again today. These fucking retards with their petition to have opt-out filtering on Internet connections... obviously have no bloody clue what they're talking about. Everyone with a clue knows that the filtering doesn't work. You might as well legislate for the sun to shine in the middle of the night, or that π = 3.
Anyone with half a clue can always get around the filters; it only really prevents you from stumbling over such stuff by accident. Which wasn't very likely in the first place. And to my knowledge there has never been a filtering system that hasn't suffered "feature creep" and been used to block access to things other than what it was originally purported to block. Like the one which blocked the whole of Wikipedia a year or two ago.
If you support this petition, that doesn't mean you're a bad person. Just stupidly naïve and clueless. It cannot work, and you make bad things happen by trying to persuade politicians to impose it. Please stop.


text:
This is SurfaceScape, a project aimed at taking Microsoft's "Surface" touch-screen table and bending it to the will of a bunch of tabletop gamers.
Watch the clip below. Especially the first couple of minutes, with the practical demonstrations. Then imagine playing a game of Warhammer 40K on it.
It's like the perfect blend of video games and tabletop gaming. The tactile feedback you get with actual miniatures mixed with the processing power and rendering capabilities of a computer.
Microsoft's Surface Team Follows Up With Tabletop Gaming Project [GameSetWatch]
G/O Media may get a commission
SurfaceScapes Promo Video from Surfacescapes on Vimeo.


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In his 13th year of football, Lionel Messi makes the top 20 all-time goalscorer list:
Guaranteed people will remember number 480, too.
In his 13th year of football, Lionel Messi makes the top 20 all-time goalscorer list:
It would seem that somebody somewhere was suddenly desperate to own some Dalradian (DNA.to):
It's in Spanish but it comes with English subtitles (which you may have to turn on by clicking the CC button) and it's important to understand the words being spoken.
If you've never seen this, today's the day. Magical.
The best thing; today's news confirms every suspicion. Goodbye forever Bitgold (XAU.v), we have no need to take you seriously any longer.
BitGold Inc. (TSX VENTURE:XAU) ("BitGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by GMP Securities L.P. and including Clarus Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Inc. and Dundee Securities Ltd. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), which has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 5,000,000 common shares (the "Shares") of the Company at a price of C$3.65 per Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$18,250,000 (the "Offering").
The Underwriters will also have the option exercisable, in whole or in part, to purchase up to an additional 750,000 Common Shares to cover the Underwriters' over-allotment position. In the event that the option is exercised in its entirety, the aggregate gross process of the Offering will be C$20,987,500
The net proceeds of the Offering are expected (continues here)
True Gold is pleased to announce it has hired a new Chief Operating Officer to lead the strengthened team. The new COO, who will join the Company and be formally announced by the end of June, is a mining professional with extensive experience in mine operations and project development with recent and relevant West African experience. Peter Carter has resigned as COO to pursue other interests, and we wish him well in his future endeavours. Continues
WINNIPEG, May 28, 2015 /CNW/ - San Gold Corporation (TSX-V: SGR) ("San Gold" or the "Company") announced today it did not receive any third party final bids by the deadline for the Company's previously announced Sale and Investor Solicitation Process pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (the "BIA").As a result, it is expected that the Company's secured lenders will seek court approval for a transaction by which the assets of the Company will be acquired by a nominee of the Company's principal secured lenders in exchange for its secured debt. In such event, the Company will have no ability to make a viable proposal to its creditors and will become bankrupt upon the expiry of the court-ordered Stay Period.
This one made it 3-0 to River in Brazil last night and sealed passage to the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores. And he skinned the defender alive.
...dancing a jig.
Hope you've been having a pleasant week. Back in the saddle tomorrow Thursday morning.
The information and opinions contained within this site reflect the personal views of Inca Kola News and therefore all material within should not be construed as accurate or reliable or be utilized as advice for investment or business purposes. Independent due diligence and discussions with ones own investment and business advisors is strongly recommended. Accordingly, nothing on this site should be construed as offering a guarantee of the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or as an endorsement of any product or service. All opinions and estimates included on this site are subject to change without notice. All content may be reproduced under fair use doctrine providing proper credit and a return link is made to this https://www.liquidtintz.com/ site.


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| 13.1°C Belfast
Openly gay policing minister Nick Herbert has accused church leaders of sounding "highly judgmental" and "intolerant" in their reaction to plans for same-sex marriage.
Nick Herbert, who is in a civil partnership with Jason Eades, urged the Church of England to be more cautious in the language it uses about the highly divisive proposal.
The Tory said he was "getting fed up" with people saying "you should put up with a civil partnership". He told The Times: "I don't think they would like it if I said, 'Well, sorry, you should accept a civil partnership too'."
"I consider myself to be a Christian and I've never in my life felt more distant from the Church than I do at the moment."
He added: "I think that some Christian leaders have said things that, when heard by gay people, sound highly judgmental or intolerant. We all have to be careful of our language."
It comes days after fresh attacks from the Church of England and Roman Catholic bishops.
The Church of England accused the Government of failing to think through its plans to introduce same-sex marriage, adding that the legislation would undermine the Church's relationship with the nation and be subject to a legal challenge from Europe. The plans would lead to an unprecedented clash between its own canon law - that marriage is between a man and a woman - and that of Parliament, it added.
In a submission to the Government's consultation on same-sex marriage the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales accused the Government of putting forward plans which were not subject to "careful study and analysis" which would if implemented "permanently diminish" the significance of marriage.
Mr Herbert insisted the Government is not planning to dictate to churches, saying: "No religious institution should be forced to conduct a gay marriage against their belief."
He added: "I didn't come out until relatively late. You think it's the hardest decision that you could ever make, then once you've done it you feel powerful and wonder why it was so hard. But there are still kids being bullied in school. There is still a situation where we have no Premier League football players who feel able to come out. The idea that this is a finished agenda is completely wrong. It's not."


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Those of you with websites might find this tool useful. It provides a free analysis of the effectiveness of your website: http://websitegrader.com
It tells you for instance how many pages have been stored in the Google index and gives you a grade based on the traffic levels of your site and the number of incoming links.
You have to provide an e-mail address in order to obtain the report but there is no obligation to buy the full product.
There is also an associated blog grader: http://blog.grader.com


text:
States can't file for bankruptcy protection under current law. But conservatives, including possible presidential contender Newt Gingrich, are pushing for federal legislation to make that possible.
And that, reports columnist Tom Petruno of the Los Angeles Times, is already taking a toll on the municipal bond market. "The bankruptcy option for states still is in the realm of the hypothetical, but the rising debate already may be costing investors in the $2.9-trillion municipal bond market real money. Lobbying efforts for a law making state bankruptcies possible are further eroding investor confidence amid what is already the worst sell-off in tax-free muni bonds since the financial-system meltdown in late 2008."
What does this mean? With investors fleeing the bond markets, it will cost more for states in fiscal trouble, such as California, to borrow. Which could make the fiscal crisis worse -- and improve the case for state bankruptcy.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
In this way, talk of state bankruptcy could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.


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- Share
Fish first An unusual prehistoric fish with fins near its bottom has helped to solve the mystery over why most animals, including humans, have paired limbs.
The fish, Euphanerops, is possibly the first creature on the planet to have evolved paired appendages, which in this case were fins.
The 370-million-year-old species is described in the latest issue of Biology Letters.
"Fins are the world's first limb-like appendages," lead author Robert Sansom says. "Paired limbs would subsequently develop from paired fins in the transition from sea to land, but the first evolution of paired appendages was a big, important step in the evolution and development of vertebrates", which are animals with a backbone or spinal column.
Sansom, a researcher at both the University of Manchester and the University of Leicester, and colleagues analysed 36 Euphanerops specimens unearthed in Quebec, Canada. This was a jawless fish that lived long before dinosaurs first emerged.
Many living fish have a single anal fin, located at the centre back of the fish's underside near its rear end. The fin is thought to help maintain control of body position.
Radical point
This ancient fish, however, evolved two such fins. Some subsequent fish did not evolve the paired appendages, so fish with all sorts of fin combinations existed for a while.
"What this research leads us to believe is that, at this early stage (in evolutionary history), vertebrates were trying out lots of different body plans, some familiar, some less familiar, and only some that survived," Sansom says.
The change happened at a radical point in fish history when some of them were starting to evolve jaws and teeth. These attributes likely emerged for reasons similar to fish gaining fins - improved hunting and escape skills.
"The evolution of paired appendages and more sophisticated fins will probably be for improved locomotion, potentially related to an arms race between tracking down prey and avoiding predators," says Sansom.
"Paired fins allow for more sophisticated control of movement."
This movement, which at first just happened underwater, later helped some species make the transition from water to land.


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Notice: On April 23, 2014, Statalist moved from an email list to a forum, based at statalist.org.
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE: st: propensity matching and matched pair analysis
Claude Beaty <firstname.lastname@example.com>
"firstname.lastname@example.com" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
RE: st: propensity matching and matched pair analysis
Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:07:33 +0000
I apologize for the delay in responding to your email. I appreciate your opinion on the use of parametric statistics and would love to avoid this whole issue based on these reasons, but the article I am submitting based on this data is subject to peer review and the reviewers would like to accommodate for the pairing in my statistics (I initially utilized the t-test, fisher's exact and chi2 analysis in my paired data to describe the covariate relationships based on disease presence).
As for my questions:
1) Can McNemar's test be used in a 2:1 analysis or only in a 1:1 analysis? If this is the wrong test, what would be a better analysis for a 2:1 match (Mantel-Haenszel etc)?
Assuming this is the right test, I realize that these case-controls need to be matched and analyzed as a group for the McNemar's and sign rank tests. I also know the groupings, as you indicated and I previously mentioned, based on the _id and _nk variables created by the -psmatch2- command. Currently, my data set is 1800 observations (rows) of patient information. I can create a grouping variable with the 600 groups (3 patients per group as per the 2:1 matching) by hand but would prefer not to.
2) Is there an easy way to create these groups or do I have to write out 600 lines of code, as each group will have 3 different _id codes associated with it?
Finally, my understanding of the -mcc- command for McNemar's test is that the individual numbers associated with the various boxes of the concordant table are to be entered by the user, not calculated by the program. I believe this means I need to manually interrogate every grouping by exposure to a variable of interest and then sum these results by hand, to enter them into a final McNemar's concordant table describing all of the groups relationships based on this one variable. This process would then have to be repeated for every variable of interest. As I have 600 groups and >40 variables of interest, this could prove to be prohibitively tedious.
3) Is this understanding of the command correct? If so, is there a way in which the program can calculate one discordant table for all groups but based on individual intra-group interactions?
Thank you.
Claude A. Beaty Jr., M.D.
Halsted Surgical Resident
Cardiac Surgery Research Fellow
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
-----Original Message-----
From: email@example.com [mailto:email@example.com] On Behalf Of Ariel Linden. DrPH
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 12:41 PM
To: email@example.com
Subject: re: st: propensity matching and matched pair analysis
Hi Claude,
First off, as part of the Statalist requirements, listers are asked to note what program they are using and where it is found. -psmatch2- is a user written program and can be found on ssc (findit psmatch2).
In regards to your query, you have a couple different things going on here.
First, there is still an ongoing debate as to whether you need to run non-parametric statistics after matching. This issue is even less clear when you use 1:k matches, since matched individuals will likely differ on some covariates even though they appear to be balanced at the cohort level (so on average the groups will be comparable, but any two matched individuals may not be). This is exactly what happens in an RCT - the random assignment ensures balance on covariates at the aggregate level, but not necessarily between any two people.
What this means is that you can use parametric statistics if they are more suitable to answer your particular research question. In fact, there is even an ongoing debate as to whether the researcher should weight the observations in 1:k matching when a fixed ratio matching is applied (which you did using a fixed 2 controls for every 1 treated). Had you used variable matching, weighting would have been necessary.
The next issue you ask about is identifying the specific treated and matched controls. As per the help file, several new variables are generated:
_id In the case of one-to-one and nearest-neighbors matching, a new
identifier created for all observations.
_nk In the case of one-to-one and nearest-neighbors matching, for every
treatment observation, it stores the observation number of the k-th
matched control observation. Do not forget to sort by _id if you want
to use the observation number (id) of for example the 1st nearest
neighbor as in
sort _id
g x_of_match = x[_n1]
_nn In the case of nearest-neighbors matching, for every treatment
observation, it stores the number of matched control observations.
Thus, you can order the matches so that they fall into groups.
I hope this helps
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:09:21 +0000
From: Claude Beaty <email@example.com>
Subject: st: propensity matching and matched pair analysis
I have utilized the psmatch2 command to successfully create a 2:1 nearest neighbor match in my data based upon the presence of a specific disease.
This has resulted in 630 cases and 1200 controls. I can identify the matches by the unique ID numbers created during the match process. In order to accurately analyze this data, I know that I need to run McNemar's test for categorical variables and the sign rank test for continuous variables to account for the pairing. However, currently the data are listed as 1800 different observations. Is there an easy was to group the cases with their controls, or due I have to manually create 630 groups by and then sum the results from each group to run these analyses?
Claude A. Beaty Jr., M.D.
Halsted Surgical Resident
Cardiac Surgery Research Fellow
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
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Tao or Dao (/taʊ/, /daʊ/; Chinese: 道; pinyin: About this sound Dào (help·info)) is a Chinese word signifying 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'. Within the context of traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, the Tao is the intuitive knowing of "life" that cannot be grasped full-heartedly as just a concept but is known nonetheless through actual living experience of one's everyday being. The Tao differs from conventional (Western) ontology in that it is an active and holistic practice of the natural order of Nature and its universal awakening, rather than a static, atomistic one
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It would appear students can now give Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism a notorious "Medill F" after a typo appeared on dozens of diplomas this weekend.
Roughly 30 of the more than 250 diplomas handed out Saturday had an error, a school official confirmed to NBC Chicago.
The typo was first reported by Kit Fox, who was at the ceremony but did not receive one of the misspelled diplomas. Fox took a photo of a friend's diploma, which had the word "integrated" spelled "itegrated," and tweeted it out.
U.S. & World
Fox said students were viewing the error as "humorous."
"We all took it in good humor," he said. "We're all really aware of the 'Medill F' so the jokes came easy."
The "Medill F" is a school tradition that gives students a failing grade for a factual error or misspelling.
"Maybe it was one last-minute test for the grads to catch on their diplomas," Fox said, noting that the rule isn't quite as daunting as it sounds.
"The best part about it is it seems really harsh when you come in as a freshman but what it's really teaching you is really getting a 'Medill F' is smaller than getting a factual inaccuracy when you're out in the real world," he said.
Desiree Hanford, lecturer and director of undergraduate education at the school, said officials plan to issue new diplomas to the impacted students.
"The diplomas are issued by the university so we will work with the NU registrar's office Monday to provide new diplomas to these students," she said.


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MWC 15 Special
Samsung held a massive event yesterday evening where it announced, at its so called "UNPACK5" event the Samsung Galaxy S5. Still following the design-tradition of the Galaxy S-range, you either love it or hate it, the fifth generation of the Galaxy S was said to be designed for what matters most to consumers. The new Galaxy S5 offers consumers a refined experience with innovation of essential features for day-to-day use. The Galaxy S5 combines an advanced camera, fast LTE network connectivity, dedicated fitness tools and enhanced device protection features as consumers stay fit and connected in style. Capturing and saving precious memories is one of the most important smartphone features today.
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The device will be available globally through Samsung's retail channels, e-commerce and carriers on April.
Cheers ~ Arne
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I just LOVE Katie's new kit that will be released this weekend! Since I am pressed for time, and a million things to do, I decided to save myself some time and I revamped one of my own pages!
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