Freedom Rock Tour coming to Johnson County

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Solon Area Community Foundation hoping rock can be painted next year

By Francie Williamson, The Gazette

November 27, 2014 | 6:39 pm

SOLON Johnson County will be home to a Freedom Rock sometime soon.

Artist Ray Bubba Sorensen of Greenfield each year paints a large boulder known as the Freedom Rock in his southwest Iowa town. The patriotic designs honor veterans in various ways.

A few years ago, Sorensen decided he wanted to paint Freedom Rocks in each of Iowas 99 counties. Sorensens wife, Maria, said in an email that they are estimating it will take seven to 10 years to complete all 99 rocks. This year was the second year of the tour.

Currently Bubba is booking into early 2020, painting only 10 rocks from April to October, Maria Sorensen said. This year he did complete two extra rocks so that will move things up a bit and he will try to do so each year as the weather allows.

Most of the rocks completed so far are in western Iowa, but Sorensen this year finished Scott Countys rock, which is located in LeClaire.

Solon recently signed up to represent Johnson County on the tour. Denny Gruber of the Solon Area Community Foundation said the idea to bring a Freedom Rock to Solon met a very enthusiastic reception.

Weve been in contact with the city of Solon and the American Legion, Gruber said. We thought the Legion would help design it with Bubba. Preliminarily we would like to include all the armed forces in some way.

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Freedom Rock Tour coming to Johnson County

Press freedom?

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By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective

Press freedom is said to be a fundamental human right and one of the foundations of democratic societies. In 2006, then UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Shashi Tharoor lamented, The number of journalists killed in the line of duty has become a barometer for measuring press freedom.

However, press freedom advocates also note Wherever there is an independent media, there is bound to be friction with the Government. (Ann Cooper, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists [CPJ], May 2006). Not only that, the CPJ noted that 85 percent of the murder of journalists had been committed with impunity.

The CPJ said that most attacks on journalists come from governments, drug lords, criminal mafias, or others with reason to silence critical, independent reporting. So in the case of the Philippines, the others include local warlords and political dynasties who, in reality, are no different from drug lords and criminal mafias because they corner all legal and illegal profit-making ventures in their respective fiefdoms.

The Philippines has earned the infamy of being one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, second only to Iraq, because of the Ampatuan massacre.

The CPJ deemed that the failure of justice is the most urgent threat facing journalists worldwide. With the developments, or lack of it, in the Ampatuan massacre case, the Philippines appears to be headed toward becoming the face of impunity in the killings of journalists.

On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day commemoration on May 3, 2014, the UN highlighted the importance of independent, free and pluralistic media to protecting and promoting these rights.

Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist. (Joint Message from Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Ms. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2014).

Aside from the killings of journalists, what other threats to press freedom are there in the world today? How independent are media conglomerates? Has the media been exercising its liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions of governments?

Consider this: An article published by the Economic Collapse Who owns the media: The 6 monolithic corporations that control almost everything we watch, hear and read written by Michael Snyder and published in October 4, 2010, revealed that in 1983, around 50 corporations controlled majority of the news media outfits in the US. Now, it is controlled by just six giant corporations that own television networks, cable channels, movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, music labels and even many websites.

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Press freedom?

Stay Green at the Worlds Most Outstanding Eco Hotels

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Travel is all about seeing the world, and it is every travelers responsibility to help conserve the environment for future travelers. Eco-friendly hotels all around the world give travelers an option to enjoy their trip while being conscious of the environment.

Rooms at Fivelements Puri Ahimsa Hotel

If you want to support these Green Resorts, Here are some of the best ones around the world according to Agoda.com:

Fivelements Puri Ahimsa Hotel

They operate with the three main pillars of sustainability: having a positive impact, environmental awareness, and social sustainability. Upon construction, they ensured that Balis three main eco-systems will not be impacted. They take care of the 58 species that reside in their natural reserve and they have installed Sycamore ceiling fans and super-efficient LED bulbs to reduce electricity use.

Jetwing Vil Uayana

Sustainability is an important advocacy for The Jetwing Group. Through this outstanding establishment, theyre able to show just how much from where the hotel is constructed to promoting eco-friendly tourism. Theyre also mindful of the suppliers they bring in, making sure that the people they work with are as serious about environmental friendliness as they are.

Langham Place Mongkok

This hotel was a pioneer of eco-friendly property development. They feature charging stations for electric vehicles and a food waste recycling system that turns them into compost. They also donate excess food to charity, helping to alleviate dire hunger in disadvantaged communities. All throughout the hotel, there are also measures in place to reduce water, chemical, and electric consumption.

ParkRoyal on Pickering

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Stay Green at the Worlds Most Outstanding Eco Hotels

Cooking Classes from Ukraine’s ‘Cyborg’ Soldiers: How to make perfect borsch for frontline troops – Video

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Cooking Classes from Ukraine #39;s #39;Cyborg #39; Soldiers: How to make perfect borsch for frontline troops
Volunteers in Ukraine #39;s Zaporizhya region have shown soldiers fighting on the frontlines in east Ukraine how to prepare borsch - a traditional Ukrainian soup - from dried vegetables. The dish...

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Cooking Classes from Ukraine's 'Cyborg' Soldiers: How to make perfect borsch for frontline troops - Video

'Cyborg' Justino's discusses injury: My 'desire to fight was greater than the pain'

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Cristiane Justino

An injury ultimately forced her off next weeks Invicta FC 10 card, but initially, would-be headliner Cristiane Justinosaid her desire to fight was greater than the pain.

The former Strikeforce champion had planned to make a drop from 145 to 135 pounds for an Invicta FC 10s headliner, but an injury forced her off the Dec. 5 card, which streams on UFC Fight Pass from Houstons Arena Theatre.

Prior to a recent training trip to Thailand, Cyborg said she hurt her foot but did some simple treatment and continued her journey.

But once there, during sprint training, I twisted my foot again, she told MMAjunkie. It was the same foot.

I applied ice and treated it the way an athlete does. I took pain medication and continued to train since my focus was on fighting in December.

Justino, who hasnt fought an MMA bout since a July 2013 Invicta FC title win over Marloes Coenen (she also suffered a Lion Fight kickboxing loss to Jorina Baars in March), said her desire to fight on was at least partially motivated by financial reasons.

I need to work, said Justino, who hopes the move to 135 pounds will eventually set up a showdown with rival and reigning UFC womens bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Not only because I want to fight, but also to pay my bills. Its my job.

There were days when I would wake up in Thailand, but I couldnt even walk. After a few hours, when I could walk, I would go back to training again. I didnt show it to anyone.

However, once the 29-year-old Brazilian returned to the U.S., she met with a trusted doctor, who ordered an MRI and saw the extent of the damage. He eventually convinced her she needed to shut it down to allow her body time to heal.

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'Cyborg' Justino's discusses injury: My 'desire to fight was greater than the pain'

Grand Solmar Timeshare Reveals 3 Top Beaches in Cabo San Lucas for Fall Vacations

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (PRWEB) November 28, 2014

Grand Solmar Timeshare knows that Cabo San Lucas is the ultimate vacation destination no matter what time of the year it is. With an outstanding temperate climate, visitors can enjoy Cabos beaches all year round. There are many different beaches to choose from, which is why Grand Solmar Timeshare has come up with this list of the ultimate sandy destinations in the Los Cabos area.

1. Playa del Amor a.k.a. Lovers Beach One of the more secluded and less-frequented beaches in the area, Playa del Amor, is well known for its incredible views and romantic feel. Grand Solmar Timeshare reveals that Playa del Amor is a pristine location for a romantic getaway and picnic lunch and can be accessed by water taxi. There are also several opportunities for visitors to take a glass-bottom tour of the nearby El Arco to see some of the beautiful fish and incredible marine life that call the area their home. Travelers should remember to bring their own food and drink as there is nowhere to buy refreshments while on the beach.

2. Santa Maria Beach Known as one of the best beaches for snorkeling and scuba diving in the area, the crystal-clear blue waters of Santa Maria Beach are sure to make for an unforgettable vacation experience. The beach is secluded, offering a relaxing getaway from some of the more popular beaches in the area as well.

3. Chileno Beach Another great beach for both snorkeling and swimming, Chileno Beach is Grand Solmar Timeshares pick for the third best beach in all of Cabo San Lucas. This beachs waters are usually calm, unless a recent storm has rolled through, making it the perfect spot for families to visit and snorkel together. With no food or drinks available in the area, Grand Solmar Timeshare also recommends bringing along a picnic and plenty of water.

For more information about these beaches and for luxurious accommodations in Cabo San Lucas, contact Grand Solmar Timeshare today.

Grand Solmar Contact Information: http://grandsolmarresort.com/ Av. Solmar No. 1A Col. Centro Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mxico C.P. 23450 Email: info(at)solmar(dot)com(dot)mx

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Grand Solmar Timeshare Reveals 3 Top Beaches in Cabo San Lucas for Fall Vacations

Heres Your Sign: Are You an Ophiuchian?

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The 2014 path (lower right) of the Sun across the constellation Ophiuchus. Credit: Stellarium.

It happens to all lovers of astronomy sooner or later.

I once had a friend who was excited about an upcoming conjunction of Saturn and Venus. They were passing closer than the apparent diameter of the Full Moon in the dawn sky, and you could fit em both in the same telescopic field of view. I invited said friend to stop by at 5 AM the next morning to check this out. I was excited to see this conjunction as well, but not for the same reasons.

Said friend was into astrology, and Im sure that the conjunction held a deep significance in their world view. Sure, I could have easily told them that astrology is bunk, and the skies care not for our terrestrial woes or I could carefully help guide this at risk friend towards the true wonders of the cosmos if they were willing to listen.

We bring this up because this weekend, the Sun enters the constellation Ophiuchus, one of 13 modern constellations that it can appear in from our Earthly vantage point.

If youre born from November 30th to December 18th, you could consider yourself an Ophiuchian, or being born under the sign of Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. But Ill leave it up to you to decide what they might be like.

Seen at the Albany Park Zoo: Herpetology, or a modern day serpent bearer? Photo by author.

You might remember how the controversy of the 13th sign made its news rounds a few years back. Hey, it was cool to at least see an obscure and hard to pronounce constellation trending on Twitter. Of course, this wasnt news to space enthusiasts, and to modern astronomers, a house is merely where you live, and a sign is what you follow to get there.

The modern 88 constellations we use were formalized by the International Astronomical Union in 1922. Like political boundaries, theyre imaginary constructs we use to organize reality. Star patterns slowly change with time due to our solar systems motion and that of neighboring stars about the galactic center.

Astrologers will, of course, counter that their craft follows a tropical scheme versus a sidereal cosmology. In the tropical system, ecliptic longitude 0 starts from the equinoctial point marking the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, and the zodiac is demarcated by 12 houses 30 degrees on a side.

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Heres Your Sign: Are You an Ophiuchian?

BurnerMan54- It’s Dark (Gravy & Jelly) from RollPlay: Swan Song – Video

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BurnerMan54- It #39;s Dark (Gravy Jelly) from RollPlay: Swan Song
This is not my work, that honor belongs to Mr. BurnerMan54 https://soundcloud.com/burnerman54/its-dark-rollplay-swan-song Lyrics: (Betray you eventually) Artificial intelligence, Making...

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BurnerMan54- It's Dark (Gravy & Jelly) from RollPlay: Swan Song - Video

From thought to action: Leibniz Science Campus established in Gttingen

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28.11.2014 - (idw) Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH - Leibniz-Institut fr Primatenforschung

A Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition" will be established in Gttingen. On November 28, the Senate of the Leibniz Association has approved the necessary funding: For the next four years 900,000 Euros will be given annually to the research consortium. The founding members are the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Gttingen and the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN). In interdisciplinary projects, the scientists want to explore the cognitive abilities of monkeys and humans. The intensive cooperation should create a permanent, international competence network in this area of research. With the Leibniz Science Campus we would like to create a platform for interdisciplinary research in Gttingen, says Julia Fischer, head of the Cognitive Ethology Laboratory at the DPZ and spokesperson for the Science Campus. We want to especially strengthen cooperation within the field of primate cognition research, encourage young researchers and support new projects."

23 Gttingen behavioral biology, neuroscience and psychology researchers have already confirmed their participation. The official start will be on January 1st, 2015. The Science Campus is headed by a board, composed of two representatives of the DPZ and Gttingen University, respectively, as well as one representative of the BCCN. Besides Julia Fischer, the DPZ director Stefan Treue will represent the German Primate Center on this board. Together, the Leibniz Association, Gttingen University and the DPZ will each contribute one third of the budget.

Within multidisciplinary projects, the scientists will compare the mental abilities of human and non-human primates. This includes the complex processes of information intake, processing and turning the information into actions, as well as communication in monkeys and humans. "Above all, we are interested in the influence of social relationships on various thought processes and the resulting behavior," explains Julia Fischer. "The role of social cognition is therefore one of our main topics."

Research and international cooperation

Two scientists, one from the DPZ and the other from the University of Gttingen, coordinate each cluster. Hansjrg Scherberger, head of the Neurobiology Laboratory, Claudia Fichtel senior scientist in the Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit as well as Igor Kagan who is a junior research group leader in the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory will act as coordinators for the German Primate Center.

"We would also like to intensify international cooperation within the science campus", says Julia Fischer. A regular exchange through workshops and colloquia will take place, but also programs such as visits to other institutes and inviting guest scientists to Gttingen.

A special cooperation in the form of a study community for humanities and social science disciplines is planned with the Lichtenberg-Kolleg of the University of Gttingen. In order to strengthen the dialogue between the humanities and natural sciences, a group of young scientists who deal with philosophical aspects of cognitive research and reflect ethical questions will meet regularly in seminars.

"The successful acquisition of the science campus funding would not have been possible without the long-standing and excellent cooperation of university and non-university institutes within the Gttingen Campus," Stefan Treue summarizes. "We hope that in the long run we can build Gttingen into an international beacon in the field of primate cognition research."

The cooperation model of science campus

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From thought to action: Leibniz Science Campus established in Gttingen

Using social media for behavioral studies is cheap, fast, but fraught with biases

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

27-Nov-2014

Contact: Byron Spice bspice@cs.cmu.edu 412-268-9068 Carnegie Mellon University @CMUScience

PITTSBURGH--The rise of social media has seemed like a bonanza for behavioral scientists, who have eagerly tapped the social nets to quickly and cheaply gather huge amounts of data about what people are thinking and doing. But computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and McGill University warn that those massive datasets may be misleading.

In a perspective article published in the Nov. 28 issue of the journal Science, Carnegie Mellon's Juergen Pfeffer and McGill's Derek Ruths contend that scientists need to find ways of correcting for the biases inherent in the information gathered from Twitter and other social media, or to at least acknowledge the shortcomings of that data.

And it's not an insignificant problem; Pfeffer, an assistant research professor in CMU's Institute for Software Research, and Ruths, an assistant professor of computer science at McGill, note that thousands of research papers each year are now based on data gleaned from social media, a source of data that barely existed even five years ago.

"Not everything that can be labeled as 'Big Data' is automatically great," Pfeffer said. He noted that many researchers think -- or hope -- that if they gather a large enough dataset they can overcome any biases or distortion that might lurk there. "But the old adage of behavioral research still applies: Know Your Data," he maintained. vStill, social media is a source of data that is hard to resist. "People want to say something about what's happening in the world and social media is a quick way to tap into that," Pfeffer said. Following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, for instance, Pfeffer collected 25 million related tweets in just two weeks. "You get the behavior of millions of people -- for free."

The type of questions that researchers can now tackle can be compelling. Want to know how people perceive e-cigarettes? How people communicate their anxieties about diabetes? Whether the Arab Spring protests could have been predicted? Social media is a ready source for information about those questions and more.

But despite researchers' attempts to generalize their study results to a broad population, social media sites often have substantial population biases; generating the random samples that give surveys their power to accurately reflect attitudes and behavior is problematic. Instagram, for instance, has special appeal to adults between the ages of 18 and 29, African-Americans, Latinos, women and urban dwellers, while Pinterest is dominated by women between the ages of 25 and 34 with average household incomes of $100,000. Yet Ruths and Pfeffer said researchers seldom acknowledge, much less correct, these built-in sampling biases.

Other questions about data sampling may never be resolved because social media sites use proprietary algorithms to create or filter their data streams and those algorithms are subject to change without warning. Most researchers are left in the dark, though others with special relationships to the sites may get a look at the site's inner workings. The rise of these "embedded researchers," Ruths and Pfeffer said, in turn is creating a divided social media research community.

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Using social media for behavioral studies is cheap, fast, but fraught with biases