What Neuroscience Really Teaches Us, and What It Doesn't : The New Yorker

<base href="data:">In the early nineteen-nineties, David Poeppel, then a graduate student at M.I.T. (and a classmate of mine)—discovered an astonishing thing. He was studying the neurophysiological basis of speech perception, and a new technique had just come into vogue, called positron emission tomography (PET). About half a dozen PET studies of speech perception had been published, all in top journals, and David tried to synthesize them, essentially by comparing which parts of the brain were said to be active during the processing of speech in each of the studies. What he found, shockingly, was that there was virtually no agreement. Every new study had published with great fanfare, but collectively they were so inconsistent they seemed to add up to nothing. It was like six different witnesses describing a crime in six different ways.<br><br>This was terrible news for neuroscience—if six studies led to six different answers, why should anybody believe anything that neuroscientists had to say? Much hand-wringing followed. Was it because PET, which involves injecting a radioactive tracer into the brain, was unreliable? Were the studies themselves somehow sloppy? Nobody seemed to know.<br><br>And then, surprisingly, the field prospered. Brain imaging became more, not less, popular. The technique of PET was replaced with the more flexible technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allowed scientists to study people's brains without the use of the risky radioactive tracers, and to conduct longer studies that collected more data and yielded more reliable results. Experimental methods gradually become more careful. As fMRI machines become more widely available, and methods became more standardized and refined, researchers finally started to find a degree of consensus between labs.<br><br>Meanwhile, neuroscience started to go public, in a big way. Fancy color pictures of brains in action became a fixture in media accounts of the human mind and lulled people into a false sense of comprehension. (In a feature for the magazine titled "Duped," Margaret Talbot described research at Yale that showed that inserting neurotalk into a papers made them more convincing.) Brain imaging, which was scarcely on the public's radar in 1990, became the most prestigious way of understanding human mental life. The prefix "neuro" showed up everywhere: neurolaw, neuroeconomics, neuropolitics. Neuroethicists wondered about whether you could alter someone's prison sentence based on the size of their neocortex.<br><br>And then, boom! After two decades of almost complete dominance, a few bright souls started speaking up, asking: Are all these brain studies really telling us much as we think they are? A terrific but unheralded book published last year, "Neuromania," worried about our growing obsession with brain imaging. A second book, by Raymond Tallis, published this year, invoked the same term and made similar arguments. In the book "Out of our Heads," the philosopher Alva Noë wrote, "It is easy to overlook the fact that images… made by fMRI and PET are not actually pictures of the brain in action." Instead, brain images are elaborate reconstructions that depend on complex mathematical assumptions that can, as one study earlier this year showed, sometimes yield slightly different results when analyzed on different types of computers.<br><br>Last week, worries like these, and those of thoughtful blogs like Neuroskeptic and The Neurocritic, finally hit the mainstream, in the form of a blunt New York Times op-ed, in which the journalist Alissa Quart declared, "I applaud the backlash against what is sometimes called brain porn, which raises important questions about this reductionist, sloppy thinking and our willingness to accept seemingly neuroscientific explanations for, well, nearly everything."<br><br>Quart and the growing chorus of neuro-critics are half right: our early-twenty-first-century world truly is filled with brain porn, with sloppy reductionist thinking and an unseemly lust for neuroscientific explanations. But the right solution is not to abandon neuroscience altogether, it's to better understand what neuroscience can and cannot tell us, and why.<br><br>The first and foremost reason why we shouldn't simply disown neuroscience altogether is an obvious one: if we want to understand our minds, from which all of human nature springs, we must come to grips with the brain's biology. The second is that neuroscience has already told us lot, just not the sort of things we may think it has. What gets play in the daily newspaper is usually a study that shows some modest correlation between a sexy aspect of human behavior, with headlines like "FEMALE BRAIN MAPPED IN 3D DURING ORGASM" and "THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON POKER"<br><br>But a lot of those reports are based on a false premise: that neural tissue that lights up most in the brain is the only tissue involved in some cognitive function. The brain, though, rarely works that way. Most of the interesting things that the brain does involve many different pieces of tissue working together. Saying that emotion is in the amygdala, or that decision-making is the prefrontal cortex, is at best a shorthand, and a misleading one at that. Different emotions, for example, rely on different combinations of neural substrates. The act of comprehending a sentence likely involves Broca's area (the language-related spot on the left side of the brain that they may have told you about in college), but it also draws on the parts of the brain in the temporal lobe that analyze acoustic signals, and part of sensorimotor cortex and the basal ganglia become active as well. (In congenitally blind people, some of the visual cortex also plays a role.) It's not one spot, it's many, some of which may be less active but still vital, and what really matters is how vast networks of neural tissue work together.<br><br>The smallest element of a brain image that an fMRI can pick out is something called a voxel. But voxels are much larger than neurons, and, in the long run, the best way to understand the brain is probably not by asking which particular voxels are most active in a given process. It will instead come from asking how the many neurons work together within those voxels. And for that, fMRI may turn not out not to be the best technique, despite its current convenience. It may ultimately serve instead as the magnifying glass that leads us to the microscope we really need. If most of the action in the brain lies at the level of neurons rather than voxels or brain regions (which themselves often contain hundreds or thousands of voxels), we may need new methods, like optogenetics or automated, robotically guided tools for studying individual neurons; my own best guess is that we will need many more insights from animal brains before we can fully grasp what happens in human brains. Scientists are also still struggling to construct theories about how arrays of individual neurons relate complex behaviors, even in principle. Neuroscience has yet find its Newton, let alone its Einstein.<br><br>But that's no excuse for giving up. When Darwin wrote "The Origin of Species," nobody knew what DNA was for, and nobody imagined that we would eventually be sequencing it.<br><br>The real problem with neuroscience today isn't with the science—though plenty of methodological challenges still remain—it's with the expectations. The brain is an incredibly complex ensemble, with billions of neurons coming into—and out of—play at any given moment. There will eventually be neuroscientific explanations for much of what we do; but those explanations will turn out to be incredibly complicated. For now, our ability to understand how all those parts relate is quite limited, sort of like trying to understand the political dynamics of Ohio from an airplane window above Cleveland.<br><br>Which may be why the best neuroscientists today may be among those who get the fewest headlines, like researchers studying the complex dynamics that enter into understanding a single word. As Poeppel says, what we need now is "the meticulous dissection of some elementary brain functions, not ambitious but vague notions like brain-based aesthetics, when we still don't understand how the brain recognizes something as basic as a straight line."<br><br>The sort of short, simple explanations of complex brain functions that often make for good headlines rarely turn out to be true. But that doesn't mean that there aren't explanations to be had, it just means that evolution didn't evolve our brains to be easily understood.<br><br><i>Gary Marcus, a professor of psychology at N.Y.U. and the author of "Guitar Zero: The Science of Becoming Musical At Any Age", has written for <a href="http://newyorker.com">newyorker.com</a> about moral machines, Ray Kurzweil's new book, and deep learning.<br></i><br><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/12/what-neuroscience-really-teaches-us-and-what-it-doesnt.html">http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/12/what-neuroscience-really-teaches-us-and-what-it-doesnt.html</a><br><br>

What Neuroscience Really Teaches Us, and What It Doesn't : The New Yorker

In the early nineteen-nineties, David Poeppel, then a graduate student at M.I.T. (and a classmate of mine)—discovered an astonishing thing. ...

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Walk Away The Pounds

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6eTLTDW8m-xW4jGIu4hUqKXeTdxyTf6rbpzDm1NAKGF32OXH8WHsSoWKUpZjv_1yn1i98ca4_2Dj5lWFYdnRO5M29ZW7NutajGxHLWOqeu02cF74nx3zOCnKyUEWNcHPCTCmgzoUehI/s1600/walk+away+the+pounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6eTLTDW8m-xW4jGIu4hUqKXeTdxyTf6rbpzDm1NAKGF32OXH8WHsSoWKUpZjv_1yn1i98ca4_2Dj5lWFYdnRO5M29ZW7NutajGxHLWOqeu02cF74nx3zOCnKyUEWNcHPCTCmgzoUehI/s320/walk+away+the+pounds.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> Are you tired of just walking around the block? With the Winter coming I've got you covered! These DVD's By Leslie Sansone are amazing! Walk Away The Pounds, you do just that walking! It's so easy and each walk is equivalent to a one mile, two mile or three mile walk! You can add in some free weights to get those muscles pumped up too! I love these DVD's, along with exercise regularly and watching what you eat they work. I have noticed a difference in myself not just from these but from being a Curves member and eating right, goodbye shortness of breath and hello hot bod!

Walk Away The Pounds

Are you tired of just walking around the block? With the Winter coming I've got you covered! These DVD's By Leslie Sansone are amaz...

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The Difference between right and almost right

<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5818422999526122562'><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHD9R_LY2w5CevfaiZ6kYuQ7l5t2zKIbfg5P-Ej2RovoW9Gh8F3pJO5CBXhyphenhyphenNdSAEVsswG2zTKU4jjXTieEYTT1tvrENvnZI1eawkBXx8pCgnyCow8iGXQRla770Mzvyxc2frKmcV5rk8/s288/4.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="281"></a></center><br /><br />"Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." Charles Spurgeon.<br /><br />As my old PE coach said, "almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."<br /><br />What is the difference between right and almost right? It is the difference between the tunnels meeting as the chunnel was drilled under the English Channel. It is often the difference between disciplining a child and abusing a child - many things children do are wrong and deserve correcting but some parents go over the top when trying to make their point.<br /><br />Other examples:<br />* The difference between being helpful and kind and being a pushover that never holds children accountable.<br />* The difference between listening to a parent's side and never backing up your teachers.<br />* The difference between listening to students and never holding them accountable for their actions.<br />* The difference between holding teachers accountable and unfairly punishing them for the intellectual capacities and wealth of their children (which are often higher indicators of test scores and student success.)<br />* The difference between fairness and unfairness is most often in this fine shade between right and almost right.<br /><br />We should all look at our actions in the classroom and schools to determine if what we are doing is right -- or almost right. Almost right isn't good enough. I believe that good sense has been suspended and some people are just doing something to show they are doing something, when in fact, they are just shooting holes in ships that are already sinking.<br /><br />We need rational thought,wisdom, and discernment in times like these. The new thing isn't always the best thing and be very wary of those who have all the answers. <br /><br />I've found that the only teachers and educators with all the answers are those who have never taught before the week before they start teaching and those who have never taught before but make it their life's work to tell others how to teach. Most coaches have played the game they are coaching - it gives them a baseline for understanding and relating to the players.<br /><br />I just want to encourage you today to consider the difference between right and almost right in your life and classroom and to commit to doing the RIGHT thing.<br /><br />Have a great day! Remember your noble calling, teacher!<br /><br />- Written on my iPad using Blog Press by Vicki Davis, author, Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds<br />

The Difference between right and almost right

"Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." ...

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advent calendar blues

I'm feeling a bit behind already and it's only December 5th.<br /><br />I've got lists made, presents half way complete, decorations underway and meals/parties planned but I'm slacking in one area. The advent calendar.<br /><br />We have a lovely felt calendar we pull out each year, and each year I feel under pressure to find stuff to fill each day. So I usually end up buying a bunch of crappy little things to hand out that break an hour later or I give the girls candy and treats when they already get enough of that at this time of year.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pz6rfw7gGQB1SJScDqmkc-ycBnlKVUSOv-vyIlRaMjNlfqEBTxvIr4gdqWlKd9HlBzFSXsIi1lItaBt7UdObTtEom5SkBg6vH2GOU60offbYZsBtRAu39-qSgRiW7hTSnx2ofN2Aq1nj/s1600/img62o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pz6rfw7gGQB1SJScDqmkc-ycBnlKVUSOv-vyIlRaMjNlfqEBTxvIr4gdqWlKd9HlBzFSXsIi1lItaBt7UdObTtEom5SkBg6vH2GOU60offbYZsBtRAu39-qSgRiW7hTSnx2ofN2Aq1nj/s400/img62o.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/stocking-advent-calendar/?pkey=dchristmas-decor&cm_src=christmas-decor||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-" target="_blank">Pottery Barn Kids</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I tried going to Pinterest for some inspiration, but have you ever done a search for 'advent calendar' in Pinterest? It's like googling 'mysterious cough'. You are going to get way more information than you'll even need.<br /><br />I love the idea of filling each day with an activity or something, but it's hard to find an activity that works well for both a 5 year old and a 20 month old.<br /><br />So I'm all ears. Do you do an advent calendar? How do you do it? What do you fill it with? Want to come take care of mine?

Christmas advent calendar blues

I'm feeling a bit behind already and it's only December 5th. I've got lists made, presents half way complete, decorations underw...

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Happy Birthday, NYC Guide

It was one year ago today that my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393733262?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=211189&creativeASIN=0393733262&link_code=as3&creative=373489"><i>Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture</i></a> hit bookstores. A year later, it still makes a great Xmas gift!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393733262?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=211189&creativeASIN=0393733262&link_code=as3&creative=373489"><img alt="nycguide-cover-final-LG.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/nycguide-cover-final-LG.jpg" title="Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture" /></a>

Happy Birthday, NYC Guide

It was one year ago today that my Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture hit bookstores. A year later, it still makes a great Xma...

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Where is Jan Brewer?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />Hola y’all! Arizona governor Jan Brewer has <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/270909-arizona-senators-dont-know-gov-jan-brewers-whereabouts" target="_blank">up and left the state of Arizona</a> and while her staff appears to know where she is, they’re refusing to tell anyway. Needless to say this has a lot of people very worried. Is she sick? Is she off finding herself? Did she just wander off and get lost? Well, I’ve put together a list of places and things she could be doing that should put everyone’s at ease…<br /><br />- She’s off getting an abortion because the laws in her state have made it nearly impossible for a woman to get one.<br /><br />- She’s gone to Kenya in one last attempt to prove Obama isn’t a citizen before the electoral college votes.<br /><br />- She’s getting a face lift. Might need an extra week.<br /><br />- She’s here in Redneckville helping me put this TV stand together.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PLBRAGsAvp33A5WIHq_44-gt5xArfSDAYukWYEhmO_DmMAfgkElUUBJKaeptCzE3Rc3KUogOv9WBmbO26FeetzY6RG_njwwmkJZ5TdA3jNdbtS3Xao_ignhEoNo8sRoG_a5AOzrKbPs/s1600/IMG_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PLBRAGsAvp33A5WIHq_44-gt5xArfSDAYukWYEhmO_DmMAfgkElUUBJKaeptCzE3Rc3KUogOv9WBmbO26FeetzY6RG_njwwmkJZ5TdA3jNdbtS3Xao_ignhEoNo8sRoG_a5AOzrKbPs/s400/IMG_2995.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />- Hiking the Appalachian Trail.<br /><br />- She’s at a secret resort in Mexico with her lover, Guillermo.<br /><br />- The Betty Ford Clinic. OH COME ONE! YOU WERE THINKING IT TOO!<br /><br />- Klan meetings.<br /><br />- Shacked up in a Washington hotel with fellow drunk John Boehner helping him with his own personal physical cliff. (Okay that one was pretty weak and I don’t know what it means either.)<br /><br />- Filling in for Elena Roger for a week in Evita on Broadway.<br /><br />- Getting her apocalypse bunker ready for before the December, 21 deadline.<br /><br />- She’s spending the week in quiet reflection at the Dhammakaya Internation Meditation Center of Taipei.<br /><br />- She bought the “undisclosed location” that Dick Cheney used while VP and is refurnishing it.<br /><br />- Following the Lady GaGa tour through Russia.<br /><br />- She’s “interviewing” to be Matt-Man’s <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-need-ten-day-surrogate.html" target="_blank">intern</a> while Schmoop is in the hospital.<br /><br />- She’s taking care of Kate Middleton for a week or so while she gets over her severe morning sickness.<br /><br />- She’s spending the week on the Greenpeace ship “Rainbow Warrior” heading to New Zealand.<br /><br />- She’s helping Occupy Wall Street prepare for their winter assault.<br /><br />- She’s gone to Disneyland!<br /><br />As you can see Gov. Brewer has lots of options and is probably off doing something fun and educational or she’s out there doing good things for the world. There’s obviously nothing to worry about.<br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a><br /><br /></div>

Where is Jan Brewer?

Hola y’all! Arizona governor Jan Brewer has up and left the state of Arizona and while her staff appears to know where she is, they’re refu...

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The Real Reason People Who Have Left A Church "Can't Go Home Again"

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QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Story 1<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">John Smith walks from the parking lot toward the church door. He hasn’t been here in several months. I don’t know why. Something at church upset him. Something at home drew him away. A spiritual crisis. No one knows. No one asked. But today John Smith walks from the parking lot toward the church door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The ushers spot him. They watch him approach. When he’s close enough to hear, one usher places both hands against the inner wall and calls out loudly, “Everybody hold up the walls. They’re gonna fall in if John Smith comes to Church.” The other ushers laugh heartily. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">John Smith makes his way through sheepishly, participates quietly in the service, leaves quickly at the end, and never comes to church again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Story 2:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Joe and Mary Wilson have been away from church for about 6 months. I don’t know why. No one knows why. No one asked them. But they show up one Sunday, sing the hymns, say the responses with good energy. At the peace, the lay worship leader says, “Well where have you two been? I haven’t seen you here in nearly a year.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We were here a couple of months ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“No you weren’t. I have been here every Sunday and I didn’t see you. If you were here I’d know it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">That was their last time to worship at that church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Story 3:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Alice left the church some years ago to pursue other spiritual paths. But an old friend from the church has died, so she attends the funeral. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">At the reception, Nancy, a church regular approaches Alice, “Do you recognize me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Uh, I think so. Can you help me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I can’t believe you don’t remember me. I was at your wedding.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another church regular joins in, “How about me. Do know who I am? What’s my name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Alice failed the names and faces test, so she went back to a safer place. The Church was just too hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">An unorthodox hypothesis:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">When I consult with churches whose membership has declined, they often express little desire to attract new members. Instead they say they want to win back the “lapsed.” I generally warn them that the so-called “lapsed” are the least likely demographic group to resume regular attendance at the church they left.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There are various explanations for that statistic. It could be the ex-members have bad memories of the church. It could be the “been there, done that” attitude. But here’s another hypothesis:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our gatekeepers know the people who used to worship with us, so they are better prepared with solid techniques to drive them away. A new person comes in the door. We don’t know him. It may take us awhile to find his vulnerabilities and drive him out. But the folks we know, we can kick out the door in a New York minute. Something else may be going on consciously. Maybe the church folks just don’t know good manners. Maybe there is some personal pathology at work – but it looks to me as if the church system that tries to keep everything the way it is, knows that to keep things stable you have to keep the outsiders outside – even the ones who used to be inside – maybe especially the ones who used to be inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">That systemic pathology can always be trumped by Grace and Gospel.  That’s the good news. So maybe some of us want to live the Gospel graciously. If we truly want to offer spiritual support and nurture to the people who used to worship with us, and if we want to receive the spiritual support and nurture they may be bringing for us, here are a few simple suggestions:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">First basic suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead of going out and trying to persuade all our ex-members to come back, we could just stop being jerks to the ones who come on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Detailed suggestions on how not to be a jerk:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">                                                                                                      <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not judge, berate, and chastise someone who is in church for not having been there before. The time to do that was when they were absent. You missed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not make jokes about someone’s past absence or their return. You don’t know what you’re laughing at.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not ask people to justify, defend, or explain their absence. Not your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not ask people the whereabouts of someone (spouse, child, etc.) who you think they ought to have brought with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not say, “We have missed you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In case anyone missed that, “Do NOT say “We have missed you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not engage the returning member in discussion of a fight or unpleasantness that was going on when they left. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not hit a returning member with guilt, shame, or blame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not put the returning member through an inquisition. Do you remember me? The South has its problems but they also have manners. Good manners dictate that if there is the slightest chance someone may not know who you are, you tell them your name and remind them of your connection. To say, “do you remember me?” in much of these United States is regarded as uncouth. In the Church, it is unkind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">So what might you say to a returning member? There are several good options.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Good morning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“It’s good to see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Hi. How are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Thank you for coming. I’m glad you’re here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">But here’s the best thing you can do. When you hear one of the gatekeepers guilting, shaming, or interrogating the returning member, cast manners aside – courtesy to whom courtesy is due – gatekeepers are enemies of the cross of Christ and deserve no courtesy – interrupt, draw the retuning member away and apologize, apologize profusely, for the unchristian behavior of the gatekeeper and beg forgiveness on behalf of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Wisdom adage: If you want someone to come through a door, unlock it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Second basic suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Don’t let the people wander off unnoticed in the first place. I could not begin to count the number of unchurched people who have told me they skipped church for a while for one reason or another, but no one noticed they were gone, so they never returned. You don’t wait for them to return before you notice they are gone!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There are two ways to deal with this. The best is to have a shepherd system so that every family in church is contacted (by phone, e mail, personal chat, however it happens) each quarter. The “shepherd” just asks, “How are you? Anything you need from the church? Any concerns about the church I could report to the priest?” That way if someone has been absent, you make caring contact without shaming him or her for being absent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The other way is to have someone monitor your parish directory and notice whether anyone is unusually absent and have the priest or a lay pastoral care giver call the person to ask how he or she is. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">If we pay proper attention to our people, fewer of them will wander off. If we simply treat them with ordinary courtesy when they return, they are far more likely to stick with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">All to often when relationship breaks down between the church and a member, a goodly share of the fault lies with the church. I suspect we know that, and I suspect that’s why we are so quick to blame the member.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->

The Real Reason People Who Have Left A Church "Can't Go Home Again"

Story 1 John Smith walks from the parking lot toward the church door. He hasn’t been here in several months. I don’t know why. Somethi...

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Join us at the Flat Classroom Conference in Japan March 8-10, 2013!

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69031678@N00/5475400906" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Flat Classroom Conference 2011" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="160" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5475400906_abca170817_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Flat Classroom Conference 2011 (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69031678@N00/5475400906" target="_blank">ToGa Wanderings</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107002@N03/5478339430" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Flat Classroom Conference" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="179" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5478339430_1779e63621_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Flat Classroom Conference (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107002@N03/5478339430" target="_blank">superkimbo</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a personal invitation for you to attend the </span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/conference-asia-2013.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom Conference Japan</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">, to be held at the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.439306,139.65403&spn=1.0,1.0&q=35.439306,139.65403%20(Yokohama%20International%20School)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Yokohama International School">Yokohama International School</a>, March 8-10, 2013. In addition you are invited to bring students as this is a unique conference format that joins both educators and students together in a challenge-based format. You and/or your colleagues are very welcome to come as independent educators without students, but we want you to also consider this as an opportunity for your school to embrace the full conference purpose. The conference environment is 1:1, and provides a sound model for those schools that are already 1:1 or are moving in that direction.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">In order to recognize and appreciate the challenges facing our host country, Japan, our Conference theme will be: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">How do we help each other?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are fortunate to have very close relations with two intermediate schools in the tsunami-hit Tohoku region of Japan, as well the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.tisweb.net/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Tohoku International School">Tohoku International School</a>. In order to highlight the opportunities that we have to support others, in our local environments, participants will be asked to develop project ideas that respond to the conference theme locally and globally, while working in small groups. This is an excellent chance for students especially to integrate with CAS and community and service ideas.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">For educators the conference format provides Web 2.0 skill development, multimedia creation skills and global collaboration pedagogy. Team work will cement ideas and opportunities for implementation beyond the conference. Students will leave the conference with leadership skills, technology skills, presentation skills, and a better understanding of diverse cultures and collaboration. Groups will have a chance to see Yokohama and Tokyo and make new friends while working towards an action project. The </span><a href="http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/fcc/conference-schedule/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conference Schedule</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> shares essential objectives and workshops.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Internationally acclaimed</span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/presenters-japan.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">leaders</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> include </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://cogdogblog.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Alan Levine">Alan Levine</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://wearejustlearning.ca/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Sharon Peters">Sharon Peters</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://123elearning.blogspot.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Julie Lindsay">Julie Lindsay</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://mscofino.edublogs.org/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Kim Cofino">Kim Cofino</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">as well as </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.simonmay.co.uk/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Simon May">Simon May</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more about the</span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom® Conference</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> on the website. Come and join the Flat</span><a href="http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Classroom</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Conference community</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and learn more about previous live events. Learn more about Flat Classroom® through the book:</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flattening-Classrooms-Engaging-Minds-Collaboration/dp/0132610353/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1321982379&sr=8-1&al_rs=#al_rp" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time.</span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flattening-Classrooms-Engaging-Minds-Collaboration/dp/0132610353/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1321982379&sr=8-1&al_rs=#al_rp" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make your plans now!</span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/register-now-japan-2013.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">REGISTRATION</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom® Conference Japan March 8-10, 2013 is OPEN NOW.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brought to you by </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom® Conference and Live Events Inc.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Directors, Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom Administrator, Steve Madsen: </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:conference@flatclassroom.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">conference@flatclassroom.org</a></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Website:</span><a href="http://flatclassroomconference.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">flatclassroomconference.com</span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Community:</span><a href="http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">flatclassroomconference.ning.<wbr></wbr>com</span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Further details on the Website for Japan 2013:</span><a href="http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/fcc/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">blogs.yis.ac.jp/fcc/</span></a><br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=cdcd1aee-ee68-4bbb-a22a-de1fd616b1f3" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Join us at the Flat Classroom Conference in Japan March 8-10, 2013!

Flat Classroom Conference 2011 (Photo credit: ToGa Wanderings ) Flat Classroom Conference (Photo credit: superkimbo ) This is a personal inv...

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Bread!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lidl is now stocking these lovely Bavarian bread rolls along with muffins, pain au chocolat & cherry rock buns!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflbMevZzfVON24yTHEzMEMtSQaPys67Kb5se9iFsG-WVUn9q2aElV0wsorNv7-Qbngd6mGkDsQtF_GwC72Q2_Dv7rceVQc5IXqmgCZhov4bFd0f7yMXoVKc6WtTuVygHyFV8VMzSAtOAn/s1600/IMG_2663%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflbMevZzfVON24yTHEzMEMtSQaPys67Kb5se9iFsG-WVUn9q2aElV0wsorNv7-Qbngd6mGkDsQtF_GwC72Q2_Dv7rceVQc5IXqmgCZhov4bFd0f7yMXoVKc6WtTuVygHyFV8VMzSAtOAn/s320/IMG_2663%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWGzvTfipqVWV4BKaJP3doomC5EZtVvgEJuM3b2NP2IC5Rz_-D-w2qeXVUTlmdgzzDrKcAVUx1BudmQQozvAg9iK2Tw0QYDjuJrMsap6sFYBG7L_l8a6rMBeGFxhde2IY0Nn0u1z0Bh_9/s1600/IMG_2664%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWGzvTfipqVWV4BKaJP3doomC5EZtVvgEJuM3b2NP2IC5Rz_-D-w2qeXVUTlmdgzzDrKcAVUx1BudmQQozvAg9iK2Tw0QYDjuJrMsap6sFYBG7L_l8a6rMBeGFxhde2IY0Nn0u1z0Bh_9/s320/IMG_2664%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lf6GugYCw166osx3oYDHv6pKW-IPf-PZ3D5pANbiLbhcGRJxv7CyhPwtPHSJXH-vLOZeXHiQo5VdecrNqfkyg5nFxyM_Jf6IzmfaTl_gFiwRCIQlgM3sgo8CL92ndmQbmIhjpgKY1iAp/s1600/IMG_2665%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lf6GugYCw166osx3oYDHv6pKW-IPf-PZ3D5pANbiLbhcGRJxv7CyhPwtPHSJXH-vLOZeXHiQo5VdecrNqfkyg5nFxyM_Jf6IzmfaTl_gFiwRCIQlgM3sgo8CL92ndmQbmIhjpgKY1iAp/s320/IMG_2665%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAqQBk3Vw1JhTwLuQSWdfh6WUeLXqVdvhooqar-V1Byi5_Le3AXVbhiLlvcE2BuUK6oV30jkVTP5DECshrWSyZZVkrazlM93Nttk6tQdSYbJzl8sa2EtTTtO_AuvBwtAJn8U3oBtJeF4r/s1600/IMG_2666%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAqQBk3Vw1JhTwLuQSWdfh6WUeLXqVdvhooqar-V1Byi5_Le3AXVbhiLlvcE2BuUK6oV30jkVTP5DECshrWSyZZVkrazlM93Nttk6tQdSYbJzl8sa2EtTTtO_AuvBwtAJn8U3oBtJeF4r/s320/IMG_2666%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />

Bread!

Lidl is now stocking these lovely Bavarian bread rolls along with muffins, pain au chocolat & cherry rock buns!

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Senior Software Engineer (C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, GUI, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP) (#108872)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!-- Converted from text/rtf format --> <br /><div dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Position</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Senior Software Engineer</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Location</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Milpitas, CA<br /> </span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Duration</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Full time</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Job Description</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<br /> The Surfscan-ADE division of KLA-Tencor is an industry leading supplier of wafer inspection and metrology systems. Wafer suppliers and device manufacturers worldwide rely on our measurement and inspection systems to certify and ensure the highest quality bare silicon substrates. Semiconductor device yields begin with the bare wafer, and our leading technology provides early insight into surface defect, shape, flatness and nanotopography and other advanced metrics of these 300mm substrates. In the near future our inspection and measurement systems will be able to handle next generation substrates with the diameter of 450mm. Our optical laser interferometry will support the next several generations of IC manufacturing.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Responsibilities:</span></b></span></div><div dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The successful candidate will join a world-class team of software engineers to conceive, design, develop, optimize, and integrate advanced algorithms and software modules used in geometric wafer inspection. She/he will be working independently to design, develop, and debug complex computer software systems, requiring in-depth evaluation of analysis of various factors, exercising judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. The successful candidate will work independently to design and develop software for current and next generations of Surface Metrology tool.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Required Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /> </b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Good understanding of OOA/OOD/OOP and Design Patterns</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Proficiency in C++ programming, including templates and STL</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Understanding of Windows OS internals (multi-threaded environment, memory management, ...)</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Results-oriented; positive attitude; good verbal and written communication skills</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Strong problem solving and analytical abilities</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />- Ability to understand and work with existing code base</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Preferred Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />- GUI programming overall and using Java, JNI in particular</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- .NET/C#, Interop with un-managed systems</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Understanding basics of COM</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Understanding of Scripting languages</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Signal/Image processing and scientific programming background</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Systems background in at least one of the areas: EE, Optics, ME</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Minimum Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Doctorate (Academic) with at least 2 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />OR</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Master's Level Degree with at least 4 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />OR</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> <br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kindly send your resumes to</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><span lang="en-us"><u><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</span></u></span></a></span></div></div>

Senior Software Engineer (C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, GUI, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP) (#108872)

Position : Senior Software Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : The Surfscan-ADE division of KL...

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Head of Technical Services - Canton Public Library

<strong>Head of Technical Services - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Canton Public Library</strong></span> is seeking an organized, detail-oriented individual to manage the technical services operations of this small, active library that serves a community of 10,000. The successful candidate will be responsible primarily for cataloging and classification of library materials, database management, adult collection development, technology, and some public service desk work. Requirements: MLS from an ALA-accredited college or university and 3 years of library experience, or a Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of library experience. Thorough knowledge of contemporary bibliographic maintenance standards and practices. Proficient computer skills for hands-on support of the library's computer operations. Commitment to excellence in customer service. Full-time position: 35 hours per week, including 1 evening plus periodic weekends in rotation. Municipal benefits package. Salary range: $49,000 to $51,500. Send letter of interest, resume, and completed Town of Canton employment application by <span style="color: red;">December 19, 2012 </span>to Robert Simon, Library Director, Canton Public Library, 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton, CT 06019. Job description available by clicking <a href="http://www.ctlibrarians.org/associations/10663/files/HeadofTS_CantonPL_jobdesc.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. Town employment application available at <a href="http://www.townofcantonct.org/" target="_blank">www.townofcantonct.org</a>. EOE.

Head of Technical Services - Canton Public Library

Head of Technical Services - Canton Public Library is seeking an organized, detail-oriented individual to manage the technical services op...

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Today's archidose #637

Here are some photos of the Repsol Headquarters in Madrid, Spain, by <a href="http://www.rafaeldelahoz.com/">Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos</a> (2010). Photographs are by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/">Ximo Michavila</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8238744471/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #7 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #7" height="268" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8238744471_7b27b23b77_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8239811140/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #1 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #1" height="376" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8239811140_49cb921dd4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8238744567/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #5 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #5" height="510" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8238744567_2a3e1864e8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8241739819/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #2 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #2" height="508" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8241739819_6b6a92effa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8242808158/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #6 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #6" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8242808158_7e5e01312c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8241739735/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #4 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #4" height="538" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8241739735_1f019fb28d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #637

Here are some photos of the Repsol Headquarters in Madrid, Spain, by Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos (2010). Photographs are by Ximo Michavila...

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New Meaning and Drive in Life After Cancer - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">When people hear the words "You have <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Cancer." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">cancer</a>," life is suddenly divided into distinct parts. There was their life before cancer, and then there is life after cancer.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The number of people in that second category continues to grow. In June, the National Cancer Institute reported that an estimated 13.7 million living Americans are cancer survivors, and the number will increase to almost 18 million over the next decade. More than half are younger than 70.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A new book, "Picture Your Life After Cancer," (American Cancer Society) focuses on the living that goes on after a cancer diagnosis. It's based on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#/all/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">a multimedia project by The New York Times</a> that asked readers to submit photos and their personal stories. So far, nearly 1,500 people have shared their experiences — the good, the bad, the challenging and the inspirational — creating a dramatic photo essay of the varied lives people live in the years after diagnosis.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">For Susan Schwalb, a 68-year-old artist from Manhattan, a diagnosis of early-stage <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Breast cancer." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/breast-cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">breast cancer</a> at the age of 62 led to a <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Breast lump removal." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/breast-lump-removal/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">lumpectomy</a>, followed by a <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Mastectomy." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/mastectomy/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">mastectomy</a> and then failed reconstruction surgery. She discovered that cancer was not only a physical challenge but a mental one as well, and she turned to friends and support groups to cope with the emotional strain. When she saw the "Picture Your Life" project, she <a title="Susan Schwalb's photo. " href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#4bd6e6a38e31df0e00000027" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">submitted a photo</a> of herself wearing a paint-splattered artist's apron.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"What cancer made me do in my own professional life is to pedal faster," Ms. Schwalb said in an interview. "I've encountered some people who decide to enjoy life, retire, work in a garden. I decided I had to have more of what I wanted in life, and I better move fast because maybe I don't have the long life I imagined I would have."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Indeed, a common theme of the "Picture Your Life" project is that cancer spurs people to take long-delayed trips, seek out adventure and spend time with their families. Photos of mountain climbs, a ride on a camel, scuba diving excursions and bicycle trips are now part of the online collage.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Dr. David Posner, associate program director of pulmonary medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, says a diagnosis of metastatic <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Colon Cancer." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/colon-cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">colon cancer</a> at the age of 47 has helped him relate to his own patients with cancer. The past decade has included nine operations, six recurrences and three rounds of <a title="Recent and archival health news about chemotherapy." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/chemotherapy/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">chemotherapy</a>, but Dr. Posner said he never missed more than three weeks of work.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"My salvation has been my family and my work," he said. "When I was at work I wasn't thinking about myself, and it was very therapeutic. I see my share of cancer patients, and I motivate them and they motivate me."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a title="Dr. Posner's photo. " href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#4bd8e7678e31df0bc3000138" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">Dr. Posner</a> said he decided to be part of "Picture Your Life" because he wants to get the word out that a cancer diagnosis — even a dire one like his — doesn't have to define your life.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I think about someone asking me, 'So how was your last decade — was it wasted or was it a life filled with a lot of happiness and joy?' " he said. "The cancer thing was a pain, but for the most part I've had a pretty good time."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The "Picture Your Life" collage includes photo after photo of survivors with their pets. Sandra Elliott, 59, of Claremont, Calif., submitted <a title="Sandra Elliott's photo. " href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#4bbfdc9ad141b9263a000097" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">a picture of herself with her two golden retrievers, Buddy and Molly</a>. They were just puppies when she received a diagnosis of Stage 2 breast cancer in 2003. During her recovery from surgery and chemotherapy treatments, she took the dogs to romp on the Pomona College campus, near her home, and one day a professional photographer snapped the picture.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"No matter how bad I felt that day, no matter how many chemo treatments or doctors appointments, those two little puppies with these big black eyes would look at me with their tails wagging as if to say, 'It's time. It's time. It's time to go out!'  " Ms. Elliott recalled.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I felt so physically horrible, and I'd look at them and the pure joy on their faces and in their bodies for just being out in nature and being able to smell the air, smell the trees, chase a squirrel — that sheer in-the-moment love of life they showed me really lifted my spirit on a daily basis."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Ms. Elliott still lives with chronic pain as a result of nerve damage from her cancer treatment, and she can relate to others in the "Picture Your Life" project who worry that their cancer will recur or that they'll never feel completely normal again. But she says a stronger theme runs through all the pictures and stories.</p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">"We have all been forced to find the joy in the smallest things," she said. "I'm sitting here looking at a geranium about to bloom. These things are out there — we just have to be reminded to look at them. And cancer is a big reminder."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; "><br></div></div><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/new-meaning-and-drive-in-life-after-cancer/">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/new-meaning-and-drive-in-life-after-cancer/</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

New Meaning and Drive in Life After Cancer - NYTimes.com

When people hear the words "You have  cancer ," life is suddenly divided into distinct parts. There was their life before cancer, ...

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New Faces Of Meth Ads Are Utterly Harrowing - Business Insider

<base href="data:"><div style="color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">Eight years ago, the <a href="http://www.facesofmeth.us/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(29, 99, 125); ">Multnomah County Sheriff's Office launched a campaign called "the Faces of Meth</a>" to address Oregon's methamphetamine problem. The images showed the jarring effects of meth on addicts' faces through before-and-after pictures from their arrest records.</p><p style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><a href="http://www.rehabs.com/explore/meth-before-and-after-drugs/infographic.html" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(29, 99, 125); ">Rehabs.com recently followed suit</a> with this infographic. Warning: these images are disturbing.</p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br></span></font></div><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-faces-of-meth-ads-are-utterly-harrowing-2012-12">http://www.businessinsider.com/new-faces-of-meth-ads-are-utterly-harrowing-2012-12</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

New Faces Of Meth Ads Are Utterly Harrowing - Business Insider

Eight years ago, the  Multnomah County Sheriff's Office launched a campaign called "the Faces of Meth " to address Oregon'...

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