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Office for Mac 2016: See What's New & Try Out the Public Preview

See What's New & Try Out the Public Preview

If you've ever attended school or held a job, you're probably well familiar with Microsoft Office, whether you used it or not. It's the most popular office suite available, and has been for some time. Apple does have its own suite of productivity apps (iWork), but Microsoft Office has always been the industry leader for word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

While Office was originally designed for Windows computers, Microsoft has continued to make special Mac versions of the suite, with its last one being Office 2011 for Mac. Now the company is set to release its 2016 version of Office for Mac later this summer, but Mac users can gain access to the public preview of it right now.

Download the Office for Mac Preview

To get the Office for Mac 2016 Preview, go to and select "Download Now." It'll take up a little over 5 GB of space, so make sure you have enough room on your computer. You also need to be running Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Once installed, the five applications (Excel, Word, OneNote, PowerPoint, and Outlook) will be added to your computer.

The 2016 versions of Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word in the Applications folder.

If you have an older version of Microsoft Office, the new download will not overwrite any of those applications. As you can see in the screenshot above, my 2011 version is unharmed and ready for use.

So What's New?

The first thing you'll notice are the revamped icons, which look a lot better than their 2011 counterparts. The new versions are clean and lose the "cool" shaped emphasis of the previous suite.

The older icons (top) vs. the newer ones (bottom).

You should also notice that all of the apps have a cleaner feel and better align with its Windows counterpart while still maintaining an "Apple" look. Here is Kirk Koenigsbauer, Corporate Vice President for the Office 365 Client Apps and Services team, on these changes:

Office 2016 for Mac shares an unmistakably Office experience—but it is also thoughtfully designed to take advantage of the unique features of the Mac. The new apps offer full retina display support with thousands of retina-optimized graphics, full screen view for native immersive experiences, and even little Mac affordances like scroll bounce.

Office for Mac 2016 is very cloud-oriented, to be more like Office 365, and to let users of OneDrive, OneDrive Business, and SharePoint access their work from multiple devices and locations.

The apps are also integrated with iCloud, making updates, changes, and files available on iCloud-connected devices. We'll have to stay tuned to see exactly how that would work in conjunction with Microsoft's own Office 365 service.

Besides cosmetic changes and cloud support, there are some decent additions to all of the major apps.

Word for Mac 2016

One of the most popular applications of the bunch, Microsoft Word got a few new additions focused on making collaboration much easier while smoothing out the entire editing and formatting experience. You'll notice the new look immediately with the new Document Gallery.

2016 Document Gallery.
2011 Document Gallery.

Once inside a document, you will see that Microsoft changed the Ribbon to be more consistent across all platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac). The Ribbon also has new additions, like a Design and Mailings sections, and features a number of new or refined task panes.

The most significant changes deal with collaboration and making it easier for people to work together on a document. You can now easily invite other members to a document with a new "Add" icon. Collaborators can now view threaded comments, receive editorial feedback in real-time, and get notified when new updates to a document have been made.

The new Word doesn't break away from previous iterations, but improves where it needed to, and adds detailed design enhancements for an overall improved look.

Note: Password-protecting documents in Word for Mac 2016 has changed a little bit compared to its 2011 counterpart. Excel and PowerPoint are still pretty much the same. More details here.

Excel for Mac 2016

"Why would I ever use Excel on a Mac?" is a common rebuttal for folks that stick to Windows because they couldn't survive without the Windows version of Excel, mostly because the shortcuts and tricks they memorized were different on a Mac.

Excel for Mac 2016 recognizes most of the Windows shortcuts while still retaining the Mac shortcuts, making it easy for people to switch between operating systems.

One of the new Excel templates.

Excel also added Slicers, improved printing options, autocomplete, and much more. If you were an Excel power-user, these new features should make Excel on Mac much more appealing than its predecessor.

PowerPoint for Mac 2016

PowerPoint also got a much needed revamp to its presentation templates, added new transitions, and improved its collaboration tools.

Microsoft is most excited about the addition of Presenter View, which provides the presenter an all-access view of the presentation while showing viewers only the slides.

"Presenter View is like mission control for your presentation—displaying the current slide, the next slide, notes and a timer on your Mac, while projecting only the presentation to your audience on the big screen."

OneNote & Outlook for Mac 2016

OneNote and Outlook are not new to Macs, but this is the first time they have both been included in the Office suite of apps.

Outlook, the email service, and OneNote, the digital note-taking app, are both free during the Preview period. Outlook, however, has been tied into an Office 365 subscription, so while it's free for now, you will most likely need to pay after the preview period is over and the final product is released. OneNote should remain free, but you will need a SharePoint account to access your notes on various devices.

Submitting Feedback for the Preview

This is a great time to try out the new versions of the Microsoft apps and see if it's worth upgrading or buying it for the first time. These apps are all still in beta, so there may be some bugs, and Microsoft has included a tool for you to report those bugs. In each application, there is a smiley face above the toolbar—click on it to leave feedback for their review.

Each preview evolves in 60-day cycles and will update automatically. The previews will continue to work on your device until the final version is released to the public and the previews will no longer be supported.

What do you think of the new Office suite for Macs? Let us know in the comment section below, and make sure to check out Gadget Hacks on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter for more Mac news and tips.

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Former Ball State Lineman Sheds, Shreds Way to a New Look

Cameron Lowry

Former Ball State football player Cameron Lowry leaned on his biochemistry degree to design a workout and diet regimen that helped him lose weight and get in shape. (Photo provided by Cameron Lowry)

To play Division I football, Ball State’s Cameron Lowry had to pile on 50-plus pounds. By the end of his senior season, he was feeling every one of them.

“My body was breaking down,” said Lowry, who tore two ligaments in his knees during his time as a Cardinal. “I was developing heart palpitations. … I felt terrible.”

At 300 pounds and 31 percent body fat, the 6-foot-6 offensive lineman had a huge decision to make: Did he want to keep playing football after he graduated?

“I thought about a shot at the pros but realized I cared more about my health and being in the best position to take care of myself so I could play with my kids someday.”

Three days after his last bowl game in December 2012, Lowry made use of his major in biochemistry, his workout knowledge from football and the information he’d learned from his own research to draw up a detailed nutrition and workout plan.

Five months later, the Indianapolis native accepted his diploma weighing about 50 pounds less. The number on the scale was one he hadn’t seen since he set foot on campus his freshman year.

“There’s nothing surprising about Cameron’s success,” said Dave Feeley, one of Lowry’s former strength coaches. “Once he sets his mind on something, he’s the type of guy who immediately creates a roadmap for how he’ll achieve it.”

‘That guy wasn’t the real me’

Lowry’s weight-loss roadmap is now at the fingertips of anyone who downloads his first book, “Under Construction: Building a Better Me.”

Inside is the story of the 25-year-old’s remarkable transformation, including the eating and workout plans that helped him shed a total of 75 pounds. He was inspired to write it after fielding many questions about his efforts to better his health.

“People would always ask how I’d lost the weight, and when I told them I ate right and worked out, they’d respond with ‘Hmmm, OK,’ and then move on. I realized if I wanted to give them a better answer, it needed to come in the form of this book.”

“Under Construction” takes its name from a poignant college memory for Lowry. “I’ve been a big guy my whole life, but when I played football, I’d look in the mirror and see this person covered in stretch marks who dreamed of a six-pack. I knew that guy wasn’t the real me, so I pictured an ‘Under Construction’ sign hanging over my body.”

Cameron Lowry is seen playing for the Ball State Cardinals football team on Senior Night 2012.

Cameron Lowry (right, No. 72) plays a down on Senior Night 2012 against the Ohio University Bobcats. (Ball State photo)

Football gave him his education

Lowry said he has no regrets about the weight he had to gain to play for Ball State.

“I chose to do it, and I’m glad because playing football is how I got my college education. If the position I had to play was offensive lineman, that meant I had to be big to do it.”

In the years since leaving the sport, he’s kept the weight off by practicing what he preaches. “I’m a big proponent of eating the same thing, which I write about in the book. If you know the food on your plate is good for you, then keep eating it day after day.”

That advice has also stuck with former teammate Austin Holtz. Back when he and Lowry played offensive tackle, the two strapping men would try to out-eat each other. Pizza, burgers, pasta — the two ate everything, especially their favorite, buffalo chicken dip.

Nowadays a trimmer Holtz is a police officer in Indianapolis who sticks mostly to chicken and steamed vegetables. He’s one of a growing number of friends who credits Lowry for inspiring their own weight-loss journey. “Cameron is such an encouraging guy. You ask for his help, and he’s going to drop what he’s doing and give it to you.”

A bit of the old college competitiveness may also have been a factor. “Watching him lose the weight,” Holtz said, “it was like, ‘All right, now I gotta do it, too.’ ”

Helping people is what he loves

When it comes to bulking up college athletes, Feeley said football trainers and coaches do their best to encourage weight gain with healthy foods.

“You go to a training table buffet, and you’re going to see a lot of potatoes and pasta and chicken and steak. It’s not like you can give a kid 19 Snickers bars and expect him to perform the way you want him to.”

As Lowry knows, the experience can be a slippery slope. “I had to consume over 4,000 calories a day, so I ate a lot of pizza and junk food, too. Can those expectations set you up for an unhealthy path? Sure. I just chose not to let the bad habits I’d picked up define me.”

What he loves most about his weight-loss journey is how it’s become another vehicle for him to help others.

At his job for a North Carolina-based recruiting firm, he seeks out the best-qualified drug safety professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. For people asking about “Under Construction,” he offers help and encouragement hitting their goal weight.

Lowry is quick to acknowledge he’s not a certified nutritionist or fitness expert. “I’m just a guy who sat down and figured out how to do this for myself, and now I want to help others do the same.”

But Feeley said he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of one day hearing about a fitness enterprise with Lowry’s name attached.

“Cameron has that something people gravitate to. He’s so smart and confident that when he talks about what he’s been through losing weight, he makes them think, ‘Wow, maybe I can do that, too.’ It sounds like such a cliche, but he’s got ‘it,’ whatever ‘it’ is.”

Cameron Lowry is seen celebrating Senior Night 2012 with several family members.

Cameron Lowry (center) celebrates Senior Night 2012 with (from left) sister Lauren Lowry; brother Logan Lowry; his mother, Penny Lowry; his father, Orlando Lowry; brother Preston Lowry; family friend Jess Smith; and his grandmother Rita Parr. (Ball State photo)

Cameron Lowry’s desire to help others goes far beyond weight loss. Last year, he even offered a kidney to his ailing father, former Indianapolis Colt and current Indianapolis high school football coach Orlando Lowry, who has chronic kidney disease.

“We found out I have a genetic mutation, so I can’t do it,” Lowry said, “but my mother, Penny, was selected as the donor.”

He talked about how he wanted to help his parents after the surgery. “It’ll be the perfect time to educate them about how to eat properly,” he said. “Once my father gets his new kidney, we want to make sure it stays in top form.”

The transplant was successful, and he’s since been working with his parents.

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2 Men Shot on Dan Ryan Expressway

(WGN) Two men were reportedly injured in a shooting incident on the northbound express lanes of I-94 near 71st St. Thursday afternoon.

A 27-year-old male and a 21-year-old male were shot and drove themselves to St. Bernard Hospital. They were going to be transferred to Stroger Hospital, but there is no word on their condition at this time.

Illinois State Police have reopened the inbound Dan Ryan between 59th at 71st streets after all lanes were closed for a shooting investigation Thursday afternoon.

Illinois State Police ask anyone who witnessed or has any knowledge of the incident to call them at 847-294-4400. Callers can remain anonymous.

Article Org: wgntv.com

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What is Asana?

May 2010

Asana is a Sanskrit word translated into English as a physical yoga position, posture, or pose. There is a difference though between the everyday usage of those words and asana.

Moving into an asana, the body moves consciously with fluid movement which is coordinated with the flow of breath. Asana is conscious movement into a traditional yoga pose. The movement is physically and mentally relaxed. Balanced equilibrium maintains the asana when it is held in a stable state. As the body and breath movements are synchronized in a relaxed way, a full awareness of both is developed. A steady asana is a portal to higher awareness of the body and mind.

Awareness is the heart of meditation and here the meditation object is the physical body or annamaya kosha. There are five koshas or bodies, also known as sheaths, in yoga: annamaya kosha (physical), pranamaya kosha (pure energy or vital life force), manomaya kosha (mental), vigyanamaya kosha (knowledge or wisdom), anandamaya kosha (bliss). The natural path of awareness will flow from body to breath and continue to flow to the increasingly more subtle sheaths.

The traditional hatha asana is a tool to create balance and harmony within body and mind. “Ha” is the moon and “tha” is the sun. In our bodies they represent the mental and the physical, breath and body. A specific asana uses the movement to direct and infuse a particular part of the body with prana or vital energy. This can help relieve tension or tightness, heal, and create a much greater awareness of prana as blockages to its smooth flow are removed. It can help bring that area of the body in harmony with the rest of the body-mind. As the awareness of the way the body moves deepens, bad habits and negative conditioning can be replaced with more conscious, positive movements of the body. Not all asana, or all styles, are suitable for everyone just as all medications are not for everyone.

From the perspective of an asana practice, it is often hard to differentiate between tight muscles (respond to stretching), tense muscles (respond to relaxation), and those that are both. Incorporating breath into the movement helps relieve both. Repetitions help warm the joints and increase the range-of-motion. They may also increase stamina. Holding an asana increases strength and endurance. It can also increase stamina. A hatha practice that incorporates some dynamic asana with some passive ones can often be the most effective.

The most effective asana, in our opinion, is not necessarily the most complex or challenging form, or technique. An effective asana is the most conducive portal to the inner Self or Great Being. It does this by eliminating tension; creating physical, emotional, and mental stability; and establishing a sustainable, steady, balanced space that enables a constant focus or concentration of higher awareness. A simple asana that does this is far more advanced than the most physically challenging one that does not. The traditional hatha asana develops the raja yoga asana which is a sound and stable physical structure so the body does not become a distraction for the higher awareness. This higher awareness is then directed to the inner space with the breath.

With the proliferation of so many styles of hatha yoga, it is natural to be confused about asana styles. Asana is a key component of hatha yoga and in its development in the West, it has taken on so much importance that it is synonymous with all of “yoga.” It is important to keep in mind that asana is just one of many aspects of yoga.

Just as a play, music, or dance can be interpreted and performed in many ways, so can asana. Think of the body as hardware and the mind as software. Depending on the type of hardware and the software (programming through genes, culture, geography, family, upbringing, etc.), the way each person relates to an asana is different. Depending on the body type, limitations, personality, need, and relationship to a teacher, we gravitate toward a particular expression or style of asana interpretation. Some emphasize alignment, some form and technique, some stamina and endurance, some spirituality, some therapeutic benefits. Each may be a valid aspect and is a reflection of the person who created that style and his or her own hardware and software. There are clear differences in the way various schools and teachers teach: Satyananda Yoga, Integral Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Himalayan Institute (all raja yogis), and the vastly different styles of Desikachar, Iyengar, Jois, and Bikram Yoga (all hatha yogis). Then add in their students who have developed their own interpretations and brand names! In that respect, it is not much different from dance and music. Our view can and does change over time. Asana, like all of yoga, is transformational. We are all evolving anyway. With yoga it is a conscious and directed change. Our meaning of asana, how we move into and out of it, how we relate to it, what we see through it, is constantly evolving. That, to us, is growth. Choosing what works for your body and personality sensibly is a good choice. Then confusion will not arise.

Some confusion also arises due to the lack of distinction between asana in hatha yoga and asana in raja yoga. This is compounded by the fact that most mass market hatha yoga books refer to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, which is raja yoga, without understanding how one truly supports the other. There are two types of asanas–the meditation seat asana and the other asanas that are used to make the body strong, flexibile, and disease-free. The Yoga Sutras does not deal with most hatha asana. Traditional hatha texts give a better explanation and purpose of the asanas that are synonymous with yoga. Certainly the Yoga Sutras can and should give the mental perspective, the essential philosphy, and purpose of the practice. Without the foundation of the philosophy, it is not a yoga practice for inner peace. Yoga is not just a “mat practice.” The Yoga Sutras delves deep into the mental, wisdom, and bliss sheaths. These are difficult concepts and the body and mind need to be prepared for them through hatha yoga. Hatha texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gherand Samahita are the ones that instruct on asanas. Hatha yoga is the ladder one climbs to reach raja yoga. Hatha yoga’s medium is the physical body. Raja yoga is yoga psychology. It’s medium is the mind. The two are an inseparable continuum but the mind cannot be understood entirely through the physical body and just asana. Hatha yoga is one segment or limb of a complete therapeutic system that encompasses the total being–body, mind, Spirit.(See the article What is Yoga?).

There are numerous asanas. Most yoga styles in the West are hatha styles. The hatha asana practice can be passive, dynamic, gymnastic-like, graceful, reverent, or therapeutic, depending on the interpretation. There is initial discomfort and a lot of effort. This is to prepare the body for the raja yoga’s sitting asana. The sitting asana looks very easy compared to many hatha asanas, until it has to be held for several hours. In raja yoga, the Yoga Sutras only list passive sitting positions for meditation. Raja yoga asana is a meditation position that gives the body stable rigidity. Discomfort and effort have now disappeared according to the Yoga Sutras. The asana becomes perfect when the effort disappears. There is perfect balance of opposite forces in the body. There is no movement, no motion. This sitting asana is a crucial step in meditation.

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text:
[Python-Dev] PEP 553: Built-in debug()

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Thu Sep 7 10:46:49 EDT 2017

On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 11:59 PM, Terry Reedy <tjreedy at udel.edu> wrote:

> On 9/6/2017 6:45 PM, Barry Warsaw wrote:
>> On Sep 6, 2017, at 14:59, Terry Reedy <tjreedy at udel.edu> wrote:
>>> Currently, the debugger is started in response to a menu seletion in the
>>> IDLE process while the python process is idle.  One reason for the 'idle'
>>> requirement' is because when code is exec-uting, the loop that reads
>>> commands, executes them, and sends responses is blocked on the exec call.
>>> The IDLE process sets up its debugger window, its ends of the rpc channels,
>>> and commands to python process to set up Idb and the other ends of the
>>> channels.  The challenge would be to initiate setup from the server process
>>> and deal with the blocked loop.
>> Would the environment variable idea in the latest version of the PEP help
>> you here?
> That seems to be a mechanism for users to convey which function to call.
> It does not simplify the function call chosen.
> pdb works because a) it is designed to be imported into and run in a user
> module and b) it uses the existing stdin and stdout streams to interact
> with the user.  Idb, on the other hand, is designed to be import in
> idlelib.run, which is (almost) invisible to user code, and use a special
> channel to the GUI window.
> Having said that, I see a solution: before running user code, set things
> up as now, except do not start tracing and do not show the debugger window,
> but do set a run.idb_ready flag.   Then breakpoint_handler() can check the
> flag and start tracing either through idb or pdb.

Without following all this (or the PEP, yet) super exactly, does this mean
you are satisfied with what the PEP currently proposes or would you like
changes? It's a little unclear from what you wrote.

> What makes breakpoint() less than super useful in IDLE is that IDLE
> already allows setting of persistent breakpoints on a line by
> right-clicking.  Since they are not stored in the file, there is nothing to
> erase when one runs the code in Python directly.

I think that's true for any IDE that has existing integrated debug
capabilities. However for every IDE I would hope that calling breakpoint()
will *also* break into the IDE's debugger. My use case is that sometimes I
have a need for a *conditional* breakpoint where it's just much simpler to
decide whether to break or not in Python code than it would be to use the
IDE's conditional breakpoint facilities.

(Plus there's something about old dogs and new tricks, but I've forgotten
exactly how that one goes. :-)

--Guido van Rossum (python.org/~guido)
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Winner of the New Statesman SPERI Prize in Political Economy 2016

Monday, 17 July 2017

The OBR’s risk assessment lacks context

In its recent report on fiscal risks, the OBR talks a lot about all the shocks that could make the government debt to GDP ratio rise again. It then says the following:
“None of this should be taken as a recommendation to refrain from particular spending increases or tax cuts, or to avoid particular fiscal risks – that would lie beyond our remit. And there are those who believe fiscal policy is still too tight, given the pace of economic growth and the looseness of monetary policy. But ….”

Should I be grateful for the second sentence, being one of ‘those’ who think that way?
I think the reverse is true. The OBR has played the tune the government wanted, but it is the wrong tune, and this now mature and independent organisation is capable of much better than this. I will first deal with a particular issue to do with monetary policy, and then talk more generally about the concept of ‘fiscal risks’.

Our macroeconomic institutional architecture is based around what I have called the consensus view about macroeconomic policy. This consensus involves what economists call an assignment. The stabilisation of output and inflation is assigned to independent central banks operating monetary policy. Fiscal policy should be confined to managing the government’s deficit and debt, and to help it with that task there should be a combination of fiscal rules and independent fiscal institutions (aka fiscal councils, like the OBR).

In a consensus assignment world, the job of a fiscal council is to stop deficit bias: the tendency clearly observable in some countries before the global financial crisis for deficits to creep up over time. In particular, when all is going well and the deficit appears not to be an issue, it is their job to tell the government to 'fix the roof while the sun shines’.

As I and others have noted many times, this consensus assignment has an Achilles Heel, which is that nominal interest rates cannot go below a number close to zero, the so-called Zero Lower Bound (ZLB). In the absence of some mechanism to allow interest rates to become significantly negative, that ZLB problem means that sometimes fiscal policy makers have to help monetary policy in its stabilisation role. The simple consensus assignment breaks down.

Although most academic macroeconomists recognise that, our institutions find it hard to do so. Monetary policymakers in the UK and Eurozone find it very difficult to say that they have lost their main instrument, and that therefore they can no longer reliably do their job. It seems that our fiscal council, the OBR, has similar problems.

We are currently at the ZLB. The most immediate risk we therefore face is that we are hit by a negative shock and monetary policy is unable to respond effectively. Hence the quote from their document above. But as far as I can see that is it. In their section in the Executive Summary on the risk due to a recession I would have thought the ZLB problem was worth at least mentioning, but it does not appear. Indeed I’m not sure the term ZLB or liquidity trap appear anywhere in the document.

I’m sure the OBR would in defence say two things: assessments of fiscal risks generally look at risks to fiscal sustainability not macroeconomic stabilisation, and their remit precludes them from talking about alternative fiscal policy paths. This is all true. The Treasury wanted a report that would enable them to say we must continue with austerity because of all the risks identified by the OBR. The Treasury also wrote the OBR’s current remit.

But the OBR is supposed to be independent. Just because the government tries to pretend that there is no Achilles Heel to the consensus assignment, that does not mean it has to go along with that act. In particular, it will (I hope) have noted that the main opposition - which came close to defeating the current government - has a fiscal rule that explicitly says that fiscal policy needs to switch from stabilising debt to stabilising the economy when interest rates are at their lower bound (like now). In this context, I think something beyond a single sentence alluding to the ZLB would have been appropriate.

Tony Yates said similar things yesterday. He also made another important point: a key role of government in many areas is to be a risk absorber. It assumes risks, because it is beneficial to take risks away from individuals or individual generations and spread them more widely, and often the state is the only institution that can do this. In addition, its deficit and debt should be a macroeconomic shock absorber. Given all that, why exactly should we be concerned if various shocks increase government debt? That is what is supposed to happen!

To put the term risk and attach it to some level of debt or deficit, giving us ‘fiscal risks’, is questionable. It is a bit like saying their is a risk that your central heating will come on if it gets cold: that is not a risk, but why it is there. The OBR would no doubt respond that the government has a mandate in terms of a deficit or debt target, and it has been asked to look at risks that this may not be met. But that should not stop an independent OBR from asking more fundamental questions.

Implicit in the idea of ‘fiscal risks’ is either a belief that there is an optimal level of debt which is below current levels, or a view that there is some level of debt so high that markets would start worrying about the government choosing to default. If we are worried about a debt burden on future generations, does it make sense to put all that burden on a current, already disadvantaged, younger working generation? Unless these key issues are addressed, all the risk assessment the report undertakes is meaningless, or worse still just provides support for the government’s misguided policy. It is time the OBR stopped being constrained by its remit, and started providing the public with a useful framework in which to think about ‘fiscal risks’.

  1. The “consensus assignment” involves increasing fiscal stimulus when interest rates are near zero (which in turn tends to raise interest rates) so that come the next recession, the central bank can implement stimulus by cutting interest rates. In short, mortgagors have to pay artificially elevated interest on their debts for years on end, so that central banks can implement their pet form of stimulus, instead of fiscal doing the stimulus (which as pointed out above works perfectly well). Sounds eminently logical….:-)

    Or have I missed something?

  2. It seems to me that there is no clear separation between fiscal risks to sustainability and those of macroeconomic stabilisation; the one is to some extent the obverse of the other.

    Clearly with rates at the ZLB the use of fiscal policy may be advantageous but there may be an issue with sustainability. The actual record, which you allude to, is that governments do not fix the roof while the sun shines and the debt burden gets ratcheted up over time until at some point it becomes unsustainable and will have a real impact on services which may be affected by the need to pay interest on legacy debts.

    You are right that the OBR should address these issues but will it?

  3. Paul Krugman blog, October 7, 2013, Credibility All The Way Down

    "3. It also seems to me that Rogoff has shifted his own argument. In the original piece, it was very straightforward: foreign investors would lose confidence, sending interest rates soaring, which would cause economic contraction. I think, though it’s hard to tell, that he has now dropped that story, replacing it with a fairly amorphous assertion that simple models miss the true nature of risk. OK, I guess, but I do think it’s important to note that Rogoff’s original assertion was that it was all very simple.

    4. Finally, on Wren-Lewis’s point more than mine: Wren-Lewis pointed out that a country like Britain could easily respond to a run on its bonds via quantitative easing. Rogoff says no, because this would undermine its credibility. I’m being a bit flip here, but as I read this we start with a credibility argument; when there turns out to be an easy way to deal with that problem, it’s rejected because that would undermine credibility. I keep looking for something fundamental, but right now it looks like turtles all the way down."

  4. "If we are worried about a debt burden on future generations, does it make sense to put all that burden on a current, already disadvantaged, younger working generation? "

    Hi professor, thank you for your blog posts. I learn so much and look forward to reading your posts.

    Your comment quoted above reminds me of a lecture Nick Stern gave in relation to climate change policy - that the discount rate is an ethical concept, we can't read it off capital markets. I wonder whether the OBR has thought about the rationale for the discount rate it uses.

    Thanks again for your reasoned and public advocacy for good public policy.

Unfortunately because of spam with embedded links (which then flag up warnings about the whole site on some browsers), I have to personally moderate all comments. As a result, your comment may not appear for some time.


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The 190th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 20: Person erroneously believing himself limited partner

Section 20. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person who makes a contribution to a business enterprise and erroneously but in good faith believes that he has become a limited partner in the enterprise is not a general partner in the enterprise and is not bound by its obligations by reason of making the contribution, receiving distributions from the enterprise, or exercising any rights of a limited partner, if, on ascertaining the mistake, he:

(1) causes an appropriate certificate of limited partnership or a certificate of amendment to be executed and filed; or

(2) withdraws from future equity participation in the enterprise by executing and filing in the office of the state secretary a certificate declaring withdrawal under this section.

(b) A person who makes a contribution of the kind described in subsection (a) is liable as a general partner to any third party who transacts business with the enterprise (i) before the person withdraws and an appropriate certificate is filed to show withdrawal, or (ii) before an appropriate certificate is filed to show that he is not a general partner, but in either case only if the third party actually believed in good faith that the person was a general partner at the time of the transaction.


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The 190th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 4A: Marketing agreements; mandatory non-waiverable provisions

Section 4A. Every marketing agreement between a supplier and a retail dealer shall be subject to the following non-waiverable provisions, whether or not they are expressly set forth in the agreement:

(a) No agreement between a retail dealer and a supplier shall require a retail dealer to keep his station open for business any specified number of hours per day or days per week.

(b) No party to a marketing agreement with a retail dealer shall withhold his consent to any assignment, transfer or sale of the marketing agreement without first notifying the retail dealer in writing within thirty days prior to the effective date of said agreement, transfer or sale, stating the specific grounds for such refusal to consent to said assignment, transfer, or sale.

(c) A supplier who requires in a marketing agreement a security deposit for a period of one year or longer for the use of a service station or delivery of fuel shall, beginning with the first day of the agreement, pay interest at the rate of six percent per year, payable to the retail dealer within thirty days after the termination of said agreement. The supplier shall return the security deposit or any balance thereof, and interest thereon, after deducting the amount of any damage caused by the retail dealer or any person on the demised premises with his knowledge or consent, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and less any unpaid rent or other indebtedness.

Any deduction for damage or indebtedness pursuant to this section shall be itemized by the manufacturer or supplier with particularity indicating the nature of the repair necessary to correct any damage and the actual or estimated cost thereof, or the nature of the indebtedness, as the case may be.

If the supplier fails to return to the retail dealer such deposit or the balance thereof as provided herein, he shall be liable in damages in an amount equal to twice the amount of such security deposit or balance thereof, plus interest at the rate of six percent from the date on which payment became due.


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U17s Fight Back to Take a Point in Cobh

Cork Youth League U17 Division 1
Springfield Ramblers 3 – 3 Mallow United

In what was a thrilling encounter in Cobh on Sunday afternoon Mallow started brightly with a well taken goal by Gavin Carey following a brilliant cross from Dean Twomey. Two more chances were created by Josh Wilkinson and Carey but Mallow couldn’t capitalise before Springfield got back on level terms. Two minutes later Mallow fell further behind to a splendid free kick. Springfield continued to press and were rewarded with a third just before half time. The introduction of Sean McDonnell and Jack O’Callaghan after the break turned the tide back in Mallows favour as both players assisted in the recovery spell which led to the two Mallow goals coming from Dean Twomey and Jonah Delaney. The goals brought the score to 3-3 which was the final score and on reflection a fair result.

Mallow remain unbeaten in the league after taking 7 points from a possible 9. Next up is a home game against Coachford in the Academy Pitch next Sunday afternoon with a 2pm kick-off. Your support is welcome.

Cobh, Ireland


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Blog Post 7, Oct. 14th 2015

My Definition of Leadership

Each week since beginning this blog, I’ve learned another component of leadership — traits, skills, behaviors, situations, and relationships with followers — and my definition has evolved accordingly.

It started off like this:

Leadership is when a person or group of people take initiative, whether they choose to or have it thrust upon them, to inspire followers to work together to achieve a common goal.

Now, it looks like this (the bolded parts are what has changed):

Leadership is when a person or group has the knowledge and skills to successfully take initiative, whether they choose to or have it thrust upon them, to inspire each follower to work with the group to achieve a common goal.

These changes are in part due to the research and discussion we’ve had in class so far (of course), but they are also due to experiences I’ve had since the beginning of the semester, which already feels as if it’s been going on for about a million years. I have several group projects going on, and it’s interesting to observe the differences in group dynamics from group to group. By doing so, I’ve noticed that it’s much easier to work with those who are learning about leadership than it is to work with the average group of people with varying levels of commitment.

Despite the changes I have incorporated from the different models of leadership I’m now aware of, I think the core principles behind my definition that I explained in my first blog post still hold true:

1. For leadership to happen, there needs to be two distinct parties: leaders and followers. This is still reflected, although my revised definition takes into account that each follower is her own individual player instead of grouping all of them together.

2. Leaders must be able to inspire confidence in themselves and in the goal ahead. It is important that leaders are transparent and honest, so that the followers don’t lose confidence in the leader partway toward the goal.

3. Leaders must be able to facilitate cooperation between their followers. This pillar already took into account that followers have their own thoughts and agendas; this part of my definition was strengthened when I learned of in-groups and out-groups. It is important that followers feel as if the whole group is a unit, and it is the leader’s job to oversee that any competition between followers or groups of followers does not cross the line into resentment or rivalry.

4. There must be a goal in sight. To me, this is an integral part of leadership. Where am I to lead people if there is nowhere to go? This is really a requirement for there to be leaders and followers in the first place.

It is becoming more and more clear to me that, although from a distance “leadership” sometimes looks a little like “manipulation” — and it certainly can end up that way sometimes — good leadership never resorts to such measures. As Beth Revis says in Across the Universe, “Power isn’t control at all — power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own.”

how I see Myself As A Leader

A. I am a leader – 5

I’ve come to realize this more about myself recently. As I mentioned, I’m a part of several group projects this semester, and somehow I always seem to find myself leading the project. I used to think this was a byproduct of my clear desire to get work done to the best of my ability combined with my lack of ability to procrastinate, but now I think it’s because I enjoy facilitating discussion and cooperation between my team members (even if it is a bit frustrating at times).

B. I see myself as a leader – 4

I still struggle with confidence — I frequently wonder if it is really a good idea for me to take charge in social situations. Just last night, I was at trivia with a group of my close friends who disagreed with me on my answer to a question, so I wrote down what they thought the correct answer was. It turns out my answer was the right one, however, and if I had just had the confidence in my intelligence and abilities that a true leader would exhibit, we maybe would have been able to take higher than 9th place.

C. If I had to describe myself to others, I would use the word “leader” – 2

I feel as if “leader” is not really something anyone should call themselves. To me, it seems like one of those “show, don’t tell” situations. It’s like in “Game of Thrones” when Tywin Lannister berates Joffrey for going around shouting about how he’s the king: “Any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king.”

D. I prefer being seen by others as a leader – 5

Maybe it’s the egomaniac in me, but I would prefer to be seen as the one leading than one of the followers. I blame the “sheep/shepherd” analogy a bit for this — who wants to be seen as a sheep? However, another important lesson I have learned from my leadership research and the discussions in class is that there is nothing wrong with being a follower, and just because you might be a follower in one situation does not mean you are incapable of being a leader. Leaders and followers need each other, and each role is fluid and subject to change.

The Skills, knowledge, and abilities I need to obtain to be a good leader

Last time, I mistakenly answered this question too generally instead of applying it to what I actually need to improve upon in real life in order to become a better leader. Here is what I’ve come up with as a leadership plan for myself after about 8 weeks of learning about leadership:

I already posses a lot of skills that (according to this article) make leaders effective, like organization, planning, strategic vision, communication, and problem solving.

There are some other skills that I could benefit from working on, though, such as decision making and motivating others. I’m very self-motivated and sometimes I forget that not everyone is the same way, so adjusting my style in order to take that into account is something I need to work on. Decision making comes naturally to me when my decisions have only minor effects on others, but when I’m in charge I tend to be a little more hesitant in forcing my opinion on what the best course of action is onto others. I need to be able to be more confident in my abilities and my authority as a leader.

A big component of the knowledge I will need to develop as a leader is how the industry in which I’m working operates (Contino 2004) and the organizational culture in the specific company with which I’m concerned. Knowledge of how to resolve conflicts and how best to manage any issue that comes up is also important, and can vary from industry to industry.

One beneficial ability that I’m lacking is the ability to make unpopular decisions confidently (Edmonson 2015). A leader has to be able to keep the big picture in mind and make decisions for the good of the group as a whole, even if it means making some of the followers unhappy.

One main ability that I don’t strongly possess is the ability to take large risks (Hayzlett 2015). To step outside of my comfort zone and make decisions that could possibly have negative effects doesn’t come naturally to me, so I need to be able to do that more often in order to be a really successful leader.

Blog Post 7, Oct. 14th 2015

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Camella recognizes OFWs

Two compelling short films released by Camella recently, paying tribute to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) hit the online community hard as it made emotional connection to millions of people. The saga of OFWs are placed on center stage to lend testimony to the untold stories of our unsung heroes and how they persevered despite the challenges they faced.

A father’s painful sacrifice

In the video titled “Carding”, a young father working somewhere in the Middle East as a technician, battles physical and emotional abuse from his employer by constantly looking at a photo of his wife and son, to remind himself of the sacrifices he must endure in order to  give them a better life.

When Carding returned home, eager to finally spend time with his wife and son, he discovered that his beloved wife replaced him with another man and his son does not recognize him at all.

The realization that he lost his family was too painful to bear. Despite the circumstances, he turned his life around and managed to start over a new life in his new home.

A mother’s selfless love

The second video “Norma”, tells the story of a mother who left her children back home, in order to earn a decent living as a caregiver in a home-for-the-aged facility in London. Resigned to doing a variety of exhausting menial tasks in the facility all day, Norma still finds time to do long-distance parenting to her children by calling them regularly.

Unseen behind every phone call she makes to her children, Norma feels that she is being taken for granded and only appreciated by the amount of money she sends back home.

Finally, Norma’s sacrifices bear fruit as her daughter graduates from college. Unbeknownst to her children, Norma went home and bought a house intending to surprise them. Aided with an intriguing invitation, Norma’s children found themselves inside a pleasant home with their mother waiting for them. Surprised, the children hugged their mother tight and Norma’s daughter uttered: “Mas gusto naming nandito ka, Ma.” All the pain Norma harboured were simply washed away as she feels the appreciation long overdue from her children.

Mixed reactions and comments

The protagonist’s stories depicted in the two short films ends in a positive tone as they bravely move on with their lives despite the setbacks caused by their loved ones. Carding, although alone, chose to start over and face new adventures ahead; while Norma gamely takes the role of  a mother again to her grown up children.

 “Really touching ‘coz it is real. Indeed, going home to spend time with your children is what makes that house of Camella a perfect home…salute to OFW and Camella for being a part of their story.” – Michelle Barion

“Finally, so far, best video ng Camella. Tagos sa puso. Nangyayari sa totoong buhay. Nakakaawa ‘yung mga OFW na niloloko lang ng mga asawa nila. Kawawa din ‘yung mga naiwan sa Pinas na niloloko ng asawa nila na nasa ibang bansa. But this video gives hope for everyone, na kahit anong dapa o gaano ka kadapa, still pwede kang bumangon.” – Eigle Anim

Mabuhay Manila. Mabuhay OFWs.

Drew Uy

I do words, food, coffee, and photos.

Hit me up on Twitter @ginuhit

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From Wikipedia: Samsara is a 2011 documentary film, directed by Ron Fricke and produced by Mark Magidson, who also collaborated on Baraka (1992), a film of a similar vein. Samsara was filmed over four years in 25 countries around the world.

Samsara might just as well have been called, “Hey, look at this cool stuff we found!”  That’s okay though.  A person who goes into a film like this probably already knows what to expect, and it is a worthy addition to the small cannon of films that include such masterpieces as Koyannisqattsi and Baraka.  No actors, no plot, no story, no words.  Just a lot of truly incredible cinematography, shot on location around the globe.  The people who make films like Samsara (and “film” is the right word here, not “movie”) know that ritual is spectacle and tell their stories, insofar as a film like this can be said to have one, by contrasting the rhythms of our cultural lives with those of nature.  Awe-inspiring, breathtaking, beatific, and not to be missed–if you like this sort of thing.

Watch the trailer.

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At different rates

18 Oct

I feel like some people I know come out as transgender and then transition so fast: get on hormones, legally change their name and gender, it’s just so fast.  With me it’s been a year already and I’m not even on testosterone yet.  I will be in less than month probably but I feel left behind or maybe not as legitimate.  I’m also not ready to legally change my name and gender, my whole family doesn’t even know I go by a different name yet.  I don’t correct people who call me by my birth name that knew me before.  It makes me second guess if this is all real.  But on the other hand I know it’s real because the dysphoria is getting more intense and while I don’t push my name and gender on people it makes me happy when people get it right, even if it’s sort of wrong.  Like in class the other day, a classmate gave me a paper with the wrong name on it, but it was a male name.  It’s just kinda frustrating transitioning at an older age, getting your BA at an older age, moving out from your parents at an older age.  I feel like I’m behind on everything but I just got to remember we all do things at different rates.

One Response to “At different rates”

  1. manyofus1980 October 19, 2017 at 1:58 PM #

    yes all fo us are different and do things different from each other, and that’s totally ok. xx

I'l love to hear your thoughts

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A Picture of Denial.

More even than any of her other posts, I think it’s worth re-blogging this one from my daughter, my still beautiful daughter. Read and take note.

Fanny the Champion of the World

I spoke to a friend the other day. A friend who was deeply upset, because one of his friends had left it too late to check himself out… and now has a cancer which can’t be cured. We don’t yet know how long he has. It’s heartbreaking, and more so because it could have been avoided.

In the meantime, I’ve been receiving – for two bloody years – requests to put a heart on my wall, or an eight ball as my status, or to accept the challenge of posting a black and white picture, or a no make-up selfie, to raise awareness for cancer. Well, challenge accepted. Here’s my black and white, no make-up selfie, no hair selfie, no boob selfie, and no husband selfie. Our most recent portrait together, a few weeks ahead of our fifteenth wedding anniversary. ❤

You don’t raise awareness of cancer by putting little…

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29 thoughts on “A Picture of Denial.”

      1. Yes, it was difficult to avoid the b word (brave), but she is going above and beyond handling it in that she is also educating the rest of us on the process, the emotions, the effects on her family, and I think that takes a lot of courage to expose youself like that.

        Liked by 1 person

      1. I’ve just seen your comment on my daughter’s blog. So sorry. But you seem two of a kind: facing it out the best way you can, with humour and determination. Good luck.

        Liked by 1 person

  1. So brave again and such honesty and so right to share the message ‘in your face’. I just hope the GPs listen and refer promptly, sadly (from our immediate family experience) doesn’t always happen – persistence is sometimes necessary.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I’ve been so moved and impressed with the writing “Fanny” has done in response to all the slings and arrows she has experienced. She has a perspective all her own, and has been generous, and brave, in sharing it.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Margaret; I did reply to Ellie – but the comments are not allowed (or maybe it’s a hick-up on Wpress…. It’s a theme which can’t be talked about enough – especially how to avoid later problems and to build up the courage to fce it as early as possible. Thank you for sharing – makes your little joys and pleasures (coffee & scones in the train…) take another dimension altogether!!!! Yeah, make the best of every day.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh dear, I don’t know why the comment wasn’t allowed. Very moody, WordPress, sometimes. But thank you for trying. Yes, it’s been a tough time, and she doesn’t like her saying she’s been courageous, but she has, in all sorts of ways. And all those little pleasures, like coffee and cake and a good walk in the country do help.

  4. Hi Margaret, Ellie’s photograph and her message add up powerfully. I think that she is truly courageous and generous to reach out to others even from the midst of her own grief and the aftermath of her own diagnosis and treatment. I so hope that the side effects of the treatment are on the wane and that she and the boys have a restorative time together during their planned holiday in August. Sending you all very best wishes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much. Luckily, so far radiotherapy is not TOO exhausting, but in any case, soon it will all be over, and they can work towards some kind of normality. Yes, as far as they’re concerned, roll on August!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks so much Margaret. I was so undecided whether to share all this. Hard to judge anything really when travelling an emotional roller coaster, even if it is sometimes in slow motion.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Roller coasters are hard, whatever pace you take them at. And watching, waiting and trying to offer support, rather than being the one actually caught up in the disease and its treatment is a whole different thing, isn’t it?

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Yes it is. We were given helpful advice by a hospice counsellor years ago after my sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus, and that was to listen first and not try to “make things better” or offer unsolicited opinions. So if she wanted to talk about difficult things, have courage and be there with her, and if she didn’t want to talk about things, respect that too. I found that it took away the burden of trying to “do the right thing”. Not that any of this is easy, and sometimes one does need to be proactive. I am astounded by the number of people who are judgmental, prescriptive and have strong opinions often based on anecdote and insufficient and/or outdated knowledge, or who start telling someone who is sick about all the sick people they know and whether they recovered/died or whatever. In my mum’s case, we are so grateful for a kind oncologist and considerate nursing staff and for wonderful support from the local hospice, who know that one cannot generalise about cancer and that individuals respond differently even to the same treatment.

    Liked by 1 person

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Rachel Desilets on Hipstopia

What is Hipstopia? you ask. Yes, you do. Shut UP! You DO!!

ANYWAY, Hipstopia is the irresistible title of Rachel A. Desilets’ book, due for release THIS VERY DAY AS EVER WAS.

RADeliletsRachel A. Desilets was born in southern New Hampshire. She graduated from Emerson College with a B.A. in Writing, Literature, and Publishing. She currently resides in California with her husband and cats.

She blogs at R A Desilets: Young Adult Writer.

It’s been three years since Murphy led the Hipster uprising. For three years, Jay has been by his side. All that’s about to change. It starts with the beautifully intense Prisoner Forty-Seven… and a loaded gun.

Hipstopia is the first book in Young Adult Dystopian duet, The Uprising.

I asked her some questions. She answered.

HipstopiacoverIf you and your characters were on the Titanic and you were first in the lifeboat, which characters would you let in?

That’s a tough one, because I literally have eight named characters. Obviously I would let in the main character, Jay, as well as Prisoner Forty-Seven and Diego, without explanation (you’ll have to read the book to figure out those). Honestly, if I had room, I would probably save them all because their drama would be so much fun to watch while we waited for rescue.

What part does setting play in your book?

Hipstopia exists in a fictional version of Los Angeles. The Hipsters rose up from Silverlake and took the city back from corporate personhood, pushing out anyone who wouldn’t join their side.

Do you ever use visual aids to help you in writing? (Story boards, photos, maps, Pinterest, Polyvore)

I have character photos everywhere. For every story I write, there’s at least one photo of each character, if not more. When I’m writing about a city that I’m unfamiliar with, or have only visited once, I do a lot of “walking around” on street view.

If you had a million billion dollars and had to spend it selfishly, what would you do with it?

Other than buying a really nice house with a large plot of land for my husband and I (and maybe adopting a dog or two), I might try my luck at starting a publishing house. There’s so many talented writers who I would love to work with. But if that fails, I would definitely make a custom built library tree house (because what’s cooler than a library in a tree?).

Do you have another writing project underway?

I have way too many projects underway, but beyond the sequel for Hipstopia, here are the two novels that are actively being edited for self-publication:

The Unanswerable is an adult apocalyptic story where Matthew tries to escape New York City during an ebola breakout with his wife and son. Was aiming for October release, but might get pushed back to later this year.

No Sugar Coating
is young adult magical realism that looks at the trials and tribulations of dating when you have a magical twist. I don’t want to give too much away until we get closer to the release date, expected to be February 2014.

Buy HIPSTOPIA in paperback from Createspace.

At Amazon for kindle:
At Amazon in paperback:

~ * ~

Thanks for visiting, Rachel, and good luck with that book! I absolutely utterly ADORE the cover, and the name Prisoner Forty-Seven. I can’t wait to get over and check that out!

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: (Not Rachel; I mean for anybody. Well, OBVIOUSLY, Rachel can do it if she wants to. Anyway–) If you could choose five people to be in a lifeboat with you, real or fictional, living or dead (I mean, they’re dead really, but not dead in the lifeboat, although it’s your writing prompt, so it’s up to you), who would they be?

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I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but now live in the woods in southern Indiana. Though I only write fiction, I love to read non-fiction. The more I learn about this world, the more fantastic I see it is.

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One thought on “Rachel Desilets on Hipstopia

  1. Jane

    July 22, 2013 at 8:17am

    Great writing prompt.
    To me, there is a Catagory of writing themes called: Lifeboat Stories.
    They don’t have to be set in lifeboats, but the setting has to mimic the clautrophobic elements of being stranded in a lifeboat with whoever else (or alone; don’t matter). Think Twilight Zone. The 1950’s were so paranoid that all those 1950-1960’s shows depicted people who immediately went for the suspiscion and psycho-drama.
    I got so tired of that.
    Instead, you are offering a lifeboat/desert island scenario, with the people we’d WANT to stranded with. So much nicer to imagine. Oh, yeah. I’m imagining right now.

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Not News, But News to Me

I’m not a particularly big fan of either sports or of gambling, but like many Type As I do love complex systems.  I was shooting the shit with a number of my friends this weekend and we started to discuss the question of whether there are simple and reliable ways to beat the spread.  Logic dictates that no, all participants in the sports-betting market are basically rational utility-maximizers and any enduring advantages are eroded away.  However, we hit upon the idea that betting on the underdog could be a consistently winning strategy – people like to bet on winners and for that reason there is very likely an asymmetry of funds flowing into the favorites, skewing the spread.

As it turns out, this is true and well-known to bookies.  Points spreads are deliberately skewed towards the favorites for that reason.  Bookies want to maximize the take they get from people betting on the favorites, due to that asymmetry of funds flowing into the favorites, and so you can reliably win by betting on the underdogs.  The market is rational, but not necessarily in a straightforward way.

I’m also interested in the closely related question of whether there is a similar asymmetry of funds, and thus abnormal returns, on teams from media markets of vastly different sizes.  I have a hunch that the Cowboys attract disproportionately greater betting interest than the Chiefs, and that this means there is money to be made.

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Dear sexy young lady,

We know your body is sexy and your breasts very appealing and arousing. But, if you care to know, all it takes for a breast to sag is one baby…with all due respect to mothers. So, you can keep bombarding us with all those sexy breasts and naked bodies for all we care.
It won’t be long and marriage will happen, and then the babies will come…then we will thirst for those pictures of you, those very ones that you refuse to wear brassieres and just expose the “things” like that, and those full body unclad ones that show your smooth wrinkle-free and stretch-marks-free bellies, thighs and butts; and we will see if they will still trickle in 😂.

Especially when we know you can’t afford like the celebrity role models you are copying “left right front back center”, the silicone implants or the average surgeon’s fees associated with breast augmentation, which is about $3,700, not including anesthesia, surgical facility fees, breast implants, and other expenses.

But don’t worry if you don’t want to stop showing us your sweet sexy body and “private parts”. We will enjoy the sights, cheer you on and make you feel like we love you and would marry you. And if we are lucky, you will give yourself to us to sleep with as many times as we want, and all the while making you feel under the impression that we’re dating you for marriage.
But when we are really ready for marriage, we know what we are looking for. We are looking for, and to marry women whose interest is in managing the home and not in showcasing their bodies all over the place. We judge your maturity and your being a “marriage material” by that “high standard”. You of course attract us with the boobs, the butts, and bikini things you constantly throw into our face all over the social media space; but that only attracts and gets our lust and sex cravings super up there. Unfortunately for you, it’s never enough when we are in for the serious business of marriage and lifelong relationship. Our wives can open their legs to us, give us free access to their bodies, and do all the things we see you throw out there…and still offer us a million more value added service. You see your life? 😂😜

But even if you decide you will never marry, how long will you show your stuffs and we won’t eventually get tired of it? 5 years? 10 years? Lol. Those same appealing and appetizing breasts you are flaunting and letting loose today will surely sag tomorrow and become unappealing to the same people that cheered you on and gave you a million likes on social media. Even if they won’t sag through childbirth, they will by the natural process of ageing. Why, you won’t age? It’s only succulent now, but it won’t be forever…every man knows that. 😂

And whether you like it or not your stretch marks and loose skin will surely come one day. Nature will always have it’s way.

Worse scenario, we will move on to the younger likes of you. And you will know you have expired and wasted your youthfulness.
Sex sells, sure! And fame through indecent exposure is good too, no worries. But marriage and raising a family is more valuable and fulfilling. Ask any man. No matter how beautiful and sexy you are, when that reality hits you, you will wonder why all those men left your sexy and beautiful self to marry those less beautiful than you.

All the best! 😂

©Mark Gadogbe (McApple), 2017

Marriage & Personal Development Author


text:
Beyond the Plate

Beyond the Plate

Includes 60 Recipes

Book - 2017
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Bringing together 30 of the best food blogs from around the world, this fun, colorful cookbook is filled with delicious recipes and the stories behind the blogs. Foodies, home cooks, and amateur chefs are increasingly turning to the Internet for recipes, food trends, and other culinary information. Featuring 30 diverse food bloggers, this richly illustrated book includes recipes for all occasions and palates. Blogs such as My Darling Lemon Thyme, Indian Simmer, Local Milk, Lady & Pups, and Eat in My Kitchen, among others, effortlessly guide readers through the latest global food trends from curry noodle soups to sweet tahini pastries. While the bloggers themselves hail from every corner of the world--Brooklyn to Slovenia, Helsinki to Hong Kong--their recipes, tips, and personal stories are universally appealing to anyone interested in food. Brimming with vibrant photographs, engaging profiles of the faces behind the blogs, and fun Q&A's, this first-of- its-kind cookbook features two recipes from each blogger-- one fan favorite and one never-before-published dish. This gorgeously illustrated collection of the world's most compelling food bloggers, takes readers beyond the plate, helping home cooks navigate the world of myriad food blogs and showcases the world's best and tastiest recipes.
Publisher: Munich :, Prestel,, [2017]
Copyright Date: ©2017
ISBN: 9783791382777
Characteristics: 200 pages : colour illustrations
Additional Contributors: Galarza, Daniela

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text:
english | deutsch

Carina Volkmer Joins Our Team

The Applied Software Technology Group welcomes our new team member Carina Volkmer.

Carina joined our group in October 2016 and will be the personal assistant of Prof. Maalej and also responsible for administration and communication matters. She will take over the role of Heidi Oskarsson, who will go in deserved retirement. Previously Carina Volkmer successfully studied languages and worked at several positions gaining a large experience in organization and event management.

Her room is D-203, where she will be available from Monday through Thursday, Friday only in exceptional cases. Welcome Carina Volkmer!


text:
9 basic concepts Americans fail to grasp

9 basic concepts Americans fail to grasp
A lack of worldliness is clouding our vision on everything from sex to economics, and the proof is in our policies
Alex Henderson, AlterNet

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Topics: Affordable Care Act, AlterNet, Economics, healthcare, Religion, Sex, Politics News
9 basic concepts Americans fail to grasp
This article originally appeared on AlterNet.

To hear the far-right ideologues of Fox News and AM talk radio tell it, life in Europe is hell on Earth. Taxes are high, sexual promiscuity prevails, universal healthcare doesn’t work, and millions of people don’t even speak English as their primary language! Those who run around screaming about “American exceptionalism” often condemn countries like France, Norway and Switzerland to justify their jingoism. Sadly, the U.S.’ economic deterioration means that many Americans simply cannot afford a trip abroad to see how those countries function for themselves. And often, lack of foreign travel means accepting clichés about the rest of the world over the reality. And that lack of worldliness clouds many Americans’ views on everything from economics to sex to religion.

Here are nine things Americans can learn from the rest of the world.

1. Universal Healthcare Is Great for Free Enterprise and Great for Small Businesses

The modern-day Republican Party would have us believe that those who promote universal healthcare are anti-free enterprise or hostile to small businesses. But truth be told, universal healthcare is great for entrepreneurs, small businesses and the self-employed in France, Germany and other developed countries where healthcare is considered a right. The U.S.’ troubled healthcare system has a long history of punishing entrepreneurs with sky-high premiums when they start their own businesses. Prior to the Affordable Care Act of 2010, a.k.a. Obamacare, many small business owners couldn’t even obtain individual health insurance plans if they had a preexisting condition such as heart disease or diabetes—and even with the ACA’s reforms, the high cost of health insurance is still daunting to small business owners. But many Americans fail to realize that healthcare reform is not only a humanitarian issue, it is also vitally important to small businesses and the self-employed.

In 2009, the Center for Economic and Policy Research published a study on small businesses around the world and found that “by every measure of small-business employment, the United States has among the world’s smallest small-business sectors.” People in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and other European countries are more likely to be self-employed—and the study concluded that universal healthcare is a key factor. According to CEPR’s study, “High healthcare costs discourage small business formation since start-ups in other countries can tap into government-funded healthcare systems.”
VIDEOObama: Trade deals will help American workers

2. Comprehensive Sex Education Decreases Sexual Problems

For decades, social conservatives in the U.S. have insisted that comprehensive sex education promotes unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. But in fact, comprehensive sex education (as opposed to the abstinence-only programs that are common in the American Bible Belt) decreases sexual problems, and the data bears that out in no uncertain terms. Public schools in the Netherlands have aggressive sex education programs that America’s Christian Right would despise. Yet in 2009, the Netherlands had (according to the United Nations) a teen birth rate of only 5.3 per 1,000 compared to 39.1 per 1,000 in the U.S. That same year, the U.S. had three times as many adults living with HIV or AIDS as the Netherlands.

Switzerland, France, Germany and many other European countries also have intensive sex-ed programs and much lower teen pregnancy rates than the U.S. Still, far-right politicians in the U.S. can’t get it through their heads that inadequate sex education and insufficient sexual knowledge actually promote teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases instead of decreasing them.

3. American Exceptionalism Is Absolute Nonsense in 2015

No matter how severe the U.S.’ decline becomes, neocons and the Tea Party continue to espouse their belief in “American exceptionalism.” But in many respects, the U.S. of 2015 is far from exceptional. The U.S. is not exceptional when it comes to civil liberties (no country in the world incarcerates, per capita, more of its people than the U.S.) or healthcare (WHO ranks the U.S. #37 in terms of healthcare). Nor is the U.S. a leader in terms of life expectancy: according to the WHO, overall life expectancy in the U.S. in 2013 was 79 compared to 83 in Switzerland and Japan, 82 in Spain, France, Italy, Sweden and Canada and 81 in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Austria and Finland.

4. Adequate Mass Transit Is a Huge Convenience

When it comes to mass transit, Europe and Japan are way ahead of the U.S.; in only a handful of American cities is it easy to function without a car. New York City, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC are among the U.S.’ more mass transit-oriented cities, but overall, the U.S. remains a car culture—and public transportation is painfully limited in a long list of U.S. cities. Many Americans fail to realize that mass transit has numerous advantages, including less air pollution, less congestion, fewer DUIs and all the aerobic exercise that goes with living in a pedestrian-friendly environment.

5. The Bible Was Not Written by Billionaire Hedge Fund Managers

Christianity in its various forms can be found all over the developed world. But the U.S., more than anywhere, is where one finds a far-right version of white Protestant fundamentalism that idolizes the ultra-rich, demonizes the poor and equates extreme wealth with morality and poverty with moral failings. The problem with hating the poor in the name of Christianity is that the Bible is full of quotes that are much more in line with Franklin Delano Roosevelt than Ayn Rand—like “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25) and “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

6. Learning a Second or Third Language Is a Plus, Not a Character Flaw

In the Netherlands or the Scandinavian countries, becoming proficient in two or three foreign languages is viewed as a sign of intellect and sophistication. But xenophobia runs so deep among many neocons, Republicans and Tea Party wingnuts that any use of a language other than English terrifies them. Barack Obama, during his 2008 campaign, was bombarded with hateful responses from Republicans when he recommended that Americans study foreign languages from an early age. And in the 2012 GOP presidential primary, Newt Gingrich’s campaign ran an ad in South Carolina attacking Mitt Romney for being proficient in French.

In February, an eighth-grade girl who was studying Latin in Vermont received equally clueless responses when she wrote to a state senator suggesting that Vermont adopt a Latin motto in addition to its English-language motto (not as a replacement). The wingnuts went ballistic, posting on the Facebook page of a local television station that if the girl wanted to speak Latin, she should move to Latin America.

7. Union Membership Benefits the Economy

In 2014, a Gallup poll found that 53% of Americans approved of labor unions while 71% favored anti-union “right to work” laws. Union membership is way down in the U.S.: only 6.6% of private-sector workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, belonged to unions in 2014 compared to roughly 35% in the mid-1950s. The U.S.’ overall unionization rate (factoring in both public-sector and private-sector workers) is 11.1%, which is quite a contrast to parts of Europe, where overall union rates range from 74% in Finland and 70% in Sweden to 35% in Italy, 19% in Spain and 18% in Germany. That is not to say unionization has not been decreasing in Europe, but overall, one finds a more pro-labor, pro-working class outlook in Europe. The fact that 47% of Americans, in that Gallup poll, consider themselves anti-union is troubling. Too many Americans naively believe that the 1% have their best interests at heart, and they fail to realize that when unions are strong and their members earn decent wages, that money goes back into the economy.

8. Paid Maternity Leave Is the Norm in Most Developed Countries

The U.S. continues to lag behind the rest of the developed world when it comes to maternity leave. Paid maternity leave is strictly voluntary in the U.S., where, according to the organization Moms Rising, 51% of new mothers have no paid maternity leave at all. But government-mandated maternity leave is the norm in other developed countries, including the Netherlands (112 days at 100% pay), Italy (140 days at 80% pay), Switzerland (98 days at 80% pay) and Germany (98 days at 100% pay).

9. Distrust of Oligarchy Is a Positive

In February, the Emnid Polling Institute in Germany released the results of a poll that addressed economic and political conditions in that country: over 60% of the Germans surveyed believed that large corporations had too much influence on elections. ThE survey demonstrated that most Germans have a healthy distrust of crony capitalists and oligarchs who take much more than they give. Meanwhile, in the U.S., various polls show a growing distrust of oligarchy on the part of many Americans but with less vehemence than in the German Emnid poll. A 2012 poll by the Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research showed that while 62% of American voters opposed the U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision, only 46% strongly opposed it. And in a 2012 poll by the Corporate Reform Coalition, most Americans agreed that there was too much corporate money in U.S. politics—although only 51% strongly agreed.

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Congratulations to Texas proud, WHATABURGER restaurants on becoming a Platinum Level Sponsor of the 2017 Master National.

It’s great to have you on board joining our other great supporters. Diamond Sponsors: Nestle Purina Petcare and ASD Avery Sporting Dog, as well as Platinum Sponsor Garmin, Gold Sponsors Dogtra, Wetmutt and Duck Dog Clothing; Silver Sponsors: Sport Dog Brand, Tangelo Tossers, Mom’s Gourmet and Pepsi, and Bronze Sponsors: Midwest Greyhound Supply, Castile Creek Kennels, Honk Monster Outdoors, Lone Duck Outfitters, Country Vet, Umpqua Oats and Fowl Play Game Calls.

And don’t forget about our Donors program.  Donors can help the Master National Retriever Club on a Junior, Senior and Master Level. View Donors List Here

If you would like to find out more about the Master National Donors List please contact Michelle Love or Rex Gibson for details.

This entry was posted in Event Information - General, MNRC Board News & Updates, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

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maya mori

in the midst…

rug therapy

on new year’s day, i put away all the christmas decorations and cleaned the house furiously, ready to start 2013 with a fresh environment & perspective.  i  rearranged the front room, to better accommodate the really cool, giant mod bean bags the boys received for christmas.  it looked fantastic, although the room was screaming for a modern shag rug to complement the mid century look.  so, i started looking at rugs.  i must admit that it became a bit of an obsession, fueled even more by my lack of funds to purchase one.  while perusing pictures of rugs i could never afford, i stumbled upon a fantastic tutorial for making your own at xoelle.  and so it began…

i decided to make a 5′ x 5′ rug and purchased 2 pieces of 36″ x 60″ rug canvas on amazon for $13 each.  i needed about 100 cotton tees to make this rug and procured them all for free.  the rug on the tutorial was all one color and i wanted to have slightly different shades.  most of the tees were white or light in color, but i had a bunch of bright orange too.  first, i cut the ribbed collars, sleeves and hem off of all the shirts.  next, i dyed the tees in small batches, trying to group the tees by color.  i used idye by jacquard and was really pleased with the results.  for the lighter colored shirts, i used two different grays, gunmetal & silver gray. for the batch of bright orange shirts, i used the royal blue to create gray.  this batch was difficult and i ended up over-dyeing in silver gray to get the final color i wanted.  all in all, i ended up with a range of 5 different shades.  i then started on the arduous task of cutting all the dyed material into 1″ x 4″ strips.  i worked on it a few hours a day and it took several weeks.

dyed fabric

cutting strips

all the strips

finally, it was time to start actually making the rug.  i found a vintage rug hook for $1 and got to work!

rug hook

the first 5′ row took me an hour.  now, i can get a row done in 30 minutes.  with over 200 rows, it will take about 100 hours to complete the rug. here’s my progress so far…

first row

a few rows down

the back

25 rows and counting

i think it is going to look and feel amazing when it is finally done!  it’s very calming to work on and i am using it as my new form of therapy in 2013.  i’ll post a picture when it’s complete!

5 thoughts on “rug therapy

  1. I love SO MUCH about this! Can’t wait to see it!

  2. Looks great, I’ve just finished my first rug and am already onto my second. It’s addictive isn’t it?

  3. Pingback: the glass is half full? | maya mori

  4. I’m so glad you said how many t-shirts you are using for this project. I’m looking to do one the same, so that is very useful information. Thank you!

  5. I love it! I found you via pinterest while poking around for rug tutorials- and came full circle back to me. I would love to see a photo when it’s done!

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2015 March $100 Million Box Office Challenge

2015 March $100 Million Box Office Challenge

This is a new game for us!

We follow the box office quite closely here at The Measured Circle. You can see our tracking for

2015 The Measured Circle’s Most Profitable Movies

for example.

Well, we wanted to design a game where you could see how good you are at predicting which movies will be the most profitable.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the highest grossing movies: If a movie cost $200 million to make and makes $300 million, each million dollars you “invested” would only get you $1.5 million. If a movie cost $40 million to make and dogros (domestic grosses) $100 million, you would get $2.5 million for each $1 million you “invested”.

Want to give it a shot?

This Survey Monkey poll will close at the of February so all guesses need to be done by then.

All the rules are there…we’ll see how it goes this month, and may adjust them in the future.

I’ll be making my own “investments”…think you can beat me? 😉

We are doing this just for fun…no real money is involved, and we only play for that most valuable of human possessions: braggin’ rights!

Challenge extended…

Join thousands of readers and try the free The Measured Circle magazine at Flipboard

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the  The Measured Circle blog. To support this or other blogs/organizations, buy  Amazon Gift Cards from a link on the site, then use those to buy your items. There will be no cost to you, and a benefit to them.

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Deadpool’s ROI is already 233%, beating all Marvel movies except…

Deadpool’s ROI is already 233%, beating all Marvel movies except…

Ryan Reynold’s R-rated Marvel superhero movie, Deadpool, has gotten off to a terrific start!

BoxOfficeMojo reports a weekend estimate (not counting Monday) of $135m dogro (domestic gross).

That’s really high, but it’s even more impressive when you consider that it was a relatively low budgeted movie for this genre, at $58m.

There were a lot of risks with it: the R-rating, Ryan Reynolds (who had had a disappointing starring role as DC’s Green Lantern before), the fact that it was in February, the lack of name recognition for the character (outside of the geek  community), the fact that this a 20th Century Fox movie (not a Disney Marvel movie), the weather back East…

This, though, is showing that Reynolds’ (who is also a producer) really hard work promoting the movie, as well as a solid marketing campaign, has paid off.

$135m is 233% of $58m (earning Deadpool The Measured Circle Award of “Money”)…and it’s just getting started.

Let’s compare that to other Marvel superhero movies.

Movie Budget Dogro Return
Spider-Man 139 409 294.24%
Marvel’s The Avengers 220 623 283.18%
Deadpool 58 135 232.76%
Iron Man 140 318 227.14%
X-Men 75 157 209.33%
Iron Man 3 200 409 204.50%
Guardians of the Galaxy 170 333 195.88%
X2: X-Men United 110 215 195.45%
Spider-Man 2 200 374 187.00%
Avengers: Age of Ultron 250 459 183.60%
Iron Man 2 200 312 156.00%
Captain America: The Winter Soldier 170 260 152.94%
Ant-Man 130 180 138.46%
Spider-Man 3 258 337 130.62%
Captain America: The First Avenger 140 176 125.71%
Thor: The Dark World 170 206 121.18%
Thor 150 181 120.67%
X-Men Origins: Wolverine 150 180 120.00%
X-Men: Days of Future Past 200 234 117.00%
The Amazing Spider-Man 230 262 113.91%
X-Men: The Last Stand 210 234 111.43%
The Wolverine 120 132 110.00%
X-Men: First Class 160 146 91.25%
The Incredible Hulk 150 134 89.33%
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 255 202 79.22%

That’s right…you would have gotten a better return on your investment on Deadpool than on any other Marvel movies except Spider-Man and The Avengers…and at a much smaller initial investment.

This is based on BoxOfficeMojo’s reported production budget versus their reported domestic gross (dogro). There are other expenses (including the marketing budget) and other income (including international gross), but this lets us do a consistent comparison (the other data is harder to get).

The odds are good that Deadpool will be the best ROI Marvel movie…by Tuesday. Not the highest grossing, or with the biggest profit, but big congratulations to Ryan Reynolds, Fox, and the rest of the team!

Join thousands of readers and try the free The Measured Circle magazine at Flipboard

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the  The Measured Circle blog. To support this or other blogs/organizations, buy  Amazon Gift Cards from a link on the site, then use those to buy your items. There will be no cost to you, and a benefit to them.

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Optus working to restore mobile services and provide assistance to bush fire volunteers

22 December 2001, 9:00 am

Optus is working hard to restore mobile services in fire-damaged areas – bringing in portable power generators and mobile base stations. In addition, Optus has also sent 100 prepaid mobile phones and over $10,000 worth of recharge cards to the NSW Rural Fire Service to be distributed to firefighters and affected families. Paul Kitchin, Director … Read more

Optus launches international SMS for Christmas

21 December 2001, 9:00 am

Optus Mobile customers can now exchange international SMS (short message service) with their friends and colleagues overseas following the launch of international SMS capabilities. Paul Kitchin, Director Mobile Marketing for Optus, said international SMS would further add to the rapid growth of SMS usage. “Our customers currently send over 10 million SMS messages a week … Read more

Optus makes Australia’s first 3G calls

13 December 2001, 9:00 am

Optus has made Australia’s first live 3G (third generation) calls confirming its position as the leader in mobile data innovation in Australia. Keir Preedy, Acting Managing Director Mobile for Optus, said the 3G calls were made over the last week using Nokia equipment. “Working with Nokia, we have a fully functioning 3G laboratory in Sydney … Read more

Optus Internet Intrusion

9 December 2001, 9:00 am

03 Nov 1999 At 4.30am today, there was an unauthorised intrusion into the Optus Internet and Microplex network. Cable & Wireless Optus views this intrusion as a serious breach of security and has informed the police. The intrusion allowed limited access to details of Optus Internet and Microplex customers. It did not allow access to … Read more

Optus positions for national satellite success

5 December 2001, 9:00 am

In a precise two-hour operation, Optus has lowered into position a 13 tonne, 13 metre satellite dish that will track, control and transmit to Australia’s newest satellite when it launches next year. Positioned by crane, the new satellite dish will be placed on a 10 tonne pedestal base, joining three other major dishes at Optus’s … Read more