text:
If You Need Experience, Practice, or a Reference, Consider a Job Training Program

Have you been unable to find a job or keep the ones you’ve had so far? Have you struggled so much in your relationships that you don’t even have any personal references to offer an employer or volunteer coordinator? If any of that applies to you, maybe you’d find a job training program helpful.

Even someone who’s simply hiring for an odd job or a volunteer job will probably want to see some record of accomplishment and at least one reference. I’ve read that an inexperienced person will typically put classes and clubs on their first resume and list teachers or other people who they know as references. I didn’t do well in any of my classes in high school or my previous attempt at college, and issues like my social awkwardness and anxiety have gotten in the way of having even personal references. If you’re facing similar barriers, but want to work, you still have options, and the option that I’ll focus on in this post is job training programs.

Since job training programs are designed specifically for people with difficulties finding or keeping a job, I think that their supervisors will often be more patient than supervisors at a paid job or even a volunteer job. For example, I just started my barista training program yesterday, and I remembered my schedule incorrectly, so I showed up thinking I was on time when I was actually an hour late.

Someone in a more official position might have been harder on me or even fired me. My supervisor, whose role is a blend of barista manager and social worker, was very gentle with me about my mistake. I apologized, but then froze. She was also patient about my anxious moment and smoothly moved the conversation along. The rest of my shift went a lot better. Since this job is practice, not an official job, it was a low-stakes way for me to discover that I still need to work on my organization and not freezing up when I make a mistake, which are issues that I can bring up to my therapist before trying to work or volunteer again.

I think that having someone, such as a therapist, to talk about progress and setbacks with during your job training program will lead to even better results than doing the program alone.

I found my program through an organization in my city that helps low income and/or homeless women. Job training is one of many services that they offer. You may be able to find an opportunity in your area through a charity like this one. Other places that may offer this service include D.V.R (department of vocational rehabilitation, specializing in people with documented disabilities), Goodwill, mental health agencies, or Job Corps (if you’re 16-24).

Good luck!

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Type: response

text:
Chevron Left
Voltar para Estatística para Análise de Dados Genômicos

Estatística para Análise de Dados Genômicos, Universidade Johns Hopkins

148 classificações
27 avaliações

Informações sobre o curso

An introduction to the statistics behind the most popular genomic data science projects. This is the sixth course in the Genomic Big Data Science Specialization from Johns Hopkins University....

Melhores avaliações

por ZM

Jun 28, 2018

The professor is really enthusiasm, so I was really impreesed by him. And his teaching is brief, and I can learn key points through the lectures. Great course!

por LR

May 23, 2016

I have really enjoyed the course and I have learnt different concepts relevant for my current study.\n\nYurany

Filtrar por:

24 avaliações

por Hemanoel Passarelli Araujo

Jan 24, 2019

This is totally not for beginners..

por Hamzeh Mesrian Tanha

Nov 08, 2018

Great place to start learning genomics in R

por Ian Poole

Aug 30, 2018

I did my best to work through module 1, but encountered one problem after another with installing the various required R packages, due to version issues. From the absence of recent discussion posts it seems that this is not really a current, viable course. From what I have seen of the course, I get the impression that even if package installation went smoothly, the course is more about R than statistics or genomics - which is not what I joined for.

Jul 23, 2018

I think this is one of the best courses in this specialization. I found it the most helpful in building together what should be learned in genomic data science. I wish 1) this course was earlier in the specialization, 2) there was additional building from this course to build together the workflow from beginning to end, and 3) reduction or removal of some of the other courses (or other courses taught together with this one).

por 李仕廷

Jul 01, 2018

really a good course for people who want to learn use R to dispose genomic data

por Zhen Miao

Jun 28, 2018

The professor is really enthusiasm, so I was really impreesed by him. And his teaching is brief, and I can learn key points through the lectures. Great course!

por Thodoris Savvidis

May 23, 2018

too much overlap with Jeff's course in introduction to genomic data science

por Saaket Varma

Feb 19, 2018

Enjoyed it. One of better courses I have taken in Coursera. A good introduction to using statistics in Bioconductor with genomics data.

por Roman Sankowski

Jan 04, 2018

Really great and in-depth class! thank you

por Paul Saunders

Jan 03, 2018

The worst executed course I have taken in 36 years of post-graduate education.

1 The instructor speaks so fast it is difficult even for a native English speaker like myself to understand.

2. This course is only suitable as a review for people who are experts in the field already. Even if you know how to use Bioconductor and are familiar with programming in R, if you don't know the tools being used already the instruction in the course will not give enough information to be able to do the quizzes without a great deal of difficulty.

3. The examples presented are thrown out in a cursory fashion without enough detail about how the data is being set up or manipulated. Matrices are transformed and recombined with little explanation about why things are being done.

4. Although generalizing from material presented to new applications is a valid instructional approach, the instruction does not give the student enough information to do this and the instructor expects students to be able to figure out new algorithms from vague public domain documentation.

5. Although the instructor makes an impassioned plea for carefully thought out statistical test design, proper documentation of work flow, and appropriate use of p-values, he does not describe the interpretation of statistical tools presented. For example, tools for calculating thousands of principle components in seconds is given, but beyond showing clusters of dots on a graph may indicate a genetic cluster does not explain what the individual points in the PCA mean.

In summary, the tools presented are very powerful but are not well described. Extensive revision to the course is needed.

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-09
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for February 2019
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-151-171-77.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


text:
Are Environmental Taxes Affected by Legislatures' Ideological Positions?
Sep 2013
Environmental taxes have been discussed as one of the main mechanisms to deal with environmental problems. Nonetheless, instruments of this type have rarely been implemented, and the adoption of new or higher environmental taxes has faced resistance in some countries. The purpose of this work is to identify one possible political answer to why adoption of environmental taxes varies. One explanation is that legislatures' ideological position affects the degree of usage of taxes generally and environ- mental taxes in particular. For example, right-wing parties tend to be less associated with environmental concerns and more associated with lower government intervention. This paper presents evidence that reflects this relationship, showing the positive association of more left-wing legislatures with higher levels of environmental taxation. A panel of data for 37 developed and developing countries over 16 years is used considering the percentage of total revenue from environmentally related taxes, the ratio of this revenue to total energy use and tax levels in industry and household sectors. The results show that most of these impacts involve environmentally related taxes in the industry sector. Proportional representation electoral systems and high seat concentration by few parties appear to be necessary conditions for the negative relation of right-wing ideology with environmental taxes.


text:
Corporate Governance in Water and Sanitation Enterprises
Jan 2011
This technical note contains a methodology to promote the use of good corporate governance practices for water and sanitation enterprises (especially SOEs) in Latin America and the Caribbean, based on IDB experiences and other relevant cases from network utilities. The methodology evaluates how corporate governance practices are currently being applied in those firms, and facilitates progressive advancement in successive stages. The methodology is rooted in theory in order to ensure that the governance of water and sanitation enterprises contributes to the efficient and sustainable use of resources, so that the social investment in water and sanitation in the region may play a part in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.


text:
Made in the Americas: Promoting Value Chains in our Hemisphere
Apr 2018
Today many countries, including some in the developing world, are manufacturing and trading components of goods that they never before produced. By entering global supply chains, they are increasing their portfolio of exports. A variety of economic indicators point to the same conclusion— that Latin America has so far lagged behind other regions in its participation in global value chains (GVCs). What is the role of the private sector in this?


text:
Previous Section Index Home Page

The increase is not nice, but we feel that it is appropriate.

Several hon. Members rose -

Lorely Burt: I am sorry but I cannot take any more interventions.

We have talked about welfare throughout today's debate, but I should point out that the welfare bill was set to rise to nearly £200 billion and we just cannot afford that. The autumn spending review will treat those most in need as a priority, and although we will make cuts, we will cut carefully. This year's Labour Budget included plans for £44 billion of cuts and tax rises, but the previous Government did not say how they would raise that money and what taxes they would have increased. Until Labour Members are prepared to tell us what they would have done, they have no right to criticise this coalition Government.

8.27 pm

Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab): In March, before the election, the Chancellor told the News of the World:

which was very reassuring for voters to hear before an election. Since the election, both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have tried to argue that the Government and even their Budget are progressive. However, having had a closer look at the Budget and the Government, we can conclude that neither is progressive in political or economic terms. I am afraid that it looks very much like the Chancellor is indeed planning on balancing the budget on the backs of the poor.

I want to spend a little of the time that I have examining the effects of several Budget measures on poorer and disabled people. Disabled people are some of the most marginalised and vulnerable of our fellow citizens, but they are also one of the greatest sources of under-utilised talent and potential in our country. They are generally at the poorer end of the income distribution and they are more reliant on public services than many of our citizens, so the Budget's impact on them will indeed test the Chancellor's claim that he is not aiming his Budget at the poor.

I characterise the Chancellor's overall Budget strategy as further and faster deficit reduction than was planned by the last Labour Government, and an 80:20 split
28 Jun 2010 : Column 652
between spending cuts and tax rises in advance of severe spending cuts in the autumn. That is his general approach. We should remember that even the most Thatcherite hawks who did not believe in the existence of society in the 1980s only ever aimed at a 50:50 split between spending cuts and tax rises, so the Chancellor is making the Thatcherites of that time look soft and even-handed. That is not, by the way, how the people of Liverpool remember them for what they did in that decade.

We can say that for most disabled people on lower incomes, who are more dependent than most on public services, the increase in VAT is a disaster. Some Government Members have had the grace to accept that it is a regressive tax. Indeed, both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, before the election, said on TV that it was a regressive tax. The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, who is in his place, has said so more recently. The increase in VAT, which both the PM and the Deputy PM promised us before the election we would not have, but which they are now both going to invite their hon. Friends to vote for, is not only a joint broken promise that will hit the poorest hardest, but something on which both parties will be judged.

The degree of reliance on spending cuts will also impact much more heavily on poor and disabled people than a more balanced ratio would have done. More than half the £11 billion of welfare cuts will come from indexing benefit rates to the consumer prices index rather than the retail prices index. That sounds technical, but the effect is to set benefits on a permanently lower trajectory, thus year by year compounding the disparity at every uprating, though saving more money for the Chancellor. That, in my book, is the very definition of balancing the Budget on the backs of the poor.

The changes in disability living allowance will be judged not only on that score, which will in itself cut almost £300 a year from the payment. The Red Book also promises us reform

and says:

Indeed, one Government Member referred to DLA as a benefit that one languishes upon. However, DLA is an extra costs benefit: it is paid not on the basis of a medical diagnosis, but to compensate disabled people for the extra costs incurred by the effect their condition has on their ability to get around or look after themselves. People who work receive DLA. It is not a benefit that one languishes upon; it is a recognition from society that disabled people need a little extra support to enable them to participate in life.

Mrs McGuire: Does my hon. Friend agree with the Essex Coalition of Disabled People, which has indicated that the increase in people claiming DLA has resulted in more disabled people living independently in the community, rather than in the residential care that was in existence in 1993, 1994 and 1995?

Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend is correct. She, like me, is a former Minister with responsibility for disabled people and has had to grapple with these issues.

28 Jun 2010 : Column 653

This proposal is retrograde because it reverts to a medical model of disability, which disabled people themselves resent. It also has enormous deadweight costs. People who have never been able to walk do not need a doctor's assessment to say that their mobility is restricted. What possible sense is there in subjecting them to one? It just looks like harassment. How does that sit with not introducing a medical for those components of attendance allowance which are the same as the components of disability living allowance? What about pensioners who got their DLA before they turned 65 and still retain it? Are they to be subjected to a medical test? Looking at the Red Book, it seems to me that we have a savings figure attached to this measure of £1.1 billion, and the objective medical test is simply designed to reduce the numbers on the benefit by 20%. The policy has not been thought through. This seems to be a proposal aimed at saving money.

Similarly on housing benefit, the Red Book says:

But only one in eight housing benefit claimants are unemployed. The majority are pensioners, disabled people, carers or people in work who are on low incomes. What is the point of making this benefit one that incentivises work when most of the people on it fall into those categories? It is nonsense. If instead we start with a suspicion that the reforms are actually about saving money, and we see that they cut £1.8 billion, we are more likely to get to the nub of the issue.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says that the welfare reforms are

The private rented sector reforms just decouple the local housing allowance payable from the level of the rent even in local housing markets, which can only result in people falling into arrears and debt, and being subjected to eviction. In the public and registered social landlord sector the reforms are equally worrying. Many disabled people only have their home. It is the foundation of their lives and their security. It is all they have that is their own. These proposals will force people to move house and face increasing levels of debt. If their area gentrifies-nothing to do with them-they have to move on. If their children grow up and leave home, as they tend to do, they have to move on.

What about disabled people who have adaptations in their home? Are they to have to move? Often, those adaptations make life liveable. They are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Having debt and having to move from one's home is difficult enough for anyone to cope with, but many disabled people are too vulnerable to cope well with such upheaval. How are learning-disabled people, those with severe mental ill health and those with severe physical impairments supposed to go out and look for a new home, as they may have to simply because of these reforms to save money? Disabled people are the least equipped to do that, even before the spending review cuts the support they can get in their local communities to help them with such things.

The Budget is a triple whammy for disabled people: VAT and the cost of living up; incomes and benefits slashed; help and support to navigate those challenges
28 Jun 2010 : Column 654
ended. If the Tories do this, they should not have the support of the Liberal Democrats and, quite frankly, the Liberal Democrats should be ashamed to walk through the Lobby tonight to support this appalling Budget.

8.35 pm

Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): I am grateful, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to make my maiden speech.

I congratulate my hon. Friends the Members for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price), for East Surrey (Mr Gyimah), and for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant), as well as the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Pamela Nash) on making excellent maiden speeches and for raising the bar so high. I fear that all that is about to change. Through you, Mr Deputy Speaker, may I thank all Members of Parliament and staff for the courtesy and help that they have given new Members? This is a baffling and overwhelming place to get used to, particularly when lost down a corridor somewhere.

I pay tribute to my predecessor, Paul Truswell, who was the Labour MP for the constituency from 1997 until the recent election. He was, and is, an honourable man, and although we did not always see eye to eye, I would like to think that we had mutual respect for each other. He was regarded as a very good constituency Member of Parliament, and only announced his retirement after a serious car crash. I hope that he is recovering well, and that he will enjoy his time with his family. I shall also say a few words about his predecessor, the late Sir Giles Shaw. I never had the fortune of meeting him-sadly, he died not long after his retirement-but he was a contender for the post of Speaker. I understand that he was a witty man, who was well respected for his ability in consensus seeking. Indeed, he had such an effect on the constituency of Pudsey, that someone asked if I was taking over from him.

It is an honour and a privilege to represent the Pudsey constituency, and I am grateful to the voters there for returning me. It is a long constituency that straddles the borders of Leeds and Bradford. In 10 minutes, we can be in the vibrant city of Leeds; in 10 minutes going in the other direction, we can be in the beautiful Yorkshire dales. The common reaction when I say that I represent Pudsey is, "Ah, named after the bear." I point out that the town came first, featuring in the Domesday book. Pudsey is an old mill town, but many of the mills in the constituency have sadly gone. Indeed, at the height of their success, the pollution was so bad that it was said that the birds in Pudsey park flew backwards to keep the soot out of their eyes.

Pudsey is a big town that is suffering somewhat from out-of-town developments, but there is a vibrant market, and I hope that I can do my bit to help the town's economy. There is a lot more to Pudsey than just Pudsey. The neighbouring town of Farsley is home to Hainsworth mills, which provide speciality textiles for the Royal Guards' uniforms, and claim to make the fastest cloth for snooker tables. The cloth in the Woolsack in another place even comes from that mill. One of the town's famous sons is Ray Illingworth, the former England cricket captain.

In Calverley, an attractive and typical Yorkshire village steeped in history, there is a wonderful old hall. In 1604, the local owner and landowner, Walter Calverley, apparently
28 Jun 2010 : Column 655
went insane and murdered his two sons. He refused to plead, and was ordered to be pressed to death at the York assizes-a method that was used to try to force a confession, and something I fear that the Whips would like to use on some of us in future. However, he died without confessing his crime, and his ghost apparently haunts the village on dark, lonely nights.

The next village is Horsforth, considered to have the largest population of any village. It is home to Leeds Trinity university college, which has just received that status and is famed for teaching and media training. Finally, there is Aireborough, an area that was regarded in the 2001 census as the most average place in Britain, which I would dispute. It is the home of the original Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop, Silver Cross prams and another furry friend, Sooty. I know that I am biased, but I love our constituency.

Let me move on to the debate. Yes, this is a difficult Budget, but these are difficult times and I am glad we have a responsible Budget, one which is sensible and is now clearly endorsed by members of the G20. The scale of our debt is truly terrifying and threatens to restrict what we will be able to do in future years. If we do not deal with the debt now, we will be wasting more than £70 billion a year on interest alone, which will threaten our household interest rates and business growth.

I welcome the initiatives of the Chancellor for encouraging regional growth. Tax breaks for new businesses outside London and the south-east are particularly welcomed by someone who is a Yorkshire MP. I want to see our private sector grow so that we are not so dependent on the public sector. Capital investment, too, has been mentioned. I was pleased to hear about the Leeds and Liverpool railway line. I know that there are other things that we want for our city in Leeds, for which I will be pressing the Chancellor. All these will encourage enterprise.

I shall say a little about my background. I grew up on a council estate in a family that had very little money. I was the eldest, and even I had hand-me-downs. What helped my family and others was the ability to start a new business. I remember my father starting a small roofing company. It was not much, but it was something. It got him off the dole and it employed another person. That is the sort of wealth creation that we need in this country so that we can help the small businesses to create the wealth to improve the prospects for our future, and also to help the millions of people who have been abandoned by the Opposition on benefits. I think particularly of the young people who are out of work. Through the creation of wealth and jobs we can turn the country round and improve the prospect of helping those people.

8.42 pm

Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I warmly welcome you to your position.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) on an eloquent maiden speech, as well as the hon. Members for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant), for East Surrey (Mr Gyimah) and for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price), who also made excellent maiden speeches
28 Jun 2010 : Column 656
today. My hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Pamela Nash) clearly knows her Labour history. A number of strong Labour women have represented her constituency in the past, and she showed today that she will be a powerful advocate for the community that she represents. She mentioned in her speech that her constituents have not forgiven the Conservatives for what they did in the 1980s. In my constituency, North Ayrshire and Arran, that is what I was told repeatedly during the general election.

As I listened to the debate today and as I have listened to the rhetoric from the Conservative party over the past few weeks, it reminded me of the 1980s. Fortunately I was a little older than my hon. Friend at the time. When I left school I knew nobody between the ages of 16 and 25 who had a job. Education or the youth training scheme, as it was then, were the only opportunities available. It was astonishing to hear again after 20 years the talk about getting "on yer bike". For most people in areas such as the one that I represent, moving is not an option. For all the reasons that have been set out today, if we see the kind of attacks on our benefit system that are being outlined, that will become even less of an option.

My hon. Friend the Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) described in detail how the changes in the benefit system would have a disproportionate effect on some of the poorest in society. The Budget is deeply regressive and will be devastating for some of the poorest communities and some of the poorest people in the country. However, it will also devastate the economy, because it is a depressive Budget. The rise in VAT, the cuts in benefits to some of the poorest in society and, perhaps even more significantly, the huge cuts in public spending will drain huge amounts of money from the economy. In other parts of Europe, more and more Governments are taking an increasingly similar approach, and that is very worrying for not just the British economy but beyond, because it does not seem obvious where we will be able to sell our goods. So this is a very dangerous Budget.

I have already said that the current debate is reminiscent of debates that took place in the 1980s. In 1979, a Government were elected saying that they had no plans to increase VAT, but not long after there was an increase from 8% to 15%; and now, of course, one of the first steps that we see is a significant increase in VAT. Until the past few weeks I had never heard it argued that increasing VAT was anything other than a regressive policy that would disproportionately affect some of the lowest earners in society.

Mr Anderson: I remember a similar situation. Does my hon. Friend remember also that in the 1980s people continually said, "There is no alternative"? Now, the code for that is, "This is unavoidable", and it is sad that the Liberal Democrats have been taken in by the Conservative party. The Lib Dems are the real dupes in this House.

Katy Clark: I agree. I listened with care to the hon. Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt), who basically said that we could not afford the benefit system and, therefore, it was necessary to take these steps, but the House must remind itself again and again that we are a hugely wealthy country. We have the fifth wealthiest economy
28 Jun 2010 : Column 657
in the world, but the wealth and power in society are unevenly distributed, and that has to be the backdrop whenever we have these discussions.

Given the proposals that we have heard, this Budget simply seems to be a Tory Budget. I appreciate the Liberal Democrats' points about the policies that they have tried to inject, but overall the Budget will disproportionately affect those on the lowest incomes. A few days ago the TUC commissioned a paper, which states that overall the annual loss in income and services for the poorest 10th of households is estimated to be £1,514, which is equivalent to 21.7% of their household income. The average annual loss for the richest 10th of households is estimated to be £2,685, which is equivalent to 3.6% of their overall income. No doubt a lot of work will be done on those figures, but we must consider them when we discuss not only the Budget, but the Finance Bill, which we will debate over the coming weeks.

I agreed with the hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George), and I fully appreciate the difficulties and stress that Liberal Democrat MPs in his position must feel if they have always argued that a VAT increase would have a disproportionate impact on the poorest in society. I hope that we see some detailed work on the impact of not just the VAT increase, but all those policies on the poorest in society.

In reality, we are seeing unprecedented cuts in spending on public services, but I find it difficult to believe that any Government of any political colour will be able to make the proposed reductions, because we are talking about departmental cuts of about 20% to 25% over five years. It is difficult to imagine that the Government will be able to deliver on that, because these are such savage cuts in the services that all our constituents rely on.

This is a bad policy not only because it disproportionately affects some of the lowest-paid and lowest-earning in society, but because it risks choking off the recovery that is so vital to us all. My hon. Friend the Member for Coventry North West (Mr Robinson) was absolutely right-we needed a Budget for jobs and growth, but we have something completely to the contrary.

Next Section Index Home Page


text:
Start Planning
Holi Phagwa

Holi Phagwa 2019 and 2020

Large numbers of people in Suriname are descended from Indian immigrants, who brought with them their religion, culture, and holidays. One of the those Hindu holidays, “Holi Phagwa”, has national status in Suriname.

201920 MarWedHoli Phagwa
202010 MarTueHoli Phagwa

Phagwa, the Hindu spring festival also called the “festival of colours”, is also a public holiday in nearby Caribbean nations like Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Phagwa is based on Hindu tradition and is connected with the worship of specific Hindu gods, and it is also thought of as symbolising the more generic idea of “the triumph of good over evil”. Many non-Hindus in Suriname can’t resist joining in on the colourful, playful chaos that takes place during Phagwa.

The main traditions involve bespattering people with a red liquid dye called “abeer”, which is supposed to represent the blood of evil king Kiranya who was burnt alive for his crimes against his own people.

On Phagwa in Suriname, there are numerous galas put on, and there are boisterous festivals that are crowded with celebrants. Many also plant a castor oil plant months before Phagwa and then burn the plant when the festive day arrives.

Hindus will gather at temples or at family homes to sing folk songs called “Chowtal”. Chowtal involves two facing rows of singers alternating singing amid drum beats, rhythms, and strong contrasts between subdued and excited song.


text:
Police Media Relations

The Nation’s Leading
Media Relations Training

Created and Taught by Experienced Reporters and Producers

Today with frequent school shootings and terrorist attacks, Police Media Relations and Community Relations are more important than ever in both the mainstream media as well as in social media.  This exclusive 2-day Law Enforcement News Media Relations Training Class was developed by Emmy Award winning reporters who have covered the world’s major news events from the fall of the Soviet Union to the 911 attacks on America, from school shootings to natural disasters.  Our Media Training Classes are now conducted in 40 cities a year across America.

Media Instructors Russell Ruffin and Penny Carter, on location for Breaking news in Ferguson, MO, Dallas, TX, San Bernardino
Training instructors covering breaking news in San Bernardino, Dallas and Ferguson, MO

Our instructors routinely go to the scene of many of the nation’s major breaking news events in order to bring you the most up-to-date training in the world, with REAL WORLD scenarios.   Our training is based on actual news events from the Ferguson, Missouri riots to the terrorist attack in San Bernardino to the Las Vegas sniper attack.

LIVE On-Camera Training
From Emmy Award Winning Broadcasters

Students go On-Camera for real work Breaking News exercisesYou Are Placed in the Center of the News Spotlight before a LIVE TV News Camera and then peppered with tough reporter questions about a simulated breaking news event, right of today’s headlines. You will discover how to take control of a news conference or interview and reassure the public by showing YOU are in charge.

Create Talking Points

You’ll discover how to use your Media Relation skills to establish Talking Points that will help you stay on point in order to communicate your message more effectively.

Generate Earned Media

New York City officer buys a homeless man a pair of boots
NYPD officer helps a freezing barefoot homeless man

How a random act of kindness from a New York City Police Officer paid off in Positive News Coverage for his agency.  The officer walking his beat at Times Square stopped to help a homeless, shoeless man.  The story went viral, appearing on every major television network.  The event became a Media Relations bonanza.  The coverage generated $100 million in EARNED Media for the NYPD and won a promotion for the officer.  Discover how such Goodwill is like money in the bank of public opinion.

Media Relations Training – Online or On-Location

Penny Carter Instructing HIDTA Class
Media Relations Class conducted at Federal HIDTA Center – Dallas – Ft. Worth

You can experience our exclusive Media Relations Training in person at any of 40 cities across the country or join us from the comfort of your own home or office via the Internet.

Crisis Management
Handling a Crisis News Event
Russell Ruffin was on the scene in both Ferguson and Baltimore during breaking news crisis

Russell Ruffin interviews protestors during crisis in Ferguson, Missouri

When you are involved in a crisis incident, its imperative that you get out in front of the story as soon as possible.  The longer you wait the less control you will have on how the story is reported.   Today, effective News Media Relations is something you must practice not only with the established main stream media but with social media as well.  In Ferguson, Missouri in August of 2014, the narrative of a highly publicized shooting incident was established early on by protesters utilizing social media.

Some of our Media Relations Training Topics Covered
Talking Points Made Easy
Establishing the Narrative of the Story
Creating Powerful Sound Bites
Holding an Effective News Conference/Interview
Keeping Your Media Message On Track
Alternatives to “No Comment”
News Release Writing and Distributions
Turning Negative Press into Positive Press
Managing Tricky Questioning
Projecting the Proper Body Language
How to GO LIVE On-Camera via Social Media
Lessons Learned from Real World Events

Live Demonstrations:
Using Your Smartphone to Shoot and Distribute Your own Sound Bites
Utilizing Facebook LIVE and other Social Media
Handling News Conference Interruptions, Ambush Interviews and Investigative Reporters
The Key to success in any News Media Relations effort is attract the attention of the News Media as seen herePush Your Narrative Out to Mainstream and Social Media Quickly!
If you wait too long, someone else will dictate their own narrative

Contact Information:

If you would like to schedule or attend a class, or if you just have a media issue you’d like to discuss, please give us a call.

Training Coordinator – Penny Carter
Phone 303-470-0716
Denver, Colorado


text:
New experimental data show that the weakening effect of structure-bound water in the quartz lattice occurs at hydroxyl concentrations lower than those previously considered. This is used, along with analyses of the hydroxyl concentrations of naturally deformed quartz, to show that water weakening can explain low temperature plastic flow in quartz from low grade metamorphic environments.

This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access.

First Page Preview

First page PDF preview
You do not currently have access to this article.


text:
Information Overload? This Blockchain Project Will Build a Prediction Market for Users

This post was originally published on this site

UGC Network, a decentralized social publishing network and a content value prediction platform, was launched on January 22, 2018 in San Francisco. To solve the problem of too much low-quality information, UGC Network helps users to price the content by creating a prediction market. In UGC Network, after the price is set by free markets, contributors of the high-quality content could earn money for their work, including users who created and discovered the content as well.

The price of the content will be valued from upvotes and downvotes. Users have the option to upvote until they think the number of upvotes reflects the actual value of the content. The cost of up-voting translates to the increase in the price of the content.

Unlike other decentralized platform, such as Steemit, there are two key features of UGC Network.

Each vote costs tokens. People need to either pay for tokens or finish certain tasks to get points for upvotes. Tasks include referring friends to register or sharing articles in social networks to get page views, and etc. To prevent malicious spam sign-ups and web-bot attacks, the points cannot be converted to tokens, which are liquid and tradable.

People could earn rewards by voting on good content early. Sharing a similar mechanism with Yours.org, the payment of each vote goes to earlier voters and the creator. In this case, upvoter has the chance to win or lose money.

UGC Network calls the process of content evaluation and value prediction “Proof of Foresight”. The underpinning principle behind this is that users assign tokens to content authors according to their judgment of the content, and assign tokens to early up-voters to encourage people discovering good content.

The blockchain behind the UGC Network has the property of supporting micropayments and smart contracts. According to their website, the UGC Blockchain Network can support 3000 transactions with a verification time between 3 to 6 seconds.

U Community will be the first app built on UGC Network. U Community is trying to build a blockchain content community with valuable content on the topic of cryptocurrency.

Tokens in UGC Network are the value carrier of the network. With limited total supply, tokens are incentives for content creators, explorers, and moderators.

Blockchain technology is heralding a world of new possibilities. UGC Network is trying to improve the quality of content on the Internet by introducing monetary rewards.

UGC Network will mainly target on the Chinese Market, and aim to improve the decentralized UGC ecosystems.

To learn more, please visit http://ugc.network/

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180125005456/en/

UGC Network
Catherine Zhao

Comments are closed.

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren.

Up ↑


text:
Pulsehyip – The right Blockchain Development Company in India

Hire Dedicated Offshore developers for (3).png

Blockchain technology is endeavor solution to protect your business data more secure. In this competitive business world, Searching for a best Blockchain Development company or top Blockchain Development company is the complex process right? Maybe you are tried in searching the leading blockchain application development company in India. Because your search engine will display you numerous blockchain companies.

You have to filter the right blockchain development service provider and they should provide end-to-end services including Cryptocurrency Exchange, Crypto Wallet Development, Hyperledger Blockchain Development, Decentralized Exchange (DEX), ICO Development, Ethereum token Development like ERC20, ERC223, ERC721, Crypto Coin Creation, Bitcoin Mining, Bitcoin MLM software, Bitcoin Banking software, Crypto Trading, and Lending software.

The blockchain is the most exciting and hi-end technology with great potential to disrupt and improve your business. Its potential benefits include reduced costs, avoid involve intermediaries, elimination the data duplication, increased transaction speed, and higher endurance.

Pulsehyip is the world’s №1 Blockchain development service provider. It provides complete blockchain software solutions to start your all kind of businesses on blockchain technology. We are well known for developing ready-made and custom blockchain business solutions for several business industries.

Our expert blockchain developers will support you to take a top level of safety and mobility to your business by incorporating the latest blockchain technology solutions

Hire our Blockchain developer here or enquire your doubts

Why Blockchain Technology is Important for your business?

Bring Business First On Google (30).png

Before knowing about the importance of blockchain technology, you should know about What is Blockchain Technology?

The blockchain is an ingenious invention and it is changing the way of business process and most of the businesses are just getting started with blockchain technology. If you’re looking to learn about blockchain technology, Blockchain development and how to turn your industry into blockchain technology, then you’re in the right place.

Blockchain has rapidly grown from an esoteric technology to the forefront of R&D for major financial institutions, governments, universities and multinational corporations.

This guide is designed for product managers, founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and developers looking to learn how blockchain development works, how to incorporate blockchain into their businesses and what’s needed to start a blockchain project right now.

So, what is blockchain?

The Blockchain technology is a digitally distributed ledger system that means that the storage devices for the database are not all connected to a common processor. Blockchain simply refers to a type of Decentralized, massive, transparent and immutable database. it allows untrusted parties to reach consensus and transact without the need of a centralized intermediary.

Why blockchain technology is important?

Blockchain in Healthcare – How Does Its Works?

Blockchain-Application-for -Healthcare-Sectors

Every day there is more latest news regarding what can, may, and should happen in the world of healthcare and Blockchain. The health care industry could benefit from varied applications of blockchain technology, including the improved capability to capture and manage patient data and claim records.

The Healthcare industry is under high pressure to both handle costs and to provide high quality to patients. At the time that industry expands emergent market-upsetting the latest technologies, so it becomes increasingly very difficult for business to keep costs down while remaining competitive in this economic world.

Lots of federal laws are adding to industry pressure. Union authorization as health insurance marketplaces, Medicaid development, HIE(health information exchange) and the medical loss ratio are working to establish that effective patient care becomes the focus of health delivery-with all providers in consent.

This system in focus has required aid healthcare businesses to frequently look for opportunities to reduce costs during the time enlarging the quality of medical care that patients receive. Keeping up with these network changes would not be possible without the advanced technical support to the healthcare industry.

This article will discuss the growth of blockchain technology and how its application can provide a development in the healthcare industry; exactly, the advantages it can bring to the member of healthcare & case management.

Blockchain has the high potential to ease one of the major challenges of the all-industry especially healthcare; the transmission of patient’s data across the network without negotiates its privacy and security. This blockchain application can have a leading, positive impact on user health management and also offer a critical link in the support of the medical industry.

How does the blockchain application work for healthcare sectors?

Are You looking for the Blockchain Solutions for your healthcare industries?

Pulsehyip is the best blockchain application development company in India and providing various Blockchain development services ranging from Blockchain wallet dapp development to Blockchain Smart Contracts development. We have more working experience in various industries like Banking & Finance, Healthcare, Online Shopping, eLearning, Real Estate, Insurance, Trading, Warehouse etc.

So If you looking to hire Blockchain developers, then you can consider Pulsehyip. Our experienced blockchain professionals have in-depth knowledge in blockchain technology to develop the custom blockchain application for your business enhancement.

Blockchain Applications for Banking & Financial Sectors

Every business industry is reforming the latest technology in the digital economic world and has resulted in radical changes. The banking industry is no different. Banks have successfully embraced the future of digitization. Most of the business peoples and blockchain users appreciate the potential of blockchain technology often look no further than bitcoins. Once an individual should understand how blockchain functions are using banking & financial sectors and how its importance for the future business requirements.

Blockchain Applications for Banks

The blockchain is a distributed ledger that keeps a comprehensive and an unedited data of all relevant information related to an online transaction. This distributed ledger allows to settle online transactions instantly. Blockchain applications is a blockbuster in banking sectors as it reduces the length of time and it takes to end-to-end payment systems and avoids unwanted processes.

In this digital world where billions of people don’t have access to banks accounts, blockchain application can have a strong impact. Most of the developing countries with limited access to banking would get a chance to create a bank account and make online transactions at a universal level. It will also set up citizens to have a secure and trusted online transaction between participants without the need for a centralized party or an intermediary.

Benefits of Blockchain Application Using Banking & Financial Services

  • The financial business institutions are analyzing the unique capabilities of the blockchain. The financial industries can also use it to gain improved insight into business market moves and increase the transparency.
  • Blockchain technology can reduce the bank’s framework costs and enable faster processing time. Data management is a big problem in the banking sector, but with the help of blockchain applications, banks can store any type of data, and allow that data to be accessed only according to the pre-defined rules.
  • Trade finance is a major part within the banking area that could transform as a result of blockchain technology. The blockchain is the best technology to bring users together in a secured platform without a third party and by making each transaction very securely.

There is no doubt that blockchain technology holds the key to improve the banking system. Using this technology can bring many effective benefits in the banking and financial sectors.

Are You looking for the Blockchain Applications for your Banking & Financial Sectors?

Pulsehyip is the leading blockchain application development company in India and it provides end-end blockchain solutions for various business industries.

Here you may know what are the industries disrupt by blockchain technology!

So if you want to build your business with this latest technology then Hire our dedicated & skilfull Blockchain developers who have in-depth knowledge in blockchain technology to develop the custom blockchain with decentralization application for your business requirements.

Hire Dedicated Blockchain Applications Developer

Blockchain and Crypto Token Development Company

If you’re a Business man, you must know the power of “Blockchain & ICO” in this digital business industry. Although this is a latest secure & strong business model, many business peoples are yet to discover what it really means after it’s updates. Blockchain & ICO’s are a crucial part of online business and strongly impact your business.

As the whole business industrial world is running faster towards decentralization, having an ICO (Initial Coin Offering) will be of highly beneficial. Since Blockchain & ICO is still an emerging term which needs to be given huge focus on its development and marketing activities.

Pulsehyip is the Best Blockchain ICO development company in India, who provides you the best ever services for blockchain startups.We Are Blockchain Industry Experts With Over 9 Years Of Experience. We Make your business Stand Out On The Online Market.

Are you looking for Blockchain & ICO Business Solutions?

Get Free Consultation

Hire Trusted Blockchain Developers

hire trusted blockchain developers

Blockchain has become the most popular and high-end technology when it comes to online business and other business industries. It has transformed the world from the finance industry to global supply chains. Anyhow, most of the business sectors are still unaware of the latest technology and how it can improve the capability and profit ratio scores for their business in this digital industries.

If you want to boost your business process then you need to hire trusted blockchain developers for the best benefits of your business. Before that, you need know clear idea about the blockchain technology how it brings the profits for your business!

The Profits that Blockchain brings to Business

Blockchain makes every business simple, fast and secure for most of the entrepreneurs. The security of each and every block is guaranteed as the Blockchain is a decentralized technology. This makes the Blockchain the most presently secure & reliable technology.  It is quite common to see that there are so many business industries that face security challenges and other online hazards.

Utilizing the Blockchain Platform for any business can bring many benefits. One of its main advantages is its productivity. Transactions on the Blockchain are completed directly between the two parties without a middleman. These online transactions are done with digitized information thereby making it fast & secure. Secondly, each transaction of the user is recorded basically. This helps in auditing and verifying the authenticity of assets. Hire a Trusted Blockchain Developers to get the best blockchain services.

Our Blockchain Services

The Blockchain Technology involves a huge amount of services in different sectors of the industry. Pulsehyip is the leading Blockchain Development Company in India providing complete Solutions for Blockchain Development.

As a Blockchain Development Company, we offer services for various business sectors like Banking & Finance, Healthcare, Online Shopping,eLearning, Real Estate, Insurance, Trading, Warehouse etc. Our dedicated Blockchain Developers have all the expertise required for high-end Blockchain solutions. Some of the major Blockchain services include as follows.

* Hyperledger

* Smart Contact Development

* Cryptocurrency Wallet Development

* Multichain Development

* Cryptocurrency Exchange

* Ethereum

* Bigchain DB

Why should you Hire Blockchain Developer from Pulsehyip?

Pulsehyip is providing end-to-end custom tailored blockchain development solutions to meet the growing demands for cutting-edge business requirements. Hire trusted blockchain developers from us to enable the innovative technology in an ideal manner. We have successfully developed the most secure and protected blockchain based decentralized applications for your business all over the world.

We are inspired to build Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and Decentralised applications using the key principles of the latest technology. So hire blockchain developer from us to build your own Decentralized Blockchain business platform.

Hire Trusted Blockchain Developers


text:
Breath Of Fresh AIR in Ahoada East,As Lawmaker Builds 200 Capacity Hall for Okporowo Community

The Lawmaker Representing Ahoada East Constituency 2 in the Rivers State House of Assembly Hon. Ehie Edison has set a pace for other 31 Lawmakers,as he has succesfully completed a 200 Capacity Hall in Okporowo Community,Ahoada East Local Government Area Rivers State.

Hon. Ehie Edison who was a one time National President of the National Union Of Rivers State Students(NURSS) and the National Youth Leader of the GrassRoots Development Initiative(GDI) before his election into the Rivers State House Of Assembly at the April 11th State Assembly Elections in Rivers State has the support of his People.

The People of Upata kingdom under the umbrella of Upata Patriotic Assembly(UPA)has also commended the lawmaker over  the construction of 200 capacity hall with full modern facilities in Okporowo community.

The Leader of the group,Chief Innocent Banigo,during a thank you visit to the Lawmaker pointed out that since the inception of democratic rule in 1999 no member of the Rivers State House of Assembly has done what Hon.Edison Ehie has done within 3months in office,adding that the most significant thing about the project was that it has never happened where a House of Assembly member used  his salary to embark on such a gigantic project within 3months in office,calling the development a breathe of fresh air in Upata kingdom.

Chief Banigo noted that Upata kingdom is witnessing the beginning of a new dawn where service delivery is pursued with renewed vigour by the lawmaker.He noted that the lawmaker has the political will to make life better for Upata kingdom through qualitative representation at the State Assembly.He,however congratulated the lawmaker for his victory at the polls and pledged their support for him.

The group noted that they will continue to identify with success,an icon of hope,a rallying point,a God fearing man,courageous,fearless,intelligent,principled and Ekpeye born politician,saying we are very much proud of you.
He Maintained that the lawmaker is a man with an extra-ordinary passion for the upliftment of his people,and described him as a gift to Upata kingdom.

The lawmaker while thanking the group for their visit  promised to think Upata first,assuring them that he will bring development to their doorsteps,adding that no Upata son or daughter will regret voting for him.
The Lawmaker noted that his mission is to rebuild Upata into a virile, strong and united where the people are creative, innovative, responsive, accountable,patriotic and diligent.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

   Chief Ehie said: “We shall dedicate ourselves to the ideals of resilience, integrity, excellence, standards, goodwill, accountability, good governance, patriotism and productivity. The time has now come for all hands to be on deck to work assiduously towards a new improved, recharged and productive Upata.
“The hope of self reliance and self confidence that we are capable of accepting the challenges of Upata building by practically demonstrating that given the appropriate opportunities, we can be as efficient and effective as any kingdom anywhere in the world”.

“I wish to commend the usual great resilience of our people and the speed at which they woke up from slumber to respond to the realities of our time. Given the right political leadership and judicious management of human and material resources the Upata of our dream can still be attained.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

“This is the onerous task that my representation has taken upon itself and we shall not rest on our oars in the quest to achieve this objective. All I need is your support, patience, loyalty, patriotism and perseverance.”The Upataborn politician however called on the people of Upata kingdom to continue to support the State Government in her quest to transform the State to an enviable height,adding that the Governor of the State is determined to tackle the issue of development and unemployment .He noted that within the shortest period in office the Governor has demonstrated full capacity in making Rivers State New again.

Do you have any Story You would like to be Published on PUO REPORTS? or you want to Place Adverts on the Website, If yes email us at or Whatsapp us on 08050930922

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here


text:
“Paleo Is So Hot Right Now”
-Derek Zoolander

Low-carb, higher-fat diets, like the Paleo diet, have gained popularity over the last 20 years. However, a new animal study has found that these diets may tip your scale in the wrong direction and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Published in the journal Nutrition & Diabetes, the study included 18 pre-diabetic, obese mice. For nine weeks, half of the mice were fed a low-carb, high-fat diet (6% carb, 81% fat, 13% protein) and the other half were fed a standard weight-maintenance diet (70% carb, 10% fat, 20% protein). Researchers measured the mice’s body weight, food intake, and blood sugar on a weekly basis, and ran other tests to assess the mice’s heart disease risk and ability to control blood sugar. Here is what they found:

  • Mice on the low-carb, high-fat diet experienced greater weight and body fat gain, and increased insulin resistance compared with the mice on the standard diet. These changes point to poor blood sugar control and an increased risk of diabetes.
  • Two markers of cardiovascular disease risk improved in mice on the low-carb, high-fat diet compared with those on the standard diet: their HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels increased and triglyceride levels dropped.

These findings suggest that a low-carb, high-fat diet may not be a healthy choice for everyone, despite some of the improvements seen in the mice. They also highlight the need for more research in people, including people who are overweight, obese, or have diabetes, before a high-fat diet can be safely recommended. However, some Paleo enthusiasts would argue that the high-fat diet in this study contained much more fat than a typical Paleo diet, which tends to be more protein-focused. Of course, if you want to take a shot at a tried-and-true diet, include more vegetables and fruits in your meals, and eat lean sources of protein like beans, fish, and nuts. But remember, if you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, talk with your healthcare practitioner before starting any new diet plan.

Source: Nutrition & Diabetes

Related Product For Weight Loss

KETO Assist™ (Pre-Order)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


text:
Does Dreaming of Failure Affect Your Success?

You have a tough job in the morning—a meeting with the boss, a presentation for the board, or a serious exam. So what does it mean if you dream of failure the night before?

According to a study Consciousness and Cognition, dreaming of failure prior to an exam is linked to more exam success. Researchers contacted thousands of students who had just sat a very important exam that would dictate their access to medical school. Over 700 participated and completed a questionnaire about their sleep quality and dreams the previous night. They also asked about any exam dreams over the course of the prior term.

Of the students who reported dreaming, 44.1% said it had been about the exam, and most said it featured some kind of problem like missing a pen or not understanding anything. Sadly, the classic “naked in the exam room” dream with not mentioned.

Then, researchers looked at the student’s exam results, which showed that students who had dreamed about the exam prior to did better than those who did not. Also, the more exam dreams the student had over the term, the higher their grade tended to be.

“As stated by some students, the immediate benefit of dreaming was the drive to address weaknesses in knowledge after awakening, which certainly provided an advantage,” the researchers said. “Additionally, the contrast between the horrible situations experienced in the dreams (appendicitis, lateness, impossibility of competing) and the more casual reality (good health, appropriate timing and tools) the next morning may desensitise the students to anxiety, which can be reassuring and beneficial for competition.”

Of course, take this study with a grain of salt. That said, perhaps dreaming of failure isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Photo courtesy of flickr

This is a test


text:
Guardrail Receiver

Guardrail Receiver - 15158
Guardrail Receiver - 1515861029

Install Guardrails Flush Against Outside Walls

The Guardrail Receiver is designed to be compatible with the Guardian Guardrail Post, and allows for the installation of guardrail systems flush against outside walls. It may be installed in both wood and concrete substrates, and is composed of powder-coated steel for superior durability and weather resistance. The Guardrail Receiver is reusable for multiple installations, although new fasteners must be used for each new installation application.

  • Mounts with screws or nails
  • Tested for concrete 2000psi or more

Part #HeightProduct DescriptionWeight (lbs)
15158 - Guardrail Receiver for use with Guardrail Posts 4.00
61029 - Guardrail Receiver for use with 2 x 4 Boards 11.00

Follow Qualcraft

Qualcraft Twitter
Qualcraft Facebook
Qualcraft YouTube


text:
Ticket Holders Anxious to Get into Rocklin’s Quarry Park Adventures

ROCKLIN — Quarry Park Adventures was not ready for Memorial Day weekend and it looks like it will not be ready for Labor Day either.

“Yes, we are disappointed about not being available for the holiday weekend,” said David Busch, the president of Quarry Park Adventures.

The adventure park in the heart of Rocklin will feature, among other things, rock climbing and zip lining — when it finally does open its doors to the public.

“Months ago I got like a family four pack. So I guess I’m waiting for those tickets and I’ll be zip lining here and screaming my head off,” said a woman who went by the name Emily.

Emily says she is willing to wait though.

“Safety is number one,” Emily said. “So I’m sure they want to make sure they get it totally dialed in and how to operate it when they get big crowds and how to make sure every single child and adult is safe.”

The park will be the only one of its kind in the United States. Built into a quarry at the heart of Rocklin, it will host 500 to 600 active guests at a single time and that’s never been done before.

Then there’s the setting, the quarry itself. As the story goes, it is where the granite came from to build the State Capitol.

“Once the elements … they really got into installing the adventure elements into that rock hard granite, that has been the holdup,” Busch said. “That has been disappointing, surprising, drills breaking, drill bits breaking.”

But now all that equipment is in place. All that’s left is to give park staff practice at serving their adventuresome customers.

The park plans to hold it’s grand opening on Sep. 15.

See original story on Fox40 here

By |2018-09-05T20:53:16+00:00August 30th, 2018|News, Video|


text:
9 Tips For Frustration Free Machine Piecing

QuiltNotes Learning Center

Last Updated March 20, 2018

When we work on our quilt tops we want things to go as smoothly as possible. Some days go smoothly but some are full of frustration. In no particular order, here are 9 Tips for frustration free machine piecing.

1 – Know Your Sewing Machine

I know this sounds obvious but it’s really important. Thousands of us, myself included, never know some things about our sewing machines. If we know all the features of our machines and how they properly function, we’ll have smooth sailing as we sew. Know the proper names of the parts. Instead of saying, “That silver thingy on the flat part of the machine that the needle goes through.” say “The needle plate.” Learn how to properly thread the machine. Learn what all those buttons and dials do and how to adjust them. When my machine is properly maintained and cleaned, any problems I have are most likely operator error.

Learning Center Articles:

2 – Use Quality Thread

For machine piecing, choose a good quality cotton or polyester thread. For cotton thread a 50wt or 40wt is ideal. The 50wt thread is thinner and sort of melts into the fabric. The 40wt thread is slightly thicker and stronger. I have used both of these for machine piecing. However, because the 50wt is thinner, I have problems with it breaking in my high speed machine, Janome 1600. It works fine in my “normal” speed machine, Janome 3160. Use the same type thread in the bobbin as you do in the top. This gives you a smoother seam line. My color choices are natural, tan, eggshell or light grey.

3 – Use The Right Type and Size Needle

A needle is a needle, right? Wrong. Watch this 3 minute video and demonstration of the parts of a needle.

Tip:  Remember the groove on the front of the needle? If you’re using a small needle with thick thread, the thread won’t fit inside the groove. This can cause constant thread breaks as the needle enters the fabric. The needle is too small for the thread you’re using. If you look where the thread broke, you will probably see fraying and a little pigtail. Use a larger needle or thinner thread.

Another 3 minute video has a great explanation of needle points and sizes.

It is suggested that we change our needles for every project. I must confess I don’t do this. When I do change my needle, I notice much better stitches. My suggestion is a universal needle, size 10 or 14.

Further Reading – Want to totally geek out on sewing machine needle information? Check out the Schmetz Learning Center

Schmetz Universal needles

4 – Sew a Consistent Seam

You can merrily sew along for hours and make great progress.. But, if your seam allowance isn’t consistently, you’ll have problems completing the quilt top. There are two “sizes” of seam allowances in quiltmaking: the 1/4″ and the scant 1/4″.

The 1/4″ is close t 1/4″. I use a 1/4″ foot and generally place my fabric right up against the edge.

The scant 1/4″ is slightly smaller than 1/4″. Many quilters find they have more accurate piecing when using this slightly smaller seam allowance. Whichever is best for you, make sure you are consistent with every seam.

5 – Make a Test Block

When I’m ready to try a new block or technique, or if it looks complicated, I will make a test block from scraps. I don’t want to purchase and cut large amounts of fabric, only to find I don’t like making the block. Making a test block lets you understand the process. You can decide if you really want to go ahead with the project.

6 – Do All Your Cutting First

Once you’ve decided to go ahead with the project, cut up all the fabric. Prepare for successful machine piecing sessions by being organized and ready to go.

Learning Center ArticleLessons Learned From Projects Half Done

7 – Plan For Distractions

There will always be distractions so why not plan some of them? Plan short breaks and do something on your to-do list. Start dinner, return a phone call, walk the dog. Planning some of our known distractions gives us a short break to get up and move around. It also let’s us get things done on our own time.

8 – Make Sure Your Chair Is Comfortable

Not only should your chair be comfortable, it should be the right height for sewing. Sit in your chair, bend your elbows at 90 degrees and hold your hands with palms facing down. The base of your sewing machine, where the fabric meets the needle, should be the same level as your palms. It sounds really low but any higher and your shoulders and wrists will feel the pain.

koala sewcomfort chair

Koala Sewcomfort Chair

This is a very comfortable, adjustable chair for the sewing room. I have had mine for many years.

The Sit Upon Chair Pad

A chair pad for more comfortable sewing.  This also raises you up an inch or two foe the height adjustment.  ReviewThe Sit Upon

9 – Get Dressed

Now the last of the 9 tips for frustration free machine quilting is to get dressed. I know lots of quilters like to stay in their pajamas all day and sew if possible. But what happens if your friend calls at lunch time and says “I’ll be there in 15 minutes. Let’s do lunch. Then after, we can check out the new quilt shop!”  Can you be ready? Or will you have to pass?

For for information, see Recommended Quilting Supplies and Basic Quiltmaking Supplies.

Subscribe for updates

Ask a question or leave a comment


text:
Accurate Piecing Along the Way: Squaring Up Blocks and Quilts

QuiltNotes Learning Center

Last Updated November 12, 2018

This article is a request from a dear friend, Maggie. She asked me, “When and how do I square up my quilts and blocks?” She is not simply asking how to trim a block or quilt top. Instead, she is asking how to make blocks with straight sides and square corners that fit together with ease.  Additionally, she wants a quilt top that lays flat. In my opinion, when to check for accurate piecing is every time you cut or sew fabric. How to check for accuracy is simple as well, use the lines on your cutting mat.

Cutting for Accurate Piecing

Accuracy starts with the cutting process. If fabric is cut to the wrong size or in the wrong direction, there is no way your blocks will be square. Let’s take a simple 4-patch and see what a difference 1/8″ makes.

accurate piecing blocks

The 4 patches on the left are cut 2-1/2″ x 2-3/8″. The 4 patches on the right are cut 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″. The difference between the two sets is each of the patches on the left are 1/8″ smaller on one side only. You might think that 1/8″ is not a big deal.

accurate piecing 4 patch

Use a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the seams to one side before sewing the next seam. If they are cut correctly, each of these blocks should measure 4-1/2″ x 4-1/2″.  You can see the difference between the two blocks in the size and shape. There is no way these blocks, along with 10 or 20 more, will ever fit together correctly. Squaring up the block on the left will only make matters worse. The block on the right requires no trimming at all.

A 1/8″ difference here and there may not seem like much. When you multiply 1/8″ times 4 seams or 20 or 50 seams, the difference is huge! For tips on cutting, check out these articles:

Cutting Direction

What I mean by cutting direction is the grain line in fabric. There are three grain lines:

  • Lengthwise – runs the length of the fabric, parallel to the selvage.
  • Crosswise – runs across the fabric, perpendicular to the selvage.
  • Bias – runs in a diagonal direction between the lengthwise and crosswise grains.

The Learning Center contains several articles on grain line you should check out:

I have found that using fabric starch and washing fabric produces more accurate and enjoyable piecing. I resisted both for many years but once I tried them, I couldn’t be happier. Especially when sewing bias edges, fabric starch is your very best friend. Check out these articles:

Sewing for Accurate Piecing

You have heard it a thousand times, use an accurate seam allowance. I suggest using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. A scant allowance is just a thread or two smaller than the measured allowance. This difference helps accuracy when pressing the seams. There are countless tools out there to help you measure and achieve a consistent, accurate seam allowance. Check for a 1/4″ presser foot for your machine. Read the article, 9 Tips for Frustration Free Machine Piecing.

Accurate Strip Piecing

Strip piecing is so popular but it can be frustrating. One of the most common problems are strip sets that bow in the center. On way to prevent bowing is to change stitching direction each time you add a strip. Sew the first two strips together from left to right. Sew the next strip from right to left and so on. Check out these articles on strip piecing:

Wavy Borders

I can’t tell you how many quilts I’ve seen that were perfect before the borders were added. If you take a long strip of fabric, piece it to one side of the quilt then cut it off at the bottom, your borders will wave like a flag in the wind. You may not see it, but if you measure the edge, it will be longer than it should be. If you lay the quilt on a flat surface without carpeting, you will see it.

If you want flat borders, you have to measure and cut to size. The article, Lengthwise Grain Binding and Borders has a section on cutting and attaching borders. This is how I do every border for my quilts.

Here are some ways to achieve accurate piecing at every step:

  1. Take the time to prepare and wash the fabric for cutting.
  2. Cut accurate pieces.
  3. Use a consistent, accurate, scant 1/4″ seam allowance.
  4. Check accuracy each time you cut the fabric or sew a seam.
  5. Press seams in one direction.

I hope you have enjoyed this article. Most of all, I hope these tips help you achieve more accurate piecing and eliminate the need for squaring up blocks or quilts.

For more project tutorials and videos:

Don’t miss a thing!

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter sent every Saturday morning at 8:15 Central Time. Forward this information to your friends because I know they’ll love it and appreciate you for it.

Subscribe for updates

Ask a question or leave a comment


text:
Dreamers-Outside of the Box; Not Out to Lunch

I am a dreamer.  I have always been.  I have never believed that there are certain pleasures in life that are reserved for certain, special people.  Even as a young child, I had big plans, and now, as a middle aged adult, I still have big plans.  I believe that the treasures this life holds are vast, nearly infinite, and they are mine to be discovered, claimed, lost, cherished, broken and adored. Dreams make this life wonderous. After forty years on this earth, I have not yet allowed maturity, pragmatism and the bitter aftertaste of negative experiences rob me of my childlike musings.  Life has yet to suck the life out of me.  If I didn’t have my dreams, however, I would die inside.

There is so, so much to do in such limited time.  There are creative endeavors to pursue and business plans to hatch.  There are new places to visit and live, yachts to sail, beaches to bask and mountains to ski. This would all seem so much more plausible if I were a wealthy woman, which I am not, but I never allow money to stand in the way of my pursuit of dreams.  I am a reasonably intelligent  and resourceful woman. I can get that which I desire. I usually do.

All of this bravado doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t feel like I sound like a compete lunatic when I share some of my plans. And, gauging from the responses my declarations often elicit, many do think I am a mad cat. “You want to do what?” “You think you can do that?”  “What?” “Huh?”  Well, the answer is-yes.  Yes, I want to do that.  I will do it with my intellect and my talents, my sheer willpower and don’t forget, a healthy dose of joie de vivre. I will do it because I want to feel alive; I want my kids to feel alive and know that life can be extraordinary and magical.  We all know it can be pretty horrible and tedious and pain inducing, so why can’t it also be wonderful?  How about that?

Don’t worry.  I do realize that dreams cannot be attained without risk. Before I had children, taking risks wasn’t nearly as stress inducing as it is now.  Back in the day, I had no qualms about packing my bags and moving to NYC to become a dancer or quitting a stable job at a state college to open a business with my husband.  Whether I failed or made it, the risks were worth it.  I was alive, moving, changing, growing.

With children, risk taking is a different business. Risk must be weighed and security can never be sacrificed.  As a parent, you can never be reckless, or, worse yet, completely selfish.  Any pursuit that consumes your time and resources as a parent must benefit all members of the family.  That said, I want my children to take chances, to be brave, to embrace adventure and see what the world has to offer.  As my husband likes to say, there is no value living like a declawed cat, staring out the window and watching life pass by .  I want my children to take risks, take chances and dream.

One of the most simple, yet profound things I have heard came from Russell Wilson, the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks.  Considering I do not follow football, I am so grateful that I caught this interview. Wilson was discussing how he got to where he was and recalled his father posing this question to him: “Why not you Russ?  Why not you?”  What a phenomenal question to pose to our children, to ourselves!  Why not me?  Why not my children? Why not my family?  Why not dream?  The riches and wonders of the world are not hidden away for an elite few.  For those of us who want, they are there for us to claim.  So if you hear me say that I want to move to Bora Bora, or buy a horse farm or open a restaurant, don’t think me mad.  Why not me?

My heart sings on flights of fancy.  I dream mountains and feel oceans and live.


text:
Trapped in the friend zone

The "friend Trapped in the friend zone is the last place any guy wants to be. You've lusted after this girl for SO long, but somewhere down the road you took a wrong turn and ended up in the friend zone. It's so easy to fall into, but incredibly hard to get out of! Are you unsure about where your relationship with your crush stands? Here's 15 signs that you're stuck in the friend zone. You say stuff like: One day it's gonna happen.

When someone gets stuck in...

You drive her home from work even though it's WAY out of your way. You pick her and her friends up at 4am and drive them home when she's Trapped in the friend zone. You do tonnes of unrequited favours for her like doing her college assignments or walking her dog. She takes you shopping and asks you your opinion on the clothes she buys.

After all, she's not wearing them to try and impress you.

This colorless, odorless, place of...

There's always someone else and you're in a space of denial about it. She will happily come over to your house to watch a movie wearing sweatpants, no makeup and her hair tied up in a greasy, scrunchy bun.

Still, there are steps you...

She will treat you almost like a gay best friend. She will undress in front of you without so much as batting an eyelid. The pair of you don't flirt with one another, but if you do, she just laughs about it and takes it as a joke. You're so desperate for her love and attention. You're her "best guy friend". You get all the aspects of a relationship without the sex. You drop everything you're doing when she calls. You listen to her dump all her problems on you day after day. You're her shoulder to cry Trapped in the friend zone but she doesn't see you as anything more.

She introduces you to her girls as her "friend. You smile weakly and put on a happy face, while thinking: You are devastated when she takes her boyfriend with her. Her presents are never as good as yours. But, let's face it, you go way over the top with her gifts. Even her boyfriend's gifts don't live up to yours. She talks to you intimately about other guys she likes and asks you for your opinion on how to get their attention.

Trapped in the friend zone boyfriend doesn't care that you spend so much time together. He used to think that you were gay. He doesn't see you as any threat to his relationship. You've never actually summoned the courage to tell her how you really feel or asked her out.

You've thought about it over and over, made plans and promised yourself you would tell her. But you've bottled it every time. You get a friendly hug or peck on the cheek and you feel like you're on top of the world.

Hooking up does not necessarily...

You misread every friendly action as a sign of her affection. She slightly leads you on. Finally, you've diverted all your attention to her and not even looked at another girl.

Are you unsure about where...

You can't even remember the last time you had sex. You joke about going out on a date with her. How to Avoid Catching Feelings for Someone. Dating dating advice single. See more from CollegeTimes Staff. We bring you the good times. Life 9 months ago By CollegeTimes Staff. Life 10 months ago By CollegeTimes Staff.

The good news is this: There is no such thing as the “friend zone.” That's just excuse-making, and the sooner you Trapped in the friend zone it behind, the sooner you can get a clear. Forging friendships with the opposite sex is really great -- except for when you actually wanted something more.

Then you find yourself stuck in. When someone gets stuck in the friend zone, they have entered into an exchange friendship that isn't even.

The other person is getting everything he/she .

MORE: Sweet ways to say i love you to your boyfriend

MORE: Amateur mature girlfriend

MORE: The swinger mature couple with a friend

News feed


text:
A Fishy Tale (and Scale)

In this week’s parsha, the Torah teaches that every fish that has fins and scales is kosher. The Mishnah (Niddah 51b) notes that all species of fish with scales also have fins. Thus, one may assume that a slice of a fish with scales is kosher even if one sees no fins.

The Gemara (Chullin 66a) states further that a fish species that has scales at any time during its life is kosher. Therefore, a fish is kosher even if “it has no scales now, but they will grow later, or it has scales and they fall off when the fish leaves the water.” Thus, sardines are kosher even though sometimes they are caught before scales develop. Similarly, certain herrings that shed their scales upon harvest are also kosher.

The early Acharonim discuss a variety of fish, or more accurately some type of legged sea creature, called the Stincus marinus that inhabited the seas near Spain and was reputed to have scales but no fins. The Tosafos Yom Tov, in his commentary to the Rosh (Chullin 3:67, Maadanei Yom Tov #5) records that when he was a rav in Vienna he was shown a specimen of this fish, which is naturally toxic, but the toxins can be removed and it can (and was) used for food and medicine. Maadanei Yom Tov presents a few possible explanations why this creature does not defy the rule established by the Gemara.

Some poskim ruled that this creature is unquestionably non-kosher, and that the Gemara means that there are very few sea creatures that have scales and no fins. One may assume that a fish or other sea creature one finds with scales is kosher; however, if one knows that it has no fins it is non-kosher (Kereisi 83:3; HaKsav ViHakabalah, Vayikra 11:9). Other poskim contend that the Gemara’s rule is inviolate and without exception (Pri Chodosh YD 83:4). In their opinion, Stincus marinus must have fins, but they fall off in the sea or when they are young; and it is indeed kosher.

What is very curious is that according to our contemporary scientific data, the creature that the Maadanei Yom Tov was referring to is probably a type of lizard and not really a sea creature at all.

To summarize, one may assume that any fish one discovers with scales is kosher, and it suffices to check an unknown fish for scales in order to verify that it is indeed kosher (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 83:3).

The word used by the Torah for scales, kaskeses, refers to a scale that is removable from the skin (Rama, Yoreh Deah 83:1). Thus, fish like sturgeon whose scales cannot be removed from the skin are not kosher (cf. Noda BiYehudah).

I live in a town without a kosher fish market. May I purchase fish fillet from a species that I know is kosher?

Halachically, one may only use skinned fish that was supervised from the removal of its skin until it was sealed as kosher (Gemara Avodah Zarah 39b). Once the skin has been removed, one may not use it without proper seals because of concern that the fish is not the kosher species one thinks it is, but a similar looking non-kosher fish.

What if a non-Jew or a non-observant Jew guarantees that this is a kosher fish?

The halacha is that one may not rely on the non-Jew and the product must be sealed by an observant Jew (Gemara Avodah Zarah 39b). However, there is one instance where we may rely on a non-Jew’s testimony – when he knows that he will lose financially if he is caught deceiving us (Taz, Yoreh Deah 83:9). Therefore, if the non-Jew knows that we can independently verify his information, we may rely on him.

However, one is usually unable to verify the information provided by the person behind the counter in a non-kosher fish market. Therefore, since he is unafraid that we will catch him lying, one may not rely on his authority.

The poskim of a generation ago disputed whether one may purchase fish without skin from a non-Jewish company that has business reasons to produce only a certain type of fish that is kosher. May one use fish from a plant without having a mashgiach check every fish? This question affects production of canned tuna or salmon. Does it require a round-the-clock mashgiach checking that every fish is kosher, or can we rely on the fact that the company has its own reasons to pack only the type of fish stated on the label?

Some poskim hold that one may rely on the company’s business reasons because of the halachic principle, “uman lo marei umnaso,” a professional does not damage his reputation. According to this approach, we may assume that a company would not mix a different, non-kosher species into its canning operation because it is detrimental to itself (Rav Aharon Kotler; Shu”t Chelkas Yaakov 3:10). Other poskim contend that Chazal did not permit this lenience in the production of kosher fish but require full-time supervision under all circumstances (Shu”t Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah 3:8; Kisvei Rav Henkin, 2:53). Many of the major hechsherim in the United States follow the lenient opinion.

According to the lenient opinions cited, could one allow a company to produce whitefish salad without a mashgiach? After all, whitefish is a kosher fish.

This is disputed by contemporary poskim. Some contend that this is prohibited according to all opinions of the earlier generation, since the company can mix small amounts of less expensive non-kosher fish into the whitefish salad without it being discerned. Thus, the company’s professional reputation is not at stake. Other poskim maintain that it suffices to spot-check that no non-kosher fish is in the factory since the company’s professional reputation is at stake.

How can someone purchase fresh fish if he lives in an area that does not yet have a kosher fish market? Since he may not rely on the fishmonger’s assurances, must he forgo purchasing of fresh fish?

There is a perfectly acceptable halachic solution. Once should go to the fish store, identify a fish that still has its skin on and identify the scales. One should then provide the store with one’s own knife and supervise the fish’s filleting.

The fish store knives usually have a thin layer of grease from other, possibly non-kosher, fish (see Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 96:5). One cannot assume that the store cleans the knife between fish to the extent halacha requires to guarantee that it is totally clean (ibid.).

In the rare instance that the shop is reticent to allow the use of private knives, then you should supervise that the knives are scraped extremely clean. Standard cleaning does not guarantee that the grease has been removed from the knife.

Salmon is a very healthy fish, high in omega oils. It is also a kosher species.

Many years ago, I attended a conference of rabbonim where a highly respected posek stated that one may assume that salmon fillet is always kosher, even without its skin. He explained that salmon meat’s red or pink color does not exist in any non-kosher fish species. Therefore, he contended that one may safely assume that red or pink colored fish is kosher (Shu”t Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah 3:8).

I did some research on this subject. There is a basis to this statement, but it is not as simple as had been presented at the time. Indeed, there are several non-kosher fish, including some varieties of shark and catfish, that have a pink pigment. However, there are distinct shades of red and reddish pink that belong only to salmon and to certain varieties of trout that are also kosher. One should not rely on determining that a certain fish is kosher based on its hue without training.

Although this halacha was presumably true at that time, I am uncertain whether one may still make this presumption because of an unusual snippet of news I discovered.

I recently read an article comparing the environmental benefits of commercially sold Pacific salmon to those of Atlantic salmon. Pacific salmon are wild fish that roam the oceans and pick up their red or pink color from their natural diet that includes red crustaceans. (The fact that a fish consumes non-kosher creatures does not affect its kashrus.) However, commercially sold Atlantic salmon, the source for fillets and steaks, are bred in fish farms that populate the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and its inlets. (Atlantic salmon is no longer harvested directly from the sea because of decreasing wild populations.) These fish eat a diet that does not make their flesh pink. To give the fish their trademark hue, the farmers add colorant to their diet.

It seems that any fish wandering into these farms and sharing the salmons’ diet would also develop pink flesh, which would destroy the theory that every pink fish must be kosher. Indeed the fish could be non-kosher but have devoured significant amounts of red color.

After further research, I discovered another reason why salmon and trout have a distinctive color not found among other deep sea fishes. When most sea creatures eat colored crustaceans, they store the excess pigment in their skin. Only salmon and trout store the color in their flesh. Thus, many respected rabbonim still maintain that fish with the distinctive salmon color must be kosher since only salmon and trout are able to convert their food coloring to their flesh.

However, a research scientist I spoke to dismissed this argument for two reasons: First, he pointed out that it is virtually impossible to prove that no other fish has this ability. To do this, one would have to conduct research on every fish variety worldwide which is an impossible task. Furthermore, he pointed out that the ability to transfer food color to flesh is an inherited characteristic that the salmon possesses in its DNA. It is feasible that someone has isolated this gene, and that some fish farmer is marketing a different species of fish as salmon fillet. Thus, our question whether one may assume that all red or pink fillet is kosher remains valid.

Nonetheless, I personally side with the lenient ruling. Since we have no evidence of a non-kosher, reddish-flesh fish, I think that we may still assume that any fish with this distinctive color is salmon until evidence appears that someone has isolated the gene that allows the color to be stored in the flesh and transferred it to a non-kosher species. Until we have such evidence, if the fish looks like salmon and smells like salmon we will assume that it is salmon (see Shach, Yoreh Deah 83:27).

Are there any other potential kashrus issues with canned fish?

Fish factories often produce non-kosher products that would render the tuna or salmon non-kosher. Additionally, even if the factory only cans kosher fish, it might use non-kosher ingredients. Most fish is processed in oil, which can be non-kosher or be produced on non-kosher equipment.

There is also a discussion among contemporary poskim whether canned tuna or salmon is prohibited because of bishul akum, food cooked by a non-Jew. Explaining this complicated subject will be left for a different article.

What other halachos pertain to fish?

Chazal advise that consuming fish and meat together is harmful to one’s health (Gemara Pesachim 76a). To avoid swallowing fish and meat together, one should eat and drink something between eating fish and meat in order to clean the mouth from residual particles (Rama to Yoreh Deah 116:3). Sefardim are more stringent and follow the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch who rules that one must wash one’s hands and mouth carefully between eating fish and meat (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 116:3).

I have never noticed anyone getting sick from eating fish and meat together. Furthermore, the American Medical Association does not consider this harmful. Does this affect halacha in any way?

Some prominent poskim contend that although mixing fish and meat was unhealthy in the days of Chazal, today the nature of the world has changed and it is no longer unhealthy (Magen Avraham 173:1). This concept is referred to as “nishtaneh hateva,” that nature has altered since the days of Chazal (see Tosafos, Moed Katan 11a; Gemara Niddah 3a). Others contend that Chazal were concerned only about a specific type of fish that is dangerous to mix with meat, and that their concern does not extend to other varieties (Shu”t Chasam Sofer, Yoreh Deah #101).

Other poskim rule that one should still not eat fish and meat together since Chazal may have been aware of a medical issue unknown to modern medicine (see Shu”t Shvus Yaakov 3:70; Shu”t Chasam Sofer, Yoreh Deah #101). The accepted practice is to be stringent (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 116:3).

Chassidim have a minhag to drink schnapps after fish. Does this practice have a halachic source?

Indeed it does. Some poskim cite that it is dangerous to drink water immediately after fish (Tosafos, Moed Katan 11a; quoted by Aruch Hashulchan, Yoreh Deah 116:10; another source one could possibly quote for this minhag is a Shla, quoted in Darkei Teshuvah 116:31, who implies that one should drink a beverage after fish, but not water). In earlier generations, there were not too many beverages available; often water, wine, and schnapps were the only choices. Thus, when wine was expensive, and one did not want to drink water after fish, schnapps was the most practical alternative. I suspect that this is the origin of washing down fish with schnapps (see Shaar HaTziyun 174:46). Today, a wine connoisseur can substitute white wine and a teetotaler, juice, for the same purpose. (Someone asked me whether one can use soda or reconstituted juice for this purpose, since both are predominantly water. To this date, I have found no halachic discussion about this shaylah.)

Question: My bubbie had a special pot that she used only to cook fish. Is there halachic significance to this fish pot?

Although most poskim contend that there is no halachic or safety problem with cooking fish in a fleishig pot, some poskim are stringent (Taz, Yoreh Deah 95:3; Shu”t Shvus Yaakov 3:70). Based on this concern, many people have a family custom to cook fish only in a pot that they never use for meat. However, the common practice is to allow the cooking of fish in meat pots.

Based on certain halachic sources, some people, most commonly Sefardim, have the practice not to mix fish and milk products together (Pischei Tshuvah, Yoreh Deah 87:9). This is important for an Ashkenazi to know when he invites Sefardi guests for a milchig meal.

People often ask the following question: Some steak sauces or Worcestershire sauces have anchovies or other fish products among their ingredients. I have noticed that some hechsherim place a notation next to their hechsher symbol identifying that these items contain fish, whereas sometimes they do not. Is this an oversight?

The answer to this question requires an introduction. Poskim dispute whether any admixture of fish and meat is dangerous or whether it is dangerous only if there is enough fish and meat to taste both (see Taz Yoreh Deah 116:2; Pischei Tshuvah 116:3; Darchei Tshuvah 116:21). Thus, many poskim permit eating a small amount of fish mixed into a meat product. For this reason, and because of the above-mentioned opinion of the Magen Avraham that mixed fish and meat is no longer dangerous since nature has changed, many poskim allow eating a small amount of fish mixed into a meat dish (Shu”t Chasam Sofer, Yoreh Deah #101; Pischei Tshuvah 116:3). Upon this basis, some hechsherim do not require listing fish in the hechsher when it constitutes less than a sixtieth of the product.

The Midrash (Breishis Rabbah 97:3) points out that Klal Yisroel is compared to fish. Just like fish, who are completely surrounded by water, rise excitedly to the surface at the first drops of rain to drink fresh water, so too Jews, although surrounded by Torah, run enthusiastically to hear a new chiddush of Torah, “drinking” it thirstily as if this was their first opportunity to learn. May we indeed live up to our reputation!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


text:
230v Display & Programmable Thermostats

230v Thermostats available with both dial and digital display formats, with options for remote sensing (slab and air) and night set back utilising separate time switches. Radiant Control also offers a range of wireless thermostats, allowing the user to place the thermostat where they wish without having the concern and costs of wiring it in place.