‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 13 Photos Tease Japril’s Montana Episode – Moviefone

Are you ready for Japril to get some alone time in Montana? "Grey's Anatomy" star Sarah Drew told Moviefone that Season 13's April and Jackson (Jesse Williams) standalone episode would be "pivotal for the two of them, individually and also as a pair," and now we have more details and images to go with the tease.

Episode 16, "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?" airs Thursday, March 16 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Here's the synopsis:

"Dr. Jackson Avery and Dr. April Kepner travel to Montana in order to perform a complicated surgery on a young patient, but Jackson's mind is elsewhere, and April is forced to step up and get him back on track."

The episode was directed by Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt), and both he and executive producer Debbie Allen (Dr. Catherine Avery) were featured in some of the behind-the-scenes photos ABC shared to promote the episode:

What's on Jackson's mind? He does look lost in thought, especially in that closeup photo.

Sarah Drew told Moviefone the trip to Montana is for a throat transplant case:

"But it's a really incredible opportunity for them to be kind of still and have to face one another with nothing else distracting them out of the normal environment. And we're really, really proud of it. Kevin McKidd directed it. It's very different, tonally, than a lot of the other episodes. There's a lot of quiet space and stillness. It's not like frantic and moving super-fast. And it's really lovely."

Before we get to this very lovely-sounding episode, we still have Episode 15, "Civil War," which airs March 9. (There is no episode on Thursday, March 2.) Here are more details on "Civil War."

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'Grey's Anatomy' Season 13 Photos Tease Japril's Montana Episode - Moviefone

#MohawkStrong: The anatomy of a school shooting – Cincinnati.com

SHOOTING AT BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOLSchool shooting victim apologizes to shooter, says he's still a friend | 1:50

Madison High School shooting victim Cooper Caffrey speaks to his shooter, telling him that he wished he would've helped him sooner and that he is still his friend. The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran

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James "Austin" Hancock entered guilty please to four counts of attempted murder in connection with the Madison School shootings in Butler Co. Juvenile Court. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy

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Hancock is accused of shooting two teens in the cafeteria of Madison Jr./Sr. High School on Monday and faces two counts of attempted murder and other felony charges. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley

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Our number 1 priority is to make our students feel comfortable and safe," says the superintendent of the Butler County school district where Monday's shooting occurred. Students return to school tomorrow. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley

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A 14-year-old male student is accused of shooting two other male teen students in the cafeteria of a Butler County school about 11:15 a.m. Monday. Provided

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A sophomore who said he was a friend of the alleged shooter in a Butler County High School said he was shocked. Jordan Eslick described James Austin Hancock as friendly with everyone. The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran

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Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones announced Monday alleged shooter James Hancock, 14, was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and felonious assault, as well as one count each of inducing panic and making terroristic threats. The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan

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Reaction from a student and other scenes following the shooting at Madison Jr./Sr. High School Monday. The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan

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Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones discusses available information after the shooting at Madison Jr./Sr. High School. The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan

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Anthony Dwyer, Chief Deputy of the Butler County Sheriffs Office, discusses Monday's shooting at Madison High School. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley

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School shooting victim apologizes to shooter, says he's still a friend

Madison school shooter pleads guilty

James Austin Hancock, 14, arraigned in school shooting

Superintendent on Monday's school shooting

Listen to the 911 call from the Madison High School shooting

Witness: Madison shooting suspect 'friendly with everyone'

Charges announced in Madison Jr./Sr. High School shooting

Students, others react to Madison school shooting

Butler County Sheriff on Madison Jr./Sr. HS shooting

Official discusses Butler Co. school shooting

Cooper Caffrey, a student at Madison High School, leaves the bench after reading a prepared statement about the day he was shot by James "Austin" Hancock, Feb. 29 in the cafeteria.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)Buy Photo

MADISON TWP. -Cooper Caffrey was on the cafeteria floor waiting for an ambulance.

The bullet had gone in his stomach and out his back. It just missed the 14-year-olds spine and liver.

A friend texted him to ask if he was OK.

NO was all he could manage.

Cooper couldnt feel his legs. He asked the dean of students if he was going to die. He asked about his brothers.

A short time later, his dad called.

Wheres Austin? Cooper said. Go find him and make sure hes OK.

Austin is the boy who shot him.

.....

Members of the Butler County Sheriff's Department search Madison Schools after a shooting on Feb. 29, 2016.(Photo: The Enquirer/Cara Owsley)

They knew about the gun. Some had seen it in the bathroom.

Austin Hancock was nervous. Lunch had started about 15 minutes ago. Two students stared at him across the table.

The whispers started, and Austin began shaking. He had a gun in his pocket.

"Oh my God," a girl said.

She jogged to the office, looking back at Austin. He stood up.

He didn't say anything.

He fired at least two rounds at a group of students about 15 feet away from him. He was staring at the exit, and as soon as the second shot rang out, he ran.

At Butler County school, a day of fear

.....

On June 6, Austin was being sentenced at the Butler County Juvenile Justice Center. Four students had been injured in the school shooting. None had died.

Austins mother cried.

He is not a cold-blooded criminal, she told the judge.

Kristi Blevins hugs her son after his sentencing for the shooting at Madison High School last year.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)

Before reading Austins sentence, Judge Ronald Craft recalled a time he brought a youth baseball team to Madison Township. He had never been there before.

He doesnt remember how his team did in the tournament, but he remembers Madison.

Its a great community, said Craft. And when this happened, that spirit of America, if you will, was temporarily damaged.

The victims were given a chance to speak. An official read a statement from the grandmother of one student, who would later sue Austin and his family. That student tried to return to school but found it too physically draining.

Then Cooper took the stand.

I forgive you, he told Austin.

I should have done more, he said.

Im sorry."

.....

Austin Hancock and his wife listen to court proceedings as his son is sentenced for the shooting at Madison High School in 2016.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)

Sometime before the shooting, Austin argued with his dad about grades.

It was often about grades.

Austin was in danger of failing history. His dad yelled at him, Austin would later tell police, for not caring enough. But Austin said he was trying to do better so he could run track in the spring.

Austin had said he wanted to live with his biological mom.

His parents had split up shortly after he was born, when they were still in high school. His mom had served time in prison on drug charges. Tommy Hancock got full custody of Austin when he was 4.

Kristi Blevins has only attended three of her sons sporting events, Austin told police. But she is doing better now, the boy said, and trying to spend more time with him.

The Madison Mohawk student section cheers their team during a football game against Monroe High School Sept. 2.(Photo: Madison Schmidt for The Enquirer)

Austin loves his dad. He said they were like brothers. But he grew tired of the arguments about grades.

He grew tired of the chores.

He was washing dishes when he snapped.

"I'm gonna hang myself because of you," Austin screamed at his father.

A few months before he brought the gun to school, Austin wrote a suicide note. He flushed it down the toilet.

Some of Austin's relatives teach at Madison. Others attend school there.

They all say they never expected this. His step-mom said she used to practice Austins yearbook smile, because his natural one was too big.

This note was found in Austin Hancock's bookbag after he was arrested for shooting two other students in the Madison Schools cafeteria in 2016.(Photo: Provided/Butler County Sheriff's Office)

But after his arrest, Austin told police he often sat alone at family events.

Two years ago, during a Super Bowl party at his aunt's house, he broke down. He doesn't remember what was said to him, but he remembers crying in front of everyone.

"My family just kind of looks at me weird," he said in an interview with police. "That kind of bothers me."

When Austin brought a gun to school on Feb. 29, 2016, he also brought extra ammunition. He didn't plan on reloading and shooting anyone else.

He brought it for himself.

After the shooting, a sheriff's deputy asked him why he did it.

"So I wouldn't have to go back home," Austin said.

911 calls reveal terrifying aftermath of Ohio school shooting

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Cooper met Austin in school.

Austin was listening to Nirvana on his laptop. Cooper asked him about it and they started talking. The two wrestled together, often spending time between matches listening to music.

He had phenomenal taste in music, Cooper said.

A reference to Nirvana is something Cooper took out of his courtroom speech. He didnt want people to think Austin was a clich a troubled teen who fantasized about death while listening to Kurt Cobain.

He wanted them to see what he saw.

He saw a boy struggling with the split of his parents. He saw a boy who needed help. In many ways, he saw himself.

Coopers parents are divorced. It hasnt been easy for him, and the shooting hasnt helped.

Before Austins sentencing, Coopers dad told him there would be hordes of television cameras and news media there. He was worried for his son.

I want them to be there, Cooper said.

.....

Marty Caffrey and his son, Cooper, walk together in the Madison Township Park on Sept. 13.(Photo: The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran)

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#MohawkStrong: The anatomy of a school shooting - Cincinnati.com

4-H Chick Incubation Project coming up – The Harlan Daily Enterprise

Last year, more than $1,000 4-H Cloverbud, School Enrichment, Special Interest and 4-H Club members from Harlan Elementary and Middle Schools, Rosspoint, Cumberland, Evarts, Black Mountain, Cawood, James A. Cawood, Harlan County Christian, Sunshine Preschool, Wallins School, Mr. Lewis Science Class at Harlan County High School and a college class at the Cumberland Hope Center participated in the 4-H Chick Incubation Project during March.

This year we anticipate about the same number as last year to participate in the 4-H Chick Incubation Project. This project fulfills the 4-H project curriculum requirements for animal science and is also designed for correlation to the U.S. National Science Education Standards. Embryology: The Study of Life is designed to provide classroom teachers background information and exciting activities for hands on activities provided by the Harlan County 4-H Chick Incubation Project.

Children have a natural sense of curiosity about living things in the world around them. Building on this curiosity, students can develop an understanding of biology concepts through the direct experience with baby chicks, their life cycles and their development. 4-H believes that students learn best through their experiences and interactions with the world. 4-H Club members learn by listening, observing, experiencing and applying their knowledge to real-world situations. Each activity in the 4-H Animal Science curriculum follows these steps in the experiential learning model.

An additional goal of this curriculum is to help students develop life skills. Life skills are abilities that help an individual live a productive and satisfying life. Within this curriculum 4-H club members will have an opportunity to develop life skills related to science processes, teamwork, keeping records, and planning and organizing.

Before each classroom 4-H club leader receives eggs, incubators, and brooders, they will learn what happens from egg to chick. Students will learn definitions relating to poultry incubation and the importance of chickens and eggs in the economy. Students will discuss consumer concerns about eggs and cholesterol. In addition, students will learn the structure of the egg, and actually take a look inside the egg as the embryo develops by constructing an egg candler. Students will use the candler to determine whether the incubated eggs are fertile, and if fertile, to check on the growth and development of the embryo. Students will learn the timing of major embryonic development of the chicks: fertilization, division and growth of living cells, and segregation of cells into groups of special function. On Day 21 students will observe the actual hatching process of the chicks.

Prior to starting this 4-H incubation and embryology project, a specific plan for the chicks will be worked out. The chicks will then be given to someone who has proper brooding facilities, successful brooding experience, and the interest to properly care for and raise the chicks. No chicks will be given to children for pets. A young childs enthusiasm often results in unintentional cruelty. Improper handling can produce broken legs and wings as well as emotional stress for the birds. If a bird dies or is injured, it is not only a traumatic experience for the bird, but for the youngster as well. In addition, a childs initial enthusiasm fades, and he or she will likely grow tired of the chick as it becomes an adult. Few people realize how quickly the fluffy yellow down of chicks is replaced by feathers. If one of these chicks survives, it is often abandoned or becomes a burden to the parents of the child. Or, lack of care leads to unintentional abuse or neglect, thus unintentional cruelty results.

Thirty-five dozen eggs for the project are scheduled to be picked up by the 4-H Agent on Feb. 27. These eggs will be donated by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Poultry Department. We also plan to obtain eight to ten dozen local eggs from poultry farmers in the surrounding area. Incubators with automatic turners have been delivered to all school mentioned above who participated last year and including the Cumberland Hope Center. Eggs will be delivered and set in incubators on Feb. 28 and eggs are expected to hatch approximately 21 days later. Each school will have approximately two dozen eggs to incubate.

Students who are planning to participate in this years 4-H Communications Day need to contact the Extension Office if you have any questions or need any help. Communications Day will be held March 16, at 4:45 pm at Southeast Community College Harlan campus. It will consist of speeches, demonstrations and variety show acts. There will be T-shirts and a participation ribbon to all who participate and their participation will count as a completed 4-H project. All first place winners will be awarded a 4-H medallion and will advance to participate in the Area 4-H Communication Day held at North Laurel High School the first Saturday in May.

If you have any questions about the Chick Incubation Project or 4-H Communications Day contact Raymond Cox 4-H Agent at 606-273-0835 or 606-573-4464 or email me at [emailprotected] or message me on Facebook.

Raymond Cox is the Harlan County extension agent for 4-H/youth development. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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4-H Chick Incubation Project coming up - The Harlan Daily Enterprise

MHRA Unveils ‘Regulatory Ready’ Stem Cell Lines – Regulatory Focus

MHRA Unveils 'Regulatory Ready' Stem Cell Lines Posted 27 February 2017 By Michael Mezher

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Monday said it is looking to boost the development of cell therapies through the availability of what it calls "regulatory ready" embryonic stem cell lines.

"The UK Stem Cell Bank (UKSCB) at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) is releasing its first stem cell lines suitable for development into novel cell-based medicines to researchers wishing to bring new and innovative therapies to clinical trial," MHRA said on Monday.

The stem cell lines are intended to serve as qualified starting materials for cell therapies looking to enter clinical trials.

"The availability of EUTCD [EU Tissue and Cell Directives]-grade human embryonic stem cell lines via the UKSCB provides an invaluable 'gold standard' starting material; ensuring high quality and ethically-sourced stem cells are widely available to the research community to use in human clinical studies," said Rob Buckle, chief science officer at the UK's Medical Research Council, which is a co-sponsor of the UKSCB.

The stem cell lines will be produced by a handful of UK-based universities and deposited at the UKSCB in compliance with the EUTCD, which establishes quality and safety standards for human tissue and cells.

According to the UKSCB, "EUTCD-grade cell lines undergo a process known as due diligence to ensure they meet the requirements of the EU Tissue and Cell Directives before they are accepted for banking and distribution for human application. The EUTCD-grade cell lines have been derived from embryos under the informed consent requirements of the UK Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and have been reviewed by an independent UK Steering Committee."

In the coming months, MHRA says that stem cell lines produced by the University of Sheffield, University of Manchester and King's College London will be made available, followed by additional stem cell lines from Newcastle University and Roslin Cells by the end of the year.

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MHRA Unveils 'Regulatory Ready' Stem Cell Lines - Regulatory Focus

What Price Concord? (RJS) – Patheos (blog)

There are two primary fronts in the conflict or apparent conflict between science and Christian faith: (1) Are the scientific claims intrinsically atheistic? and (2) How do we reconcile Scripture with the scientific data? Neither of these are new problems, but they play a significant role in Western society today. In his book Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes Denis Lamoureux seeks to demonstrate that scientific claims are not intrinsically atheistic, rather that it requires faith to move from science to any metaphysical claim about the existence or non-existence of God. Nothing in our scientific understanding of the universe either requires or eliminates God from the picture. We can endeavor to predict the weather based on physics and chemistry and still view it as under Gods control. Our understanding of embryology and fetus development does not require us to dismiss the Psalmists wonder and awe of God who formed my inward parts and knitted me together in my mothers womb.(Ps 139:13)

Although the story of Galileos run-in with the Catholic Church is often cast as a paradigm for the unavoidable conflict between science and Christian faith, it is a story from which we can learn much. We can draw insights concerning the most effective way that scientists can introduce findings to the church, the manner in which the church can productively engage with science, and the approach we should take to apparent scientific claims in Scripture.

Very few today doubt that the earth and other planets orbit the sun, or that the earth is in one of many solar systems in the galaxy, one of many galaxies in the universe. For most of church history, however, there was no belief but that the earth was the center of the universe and that the Holy Scriptures clearly taught this truth. Augustine wasnt even convinced that the earth was spherical, although he was convinced that it was ridiculous to imagine antipodians (individuals with their feet pointing towards his) on the other side of the earth if the earth was spherical. Among other things, God could not be in the heavens above both Rome and the antipodians and this was contrary to Scripture (so Augustine thought).

By the time of the Reformation (Luther nailed his theses to the door in 1517), Copernicus (mid 1500s) and Galileo a bit later in the early 1600s, a spherical earth was not terribly controversial. Columbus sailed west in search of a route to the Far East in 1492. The idea of a sun-centered solar system introduced by Copernicus, accepted and popularized by Galileo, was controversial. Many arguments were raised against the idea, only some of which were grounded in Scripture. It was not at all unreasonable for the church to take an attitude of wait and see. It was unfortunate that the church authorities chose to make definite pronouncements against the ideas advanced by Copernicus, Galileo and others. It wasnt until Newtons theory of gravity made the scene (late 1600s) and more refined astronomical measurements followed (1700s) that Galileo and Copernicus were fully vindicated.

Galileo and the Interpretation of Scripture. Galileo was a devout Christian loyal to the Catholic Church. Because of this he wrestled with the interpretation of Scripture and the implications of the scientific evidence. Lamoureux digs into Galileos views, especially those related in his Letters to the Grand Duchess Christina. Galileo firmly believed that God was revealed both in Scripture and in nature.

Galileo believed that Scripture and nature are divine revelations. He asserts, God reveals himself to us no less excellently in [1] the effects of nature than in [2] the sacred words of Scripture, as Tertullian perhaps meant when he said, We postulate that God ought first to be known [1] by nature, and afterward further known [2] by doctrine [1] by nature through his works, [2] by doctrine through official teaching. (p. 138-139)

Gods self-revelation, recorded for us in the words of Scripture provide knowledge otherwise beyond the reach of human reason. We cannot know, from reason alone, that God is love, that humans were created in his image, that God is both merciful and just, that he pursues his people, that Jesus died for the sins of the world. This revelation, however, is couched in a framework intelligible to the original audience, 2000 to 4000 years ago in the Middle East. It came to humankind though the personal relationship of God with his creation; it did not require any scientific understanding of the big-bang, the magnitude and age of the universe, quantum theory or evolution.

Lamoureux continues:

With regard to matters dealing with science and the physical world Galileo defends the priority of nature over Scripture. He writes, I think that in disputed about natural phenomena one must begin not with the authority of scriptural passages but with sensory experience and necessary demonstrations [i.e. science]. (p. 139-140)

Later:

Galileo argued that the Creator gave us a mind that so that we could practice science. I do not think one has to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, language, and intellect would want us to set aside the use of these. Indeed, who wants the human mind put to death? Galileo affirms that God is not deceptive, but faithful. We can trust our mind and the scientific discoveries we make in nature because the Creator made us that way. An implication of being blessed by the Lord with our senses, language, and intellect is that he wants us to use these gifts. In fact, they assist us in obeying Jesus commandment to love the Lord our God with all our mind (Matt. 22:37). (p. 141)

Because God created the universe (making it a reliable revelation) and us with senses, language, and intellect, as his image bearers, it is entirely proper to use information derived from study of the universe to aid in the proper interpretation of Scripture. Galileo adds that it would be proper to ascertain the [scientific] facts first, so that they could guide us in finding the true meaning of Scripture. (p. 143). Lamoureux points out that we all do this, we interpret the immovability of the earth, the rising and setting of the sun, and the vault above as phenomenological statements not scientific statements. We interpret the pillars of the earth and the storehouses of hail as poetic rather than scientific.

Why do [we] do this? Its because scientists have shown us the structure of the solar system and explained how gravity works. After the Galileo affair, Christians realized that astronomers had proven geocentricism to be false. The earth is not the center of the universe with the sun circling it. Consequently, Christians could no longer read biblical verses about the earths immovability and the suns movement as factual scientific statements. (p. 143)

Ive had this conversation many times following various blogs and in discussion groups. Most Christians simply accept without questions that the demonstrably false statements in Scripture are not intended to be interpreted literally. The mind is not located in the gut. The stars are not inscribed on a vault. Many translations go so far as to hide the original referent from the modern audience without giving it a second thought. It isnt usually dishonest, but grounded in the realization that other language will convey the truth more clearly to a modern audience. Every translation requires interpretation.

One approach to dealing with the presence of ancient science in Scripture is to invoke the idea of accommodation. This is not a new idea. Among others, both Augustine and the Reformers used the concept in their approach to Scripture. God didnt introduce seventeenth century or twenty-first century science into his self-revelation in Scripture because this would have introduced an unnecessary stumbling block for the original audience, obscuring the intended message.

What lessons should we as Christians take from the Galileo affair?

(1) Withhold judgment on scientific matters until there is a clear consensus. It isnt necessary or desirable to shoehorn every new idea into theology. Nor is it wise to reject ideas early, before all the evidence is in. We can afford to be generous and exercise intellectual humility. Science doesnt impact key claims of the Christian faith the nature of God or his relationship with his creatures, the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrections.

(2) Recognize that Scripture does contain ancient science and this does not detract from the message that is conveyed.

(3) Avoid proof-texting that rips passages from their biblical and cultural context and uses them to shore up a desired interpretation of Scripture. Someday I am going to write a post entitled Lord save us from a proof-text faith. The reliance on proof-texts is one of the biggest failings of western evangelicalism. We need to be immersed in Scripture not shored up by resting on favored tidbits.

(4) Avoid authoritative proclamations in areas outside of your expertise. Lamoureux argues Only let those with proper training in biology, especially evolutionary biology, be given the privilege of teaching about the origins of life in our churches and Sunday schools. (p. 150) I think this goes too far. Taken seriously it would mean that I should not teach on either Scripture or the question of origins as I am an authority on neither evolutionary biology nor ancient Hebrew and Near Eastern Culture. I would take a somewhat looser position. We should be skeptical of anyone without expertise who teaches an idea far outside of the mainstream, and of one who does not rely openly on trusted experts in the area. This isnt a cure-all but it would go a long way toward a cure for what ails the church on issues of science and Christian faith. Do not allow non-Christians to pronounce on the essence of Christian faith (proclamations that science demands atheism are ridiculous). Allow Christians with expertise in astronomy, geology, genetics, and biology the primacy of place in discussions of these fields in the Church. Allow those with expertise in ancient Near Eastern Culture and language the primacy of place in interpretation of the Old Testament.

(5) Understand the reasons given for variant positions on the questions of age and origins. Some Christian biologists and geologists hold views outside of the scientific mainstream, not because of the scientific evidence, but because of their view of Scripture. This doesnt mean they should be silenced but that their views should be evaluated on the appropriate grounds. Is the interpretation of Scripture reasonable and is it a sufficient reason to deviate from mainstream scientific views?

(6) Respect expertise whether you ultimately agree or disagree. This is important for our witness as Christians.

(7) Arguing that the church has always believed this as in the church has always believed in a earth-centered universe (true in 1600) or the church has always believed in de novo creation of species or kinds (true enough) doesnt really help with resolution of science and Christian faith. The church, and before that Judaism, have adapted to our growing understanding of Gods creation. (Kyle Greenwoods book Scripture and Cosmology is a great read here.)

We need to hold firm to truths about God and his relationship with his people, created in his image. That Scripture records ancient understandings of science incidental to the message should cause us little concern and no angst.

In his earlier book, Evolutionary Creation, Lamoureux notes that we should expect agreement between historical events and Scripture when the text records witnessed history this starts at some point in or after Genesis 12. This agreement will be consistent with the accepted forms of writing in ancient Israel up through the first century Roman world. We expect spiritual concord from beginning to end. Scripture faithful records the message of Gods work in the world. We expect scientific concord when phenomenological observations (common in the ancient Near East) are re-enforced by scientific study, not when they are revised or replaced.

Scientific concordism simply doesnt seem to be supported by a careful reading of Scripture or our growing understanding of Gods creation. The Holy Spirit did not correct errant understandings of science whether in biology, geology, medicine or cosmology. The price of insisting on scientific concordism is large both in driving some from the faith and in preventing others from even considering the faith.

What is the price of scientific concordism?

What can we learn from the story of Galileo?

If you wish to contact me directly you may do so at rjs4mail[at]att.net

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What Price Concord? (RJS) - Patheos (blog)

Shedding light on the star of cell biology – Cherwell Online

In the twilight depths off the west coast of North America lives a small and graceful jellyfish floating apparently aimlessly through the void. Who would have known that this humble jellyAequorea victoriawas set to revolutionise cellular biology in the latter half of the twentieth century. Along the rim of the jellyfishs bell (the propulsive body) lies a ring of light-emitting organs which, in the blackness, produce an electric green glow that wouldnt be out place in a Ghostbusters film. This luminescence can be attributed to a chemical mechanism based around the molecule known as the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), synthesised by the jellyfish. Earning those involved in its discovery the Nobel Prize in 2008, GFP has been the key to unlocking the potential of biological imaging over the last 25 years.

The light organ houses two molecules essential for the light reaction: aequorin and GFP, working in conjunction. By catalyzing the degradation of the protein luciferin, aequorin causes blue light to be released. Rather than emitting this blue light, the photons are instead used an as energy source to activate the fluorescence of GFP. GFP has an excitation peak at the wavelengths of 395 nm and 475 nmcorresponding to blue and UV light. This means that it will most efficiency absorb light in this range of the spectrum. Absorbing this light leaves GFP in an unstable state with too much energy, being described as excited. Emission of green light at the wavelength of 508 nm, energetically lower than that it absorbed, returns it to its stable state.

Green light is rare in the ocean depths, meaning that an organism that can luminesce in such a way will be more obvious in its surroundings, allowing it to attract prey and confuse predators. But how is this relevant to cell biology in the laboratory? In 1992, American scientist Douglas Prasher sequenced and cloned the wild-type GFP gene. Over the following few years GFP became the darling of molecular genetics, a result of our ability to fuse the gene onto the beginning or the end of any other gene in any organism.

Related Do not go gentle into that good night

If inserted into an embryo, every cell in the body can inherit the GFP tagged protein. When the resulting organism is exposed to UV light it then glows green. This allows scientists to track both the distribution and the concentration of the protein throughout individual cells or through the organism as a whole, depending on which protein is tagged with GFP. We can see the trafficking of the proteins through the cell in real time, highlighting a host of cellular processes from protein packaging to the structure of the nuclear membrane.

Over the course of its history GFP has been constantly engineered and modified, transforming it into an increasingly more effective and versatile tool. A whole spectrum of different colours of fluorescent proteins have now been engineered. By using a red-producing variant of GFP, scientists have found success in diagnosing cancer since, due to its longer wavelength, red light can travel further through intervening tissue.

On a grander scale, one couldnt discuss GFP without bringing up the glow-in the dark rats, cats, rabbits, pigs, monkeysyou name it. Due to its obvious but relatively benign nature, GFP serves as one of the earliest genes used when trialling an organism with genetic modification, as a proof of the technology before more complex manipulation is attempted, with wide implications especially within medicine. We will soon reach the point where we can easily extract vaccines from cows milk, and produce disease resistant pigs.

The story of a simple jellyfish that has gone onto transform the very nature of molecular biology and medicine is a testament to the resourcefulness of science and humanity as a whole. It proves that the most useful of tools can have the most unlikely of origins, and should serve as a needed reality check. With every extinction, we say goodbye to another jewel in the biological crown, the vast wealth of unique genetic information that the organism possessed vanishing often forever. Who knows how many GFPs weve already lost.

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Shedding light on the star of cell biology - Cherwell Online

Scoop: GREY’S ANATOMY on ABC – Thursday, March 16, 2017 – Broadway World

Who Is He (And What Is He To You)? Jackson and April travel to Montana in order to perform a complicated surgery on a young patient, but Jacksons mind is elsewhere, and April is forced to step up and get him back on track, on Greys Anatomy, THURSDAY, MARCH 16 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network.

Greys Anatomy stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, Sarah Drew as April Kepner, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Jason George as Ben Warren, Martin Henderson as Nathan Riggs and Giacomo Gianniotti as Andrew DeLuca.

Greys Anatomy was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes (Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder), Betsy Beers (Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder), Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan) and Rob Corn (Chicago Hope). William Harper, Stacy McKee, Zoanne Clack and Debbie Allen are executive producers. Greys Anatomy is produced by ABC Studios.

Who Is He (And What Is He To You)? was written by Elisabeth R. Finch and directed by Kevin McKidd.

Greys Anatomy is broadcasted in 720 Progressive (720P), ABCs selected HTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

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Scoop: GREY'S ANATOMY on ABC - Thursday, March 16, 2017 - Broadway World

Andhra Medical College gets revamped anatomy dissection hall – The New Indian Express

Alumni of the Department of Anatomy of Andhra Medical College share a lighter moment during the inauguration of revamped premises in Visakhapatnam on Monday | Express

VISAKHAPATNAM: In a bid to provide better facilities to students of Andhra Medical College (AMC), the oldest in the state, the renovation works of the college that began a few weeks ago were completed. The college name board in English and Telugu was put up on the main building and a new gate at the entrance was opened on Monday.

The huge revamped anatomy dissection hall of the Anatomy department was inaugurated by the vice-chancellor of NTR University of Health Sciences, T Ravi Raju.

The new hall features LED lights, fans, marble tables for dissection and new flooring. A new borewell in the Physiology department was sunk and the age old statue of Mercury (Roman God) on the college premises was renovated and unveiled on Monday.

College principal T Radha said, Alumni of the college had come forward to donate funds to refurbish the college premises. Out of the 150 students from the 1975 batch, as many as 60 contributed Rs 12 lakh. Within six weeks, the renovation works were completed.

Dr Digumarthi Raghunadha Rao, the director of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, who bagged the BC Roy Award recently, was felicitated by the college authorities.

KGH superintendent G Arjuna, AMC vice-principal Padmavathi, Anatomy HoD Asha Latha along with the team of 10 students of the 1975 batch were amongst the others present during the inauguration.

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Andhra Medical College gets revamped anatomy dissection hall - The New Indian Express

Anatomy of a NIMBY – CityLab

Restricting housing construction does not just hurt developersit makes housing less affordable for everyone. But to overcome neighborhood resistance, you need to understand what drives it.

Birds sit on a telephone line near Skid Row Housing Trust's 102 pre-fabricated modular apartments under construction in Los Angeles.

Next week, Los Angeles will vote on Measure S, a ballot initiative that proposes a two-year moratorium on developments that required changes to land use.

The law could potentially limit both new developments and affordable housing. Even with an exception for affordable housing developments written into the law, critics say it could still further restrict affordability in the region.

For a growing chorus of urbanists, NIMBYism and land use restrictions are the culprit behind everything from growing income inequality to shrinking affordable housing, productivity, and innovation. A 2015 study estimated that land use restrictions costs the United States upwards of $1.5 trillion in lost productivity. The 2016 Economic Report of the President called for sweeping reform of zoning and land use restrictions to overcome these costly economic rents, build more housing, and stimulate the U.S. economy.

A recent white paper by Paavo Monkkonen sheds interesting new light on the connection between NIMBYism and housing affordability. It takes a deep dive into, on the one hand, neighborhood opposition and land use restrictions, as well as housing supply and housing costs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Californias other expensive housing markets. (The research was partially supported by an unrestricted grant from the Center for California Real Estate to the University of California Center Sacramento Center Housing, Land Use, and Development Public Leadership and White Paper Award.)

California offers an ideal case study in the effects of NIMBYism on housing prices. Its major metrosLos Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, Santa Barbaraare some of the most expensive in the nation. They combine high levels of productivity and high levels of amenitytwo factors which create the high demand which puts pressure on housing prices, and have fallen victim to harsh land use restrictions.

San Francisco Is So Expensive Even Renters Can Be NIMBYs

My own research finds that knowledge and professional workers are able to pay Californias higher housing costs. The burden falls largely on less advantaged blue-collar and service workers who have very little money left over after paying for housing. San Francisco has the highest housing costs in the country, while L.A. has the highest share of rent-burdened households. Across the state as a whole, renters need to make almost four times the state minimum wage to afford an average rent.

The crux of the California problem, the Monkkonen paper argues, is not the states restrictions on uber-high density building in and around urban centers, but the broader dependence on lower-density zoning across the board. Los Angeles may be a relatively dense city and metro (indeed, according to some basic measures, it is the densest metro in the country), but three-quarters of its residential land is devoted to relatively low-density single-family housing that only shelters half the citys population.

But adding new supply in the form of high-rise towers in and around the core will do little to solve the overall housing affordability problem. For one, those towers are usually built for the wealthy, and luxury buildings often boost the price of housing in neighborhoods in and around where theyre built (prompting calls like this one for a luxury housing tax to fund affordable units). They can also displace people from their neighborhoods and change the character of those neighborhoodsthings residents very much care about and will understandably seek to block.

Understanding NIMBYs

To get beyond NIMBYism, we first must understand it. Neighborhood resistance isnt just triggered by residents trying to prop up their home values or protect their neighborhoods from things they dont likeits the product of policies that provide incentives toward homeownership and a regulatory system that encourages and prompts opposition.

Even if the economic arguments about the costs and negative consequences of NIMBYism reflect sound economic logic, they amount to little if they fail to address the very real concerns of neighborhood groups. Most regular citizens and neighborhood residents dont think like dispassionate economists. According to a 2016 Building Industry Association poll, some two-thirds of San Franciscans surveyed do not think increasing housing supply improves affordability. Rather, they believe that land use regulations help to protect their neighborhoods.

Monkkonen goes on to parse four different strains of NIMBYism and their underlying motivations:

To fend off the four flavors of NIMBYism, the paper suggests several strategies:

There are other ways to combat NIMBYism. Yale Law School professor David Schleicher suggests using local tax policy to essentially co-opt NIMBY opposition to new development. The basic idea, referred to as tax increment local transfers, is to allow the residents of neighborhoods to share in the tax revenues that come from new developmentfor example, by rebating and reducing their own property taxes over a period of time. Others suggest that shifting from the current property tax to a land-value tax, which taxes property owners on the underlying value of the land itself, will create better incentives for more intensive land use.

But regardless of the precise mechanism employed, finding better ways to understand and counteract NIMBYism and create more vibrant and affordable cities is one of the most pressing policy issues facing urban America. The need to build more housing without removing community input is, as Monkkonen puts it, "a challenge we can no longer ignore."

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Anatomy of a NIMBY - CityLab

Play anatomy: Corey Peters – Scout

In this week's edition of "Play Anatomy," CardinalsSource examines the impact nose tackle Corey Peters made stopping the run during the 2016 season.

Editor's note: Each week, CardinalsSource looks at a particular play or a particular skill demonstrated by a Cardinals' player from the 2016 season in great detail. This week's CardinalsSource is examining the run-stopping capabilities of nose tackle Corey Peters by looking at a week 16 play against Seattle.

After missing the 2015 season with a serious Achilles' injury, nose tackleCorey Petersreturned to the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 to play out the second year of a three-year contract.

Peters played the first five seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons before signing with Arizona to bolster the team's run-stopping capabilities in the interior of its defense.

During his first healthy season with Arizona, Peters proved to be a valuable asset, racking up 21 tackles and commanding enough attention on the line to allow players like Chandler Jones, Markus Golden and Calais Campbell to work in more favorable one-on-one situations.

Peters performed well against the run throughout the season, thanks in large part to a quick first step and a great initial burst that made him a challenging blocking assignment on zone run plays. To put that in perspective, CardinalsSource is looking at a week 16 run play the Seattle Seahawks ran against the Cardinals that Peters stopped in its tracks.

Prior to the snap, Arizona lined up with a 4-2-5 defensive front, allowing Jones to put his hand in the dirt and defensive endJosh Mauroto anchor the opposite side of the line of scrimmage.

In this alignment, Peters is set up in a four-shade on the outside shoulder of the right guard. If Seattle plans on running right, Peters knows he's responsible for shutting down the B-gap and pushing the offensive guard back off the line of scrimmage. if the Seahawks run left, Peters is responsible for tracking down the play from the back side of the line and beating the block of the right tackle.

At the snap, Seattle's linemen immediatelyrush left with zone blocking footwork that pits Peters against the Seattle right tackle. With the right guard attempting to reach the linebacker level and the right tackle responsible for Peters, the Seahawks leave Mauro unaccounted for and expect quarterback Russell Wilson to hold him with a play-action fake. By holding Mauro in his spot and reaching Peters with the right tackle, Seattle's goal is to set up a cutback lane for its running back if the play side becomes muddled.

Peters, however, foils the Seahawks plans almost immediately after the snap. Once he realizes the guard lined up in front of him wants to get to the linebacker level, he slides through the B-gap and begins scraping his way down the line of scrimmage, preventing the right tackle from securing a clean angle to block him from.

As a result, the cutback lane can't develop for the Seahawks' back, who must either follow his fullback into the hole, or attempt to bounce the play to the outside, where Jones has clearly established contain. Essentially, the back is out of options, and Peters makes his decision far more challenging because he's racing down the line of scrimmage to make a tackle in the backfield.

Eventually, when Seattle's fullback cuts up the field, so too does its running back, but Peters is already there to make the play. Peters secures a tackle and brings the back down for a two-yard loss, all because he started the play off with an excellent first step and reaction at the line of scrimmage that prevented the Seahawks' right tackle from having a clean angle to block from.

If Peters gets reached, perhaps a back side cutback lane develops and the Seahawks are able to make something out of nothing. However, because it does not, a simple zone play goes for a two-yard loss, and Peters forces Seattle to rethink the way it's going to block this play moving forward.

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Play anatomy: Corey Peters - Scout