Is 2ms Response Time Good for Gaming [A Recommended 144Hz Monitor]
If you are in the market for a gaming monitor, response time and refresh rates are two of the most important things you'd look for. If you've been using a 16ms or 8ms gaming monitor before now, getting anything lower, either a 5ms or 2ms will show a remarkable difference.
But in reality, is 2ms response time good for gaming? I'd be answering that and sharing my top choice when it comes to a gaming monitor that will be providing you top-notch performances.
Yes. A 2ms response time is good for gaming. With a 2ms response time coupled with a decent refresh rate, you will notice a remarkable improvement in the gaming experience, including how smooth, fast, and responsive-to-control your gameplay is.
First, let's begin by talking about what response time is, and just why you'd need to consider the response time of a gaming monitor before you commit.
Response Time Definition in Gaming Performance Testing – What Does 2ms Response Time Mean?
Response time (ms) in gaming is defined as the amount of time it takes from the time a person makes a request or calls a control to the time the request receives a response. It also refers to the speed at which the monitor transits from one color to another and from one shade to another.
Is 1ms Response Time Good for Gaming?
So let's say you are playing a high FPS game. It's expected that the in-game character responds to your command as soon as you hit the specific command. So generally, the lower the response time of a gaming monitor, the better the gaming experience.
The best response time for a gaming monitor is 5ms and below. With 2ms or even 1ms, you are sure to be in the sweet spot. If you have ever had to game with 16ms gaming monitors and then switch to a 5ms gaming monitor, you'll surely see a remarkable improvement.
2ms Response Time Vs. 1ms
A 1ms response time and a 2ms response time are technically the same. While you get similar performances, 1ms response time remains the top option for gamers. And if gamers are using it a lot more, then there's a chance it trumps a 2ms gaming monitor.
2ms and 1ms gaming monitors have almost similar pricing, so if you're in it for a monitor that will last quite some time, then why not just invest in a high-quality 1ms gaming monitor.
2ms Vs. 4ms Response Time
While it doesn't show a remarkable difference unless you're coming from 1ms response time, you should be able to use any of these two and be just fine if you're a casual gamer. You should remember that a 2ms response time is a lot better than a 4ms response time, and you'll always enjoy gaming with a 2ms response time monitor over a 4ms response time monitor if you're a pro gamer.
Response Time Monitor 2ms Vs. 5ms
Generally, I'd not trouble myself with anything from 5ms and below. 5ms is presently the standard for most gaming monitors, with 2ms being the top of the range set. Yes, 2ms vs. 5ms has a noticeable difference, and when gaming with a monitor with a response time of 5ms, you'd sure see a slower response time when compared to a 2ms monitor.
But this is mostly noticed when you deliberately look for the difference, for the most part, most casual gamers get away with 5ms response time monitors.
2ms Vs. 6ms Response Time
6ms response time is too low for most gamers. While most gamers will easily get away with 5ms response time gaming monitors, 6ms is simply stretching things too far. You will surely see a noticeable difference between 2ms and 6ms monitors. Always shoot for 5ms response time and below, better yet, shoot for 2ms and 1ms for optimal performance.
8ms Vs. 2ms Response Time
2ms response time trumps 8ms anytime. If you're serious about gaming and getting the most out of every gaming session, especially if you're into shooter games and others that require high FPS, then a 2ms gaming monitor will improve your efficiency. 8ms response time isn't good enough for games and gaming consoles these days.
2ms Response Time Monitor – Gaming Monitor with 2ms Response Time
If you are looking for a high-quality gaming monitor with 2ms response time, then you should try the ASUS VE248H 24 inches Full HD monitor.
2ms Response Time TV
If you are looking for a high-quality high response time TV for gaming, I will recommend the TCL 55S425 4K TV. You get an amazing refresh rate, amazing response time, and great color and picture quality.
Samsung Monitor 2ms Response Time
If you are looking out for a good Samsung monitor with 2ms response time, either for work or gaming, the Samsung 850 is one of the best options on the market. You get amazing quality, excellent performance for both work and gaming, and a great build.
IPS Monitor 2ms Response Time
The LG 27GL83A-B is one of the best IPS gaming monitors with healthy response time. You don't just get 2ms, you get an amazing deal. A 1ms gaming monitor for the same price you'll find a gaming monitor with 2ms response time.
See also cheap gaming monitors for PS4.
Last update on 2021-07-19 We are an,, and affiliate and earn from qualifying purchases through our links at no extra cost to you.


Dog Walking Club Walk Leader
To become a Dog Walking Club Walk Leader, you will be given free training, described as follows:
The one day training course is delivered locally by local trainers, and split into two sections.
Section 1 - Theory
This section of the day explores the concept and issues around health walks. The outcomes for this part of the training are:
· Understanding the partnership that delivers the national programme and supports all the schemes
· Understanding the benefits of activity and the positive impact on physical and mental health
· Understanding what a health walk is and how to run one
· Explore the paperwork, understand why it is required and how the data will be used
· Understand the insurance cover provided by Walking for Health through the Ramblers
· Learn how to create a safe effective route and carry out a risk assessment
· Explore difficult scenarios such as dogs on walks and how to deal with them
· Understand about inclusivity and what this means
Section 2 - Practical
Everyone take part in a demonstration walk led by the trainer focussing on best practise, risk assessments and how to adjust walks to suit people with a variety of needs. Participants are given the opportunity to put the theory into practise and explore any issues they may have.
At the end of the training all trainees are given a progress card which they have to complete to become a fully trained walk leader. To become a recognised Walking for Health walk leader they need to:
· Shadow a walk leader
· Lead a walk whilst being observed by a trainer walk leader


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More information: Otten, Pinto, Paffen, Seth & Kanai (in press). The Uniformity Illusion: Central stimuli can determine peripheral perception. Psychological Science
Four examples of the uniformity illusion with motion as an example.
- Open the video fullscreen.
- Keep your eyes fixated on the centre of the screen for a good amount of time (tens of seconds to minutes).
- In the first two examples the central stimuli are present from the start, in the latter two the central stimuli appear after a while. The first and the third example contain no fixation spot, the second and the fourth do. Some people find that the illusion works better without a fixation spot, but you can try out which works best for yourself.
- The fifth example is similar to the third, but now all the motion is much slower.
For more information, see the text below the examples.
In all examples the dots in the periphery rotate four times as fast as the central dots, but all dots seem to be going at the same speed after a while. When the central stimuli appear later (in the latter two examples), it leads, for some people, to a more dramatic effect. Now the peripheral stimuli abruptly appear to slow down. In the last example there can be some strange effects, because now the central motion is very slow. Again the peripheral motion is four times faster than the central motion. When the centre is empty, the periphery can be seen to move slowly and smoothly. However, when the central moving dots appear, the whole screen sometimes seems to become static. The peripheral motion can seem jerky at moments, as if it stops and goes.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


How To Get Certified In Chatgpt
How To Articles
Hello there, my fellow technology enthusiasts! I am thrilled to share with you my own experience and knowledge on how to obtain certification in ChatGPT. Being a fan of AI, I was instantly drawn to the limitless opportunities provided by ChatGPT, and getting certified has been a fulfilling journey for me.
Introduction to ChatGPT Certification
OpenAI's ChatGPT certification program is an excellent opportunity to enhance your skills and showcase your expertise in using ChatGPT. This program allows you to gain recognition for your abilities and deepen your understanding of this powerful language model.
Before diving into the certification process, it's important to have a solid foundation in natural language processing (NLP) and a good understanding of how ChatGPT works. Familiarize yourself with the basics by referring to OpenAI's documentation and exploring relevant research papers.
Preparing for the Certification
Once you feel confident in your knowledge of NLP and ChatGPT, it's time to start preparing for the certification. Here are some steps that can help you on your journey:
 1. Practice with ChatGPT: Spend time using ChatGPT to gain practical experience. Engage in various conversations and experiment with different prompts to understand its capabilities and limitations.
 2. Join the ChatGPT Community: Connect with the vibrant ChatGPT community. Participate in forums, attend webinars, and engage in discussions. This will provide valuable insights and help you stay up-to-date with the latest developments.
 3. Study the Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with OpenAI's ChatGPT guidelines. It's crucial to understand the ethical and responsible use of AI to ensure a positive user experience.
 4. Review Evaluation Criteria: Take the time to understand the evaluation criteria for ChatGPT. This will help you align your responses with the desired standards and improve your chances of passing the certification.
Taking the Certification Exam
Now that you have prepared diligently, it's time to take the ChatGPT certification exam. Here are some tips to help you succeed:
 - Read the Instructions Carefully: Before starting the exam, carefully read through the instructions. Understanding the requirements and guidelines will ensure you submit your best work.
 - Focus on Clarity: When providing responses, aim for clarity and ensure your answers address the user's questions effectively. Use concise language and avoid unnecessary complexity.
 - Show Empathy: ChatGPT is designed to be helpful and empathetic. Incorporate empathy into your responses by acknowledging users' feelings and providing appropriate support.
 - Give Detailed Explanations: Back up your responses with explanations. Explain the reasoning behind your suggestions or recommendations to demonstrate your understanding and expertise.
Conclusion
Obtaining a ChatGPT certification is a commendable achievement that can open doors to exciting opportunities in the field of AI and NLP. It showcases your dedication and expertise in leveraging the power of ChatGPT effectively.
Remember, becoming certified in ChatGPT is not just about passing an exam but also about growing as an AI practitioner. Embrace the challenges, learn from your experiences, and continue exploring the fascinating world of AI-powered conversation.


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What does IEEE mean in Electronics?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand IEEE in the Academic & Science field in general and in the Electronics terminology in particular.
Find a translation for IEEE in other languages:
Select another language:
What does IEEE mean?
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence. It has more than 425,000 members in more than 160 countries, about 51.4% of whom reside in the United States.
Discuss this IEEE abbreviation with the community:
Use the citation below to add this abbreviation to your bibliography:
IEEE also stands for:
- Information Engineering Endeavoring to Excel
- Institue of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
- International Enclave For Electronics Efficiency
- Internet Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and Employers
... and 1 more »

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


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Oracle fusion application security mechanism is designed on the base of role-based access control (RBAC). Oracle recommend to implement roles with functional security and data security and then assign roles to user, which bring benefits from maintenance and reusability. We should not directly assign functional security and data security to user, even though it looks ok from technical perspective.
First, let's have a look at the Oracle recommended security setup process with a real business scenario, and then have a review of Oracle fusion security architecture and concept for further understanding.
Oracle recommended Security Setup Process, which is the most safe for your implementation.
Considering you have a financial manager called Ning Yun, who is responsible for all financial modules as a manager role in business unit A, B, C, Ledger X, Y, and asset book Z.
1. Create a user ning with person information (generally employee information). A person will auto created in HCM. Or you can create person in HCM and user will be auto created.
2. You should have had job roles, like general ledger manager, payables manager, receivables manager, etc. in your system, generally they are predefined by oracle.
3. Create data roles for above job roles through data role template. Or the data role can be generated automatically when you create BU, asset book, GL data access set.
4. Assign the necessary data role to user.
I recommend that you always generate data role by data role template or generate automatically and NOT try to generate your own data security, because it is not completed. If you try to research the Oracle-predefined data role template, it is very complex. You can duplicate it by data security easily. So, always use data template or auto generation.
Oracle fusion security architecture and concepts
1. Resource: Very technical concept that the technical components used by privilege.
2. Entitlement (Privilege): A task/action of duty role. An entitlement is one or more allowable actions applied to a set of database resources.
3. Application Role (Duty/Duty role): Duty roles cannot be provisioned directly to users, but are inherited by enterprise roles to control access to applications. Duty roles may carry both function and data security grants.
4. External Role (Job/Job role): Specific to a job, and controls access to functions through inherited duty roles that carry the entitlement necessary for performing specific tasks associated with the duties of the job, such as access for a procurement manager.
5. User: application user registered in system.
6. Database resource: A database resource specifies access to a table, view, or flexfield that is secured by a data security policy.
7. HCM Security Profile: HCM data roles are generated using the Manage Data Roles and Security Profiles task, which uses HCM security profiles, not data role templates, to define the data security condition.
8. Data role template: You use data role templates to generate data roles. You generate such data roles, and create and maintain data role templates in the Authorization Policy Manager (APM).
Data Role (Also external role in APM): Specific to a job within a dimension of data, and augments the inherited abstract, duty, or job roles with entitlement to access specific data, such as access for a procurement manager in a particular business unit. Job role with data security.
External Role/Job Role: Accounts Payable Manager (which is mapping to real AP manager in business)
Duties assigned directly and indirectly to the job role Accounts Payable Manager
Application Role/Duty Role
Accounts Payable Managerial Analysis Duty: Analyzes Invoices and related documents along with Payments, Holds Discounts, and Payables Balances
Accounts Payable Period Status Management Duty: Manages Oracle Fusion Payables period status.
Accounts Payable Period Status Review Duty: Reviews Oracle Fusion Payables period status.
Actual Procurement Cost Collection Duty: Subscribes to costing service for interfacing invoice transactions to receipt accounting.
The relationship between external role (data role) and job role: (first page for functional hierarchy, second page for data security)
The relationship between job role and application rule:
The relationship between application role and entitlement:
The relationship between entitlement and resource:
(From my own opinion, the security mechanism, especially data security is very complex in current version of Fusion Application, so please always use data role template or auto-generation. That's enough)


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What: Buriti is a palm tree that grows throughout central Brazil and the southern Amazon basin in swamps and marshes. The buriti fruit, which grows from December to June, contains an edible nut. Traditionally, the buriti fruit has been used as a food source. Parts of the buriti tree have also been used in construction, and buriti straw is used to cover houses and make ropes, baskets, sieves, racks for cooking, skirts and jewelry, such as bracelets (Vegetarian-Restaurants.net).
Oil extracted from the buriti nut contains high concentrations of oleic acid, tocopherols and carotenoids, especially betacarotene. Recent studies have found it to filter and absorb cancer-causing UV rays from the sun (Wiki). The oil also contains soothing qualities and promotes healing.
Buriti contains a high concentration of essential fatty acids which keep the skin moisturized. EFAs also protect from free radical damage and support collagen production, providing anti-aging benefits to the skin.
Origin: Buriti oil is an orange-reddish oil extracted from the fruit of the Moriche palm (Wiki).
Products Found In: Buriti oil's emollient properties make it an effective ingredient in such products as body and facial cleansers, body and facial moisturizers, hair care, and sunscreens.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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ADePT, the Software Platform for Automated Economic Analysis, is a free program designed to simplify and speed-up the production of analytical reports. Created by the Research Department (DECRG) of the World Bank, it can be used to extract indicators from micro-level surveys and present them in a print-ready form. ADePT can generate sets of about 50 print-ready tables and graphs in different areas of economic analysis, and already includes, among others, modules on Poverty, Inequality, Labor, Gender, Education, Health, and Social Protection.
ADePT helps both to minimize human errors and to introduce new techniques and methods to a wide audience of practitioners. It can be used as a tool for sensitivity analysis, data checking, and simulations - it's an ideal tool for training! Tasks that take several weeks of work from qualified consultants could be accomplished within minutes using ADePT. Furthermore, by producing a standard set of tables and graphs, the program allows standardization of the economic statistics among countries expanding the possibilities for research on intra-country comparisons.
The website contains a free, downloadable version of the software, as well as video tutorials in several languages, PowerPoint presentations, examples and more about how to use ADePT by utilizing different data sets. Please visit _URL_ for more information.
The current version of ADePT requires a prior installation of the STATA software, but updates might be available in the near future to bypass this requirement.


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Education and outreach
Playing a Pokémon-like card game about ecology and biodiversity can result in broader knowledge of species and a better understanding of ecosystems than traditional teaching methods, like slideshows, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.
An open-source project launched in 2010 by UBC biologist David Ng and collaborators, the Phylo Trading Card Game works similarly to Pokémon trading cards, but uses real organisms and natural events instead of imaginary characters. While the Phylo project has proven immensely popular around the world, this is the first study to have tested its efficacy as a teaching and learning tool.
Researchers examined how people who played the game retained information about species and ecosystems, and how it impacted their conservation behavior. They compared the results to people who watched an educational slideshow, and those who played a different game that did not focus on ecosystems.
"Participants who played the Phylo game weren't just remembering iconic species like the blue whale and sea otter, but things like phytoplankton, zooplankton and mycorrhizal fungi," said lead author Megan Callahan, a PhD candidate in the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. "They would say things like, 'I really needed this card because it was the base of my ecosystem,' or, 'When my partner destroyed my phytoplankton it killed all of my chain of species.' Obviously, the game is sending a strong message that is sticking with them."
Participants in both the Phylo Game group and slideshow group improved their understanding of ecosystems and species knowledge, but those who played the Phylo Game were able to recall a greater number of species. They were also more motivated to donate the money they received to preventing negative environmental events, such as climate change and oil spills. (Study participants were rewarded with a toonie [$2] or a loonie [$1], and were given options to donate the money toward different causes.)
"The message for teachers is that we need to use all possible ways to engage the public and get them interested in and caring about the issues of species extinctions and ecosystem destructions," said Callahan. "Something as simple as a card game can be adapted to any environment, from classrooms to field-based workshops, in any location. Our study shows that this can be a really beneficial way of learning about species, and their ecosystems and environments."
Researchers used a deck created for the Beaty Biodiversity Museum that focused on British Columbia's ecosystems, but there are many other versions of the Phylo cards circulating the world. A global community of artists, institutions, scientists and game enthusiasts have created numerous iterations of the game—including decks featuring west coast marine life, dinosaurs, microbes, and even a Women in Science version created by Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology.
"We have 20 to 30 decks and more coming every year," said Ng. "Games have a way of enticing anybody."
All Phylo decks are open-source and can be downloaded for free from the Phylo website. The Beaty deck, used in the study, is also available at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum gift shop.
The study, "Using the Phylo Card Game to advance biodiversity conservation in an era of Pokémon", appears in Palgrave Communications.


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|Uploaded:||July 16, 2011|
|Updated:||July 16, 2011|
Up next is a new approach on making a polar bear simple enough for everyone to create on your own. This tutorial is going to be just what you need when you want to have fun with your friends as you think of what you can do for an activity. Since a lot of the members that come to Dragoart are novice artist, I'm trying to make tutorials that can accommodate both new and intermediate skills. The best thing about learning from a simple lesson, is the fact that you can get a general idea on how to draw a specific animal, person, object, or even deigns like tattoos and such. With this submission you will learn the basics when it comes to teaching yourself "how to draw a polar bear for kids", step by step. With my new technique of making animals for kids, I'm actually cutting down on the amount of steps involved when it comes to turning drawings into tutorials. The polar bear is a popular attraction when visiting an aquarium or zoo. This was one of my favorite animals to watch through the big, thick looking glass at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Of course that was some time ago and to tell you the truth I don't even know if the polar bear is still there. Anyways, have fun drawing a polar bear for kids, I will come back soon because I do still have more lessons on the way.


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Horace Mann alumnus Amos Kamil uncovered decades of sexual abuse at his school in a shocking New York Times Magazine cover story.
Here are some highlights from the article:
-Shortly after Kamil arrived at the school, he was warned by another student about certain teachers who were known as perverts.
-One former student says his art teacher, Mark Wright, asked to draw a portrait of him after-hours. He then allegedly made the boy strip and assaulted him.
-The same teacher performed physicals for boys' sports and allegedly assaulted boys then.
-Another teacher, Stanley Kops, coached the swim team and was known to allegedly join the boys in the shower. He later resigned after allegations of misconduct and committed suicide.
-Johannes Somary was a brilliant music teacher who allegedly took one student on solo trips to Europe, where the student accuses him of rape.
-Another student, Ben, eventually admitted to his parents he had a sexual relationship with Somary. When his mother confronted the teacher he said "That's how we Swiss kiss!" Ben eventually committed suicide.
-When the author tried to contact the school, they said: "The article contains allegations dating back, in some instances, 30 years, long before the current administration took office, which makes it difficult to accurately respond to the factual allegations therein. In addition, on June 13, 1984, there was a fire in the attic of the business office that destroyed some records."
-The school has since released this letter to parents responding to the article.


Did Poland Really Escape the Black Death?
28 Jul 2021
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China, people have been making obvious parallels with other major pandemics in history, most notably the Bubonic Plague, or 'Black Death'Before the first confirmed case of Coronavirus in Poland, authorities were not doing much aside from propagating the idea that Poland would not be as affected by the virus as other countries. This optimism, though since proven wrong, may have had something to do with the region's historic so-called 'avoidance' of the medieval pandemic. Realistically, it affected Poland on a much smaller scale than the rest of Europe in the 14th century (sadly, this balance would be paid during WWII). Would history repeat itself 700 years later? Apparently not. The number of daily cases in Poland has increased at an alarming rate, and during September-October 2020 we've watched them double from week to week. On October 21st 2020, we reached 10,000+ cases, compared to just 5,000+ a week before.
The surreal image of the Beaked Plague Doctor is synonymous with the Black Death. While the mask looks terrifying, it had a genuine purpose:
Inside the beak would be filled with perfumes and herbs to deflect miasma, the horrific stench of 'bad air' from both plague victims and the dead.
Poland Was Not Actually Spared
Before we go any further we need to clear up a perpetuated myth.
 A map showing the coverage of the Black Death,
 notably the areas of minor outbreaks in Green.
The largest of these areas are centred around historic Poland.
The statement that is often blabbed amongst history buffs and general know-it-alls is 'Poland Escaped the Black Death'. While we would've loved this statement to be true, quite simply, this statement is absolutely false. The bubonic plague absolutely made it to Poland and there were certainly a number of outbreaks around the area. Sadly, with the overall scale of the destruction and the poorly-kept records, we will never know exactly how many succumbed. Estimations have generally stated that the kingdom lost about 25% of its population. While this sounds like a lot by today's standards, losing a quarter of your inhabitants is a pale amount compared to countries like Italy, France and Spain, that suffered an estimated 75-80% loss of life. For this reason, Poland can be called an area of'minor outbreak', as is highlighted in the map to the right. Other tiny areas, such as the Italian city-state of Milan, coastal areas of the Low Countries (now The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) and the Kingdom of Navarre (now Basque Country in Spain) were also 'lightly touched' in a similar fashion to our beloved Poland.
Quarantine of the Polish Borders
One key reason often attributed to the low rates of contagion was the decision by Polish king, Casimir the Great, to close the country's 'borders' shortly after the initial reports from the west and set up internal quarantines.
 Casimir the Great - Tolerant and Health-Conscious
This was not an operation like you would see in the current 'State of Epidemic Threat' at every road entry to Poland, more-so it related to medieval walled-cities and refusing entry to obviously-infected individuals. Therefore, contagious people could still travel between smaller communities in the countryside of a dominion. Nevertheless, Poland was a much less-densely populated area than elsewhere in Europe, so contagion was slower to spread.
Furthermore, travel time also plays an important factor here. For example, it would normally take 8 days to travel from Prague to Kraków on horseback, even slower if you were on foot. Compare that with the amount of time it would take for the plague to kick-in - between 24 to 72 hours to get sick. So, by the time you reached Kraków or any other city for that matter, you were clearly not going to be let into the city walls!
Poland's Jewish Population
As the historic scapegoats of Europe, the minority Jewish population of Europe suffered at the hands of a bigoted Christian-majority. Once again, thanks to the rulership of Casimir the Great, Jews were offered a safe haven in Paradisus Iudaeorum (ENG: Paradise of the Jews) as Poland became known. This population would thrive for centuries until the atrocities committed in WWII. Unfortunately, when the bubonic plague first hit Europe in October 1347, the gentile population was cynical of the lower rates of infection amongst local Jewry, and therefore subscribed to the idea that the plague was a Jewish conspiracy!
American Jewish historian Berel Wein and many others attribute the lower death-rates of Jews during the plague to the adherence of sanitary practices in Jewish law. Simple but regular actions, like washing his or her hands many times throughout the day or that one must not eat food without washing one's hands, leaving the bathroom and after any sort of intimate human contact are considered basic hygiene in the 21st-century. However, these strict Jewish practices were hardly standard for the majority of common-folk who could go half his or her life without ever washing their hands!
A woodcut from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) depicting Jews burned alive en-masse. A prime example of Medieval Anti-Semitism
Another interesting point in Jewish law prevents an individual from reciting blessings and saying prayers by an open pit at latrines and at places with a foul odour. For this reason, the sanitary conditions in Jewish communities were always far superior than in the neighbourhoods of non-Jews.
Jewish law also prescribes certain sanitary conditions related to burial of the dead, which were undertaken by the burial sociery, Chevrah Kadisha, who are kind of like funerary directors in Jewish communities. Practices, such as washing the body of the deceased and stationing shomrim, watchers of corpses, ensured that vermin were kept away from the dead. These factors, no doubt, hugely reduced the spread of infection in their communities.
Illustration from The Chronicles of Gilles Li Muisis (1272–1352) showing citizens of Tournai (now Belgium) burying plague victims.
Scenes like this were commonplace all over Europe in the 14th Century, albeit on a much smaller scale in the Kingdom of Poland.
Geography and Climate
As a final pointer that is often discussed as an asset to slowing the spread of disease is Poland's geographical and climatic position in Europe. Firstly, as was touched on before, Poland was more sparsely-populated than elsewhere in Europe and, more-specifically, could hardly compare to the densley-populated Mediterranean coast that had evolved through trade and generally warmer weather. And on the point of weather, Poland's temperate seasonal climate is believed to have mitigated the spread of the plague due to the fact that it was colder than Southern and Western Europe. Taking it a step further, historian Norman F Cantor theorises in his book In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It MadeThe absence of plague in Bohemia and Poland is commonly explained by the rats' avoidance of these areas due to the unavailability of food the rodents found palatable. Maybe both points are true? Maybe neither? Sadly, we will never know for sure.
The Black Death VS Coronavirus
On a virological level, it's impossible to compare the two. The Bubonic Plague is a flea-borne bacterial disease, carried by rodents that jumped to humans. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome transmitted primarily via respiratory droplets. Whilst the deathtoll of the latter is currently just under 8,000 worldwide, nevertheless shocking, it must be remembered that the Bubonic Plague wiped out 30-60% of medieval Europe and an estimated overall death toll of 75-200 million people in Eurasia. The Black Death truly earnt its name.
Medieval Xenophobia - An illustration portraying
a Jew poisoning the well of a Christian settlement.
Beyond of the stats, other common factors are still present: Xenophobia towards Jews has been replaced with Xenophobia towards Asian minorities across the world. Misinformation by the dominance of the Church in Medieval Europe that Jews were poisoning the wells of Christian communities is somehow echoed in recent fake news headlines that China had a biological-weapon that unintentionally leaked. Asylum granted to Jews in Poland in 14th-Century is a far cry from the Law and Justice (PiS) party's stance on accepting any quote of Syrian Refugees. Sadly, Coronavirus will currently not help these individuals in their case for resettlement. Poland was certainly quicker to close its borders than others in Europe, much like it had in the 14th-century. We hope that measures put in place will somehow prevent the population from going the way of Italy, which is currently the hardest-hit nation in Europe with regard to Coronavirus.
You like Death? You wanna see more?
As the impact of the bubonic plague was not felt as much in Poland, key sites are non-existent. In our article, Creepy Poland, we talk about a number of sites where bones have been used to furnish the interiors of churches and tombs (how lovely!). Most notably, Kaplica Czaszek (ENG: the Chapel of Skulls) on the Polish/C


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Les Fleurs du mal
Les Fleurs du mal (English: The Flowers of Evil) is a volume of French poetry by Charles Baudelaire. First published in 1857 (see 1857 in poetry), it was important in the symbolist and modernist movements. The subject matter of these poems deals with themes relating to decadence and eroticism.
The initial publication of the book was arranged in six thematically segregated sections:
- Spleen et Idéal (Spleen and Ideal)
- Tableaux parisiens (Parisian Scenes)
- Le Vin (Wine)
- Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil)
- Révolte (Revolt)
- La Mort (Death)
Si le viol, le poison, le poignard, l'incendie,
N'ont pas encore brodé de leurs plaisants dessins
Le canevas banal de nos piteux destins,
C'est que notre âme, hélas! n'est pas assez hardie.
- If rape and poison, dagger and burning,
- Have still not embroidered their pleasant designs
- On the banal canvas of our pitiable destinies,
- It's because our souls, alas, are not bold enough!
The preface concludes with the following malediction:
C'est l'Ennui! —l'œil chargé d'un pleur involontaire,
Il rêve d'échafauds en fumant son houka.
Tu le connais, lecteur, ce monstre délicat,
—Hypocrite lecteur,—mon semblable,—mon frère!
- It's Ennui! — his eye brimming with spontaneous tear
- He dreams of the gallows in the haze of his hookah.
- You know him, reader, this delicate monster,
- Hypocritical reader, my likeness, my brother!
Tableau Parisiens (Parisian Scenes)
Baudelaire's section Tableau Parisiens is considered one of the most formidable criticisms of 19th-century French modernity. This section contains 18 poems, most of which were written during the Haussmann's renovation of Paris. Together, the poems in Tableau Parisiens act as 24 hour cycle of Paris, starting with the second poem Le Soleil (The Sun) and ending with the second to last poem Le Crépuscule du Matin (Morning Crepuscule). The poems featured in this cycle of Paris all deal with the feelings of anonymity and estrangement from a newly modernized city. Baudelaire is critical of the clean and geometric streets of Paris which alienate the unsung anti-heroes of Paris who serve as inspiration for the poet: the beggars, the blind, the industrial worker, the gambler, the prostitute, the old and the victim of imperialism. These characters whom Baudelaire once praised as the backbone of Paris are now eulogized in his nostalgic poems. For Baudelaire, the city has been transformed into an anthill of identical bourgeois that reflect the new identical structures that litter a Paris he once called home but can now no longer recognize.
Literary significance and criticism
The author and the publisher were prosecuted under the regime of the Second Empire as an outrage aux bonnes mœurs (trans. "an insult to public decency"). As a consequence of this prosecution, Baudelaire was fined 300 francs. Six poems from the work were suppressed and the ban on their publication was not lifted in France until 1949. These poems were "Lesbos", "Femmes damnés (À la pâle clarté)" (or "Women Doomed (In the pale glimmer...)"), "Le Léthé" (or "Lethe"), "À celle qui est trop gaie" (or "To Her Who Is Too Gay"), "Les Bijoux" (or "The Jewels"), and " Les "Métamorphoses du Vampire" (or "The Vampire's Metamorphoses"). These were later published in Brussels in a small volume entitled Les Épaves (Jetsam).
On the other hand, upon reading "The Swan" or "Le Cygne" from Les Fleurs du mal, Victor Hugo announced that Baudelaire had created "un nouveau frisson" (a new shudder, a new thrill) in literature.
In the wake of the prosecution a second edition was issued in 1861 which added 32 new poems, removed the six suppressed poems and added a new section entitled Tableaux Parisiens.
A posthumous third edition with a preface by Théophile Gautier and including 14 previously unpublished poems was issued in 1868.
In popular culture
The 2009 manga/2013 anime Aku no Hana was based on Les Fleurs du mal set in modern Japanese society. The main character, Takao Kasuga, steals the gym clothes of his crush, Nanako Saeki, after being inspired by an excerpt from the aforementioned work.
Marilyn Manson released a song entitled "The Flowers of Evil" from his 2012 album Born Villain.
- Chambers, Ross. The Writing of Melancholy: Modes of Opposition in Early French Modernism. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1993. Print.
- Thompson, William J. Understanding Les Fleurs Du Mal: Critical Readings. Nashville: Vanderbilt UP, 1997. Print.
|Wikisource has original text related to this article:|
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Les Fleurs du mal|
- Charles Baudelaire—Largest site dedicated to Baudelaire's poems and prose, containing Fleurs du mal, Petit poemes et prose, Fanfarlo and more in French.
- s:fr:Les Fleurs du mal: complete work on French Wikisource
- Les Fleurs du mal: full online text
- Les Fleurs du mal (in French) at Project Gutenberg
- Fleursdumal.org, a collection of the various French editions and accompanying translations in English.


Who is considered a virgin?
From Christian Onyishi
Leave a Reply
This Post Has 12 Comments
 1. Arua Marcel
 There are many things to say about virginity.
 First is that it is not only ascribed to females alone but also males but I think it is only that of the females is verifiable.
 For females, it is said that apart from normal sex which is the main activity were virginity is lost one can still loose ones physical virginity through strenuous activities.
 Finally and most importantly, virginity is pride/might. Spiritually speaking I would say that virginity aids spiritual growth and virgins possess some kind of natural spiritual power with non virgins do not have and can never have, but most times they are not really aware of it. This is why some sacrifices can only be valid and Fruitful when virgins are used. Our blessed Mary in one of her messages requests that little virgins be consecrated to her. Why?
 Our Lord Jesus wish to be born of a Virgin. Why? When we read stories of Saints Agnes, Agatha, Cecilia, Maria Goretti, Lucy and other saints who died because they want to preserve their virginity then we will understand that virginity is might.
 Below is an article I once wrote on this matter.
 Virgin-less Virgins
 I use to hear questions like, do we still have virgins? Yes o, many of them. And virgins are precious to God, if not, He would have not allowed her Mother to remain one. St. Ephraim said that Virginity will serve as a chariot, lifting heaven ward all those who have it.
 Some martyrs saw the treasures in Virginity and not only offered it to God but offered their lives for it. Saints like, Agnes, Maria Gorreti, Cecilia, Agatha, Lucy, Philomina etc.
 Keep yourself if you are still one.
 Please o, it is not only females that Virginity is ascribed to. St John the Evangelist was said to be a virgin, and I think that is why Jesus loved him the most.
 The area I want to concentrate are those I refer to as Virgin-less Virgins. Virginity in the right sense deals with everything about the individual not just the physical aspect. Virginity is inside out.
 There are sins against Virginity which if one is comfortable with them even if he or she has never penetrated someone or been penetrated by someone makes the person less a virgin.
 Some of them are:
 If you dress in such are way that you lead others to sin either in thoughts, words or actions.
 If you are in impure relationship,
 If you watch pornography,
 If you masturbate,
 If you engage in impure chats,
 If you make impure calls, messages, or discussions,
 If you use romantic words for pleasure sake,
 Impure hugging, holding of hands, kissing, romancing etc
 Then, you are less a virgin.
 Just as it is possible for one to regain her Virginity physically by using drugs or herbs it is also possible to regain your Virginity spiritually. That's by constantly longing and making effort to be pure all round always.
 What this means is that someone can be physically a virgin but not spiritually a virgin and someone could be spiritually a virgin and not physically a virgin. If one is both spiritually and physically, best. But among being a virgin either physically or spiritually, I think God will prefer the spiritual virgins more.
 What is most important is that you continue to make untiring effort towards total purity of life. If you fall by mistake, rise as quicky as possible and continue in your effort.
 Don't be comfortable with any sin especially the sins of impurity because it leads people to hell more than any other sin, says our blessed Mother Mary to the three seers at Fatima.
 Forget your past and be determined in the future to restore your Virginity.
 Purity remains the answer.
 1. Kingsley Mario Ojobo
 Thanks for that wonderful contribution.
 More wisdom.
 2. Anonymous
 But wait o
 Isn't the holding hands and hugging a little extreme?
 2. Kingsley Mario, Ojobo
 To some, it's naive credulity
 preserving the limb's unity.
 Many take it for granted
 saying, the grace was never bestowed.
 No need to resist nature's call.
 Lose it or be tagged uncivilized
 not willing to socialize.
 The happening ones
 sell it to get their wants.
 Submitting to nature's call.
 Is she a virgin?
 He asks to judge.
 But she dare no question
 to ascertain if he's one.
 He claims forever virgin.
 Is it gender based?
 A call for doctors to answer.
 But in justice and equity
 no gender is an exception.
 Adam and Eve both left the garden.
 What a treasure
 the best from a bride
 to her groom, who paid the price.
 And from the groom, I guess
 to his bride, who said yes.
 Losing it means not death
 let it not be the end.
 Cheer up and rise again
 pursue purity which gives more gain
 and can be restored with no pain.
 1. Pascal
 Wow! This is wonderful. The way you articulated the poem is very awesome.
 3. Kingsley Mario Ojobo
 Virginity is the act of being a virgin,
 And somebody who is a virgin is considered a virgin naa. Lol.
 But wait oo…
 ®Is virginity for both gender or just for females?
 I always hear, "she's not a virgin or she is a virgin," but I'm yet to hear statements like, "he is no longer a virgin."
 ®Also, is someone who engage in Masturbation without any form of sexual intercourse still a virgin?
 ®Is it possible to know if a man is a virgin or not?
 ®Can someone lose his/her virginity and still recover it? Can you undo what you have done?
 ®Does virginity define the true worth of a lady?
 I always hear comments like, "I can't marry her because she's no longer a virgin."
 ®Is being a virgin equivalent to being a good girl?
 ®Virginity, chastity and purity seems to have similar meaning,
 Please can someone clear my confusions.
 4. Francis Sanctity
 To be sexually a virgin in general sense…should be not having sexual intercourse with the opposite.
 This is clearly defined in the words of our Lady to the Archangel ; "How can it be, Since I KNOW NOT a man." Luke 1:26-end.
 5. Emmanuel (Ozigi)
 sex means different things to different people, so virginity can mean different things, too.
 A lot of people think that having penis-in-vagina sex for the first time is how you lose your virginity. But this leaves lots of people and other types of sex out of the picture.
 Some people haven't had penis-in-vagina sex, but they've had other kinds of sex (like oral sex or anal sex) — and they may or may not see themselves as virgins. And there are lesbian, gay, bisexual or pansexual people who may never have penis-in-vagina sex at all. But they probably don't see themselves as lifelong virgins just because they haven't had penis-in-vagina sex.
 Many people believe rape and sexual assault aren't sex — it's only sex if both partners have consent. So if someone was forced or pressured the first time they had vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex, they may not see that as "losing their virginity."
 6. Emmanuel (Ozigi)
 There is no one definition of virginity. For some, being a virgin means you haven't had any kind of penetrative sex — whether that's vaginal, anal, or even oral. Others may define virginity as never engaging in vaginal penetration with a penis, despite having had other types of sex, including oral stimulation and anal penetration.
 7. Prof Nkadi Onyegegbu
 I will only take up this topic, VIRGINITY from the position as a Biology teacher.
 Virginity is a state of never having had sexual intercourse.
 Never engaged in sexual intercourse.
 Haven't had penetrative sex.
 Is a special value for unmarried females.
 A personal purity.
 Is an honor and worth.
 Is a quality female or male has.
 Is an ideal condition that is not medical.
 Is a topic that the negative "culture of silence" in our society will not rather discuss in public.
 Is a very important topic that even when discussed by a bold person, draws up so much interest and attention irrespective of age and gender.
 I don talk my own ooo.
 1. Fr. Teclus UGWUEZE
 Thanks dear PROF. Very thoughtful of you
 8. Anonymous
 Honestly that sounds more vague than I've ever heard. Please someone should speak on that


text:
Date of this Version
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has monitored water quality since 1989 and fish populations since 1993 on the Niobrara River in Nebraska in the vicinity of Spencer Hydro during "flushing" or "sluicing" activities. These sluicing activities alter water quality in the river downstream, which can negatively impact fish populations. Higher numbers offish were sampled in 1995 when compared to 1993 and 1994. Of the 6,187 fish and 22 total species sampled above and below the hydro, six species comprised approximately 93 percent of the total sample. The most common species sampled were sand shiner, Notropis ludibundus (35.4%), red shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis (22.9%), flathead chub, Hybopsis gracilis (14.4%), carpsucker spp., Carpoides sp. (10.9%), bigmouth shiner, Hybopsis dorsalis (5.1%), and channel catfish, lctalurus punctatus (4.0%). Operational modifications instituted since 1989, such as opening the flood gates slower and dropping the pond at a slower rate, have reduced sluicing impacts and the hydro structure may not be limiting species diversity to the extent originally thought.


Can you mix Alcohol and CBD?
If you regularly consume alcohol you may be asking yourself is it safe to take CBD oil at the same time. CBD and alcohol are safe to take together because CBD oil has a very low THC content
Read our guide to find out what you should do if you are regularly taking both.
Many people use alcohol too relax after work or when socialising, but if you are using CBD oils or products you may be concerned about mixing the two.
To understand the effects of mixing of alcohol and CBD oil we must look at the separate compounds in these substances.
Alcohol is a well know depressant although what begins as a handful of hops, sugars and other ingredients, alcohol acts on the bodies central nervous system, it affects our blood pressure, mood, coordination, and speech this is what drunk people slur their speech.
CBD as a substance interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS) to have much more subtle effects on the bodies system. The neurological network is responsible for keeping the whole bodies different biological systems, CBD has also been shown to interact with a variety of molecular targets outside the ECS.
If you are taking both alcohol and CBD the effects balancing effects of CBD on endocannabinoid system (ECS) could limit the impact of alcohol, but the truth is we still do not know about the true effects of mixing the two.
Combining Alcohol and CBD is it safe?
The relationship between alcohol CBD oil and alcohol has not been studied, but a white paper study from the Journal of Psychopharmacology in this study very few differences were found between those administered CBD and alcohol and those administered alcohol and CBD separately.
Looking at the scientific research if you drink alcohol and take CBD oil the CBD oil will not negate the effects of the alcohol there is no evidence to suggest that either substance has a bearing on the other but there is still not enough studies to fully conclude the effects.
Is CBD and alcohol safe?
Alcohol is a well know depresnat and its addictive qualities its are well documented the effects of alcohol depend on the type of alcohol and the amount of alcohol you consume.
It is also well documented that CBD oil, is well tolerated within the human system a study by the (WHO) World Health Organisation it seems that the ECS synergises well with many natural ingredients, won't produce psychotropic side effects, and, provided it's prepared to the correct standard, CBD oil won't contain any unwanted additives or chemicals.
With the limited information available, combining the two should be safe, but as is the case with any substance that alters how we think, feel, or act, moderation is crucial. If you have any doubts or concerns, start by talking with your doctor first.
CBD infused beers what's the deal?
Researchers are undecided on mixing CBD and alcohol but many CBD infused beers have entered the market, brewers from many countries are making new products and trying to understand the effects.
CBD beers and alcohol infused with CBD are marketed as a new convenient way straightforward way to take CBD. There has even been interest from many large companies who produce vodka, whiskey and rum.
The combination between the CBD industry and alcohol is still new but when big business gets involved in there primary reason is profit with over two billion people drinking alcohol you can see why.
Alcohol and CBD products what's next
Mixing CBD and alcohol cannot be condoned and doing this may or may not make you feel high new products especially beer, are enjoying a surge in popularity especially oil the US and Canada but taking these products are still in their infancy and should be approached with caution.
At we try to provide a resource in caring about in learning about CBD and how it influences the human body, our comprehensive CBD Encyclopedia is a good way to explore. We have not started selling alcohol infused CBD products yet on our website but we are still selling CBD oils, capsules, gummies, hand creams and many other products.
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In-Office Coumadin Coding Made Easy
Many coders make the wrong ICD-9-CM choice for in-office monitoring of Coumadin use, according to an article posted on Coding News. Read what the editor says will help you support medical necessity for warfarin therapy.
1. Put Proper Code to Periodic PT Test
Evaluation and Management – CEMC
"Physicians often use PT [prothrombin time] to assess patient response to the drug warfarin," says Barb Miller, MT (ASCP) SH, with Nebraska Medical Center.
When patients on warfarin therapy come to your "Coumadin clinic" for periodic testing to assess their anticoagulation status, you should report 85610 Prothrombin time for the test.
Remember the modifier: Be sure to append modifier QW (CLIA waived test) to 85610 (and that you operate with a CLIA certificate of waiver).
If the nurse needs to evaluate new symptoms such as bruising or bleeding — something beyond the basic PT visit — code 99211 Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, that may not require the presence of a physician. Usually, the presenting problem(s) are minimal. Typically, 5 minutes are spent performing or supervising these services may be appropriate also.
Remember: Medicare doesn't consider 99363 Anticoagulant management for an outpatient taking warfarin, physician review and interpretation of International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing, patient instructions, dosage adjustment (as needed), and ordering of additional tests; initial 90 days of therapy (must include a minimum of 8 INR measurements) and 99364 Anticoagulant management for an outpatient taking warfarin, physician review and interpretation of International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing, patient instructions, dosage adjustment (as needed), and ordering of additional tests; each subsequent 90 days of therapy (must include a minimum of 3 INR measurements) to be payable codes under the physician fee schedule.
2. Pull Out V58.61 for Diagnosis
"Patients may be on anticoagulation therapy for many reasons, but you should not report the underlying condition as the primary code for the PT test," says Peggy Slagle, CPC, billing compliance coordinator at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Do this: "If the reason for the PT test is to monitor the effectiveness of anticoagulation medication, the primary diagnosis code for the service should be V58.61 Longterm [current] use of anticoagulants," Slagle says.
You may report the underlying reason for the warfarin therapy, such as a personal history of blood diseases (V12.3), as a secondary diagnosis.
For a complete list of payable diagnoses, see the Medicare National Coverage Determination (NCD) for PT.
3. Let Necessity Guide Frequency
Changes in the underlying medical condition or warfarin dosing determine the need for repeat PT tests, so CMS does not establish an across-the-board frequency limitation for this.
On the other hand: CMS states, "In a patient on stable warfarin therapy, it is ordinarily not necessary to repeat testing more than every two to three weeks."
Source: Oncology Coding Alert.
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18 Responses to "In-Office Coumadin Coding Made Easy"
 1. Barbara OConnor says:
 Code V58.61 is only acceptable as a secondary diagnosis, so do you bypass this rule when coding for patients who are having their anticoagulation monitored? We have had problems getting paid when V58.61 is used as a primary diagnosis code.
 2. Teresa Tate says:
 I have the same concern. According to ICD-9, V5861 is a secondary dx only. What about using V58.83 as the primary dx, V58.61 as the secondary dx and the underlying condition as the 3rd dx? Wouldn't that be more in line with what ICD-9 expects?
 I have not had any issues with using V58.83 as the primary dx when coding for medication management…. even when it is not listed on the LCD/NCD list. I did notice that a couple of years ago, someone must have mentioned this to their medicare carrier, because Noridian ammended the LCD for ProThrombin to include V58.83. Shouldn't they have done this across the board for all their LCD/ NCD's that include medication management? Make sense to me.
 3. Jane Durham says:
 We put code V58.83 first then V58.61.
 4. Gail Osborn says:
 We list the V58.61 code first, then the underlying diagnosis code for why the patient is on Coumadin, if that's all they're being seen for; if they are being seen for at least (3) other diagnoses, then we list the V58.61 (only) in the 4th diagnosis position and link it to the 85610(QW); if only seen for 1-2 other diagnoses, then we list and link to the V58.61 but include the underlying diagnosis as well since there is room for it.
 5. Pat Scott says:
 I use the V58.83 and then V58.61, and if I know the reason for the therapy, I list that code first.
 6. Stephanie Schroeder says:
 Per ICD 9 guidelines, V58.61 is a secondary diagnosis, so listing it as primary, would not be following the guidelines. I suspect it is more approriate to code first the V58.83, then V58.61 as secondary.
 7. Susan Montford says:
 Per coding guidelines, V58.83 code is primary, then V68.61 is coded secondary, and any additional codes.
 8. Pat Scott says:
 Is anyone having any trouble getting paid if the V codes are first?
 9. Anne Karl says:
 Remember that the designation of a secondary code in the V code section is for inptatient encounters. How would you code an outpatient/physician office encounter for a normal pre-natal visit if V22.0-V22.1 could not be coded as primary?
 10. Cheryl Muckenfuss says:
 Yes, ICD-9 guidelines direct using V58.61 as a secondary diagnosis code, but for laboratory billing that is not followed. V58.61 should be listed as the dx with CPT 85610 when performed for monitoring for coumadin therapy. This is the reason the test is being done. Refer to the CMS Prothrombin Time NCD, beginning on page 45 of the July 2009 NCDs.
 11. jackie krueger says:
 Our Cardiology office does not do the draws for Coumadin management. Our Doctor ONLY reviews the results and calls the patient with his/her instructions. How do we bill Medicare for this? They will not pay on the codes 99363 and 99364. Also do I need to include copies of the INR's as we do OP Reports? Thanks in advance for your help.
 12. Carol Fiorvanti says:
 Are Internal Medicine and Family Medicine two different specialties?
 Need ans ASAP
 13. Diane says:
 Some thoughts on this please?? For "lab" visits for 85610 to monitor Coumadin use, we use V58.61, then reason for Coumadin use as 2nd, such as having had a stroke or a pulm emblsm in the past (V12.54 or V12.51). We are having debates over this; some believe current stroke (434.91) or current pulm emblsm (415.19) codes should be used rather than hx codes, while others believe this w/b incorrect, as the pts are on Coumadin because they have had these things in the past & are trying to prevent them from reoccurring. Other input w/b appreciated, thanks!
 14. Deanna Gross says:
 This seems to be a common question. Through all the documentation, the ICD-9 Coding rules do specify to use V58.61 as a secondary only but the NCDs show this as an acceptable primary with no mention of having to be secondary. The LCD Policy for 85610 does specify in the covered diagnosis that the v58.83 should be primary with V58.61 secondary. I have been searching and have been unable to find clear defined rules pertaining to this in regards to labs.
 If anyone can offer clarification, it would be greatly appreciated.
 15. David Grant, MD says:
 Who writes these rules and lists of codes? Are they TRYING to make a confusing mess of them? A lot of people need coumadin anticoagulation, and whatever the reason, ANYONE on it ought to be monitored regularly. If Medicare wanted to make it easy and sensible, they'd have one code for running the test.
 I believe Vaclav Havel (first president of the Czech Republic, and a playwright) wrote a play in which bureaucrats require that all paperwork submitted to them be in a special language they invented, that nobody actually speaks.
 "The chains of misery binding man are made of red tape."
 16. Sharon says:
 It is now 2014, and we still have the debate over which diagnosis should be primary for cpt 85610. Has anyone ever found a decisive answer?
 17. Heather says:
 We have oftentimes found how Medicare


text:
From clay to brick
Raw material extraction
Clay, the main component of brick, is extracted regionally in the neighbourhood of tthe Deppe brickworks. When the pits are no longer used biotopes are created, providing new habitats for animals and plants.
Crushing and preparation
Additional components are added to the raw material to optimise the properties of the future brick. This "baking mixture" is then crushed and homogenised in the pan grinder, the rolling mills and mixers.
The prepared material is transported onto conveyor belts by large front end loaders.
The forming process
In our brick presses, the clay mixture is given its later appearance. Two machines are used: the turntable press and the extrusion press.
The pressed bricks still contain up to 25% water at this point, which has to be removed before the firing process. For this purpose, the bricks - depending on the format - are dried in large chambers for one to four days.
The dried bricks are placed on the kiln car. Depending on the format and the desired colour variations, there are different setting methods. The setting machine ensures reproducible results and careful handling of the bricks.
The kiln car loaded with bricks now enters the tunnel kiln. On their journey through the kiln, the bricks pass through the following a specific firing schedule. In the middle of the tunnel kiln temperatures of up to 1100°C are reached.
Approximately 80,000 bricks, the exact number depends on the format of the bricks, leave the kiln day after day.
The soft clay has now become a fired brick with its characteristic colour. Sintering, oxidation and, if necessary, reduction firing have turned it into an almost indestructible DEPPE brick.
The bricks are carefully taken from the kiln car with packing grippers and checked for their quality brick by brick, only quality bricks leave the factory.
The finished bricks are stacked on pallets and securely wrapped in foil.
Soon after production, the bricks leave the factory and are transported by truck to become a timeless and lasting part of your home, office, etc.


text:
Block Trace Analysis and Storage System Optimization
Page Count271 Pages
About the e-Book
Block Trace Analysis and Storage System Optimization Pdf
In the new era of IoT, big data, and cloud systems, better performance and higher density of storage systems has become crucial. To increase data storage density, new techniques have evolved and hybrid and parallel access techniques?together with specially designed IO scheduling and data migration algorithms?are being deployed to develop high-performance data storage solutions. Among the various storage system performance analysis techniques, IO event trace analysis (block-level trace analysis particularly) is one of the most common approaches for system optimization and design. However, the task of completing a systematic survey is challenging and very few works on this topic exist.
Block Trace Analysis and Storage System Optimization brings together theoretical analysis (such as IO qualitative properties and quantitative metrics) and practical tools (such as trace parsing, analysis, and results reporting perspectives). The book provides content on block-level trace analysis techniques, and includes case studies to illustrate how these techniques and tools can be applied in real applications (such as SSHD, RAID, Hadoop, and Ceph systems).
What You'll Learn
- Understand the fundamental factors of data storage system performance
- Master an essential analytical skill using block trace via various applications
- Distinguish how the IO pattern differs in the block level from the file level
- Know how the sequential HDFS request becomes "fragmented" in final storage devices
- Perform trace analysis tasks with a tool based on the MATLAB and Python platforms
Who This Book Is For
IT professionals interested in storage system performance optimization: network administrators, data storage managers, data storage engineers, storage network engineers, systems engineers
Smtebooks Offer Now Direct Links For Download and Preview The Books! Enjoy Guys :)
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The importance of fair algorithms for consumer trust
Tim Draws, Benjamin Timmermans & Monique van Maare
Posted on May 15, 2020
Consumers are increasingly interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) systems that aim to help them navigate through life. This is no different in banking, where so-called robo-advisors have begun to aid consumers with personal finance tasks such as investing, saving, and picking the right mortgage. Because they can perform these tasks without human interference, robo-advisors are extremely cost-efficient and accessible as compared to human financial advisors (van Thiel, Goedee, Reijnders, 2008). This makes digital robo-advisors promising tools for assisting consumers with financial decision-making (Malhotra & Malhotra, 2006).
A robo-advisor needs to fulfill two key criteria in order to be effective. Firstly, it has to make accurate predictions about the outcomes of its user's prospective financial decisions. Inaccurate predictions would result in wrong advice, which consumers are unlikely to benefit from. Secondly, consumers need to trust the advice of the robo-advisor. The digital tool needs to be trustworthy: any advice is useless if the recipient has no trust in it and does not follow through on it for that reason.
Whereas AI research is constantly pushing the limits of machine learning algorithms by improving their accuracy, little attention has been paid so far to the important role of trust in the interaction between AI and humans. Therefore, it is the second characteristic of an effective robo-advisor – trustworthiness – that we focused on in our TFI research project.
To trust or not to trust... robo-advisors
Trust in robo-advisors cannot be taken for granted. People are still reluctant to hand over control to AI systems, and research has demonstrated that even whilst people initially trust AI systems, their trust deteriorates as soon as the AI visibly makes a wrong prediction (Dietvorst, Simmons & Massey, 2015). A recent example of this is Apple's credit card PR disaster. Consumers quickly lost trust in in the "smart" credit card after its algorithms turned out to discriminate against female customers by giving them significantly smaller loans compared to male customers.
In our research, we aimed to investigate the influence of AI's "algorithmic fairness" on consumer trust in robo-advisors. For our first study, we recruited 489 participants (51% female, 49% male; average age of 41.9) via the crowdsourcing platform Figure Eight. Our study was conducted entirely online in the month of June in 2019. Participants were recruited from the Figure Eight pool of participants (476).
We introduced our study participants to a hypothetical scenario in which they were offered to use a robo-advisor – referred to as "the AI advisor" -- in their banking app. The AI advisor's function was said to continuously monitor the user's financial situation in order to recommend steps to improve the user's financial health. These recommendations could entail saving strategies or investment tips.
In our experiment, we first showed participants a statistic comparing customers who used the AI advisor with those who didn't (suggesting that users of the AI advisor generally benefited from using it), to measure the participants' trust in and perceived benefit from the AI advisor.1 In the next step, each participant was assigned to one of four groups. Participants in each group were shown similar statistics of AI benefits as in the step before, but now split by gender. For one group, the statistic given suggested that male and female customers equally benefited from using the AI advisor. For the other three groups, however, the statistic displayed per group differed in the degree to which men and women faced AI unfairness, suggesting that male customers benefited more than female customers. Again, we measured trust and perceived benefit.
Table 1a
Table 1a.
Figure 1a & 1b
Table 1b.
Two tables shown to participants before the first (Table 1a) and second moment of measurement (Table 1b). Whereas Table 1a contained the same numbers for all participants, Table 1b was adapted depending on the group the participant was placed in. Table 1b was shown to the most extreme unfair group.
Fairness is key for consumer trust in robo-advisors
Our results suggest, in line with previous research, that perceived algorithmic unfairness negatively affected consumer trust. In our statistical analysis we looked at how much our participants' self-reported trust level changed after they saw the second table containing the statistics split by gender. The level of unfairness shown in this second table had a negative effect on trust for both male and female participants. Whereas trust did not change for participants in the fair scenario, participants in the three unfair scenarios reported decreases in trust. Similarly, participants in the unfair scenarios were less likely to say they would use the AI advisor after seeing the second table compared to participants in the fair scenario.
In general, our male participants reported higher trust in the AI advisor than women in all scenarios, which could reflect higher financial literacy or risk tolerance of men. However, men also reported decreases in trust as the conditions became more unfair. Thus, despite apparently benefiting from the gender bias in the AI advisor, both men and women doubted the trustworthiness of the system.
Perhaps the most interesting finding of this study was that although women's perceived benefit decreased with trust in the unfair scenarios, men's perceived benefit was the same in all groups. This means that the decrease in trust that male participants reported was not due to a distrust in the statistics that were shown. Men in all groups believed that they would personally benefit from the AI advisor, but distrusted the system nevertheless when they realized that the statistics exhibited a gender divide.
Future implications
What do these results tell us? Most importantly, they confirm that algorithmic unfairness affects consumer trust negatively and suggest that this holds for both advantaged and disadvantaged groups. Furthermore, it does not seem to be enough to make one subgroup believe that they will benefit from using an AI system despite an apparent unfairness. This study provides evidence that if algorithmic unfairness is present, people will distrust the service even if they believe that they would personally benefit from using it but others would not.
It should be noted that, in the fictional scenario in our experiment, the bank openly exposed the algorithmic unfairness underlying the AI advisor. Real-world companies are currently unlikely to disclose such statistics if algorithmic unfairness is present. However, companies should not rely on the assumption that 'no one will find out'. As the previously mentioned Apple case shows, there are countless ways in which this might happen. Moreover, it's not unreasonable to suspect that increased consumer activism or new legislation may require this openness going forward, in the same way that food ingredients, both the healthy ones and the ones less so, must be visible on a product label.
Robo-advisors can only benefit consumers if consumers trust them. Our results show that when robo-advisors act visibly unfairly, consumer trust deteriorates. In order to help consumers to make better financial decisions, it is critical to put algorithmic fairness high on the requirements list when building robo-advisors, also when the target audience could benefit disproportionately from the service. Consumers meanwhile should remain critical when putting their faith in robo-advisors and may expect transparency about the reasoning behind decisions or advice being offered.
 1. Trust and perceived benefit were measured using 7-point Likert scales, where a higher score indicated a higher level of trust / perceived benefit.
 - Dietvorst, B. J., Simmons, J. P. & Massey, C. (2015). Algorithm aversion: People erroneously avoid algorithms after seeing them err. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 144(1), 114.
 - Malhotra, R. & Malhotra, M. K. (2006). "The impact of internet and e-commerce on the evolving business models in the financial services industry," International Journal of Electronic Business 4:1, 56-82
 - Van Thiel, D., Goedee J. and Reijnders, W. J. M. (2008). "Riding the waves. The future of banking starts now," Pearson Prentice Hall


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Research Article: 2019 Vol: 18 Issue: 6
The Impact of Organizational Factors towards Safety Management System Performance of the Royal Malaysian Air Force
Safety management systems (SMS) are now being implemented throughout the aviation industry. This research was designed to investigate some of the organizational factors affecting the SMS performance in a military organization, specifically the Royal Malaysian Airforce (RMAF). The factors identified from existing organizational design literature were modeled and tested. The study population consisted of pilots and engineers from different air bases throughout the country. A survey was employed as the means of primary data collection using a cluster sampling techniques combined with secondary data obtained from published reports and statistical data from authorized agencies. The results indicate that Organizational Identity and Organizational Behaviour to have a significant impact on the RMAF Safety Management System performance with Safety Culture playing a significant mediating effect. The research findings will benefit towards improving the safety culture where organizational factors play an important role to the performance of SMS. Continuous improvement in flight safety will lead to a high-performance culture enabling the RMAF to perform its mandate more effectively.


Dyslipidemia and H pylori in gastric xanthomatosis
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review
31 Scopus citations
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the relationship among gastric xanthomatosis (GX), H pylori, dyslipidemia, and gastritis in Korea, a well-known H pylori endemic area. Methods: A total of 771 patients who had undergone gastroduodenoscopy by one endoscopist were included in this study. Among them, 54 patients with GX were assessed for H pylori infection and their endoscopic characteristics and serum lipid profiles. The findings were compared with 54 age- and sex-matched control subjects without GX. Results: The prevalence of GX was 7% (54/771) with no sex difference. GX was mainly single (64.8%) and located in the antrum (53.7%). The mean diameter was 7 ± 3 mm. Mean body mass index (BMI) of patients with GX was 23.1 ± 2.8 and no one was above 30. Compared with the controls, lipid profiles of GX group showed significantly lower HDL-cholesterol (48.8 ± 12.3 vs 62.9 ± 40.5, P = 0.028) and higher LDL-cholesterol (112.9 ± 29.9 vs 95.9 ± 22.4, P = 0.032). The level of total serum cholesterol, triglyceride and the existence of dyslipoproteinemia were not related to the presence of GX. However, GX showed a close relationship with endoscopically determined atrophic gastritis and histologic severity (24/53, 44.4% vs 8/54, 14.8%, P = 0.0082). H pylori infection and bile reflux gastritis were not significantly related with GX. Conclusion: The prevalence of GX is 7% and it may be an increasing entity in Korea. Moreover, dyslipidemia and atrophic gastritis are found to be related to GX, but H pylori infection is not.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4598-4601
Number of pages4
JournalWorld Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume13
Issue number34
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Sep 2007
Keywords
 - Dyslipidemia
 - Gastritis
 - H pylori
 - Xanthomatosis
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Given the current state of economy, there is an alarming tendency among lawyers, who are often general practitioners, to take on business and intellectual property files even if they do not practice business and intellectual property law. This kind of unwise conduct often leads to a disaster as far as corporate organization and protection of the client's rights are concerned. Last year we had to bring several court actions on behalf of our clients against their former business partners and their former legal counsel. This post addresses the issues that have to be addressed to ensure that everyone is staying out of court while staying in business.
Lawyer malpractice claims may be based upon both tort and contract. In the context of intellectual property, the activities which may form the basis of a malpractice claim may be governed by both provincial malpractice laws and the Rules of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The plaintiff in these cases must prove its claim by a preponderance of the evidence.
2. Existence of a client-lawyer relationship
A fundamental requirement for showing legal malpractice is that a lawyer-client relationship existed. There are no particular formalities required to form a lawyer-client relationship. Stripped down to its bare essentials, a lawyer-client relationship may exist where an individual or entity believes that a lawyer is representing the individual or entity, and that belief is reasonable. Various factors may be considered in determining whether a lawyer-client
relationship exists, including:
1. The existence of a fee arrangement;
2. Payment of a fee;
3. The existence of a retainer agreement or other written contract;
4. Actual performance of legal services;
5. The belief of the client that the lawyer is representing him;
6. Treatment of the plaintiff as a client internally by the law firm; and
7. Instructions by the plaintiff to the lawyer on legal matters.
Some courts allow a lawyer-client relationship to be implied where
1. A person seeks advice or assistance from a lawyer;
2. Pertaining to matters within the lawyer's professional competence; and
3. The lawyer expressly or impliedly agrees to give or actually gives the desired advice or assistance.
The existence of a lawyer-client relationship, and its termination, are questions of fact. Termination of the lawyer-client relationship may result solely from the client's actions, without the necessity of any corresponding actions on the part of the lawyer. In general, either the lawyer or the client may terminate the relationship, but in any event the terminating act should be clear and unambiguous to avoid having the issue to proceed to a court action.
3. Breach of fiduciary duty
The scope of a lawyer's fiduciary duty is a matter of law, but whether that duty has been breached is primarily a question of fact. Under the law of some provinces, an action for breach of fiduciary duty is separate from a cause of action for professional negligence. Typical elements of this action are:
1. The existence of a fiduciary duty;
2. Breach of the duty; and
3. Damage proximately caused by the breach.
The fiduciary duty itself is usually defined by the applicable ethical rules of the jurisdiction. In general, a lawyer has a duty of undivided loyalty to the client, a duty to preserve the client's confidences, and a duty to disclose to the client any material matters relating to the representation. A conflict of interest, for example, may be the basis for a breach of fiduciary duty claim. A lawyer may owe a fiduciary duty to a non-client if the lawyer has or should have reason to believe the non-client is relying on the lawyer. In some provinces, the execution of a power of attorney creates a fiduciary relationship.
Some provinces have causes of action for negligence, independent of any specific tort. The elements of such a claim include:
1. A duty of reasonable care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff;
2. A breach of that duty by the defendant;
3. Damages, and
4. A causal relationship between the breach and the damage.
5. Standard of care
Although different provinces have different formulations, the standard of care a lawyer must meet to avoid malpractice usually requires that the lawyer exercise such skill, prudence, diligence, and knowledge as that commonly possessed by lawyers acting in similar circumstances. Whether a lawyer has met the required standard of care is a question of fact. Some courts require expert testimony both as to standard of care and as to whether that standard of care was met. If the conduct required by the circumstances is within the knowledge of laymen, however, expert testimony is not required. For example, determining whether a lawyer's opinion on the availability
of foreign patent protection was correct has been held to be outside the knowledge of laymen, so that expert testimony is required. Expert testimony on the standard of care should not be merely conclusory but rather should be based on the facts of the case and how the relevant standard applies to those facts.
Actual damage is an important element of most legal malpractice claims. Such damage must be real, rather than nominal, speculative, or threatened. The possibility of future damages is insufficient. Speculative damages are not those which are uncertain in amount, but rather those where the mere existence of damages is uncertain. The amount of damages must be supported by evidence from which the damages can be calculated on a reasonable or rational basis. A failure of proof of damage can result in a finding of no malpractice, even where a breach of duty has clearly occurred. Legal expenses may constitute malpractice damages, but some provinces have limitations on these damages. The theory behind this rule is that if the plaintiff prevails in the underlying action, any lawyer's fees incurred would be the result, not of malpractice, but of the fact of being sued by a third party. Some provinces also have prohibitions against punitive damages in legal malpractice cases.
Most malpractice statutes require the plaintiff to prove that the asserted harm resulted from the alleged malpractice, which is called "proximate cause." There are several aspects of proximate cause. At a minimum proximate cause in most provinces requires that the plaintiff show that without the negligent action the injury would not have occurred - commonly referred to as the "but for" rule. Proximate cause usually also requires that the injury be a natural and probable result of the negligence. It is sometimes stated that proximate cause requires that the action complained of be a "substantial factor" in causing the injury. Some provinces also include the requirement that there be no substantial intervening cause.
Some courts require expert testimony in a legal malpractice case to establish that the standard of care was violated, unless the violation was so apparent that a layperson would have no difficulty recognizing it. For example, whether failure to obtain a broader patent constitutes malpractice involves many complicated factual and legal issues which usually require an expert report. Mere experience in patent law, however, does not necessarily qualify one as an expert on the standard of care applicable to patent lawyers. Expert testimony is also necessary to establish causation in a legal malpractice action unless the cause of the injury would be obvious to a layperson. An expert report on behalf of the plaintiff that fails to address obviousness is fatally deficient where the patentee/plaintiff alleged in its complaint for malpractice that broader claims should have been obtained (and obviousness was at issue in the prosecution of the patent claims that did issue).


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The interaction between dependent or connected risk and independent risk is interesting and will significantly change the overall probability of success or failure of an endeavour or organisation.
As discussed in my last post on 'The Flaw of Averages' using a single average value for an uncertainty is a recipe for disaster. But there is a difference between averaging, connecting and combining uncertainties (or risk).
Where risk events are connected, the ability to model and appreciate the effect of the risk events interacting with each other is difficult. In 'The Flaw of Averages' Sam Shaw uses the simile of wobbling a step ladder to determine the uncertainty of how safe the ladder is to climb. You can test the stability of one ladder by giving it a good 'wobble'. However, if you are trying to determine the stability of a plank between two stepladders doubling the information from wobbling just one is not a lot of help. Far more sophisticated modelling is needed and even then you cannot be certain the full set of potential interactions is correctly combined in the model. The more complex the interactions between uncertainties, the less accurate the predictive model.
However, when the risks or uncertainties are independent, combining the risks through the creation of a portfolio of uncertainties reduces the overall uncertainty quite dramatically.
The effect of portfolios
Consider a totally unbiased dice, any one throw can end up anywhere and every value between 1 & 6 has an equal probability of being achieved. The more throws, the more even the results for each possibility and consequently there is no possibility of determining the outcome!
The distribution after 10, 100 and 1000 throws.
As the number of throws increase, the early distortions apparent after 10 throws smooth out and after 1000 throws the probabilities are almost equal.
However, combine two dice and total the score results in a very different outcome. Whilst it is possible to throw any value between 2 & 12, the probability of achieving a number nearer the middle of the range is much higher than the probability of achieving a 2 or a 12. The potential range of outcomes starts to approximate a 'normal distribution curve' (or a bell curve). The reason for this is there is only one combination of numbers that will produce a 2 or a 12; there are significantly more combinations that can make 7.
The more dice you add to the 'throw', the closer the curve becomes to a 'normal distribution' (or bell curve), which is normally what you expect/get, which is the origin of the name!
The consequence of this phenomenon is to demonstrate that the creation of a portfolio of projects will have the effect of generating a normal distribution curve for the outcome of the overall portfolio, which makes the process of portfolio management a more certain undertaking than the management of the individual projects within the portfolio. The overall uncertainty is less than the individual uncertainties……
Each project carries its level of uncertainty and has a probability of succeeding off-set by a probability of failing (see Stakeholder Risk Tolerance) but as more projects are added the probability of the overall portfolio performing more or less as expected increases, provided each of the uncertainties are independent! This effect is known as the Central Limit Theorem.
One important effect of the Central Limit Theorem is the size if the contingency needed to achieve a desired level of safety for a portfolio of projects is much smaller than the sum of the contingencies needed to achieve the same level of 'safety' in each of the individual projects. Risk management is a project centric process; contingency management is better managed at the portfolio level. Not only is the overall uncertainty reduced, but the portfolio manager can offset losses in one project against gains in another.
Whist this theorem is statistically valuable, the nature of most organisations constrains the potential benefit. From a statistical perspective diversity is the key; this is why most conservative investment portfolios are diversified. However, project portfolios tend to be concentrated in the area of expertise of the organisation which removes some of the randomness needed for the Central Limit Theorem to have its full effect.
It is also important to remember that whilst creating a portfolio will reduce uncertainty, no portfolio can remove all uncertainty.
In addition to the residual risk of failure inherent in every project, there is always the possibility of a 'black swan' lurking in the future. Originally conceptualized by philosopher Karl Popper and refined by N. N. Taleb, a 'black swan' is a risk event that has never occurred before, if it did occur would have and extreme impact and is easy to explain after the event, but is culturally impossible to predict in advance (ie, the event could be foreseen if someone is asked to think about it but it is nearly impossible to think the thought for a compelling reason). For more on black swans see our blog post and White Paper.
The Law of Averages
The Central Limit Theorem is closely aligned to The Law of Averages. The Law of Averages states that if you repeatedly take the average of the same type of uncertain number the average of the samples will converge to a single result, the true average of the uncertain number. However, as the 'flaw of averages' has demonstrated, this does not mean you can replace every uncertainty with an average value and some uncertain numbers never converge.
Both the Law of Averages and Central Limit Theorem are useful concepts; they are the statistical equivalent of the adage "don't put all your eggs in one basket". When you create a portfolio of projects, the average probability of any one project succeeding or failing remains the same as if the project was excluded from the portfolio, but the risk of portfolio suffering an overall failure becomes less as the number of projects included in the portfolio increases.
However, unlike physical laws such as gravity, these laws are not immutable – drop an apple within the earths gravitational pull and it will fall; create a portfolio and there is always a low probability that the results will not conform to normal expectations!
Certainly the probability of a portfolio of projects 'failing' is lower then the average probability of each project failing but a reduced level of risk still leaves a residual level of risk.


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Unnecessary harm is caused because people in Scotland are not open about death, dying and bereavement. For example:
- People who are dying or bereaved can experience isolation because people don't know what to say or how to act towards them
- People die without wills, leaving complicated situations for their families and friends
- Health care professionals struggle to have conversations with their patients about what care or treatments they want as they approach death. This makes it hard to plan the care that a person really wants
- If the fact that someone is dying is not acknowledged then opportunities to resolve issues and say goodbye may be missed
What can be done to help?
We believe that there are actions which people can take to help avoid these harms.
For example, they could:
- Make a will
- Do a power of attorney
- Ask their partner if he/she wants to do a power of attorney
- Bring up their children in a way which doesn't hide death
- Allow their aging parents/partner to tell them about their worries and preferences for care
- Say goodbye to the people they love or who care about them
- Be willing to listen to and talk to their neighbours or colleagues if they are experiencing difficult times related to death, dying or bereavement
- Discuss with their GP the sort of care they would prefer towards the end of their life
People may need access to advice, practical tips and information to take some of these actions. These actions will be easier to take in a Scotland which becomes more open about death, dying and bereavement.
Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief is about giving people in Scotland the facts, the skills, the strategies, the information and the opportunities they need to deal with (and to help others deal with) death, dying and bereavement.


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Murkowski: Stevens Trial Among Justice Department's "Darkest Moments"
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski today submitted a statement for the record (attached in its entirety) in a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee focused on the independent investigator Henry Schuelke's report on the prosecutorial misconduct surrounding the trial of Senator Ted Stevens.
Senator Murkowski addressed the misconduct of the Department of Justice prosecution team, her recent legislation that would attempt to eliminate future unethical prosecutions – and the lingering questions surrounding the Justice Department's decision to not pursue charges against key witness Bill Allen.
Some key excerpts from her statement include:
- "Mr. Schuelke's report, released to the public on March 15, 2012, chronicles what I believe will be recorded by history among the darkest moments in the Justice Department's 223 year history. It is important that its conclusions be reviewed and thoroughly considered by legislators, policy makers and judges."
- "It is too late to do justice to Senator Stevens or the people of Alaska. But we must do justice to the Constitution."
- "This affront to our Constitutional system is hardly trivial. If a standing United States Senator can be treated this way, and the Justice Department can nearly get away with it, just think what happens every day to the ordinary citizen – oftentimes a small business person – who finds himself or herself trapped in the federal criminal justice system."
- The term "government overreach" is frequently uttered in Washington and in our home states. We often understand the term to refer to differences regarding the proper role of government in the regulation of businesses and our personal lives. The conduct of Justice Department prosecutors in the trial of Senator Stevens raises the concept of "government overreach" to new heights. For this example of "government overreach" threatened not only the good name of a fine individual but also his freedom."


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The following is a list of some theories that have been developed to explain why people do or do not commit crime. Each theory lists the theorists who developed it and a brief explanation of the theory.
Routine Activities Theory by Felson and Cohen
Variables that effect a criminal event are:
- Motivated offenders
- Suitable targets
- Capable guardians
The rate of criminal victimization is increased when there is a convergence in space and time of the three elements.
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