At the 1970 YWCA national convention, Dorothy Height, the first National Director of the YWCA’s Center for Racial Justice, led the charge to adopt the YWCA’s One Imperative: The elimination of racism wherever it exists, and by any means necessary.
YWCA of Greater Cleveland has been on its own journey to operationalize anti-racism. On the surface, this is not a surprising journey because the YWCA’s mission is eliminating racism and empowering women. Despite that mission, a clear-eyed review of the YWCA’s own operations done in 2016 surfaced that we were not actively, or consistently, identifying or eliminating our own practices that resulted in race and gender injustice. The journey to address that shortfall has been challenging and powerful for our staff, board and leadership.
We believe our challenging journey is relevant to others who want to go beyond diversity and inclusion efforts to operationalize anti-racism within their organization and their community. We overcame persistent, powerful resistance from members of our leadership team and staff. And we had to deal with long-standing biased practices throughout our organization. Our learned resiliency has changed our policies, our practices, our humanity, and organizational culture.
These are the moments–when the One Imperative was embraced, and again today-that call for bold leadership. YWCA of Greater Cleveland answers that call and dares to lead. We honor our history, our 150-year movement for equity, inclusivity, and opportunity, through our continuing mission to eliminate racism and empower women, and with a renewed and deeper focus on the aspirations, challenges, and potential of girls and women, especially girls and women of color
Our Purposeful Approach
The YWCA of Greater Cleveland approach is an unvarnished, constructive view of our journey – the blow-ups and the breakthroughs – to demonstrate the power and path to operationalizing anti-racism. But why anti-racism? Why not diversity? Anti-racist organizations look within to uproot racial bias in operations. Diversity refers to demographic variation. While this is clearly an oversimplified definition, we believe that setting an intention to becoming anti-racist organizations has been a missed step. That is why our new strategic plan is focused on the health, safety, and economic empowerment of women and girls of color.
Margaret Mitchell, YWCA Greater Cleveland President & CEO leads the racial equity strategy, including the initial racial equity intervention and ongoing organizational change management to advance equity.
Learn more below:
YWCA Greater Cleveland began this journey in 2014 after the murder of Tamir Rice, an unarmed 12-year-old Black boy, at the hands of police. The leadership team resolved to advance racial equity within YWCA Greater Cleveland by operationalizing equity in every aspect of their organization. This includes written equity plans, raising the staff’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, expanded PTO, and a Pathways to Promotion Program that has increased the promotion rate of BIPOC women by 60%. Over the past 10 years, YWCA Greater Cleveland’s annual staff turnover rate averaged 29%, in 2020 it was 9%.
YWCA Greater Cleveland’s commitment to racial equity is also reflected in our five-year strategic plan, adopted in October of 2019. This new plan focuses on women and girls of color—not as the only community YWCA serves, but as the community whose liberation most ties YWCA’s past to its future and will catalyze other realizations of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
In November of 2019, YWCA Greater Cleveland partnered with First Year Cleveland to host “400 Years of Inequity: A Call to Action” a national summit commemorating the start of chattel slavery in 1619 and its enduring impact on health, economic and educational inequities in America. The summit closed with a call to action – declare racism a public health crisis. With the support of YWCA and other community organizations, in summer 2020, the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County officials declared racism a public health crisis and committed to making real systemic change. These declarations represent an important governmental acknowledgment of racism and its continued impact.
Inspired by the work of Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Debby Irving, and Dr. Marguerite Penick, in 2019 YWCA Greater Cleveland curated an independent and unique challenge as an internal training tool for staff. The team then made the decision to open the challenge to the community and 2,500 individuals took the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge that first year. The Challenge has grown into a national movement engaging over 30,000 people from 2,600 ZIP codes and 48 states in racial equity work in just 3 years. In partnership with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, YWCA also created 2 mini-challenges around sports, race, and entertainment for the NFL Draft which took place in Cleveland in April 2021.


Looking to travel from Greater Noida to Solan? It will take you 6h 37m hrs journey to reach Solan. The distance to Solan from Greater Noida is 366 km via road transport.
As you're looking for the best way to travel to Solan, buses may be the answer. Not only are they a cost-effective transportation option, but they also offer a comfortable and convenient way to get from Greater Noida to Solan.
The distance between Greater Noida to Solan is 366 km which makes it perfect to travel via Bus transportation. Although you may also look for other available options depending on your requirements such as trains and flights if available.
We recommend you to travel by Bus as it's a comfortable and economical way to reach Greater Noida. It takes 6h 37m to reach Solan via Bus.
zingbus offer amenities such as outlets for charging devices, waiting lounges and reclining seats, making the journey more comfortable.


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The letter 'O' charm reminds you to be optimistic and organized. It lets you be organic and make your decisions. Adorn the 'O' charm to set the trend.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
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The Institute of Certified Chartered Economists (ICCE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the SP Jain School of Global Management (Dubai Campus) to co-host the 2024 Global Economics Summer School in Dubai, UAE.
The Institute of Certified Chartered Economists (ICCE) is a leading global professional body providing the Chartered Economist designation program, while the SP Jain School of Global Management is a top-ranked Australian business school that provides modern, relevant, and practical global business education with campuses in Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Sydney.
The two institutions are collaborating to host the 2024 Global Economics Summer School in Dubai.
The Global Economics Summer School (GESS) is a prestigious annual economics summer school put together by the Institute of Certified Chartered Economists (ICCE) and the Young Global Economists Society (YGES).
The goal of GESS 2024 is to bring together economists and graduate students (Master’s, Ph.D., and researchers) from across the world to Dubai to engage on various pressing topics in economics and global development.
According to Dr. Christopher Abraham, CEO and Head of SP Jain’s Dubai Campus.
GESS will allow the learners to learn in a top-class university environment with renowned faculty and network with global participants and professionals from over 40 countries.


Amazing Grace and Trinity Lutheran are poised for a new future.
Thank you for visiting our Internet site.
Amazing Grace is located in Pleasant Hill, Missouri and is a dual parish congregation with Trinity Lutheran, located in Creighton, Missouri. Both are members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Join us for Worship! Sunday services begin at 8:30 AM in Pleasant Hill and at 11:00 AM in Creighton.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Classes begin at 10:00 AM in Pleasant Hill and 9:30 in Creighton.
Pastor: Reverend Robert Malone
You can reach us at (816)540-5150. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
You can also contact us at our e-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.org
Please let us know what your needs and questions are, we will be more than happy to help.


Don’t hide away your wedding photos on a USB stick – print them, share them and enjoy them!
A wedding album tells the story of your day. It becomes a family heirloom. You can leaf through it time and time again – the two of you or with friends and family – and bring back the memories of your wedding day. It will all be in there, every time you open the book.
I offer the following album choices:
- Coffee table photobook (photographs printed directly onto the page)
- Classic wedding album (photographs printed then mounted into the album)
- Parent album (smaller version of your album for gift giving)
I’m proud to use Jorgensen, a premium album supplier for professional photographers. All their albums are produced in the UK or in Australia and the quality really is amazing.


So I logged into my Myspace page one day and stumbled across a bulletin from Natalie Walker saying that she was involved in a new collaborative project. Naturally, if Natalie Walker is involved in anything, I'll listen…
The project is called Dive Index, and it's the electro-acoustic brainchild of producer Will Thomas, who also releases music under the name Plumbline. Folks, "Mid/Air" may be the best album I've heard all year. Thomas breathes some life into the typically glitchy IDM genre, and he blends it together masterfully with live instrumentation and fantastic vocalists. If you were a fan of Björk's "Vespertine," you will really enjoy "Mid/Air."
Playlist for Dave's Lounge #95:
- "Between Sky and Sea" (feat. Natalie Walker)
- "For Centuries" (feat. Cat Martino)
- "Second Guessing" (feat. S. Shaw)
- "Water In Our Hands" (feat. Cat Martino)
- "Hoko Onchi" (feat. Ian Masters)
- "The World Is Kind" (feat. Natalie Walker)
- Background Music: "Sole Fisherman" (feat. Merz)
Enjoy the show!
Dig Dave’s Lounge? Digg Dave’s Lounge!


I’ve never been to Le Marche. The only thing I knew about the region is that it has an amazing seafood scene, thanks to its primary location on the Adriatic coast. I’ve had Verdicchio few times and Pecorino wines, but even then, it would be rather coincidental – a glass at a friend’s party or a sommelier recommendation at a local wine bar.
I asked my friends, passionate wine lovers, if they ever had a wine from Le Marche, and what was their first-choice wine from Italy. “I like Friulano and the red that tastes like honey…Nero d’Avola, but I don’t know what regions they fall into,” said my friend Emily. My friend Marina didn’t know what Le Marche is. Had anyone ever tasted Verdicchio, Pecorino, or Lacrima di Moro? “I thought Pecorino is a cheese,” said my friend Julia. So, none of my friends could recall having ever tried any wine from Le Marche and none of them were familiar with the names of the grapes. However, all agreed that the names of the grapes sound beautiful, and were curious to taste the wines.
My survey wasn’t eye-opening, but rather confirmed my assumption that Le Marche is still considered off the beaten path for many wine consumers, and often gets overshadowed by its better-known neighbors, like Tuscany or even Abruzzo.
Marco Germani, who represented Velenosi winery at the Taste of Le Marche Pairing Lunch I attended, explained that lack of popularity by the fact that wine production of the Marche is tiny in comparison with giants like Veneto or Puglia. Le Marche accounts for 0,8 million hectoliters – three times less than Tuscany, and only 1/7 of Veneto wine production by volume (Statista 2019). I can see why the American consumer has limited access to these wines, but the other side of the coin is that the region could do a better job in educating the consumer about their wines and grapes.
Le Marche in a nutshell
Many different types of wines are produced in Le Marche because of its diverse terroir and climatic sub-zones. The region stretches along the eastern seaboard of central Italy with the regions of Emilia Romagna on the north and Abruzzo on the south and is separated from Umbria by the Apennines. Inland river valleys channel cool sea air over the coastal plains and up into Apennine foothills, moderating the summer heat.
High elevation (Le Marche is almost 90% hills), great sun exposure, and Adriatic influence create perfect grape growing conditions resulting in wines of great complexity, rich aromatics and flavor. Calcareous, clay and limestone-rich soils provide good water drainage forcing vines to develop long root system to reach the nutrients, resulting in more concentrated wines with mineral character.
Main grape varieties: Verdicchio, Pecorino, Montepulciano, Lacrima di Morro, Sangiovese.
Of many wines I tasted, I particularly loved Verdicchio from Velenosi winery, crisp and round straw-colored wine with pretty floral aromas that compliment its citrus, briny flavors. Crisp acidity and slightly bitter aftertaste of toasted almonds makes Verdicchio an ideal match for salads, seafood appetizers and semi-hard cheeses. I also liked the back label romantic description, promising “to surprise you, attract you, and intrigue you.”
In addition to Verdicchio, my other favorite white was Pecorino (again, not to be confused with Pecorino cheese). Unlike floral Passerina (Velenosi makes a sparkling version of it) or crisp, briny Verdicchio, Pecorino has more tropical fruit, fresh herbs flavor with natural sweetness of the grape, nicely balanced with zesty acidity. Having an amazing fullness on the palate, this wine would pair wonderfully with rich fatty fish, lobster, and Pecorino cheese, of course!
Another recognizable variety from Le Marche is Lacrima di Morro. It is a semi-aromatic red wine, which has a very distinct floral flavor. As our host Laura Donadoni (aka @theitalianwinegirl) said “It’s easy to love it, and it’s easy to hate it.” There were no haters at our table, but I can see why some people would opt for a different style of wine. I thought it was an incredible wine for the price ($16), but I preferred another red a bit more: Roggio del Filare, a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese from the coastal area Rosso Piceno DOC Superiore. This wine is made from 50 years old vines and goes through extensive oak aging for 18 months. Roggio del Filare is a flagship wine of Velenosi winery that has won multiple prestigious wine awards and regularly receives high scores from important wine guides.
All of the wines that I tasted during that lunch were not only good, but were reasonably priced, no matter was it a light floral aperitif sparkling or a rich, serious red made from 50 years old vines with extensive oak ageing.
As our group of wine bloggers and writers tasted the wines and enjoyed Italy’s favorite comfort food, La Pecora Bianca, NYC is well known for its house-made pasta, I thought how approachable and easy on a palate those wines were and what an incredible value for the quality and pleasure they delivered. It’s just up to the rest of the world to notice.
Le Marche through Velenosi wines
Passerina Brut, NV
Extended Charmat Method (aged on lees for 90 days)
This light and floral Spumante made from Passerina grape is an excellent aperitif thanks to its bright acidity, silky mouthfeel and persistent bubbles.
2018 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico ($16)
A fascinating white made with the most widely planted grape variety in Le Marche – Verdicchio.
Playful acidity, complex minerality, and slightly bitter aftertaste of toasted almonds make Verdicchio an ideal match for salads, seafood appetizers and semi-hard cheeses.
2018 Velenosi Pecorino Offida DOCG Villa Angela ($18)
Beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers, tropical fruit and fresh herbs like thyme and sage. Round on the palate, with refreshing acidity this wine would pair wonderfully with fatty fish, shellfish and white sauce pasta dishes.
2018 Velenosi Querciantica Lacrima di Morro DOC ($16)
Inky and intensely saturated red with distinctive flavor, made from the ancient Lacrima grape variety. This fruity medium-bodied wine with gently tannins pairs well with braised meats, stews, and pasta with tomato sauce.
2015 Velenosi Roggio del Filare Rosso Piceno DOC Superiore ($40)
Made from 50 years old vines grown at Rosso Piceno DOC, Le Marche, and aged for 18 months in oak, this red blend of Montepulciano (70%) and Sangiovese (30%) is a stunner! Intense, elegant nose of dark red fruit, followed by tobacco, leather, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. Full-bodied with silky, well integrated tannins the wine is ready to drink now but can be easily put on hold for the next decade.
Visciole Querciantica (Vino Aromatico)
This blend of red wine and cherry liquor made into dessert wine is absolutely delicious. Pair it with chocolate tart or gelato.
Check out full wine portfolio and learn more about Velenosi family here.


Malaysian Sociologist Sayyid Farid Alatas blamed the silent majority of Muslims in Malaysia for the existence of sectarianism and the oppression and harassment of Shia Muslims in the country.
Speaking at an open discussion on the “Moderation and Administration of Islam in Malaysia” at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam on Saturday, Alatas said when it came to the prosecution of Shia Muslims in Malaysia, there was no outrage from Muslims in the country except for a handful.
This, he said, was despite the fact that these same silent Muslims were vocal in their disapproval of other areas of life whether it concerned the Muslims or not.
“We deserve the kind of government that we have and we deserve the kind of Islam that is being administered to us.
“The political elite has administratively supported sectarianism and the apathetic population fails to put pressure on the elite,” he said.
He said it was extremely irresponsible for this silent Muslim majority to allow the years of continued prosecution against Shia Muslims in the country.
“It is also a matter of life and death. Two people were arrested in Singapore for wanting to join the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) and they said one of their goals was to kill Shia Muslims.
“There are many things we can blame the government for but when it comes to sectarianism, it is the people’s fault because our government will change its tune if it knows that the majority will not condone it.”
Alatas, who is a professor at the National University of Singapore, said Malaysia was probably the only countries which legally condoned the prosecution of Shia Muslims.
“In Iraq or Pakistan there are incidences of physical conflict when it comes to the matter of sectarianism, but there is no official position by their government condoning it. Malaysia has distinguished itself.
“The thinking in Malaysia is that if you have groups that are different from each other then there will be conflict and in order to avoid conflict then you have to do away with those groups.
“This is a problem because if this is the type of thinking then there will always be more groups you have to get rid of. In Malaysia, there is already some disdain towards Sufis who are mostly among the Sunni Muslims.”
Alatas emphasized that he was not speaking about sectarianism from the point of view of liberalism or modern values but from the point of view of classical Sunni Islamic thought.
“It is not part of the Sunni tradition to have sects and there is no precedence in Islamic tradition for banning the existence of groups outside the mainstream even when those groups are found guilty of dissenting against a fatwa.
“Even in such cases, jurists have agreed that there is no legal process or procedure for such people.”
Alatas said the Constitution allows for far greater role of the rulers, including questioning and gazetting “problematic” Islamic enactments against Shia Islam.


Friday October 25th Protests are continuing daily over the 9 – 13 year jail sentences handed down to moderate Catalan politicians and civil society leaders – simply for calling a referendum on independence in 2017, […]
Film length: 3:46 The general strike in Barcelona against police repression continues to be a huge success. The midday rally called by the militant radical left wing unions responsible for the strike drew so many […]
Film length: 2:13 Just a few shots to give you a flavour of an incredible general strike in Barcelona, with the anti-capitalist left out in force throughout the city shutting down the few cafes that […]
Film length: 2:02 Student march in Barcelona against the police oppression – called at less than two hours notice, and with the anouncement that they would be joining the general strike the following day too.
Film length: 9:30 Duwayne Brooks speaking at “Voices of the Spied on” public meeting, University of London, 9.10.16. Duwayne was the main witness to the murder of his friend Stephen Lawrence. This began a campaign […]


Originally Posted by whiteboybill
I purchased my D Rose and Taj Gibson gamers directly from the Bulls...come with an LOA from the Bulls describing the tagging, etc....
They offer in game silent auctions for some gamers to benifit their charity called Charitabulls. Meigray is the other way to go....
I want a D Rose for sure!!! and Lebron Durant Harden Lilliard Kobe hahaha


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Join Date: Jul 2008
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Total Points: 1,065,731,583,509,799.25
Originally Posted by WALTER WHITE
My favorite cinematographers of all time:
1) Roger Deakins (True Grit, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, In Time, The Shawshank Redemption, A Serious Man, Fargo)
2) Christopher Doyle (Hero, In the Mood for Love, Chungking Express, 2046, Infernal Affairs)
3) Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life, Children of Men, The New World, Sleepy Hollow, A Little Princess)
4) Conrad L. Hall (Road to Perdition, American Beauty, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Cool Hand Luke)
5) Robert Richardson (The Aviator, Platoon, JFK, Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill, Nixon)
I also have great admiration for the works of Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now), John Toll (Braveheart), Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood), and Gordon Willis (The Godfather).
Great list, I'd have Deakins, Lubezki, Elswit, Storaro, Hall, Toll. I also like Wally Pfister and Matthew Libatique.


Eye On Real Estate
By Lore Croghan
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Landlords on Van Brunt Street want rents for vacant storefronts that are a good 30% higher than pre-Hurricane Sandy rates.
Can retailers afford to pay up in a transit-challenged, storm-slammed neighborhood like Red Hook?
The new owners of 252-254 Van Brunt St. got “pretty close” to the rent they wanted for two empty 1,600-square-foot storefronts — by leasing them to non-retail tenants, one of the landlords revealed.
A custom furniture maker is moving into 252 Van Brunt and a wholesale bicycle seller is taking 254 Van Brunt, the property's co-owner, Shlomo Chkifati, told Eye on Real Estate.
“Wholesalers and industrial businesses don't depend on foot traffic in the area,” he said.
Chkifati listed the spaces online as being “great for an art gallery, restaurant, nightclub or lounge.”
But those types of tenants didn't show any interest in the property, he said. He can understand why.
“Anyone opening a retail business will have a loss for the first two years, until they get a following,” he said.
It took six months to land his new tenants. He marketed the spaces himself at first, then hired brokerage firm Ideal Properties Group to handle the job because he didn't have time, he said.
The asking rent was $3,500 per month for each 1,600-square-foot space.
That's on a par with the rents that other Van Brunt Street landlords want for vacant retail spaces on Red Hook's main commercial corridor.
Before the killer 'cane, Van Brunt Street retail rents were at most $2,600 per month for food tenants, a source said.
Chkifati and co-purchaser Gabi Ballas bought their low-rise industrial building through LLCs in January for $1.365 million, city Finance Department records indicate.
The deed spells out further details: Chkifati's LLC has a 63% interest in the property and Ballas' LLC has a 37% interest.
The seller was an LLC managed by Roger Dib that had purchased it in 2006 for $1.325 million, an earlier deed indicates.
Chkifati owns Luxor Limo, which is located on Van Brunt Street. Ballas owns discount stores in the Bronx, according to online records.
There are several empty storefronts on the street, whose tenants include food-writer faves like the Good Fork (391 Van Brunt St.), Red Hook Lobster Pound (284 Van Brunt St.) and Home/Made at 293 Van Brunt St. — see related story.
Coffee shop Baked (359 Van Brunt St.) serves up dream desserts like the Brookster, which is part brownie and part chocolate-chunk cookie. Hometown Bar-B-Que (454 Van Brunt St.), which is across the street from superb supermarket Fairway, was the busiest place on Van Brunt Street when we spent a recent sunny Sunday there.
Kentler International Drawing Space (353 Van Brunt St.) has an exhibition that includes eye-catching work by Orlando Richards.
Buyers certainly are paying mucho money for Van Brunt Street buildings.
In December, Jenny Lee Nichols purchased a townhouse with a carriage house at 398 Van Brunt St. for $2.485 million, Finance Department records show.
Nichols paid a hair less than the asking price, which was $2.495 million, according to online listings by sale broker Corcoran.
Seller Denise Carbonell had paid $1.795 million for the property in 2007.
Carbonell had a shop in the building's storefront called Metal and Thread that stocked local artisans' works, including hers and co-owner Derek Dominy's.
Is the new homeowner the Jenny Nichols who is film director Mike Nichols' daughter and TV news anchor Diane Sawyer's step-daughter? That's what Red Hook insiders say.
The neighborhood is full of interesting people.


What is BNI?
BNI is a business referral group, basically each chapter consists of members, the members support each other by cultivating business leads for one another. The philosophy of BNI is based on Givers Gain- If I give you business you will want to give me business"
The Meeting is run to a set agenda which provides a structured networking environment which focuses on the generation of Business leads. Open networking takes place at the beginning and the end of the meeting, which is a great time to get to know all the members well. The Kett chapter has a very strong Team Spirit and you will see this if you come along to one of our many meetings.
"BNI is the most successful organisation of its type in the world; In over 40 countries there are more than 5300 chapters in operation with more than 112k members;
members of BNI passed 5.6 million referrals last year and this translates into more than £1.45 billion pounds worth of business being done between the members worldwide.
In the UK & Ireland there are 650 chapters and 14k members resulting in 560k referrals and this translated in over £190 million worth of business for our members last year.


Coaching Associates – Personal Development Coaching, Life Coaching, Business Development Coaching
- Who are you?
- What are you doing with your life?
- Where are you going?
- How are you going to find the answers to these questions?
- When are you ready to start?
What is the difference between you and the people you see who are successful in their lives? It's simple - these people know who they are, what's important to them, and they have a plan for getting there! Most of these people didn't find out who they are, what's important or formulate a plan without mentors, teachers, or coaches.
You can have a professional personal development coach of your own at a price you can afford. An experienced life coach will help you find out who you are, what's important to you and formulate a plan to live the life you want to live! YOUR very own Personal Development Coach is just one phone call away! Call now to take advantage of our special $299 offer just for our internet clients, half the normal price!. For this low price, you will receive three, one-on-one coaching calls with your own personal coach!
Here's a little questionnaire to get you started thinking about your Personal Development.
- What were your dreams when you were in high school? College?
- Which of those dreams are still part of your life?
- What is the best part of your life right now?
- How long have you allowed your dreams to be on hold?
- If you could change one thing in your life right now, what would you change?
- What was the best time or best experience of your life?
- Of all the people in your life, who do you admire?
- Why do you admire them?
- Do you read regularly?
- Do you attend church, synagogue or mosque or other type of spiritual or religious group on a regular basis?
Your Personal Development coach will use the answers to these questions to get you started and on your way to the life you want to live!


Ironman New Zealand
The Ironman New Zealand is going to take place for the 30th time on Saturday 1st of March 2014 in Taupo. It is the longest running international Ironman event in the world.
More than half of the participants are joining in from overseas every year, which makes it a truly international event.
Since 1999 the Ironman event takes place in Taupo, located in the centre of New Zealand North Island amidst truly breathtaking scenery showcasing the most beautiful nature you can imagine. New Zealandís largest fresh water lake offers the best swim on the circuit. A two-loop bike course comes back through town before heading through the forests and a three-loop run course leaves you no chance to escape the thousands of spectators. So Taupo, the home of Ironman New Zealand, is celebrating the 30th anniversary and is inviting you to join in.In the spirit of celebration, there are 50 qualifying slots to the 2014 Ironman World Championship in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Plus, an additional 10 slots to 2014 Ironman World Championship in the loyalty lottery draw. Athletes will receive one entry into the special lottery draw for every finish at Ironman New Zealand including the 2014 event.
While you visit Ironman New Zealand don't forget to take advantage to travel New Zealand as well.
Rent a Campervans New Zealand campervan to soak up and explore New Zealandís breathtaking scenery, as it will give you the best option to enjoy New Zealand travel to its fullest.
Campervans New Zealand campervans are an excellent choice for those participating in the Ironman New Zealand event as your bike can be stored inside the campervan securely locked. So rent a Campervans New Zealand camper and see New Zealand through the windows of one of the most loved campervans in New Zealand.
Let the good times roll .....


This candy will steal your heart! And how could they not with their shimmery, shiny silver wrapper and even more amazing chocolate heart that lays within.
Add them to Valentine's Day card, give them to a special someone to remind them how much they are loved, or even use them on top of a cake or cupcake to make something sweet all the more special. Whatever occasion you decide to use these adorable chocolate for, this bulk bag of Silver Foil Hearts is here to make a romantic day even more memorable. Make your heart skip a beat for these tasty treats today.
About 55 hearts per pound (550 total)
Price per pound $11.00
Made by: Sweetworks Inc.
Certified Kosher Candy
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WAUKESHA, WIS.— Milwaukee Opera Theatre will perform “Candide” at Carroll University on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. in room B13 of Shattuck Music Center, 218 N. East Ave, Waukesha. Seating is very limited. Tickets are $25 premium reserved, $20 general admission and $15 students/seniors. To order tickets, go to www.brownpapertickets.com or call 800.838.3006. Tickets will not be available at the door or sold by Carroll University.
“Candide” is a tale of romance and woe, originally written by Voltaire and adapted by Hugh Wheeler. Music is by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics are by Richard Wilbur, Stephen Sondheim and John Latouche. In one lightning-paced act, the hapless bastard cousin Candide is expelled from home, drafted into the Bulgarian army, brought before the Spanish Inquisition, swindled out of a fortune, shipwrecked on a desert isle and separated time and again from his true love Cunegonde. Through it all, Candide remembers the lesson of his dear master Dr. Pangloss, “Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”
With “Candide,” MOT brings intimate opera to a whole new level, staging this masterwork in the simplest of surroundings – ordinary classrooms. Seated at desks and in chairs, the audience will be surrounded on all sides. Additional performances will be at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Pius XI High School in Milwaukee and UW-Milwaukee.
For more information, visit www.milwaukeeoperatheatre.org.


April 24th 2012 1:21 am
[ View A Comments (5) ]
Can I have some of your birthday cake???
Today is my mom's 34th bday and mom said she had to do the math as she couldn't remember if she was 33 or 34. Geeze mom!!! If you can't remember, then you're old!
Mittens is on his last day (only 5 days) of meds, and has since taking 2 sizeable #1's. Obviously he's done more but to actually see HIM do this is a hard thing with 6 of us. She has yet to see him do a #2 so she's still stressed, but would assume he's done so as he's gotten enough food!!!
So maybe he was straining from #2? If so, then mom will have to inquire with the GOOD vets about something to help him, but it was never an issue... Maybe a one time thing? Mom hasn't seen any squishies in the box so that's good. And she knows what Mittens' #2 look like (we will spare you the BIG details)...
For mom's bday, she is getting a few HP things, but the best thing she's getting? Dad is cleaning the entire HOUSE!!! Normally mom would but her back is still on the mend. Mom says she has to swiffer vac DAILY to get up the cat fur/hair tumbleweeds. She doesn't think dad realizes how hard it is to keep the house clean. He's going to do the whole kitten kaboodle! Mom is thrilled :)
Happy birthday to your mom!
dood...R mom canna even REMEMBER 33...or 34...so best fishes N happy day wishes ta her N yea, her kneads ta let everee one haz sum cake and happy birthday mrs boogers...
N tell yur mom pure pumpkin...knot pie fillin pumpkin..but pure pumpkin her can get at de store.. will helps mittens
seer ee iz lee...ta poop ore knot ta poop...werks both ways...pumpkin doez !!!
happy day !
Happy Birthday to your Mom!!
Happy Birthday Boogers' mom!!!!
Oh belated happy Birthday to your mom hope she had a great birthday.


More Canadians Turning to Mortgage Brokers
A report released this week by Deloitte shows a significant rise in the number of home buyers who choose to use a mortgage broker to negotiate their home loans.
The report says that 38 percent of mortgages in Canada were generated by mortgage brokers in 2009, up from 26 percent in 2003. Brokers are most popular among first-time buyers – with 44 percent of originations coming from this group.
The Deloitte report – titled Winning Strategies in the Brokered Mortgage Marketplace
– predicts that the mortgage broker segment of the market will remain viable and competitive in the foreseeable future.
Unlike Canada, the U.S. has seen its mortgage broker industry implode under the weight of the sub-prime lending fiasco and housing market collapse. Until that point, mortgage brokers in the U.S. had grown to represent about two thirds of the lending market.
The report illustrates the growth potential
for mortgage brokerage business in Canada, where we have more stringent lending and credit verification practices.
Calculate your mortgage payments using CENTUM Mortgage Calculators.
Posted by CENTUM Canada
on October 29, 2010


Originally Posted by Brainiac
The Chiefs are so pathetic that I don't care who wins the Super Bowl. It's not like we have an actual rivalry with the Broncos or the Raiders or any other team.
Because we suck that means there is no rivalry? WTF dude?
Screw the Broncos! Screw Manning! I'm for whoever is playing the broncos and Manning because they Broncos are my rival and I hate Manning.
Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.


The rapid spread of cellphones across Sub-Saharan Africa is transforming the region, but record levels of growth are due to slow sharply, an industry report said this week.
Mired in civil war for 21 months, its oil-based economy in tatters, South Sudan is an unlikely source of upmarket coffee capsules for European consumers.
Nigeria's oil firm NNPC said Sunday it had signed a deal with a consortium of local and foreign lenders to develop 36 oil wells that would also boost domestic power generation in Africa's largest crude producer.
As mining companies in resource-rich Africa bleed jobs due to plunging commodity prices, the ripple effect of redundancies has raised concern about social unrest amid declining economic growth.
Young people don't have many places to socialize in conservative Algeria. But now the North African's country's youth are discovering something their counterparts in the West embraced a generation ago: the shopping mall.
Natural gas power generation should be prioritized to help tackle South Africa's dire energy crisis that has hobbled growth and led to rolling black-outs, said a report released Tuesday.
Nigeria's Dangote Cement has announced a US$4.34 billion deal with Chinese construction company Sinoma International Engineering to build plants across Africa.
The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC, 金管會) said Friday that the FSC has received 11 applications to secure a license to kick off their third party payment processing services.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi unveiled an expanded Suez Canal Thursday in a lavish ceremony, with the first ships passing through the waterway in what Egypt hopes will boost its economy and global standing.
Yahoo is still limping along as the Internet company prepares to shed the financial crutch that has been propping up its stock during the three-year reign of CEO Marissa Mayer.


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Yesterday, the Financial Times, the most-sophisticated business newspaper in the world, published this head-slapper:
Gold hits fresh record on inflation fears
That’s the headline. The story says “Gold prices continued to set fresh highs… gold reached a fresh peak… hit a fresh all-time high…”
We learn from this that the FT likes the word “fresh.” What we don’t learn anywhere in the story is that gold didn’t really set a record—or get anywhere near it. (Here’s where I disclose that I own some gold ETF shares in my IRA)
In fact, gold only hit a nominal record of $1219 on Tuesday. If you adjust for inflation, which you must, it’s still a whopping 47 percent below the real record, which was hit more than three decades ago at an inflation-adjusted $2309. In other words, the FT is full of it.
But then, so is The Wall Street Journal:
Gold Shoots To a Record As Europeans Seek Safety
That’s not a record that means anything, and the Journal doesn’t mention until the very last sentence of a twenty-four paragraph story that it’s not a “real” record. That doesn’t cut it. I’d bet you fewer than 10 percent of readers who started that story made it that far.
Still, at least the Journal has the information there for those looking for it. Its corporate cousin MarketWatch didn’t. Bloomberg didn’t yesterday here, nor did Reuters. Nor did the Associated Press. And on and on.
This is part of a broader problem in the press. I’ve written about how the media rarely adjust stock prices for inflation, which has the effect of misleading investors into thinking returns are better than they really are.
Why does this happen? Well, for one thing, a lot of journalists are innumerate and a lot don’t know much about history. But for another, darker reason: it’s an easy story. A reporter and editor will inevitably draw better play for a piece if it’s about a “record” than if it’s about how gold is simply up a few bucks. That incentivizes journalists to sex things up at the expense of the truth. This is hardly a phenomenon limited to numbers-based stories.
The bottom line is simple: These stories are misleading. Don’t mislead your readers.Ryan Chittum is a former Wall Street Journal reporter, and deputy editor of The Audit, CJR's business section. If you see notable business journalism, give him a heads-up at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ryanchittum.


FRAUD, DELEVAN DRIVE: A man said Dec. 12 he paid more than $10,000 in cash to a man impersonating a lawyer from a sweepstakes.
FRAUD, CAMBERLY DRIVE: A man and a woman said Dec. 14 their debit cards were used fraudulently.
THEFTS, MAYFIELD ROAD: A 2003 blue BMW was stolen Dec. 10 from the lot of the Hillcrest YMCA. The car was recovered, undamaged, Dec. 13 in Cleveland. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of “a person of interest.”
A woman said someone stole her credit cards Dec. 13 at Boston Market.
THEFT, RICHMOND ROAD: A man left without paying for a cell phone Dec. 16 at CVS pharmacy. He fled northbound on Richmond in an SUV, and officers were unable to locate him.
THEFT, GLENLYN ROAD: A woman said Dec. 12 her son’s cell phone was stolen from Brush High School, and he was also threatened by a student regarding the phone theft.
DISTURBANCE, MAYFIELD ROAD: Two intoxicated men were fighting about 1 a.m. Dec. 16 outside the Antalya Red Square restaurant. One man, 29, was given a trespass warning.
IMPAIRED DRIVING, RICHMOND ROAD: A Euclid man, 51, was arrested for driving under the influence after a traffic stop Dec. 15 at Richmond and Lynd Avenue.
DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, RICHMOND ROAD: A Cleveland woman, 23, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop Dec. 14. She had a grinder used for marijuana.
See more Lyndhurst news at cleveland.com/lyndhurst.


Most of us are DROWNING IN OCEANS OF DATA,”management process guru Dr. Eli Goldratt writes, in his book The Haystack Syndrome, “so why does it seem we seldom have sufficient information? This maddening dilemma of our technological age is a factor in every important decision, and an issue we expect to have addressed by modern-day information systems.”
Goldratt’s dilemma is going to be made considerably worse in the very near future by the coming widespread adoption of mesh networks and “mote” and “i-Bean” type sensors (see Distributed Intelligence, Developing Your Potential, and Technically Speaking). Although these new sensors are making it possible to increase the amount of data we can collect by orders of magnitude, the Zigbee protocol and mesh networks and low-power sensors do not, in themselves, do anything to produce “information” out of all this data.
Drowning in a Sea of Data
For those of you already drowning in a sea of data, the prospects of getting orders of magnitude more data must be truly daunting. As data analysis consultant Diana Bouchard notes, “For most of the industrial era, we had had too little data. Now we have more than we know what to do with.” Bouchard continues, “Once we sit down and figure out how to get the real information content out of the data, we should be able to run our plants a lot more effectively.”
This is the key, according to Stefano Angioletti, principal of SoftBrasil, a system integrator located in Sao Paulo. The most important improvement in data collection, he says, “is the development of statistical methods to collect and sample data to reflect the reality of process in all perspectives.”
“The big bucks lie,” says CONTROL columnist and industry consultant Greg McMillan, “in sustaining the benefits from process control improvement. This requires online performance indicators that show the trajectory and history of incremental benefits from increased process efficiency and capacity.”
David Lee, a process engineer at Millennium Chemical Co., concurs. “We collect data on the plant floor to enable manipulation of that data, both near real-time and historical, to assist in the operation of plant equipment. The ability to do this within a controller environment is, at best, limited.”
Angioletti says the most important reason to collect data on the plant floor is, “visibility to support the necessity of controlling. Asset management and good control of equipment and process is the same. Once again, the development of low cost solutions and more reliable systems make it feasible to implement many important management strategies.”
Lee points out, “Applications include statistical process and quality control, KPI (Key Performance Indicators ed.) calculation, performance monitoring, and so on. In addition, the presentation of data to non shop floor personnel such as production management and engineering is becoming essential for both process optimization and troubleshooting purposes.”
In the accompanying supplement from the HART Communication Foundtion, A. J. Lambert, of BP’s PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) plant in Wando, S. C., notes that his plant is making up for reduced process control funding by using previously underutilized information from field instruments to improve maintenance response and uptime. “This BP plant is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in just maintenance and production costs,” he says. That’s a big bottom line reason to collect more data and then use it.
How Data is Collected is Changing
Data collecting in process industries grew like Topsy, rather than being integrally designed. When many process plants were constructed, there was no concept of “data” coming from the process. In the 1970s, distributed control began with transmission of analog process variables in real-time to analog controllers and control stations. Trend and total were collected, if required, using analog recorders and totalizers.
The drive toward continuous process improvement awakened plant managements to the possibilities of using data other than setpoints and actual real-time values, which might be collected from the control system in digital form. Contrast this with the aerospace industry and research labs in many process industries, where the very concept of data collection was important from the beginning.
David Lee comments, “Good data collection allows ever-improving diagnostic and monitoring capabilities on the plant floor. With the trend towards greater plant reliability requirements to increase throughput by decreasing unexpected downtime, this is becoming extremely important. Predictive maintenance through continuous monitoring of key process and derived parameters is a key tool, as is incident investigation following a failure.” Maurice Wilkins, chairman of the World Batch Forum, and also at Millennium, says, “I agree with Lee. Predictive maintenance is a key benefit. For instance, we’ve used our data historian here for a while to measure valve movements in certain critical areas to ensure continued operation.”
Most process plants start out with a simple add-on to their control system: batch reports. Most modern SCADA systems have the capacity to output data, but their reports are often crude and cumbersome. “They are easy to configure and to maintain,” says Cliff Speedy, a consultant in SCADA and automation issues, “but they lack the flexibility to venture past simple ingredient lists.”
Rather than beef up the reporting functions of these software systems, some manufacturers have standardized on a form of SQL (structured query language), which is used to pull data from the control system and push it into a database such as Oracle or Access, where the reporting and data manipulation tools are of a very high order.
Optimization vs. Loop Control
Originally, process control focused on the basic control loop: sensor, controller, final control element. Now, as revealed in the sidebar, “After the Loop, What?” the metaphor of control loops may be changing to something else. “Perhaps a network of control inputs and feedback responses similar to a spider web,” suggests Mark Albert, sales manager of Logic Beach, a datalogger manufacturer. “When a fly enters the web there are dozens of feedback paths to the control point which can be anywhere on the web at any particular time.”
What is making this concept possible is the development of fast, digitally connected sensors and sensor networks, and the data analysis tools to go with them. Diana Bouchard notes, “The wide dissemination of integrated more-or-less-COTS (commercial, off the shelf) process information systems means that you no longer have to keep and feed a database programmer on site so you can collect and process your data.”
Wilkins points out another development. “Way before asset management became an âin-vogue’ term,” he says, “refineries were using predictive maintenance and continuous monitoring on compressors, and not without significant expense. The current technology, especially Fieldbus, allows smaller companies such as ours to have some of the same benefits.”
Tim Donaldson, marketing manager for Iconics Inc., agrees. “The two biggest things that come to mind are OPC and .NET technology. With OPC, this has enabled a standard protocol to be used for connecting software to plant devices, breaking the barriers of having to have point-to-point proprietary connections.” In regard to Microsoft’s .NET architecture, Donaldson points out that “This new platform lays the groundwork for applications to be built for bridging data and viewing data anywhere, anytime. data bridging can happen between production, process control, business systems, ERP, SCM, CRM and legacy systems. It also allows viewing from across the Web and with wireless devices.”
The Future of Data Collection
The cost of monitoring more parameters and collecting more data is dropping drastically. The cost of wiring dwarfs the sensor cost itself, and as wireless networks become simpler and more robust, the idea of a completely wireless plant control system may not be so far off. Millennial Net co-founder Sokwoo Rhee's i-Beans, for example, are hardware modules that can allow instrumentation-like gauges, sensors and actuators to communicate over self-organizing and self-healing wireless networks that can operate with an extremely low rate of power consumption on the energy of a 3-V coin-sized battery for years at a time. It is the network architecture, not the sensor, which really is the big news. Self-organizing and self-healing networks make it possible to implement wireless even in many critical function areas in the process. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) just let a contract to GE and a pair of wireless network developers to create mesh networks that are robust enough to be able to be used to monitor industrial motor efficiency in real time.
But Is It Information?
Data isn’t “information” until it is received by somebody who can use it to make decisions. Jonathan Pollet founder and CEO of PlantData Technologies notes, “Often we still find that data is being collected in inefficient methods, and some that have deployed high-end SCADA and DCS systems are still doing a lot of manual data collection in parallel with the data that the SCADA and DCS systems are already collecting. Being able to step back and understand what are the important pieces of information to collect, and which tools are best to use in the process of acquiring and normalizing the data requires the ability to understand industrial automation systems, work flow processes, and the capabilities of today’s modern data acquisition and normalization techniques. The industry standards built around Ethernet TCP/IP, OPC, and XML have allowed us to build a five-layer model that we call “STAND” for streamlining data collection from any field device using any communication method, and moving that data efficiently through to the end user, reporting tool, or web page. (see Figure)”
When designing information transfer systems, it is critical to be able to weight properly the value of each piece of information. Nowhere is this more evident than in Alarm Management. An operator who has to deal with 300 alarms per hour will simply turn off the alarms, rather than try to figure out what the pattern these alarms are building says. Not only do you need good information system design, but delivery and presentation of the information (human factors, see “Designing Control Rooms for Humans” CONTROL, July ’04, p47) is critical to the ability to use it.
The real issue, though, is how to produce product to the customer’s requirements. It isn’t about control parameters at all. We’ve progressed from analog loop monitoring to plant optimization and asset management on the strength of increasingly robust and less costly tools and strategies. Now it only remains to make it all pay.
“AFTER THE LOOP, WHAT?”
e are taught to think in terms of classical control loops â¦ sensor, controller, control element, but recent developments in advanced process control seem to indicate that Mark Albert’s metaphor of a spider web may be more accurate than the conventional loop metaphor we’ve been accustomed to. Should we be thinking up a new metaphor for control other than loops? What would it be?
Greg McMillan suggests, “’unit operation control.’ Ultimately what you want to do is improve the control of a unit operation such as a heat exchanger, evaporator, crystallizer, fermentor, reactor and distillation column, which are all unit operations.” This is the difference between the way a process engineer thinks and the way a control engineer does. “For a process engineer it is natural to think in terms of these unit operations but control engineers are focused on individual measurements and loops.”
Diana Bouchard says that there are already metaphors in use that we might adopt more widely. “One metaphor that is already in existence,” she says, “is feed-forward model control. This will become important because many processes are evolving towards faster throughput, minimal delay time in tanks, and faster response to upsets in the interest of faster throughput and meeting more demanding quality specifications. In these processes, you will not have time for a pure feedback loop to work. You are not going to be allowed to make 70 tons of bad paper before you find out you had a problem.”
Jonathan Pollet, founder and CEO of PlantData Technologies, says, “Instead of looking at process control one loop at a time, it would be better if we could call it Total Process Management. Operations is not really concerned about watching the condition of one particular PID loop, but more importantly, how all of the contributing process control loops have an effect on the overall process. Logging data out of the control system into database systems allows the control system data to be aggregated with data from other sources, like inventory levels, raw material usage, maintenance systems, and more. When operations teams can set the “Big Picture” then we find that companies are able to really make strides in removing wasted materials and time out of their processes. We need to remove the notion of silo applications like SCADA, DCS, PLC, Maintenance Systems, Inventory Systems, Sales/Marketing Systems, and come up with a better way to integrate all of these into an intelligent Process Management System.”


I am so proud of the back of my cloak. I know it's not much, but I spent forever on it, so it deserves to be shown~ :D
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04-12-2006, 10:43 PM
Join Date: Jul 2004
since its being shipped from hong kong, i just hope my wig comes in on time for the end of april
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For some of us saying no to people is incredibly hard, whether it’s a work colleague asking for help or a family member putting demands on your time. You may feel that by saying yes to everything you will come across as friendly and helpful – but when this comes at the cost of your happiness and wellbeing, it may be time to say no.
Give yourself time
Sometimes we are caught off guard by people asking for favours, making us flustered and respond with “yeah sure, I’ll do it” before we have a chance to process what’s been asked of us. To avoid this try to buy yourself some time by saying you need to check your diary. This will give you a chance to see if you realistically have the time or energy to help out, if you don’t – say no.
Saying no doesn’t mean you need to become cold-hearted or rude, be sure to remain polite when declining. Thank the person for thinking of you, but say you’ll have to pass this time. Stay calm and clear, ending on a positive note such as ‘good luck with the project’ to keep things lighthearted.
Think about your body language
When you are saying no, be sure to match you body language with what you are actually saying. When you dislike saying no, your shoulders tend to tense up and you may stand in a submissive posture while smiling. Try to stand tall and ration your smile, it’s nice to be friendly but you must also get across that you will not be swayed. Don’t fidget or look down when saying no either as this could give your asker the impression that you can be talked into saying yes.
Adopt a power pose
Research suggests that when you stand in the ‘Wonder Woman’ pose for two minutes (with your legs hip-width apart and your hands on your hips) your level of testosterone – the hormone of confidence – rises by 20%. So when you know you have a difficult conversation coming up, stand in this pose for a few minutes beforehand to build confidence.
For some people a lack of assertiveness stems from low self-confidence. Counselling can help to discover the route of your low confidence and help to increase your confidence levels. For more information, please see our Low Self-Confidence page.
View and comment on the original Telegraph article.


ENT Cancer Medical & Surgical Experts
CPMC is proud to be home to many of the best ENT cancer physicians and surgeons in San Francisco. Our doctors take pride in working with all patients to create customized treatment options for each individual. Contact our Cancer Navigation Team for assistance scheduling an appointment.
Choosing the best ENT doctor for you is a critical step in addressing your medical needs. Additionally, at CPMC you have access to some the San Francisco Bay Area's best microsurgeons, reconstructive and plastic surgeons who are experts in their field.
Our ENT Cancer experts include physicians and surgeons in the following areas:
- Cancer Surgery – many cancer surgeons specialize in ENT cancer surgery.
- Dentistry/Prosthodontics – Maxillofacial prosthodontists are physicians who assist patients who need dental restoration and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance and health. Your physician will be able to assist you in locating a prosthodontist through the Pacific Dental School, located at the corner of Clay and Sacramento Streets in San Francisco, adjacent to the Pacific Campus.
- Medical Oncology
- Microsurgery/Reconstructive Surgery
- Ophthalmologic Cancer
- Plastic surgery
- Radiation Oncology
Looking for a physician?
If you need help finding a physician that is right for you, please contact our Physician Referral Coordinator at 888-637-2762.


Thanks for coming out, and thanks to Stef B for being smart enough to get thing rolling as the worlds least involved promoter wasn’t around to kick things off.
Share your trials and tribulations in the comments. I might try to get a finishers list together soon.
See you next year, comrades.
Stef put together this list, correct what needs correcting in the comments, which I think I have turned back on. Stay tuned for news on the future of Crush the Commonwealth.
2015 CtC finishers
5:15am start Pittsburgh, PA
FINISHING TIMES – Liberty Bell, Philadelphia
Saturday 4/25 11:55am Gavin Biebuyck and Brett
Saturday 4/25 1:15pm? Jason Burgess
Saturday 4/25 1:16pm Stef Burch
Saturday 4/25 3:11pm Paul Kilroy
Saturday 4/25 ??? Tom Swallow & ???
Saturday 4/25 4:50pm Rob Maier & ???
Saturday 4/25 8:32pm Nick M. And Bob B.
Saturday 4/25 8:48pm ???
Saturday 4/25 ??? Erica Jacobs
Saturday 4/25 11:10pm Russell Manski & Mike Maserik
Saturday 4/25 11:16pm Mike Smedes
Sunday 4/26 1:30am Adam Haller & Anna-Lena Kempen
Sunday 4/26/ 4:00AM Gerry Durishan, Suz Falvey & John Maletta
Sunday 4/26 10:09am Shawn Martina & Adam Patrick
Sunday 4/26 3:15pm Justin Chapman
Sunday 4/26 4:30pm Adam Kolonay & ???
Sunday 4/26 6:05pm? Dave Hunt


SAN MARCOS, TX – Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC) will present its latest free healthy cooking demonstration, “Cool Treats to Beat the Heat” on May 30 in the CTMC Community Classroom from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The event will be lead by CTMC's Dietary and Nutrition Team and will focus on healthy cool, dessert fruit options for the summer time that can replace regular popsicles and ice cream.
As part of CTMC’s practice of the CREATION Health principles, the CTMC Institute for Healthy Living (IFHL), in conjunction with CTMC’s clinical dieticians, offer a variety of dietary counseling options as well as quarterly free Healthy Cooking Classes. From learning healthy substitutions to new and healthier ways to prepare some of your old favorites, the free, one-hour offerings have provided many participants with effective takeaways to improve their eating habits.
For more information about “Cool Treats to Beat the Heat” or other programs for personal wellness and weight management, call the CTMC Institute for Healthy Living at 512-753-3818 or visit www.ctmc.org.
The hospital, which originated in 1923 as Hays County Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Memorial Hospital, was restructured in 1960. The present facility was opened at its current Wonder World Drive location in 1983. The CTMC staff of more than 700 employees works with more than 220 active and consulting physicians to provide quality services to patients and their families. In addition, over 200 community members and interns from area educational institutions volunteer their services to the hospital. In 2010 and again in 2011, CTMC was named The Best Hospital in Hays County. In addition, CTMC added a certified Chest Pain Center to its ER capabilities in 2011.
CTMC is a member of the Adventist Health System (AHS), a not-for-profit healthcare organization that emphasizes Christ at the center of care. Founded in 1973, AHS has quickly grown to become the largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare provider in the nation. Today, AHS supports 43 hospitals and employs 55,000 individuals. AHS hospitals are comprised of 7,700 licensed beds, providing care for 4 million patients each year in inpatient, outpatient and emergency room visits.


A MUM yesterday relived the moment she told doctors to stop trying to save her baby’s life after he was suffocated by his cot.
Eight-month-old Ainslie Smith died after becoming trapped between the mattress and the slatted side section of his cot as he slept in his home in Pitlessie, Fife, in July 2009.
His mum Alexandra found his body when she went to check on him, a fatal accident inquiry at Cupar Sheriff Court heard. She and husband Ainslie snr, both vets, attempted CPR but they could not revive their son. Paramedics then took over.
Mrs Smith said: “At midnight, they said they had been attempting to revive him for longer than they should and asked for permission to stop.
“Initially, we wanted them to carry on but we realised the futility of it. Just after midnight, we told them to stop.”
A post-mortem found Ainslie died of asphyxia and an obstruction of the upper airway.
Safety consultant John Trinsi said he found a fixing that could come loose, creating a gap a child could fall into during his investigation of an identical £200 Cosatto Stratford cot bed.
An error with the paramedics’ satnav cost them 10 minutes when it initially directed them to a cottage in Ladybank, four miles away.
The inquiry continues.


The HOT list: See 18 things that have FD Luxe’s editors palpitating and perplexed
Photo: FD Luxe
Hot can't have -- This is the big one. The pooh-bah. The king of the SUV hill. (Especially in rugged Highland Park, famous for its mountains and fjords.) There’s just one problem: You can’t get one — unless you are prepared to wait. Until March. And that’s if you stop reading and order now. Read more below.


Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeit
Sprachwissenschaftliche Potenziale zwischen Empirie und Norm
[Communication and the Public]
Ed. by Günthner, Susanne / Imo, Wolfgang / Meer, Dorothee / Schneider, Jan Georg
Series:Reihe Germanistische Linguistik 296
Aims and Scope
For a number of years, there has been concernin Germany about the “decline of language”. From a linguistic perspective, this hypothesis cannot be substantiated. Public debate, however, does raise some new questions about the stability and mutability of language norms. This volume undertakes a linguistic examination of the relationship between empiricism and standards in various forms and domains of communication.
- 23 x 15.5 cm
- viii, 323 pages
- 12 Fig.
- Type of Publication:
- Communication; Language Criticism; Language Norms; The Public
- Scholars of German Studies, Linguists, Educators, Teachers of German as a Foreign Language, Libraries, Institutes


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Sometimes resistant bacteria get our attention quicker than resistant patients.
(I’m warning you now….sometimes I just think out loud. But this could be really interesting!)
Resistant bacteria evolve resistance as a means of survival. They undergo changes in proteins and structure that allow them to survive when exposed to standard antibiotics.
By comparing bacteria to people, I don’t mean to imply that resistance is always a bad thing. Just that some people don’t respond to the standard treatment. In fact, the term resistance often has a positive connotation, think of the French Resistance, for example. So resistant patients may be seen with a positive twist and like our resistant bacteria, may have a lesson of survival for all of us.
Doctors develop treatment guidelines and protocols that are intended to deliver the greatest good for the greatest number. But just because we think that strict adherence to protocol will help take care of a patient population, we often find that the protocol is the exact wrong treatment for an individual. I am probably giving too much credit to the protocol-makers. In fact, many treatment guidelines turn out ultimately to be wrong for everybody.
In medicine, we are taught from a foundation of basic medical knowledge, and build on this foundation as we continue learning, and as we gain experience from diagnosing and treating disease. We also seek advice from those that are the ‘experts.’ We follow policy and procedures to ensure safety and consistency by set standards of care. Many protocols are implemented so that steps and details are not overlooked when treating each patient. These should minimize harmful outcomes and improve the health of our populations at large. But as studies have indicated, this is not always the case.
By focusing on the medical providers that deliver health care, by creating stricter guidelines so providers better adhere to set protocols, might this be a means to improve protocol outcomes on a grand scale?
I cannot help but wonder, however, if protocols in medicine overlook the detailed needs of each individual patient.
If a bacterial organism can learn to resist a medication in order to survive, do we too, whether consciously or subconsciously, also learn to resist the medical system? Are we testing our boundaries as though we were toddlers once again, testing the limits of our parents, the seemingly ultimate authority?
As a child, at least in my family, we lived by rules and regulations. These were probably set in place because I had three brothers. They were difficult! They were trouble makers!
Nonetheless, we had a system of organization, with strict adherence to chores and schedules. Breaking rules or misbehaving came with consequences. Knowing this certainly didn’t prevent me from testing my boundaries, and reaching the very limit just before breaking a rule, or stepping one toe in the hot coals, just to verify they were indeed hot.
(I swear, one of my brothers always made me do it!)
Daily rituals were implemented in my home. These rituals became accepted systems that minimized the need to test boundaries, by way of minimizing stress. My parents taught us yoga, meditation, and music.
As a child, I remember counting mantras, counting my breath sequence, and keeping track of the number of beads on my little mala. I remember my father teaching me and my brother’s how to play the tablas, one of the many types of drums from India.
Originally from Indiana, my father was fortunate to have learned from the great tabla master, Ustad Zakir Hussain, who learned from his father, Ustad Allah Rakah, the ultimate tabla percussionist, The Master of all Tabla Masters!
I was taught the basics of percussion from a student, of a student, of Ustad Allah Rakah!!
But I can play just one note….
Nothing puts a grin on my father’s face like listening to Zakir Hussain. Or better
yet, when we’ve watched Zakir Hussain, Allah Rakha, and Ravi Shankar, playing
in concert together.
At these past concerts, my grinning father would play his knees, as though they were the tablas themselves.
While watching Zakir Hussain’s fingers play at such speed, with absolute precision, coordination, and purpose, I’d become mesmerized.
I could never count the number of beats he can play at once. There is no way my brain can count that fast!
The pace of the tablas, the resonance of sound, the rhythms of percussion, whether or not I can keep track of the counts, is soothing.
As I listen, I feel stress melt away.
Like most musicians, to proficiently play an instrument like the tablas, a system of protocols is required. This comes with hours and hours of structured practice.
Zakir Hussain perfected the protocols he was taught from childhood. Once perfected, he began making little, but significant adjustments, by adding beats and modifying the tones. He stepped beyond the protocol boundaries, and tested his limits. He tested his limits, in fact, during a concert, shocking not only the audience, but his teacher and father, Allah Rakha, who was performing with him.
In medicine, protocols can be a useful algorithm, providing consistency and clarity to everyday medical problem solving. If a given patient has all the textbook symptoms of a urinary tract infection, for example, the current ‘standard’ is to get a urine sample to test and verify the presence of infection. And I agree, this is logical and rational. Especially since bacteria are not all the same, and not all bacteria respond the same to recommended antibiotic.
We readily respect the bacteria, disregarding standard treatment if the bacteria aren’t susceptible to the recommended first line antibiotic. On one hand we may learn from the ever-changing bacteria. But it seems we keep chasing our tails, never quite keeping up with the bacteria.
There are lessons to be learned everywhere. From bacteria to musical instruments. But how might we learn from such varied ‘teachers’, and what sorts of questions do we ask?
If deviating from protocols, in an attempt to address each individual patient, could actually cause even more varied response, might we keep this same pattern up, chasing our tails like we have with bacteria?
Maybe not addressing the needs of an individual patient before a protocol is perfected, is actually necessary.
By first perfecting the standard protocols, like a fine musical instrument, and from there, begin testing different approaches, different versions, modifying the formula, formatting each ‘just so’ to fit the patient’s needs, chasing tails could be history!
It’s dizzying, isn’t it??
From my standpoint, this would be much easier if we all actually did fit into the same cookie cutter protocol.
Oh, the simplicity!
And what an added bonus it would be, if all insurance companies covered the same cookie cutter algorithm!
Wait. Hold up.
Am I suggesting we become so simplified, even more so than a microorganism, just to make my day job easier?!?!
As a friend of mine would say, “Neh-Vah!!!”
We are anything but simple!
What if there’s a potential our own rhythms trump generalized, simplistic, medical algorithms; that the details of our individual rhythms, much of which we have yet to comprehend and understand, overrides the logic of current algorithmic protocols in medicine?
Our internal systems and rhythms such as the heart rate, respiratory rate, hormonal circadian rhythms, are dynamic. These systems are present in all of us, but they don’t simply operate the same, in all of us, all the time, in the same way.
They are changing constantly, for various reasons, from internal and external environmental stimuli.
Interestingly, when our internal environment is stressed, and despite physiologic mechanisms working at all hours to maintain harmony, we still have developed a system to consciously create external beats and rhythms that further assist our internal synchronicity.
By listening to music in concert, like the tablas, or to the flamenco guitar, or the classical piano, our internal environment re-calibrates, so our organ systems may also synchronize.
What if health insurance covered season tickets to the symphony orchestra??
Throughout time, humankind has adapted with the environment to create internal harmony, recalibrating the synchronicity in our neurologic, neuro-endocrine, and cardio-pulmonary systems, by way of cultural rituals and ceremonies.
Studies published in medical, evolutionary, and anthropology literature, have shown that there’s a link between the world’s Continents, connecting these various unique, and distinctly diverse, populations, all with their own cultural rituals that serve many purposes, including this very important physiologic one.
By way of dance, music, and chanting, by way of numerical counting systems, by using circular beads made of stone, wood, or bone; the use of instruments made of the same materials (and more); the counting of prayer recitation, all incorporated into cultural ceremonies and rituals, daily or otherwise, serve a fundamental purpose in our biologic system.
Creating beats and rhythms creates synchronicity internally, even when our auto-regulatory systems are on, or are on over-drive, or aged and malfunctioning.
These beats and rhythms are unique to each culture, but the concepts and the rituals are extraordinarily interesting and effective in their similarities.
Maybe in time medical protocols will be perfected to fit the detailed notes of each human being’s DNA, like the perfected sequence of notes in a musical piece.
At times it is necessary to depend on medical protocols, but more often than not, we can depend on protocols perfected by our ancestors. Years of history have indicated just how many ways we may take back control of our rhythms; our breath, our heart beat, our life force. We can rely on these systems, proven over the centuries to bring us inner peace, harmony, and happiness.
For now, let the researcher’s research!
Take some time for you!
Join us next month at the First Annual Mountain Pose Yoga Festival!
The Village at Copper Mountain is welcoming and embracing the momentum to support all health care providers and health enthusiasts- creating a unique conference to continue our education, while supporting our wellness, and offer the experience in a breath-taking environment.
This unique conference will focus on nutrition, detoxification, stress reduction, and music. Participants will hear from world recognized health care experts, and motivational speakers; will learn stress reduction techniques from expert yoga instructors, for all levels of practice and experience. Various musicians from all across the country will be playing different rhythms and beats, performing their perfected instrumental protocols, as taught from the masters!
Come with your curiosity; test your own boundaries and rediscover your creative spark! There are no set protocols, no rules, or expectations.
Come for you! We look forward to meeting you! And if you break out in dance and song, you will not be alone!!
Join in this community of wellness. Synchronicity awaits at The Village of Copper Mountain, CO!


ThyssenKrupp Launches Gearless Elevator Retrofit Package
Traditional geared machines utilize a motor generator to convert power. This system requires additional moving mechanical parts that create friction, thereby reducing the efficiency of the machine. The Geared to Gearless system works by using a high-efficiency motor directly integrated with the drive sheave, eliminating the geared assembly and achieving up to 95 percent machine efficiency, according to the company.
The gearless product includes a regenerative drive to capture waste energy from the system. The drive feeds the captured energy back into the building’s power grid. This allows ThyssenKrupp’s technology to help customers attain their own sustainability goals for energy reduction.
Along with the reduced energy consumption, other environmental benefits offered by the Geared to Gearless product include improved indoor-environmental air quality, reduced dust in the machine room, increased reliability – a good way to increase overall efficiency – and quieter running, says ThyssenKrupp.
In December last year, four ThyssenKrupp double deck high-speed elevators at the 492-meter-tall Shanghai World Financial Center received the VDI 4707 energy efficiency class A rating.
Energy Manager News
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|European Case Law Identifier:||ECLI:EP:BA:2011:T182707.20111114|
|Date of decision:||14 November 2011|
|Case number:||T 1827/07|
|IPC class:||C07D 09/12
|Language of proceedings:||EN|
|Download and more information:||
|Title of application:||Pharmaceutically active hydrophilic sulfonamide derivatives as inhibitors of protein jun-kinases|
|Applicant name:||Merck Serono SA|
|Relevant legal provisions:||
|Keywords:||Inventive step (yes) - nonobvious modification in chemical structure of the compounds of the prior art
Summary of Facts and Submissions
I. The present application relates to certain hydrophilic sulfonamide derivatives which are deemed to be useful in the treatment or prevention of disorders of the immune and neuronal systems.
II. The applicant appealed against the decision of the examining division to refuse European patent application No. 01 967 621.2.
III. The following documents were cited during examination proceedings:
(D1) WO-A-99/65 451
(D2) WO-A-00/02 851
(D3) EP-A-0 138 720.
IV. The examining division decided that the subject-matter of the claims then on file was not based on an inventive step in view of the disclosure of document (D3), taking into account that it was not credible that the unlimited number of compounds claimed possessed the beneficial properties against CNS disorders.
V. The claims now on file are
- claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 9, filed under cover of the letter dated 20 June 2011, and
- claim 6, filed with the letter dated
22 September 2011.
(a) Claim 1 reads as follows:
"1. Hydrophilic sulfonamide derivatives according to formula I
with its geometrical isomers, in an optically active form as enantiomers, diastereomers, as well as in the form of racemates and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein
Ar**(l) is a phenyl optionally substituted by -OR wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl;
Ar**(2) is a thienyl group carrying at least one hydrophilic substituent wherein the hydrophilic substituent is -COOR**(3), -CONR**(3)R**(3'), OH, C1-C4 alkyl substituted with OH or an amino group, a hydrazido carbonyl group, a sulfate, a sulfonate, an amine or an ammonium salt;
X is 0 or S;
R**(1) is hydrogen or a Cl-C6-alkyl group;
n is an integer from 1 to 3;
Y has the general formula
whereby, L**(l) and L**(2) are independently selected from the group consisting of H, -NR**(3')R**(3), -NR**(3')C(O)R**(3),
-(SO2)R**(3), -NSO2R**(3), -SO2NR**(3')R**(3),
with R**(3), R**(3') being substituents independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6-alkyl, C4-C18-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, aryl being phenyl, aryl-Cl-C6-alkyl, being phenyl-Cl-C6-alkyl,
said aryl group being optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxy, nitro, sulfonyl;
R**(6) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Cl-C6-alkyl, Cl-C6-alkoxy, OH, halogen, nitro, cyano, sulfonyl, oxo (=O), and
n' is an integer from 0 to 4."
(b) Dependent claims 2 and 3 relate to preferred embodiments of claim 1, claim 4 to specific compounds covered by claim 1, claim 5 to the compounds claimed in the preceding claims for use as a medicament, claim 6 to their use for the preparation of a medicament against certain diseases, claim 7 to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and claims 8 and 9 to processes for making the compounds.
VI. The appellant provided the following amended pages of the description:
pages 8 to 10 and 12 to 22
under cover of the letter dated
21 September 2011; and
page 11 under cover of the letter dated
22 September 2011.
VII. The appellant referred to the decision under appeal in which the examining division acknowledged novelty of the subject-matter claimed, and to the communication of the examining division indicating that the problem of providing further sulfonamide derivatives useful in the treatment of nervous system disorders was solved. It argued that the present claims were now restricted in scope to represent a reasonable generalisation.
VIII. The appellant requested that a patent be granted on the application thus amended, or, if the board still had objections concerning the patentability, that oral proceedings be held.
Reasons for the Decision
1. The appeal is admissible.
2. For the reasons given below, the board has no objections concerning the patentability of the subject-matter claimed. Therefore, the precondition under which the appellant requested oral proceedings is not fulfilled (see point VIII above). Hence, the board could decide on the case without holding oral proceedings.
3. Article 123(2) EPC
3.1 Claim 1 is based on original claim 1,
- claims 4 and 5 (as far as the definition of Ar**(2) is
- page 12, line 22 (n is an integer from 1 to 3),
- page 12, line 17 (Ar**(1) is a substituted or
unsubstituted aryl); page 13, line 24 (the substituent of the aryl group Ar**(1) may be C1-C6-alkoxy); and page 8, lines 22-24 (the aryl radical may be phenyl; see also the examples, where Ar**(1) always is 3-methoxyphenyl);
- page 13, lines 3-12 (as far as the definition of L**(1)
and L**(2) is concerned);
- as to the substituents of the aryl groups in R**(3) and
R**(3'): page 13, lines 13-17 and 22-27and page 8, lines 22-24 (the aryl radical may be phenyl; see also the examples 1 and 5-9 where R**(3) is 3-tri-fluoromethylphenyl).
3.2 Claim 2 is based on original claim 6 and page 14, lines 20-27 of the description as originally filed. Claim 3 is based on original claim 7 and page 8, lines 22-24, as well as page 13, lines 1-6 of the application as originally filed. Claims 4 to 9 are based on original claims 8 to 10, 14, 15 and 20, respectively.
3.3 The amended pages of the decription merely adapt it to the amended claims.
3.4 Hence, the application as thus amended meets the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC.
The examining division acknowledged that the subject-matter of the claims then on file was novel (see point 2 of the grounds for the decision under appeal). The Board has verified that this also holds for the present claims. Their subject-matter differs from the content of any of the documents (D1) to (D3) which do not disclose compounds of the formula (I) of present claim 1 where the n is an integer of from 1 to 3. For this reason, the subject-matter of claim 1 is novel. The same holds for claims 2-9, which are limited by the same differing feature (see point V(b) above).
5. Inventive step
5.1 The closest prior art
The closest prior art is normally a document disclosing subject-matter with the same objectives as the claimed invention and having the most relevant technical features in common.
5.1.1 The application is directed to pharmaceutical compounds for the treatment or prevention of disorders of the immune and neuronal systems, specifically displaying a substantial modulatory, notably an inhibitory activity on the JNK (Jun-Kinase) function or pathways (see page 1, lines 5-13). Inhibition of Jun-Kinase may block apoptosis (programmed cell death; see page 1, lines 15-16; page 2, lines 8-10; page 4, lines 6-10). Examples of diseases to be treated are auto-immune and inflammatory ones (see page 5, line 16), Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease and cancer (see page 6).
5.1.2 When determining which document could be considered as the closest prior art, it has to be borne in mind that the primary aim of the application was to provide pharmaceutical compounds useful for the treatment or prevention of certain disorders, and that the pathway or mechanism by which these pharmaceuticals achieve the desired effect is of only secondary interest.
5.1.3 Document (D1) deals with the inhibition of Caspases for use in the treatment of apoptosis (see page 5, lines 24-26). The compounds could be effective against cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (see page 3, lines 21, to page 5, line 13, and the table on pages 18-19).
Document (D2) relates to pharmaceutically active compounds for the therapy and prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases, i.e. compounds capable of modulating the body's production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) (see page 1, lines 10-16).
Document (D3) relates to compounds having an activity on the central nervous system, especially to those having an anxiolytic activity (see page 1, lines 8-14).
Hence, document (D1) (rather than (D2) or (D3)) relates to compounds effective against the diseases to be prevented or treated by the compounds claimed in the present application. Consequently, document (D1) is considered to represent the closest prior art.
5.1.4 The compounds claimed in document (D1) are those of the formula
When comparing these with the ones of present claim 1
(where n= 1-3)
one notes that
- in document (D1) the sulfonyl group (i.e. the
group of the formula -SO2-) is directly linked to a benzene ring which is directly linked to the amino group -NH-R**(5)
- whereas present claim 1 requires the corresponding
radical Ar**(2) to be a substituted thienyl group which is linked to the N-R**(1) group via the alkylene group of the formula -(CH2)n-.
5.2 One of the problems addressed in the application as filed was "to provide chemical compounds which are able to modulate, preferably to down-regulate or to inhibit the JNK (Jun kinase) pathway so to be useful in a method of treating diseases which involve the JNK pathway" (see page 8, lines 1-3), such as auto-immune and inflammatory ones and cancer. The table on page 37 of the application as filed shows that the compounds of examples 1, 4 and 6 do indeed inhibit the JNK3 receptor.
Taking into account the now limited scope of the claims, it is plausible that essentially all the compounds claimed show this effect and are thus suitable for the treatment of diseases involving the JNK pathway, such as auto-immune and inflammatory diseases and cancer.
The problem solved in view of document (D1) may thus be considered as providing further pharmaceutically active compounds useful for the treatment of auto-immune and inflammatory diseases and cancer.
5.3 Document (D1) as such cannot render the subject-matter of present claim 1 obvious, as the general formula in claim 1 of document (D1) excludes the possibility that Ar**(2) may be a substituted thienyl radical, let alone that it could be linked to the N-R1 group via the group of the formula -(CH2)n- (see under point 5.1.4 above).
5.4 Documents (D2) and (D3) deal with the treatment of diseases quite different from those addressed in document (D1) (see under point 5.1.3 above). Therefore, it is unlikely that the person skilled in the art would have consulted the teaching of document (D2) and/or (D3) when looking for alternative compounds to be effective against the disorders addressed in document (D1).
Furthermore, not only document (D1) but also documents (D2) and (D3) exclude the presence of an alkylene group which links the group Ar**(2) with the nitrogen atom of the amino group (see (D2), the formula in claim 1, where the arylene group A**(1) is directly linked to the -NH-group; see (D3), the formula in claim 1 which excludes the possibility that an alkylene group is directly linked to the benzene ring).
Hence, there is no indication in the prior art which could lead the person skilled in the art to modify the compounds disclosed in document (D1) to yield the compounds claimed in present claims 1 to 5 when trying to solve the problem posed. For this reason, the subject-matter of these claims is not deemed to be obvious. The same holds for claim 6 directed to the use of these compounds for the preparation of a medicament against certain diseases, claim 7 directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and claims 8 und 9 relating to processes for making them.
Therefore, the subject-matter of the present claims is based on an inventive step.
6. Swiss-type claim 6
Claim 6 is directed to the "Use of a sulfonamide derivative according to any of claims 1-4 for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a neuronal disorder selected from ...". Thus it is in the form of a "Swiss-type claim".
The Enlarged Board of Appeal has decided that a claim of this type may no longer be used "Where the subject-matter of a claim is rendered novel only by a new therapeutic use ..." (see G 02/08, OJ EPO 10/2010, 456, point 7 of the reasons and the answer to question 3).
This decision applies only to patent applications having a filing date or earliest priority date of 29 January 2011 or later (see G 02/08, point 7.1.4 of the reasons, in combination with the "Notice from the European Patent Office dated 20 September 2010 concerning the non-acceptance of Swiss-type claims...", OJ EPO 10/2010, 514, point 4).
The present application is not affected by this ruling in G 02/08, as it has a priority date of 27 September 2000.
Hence, Swiss-type claim 6 may remain in the present set of claims.
7. The Board is not aware of any other deficiencies which could prejudice the grant of a patent on the present application.
For these reasons it is decided that:
1. The decision under appeal is set aside.
2. The case is remitted to the department of first
instance with the order to grant a patent on the basis of the following documents:
Nos. 1 to 5 and 7 to 9, filed with the letter of 20 June 2011; and
No. 6, filed with the letter of 22 September 2011.
pages 1 to 7 and 30 to 48 as originally filed;
pages 8 to 10 and 12 to 22 filed with the letter of 21 September 2011; and
page 11 filed with the letter of 22 September 2011.


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Famous cartoonist Scott Adams recently launched his newest business (this is something like his 30th), but we’re unsure if he’s passionate about his scheduling application, Calendar Tree.
"When things work out, I’m passionate," says Adams. "When they don’t work out, I’m not."
It’s not that he doesn’t care about his business—he does. But he also knows that roughly nine out of ten of his ideas won’t become a success, so he doesn’t let setbacks get in the way of his future grand slams.
He didn’t let it stop him after two failed restaurants and a food company or when who-knows-how-many computer softwares didn’t live long enough to change the lives of techies.
"That thing you experience as stress or disappointment is usually the difference between what you're getting and what you hoped to get," says the creator of 24-year-old comic strip Dilbert. "If you expect something to happen and it doesn't happen, you can be stressed out and sad."
"I expect that everything I do has a low chance of working out the way I hoped. But I also expect that everything I do will improve my odds of success in the long run."
Adams began thinking this way during his banking career when his former boss instructed him to never lend money to anyone who’s passionate, because "passion clouds judgment and [people] will stick with things that are bad ideas because they are passionate." Instead, Adams was told to invest in people who who had a history of working hard.
Through his string of business attempts, Adams witnessed a similar kind of thinking when talking to investors.
"What I hear is that nobody can pick a winner in terms of a business idea. So [investors can’t] hear a pitch for a startup and say, ‘That idea will probably work’ because it’s completely randomized in terms of predictability."
In other words, "what used to be a mystical belief that you can pick a winning business idea has now transferred to this belief that you can pick a winning team or a winning person because they’ve got a track record or there’s something about their intensity or their character or their genius that will make them a winner," he says.
And these experiences are what led Adams to think that passion is bullshit.
"By the time you’ve made your billion dollars doing whatever your thing is, you’re probably pretty excited about it because it’s transformed your life," says Adams, who is also the author of How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. "It’s made you who you are so of course you’re going to act pretty passionate about it."
Unlike what most people think—that passion will lead to success—Adams says that "it’s the success that breeds the passion" so you need to try as many things as you can.
So what should people who are relentlessly following their passions do?
Adams tells Fast Company the same thing his mother once told him: "Cartoonist? Have you thought about being a lawyer?" In other words, have a back-up plan or two.
According to Adams, one of the biggest problems with goals is that they’re constantly making you feel like a failure.
"Let's say you want to lose 10 pounds so every day you weigh yourself and you're like, 'Eh, I'm failing' even if you're getting closer," he explains. "You’re in this pre-success, kind of semi-failure, purgatory, emotional state. You're not feeling like you're a success."
And this is exactly the reason why you shouldn’t make big goals for yourself. One, you don’t know if the goal you picked is the right goal (there could be better goals out there) and two, you have "blinders" on when you have goals because you’re prioritizing, says Adams. When you’re that focused, you also miss opportunities in related areas because you’re not noticing them.
"The world is completely unpredictable now. You can't predict where your career will be in a year. You can't predict what technologies will change the world. You can't predict whether robots will be taking your jobs. So picking a goal in this world has its downsides."
However, Adams does say that goals do have a place in very specific, simple, short-term situations. For example, it’s acceptable to make a goal if you enter an archery contest and you want to hit the bulls eye or if you’re a farmer and you want to clear 40 acres of land before winter or if you want to go to medical school to become a doctor.
But never, ever make goals like, ‘I want to have my boss’s job in five years’ because you might be ignoring better opportunities by focusing on that one particular job.
Unlike goals, a system is something that you’re doing every day to improve your chances of success. Everything that you do in your systems approach is to make you a more marketable talent in the long-run.
"Dilbert was not a goal. It was one of many things I tried," says the cartoonist. "All of them had the characteristics in that they probably wouldn't work, but if they did, they had the untapped potential to get very large."
"If you didn't know my back story, you might say, 'Man that guy's lucky. He tried this one thing that worked,' but that was not complete luck. It was brute force. I tried lots of things and I didn't know what I would be good at until I tried them and I found out what the market responded to."
If Dilbert—or any other business that Adams attempted—hadn’t worked out, he says that he wouldn’t take the "temporary failure as personal" because luck is a huge factor so increase your odds to get lucky because that’s the only way to success.