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RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY | Staff Reporter, Singapore

Plot in Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City sold for $292.47m

This is the second plot sold by Keppel in H2 2018.

Another plot of land in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (SSTEC), co-developed by Keppel Corporation, has been successfully bid for. The 8.77ha plot, meant for residential use, was sold to Tianjin Yeshine Group at $292.47m (RMB1.46b).

According to OCBC Investment Research, this is the second plot of land sold in the second half of 2018, and based on land area, this has fetched higher values than previous transactions.

Also read: Keppel's property segment dethrones O&M in profits

However, on a gross floor area (GFA) basis, the price is lower, said OIR analyst Low Pei Han. “We do note that the pricing for each plot varies according to the characteristics such as location and access to amenities, amongst other factors,” she said.

“It is important to look at both land price based on land area, as well as that based on GFA – the former because SSTEC had previously bought the land from the Tianjin government based on land area, whilst the latter could be more relevant for property developers looking to make bids,” Low added.

The land plot is in the Eco-City’s Central District, adjacent to the picturesque Eco-Valley and near Nankai High School and Nankai Primary School. This latest transaction is expected to be completed in October 2018.

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USC Neurosurgeon Pioneers New Method to Deliver Brain-Protective Medicines During Stroke Procedures

In a study funded by the American Heart Association, researcher William Mack, MD, showed that catheters used to remove blood clots can also be used to send neuroprotective agents directly to affected brain areas.

Paul Karon — January 24, 2018

For much of the last 20 years, immediate treatment for ischemic stroke has focused on the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator.) But recently, the bulk of research has driven a shift to mechanical thrombectomy—the use of purpose-designed catheters, threaded into the brain through the femoral artery, to grab and pull out the clots that block blood vessels.

William Mack, MD

But the clock is always ticking in the race to restore healthy blood flow within the brain, so surgeons also use various neuroprotective strategies to minimize ischemic damage, such as targeted hypothermia and various chemical agents, including anti-inflammatory therapies and vasodilators. These protective agents have traditionally been administered intravenously, which means the medicines had to travel from the injection point to the stroke site in the brain.

William Mack, MD, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Director of the Neurointerventional Program at Keck Hospital of USC, was an early adopter of mechanical thrombectomy. He saw that the catheters used to pull blood clots out of blood vessels could have an additional function as a drug-delivery system.

"Our thought was that while extracting the clot, it would be better to deliver these neuroprotective agents right to the affected area of the brain using the same tools we're using to remove the thrombus," said Mack.

The new delivery method could have important advantages over traditional IV injection. "Depending on the protective agent, it might allow the use of a higher effective dose without systemic side effects, or a smaller but equally effective dose," Mack said.

The research trial, which ran from 2013-2015, tested the neuroprotective agent magnesium, but the study's real goal was to understand if the catheters could be a safe and effective drug-delivery platform—one that might be useful for many types of interventions, in addition to stroke treatment. "We successfully demonstrated that we were able to deliver the agents with no additional side effects or problems," said Mack.

Mack is also an alum of the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute's (SC CTSI) Mentored Career Development in Clinical and Translational Science Program (formerly known as the KL2.) The program is designed to improve and accelerate the progress of newer scientists and junior faculty toward careers as principal investigators in clinical and translational research. The SC CTSI also provides many types of support and services to health investigators throughout the USC and CHLA research community, and across Southern California, several of which played a role in Mack's study.

For example, consultants affiliated with the SC CTSI provided guidance with the complexities of regulatory science, including stringent FDA and other requirements. The SC CTSI works closely with the International Center for Regulatory Science, of the USC School of Pharmacy.

SC CTSI and regulatory science consultants helped set up the trial site and conducted trial site visits, and functioned as a clinical auditing team for the study. They put the proper regulatory forms in place, oversaw the stock and handling of the study drug, and ensured that all regulatory accounting was performed properly, Mack explained.

The clinical auditing team made periodic site visits to monitor the study's progress and recently performed final auditing visits and drafted the close-out report. The project is now completed with full regulatory compliance.

"The requirements of setting up and managing a clinical site and of handling the regulatory elements of clinical research are extremely complex and must be adhered to, both for the safety of the participants, but also to protect the research study itself," said Mack. "The help that the SC CTSI team offers investigators like me helps ensure that all these investments of time, money, and effort leads to the most valuable outcomes for the investigators and the investigation."

NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important - All publications resulting from the utilization of SC CTSI resources are required to credit the SC CTSI grant by including the NIH funding acknowledgment and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.

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Online Courses

Course Description

ECIV 725 - Advanced Analysis and Design in Structural Metals

Class Session: Thursday, August 23, 2018 - Friday, December 07, 2018

Credit: 3 semester hours of graduate credit

Prerequisites: ECIV 325

Instructor: Dimitris Rizos

Course Description

Analysis and behavior of metal structural components under general loading combinations. Buckling phenomena of thin-walled open sections in the elastic and inelastic regions, and correlation with design code criteria. Behavior and design of plate girders.

General Information

Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 08:30am-09:45am.

Course Delivery Type

A Web course is taught using one or more web delivery platforms such as Blackboard, Streaming Video, Adobe Connect etc. Students must have access to a high-speed Internet connection. More information will be provided by the instructor in the course syllabus.

(100% asynchronous - if course has any online or face-to-face meetings, live attendance will not be required. For any such sessions, there will be alternative ways to view or obtain the material covered).

Course Materials

See course syllabus for materials information.

Syllabus Information

Enrolled students will be able to view in Blackboard.

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Enrolled students will be able to view in Blackboard.

Information is accurate as of September 21, 2018, 6:18 pm (Subject to change)

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Students may be required to be proctored during online test completion. If students are unable to attend test proctoring sessions in person at the Distributed Learning office, additional fees may apply for online test proctoring if the course requires online testing.

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DOE Secretary Moniz defending the science of climate change (wtf)

Anyone who has read what I’ve written these past 2 months about the Department of Energy knows that they are beyond reprehensible for their inappropriate policies regarding virtually aspect of fossil fuels (way too much emphasis on carbon based
energy research, development and investment), renewables (not nearly enough work in this area), their intermingling with, and direct policy advisement by the oil industry, and basically the entire structure of their department. It is shocking how interconnected they are with Big Oil.

Okay, now keep THAT in mind when you watch this brief interaction on YouTube between Senator David McKinley (West Virginia) and DOE Secretary Moniz regarding the validity of scientific consensus and data about global warming. McKinley is a climate change denier, by the way.

I’ve watched many video clips of Moniz and in many situations (with both his friends and his foes), and I’ve never seen him get so agitated. Keep in mind that he’s a nuclear physicist, by training. So what he says to McKinley makes PERFECT sense and is entirely appropriate. However, what he does in his job as Energy Secretary is entirely at odds with his clearly firm understanding of climate science and it’s seriousness.

So, I’ve got to ask: what’s up with that?

Here is the link:


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Kevin M. Stack

Publication Date

Summer 2015

After decades of debate, the lines of distinction between textualism and purposivism have been carefully drawn with respect to the judicial task of statutory interpretation. Far less attention has been devoted to the question of how executive branch officials approach statutory interpretation. While scholars have contrasted agencies’ interpretive practices from those of courts, they have not yet developed a theory of agency statutory interpretation.

This Article develops a purposivist theory of agency statutory interpretation on the ground that regulatory statutes oblige agencies to implement the statutes they administer in that manner. Regulatory statutes not only grant powers but also impose a duty on agencies to carry out those powers in accordance with the principles or purposes the statutes establish. To comply with that duty, agencies must develop a conception of the purposes that the statute requires them to pursue and select a course of action that best carries forward those purposes within the means permitted by the statute; in short, agencies must take a purposivist approach. Moreover, this Article argues that agencies’ institutional capacities—a familiar constellation of expertise, indirect political accountability, and ability to vet proposals before adopting them—make them ideally suited to carry out the task of purposive interpretation.

Understanding agency interpretation as purposive by statutory design has significant implications for long-standing debates. First, it suggests that the focus of judicial review should be on the agency’s specification of the statute’s purposes and chosen means to implement those purposes, questions that are not squarely addressed by the Chevron doctrine. Second, by providing an account of the character of the agency’s statutory duties, this analysis helps to distinguish appropriate from inappropriate political and presidential influences on the agency. Finally, investigating the debate between purposivism and textualism beyond the courts exposes a renewed promise—and project—for purposivism.


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Document Type

Occasional Paper

Publication Date

Where do people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities work? What are their hours, wages, and benefits? This brief covers partial results from a survey that gives a snapshot of the outcomes for recently employed people with developmental disabilities.

Research to Practice Brief, Issue No. 44

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.


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Daily Archives: March 13, 2009

XDR-TB Found In Kenya

By on .

If extensively drug resistant tuberculosis wasn’t on President Barack Obama’s radar screen already, perhaps this blaring headline will do the trick:   “Kenya reports a case of XDR-TB, more feared on the way.”   As everyone knows, Obama’s father is from Kenya, so it’s likely to capture his attention. Whether it will inspire him to […]

News on $$ for Global Health

By on .

Amid fears that global health funding will get shortchanged in this steep economic downturn, there are a couple of good-news glimmers today. Not from the U.S., though.   First is a report that the European Commission plans to boost its support for HIV prevention in southern Africa.   Details—like dollar figures—were notably scarce. But Alessandro […]

Funding Update

By on .

Global health advocates breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when President Barack Obama signed a long-awaited spending bill for fiscal year 2009, which started in October. As we noted in an earlier post, the measure’s fate appeared uncertain last week, as Republican objections and Democratic queasiness over the thousands of earmarks stalled the $410 billion spending […]


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Preservation of monuments: Pinpointed repair reduces costs

Credit: Photo: IONYS/KIT

The Waldbahn railway line near Welzheim is one of the most beautiful railway lines in South Germany and listed as a monument. Its viaducts, however, require restoration. The 100-year-old Laufenmühle viaduct, for instance, exhibits major damage, such as cracks in the reinforced concrete. If the viaduct was restored with standard state-of-the-art methods, the expenditure and costs would be enormous and the monument character would be endangered. The KIT Innovation Hub "Prevention in Construction" now succeeded in bringing together the right partners and in developing a customized approach to sustainable repair of the viaduct.

"Construction of the Laufenmühle viaduct 100 years ago was a technical masterpiece of civil engineers. Now, engineers also break new ground in the restoration of the damaged concrete pillars and arches," explains Professor Andreas Gerdes, Scientific Director of the KIT Innovation Hub. Based on today's regulations and building data collected, a support construction of 30 to 50 cm thick concrete arches had been envisaged underneath the viaduct. However, this would have changed the appearance of the bridge. "The associated expenditure and costs would have been enormous," Gerdes points out. "Instead, we used modern scientific methods to improve the database and to adapt the repair concept to the viaduct without damaging its basic structure." Use of modern scientific methods for historic constructions results in customized options for the preservation of monuments, in particular for early reinforced concrete constructions.

"By ultrasonic and building radar measurements, every centimeter of the viaduct was examined down to a depth of 50 to 70 cm and documented. The damaged points were identified and assessed," Gerdes reports. Cooperation between IONYS AG, a spinoff of KIT, and the Patitz engineering office produced a detailed picture of the damage of the viaduct. With these data, the Rothenhöfer engineering office carried out innovative computations and provided the static basis for repair. Such detailed recording and analysis of data facilitates sustainable planning for municipalities as the building owners. Resources can be used optimally and a customized repair concept can be implemented.

For the Laufenmühle viaduct, this means that cement suspensions will be injected specifically into the damaged areas of the arched bridge. "In this way, the original appearance of the Laufenmühle viaduct will be preserved," Gerdes says. "And, in addition, restoration costs are reduced considerably." Now, the city of Welzheim only has to afford an amount of EUR 2.2 million instead of 3.5 million for the originally planned restoration. At the same time, further operation of the railway line as a tourist attraction will be ensured. Parallel to operation, restoration is planned to be completed by summer 2017.

The historic Waldbahn railway line between Rudersberg and Welzheim consists of three viaducts, the Laufenmühle viaduct, the Strümpfelbach viaduct, and the Igelsbach viaduct. The ensemble of nearly 23 km in length is listed as a monument. In particular, the Laufenmühle viaduct is considered a major construction of early railway building and has become a landmark. Since 2010, the railway line has been operated as a tourist attraction and developed to a major infrastructure for the spa of Welzheim.

The restoration method was developed by the KIT Innovation Hub "Prevention in Construction." The KIT Hub wants to bring together the actors of the complete innovation and value-added chain, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises. Competences are to be pooled and sustainable solutions are to be developed for the preservation of modern as well as historic technical infrastructure buildings. All these goals were met when planning the repair of the Laufenmühle viaduct: Scientists of KIT, IONYS AG – a spinoff of KIT and Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, and the engineering offices Rothenhöfer and Patitz in Karlsruhe jointly developed a sustainable solution that is in the interest of all parties.

For further information, please contact: Kosta Schinarakis, PKM – Science Scout, Phone: +49 721 608 41956, Fax: +49 721 608 43658, Email: [email protected]

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) pools its three core tasks of research, higher education, and innovation in a mission. With about 9,300 employees and 25,000 students, KIT is one of the big institutions of research and higher education in natural sciences and engineering in Europe.

KIT – The Research University in the Helmholtz Association

Since 2010, the KIT has been certified as a family-friendly university.

This press release is available on the internet at

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Libraries, books, and librarians

Photo: Stockholm public library, Marcus Hansson, CC-BY-2.0 via

I’ve always loved libraries. As a young boy, I combed the stacks of my town library, finding great books that took me far beyond the world I knew (40 years later, I’m sharing those same books with my son*). As a no-longer-young academic, I love libraries just as much; but my reasons have changed a bit, and so has my understanding of what a library is.

As a boy, I loved the library because I loved books, and I understood the library as a building full of books. Libraries still have a lot of books, but fewer than they used to, as information has moved online and more square footage is allocated to meeting rooms, study space, computer stations, and so on. It’s not hard to find someone declaring with anguish the death of the library; it’s also not hard to find someone declaring that same death with smug pleasure. For a while I was tempted to join the anguished camp; but instead I’ve come to see the library not as a building full of books, but as a building full of librarians. And if books are wonderful, well, librarians are pretty great too.

There’s a long list of things librarians can do for a child, for a student, or for an academic. A lot of these have to do with teaching people to find, interpret, and evaluate information – with that last being especially important in an age where online searches can bring you millions of results but little help in knowing which are credible**. It goes on, though – my university’s librarians help faculty and students with writing, data archiving, citation formatting, copyright practices, study habits, and the list goes on and on. But my most recent reason for being in awe of librarians has to do with their uncanny ability to find information.

Librarians, in fact, have search superpowers. This might seem unimportant. In a way it’s never been easier to find information than it is today – I’ve already mentioned that search engines pull up millions of pages on almost any topic. But while search engines are very good, they aren’t all-knowing; and the very flood of search results can hide information as well as reveal it. Let me tell you a story about a search, and how a human librarian put a Google search to shame.

In my (forthcoming) writing book, I wanted to include a quotation from the American poet William Stafford, who (according to some reasonably credible print sources) said

“There is no such thing as writer’s block for writers whose standards are low enough”.

I needed a citation to the original source, though – and I needed to know that he actually said it. A Google search quickly gave me hundreds of pages using that quote, but not one with an original citation. I worked at this for most of a day (I’d never gotten to the 100th page of a Google search before) and then did what I should have done a lot sooner: called in an expert. I went to the Science Library and asked one of the librarians, Judy, if she wanted a challenge. I gave her the supposed quotation, and she promised to see what she could do.

The very next day, Judy called me. With some help from her colleagues, she’d checked a biography of Stafford, and learned that while he was deceased, he had a son, Kim Stafford, who is also a poet and teaches at Lewis and Clark College. So Judy wrote to Kim, who suggested the version I had wasn’t right, but was consistent with other things he remembered his father saying. Kim in turn contacted the archivist of his father’s papers, and between them they pointed out a couple of places where William had published similar thoughts. In the end, I was able to use a real quotation:

“I think there are never mornings that anybody ‘can’t write.’ I think that anybody could write if he would have standards as low as mine***” (Stafford 1978, Writing the Australian crawl: Views on the writer’s vocation. University of Michigan Press, p. 104).

This was fantastic: not only did I have my citation, I had (subsequently) a lovely email exchange with Kim Stafford. Now, maybe you would have thought of tracking down William Stafford’s family, as Judy did. But it would never have occurred to me; and if it had, I might not have had the chutzpah to actually do it. And this isn’t my only example of librarians with search superpowers. Judy also found me the archives holding a particular 16th-century map (when all I had was a low-resolution jpg cropped too small to tell what it was a map of), and a quotation by J.G. Ballard that appeared only in an author Q-and-A in one particular printing of one particular edition of his novel Millennium People. Other librarians have found me things just as obscure; I haven’t managed to stump them yet.

I often send my undergraduates to the library, and many of them seem perplexed by this. They see the library as a quiet place to study, and if they notice the books and journals, they see them as quaintly archaic (because “everything” is online). If they see the librarians at all, they see someone to check out course-reserve material for them. What an underestimation! Maybe I shouldn’t have let the secret out, because if Judy and her colleagues ever face demands from every student like those they’ve faced from me, the system will grind to a halt. But what a resource my students are missing out on! A library is a building full of librarians, and that’s a wonderful thing.

© Stephen Heard ( March 21, 2016

Related posts:

*^My town library was small, but there were gems. Here are three I discovered there that are still in print, but no longer well known: George Selden’s Tucker’s Countryside; Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain; and Alan Garner’s Elidor. My son has loved the first two, but is not quite old enough yet for the third. If you need a gift for a child (aged ~6-9, 8-11, and 11-14 respectively), I recommend these highly.

**^A Google search for “vaccines autism” returned about 22 million hits this morning. Among the top two dozen were well-written pages explaining the science, scaremongering pseudoscientific conspiracy theories, and everything in between. Navigating this isn’t easy, and most of us have seen students (and others) struggle. (I posted about the understandable difficulties of non-scientists dealing with issues like this here).

***^What he meant was that if you feel blocked, it may be because you think you’re writing something terrible. But that’s irrelevant to the task at hand, which is to produce a draft version – any draft version, because even having complete garbage on the page in front of you is far better than having a blank piece of paper. Garbage you can work with.

4 thoughts on “Libraries, books, and librarians

  1. Judy MacLean

    Thank you so much Stephen! As you know, I’m always game for a little challenge. I hope I can live up to my new superpower reputation! 🙂

  2. craftycrabbe

    I grew up enjoying my public library as a child: particularly the dusty old children’s books stored in the stacks upstairs. Fast forward 40 years and I’m a volunteer tour guide at a library and every time I discover a new collection specialisation at our library I’m delighted: theatre programmes, files with brochures from artist’s exhibitions, the archives of a magician, audio recording, pictures, photos, posters and ephemera. So many sources (and only some digitised as yet), but the librarians are the human sources and interfaces, whose brains range across many collections and make connections. Thanks for an interesting read, it’s nice to read a twist on the theme of bemoaning the loss of books to instead celebrate librarians.

  3. Pingback: Being an open-access advocate doesn’t excuse you from proper literature searches | Scientist Sees Squirrel

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latest news

10.04.18 Old English Lunch Meeting

Networking Nuggets and Practice Pointers!

Please join us for our next luncheon on Thursday, October 4th at 11:30 am at Amelie’s Left Bank in beautiful downtown Rock Hill.  Instead of our usual CLE program, we will be doing a fun networking lunch focusing on professional development skills.

Have you ever noticed that  women network differently than men?  We are also more likely to seek out self-improvement and professional development to optimize our strengths and skills.  We’ll have plenty of time for networking, along with the opportunity to share some networking nuggets for rainmaking and business development tips from those of us in private practice, as well as professional pointers from our experienced judges, prosecutors, and government attorneys.  This will be a fun way of getting to know each other better and we hope you can take time out of your busy schedules to attend.  And remember, the delicious luncheon from Amelie’s is free for SCWLA members!  Please RSVP Here by September 28th at 5 pm.


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EXCLUSIVE : THE 100 Scoop: Stars Eliza Taylor and Isaiah Washington Talk the Tortured Quests of Clarke and Jaha

The 100

It may be good to be a king, but it is a tough journey to be a savior.  In Season 1 of THE 100, both Clarke and Jaha fought against impossible odds to save their people.  Jaha made the ultimate sacrifice to stay behind to ensure that the surviving Arc residents had a chance to make it to Earth.  Clarke fought tooth and nail for every single one of the hundred sent to Earth and who were slowly being sacrificed or picked off by the cruel residents of Earth.  97 years had not done much to earn a warm welcome when the hundred or even the Ark residents returned to Earth.  The Grounders, the Reapers and the Mountain Men were, in fact, very unwelcoming.  It has also become evident that the number one rule is on Earth: kill or be killed. Peaceful coexistence seems to be just as alien a concept to Earth’s current inhabitants as the alien Ark residents literally falling out of the sky onto Earth’s surface.

So when Clarke awoke in the Mt. Weather facility, her instinct was to find out what happened to the surviving 48 at any cost.  What she found was the 24 or so survivors from the drop-ship battle with the Grounders had been “rescued” by the Mountain Men aka Mt. Weather security team.  That’s right 24 of the last 48.  They are “the hundred” no more.  Jaha had been right from the outset when he forewarned the hundred that they were being sent on a virtual suicide mission to see if Earth was habitable.  What he could not have known was the radiation was not going to kill them, but the remnants of humanity still on Earth would.  It is to the hundred’s credit that they fought as hard as they did for their own survival.  But 24 of the original hundred speaks to a huge loss of life.  Even Clarke seems crushed to hear that so few survived.  Their last stand in the Season 1 finale was just that — a last stand.  They may have taken 200-300 Grounders and Reapers with them, but so many of the hundred had given up their lives as well.

Yet even amongst the supposedly welcoming folk of Mt. Weather, Clarke seems uncertain that the Mt. Weatherites are truly as friendly as they are trying to appear.  After all, why now?  Why did it take them so long to make an appearance to the hundred?  Why did they wait? Was there some grand experiment to see how the hundred would survive on their own?  Was it because Mt. Weather’s own resources would have been taxed beyond their limits and they need to have the hundred culled down a bit before they could “rescue” them and invite them into their cavernous home underneath the mountain?

Then Jaha only thought he was alone on the space station after the Ark broke away and crashed to Earth.  His worst fear was realized when he heard the sound of a crying baby at the end of last week’s episode.  So in this week’s episode, he will search to find that last surviving member of his doomed flock.  Who would have left a child behind?  To his horror, Jaha finds a very real baby and he must find a way to save it and him before the rapidly diminishing life support systems fail completely.

For Clarke and Jaha, their days of savior have not ended — it has just begun.  A savior’s job is never truly over when there are human lives on the line.  Jaha must use every bit of ingenuity at his disposal as the clock ticks down, and Clarke must determine whether the information she is told by the Mt. Weather folks could possibly to be true — if they do not, not only will more lives be lost, but humanity itself may not survive — for some secrets come at a terrible price.

In exclusive interviews, stars Eliza Taylor and Isaiah Washington talked about what hurdles both Clarke and Jaha must now face as the survival of the entire human race is at stake and maybe at risk based on their next decisions:

To see what miracle awaits Jaha and just what secrets Mt. Weather may be hiding, be sure to tune in for an all new episode of THE 100 on Wednesday, October 29th at 9:00 p.m. on the CW.

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Absolute Computrace: Frequently Asked Questions

In response to numerous requests for comments and clarifications after our presentation at theKaspersky Security Analyst Summit 2014, we have created this FAQ with some answers to the most commonly asked questions.

1. Why did you decide to expand this research after the presentation about Absolute Computrace in 2009?

Kaspersky Lab decided to undertake full research on this topic after discovering several privately owned laptops of Kaspersky Lab security researchers had the Computrace agent running without prior authorization. Such unauthorized activations quickly became alarming when our reverse engineering revealed serious vulnerabilities in the Computrace agent protocol design.

Absolute Software’s press release from 2009 claims that “The Computrace BIOS module is activated by the installation of Absolute Software by our customers, and is never forced upon any user. Computrace is designed to be activated, deactivated, controlled and managed by the customer using encrypted channels.”

However, we found signs of unauthorized activations on our hardware. Our research paper shows that actual versions of Computrace agent still use unencrypted channels. Due to this fact, we were able to conduct a live demo of a hijack of the Computrace agent at the SAS 2014 conference.

2. Did you contact Absolute Computrace before making your research public?

We notified Absolute Software via email and attached the full research paper draft. Here is a screenshot of the email message sent to Absolute Software on February 3, 2014:

Later that day we have received an automatic email from the Absolute Software mail server: “Delivery has failed to these recipients or distribution lists: security@absolute.com”

There were no other error messages which means that the email should have reached Absolute Software on other addresses in the list, however we have never received a formal response.

3. How recent was the Computrace agent variant you analyzed?

We analyzed several executables and laptops during the course of this research. The analyzed laptops were brand-new, purchased in 2012 with the top configurations available on the market according to the laptop owners.

The variant of the Computrace agent we used in our live demo was compiled in 2012:

4. How can I detect Computrace on a system?

The Simplest and most efficient way is to search for rpcnet.exe process in Task Manager or a file with the same name in your C:WindowsSystem32 directory. If found – you have Computrace activated. For an extended list of Computrace agent activity please see Appendix A of our research paper.

5. Should non-Windows users worry about unauthorized activations of Computrace?

As of now, we are not aware of EFI Firmware or BIOS Optional ROMS that have executables for non-Windows platforms, which means that the agent code will not be installed on non-Windows partitions. For details on how the agent is installed from BIOS please see our full research paper

6. Does Computrace security issues affect non-Windows platforms?

Our research shows a security flaw in the Computrace agent protocol design which means that theoretically all agents for any platform may be affected. However, we have only confirmed the vulnerability in the Windows agent.

We are aware of Computrace products for Mac OS X and Android tablets. However, we have not analyzed the protocols they use.

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  1. davie curry

    Is there a way of removing this or if I force stop on my galaxy s5 will that stop it until I force restart can I ask Samsung to send a new hand set out ?

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Proactive Protection Made Easy

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Surging numbers of virus outbreaks, hacker attacks making news, network scams, the threat posed by spyware – all of this has contributed to growth in demand for anti-virus systems. There are a multitude of anti-virus solutions on the market. How does one select the best product? Which anti-virus solution can guarantee 100% virus detection rates with the lowest possible false-positive levels? Which anti-virus solution offers the broadest range of technologies to ensure adequate protection of the computer and the network against all kinds of malicious program?

An essential part of any anti-virus product is the so-called anti-virus engine, the module responsible for scanning objects and detecting malicious programs. It is the anti-virus engine that determines the quality of malicious program detection, and therefore the protection level offered by an anti-virus solution. However, due to explosive growth in the number of malicious programs, the importance of pre-emptive – or proactive – methods of detecting malicious software has lately been increasing. These methods help detect malicious software before anti-virus databases are updated – in other words, detect a threat before it appears. Importantly, in this case false-positive rates should also be as low as possible (ideally, there should be no false positives at all).

This document describes and evaluates the main approaches to proactive protection implemented by different vendors. It is intended primarily for computer security experts familiar with the basic operating principles of anti-virus software.

Proactive Protection

In the past several years the “death” of classical anti-virus solutions, which use one kind of signature or another to detect malicious software, has been the subject of extensive discussion in the information security market. The principal reason for this is believed to be the speed with which malicious software is spreading, which is faster than the rate at which anti-virus databases are distributed. In addition, some time is always needed to analyze a new virus. Therefore, users remain unprotected from the time a malicious program is discovered until the time an anti-virus database update becomes available. Different companies envisage several different approaches to addressing this situation.

Heuristic Analyzer

When the number of existing viruses exceeded several hundreds, anti-virus experts began to explore the idea of detecting malicious programs the existence of which is as yet unknown to the anti-virus program because the relevant signatures do not exist yet. As a result, the so-called heuristic analyzers were developed.

A heuristic analyzer is a set of subroutines analyzing the code of executable files, macros, scripts, memory or boot sectors to detect all sorts of malicious program that cannot be identified using the usual (signature-based) methods. In other words, heuristic analyzers are intended to search for unknown malicious software .

Heuristic analyzers have relatively low detection rates, as virus writers have dozens of ways in which they can “cheat” them. In addition, heuristic analyzers with high detection rates also have high false-positive levels, making them unacceptable for most purposes. Detection rates of even the best anti-virus products do not exceed 25-30% when it comes to new malicious programs. In spite of low detection rates, heuristic methods are still often used in contemporary anti-virus solutions. There is a simple reason for this: detection quality can be improved by combining various pre-emptive methods of virus detection.

Policy-Based Security

A security policy is an essential part of any well-designed strategy of protection against IT threats. A well-designed policy reduces several-fold the risk of infection by a malicious program, hacker attacks or leaks of confidential information. A simple example: if the user is not allowed to open e-mail attachments, the risk of a mail worm infecting the computer is practically eliminated. Blocking the use of removable media also reduces the risk of malicious code penetration. A security policy should always be designed very carefully to take into account the needs and business processes for all divisions and employees of the company.

Besides the approach described above, various vendors mention policy-based security in their information materials. There are currently several approaches to this method of ensuring security.

A security policy is an essential part of any well-designed strategy of protection against IT threats.

The Trend Micro approach: Trend Micro Outbreak Prevention Services. This service is based on distributing policies that help prevent an outbreak, i.e. a policy is distributed before anti-virus database updates or patches are released. At first glance, this looks like a reasonable solution. However, Trend Micro is slow to add procedures for detecting new malware, and the purpose of this solution is to “plug a hole” in the slow work of the TrendLab virus lab. In addition, creating a policy takes time (sometimes as long as it takes to analyze a virus and add detection procedures to the AV database), which means that there is still a time period during which a user is unprotected against the new threat. Another shortcoming of this approach is the rate at which security policies are changed. All the advantages of policy-based security are based on infrequent changes of the policies themselves. This helps the staff to get used to which things and actions are allowed and which are forbidden. However, if policies are replaced several times a day, this will only lead to confusion, resulting in no security policy at all. It would be more accurate to see the Trend Micro method as accelerated releasing of a certain kind of signature update rather than a policy-based security approach. Therefore, in most cases this approach is not really proactive. An exception is policies making it impossible to take advantage of certain software vulnerabilities.

The Cisco-Microsoft approach. Limiting access to the corporate network for computers that do not comply with the company’s security policy (e.g. not having required operating system updates, the latest anti-virus database updates etc.). To bring a computer in line with the security policy, it is allowed access only to a special updates server. After installing all the necessary updates and performing other actions required by the security policy, the computer is granted access to the corporate network.

Intrusion Prevention Systems

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are able to close a computer’s vulnerabilities that are most often used by malicious programs in order to block new threats before the anti-virus databases are updated. This involves blocking ports to eliminate the possibility of infection penetrating into the computer and further reproducing, creating policies to limit access to directories or individual files, detecting a source of infection on the network and blocking further communication with it. This technology offers good protection against hacker attacks and bodiless worms and viruses, but it is not effective against mail worms, classical viruses and Trojan programs.

Protection against Buffer Overruns

The idea behind this technology is preventing buffer overruns for the most common programs and Windows services, including Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook and SQL Server. Most attacks nowadays exploit various vulnerabilities involving buffer overruns. Preventing buffer overruns can also be regarded as proactive protection, as this technology simply prevents exploitation of such vulnerabilities by any malicious code or attack.

Behaviour Blockers

The history of behaviour blockers goes back more than 13 years. This type of anti-virus software was not popular 8-10 years ago, but as new IT threats appeared, behaviour blockers were remembered again. The main idea behind a blocker is analysis of program behaviour and blocking of any hazardous actions. In theory, a blocker can prevent the distribution of any virus, both known and unknown (i.e. written after the blocker was released). This is the direction in which most anti-virus software developers are moving. There are numerous implementations of this technology. Most mail worm protection systems have lately been developed based on behaviour blocker mechanisms.

“Prehistoric” Behaviour Blockers

The first generation of behaviour blockers appeared as far back as the mid-nineties (at the height of the DOS virus era). Their operating principle was simple: when a potentially hazardous action was detected, the user was prompted to allow or block the action. In many cases this approach worked, but “suspicious” actions were also performed by legitimate programs (including the operating system), and if the user was not sufficiently competent, the anti-virus program’s prompts caused confusion. As personal computers became more widespread, the average user’s competence level decreased and the demand for the first generation of behaviour blockers waned.

Behaviour Blocker for VBA Programs. KAV Office Guard

As mentioned above, the principal shortcoming of early behaviour blockers was the frequency with which a user was prompted for action. This was because a behaviour blocker was unable to decide whether a particular action was malicious or not. However, with programs written in VBA it is easy to distinguish malicious actions from useful with a very high degree of accuracy. This is why KAV Office Guard is not as “obtrusive” as its file brethren. However, despite asking the user fewer questions this blocker has not become less reliable: a user utilizing it is protected against practically all macro viruses, both existing and those not yet written. In other words, by using advantages offered by an operating environment it became possible to achieve a reasonable balance between reliability and the number of prompts a user gets. However, in terms of its operating principles KAV Office Guard is still a “prehistoric” behaviour blocker.

Second-Generation Behaviour Blockers

The second generation of behaviour blockers is different in that they analyze sequences of actions rather than individual actions, using this analysis to decide whether a particular piece of software is malicious. This greatly reduces the frequency with which a user has to be prompted, improving detection reliability at the same time. An example of a second-generation behaviour blocker is the Proactive Defense Module implemented in Kaspersky Lab products.

Different Approaches to Proactive Protection

StormFront, the first product in the new generation of commercial proactive protection systems based on behaviour blockers, was released by Okena, a company specializing in development of intrusion detection and protection systems. In January 2003 Okena was acquired by Cisco Systems, and StormFront was released as Cisco Security Agent. This product is a classical behaviour blocker designed for corporate customers. The product needs to be set up by a qualified administrator before it can be used.

McAfee is actively developing proactive protection technologies incorporated into products in the McAfee Entercept family. These products are able to close a computer’s vulnerabilities to a new threat before anti-virus database updates are released (IPS/IDS). This involves blocking ports, i.e. the possibility of infection penetrating into the computer and further reproducing, creating policies to limit access to directories or individual files, detecting a source of infection on the network and blocking further communication with it. In addition, these products are able to prevent buffer overruns for approximately 20 most common programs and Windows services, including Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook and SQL Server, which can also be regarded as proactive protection. Personal products use only WormStopper, an improved heuristic technology detecting Internet worms distributed via e-mail and blocking suspicious activity on a computer, such as sending a large number of unauthorized e-mails to people in the address book.

Panda TruPrevent is comprised of three components: a process behaviour analyzer, which analyzes the behaviour of processes running on the system and detects suspicious actions, a heuristic analyzer and a set of IDS functions detecting malicious packets and protecting against buffer overrun. The product is positioned by Panda Software as the second line of defence against any unknown malicious software (a classical anti-virus solution is should be used as the first line of defence) and is designed to detect unknown malware launched on the computer. The product is intended for end-users (not an administrator).

The second-generation behaviour blocker has an important feature: “rollback” of actions performed by malicious code.

In Symantec products, pro-active protection incorporates a built-in heuristic analyzer capable of detecting unknown virus modifications based on their characteristic actions on the system, as well as Norton Internet Worm Protection, a set of IPS/IDS (Intrusion Prevention/Detection System) components blocking the most common paths used by malware to penetrate into the system (Prevention) and detecting suspicious actions (Detection). Also, the company offers Outbreak Alert, a feature providing alerts on particularly hazardous internet threats (supplied as part of Norton Internet Security 2005). In addition, at the service level Symantec offers Early Warning Services (EWS), a service providing early alerts when vulnerabilities are identified. The service is now being integrated into a new system, Global Intelligence Services.

Microsoft is also developing proactive methods of protection against malicious software. The details and time frame are unknown.

Trend Micro’s PC-cillin Internet Security 2005 incorporates a heuristic analyzer and an Outbreak Alert System providing proactive notification of new impending threats. Its corporate product, Trend Micro OfficeScan Corporate Edition 6.5, uses signatures with the Outbreak Prevention Service, which automatically configures protection rules to prevent infection from penetrating into the system even before anti-virus databases are updated. This functionality is not available in the personal product.

In BitDefender products proactive protection means a behaviour analyzer blocking malicious programs based on analyzing their characteristic actions on the system (the application monitors system files, the system register and internet activity).

New Kaspersky Lab products use the company’s proven heuristic analyzer in combination with a number of cutting-edge proactive protection technologies. Kaspersky Lab products use an intrusion detection and prevention system (IPS/IDS) designed to fight hacker attacks and bodiless viruses. The notification system notifies users of outbreaks and other security events. But the most important innovation from the viewpoint of fighting new threats is the second-generation behaviour blocker. The blocker has an important feature: “rollback” of actions performed by malicious code. This helps dramatically reduce the number of questions the system asks the user and reduce the risk of damage to the system before new malicious software is detected.

Other Methods

Mail traffic can be protected using special methods based on analyzing messages passing through a mail server, helping to nip an outbreak in the bud. The following statistics can give grounds for suspecting the beginning of an outbreak:

  • Mass mailing or reception of identical attachments
  • Mass mailing or reception of identical messages with different attachments
  • Attachments with double extensions
  • Etc.

In addition, linguistic analysis can be performed on message bodies.

Summarizing the above, it can be said that the following proactive protection methods are currently available on the market:

  1. A process behaviour analyzer analyzing processes running on the system and detecting suspicious actions, i.e. unknown malicious programs.
  2. Elimination of possibilities for virus penetration into the computer, blocking of ports which are used by known viruses and which might be used by their new modifications (the IPS/IDS component).
  3. Prevention of buffer overruns for Windows programs and services that are most commonly used by intruders in their attacks (the IPS/IDS component).
  4. Minimization of damage done by an infection, preventing it from spreading further, limitation of access to files and directories, detection and blocking of the source of infection on the network (IPS/IDS component).

Hence, it can be said that proactive protection technologies are developing from a plaything of professionals or computer geeks into a tool for home and corporate users and are becoming a priority area for anti-virus software vendors.

Pros and Cons of Different Proactive Detection Methods

Heuristic Analyzer

Pros Cons
  • A well-known and proven technology.
  • Does not require frequent updates.
  • Takes up large amounts of CPU time.
  • Low detection rates (25-30%).
  • High false-positive levels (increasing when detection rates go up).

This technology can be used in all anti-virus products both on workstations and on file or mail servers and internet gateways. The heuristic analyzer is currently the only proactive technology that can be used effectively in all anti-virus products.

Policy-Based Security

Pros Cons
  • An essential part of any integrated approach to security.
  • Does not depend on software type.
  • Talking of detection rates makes no sense, as there is no way of calculating them.
  • The Trend Micro approach is essentially not a proactive method. It is a variation on the signatures theme, with policy descriptions used in place of signatures. Therefore, in most cases this approach is not proactive.

Policy-based security can be used in some form by any company regardless of size, IT infrastructure or field. Moreover, a well-designed policy can help reduce the risks associated with IT threats several-fold at practically no cost.

Pros Cons
  • A good technology for protecting against hacker attacks and bodiless worms and viruses.
  • Not applicable to detecting other types of malicious software.
  • Requires updating attack signatures.

This technology has proved to be very effective in products for protection of workstations and internet gateways. IDS can not be used for mail traffic protection.

Protection against Buffer Overruns

Pros Cons
  • A good technology for protecting against malicious software using vulnerabilities like “buffer overrun” – 100% detection rates.
  • Does not require updates.
  • False positives practically non-existent.
  • Can not be used to detect other types of malicious software.
  • Most modern computers incorporate support for this technology at the hardware level (NX flag in AMD CPU’s, Execution Disable Bit – Intel) – there will be no demand for the software implementation.

Taking into account that all modern processors support buffer overrun protection at the hardware level, the future of a software implementation is doubtful. Despite this, there is demand for buffer overrun protection of workstations, internet gateways and other servers with direct internet connections.

Behaviour Blockers

Pros Cons
  • Relatively high detection rates (up to 60-70%).
  • A well-known and proven technology.
  • Does not require frequent updates.
  • Detection of any types of malicious software.
  • Requires little CPU time and other resources compared to heuristic analyzers.
  • False positives.
  • Behaviour blockers ask users many questions requiring them to make decisions.
  • A “rollback” function is required (restoring the system from changes made by the malicious code prior to its detection, at the stage of information gathering).

Behaviour blockers are applicable only in cases when execution of a suspicious program is possible, i.e. on workstations. On mail and file servers and gateways suspicious programs should not be launched at all, and will therefore not need a behaviour blocker.

Of all the proactive methods of detecting malicious software described above, behaviour blockers are the most promising. Intrusion detection and prevention systems and heuristic analyzers also have potential, providing that their shortcomings described above can be diminished. However, none of these technologies alone can cope with the task of ensuring maximum detection of malicious programs with minimum false-positive rates. Only an integrated approach uniting various technologies can achieve this objective.

Summary Table of Proactive Technologies Used by Vendors

Cisco McAfee Panda Symantec Trend Micro BitDefender Kaspersky Lab
Heuristic Analyzer + + + + + +
IPS + + + +
Buffer Overrun +
Policy-based +
Alerting system + + +
Behaviour Blocker + + + +

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My friend, Ryan Akers, often blogs “quick hits” as an easy update on life happenings. I didn’t feel like writing much tonight, so “quick hits” will do.

– God instantly healed one of our girls’ fingers, which has been injured for two months, as we prayed for her last night! Swelling and pain gone instantly! YAY GOD!!!
– The older kids have been serving an evangelistic team from the USA for the past few days- translating for the team and praying with new believers and the sick. It has been so fun to step back and watch the kids minister!
– Michele and some of our staff are in Uganda this week for a course on using art in trauma healing. That’s a great opportunity that God arranged for the staff!!!
– Carissa Hawley (Imagodei Films) has been with us for a month now. She’s filming a documentary about Iris Ministries Sudan called “The Face of Love.” The film will follow up on the question, “What does love look like?” which Michele addressed a bit in her recently-released book, Love Has a Face. (Speaking of Michele’s great book- you can get your own copy on or through your local Barnes and Nobles!)
– The kids are continuing to worship the Lord together each evening. Last night, I caught a glimpse of some angels in their worship meeting. That was cool! 🙂
– My Sudanese brother told me that he wants to be baptized!!! (I’ve been praying for this day to come!!!) We’re hoping for a baptism in the local dam this Sunday afternoon!!!
– Our older boys have repeatedly asked for soccer shoes. I’ve repeatedly told them we don’t have the budget for it, but God loves to hear their requests… so they’ve prayed. 🙂 TODAY, some American visitors in town gave us an entire suitcase of soccer shoes! Not just any soccer shoes- but Nike prototypes for cleats that aren’t even being sold in stores yet!!! Some of these shoes retail at $200 per pair!!! How crazy and amazing that our Father cares enough to send these kids the best. 🙂
Other than that, life continues much as normal. 🙂 God is GOOD!
Much love to you, friends!

About Jennie Joy

I'm a lover and truth-seeker. This blog is a place for me to share my thoughts, struggles, and sincere searchings as I get to know God and welcome the reality of His kingdom in and through me.

3 responses »

  1. Kindwolf says:

    Thank you so much. Russian readers will read it as well.

  2. Mandy says:

    these are amazing "quick hits" 🙂

  3. Maegan says:

    Hooray! God is good. Even with soccer shoes. He does hear the prayers of his little ones who pray with such faith

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Batman: Arkham Origins – How To Defeat Firefly

Batman Arkham Origins Firefly
The firefly fight in Batman: Arkham Origins takes place in three different stages.

You start off by grappling firefly, when he lands he will throw fire blasts and grenades at you which you will need to evade. Choose to evade either to the left or towards the right when you see flames approaching you.

When firefly is done attacking, toss glue grenades at him and quickly follow these up with some batarangs and then fire your grapple when you see the prompt. If done properly, you’ll be able to get firefly into melee range at which you can begin to give him a solid beating.

Repeat this process and you are well on your way to winning this fight.

During this fight, the camera edge will begin to shift. When this happens quickly, grapple to the exposed bar and run left along the girder.

Jump and glide across this area while avoiding the sloping steel plate towards the right of the platform. Hang from the ledge and then curve around to the left side where you can use your grapple to return to the top of the bridge.

Weave and evade between the cars as you go and then slide under the semi-rig where you can re-engage firefly. Rinse and repeat the same tactics you used before and when firefly is low on health you need grapple him when prompted.

Firefly will take off just before his health reaches zero and will pull you behind him so use counter to evade the obstacles as you move through and you will eventually have won this fight.


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Battlefield 1 Alpha Screenshots Show Lobbies, Loadouts, Server Browser and More

One brave Reddit user has violated a non-disclosure agreement and leaked a large number of Battlefield 1 alpha screenshots onto the internet.

These screenshots show off game lobbies, class loadouts, and a server browser that seems to be replacing Battlelog on the PC version of the games. Battlefield 1’s alpha footage is taking place before the game’s official release in October.

The closed alpha, which only started a little while ago, was exclusively played on the St. Quentin Scar map. Set during the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin in 1918, the map takes place around a small village that’s been partially devastated by war, and features the German and British teams. One of the Behemoth superweapons used in it is a massive zeppelin.

The lobby screenshots actually seem to show a lobby that’s similar to the lobby from Star Wars Battlefront, a smooth, flat design where you choose your game mode of choice rather than having to play what’s on the servers. The two different gametypes that are available in the alpha appear to be Conquest and Domination, both of which I assume are “territory capture” modes.

Other Battlefield 1 alpha screenshots include shots of the controller and what button does what, the ability to rebind keys if you prefer to play on a keyboard, and the ability to customize your loadouts before you go into battle.

Unfortunately the Reddit user that violated the NDA didn’t show us anything new from the alpha, but at least we’ve got a ton of nice videos to watch for it. Hopefully EA will be showing off some more gameplay from the game before it comes out in October.

Having some leaked Battlefield 1 alpha screenshots is nice, but it would be even better if we could have some more gameplay screenshots instead of shots of the control scheme and loadouts.


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In our Anniston Alabama practice sessions we deliver meticulous guidelines for female worship by employing tantric massage routines.

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Female Worship has a rejuvenating effect on the human being. The orgasmic rewards are only a small portion of the equation Tantric Massage. More noteworthy may be the benefits of curing depressive disorders and emotional stress which if kept without treatment can turn into significant overall health hazards. Female Worship is even associated with building up the body's defence mechanisms, curing headaches, the regular monthly cycle, in all women and tons of other illnesses and maladies in the recipient.

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Case Study

White-Hat Link Building

A New York City-based tourism agency, focusing on bus tours & bicycle rentals got in touch with us to assist in their active link building campaign.

Our white-hat link building strategies was perfect for their needs.

Compay Industry: Tourism Agency
Start Date: Oct 2017
Target: New York City

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Manual Outreach

The Problem

A well-recognized tourism & travel agency provides bus tours throughout New York City’s most attractive sights. As they focused on increasing their search presence by utilizing their internal SEO team, they knew that backlinks from real, relevant & trustworthy website were not easy to achieve.

Their primary competitors had authoritative & industry relevant backlinks, that were giving them the search advantage, keeping them at the top.

A custom strategy focused on manual outreach with perfect pitches are required to achieve desired relevant placements. Because of this, an experienced SEO agency was brought in to achieve these results.

Secured Publications

Problem Analyzation

SSNY started by performing an analysis, determining how Google is currently viewing the health & trust of the sightseeing agency.

First, we analyzed the backlinks of their primary competitors, looking for easy placement opportunities. These opportunities were categorized into a list of potential targets to include during the outreach campaign.

Next, we strategized the custom unique set or target search terms (keywords) & landing pages that would be ideal for targets.

Finally, we audited their website looking for issues that might prevent them from achieving their desired SEO results.

Our Custom Solution

Based on the data during the analysis, we developed a full-fledged Search Engine Optimization & Outreach strategy, focused on increasing their trust via relevant & authoritative backlinks.

SSNY collaborated with the touring companies internal development team to provide the results from audit, including broken links, HTML issues & more. We also offered On-Page SEO recommendation to ensure their website correctly explains their internal relevancy to the search engines.

As the campaign began, we performed outreach to the previously gather lists of targets, as well as outreach to new destinations, discovered using specific search parameters; Optimizing our pitch as the campaign progressed.

The Results

The custom tailored strategy proved to be a massive success, with the Sighteeing Company increasing their brand’s trust & visibility on the web.

Increase In Organic Traffic

Increase IN Keyword Rankings

Increase In Referring DOmains

Proof or it Didn’t Happen

The images below, click to enlarge, showcase some of the successes throughout the campaign.

The image above showcases the natural increase of backlinks via relevant & trustworthy websites.
The image above showcases the estimated monthly organic traffic, based on overall ranking keywords and their avg. monthly search volume.


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Reiki is an ancient energy healing modality that originated in Japan. It is effected through the “laying of hands“ transmitting extra energy to a person. It is based on the knowledge that  we are alive because“life force energy“ flows through us and that a part of the body becomes diseased when the “life force energy“ is blocked in that area.

“Rei“ (God’s wisdom or higher power)
 “Ki“ (Life force energy)

Reiki therapy is therefore spiritually guided life force energy. It is useful for the relief of stress, for emotional, mental and physical healing. It is natural, safe, gentle, non-evasive, simple and very effective.

What is Reiki Distance Healing?

We are all part of one energy system which is why we can use reiki to heal an unwell person with energy. Because we are all part of one whole, distance does not matter. A reiki practitioner can heal a person who is distant as effectively as they can heal a person who is close. That is what Reiki distance healing is. Some people prefer to call it absentee healing beccause the word “distance“ may imply separation even though we are all one.

How Reiki Distance Healing Works

Reiki is transmitted through symbols with special technique. One of the symbols is the distance symbol which, when invoked during the healing session, enables the practitioner to send healing energy across time and space. The symbol can be used to clear energy blockages in the body or to cleanse certain neighborhoods or geographical places.

During the distance healing session, the symbol connects the practiotioner to the patient’s energy. Most practitioners use the patient’s photograph as a link object. Other practitioners simply need to know the geographical location of the patient and they can send the healing energy there through the power of the mind.

The only requirement for distance healing is that the patient be in a receptive mood by going into meditation or by lying down. That means the practitioner and the patient must set up a time that is mutually convenient. Before the session the patient sends her picture, full name, age, location and an indication of their intention for the session (a challenge, healing of a health issue, etc.). If the practitioner and the patient have never met, the practitioner uses this information to connect to the patient.

What the Patient Might Experience During a Healing session

In the same way that a patient receiving the laying of hands will feel something, the one receiving distance healing will also feel something. The patient might feel tingling, pain relief, warmth, a sense of relaxation, peacefulness, happiness, etc. Another patient may feel nothing but that does not make the healing session less effective. Every patient is different and will react to the energy in their unique way.

Benefits of Reiki Distance Healing

There are many benefits of Reiki distance healing. People who receive distance healing usually report to their practitioners afterwards that they feel:

Benefits of Reiki Distance Healing:

  • They can sleep better
  • Less stressed at work
  • Less anxious in certain situations
  • Relief from symptoms of menopause
  • An increased total sense of well-being
  • Relief from grief, depression or sadness
  • A sense that their healing is taking place faster
  • That their immune system has become stronger
  • Much better physically, emotionally and mentally
  • Calmer during situations that used to bother them
  • More energized even though they used to suffer from fatigue
  • That their mind is clearer and they become better at decision making
  • Pain relief from surgical wounds, arthritis, headaches, backache and other painful problems

These are just a few examples. There is no limit to what Reiki distance healing can do for a patient.

Who is Reiki Distance Healing Good For?

Reiki distance healing is very convenient for people who cannot travel for a healing session such as bed ridden patients or people who live far from their practitioner. Because Reiki distance healing is very safe, it is good for all people, including children and the elderly. Some people request it for their pets or for larger animals such as horses when they are sick physically or when they are going through emotional problems. Actually animals suffer from the same problems as people and they do benefit in a similar manner.

Reiki Distance Healing for Inharmonious Situations

Everything is energy and when there is disharmony at work or at home, the negative energy can stagnate and perpertuate problems.

Reiki distance healing can be requested for situations:

  • At home to infuse the household with positive healing energy after bereavement, divorce or a long illness
  • At home or at work to create a positive setting for a pending legal case at court
  • At home when parents are struggling with an errand teeanager
  • At the place of busines to achieve “financial freedom“ to be more successful in winning a contract
  • At the place of work when there is a problem that may lead to job loss

There is no limit to what situation Reiki distance healing can support. If you feel that you need help in any situation, you can book a number of sessions.

Reiki distance healing is a very effective form of therapy that you can receive without the hassle of visiting the practitioner. Once you request it, you can receive Reiki Distance Healing without stopping what you are doing or without leaving your house. You can get it even when you are sleeping or when you are driving. You can also request healing for a loved one, a pet, your home, your business, your work or any challenge. Whenever you have an emotional, physical or mental problem, request Reiki distance healing.

Length: 30 minutes
Price: 25 €


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BART showcases shiny new ‘Fleet of the Future’

BART fleet of future

BART’s new, more spacious cars are undergoing testing in the East Bay and agency officials hope to get the first of them on tracks by the end of this year.

The first car of the agency’s “Fleet of the Future” was shipped by truck last month from Plattsburgh, New York, where the Bombardier Transit Corp. is building 775 train cars. After the first car is thoroughly tested, BART officials hope to have 10 in place by December.

The replacement cars are sorely needed as a mysterious electrical spike along the Pittsburg/Bay Point line has been damaging cars and forcing them out of service. BART has been running shorter trains along all its lines as a result.

BART director Robert Raburn said at the Hayward maintenance complex Wednesday as BART showed off the new car to reporters:

“This car represents that help is on the way.”

BART will poll riders on the first 10 cars and finalize the interior design, at which point it will begin mass-producing the remaining cars, putting all 775 in place by the end of 2021.

The new cars have only one or two fewer seats than the existing cars, but narrower seats leave the center aisles wider with more space for standing, which should help alleviate crowding on the busiest rush hour trains. The seats have also been raised slightly, creating space for luggage and guide dogs underneath.

There will be three doors per car instead of the current two so passengers will have more options for where to board, shortening lines on platforms. Each car has designated bicycle parking with new racks that hold three bicycles each.

Air conditioning units have been moved from the windows to the ceiling, LED screens have been added to the walls to display dynamic maps showing train location, and signs with station announcements have been added to each end of the cars.

Raburn said:

“It’s a lot of little changes but we think it’s meaningful.”

The cars will be tested extensively at the test track at the Hayward complex and will be loaded with various configurations and weights of up to 45,000 pounds, project manager John Garnham said.

They will also test the propulsion and magnetic compatibility and have the California Public Utilities Commission review their findings.

While the new cars will immediately increase the standing capacity of each BART car, with more cars added to the existing fleet, crowding should be alleviated by enabling the agency to run longer and longer trains, so eight- or nine-car trains at the busiest stations would become a thing of the past.

The most congested area of the BART system will remain the Transbay Tube. Trains into the East Bay become so crowded during rush hour that some commuters resort to boarding a train going the wrong direction and then turning around at another station, Raburn said.

Ultimately BART management wants to have trains going through the Transbay Tube more frequently, which should be possible, but will require upgrades to the control system. Right now BART can run a maximum of 23 trains per hour between Oakland and San Francisco, but Raburn said with a new control system, it could be 30 trains per hour.

Such improvements are included in a $3.5 billion bond BART is planning on asking Bay Area voters to approve in November. The bond would include $400 million to upgrade the control system.

The bond would also include improvements to the power system, the source of frequent headaches as power problems not only along the Pittsburg line but in the Transbay Tube has mysteriously damaged train cars in the last few months. More than $1.2 billion would be allocated for the power system.

Raburn said:

“We are focused on getting the system right and spending our money wisely.”

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Brukunga Hotels

Search for hotels in Brukunga

Save more with Secret Prices

Get instant savings with Secret Prices

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Where to stay in Brukunga helps you to find the best hotel for yourself and your loved ones from 16 hotels in Brukunga

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1. Filter and sort by hotel features that matter most to you.

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It’s Obvious. At, we believe that the start of an enjoyable trip begins with a smooth booking experience. With that being said, no cancellation fee^ would be charged on most room bookings made with us, and some hotels can even Stay Now and Pay Later!

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Start booking Brukunga hotels with today.

*Reward Program Terms & Conditions apply.

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Microsoft Movie Maker

Reviewing: Microsoft Movie Maker  |  Rating:
Joni Lambert By Joni Lambert on
Badge: Author | Level: 2 | Computers & Laptops Expertise:

I have produced many videos for online use on web sites. I've used several programs to do this. Microsoft Movie Maker came pre-installed on my computer, so I decided to start experimenting with it. I was plesantaly surprised with this program.

Anyone can use this program. It's really very simple and user friendly. I've made videos by adding home movies, still photos and audio playing in the back ground. You can also use your web cam to record video directly into the software for use in a movie.

I found that it's very easy to add a title slide in the begining and a credit roll at the end. Plus there are lots of special effects available. I like to add fun transitions between clips and pictures.

Your movie can be burned to a CD or played on your computer. Anyone can make a nice home movie with this software.


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Schedule the “Shift Doctors” for your Private
Group or Organization!!

Contact us at

We respond to your group’s need or desired “Shift” – Let us assist with your personal, business or metaphysical transformation!

We have taught at conferences, professional offices, entrepreneurial group meetings, and for groups of people who desire a specific transformation (emotional, physical, spiritual or professional).  We can give you the keys to Shift Your Life – but you must open the door and walk through it.

Manhattan, New York City!

Sunday February 22nd, 2015  9:30pm to 12:00pm

“The Shift Doctors” are in Manhattan  –  New York City!!!

Friday, January 9,2015   6-9:30pm
Intuitive Development: “How to Meditate if You Can’t”ˇ – Taking the Art of Meditation to
Different Levels

“The Shift Doctors” in Manhattan  –  New York City!!!

Saturday, January 10, 2015      9:30am – Noon
“Who Am I” and Understanding the Spiritual Self in the Holistic System

Antibes, France

Monday December 29th, 2014 10:30am -1pm
Holiday Workshop- Multidimensional Healing

Full-Day Intensive Entura Art Class in Los Angeles!

Sunday, Oct. 26th 2014   9am-5:30pm

Join the “Shift Doctors” for a Private Metaphysical Gathering, Bonfire and Drumming to honor Steve Nelson in the Stone Circle in Mooresville, NC

Wednesday  October 15th, 2014  7:00pm to 9:00pm

A.R.E. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Friday July 26th, 2013 6 to 8pm

"The 2 hour talk given by “Shift Doctors” Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D. at the A.R.E. will cover quick, proven, easy-to-use tools and tips to rapidly decrease stress in this interactive, entertaining & educational presentation. These 2 metaphysicians will covers topics of How to Prevent Burnout, Foods  & Nutrition to Decrease Stress, EFT, Ancient Qigong Emotional Stress Release, Energetic Protection, Energy Anatomy, Vibrational Medicine (Color/Sound/Toning) & CIM Approaches to Stress Reduction."

15th Annual International Energy Psychology Conference

May 31st to June 2nd, 2013 Reston, VA
Energetic Self Care for Therapists & their Clients on Sunday, June 2, 2018

A 2-Hour CEU talk given by Tracy Latz, M.D., M.S. (on right) along with Marion Ross, Ph.D. to the attendees of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology’s 2013 International Energy Psychology Conference

Join us in this suburb of Washington, D.C.!

Covers topics of How to Prevent Burnout, Foods to Decrease Stress, EFT, Qigong Stress Release, Energetic Protection, Energy Anatomy, CIM Approaches to Stress.

“The Shift Doctors” will be present in the Exhibit Hall throughout the conference – come with questions or to experience Shift Your Life® tools & techniques for your self!

New York City, New York

Saturday, April 6, 2013

4 Events at Provence Wellness Center at 150 East 55th Street, 6th floor

France – Cap D’Antibes

New Year, New Frequencies, New Class — Shift Your Life “Multidimensional Healing”

Monday, Jan. 14th, 2013 at 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Thursday, October 25 , 2012  2pm to 5pm

on the Star Deck of the Stars & Bars Restaurant in the port of Monaco
Marion Ross will present the revolutionary Trinfinity8 Rejuvenation & Restoration System  a bio-energetic software system like nothing else on our planet.

Cap D’Antibes France

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Energetic Tools to Rapidly Reduce Stress Workshop 14:00 – 17:00hrs – Cost: €50.00

Paris, France   Saturday, March 10th , 2012

Meditation and Cultivating Energy Class

Fall 2010 Shift Your Life Seminar in Blowing Rock, North Carolina

October 2010

Join us in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina for a weekend of Shift-ing!

Past Seminar Links:
Los Angeles Seminar April 2010

New York Seminar March 2010


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Get on the path to results today.

Divorce in Albuquerque Santa Fe & Rio Rancho

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Nationally Recognized for Excellence & Expertise

Awarded  by US News & World Report's Best Lawyers for Divorce & Family Law for the past nine years.  Selected by Expertise in divorce  mediation work for the past three years.

Decades of Experience as both Litigator and Mediator

Practicing lawyer and litigator for 27 years. Trained and practicing Mediator for 30 years. Specialized litigation training and advanced mediation training. Trainer and presenter at national and state conferences on  topics involving both litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Dedicated to Innovation and Efficiency

Brian Shoemaker continually works to streamline the experience of his divorce and personal injury clients, and strives to reduce the negative experience that their circumstances already present. Mr. Shoemaker integrates years of vigorous "extra"   study, involving legal subjects, communication methods, conflict resolution applications, and even applied neuroscience in an effort to simplify the dispute and minimize costs.

More Information

Seasoned Litigator

Divorce in Albuquerque, Having conducted well over 100  trials in both federal and state court, and in many counties throughout New Mexico, Attorney Shoemaker works to produce the most effective result for his clients.  Divorce in Santa Fe. We are dedicated to helping the client feel informed and able to make decisions that best meet their needs

(and pockets). Divorce in Rio Rancho

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Mediator Shoemaker has settled scores of divorce cases, both as a mediator and as a court-appointed settlement facilitator. Spouses often initially report doubt about being able to complete the divorce through a mediated process. Mediator Shoemaker has helped couples successfully complete the divorce process, move forward with their lives , and save money.

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Every year couples divorce, people get injured. How you experience such trying times makes a big difference. Let our years of experience and training help you through your circumstances with quality self-care, effective  communication, and excellent information concerning your best options to get the results you want.

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Wedding Butterflies - Post Processing Tutorial

Wedding Butterflies - Post Processing Tutorial

19.00 49.00

Runtime: Approx 50mins

Skill Level: All

Come and share a beautiful moment with two lovers joined in marriage!

We usually spend an hour or two with couples taking them to beautiful and interesting locations and setting up photos like this one! Sometimes there’s these little added details like butterflies that photobomb the shoot! I guess the couples wedding butterflies left them :-)

What we’ll learn:

  • The lighting setup including the challenge that was posed

  • I draw out in detail the light direction and share some of the details as to why I chose the location!

  • Clean up and fix parts of the brides dress

  • Learn how to liquify

  • Work with curves to paint with light and shadows !

We’ll share some hidden gems in LR and much more!!

Basic requirements:  Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Adobe Photoshop cc 2018. Adobe Lightroom 5 - Adobe Lightroom cc (Classic). Niksoft Collection

Please click HERE to download the action used in the tutorial!

See the awesome transformation below!

The checkout accepts:

Debit and credit card - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club + More

Add To Cart


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Test Donations Page Donate Now Banner Ad (Donation Panel)

Golden Crane Society ($1,500 to $49,999)

Members of the Golden Crane Society, contributing $1,500 or more annually, are the Portland Japanese Garden's most generous donors, allowing more than 500,000 visitors each year to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the gardens, and to enrich their lives by exploring the riches and wisdom of Japanese art and culture.

Detailed information on the levels and range of benefits offered to individual Golden Crane Society members is available here or by calling Olivia Montesano at (503) 542-0281.

For information about the Corporate Golden Crane Society, please contact Sarah Yusavitz at (503) 542-0289 or syusavitz@japanesegarden.org.

Item # 005240

Enter the Donation Information


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Available now
Product rating. 4.65 out 5 stars
26 Reviews
Limit 20

Product Details

Celebrate London with this LEGO® Architecture Skyline model!

VIP Points

Bring together the National Gallery, Nelson's Column, London Eye, Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) and Tower Bridge, with this London skyline model.

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Celebrate the architectural diversity of London with this detailed LEGO® brick model. The LEGO Architecture Skyline Collection offers models suitable for display in the home and office, and has been developed for all with an interest in travel, architectural culture, history and design. Each set is scaled to give an accurate representation of the comparative size of each structure, with true-to-life color depiction. This set features the National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, London Eye, Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) and Tower Bridge, and is finished with a decorative “London” nameplate.

  • LEGO® Architecture interpretation of London.
  • Features the National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, London Eye, Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) and Tower Bridge.
  • London’s Thames River is represented by transparent baseplate tiles.
  • Tower Bridge opens to greet the incoming ship.
  • The included booklet contains information about the designer, architecture and history of each building, as well as historical facts about London and its architectural heritage (English language only. Other languages available for download at
  • Includes a 4x32 tiled base with a decorative “London” nameplate.
  • Recreate the world's most beautiful cities with the LEGO® Architecture Skyline Collection.
  • LEGO® Architecture celebrates the world of architecture through the medium of the LEGO brick, and is developed for all with an interest in travel, design, architecture and history.
  • This set includes over 460 LEGO® pieces and offers an age-appropriate building experience for ages 12+.
  • Measures over 5” (15cm) high, 11” (28cm) wide and 3” (8cm) deep
London is rated 4.7 out of 5 by 26.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great set This set is great. It includes builds of the National Gallery, Nelson's Column, Big Ben, the London Eye & Tower Bridge on a base plate. The set looks really good but is only for display, not to be played with really. I think the inclusion of a small boat under Tower Bridge is nice. The instruction book includes pictures and information about each of the landmarks and is higher quality than normal books. I think the price is a bit too high but the set looks great and I highly recommend this to people who love LEGO & London. This is my first Architecture set and I enjoyed building it.
Date published: 2017-01-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Quality Design This is my first Lego architecture line (a gift from a close relative), and as a Brit I'm jolly pleased to have received a cityscape of London. The design is a smart, delicate, well thought-through build to a Lego architecture set. The shapes and subtle colour schemes of the miniature buildings balance with each other perfectly. To achieve such detail on a remarkably small-scale is very impressive. Whilst the majority of the build was relatively straight forward, I found the building of the London Eye to be most tricky in terms of achieving symmetry with the 'pods' around the wheel. It's a clever design but the wheel does tend to wobble around a lot if being moved. But as it's a display piece I don't think this really matters. It's worth remembering though, that although this set is designed for observation rather than 'play', the build can be dismantled at your discretion so you can make other things with the available bricks - it is Lego after all! In conclusion this is a wonderful, impressively splendid model perfect for display.
Date published: 2018-02-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Coolest Skyline Yet Of the skyline line, the London set is my favorite. The London Eye is genius. Would love to see a second skyline with The Shard and other London landmarks.
Date published: 2017-01-01
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Cool Set! Being my first Lego in many years, I enjoyed it very much. The instructions were clear and I didn't want to stop once I started. I think it's a great landmark and Lego was in line. The only area to improve I'd suggest is the top of the wheel as it's not very rounded and the colour is questionable. Overall, great set and very pleasant experience. Looking forward to my next set!
Date published: 2017-06-03
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Samara Scott - Bruises

Bruises is the first book of photographs by the British artist and sculptor Samara Scott. Taken from the artists' archive of 35mm half-frame images, Bruises unfolds over six years in which Scott used the camera as a form of 'sampling' the world, footnotes to feed back into her artistic practice. Much like Scott's sculptural work, we find in her photographs a hybrid swirling of consumer objects and sensory experiences in flux. These images speak of a suspension or perversion of everyday surfaces and depths, but also of the saturation of images, sounds, and textures in contemporary capitalist society. Like in her sculptural practice, Scott is drawn towards the corrupted: in Bruises we find the smears, dents, burps, leaks of the material world, alongside images from Miami, Ibiza, Japan, Rome, LA, London, the bedroom, airports, shopping centres, family holidays and industrial estates. Scott speaks of her own 'sense of churning in the world'; a seasickness from unmitigated acceleration of daily life, and the simultaneous horror and beauty of the material (and digital) world. In Bruises, we find an attempt to navigate this churning world, where the serendipity of the half-frame camera creates chance connections across place and time.

292 pages, 16 x 12cm, softcover with embossed plastic dust jacket, Loose Joints (London)