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Posts Tagged ‘blogs’

More Google Follies

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Now and then I like to share with my vast readership some of the amusing Google search strings that have led people to this blog, as well as some of the mysterious or gratifying ones. Previous posts in this line are “What Brings You Here?,” “More Searchers Arriving at a Place They Never Imagined,” and “Some Google Search Examples to Start Off July.”

The search string that told me that it was definitely time to compile this post was one that brought someone to this site today, which coincidentally is the day after St. Patrick’s Day. This classic search string was “real pitcher of a leprechaun.” Now the use of “pitcher” in place of “picture” brings so many people here (where posts about Little League and the OnScreen Pitch Count iPhone app are plentiful) that I’m starting to think of “pitcher” as a candidate for alternative spelling. It is actually the way many people around where I live pronounce “picture,” which has confused me more than once when the topic was Little League team photos. But what about the leprechaun? Well, that word was used to describe a person in “A Rocky Little League Start,” which naturally enough also included the word “pitcher.” I have to assume that the person that handed that search string to Google believes in leprechauns, or at least thinks there just might be an actual photo of one on the internet somewhere. So far I’ve resisted the temptation to see what might turn up with the proper spelling of “picture.”

My post “Last Days of Chestnut, Guinea Pig” seems to bring at least one reader to this blog every day. Most of these, as I’ve noted before, are evidently people searching for veterinary or pet euthanasia advice. The desperation of these googlers comes through in the way they phrase their searches, not just in key words, but as questions or plaintive statements about their pet’s symptoms. These are often sad, as in “my guinea pig is whimpering like a baby.” An exception was one I found funny, as it was obviously the coincidence of our guinea pig’s name that brought the searcher here: “are guinea pigs allowed chestnuts.” Note that this search string is expressed as a question, which follows the letter to an advice column format so often adopted by google users, at least those with pet concerns.

I’m almost sure I’ve run across “my cat cries when we fight” twice as a search string that pointed to this blog, presumably to “Cries in the Night.” I think it’s fascinating that someone would just hand that fact (based on experience, I assume) over to google for an internet search. Perhaps they were trying to locate a first-person account they had read in the past but couldn’t remember where. I imagine they were searching for others with similarly sensitive cats though. If so, this blog would have disappointed them. Yet they came here, so perhaps something else piqued their curiosity.

I don’t have a clue how a search with “bugs bunny pulverizing pitch” led someone here, unless “pitch” alone sufficed. But that must have been on page 100 or later of the finds, after many “bugs bunny” matches. Maybe I have a reference to programming bugs somewhere.

As a more detailed example of how mere word occurrence can lead to google matches I’ll cite the google search for “bible significance of crow.” which turned up

On-Screen Scientist » Jim Crow
Jan 19, 2009 … Posts Tagged ‘Jim Crow’ … but it is also completely beside the point as regards the significance of Obama’s election. …. Yet Barack Obama is about to be sworn in as President with his hand on the Lincoln Bible. …

Yep, “Thoughts of Water on the Eve of Obama’s Inauguration” does contain the words “crow,” “significance,” and “Bible.” Nothing about Biblical significance of the crow though.

That same Obama inauguration post was evidently matched to a search on “effects of thoughts on water,” the meaning of which is puzzling, but could be about some imagined telekinetic effect I guess.

I have written (“Ronnie Knox, Marcel Proust, and I” and “Ronnie Knox, Rest in Peace“) about a certain Harvey Knox, stepfather of Ronnie Knox, the gifted quarterback who led a strange and fascinating life, but I have no knowledge whatsoever of “The Harvey Knox Pig Figurine Collection.” Sorry.

In the gratifying search category I’ll put “onscreen scienstist japense surrender,” since it leads me to believe that my post “August 6, 1945: Just Another Day in the War?” stuck in someone’s mind along with this blog’s title, even though the searcher is an even worse typist than I am.

April Thank-You Notes

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

To start with an aside, let me say that I have made the move from “thank yous” to “thank-you notes,” thus avoiding a “word” I didn’t like to see in print, but had nonetheless used a few times here. Sometimes the obvious solution to a problem takes a while to become visible. I will not be giving any “shout-outs.”

As usual, this blog got a ten-fold increase in daily visitors while MacSurfer’s Headline News™ had a link to a post (What a Relief! MacBook Pro Overheating Problem Cured—Really) here. Thank you, Darren.

Other Mac sites that continue to send visitors here are PowerBook Central, and LowEnd Mac. Thanks, folks. I’m so glad that I actually have a solution to the MacBook overheating problem to point to now.

My post Some Observations on College Guides and Their Usefulness was included in the Carnival of College Admission: Kick A@$ College Links. Thank you, Elizabeth.

Joe, aka Coonass in italy, referenced and commented on Dante’s Heavenly Vision and the Physics of the Proton in his March 13 post “religion and science.” Thank you again, Joe.

David of D Dubs Reads found a lot to think about in the Dante post and added On-Screen Scientist to his blogroll. Much appreciated, David.

Denyse posted a long excerpt from the Dante piece on her Colliding Universes blog and linked to it. Thanks again, Denyse.

Harry of The Kudzu Files has placed this blog on his Blogopedia list. Thank you, Harry.

I’m programming an iPhone app (baseball related), which is taking a lot of my time, so posting will no doubt continue to be less frequent for a while. I’ll probably record another of the oldies for an audio post before long. Requests welcomed at the email address toward the upper right of this page.

Oh yes, I’m now on twitter as onscrn.

Catching Up on Thanks for Links

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

I’d like to thank a few bloggers for links and kind words. Annie of AmbivaBlog, in her post “White on Black,” wrote the following about the post I made on the eve of Obama’s inauguration: “A white guy from Texas, who remembers what segregation was really all about, celebrates the casting off of those mind-forg’d manacles represented by the election of a black president.  Especially if you are not old enough to remember what segregation was really all about, read this.” Thank you, Annie.

Jim at Stonekettle Station, in a post called “The LHC and Walter L. Wagner, Dangerously Insane (now with more nuts!),” linked to my post “Large Hadron Collider: What’s the Risk?” with the comment “Walter L. Wagner and his adherents claim the support of a ‘growing number of scientists.’ These scientists, as you might expect, are of the same cloth as Wagner himself. Some are outright frauds, nuts, and kooks. Some, while scientists, are on the fringe of actual science itself, or completely outside their area of expertise. None are actually qualified to evaluate Wagner’s alarmist nonsense, and have jumped on the bandwagon largely for the same reason Wagner has. An excellent breakdown of these people can be found at the On-screen Scientist.” Thanks, Jim.

A similar compliment (with link) was paid my LHC post by John the Scientist of the Refugees from the City Blog in his post called “The Soft Underbelly of Scientific Credentialism,” which deals in detail with the undistinguished scientific career of Otto Rössler, one of the two often-cited eleventh-hour LHC alarmists. “And finally, an awful lot of what Rössler has published in recent years looks just plain weird, even to the non scientist. I won’t go into too much detail, but I will quote the article that the anti-LHC crowd is so fond of, the one that the On Screen Scientist referred to when he took Rössler to school back in the heyday of the anti-LHC lawsuits…” Thanks, John.

Let me add that the research (mostly through the internet) that Jim, John, I, and others have done on LHC critics should have been done by the journalists who just took these anti-LHC characters at their word as being serious and worthy of respect. Without necessarily endorsing every psychological evaluation made in the above-cited blogs, I can recommend them as good references on the facts of the sometimes bizarre past activities and the grossly inflated credentials of the main LHC critics. I hope someone at CERN has become aware of this research and will make use of it during the inevitable “controversy” that will ramp up as the LHC restart approaches.

The Traditio et Virtus blog has added this blog to the blog feeds it displays. I’m not sure of the blogger’s name, but I’m guessing I should say thank you to David. The blog Ro-Theoria, which is evidently devoted to the interface between science and religion, is in Romanian, which unfortunately I am unable to read, but I would like to thank Mihai and Florin for putting my blog on its blog roll.

What Brings You Here?

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

I thought I’d share with you some observations which I’ve found interesting or amusing about how people arrive at this obscure corner of the blogosphere. People come to this blog by different paths. Some visitors have been here before and check back now and then, whether looking for something new or browsing through older posts. Some come using a link made by another blogger, and others will come via a link I’ve embedded in a comment that I’ve made on another blog. A few will come as a result of an email I’ve sent them, having noticed some overlap of interests. Some days a big majority of visitors arrive courtesy of Google search results, although other search engines play a role; and such search-initiated visits are always a substantial fraction of the total.

How do I know where people are coming from? When anyone visits a site, some information about the visit gets logged, such as the web page from which the visitor just came, if there was one. I use a WordPress plugin that tallies some of this information, and Google Feedburner does much the same, adding counts of which browsers people are using and the top few cities (but not States) people have come from. Since my total visitor count is low, most of the cities listed have only one representative on a given day, and I’m not sure what determines which ones get listed. The countries in which the cities are located are indicated by national flags, and it’s quite gratifying to see on the list a number of flags I can’t even identify. Because of ongoing worldwide interest in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and peoples’ fears about it, a significant percentage of the visitors Feedburner shows are from foreign countries, sometimes more than half. The US flag by a city is not sufficient to identify the State of many cities with certainty because of all the multiple examples of city names. I was recently surprised to see a U.S. city called Wasilli listed, for which I would never have been able to guess the State a short while back, but now feel pretty sure of.

The search terms people use to find their way here are generally the most interesting data collected about visits. In all the examples that follow I am keeping the original spelling (frequently misspelling) found in the search terms. Many people, evidently overestimating Google’s artificial IQ, seem not to know that it looks for word matches; they write out questions such as (one of my favorites): “why are smart people never understood in conversation[?]” Through word matching, that search naturally brought the frustrated conversationalist to my post Conversations in the Clubhouse of Truly Smart People, which comes second from the top in the Google search. I know the feeling, pal, but I’m afraid my post didn’t help you. Another visitor to the same post was searching for the answer to the question “are the smart people religious or atheist[?]”. I don’t know if he was helped or not. I’ve noted that having the word “scientist” in the very name of the blog increases the likelihood of ridiculous matches to search terms.

Sometimes the Google search terms used make it seem very likely that a visitor was either returning to see a post again or was following someone else’s recommendation to track it down. I’ve recently seen a few visitors (or perhaps the same one repeatedly) that came here as the result of a Google search on “the perfect italian woman,” which happens to be the title of one my earlier posts. Unless Richard Dawkins has decided my notion of the clubhouse of truly smart people was too good an idea not to implement for his atheist buddies, the Google search on “richard dawkins clubhouse,” which turns up the Clubhouse post referred to in the previous paragraph as number one, must fit into the category of a search made in order to return to a previously read post. I’m guessing that “scientist rest in peace,” which turns up my post Ronnie Knox, Rest in Peace in fifth Google position for obvious reasons of word matching and was used by a couple of visitors in the space of a week, also belongs to this class of returns or pass-alongs, but there’s no way to be sure. Ronnie Knox, by the way, with additional words such as “UCLA”, “quarterback”, and “football” brings in a steady trickle of visitors, so I feel the blog is providing a service to those wondering whatever happened to the guy.

I was amused to see that one visitor had arrived here due to a search for “professor otto rossler+crazy.” Now I never came right out and said Rössler (one of the LHC end-of-the-worlders) was crazy by explicitly using that word; but I did point out some evidence that his grip on reality seems quite tenuous. I see that as I write On-Screen Scientist » Otto Rössler is the third listing in Google for that particular combination of words. It ranks so high because the word “crazy” does appear in this quote from Rössler himself about his “Lampsacus” web page: “This is the most crazy homepage ever written.” It seems a source of pride to him, and he does play the role of the mad scientist—sixty-eight-year-old hippie dreamer out to save the world variety—rather well. Rössler and his co-troublemaker Rainer Plaga (though their LHC doomsday scenarios are mutually exclusive) bring in more Google-based traffic than even the hot MacBook Pro post, but they are usually of the plain “Rainer Plaga LHC” type.

Even searches based on false premises—e.g., “large hadron collider in texas cancelled due to religion,” which gives the wrong name for the Superconducting Super Collider and the wrong reason for its cancellation—can lead to a real web page through word matching, and my page referencing the LHC tag turns up fifth in Google since it mentions both the LHC and the SSC and its cancellation.

One of strangest Google searches I’ve seen to point to this blog is “example of left-bound manuscript about personality, fitness and health.” That seems such a bizarre stretch that it makes me wonder if that person doesn’t have some way of obfuscating his actual search string, or if perhaps Feedburner had a minor seizure at just the right time to misdirect someone else’s results to mine. What was the person who searched using “How to write a letter asking for a chemical as gift from a scientist?” planning to do, and where did that person get the idea that the answer could be found on the internet? Whatever link Google found to this blog must have been buried very deeply in the list; but since none of the ones above it would have had the answer either, might as well keep trying, the visitor must have thought.

Among those visitors least satisfied was probably the one who was pointed here by a Google search on “realistic ‘gender switch.’” Hoping perhaps for a detailed before-and-after display, he or she no doubt arrived here because of my discussion of Proust’s inadequate depiction of Albertine in the post Reading Proust for the Last Time—only to find no pictures at all. Another bound to have been disappointed was the visitor led to my post Times I Might Have Died by a search for “Russian scientiest hit by a car died and came back to life.” Sounds as though I must have missed something big, but I can’t keep up with everything.

The aforementioned post The Perfect Italian Woman has been a magnet for people following false leads. The post fails to answer the question “why are european women perfect[?]” posed a few weeks ago by a visitor. It sheds no light on who might be the “most beatiful scientis woman.” Nor does it offer photos of “beautiful young italian women.” Unless “where to meet women in torino” was one of those searches by someone trying to get back to the post, I’m afraid a lonely searcher found nothing of value, unless he was really starting from scratch, and a story from twenty-five years ago could help. If you haven’t read the post, then you can’t appreciate the irony of having the search on “how to approach an italian woman” lead to it.

My post Last Days of Chestnut, Guinea Pig has brought visitors via painfully sad Google searches such as “rotting guinea pig foot,” “guinea pig end of life signs,” “guinea pig whimpering meaning,” “how to put a guinea pig out of misery humanly,” and “how far down to bury dead guinea pig.” I can try to dispel the sad thoughts engendered by those search terms by contemplating the absurdity of coming to the post via the Google search on “what scientist know about the pig.”

Let me close with a Google link from a search conducted by a none-too-literate and somewhat confused student (presumably), a match probably due to my dubious use of “thank yous” as the way to convey the idea of saying “thank you” multiple times in posts in which I wanted to acknowledge other bloggers. Anyway, the search was on “how is history yous in math.” I can’t say it’s funny exactly, but solving the puzzle of what the “yous” meant and then considering the idea of history being used in math just set something ringing in a funny part of my brain. It’s at least a clear reminder that the internet cannot be a substitute for “old-fashioned” education.

A Commercial (with Money-Saving Coupon), Some Thank Yous, and an Animal Identification

Friday, September 26th, 2008

First, the big news: OnScreen DNA’s price has been reduced by $30! The standard edition of OnScreen DNA is now $39, and the Pro edition, which empowers user-controlled simulations of gene transcription and DNA replication, costs $69. You can read the press release; but, if you haven’t already—just to get an idea of how much easier it is to visualize and understand DNA’s double helical structure and the chemical bonds that underly it when you have a three-dimensional model to play with—why not download OnScreen DNA Lite (it’s free)?

OnScreen DNA is a virtual model, of course, which is good from a number of standpoints. It costs a lot less than a hardware one, and it can be animated to show the essential three-dimensional details of how DNA works. If you know someone who teaches DNA at any level, please tell them about OnScreen DNA. If you’ve wanted to come to a deeper understanding of DNA and how genes work yourself, please note that it is now a lot easier and less expensive to do so.

As an extra inducement to readers of this blog to try OnScreen DNA, here’s a coupon code to save an additional $20: hs908. Just enter that code in the appropriate box on the order page to get OnScreen DNA for only $19. This won’t work forever, so don’t count on it being there a month from now. OK, commercial over.

I need to catch up on thank yous and acknowledgements. As always, another blog’s linking to this one implies no endorsement of views in either direction.

David, the Christian physicist and novelist who writes the He Lives blog, linked to Conversations in the Club of Truly Smart People. Thanks again, David. Another Dave, he of the Not the Religious Type blog, mentioned the same post favorably and linked to On the Breaking of Bad Habits Acquired in One’s Youth: Smoking and Atheism. Thank you, Dave. Ropata of the Earth is My Favorite Planet blog also linked to the Bad Habits post. Thanks, Ropata.

Denyse, a very busy Catholic journalist and author on topics of religion and science, keeps three blogs going. We have exchanged some emails, and she has added the onscreen-scientist to the blog roll of Colliding Universes, which I’d say examines physics and biology from a thoughtful Intelligent Design standpoint. She also (with comments) linked to the two previously mentioned posts related to atheism and to the one on animal suffering, Cries in the Night. Thank you, Denyse.

My post about the anti-LHC campaign, Large Hadron Collider: What’s the Risk?, coming as it did a couple of days before the first proton beam circulated in the LHC, drew more traffic than even the computer troubleshooting ones have in the past. John of the Refugees from the City blog linked to my aforementioned LHC post in two separate posts: Mixed Nuts, in which he makes a thorough exposé of the dishonestly exaggerated credentials of Walter Wagner, the main instigator of the doomsday hysteria, and also looks at Rainer Plaga’s background and work, and Whooooo Hoooooo!, which summarizes the credentials of all notable LHC opponents. Thanks, John.

I have also exchanged emails with JoWynn, who wrote to tell me how much she and her husband appreciated my Reading Proust for the Last Time post. JoWynn, in addition to being a voracious reader (including books on particle physics!), maintains a blog largely devoted to her embroidery art (Parkview 616), despite a disabling condition that confines her to one room most of the time. Thanks, JoWynn. Judy of the Reading Proust in Foxborough blog said good things about the Proust post and also linked to it. Thanks again, Judy.

Finally, I’ve decided that the predatory animal whose strange wild sounds I couldn’t identify in my Cries in the Night post was almost certainly a raccoon, based on some sounds I’ve found online. It’s funny that out of all the raccoons I’ve seen in my life, I’ve never heard one make a sound that I can remember. So, just to return to that disturbing death struggle I overheard in the middle of the night, I now imagine that it was a raccoon that had caught a squirrel. The raccoon, lacking big, powerful jaws like a dog, could have been holding the squirrel in its mouth waiting for it to die of blood loss, internal injuries, etc. The squirrel, being still alive, could have made its cries and also have mustered up the strength for a desperate struggle to escape every few minutes, which would explain the fierce raccoon sounds mixed with thrashing around that I heard periodically.

On the one hand, I’d just as soon get those sounds and speculation about what was going on out of my head, but it’s also good to have the drama linked to known animals. It changes my view of raccoons, which I had known to be scrappy fighters by reputation (able to drown dogs that were foolish enough to pursue them into the water, for example), but had never seen or heard in action.

August Thank Yous and a Pledge of (Almost) No Politics

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

It’s time I once again acknowledged some kind words and links from others in that vast and brave new world we call the blogosphere. From my tiny home planet, establishing communication with one of the millions of other bloggers out there still seems to me something like a successful SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) contact. Needless to say (well almost, or why say it?), in thanking people that have linked to this blog I am not necessarily endorsing the religious, political, or literary opinions they express on their blogs, which are, in any case, quite likely to be in disagreement with one another.

Tiffany, a librarian who loves to read and who lives in my home State of Texas, writes a blog called Considering All Things Literary. After reading Ronnie Knox, Marcel Proust, and I, she honored the On-Screen Scientist blog with a place on her list of Literary Links and Other Fun Perusings. Thanks, Tiffany.

Joe, a blogging oil field worker, writes FarSouth of I-10, which is currently following his thoughts and adventures as he makes the transition from South America to Italy. He recently added a link here with these words: “There’s Bob the Onscreen scientist that sometimes sounds like Bill Gates and other days sounds like St. Paul,” which demonstrates Joe’s ability to use ludicrous comparisons for humorous effect, while at the same time making an accurate point about the varied content of this blog. Thanks again, Joe.

The St. Paul reference was doubtless due to my recent post called On the Breaking of Bad Habits Acquired in One’s Youth: Smoking and Atheism, which caught the eye of a few bloggers who write from a Christian perspective and who linked to it. David, a physics professor and novelist who has an interesting blog (He Lives: Reformed views of a nuclear physicist) largely dealing with Christian theology and issues of science and religion, included a link to my post in a short one of his own, which link continues to bring in daily a few readers (or five-second scanners, one never knows) even a couple of weeks later. Thanks, David.

Eric posted a short note (“A physicist’s conversion from atheism to theism”) and an excerpt from the atheism post on July 23, 2008 at In the Agora, which is a group blog I’m very happy to have been noticed by. Thank you, Eric.

Josh, whose blog Quid Sit? deals with “Catholicism, Art, Culture, & Everything in Between,” linked to the atheism post with one of his own called I Kicked Them Both, Too. He noted that, though our ages were very different, our experiences were similar. Thank you, Josh. Jesse of Karate and Whatnot from VA also recommended the atheism post with a link. Thanks, Jesse.

How have other bloggers found out about this blog before linking? In a few cases, I have emailed them about some post here that I thought they might be interested in based on what I could tell from their blogs. (Every blogger should include an email address! To email me, look to the upper right portion of any page of this blog.) Others have seen a reference somewhere else. I got a digg (in the OffBeat/Odd Stuff category!) for the atheism post, which may have been the source of a link or two. Thanks, yoder. And of course bloggers read blogs, which is another possible source of links, once one has been made somewhere.

As was predictable, I guess, the atheism post was, after the computer trouble-shooting experience posts, the one that has drawn the most visitors in this blog’s short life. A good number of those visits came from a blog devoted to atheism where I had left a comment mentioning the post. I plan to tell more about the (for the most part respectful) back and forth between me and some commenters at that blog in an upcoming entry.

My intent is still mainly to avoid religion and politics here, but in writing about my life that is well nigh impossible, so religion will no doubt be touched upon from the personal standpoint from time to time. I have more or less promised to trace over time the significant steps in my path from atheism to theism, which of course are very important to me, and I hope of interest and possible benefit to others.

In politics, I am a somewhat hopeful cynic, in the sense that I hope for the best, despite my disappointment and lack of confidence in politicians and parties. I try to maintain a good deal of emotional detachment, even while being very interested in the Presidential campaign as a national and personal (for the candidates) drama. Though no longer committed to the “no support to either of the Capitalist parties” position of my radical past, I find my disinclination to become a partisan of either major party is still strong, even without the ideological basis, mainly because of what seems to be the pervasive corruption and shallowness of the two parties. Now that I think about it, I might express the danger of strong partisanship as being one of potential idolatry (worship of a man-made god), but I don’t feel I am very tempted in that direction.

It’s also hard for me to imagine myself becoming enthusiastic about an individual candidate (I tried for a while this election), though I will consider voting for a major party candidate now, which I would not have done in the past. No longer viewing political change as the potential solution to all of life’s problems, I am more willing to try to judge what seems to be the best realistic alternative at a given time, but with low expectations, mixed with hope that it won’t make too much difference who wins. I might add that I don’t view the threat of radical Islam and terrorism as a phony one concocted by the Republicans.

Who cares what I think, anyway? There are more than enough political commentary blogs for just about any political viewpoint one could wish to see, and I am not going to add another. Most people want to read political commentary they already agree with. Whatever interest this blog may have will be due to some possibly unexpected resonance my experience has with that of the reader or from some observation I make that seems more original than any I might make about politics.

More Thank Yous to Start June

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

I need to get caught up on some thank yous to sundry fellow bloggers that have taken the trouble to visit, read, and then link, sometimes with very nice compliments included on their pages. It also gives me an opportunity to point my many readers in new directions. I find the blogosphere to be so large as to be overwhelming. Looking at the virtually endless list of blogs in a blog directory can truly make me a bit sick with vague dismay. But, along with the myriad dull plastic needles in that worldwide haystack, there are many sharp ones of genuine steel, worthy of close examination and perhaps useful for spiritual mending or embroidering. I was glad to come across a few more of these, and, believe me, I appreciate the needle-grabbing magnets other bloggers have supplied to their readers in the form of links to this blog.

Christina, who runs the Everything Worth Reading monthly blog carnival (one of the few “carnivals” a themeless blog like this one can submit to), honored The Perfect Italian Woman as one of the worth-reading selections for the April 23 edition and with the Link of the Week (think she meant month) designation. Thank you, Christina.

Baseball in Normandy mainly recounts the fortunes of the Bois-Guillaume Woodchucks, an entry in the Normandy section of the French Baseball League (whose existence was a welcome discovery for me). I hadn’t heard of most of the towns in the league, but Dunkerque and Cherbourg are familiar from World War II. Chris, who is on the team’s roster and writes the blog, also occasionally reminisces about baseball in his younger days in the States. Chris refers to himself as an ex-philosopher, but how do you stop being that? A post called Best Baseball Memory and Rick Silva, which turned out to be very well written, was what drew me to his blog. I was looking for other baseball reminiscers after I’d written A Rocky Little League Start.

I emailed Chris, thinking he might be interested in my piece, and it turned out he was. He read it and liked it, so I also told him about the follow-up It’s Only One Game when it was posted. A bit later I was pleased to see a few folks coming to this blog as a result of a post of Chris’s called Introducing Bob Estes (a nom de correspondance of your On-Screen Scientist) with a link to the two Little League coaching posts. I haven’t checked on the Chucks’ fortunes in a few days. They finished in first place during the regular season and were about to begin playoffs last time I read about them. Earlier, their season had seemed in jeopardy due to the sound (like a gun shot) foul balls make hitting the slate roofs of houses (including the mayor’s) near the field. I’ve wanted to visit the D-Day Landing sites for a long time. Now I hope I can make that trip happen during the baseball season. Thank you Chris.

Helena, an Australian lady who blogs as Dysthymiac, emailed comments about the dangerous (naturally produced) drug testosterone in regard to the risky juvenile behavior recounted in my post Times I Might Have Died, which she came to having seen a comment I’d made about a beautiful photograph elsewhere. She has since read and liked Ronnie Knox, Marcel Proust, and I and has recommended it on a couple of blogs I know of. We have exchanged emails on various topics of overlapping interest (e.g., Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin, Billy Sol What’s-his-name, and the blogosphere), and she has added a blogroll-type link to here on her blog. Thank you, Helena.

Norm Geras’s links contain numerous interesting blogs. One I found that way is Far-South-of-I-10, which is written by Joe, a guy who has spent years working on oil rigs and is currently in Columbia about to move to Italy. I thought he might be interested in The Perfect Italian Woman, to which I referred him. He responded with a cordial and complimentary email. Later I saw that my post Times I Might Have Died may have given him the idea to write Dancing With Death about a truly harrowing job experience on an oil rig. Joe’s gift for humorous narrative makes the story—even if your fear of heights is as strong as mine—a pleasure to read. Thank you, Joe.

A few days ago I became aware of Sports Illustrated and Proust, another blog post that referenced my Ronnie Knox, Marcel Proust, and I piece. Seeing that I had found the 1958 reference in which Ronnie Knox mentioned Proust, Michael of Orange Crate Art decided to utilize the full Sports Illustrated online archives to see just how many times and in what way Proust had been mentioned by SI in its history. So far, no Petite Bande references in the Swimsuit issue. In one excerpt, I’m afraid an NFL player was pulling the sportswriter’s leg, but the player must at least have taken some review courses in college to be able to reel off the names that he did. Referring to his reading preferences, the player said that he couldn’t abide fiction, except for “Dostoevsky and Melville,” preferring to spend his time reading “sociology, philosophy and political thought” as found in “Proust, Hegel, Rousseau and Mill.” And above all, Kafka. I don’t mean to say that stuff’s not there in Proust in Kafka, but it’s still fiction. Thank you, Michael.

Sure, I read political and news blogs, but I don’t think the world needs another one, so I am not planning to join in. I am delighted to find other sorts of blogs in which people far and wide are writing well about things from their lives and thoughts which can be of interest to a number of people outside the small circle of family and friends—if only to a very small percentage of all internet users. May this blog come to be one of them.

Some Thank Yous and More on Ronnie Knox

Monday, April 7th, 2008

I started this blog February 27, 2008. I’ve actually had more people drop by or stumble in than I expected, and I’d like to say thank you to a few folks, as well as adding a little more information on Ronnie Knox, the Proust-reading football player I talked about in the previous post for April 1.

The first email I got (via the link near the top right) was from Jamie, who had come across The Perfect Italian Woman after it had triggered a Google alert she’d set up for any web pages relevant to a book she was writing on French women. She enjoyed the piece and was generous in her compliments. Thank you, Jamie, for the encouragement.

That was just one example of the funny ways people can end up here. The story of my unusual free-lance physics job Why Gamble? Hire a Physicist lured people that had made Google searches on “Lawrence Berkeley Lab salary negotiation,” “physicists for hire,” and “postdoc scientist.” I don’t know how long they stuck around since I suspect they had something more practical in mind, but it’s interesting to see the unexpected directions people are coming from.

The biggest spikes in visitors to the blog occurred after I posted the long accounts of my troubles installing Windows Vista on my MacBook Pro using Apple’s Boot Camp. Most of the traffic was due to the MacSurfer’s Headline News site’s having linked to the posts. It’s nice to be able to measure traffic in the hundreds instead of in single or double digits. I still get people coming by every day to check those computer-related posts out, which is not too surprising since I dealt with a number of issues that can come up when you’re installing Vista on a Mac.

I am grateful to two Proust-related bloggers that have made less ephemeral links to the Ronnie Knox, Marcel Proust, and I post along with appreciative comments. These are Antonia of The Laws of Night and Honey and Judy of Reading Proust in Foxborough. I’ve also had an enjoyable email exchange with John of the blog Thinking It Through.

Now to more on Ronnie Knox. I found some Google excerpts from a book published in 2003 called Beyond the Xs and Os: My Thirty Years in the NFL, an as-told-to book by the pro football coach, Jim Hanifan, who had been a teammate of Ronnie’s at UC Berkeley. Jim was a junior when Ronnie was a freshman. About Ronnie’s ability he has this to say:

Ronnie was a superbly talented football player. If his old man had not fouled him up, everyone in the country, even today, would know who Ronnie Knox was. That’s how good a player he was and could have been.

Hanifan fills in some painful details of the way Ronnie’s stepfather caused problems with every coach Ronnie had. I’ll just move on to later in the narrative, which finds Ronnie starring at football in Toronto and, according to Hanifan, also starring on a weekly television show. He provides a new slant on Ronnie’s decision to quit football.

Without any warning Ronnie just walked off the field one day and quit football. He had gotten serious with a young lady, and the two of them took off and went to Mexico.

Then, after telling of his regret at having years later missed a phone call from Ronnie, who never called back, Hanifan continues.

I heard he ended up living in Los Angeles and was homeless when he died a few years ago. I thought the world of him, and it hurts to see him gone.

I’d like to think that Hanifan might have just heard a false rumor of Ronnie’s death, but this sounds pretty definitive. I’m glad to hear how highly Hanifan thought of Ronnie, but it somehow makes me all the sadder. I’d still like to see an obituary or something just to be sure he’s really dead and possibly to fill in a little more of his last forty years. A strangely tragic figure, that Ronnie Knox.


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New York Racing Association charges Bob Baffert, schedules hearing

New York — The New York Racing Association has charged Bob Baffert with detrimental conduct and scheduled a hearing for the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer to respond to those allegations.

NYRA announced the beginning of the hearing process Friday, adding the organization believes Baffert’s conduct warrants suspension or revocation of his right to train horses or enter races at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

Baffert was suspended by NYRA in May for Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failing a postrace drug test, and he sued to get the suspension lifted. A New York federal judge nullified the suspension in July on the grounds that NYRA acted unconstitutionally by failing to let him adequately respond.

Brooklyn Judge Carol Bagley Amon at the time said a prompt post-suspension hearing where Baffert could refute the charges was required to meet constitutional muster. NYRA scheduled Baffert’s video hearing to begin on September 27.

In a letter dated Sept. 9 and signed by Racing Committee Chairman Stuart Subotnick, NYRA charged Baffert with conduct detrimental to the best interests of racing, health and safety of horses and jockeys and the organization’s business operations.

Bob Baffert
Bob Baffert on July 12, 2021. John Minchillo / AP

NYRA said retired New York State Supreme Court Justice O. Peter Sherwood will serve as the hearing officer for Baffert’s case. Fellow trainer Marcus Vitali was also charged with detrimental conduct and has a hearing scheduled for Sept. 30 to be heard by retired New York Court of Appeals judge Robert Smith.

“NYRA has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the sport of thoroughbred racing,” NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke said in a statement. “We are determined to ensure the actions taken in furtherance of that goal comport with the requirements of due process, which is what the hearing rules and procedures established by NYRA provide.”

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has yet to render a final verdict as part of its investigation into Medina Spirit testing positive for the steroid betamethasone. Churchill Downs suspended Baffert for two years.

When Baffert’s suspension was nullified in July, attorney Craig Robinson said, “Bob Baffert and NYRA have had a good relationship in the past. My hope is that they can get to that point again for the overall good of horse racing.”

Baffert saddled a handful of horses at Saratoga this summer after his suspension was nullified, including filly Gamine winning a $500,000 race Aug. 28. NYRA’s letter to Baffert includes reference to Gamine testing positive for betamethasone in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, which led to her disqualification and forfeiture of the $120,000 of purse money.

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Lady Gaga’s dog walker recalls night he was shot by dognappers

Ryan Fischer cared for pop icon Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs before his life changed in February during what was supposed to be a normal walk.

Fischer was walking singer’s dogs in Hollywood when he was approached by two masked men, one of whom was carrying a gun. Fischer struggled with the men before one of them fired a single shot that pierced Fischer’s lung before fleeing with two of the dogs.

In his first television interview, Fischer described to “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King how badly he was wounded.

“It was a severe one shot. And when I went back, cause I had to go back to the hospital a second time to have the surgery cause my lung had collapsed, the people in the ER who I’d seen that night told me that they didn’t think I was gonna survive that night,” he recalled. “So and I had felt that, cause I had, I was very awake during, while they were operating on me that night. But just to hear them say it, it was, it makes it more real.”

More of Gayle King’s interview with Ryan Fischer will air on “CBS Mornings” on Friday, September 17.


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Genetic mussel solution examined

by Jeff Helsdon | October 5, 2021
mussels on a stick

Two separate initiatives are examining methods of genetic control, which would target a specific invasive mussel species. Neither would hinder native species or other aquatic life.

Removing genes, controlling reproduction

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin — River Falls are looking at using RNA interference to turn off a gene in zebra mussels. They are targeting the genes that lead to shell formation or development of the threads that allow mussels to attach to surfaces.

Meanwhile, The American Bureau of Reclamation, a US federal entity that oversees water management, is looking at DNA technology to control quagga mussels. The goal is to target quagga mussel reproductive processes.

“Invasive mussels, such as the zebra and quagga mussels, have cost Ontario’s economy millions of dollars since they were introduced. If science has a way of finding a practical and safe solution to these mussels, it could completely tip the scale in the battle against these invaders,” OFAH Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP) Aquatic Program Specialist Brook Schryer said. “Science has been proven to be capable of great things — especially over the last year. I am cautiously optimistic about all research that is focused on the control, management, and possible eradication of an invasive species.”

In the meantime, the ISAP will continue to focus on preventing the spread of invasive mussels.

Click here for more outdoors news

For more fishing, click here


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Brought to you by OBS staff reviewer Heidi

Saytrs and fauns area a couple of similar mythical creatures that are half human and half goat like creatures; being human from head to waist and then transitioning into goat form the waist down.  And they have goat horns atop their heads.

Fauns and Saytrs used to be considered quite different creatures.  In Greek Mythology the saytr was described as a stockier hairy dwarf that was ugly to look at and the faun looked like a typical man from the waist up.  The Saytr was also depicted as part human and part horse in some cultures or texts.  Fauns were more foolish and Saytrs were more knowledgeable, but were womanizers.  The two creatures have become more similar as the Romans described the Saytrs as being part goat and human and associates them with a God Faunus and Goddess Fauna , who were both goat people, making the satyr almost identical to the faun.   Both are considered to be companions of the Greek God of the wild, Pan.  Saytrs and Fauns are commonly associated with playing musical instruments like the flute.

Saytrs and fauns are known to help or harm humans at will.  They reside primarily in the forest and invoke fear among travelers who can never know if they’ll find one in a helpful or destructive mood.

You can find satyrs and fauns depicted in several works of art.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses a striking sculpture by Italian artist, Andrea Riccio, who was known for his masterful bronze work during the Renaissance.  He has several works that depict satyrs and half humans that became very popular during that era.  There is also a light-hearted oil painting by Arnold Böcklin, titled ‘Faun Whistling to a Blackbird’.  These are just a couple of many works of art that showcase the faun and satyr.

I have not personally come across many books that feature satyrs or fauns.  But there is a series that focuses on them by Elizabeth Amber called The Lords of Satyr, but based on the men on the covers I really don’t see the goat like quality, but they do seem to hone in on the steamy womanizing ways of the satyr.  I also came across a couple satyrs in the book, Angel’s Ink by Jocelynn Drake, but they were background characters and also kept to the satyr horniness wanting to attract women and requesting penis tattoos on their arms.  For a more kid friendly faun, you might want to check out the Chronicles of Narnia.

When thinking about satyrs in movies, the first thing that comes to my mind is Phil in Disney’s animated movie Hercules.  He seems to go with the more dwarf-like and ugly satyr, but definitely retains his goat-like qualities!  Disney must really like the creature because they also feature fauns in Fantasia.  Other movies you can see them includes Pan’s Labyrinth and the Percy Jackson movies.


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ADB to help enhance transport efficiency, management in Cambodia

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has approved a $70 million loan to help provide a more efficient, safe, and disaster resilient transport sector in Cambodia, particularly by improving national roads in the provinces of Prey Veng, Siem Reap, and Svay Rieng along the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Southern Economic Corridor. …

Read the full text of the news release below or at the ADB  website.

“In Cambodia, roads are the dominant mode of transport, making road transport critical to the country’s social and economic development. However, the road subsector in Cambodia remains inefficient and fragmented,” said Oyunchimeg Erdene, a Senior Transport Specialist at ADB. “Apart from enhancing existing roads in the three focus areas, the project will also help improve the government’s capacity in road asset management.”

Cambodia’s road networks currently have low levels of connectivity and efficiency due to incomplete regulatory frameworks, low institutional capacity, limited private sector participation, and the lack of sustainability of road assets. There is a need to repair and rehabilitate some of the over 15,400 kilometers (km) of national and provincial roads managed by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) to enhance Cambodia’s connectivity, particularly, with its neighboring countries within the GMS.

Specifically, the Road Network Improvement Project will improve 147 km of unsafe and flood prone national road sections, while providing all-weather connectivity and climate resilience. It will also enhance the government’s capacity, through MPWT, to better manage its road assets through better operations and maintenance. In addition, the project will improve people’s awareness of road safety and traffic regulations.

A notable feature of the project is the pilot testing of a hybrid performance-based contract for undertaking road works which involves construction and routine maintenance, increasing private sector participation in road maintenance. It is designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of road asset management in Cambodia by expanding the scope of contractors from project executors to road managers.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB is celebrating 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2016, ADB assistance totaled $31.7 billion, including $14 billion in cofinancing.

Asian Development Bank


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Carbon pricing insights from Vietnam

A relatively low but increasing carbon price could play an important role in helping Vietnam meet its emission reduction targets, Thang Nam Do and Paul Burke write. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a matter of national interest for Vietnam, one of the most vulnerable countries to ...

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Open gaming roundup for November 6-19, 2016

NES Classic runs Linux, a new 0 A.D. alpha, and more gaming news

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Get the highlights in your inbox every week.

In this bi-weekly open gaming roundup, we take a look at Nintendo's NES Classic Edition running Linux, SDL support for Unity 5.6, 0 A.D. Ulysses, and more gaming news.

Open gaming roundup for November 6-19, 2016

NES Classic Edition runs Linux

Nintendo launched the NES Classic Edition on November 11. This tiny console comes with 30 NES games preloaded. And you know what? It runs Linux. As a single-board computer, it is packed with an Allwinner R16 System on a Chip, SKHynix 256MB RAM, and Spansion 512MB flash.

In a video by GameXplain, evidence of this single-board console running Linux is shown at 16 minutes 35 seconds. It shows the open source software license and also references Linux kernel.

Steam Dev Days videos on YouTube

Steam Dev Days took place October 12-13. Presentations of this year's event have been made available on YouTube. Two interesting videos from the event are Building Unity Games for SteamOS/Linux and the Vulkan Graphics video.

Unity 5.6 will have SDL for Linux

According to a Tweet by Na'Tosha Bard, tech director of R&D at Unity Technologies, the next release of Unity for Linux will be the first to get SDL.

SDL, or Simple DirectMedia Layer, is a cross-platform development library designed to provide low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, and graphics hardware via OpenGL and Direct3D.

With the Unity 5.6 beta release, Unity will be able to remove its X11 implementation and also use Mir and Wayland in the future. More details in the article over at

New games on Linux

0 A.D. Alpha 21 Ulysses

Wildfire Games, creators of the open source game of ancient warfare, have announced 0 A.D. Alpha 21 "Ulysses". This releases includes new game modes, 11 new maps, and lots more.

One of the new gameplay modes is Last Man Standing, where only one player can win the game. There's also Herocide/Regicide, where you start with a hero and are defeated when he or she dies.

Other new features include a new upgrade system for buildings. The user interface got lots of attention, the Javascript engine was updated to Spider Monkey 38, and more. For a full list of changes, check out the announcement. You can download the game here.

Space Merchants: Arena

In Space Merchants: Arena, a cross-platform online multiplayer RPG, you engage in intense dogfights with futuristic spaceships. The game includes three game modes: Free for all, Team battle (red vs. blue), and Capture the Artifact. It's available on Steam for Linux.

Candle, an adventure with challenging puzzles, is now available on Steam for Linux. Play as Teku, a young novice on a dangerous journey to rescue his tribe's shaman from the evil tribe of the Wakcha.

Make sure check out the video, Candle, the making of. It shows some amazing art used in the game.

About the author

Robin Muilwijk - Former and Open Organization moderator/ambassador.


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Sauer:Thermocyclers (PCR machines)

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Located in room 565

Who's in charge?

Others who can help you

Sean, Andreas, Chris, Eyal, Brent, Joe

Equipment details

Sign-up sheets for both machines are located nearby. Please use them, even if no one else is signed-up/using the machine. This lets people know where to put your reactions when they are finished if they need to use the machine, or who to talk to if they want to know when you're going to be finished.

  • DNA engine
    • Status quo set up has two independent blocks that can each hold up to 30 ~0.5 mL tubes
    • We also have a gradient block (located on the shelf above the machine). This block holds one microtiter plate (96 well) or up to 96 0.2 mL tubes. You can set up a temperature gradient with this block to optimize your annealing temperature. To use this block, you need to remove the block with the two independent units and replace it with this one (turn the machine off first and ask someone/RTFM). Note that this means that no one else will be able to use the machine when you are using it, so please sign-up accordingly.
    • Both blocks have a "hot top", so there is no need to use oil on top of your reaction.
  • Perkin Elmer Cetus DNA thermal cycler 480
    • affectionately referred to as "Bessie"
    • This machine is an "old school" peltier thermal cycler. It holds up to 48 ~0.5 mL tubes. No hot top on this one, so be sure to use mineral oil on top of your reaction to prevent evaporation

Back to Sauer equipment

Back to the Sauer lab


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What Difference Does the Right Fuel Type Make?

We do know give much thought to the fuel type when we tell the petrol pump attendant to use “Special” or Super for the fuel tank of our vehicle. But maybe we should think twice before opting for one or the other. In order to make an informed choice, it is important to understand what these terms mean.

The fuel is classified on the basis of its octane level. In the UAE, there are two or sometimes three kinds of fuel – Super 98, Special 95 and E-plus 91. Super 98 is meant for high compression engines while Special 95 is meant for medium compression engines and E-plus 91 for low compression engines. There is no right and wrong choice. It all depends on the kind of engine your vehicle has. Referring to the manufacturer’s manual of your vehicle would help you to understand what kind of fuel is best for your vehicle.

Petrol with a higher octane value would help to boost the performance aspect of the vehicle, cause less pollution and help maintain a cleaner engine. Some feel that using a higher octane value fuel in the case of a vehicle and engine that is not highly performance oriented can actually have an adverse effect on the engine

While sports cars and luxury vehicles need high octane fuel in order to perform at their peak, other vehicles would do well with lower octane value fuel. In the case of a vehicle with a lower performance engine, using high octane value does not in any way enhance performance, efficiency or the cleanliness of the engine. In such a case, using high octane fuel would only cost the owner more in the long run and result in higher level of greenhouse emissions.

Petrol companies say that while cleaning additives are added to all fuels, higher octane fuels have more powerful detergents that have the capability to keep the injectors clean. They also say that such fuels are denser by a few percentage points and this provides the vehicle with slightly more power per liter.

This sounds like a good reason to use such fuels. Bill Carter, head of valuations and research, Autodata, does not agree. According to him, only high performance cars require Super petrol and he feels there is no reason to use a higher grade of petrol than the car manufacturer recommends in the case of other vehicles as the additional cost far outweighs any perceived increase in performance. In fact, he felt using such fuel could end up increasing the carbon deposit build up in the combustion chamber of the engine. Hence, the engine would need to be de-coked earlier than would be the case if lower octane fuel is used.

Similarly using a low octane fuel when the car needs a higher version is just as damaging. It can cause abnormal combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder lead to a phenomenon known as “knocking”.

When a spark causes in a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, normally the flame front should fan out from the spark plug and move across the combustion chamber rapidly and smoothly. Knocking occurs when the last part of the air-fuel mixture ignites spontaneously before the flame front arrives. This causes a sudden increase in the pressure in the cylinder leading to a “knocking” or “pinging” sound.

Is it possible for a layman to know if the fuel type used is the right one? It is as easy as checking the owner’s manual. Another way would be to listen carefully to the sound of the engine. If there is no “knocking” sound, that means that you are using the right fuel type.

Another point to keep in mind is that you should select a good fuel system cleaner for your car, especially if you are not the type who takes in your vehicle to be serviced regularly.
Bill Carter said that the fuel system can get a build-up of deposits in fuel lines and injectors and this can have an adverse effect on the injectors. The injectors control the fuel spray pattern and the quantity of fuel entering the combustion process. Hence this build-up can affect the fuel consumption, performance and emissions.

Popular fuel additives not only boost fuel economy, improve performance and help restore lost power, but they also help keep the engine clean by clearing up deposits. When you take your car in for a service, these fuel system cleaners are normally offered as part of the service routine.

Leave a Reply


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• 82°

OPINION: My Five Cents – Hazard mitigation plan grants available

District 3 State Senator
Robert Nichols

One hundred and eighty-six years ago this week, the Texas Revolution began at Gonzales. On October 2, 1835 fighting broke out at Gonzales between Mexican soldiers and Texas militiamen. When the Mexican military commander in Texas received word that the American colonists refused to surrender a small cannon that had been gifted to the settlement in 1831 as a defense against Indians, he dispatched a small contingent to retrieve it. The struggle features the iconic “Come and Take It” flag and ended in a Mexican retreat.

Here are five things happening around your state:

  1. Texas House releases redistricting maps, holds hearing

Last week, the Texas House of Representatives released their initial maps for their newly draw districts. After the Census Bureau released their official count, the ideal number of Texans in each House district increased to 194,303. With these changes in mind, the House Redistricting Committee held a public hearing this week and made some alterations to their map before voting it out of committee. It will come before the entire chamber early next week for a final vote. After it leaves the House, the Senate will have an opportunity to vote on those maps.

  1. L.L. Temple Foundation launches medical school loan repayment program

The T.L.L. Temple Foundation announced it has negotiated a grant agreement for a medical school loan repayment program in an effort to increase the number of East Texas health professionals. The program will be run in conjunction with the State Office of Rural Health at the Texas Department of Agriculture. The funding amount of over $1 million is included for the first cohort of eight participants. The max award will be $30,000 per year for four years per participant. The program will be run by the State Office of Rural Health, which will administer the application process, reporting, and tax compliance. Participants will be required to serve for at least one consecutive year at an approved eligible site to qualify for the loan repayment award. Those eligible sites include clinics, local mental health authorities, public health facilities, and other nonprofits in the 23 rural counties the T.L.L. Temple Foundation covers and have a primary focus of serving the underserved, including Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and other low-income uninsured or under-insured populations. Applications are due to by 5 pm on November 30th and can be found online at https://form.jotform.com/211393847074157.

  1. Tenth annual veteran statewide hiring event announced

This week the Texas Workforce Commission announced its tenth annual Hiring Red, White, and You! event. This event focuses on connecting veterans, transitioning military members, and military spouses to employers across the state. In the ten years since its inception, this event has worked with over 18,000 employers, connected over 100,000 job seekers to meaningful employment opportunities, and helped facilitate over 2,800 same-day hires. The statewide event will be on November 4 and have locations across the state. The Deep East Texas regional event will be in Lufkin at the Lufkin Memorial VFW Post 1836. The East Texas regional event will be in Longview at the Holiday Inn Longview – North Infinity Center.

  1. Hazard mitigation plan grants available

The Texas General Land Office (GLO), Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) are encouraging local entities eligible under federally declared counties or zip codes affected by Hurricane Harvey, the 2015 floods, or the 2016 floods. There is $25 million in grants available to help assist eligible entities in developing or updating FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plans. These plans help local communities recognize the risk and hazards that currently exist, identify ways to reduce or eliminate these risks, and qualify communities for additional grant-funded programs. Local jurisdictions may be eligible for awards of up to $100,000 from the GLO to develop a new Local Hazard Mitigation Program. Communities can also be eligible for a smaller amount to update an existing plan. Local entities can apply at https://recovery.texas.gov/mitigation/lhmpp.html.

  1. Border security ten-point plan

This week, Governor Abbott outlined a ten-point plan that he is urging the Biden Administration to follow in order to bring the border crisis under control. That plan includes:

  • Continue the Title 42 public health restrictions
  • Fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols
  • Finish securing the border
  • End catch-and-release
  • Clear the judicial backlog
  • Resume the deportation of criminals
  • Dedicate federal resources to eradicate human trafficking and drug trafficking
  • Re-enter all agreements with our Northern Triangle partners and Mexico
  • Send a clear message to potential migrants
  • Deploy more federal law enforcement officers

Robert Nichols is the Republican Senator for the 3rd District in the Texas Senate.


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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Berry Retreat 2018

It has been a marathon of stitching this year, and then making prints for sale at the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair and then the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair. Thank you so much to Expertise Events  for the invitation to exhibit my  Traveller's Blankets as part of their 25 year celebrations in Melbourne and Sydney, it was a real thrill and a lot of stitching!

The Traveller's Blankets will now go on to the Berry retreat on the 18th and 19th of August. Not only that the Aussie Bush Project will have it's last showing there as well, so it is your last opportunity to see all the wonderful work in that exhibition. My traveller's Blanket class at the retreat is full but there are still a few places for the linocut carving, printing and embellishing class following the Retreat , also at Berry. You will learn how to make your own unique fabrics for embroidery or quilting.

I was amazed by the work produced by  the invited artist at Reece Scannel's Transformation exhibition shown in Sydney and Melbourne and which will be travelling. I feel very chuffed to be a part of the exhibition which will transform as it travels around as people add more and more pieces. The brief was to use one of Reece's photographs which has been transformed into a screen print and then transform it into  your own artistic interpretation, with essentially no rules.

The two pieces I made are in the middle and hopefully you can read the artist statement.

And I wanted to share some images of the Traveller's Blanket exhibition. I managed to finish about 7 storyboards for the pieces, still a few to make for the Berry Retreat!

So many people made the effort to say they appreciated the work and all the stitching- thank you for that: it has indeed been a labour of love. As you know a book called Plaids Nomades has been made in France but there is no English version of the book. So my daughter ( the designer of my last book) and I have been putting our heads together and we are in the planning stages of creating a book which would be self published like Musing in Textile : France. However the book will have a different shape, won't be so heavy to counter some of the postage issues,and will be a much more how to book , and weaving in stories of their creation. We again intend to use a crowd fundraiser platform which works like a form of pre-ordering with benefits attached. Would love to know if you are interested in this at all?

And lastly there is still a small window of time to join my on-line Traveller's Blanket class which starts tomorrow. Check my previous post for details.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Renaissance Red and Angels

 I have  restarted work on the red renaissance traveller's blanket in order to finish it for exhibition later this month. Am thrilled to have been invited to  be guest exhibitor at the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair  from 26-29 July. It's wonderful to show the work again as in all reality it has taken more than a years work to finish all the pieces, and working on a daily basis. I would love to sell them but I also want to exhibit them and therein lies a dilemma for sure.

 This  red blanket is inspired  by a month spent in Florence in 2015 and I spent days walking around the city. The religious art became a little overwhelming, everywhere stunningly beautiful art so I decided to focus on angels. The angel I have used in the red blanket actually was a smalls statue in the museum attached to the San Croce Basilica, and seemed somewhat forlorn with its broken arms and sweet expression and then I found a quote from W B Yeats "be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise" , a kind of perfect motto when travelling really.

The round motifs have been cut from the  linocut print of the Davanzati tree which was inspired by the frescos on the wall of the bedchamber in the Davanzati Palace in Florence This motifs almost sparkle and seem rich and opulent, just as you might imagine the renaissance to be.

There is still time to join the Traveller's Blanket on-line class which starts on 1 August.  I hand out extensive notes via pdf file and Open a private Facebook group for discussion. I hope to inspire you to tell your own stories in stitch and cloth. Someone ( Linda Clift) coined the phrase nomadic stitching , I like it a lot as my book about two Traveller's Blanket in French is called Plaids Nomades, and I do feel like a nomad at times-having to work out of my suitcase for at least 6 months of the year. The blankets are a perfect way to keep hands and thoughts occupied whilst waiting or travelling.

Nomadic Stitching - stitching whilst on the move, wherever a wait of time occurs. Be not idle, fill it with a stitch or two. Time passing by the windows as we sit on trains and buses, on planes, in waiting stations, cold winds heckling at the edge of our clothing, or heat embracing our armpits, or forehead perspiration starting up the body's air conditioner.

And yet a gentle rhythm offers reflection , a moments pause in the passing imagery; a willing to have our own rhythm in this whirling fast moving world.

Or simply enjoying quiet repose whilst your hand moves gently through the cloth creating another mark and another mark that together will make a story.

The cost of the course is $75AUS and encompasses four lessons over an eight week period though I keep the group open for longer as the work is a slow process.

Monday, July 02, 2018

Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair

You could be forgiven for thinking I had fallen off the planet, but in all reality I sat and stitched and stitched to try and finish all the traveller's blankets for the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair at the end of June. I almost got there- the last one is almost finished but not quite but I hung it anyway. However it will be finished for the Melbourne Craft & quilt Fair  from 26-29 July. I have had a week off from stitching since returning from Sydney, and have done a big tidy up in my shed and also have been burning off some of the dead wood on my block. My hands needed a rest.

I also hope that I will be able to blog more regularly from now on, as I hope some of my connectivity problems might be resolved!

So the Waste not Want not indigo piece is finished- it took some stitching and measures 120 cms squarish. This piece is worked through two layers only so I had to work carefully to prevent any puckering of the stitches. The whole background has been quilted with  running stitch.

And then I worked on a piece using the naturally dyed fabrics and threads that the Stitching Project sent me some time ago. I thought long and hard about this one as the colours were out of my comfort zone, being soft and pastel like. Eventually I decided that I would use the woodblock I purchased in a woodcarvers shop in Delhi and make my own linocut of a boabab tree- trees of life from different cultures. When I began I felt I was not going to like it at all but it grew on my as I worked ( I suppose trees have that effect!) and then when I had finished I decided it needed some Indian bling so I added the little diamanti flowers for some zing.

So I have decided to run another Traveller's Blanket on-line class starting 1 August 2018. My new notes are entirely updated now to include more recent work and as I said hopefully connectivity  problems will no longer be an issue. The class  will consist of four  pdf files outlining how I work and giving dyeing instructions as well as stitching ideas, as well as story telling ideas. I will also set up a private Facebook group for sharing and discussion. I keep this group open for quite some time as I realise the making of a traveller's blanket is quite a long process! The cost for the course is $75AUS


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Hydrate & Conquer Conditioner 50ml

Give dry, damaged or coloured hair a boost with nutrient-rich Tasmanian Sea Kelp, containing Vitamins A, B, C & E and 13 amino acids to... more details

350ml 1 Litre

Give dry, damaged or coloured hair a boost with nutrient-rich Tasmanian Sea Kelp, containing Vitamins A, B, C & E and 13 amino acids to strengthen the hair. Certified Organic Coconut Oil helps to quench and smooth thirsty locks. Also available in 1 litre and 350ml size.

Hair Type Dry, brittle, damaged hair prone to fly away or frizz.
How Often Daily or 2 - 3 times a week.
How Much 2-4cm circle. Will vary depending on length of hair.
Step 1 After rinsing your favourite O&M shampoo, apply conditioner from the roots to the tip of your hair.
Step 2 Massage into scalp and then comb through hair well.
Step 3 Rinse and style.

O&M Signature Oil Blend is a natural blend of organic coconut and organic macadamia oils that help to recondition the hair to protect it and leave it glossy and knot free. Quandong is a naturally derived Australian desert plant extract high in vitamin C, proteins and essential fatty acids. Keeps the hair healthy and nourished. Desert Lime is a natural antioxidant that helps fight free radicals and prevent premature aging. Tasmanian Sea Kelp is a plant based extract that is packed with vitamins and amino acids to help repair the hair. INCI LIST: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-12, Behentrimonium Chloride, Prunus Amydgalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Saccharide Isomerate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Santalum Acuminatum (Quandong) Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca (Desert Lime) Extract, Macroystis Pyrifera (Tasmanian Sea Kelp) Extract, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Stearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, *certified organic

Clean From

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Hydrate & Conquer Conditioner 50ml Hydrate & Conquer Conditioner 50ml

Reflecting on a natural decade

Founder, Jose Bryce Smith reflects and celebrates the milestone journey the Original & Mineral brand has taken in it's first ten years.

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A Deeper Look at Dry Mouth: Causes, Consequences & Cures

Dry mouth, clinically known as xerostomia, doesn’t get a lot of press, but it impacts a huge portion of the population. While many people try to ignore it or assume it’s a natural side-effect of aging, failing to address it can impact daily life and result in dire consequences such as tooth loss.

Why Saliva Matters

Xerostomia isn’t just an annoyance. Saliva is vital in a number of bodily processes and functions. Research from the According to the American Dental Association (ADA) shows it:

  • Keeps tissues moist and protects oral mucosa from injury.
  • Helps clean the oral cavity.
  • Allows you to chew and swallow food.
  • Contains enzymes that kickstart the digestive process.
  • Can help you maintain a neutral pH, thus preventing tooth demineralization.
  • Contains minerals that strengthen teeth so they’re less susceptible to decay.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Xerostomia often emerges as people age, so many people associate it with the aging process. However, prevalence actually rises with age because older populations are more likely to be taking medications that contribute to it. According to the ADA, more than 400 over-the-counter and prescription medications are culprits and those taking multiple medications have increased risk. In addition to medications, cancer treatments, autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, hormonal changes, infections, and countless other conditions can contribute to xerostomia too.

Who’s Most At-Risk for Xerostomia

Older people are most at risk, simply because they’re more likely to be on a medication that causes it or have a health condition that contributes to it. It becomes especially worrisome for elderly individuals who rely on the assistance of others because xerostomia often goes unrecognized and untreated. However, anyone of any age can develop xerostomia, and prevalence is slightly greater among women than men.

Consequences of Dry Mouth

Disruptions to Daily Life: Without adequate lubrication, it’s difficult to speak and eat. Many people with xerostomia also have altered taste sensation too.

Emotional Wellbeing: It can be frustrating to have xerostomia and the challenges associated with it may cause embarrassment. Sometimes, it causes people to withdraw socially as well. Combined, these things have a major impact on quality of life and happiness.

General Health: If you can’t eat well or your body cannot break down the food you eat due to dry mouth, malnutrition may set in. This comes with a whole host of consequences of its own. Some of the most vulnerable populations have mobility or balance-related issues too, which means getting up for drinks in the middle of the night presents serious fall risks. Plus, many people turn to sugary drinks and lozenges for comfort, increasing the risk of tooth decay even more.

Oral Health: Without the protection saliva affords, microbial, chemical, and physical injuries are more likely to occur. It’s also virtually impossible for the mouth to maintain a neutral pH balance, which increases the risk of periodontal disease. Moreover, teeth demineralize in acidic environments and, as minerals are stripped away, teeth become susceptible to decay. At this point, existing dental work, such as fillings, crowns, and bridges can begin to fail and people start losing teeth too. Unfortunately, reduced saliva impacts missing tooth replacement options as well. Whereas dental implants have a success rate of up to 98% in the general population, those with xerostomia tend to have about a 90% success rate. Dentures don’t fit as well as they otherwise would either.

Dry Mouth Cures

Proper screening is the first step. Dental professionals are usually thorough in this area, but older people don’t always see their dentist regularly because mobility issues or health conditions can make traveling difficult. In these cases, a person may not go in until they have a problem, such as a cavity or toothache, but by then a significant amount of damage may already be done.

Curing xerostomia means treating the underlying cause. For example, if a medication is causing it, the prescribing physician can look into alternate medications. If it’s related to a health condition such as diabetes, getting that in check will usually reverse dry mouth. This in mind, general practitioners and specialists are generally responsible for addressing the underlying issue, but often in partnership with an individual’s dentist.

Maintaining Health and Comfort While Living with Dry Mouth

Sometimes, the underlying cause cannot be changed. This might be the case with specific medical conditions or when the individual is on lots of different medications. Even when the root of the issue is being addressed, there’s typically a period of time before xerostomia is fully resolved. In these cases, focus needs to be placed on preventing damage and increasing comfort. The following tips may help:

  • Have scrupulous oral hygiene and brush after every meal.
  • Eliminate carbs, sugars, and sticky foods that can increase decay risk.
  • Avoid things like alcohol and saline that can dry out tissues further.
  • Neutralize acids; try to maintain a 7.0 pH.
  • Use xylitol products to stimulate salivary flow and reduce bacterial counts.

Address Dry Mouth with ORL Toothpastes and Mouthwashes

ORL’s line of oral health care products are ideal for the whole family, but they may be especially helpful for those who suffer from dry mouth for several reasons.

Organic Xylitol: Although rarely included in oral health care products, organic xylitol has been shown to increase saliva production and kill bacteria responsible for tooth decay.

pH-Neutral Formula: Teeth demineralize in an acidic environment and can remineralize in a neutral one if the building blocks are present. ORL products are uniquely designed to have a 7.0 pH, which is perfectly neutral and can help restore balance, halting the loss of precious minerals while giving teeth the opportunity to grow stronger.

Vitamins and Minerals: ORL products bathe teeth in a host of vitamins and minerals, so they can grow stronger and are less susceptible to decay.

Plant-Based Natural Essential Oils: Each essential oil has distinct properties. The ones ORL has mindfully chosen to incorporate have been shown to inhibit plaque, which makes teeth and gums healthier.

If you’d like to see firsthand how ORL can help alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth, explore our line of toothpastes and mouthwashes or breath sprays.


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FAQs by parents

  1. How long will it take to read the information booklet?

The parent video takes about 10 minutes to watch or you can read the parent information booklet which will also take about 10 minutes to read. The child’s video will take about 5 minutes to watch or your child can read through the child information booklet which will take about 10 minutes. Your child may need help reading this.

  1. How long is the study?

You and your child’s participation in the study is likely to last around 7 months. Treatment will be for the first part of this and the longer duration of the study will involve completing 3 sets of questionnaires at different timepoints.

  1. What is OSI?

OSI stands for Online Support and Intervention for anxiety. It is a treatment for children with anxiety that can be accessed by parents online. This is supplemented by telephone sessions with a clinician once a week. The OSI treatment is parent-led which means that a parent has weekly modules to complete to help their child with anxiety problems at home.

  1. What is treatment as usual?

Treatment as usual is what a clinical team would typically offer to families coming into the service for anxiety problems. Typical treatment can vary from service to service across the country and that is why it is referred to as ‘treatment as usual’ in the information documents.

  1. Can my child take part?

Only some clinics and school-based services across England are participating in the CoCAT study. Your service will talk to you about available treatment options and will discuss the CoCAT study if they are one of the services participating.