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Previously, the only way to look for the hemorrhages during an autopsy was to remove the eyes. Lantz came up with an alternative performing eye exams during autopsies using a surgical headlight and a handheld lens. This simple technique is sometimes used by ophthalmologists when more sophisticated equipment is not available, but no one had ever reported using it during autopsies.
The 700 deaths were in people ranging in age from birth to 96. Causes of death or conditions associated with retinal hemorrhages included suffocation, sudden infant death syndrome, meningitis, blunt trauma to the head, ruptured cerebral aneurysms, hemorrhagic strokes, cancer that had spread to the brain, high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, diabetes and gunshot wounds to the head.
"Many doctors have been taught to look for the hemorrhages when they suspect child abuse and often will diagnose child abuse without considering other possibilities," Lantz said. "Our research shows that you see the hemorrhages in a variety of different situations in infants, children and adults."
According to medical literature, retinal hemorrhages in infants are rare except in cases of abuse. "We're finding just the opposite," said Lantz. "We've found more retinal hemorrhages in non-abuse cases than in abuse cases, but most doctors don't look in the eyes of children unless they suspect child abuse."
Retinal hemorrhages were found in 30 children under age 14, yet only 6 cases were associated with child abuse.
As one of the first pathologists to routinely look at the back of the eye during autopsies, Lantz has learned that the technique can help diagnose hypertension, glaucoma, Marfan syndrome and even diabetes. He has taught residents and medical students to conduct the examinations and published an article in the Journal of Forensic Science (Nov. 2005) on th
Contact: Karen Richardson
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center | <urn:uuid:24dad788-8881-40dd-a721-2307b7d452ec> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://news.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-3/Researchers-say-criterion-for-diagnosing-child-abuse-not-always-accurate-6079-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393533.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00166-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961983 | 391 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Science in Focus: Shedding Light: Glossary
The transfer of energy through free space by photons (see Light Links on electromagnetic radiation). The type of material and its temperature determine the amount and energy of the radiation. In general a hot object will emit much more energy than a cool object. A cool object near a warm object may absorb more energy from the warm object than the cool object radiates. Since electromagnetic radiation travels through empty space, the transfer of heat through radiation does not require physical contact.The Earth receives energy from the Sun through radiation.
Water condensed from atmospheric vapor and falling in drops.
The water we experience as rain is condensation around dust particles that occur in the atmosphere.
When enough water condenses in droplets in the atmosphere, they fall as rain.
1. An arc of spectral colors appearing in the sky opposite the sun as a result of the refractive dispersion of sunlight in drops of rain or mist.
2. A similar arc or band as one produced by a prism or by iridescence.
If the sun is shining while it is raining, turn your back to the sun and look for a rainbow.
The re-emission of light from an object that has been struck by light. The law of reflection states that the incoming angle of light as it hits the object is equal to the outgoing angle (the angle of incidence equals of angle of reflection).
The change in speed and direction of light when it crosses the boundary between two transparent objects of different densities, such as when light passes from air to water, or when light passes through a glass of water.
The inner layer of tissue that lines the back of the eyeball. It contains the light detectors -- rods and cones -- attached to the optic nerve.
The detectors in the retina which are sensitive to low levels of light. They sense brightness and darkness (like black and white film) but not color.
1. In astronomy. A celestial body that orbits a planet; a moon.
2. In aerospace. An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body.
The reflection of light from a rough surface in many directions with each individual photon following the law of reflection. This is also known as diffuse reflection.
1. A region that is not illuminated or is only partially illuminated because of the interception of light by an opaque object blocking the source of radiation.
2. The slope cast by an object blocking light.
Frozen precipitation in the form of white or translucent hexagonal ice crystals that fall in soft, white flakes.
See North Pole.
See Northern Hemisphere. | <urn:uuid:59134d4e-a5e7-4e56-975e-4f37546a9207> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.learner.org/workshops/sheddinglight/VideoConnection/glossary/glossaryqs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783392159.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154952-00182-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91341 | 530 | 3.890625 | 4 |
Global drinks firms, including Coca-Cola and Cadbury Schweppes, have unveiled a European initiative aimed at tackling the problem of obese children.
The EU has decided to focus on the food and drink we put in our bodies
Unesda, the Union of European Beverages Associations, said it would limit youth advertising, control sales in schools and improve nutritional labels.
It also pledged a wide range of drinks, including sugar-free and low-calorie, in container sizes that limit intake.
The European Union has singled obesity out as a major threat to public health.
Markos Kyprianou, the European Union (EU) commissioner for health and consumer affairs, last year set out plans to combat a rise in obesity and better educate consumers on how to live more healthy lives.
He called on drinks and food companies to liaise with Brussels, as well as health and consumer groups, and take steps towards finding a solution.
Stephen Kehoe, chair of the Unesda Task Force that will monitor the implementation of the plans and an executive at PepsiCo Europe, called the proposals a "significant move by the industry".
"This is the first time ever that the major beverage producers in Europe come together to jointly define their commitments related to responsible sales and marketing practices, especially to children and schools," he explained.
As part of the proposals, Unesda members have undertaken to not to put "any marketing communication in printed media, websites or during broadcast programmes specifically aimed at children under the age of 12".
It also will "avoid any direct appeal to children under the age of 12 to persuade parents or other adults to buy beverages for them".
Learning a lesson?
Direct commercial activity will halt completely in primary schools "unless otherwise requested by school authorities", while in secondary schools "a full range of beverages will be made available in appropriate container sizes, allowing for portion control" only after consultation with parents and educators.
Vending machines will not be branded and will promote healthy and active lifestyles, as well as balanced diet.
Nutrition labels on cans and bottles will be improved to let consumers know what they are drinking and help them control calorie intake.
One drinks company representative in the UK told the BBC that the main driving force behind the changes were the consumers themselves, many of whom were demanding healthier options.
As a result, the number of calories being drunk by consumers in the UK has already dropped, he explained. | <urn:uuid:b2067c95-c351-48c5-add9-1ca0d2746ebf> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4646942.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395548.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00105-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956883 | 498 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Download this publication here.
Climate change may force the inhabitants of small, low-lying island nations to relocate to other countries. There are concerns, however, that neither existing international law nor the domestic immigration laws of likely destination states afford an adequate right of refuge to these future climate refugees. These concerns have inspired calls for a new multilateral instrument to give climate-displaced individuals a right of refuge under international law.
This chapter argues that the domestic immigration laws of likely destination countries may be more hospitable towards climate migration from threatened island nations than is typically assumed. Although the immigration policies of the likely destination countries do not give special treatment to climate-displaced persons, there are existing immigration provisions that, if expanded, could form the basis for admitting climate migrants from the most imperiled states. This chapter argues that policymakers should recognize the potential to expand upon these existing channels of immigration and view a new multilateral instrument as an option of last resort. | <urn:uuid:62987dfc-63f6-4933-96a0-91d33d40b4f7> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://guarinicenter.org/the-national-immigration-policy-option-limits-and-potential/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395992.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00015-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906219 | 191 | 2.53125 | 3 |
In research that may point the way to new treatments for Type 2diabetes, obese and diabetic mice who got a single shot of a growth-promoting peptide directly into their brains experienced lasting remission from the metabolic disorder without any sustained changes to their diet or their weight.
A week after researchers injected a low dose of synthesized mouse Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 — FGF1 — directly into the ventricles of diabetic mouse brains, the mice’s erratic blood glucose levels stabilized at normal levels. Then they stayed normal for 17 weeks — effectively curing the mice of their diabetes.
See the most-read stories in Science this hour >>
It was a level of remission until now seen only in the wake of bariatric surgery, the authors reported Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. The study was led by endocrinologist Michael W. Schwartz, gastroenterologist Jarrad M. Scarlett and molecular physiologist Jennifer M. Rojas. Schwartz directs the University of Washington’s Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence and Scarlett and Rojas conduct research there.
The success of a direct-to-the-brain treatment for diabetes in mice is unlikely to prompt such radical treatments for humans — not anytime soon, at least. But it does highlight a little-appreciated surmise about Type 2 diabetes: that it may be, to some extent at least, a brain disease, and that treatments that go to the source of the metabolic dysfunction may lead to “cures” that have not been achieved by treating its downstream effects in the pancreas, blood, liver, muscles and fat.
"That's a novel perspective," Schwartz said. The ways in which the brain influences diabetes are not understood, he added. But "there's enough data to take a good look at" the relationship.
The introduction of FGF1 into the brain’s fluid-filled caverns appeared to unleash a sequence of changes in the mice. Production of a powerful neuroprotective protein surged in the brain. That, in turn, fostered the robust growth of brain connections in the hypothalamus — the source of many hormones that play a role on appetite and metabolism. Outside the brain, the skeletal muscles and livers of the diabetic mice quickly improved their uptake of post-meal glucose. As glucose clearance improved, the high blood-sugar levels that are a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes quickly normalized.
Researchers saw no evidence that the treated mice were plagued by hypoglycemia — a problem of over-correction that many on Type 2 diabetes treatments experience. Nor, they concluded, were the metabolic improvements the result of weight loss: while treated mice briefly dialed back their intake and lost some weight, their appetites and their weight quickly returned.
But their Type 2 diabetes was gone.
To ensure that the effect they were seeing was real, the authors of the new research repeated the experiment on rats, as well as on mice that were bred to develop Type 2 diabetes by a different means than did the first set of mice. In both cases, a single infusion of FGF1 had the same anti-diabetic effect.
“Except for certain bariatric surgical procedures, we are unaware of any intervention capable of inducing sustained remission of Type 2 diabetes in humans or rodents,” the authors wrote. The administration of FGF1 directly into the brain, the authors wrote, “unmasks the brain’s inherent capacity to induce sustained diabetes remission.” And all, they added, “without the need for surgical revision of the gastrointestinal tract.”
While pumping growth factor directly into human brains may seem unwieldy, diabetes treatment that focuses on the brain is not out of reach, the authors wrote. Working with mice and rats, scientists have demonstrated that the intranasal delivery of FGF1 to the brain is feasible.
"We are entering an era where, really, when it comes to treating diabetes using insulin or insulin-related treatments — which they all are — we've gotten as far as we're going to get," Schwartz said. Increasingly, drug developers "understand there probably are not going to be breakthroughs by hammering away at the same drug targets," he added.
"So if there's going to be a paradigm shift in finding treatments that might complement or make other drugs more effective, then targeting the brain might be the way to do this," he said.
Close to 30 million Americans — more than 9% of the U.S. adult population — suffer from Type 2 diabetes, and new diagnoses are surging as obesity soars and the U.S. population ages.
A wide range of medications are available, and under development, but remission most often requires substantial weight loss. In recent years, bariatric surgery has been recognized as highly effective in allowing diabetic patients to reduce or discontinue medication, but its high cost has limited access to such treatment. | <urn:uuid:92c7180d-7186-48e4-858f-01d71b5ec62c> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://mevsdiabetes-bloglapedia.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397213.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00068-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952069 | 1,008 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Hugh Pickens writes writes: "Dr James Hansen, director of the Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who first made warnings about climate change in the 1980s, says that public skepticism about the threat of man-made climate change has increased despite the growing scientific consensus and that without public support it will be impossible to make the changes he and his colleagues believe need to occur to protect future generations from the effects of climate change. "The science has become stronger and stronger over the past five years while the public perception is has gone in completely the other direction. That is not an accident," says Hansen. "There is a very concerted effort by people who would prefer to see business to continue as usual. They have been winning the public debate with the help of tremendous resources." Hansen's comments come as recent surveys have revealed that public support for tackling climate change has declined dramatically in recent years with a recent BBC poll finding that 25% of British adults did not think global warming is happening and over a third saying many claims about environmental threats are "exaggerated" compared to 24 per cent in 2000. Dr Benny Peiser, director of skeptical think tank The Global Warming Policy Foundation, says it's time to stop exaggerating the impact of global warming and accept the uncertainty of predictions about the rate of climate change. "James Hensen has been making predictions about climate change since the 1980s. When people are comparing what is happening now to those predictions, they can see they fail to match up."" | <urn:uuid:6c4fc3fa-575f-4d77-95d4-3f46082da38c> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://mobile.slashdot.org/submission/2021877/losing-the-public-debate-on-global-warming | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399106.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00028-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972172 | 301 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Luther Rector Hare
Brigadier General, United States Army
Rector Hare was on duty with the Detachment of Indian Scouts under Lieutenant
Varnum in the Reno Battalion during the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Born August 24, 1851 at Greencastle, Indiana, he was the son of Silas and Elizabeth Rector Hare. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point on September 1, 1870 and graduated on June 17, 1874, as the 2533rd graduate, ranking 25th in his class of 41 graduates.
Appointed Second Lieutenant, 7th Cavalry, on June 17, 1874, and served in the garrison at Colfax, Louisiana, until 1876. Engaged in the Sioux Expedition from May 17 to September 26, 1876, and participated in the Little Big Horn River fight on June 25-26, 1876. After the valley fight on June 25, he joined Company K and engaged in the hilltop fight.
Promoted to First Lieutenant to date from Jun 25, 1876, and transferred to Company I to occupy the vacancy created by the death of Lieutenant James Porter. Engaged in the campaign against Chief Joseph in 1877. Continued to serve on frontier duty and was promoted to Captain on December 29, 1890. As a result of a vacancy created after the fight against Big Foot's band of Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek, SD May 14, 1898, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Texas Volunteer Cavalry and June 14 of same year received promoted to Colonel of the regiment. Honorably mustered out of volunteer service in November 1898.
On July 5, 1899, he received appointment as Colonel, 33rd US Volunteer Infantry and took the regiment to the Philippines. He fought there in the battles at San Fabian, Mangatani Bridge, San Jacinto and San Quentin. Appointed Brigadier General, US Volunteers, on June 1, 1900. Discharged from volunteer service Jun 20, 1901.
On February 2, 1901, he was promoted to Major, 12th Cavalry, and on July 16, 1903 was retired for disability. From October 10, 1903 to June 30, 1905, he was on active duty as Inspector General of Militia. From May 29, 1908 to January 15, 1911, he was Professor of Military Science at the University of Texas at Austin, when he again retired. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Retired, on July 9, 1916, and was appointed Commander of the Student Army Training Corps at Simmons College from January 23, 1918 to February 15, 1919, when he relieved from active duty for the final time.
He died at the age of 78 at Walter Reed Hospital on December 22, 1929, and was interred in the National Cemetery at Arlington, VA. Besides his brother, Judge Silas Hare of Sherman, Texas, he was survived by his 3 daughters, Mrs. Camilla Lippincott, Mrs. Charles Field Mason and the Vicomtesse de Beughem of Brussels, Belgium.
Luther Rector Hare, military officer, son of Octavia Elizabeth (Rector) and Silas Hare, was born at Noblesville, Indiana, on August 24, 1851. In 1853 the Hares moved to Belton, Texas, where Luther began a long and adventurous life on the western frontier. After a seven-year residency (1858-65) at Mesilla, New Mexico, the family returned to Texas and settled in Sherman. There, after finishing school, Hare worked as a printer and typesetter in the offices of the Sherman Courier. In 1870 he secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy through the efforts of John C. Conner, the first Democratic congressman from Texas after the Civil War.
Hare graduated from West Point on June 17, 1874. He accepted an appointment as Second Lieutenant in the Seventh United States Cavalry and served first in Louisiana in the Reconstruction forces. In 1876 he fought with the Seventh Cavalry in the battle of the Little Bighorn, where he was a scout in Major Marcus Reno's battalion. Hare was commended for his bravery and was promoted to First Lieutenant on June 25, the day of the engagement. During the 1877 Nez Percé campaign Hare fought under Colonel Samuel Sturgis in the battle of Canyon Creek, Montana, where he was once again commended for gallantry. After that battle he continued in service on the Dakota frontier, where he took part in the Sioux Ghost Dance War, and in Arizona Territory on scouting expeditions against the last of the renegade Apaches. During his twenty-four years with the Seventh Cavalry he achieved the rank of Captain.
In 1898, with the outbreak of war in Cuba, Hare was granted a leave of absence to accept an appointment from the state of Texas as Lieutenant Colonel, First Regiment, Texas Volunteer Cavalry. Though he was promoted to full Colonel on June 2, Hare did not see action in Cuba due to the armistice signed in early August.
In February of the following year war broke out in the Philippines, and Hare was called upon to organize the Thirty-third Infantry regiment from Texas. Hare and the Thirty-third landed in Lingayen Gulf on November 7, 1899. Together with other units under General Lloyd Wheaton, the Texans fought at San Fabián, San Jacinto, Tagnadin Pass, and San José. Hare organized and led the Gillmore rescue party, for which he received worldwide recognition. He was awarded two Silver Star citations for his gallantry, and left the Philippines in early 1901 with the rank of brigadier general of volunteers.
He returned to Texas in 1901 with the United States Cavalry as commander of the third squadron of the Twelfth Regiment at Fort Sam Houston. He retired from active duty, with over thirty years service, on July 16, 1903. He subsequently accepted duty with the Texas National Guard and served at Austin as inspector and instructor of militia. He was given added duty as military advisor to Governor T. M. Campbell, a position he held until January 1911. In 1918 Hare was made commandant of the first ROTC at the University of Texas and was appointed professor of military science and tactics. After that service, he accepted the post of commandant, Student Army Training Corps, Simmons College (now Hardin-Simmons University), a position he held until February 1919, when he retired for the last time and returned to his home in Sherman.
Hare married Augusta Virginia Hancock, daughter of a prominent St. Paul military family, on June 21, 1878. His wife was the daughter of John Hancock, Colonel, United StatesArmy. They had three children. Colonel Hare died of throat cancer at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington on December 22, 1929. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
NOTE: His son-in-law and daughter, Charles
Field Mason, Brigadier General, United States Army, and Mary Eula Hare
Mason, are also buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1903 - Miss Mary Eula
Hare, daughter of Colonel Luther R. Hare, United
States Army,of Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Major Charles
F. Mason, United States Army of the same post, were married this evening
at the residenceof the bride's grandparents, Colonel and Mrs. John
Hancock. No cards of invitation were issued for theceremony, which
was attended by only a small family party.
HARE, LUTHER R
Courtesy of the National Archives | <urn:uuid:265380a4-93b2-457b-8352-34acd9230c85> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lrhare.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395992.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00025-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981891 | 1,550 | 2.53125 | 3 |
With a campus situated in the Kansas Flint Hills and access to the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas State University researchers certainly know grasslands. They're using that expertise to collaborate with researchers in Botswana and South Africa on studies of African grasslands.
"There are a lot of parallels between Konza and other grass-dominated ecosystems around the world," said K-State's David Hartnett, a university distinguished professor of biology.
The research is examining the sustainability of the grasslands and conserving the biodiversity within them. Hartnett and collaborators in Botswana are assessing and documenting changes taking place because of climate change and land use changes.
Working with Moffat Setshogo and Mbaki Muzilla at the University of Botswana, the K-State group is studying how fire, grazing and important beneficial soil fungi affect the ecology and productivity of key grass species. Information about the research will appear at the African Issues Symposium: Food Security, Environmental Sustainability and Human Health, March 30 to April 1, at K-State. More information about the symposium is at http://www.k-state.edu/africanstudies/2009symposium/
Hartnett and Tony Joern, professor of biology, lead the K-State Institute for Grassland Studies, which was formed in 2008.
"K-State has a strong program in grassland studies and many people working on grassland ecosystems," Hartnett said. "We wanted to broaden it to international research and education."
The southern African grasslands and savannas have a lot in common with the grasslands of the central United States, Hartnett said. At the same time, he said the African grasslands are more interconnected to the people's way of life.
"Like in Africa, we acquire most of our food from grasslands, but the dependence is more critical in Africa," Hartnett said. "Not only do the grasslands produce grain and meat, but they also produce building materials, medicines and other essential goods and services. That's what makes the grasslands such an important region to focus on."
Hartnett said the research collaboration with African researchers -- primarily those from the University of Botswana -- has meant that K-State students have done research overseas while African students have come to K-State to pursue graduate degrees.
This summer, Hartnett will take nine K-State students on a study abroad program in Botswana. Hartnett said K-State also is working with the Peace Parks Foundation, which connects natural parks across southern Africa's international borders. He said much of the collaborative grassland research is being done in these conservation areas.
|Contact: David Hartnett|
Kansas State University | <urn:uuid:7ce59ab2-653b-4bed-a820-7c79908849fe> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-1/K-State-biologist-collaborating-with-researchers-in-Africa-on-grassland-sustainability--biodiversity-7487-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397842.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00029-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940023 | 558 | 2.75 | 3 |
A step toward stem cell ceasefire
The contentious debate around the ethics of embryonic stem cell research took a welcome step toward oblivion on October 8 when Harvard researchers announced they have developed a safe method for transforming skin cells into "induced pluripotent stem or iPS cells." These cells, derived from differentiated or adult cells—like stem cells derived from and thus destroying embryos—have the ability to morph into any cell type in the body.
The method is safer than previous procedures to create stem cells from differentiated cells because it does not use a virus, which could contaminate resulting cell batches, to carry transformative genes into the cells. The Harvard team was able to use a chemical to change out genes on skin cells and reprogram them into stem cells.
The Harvard researchers' ultimate goal is to take a small skin sample or blood from a patient, reprogram the cells into iPS cells, grow a large batch of these and then use them to make heart cells, blood cells, or nerve cells. Eventually even entire replacement organs could be grown in this manner. Patients using such therapies would not need to take immuno-suppressing drugs since they would essentially be using their own tissue.
Balancing the ethics of embryonic research against the plight of people with profound illnesses who are convinced therapies built on the foundation of embryonic cell research has already proved challenging. There is little common ground in this matter for compromise. Finding a practical therapeutic end-run around embryonic stem cell research or therapies derived from the same would, therefore, create a welcome demilitarized zone in the ongoing U.S. culture wars. | <urn:uuid:59cf0075-0beb-4c2d-82f5-fb1bcd5c7d8e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.uscatholic.org/blog/2009/10/step-toward-stem-cell-ceasefire | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393518.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00132-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946475 | 322 | 2.984375 | 3 |
|Kegode, George - ND STATE UNIV.|
Submitted to: Weed Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 5, 2006
Publication Date: May 1, 2006
Citation: Kegode, G., Forcella, F. 2006. Tillage effect on reproductive output by foxtail cohorts in corn and soybean. Weed Science. 54:419-427. Interpretive Summary: To make good long-term weed management decisions, some understanding of seed production of weeds that escape control is necessary. For this reason, we examined the number of seeds produced by isolated green and yellow foxtail plants as influenced by crop type (corn or soybean), tillage system (moldboard plow [MP], chisel plow [CP], ridge till [RT], spring disk [SD], and no till [NT]), and time of weed seedling emergence (before, with, and after crop emergence). Green foxtail typically produced twice as many seeds as yellow foxtail with maximum seed production being about 12,000 seeds per plant in green foxtail and 3,000 seeds per plant in yellow foxtail. In many cases, more seeds were produced in soybean than in corn. In corn, more seeds tended to be produced in NT than other tillage systems, whereas in soybean relatively few seeds were produced in NT compared to other tillage systems. Weeds that emerged before the crop or with the crop almost always produced more seeds than late-emerging weeds. Seed production was related closely to the number of flower heads; the number of flower heads was dependent upon the number of tillers (stems) that were present in mid July. Thus, levels of eventual seed production can be assessed in mid July, six weeks prior to actual seed production. These results will allow scientists, extension personnel, and agrichemical industry representatives to make better estimates of seed production for the improvement of long-term weed management strategies.
Technical Abstract: Reliable estimates of vegetative growth and fecundity of weeds require determination of production under field conditions in the presence of crops. Research was conducted in 1996 and 1997 to measure vegetative (primary tiller number per plant) and reproductive output (panicle number and size, and number of seeds produced per plant) at the end of the growing season by three cohorts of green foxtail and yellow foxtail growing in corn and soybean. Five tillage systems were studied: moldboard plow (MP), chisel plow (CP), ridge till (RT), spring disk (SD), and no till (NT). The first foxtail cohort (cohort 1) emerged prior to crop emergence, the second cohort (cohort 2) emerged at the same time as crop emergence, and the third cohort (cohort 3) emerged after crop emergence. Most primary tillers and panicles per plant were produced by green foxtail in MP and NT tillage systems and with cohort 1 plants. Yellow foxtail plants produced more primary tillers and panicles in 1996 in MP and SD tillage systems, in soybean, and with cohort 1 plants. Fitted linear functions predicted that each additional primary tiller per plant would yield 1.8 green foxtail panicles per plant (r2 = 0.77) and 1.6 yellow foxtail panicles per plant (r2 = 0.80). Panicle size was variable between years, among tillage systems and cohorts, and between crops and averaged between 3.6 to 5.9 cm for green foxtail and 3.7 to 5.8 cm for yellow foxtail. In corn, green foxtail seed number per plant was highest in NT with no consistent pattern among cohorts; whereas it was highly variable in soybean. Yellow foxtail seed number per plant was variable among tillage systems and cohorts with each crop. Foxtail seed number per plant was highly correlated to number of panicles per plant (r2 values = 0.68 to 0.94). These results incorporate the combined effects of competition from crops, level of soil disturbance (tillage system), and time of weed emergence and improve current estimates of green foxtail and yellow foxtail seed production, which may aid decision-making for long-term weed management. | <urn:uuid:f0762690-d8b6-4524-86ec-f0920731d16e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=182963 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396945.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00154-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945861 | 896 | 2.96875 | 3 |
|University of California, Berkeley|
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California Moss eFlora
|Jan 1 2013 ·|
Our two species of Antitrichia are individually very easily recognized, but the macroscopic morphology is such that they may be seen as very different plants in the field. The strongly julaceous plants of A. californica grow both as lithophytes and epiphytes, and are common in mesic to geographically dry areas throughout the state. The narrowly recurved leaf margins and abruptly reflexed apiculus of this large moss make recognition certain. Antitrichia gigantea is restricted to coastal forests of high humidity and precipitation. The red stems and spreading leaves of this very large pleurocarpous moss may suggest Rhytidiadelphus loreus but the latter species has closely and regularly plicate leaves while those of Antitrichia gigantea are irregularly wrinkled or basally lightly plicate. The costae of both species of Antitrichia are flattened and thus broadened near the base, and there is usually some elaboration into accessory lateral costae. Antitrichia, like other members of its family, has sporophytes emergent from long acicular perichaetia whose leaves are several times longer than the adjacent vegetative leaves. Such strong differentiation of the perichaetial leaves provides a character that, among California mosses, is unique to the family.
Key to Antitrichia Etc.
The mosses included here are easily recognized by the plumose or wefty growth form. Some bryologists speak of dendroid mosses but we find it necessary to distinguish plumose mosses (with erect to ascending axes from which regularly arranged branches appear in a planar fashion) from dendroid mosses (with branches radiating like those of a palm tree rather than planar). We treat all our truly dendroid mosses in the key to Neckera.
The plants placed in this key have secondary branches that are at least somewhat julaceous. A number of plumose mosses have strongly complanate arrangement of the leaves of the secondary branches. These complanate and plumose plants are keyed under Neckera. Finally, the Hylocomium key deals with those plumose mosses that have leaves equally arranged around the stem but with those leaves or at least their portions spreading. All these mosses treated in the present section have relatively short and thick-walled median cells with the lumen:wall ratio seldom exceeding 5:1.
Species included in this key are in Leucodontaceae, except Bestia (Brachytheciaceae), Dendroalsia (Cryphaeaceae), Alsia (Leptodontaceae), and Pseudoleskeella (Leskeaceae):
Alsia californica (W. J. Hooker & Arnott) Sullivant
Antitrichia californica Sullivant in Lesquereux
Antitrichia gigantea (Renauld & Cardot) Kindberg
Bestia longipes (Sullivant & Lesquereux) Brotherus
Dendroalsia abietina (W. J. Hooker) E. Britton in Brotherus
Pseudoleskeella serpentinensis P. Wilson & Norris
Pterogonium gracile (Hedwig) J. E. Smith
Of special interest is the bryogeography of some of these plants. The genera Alsia and Dendroalsia are endemic to west coastal North America, and there they completely replace the globally widespread Cryphaea and Leucodon. Of additional interest is the distribution of Antitrichia (very rare in eastern United States but found in scattered localities in Eurasia and Africa) and Pterogonium (absent from eastern United States but found in Eurasia and Africa).
A. Paraphyllia present, usually densely inserted on stems and larger branches; costae single, ending above mid-leaf .....B
A. Paraphyllia absent; plants mostly julaceous; costa weak, or basally flattened and forking into subsidiary costae .....C
B. Cells strongly prorate; plant plumose and tending to curl into a ball upon drying; branch leaves conspicuously 5-ranked .....Dendroalsia: D. abietina
B. Cells smooth; plant plumose or not, never strongly distorted on drying; branch leaves not conspicuously ranked .....Alsia: A. californica
C. Cells strongly prorate; costa mostly ending near leaf middle, often distally forked; branches sometimes strongly attenuate with the entire branching system resembling a bird's foot .....Pterogonium: P. gracile
C. Cells smooth; costa mostly stronger; branches usually not strongly attenuate .....D
D. Leaves with costa extending above the leaf middle with its distal portion of costa cloaked with dorsal spines or cristae .....Bestia: B. longipes
D. Leaves with costa of various lengths but not cloaked with dorsal spines or cristae .....E
E. Leaves with costa strong and terete near base but forking distally and disappearing around mid-leaf .....Pseudoleskeella: P. serpentinensis
E. Leaves with costa flattened at the base, mostly forked at that base into supplementary costae .....F
F. Plant julaceous; cell walls little pitted; supplementary costae less than 5 cells long .....Antitrichia californica
F. Plant not julaceous; cell walls strongly pitted throughout leaf; supplementary costae much stronger .....Antitrichia gigantea
Copyright © 2013 Regents of the University of California
We encourage links to these pages, but the content may not be downloaded for reposting, repackaging, redistributing, or sale in any form, without written permission from the University and Jepson Herbaria. | <urn:uuid:22e6e4fc-2a9c-4dbf-b4e8-6d624eafc086> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_moss_gk.pl?genus=Antitrichia | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783400031.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155000-00071-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.892283 | 1,283 | 2.8125 | 3 |
The International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) officially gets underway tomorrow in Philadelphia, but already there is significant discussion about several studies that were presented at today’s IMFAR press conference.
Dr. Susan Hyman of the University of Rochester reported on her study that shows the gluten free casein free (gfcf) diet does not appear beneficial for children with autism.
“It would have been wonderful for children with autism and their families if we found that the gluten-free, casein-free diet could really help, but this study didn’t show significant benefits,” said Dr. Hyman
“The removal of gluten and casein from the diet of a controlled group of young children with autism did not demonstrate a change in sleep habits, bowel habits, activity or core symptoms of autism,” Hyman said.
Dr. Eric Courchesne of UCSD spoke at the press conference about his study showing a simple brain scan performed in infants and toddlers may be a biomarker for autism leading to early detection and early intervention.
The test involved using functional MRI to measure brain responses to spoken words in sleeping children.
“We discovered that autistic infants and toddlers displayed a pronounced abnormality of language activation and cortical development” said Courchesene. “At each age studied from infancy to young childhood, most autistic subjects had greater activation on the incorrect side, namely, the right temporal cortex, compared to the left side and this incorrect activation pattern did not change or “normalize” even by 3 or 4 years of age. The abnormal pattern was strong in a substantial percentage of autistic infants and toddlers suggesting that with further testing refinements, clinical tests revealing this abnormal activation pattern in individual cases could serve as a biomarker for risk for autism.”
Dr. Joseph Buxbaum of the Seaver Center at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine described a potential new treatment for individuals with autism who carry a Shank3 gene mutation (approximately 1% of the autistic population). “We have developed mice with a mutant Shank3 gene and observed deficits in the communication between nerve cells in the brain, which can lead to learning problems” said Buxbaum. “Some changes we observed implicate a neurotransmitter for which several classes of drugs have been developed and we are now testing those classes of drugs in the mice. These changes, as well as other changes in the mice, indicated that the nerve cells were not maturing at the normal rate, so we gave the mice an experimental compound to help the nerve cells. This compound, which is formed as a natural derivative of insulin-like growth factor-1, is known to cross into the brain. After two weeks of injections, the communication between nerve cells was normal. Moreover, adaptation of nerve cells to stimulation, considered a key part of learning and memory, which is reduced in the mice, is restored following treatment. This indicates that similar approaches might be helpful in children with Shank3 deletions or mutations”.
Another study described today shows that divorce rates are similar for parents with and without children with autism, debunking the myth that families raising children with autism have a higher than average divorce rate.
Parents of autistic children often hear that the divorce rate in families with is 80%, but Brian Freedman of the Kennedy Krieger Institute reported that “there really weren’t any significant differences in terms of family structure when you consider children with autism and those without.” ‘What we found is that children with autism remained with both biological or adoptive parents 64% of the time, compared with children in families without autism, who remained [with both biological or adoptive parents] 65% of the time.” | <urn:uuid:82353837-49b0-4d67-98d8-5b716b9c4bc6> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://autismsciencefoundation.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/imfar-update-gfcf-diet-not-beneficial-new-biomarker-new-potential-treatment-80-divorce-rate-myth-debunked/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403823.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00179-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961627 | 760 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Persuasion From Friends is Powerful for Teens, Teach Them How To Handle it
Explaining to a first grader how to handle both positive and negative peer pressure may seem a bit awkward at first, but considering the diversity of influences on kids in public schools and the reality of all kinds of peer pressure and at increasingly young ages , teaching your child about negative peer pressure should not be put off. It will be equally as important as talking to him or her about sex. Not to mention equipping a child with the hard facts on peer pressure in grade school is vital to his or her overall educational success for years to come. If the truth be told, sending a child to school without the proper understanding of what peer pressure is can place that child in harms way
by his or her own accord! In the end, a child that understands peer pressure automatically knows better how to handle peer pressure! Plus it will give your child a huge advantage over unsavory behaviors and influences prevalent in most grade schools. Therefore, reviewing this information and considering these tips will help children make wiser decisions when dealing with the peer pressures of grade school!
Give Your Child Sound Advice About Negative Peer Pressure
Before a child can effectively deal with peer pressure they have to first know what it is first. Peer pressure is the influence of one or more children on another sometimes by bandwagon appeal, coercion or sometimes outright chiding and teasing if the pressure is not given into. Peer pressure is used to persuade another child to do something the children often in both parties already realize is wrong and could get them in serious trouble. The more children that are talked into contributing in the "bad" behavior, the less all have to feel guilty about it, thus, the motivation behind much peer pressure. If your child understands the motivation of the peer pressure, the easier it is for your child to resist it.
Sometimes the manipulation of that child's reputation is the bait used to persuade him or her to go against their better judgment! For example the pressures posed by one child egging on another to smoke or drink in order to look cool among their friends and uncool if they don't. In this case it can be useful to point out that smoking and drinking is not what constitutes coolness, as kids in this example falsely claim, but that the way one treats another is the authentic meaning of coolness and that manipulating someone out of their own free choice is definitely not very cool. This knowledge will likely provide your child with the appropriate verbal response.
Much of the time, children are greatly influence by peer pressure to gain acceptance and adulation from their classmates and others kids. But peer pressure can also come from siblings and older children as well. What parents should also talk to a child about is the peer pressure in the media and how it adds fuel to the influences inspired by their classmates. For example attempting outrageous antics performed on various TV and cable shows kids have access to nowadays. Thus, media being the ultimate form of peer pressure. Equipping children with a concise understanding of peer pressure in through this medium is also an important part of modern parenting. Strategies of imparting this understanding are important to how the child will be in his or her reception and trust of your knowledge. The way you talk to your child in this kind of discussion is the tricky part. Preaching can turn a child off but lack of firmness can make your child not take you as seriously as they should.
Four Strategies Kids Can Use To Avoid Negative Peer Pressure
Kids in grade school are confronted daily by different levels and types of peer pressure. Whether it's as harmless as passing notes in class or more serious offenses like skipping class or bullying other kids, children will be inundated with a multitude of opportunities to take the bait of peer pressure or avoiding it all together. Here are 4 key strategies kids can use to avoid negative influences:
- Affirm the adage "You are who you hang with". Instilling the ability in your child to choose the right group of friends is the most important strategy a child can implement.
- Recognition of bad influences is also a good tool kids can use to avoid negative pressure from peers. This can be clarified by telling your child, that if someone asks them to break rules or do something that feels wrong, it is most likely a bad influence.
- Keeping an open line of communication with a child when they have pressing questions about peer pressure is essential for helping kids make the right decisions. Keep the trust with your child that will enable them to do this.
- And finally explaining in detail the repercussions of following negative peer pressure is a great deterrent and the perfect invitation for kids in grade school to simply walk away! Tell them some examples of unhappy people who probably ended up that way out of peer pressure.
Teaching kids methods of handling negative peer pressure as well as the different influence peers, media and other people have is a start. Especially since negative influences can weight heavily on a young impressionable mind to the point it becomes distressing. And if not properly addressed negative peer pressure can and will alter a child's social behavior, interactions and perceptions of others. This is a lesson that will empower them to begin to follow their own life and dreams for the rest of schooling and the rest of their life. | <urn:uuid:4b64effd-d8ea-43be-9396-c6ede963d3a4> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.womensforum.com/negative-peer-pressure.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403825.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00167-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954669 | 1,066 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Author: Petr Kadlec, Wikipedia, Czech Republic
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) is an international project of an Internet encyclopedia based on a wiki - pages any Internet user can edit. Wikipedia aims to provide free access to the sum of all human knowledge to everyone in their own language. Today, Wikipedia exists in more than 100 active language versions, in addition to the original English one; this includes the Czech version (cs.wikipedia.org). Since its beginning in 2001, Wikipedia has grown very quickly, both size of contents and number of users increase exponentially. But this revolutionary concept presents also important questions: How should vandalism be dealt with? How should the encyclopedia cope with controversial subjects? Can users believe information presented by a more-or-less anonymous mass? Doesn't the uncontrolled approach to article creation result in a systemic bias? Can a project funded with public donations only keep its growth rate? This presentation describes basic principles of Wikipedia and its sister projects, shows the problems the projects are dealing with, but also points out the undeniable successes they have accomplished. The topic is covered both in general terms and in the specific case of the Czech version.
About the author
Petr Kadlec (born 1979) graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of CTU in Prague (in computer science); he works as a software developer. He first edited Czech Wikipedia on July 15, 2004 (as a user #290; he first edited the English version two days earlier as a user #75813), now he has about 10000 edits on his account (in more than 20 language versions); he is one of the administrators on the Czech Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. He also contributes (mainly the Czech translation) to development of MediaWiki – the wikisoftware Wikipedia is using.
Other papers in this session:
Blogs and Social Media Inside an Enterprise - Internal Communication and Management of Information Flows
Author: Adriana Cronin Lukas, Big Blog Company, United Kingdom
Author: Nadežda Andrejčíková, Cosmotron Bohemia, s.r.o., Czech republic
Author: Karen Blakeman, RBA Information Services, United Kingdom
Author: Michal Krsek, CESNET, a.l.e., Czech Republic
Co-author: Michal Illich / Jyxo, Ivan Dolezal / CESNET
Semantic Web Navigation - Excalibur Project
Author: Pavel Kocourek, INCAD, c/o Convera CZ, Czech Republic | <urn:uuid:66712974-f277-4930-a86e-ab04073d9a26> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.inforum.cz/archiv/inforum2006/english/prispevek.php-prispevek=39.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404382.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00163-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.892048 | 522 | 2.875 | 3 |
Michigan misses opportunity to recycle more electronics
Computer and television recycling got a needed boost from the Electronic Takeback Law back in 2008 but little has been done since.
The E-waste Takeback Law requires manufacturers and distributors to provide free and convenient recycling opportunities for Michigan residents.
Currently, Michigan residents recycle about 1.6 lbs. per capita of household electronics. Compared to the 4.2 lbs. per capita recycling rate in Wisconsin, Michigan could use another boost.
In an effort to drive recycling rates of consumer electronics up, the Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC) facilitated discussion among key stakeholders to develop a set of recommendations.
The resulting document, “The State of Electronics Recycling in Michigan,” highlights the impact of the current law, compares Michigan’s efforts to those of other states and makes a number of recommendations for improvement.
Among the recommendations for increasing the recycling of covered electronic devices is the need to establish enforceable recycling goals, potentially based on market share data.
According to Kerrin O’Brien, MRC executive director, “The takeback law requires manufacturers to provide free and convenient recycling for their products, but without an enforceable goal there’s nothing concrete to drive manufacturers to invest in recovering more electronics here in Michigan. So, they’re taking their business elsewhere,” said O’Brien.
“For the state of Michigan to have a successful electronics takeback program it has to be easy, free and convenient for all residents. A good program will benefit both the economy and environment,” said Todd Gibson of Vintage Tech Recyclers, an Illinois-based recycler with programs in Michigan and a new operation in Wayne County.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451 of 1994, Part 173 Electronics of 2008, also requires leaders of the Michigan House and Senate to convene an Electronic Waste Advisory Council.
While members were appointed to the Council early on, it has never met to discuss or evaluate the program.
The MRC recommendations were submitted to the Governor, Legislature, and Department of Environmental Quality in March of this year on behalf of the MRC, its board of directors and members.
According to the report, “Electronic products contain hazardous materials but also, valuable resources. The proper and safe management of these products at the end of their lifecycle is an ongoing concern and opportunity.” | <urn:uuid:a265d86b-2a41-4745-b6ea-2cfcb36d4713> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.americanrecycler.com/0712/1635michigan.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398516.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00035-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937039 | 493 | 2.59375 | 3 |
In modern democracies, politics and popular culture are inseparable. While a small percentage of Americans know what was discussed on Capitol Hill this week, a significant number know who was booted from American Idol, and observing this tableau, a political mind may be repulsed. For the liberal philosopher, turning the minds of an apathetic or propagandized public seems an impossible hill to climb. Average people do not really care to read about the meaning of life, the unnecessary confines of their society, or the causes of human suffering. Average people do, however, enjoy a good show. Since the times of the American continent’s first presses and playhouses, in England and its American colonies, that show was Shakespeare. Long before the Beatles, the prolific poet from Stratford-upon-Avon may have posthumously been America’s first British pop sensation-and its most influential. Shakespeare’s attention to detail in the individual identities of his characters, and his intellect for relative moral standards, infused English and American cultures with an unprecedented appreciation for individual liberty, which led to the American Revolution and United States Constitution. Shakespeare’s cultural legacy is the defense of individualism that pervaded everywhere his work was popular, and in the ways that truly matter to society, Hitler was defeated not by the bomb-dropping Allies of World War II, but by a dead English poet wielding only a feather.
This realization came to me as I was reading The Federalist, the famed series of newspaper publications that circulated in the United States in 1787-88. The carefully constructed papers succeeded in persuading the American people to ratify the newly formed Constitution. In the second essay of the series, one of the mystery authors (later revealed as John Jay) refers to “the poet” without explanation, as if every reader should already know that “the poet” is Shakespeare. This is evidence that, to Jay and his intended audience, the American public of 1787, Shakespeare was an assumption that required no specific definition, like air, earth, moon, sun or divinity, or even humanity itself. There is no comparable figure in 2008. When we hear “the poet” today, we need an antecedent, so as not to be confused as to whether it is Dickinson, Frost, Shakespeare, Donne, Hughes, Eliot, Kipling, or Whitman-we do not conditionally assume one. The same can be said for our other modern influences. There is no modern actor, writer, comedian, singer, musician, pundit, et cetera, whose proper identity is an informal extension of common title, so Shakespeare’s influence on early U.S. culture is, by our standards, immeasurable.
The extent to which Shakespeare shaped America’s early cultural identity is a subject of debate among historians, and each critic brings a unique perspective to the argument, sometimes adding invention to observation. All agree that Shakespeare profoundly shaped England’s language and culture, and most believe the American identity was consequently Shakespearean. Few, however, will go so far as to say Shakespeare was a major factor in American independence. The argument that Shakespeare had little effect on America’s revolutionary founding is centered on the mystery of Shakespeare’s own politics. What Shakespeare’s characters believed was often abundantly clear, but the playwright’s own political opinions will always remain a mystery. It is true that Shakespeare contributed nothing concrete to political discourse. He was an artist. However, the mystery of his politics, along with the variety of characters he created, is actually central to my argument, because as soon as the public learns a writer’s opinions, a large sector of it will ignore his work. We learn, in Shakespeare’s world, that no one’s opinions are right. This realization is the essence of the United States’ liberal individualistic founding, and Shakespeare made it popular in England and the United States. In this way, Shakespeare founded the United States as we know it.
Historians give credit for the modern concept of the self to English philosopher John Locke, who argued that the infant’s mind is a blank slate shaped by experience, but he published An Essay Concerning Human Understanding in 1690, a century after Shakespeare penned his works containing more than one hundred main characters and thousands of developed side characters, each having unique identities. Locke, they claim, is one of American liberty’s founding philosophers, but Locke may have only been observing what Shakespeare revealed in England a century before. In Shakespeare: the Invention of the Human (1998), Harold Bloom argues that “personality, in our sense, is a Shakespearean invention, and is not only Shakespeare’s greatest originality but also the authentic cause of his perpetual pervasiveness.” This seems accurate. We see a multitude of personalities in English, American and French cultures not often seen elsewhere. Distinctive personalities, seen in a positive light in our country, are in non-Shakespearean cultures considered a social obstacle. In talking to a Chinese exchange student, I discovered that in his culture, people have difficulty understanding why anyone would want to restrict the powers of the government. While Shakespeare’s cultures reject government coercion of the individual, collectivist cultures like China’s fear the potential chaos of individual freedoms.
Shakespeare’s influence in America has been taken to the extreme by more than one critic. In 1917, Charles Mills Gayley authored Shakespeare and the Founders of Liberty in America, which argues that Shakespeare had direct contact with liberal leaders in Virginia. Most of his argument is based on a single unpublished letter received by Shakespeare from William Strachey, a liberal member of the Virginia Company. Gayley claims Shakespeare was intimately and directly involved in the beginning of American liberty, but there is little evidence his claim is true. While his assessment that Shakespeare has left a heritage of liberty in England, France, and America is correct, Gayley has-whether imaginatively, vainly, or greedily-overstepped in attributing political beliefs to a political mirage.
The United States and England embraced Shakespeare throughout the nineteenth century, and until radio and television formats revolutionized media, Shakespeare remained dominant in American and British popular culture through print and performance. The individualism highlighted by Shakespeare’s characters remained on the consciousnesses of these nations well into the twentieth century. Early in the twentieth century, when other modern societies turned to combinations of socialism, nationalism, totalitarianism, or fascism-and did so with seeming success-England, France and the United States were, for yet unexplained reasons, unable to undo individualism, despite pleas from religious, scientific and interested communities. Germany was not so lucky. Before Hitler’s prominence, German culture had scientists, religions, artists, philosophers, and politicians-all arguably more refined than those of any other nation. For this reason, many intellectuals in England and the United States admired Germany’s Nazi socialism prior to the onset of war.
F.A. Hayek describes the evolution of Germany’s national socialist thought in The Road to Serfdom (1944), which is considered among the most important social criticisms ever written, and is a warning to politicians in all individualistic societies. In it, we learn Germans believed that in realizing the advantages of socialism, they had discovered an advantage over Anglo-American individualism. He quotes German Nobel Prize winner Wilhelm Ostwald saying, “I will explain to you now Germany’s great secret: we, or perhaps the German race, have discovered the significance of organization. While the other nations still live under the regime of individualism, we have already achieved that of organization.” This reveals the cultural difference between Germany and England during World War II: individualism. For some reason, English culture cherished individualism while German culture esteemed organization. Germany had an advanced scientific and artistic society; what German culture was missing was the Shakespeare effect. The underlying presence of Shakespeare explains the awareness that standards are relative to the individual (and not society as a whole), to which the inhabitants of England, France, and America so desperately clung during World War II.
Germans felt socialism was the answer to their economic woes. However, implementing socialism required the unscrupulous denial of certain individual rights, and Hitler was the only leader strong enough to make it work. It was not until after the outbreak of war that we became acutely aware of the dangers of Germany’s collectivist thought. Their patriotic socialism, though it may seem favorable in concept, becomes an uncontrollable and brutal beast in practice, because socialism can only be implemented by means most socialists detest. With its comfort in conformity, corporate interest in government, promises of safety, and mystical faith in the benevolence of power, socialism is more similar to the tyranny of the past than the prosperity of the future.
Although we did not formally recognize the evils of Nazi socialism until Hitler showed them to us, something in our culture told us it was wrong-and that something was Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s redefinition of the English language throws a wrench into the very notion of “organization” in society. It was Shakespeare’s personalized characters that instilled individualism, which made American independence seem so right. It was the same individualist lens through which socialism seemed so wrong. Everywhere his work is popular, individual liberty is Shakespeare’s legacy, and in the absence of his popularity in America today, we should realize we are at greater risk of internalizing collectivist ideals; in the spirit of Shakespeare, let us not be governed by them. | <urn:uuid:9a9bca33-81d1-4522-b183-e2b8a1600066> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://fearistyranny.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/shakespeare-who-made-america-and-beat-hitler/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396949.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00096-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961554 | 1,976 | 2.625 | 3 |
North Korea: Introduction
North Korea is a country in Eastern Asia occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. It borders the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan between China and South Korea. North Korea is composed of mountains and uplands, separated by deep and narrow valleys. The government system is a communist state one-man dictatorship; the chief of state is the president, and the head of state is the premier. North Korea has a command economy in which the central government directs the economy regarding the production and distribution of goods.
1/15/2016 1:40:46 PM | <urn:uuid:471252c0-1b36-43bf-9e78-a95128070b87> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/north-korea/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397428.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00011-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948363 | 118 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Marriage means many different things according to the time and place of the culture and people involved. What for some people are obvious assumptions are for others unthinkable. No-one is correct: there simply are different forms of marriage. It is the right of no culture to impose its own ideas of marriage on other cultures, and the right of no sub-culture or religion to control marriage taboos within their own culture. So some believe in multiple marriage partners, some believe in having only straight marriages, some place age barriers in different ways. None are right, all are different.
Governments should allow their people access to all forms of marriage according to peoples' wishes but this is impossible. In order for legal contracts to have legal value, they must abide by certain known specifications. So in the West we have a particular type of marriage that is legal; other forms are illegal. What this does is alienate and standardize marriage, codifying traditions into unchanging legal codes and making them stagnant as society changes. What is worse is that in modern legalized culture, the illegalisation of forms of marriage not recognized by one set of institutionalized norms causes other unrecognized forms to become taboo, wrong and looked down upon.
“Pythagoreans taught that marriage is unfavorable to high intellectual development. On the other hand, the Pharisees taught that it is sinful for a man to live unmarried beyond his twentieth year.”
A problem of modern cultures therefore is that we become biased towards our own form of marriage and come to consider any other form "wrong", "stupid", "silly", etc. So, those who practice arranged marriages consider those who marry freely and romantically to be silly, short-sighted pleasure seekers. This is not how romantic couples see themselves. They probably see arranged marriages as inhuman, inferior and oppressive. Both people lack understanding that other forms of marriage are different and mean different things. When one victim-of-culture argues that another victim-of-culture prescribes an immoral form of marriage, no agreement is possible because in arguing about "marriage" they are arguing about completely different things. In different cultures, marriage means different things.
And even within cultures, marriage means different things to different people. So apart from looking at a few forms of marriage outside of traditional Western ones, I also talk a bit about some internal differences in the West of how people think marriage should be.
“We assume [...] that love is a precondition for marriage. But this assumption is not shared in cultures that practice arranged marriages. Moreover, until recently in North America, marital choices, especially those by women, were strongly influenced by considerations of economic security, family background, and professional status. [...] Cultures vary in the importance they place upon romantic love.”
By "romantic marriage" I mean to imply the following general scenario: Two people have met and have a growing friendship, complete with physical attraction and compatibility of character and interests. They may move in with each other after a while. They chose to marry and maybe become engaged for a while first. Principally this is their own choice however their families and friends can exert informal pressure. This is the principal form of marriage of the West in general. Those who live in a culture of romantic marriage frequently consider pragmatic marriage to be immoral, oppressive, inhumane, etc.
Romantic marriage is said to be the individual's free choice according to what they themselves think is best for themselves
It upholds individual freedom at the cost of social cohesion
Devotion to emotional relationships but frequently only short-term commitment (as emotions change)
Pragmatic Marriage is a marriage that is made possible by formal procedures of family or group politics. A responsible authority sets up or encourages the marriage. The authority could be parents, family, a religious figure or a consensus. The former two often start the process with informal pressure, social pressure, whilst the latter two often start the process with a formal system or statement. In both cases, the authority has a compelling veto over the marriage, and this system is socially supported by the rest of community so that to deny it is extreme and drastic. Arranged marriages are a form of pragmatic marriage. Once declared, an engagement is implicit, which follows through with a formal marriage ceremony. Those who uphold pragmatic marriage frequently state that it is traditional, that it upholds social morals, that it is good for the families involved.
Pragmatic marriage is said to be traditional, upholding of social morals, and good for the families involved for pragmatic reasons
Good for family or inter-group relations at the expense of short-term individual empowerment
Devotion to permanent long-term relationship but at the cost of short-term problems during acclimatisation
Forced marriages where one partner has no choice at all are obviously an insult to Human dignity and rights, and should not be encouraged. It is possible to marry pragmatically without it being forced; both sides merely need to agree that such a marriage is good. Forced marriage at worst, is slavery, and at best is something that works (and of course, sometimes it doesn't work and causes misery). Due to its violation of Human rights, forced marriages are outlawed in Europe and countries that respect human rights, for example "the Council of Europe has condemned forced marriages in Resolution 1468 (2005) on Forced Marriages and child marriages proposing specific measures to be taken by its Member States to eradicate this practice"3. Forced marriages contravene Article 3 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ("Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person") and Article 4 ("No one shall be held in slavery or servitude"). But most of all it directly contradicts Article 16.2:
“Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 16.2
“If the family as a societal institution is weak, selection of a male from the field of eligibles is likely to be done by mutual volition; if the family is strong, by arrangement. If selection from the field of eligibles is on the basis of mutual volition, it is likely that love will be the basis of choice.”
"The Encyclopaedia of Sexual Behaviour" by Drs Ellis and Abarbanel (1961)4
Whether marriage tends to be by the free volition of lovers (i.e., by choice) or is a familial affair, has much to do with how strong the family is in society. In the West, individualism and freedom are valued above the family. Children move away from the home and freely select employment, friends, a place to live and a lifestyle independent of their parents and family. In cultures where the family is strong, all of these things are family affairs: People spend most of their days, every day, in contact only with members of their family and extended family (cousins, etc).
Those who believe in romantic marriage will often criticize pragmatic marriage, saying that it is oppressive, inhuman, unfair, immoral and an affront to personal freedom. However it is not. Within cultures that have adopted more pragmatic marriages, the success rate is very high indeed. Nearly all couples learn to love and care for each other very deeply. It is just that the long-term happiness and stability is given more importance than the short-term. This applies also to marriages that are arranged as a means of increasing the financial stability of a family or the political cohesion of groups.
Those who believe in pragmatic marriage also have some traditional criticisms of romantic marriage, saying that it is short-term, overly based on sexual lust, immoral, debased, short-sighted and frivolous. However romantic marriage is not supposed to be the same life-long commitment as pragmatic marriages, the underlying assumptions are simply different. Short-term happiness is given more importance as a route to potential long-term happiness. Relationships that do not work will end. It is not that this is short-term, but that it is not seen as "worth it" to try out a relationship on the hope that it might work unless there is already an underlying romantic love. Hence personal (relationship) stability, not short-term lust, is the aim of romantic marriage.
Cultures that aspire to create relationships after couples marry are those with institutionalized practices of pragmatic marriage. Cultures that come to think that marriages should only be tried once a short-term compatibility already exists adopt romantic marriages. There are no grounds for saying that either method is more correct or that either set of ideas about marriage is more right. Most criticism of the "other" form of marriage to what one person accepts is based on misunderstanding, assumptions about marriage made from different cultural starting-points and personal ignorance about what different groups of people consider marriage to be.
In most "Western" countries, marriage is romantic. It is an individual choice made by couples. However great the pressures of friends and family are against marriage, they are free to do as they want. Romantic Marriage is so institutionalized in the West that other forms of marriage are illegal or borderline illegal.
Marriage comes in multiple parts. The first is the legal contract; at its bare bones this is what marriage is. But the culture and reasoning behind choosing to get married is varied. Love, relationships, tradition, family issues, etc, all come into play. It is our cultural expectations that give marriage more meaning than a mere contractual agreement. A good relationship does not need a legal contract to make the relationship good and if a legal certificate was required in order to make a relationship work, then the relationship wasn't a good one in the first place.
However there is a major advantage in marriage. It makes divorce a little difficult. Once you are legally bound to someone, separation becomes more difficult. So if a couple go through a difficult patch and it seems hopeless to continue, there is added pressure to carry on because of the effort required to legally end a marriage. If the troubles don't end then the relationship ends as it would with an unmarried couple, if they continue then the marriage itself saved them simply by making it slightly harder to split up! If a couple are sure they want to be together for a long time then marriage therefore has this added, non-legal, benefit.
Our culture, our upbringing and the stereotypes portrayed in the mass media and society all create certain roles that all of us are subconsciously pressurized into filling.
“Marriage partners are also bombarded with role expectations and stereotypes of what it means to be a 'husband' and 'wife.' In general these 'roles' are detrimental to the relationship. People simply cannot fit into pre-set moulds or roles [...]. Healthy relationships, on the other hand, are entered into and maintained by individuals' free and loving ongoing choice.”
Rev. Rebecca Deinsen (2001)5
These roles can be disastrous for an otherwise good relationship - the psychology of legal marriage is simply not right for some relationships. But then again, sometimes the psychology is right -- especially if the couple are suited to the roles or are not caught up enough in society's trappings to drift into roles that don't fit. Marriage therefore suits some relationships, but not others. It can be a benefit, or a detriment, to the long term health of a relationship.
Modern marriage, "for love", is a relatively new institution. According to the sociologists Anthony Giddens, Lawrence Stone and John Boswell, even as late as the 1500s modern ideas of romantic marriage had not found common acceptance. Religious authorities regarded marriage as a necessary, pragmatic solution to unhealthy sexual emotions, and not something to be done for pleasure, romance or affection.
“[In the 1500s] Individual freedom of choice in marriage and other aspects of family life was subordinated to the interests of parents, other kin or the community. Outside aristocratic circles, where it was sometimes actively encouraged, erotic or romantic love was regarded by moralists and theologians as a sickness.”
“In premodern Europe marriage usually began as a property arrangement, was in its middle mostly about raising children, and ended about love. Few couples in fact married 'for love', but many grew to love each other in time as they jointly managed their household, reared their offspring, and shared life's experiences. Nearly all surviving epitaphs to spouses evince profound affection. By contrast, in most of the modern West, marriage begins about love, in its middle is still mostly about raising children (if there are children), and ends - often - about property, by which point love is absent or a distant memory.”
Until the 1800s, marriage was still a deal sought for practical advantage - a peasant could not maintain his holding on his own, without a committed and hardworking wife. When bereaved, a peasant married almost at once, often to whoever was simply most willing to work hardest. It wasn't until the 1800s that ideas of romantic marriage began to emerge from the cities.
“The traditional conception of marriage as essentially a business contract, an arrangement based on mutual practical advantage in terms of property-ownership or the labour-power needed to work a peasant holding, the conception which had been taken for granted in pre-industrial peasant Europe, was now rapidly decaying. The idea of it as the result of free individual choice based on individual tastes and preferences was now seeping from the large city into the countryside and the smaller urban centres. In one small French town, for example, during the two decades after Waterloo, the average age of women at marriage was relatively high (about twenty-five) and about a third of brides were older than their husbands. Quite rapidly, however, the average age of marriage fell to twenty-one; and from about 1865 onwards only one woman in ten was older than the man she married. A basic aspect of human nature, the fact that, given a free choice, men prefer to marry women who are younger than themselves and who are physically attractive, was now increasingly able to assert itself.”
“Until the mid-18th century love remained confined to poetry and later to novels. Even when the increase of literacy and the rise of the popular novel made the notion of love rise to the forefront of a woman's consciousness, it was still considered inexpedient to marry for romantic passion. Marriage was seen as a practical partnership. [...] Although among the wealthier classes there was, during the 17th century onwards, an increasing tendency to allow young people to choose their own mates, passionate love and desire was not seen, even by the couple themselves, as a sign of a promising relationship. It was not until the 19th century that the ideal of marrying for love took real root in the popular mind in practice as well as in literature.”
"The Gospel According to Woman: Christianity's Creation of the Sex War in the West"
Karen Armstrong (1986)8
Although romantic marriage was destined to dominate the ideas of what marriage should be in the West, it actually has a rather short history of less than 200 years of general acceptance.
Engagement is for many a public display of the seriousness of a relationship. From then on, others are actively discouraged from doing anything that damages the relationship or the wellbeing of the pair. Of course many relationships do this without the need for engagement, so, engagement is sometimes used as a "more serious" indicator, and for some, the whole idea of engagement is only a background idea that fills the time inbetween a declaration of marriage and the main event. For others, engagement is the ultimate step in a relationship, and there's no need to involve the legalities of marriage at all. Trying to push people into the various forms of engagement in accordance with others' expectations, local culture or religion, is often harmful. Those around an engaged couple should simply accept what it means to them. Different relationships will be aided or harmed by the various societal, legalistic and psychological factors of all those things.
Many people are unduly influenced by pressures from community and religion when it comes to marriage. Many Westerners adhere to a lengthy and stressful marriage ritual, and the big day itself is proscribed from beginning to end in a strictly traditional order of events, even down to the types of decorations that adorn people's tables during a sit-down meal element. The style of the embellishments are so distinct and so recognizable that commercial companies charge an extortionate fee for them, knowing that social pressure will make it much more likely that customers pay the extra charge: a wedding singer costs twice as much as a normal event singer.
As an expensive example, examine the customs associated with engagement rings. The age-old practice that the fiancé buys a diamond ring of a certain worth for his fiancée came to be adhered to by 80% of all couples by the 21st century, but, where did this idea come from? Whatever its source, it must have powerful romantic and symbolic meaning to become such a mainstay as it became. Yet, in the 1930s, only a few in a hundred engagements used such an artifice. What changed? The high-profile root of this was an advertising campaign by the De Beers diamond company to associate diamond rings with engagement, and, that those rings, in order to make the marriage proper, must represent two months' worth of the fiancés income. The original campaign, which started in the 1930s, only proposed that one month's wage was sufficient, however, after the success of these adverts De Beers clearly had dollar signs flashing in their heads, and the next wave of adverts in the USA in the 1980s double the expected price of their engagement rings. They also invented the phrase "a diamond is forever" in 1947 as an advertising slogan. So, this campaign saw a rise in those buying diamond engagement rings rise from a few percent to 10% in the 1930s, and then 80% by year 2000. It appears, then, that this "tradition" of marriage is all but a commercial scam, using psychological tricks to manipulate people into buying a hugely overpriced product. Dr Melewar, professor of marketing and strategy at Middlesex University, UK, says that it was "one of the most successful bits of marketing ever undertaken". With the West conquered, the same campaigns are being pushed in Japan, China and India.10
Such commercial interventions are of course common in all walks of life - check out my page The True Meaning of Christmas: Paganism, Sun Worship and Commercialism for a further predictable example.
So one question, amongst many, that we as humans beings have to ask is to what extent we tolerate, ignore or reject commercial interventions in the symbolism (and cost!) of our private lives.
“Polyamory, or "being poly", is the acceptance of the potential for multiple loving partners within relationships. This may include sexual partners. Polyamorous relationships are not "cheating", but mutual love and honesty in relations that are not monogamous. The basis of such relationships are love, stability, compatibility, peace and personal and relationship honesty. Polyamory does not accept secret lovers: this is cheating by poly as well as monogamous standards. Excepting youthful "experiments", which are often just short-term promiscuity and unstable, gender-equal poly relationships are rare for Human Beings. Most Western cultures and religions are strictly (or at least legally) monogamous.”
In the West polygamy, the marriage to more than one person, is often illegal. The crime is called bigamy. This illegality is morally wrong, as we said in the opening of this text, and is merely a case of proponents of one type of marriage stamping out other forms that they do not understand. This is likely to be due to the good old predictable reasons of ignorance, bias, bigotry and an unenlightened intelligence in matter of human compassion, imagination and tolerance. There is no fundamental problem with legalizing the practice; it is legal in other countries.
It is nearly always the case the when one form of marriage is institutionalized, other forms are oppressed. In the modern democratic world, it is not right to centrally enforce such odd restrictions on love & relationships as long as the practices are consensual.
Many religious groups and cultures have practiced polygamy, from major religions such as Islam and some Arab countries, to communistic communes in the USA such as the Oneida Community11, the Mormons (historically, they do so no longer), and many others. Unfortunately in some of its incarnations it has also been misogynistic and oppressive, but modern-day polyamory in Western countries is not so. Despite Western reservation about polygamy, it is normal practice in over 80% of existing societies across the globe. Even where it is accepted, most adults remain in monogamous relationships so it is not as if accepting polygamy will cause cataclysmic social changes.
“Polygyny (long-term simultaneous unions between one man and multiple wives) is legal in some countries today, and polyandry (long-term simultaneous unions between one woman and multiple husbands) is legal in a few societies. In fact, polygyny was accepted in the great majority of traditional human societies before the rise of state institutions. [...] Even in officially polygynous societies most men have only one wife at a time.”
The West has adopted a model where monogamy is the only accepted norm for marriage for the last 400 years, but in history, such exclusive legalism is rare. As Western society prides itself on its post-enlightenment tolerance and compassion, its attitude towards marriage is strangely illiberal: Only romantic marriage is seen as "right". In an increasingly multicultural West, however, I foresee future decades where all forms of marriage come to be widely accepted and legalized.
Even more intruding into a marriage than legal elements are religious ones. If a couple are having a religious wedding then there are all kinds of obscure, obscene and obtuse restrictions and pressures that can come into play. It's not the right place to delve into those here, though, and a religion-by-religion look would take a very long time indeed.
Many weddings are religious by default - by family tradition. One third of all marriages in the UK in 1994 were Church of England.
Without religion, marriage is purely about love and relationships, not about satisfying any religious rules. Marriage seems generally healthier the fewer superfluous pressures there are on it, and religious issues are one of those pressures. The least stable relationships are those between two people of different religions, the most stable are marriages between people who are not really religious. Having said that, a wedding is a day of utmost personal importance and in this many people still find use for traditional religious ritual.
“There is a demand that such a day should be marked by the most dramatic, the most authentic and the most elaborate ritual possible. [...] The wedding by civil registrar lacks all these elements of drama. The tension, the idealism and the anxiety of the occasion are lost, and the civil ceremony fails entirely to enhance the meaning of what is being undertaken. Whilst for intellectuals and rationalists is may seem to be a 'sensible' way of fulfilling the legal requirements of the case, it does not satisfy the demand for some more elaborate external expression of emotion. [...]
In an affluent society, where lavish entertainment and spectacle are abundantly possible, it is not easy to devise ceremonial and entertainment to make the wedding stand out from other events. [...] Perhaps, therefore, as long as the Church can retain its sense of majesty and transcendence, its distinctiveness from the mundane and everyday, it will find itself in high - perhaps increasing - demand for the solemnization of marriage.”
"Religion in Secular Society" by Bryan Wilson (1966)13
Although religious marriages continue at one in three, the reason for their use has become largely secular. Marriage is a result of modern secular pressures and not a result of beliefs or belongings to religious churches. Which is fortunate enough, for important lifelong (by common assumption) decisions such as who you choose to wed, are decisions best taken on their emotional worth, sense, commitment to the person; it seems that religion itself would ironically assert unholy, inhuman pressures on relationships. The most telling truth behind the thought that religion hinders good relationship choices are higher divorce rates of religious marriages, which we see at the end of this page.
“Between 1993 and 2003, the number of Jewish weddings in England and Wales slipped by 17%, while Anglican weddings fell by 37% and Catholic unions tumbled by 44%”
The statistics show % of the total population of England and Wales (excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands) and "Anglican" mean "Church of England or Church of Wales"15
The Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Old Testament indulge in many stories designed to warn against the marrying of women from foreign peoples, especially those who worship foreign gods. Many verses go further than just to warn: they command believers not to marry such women, and such unions are often punished with death, in the Bible. As a result, there have been many Jewish and Christian sects who have isolated themselves from others in a most severe and strict way. Such dogmas cause much harm and suffering to communities. (1) It engenders prejudice and bias against foreigners, causing intolerance and then violence, (2) it diminishes the numbers of the group itself, (3) it gradually diminishes the gene pool and with each generation increases the numbers of genetic diseases associated with incest and finally (4) it makes a simmering parental deceit necessary if any new blood is to be brought in.
Such tribes leave distinct biological markers upon our genes hence we have often discovered periods of inbreeding amongst groups through the study of family genetics.
Anthropologists suspect that in some situations, the argument that "the bloodline must be kept pure" is actually an excuse to justify practices that are really just power-games (i.e., the prevention of land becoming inherited by non-family-members), which is why some of the authors of various Hebrew Scriptures were so concerned over who the men in their tribes married. It also seems to represent a religious-justified form of racism, plain prejudice, bias and xenophobia. Luckily, many Christians simply ignore these stories and warnings, and they are never heard being preached to the pews by the preachers at Sunday sermons! Here they are:
Deuteronomy 7:3-4: Believers are not to marry the non-believers of Canaan because these foreign women will "turn away" their sons from worshipping the God of the Bible. The punishment is God's anger.
Ezekiel 20:32-34 warns that families of believers cannot live out in the world with non-believers, and if they do, they will incur the anger of God.
Malachi 2:11-12 warns believers that people "desecrate the sanctuary" if they marry "women who worship a foreign god". Such people lose the favour of God, and any sacrifices they make for god are no longer accepted happily - and - crying about it won't help. This also applies to the descendants of those involved (so much for moral justice!). The solution is not to marry women of the wrong religion in the first place.
“I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: "You are not to give your daughters in marriage to [foreign women's] sons, nor are you to take [foreign women's] daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves."”
Neh 13:23-27 contains a little story about a holy man, Nehemiah, who goes around chastising and punishing mixed-culture families. His main issue that many believers had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon and of Moab who all worshipped other gods. He makes believers promise that they will no longer marry or let their sons marry these foreign women. It also states that the legendary King Solomon fell from grace due to his repeated relations with foreign wives.
Numbers 25: 6-15: contains another story of a priestly holy man who murders the newly wed husband (Zimri) and his foreign wife (a Midianitish woman called Cozbi) for the offence of marrying an outsider. He runs into their tent and "thrusts them through" with a spear, killing them. The aside in this story is that God has been punishing the Hebrews with plague for such impurities as it was making God jealous (verse 11). The priest therefore "saved" them all by stopping this marriage at its very beginning and he is rewarded by God for his actions, and for good measure, his children are rewarded too (verse 13).
The contributors to "The Woman's Bible" by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1898) make this point on this story: "The Jewish law forbade a man going outside of his tribe for a wife. It was deemed idolatry. But why kill the woman? She had not violated the laws of her tribe and was no doubt ignorant of Jewish law"17. The horrible morals portrayed in this story (murderous xenophobia and intolerance, for the sake of doctrine) are some of the worst features of religion.
St Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:39 urges believers to marry "in the Lord", meaning, within the community of believers. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 warns believers not to mix in with unbelievers as they have nothing in common and "what fellowship can light have with darkness?" and that believers should separate themselves from others. Many other minor verses go along the same lines: 1 Corinthians 5:9-12 says you can't even marry, or mingle with, those who are Christians but who behave wrongly and 15:33 says "bad company ruins good morals".
But despite all this, 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 more calmly says that if you do somehow become married to a non-believer, then, you don't have to divorce them because the believer makes the other one (and the children) holy. However this verse is somewhat the odd one out compared to the others.
The Assemblies of God are one example Christian Church that forbids their members to date or marry non-believers, specifically mentioning many of the above verses18. Sociologists have often commented on the reluctance, and often refusal, of Jewish rabbis to conduct marriages between Jews and non-Jews: "Mayer conducted a 1997 survey of American rabbis on interfaith marriages, in which 36 percent of the rabbis said that they would officiate at an interfaith wedding, but the numbers ranged widely, from zero among the Orthodox and Conservatives rabbis to 62 percent of the Reconstructionist rabbis (Mayer 1997)"19.
The Qur'an talks in a similar way, for example Sura 60:10 says "Do not maintain your marriages with unbelieving women: demand the dowries you gave them" or just "hold not the disbelieving women as wives" depending on the translation. This means you cannot marry a non-Muslim and if your wife converts away from Islam, then, you have to divorce her and get back the money you paid for her (the dowry). The IHEU reports that in many Islamic states, it is illegal for women to marry non-Muslims. This happens in Brunei, Djibouti and Sudan, plus a large range of Islamic states in the Middle East and surrounding area20.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three most well known monotheistic religions. All three were preceded by the first great monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism, which also contains rules against marrying outsiders. There are still communities of Zoroastrians around today - in India they are called Parsis, and, for historical reasons, there is a small community of Parsis in Hong Kong. Caroline Plüss's study of this community revealed some side-effects of such rules being strictly adhered to:
“Parsis in Hong Kong, despite considerable economic integration and some political integration during Hong Kong's colonial rule, never seriously challenged Zoroastrian rules forbidding exogamy. Such deliberate differentiation was not lessened by the fact that the Parsi community in Hong Kong never counted more than 100 members, and needed to rely on the much larger community in Mumbai to find spouses (Plüss 2005:209), or by the fact that the Zoroastrians' strong inclination not to accept conversions has accounted for significantly declining numbers of Zoroastrians worldwide.”
She doesn't mention incest (perhaps such a close-knit community is loathe to admit it to outsiders), but it is easy to see that while such rules might suit an expanding religion, as soon the situation changes, they become a detriment to the moral standing, genetic health and long-term growth of a religion, let alone being based, from the very start, on a form of xenophobic prejudice.
Although there was a time in history in Christian countries when Christianity had strict control of marriage, this state of affairs has a shorter history than many would assume. Christianity inherited its ideas about marriage through a combination of Jewish law and Roman paganism, and for a long time, those sources of ritual were more than enough - with the pagan sources of ritual being much more influential.
“[The early Christian church] very quickly produced its own liturgy of Eucharist, Baptism and Confirmation but nothing was done about marriage. It was not important for a couple to have their nuptials blessed by a priest. People could marry by mutual agreement in the presence of witnesses [...] and there was no need to wait for the Church's blessing [and this] endured well into the 18th century. [...] Augustine and Aquinas may have said that marriage was a sacrament, but no ceremonial was devised to celebrate this sacrament. At first the old Roman pagan rite was used by Christians. Clearly it had to be modified, but the modifications were purely superficial: the Holy Spirit and Christ were substituted for the names of pagan gods. [...] For all the insistence of the Scholastics that Christian marriage was something essentially different from marriage between pagans, [...] there was [still] no special Christian marriage service for centuries. The first detailed account of a Christian wedding in the West dates from the 9th century and it was identical to the old nuptial service of Ancient Rome.”
"The Gospel According to Woman: Christianity's Creation of the Sex War in the West"
Karen Armstrong (1986)21
Western marriage since fell entirely under the control of Christianity and performed exclusively under Christian clergy. Although in the modern age things are freer and less controlled, Christian marriage was still the ill starting-point from which we have recovered modern ideas of marriage based on love. Although we still suffer from multiple dogmas that still remain from the Christian era of the Dark Ages, many of the following elements are no longer a part of modern society even though they are present in the scriptural heart of Christianity.
Christianity was responsible for producing the draconian restriction against remarriage, female inferiority in marriage (both legal and social) and other misogynistic elements. St. Paul, whose voluminous writings on the subject of marriage and women are entrenched in the New Testament, wrote that marriage is a last resort for the desperate man who could not restrain himself from sex. "Better to marry, than to burn in hell" he wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:9. The ideal was to remain single, but marrying a woman was best done if you really couldn't help yourself. This dysfunctional theology of sex was one of the worst things to happen to marriage; it is only since the Enlightenment and Reformation that more a reasonable, positive, basis of marriage has been brought to the fore.
Although many early Christian churches allowed same-sex marriage, as Christianity displaced pagan practices marriage became increasingly restricted to the cold, stoic, oppressive regime as preached by the main Church. Thankfully, nowadays most weddings and marriages are secular; love, romance and commitment now form the three secular bedrocks of modern marriage in the West; Christian ideals have largely been forgotten.
Remarriage is now accepted, women have equal rights in marriage, so we are no longer forced by Christian dogma to lead mostly solitary, guilt-ridden lives but can move on once we have left a dysfunctional relationship. This new health has saved marriage from its decline.
Strangely, in the New Testament Christians are told by Jesus that in the perfect state, in Heaven, as amongst sinless angels, there is no marriage or exclusive unions between people (Matt. 22:23-30). St Paul also says that being unmarried & chaste is better than getting married. Christianity's obsessions over which particular forms of marriage are acceptable is rendered irrelevant by their own eschatology, in which the most perfect states are achieved with no marriage at all.
Islam is a religion that takes marriage seriously, both within its theology and within Muslim countries. For example, in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran, it is illegal to have sex outside of marriage22. But this seriously all too frequently descends into barbarism and a complete rejection of human rights. Take the case of Lina Loy, in Malaysia, a country which has a particular problem when it comes to human rights surrounding freedom of belief, especially when it comes to Islam. Lina Loy had converted to Christianity and in 2007 despite taking her case through the highest courts, was refused permission to renounce Islam in order to marry her Christian fiancé. She now lives in hiding after receiving death threats (as has the lawyer who defended her)23. Throughout Muslim countries, marriage is an institute where women are utterly dominated by men. Also, the practice of forced marriages is nowhere more popular than it is in Muslim countries.
Islam is another misogynistic Abrahamic religion which contains much that is oppressive towards femalekind. Women face a long list of one-sided serious restrictions on basic freedoms on their lifestyles, such as where they can go, who they can see and what they can wear. Although at its foundation, Muslims like to say, Islamic law was progressive and included an element of protection for women, in today's world where equality and fairness are the norm, Islamic law looks as barbaric as did Christian law during the Dark Ages. In fact, it is often said to be worse, especially as Islamic cultural practices far exceed what is proscribed in the Qur'an.
Arranged marriages are rife and condoned in Islamic law and in most Islamic schools of thought. Parents typically choose a wife or husband for their child (sometimes at an age that is illegal in the West) on the grounds of (a) political advantage (with regards to family-family relations) or (b) Western immigration law (in order to import people from Muslim countries to Western ones). (More on this below.)
Polygamy works solely in the male's favour, with the power to divorce often being purely his. There are instances where wives have over periods of years requested divorce due to abuse, only to be turned down by her husband in front of Sharia courts. On the other hand, a husband who wants to divorce a wife merely has to demand it. This inequality is made even worse when husbands can have multiple wives: his life is secure, their's are not!
“[There are] arguments being presented by female legal experts that the Qu'ranic laws on marriage actually favour monogamy. Azizah al-Hibri refers to legal experts of the classical period, who considered that a second marriage was not recommended if it was prejudicial to the first wife. [...] The Muslim League of Women, assert that since the second wife is not legally recognized under civil law, she cannot be afforded equal status: which means the situation does not conform with Islamic law a priori, given that polygamy is only considered legitimate if all wives receive strictly equal treatment.”
"Secret under-age marriages" sounds like a typical sensationalist tabloid newspaper headline, but unfortunately in the UK Muslim authorities have been caught arranging marriages between adults and children, for example in the London borough of Islington and in the city of Peterborough, and multiple voices, included those of Muslim leaders, have spoken out against the practice. Click on the link to expand a full quote from the National Secular Society and One Law for All.
“[...] A Sunday Times reporter goes undercover and asks an imam to "marry" his 12 year old daughter [and] the imam agrees but only if the father will keep it a secret. Imam Mohammed Kassamali, of the Husaini Islamic Centre in Peterborough said "I would love the girl to go to her husband's houses as soon as possible, the younger the better. Under sharia there is no problem. It is said she should see her first sign of puberty at the house of her husband. The problem is that we cannot explain such things if the girl went tomorrow [to the authorities]."
Abdul Haque, an imam at the Shoreditch mosque in east London agreed to officiate but recommended that the reporter "tell people it is an engagement but it will be a marriage". He added "In Islam, once the girl reaches puberty the father has the right, the parents have the right, but under the laws of this country if the girl complains and says her marriage has been arranged and she wasn't of marriageable age, then the person who performed the marriage will be jailed as well as the mother and father".
This isn't news. In January of this year, the Islington Tribune reported that girls as young as nine are being "married" in sharia courts in that borough. Diana Nammi, leader of the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO) told the Tribune that the children are "still expected to carry out their wifely duties, though, and that includes sleeping with their husband".
A couple of months later, it was reported that a five year old had been "married" in London and had "received assistance" from the Government's Forced Marriage Unit. The same report declared that around 400 children had received the same assistance in only one year.
According to the Sunday Times report, Farooq Murad, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We are strongly opposed to it on the basis that it is illegal under the law of the land where we are living and even under sharia it is highly debateable". (My emphasis). Note he is against it not because it is an abhorrent crime which causes immense damage to young girls, not because it takes young girls out of school and hands them to men to live a life of servitude and sexual slavery. No, none of this. He also said "under sharia it is highly debateable". But, who exactly is going to win that debate and what happens to these girls in the meantime?
When I wrote to the Justice Department on behalf of the One Law for All campaign asking why they were permitting sharia courts to discriminate against women, make child custody decisions that can be dangerous for the children involved, and allow domestic violence (among other human rights abuses) they replied saying "we do not prevent people living in accordance with religious beliefs or cultural practices". Indeed. Apparently though, this is the latest response from the Home Office: "Child marriage is totally unacceptable and illegal. Perceived cultural sensitivities and political correctness cannot and will not get in the way of preventing and uncovering such abuse".
[...] Why aren't the police demanding a list of "marriages" being carried out under sharia law in this country and why aren't they checking whether these girls are being raped as alleged by IKWRO? Why is sharia family law being permitted in any way, shape, or form in the UK when we know this is going on?
Needless to say, that if this occurs, secretly, in the UK, which has a good democratic government with a strong rule of law and an established embrace of all of the fundamental human rights, then it must be so much worse elsewhere in the world.
The type of arranged marriage where the purpose is to systematically import family members from Muslim countries to Western ones is called a 'fetching marriage'. The following is an excerpt from "Islam and the West: Pluralism, Immigration and Danger: 6.1. Fetching Marriages: A Strategy of Immigration" by Vexen Crabtree (2011): Muslims are capable of adapting their cultural practices to their Western situations, but sometimes it seems that the West is complicit in undermining integration by putting into practices policies which encourage large-scale non-integration, with little or no oversight of the total effect:
“Traditionally, in Muslim countries, a new wife moves in with her husband's family - never the opposite. Among European Muslims this custom has been entirely overthrown. Nowadays, when a transnational marriage between Muslim cousins takes place, the spouse that migrates is invariably the non-European spouse, whose first residence after migrating is, as a rule, his or her in-laws' home. These marriages - which in Norway have acquired the name "fetching marriages" - accomplish two things. They enable more and more members of an extended Muslim family to emigrate to Europe and to enjoy Western prosperity. And they put the brakes on - or even reverse - whatever progress the European-born spouse might have made toward becoming Westernized.”
"While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within" by Bruce Bawer (2006)27
Strange as though it sounds, although some European countries have implemented new laws to curb strategic marriages, others actually make it easier for the system to be abused. Bawer continues:
“In many Western European countries, indeed, some laws are different for natives than for immigrants. For native Swedes, the minimum age for marriage is eighteen; for immigrants living in Sweden, there is no minimum. In Germany, an ethnic German who marries someone from outside the EU and wants to bring him or her to Germany must answer a long list of questions about the spouse's birth date, daily routine, and so forth in order to prove that the marriage is legitimate and not pro forma; such interviews are not required for German residents with, say, Turkish or Pakistani backgrounds, for it is assumed that their marriages have been arranged and that the spouses will therefore know little or nothing about each other.”
"While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within" by Bruce Bawer (2006)28
Not only is this reverse discrimination - whereby many immigrants are forced to follow stricter procedures than some (Muslim) others, but it also undermines Western ideas of morality, where marriage is a free enterprise with no element of compulsion. For these two reasons, such exemptions should be removed, and all people and all religions should be treated equally under law, as is the ideal in fair democracies. More of this is discussed on "Islam and the West: Pluralism, Immigration and Danger" by Vexen Crabtree (2011).
Gypsy marriage is different to the Western mainstream. They do not care for legalistic documents such as the certificates of marriage, death, birth, etc, and their customs of marriage are so different that what we consider legal marriage they consider misguided. Gypsy marriage is best done between twelve and sixteen, and definitely before 18. The bride is normally the oldest and wisest, and helps the groom in all areas as he learns to earn money, etc, for himself. Thus the marriage is more than it is in mainstream Western culture. It serves as a connection between the clan-like families of Gypsies, and the choices of who to marry are based on politics and ambition of the parents as much as the compatibility of the youngsters. Gypsy marriages are generally not life-long, and most will re-marry to more suitable partners later in life. Brides are free to leave their groom and return to their own family. As such, it is a clean and comprehensive synthesis of both pragmatic and romantic marriage types.
But it doesn't always work out nicely. Nazir Afzal is head of the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West UK (i.e., he is a head public prosecutor). He says some of the forced marriages within the Gypsy and travellor communities that involve children are clearly abusive and illegal, rather than merely different. He says officialdom at present has a tepid and overly sensitive approach.29
Kephart informs us11 that the culture of Gypsy marriage changes slowly over time just like other cultures, and that Western-style love-marriages are becoming more popular, and that some adults are openly critical of the more traditional gypsy weddings. As Gypsies view the gadje (non-gypsies) as inherently unclean, ritually unclean, intrusive, aggressive and bad in most ways. The most rigid marriage prohibition is against marrying non-gypsies.
Civil partnerships in the UK allow gay marriage in all but name, and were created in 2005. By half way through 2008 "nearly 60,000 Britons had entered a same-sex union, giving them legal rights virtually identical to those of married couples"30. This generation has seen a wave of legal tolerance sweep the world, where some of the prejudces of history have been trumped.
Prejudices against homosexuality were not always encoded into law, however. In the time before the dark ages, European communities were variously accepting of gay marriage. But the Christian age of faith saw violent intolerance sweep the continent as certain types of marriage were made illegal and transformed into social taboos. People could only marry if it fit the Christian prejudices of what marriage should be. Islam arose also, and held to similar monotheistic patriarchal norms. Thankfully, since the enlightenment, much of the religious damage to marriage has been undone and in many countries adults are free to marry whom they choose. Starting with Sweden, Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands the 90s saw the beginning of the gay rights movements victories over established prejudice in an increasing number of developed countries. There is not a single case in all these victories where there have not been multiple large and mainstream Christian groups running campaigns to prevent equal rights for gays. The Catholic Church and the vast majority of Christian denominations continue to battle at local and European levels to repeal those rights already attained. The Catholic Church has gained some ground in 1997 in exempting itself from some European gay rights conventions, and the Church of England has also succeeded in partially exempting itself from UK employment anti-discrimination laws with regards to homosexuality. The traditional churches were wrong about slavery and anti-black racism, and they continue to do wrong on the issue of discrimination against homosexuals. Eventually, when enough of their youth have grown up within gay-tolerant society, the Churches will change to embrace homosexual equality as they did to embrace abolitionism and race equality.
Here is a brief history of all major gay rights victories with regards to the legal rights of marriage:
|1987||Sweden||Registered partnerships then full legal rights (1995) granted for gay couples|
|1989||Denmark||Registered same-sex partners gain same rights as married couples. Due to heavy Christian opposition it is not allowed in churches31. Full legal rights as of 1999.|
|1993||Norway||Mostly full legal rights granted to registered gay partnerships|
|1996||Sweden and Iceland||Mostly full legal rights granted to registered gay partnerships31|
|1996||Netherlands||Gay relationships given full legal rights, then full marital rights in 2000. The local Christian party and the Catholic Church opposed the move which was otherwise supported by the public32|
|1997||USA||Some states granting limited legal rights to registered gay relationships (Hawaii in 1997, California in 1999, Vermont in 2000 and Columbia in 2002). By 2004 heavy Christian campaigning has reversed many of these and passed anti-gay-marriage laws in some states.|
|1998||Spain||Since 1999 four states have passed various laws granting legal rights for homosexual relationships (Catalonia in 1998, Aragon in 1999, Navarra in 2000 and Valencia in 2001). 2005 June saw Spain allow full gay marriage despite Catholic opposition34|
|1999||Canada||5 provinces in Canada have legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. Quebec in 1999, Nova Scotia in 2001, Manitoba in 2002. Another two in summer 2003: Ontario and British Columbia35. In 2005 BBC News31 reports that gay marriage is legal in 8 of 10 provinces and 1 of 3 of Canada's three territories. National legislation allowed same-sex marriages from 200536.|
|1999||France||Some significant legal rights given to gay partners31|
|2000||South Africa||Recognition of same-sex partners. Notable opposition came from the Christian press, various Christian groups and the African Christian Democratic Party32|
|2001||London||The mayor of London runs a local service that allows official recognition of same-sex partners. Full same sex marriage has been sought since 1996 by the government, but strong Christian opposition in the House of Lords has defeated it each time|
|2001||Germany||Some significant legal rights given to registered gay partnerships31|
|2001||Switzerland||Geneva state grants almost all rights to gay relationships, and full legal rights in state of Zurich in 2002|
|2002||Finland||Similar rights for gay marriage and normal marriage|
|2003||Belgium||Full marriage rights given from January31,35|
|2004||Luxembourg and New Zealand||Civil partnerships grant some rights for gay couples31|
|2005||UK||Full gay rights via civil marriages37|
Married couples are financially better off than others. This is a hard fact demonstrated by many socio-economic studies.
“Marriage itself is a "wealth-generating institution", according to Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe, who run the National Marriage Project at Rugers University. Those who marry "till death do us part" end up, on average, four times richer than those who never marry. This is partly because marriage provides economies of scale - two can live more cheaply than one - and because the kind of people who work hard, plan for the future and have good interpersonal skills - are more likely to marry and stay married. But it is also because marriage effects the way people behave. American men, once married, tend to take their responsibilities seriously. [...] Married men drink less, take fewer drugs and work harder [it raises hours worked quickly and substantially], earning between 10% and 40% more than single men with similar schooling and job histories. [...]
Marriage also encourages the division of labour. Ms Dafoe Whitehead and Mr Popenoe put it like this: "Individuals can develop those skills in which they excel, leaving others to their partner.”
Adam Smith, the founder of economics "observed two centuries ago [that] when you specialise, you get better at what you do, and you produce more"39. For reasons of economic efficiency, specialisation and behaviour-change, married couples do better off. There are also legal advantages, housing advantages (money and space are saved when two people share) and other work advantages. A married couple can help each other with work preparation and encourage each other. For this reason, in Europe, divorce settlements tend more towards splitting all of a couples' wealth equally when they divorce, because the courts recognize that much of a workers' success is due to (indirect) support from the spouse.
So it is slightly strange that the term "marriage of convenience" is used so negatively. As arranged marriages and pragmatic marriages tend to actually work out quite well in the long-term, it should be reckoned that marriages of convenience will also work themselves out, over time, into the romantic-marriage that Westerners hold as an ideal.
Marriage is at its lowest rate in the UK since records began in 186241. The history of marriage rates suggests that secular marriages are showing strong growth, whereas other Christian weddings have been decreasing in number for over 150 years. This prehistory was changed in the period since the 1960s, when the decline of the religious institution in the UK went into full swing.
“Between 1993 and 2003, the number of Jewish weddings in England and Wales slipped by 17%, while Anglican weddings fell by 37% and Catholic unions tumbled by 44%”
|Total Marriages, UK|
The rise in secular marriages from the teens in the 19th century, to 20-something percent in 1900-1930, was not met by a rise in divorces, as many Christians at the time bemoaned would happen. However, as we will see below, social changes have led to massive increases in divorce rates (above all, amongst Christians) since the late 1960s (ignoring the World War 2 aftermath). The overall marriage rate has decreased over the same period; indicating again that society has moved away from the traditional idea of what marriage is.
Europe in general has seen similar trends. In 1970 there were almost eight marriages per 1000 people per year, but in 2004 that had steadily dropped to less than five. The average age, like the UK, has also increased across Europe, now being at over 30 for men, and nearly 28 for women.44
Marriage was once a lifelong certainty, like a job or one's nationality46. But, all modern things change quickly and are more temporary. Jobs, like marriage, are no longer assumed to be life-long bedrocks of stability in the West. In 'collectivist' or community-orientated countries where marriage is pragmatic rather than romantic, marriages last much longer.
“Divorce rates vary widely by country, ranging from .01 percent of the population annually in Bolivia, the Philippines, and Spain to 4.7 percent in the world's most divorce-prone country, the United States. To predict a culture's divorce rates, it helps to know its values (Triandis, 1994). Individualistic cultures (where love is a feeling and people ask, "What does my heart say?") have more divorce than do communal cultures (where love entails obligation and people ask, "What will other people say?")”
Although the chart shows a massive increase in the divorce rate over a long period, it has since then dropped off. Fewer people are marrying, but, divorces have now dropped to their lowest level since 1981, at a rate of 11.9 divorcing people per 1,000 of the married population48.
Divorce statistics are sometimes a shock for Christians. The average divorce rate for born-again type Christians (27%) and others (24%) are both higher than that for atheism, which is 21%49. Empirically, atheists are more devoted to each other and commit to more stable relationship patterns than theists, yet the theists are the ones who say they stand for family values. Christian theologians have themselves expressed concern over their own rates of divorce and other marital problems such as wifebeating, which are mostly the same as the rates of non-Christians - and stricter Christians have worse rates50. There is a saying that those who shout loudest are the least capable. The Christian Churches shout loudly about love but... atheists are more capable. Seriously though, perhaps it is that atheists only get married if they're sure, while Christians feel pressurized so sometimes marry prematurely in relationships that aren't permanent. Christian culture can exert unnatural pressure on relationships.
|Denomination||% who have been divorced|
|Atheism / Agnosticism||< Less|
“Barna's results verified findings of earlier polls: that conservative Protestant Christians, on average, have the highest divorce rate, while mainline Christians have a much lower rate. They found some new information as well: that atheists and agnostics have the lowest divorce rate of all. George Barna commented that the results raise "questions regarding the effectiveness of how churches minister to families." The data challenge "the idea that churches provide truly practical and life-changing support for marriage."
Donald Hughes, author of The Divorce Reality, said: "In the churches, people have a superstitious view that Christianity will keep them from divorce, but they are subject to the same problems as everyone else, and they include a lack of relationship skills. ...Just being born again is not a rabbit's foot." Hughes claim that 90% of divorces among born-again couples occur after they have been "saved."”
“Divorce, n. (1) A resumption of diplomatic relations and rectification of boundaries. (2) A bugle blast that separates the combatants and makes them fight at long range.”
"The Devil's Dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce (1967)
This leads me to consider the words of Jesus in Christian Scripture:
Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
Jesus said: "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."
It is small wonder that atheists divorce less often!
Less educated people tend to divorce more often. As religious people are on average less intelligent (Vexen Crabtree 2007), this helps explain why the divorce rate goes up hand-in-hand with religious dedication. Also, less well-off people tend to divorce more often. Many Christians in the West are immigrants from Eastern Europe and the rest of the world, and such immigrants tend to be poorer and more religious, two factors which increase the likelihood of divorce.
“If she does find and wed the man of her dreams, [a poor woman from a broken family] will encounter a problem. She has never seen her own father. Having never observed a stable marriage close-up, she will have to guess how to make one work. By contrast [a girl from a stable family] has never seen a divorce in her family. This makes it much more likely that, when the time is right, she will get married and stay that way.”
Apart from intelligence, other demographic factors have come into play over the past few years. Divorce rates have levelled off.
Immigrants tend to have a more conservative attitude towards marriage and divorce less often41; as the UK's populace ages, immigrants make up a higher proportion of marrying-age adults who are more likely to stay together.
People who marry are marrying older41 after a period of cohabitation, meaning that marriages last longer.
The Bible (NIV). The NIV is the best translation for accuracy whilst maintaining readability. Multiple authors, a compendium of multiple previously published books. I prefer to take quotes from the NIV but where I quote the Bible en masse I must quote from the KJV because it is not copyrighted, whilst the NIV is. [Book Review]
The Economist. Published by The Economist Group, Ltd. A weekly newspaper in magazine format, famed for its accuracy, wide scope and intelligent content. See vexen.co.uk/references.html#Economist for some commentary on this source.
(1948) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations website has a full copy of this document here: www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml (accessed 2014 May 14).
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(1985) The Ascendancy of Europe 1815-1914. Second edition. Published by Pearson Education Limited, Essex, UK. Anderson is Professor Emeritus of International History in the University of London and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
(1986) The Gospel According to Woman: Christianity's Creation of the Sex War in the West. Subtitled "Christianity's Creation of the Sex War in the West". Hardback. Published by Elm Tree Books/Hamish Hamilton Ltd, London, UK.
(2006) While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within. Published by Broadway Books.
Bierce, Ambrose. (1842-1914?)
(1967) The Devil's Dictionary. Published in Great Britain by Victor Gollancz. Published by Penguin Books in 1971, and quotes taken from a 2001 Penguin Classics reprint. Penguin Group, London, UK.
(2004) When Islam and Democracy Meet. Published by Palgrave Macmillan, New York, USA.
Clarke, Peter B.. Peter B. Clarke: Professor Emeritus of the History and Sociology of Religion, King's College, University of London, and currently Professor in the Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford, UK.
(2011) The Oxford Handbook of The Sociology of Religion. Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. First published 2009.
(2000) "Human Sexuality: Polyamory: Multiple Loving, Caring Relationships" (2000). Accessed 2015 Nov 20.
(2015) "Christian Moral Theory and Morality in Action: Biblical Morals and Social Disaster 8. Born Again Christians Divorce Most Often" (2015). Accessed 2015 Nov 20.
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(1961) The Encyclopaedia of Sexual Behaviour. Published by Hawthorn Books Inc., New York, USA.
ESRC. The Economic and Social Research Council
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Hoge, Dean R.. Was Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Catholic University of America, Washington, USA.
(2011) The Sociology of the Clergy. This essay is chapter 32 of "The Oxford Handbook of The Sociology of Religion" by Peter B. Clarke (2011) (pages p581-596).
IHEU. International Humanist and Ethical Union.
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(1997) The Health of Adult Britain, 1841-1994. Volume 1. Edited by John Charlton and Mike Murphy. Published by The Stationary Office, London, UK.
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URL www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm, "U.S. Divorce rates", accessed 2006 Apr 14.
'Constructing Globalized Ethnicity: Migrants from India in Hong Kong'. Published in the International Sociology periodical, 20/2: 201-24. In "Migration and the Globalization of Religion" by Caroline Plüss (2011)1.
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(2007) God, the Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist. Published by Prometheus Books. Stenger is a Nobel-prize winning physicist, and a skeptical philosopher whose research is strictly rational and evidence-based.
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(2000, Ed.) Questioning Identity: Gender, Class, Ethnicity. Published by The Open University, London, UK. | <urn:uuid:281ebef1-92c8-48ad-ae6a-6b5caf0e9c61> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.humantruth.info/marriage.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395992.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00138-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962914 | 14,314 | 2.5625 | 3 |
What is The History of Tattoos?
On a fall day in 1991, two Germans hiking in the Alps near the Italian- Austrian border stumbled across what they initially believed to be a modern corpse frozen in the ice. Once the body was retrieved however, authorities discovered that it was anything but modern. The mummy, nicknamed Ötzi after the valley where it was found, had survived in the ice to the ripe, old age of 5,300 years. Analysis of the remains showed that when Ötzi died, he was a 30 to 45 year old man, standing roughly 160 cm tall. Mystery surrounds the exact circumstances of Ötzi’s death, although evidence suggests a violent end. That, however, is not the only secret Ötzi hides.
Ötzi has over fifty lines and crosses tattooed onto his body – the earliest known evidence of tattooing in the world – most of them on his spine, knee and ankle joints. The locations of many of the markings are consistent with traditional Chinese acupuncture points, specifically those that are used to treat back pain and stomach upset. What is intriguing is that Ötzi lived roughly 2,000 years before the oldest generally accepted evidence of acupuncture, and well west of its purported origins in China. X-rays revealed that Ötzi had arthritis in his hip joint, knees, ankles and spine; forensic analysis discovered evidence of whipworm eggs – known to cause severe abdominal pain – in Ötzi’s stomach. It is, therefore, possible that Ötzi’s tattoos did in fact play a therapeutic role, and that acupuncture has a slightly more complicated history than previously believed.
Before Ötzi poked his head through the ice, the earliest conclusive evidence of tattoos came from a handful of Egyptian mummies that date to the time of the construction of the great pyramids over 4,000 years ago. Indirect archaeological evidence (i.e. statuettes with engraved designs that are occasionally associated with needles and clay discs containing ochre) suggests that the practice of tattooing may actually be much older and more widespread than the mummies would have us believe.
Ethnographic and historical texts reveal that tattooing has been practiced by just about every human culture in historic times. The ancient Greeks used tattoos from the 5th century on to communicate among spies; later, the Romans marked criminals and slaves with tattoos. In Japan, criminals were tattooed with a single line across their forehead for a first offence; for the second offence an arch was added, and finally, for the third offence, another line was tattooed which completed the symbol for “dog”: the original three strikes and you’re out! Evidence suggests that the Maya, Inca and Aztec used tattooing in rituals, and that the early Britons used tattoos in certain ceremonies. The Danes, Norse and Saxons are known to have tattooed family crests onto their bodies. During the crusades, some Europeans tattooed a cross on their hands or arms to mark their participation and indicate their desire for a Christian burial should they not return.
From the Tahitian “tatau” which means to mark or strike, the word tattoo refers to some of the traditional modes of application where ink is “tapped” into the skin by using sharp sticks or bone. Certain peoples in the Arctic however, have used a needle to pull carbon-embedded thread under the skin to create linear designs. And still others have traditionally cut designs into the skin and then rubbed the incisions with ink or ashes.
Modern electric tattoo machines are modeled on the one patented by New York tattoo artist Samuel O’Reilly in 1891, which itself is only slightly different from Thomas Edison’s electric engraver pen, patented in 1876. The needles of a modern machine move up and down at a rate of between 50- 3000 vibrations per minute; they penetrate only about 1 mm below the surface of the skin to deliver pigments. Our bodies treat the injected pigments as non-toxic foreign elements that need to be contained. So, certain types of cells in our bodies engulf the minute amounts of pigment. Once full, they move poorly and become relatively fixed in the connective tissue of the dermis, which is why tattoo designs do not generally change with time.
A pigment’s molecules are actually colorless. Those molecules though, are arranged into crystals in various ways such that colors are produced when light refracts off of them. The pigments that are used in tattoos are often made of metal salts, which are metals that have reacted with oxygen; this process is called oxidation and is exemplified by rusting iron. The pigment is held in a carrier solution to disinfect the pigments by inhibiting the growth of pathogens, to keep it evenly mixed and to facilitate its application. Most modern pigments are carried by alcohols, specifically methyl or ethyl alcohols, which are the simplest and most commonly used types.
The popularity of tattoos has continuously risen and fallen through time. Currently, the practice of tattooing is booming, and it is estimated that roughly one in every seven people in N. America – over 39 million people total – have at least one tattoo. Through time and around the world, the reasons for getting tattoos are numerous and varied. They include religious purposes, for protection or as a source of power, as an indication of group membership, as a status symbol, as an artistic expression, for permanent cosmetics, and as an adjunct to reconstructive surgery. And now, a new reason can be added to the list: Andrew Fisher, an American webpage designer, recently auctioned his forehead as ad space on eBay. It sold for over $37,000 and left Andrew with a snoring remedy logo tattooed (semi- permanently) on his head for a month. If he weren’t in deep freeze at a museum in Italy, I am sure that Ötzi would be rolling in his grave. | <urn:uuid:069bed5e-3c96-444f-89c7-91b2cc4692bc> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/2012/11/06/what-is-the-history-of-tattoos/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396100.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00051-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969594 | 1,225 | 3.734375 | 4 |
PASADENA, Calif. — With Mars looming large, NASA’s most high-tech rover ever built was on track to plunge into the red planet’s atmosphere Sunday night and attempt a series of difficult acrobatics to land safely on the surface.
The Curiosity rover was poised to hit the top of the Martian atmosphere at 13,000 mph, and then, if all goes as planned, be slowly lowered by cables inside a massive crater in the final few seconds.
Mission control at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena hoped to hear a signal at 1:31 a.m. EST Monday. The space agency warned that confirmation could take longer if an orbiting spacecraft that’s supposed to listen for Curiosity during the descent is not in the right place.
“Landing on Mars is always a nerve-racking thing. You’re never going to get relaxed about something like landing a spacecraft on Mars,” said planetary scientist Steve Squyres, who headed NASA’s last successful rover mission in 2004.
The last Mars rovers, twins Spirit and Opportunity, were cocooned in air bags and bounced to a stop in 2004. The plans for Curiosity called for a series of braking tricks, similar to those used by the space shuttle, and a supersonic parachute to slow it down.
Curiosity’s mission is to scour for basic ingredients essential for life, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur and oxygen. It’s not equipped to search for living or fossil microorganisms. To get a definitive answer, a future mission needs to fly Martian rocks and soil back to Earth to be examined.
Report: Boy Scout files reveal repeat child abuse
LOS ANGELES — Internal documents from the Boy Scouts of America reveal more than 125 cases in which men suspected of molestation allegedly continued to abuse Scouts, despite a blacklist meant to protect boys from sexual predators.
A Los Angeles Times review of more than 1,200 files from 1970 to 1991 found suspected abusers regularly remained in the organization after officials were first presented with sexual misconduct allegations.
Predators moved from troop to troop because of clerical errors, computer glitches or the Scouts’ failure to check the blacklist, known as the “perversion files,” the newspaper said.
In at least 50 cases, the Scouts expelled suspected abusers, only to discover they had re-entered the organization and were accused of molesting again.
In other cases, officials failed to document reports of abuse in the first place, letting offenders stay in the program until new allegations came to light, the Times reported.
One scoutmaster was expelled in 1970 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in Indiana. After being convicted of the crime, he went on to join two troops in Illinois between 1971 and 1988. He later admitted to molesting more than 100 boys, was convicted of the sexual assault of a Scout in 1989 and was sentenced to 100 years in prison, according to his file and court records.
In 1991, a Scout leader convicted of abusing a boy in Minnesota returned to his old troop shortly after getting out of jail.
Taliban fighters kill 6 in ambush
KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban-led insurgents killed two New Zealand soldiers and four Afghan intelligence officers Saturday in an ambush in the central province of Bamiyan, local officials said Sunday.
The intelligence officers, members of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s spy agency, had received a report of explosives stockpiled in the Baghak area of Shibar district and mounted an operation to seize them, said Abdul Rahman Ahmadi, the spokesman for the Bamiyan’s governor. But the Taliban fighters were waiting to ambush the officers, Ahmadi said.
The besieged intelligence officers summoned assistance from New Zealand troops based in Bamiyan. When the New Zealand troops arrived, they were also fired on. Two New Zealanders were killed and six wounded, Ahmadi said.
Ten intelligence officers, an Afghan police officer and a civilian were wounded. | <urn:uuid:adbf143e-0ad1-4e68-9532-1a2f06305138> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/05/news/nation/nasa-braces-for-probes-plunge-to-martian-surface/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397213.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00134-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961629 | 833 | 2.875 | 3 |
Published on 24/06/2013
I was wondering how astronomers know that a star is for example 50 light years away, how can they know when light travels from there and reaches here and even if they did, they would not wait for 50 years. I have asked my physics teacher at school and a student in Glasgow university but they did not have a clear answer. I also checked online but it is too hard for me to understand.
One more question what determines if a main sequence star will be a red giant or a super red giant?.
We know what the speed of light is from experiments conducted here on Earth, and there are various methods of working out how far away a star is. For example if you take two images six months apart, so Earth is on opposite sides of it's orbit, then relatively nearby stars will seem to have moved slightly compared to distant galaxies since we are looking at them from a slightly different angle, an effect called parallax. From the amount the star seems to move we can then work out how far away it is. Once we know how far away the star is can translate that into how long it would take light from that star to reach us, which is where the measurement of a distance in light-years comes from. Light-years are used just because measuring things in trillions of kilometres even for small distances gets a bit tiresome.
Regarding red giants vs red supergiants the main determining factor is the mass of the star. Stars that are around half the mass of our Sun, up to ones about 8 times the mass of the Sun will become red giants, stars more than about 10 times the mass of the Sun will become red supergiants. | <urn:uuid:3455290f-d7e3-45dd-b5a1-c94c6ff64cbf> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/public/ask?page=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395546.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00178-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963662 | 345 | 3.65625 | 4 |
Here, kitty kitty. On second thought, maybe stay there, kitty kitty.
Fredon resident Lucy Rudeau got a bit of a treat when she recently spotted a bobcat in her back yard, and sent us this video as proof.
Bobcats are just one of three mammals listed as endangered in New Jersey — along with the Indiana bat and the Allegheny woodrat. (That's not counting six whale species found off the state's coast that are on state and federal endangered-species lists)
According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, the bobcat is an "elusive creature" found in the northern hardwood forests of the state.
Bobcat populations declined in the 1800s as forests were cleared for lumber, fuel and agriculture, according to the DEP. By the early 1970s, they were thought to be locally extinct.
But between 1978 and 1982 the DEP released 24 bobcats back into the state.
"Today bobcat, though classified as endangered, appear to be fairly well-established in the northern hardwood forests of the state, perhaps even more widespread than many think," the DEP writes. "Their elusive nature makes them a challenge to study." | <urn:uuid:3b40f9bb-57c1-4af4-9550-f62a2d1459e2> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.nj.com/sussex-county/index.ssf/2014/04/video_watch_elusive_bobcat_find_its_way_to_sussex_backyard.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398869.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00030-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975217 | 247 | 2.5625 | 3 |
The U.S. military continues to investigate what might happen if you were zapped by one of its microwave weapons. Active denial technology, as the military calls it, uses 94 GHz millimeter waves (MMW) to induce pain by heating the skin. The Marine Corps says it’s like touching “an ordinary light bulb that has been left on for a while” —in fact, it’s just a “harmless energy beam,” according to the marines. Not everyone agrees.
When the microwave gun was officially uncloaked in 2001, Ross Adey, a leading researcher who has had a number of clashes with the U.S. Air Force over the years, told UPI that such claims were a “bunch of crap” (see MWN, M/A01, p.1).
In its latest published study, which appears in the February issue of Health Physics, USAF’s Patrick Mason and coworkers at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio continue to maintain that there is nothing to worry about: “In the few instances in which humans would be exposed to relatively high levels of MMW (i.e., 175 mW/cm, it is clear that the skin blood flow response would provide adequate thermal protection, as it efficiently removed heat from the skin before thermal damage could occur.”
Mason is also leading an effort to see whether Leif Salford and Bertil Persson’s experiments on the effects of microwaves on the blood-brain barrier can be replicated. | <urn:uuid:b68331b1-d202-4c02-8012-2dbfc14ed1c0> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://microwavenews.com/news-center/more-mw-weapon-effects | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397428.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00019-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97177 | 322 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Body thin, oval in shape, with relatively long dorsal and anal fins and a crescent tail. Uniform in color without body bars. Can change from bluish gray to dark brown, and can pale or darken dramatically. Markings radiate from the eye. Dorsal, anal and tail fins with a blue or white border. Base of tail with a sharp spine (like a surgeon's scalpel), may have a pale band behind the spine (A. bahianus).
Size up to 38 cm.
Inhabits shallow bottoms with coral or rocky formations, down to 40 m. Usually occurs in groups of five or more individuals. Mainly a diurnal species. Feeds on algae. The sharp spines on both sides of the base tail are used as defensive weapons by slashing their tails from side to side. When not in use, they are folded backwards against the body.
Common to occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean. | <urn:uuid:eca5b885-98f5-4185-9396-93ff6ecf4c78> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=caribbean_diving_guide&id=207 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393997.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00136-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.885296 | 194 | 3.28125 | 3 |
MASSIVE ATTACK: We actually couldn't find a scarier picture (and we tried). Some biologists predict that wave buoy technology might, um, upset great white sharks.
Waves of the Future
Plans to harness the ocean's power raise questions from biologists, surfers and even philosophers. After all, can you own the sea?
By By Alastair Bland
Just off the Sonoma County coast, floating fleets of wave-powered generators could soon begin bolstering the local grid with clean electricity, if the plans of the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) go smoothly. In April, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accepted the agency's permit application for launching an experimental wave energy project at three marine sites between Jenner and Sea Ranch. The next step for the agency is to submit an environmental impact report, and if FERC approves the final proposal, hundreds of marine generators could become part of the near-shore seascape in as little three years.
But SCWA, which is pursuing a goal of going carbon-neutral by 2050, is likely to see opposition to the renewable energy project, modeled loosely after wave farms off the coasts of Scotland and Portugal. Already, fishermen are questioning how navigation and ocean access might be impacted near or within the wave arrays which will each occupy swaths of sea as large as 20 square miles and between one-half and three miles from shore, and others have raised concerns about how the generators could impact the marine ecosystem and wildlife. Likely, there will be no access.
At the Farallon Institute, president and research scientist Bill Sydeman believes the subsurface cables, noise and electromagnetic fields associated with the wave arrays could be problematic for migrating gray whales, perhaps steering them off their migration routes or even causing collisions. Above the water, navigational warning lights on the generators may attract or otherwise disturb birds, he says.
Cordel Stillman, SCWA capital projects manager, says the county is preparing an environmental impact report that will address all concerns. Many parties have objected to the wave energy plan for reasons which may or may not eventually prove to be valid concerns, says Stillman.
The wave energy farms are likely to be restricted zones for boaters, and members of the local fishing fleet have mixed feelings. Zeke Grader, director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, says the fishing industry has a pointed interest in seeing alternative energy sources begin to replace the power that currently comes from "fish-killing dams," which have impacted the state's salmon runs in particular. The wave farms, however, could displace fishermen from favored fishing grounds and force them to take circuitous routes, making travel time longer and perhaps more dangerous.
"We've said no to offshore oil and gas drilling in California, and that was the right thing to do," Grader says. "Now we have to see if we can generate wave energy while protecting access to fishing and without creating navigational hazards."
Experts have estimated that the generators will absorb between three and 15 percent of the power in passing waves, producing a "wave shadow" in the lee of the generators. These wave shadows will span outward behind each apparatus, dispersing and diluting the reduction in wave power across a broad length of shoreline. With hundreds or thousands of generators contributing to the effect, however, the energy reduction of the breakers could be substantial. This, says John Largier, a professor of oceanography at UC Davis and a researcher at the Bodega Marine Lab, will affect the mechanics and the biology of the surf zone, perhaps especially so along beaches or in other depositional environments, like muddy-bottomed estuaries or river mouths.
"A lot of the coast's ecosystems really need waves," Largier says. "Barnacles, for example, that are high in the surf zone might dry out on the rocks if that splashing effect is reduced just a little. Just a slight change could tip the balance."
Many North Coast rivers, like the Russian, remain closed by a sand berm for much of the year. Migrating salmonids require periodic breaches of the barrier to enter and exit these river systems, but in the absence of heavy waves, a river mouth could potentially remain closed during a crucial migration time.
But of all the groups with an interest in seeing Pacific swells touch bottom and break on the shore, surfers may have the greatest personal investment and most substantial reason to fear the effects of the wave farms.
"The wave arrays that they establish and where they put them could block the south swell and diminish wave size," says Mike Frey, chairperson of the Sonoma County chapter of Surfrider, a California-based nonprofit. "That's our somewhat selfish standpoint, but cutting down on wave height and speed could really diminish the experience [of surfing]. A 10 percent reduction of strength might not seem like much, but it could make the difference between a place being surfable or not."
Frey and other surfers also wonder how the generators may inadvertently excite great white sharks, known by researchers to respond behaviorally to electromagnetic activity in the water.
But even as the conversation of the pros and cons gains volume, wave power technology remains in its early infancy and no one yet knows how exactly the wave arrays will work. Several dozen companies are currently vying for the contract to produce the still very hypothetical generators, but four types of machines show particular promise. One, the "oscillating water column device," features a cylinder that fills with water as each wave passes, forcing air through a turbine. Another model, the "attenuator," is an elongated series of multi-segmented buoys that float on the surface parallel to the path of the waves. "Point absorbers" float on the surface and absorb wave energy regardless of the direction of origin. And "overtopping devices" float facing oncoming waves, which pour into an open basin as each swell crests, forcing internal turbines into motion.
Richard Charter, a government-relations consultant with Defenders of Wildlife, has spent three decades fighting offshore-oil-drilling interests and believes firmly in the need for alternative energies, but he says that the corrosive power of saltwater is sure to be a tremendous challenge toward establishing successful wave farms. Even the waves themselves could overwhelm the generators, damaging them or ripping them from place.
"Can this technology survive our worst winter storms?" Charter asks, recalling watching a 90-foot breaker explode over a Sonoma County cliff in early 1982 and wash an occupied sedan into a field upslope.
A so-called wave rush has surged over California's North Coast in recent years as such corporations as Chevron and PG&E have applied for permits to build wave farms off Humboldt and Mendocino counties. Sonoma County leaders, meanwhile, have watched this encroachment of big businesses onto coastal waters and decided that if anyone would apply for a permit to build wave generators off the Sonoma Coast, the county itself would do so. Thus, SCWA quickly stepped up to apply for a permit in December, 2007.
Three months later, FERC rejected the application, which had asked for permission to develop the entire coast of Sonoma County. The agency returned to the drawing board and drafted a smaller-scale plan, isolating three sites between Jenner and Sea Ranch on which to attempt the wave farms. Submitted in February, this application was accepted in April and the preliminary permits approved this month.
The zoning and privatizing of the ocean for industrial purposes has resulted in a new concept called "marine spatial planning," in which authorities, coastal residents, fishermen and other stakeholders must decide what areas are appropriate for marine industries. Commercial fisherman Mark Neugebauer doesn't like it one bit.
"Nobody should own the open ocean," says Neugebauer, who once lived in Bodega Bay but now operates out of Fort Bragg. Here, PG&E's recently proposed wave array threatened to occupy one of the best and safest Dungeness crab fishing grounds in the region, though plans for the project have desisted in the last six months. "If they're going to close the water for the wave farms, maybe they're just going to try and close it next for the oil companies," Neugebauer.
The government is not particularly keen on fueling wave energy research, as seen recently when federal stimulus money was diverted to other renewable technology development, leaving wave energy planners in search of private venture capital. That, too, is scarce, says Charter, as the slumping economy drags its feet.
"If you can't get a mortgage on a house now, just try convincing someone to lend you money for an experimental eggbeater floating on the ocean."
Stillman says SCWA will pursue the project with caution. A series of public discussions and scientific investigations are sure to take place as project managers and coastal stakeholders weigh the pros and the cons of anchoring colonies of wave generators to the seafloor.
"If things go smoothly, we're three years away from a pilot project," Stillman says. "But if it doesn't pan out environmentally or commercially, we'll drop it like a hot rock."
Send a letter to the editor about this story. | <urn:uuid:ad26c978-6fe8-47cd-97d2-2769b9e93ed5> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.metroactive.com/bohemian/07.29.09/news-0930.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783392159.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154952-00084-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951983 | 1,897 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Bug lovers will recall that the female praying mantis cannibalizes the head of her sexual partner upon mating. Wrote Leland Ossian Howard in Science, Vol VIII (1886):
Placing them in the same jar, the male, in alarm, endeavoured to escape. In a few minutes the female succeeded in grasping him. She first bit off his front tarsus, and consumed the tibia and femur. Next she gnawed out his left eye… it seems to be only by accident that a male ever escapes alive from the embraces of his partner.
The idea that the female mantis is a femme fatal has resonated in U.S. culture, a culture that loves to recount how human women kill the spirits of their male mates; a culture that, as Twisty Faster puts it, “…will unfairly characterize females as villains whenever possible.”
Case in point, the praying mantis cartoon:
Well, it turns out that our perfect icon of the man-killer was partly an artifact of bad research design. Faster, who blogs at I Blame the Patriarchy, reports that the study that established that female mantis’ decapitate their mates used starving females. A new study has documented an entirely different mating ritual:
Out of thirty matings, we didn’t record one instance of cannibalism, and instead we saw an elaborate courtship display, with both sexes performing a ritual dance, stroking each other with their antennae before finally mating. It really was a lovely display.
There is one species…. the Mantis religiosa, in which it is necessary that the head be removed for the mating to take effect properly. [In general, though, s]exual cannibalism occurs most often if the female is hungry. But eating the head does causes the body to ejaculate faster.
One species, okay, but there are over 2,000 species of praying mantis. (You learn something every day.) In any case, everyone loves a good bad-woman story and I suppose that one was just too good to pass up.
This post was originally published on Sociological Images
Picture of Praying Mantis from Flickr.com user SMB(spidermanbryce), praying mantis comic from Flickr.com user WolfieWolf, both through Creative Commons License 2.0. Photo of Cat versus Praying Mantis via author. | <urn:uuid:eb3955b5-77b2-4b8c-801c-03e1a58d375c> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/11/29/male-mantis-need-not-pray-cannibal-female-myth-exposed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393997.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00186-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956652 | 494 | 2.59375 | 3 |
The intent of this posting is simply to document the facts about slave ownership from a genealogical standpoint. No moral or ethical judgments are implied. Prior to the Civil War, it was common practice for certain businesses to own slaves in both the South and the North. Hopefully, this may assist some decendants in discovering their roots.
Historical records indicate the following Fonda slave ownerships: (For simplicity, the term Black is used herein to designate what may have originally been listed as Colored, Negro or Mulatto, today referred to as African-American)
Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy, 1718-1820:
Joseph Fonda – New Orleans, LA – seller of 1 slave – 3/18/1816 – Notary: Pierre Pedasclaux, Depository: housed in parish courthouses. Location: Orleans (including Chapitoulas). Language of this record: French, Seller: Joseph Fonda, Buyer: Jean Davis, Name: Eveille, Name Type: Partilly coded, overwhelmingly European, Gender: male, Race: black, Age: 50, sold or inventoried as an individual Value of Sale: 235, Sale Common Price: 235.
1850 US Census Slave Schedule:
Abraham Fonda – Louisville, KY – owner of 1 slave, 15 Male Black
Claressa Fonda – Montgomery Co., MD – owner of 10 slaves – 5 Male / 5 Female, Black, ages 48/38/36/27/12/11/7/5/3/1
Sarah Fonda – Monroe, AL – owner of 1 slave, 60 Female Black
1860 US Census Slave Schedule:
Abraham Fonda – Louisville, KY – owner of 1 slave, 40 Male Black
Frederick Fondy – Bullitt, KY – owner of 1 slave, 25 Male Black
Sara Fonda – Monroe, AL – owner of 6 slaves – 2 Male / 4 Female, Black, ages 50/40/35/30/20/2
We also know that a few slaves were kept by several other Fonda’s in the North since there are references to slave quarters on certain properties. These all appear to be prior to 1820, before detailed record-keeping.
After the Civil War, and all slaves were set free, some apparently took the name of their former owners. We have records of some Black families with the Fonda surname. Here are 12 heads-of-household with Fonda (sic.) surnames found in US Federal Census records (for privacy, those born after 1930 are not disclosed):
Doe Fundy – b. abt 1795 – 1870 US Federal Census, 12-Wd 15-Sub Divn, St. Louis Co., MO (75, Black, b. LA, Roustabout) – probably slave of Christopher Yates Fonda (and wife Sara, listed above in 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules, since Christopher had died in 1845), Merchant of Monroe, LA.
Primis Fonda – b. abt 1796 – 1840 US Federal Census, Salina, Onondaga Co., NY (Free Black, b. NY); 1860 US Federal Census, 4-Wd Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY (Free Black, Day Laborer); 1870 US Federal Census, 8-Wd Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY (Black, Cook, Wife Rachel) – probably slave of Nathan Carey Fonda, Blacksmith of Syracuse, NY.
Henry Fandy – b. 1835 – 1880 US Federal Census, Pembroke, Christian Co., KY (Black, b. KY, parents b. VA, Laborer, wife Malvina and 7 children)
John B. Fondy – b. abt 1840 – Civil War Service: John B. Fondy; Co.E, 81st US Colored Infantry, Private
B. Fonday – b. 1847 – 1880 US Federal Census, Van Zandt Co., TX (Black; b. GA, Tends Bar)
John Fonda – b. 1858 – 1880 US Federal Census, 3rd Ward, Washington Co., LA (Mulatto, b. MS, parents b. MS, House Servant)
Benjamin Fondey – b. 1869 – 1900 US Federal Census, Perdido, Baldwin Co., AL (Black; b. AL; parents b. AL, Road Superintendent, Wife Mary, 1 child)
Sam Fundy – b. 1870 – 1900 US Federal Census, Brickville Pct, Colbert Co., AL (Black; b. AL, Farmer, Wife Darria, 2 children)
James Fonda – b. 1877 – 1900 US Federal Census, Texarkansas, Bowie Co., TX (Black, b. AR, Hotel Waiter, Wife Emelie, 2 children)
Jim Fonda – b. 1879 – 1910 US Federal Census, 4-Bt, Tallahatchie Co., MS (Black; b. MS, Wife Mary, 2 children)
Edgar Fonda – 1881-1956 – Black, b. LA; res. Hughes, AR; res. MS; Wife Pearlie, 2 children
With the exception of the first three, the origins of these men are unknown. Those first three did not leave any progeny that are recorded. One had a son and grandson, but the line stopped there. It is not certain that their names were taken from their slave masters, although in sheer numbers, it is possible. The locations are generally consistent with the known locations of slave ownership: LA, KY, AL, NY and MD, so you could draw some conclusions.
One interesting story unfolded regarding a slave who was set free long before the Civil War:
The Town of Galway records show that in 1812, Abraham Fonda sold a certain slave, called “Lun,” to John Pettit and that Pettit entered into an agreement “to free ‘Lun’ in nine years and at that time give ‘Lun’ two cows and 10 sheep of full middling quality.” The document was witnessed by Lenton Hicks and Ebenezer Fitch and Eli Smith recorded it April 6, 1813. Nine years later, in 1822, it is recorded that Abijah Comstock and Asa Cornell, overseers of the poor, were called upon to examine the said “Lun” and “Kate,” his wife, “to see if they were of sufficient ability to provide for and maintain themselves?” They issued a certificate of freedom in issuing which they took pains to state that it was their pleasure “to encourage acts of humanity” and an entire willingness that “all should enjoy the inalienable right of liberty.” Chronicles of Saratoga: a series of articles., Chronicle VIII. Harriet Beecher Stowe visited Saratoga in 1850’s–“Cabin” staged in hall p. 29. McGregor, Jean. Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: Reprinted from The Saratogian, 1945-47.
This is noteworthy since The United States was fifty years away from emancipation although “by the time of the 1790 census, 94 percent of the 698,000 U.S. slaves lived below the Mason-Dixon Line.” The British Empire was still twenty years away from the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
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You must be logged in to post a comment. | <urn:uuid:cdf4b765-a5ee-43f5-b004-67b4dfa3382f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://blog.fonda.org/archives/1436 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398628.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00118-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927654 | 1,567 | 3.03125 | 3 |
AgFair Project Ideas
The objective of this science fair project is to examine the effects of temperature on salt and water solutions, as they form crystals over time.
The objective of this science project was to build a model of a volcano and observe reaction between different substances, including baking soda and vinegar.
This science fair idea is a great way for kids to explore static electricity. Kids will give a comb a static charge and watch as it separates pepper from salt.
The goal of this fun science fair project idea is to microwave candy and investigate: do some colors of M&Ms melt faster than others?
Kids often ask, "how tall am I?" This science fair project seeks to determine how well kids can guess their own heights.
This project examines whether people's taste perception is influenced by what they see.
This science fair project idea determines which method of hand cleansing is the most effective.
Kids will explore the corrosiveness of soda in this cool science fair project by leaving pennies submerged in soda overnight. | <urn:uuid:9f472ea6-a996-4c35-a119-2f95a1bbc49b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.education.com/collection/dawnturbes-mn/agfair-project-ideas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396100.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00035-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93883 | 206 | 3.65625 | 4 |
The words smoking in English, Rauchen in German, fumar in Spanish,fumer in French, palenie in Polish, rökning in Swedish and κάπν ι σμα in Greek represent a tradition that has become rooted in Europe's 27 member states.
Tobacco originally came from America and was taken back to the New World by Spanish conquistadors. There, people smoked pipes to cement peace. This bit of history can be seen in the German and Spanish expressions die Friedenspfeife rauchenfumarand la pipa de la paz (to smoke the peace pipe). The name of the tobacco plant doubtless comes from the Arabic word tubbaq, which, in the Middle Ages, ironically meant a root with purifying properties. However, the word cigar retains its typically Ameridian aroma since the Mayan word for the famous solanaceae (nicotine is part of this family) is pronounced siyar.
Conscious of the 650, 000 deaths that smoking causes each year in Europe, 140 million EU citizens have resolved to put their ashtrays away in the attic: they are determined to no longer, as the Spanish say, fumando como un carreterro(smoke like a Hackney coachman), in reference to those professionals who are in a hurry to see their clients get back in their cars and go.
When someone refers to a person who smokes like a chimneyRauchen wie ein Schlot, the Germans compete with the Hungarians Füstöl mint a gyárkéméni to describe this fatal addiction. If the nicotine-addicted Italians smoke like Turks (fumar come un turco), it is easy to imagine the particular affection this nation holds for smoking pipes. The French expression, fume comme un pompier (smoke like a fireman), reminds us of days gone by, when the ancient vehicles of this prestigious body of fire-fighting elite scoped out from afar the powerful curls of smoke rising from their convoy.
Today, the health authorities are trying hard to eradicate this habit by forcing distirbutors to display warnings on every packet about the dangers of this obnoxious custom. The slogans range from terse to cutting: from Smoking kills (in French and Polish, Fumer tue and Palenie zabija) to more elaborate and perfidious warnings, like the very British Smoking may reduce blood flow and cause impotence. The Spaniards are more dramatic: Fumar puede provocar una muerte lenta y dolorosa (Smoking can lead to a slow and painful death).
Users of Viagra can’t say they haven’t been warned! After decades of advertisements, cinema or music idealising it, it is clearly very difficult to renounce this act of divine inhalation. Who amongst us does not remember the words to the song by the Spanish actress Sara Montiel? Fumar es un placer genial, sensual… ('smoking is a wonderful, sensual place'). Ok, I swear, I’ll light up one last one and then … I’m quitting!
First published on cafebabel.com on 10 September 2008 | <urn:uuid:51618e14-5f62-4005-87d6-0800c7289f9f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/society/article/european-slogans-smoking-kills.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396887.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00037-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901507 | 675 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Forget what your kindergarten teacher taught you; there’s no such thing as the original Thanksgiving. "It’s a nice myth that was created in 1841," says Andrew Smith, contributor to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, referencing the story we all know so well. "The Puritans—the pilgrims—they’d celebrate days of thanksgiving, but it was a day you spent in church thanking God for a bountiful harvest, or maybe a victory over the Indians. What you didn’t do was sit down and eat. That would be a frivolous activity."
So where did Thanksgiving come from? Why are we eating this meal with our inlaws and second cousins?
In 1841, with the rise of universal education, New England historians needed U.S. history lessons for school books. Being a somewhat young, rebellious country, there wasn’t a very positive spin, especially when you consider our origins in Jamestown, where we landed to enslave the Native Americans. "The textbook publishers said, ‘We can’t have this start in Jamestown! It has to start in Plymouth!’" Smith explains.
Digging for such a story, one historian did find a single letter published in a British journal from 1622. It mentions a harvest festival in which "the Governor sent four men on fowling," and they killed an exceptional number of birds. So they invited the Native Americans over to an impromptu three-day feast. Nowhere is "Thanksgiving" mentioned in this letter (in fact, no first-hand accounts mention Thanksgiving for 200 more years). But when this letter was republished in the 1800s, a footnote was added: "… the first thanksgiving, the harvest festival of New England." So that became our origin story of one of our most beloved holidays, a footnote added to a tangentially related story two centuries after the fact.
In reality, the sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner we know began sometime in the early 19th century in New England. The fall harvest (and its natural gluttony) melded with this once-Puritan tradition of formal thanks. What emerged were huge, secular meals that we’d mostly recognize today, but they were loosely organized and highly regionalized.
Thanksgiving still wasn’t considered a holiday. Sarah Josepha Hale, who you know from penning Mary Had a Little Lamb, edited the largest woman’s magazine of the time (Godey’s Lady’s Book), with a circulation of over 1 million. Spreading the culture of her New England roots, she’d use this platform to advocate making Thanksgiving an officially observed holiday. Starting in 1846, she wrote to governors for 17 years, state by state, to coordinate such an event. By 1859, she had 30 states and three territories involved, but Hale was met with resistance, in the South especially, as Thanksgiving was seen as a day when northern Evangelicals—a less strict Christian sect gaining influence from the Puritans—could preach against slavery.
Ironically, it was only after the Civil War broke out that Hale’s northerner tradition would cross the Mason-Dixon line. Amidst brutal national conflict, Lincoln recognized the need for a unifying day for the whole country, and Thanksgiving became our third national holiday in 1863 (behind Washington’s birthday and the 4th of July). Even though it took a few decades for parts of the South to actually participate, eventually even they came around, too. "You didn’t have a fall holiday," Smith points out, "so this in some ways fit in with spacing out the days of celebration."
Ultimately, you have all of these discrete forces coming together to form Thanksgiving that were unique to a 19th-century America—a need for revisionist history, an earnest quest for new tradition, the migration of New Englanders across the country, a hope for an end to civil war, and a cold weather holiday before the era of Christmas. But while it’s the myriad of cultural reasons that made this harvest festival Thanksgiving, it’s the harvest that made Thanksgiving the dinner we know today.
Food was, of course, the most practical reason behind Thanksgiving’s meal. The harvest comes in fall, when, before the days of advanced preservation, we were faced with overabundance. Gorging was somewhat of a necessity, lest the food go to waste, and harvest festivals span beyond the United States for this reason. "For the first Thanksgiving (1863), you’d expect they had a corn harvest. Most likely they were growing squash, not what you think of as a pumpkin but squash," Smith says. "They had a wheat harvest that wasn’t very successful. There were tens of millions of migratory birds coming back and forth in New England of that time."
From historical accounts in the early 19th century, you would have seen tables full of turkey, beef, duck, ham, sausage, potatoes, yams, succotash, pickles, nuts, raisins, pears, peaches, pie, tarts, creams, custards, jellies, plum (or other) puddings, floating islands, sweetbreads, wines, rum, brandy, egg-nog, and punch. The fowl component could have been any sort of wild game you can imagine, ending up on a table or in a pot pie. New England also had the U.S.'s first cattle industry—meaning recently slaughtered red meat would come into play, most likely in roast beef. Oysters, coastal fish, and venison would have been on tables, too. And in the South? "It would have definitely been pork. Pork was the meat in the South," Smith says. "It was the meat in America until the late 19th century."
More than anything, Smith emphasizes that the first Thanksgiving was personalized to whatever was around to eat—local-seasonal at its most pure. So maybe we should ask ourselves, why are we still all eating turkey, let alone, turkey that’s been bred to have less flavor and a bigger, blander breast than what our forefathers ate? Sure, it was (and is) cheap. It was easily domesticated. And it could feed a lot of people. But almost 150 years after the first Thanksgiving, we’re eating worse, not better. "Quite frankly, I’d rather serve duck," Chef Tom Colicchio admits, when I pose him that very question. "There’s something nice about that big turkey that’s nice and brown, but it’s not very good. No matter how skilled you are, it’s usually somewhat on the dry* side."
At Craft, Colicchio, who’s best known as a judge for Bravo’s Top Chef, has been serving a Thanksgiving dinner for the last 11 years. And to me, despite how delicious his foie gras/pork belly stuffing must be, a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner is still a bit of an oxymoron. Think beyond your fond memories of childhood for a moment. The prototypical Thanksgiving dinner is an inherently bland meat with a bunch of starchy sides. "The Thanksgiving meal doesn’t have the balance that you’d find putting together a restaurant dish," he admits, "that balance of acids and maybe spice." Thanksgiving is not fine dining; it was never designed that way. So what should we, as a staunch, foodie culture do differently? If you take our modern "traditional" foods out of the equation, what’s the ideal Thanksgiving meal you could (and maybe should) be eating?
"You’re basically asking what is on my fall menu," he laughs. "I think a lot of what I’d do is what’s available at the market. The meat would definitely be different. It wouldn’t be a turkey. It would probably either be venison or pheasant or something like that." Colicchio points out the seasonality of seafaring proteins like oysters and Nantucket Bay scallops, and his seasonal sides include brussel sprouts, squashes, huckleberries, apples, chestnuts, various root vegetables, and quince—many of those components, of course, are part of a truly traditional Thanksgiving dinner because truly traditional Thanksgiving dinners were completely about the harvest. "That’s why I never understood greenbeans. Greenbeans season is pretty much over!" he says. "Interestingly enough, there’s a variety of pea you do harvest right now—though it might be a little late."
Much because of the natural overlap of seasonal items and traditional Thanksgiving foods, Colicchio argues that Thanksgiving meal traditions are less about the actual components of the feast, and more about what you actually do with those components. Do you roast squash or do you puree it? Do you deep fry a turkey or throw it on a grill? His Thanksgiving menu at Craft puts breakfast sausage in that fancy foie gras/pork belly stuffing. Why? Because that’s what his grandma did. "When you talk about traditions, I don’t think anyone thinks of the first Thanksgiving as their tradition. The tradition is what you had at your house," he says. "There is absolutely no way I’d put marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes and call it a dish. But it’s traditional for some people to do, and I don’t want to knock someone’s tradition.
Then he thinks for a moment, no doubt imagining those melted marshmallow puffs sitting atop a radioactive orange puree.
"You know, I didn’t grow up with that dish—but I think if i did grow up with it, I probably would have changed it," he laughs.
*Colicchio shared a fantastic, obvious-in-retrospect tip to cook turkey perfectly. Because white meat always gets done before dark meat, bake until the turkey breast is done, remove it from the oven and carve off the legs. Then just toss the legs back in a hot pan in the oven, pink-flesh down, for about 10 minutes.
[Images: Norman Rockwell, Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, James Reid Lambdin, Godey’s Lady’s Book, and Shutterstock] | <urn:uuid:7ecf06ec-2e34-4eac-b999-9020743e0f5e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671301/thanksgiving-dinner-history-designed-it-and-tom-colicchio-critiques-it | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391766.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00146-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970158 | 2,176 | 3.234375 | 3 |
There’s only so much that your parents can do to prepare you for being an adult. If you’re lucky, they have done their best to teach you about financial responsibility. At a certain point though, it’s really up to you. Being financially responsible requires discipline. It means having to pass up short-lived fun for long-term stability. It’s not something that you should put off until you’re well into your twenties or thirties. By starting now, you can lay the foundation for a successful life. With any luck, you’ll be able to live debt-free. Keeping a budget, filing your taxes online and reconciling your bank account are just a few things you can do. Learn more about developing financial responsibility below.
Avoid Serious Consequences
It’s easy to brush off the importance of being financially responsible. However, some very serious consequences can rear their heads sooner rather than later. From running up a huge amount of debt to ending up in jail for not paying your taxes, ignoring the importance of financial responsibility can wreak havoc on your life. The good news is that it’s not too difficult to get where you need to be.
Use Your Computer to Create and Manage a Budget
You can’t hope to live within your financial means without creating a budget. In years past, the only way to do so was by whipping out a pencil and a sheet of paper. These days, it’s a lot easier. Whether you use Excel to create a spreadsheet, or if you invest in high-quality budgeting software, getting started is a snap. There are even websites that automatically import all of your bank account and credit card information, so you can always see where you stand.
Reconcile Your Bank Account
Just because you rarely write checks doesn’t mean that you don’t have to worry about balancing your checkbook. Without periodically reconciling your bank account, you could miss discrepancies that could add up to a lot of money. When you do write a check, make sure to deduct the amount of the check from your balance immediately. It may not clear right away, but you need to pretend that it has. Otherwise, you could end up with bounced checks, overdraft fees and all kinds of trouble.
File Your Taxes Online
It is your responsibility to file your taxes every year. No one else is going to do it for you. Many young adults get refunds, so that is an added incentive. However, even if you owe money, you need to stay on top of your tax situation. You don’t have to be a math whiz to do so, and you don’t have to pay an accountant to do it for you. More people are choosing to file taxes online and you can too. It’s a fast, easy, affordable and convenient way to take care of this important business.
Keep an Eye on the Future
Finally, as difficult as it may be to believe, you’re going to retire someday. It’s easy to think that you can put off worrying about retirement, but it really pays to start planning for it as early as possible. Start socking away money now. It will compound over the years, which means that you’ll accumulate quite a nest egg. By doing this, you’ll stay ahead of the curve and set the stage for a financially stable life.
Jeana Olchowy is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow her @jolchowy25. | <urn:uuid:6e37b72c-057a-4692-a67b-9bc189a3de6f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://2010taxes.org/2012/06/11/filing-taxes-online-is-just-one-step-towards-financial-responsibility/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397428.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00054-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957319 | 752 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Web Resources for Teachers<br />SarahMiller<br />These are online resources that provide all educators with the materials and connections that they need to be successful. <br />
Introduction:<br />I am putting together this presentation to outline just a few of the many online resources that are available to teachers today. When searching for these sites I was looking for sites that had a broad range of topics and materials to present to educators today. As stated before there were hundreds of recourses that fit this description but I am only going to present the following three sites to day:<br />MERLOT-Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching.<br />JOLT-Journal of Online Learning and Teaching.<br />LearnNC-School of Education at UNC.<br />
Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching <br />Click image to view website.<br />The Objectives of this website are to:<br /><ul><li>Provide and contribute learning materials.
Provide opportunities for educators to create a profile and connect with each other.
Provide peer reviewed materials and recognition.</li></ul>http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm<br />Description: This website provides peer reviewed teaching a learning materials, it connects you with other educators and it allows you to share advice and materials with others.<br />
Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching Cont’d<br /><ul><li>“MERLOT is a leading edge, user-centered, searchable collection of peer reviewed and selected higher education, online learning materials, catalogued by registered members and a set of faculty development support services.MERLOT's vision is to be a premiere online community where faculty, staff, and students from around the world share their learning materials and pedagogy. “</li></ul>http://taste.merlot.org/<br /><ul><li>MERLOT’s goal is to help improve how effective teaching and learning is by providing resources and giving examples of lessons and activities that will help students to learn better and educators to teach better. </li></li></ul><li>My Personal Reflection on MERLOT<br /><ul><li>MERLOT is a great tool that can be used by anyone who is pursuing a career in education because it allows you to not only share your insights and experiences but it allows you to gain understanding from others.
One thing that set this website apart from others that I found was that the material was peer reviewed.
Another really neat feature that the site recently created was a content creating program. This allows you to write your own assignments and share them with colleagues and peers.</li></li></ul><li>LEARN NC: School of Education at NCU<br />Click image to visit website.<br />Description: this website provides you with the resources you need for teaching and learning for grades K-12. <br />Goals for LEARN NC:<br /><ul><li>Through content: Strengthen and achieve balance in our collection of educational materials by increasing quantity and quality in order to efficiently meet educators’ information needs and facilitate the acquisition of professional skills.
Through community: Encourage a culture of continual learning and collegial sharing in K-12 education by providing a safe and supportive environment that fosters communities of practice focused on innovative content, effective strategies, and professional opportunities.
Through outreach: Leverage our creativity and expertise to integrate programs and resources and build partnerships. </li></ul>http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5065<br />
LEARN NC Cont’d<br /><ul><li>LEARN NC has proved to be a great tool for teachers to use to help them plan day to day lessons as well as assisting them when looking into the future for their students and their classrooms. Similar to MERLOT this website also offers online classes for teachers to enroll in.
This website offers suggestions on how to plan successful field trips as well. I thought this was a really neat idea because planning a field can turn into a lot of work for a teacher, so having the resources to assist you in this process is a great idea.
The creators of this website felt that it was very important to have a resource link to provide definitions, links to examples and tips on how to contextualize terms. This is a great resource for teacher to have while planning lessons or just to have access to whenever they need it.</li></li></ul><li>My Personal Reflection on LEARN NC<br /><ul><li>As a prospective teacher I found this website very interesting and helpful. I really liked the fact that you could use this website to help plan for future classes but that there are also resources to help teachers immediately. An example of this would be the resource page that I discussed previously.
Another aspect of this website that I really liked was the classroom management page. This page has three different parts: Designing your classroom, Getting organized and day-to-day management-building classroom culture. I think that as a new teacher these are very hard things to do, so I especially found this very helpful. </li></li></ul><li>Journal of Online Learning and Teaching<br /><ul><li>Enable faculty to use technology effectively in online teaching and learning by learning from a community of researchers and scholars
Enable academic programs to design and deploy academic technology to optimize online teaching and learning
Build a community around the research and scholarly use of multimedia educational resources for online teaching and learning. </li></ul>Description: This website was designed as a place for teachers and students. JOLT welcomes papers from all aspects and is open to everyone who wants or needs access to them.<br />Click image to visit website.<br />http://jolt.merlot.org/<br />
Journal of Online Learning and Teaching Cont’d<br /><ul><li>JOLT has some really neat resources available for its users. The helpful to users of this site. What the site has done is created past and current issues pages have proven very two separate places for papers to go based on how current the subject is that is being addressed.
JOLT has had over 81,000 visits in the last year and they are looking to become more known by placing a call for new papers to be posted. This allows the site to expand its horizons and topics being presented. </li></li></ul><li>My Personal Reflection on JOLT<br /><ul><li>For me, this website seemed like a resource that I might use not only as a teacher but as a student. I find that having the opportunity to read and research other people’s thoughts is very helpful when doing my own research.
The reason I chose this as a technology resource for teachers is because I can see myself using this site as a teacher to find insight on how other teachers and people see certain topics.</li></li></ul><li>Conclusion<br /><ul><li> Doing this research project has really helped me to expand my resources as a prospective teacher. I learned a lot about different technology resources that are available, not only to teachers and prospective teachers but to students as well.
All of these resources offer different things but all of them are excellent resources for teachers, allowing them to expand their teaching skills and education.
Most students and teachers don’t realize the tools that they have access to. All of these resources and hundreds more are at your fingertips and just by taking a few minutes to do some research I found some great tools that I can use in the future.</li></li></ul><li>Reference Citations:<br />http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm<br />http://www.learnnc.org/<br />http://jolt.merlot.org/<br /> | <urn:uuid:8edc0f6c-2bc7-42c0-b2f0-1943ef1ad793> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.slideshare.net/guest2d06ac4/technology-resources | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783408828.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155008-00155-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947349 | 1,660 | 3.03125 | 3 |
An alien, or more accurately extraterrestrial, is any life-form originating from beyond the planet Earth.
Sentient races Edit
- Greys, a race of aliens with mysterious ties to the planet Earth and its history. These aliens are sometimes also referred as Reticulians for their supposed planet of origin, Reticulum, although abductee Cassandra Spender implied the importance of the constellation Cassiopeia to their origin. The greys include the colonists, although not every grey appears dedicated to colonizing Earth. Note that long-clawed aliens appear to be just a different stage in the life cycle of a grey. In recent decades, some of the greys attempted to recolonize Earth after an ice age forced them to leave; it is stated that they arrived here "millions of years ago" and "walked the Earth before the dinosaurs" in one form or another. Greys in their early stages of life look like yellow and green muscular humanoids with reptile like skin, clawed hands, large black eyes, slits for a nose and a mouth full of sharp teeth. After exposure to immense heat, they transform into an adult grey, which is about the size of a human child, whereas the immature form of a grey is as big as an adult human. They retain most features of the immature version except they lack muscular bodies, green and yellow reptile-like skin, sharp teeth and claws on their hands. Instead, they have frail bodies that are smoother and grey in color with larger heads in proportion to the rest of their bodies. (It should be noted that it is unclear if the greys and the bounty hunters are the same species. In some instances, the bounty hunters are referred to as a distinct race from the colonists (TXF: The Truth). Other instances seem to suggest they are one in the same (TXF: The Unnatural).
- Faceless aliens and alien bounty hunters, shapeshifting aliens who may be greys themselves. Faceless aliens are free of the black oil (see below) and have mutilated themselves, sealing all openings in their faces, to prevent it from infecting them.
- Purity (also referred to as "black oil" or "black cancer") is an intelligent alien virus that is the "life force" of the colonists. The virus can enter a human body to control it, up to and including control of the host's fine motor functions and speech that can deceive even those closest to the host, and can also emit lethal levels of radiation from the host's body when the alien intelligence chooses to do so, which does not appear to harm the host. Under different circumstances, the virus can incapacitate the human host and incubate an immature grey (a long-clawed alien) inside its body.
- Kindred: The Kindred look and act like a group of separatist religious such as the Amish, but it is implied they are really gender-changing aliens. They apparently lived on Earth until Mulder and Scully learned too much about them, causing them to flee, leaving strange indentations in corn fields that resemble the outline of flying saucers.
- Martians: Martians are gas based lifeforms native to Mars. They can travel in space without ships and are able to possess other creatures such as humans. Besides their gaseous bodies, they have faces that look like twisted human faces, which they can even form when possessing a human. They are known to sabotage human space flights, and one possessed Marcus Aurelius Belt during a space mission when he was an astronaut. However, Marcus managed to throw himself out a window, killing himself and the Martian.
- Super soldiers : Also known as "human replacements", super soldiers are the result of the alien virus incubating inside a human and literally creating a duplicate of that person. The gestation process makes the subject appear to be dead, with all of their tissue in a state of decay despite brain activity and other functions continuing. The affected subject then sheds their skin (quite literally) and ceases to exist, with the new, physically identical entity being an alien. The alien replacement exhibits unusual traits, including near-invulnerability, the capacity to regenerate their bodies from almost any injury, the ability to breathe underwater (or simply survive without oxygen) and superhuman strength. It is unclear if the alien replacements retain the memories of the humans whose forms they assume, though this seems to be the case with several individuals. It has also been state that they have some connection to a government project to create "super soldiers", hence the misnomer. These soldiers were possibly tested during the Gulf War. However, the established fact of them being extraterrestrial in nature, and the unreliability of the sources whom provided the super soldier information, makes it unclear if there was any truth to that particular angle.
- Hybrids: Humans who have been, in some manner, enhanced with alien genetic material. The Syndicate spent decades trying to create human-alien hybrids, experimenting on a number of different individuals using slightly different methods. Some of these experiments were carried out using the knowledge obtained from German and Japanese scientists who came to the U.S. after world war II. This effort involved a number of different activities, from alien abduction to the creation of human-alien fetuses from which stem cells and tissue would be harvested for further research. (TXF: Essence) While a number of these experiments were done at different points in time, the only known success was Cassandra Spender. The alien colonists required this hybrid to proceed with colonization. (TXF: One Son). It was said that the new race of alien-human hybrids would be a slave race. What exactly this would have entailed, however, was never elaborated on. When the Syndicate was destroyed in 1999 at the hands of the alien rebels, some of these experiments ceased, but other attempts to create human-alien hybrids continued. (TXF: Essence) Some projects involved experiments on women in an effort to create alien-human infants. At least once such infant was produced, and possibly more. (TXF: Per Manum). There were other ways in which a person could become an alien-human hybrid. Fox Mulder apparently became one at some point in 1999. The Cigarette Smoking Man declared that Mulder was one, and that he contained genetic material that would allow humanity to survive the coming plague. How exactly this happened is unclear, though it seems to have involved both Mulder's exposure to the black oil virus, and the influence of the alien spacecraft found on the Ivory Coast. (TXF: The Sixth Extinction).
- Clones. Duplicates of existing humans, used for various purposes by the Syndicate and the alien colonists. Notable clones included the Gregor series, the Samantha series (based on Samantha Mulder), several clones of a young blonde boy, and clones of several young men. At least one possible clone, Emily, may have been a clone of Dana Scully. The clones tended to be laborers and workers, with some working on various scientific tasks for the Syndicate, while others were simply engaged in manual labor. Clones were not simply human duplicates. They were also hybrids, containing alien DNA. Due to this, they often bled green blood, similar to that of the bounty hunters. At least some clones seemed capable of recognizing the bounty hunters, even when disguised.
Known sentient aliens that appear human Edit
Other alien creatures Edit
|"Mulder? Where are you?"|
This article is incomplete. You can help the X-Files Wiki By expanding it. | <urn:uuid:47691f3b-6124-4faf-b86f-2749f1d02963> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://x-files.wikia.com/wiki/Alien | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783402479.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155002-00150-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963906 | 1,544 | 3.078125 | 3 |
The giant animal and the rest of its horned friends were airlifted by helicopter from Eastern Cape to a new home at a 34,000 hectares reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project.
The project - which started in 2003 - is a partnership between conservation groups including WWF and Eastern Cape Parks and aims to increase the population of the critically endangered black rhino species by giving them more territory.
Jacques Flamand, head of the project, said: "I have watched every single rhino airlift, and even today I still watch each move with wonderment - to see such a large animal being plucked into the air like an ant."
Airlifting the giant beasts is now preferred by experts as it reduces the amount of time that the animals have to spend being kept asleep with drugs.
I have watched every single rhino airlift, and even today I still watch each move with wonderment - to see such a large animal being plucked into the air like an ant
It also helps to avoid respiratory difficulties that can occur when transporting rhinos in nets and crates along bumpy roads.
The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project has been dubbed a massive success, with nine new black rhino populations created in South Africa and more than 140 rhinos relocated.
There have also been 76 births at the new sites in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, although a handful of young have died due to natural causes.
The population of black rhinos have steadily decreased over the past few decades - dropping from an estimated 65,000 roaming through Africa in the 1960s to just 2,000 remaining in the mid-1990s.
But thanks to this project, these numbers have risen to 5,000 across the continent.
A spokesperson for Green Renaissance, who shot the footage, said: "It is about creating new populations of rhinos.
"So by relocating these founder rhinos, new herds are established which allow the species to breed more rapidly, boosting population numbers.
"It is incredibly rewarding to work with such a passionate team of individuals, who are all committed to protecting these creatures.
"As part of a team, we are helping to make a difference."
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What do children age six to twelve want most this holiday season? According to a new report from The Nielsen Company, iPads, iPod Touches, and iPhones top the electronics wish list. However, those clamoring to stuff their kids’ holiday stockings with the latest electronic gadgets would do well to ponder experts’ warnings before buying one.
Few people appreciate that all of these wireless devices come with manufacturers’ fine print warnings not to hold them next to an adult body, or that controlled studies show that microwave radiation from cell phones weaken the brain’s protective barrier, and that according to a recently published scientific report from Environmental Health Trust (EHT), children’s heads absorb twice as much microwave radiation from cell phones as adults.
In addition, radiation from cell phones carried in shirts or pants pockets of adults is four to seven times higher than the guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. For the smaller bodies of children, of course, levels would be even much greater.
The reason for the discrepancy, EHT says, is that the process to determine radiation from cell phones is modeled on a 6-foot 2-inch tall, 220-pound man, with an eleven-pound head. Because this large skull represents only about three percent of the population, the test cannot accurately predict the radiation exposure of the other 97 percent, including children, nor does it even try to estimate exposures from pocket use.
“The standard for cell phones has been developed based on old science, old models and old assumptions about how we use cell phones, and that’s why they need to change and protect our children and grandchildren,” said Dr. Devra Davis, EHT founder and Healthy Child Healthy Word Advisory Board member.
Read the Fine Print for “Pocket Gifts”
Dr. Davis also calls parents’ attention to another iPad fine print warning that states, “a small percentage of people may be susceptible to blackouts or seizures (even if they have never had one before) when exposed to flashing lights or light patterns such as when playing games or watching videos… Discontinue use of iPad and consult a physician if you experience headaches, blackouts, seizures, convulsion, eye or muscle twitching, loss of awareness, involuntary movement, or disorientation. To reduce risk of headaches, blackouts, seizures and eyestrain, avoid prolonged use, hold iPad some distance from your eyes, use iPad in a well-lit room, and take frequent breaks.”
Consumers can find this and more on the iPad safety pamphlet. “Whoever wrote this probably had in mind the adult who can fork over $400 to $500 for the iPad,” advises Dr. Davis. “Yet nowadays, even babies and toddlers are learning to read from wired devices and falling asleep to white noise played from phones placed under their pillows. A child’s brain, healthy or otherwise, is cased in a thinner skull; that’s why they absorb more microwave radiation. The brains of children with learning problems, autism or other neurological disorders may be more vulnerable to damage than those of their healthy friends and family members.”
The iPad safety advice doesn’t consider these issues, but does include information about exposure to radiofrequency energy. The pamphlet notes, “If you are…concerned about exposure to RF energy, you can further limit your exposure by limiting the amount of time using iPad WiFi +3G in wireless mode…and by placing more distance between your body and iPad Wi-Fi +3G.”
“There’s no denying these gadgets are fun; my kids love them too,” says Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Executive Director and CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World. “But these technologies are developing faster than our ability to understand potential health impacts. We’re not asking parents to not buy or use them, we’re simply asking them to take precautions. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to our children’s health.”
Here are six easy steps you can take to protect your family:
- Use a head set. Using a speaker, hands-free device, or earphones when speaking on a cell phone distances it from the body and head and minimizes your exposure to radiation.
- Don’t carry a cell phone on your body. Even when a cell phone is not in use, it emits radiation.
- Beware of a weak signal. When a cell phone is in standby mode or when the signal strength is weak or blocked, exposure to radiation increases. Limit your use at this time.
- Limit children’s use. Studies consistently show that children are especially vulnerable to the effects of cell phone radiation. Generally, the younger the child, the more at risk they are.
- Don’t leave a cell phone on your nightstand or near your sleeping child. You may be sleeping, but your cell phone is busy at work emitting radiation.
- If your child is using a smart phone, iPad or iPod Touch to play games, turn off the wi-fi feature. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode to reduce emissions.
- Environmental Health Trust’s Safer Phone Zone
- Is Technology A Toxic Risk?
- Beyond Brain Cancer: Other Possible Dangers Of Cell Phones
- 10 Ways to Limit Health Risk from Cell Phones
- Cell phone radiation levels from CNET Reviews
Thanks to Dr. Devra Davis and her colleagues at Environmental Health Trust for helping us draft this update and continuing to keep us informed on this important issue. | <urn:uuid:b0fc7bd7-9e75-4fe4-81a9-d04b9851d6b7> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://ecochildsplay.com/2011/11/29/are-ipads-iphones-good-gifts-for-kids/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00185-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933597 | 1,179 | 2.84375 | 3 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Smith
News Releases 2003
NOAA Home Page
NOAA Public Affairs
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) announced amended turtle excluder device (TED) regulations on February 21, 2003 that will enhance TEDs' effectiveness in reducing sea turtle deaths that result from shrimp trawling in the southeastern United States. The modifications apply throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico and affect shrimp fishermen who use bottom trawl gear in state and federal waters. The regulations took effect on April 15, 2003, in the Atlantic and on August 21, 2003, in the Gulf of Mexico.
An erroneous report generated by the Associated Press today and disseminated widely by news outlets stated that “Gulf of Mexico shrimpers have been given three more months to fit their trawl nets with larger devices to protect endangered sea turtles from getting trapped.” This is not correct.
“Shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico must understand that we have been working closely with our state and federal partners to ensure that the new rules are being enforced,” said Roy Crabtree, administrator of NOAA Fisheries’ southeast region. “Let there be no misunderstanding that full compliance with the rules is expected and NOAA Fisheries will diligently work to ensure they are enforced.”
All sea turtles that occur in U.S. waters are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The Kemp's ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles are listed as endangered. The loggerhead and green turtles are listed as threatened, except for breeding populations of green turtles in Florida and on the Pacific coast of Mexico, which are listed as endangered.
“Our agency has worked closely with shrimpers to develop the new design, and conducted intensive and comprehensive outreach to ensure that everyone involved in the industry is fully informed of this change,” said Crabtree.
and construction guidelines for these TEDs are available online:
Printed copies of the specifications for all the TEDs authorized under these rules are available from NOAA Fisheries at the above address or by calling (301) 713-2332.
text of the Federal Register notice for this rule can be viewed online:
Questions about this rule can be sent to: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources, Attn: Chief, Endangered Species Division,1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282. You may also call Bob Hoffman or Dennis Klemm at (727) 570-5312.
NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitats. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries, please visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov.
Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events
and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and
marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov. | <urn:uuid:075c931d-bf4f-4f91-bccd-e91609b52554> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2003/sep03/noaa03nr03-041.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393146.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00097-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931796 | 655 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Looking back on the past few years, I’m amazed by how many articles I write about tires. There have been six in little more than three years, about two a year on average. There’s a reason. Not counting fuel, tires are the most expensive maintenance item on your truck.
Tires also affect other operating costs. Improperly maintained tires cause more fuel to be used, cutting mpg significantly. They also can add to shock and vibration that damages cargo and wears out suspension and steering components.
Just last issue, we focused on the number one problem, low tire inflation pressures. Low air has ruined more tires, both new and recapped, than any other single problem. Other articles dealt with selection, tires and fuel economy, and, two years ago, on tire balance and alignment. Since then, Land Line’s circulation has grown significantly. Many of you have asked us to update our tire articles, so here once again are some tire maintenance tips to help your bottom line.
Wheel balance has a major effect on tire life. Balance refers to the masses acting around the tire’s axis of rotation. Any object will try to rotate so there is equal weight all around its axis of rotation. If there is more mass on one side, it wants to create a new axis, but it is kept from doing this by a rigid axle and spindle. The unbalanced tire then rotates with a force that alternately wants to lift the tire, then slam it back onto the pavement. The unbalanced forces wear the tire unevenly, making the problem worse. If you’ve ever noticed an empty trailer with a spring suspension rolling down a smooth highway with its rear wheels bouncing up and down, you’ve seen the effects of unbalanced tires.
There are two types of imbalance, static and dynamic. Static imbalance is when masses are different across the diameter of the wheel. Dynamic imbalance refers to differences about the centerline plane of the tire, perpendicular to the spindle. A tire with two ounces more mass on the upper right of the centerline and another two ounces on the lower left may be in static balance, but when it rotates, it will wobble. The masses want to rotate in one plane, but the structure of the wheel, hub and spindle prevent this. On a steer tire, we feel the result as a vibration in the steering wheel. On other tires, the same uneven forces are wearing the tire and putting additional stresses on bearings, hubs, axles and axle housings.
Static balance is corrected by adding weights to the rim of the tire to offset weight on the opposite side. These weights, while correcting static balance, may make dynamic balance worse. Spin balancing is the accepted way of checking and correcting dynamic imbalance. By spinning the tire, balancing machines detect lateral as well as radial forces. Weights can be adjusted between the inside and outside rims to zero out the forces.
There are devices that balance wheels as the vehicle is rolling. They mount inside the wheel, and contain weights such as steel ball bearings or liquid mercury (a possibly toxic substance in the unlikely event of a wheel breaking in a crash). They work on the principle that a loosely contained set of masses, rotating together, will tend to be self-adjusting to get the entire rotating mass in balance. As tires wear, the devices adjust automatically to compensate. Balance Masters and Centramatic make these devices.
“Equal” is a sand-like compound that, when placed inside a tire, is forced outwards by centrifugal force as the tire spins. Like the contained weight, it follows the laws of physics and it distributes itself more heavily at the lighter spots in the tire. This brings the tire into perfect static and dynamic balance. (Note: Equal must be installed following manufacturer’s directions, using special screened tire valves to prevent slow air leakage.) At a recent Maintenance Council (that’s the Technology & Maintenance Council — TMC) meeting, one fleet manager reported he keeps his tires in perfect balance by putting four golf balls in each tire. Like the granules, they seek the lighter spots and position themselves where needed. We cannot comment on the effectiveness of this method except to say it does make sense according to the laws of physics. At another TMC meeting, the question again came up and while this was not a widely accepted practice, no one using them reported any problems.
Alignment means all tires run in the same direction when going straight, and pivot around a common center when turning. When wheels run true, you get maximum tire life, maximum traction and maximum fuel mileage. When tires are misaligned, they are pulled sideways from their direction of rotation. This sideways force is what wears tires, reduces traction and wastes fuel.
Most operators only align steer tires, although other axles are often out of line. That’s because misalignment is felt most as a pull or wander in the steering wheel, but may not be felt from drive or trailer axles. Those axles should be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the centerline of the truck. Steer axle alignment is more complex, involving caster, camber and toe-in. These are explained in an excellent book on tires, the 104-page “Radial Truck Tire and Retreads Manual” from Goodyear. It is one of the most comprehensive works on the subject I have seen. It is available as part of a mini-CD called “Commercial Truck Tires & Retreads” version 2.0. Your Goodyear truck tire dealer should have a copy, or you can request one at www.goodyear.com.
Trailer axle misalignment can be seen every day out on the highway. Dog-tracking happens because trailer tandems are at an angle to the trailer’s centerline, not pointing to the kingpin. The wheels roll in the direction they are pointed, but are pulled to the side by the tractor. The result is excessive, uneven tire wear and wasted fuel.
Alignment is such an important problem that TMC has a task force to identify its causes, results and corrections. It developed Recommended Practice (RP) 642 on Total Vehicle Alignment. Most of its content is on the Goodyear CD.
If you ever had road service replace a tire, chances are the two tires in a dual set were not properly matched. If they are different sizes, the larger diameter tire pulls the smaller, causing excess scuffing. The larger tire also carries more of the load, accelerating wear and increasing internal heat. When you need a replacement, make sure the dealer measures your good tire and selects one with a diameter within 1/4-inch. The smaller tire should be mounted on the inside, to minimize wear caused by road crowning. This may require dismounting and remounting both tires. Always make sure dual tires are properly matched by size, tread type and measured diameter, especially when buying a set of retreaded tires.
A maintenance program
Tire maintenance starts with inspection. It should be done at least weekly. Feather wear, cupping, diagonal wear, shoulder wear and one-sided wear are all signs of specific alignment problems. They are most easily detected by running your hand over each tire’s surface. It continues with a check of air pressure. This should be recorded on a running log, so you can easily detect any slow leakers before they can cause real trouble. Measure and record tread depth at each oil change or PM interval. Check across three points (inside, middle and outside tread) at no less than two places around the tire’s circumference. This can help spot tire problems and premature wear. Check balance and alignment as part of a winterizing routine, to make sure tires are in top condition during the worst weather.
Those who know my work know it’s hard for me to get through a technical article without mentioning something from the TMC. This is no exception. For the overwhelming majority of on-highway truckers running radial tires, TMC has an excellent reference guide called “Radial Tire Conditions Analysis Guide.” It illustrates what to look for when examining your tires, and it explains why the various wear patterns occur. You can order a copy from TMC at (703) 838-1763.
Follow these tips prepared by experts, and you can cut thousands of dollars from your annual operating costs. | <urn:uuid:a72dbcee-4a38-4bd7-9463-7d8a0e7b8dba> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.landlinemag.com/Magazine/2002/May/BottomLine/tire-maintenance.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395620.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00066-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947941 | 1,737 | 2.609375 | 3 |
If a legislature passes a law that says one thing, but the legislature really meant something else, how should the law be interpreted? According to the plain language of the law? Or according to the intent of the legislature, even if it contradicts the statute’s plain language?
Adherents of “intentionalism” claim that the only legitimate interpretation of words is according to what the speaker intended. Any other interpretation is a rewriting of the text and can’t be considered a legitimate interpretation. Presumably, intentionalists interpreting a law would say that the intent of the laws’ ratifiers (i.e. the legislature) is always considered paramount.
But when it comes to interpreting statutes, a strict reverence for the intent of the legislature is not compatible with the rule of law. This is Justice Scalia’s view as well as mine.
Consider this example.
Assume you make $50,000 a year. The legislature passes a law imposing a hefty tax on “people making over $100,000 per year.” Since the law does not apply to you, by its plain terms, you do not pay the tax.
One day there is a knock at your door. It is a policeman, who places you in handcuffs for failure to pay the tax.
“But it doesn’t apply to me!” you say.
“Tell it to the judge,” says the cop.
So you do, resulting in the following dialogue.
The judge: “It is true that the plain language of the statute says that the tax applies only to people making over $100,000 per year. However, I have irrefutable evidence that the legislature intended to impose the tax on ‘people making over $10,000 per year.’ The legislative debates clearly show this.”
You: “But I didn’t listen to those debates. I’m too busy to watch C-SPAN constantly. All I did was read the law — and the law says it applies only to people making over $100,000 per year. I don’t make that much. It’s not fair to hold me responsible for paying the tax when the plain language of the statute doesn’t apply to me. That’s not reasonable. It’s not fair!”
The judge: “But you aren’t the speaker. In matters of interpretation, the intent of the speaker must be privileged. The only proper interpretation appeals to the speaker’s intent — or in this case, the ratifiers of the law, meaning the legislature. You are merely the audience, and we cannot privilege your intent. If I were to interpret the law according to your interpretation, I would be privileging the audience’s reasonable interpretation. That’s nothing but creative writing.”
You: “Interpreting $100,000 to mean $100,000 is creative writing?”
“Judge: Correct. I must interpret $100,000 to mean $10,000. It is the only legitimate interpretation. Bailiff, take this man away.”
This is why Justice Scalia argues that “legislative intent” is an improper focus for judges. For years I have owned a copy of “A Matter of Interpretation,” which is an essay by Justice Scalia on interpretation of language. Various scholars (such as Laurence Tribe) respond with commentary, and Justice Scalia responds to their points.
Justice Scalia famously rejects the concept of combing through legislative history for clues to legislative intent. This is his philosophy:
The text is the law, and it is the text that must be observed. I agree with Justice Holmes’s remark, quoted approvingly by Justice Frankfurter in his article on the construction of statutes: “Only a day or two ago — when counsel talked of the intention of a legislature, I was indiscreet enough to say I don’t care what their intention was. I only want to know what the words mean.” And I agree with Justice Holmes’s other remark, quoted approvingly by Justice Jackson: “We do not inquire what the legislature meant; we ask only what the statute means.”
These concepts come up in real-world situations, and Justice Scalia cited one. Congress once passed a law imposing a higher prison term on a defendant who “uses a firearm” in a drug trafficking crime. The defendant sought to purchase a large quantity of cocaine (which he presumably later intended to resell), and hoped to pay for the cocaine by bartering an unloaded firearm, which he showed to the drug seller. The Supreme Court said that the defendant “used a firearm” by showing the unloaded firearm to the drug seller. Justice Scalia dissented, saying that the plain meaning of “uses” could not possibly include the defendant’s actions.
It didn’t matter to Justice Scalia what Congress subjectively intended. The word “uses” could not be reasonably be interpreted by citizens (the audience) to include the defendant’s actions. Justice Scalia argues that textualism, with its inherent formalism, is necessary for the rule of law. “It is what makes government a government of laws and not of men.”
I agree with Justice Scalia, when it comes to statutory interpretation. The rule of law cannot require citizens to be governed by the subjective intentions of the men passing the laws, unless those subjective intentions are communicated to citizens in plain language that they can reasonably understand.
This view has broader implications for interpretation of language generally. Words mean things, and the plain meaning of language is not irrelevant. Pure intentionalists hold that words are imbued with meaning purely as a function of what the speaker intends and nothing more. This ignores the fact that effective communication involves two sides. Yes, there is value to appealing to the speaker’s intent. But if communication is to be a two-way street, there is also significance to be attached to how a reasonable audience, which is trying to ascertain the speaker’s intent, interprets the speaker’s plain language.
Otherwise, you could find yourself arrested for violating laws that, by their own plain terms, don’t even apply to you.
A NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS: Because threads about language have a strange tendency to degenerate into name-calling, this thread will have a special rule for comments. Comments are expected to be strictly about ideas, with absolutely no personal comments whatsoever. I am going to be very, very strict about enforcing this. Comments that do not follow this rule will be summarily deleted. Comments that blatantly violate the rule may earn the offending commenter a time-out or a ban.
I am eager to discuss the ideas discussed in this post, but I will not respond to arguments (made here or anywhere else) that contain the slightest hint of personal attack or mockery, whether directed at me or anyone else. “Justice Scalia (or Justice Stevens) is the idiot who decided Case x” is a good example of a comment that will be deleted.
UPDATE: Given my restrictive rules, I will even accept comments from banned commenters, as long as they follow the rules I have set forth. No personal digs, no matter how small. | <urn:uuid:702e5354-9fc5-4ff4-9384-10b277d7abfe> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://patterico.com/2010/04/03/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783402479.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155002-00193-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948579 | 1,525 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Franabudiga is an alternative way of writing French invented by François BOULLION, who was inspired by the scripts of Northern India, especially Devanagari, and who found the idea of representing both the consonant and its vowel together in the same symbol mind-blowing.
Stand-alone consonnants are letters that inscribe themselves in the space between the two imaginary horizontal lines in which we write our Latin letters such as "a", "c", "x" or any of all these letters that have neither upstroke nor downstroke. They transcribe the consonnants that are not followed by a vowel (except schwa). They may transcribe a word-final consonnant, the initial consonnant in a consonant cluster, a consonant in the middle of a consonant cluster or a consonant followed by a schwa. The three French approximants [j], [w] and [μ] are considered consonants, for simplicity's sake.
Stand-alone vowels are letters that have an upstroke or a downstroke. They're used to write word-initial vowels or vowels following another vowel (except schwas, of course, schwa-initial hiatus don't exist in French).
Combinations of a consonant and a vowel, which make up all the possible C-V possible combinations in French. In most cases, the stand-alone consonant receives an upstroke or a downstroke representing the vowel. The system works like adding a diacritic but it doesn't look like a diacritic. Graphically, it's more like a ligature of the consonant with the vowel.
For aesthetic reasons, some (but not many) consonant-vowel combinations do not follow this logical pattern, and receive a different shape (often free from up or downstroke).
Tous les êtres humains naissent libres et égaux en dignité et en droits. Ils sont doués de raison et de conscience et doivent agir les uns envers les autres dans un esprit de fraternité
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) | <urn:uuid:f49675ea-f849-42a0-9acf-0aabcd734e2f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.omniglot.com/writing/franabudiga.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396459.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00139-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.856017 | 485 | 2.953125 | 3 |
IBM looks set to build the world's fastest supercomputer for an eye-watering £98 million.
The first computer that can deliver one petaFLOPS, or one thousand trillion floating point operations per second, may be built by IBM and housed at the National Centre for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois according to documents procured by the New York Times
With a build cost of £98 million and an operating cost of more than £196 million over the next five years, the new supercomputer has been surrounded by controversy as numerous supercomputer centres and United States state governments have vied for the award.
For the better part of the two decades, the fastest computers in the country have been at either the national laboratories at Los Alamos, New Mexico, or Livermore, California and have been primarily used in the design and preservation of nuclear weapons and other classified applications.
The new supercomputer, however, will concentrate on major science projects like simulating the impact of global warming and will represent a shift in the balance of computing power between military and scientific computing centres.
The decision isn't final though as the National Science Board must ratify it before the award is given.
What other types of scientific applications do you think this new supercomputer will be used for? Let us know what you think in the comments section below or over in the forums | <urn:uuid:0096a8bd-1440-4838-9064-a24e40515dbd> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2007/08/07/ibm_may_build_fastest_supercomputer/1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398075.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00095-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934371 | 278 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Ethiopian Growers Turn Barren Land Into Booming Farms
The future is looking bright in Goro Wagilo, a farming village in eastern Ethiopa that once risked disappearing when the topsoil vanished amid rampant deforestation. But farmers like Tonkollu Letu have since reclaimed their land, turning barren hillsides into prosperous farms.
ADDIS ABABA—Tonkollu Letu, a farmer who lives about 100 km east of Ethiopia’s capital Addiss Abba says his village of Goro Wagilo has changed radically over the past 15 years.
“It was like a man without clothes,” he says of the rolling farmland before him. “The mountains were bare from deforestation and every time it rained, the water washed away all the top soil.”
Tonkollu says his and other villages in the area would likely have disappeared if they hadn’t decided to take action all those years ago with WFP’s help.
What is MERET?
MERET stands for Managing Environmental Resources to Enable Transitions to More Sustainable Livelihoods.
In 1995, the villagers of Gorgo Wagilo signed on to the MERET programme, a joint venture between WFP and the Ethiopian government to feed people while they worked on projects to reclaim environmentally degraded land.
Through the programme, Tonkollu and his neighbours spent several years digging ditches, building dams, clearing roads and terracing the hillsides. After eight years, almost all of the farmers were growing enough to support themselves and no longer needed food assistance.
Today, Tonkollu’s farm is a thriving family business that produces enough corn, soy, teff, eggs, coffee and fruit to turn a healthy profit at market. He’s used the money to invest in more land and livestock and plans to start selling meat.
He was even able to get through the droughts of 2008 and 2009 without any major setbacks, thanks largely to the ditches and irrigation channels dug through the MERET programme. “Without all that work, this village probably wouldn’t be anymore,” he said.
An added bonus of the MERET project is the new cookstove Tonkollu’s family received which burns three times less wood than the one they had before.
Like most women in rural Ethiopia, Tonkollu’s wife, Ayetu, used to cook over an open fire. “I was always burning my legs,” she complained. “The house would fill up with smoke and it was dangerous for the children.”
Not only is the air in her home cleaner with the new stove, but Ayetu says that it has also freed up time and resources. “Because we use less wood now, we have more time and money for other things.”
“I was one of the first women in the village to get a new stove and since then, I’ve shown all of my neighbours how well it works,” Ayetu said. “Soon, they’ll all have one.” | <urn:uuid:7589a56f-04a0-4d4a-908b-79789769ace1> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://m.wfp.org/stories/ethiopian-growers-turn-barren-land-booming-farms?device=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395620.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00044-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969997 | 652 | 2.515625 | 3 |
In Regional Parc W, 80% of the more than 30 water points are completely dry by March or April. The regular dry season in this region is difficult on wildlife but expected and a part of the natural balance in the ecosystem. In 2011, however, and unseasonably short rainy season threatened wildlife and prompted park authorities to worry that vital water sources would dry up long before the next rainy season began.
Using an emergency grant from the Adolf H Lundin Charitable Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation quickly went to work, coordinating with a local engineering firm to repair malfunctioning boreholes and pumping systems at two water points, while also drilling two entirely new boreholes in other parts of the park. The new water points were placed in locations important to local elephant populations as well as in an old riverbed.
In addition to drilling the critical waterholes, AWF also installed camera traps across six water points. These cameras help gather data on the species using the water points and the frequency of use. Thus far, more than 900 images of wildlife have been captured, providing important data to researchers and park officials.
Become a member
Join African Wildlife Foundation as a member for just $25. Your partnership is vital to our mission to protect Africa’s most precious - and imperiled - creatures.
Spread the word | <urn:uuid:2d166d37-e364-4c6f-8c52-4e4fa8002342> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.awf.org/projects/wildlife-waterholes-parc-w | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397797.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00044-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950351 | 267 | 2.90625 | 3 |
We will be launching two online programs to support the learning language arts and writing end of this year. One is a core reading and writing curriculum, which builds children's reading skills from early readers to pre-university level, and another is a supplementary program.
Both programs aim to improve fluency, speed of reading, comprehension and critical reading.
The system will present quality fiction and non-fiction reading materials to the student according to the student's reading level, to ensure the material is not too easy such that the student can get bored, or too difficult that he/she will be demoralized.
Most of all, every child can progress according to his/her own pace.
Students are tested to ascertain their reading level and put into the right level accordingly. It is therefore not specific to age but tailor-made for each child.
Our teacher will adjust the reading
material for each child according to the history of his/her reading
pattern. The teacher will also mark the child's written work.
Our class starting in September is oversubscribed. The next class will start in beginning of November, 2013. Register and pay to catch the next class!
How will the teacher find the child's enrolling reading level?
When we get your enrollment with payment, the teacher will assign a level according to the child's age. The first lesson is very important because it is when the system tries to find your child's reading level to pitch the right materials in future reading sessions. Parents should monitor/encourage but not tell the answers to the child, especially in the first lesson.
How does the system pitch reading materials to a child?
The system will present materials that matches the child's reading level to him/her. He/she can choose the topics or genre that interest him the most to read.
After each passage, the child will be presented activities and comprehension questions. When those are done, we will know how well he comprehended.
How does the system level up the child?
If the child is at too high a level due to parent intervention in early sessions, he will get many mistakes, and the system will pitch at a lower level the next session. If the child consistently does well, he levels up. If the child is interested, he/she can do more than one passage a day.
How long should a child spend on the system?
From our research, a child should not spend more than 15-30 minutes a day to do one passage. However, at secondary levels, the passages become longer and takes a longer time. So, as the child progresses, he can spend more time if need be.
How do I maximize the usage of the All Gifted Reading Program?
Ensure the child spends 15 - 30 minutes a day whenever possible to finish one passage, give lots of encouragement but do not answer the questions. The child's reading level, comprehension and oral skills will definitely improve. Trust the system and not try to beat it or the child might find it hard the next session.
Which devices can I use to access the program?
You can use an iPad or computer or any tablet. But for the reading fluency part, recording cannot be done on devices without a recording function, so please check that.
Even though the system can be accessed through 3G mobile phones, prolonged usage is not encouraged for the child's eye health reasons. Therefore, we recommend using the mobile phone as a backup device only.
What if my child is not doing well?
This program is pitched at a level higher than average Singapore system and will be difficult for even high achievers at certain juncture though easy most times. A good curriculum cannot be difficult all the time, or easy all the time. So if your child falls short and becomes 'lower' than his/her assigned grade, don't worry. That will be temporary and he will level up and be ahead of the normal in time. Just be patient.
What if my child is doing really well?
Remember the system does not stop leveling up the child once he/she is really good at any level.
When we find the child capable, we accelerate, so he/she will come to a point where materials are difficult. Be supportive. Don't expect the same kind of results as things get tougher, but help the child understand there's nothing wrong not getting a perfect score every time.
He/She will get his perfect score sooner or later at this higher level, if he/she refuses to be defeated.
When the child has gone beyond the system's level, we will inform the parents to move him/her on to university level courses.
If my child is only reading words and not sentences, is it suitable to enroll him/her in the program?
Our simplest reading level is as below, meant for preschoolers. *Please remember that our program is one that is difficult for non-native speakers in Asia. If your child can read most of the words in this passage, he/she can enroll in the program, and we will work with him/her to level up on comprehension.
A 20% discount off the list price is available to the second, third, fourth and fifth children of the same family. No other discount can be used together with this special sibling discount.
If both you and your child are Singaporeans born in Singapore, and your family income is less than S$2000, please request for a scholarship.Upon verification of your document, your course shall be free. Leave us a message at All-Gifted's Fanpage if you fall into this category.
This program can be used as a core curriculum for homeschoolers or schools. We will launch this program by early 2014. The aim is to provide a good reading, writing and language arts program to students who do not have access to schools. | <urn:uuid:6200e8be-5f03-4e7a-860a-90aa66b90c4e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.all-gifted.com/reading.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399522.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00076-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946228 | 1,199 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is also known as peripheral
edema, which refers to an accumulation of fluid in these parts of the body. The
buildup of fluid usually isn’t painful, unless it’s due to injury. Swelling is
often more apparent in the lower areas of the body because of gravity.
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is most common in older adults.
The swelling can occur on both sides of the body or on just one side. One or
more areas in the lower body may be affected.
While swelling in the foot, leg, and ankle usually doesn’t
pose a significant health risk, it’s important to know when to see a doctor. Swelling
may sometimes indicate a more serious underlying health issue that needs to be
treated right away.
causes of foot, leg, and ankle swelling
There are many potential causes of foot, leg, and ankle
swelling. In most cases, swelling occurs as a result of certain lifestyle factors,
overweight: Excess body mass can decrease blood circulation, causing fluid to
build up in the feet, legs, and ankles.
or sitting for long periods: When the muscles are inactive, they can’t pump
body fluids back up toward the heart. The retention of water and blood can
cause swelling in the legs.
leg, and ankle swelling can also occur while taking particular medications,
types of medications can reduce blood circulation by increasing the thickness
of the blood, causing swelling in the legs. Make sure to talk to your doctor if
you suspect that your medication is causing swelling in your lower extremities.
Don’t stop taking your medication until you speak with your doctor.
Other possible causes for foot, leg, and ankle swelling
include certain medical conditions or body changes, such as:
hormonal changes: Fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause
reduced circulation in the legs, resulting in swelling. These changes in
hormone levels may occur during pregnancy and a woman’s menstrual cycle.
clot in the leg: A blood clot is a clump of blood that’s in a solid state. When
a blood clot forms in a vein of the leg, it can impair blood flow, leading to swelling
or infection: An injury or infection affecting the foot, leg, or ankle results
in increased blood flow to the area. This presents as swelling.
- Venous insufficiency:
This condition occurs when the veins are unable to pump blood adequately,
causing blood to pool in the legs.
- Pericarditis: This
is a long-term inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac-like membrane
around the heart. The condition causes breathing difficulties and severe,
chronic swelling in the legs and ankles.
- Lymphedema: Also known as lymphatic
obstruction, lymphedema causes blockages in the lymphatic system. This system
is made up of lymph nodes and blood vessels that help carry fluid throughout
the body. A blockage in the lymphatic system causes tissues to become swollen
with fluid, resulting in swelling in the arms and legs.
- Preeclampsia: This condition causes high blood pressure during
pregnancy. The increase in blood pressure can result in poor circulation and
swelling in the face, hands, and legs.
- Cirrhosis: This refers to severe scarring
of the liver, which is often caused by alcohol abuse or infection (hepatitis B
or C). The condition can cause high blood pressure and poor circulation in the
feet, legs, and ankles.
foot, leg, and ankle swelling at home
There are several treatments you can try at home if your
feet, legs, and ankles regularly swell up. These remedies can help relieve
swelling when it occurs:
- Elevate your legs whenever you’re lying down.
The legs should be raised so they’re above your heart. You may want to place a
pillow under your legs to make it more comfortable.
active and focus on stretching and moving the legs.
your salt intake, which can decrease the amount of fluid that may build up in
wearing garters and other types of restrictive clothing around your thighs.
a healthy body weight.
support stockings or compression socks.
- Stand up or move around at least once every
hour, especially if you’re sitting or standing still for long periods of time.
to see a doctor about foot, leg, and ankle swelling
While swelling in the lower extremities usually isn’t cause
for concern, it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious. Here are
some general guidelines that can help you identify when swelling warrants a
trip to the doctor or to the emergency room.
You should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon
as possible if:
have heart or kidney disease and are experiencing swelling
have liver disease and are experiencing swelling in your legs
swollen areas are red and feel warm to the touch
body temperature is higher than normal
are pregnant and are experiencing sudden or severe swelling
have tried home remedies, but they haven’t been successful
swelling is getting worse
You should go to the hospital immediately if you experience
any of the following symptoms along with foot, leg, and ankle swelling:
pressure, or tightness in the chest area
lightheaded or faint
breathing or shortness of breath
to expect during your appointment
During your appointment, your doctor will perform a physical
examination and ask you about your symptoms. Be prepared to explain:
you are noticing the swelling
times of day when the swelling tends to be worse
other symptoms you may be experiencing
factors that appear to make the swelling better or worse
To help diagnose the cause of the swelling, your doctor may
order one or more of the following tests:
tests including blood count, kidney and liver function studies, and
electrolytes to evaluate the various organs
- X-rays to view the bones and other
- ultrasound to examine the organs, blood
vessels, and tissues
- electrocardiogram to assess heart function
If your swelling is related to a lifestyle habit or a minor
injury, your doctor will likely recommend home treatments. If your swelling is
the result of an underlying health condition, your doctor will first attempt to
treat that specific condition. Swelling may be reduced with prescription
medications, such as diuretics. However, these medicines can cause side
effects, and are usually used only if home remedies aren’t working.
foot, leg, and ankle swelling
Swelling of the foot, leg, and ankle can’t always be prevented.
However, there are some steps you can take to prevent it. Some good strategies
- Exercise regularly to maintain good circulation.
For adults ages 18 to 64, the World
Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise
or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week.
- Avoid sitting or standing for a long time. Make
sure you get up or move around periodically if you sit or stand still for
- Regulate your salt intake. The Mayo
Clinic recommends that adults up to age 51 consume no more than 2,300
milligrams of salt per day. Adults over age 51 and those with certain health
conditions should keep their salt intake below 1,500 mg per day. | <urn:uuid:60009f7b-f164-49c2-ad96-5c50eb5a4e72> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://www.aarpmedicareplans.com/health/foot-leg-and-ankle-swelling | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395679.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00045-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910486 | 1,570 | 3.328125 | 3 |
for National Geographic News
Climate change, sprawl, and alien-species invasion are threatening South Africa's fynbos, the main vegetation type of the smallest, yet richest, of the world's six floral kingdoms.
Now conservationists are using data gathered by hundreds of volunteers in a long-term effort to save the fynbos, which includes South Africa's spectacular flowering proteas.
Proteas are the poster species for fynbos (pronounced fane-boss). They are indigenous evergreen shrubs with large showy flower heads prized by florists and plant collectors all over the world. The king protea is South Africa's national flower (see photograph at lower right).
Saving the fynbos and its proteas also has profound economic implications. South Africa produces half the world's cut-flower proteas, and the industry employs 25,000 people, a significant job pool in a country suffering severe unemployment. The fynbos covers the mountains in and around Cape Town, and its spectacular floral display in different seasons is itself a tourist attraction.
South African protea species are cultivated commercially in Australia, France, Spain, and the United States. But nurseries don't grow the most endangered species, which are not commercially viable. To save these proteas from extinctionand to protect their more famous cut-flower species in the wildall fynbos plants must be protected. That's because the endangered and nonendangered fynboss varieties grow in the same areas.
A long-term research initiative using volunteers to collect data on the fynbos's flowering proteas is providing researchers with crucial information that would be hard to find otherwise.
Nearly a thousand volunteers from all walks of life participated in the first phase of the Protea Atlas Project (PAP). Once trained in identification techniques, the volunteers collected information on pollination, growth, flowering patterns, fire survival, the effects of harvesting, and the impact of invasive species.
The project, which began in 1991, is being hailed as a model for scientific data gathering. At the same time it is lauded for promoting community involvement and engendering a conservation ethic.
"Climate-change research requires accurate information on the distribution of species, and the data provided by the Protea Atlas Project was central to our study," said Guy Midgley, head of the Climate Change Research Group for South Africa's National Biodiversity Institute (NBI). "Without it we could not have got anywhere. It is a fabulous model, with enormous potential for scientific research throughout the world."
Findings from the NBI study were used in a 2004 report from Conservation International's Centre for Applied Biodiversity Science. The report suggested that more than a million plant species could become extinct by 2050including many protea species found only in South Africa.
Flowers of the Fynbos
Botanists divide the continents into six plant kingdoms. The Cape floristic (also known as the Cape floral) kingdom is the smallest but contains the highest known concentration of plant species in the world. Located along the southern tip of Africa, the region's main vegetation type is fynbos, a collection of evergreens, shrubs, and small plants with tough, fine leaves, and reeds.
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES | <urn:uuid:73d03802-e410-4581-8d9c-cfae18a5f8dd> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0208_050208_protea.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393332.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00127-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932322 | 680 | 3.90625 | 4 |
March 8 is celebrated around the world as International Women’s Day, a day to highlight women’s achievements throughout history. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
In honor of this day, here are seven American women who have shaped history. I’m sure you’ll have many more suggestions, so feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
Photo Credit: Jim Surkamp
Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Harriet Ross, 1820 – 1913) was an African-American abolitionist and humanitarian during the American Civil War. After escaping from slavery, she made 13 missions to rescue more than 70 slaves.
Photo Credit: cliff1066tm
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815 – 1902) joined the causes of temperance and abolition as a young woman, and this led to her pursuit of equal rights. She held a Woman’s Rights Convention in 1848 at Seneca Falls, NY, to address the inequalities faced by women and wrote the opening statement which called for equal rights.
Photo Credit: forwardstl
Mary Harris Jones, or “Mother Jones,” (c. 1830 – 1930), became a nationally prominent figure known for her efforts to improve working conditions for coal miners. She also led the “children’s crusade” to highlight the need to end child labor.
Photo Credit: HistoryByDay
Jane Addams (1860 – 1935) spent much of her life helping the poor and was the founder of Hull House in Chicago, one of the first community centers of its kind in America. In 1931, she became the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Photo Credit: socalmom
Fannie Lou Hamer (1917 – 1977) was the granddaughter of a slave and the youngest of 20 children. Although born into a family of sharecroppers, she became a leading figure in women’s suffrage.
Photo Credit: womenscampaignforum
Gloria Steinem (born 1934) is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist, who became nationally recognized as a leader of the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s and 70s, and for founding Ms. Magazine. And she’s still amazing!
Photo Credit: Europa Press
Oprah Winfrey (born 1954) is a former pageant winner who began her rise to fame as a local television anchor in Nashville, Tennessee. In the mid-eighties, she became the host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which quickly became a nationwide phenomenon.
Photo credit for flowers: Greg B's Florals | <urn:uuid:2ddeda28-55d6-4e3d-a255-487fc9e3c103> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.care2.com/causes/seven-american-women-who-have-shaped-history-slideshow.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783392159.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154952-00112-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981384 | 550 | 3.59375 | 4 |
The advantages of a wireless data-collection system include the ability to significantly reduce human error in data recording. It eliminates wiring-related placement, installation, safety, and cost issues. And it makes it easier to bring a precision measuring tool to the work, rather than bringing work to the measuring tool.
Wireless data transmission is critically needed to improve quality on the shop floor, but some wireless systems are vulnerable to shop-induced interference. Radio frequency (RF) waves are the data carrier in a wireless data-acquisition system. These waves are simply energy propagated through free space. When free space is cluttered with other energy forms, RF transmissions are compromised.
RF is highly susceptible to corruption and alteration by Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). EMI has been defined as the “degradation of the performance of a piece of equipment, transmission channel, or system caused by an electromagnetic disturbance.” (ANSI C63.14, 1992).
EMI can occur throughout the EM spectrum from 0 to 20 GHz or higher frequencies. However, EMI problems are most prevalent in the RF spectrum. Good RF handling is necessary to keep data intact during wireless data collection.
Types of EMI often found in the production shop environment include (but are not limited to) DC fields, quasi-AC fields, AC fields, other radio frequencies, and magnetic and transient electromagnetic fields.
If they are to be useful in the presence of these EMI components, RF-based systems must manage their performance relative to interference. There is no such thing as a 100% noise-immune radio system. With that truth in mind, system designers must develop robust wireless data-collection networks and sensors that are less susceptible to EMI.
There are many techniques that designers can use to offset the impact of noise in a wireless network. One such technique is to create a robust and reliable wireless network by setting up a mesh network.
A mesh network is a topology that has some distinctive features. First, it has a single and central “gateway” function, where all system-wide commands and network management can occur. Data from the network also return here. Second, the sensor/measurement endpoint radios can be active components of the network. Third, numerous routers or repeaters are present, and can be added to enable multiple paths for OTA (Over the Air) transmissions.
The mesh is inherently robust to interference because of the system configuration. An example of this can be explained by looking at what happens to the OTA flight of a RF signal. The endpoint radio acquires data from its measurement tool or sensor, and then transmits the data to the gateway. During the data-flight time, a plume of EMI from an induction hardener swamps or negates the RF in the immediate vicinity.
Adjacent to the first router, other routers have also received this data transmission. Once the blocked router has found no data was received, it cannot pass along any data to the gateway. Simultaneously, the other routers have the good data and attempt to send that data to the gateway.
The data may make a series of router hops before reaching the gateway. While this happens, other copies of the data are enroute to the gateway. When the gateway sees an exact copy of already received data, the gateway discards additional copies.
Multiple paths in a mesh network provide alternative paths for data, avoiding corruption from EMI. In addition, when EMI is not present and optimal operating conditions exist, the mesh network speeds OTA transmission by constructing a routing table in each network element. The routing table creates a predetermined path for data, which allows the other routers in the network to either be idle or available for other endpoints to be received.
Unlike mesh networks, daisy chain or point-to-point networks suffer from single points of failure. If one link in the chain is corrupted by EMI, then OTA transmission will stop at that break in the chain.
If the wireless network is capable of supporting a mesh configuration, then simply adding routers to the system will make the system more robust. Empirical field-measurement data show the mesh architecture can easily achieve zero failures in five million measurements in a radio-hostile environment.
Designing and implementing a wireless mesh network is one way to offset the impact of noise, and to ultimately achieve accurate results from a wireless data-collection system. Users in today’s hostile manufacturing environments can benefit from using this technology to ensure very high data integrity.
This article was first published in the May 2006 edition of Manufacturing Engineering magazine. | <urn:uuid:5c3539df-af4e-4c66-bc88-0b18cdc5ed41> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.sme.org/Tertiary.aspx?id=27231&cms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395560.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00073-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930769 | 945 | 3.015625 | 3 |
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the findings of their latest cancer study and the news is grim. Cancer is expected to rise 57% in the next 20 years with the numbers of 14 million dying annually from cancer in 2012 jumping to 22 million in another two decades, according to CNN News on Feb 4.
Researchers at WHO blame the aging population as part of this projection. The focus on the attack on cancer should be prevention, more so than treatment, since half of all known cancers are preventable, reports WHO.
WHO suggests a heavy focus on prevention as "We cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem," said Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Early detection and prevention are the two areas that need to be beefed up.
The cost of treating cancer is becoming a burden, it is "hurting the economies of rich countries and beyond the reach of poor ones." A heavy emphasis on addressing lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and addressing infection-caused cancers with vaccines. Screening programs should become mainstream.
Oncologist Dr. David Decker from the Florida Hospital in Orlando said that cancer is not on the rise for shocking reasons, but for reasons that are easily understood. There may be things that can done to prevent cancer from skyrocketing in numbers, such as improve overall health. | <urn:uuid:6b6188c4-ed1a-4cc2-95c3-afd87b0870ef> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.examiner.com/article/cancer-study-paints-grim-picture-who-projects-skyrocketing-cancer-cases?cid=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397696.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00174-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960528 | 276 | 3.1875 | 3 |
The children will learn to identify unsafe situations and name hazardous activities they may encounter or see during the warm months between May and September.
A lesson plan for grade K Healthful Living
- describe swimming safety tips.
- describe bike safety rules.
- name harmful insects and plants.
- learn safety procedures and what to do while on vacation with their family.
Time required for lesson
- Collection of pictures showing summer activities
- Chart paper
- Bike helmets (borrow from a sporting goods store or from the kids)
- Picture file including spiders, ticks, poison Ivy, snakes, cute baby woodland animals (bunnies, raccoons, squirrels, etc.)
- Neighborhood map showing streets, shopping areas, and a park
- Television and VCR
- Longfellow’s WHALE Tales or Waddles Presents Aquacktic both from the American Red Cross
- Safety representative to teach the children this water safety program (contact Red Cross)
- Police department representative to teach the children seat belt safety (They have a car seat with belts for the children to use for this demonstration.)
Computer with internet access is recommended to access the site listed in the sidebar.
The children should be familiar with how to use the 911 service. They should know their full names and where they live.
- The teacher will introduce this lesson to the students by asking open-ended questions: What do you like best about summer vacation? Is there anything bad you know that happens in the summer? (Give the students time to answer the first question. List their suggestions on the board or chart paper. Do the same for the second question.)
- Teacher input: Share several pictures of summer activities with the students. (swimming, hiking, sunbathing, camping, playing games, bike riding, etc.) Ask:
- What are the people doing in this picture?
- How many of you like doing this?
- Are there any dangers in doing this? (Discuss)
- State objective and essential question for today’s lesson, “Today we will learn to recognize unsafe situations you see and hear about in a story.”
- Share the story, Dinosaurs, Beware! A Safety Guide.
- Discuss the story and what was learned. List students’ responses on a diagram that can be referred to later.
- At their seats, students draw a picture of something learned today about safety.
- Teacher should review with the students what was done on the previous day.
- Go back and highlight what activities you listed as being dangerous.
- State objective for today, “Today we will learn about staying safe while riding bikes.”
- Make a simple web for the students to help give information on needs of bike riders. See attached GIF file on Bike Rider Needs.
- After completing the web with the students, present them with bike helmets you have obtained. Discuss what the item is and how it should be worn.
- Do a quick check with hands raised to see how many students have helmets like the different ones presented.
- Demonstrate with volunteers the correct way to wear a helmet. (Make sure to wipe the insides with an alcohol wipe between each student trying the helmet on.)
- Using the large neighborhood maps, have different students point out safe places to ride a bike.
- After pointing out the safe places to ride, use your computer to show the students the NHTSA Bike Safety Video page, which covers bike safety and what to wear.
- Today will be the day to focus on pool and water safety. Invite a Red Cross volunteer to present the Longfellow’s WHALE Tales program to your students. This program will teach the students about staying safe around the water. Time will be given in the presentation for discussion and evaluation to take place. You will need to schedule this ahead of time. A VCR is needed for the video.
- The Red Cross has a new program called Waddles Presents Aquacktic Safety for pre-school through Kindergarten.
- Review with the students all they have learned about staying safe over the summer.
- Introduce today’s lesson by having the students tell you places they like to go during the summer.
- Make a class graph showing which place is their favorite.
- Tell students that today you want to share with them some dangerous creatures and plants they may see or even find on themselves while out at the park, playing a baseball game, or hiking. Show pictures of a tick, a snake, poison ivy, and maybe even a harmful spider.
- Label each and tell the effects of coming into contact with each.
- Have students identify each picture as the teacher reads a riddle. Have fun making up your own riddles. Riddle examples:
- I’m thinking about an animal that likes to suck blood. It is small and likes to stick his head into your skin or into your pet.
- I’m thinking about a beautiful three-leafed plant that makes you itch, itch, itch.
- I’m thinking about an eight-legged creature that’s shiny and black. It lives around your house. I can find them under rocks or close to the sidewalk or garage.
- After the students have matched the names of each harmful animal or plant, show them pictures of cute little squirrels, raccoons, and bunnies. Discuss with them the dangers of playing with wild animals they find in the woods. Tell them what rabies is and how animals may carry this disease.
- The teacher may elect to have an oral discussion with the entire class and discuss the various safety issues that have been addressed during that class. Teacher observation of how well a student responds to questions and contributes to the discussion will give you a good idea if the student understands.
- Role-play situations will help students to practice a reaction to a situation in which safety is an issue.
- Have the students draw pictures showing an unsafe situation. Have them explain what they would do if they were in that picture.
- Write letters to the police and fire departments, recreation director, rescue squad, or parents telling each organization or person what they have learned to stay safe.
- The Berenstain Bears’ Learn About Strangers and The Bike Lesson by Stan Berenstain
- Blue Bug’s Safety Book by Virginia Poulet
- Dinousaurs, Beware! A Safety Guide by Marc Brown and Stephen Drensky
- Stitches by Harriet Ziefert
- Benjamin Rabbit and the Stranger Danger Dick and Irene Keller
- Into’s Adventures in Safety Linda Hayes
- Mike Swan, Sink or Swim by Deborah Heiligman
- The May and June issues Weekly Reader are filled with summer safety issues.
Kidding Around “Safety Break” (Rap) by Greg & Steve
I wanted to give teachers of young children a lesson that would help them to teach the kindergarteners they are letting go for the summer some important skills for staying safe while away on vacation. I know that many, many accidents occur during these months and that we can’t prevent all of them, but we can help the kids to be smarter. The outdoors is fun, but also dangerous. Young children are eager to collect items and investigate creatures and objects. They need to know what is harmful and harmless.
- North Carolina Essential Standards
- Healthful Living (2010)
- K.PCH.2 Understand necessary steps to prevent and respond to unintentional injury. K.PCH.2.1 Recognize the meanings of traffic signs and signals. K.PCH.2.2 Explain the benefits of wearing seat belts and bicycle helmets. K.PCH.2.3 Illustrate how to get help...
- Healthful Living (2010)
North Carolina curriculum alignment
Healthful Living Education (2006)
- Goal 2: The learner will develop knowledge and skills to enhance personal and consumer health.
- Objective 2.05: Evaluate the benefits of wearing seat belts and bicycle helmets. | <urn:uuid:9f6bc76e-68d2-4e13-9da2-62e58101ff60> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2944 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391519.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00127-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945255 | 1,679 | 3.75 | 4 |
Mystery of extrasolar planets' eccentric orbits
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY NEWS RELEASE
Posted: April 19, 2005
Except for the fact that we call it home, for centuries astronomers didn't have any particular reason to believe that our solar system was anything special in the universe. But, beginning with the discovery 10 years ago of the first planet outside our solar system, evidence suggests that, as far as planetary systems go, the solar system might be special indeed.
Instead of the nice circular orbits our nine planets enjoy, most of the more than 160 extrasolar planets detected in the last decade have eccentric orbits: so elongated that many come in very close to the central star and then go out much further away. In a paper to be published April 14 by the journal Nature, astrophysicists at Northwestern University are the first to report direct observational evidence explaining the violent origins of this surprising planetary behavior.
"Our results show that a simple mechanism, often called 'planet-planet scattering,' a sort of slingshot effect due to the sudden gravitational pull between two planets when they come very near each other, must be responsible for the highly eccentric orbits observed in the Upsilon Andromedae system," said Frederic A. Rasio, associate professor of physics and astronomy. "We believe planet-planet scattering occurred frequently in extrasolar planetary systems, not just this one, resulting from strong instabilities. So while planetary systems around other stars may be common, the kinds of systems that could support life, which, like our solar system, presumably must remain stable over very long time scales, may not be so common."
Verene Lystad, an undergraduate student majoring in physics at Northwestern, and Eric B. Ford, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California Berkeley and a former student of Rasio's at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are members of Rasio's research team and authors on the Nature paper.
The system they focused on, three huge Jupiter-like planets orbiting the central star Upsilon Andromedae, was the first extrasolar multi-planet system ever discovered by Doppler spectroscopy. (In this technique, planets are detected and studied indirectly by measuring the reflex motion they impose on their parent stars.) The inner planet, a "hot Jupiter" so close to the star that its orbit is only a few days, was discovered in 1996, and the two outer planets, with elongated orbits that perturb each other strongly, were discovered in 1999. As a result, the system now has been well studied for many years and offered the best and most accurate data for the research team's calculations.
"In this system the two outer planets are in a very peculiar orbital configuration, which kept puzzling us for a long time," said Rasio.
To understand this better, Rasio and his collaborators developed a precise computer model of the orbits of the planets as they are today and then evolved them back tens of thousands of years. Their analysis showed that the system evolved over time exactly as would be expected if the initially stable system was suddenly perturbed, with the sudden disturbance affecting the outermost planet only.
They showed that a fourth giant planet, which is no longer in the system, must have come in too close and scuffled with the outer planet in a gravitational feud, eventually kicking the outer planet into the middle one. The fourth planet -- the troublemaker -- was ejected into space. The abrupt kick sent the outer planet into an elliptical orbit, while the middle planet initially remained on a circular orbit. Over time, the outer planet eventually perturbed the middle planet's orbit enough to deform it slowly into an eccentric orbit as well, which is what is seen today, although every 7,000 years or so the middle planet returns gradually to a circular orbit.
"This is what makes the system so peculiar," said Rasio. "Ordinarily, the gravitational coupling between two elliptic orbits would never make one go back to a nearly perfect circle. A circle is very special."
"Originally the main objective of our research was to simulate the Upsilon Andromedae planetary system, essentially in order to determine whether the outer two planets lie in the same plane like the planets in the solar system do," said Lystad, who started working with Rasio when she was a sophomore and did many of the computer integrations as part of her senior thesis. "We were surprised to find that for many of our simulations it was difficult to tell whether the planets were in the same plane due to the fact that the middle planet's orbit periodically became so very nearly circular. Once we noticed this strange behavior was present in all of our simulations, we recognized it as an earmark of a system that had undergone planet-planet scattering. We realized there was something much more interesting going on than anyone had found before."
Understanding what happened during the formation and evolution of Upsilon Andromedae and other extrasolar planetary systems has major implications for our own.
"In these newly discovered systems things have not remained stable for billions of years," said Rasio. "While they may have formed like the solar system, after a while things went catastrophic. Our solar system, it appears, is rather peculiar in its long-term stability."
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© 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc. | <urn:uuid:846a628b-c87e-43c0-9efc-5eaa62b44797> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0504/19orbits/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395679.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00167-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963667 | 1,105 | 3.625 | 4 |
Privets (ligustrum) belong in the family Oleaceae, which include olive trees. They are native to regions in Europe, Africa and Asia, and also grow in the U.S. Privets are perennial shrubs that can grow to a height of 46 feet at maturity, making them great hedging or screening plants. Known to be quite hardy, privets will transplant quite well, especially while they are young and easier to handle. With proper transplanting techniques, your privet should adjust to its new location in no time at all.
Prepare the privet for transplanting two to four months ahead of time. Wait until the plant goes into dormancy in fall to begin the transplant. Trim the entire shrub back by one third. This will allow the privet to put its energy into establishing a new root system when moved.
Consider the width of the plant at its widest point, so you can figure out where to dig. The root ball requires being two-thirds as large as the widest section of leaf spread. For example, if your privet is 3 feet at its widest point, you will need to obtain 2 feet in diameter of root ball.
Cut through the feeder roots around the diameter of the shrub with a flat-edged shovel. Make the cut approximately 4 to 6 inches closer to the privet's trunk than you will at the actual transplant. This will allow the feeder roots to adjust to the cut and form new growth on their tips, before the final transplant.
Prepare your new planting site. Select a location that has the same lighting that the privet is currently growing in. Clean the area of weeds and grasses. Amend the existing soil with an application of compost or manure, working the substance into the area approximately 1 foot deep. Dig a hole that is two times wider than the privet's root ball, but no deeper than the privet is currently growing in.
Dig around the privet's root ball approximately 4 to 6 inches out from where you make the first cut. Chop through the feeder roots and then dig under the shrub to release it from the soil. Cut any roots with loppers, to free the plant from its location.
Place the shrub on a tarp or wheelbarrow to relocate it to its new planting site. Do not drag it by its branches.
Situate the privet in the new planting hole, facing in the same direction that it was originally. Fill the planting hole with soil, packing it firmly down around the base of the shrub. Mulch the planting site to help the soil retain moisture and cut down on new growth of weeds.
Water the privet deeply, making sure the water leaches down to the shrub's roots. Continue watering three times per week to keep the location moist. Once established in the new area, cut back to watering once to twice per week. | <urn:uuid:83fed0d1-7fd0-4338-b4cf-b73e1761f3e3> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.gardenguides.com/86420-transplant-privet.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00108-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951333 | 597 | 2.75 | 3 |
The seventh of Jacob's sons, the first-born of Zilpah, himself the father of seven sons (Gen. xxx. 10, 11; xlvi. 16; Num. xxvi. 15 et seq.). The name means "[good] fortune."2. Biblical Data:
Tribe descended from Gad, the seventh son of Jacob. In the desert it was credited with 40,000 men able to bear arms (Num. i. 24 et seq., ii. 15, xxvi. 18). Rich in flocks, it occupied, with Reuben and half of Manasseh, the district east of the Jordan once belonging to the kings of Heshbon and Bashan and partly settled by Ammonites (Num. xxxii. 1, 29, 33; Deut. iii. 12, 18; Josh. xiii. 25). Hence the "land of Gad" (I Sam. xiii. 7), on the Jabbok (= "brook of Gad"; II Sam. xxiv. 5; see Gilead). Among its cities were Ramoth, Jaezer, Aroer, Dibon (Num. xxxii. 34 et seq.; Deut. iv. 43; Josh. xx. 8). Gad was a warlike tribe, and took part in the conquest of the trans-Jordanic regions (Gen. xlix. 19; Deut. xxxiii. 20, 21; Num. xxxii. 6 et seq.). Among David's men at Adullam, Gad was well represented (I Chron. xii. 8; I Sam. xxii. 1, 2). Though Gad at first remained loyal to Ish-bosheth, it later transferred its allegiance to David (II Sam. ii. 8 et seq., xvii. 24 et seq.). Jeroboam built the fortress Penuel to keep the men of Gad in check (I Kings xii. 25). Later, under Uzziah and Jotham, Gad was joined to the kingdom of Judah (I Chron. v. 16; comp. Schrader, "K. B." ii. 27). The Ammonitesseem to have ultimately reconquered the territory of Gad (Jer. xlix. 1).
Gad was born on the tenth of Ḥeshwan, and lived 125 years (Ex. R. i. 5; Yalḳ., Ex. 1). He was called "Gad" after the manna, which was like coriander (; Ex. R. l.c.). Because of his great strength he was not presented by Joseph to Pharaoh, lest the latter should appoint him one of his guards (Gen. R. xcv. 4). Foreseeing that the children of Gad would devote themselves to the breeding of cattle, Jacob ordered that in carrying his bier Gad should walk on the southern side, whence came the beneficent rains and fructifying dew (Num. R. iii. 12). The tribe of Gad occupied the southern side of the camp also (Num. R. l.c.). They were neighbors of Korah because, like him, they were quarrel-some. Their standard was of red and black, with a camp painted on it (Num. R. ii. 6). According to some, the name of Gad was inscribed on the agate in the breastplate of the high priest ("Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah," p. 13), according to others on the ligure (Samuel Ẓarẓa, "Meḳor Ḥayyim" to Ex. xxviii.), while others declare it to have been cut on the amethyst, which has the virtue of infusing martial courage (Ex. R. xxxviii.; Baḥya ben Asher's commentary, ad loc.). The tribe of Gad is blamed for having chosen the "other side" of the Jordan, the verse "Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt" (Eccl. v. 12) being applied to them (Gen. R. 1. 11). When they arrived at the Jordan and saw the fertility of the land, they said: "One handful of enjoyment on this side is better than two on the other" (Lev. R. iii. 1). However, because they crossed the river to help their brethren in the conquest of Palestine, just as Simeon did when he took his sword and warred against the men of Shechem, they were found worthy to follow the tribe of Simeon at the sacrifices on the occasion of the dedication of the Tabernacle (Num. R. xiii. 19). Moses was buried in the territory of Gad (Soṭah 13b; Yalḳuṭ, Wezot ha-Berakah, p. 961). According to some, Elijah was a descendant of Gad (Gen. R. lxxi.). The tribes of Gad and Reuben were the first that went into exile (Lam. R. i. 5).
The inscription on the Moabite Stone, 1. 10, reports that "the man of Gad had dwelt since days of old in the land of Ataroth; then the King of Israel built for himself Ataroth." According to this, the Moabites distinguished between Gad and Israel, regarding the former as old inhabitants of the parts east of the Jordan. The same notion that Gad is not of pure Israelitish stock underlies the Biblical genealogy of the tribe's eponym. He is the son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, not a full brother to Reuben and the other northern tribes. The geographical notes on Gad are for the same reason diverse and divergent. The city of Dibon is designated in Num. xxxiii. 45 as belonging to Gad (with Ataroth and Aroer in Num. xxxii. 34 et seq.), but in Josh. xiii. 15 et seq. this same territory, north of the Arnon, belongs to Reuben. The boundaries of Gad in Josh. xiii. 24-27 (P) are also different. These and other discrepancies show a wide latitude and indefiniteness in the use of "Gad" as a territorial designation. Gilead sometimes includes Gad (among other passages see Judges v. 17), though at times it denotes a country north of Gad, and again a country south of Jaazer (II Sam. xxiv. 5; Josh. xiii. 24 et seq.). These facts seem to indicate that "Gad" was originally the name of a nomadic tribe, and was then applied to the territory which this tribe passed over and settled in. The gradual extension of the use of the name shows on the whole that the tribe coming from the south pushed on steadily northward (II Sam. xxiv. 5; comp. I Chron. v. 11, 16). The territory was never secure from invasion and attacks. To the south it was exposed to the Moabites, to the north to the Arameans from Damascus, and later to the Assyrians. Tiglath-pileser III. annexed this region about 733-732
A prophet, "the seer of David." The first appearance of Gad occurred when David took refuge from Saul in a stronghold in Mizpeh of Moab (I Sam. xxii. 5). Gad advised him to leave it for the forest of Hareth. He reappeared late in the life of David, after the latter's numbering of the people, giving him the choice of one of three punishments, one of which God was about to inflict upon the Jews (II Sam. xxiv. 11-14; I Chron. xxi. 9-13). Attached to the royal house, Gad was called "David's seer" (II Sam. xxiv. 11; I Chron. xxi. 9). He also wrote a book of the acts of David (ib. xxix. 29), and assisted in arranging the musical service of the house of God (II Chron. xxix. 25).
Name of the god of fortune, found in Isa. lxv. 11, along with Meni, the name of the god of destiny. The passage refers to meals or feasts held by Hebrews in Babylonia in honor of these deities. Nothing is known of any Babylonian divinity of the name of Gad, but Aramean and Arabic equivalents show that the same god was honored among the other leading Semitic peoples. The root-verb means "to cut" or "to divide." Thence comes the idea of portioning out, which is also present in the word "Meni," the name of the kindred deity.
"Gad" is perhaps found also in Gen. xxx. 11, where the ketib reading means "by the help of Gad!" the exclamation of Leah at the birth of Zilpah's son. Indeed, it is quite possible that this narrative arises from a tradition connecting the tribal eponym with the Deity Himself. How wide-spread the cult of Gad, or Fortune, was in the old Canaanitish times may be inferred from the names "Baalgad," a city at the foot of Mount Hermon, and "Migdal-gad," in the territory of Judah. Compare also the proper names "Gaddi" and "Gaddiel" in the tribes of Manasseh and Zebulun (Num. xiii. 10, 11). At the same time it must not be supposed that Gad was always regarded as an independent deity. The name was doubtless originally an appellative, meaning "the power that allots." Hence any of the greater gods supposed to favor men might be thought of as the giver of good fortune and be worshiped under that appellative. It is possible that Jupiter may have been the "Gad" thus honored.Among the Arabs the planet Jupiter was called "the greater Fortune," while Venus was styled "the lesser Fortune." If the same usage prevailed in earlier Semitic days Meni should perhaps also be identified with Venus.
Gad, the god of fortune, is frequently invoked in Talmudic (magic) formulas of good will and wishes; for instance, in Shab. 67b ("Gad eno ella leshon 'abodat kokabim"; comp. Targ. Pseudo-Jonathan to Gen. xx. 10, 11). The name is often synonymous with "luck" (Yer. Ned. iv. 38d; Yer. Shab. xvi. 15d). Gad is the patron saint of a locality, a mountain (Ḥul. 40a), of an idol (Gen. R. lxiv.), a house, or the world (Gen. R. lxxi.). Hence "luck" may also be bad (Eccl. R. vii. 26). A couch or bed for this god of fortune is referred to in Ned. 56a.
- The commentaries of Delitzsch and Dillmann on Isa. lxv. 11;
- Baethgen, Beiträge zur Semitischen Religionsgesch. pp. 76 et seq.;
- Lagarde, Gesammelte Abhandlungen, p. 16;
- idem, Symmicta, i. 87;
- Pinches, in Hastings, Dict. Bible;
- Cheyne, in Encyc. Bibl. s.v. Gad. | <urn:uuid:027bfd1f-5d24-4f57-82c0-1c6c77f70cdf> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6456-gad | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397428.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00113-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956385 | 2,415 | 2.703125 | 3 |
All committed youth are screened for substance abuse disorders using the GAIN-SS (Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-Short Screen). Youth determined to need further diagnostic assessment, based upon the GAIN-SS, will be administered the GAIN-CORE (Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-CORE Version). The results of the screening and assessment, along with other collateral data, will determine which substance services track the youth will be placed in: Treatment or Prevention Track.
Substance Abuse Service Tracks
Treatment: Committed Youth in need of substance abuse treatment based upon assessment, history and committing offense, receive services that address the clients' physical and/or psychological dependence on substances.
Prevention: Committed youth not in need of substance abuse treatment receive educational classes on substance use/abuse issues, individual education and other educational modalities as deemed necessary to enhance the clients' knowledge of substance-related issues.
Curriculum: Both tracks use evidence based curriculum. The Prevention Track uses Alternate Routes, the Treatment Track s use the Matrix Model.
DYS does not randomly drug test committed youth.
Substance abuse services take place in all DYS residential programs after youth leave the assessment centers. All programs use the evidence based curriculum listed above. These curriculums use a strength-based approach that integrates the entire spectrum of substance abuse issues with other self-destructive behaviors; have a cross-walk with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and utilize motivational interview techniques. The curriculum is adolescent and gender specific. Additionally, the Department has collaborated successfully with other agencies to develop a community continuum of care for committed and high-risk youth. Among the efforts to provide a comprehensive program for substance abuse intervention are:
- DYS has contracted with The Institute of Health and Recovery to provide a substance abuse services coordinator.
- The Department of Public Health has funded 3 programs across the state to provide intense case management to adjunct the current services provided in the community.
This information is provided by the Department of Youth Services. | <urn:uuid:8a5f2d24-ceb7-435d-999b-c01ce79a5417> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dys/programs-and-services/substance-abuse-services-for-juvenile-offenders.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395992.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00179-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929139 | 412 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Mac Keyboard Layout
The Mac support multi-language input both in hardware and software.
When ordering Apple Macintosh hardware, you are given a choice of keyboard layout. This affects the configuration of the keys on your keyboard. Apple Knowledge Base HT2841 lists 32 different keyboard layouts.
In the Netherlands, Apple ships three similar keyboards:
- International English
The US keyboard is based on the ANSI standard:
The International English and Dutch keyboards are based on the ISO 9995 standard:
The only difference between the US and International English keyboard is the tick (`) / tilde (~) key and the paragraph (§) key. On the US keyboard, the tick/tilde key is located left of the "1" key, while on the International English keyboard, the tick/tilde key is located left of the "Z" key, by claiming part of the shift key to make room for this key. The key left of the "1" key on the International English is a Paragraph (§) / Plus-minus (±) key. This key does not exist on the US keyboard.
The only difference between the International English and Dutch keyboard is the Euro symbol as the second alternative to the "2" key.
Other countries have more profound differences.
If a generic keyboard is plugged in to the Mac, the user is asked to press the keys next to the shift keys for detection of the type of keyboard. Users may see a dialog choosing a layout of ASCI, ISO 9995, or Japanese. This preference is retained in the file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.keyboardtype.plist after the kayboard is unplugged and plugged back in.
The software translates a key press to a character on screen. Mac OS X offers 139 software keyboard layouts.
I'll list three examples here, the US, US International and US Extended keyboard.
The US keyboard and US International keyboards are very similar. The difference is that the US International turns the tick (`) and single quote (') keys into modifier keys (for grave accent and acute accent). The US keyboard only does this when the alt key is pressed. The US International always does this.
The difference between the US and US extended keyboard is more profound. The US extended keyboard allows for much more modifier keys to create ligatures, as can be seen in the table:
|Modifier||US keyboard||US extended keyboard|
|Alt + Shift|
The US extended keyboard more closely follows the spirit of the ISO 9995-3:2009 keyboard layout (although the location of the modifier keys is different). Most layouts (such as Dutch or British layout) are based on the regular US layout with only a limited number of modifiers keys. The difference between Dutch and US or between British and US keyboard is minor. In the Dutch keyboard, the euro (€) sign is accessible by alt-2 instead of alt-shift-2. In the British keyboard, the pound sign is layout is accessible by shift-3 instead of alt-3. | <urn:uuid:cb5dab08-4784-4466-9f0e-2b0dd080bde7> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.macfreek.nl/memory/Mac_Keyboard_Layout | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396459.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00197-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901137 | 626 | 3.015625 | 3 |
A trio of potentially habitable planets discovered by the orbiting Kepler space observatory have conditions that might be right for Earth-type life to exist there. The two such planets in the Kepler-62 system might be covered by a global ocean.
Kepler-62 is a red dwarf, only 20 percent as bright as the sun. Both Kepler-62e and Kepler-62f orbit within the star’s habitable zone, and both are likely covered by a global ocean. Kepler-62 is located 1,200 light-years away from Earth, in the constellation Lyra. [See photos of the potentially habitable worlds]
The Kepler-69 system contains one known planet in that star's habitable zone. Kepler-69 is a sun-like star located 2,700 light-years away, in the constellation Cygnus.
The $600 million Kepler spacecraft was launched in March 2009 to search for Earth-type planets that orbit within the habitable zones of their parent stars. As of April 2013, Kepler data has uncovered more than 2,700 potential planets, with about 120 of them having been confirmed to date (although mission scientists expect that more than 90 percent of the planets detected are real and not illusions in the data).
The Kepler mission is named after the famed 17th-century Johannes Kepler, whose discoveries were pivotal to the modern understanding of how planets move around stars.
- Alien Planet Quiz: Are You an Exoplanet Expert?
- Kepler Reveals Lots of Planets: Some Habitable?
- Exoplanet Art: The Illustrations of Lynette Cook | <urn:uuid:94e6df17-99e6-4c37-9846-b898bdc44b79> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.space.com/20723-earth-like-alien-planets-habitable-zone-infographic.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399425.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00101-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939196 | 322 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Missions Impossible: The Skunk Works® Story
On paper, the specifications read like works of pure fantasy: a spy plane capable of taking crystal-clear photographs from 70,000 feet. A Mach-3 aircraft that could fly continuously for hours on end and literally outrun missiles. An attack aircraft that rendered itself invisible to enemy radar.
And then they would deliver. Impossible missions always were, and continue to be, their particular area of expertise.
An Aircraft for Every Mission
Conceived in 1943, the Skunk Works division—a name inspired by a mysterious locale from the comic strip Li’L Abner—was formed by Johnson to build America’s first jet fighter. German jets had appeared over Europe. Uncle Sam needed a counterpunch, and Johnson got a call. As with virtually all Skunk Works projects that followed, the mission was secretive and the deadline was remarkably tight. Johnson promised the Pentagon they’d have their first prototype in 150 days. His engineers turned one out in 143 days, creating the P-80 Shooting Star, a sleek, lightning-fast fighter that went on to win history’s first jet-versus-jet dogfight over Korea in 1950.
Just four years later, amidst growing fears over a potential Soviet missile attack on the United States, Skunk Works engineers—who often worked ten hours a day, six days a week—created the U-2, the world’s first dedicated spy plane. It cruised at 70,000 feet, snapping aerial photographs of Soviet installations. This vital reconnaissance, unobtainable by other means, averted a war in Europe and a nuclear crisis in Cuba.
But high altitude was not enough. By 1960, Soviet radar and surface-to-air missile technology had caught up with the U-2. President Eisenhower needed something quicker, stronger, and more elusive. Using sheets of titanium coated with heat-dissipating black paint, engineers created the SR-71 Blackbird. On July 3, 1963, the plane reached a sustained speed of Mach 3 at an astounding 78,000 feet, and remains the world’s fastest and highest-flying manned aircraft.
Though lightning-fast, the Blackbird was not invisible. By 1973, Pentagon officials were calling for the creation of an attack aircraft that could fly undetected past enemy radar. Building on obscure research that showed radar beams could be diverted by angled triangular panels, the Skunk Works team designed the F-117 Nighthawk. Unusual looking and aerodynamically challenged, the Nighthawk wasn’t pretty, but it did what no aircraft had done before. Slipping past Iraqi radar on the morning of January 17, 1991, Lockheed’s Nighthawk bombed thirty-seven critical targets across Baghdad, a surgical strike that led, in just forty-three days, to the successful conclusion of Operation Desert Storm.
The History Makers
Over the years, the Skunk Works division in Palmdale, California, was given a more official moniker, Lockheed’s Advanced Development Programs, but its mission remained unchanged: build the world’s most experimental aircraft and breakthrough technologies in abject secrecy at a pace impossible to rival.
The essential spirit of the division was captured perfectly on July 15, 1955, in an entry from Kelly Johnson’s logbook, after a frantic race to ready the U-2 for its inaugural test flight: “Airplane essentially completed. Terrifically long hours. Everybody almost dead.”
A total of six Collier trophies, the most prestigious award in the aeronautics industry, have been collected by the Skunk Works division since 1943, but it’s quite possible the division’s most impressive legacy has yet to be written.
As a Skunk Works’ program manager aptly stated, “The problem with Skunk Works’ programs is that they typically get credit for changing history long after they actually change history.”
Sources and Further Reading
- Boyne, Walter. Beyond the Horizons: The Lockheed Story. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1999.
- Garrison, Peter. “Head Skunk.” Air & Space, March 2010. http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/Head-Skunk.html
- Lockheed Martin. “Collier Trophies.” http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/aeronautics/skunkworks/CollierTrophies.html, accessed August 1, 2012.
- Conceived in 1943, the Skunk Works division—a name inspired by a mysterious locale from the comic strip Li’L Abner—was formed by Johnson to build America’s first jet fighter.
- Just four years later Skunk Works engineers created the U-2, the world’s first dedicated spy plane.
- A total of six Collier trophies, the most prestigious award in the aeronautics industry, have been collected by the Skunk Works division since 1943, | <urn:uuid:4ab6dbc4-e251-4fe9-8ccb-dae03a838401> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://lockheedmartin.com/us/100years/stories/skunk-works.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397636.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00156-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932237 | 1,051 | 2.921875 | 3 |
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STUDY: Eating nuts, leafy green vegetables and other foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
JOURNAL: Journal of the American Medical Association
AUTHORS: Martha Clare Morris
ABSTRACT: In the latest work to show that vitamins may protect against dementia, new studies suggest that eating nuts, leafy green vegetables and other foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
COMMENTARY: THE LATEST studies seem to suggest that vitamin-rich foods, but not vitamin supplements, have greater beneficial effects. The researchers, however, said more definitive studies are needed.
The connection, at least, is considered plausible: Antioxidant vitamins have been shown to block the effects of oxygen molecules called free radicals, which can damage cells and are thought to contribute to cancer and heart disease. And lesions typically associated with exposure to free radicals have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
One of the studies found strong effects from vitamins E and C. In the other, results from vitamin E foods were more conclusive, but researchers said there was a suggestion vitamin C also provided benefits.
Intake of vitamin C, found in foods such as citrus fruits, also appeared to have offer some protection, but those results were not statistically significant, said lead researcher Martha Clare Morris of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago.
Morris said participants with the highest vitamin E intake ate amounts that could be obtained from a healthy balanced diet.
There was no protective effect in participants with a gene variation called apoplipoprotein E-4, which has been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s.
The other study, from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, involved 5,395 people in the Netherlands 55 and older who were followed for an average of about six years.
Alzheimer’s developed in 146 participants. Those with high intakes of vitamins E and C were less likely to become afflicted, regardless of whether they had the gene variation.
Other work has hinted that high levels of the amino acid known as homocysteine may also be associated with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that folic acid and other B vitamins may offer some protection.
The bottom line is that getting your nutrients from food based materials is more natural. Dr D'Adamo has always been an advocate for getting your nutritional needs from the diet not from pills.
Anyone interested can use the food nutrient database on the website to check which foods contain the highest amounts of vitamin E and C and then check in regards to their individual blood types and needs. This can help you in finding the foods that are right for you. | <urn:uuid:d78afee9-fdbd-4066-9935-5d688acbc03a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/blog6.php/2004/11/02/vitamins-may-cut-alzheimer-s-risk | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783400572.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155000-00186-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962554 | 588 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Judaism: Eikev: What Makes Israel Better?
Rabbi Dr. Darrell GinsbergRabbi Ginsberg is the Dean of Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah, a unique post high...
In the beginning of [this week's Torah reading] Parshas Eikev (Devarim 8:7-10), the Torah presents an extremely positive and detailed picture of Eretz Yisrael,(the land of Israel) offering a vision for the incoming Jewish people that is nearly paradise. It is described as a “good land,” filled with springs, abundant food, a picturesque life.
We know the benefit of the land was to provide the appropriate physical environment to allow for the nation to focus on serving God. However, later on this parsha, Moses revisits this praise, offering a different and somewhat difficult comparison.
The Torah explains (Devarim 11:10-12):
“For the land where you are arriving to inherit is not like the land of Egypt from which you departed, where you planted your seed and watered [it] on foot like a vegetable garden. Rather, the land where you are crossing to inherit is a land of mountains and plains--- by the rain of the skies will you drink water. A land that Hashem, your God, looks after; the eyes of Hashem, your God, are always upon it, from the year's beginning until the year's end.”
Rashi offers two completely contradictory explanations regarding this comparison.
At first, he posits that Eretz Yisrael is being described as being superior to Egypt (ibid 10):
“But better than it. This assurance was made to the Israelites when they departed from Egypt, when they said, 'Perhaps we shall never come to a land as good and as beautiful as this’.”
And what makes Eretz Yisrael “better”? In explaining the agricultural and geographical descriptions offered above, Rashi writes (ibid):
“In the land of Egypt, you had to bring water from the Nile on foot in order to irrigate it; you had to lose sleep, to toil. The lowlands were irrigable, but not the highlands, and you had to bring the water up from the low areas to the high ones. But with this, 'by the rain of the skies you will drink water.; You can sleep in your bed while the Holy One, may He be blessed, irrigates lowland and highland, open and enclosed areas alike”
No doubt, one certainly saves time by not having to bring water from the Nile by foot. But is this really that difference so significant?
There is another possibility offered by Rashi, and it is as far as possible from the first. He initially explains that “perhaps Scripture speaks derogatorily and this is what he told them: 'It is not like the land of Egypt, but inferior to it’.” How so? He describes (based on Kesubos 112a) how Cham, the son of Noah, built Tzoan (a city in Egypt) for his son Mitzrayim, while building Hevron for his other son, Canaan. Eventually, the land of Mitzrayim was considered the “most praiseworthy of all lands,” and Tzoan the greatest of the cities, referred to as the “seat of royalty.” On the other hand, Hevron was the most “inferior” of all cities in Eretz Yisrael, epitomized by its primary feature – a cemetery. Nonetheless, Hevron was superior to Tzoan.
The Siftei Chachamim immediately points out that one should not think Moses was actually denigrating Eretz Yisrael – for that very sin, the spies were killed! Instead, it was more of a “pep talk,” explaining how God would provide for them in this particular land if they followed the mitzvot. This is all well and good. However, one must be somewhat skeptical of Rashi’s approach. After all, what specifically made Hevron superior? Furthermore, how can a city whose claim to fame is a cemetery somehow be described as “better” than the city that is the center of power in the most beautiful country in the world?
The simple way of reading the verses would follow Rashi’s first possibility. Yet, as we asked above, does superiority really hinge on the method one needs to water his crops? The key to understanding Rashi lies in his focus on sleep, or lack thereof. It is not the physical labor that Rashi is alluding to. The idea of bringing water from the Nile is referring to a greater degree of psychological energy dedicated to areas such as agriculture.
When one is constantly seeking out his source of water for his crops, his energies are tied up in the activitiy. The process requires his undivided attention. It is not that he is not sleeping as much. He is unable to sleep, insecure and worried, always thinking about how he will face the problems that await him when he arises.
Eretz Yisrael, however, was being set up in a way where the nation, in following the mitzvot, would be in the ideal physical environment to aid them in focusing on learning and understanding Hashem. This does not mean that they would have to do no labor whatsoever. It just meant that the nature of the activity would not naturally consume their every moment. Therefore, the superiority of Eretz Yisrael is manifest in both the physical as well as the psychological realm.
This leaves us with the other, clearly more difficult explanation proffered by Rashi. Obviously, one of Moses’s intentions was to move the nation beyond the superficial qualities a land might possess. Egypt was the greatest of all lands, but its stature required diligent and persistent efforts by its inhabitants to bring it to that point.
Moses is commenting that esthetic qualities are temporal by nature. Yet there is more to the comparison, evidenced in the focus on Hevron and Tzoan. Tzoan was the center of kingship, while Hevron was a cemetery. Are these just two random features? It would seem there is a deeper idea here. Tzoan represented the pinnacle of man’s power. Its reputation was tied into this idea, where man comes to rule and express his dominance over the world. As far as he is concerned, there is nothing greater than that.
And yet, there is one fatal flaw (no pun intended) in his thinking. Ultimately, he cannot escape that which is housed in Hevron. Man may feel he is truly powerful when he resides in Tzoan – and naturally, he fails to see the fact that the power is only fleeting. It could be that this contrast is being portrayed to the nation. No question, Egypt offers more of the accoutrements and other superficialities that create the image of it as the center of the world, epitomized by Tzoan. There is no greater sense of success in the minds of people than to create an “Egypt”.
One of the intents of Eretz Yisrael was to counter this drive in man. Bnai Yisrael, the Sons of Israel, would reside in a land dictated by the principles of ahavas and yiras Hashem, loving and fearing G-d, a demonstration of His superiority over the Universe. It wasn’t that Moses was denigrating Eretz Yisrael. Instead, he was attempting to have the nation look beyond the insignificances personified by Egypt and see how Eretz Yisrael’s greatness lay in helping them serve Him and recognize that it is the greatness of God and not the constructions of man, that merits our reverence. | <urn:uuid:8835acd6-bc33-471c-817a-93e1160cb454> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15509 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397749.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00108-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97524 | 1,661 | 2.75 | 3 |
- Experiment Setup
- Impact of the number of beacons
- Impact of scan interval
- Impact of duty cycle
- Impact of advertising interval
- Raw charts
Apple’s iBeacon is set to revolutionize how we interact with physical spaces via our phones. These little “beacons” advertise their location periodically. This in turn allows our phones to sense them in the environment and determine our precise location within any space providing us a highly personalized, location driven experience. But to use iBeacons, our phones need to do extra work to sense them, investing energy that subsequently causes battery drain. In this report, we analyze the battery use for this purpose across phones and chipsets in great detail.
Highlights of this report are:
- Older Android handsets are not optimized for beacon use; but newer handsets are very efficient in sensing beacons and the battery impact of iBeacon scans is minimal.
- Battery life depends a lot on the number of beacons detected in the vicinity. When a phone is scanning for beacons, but no beacons are around, the battery use is much lower.
- The number of scans is just as important as the time spent scanning. In some cases, it is better for the phone to keep scanning than turning the Bluetooth scan OFF and ON again.
- Beacons that advertise themselves more frequently make the phone consume more battery, but facilitate more accurate distance calculation.
Bluetooth Low Energy
iBeacons are essentially Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transmitters. While Apple introduced the concept in mid-2013 for enabling location services driven by iBeacon, the underlying BLE technology has been around for several years and well supported by Android since version 4.3. In this report, we use the terms BLE, iBeacon, and beacon interchangeably.
iBeacons emit (advertise) a low-power signal several times a second. To use these beacons, a phone must scan for all nearby BLE devices. The phone can scan very frequently (say, every second) or only once in a while (e.g., every 30 seconds). Different scan frequencies have varying impact on the battery life as we explore in this report.
Several companies manufacture beacon hardware, and each one ships with a different battery life and default advertising interval (i.e., time between two subsequent emissions of the low-power Bluetooth signal). The image below depicts three different brands of beacons and their associated broadcast advertising rate. Apple recommends an advertising interval of 100ms, but most manufacturers at this point don’t adhere to these recommendation.
We say that a mobile app (phone) has a duty cycle of X% on a scanning interval Y if the app performs a BLE scan every Y seconds for X% of the time (and subsequently does not scan for BLE signals (100-X)% of the time). Thus a 50% duty cycle at 1 second, means that the app scans for BLE signals for 1 second and performs no BLE scan for the next second. Notice, 50% duty cycle at 0.1 second would mean 5 times more the number of scans than 50% duty cycle at 1 second (even though, a single scan only lasts 0.1 seconds). Both number of scans and the time interval of each scan affect battery consumption.
BLE beacons emit a signal every few milliseconds. This time interval is known as the advertising interval. For example, a beacon with 0.1ms advertising interval emits a signal 10 times every second. Different beacon manufacturers use different advertising intervals, usually ranging from 100-750 milliseconds.
In this report we analyze the impact of duty cycles, scanning intervals, and beacon advertising intervals on power consumption of a phone nearby. In order for BLE beacons to enjoy vast adoption their battery impact should be minimal. Our analysis covers a wide range of chipsets and phones.
We focus on Android as it allows us to experiment with different scanning parameters (an iPhone report will be published next). This is the first in a series of studies that will shed light on beacons for different smartphone operating systems, different beacon technologies and different beacon usage scenarios. We examine three different generations of Android handsets running Android 4.4.2, a Nexus 4 a Nexus 5 and a Moto G. While we experimented on several different phones, we report numbers for these three handsets as they are representative of very old, old and newer chipsets. We wrote an application to conduct our tests and collect battery statistics. No other application is running in the handsets (modulo those required by Android to operate). There is no GPS or 3G connectivity enabled. All phones start from the same state, being 100% charged. In what follows, we vary several parameters and observe the impact to the battery consumed by the headsets.
Impact of the number of beacons on battery drain
The first experiment studies impact on battery as we change the number of beacons around the phone. With more beacons, the phone scans more signal (even though the Bluetooth radio is ON for the same amount of time). The table below shows battery drain per hour.
This experiment studies the impact on battery for a 50% duty cycle at 1 second, varying the number of beacons (and thus BLE signals detected) in the vicinity. Baseline refers to normal battery drain without any BLE scans. No beacons refers to the case of scanning for BLE signals without any beacons in the vicinity, but the scanning function on. The case for 7 and 10 beacons refers to the energy drain when the said number of beacons is in the vicinity.
Drain increases with the number of beacons even though the underlying radio is turned on and off at the same schedule. The chip has to conduct more work to recognize and process more signals. In addition, older handsets with older BLE chips (Nexus 4) exhibit larger drain, than newer handsets which are a lot more efficient. Note: Nexus 4 at 10 beacon signals crashes due to a bug in the BLE implementation on the phone. For the new handsets, even aggressive BLE scanning at 10 beacons drains only slightly more than double the battery per hour than normal (no BLE scan). Given that in a practical implementation scanning would not be as aggressive, this means that the battery impact of BLE scan on the new handsets in minimal. This is however not the case for older handsets. With 10 beacons, Nexus 5 battery consumption is 9x the baseline, whereas the same for Moto G is more modest.
Take away message: The number of beacons in the surrounding impacts the battery significantly. Newer handsets are however optimized for this and the battery impact is minimal.
Impact of scan interval on battery drain
In this experiment we study the impact of the scan interval length to battery drain. At a fixed duty cycle, say 50%, a 0.1 second scan interval conducts five times as many BLE scans as at 1 sec scan interval. Note, in both cases, the amount of time the phone is scanning is the same (5 seconds ON and 5 seconds OFF in any 10 seconds) but the number of times the phone switches from Bluetooth ON to OFF is different. We study the impact on battery of a small versus a larger scan interval. For these experiments seven beacons are present and we employ a 50% duty cycle. Table below shows battery drain after 8 hours.
- The number of times a phone has to turn Bluetooth ON/OFF impacts battery consumption significantly. A smaller scan interval means more battery usage.
- After 8 hours, a 0.1 sec scan interval consumes 20% more battery on Nexus 4 (older handsets) than the baseline (no BLE scan).
- After 8 hours, a 0.1 sec scan interval consumes 10% more battery on Moto G (newest handset) than the baseline.
- After 8 hours with 0.1 sec scan interval, the Moto G (newest handset) drains 11% less energy than the Nexus 4 (older handset)
Nexus 4 (older handsets) consume more battery when a BLE scan is happening; their battery consumption is less sensitive to the frequency of BLE scan. For example Nexus 4 after 8 hours of operation drains 14% more battery when a scan takes place every 2 seconds, than when no BLE scan happens. However on Nexus 4, scanning every 0.1 seconds versus scanning every 2 seconds, drains only 6% more battery after eight hours of operation.
The number of scanning requests has larger energy impact on newer handsets (Nexus 5, Moto G) than older handsets. For Moto G the difference between setting the scan interval to 0.1s or 1s is significant, whereas for Nexus 4 the battery use is high even with a large scan interval. But in all cases, even with aggressive scanning, the battery impact is minimal on newer handsets.
Take away message: Battery use is very sensitive to the scan interval. For newer handsets, the battery use is minimal even with aggressive scan interval.
Impact of duty cycle on battery drain
Next, we vary the duty cycle and study the impact on battery drain. The table below shows battery consumption after 5 hours.
We vary the duty cycle at a scanning interval of 1 second and study the impact on battery drain. In this experiment 10 beacons are present and we maintain a duty cycle of 10% (10% time scanning and 90% no scanning activity). The new handset, Moto G exhibits a battery drain of 5% after 5 hours of operation. Compared with the case of no scanning for BLE at all it imposes only a 3% overhead. In contrast, the older handset, Nexus 4 exhibits a battery drain of 19%; this is a 15% overhead compared to the baseline. Even at 50% duty cycle, the battery drain for Moto G is much lower than that for Nexus devices.
Take away message: Duty cycle has modest impact on battery life, and batteries on newer handsets are minimally affected even with aggressive scanning.
Impact of advertising interval on battery drain
Different beacons have different advertising intervals. A short advertising interval (say 100 msec) by Beacon A versus a longer one (say 500 msec) by Beacon B implies that in one second of scanning, Beacon A will be detected 10 times and Beacon B twice by the phone.
Multiple detection of a beacon within the same scan is desirable as it aids in smoothing the signal readings. These signal readings are critical to assessing the precise distance of the beacon from the phone. At the same, multiple signals mean more work required to process the signals, and hence more battery consumption.
In our experiments, as we reduced the advertising interval of the beacon, we noticed modestly higher battery use for our three handsets.
This section has raw charts from our experiments. Model A refers to Nexus 4, B refers to Nexus 5 and C refers to Moto G. Each chart refers to an experiment conducted with one of the three phones, starting with 100% battery for the phone. The x-axis plots the time in number of hours elapsed since the beginning of the experiment. Y-axis plots the corresponding battery charge as it decreases with time. The legend shows the scan intervals and the number of beacons in the vicinity of the phone. For example, “scan 1.1 sleep 9.9 10 beacons” in the legend would mean the phone spends 1.1 seconds scanning for Bluetooth LE, and then spend the remaining 9.9 seconds idling, and there are 10 beacons nearby.
Varying Number of Beacons
First three charts below show battery drain as number of beacons is varied for the three phones. As the number of beacons is increased, the line becomes steeper illustrating faster battery drain.
Varying Duty Cycle
Next three charts below show battery drain as the number of times the scanning function is toggled ON and OFF. Notice that the actual amount of time spent scanning is always 50% of the total time, but the phone exhibits higher battery drain when the scanning is toggled more frequently.
We have conducted a first study on the battery impact of beacons on Android handsets. This is the first of a series of studies, and we will soon be releasing more comprehensive studies covering more phones (including tablets, iPhones and iPads) and beacon hardware.
The promise of beacons to revolutionize applications hinges partly on their minimal energy impact. With these experiments we conclude that newer handsets are optimized for Bluetooth LE and iBeacons and battery impact is minimal even under high stress conditions. This is only going to improve as newer chipsets become available later this year.
This work by Aislelabs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. | <urn:uuid:7142da5a-8a80-4dae-b2f8-341670c13e87> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.aislelabs.com/reports/ibeacon-battery-phones/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398516.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00154-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921996 | 2,625 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Grow onions with the rich soil that has the proper pH level, and the only tears you'll shed will be tears of joy. Crunchy onions add flavor, but few calories, to just about everything, from stir fries to burgers. They're also rich in nutrients like vitamin C, fiber and manganese. Before planting onions, which are best suited for U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 9, put a little extra time into creating great soil.
Onions and Soil pH
Onions, like most veggies, grow best in slightly acidic soil. Ideally, soil for onions should have a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5, according to the National Gardening Association. At the high end of this range, soil nutrients are most easily accessed. While onions can survive when grown at a different pH level, they won't grow particularly well. To determine soil pH before planting onions, use a store-bought testing kit or take have a sample checked at a university extension office.
Adjusting Soil pH
If soil isn't in the proper pH range for growing onions, it can be adjusted. Amending soil with organic substances, like old leaves, will lower its pH and increase its acidity. Some fertilizers, like ammonium sulfate, will also boost acidity. To make soil more alkaline, Iowa State University recommends treating it with wood ash, which raises pH. Adjusting the pH level of soil takes time, however, and might require multiple treatments until the desired outcome is achieved.
Additional Soil Requirements
Aside from the proper pH level, there are other soil-related factors affecting onions. Many types of soil are suitable for onions, but it needs to be loose and well-drained, as soggy, heavy soil firms up in the sun, making it difficult for onion bulbs to expand and grow. To prevent this problem, mix soil with humus to keep it light and properly drained. Organic matter, mixed into soil, also helps it retain moisture, keeping the shallow roots of onions hydrated.
Mulching for Healthy Soil and Onions
Mulching onions keeps them and the soil in good shape and prevents various problems. A 2-inch-thick layer of grass clippings, for instance, helps onions stay weed-free and as the grass decomposes, providing them with nitrogen. Leaf mold, another option for a living, organic mulch, and works best when mixed with compost and provides magnesium and calcium. Mulch is also good for soil structure and shields onions from intense summer sun, helping them conserve water.
- World's Heathliest Foods: Onions
- Old Farmer's Almanac: Onions
- East Bay Express: Adjusting Your Soil Acidity
- BBC: Soil pH Values
- National Gardening Association: http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/onions_getting_started/494
- Ohio State University: Growing Onions in the Home Garden
- Weekend Gardener: 9 Tricks for Growing Onions
- Weekend Gardener: The Wonders of Mulch
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Mulches for the Home Vegetable Garden
- Iowa State University: How to Change Your Soil's pH
- Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images | <urn:uuid:b6e3f4ed-3953-4119-82d2-0d2049e9afc1> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ph-level-growing-onions-42823.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395621.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00190-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918643 | 685 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Whitefield was educated at St. Mary de Crypt School in Gloucester and Pembroke College, Oxford University; in 1735 he was converted, while a member of the same Holy Club, in Oxford, to which John Wesley and Charles Wesley belonged. At the invitation of John Wesley, Whitefield visited Georgia in 1738, and on his return to England, he was ordained a priest in the Church of England. He found many churches closed to his "evangelical" ministry, but he preached where invited, as well as in the open air, and persuaded Wesley to follow the latter practice.
Whitefield was a preaching evangelist who could address thousands in the open air and command rapt attention. He was indefatigable, often preaching three and four times a day for hours at a time. He preached throughout Scotland, Wales, and England and in addition made seven journeys to America. He gave impetus to the First Great Awakening in the American colonies around 1740. He collaborated with his Jonathan Edwards, who had started a revival in 1736 in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was founder and chief supporter of an orphanage in Oglethorpe, Georgia. As an imperial figure he united the people of the American colonies.
In 1756, he founded the Old South Church (Newburyport, Massachusetts).
Whitefield, unlike Wesley, was Calvinistic in his theological views. The two differed on eternal election, final perseverance, and sanctification, but were reconciled as friends and co-workers, each going his own way. Whitefield was not primarily an organizer but a man of profound experience, which he could communicate through clear expression infused with passion. During his later years he was patronized by the Countess of Huntingdon, who was the center of a group of Calvinistic Methodists until her death in 1791. She gave generously of her time, energy, and means to build chapels and found a seminary and, to prove her loyalty, separated from the Church of England in 1779. Whitefield died in Newburyport, Mass., on Sept. 30, 1770, and was buried there.
The Anglican Church had not assigned him pulpit so he began preaching in parks and fields in England on his own, reaching out to people who normally did not attend church. Like Edwards, he had developed a style of preaching that elicited emotional responses from his audiences. However, Whitefield had charisma, and his voice (which according to many accounts, could be heard over vast distances), small stature, and cross-eyed appearance (which some people took as a mark of divine favor) all served to help make him the first American celebrity. Thanks to the use of print in colonial America, perhaps more than half of all colonists, heard about, read about, or read something written by Whitefield. Whitefield used print extensively. He sent advance men to put up broadsides and to distribute handbills announcing his sermons. He also arranged to have his sermons published (a common practice in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries).
Whitefield's reconciliation of humility and power contributed much to the creation of democratic thought in the American colonies. The First Great Awakening democratized religion by redressing the balance of power between the minister and the congregation. Rather than listening demurely to preachers, people groaned and roared in enthusiastic emotion; new divinity schools opened to challenge the hegemony of Yale and Harvard; personal revelation became more important than formal education for preachers. Such concepts and habits were a necessary foundation for the American Revolution.
Franklin admired Whitefield, who first visited the colonies in 1738. Franklin saw Whitefield as a fellow intellectual, but thought Whitefield's plan to run an orphanage in Georgia would lose money. Franklin published several of Whitefield's tract. He was intrigued and himself moved by Whitefield's ability to preach and speak with clarity and enthusiasm to crowds ranging in the thousands. Franklin was a ecumenist and approved of Whitefield's ability to appeal to members of many denominations. Franklin was not moved by the Methodist evangelist's revivals, but did conclude that religiosity was a good thing for other people, so at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he proposed a prayer for divine intervention to aid the troubled proceedings.. After one of Whitefield's sermons, Franklin noted the:
- "wonderful...change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seem'd as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could not walk thro' the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street."
A lifelong close friendship developed between the revivalist preacher and the worldly, secular humanist. Looking beyond their public images, one finds a common charity, humility, and ethical sense embedded in the character of each man. True loyalty based on genuine affection coupled with a high value placed on friendship helped their association grow even stronger over time.
- Lambert, Frank. "Pedlar in Divinity": George Whitefield and the Transatlantic Revivals, 1737-1770. (1994). 238 pp.
- Stout, Harry S. The Divine Dramatist: George Whitefield and the Rise of Modern Evangelicalism. (1991). 301 pp.
- "I Will Not Be a Velvet-Mouthed Preacher!" The Life and Ministry of George Whitefield: Living and Preaching as Though God Were Real (Because He Is) by John Piper
- Nancy Ruttenburg, "George Whitefield, Spectacular Conversion, and the Rise of Democratic Personality." American Literary History 1993 5(3): 429-458. 0896-7148
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, p.104-108; Samuel J. Rogal, "Toward a Mere Civil Friendship: Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield." Methodist History 1997 35(4): 233-243. 0026-1238 | <urn:uuid:65360e45-5bd9-4cf2-9fdb-29ec2a838ae8> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.conservapedia.com/George_Whitefield | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399385.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00079-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973885 | 1,219 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Sorbitol, Water, Poloxamer 407, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Saccharin, Citric Acid, Flavor.
Squeeze a pea sized amount of toothpaste onto bristles of an extra soft toddler's toothbrush, for example My First Colgate® toothbrush. Use a small circular brushing motion to help remove food and plaque. Use: Helps remove plaque with brushing for cleaner teeth. Caution: Do not use if carton has been opened. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid excessive ingestion. For children ages 0 to 2 years old Once your child demonstrates ability to spit out toothpaste into the sink, Colgate recommends you switch to Colgate® Toothpaste with fluoride to help strengthen and protect teeth from cavities. | <urn:uuid:92f5e5e2-20c1-4f7b-923c-0f51bdedea76> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.shoprite.com/pd/Colgate/My-First-Toddler-Toothpaste/1-75-oz/035000782366/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395613.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00084-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.824216 | 171 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Definition of rutin
n. - A glucoside resembling, but distinct from, quercitrin. Rutin is found in the leaves of the rue (Ruta graveolens) and other plants, and obtained as a bitter yellow crystalline substance which yields quercitin on decomposition.
The word "rutin" uses 5 letters: I N R T U.
No direct anagrams for rutin found in this word list.
Words formed by adding one letter before or after rutin (in bold), or to inrtu in any order:
a - nutria e - triune uniter g - truing ungirt m - untrim n - inturn p - turnip s - rutins
Shorter words found within rutin:
in it nit nu nut rin ruin run runt rut ti tin tui tun turn un unit urn ut
List shorter words within rutin, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in rutin, plus an optional blank or existing letter
List all words starting with rutin, words containing rutin or words ending with rutin
All words formed from rutin by changing one letter
Other words with the same letter pairs: ru ut ti in
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Some random words: wyandotte | <urn:uuid:fea7b8b7-d85b-4e71-b9b6-d7f61b6c7687> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.morewords.com/word/rutin/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397744.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00064-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.731741 | 311 | 2.75 | 3 |
A pointer is a variable that holds a memory address, so on a 64 bit system it will be 8 bytes, on a 32 bit system it will be 4 bytes.
There aren't any exceptions - If I have an object that is say 500bytes and my system is 64 bit, then the pointer to the object will have a size of 8 bytes. The pointer points to the first memory address of the object.
If I have a variable that is an int, the pointer to it will have size 8 bytes, and points to the memory address of the int.
In my struct example above, the same thing applies to classes. If I had a class that contained 9 ints and 1 double, then the size would be 10 * sizeof double, not 9 * sizeof int + sizeof double. | <urn:uuid:9bb70416-186d-4220-8e2e-7bbf74d2002f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/general/76178/3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398075.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00078-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914895 | 162 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Design Lab taps into people’s natural tendency to be inventive and resourceful in finding solutions to basic engineering and design challenges.
Design Lab consists of five visually and thematically distinct activity areas that evoke a sense of childlike playfulness and imagination. The activities encourage visitors to be creative while experimenting with structures, circuits, simple materials and more.
Monday – Friday, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Visitors, please note that on weekdays, some portions of Design Lab are reserved for camp and school groups by advance reservation.
On Tuesday, May 3, Design Lab will close at 2 pm.
Activities in Backstage, Sandbox, Studio and Treehouse are free with NYSCI admission for general museum visitors. Workshops in Maker Space have small fees; check workshops for details. Camp and school groups can reserve Design Lab sessions for a fee by calling 718-699-0301 in advance of their visit.
See more photos of Design Lab here.
Design Lab activities use everyday materials to emphasize that creativity is not dependent on specialized tools or expert knowledge. Instead, the activities show how expertise is achieved through experimentation, critical thinking and collaboration.
From the beginning, teachers and educators have played an important role in the development of Design Lab’s activities and content. One of the goals of Design Lab is to ensure that school groups and teachers can transfer concepts related to design and engineering from NYSCI back into the classroom.
Design Lab’s five activity areas include:
- Backstage, where visitors devise solutions to deliver the perfect performance. In the exhibition’s first summer season, visitors will make jointed shadow puppets.
- Sandbox, where visitors build sturdy structures they can stand inside, such as this summer’s dowel construction activity, where museum-goers are challenged to build a large structure out of wooden dowels and rubber bands.
- Studio, where visitors construct tabletop structures, illuminated and animated by LEDs, motors, and circuits.
- Treehouse, a split-level area for experiments and activities requiring a vertical drop. Visitors use pulleys, zip lines and other items to create a method to move objects between the two levels.
- Maker Space, which opened in 2012, shows visitors how to use tools that convert design ideas into prototypes.
Design Lab was designed and fabricated by SITU Studio. The activity areas are distinct in size, materials and degree of enclosure with structural elements purposely made visible to visitors, evoking the DIY sensibility at the core of Design Lab‘s activities.
“With Design Lab, we’re exploring a new form of engagement between a museum and its visitors. Science museums are known for hands-on exhibits and participatory programs, but with Design Lab, visitors are in the driver’s seat like never before. You can think, build, test and refine your ideas, putting creative design and engineering to work as you overcome obstacles, solve problems, and point the way to a better world.”– Margaret Honey, NYSCI President and CEO
“Our ambition for Design Lab was to create an environment that would celebrate NYSCI’s innovative work in science education and learning through interest-driven creative design processes. To achieve this goal, our challenge as designers was to develop a series of workshops flexible enough to support the myriad activities they will host today and in the future. SITU and NYSCI share the belief that the Maker Movement presents new ways of thinking about the intersection of design and science – this project presented a perfect opportunity to explore this theme together.” — Aleksey Lukyanov-Cherny, partner at SITU Studio.
Design Lab is made possible with generous support from Phyllis and Ivan Seidenberg, the Verizon Foundation, Office of Naval Research and the Xerox Foundation. The Verizon Foundation provided seed funding for Design Lab that supported the participation of teachers to contribute to and inform the exhibition. | <urn:uuid:ea4b9615-1f61-4e63-ad5e-f8e39da8e072> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://nysci.org/designlab/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395613.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00042-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931463 | 831 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Tenere refers to the acquisition of organized knowledge, facere to the development of intellectual skills, intellegere is the formation of an enlarged understanding of ideas and values.
The laurel leaves are a symbol of excellence and achievement. As an ancient Greek symbol, they hint the origin of the word paideia and the roots of Western thought.
The bear was chosen as both a traditional school mascot and a symbol of strength and wisdom. The words freedom, discernment, courage and power are associated with the bear, as are the words motherhood and protection.
The compass rose indicates that life is a journey and must have direction if it is to be a good life. It signifies a deep principle of the paideia philosophy: lifelong learning. The education of children, above all, must give them not only the tools for a lifetime of learning, but also the motivation to continue their development as human persons. Education aims at happiness, a life well lived.
If you are looking for a top-notch, innovative and challenging high school experience, then yes! Read more!
PHS has been a true pioneer and has provided a good guide for future innovative inter-district cooperative high school programs. - OSPI | <urn:uuid:6e90649a-99c9-429e-b5ac-b9c124d0d606> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.paideiahs.org/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397567.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00085-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954388 | 250 | 2.640625 | 3 |
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The Giver, Jonas and Gabe all have pale eyes. This makes them very unusual in a society that valued conformity above anything else and that went to great lengths to enforce "Sameness" in all things. The significance of the eye color is not that it is pale, rahter than dark as are the eyes of the others in the community. The symbolic meaning of that difference in eye color relates to the difference in ability to perceive, see, and understand beyond the uniformity sensed by the others.
Jonas first became aware of his ability to "see beyond" when, for the briefest of moments, the apple changed appearance. The first time it happened, because it was a new experience, Jonas didn't know that what he was seeing was a color; he simply realized that something had changed. Without understanding what was happening or why, he began to be aware of other instances that involved the same experience of changed perception.
But when he looked out across the crowd, the sea of faces, the thing happened again. The thing that had happened with the apple. They changed. He blinked, and it was gone. His shoulder straightened slightly. Briefly he felt a tiny sliver of sureness for the first time.
Under the Giver's training, Jonas came to understand the impact of "sameness," the losses that it had brought to the community, and he developed his abilities to see beyond the superficially imposed limits of the community.
Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with difference. We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.
The two people with pale eyes in, "The Giver" is Jonas and Gabriel.
We’ve answered 328,311 questions. We can answer yours, too.Ask a question | <urn:uuid:f776f627-5761-481b-91ca-bd2ad8100e29> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/who-all-people-giver-with-pale-eyes-can-they-all-419057 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396222.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00001-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98096 | 434 | 3.3125 | 3 |
One second is here and gone before most of us can think about it. But a delay of one second can seem like an eternity in a quantum computer capable of running calculations in millionths of a second. That's why engineers at D-Wave Systems worked hard to eliminate the one-second computing delay that existed in the D-Wave One—the first-generation version of what the company describes as the world's first commercial quantum computer.
Such lessons learned from operating D-Wave One helped shape the hardware design of D-Wave Two, a second-generation machine that has already been leased by customers such as Google, NASA, and Lockheed Martin. Such machines have not yet proven that they can definitely outperform classical computers in a way that would support D-Wave's particular approach to building quantum computers. But the hardware design philosophy behind D-Wave's quantum computing architecture points to how researchers could build increasingly more powerful quantum computers in the future.
"We have room for increasing the complexity of the D-Wave chip," says Jeremy Hilton, vice president of processor development at D-Wave Systems. "If we can fix the number of control lines per processor regardless of size, we can call it truly scalable quantum computing technology."
D-Wave recently explained the hardware design choices it made in going from D-Wave One to D-Wave Two in the June 2014 issue of the journal IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity. Such details illustrate the engineering challenges that researchers still face in building a practical quantum computer capable of surpassing classical computers. (See IEEE Spectrum's overview of the D-Wave machines' performance from the December 2013 issue.)
Quantum computing holds the promise of speedily solving tough problems that ordinary computers would take practically forever to crack. Unlike classical computing that represents information as bits of either a 1 or 0, quantum computers take advantage of quantum bits (qubits) that can exist as both a 1 and 0 at the same time, enabling them to perform many simultaneous calculations.
Classical computer hardware has relied upon silicon transistors that can switch between "on" and "off" to represent the 1 or 0 in digital information. By comparison, D-Wave's quantum computing hardware relies on metal loops of niobium that have tiny electrical currents running through them. A current running counterclockwise through the loop creates a tiny magnetic field pointing up, whereas a clockwise current leads to a magnetic field pointing down. Those two magnetic field states represent the equivalent of 1 or 0.
The niobium loops become superconductors when chilled to frigid temperatures of 20 millikelvin (-273 degrees C). At such low temperatures, the currents and magnetic fields can enter the strange quantum state known as "superposition" that allows them to represent both 1 and 0 states simultaneously. That allows D-Wave to use these "superconducting qubits" as the building blocks for making a quantum computing machine. Each loop also contains a number of Josephson junctions—two layers of superconductor separated by a thin insulating layer—that act as a framework of switches for routing magnetic pulses to the correct locations.
But a bunch of superconducting qubits and their connecting couplers—separate superconducting loops that allow qubits to exchange information—won't do any computing all by themselves. D-Wave initially thought it would rely on analog control lines that could apply a magnetic field to the superconducting qubits and control their quantum states in that manner. However, the company realized early on in development that it would need at least six or seven control lines per qubit, for a programmable computer. The dream of eventually building more powerful machines with thousands of qubits would become an "impossible engineering challenge" with such design requirements, Hilton says.
The solution came in the form of digital-to-analog flux converters (DAC)—each about the size of a human red blood cell at 10 micrometers in width— that act as control devices and sit directly on the quantum computer chip. Such devices can replace control lines by acting as a form of programmable magnetic memory that produces a static magnetic field to affect nearby qubits. D-Wave can reprogram the DACs digitally to change the "bias" of their magnetic fields, which in turn affects the quantum computing operations.
Most researchers have focused on building quantum computers using the traditional logic-gate model of computing. But D-Wave has focused on a more specialized approach known as "quantum annealing" —a method of tackling optimization problems. Solving optimization problems means finding the lowest "valley" that represents the best solution in a problem "landscape" with peaks and valleys. In practical terms, D-Wave starts a group of qubits in their lowest energy state and then gradually turns on interactions between the qubits, which encodes a quantum algorithm. When the qubits settle back down in their new lowest-energy state, D-Wave can read out the qubits to get the results.
Both the D-Wave One (128 qubits) and D-Wave Two (512 qubits) processors have DACs. But the circuitry setup of D-Wave One created some problems between the programming DAC phase and the quantum annealing operations phase. Specifically, the D-Wave One programming phase temporarily raised the temperature to as much as 500 millikelvin, which only dropped back down to the 20 millikelvin temperature necessary for quantum annealing after one second. That's a significant delay for a machine that can perform quantum annealing in just 20 microseconds (20 millionths of a second).
By simplifying the hardware architecture and adding some more control lines, D-Wave managed to largely eliminate the temperature rise. That in turn reduced the post-programming delay to about 10 milliseconds (10 thousandths of a second)— a "factor of 100 improvement achieved within one processor generation," Hilton says. D-Wave also managed to reduce the physical size of the DAC "footprint" by about 50 percent in D-Wave Two.
Building ever-larger arrays of qubits continues to challenge D-Wave's engineers. They must always be aware of how their hardware design—packed with many classical computing components—can affect the fragile quantum states and lead to errors or noise that overwhelms the quantum annealing operations.
"We were nervous about going down this path," Hilton says. "This architecture requires the qubits and the quantum devices to be intermingled with all these big classical objects. The threat you worry about is noise and impact of all this stuff hanging around the qubits. Traditional experiments in quantum computing have qubits in almost perfect isolation. But if you want quantum computing to be scalable, it will have to be immersed in a sea of computing complexity."
Still, D-Wave's current hardware architecture, code-named "Chimera," should be capable of building quantum computing machines of up to 8000 qubits, Hilton says. The company is also working on building a larger processor containing 1000 qubits.
"The architecture isn’t necessarily going to stay the same, because we're constantly learning about performance and other factors," Hilton says. "But each time we implement a generation, we try to give it some legs so we know it’s extendable." | <urn:uuid:1f3b078b-e9c5-42f3-bf20-8f5af1f07017> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/computing/hardware/how-dwave-built-quantum-computing-hardware-for-the-next-generation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396455.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00051-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934135 | 1,493 | 3.546875 | 4 |
- Parenting Principles Slideshow Pictures
- Top 10 Brain Foods for Children Slideshow Pictures
- Parenting - Fitness and Exercise Slideshow Pictures
- What are milestones in physical skills development for young children 6-8 years of age?
- What are stages in cognitive skills development for young children 6-8 years of age?
- What are tips for parents caring for a young child 6-8 years of age?
- How can parents ensure the safety of their young children 6-8 years of age?
Quick GuideBrain Foods: Healthy Food for Kids’ Brains
How can parents ensure the safety of their young children 6-8 years of age?
For the 6- to 8-year-old child, parents have a primary obligation of providing an emotional safety net for an often turbulent period. Reinforcing that the love and respect they have for the child is not dependent upon academic, athletic, or social success is important. Coupled with this unconditional love must be the expressed parental belief of what is expected and what consequences may occur.
Parents have an obligation to provide athletic equipment that is both age appropriate and sized correctly. The concept of "he'll grow into it" can be a recipe for accidents. Bicycles, bike/ski helmets, skis/snowboards, and baseball bats/gloves should properly fit the child at the time the equipment is purchased. Many sporting good stores have end-of-season exchanges facilitating "trading up" in size or skill level of equipment.
While many children feel they are adept swimmers, drowning remains an unfortunate event in this age range. Whether associated with accidental trauma (head vs. shallow pool bottom) or panic in ocean waves or undertow/riptides, constant adult supervision is mandatory.
Automobile seat belt and booster seat laws vary by state and should be strictly reinforced. Parental seat belt use and avoidance of distractions (cell phones, food, etc.) all underscore that absolute vigilance is necessary when operating a moving vehicle. Pedestrian safety rules ("walk" and "don't walk" signs) should be reinforced to children.
Passive smoke, firearms in the home, and easy access to matches are other areas in which parents can intervene to further guarantee their children's safety.
In the end, although there are never any guarantees, all parents are shepherds who must try to guide their children safely to the next stage in life.
Child Development Institute | <urn:uuid:16b87fa0-031e-40a4-86ef-ca61a017c871> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.medicinenet.com/young_children_child_development/page3.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396959.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00184-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9278 | 501 | 3.171875 | 3 |
- Nuclear Power
- Environmental Health
- Healthy Climate
Join us in building a healthy environment and promoting sensible security policies. Make a donation to Oregon PSR today
Tell President Obama and the US DOT to stop oil trains carrying diluted tar sands and fracked shale oil from the Bakken formation—both are more toxic, more explosive, and more carbon-intensive than conventional crude.
A local geologist examining existing knowledge of the seismic activity on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the Mid-Columbia basin has concluded that the earthquake standards set for the Northwest’s only commercial nuclear power plant are at least 300% lower than should be required. Oregon and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, which commissioned the study, has called for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down the nuclear plant until it can meet adequate earthquake standards.
The Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant, previously known as the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) plant #2 (WNP-2), is a GE Boiling Water Reactor with a Mark II containment that began operation in 1984 on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation along the Columbia River, north of Richland, Washington. The plant produces around 4% of the Pacific Northwest’s electricity on an average annual basis.
Kennewick, WA-based consulting engineering geologist, Terry L. Tolan, LEG, produced two reports released yesterday by the Oregon and Washington chapters of Physicians for Social Responsibility. “No seismic structural upgrades have been made at the Columbia Generating Station despite all of the geologic evidence that has been assembled over the past thirty years which has dramatically increased the seismic risk at this site,” Tolan concluded.
Tolan’s reports and attachments, along with a letter from Oregon and Washington PSR chapter Presidents John Pearson, MD, and Steve Gilbert, PhD, DABT, were sent to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane yesterday, asking for her intervention and calling on the NRC to “put the safety of the public in the Pacific Northwest above the utility’s interests to continue operating” and “shut down the CGS nuclear power plant immediately until it can be shown that it meets adequate earthquake standards.”
“Given the design similarities to the Japanese GE BWR reactors, we are concerned that if an earthquake cracked the elevated spent-fuel pool, cooling water would drain and we could have a Fukushima-like scenario on our hands,” said Seattle toxicologist Steven Gilbert, president of PSR’s Washington chapter.
Portland pediatrician John Pearson, president of Oregon’s PSR chapter, echoed that sentiment: “we have seen what a ‘station black-out/loss of coolant’ accident can do to this type of a nuclear reactor. We are very concerned that a major earthquake could lead to a similar accident on the Columbia River.”
Geologist Tolan’s first report outlines the new seismic information, based upon thirty years of additional research in the region, that was not included in the initial assessment of the nuclear power plant, including:
1. the erroneous placement of the largest historic earthquake in relation to the nuclear plant;
2. a doubling of the number of major fault lines discovered in the region;
3. ground motion studies for the US Department of Energy’s Waste Treatment Plant, ten miles away, found potential for more than three times as much vibratory ground motion as had been estimated for the CGS nuclear plant;
4. faults at different layers in the substrata are now believed to be “coupled,” increasing the potential for larger earthquakes;
5. faults are now known to be much longer than previously known – increasing the potential for more powerful earthquakes;
6. faults are now known to be “younger,” indicating more recent quakes;
7. the distance of the closest active fault to the CGS nuclear plant is now known to be 2.3 miles, not the more than five miles away as originally believed;
8. faulting extends into the basement rock below basalt layers, greatly increasing the potential for large quakes; and,
9. surface faulting on Umtanum Ridge, which extends within 6.2 miles of the nuclear plant, indicates more recent activity than previously known, increasing the likelihood of earthquakes.
Tolan’s second report dissects a 2010 analysis prepared by CGS nuclear plant operator Energy Northwest for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding new seismic knowledge in the region – using some of the specifics from the first report to demonstrate why the utility’s arguments are inadequate. ENW acknowledged that they had not reexamined some fundamental aspects of seismic hazard assessment such as the location of the faults, the lengths of the faults, the fault models, earthquake frequencies, and earthquake magnitudes. Tolan notes that “not reexamining these fundamental aspects was a notable failure on Energy Northwest’s part.”
The Oregon and Washington PSR letter to NRC Chair Macfarlane also noted that, post Fukushima, the NRC has carried out two seismic inspections of the CGS plant that were based on the original, clearly inadequate, licensed earthquake standards. They found that the Emergency Response Facilities, the Tower Makeup system, the Fire Protection Systems, the Floor Drain Isolation Valves and the Sump Level Switches were “not seismically qualified.” The 2012 seismic inspections, known as walk downs and walk bys, showed 109 “potentially adverse seismic conditions” with 15 walk downs deferred and not yet reported. The NRC has reported that many of these failings, based upon the original earthquake standards, remain unaddressed. | <urn:uuid:ff31aeff-16bc-4070-975c-1d05c2e5f8f6> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/news/homepage-features/columbia-generating-station.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393442.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00186-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94924 | 1,179 | 2.625 | 3 |
A recent study conducted by researchers and physicians at Nationwide Children's Hospital sheds new light on feeding challenges often faced by premature infants. Although the prevalence of this disorder is well recognized, the feeding milestones for infants have not been well described. The new study, published online in the Journal of Perinatology, defines the feeding milestones leading to these infants' transition to oral feeding based on their gestational age and explains other coexisting disorders affecting these skills.
"Feeding problems are an important area of neonatal morbidity that requires attention. It worries both parents and caregivers, and prolongs the length of hospitalization which escalates the cost of medical care," said the study's lead author, Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD, medical director of the Neonatal and Infant Feeding Disorders Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "The nature of feeding milestones, including the timeline for the acquisition of independent swallowing abilities, and the impact of co-morbidity factors influencing these skills has not been well explained until now."
According to the Nationwide Children's study, infants who were less than 28 weeks gestational age had significant feeding delays and stayed in the hospital for a prolonged period of time. Infants who were born after 28 weeks gestational age attained successful feeding milestones at a similar postmenstrual age. This study also found that airway and digestive morbidities significantly affected the oral feeding milestone.
"Knowledge of these facts paves the way for anticipatory guidance to care providers and helps in the development of higher quality feeding plans," continued Dr. Jadcherla, also an associate professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. "Advances in neonatal intensive care have increased survival rate, and the use of resources has also increased astronomically to improve these infants' quality of life."
Data for the study, conducted in collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin, was obtained by observing the feeding progress of nearly 200 infants. Collaborators tracked the age at which the infants acquired first feedings, maximum tube feedings and maximum oral feedings. Other resource usage measures included the total length of hospital stay, the duration an infant used a feeding tube and the total time they were on respiratory support. | <urn:uuid:c3a2a62d-ecfe-4182-8aeb-3415ebac70b0> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/nch-dfm120209.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395560.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00015-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9612 | 451 | 2.78125 | 3 |
The French composer, Maurice Ravel may have left a hidden message - a woman's name - inside his work.
A sequence of three notes occurring repeatedly through his work spells out the name of a famous Parisian socialite says Ravel expert David Lamaze.
He argues that the notes, E, B, A in musical notation, or "Mi-Si-La" in the French doh-re-mi scale, refer to Misia Sert, a close friend of Ravel's.
Well known in art circles, she was painted by Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Ravel never married, but Misia was married three times. Ravel composed some of his work while staying on a boat belonging to Misia and her second husband.
"It has never been done before. To take one person and to place them at the centre of a life-long work," says Professor Lamaze of the Conservatoire de Rennes, who is working on a book about Ravel and Misia.
Professor Lamaze believes Ravel was romantically inspired by Misia. "To put the feeling of love at the very central point of the creation without us knowing it. That is typical of Ravel, I think."
Ravel was intensely private about both his work and his love life
Ravel was notoriously secretive about all aspects of his life, from his compositional process to his private life, which has led to speculation that he may have been gay.
The Mi-Si-La motif appears, in particular, at crucial phases of Ravel's work La Valse, says David Lamaze.
At the beginning, in depicting a man and woman dancing a Viennese Waltz, he entwines Mi-Si-La with A and E - thought to denote Ravel.
Initially planned in 1906 as a tribute to the waltzes of Johann Strauss, La Valse became a much darker work when he completed it in 1920, following his experiences serving in the World War I and the death of his mother.
BBC Radio 3 features Ravel's The Waltz on Saturday at 1215 GMTor catch up later at | <urn:uuid:f1344a72-7143-4c25-ae9f-7e1a67d5696a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7968024.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396459.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00090-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981405 | 446 | 2.96875 | 3 |
DATA FROM A LARGE PLACEBO-CONTROLLED SAFETY STUDY THAT WAS STOPPED EARLY SUGGEST THAT SALMETEROL MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH RARE SERIOUS ASTHMA EPISODES OR ASTHMA-RELATED DEATHS. Data from this study, called the Salmeterol Multi-center Asthma Research Trial (SMART), further suggest that the risk might be greater in African American patients. These results led to stopping the study prematurely (see CLINICAL TRIALS: Asthma: Salmeterol Multi-center Asthma Research Trial). The data from the SMART study are not adequate to determine whether concurrent use of inhaled corticosteroids provides protection from this risk. Given the similar basic mechanisms of action of beta2-agonists, it is possible that the findings seen in the SMART study may be consistent with a class effect.
Findings similar to the SMART study findings were reported in a prior 16-week clinical study performed in the United Kingdom, the Salmeterol Nationwide Surveillance (SNS) study. In the SNS study, the incidence of asthma-related death was numerically, though not statistically, greater in patients with asthma treated with salmeterol (42 mcg twice daily) versus albuterol (180 mcg 4 times daily) added to usual asthma therapy.
SEREVENT INHALATION AEROSOL SHOULD NOT BE INITIATED IN PATIENTS WITH SIGNIFICANTLY WORSENING OR ACUTELY DETERIORATING ASTHMA, WHICH MAY BE A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. Serious acute respiratory events, including fatalities, have been reported, both in the United States and worldwide, when SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol has been initiated in this situation.
Although it is not possible from these reports to determine whether SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol contributed to these adverse events or simply failed to relieve the deteriorating asthma, the use of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol in this setting is inappropriate.
SEREVENT INHALATION AEROSOL SHOULD NOT BE USED TO TREAT ACUTE SYMPTOMS. It is crucial to inform patients of this and prescribe an inhaled, short-acting beta 2 -agonist for this purpose as well as warn them that increasing inhaled beta 2 -agonist use is a signal of deteriorating asthma.
SEREVENT INHALATION AEROSOL IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR INHALED OR ORAL CORTICOSTEROIDS. Corticosteroids should not be stopped or reduced when SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol is initiated.
(See PRECAUTIONS: Information for Patients and the PATIENT'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE accompanying the product.)
1. Do Not Introduce SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol as a Treatment for Acutely Deteriorating Asthma: SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol is intended for the maintenance treatment of asthma (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE) and should not be introduced in acutely deteriorating asthma, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. There are no data demonstrating that SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol provides greater efficacy than or additional efficacy to inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonists in patients with worsening asthma. Serious acute respiratory events, including fatalities, have been reported both in the United States and worldwide in patients receiving SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol. In most cases, these have occurred in patients with severe asthma (e.g., patients with a history of corticosteroid dependence, low pulmonary function, intubation, mechanical ventilation, frequent hospitalizations, or previous lifethreatening acute asthma exacerbations) and/or in some patients in whom asthma has been acutely deteriorating (e.g., unresponsive to usual medications; increasing need for inhaled, shortacting beta2-agonists; increasing need for systemic corticosteroids; significant increase in symptoms; recent emergency room visits; sudden or progressive deterioration in pulmonary function). However, they have occurred in a few patients with less severe asthma as well. It was not possible from these reports to determine whether SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol contributed to these events or simply failed to relieve the deteriorating asthma.
2. Do Not Use SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol to Treat Acute Symptoms: An inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist, not SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, should be used to relieve acute asthma or COPD symptoms. When prescribing SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, the physician must also provide the patient with an inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist (e.g., albuterol) for treatment of symptoms that occur acutely, despite regular twice-daily (morning and evening) use of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol.
When beginning treatment with SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, patients who have been taking inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonists on a regular basis (e.g., 4 times a day) should be instructed to discontinue the regular use of these drugs and use them only for symptomatic relief of acute asthma or COPD symptoms (see PRECAUTIONS: Information for Patients).
3. Watch for Increasing Use of Inhaled, Short-Acting Beta 2 -Agonists, Which Is a Marker of Deteriorating Asthma: Asthma may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. If the patient’s inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist becomes less effective or the patient needs more inhalations than usual, this may be a marker of destabilization of asthma. In this setting, the patient requires immediate reevaluation with reassessment of the treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the possible need for corticosteroids. If the patient uses 4 or more inhalations per day of an inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist for 2 or more consecutive days, or if more than 1 canister (200 inhalations per canister) of inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist is used in an 8-week period in conjunction with SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, then the patient should consult the physician for reevaluation. Increasing the daily dosage of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol in this situation is not appropriate. SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol should not be used more frequently than twice daily (morning and evening) at the recommended dose of 2 inhalations.
4. Do Not Use SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol as a Substitute for Oral or Inhaled Corticosteroids: The use of beta-adrenergic agonist bronchodilators alone may not be adequate to control asthma in many patients. Early consideration should be given to adding anti-inflammatory agents, e.g., corticosteroids. There are no data demonstrating that SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol has a clinical anti-inflammatory effect and could be expected to take the place of corticosteroids. Patients who already require oral or inhaled corticosteroids for treatment of asthma should be continued on this type of treatment even if they feel better as a result of initiating SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol. Any change in corticosteroid dosage should be made ONLY after clinical evaluation (see PRECAUTIONS: Information for Patients).
5. Do Not Exceed Recommended Dosage: As with other inhaled beta2-adrenergic drugs, SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol should not be used more often or at higher doses than recommended. Fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs. Large doses of inhaled or oral salmeterol (12 to 20 times the recommended dose) have been associated with clinically significant prolongation of the QTc interval, which has the potential for producing ventricular arrhythmias.
6. Paradoxical Bronchospasm: SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life threatening. If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol should be discontinued immediately and alternative therapy instituted. It should be recognized that paradoxical bronchospasm, when associated with inhaled formulations, frequently occurs with the first use of a new canister or vial.
7. Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions may occur after administration of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, as demonstrated by rare cases of urticaria, angioedema, rash, and bronchospasm.
8. Upper Airway Symptoms: Symptoms of laryngeal spasm, irritation, or swelling, such as stridor and choking, have been reported rarely in patients receiving SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol.
SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, like all other beta-adrenergic agonists, can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients as measured by pulse rate, blood pressure, and/or symptoms. Although such effects are uncommon after administration of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol at recommended doses, if they occur, the drug may need to be discontinued. In addition, beta-agonists have been reported to produce electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QTc interval, and ST segment depression. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. Therefore, SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, like all sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension.
1. Use With Spacer or Other Devices: The safety and effectiveness of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol when used with a spacer or other devices have not been adequately studied.
2. Cardiovascular and Other Effects: No effect on the cardiovascular system is usually seen after the administration of inhaled salmeterol in recommended doses, but the cardiovascular and central nervous system effects seen with all sympathomimetic drugs (e.g., increased blood pressure, heart rate, excitement) can occur after use of salmeterol and may require discontinuation of the drug. SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, like all sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension; in patients with convulsive disorders or thyrotoxicosis; and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines.
As has been described with other beta-adrenergic agonist bronchodilators, clinically significant changes in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and ECGs have been seen infrequently in individual patients in controlled clinical studies with salmeterol.
3. Metabolic Effects: Doses of the related beta2-adrenoceptor agonist albuterol, when administered intravenously, have been reported to aggravate preexisting diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis. No effects on glucose have been seen with SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol at recommended doses. Beta-adrenergic agonist medications may produce significant hypokalemia in some patients, possibly through intracellular shunting, which has the potential to produce adverse cardiovascular effects. The decrease is usually transient, not requiring supplementation.
Clinically significant changes in blood glucose and/or serum potassium were seen rarely during clinical studies with long-term administration of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol at recommended doses.
Information for Patients
See illustrated PATIENT’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE. SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING.
It is important that patients understand how to use SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol appropriately and how it should be used in relation to other asthma or COPD medications they are taking. Patients should be given the following information:
- Shake well before using.
- The action of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol may last up to 12 hours or longer. The recommended dosage (2 inhalations twice daily, morning and evening) should not be exceeded.
- SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol is not meant to relieve acute asthma or COPD symptoms and extra doses should not be used for that purpose. Acute symptoms should be treated with an inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist such as albuterol (the physician should provide the patient with such medication and instruct the patient in how it should be used).
- Patients should not stop SEREVENT therapy for asthma or COPD without physician/provider guidance since symptoms may recur after discontinuation.
- The physician should be notified immediately if any of the following situations occur, which may be a sign of seriously worsening asthma.
- Decreasing effectiveness of inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonists
- Need for more inhalations than usual of inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonists
- Use of 4 or more inhalations per day of a short-acting beta2-agonist for 2 or more days consecutively
- Use of more than one 200-inhalation canister of an inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist (e.g., albuterol) in an 8-week period
- SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol should not be used as a substitute for oral or inhaled corticosteroids. The dosage of these medications should not be changed and they should not be stopped without consulting the physician, even if the patient feels better after initiating treatment with SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol.
- Patients should be cautioned regarding common adverse cardiovascular effects, such as palpitations, chest pain, rapid heart rate, tremor, or nervousness.
- In patients receiving SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, other inhaled medications should be used only as directed by the physician.
- When using SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm, patients should take the dose at least 30 to 60 minutes before exercise.
- Patients who are pregnant or nursing should contact the physician about the use of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol.
- Effective and safe use of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol includes an understanding of the way that it should be administered.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Tricyclic Antidepressants
Salmeterol should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of salmeterol on the vascular system may be potentiated by these agents.
Corticosteroids and Cromoglycate
In clinical trials, inhaled corticosteroids and/or inhaled cromolyn sodium did not alter the safety profile of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol when administered concurrently.
The concurrent use of intravenously or orally administered methylxanthines (e.g., aminophylline, theophylline) by patients receiving SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol has not been completely evaluated. In 1 clinical asthma trial, 87 patients receiving SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol 42 mcg twice daily concurrently with a theophylline product had adverse event rates similar to those in 71 patients receiving SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol without theophylline. Resting heart rates were slightly higher in the patients on theophylline but were little affected by SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol therapy.
Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol, but may also produce severe bronchospasm in patients with asthma. Therefore, patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. However, under certain circumstances, e.g., as prophylaxis after myocardial infarction, there may be no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents in patients with asthma. In this setting, cardioselective beta-blockers could be considered, although they should be administered with caution.
The ECG changes and/or hypokalemia that may result from the administration of nonpotassium-sparing diuretics (such as loop or thiazide diuretics) can be acutely worsened by beta-agonists, especially when the recommended dose of the beta-agonist is exceeded. Although the clinical significance of these effects is not known, caution is advised in the coadministration of beta-agonists with nonpotassium-sparing diuretics.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
In an 18-month oral carcinogenicity study in CD-mice, salmeterol xinafoate at oral doses of 1.4 mg/kg and above (approximately 9 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults based on comparison of the areas under the plasma concentration versus time curves [AUCs]) caused dose-related increases in the incidence of smooth muscle hyperplasia, cystic glandular hyperplasia, leiomyomas of the uterus, and cysts in the ovaries. The incidence of leiomyosarcomas was not statistically significant. No tumors were seen at 0.2 mg/kg (comparable to the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults based on comparison of the AUCs).
In a 24-month inhalation and oral carcinogenicity study in Sprague Dawley rats, salmeterol caused dose-related increases in the incidence of mesovarian leiomyomas and ovarian cysts at inhalation and oral doses of 0.68 mg/kg/day and above (approximately 55 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m2 basis). No tumors were seen at 0.21 mg/kg/day (approximately 15 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m2 basis). These findings in rodents are similar to those reported previously for other beta-adrenergic agonist drugs. The relevance of these findings to human use is unknown.
Salmeterol xinafoate produced no detectable or reproducible increases in microbial and mammalian gene mutation in vitro. No clastogenic activity occurred in vitro in human lymphocytes or in vivo in a rat micronucleus test. No effects on fertility were identified in male and female rats treated orally with salmeterol xinafoate at doses up to 2 mg/kg (approximately 160 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m2 basis).
Pregnancy Category C. No teratogenic effects occurred in the rat at oral doses up to 2 mg/kg (approximately 160 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m2 basis). In pregnant Dutch rabbits administered oral doses of 1 mg/kg and above (approximately 20 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults based on the comparison of the AUCs), salmeterol xinafoate exhibited fetal toxic effects characteristically resulting from beta-adrenoceptor stimulation; these included precocious eyelid openings, cleft palate, sternebral fusion, limb and paw flexures, and delayed ossification of the frontal cranial bones. No significant effects occurred at an oral dose of 0.6 mg/kg (approximately 10 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose in adults based on comparison of the AUCs).
New Zealand White rabbits were less sensitive since only delayed ossification of the frontal cranial bones was seen at oral doses of 10 mg/kg (approximately 1,600 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose on a mg/m2 basis). Extensive use of other beta-agonists has provided no evidence that these class effects in animals are relevant to use in humans. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol in pregnant women. SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Use in Labor and Delivery
There are no well-controlled human studies that have investigated effects of salmeterol on preterm labor or labor at term. Because of the potential for beta-agonist interference with uterine contractility, use of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol for prevention of bronchospasm during labor should be restricted to those patients in whom the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
Plasma levels of salmeterol after inhaled therapeutic doses are very low. In rats, salmeterol xinafoate is excreted in milk. However, since there is no experience with use of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol by nursing mothers, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Caution should be exercised when salmeterol xinafoate is administered to a nursing woman.
The safety and effectiveness of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol in children younger than 12 years of age have not been established.
Of the total number of patients who received SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol in all asthma clinical studies, 241 were 65 years of age and older. Geriatric patients (65 years and older) with reversible obstructive airway disease were evaluated in 4 well-controlled studies of 3 weeks’ to 3 months’ duration. Two placebo-controlled, crossover studies evaluated twice-daily dosing with salmeterol for 21 to 28 days in 45 patients. An additional 75 geriatric patients were treated with salmeterol for 3 months in 2 large parallel-group, multicenter studies. These 120 patients experienced increases in AM and PM PEF and decreases in diurnal variation in PEF similar to responses seen in the total populations of the 2 latter studies. The adverse event type and frequency in geriatric patients were not different from those of the total populations studied.
In 2 large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 3-month studies involving patients with COPD, 133 patients using SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol were 65 years and older. These patients experienced similar improvements in FEV1 as observed for patients younger than 65.
No apparent differences in the efficacy and safety of SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol were observed when geriatric patients were compared with younger patients in asthma and COPD clinical trials. As with other beta2-agonists, however, special caution should be observed when using SEREVENT Inhalation Aerosol in geriatric patients who have concomitant cardiovascular disease that could be adversely affected by this class of drug. Based on available data, no adjustment of salmeterol dosage in geriatric patients is warranted. | <urn:uuid:13952a34-9a51-478f-8329-e0445b72745b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.druglib.com/druginfo/serevent/warnings_precautions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395613.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00003-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.89816 | 4,867 | 2.609375 | 3 |
NASA has already begun the countdown for the space shuttle Atlantis' blastoff Friday, which will be its last trip to the International Space Station and one of the final three space shuttle missions ever, according to The Associated Press. Three instruments built at University of Colorado-based nonprofit BioServe Space Technologies will accompany astronauts on the final flight, used to study cell-to-cell interactions on "biofilms" and why astronauts' immune systems weaken in space, according to Boulder's Daily Camera. The instruments, which could fit inside a suitcase, are used to study how microorganisms and cells interact in space, helping scientists understand, for instance, why bacteria seem to become more virulent and more resistant to antibiotics in low gravity. One experiment using BioServe's hardware will analyze changes in virulence of two particularly nasty strains of bacteria in the low gravity of space: salmonella, which can cause illness and death to humans by tainting food or water, and staphylococcus, which can cause a variety of infections, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. "Water quality, food safety, and disease are age-old problems on Earth," BioServe director Louis Stodieck says in a CU news release. "Not only do these experiments have applications for keeping crew members safe by helping scientists better understand gene and protein changes in pathogens, they also could help researchers find new ways to prevent and control infectious disease." | <urn:uuid:77b81cbb-dc6d-4768-954b-d9972297d843> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.5280.com/blogs/2010/05/12/boulders-role-shuttles-final-mission | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00085-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928598 | 301 | 3.390625 | 3 |
March 12, 2003
MARAD to help states use scrapped ships as reefs
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) is to provide financial assistance to states for preparation of obsolete ships as artificial reefs.
MARAD has long had a program in which states could request the transfer of obsolete vessels to be used as artificial reefs, but the entire cost of preparing the ship had to be borne by the states. During the past five years MARAD has transferred only one ship to a state for use as an artificial reef.
Congress has now authorized MARAD to expend ship disposal funds to clean vessels for reefing projects
"Since preparing and cleaning a ship for artificial reefing can range from $500,000 to $1 million or more," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, "having money to help fund preparation work provides a much-needed boost to this innovative program. Reefing now becomes a practical option, and we look forward to working with the states to make it happen."
In addition to the cost to the state of preparing a ship, MARAD realized that other factors also constrained the demand for ships. These included the absence of national environmental guidelines for preparing ships and a lengthy application review and approval process involving multiple federal agencies.
Ships that are used in this program will be cleaned before they are sunk for use as artificial reefs. MARAD has initiated a task force with the Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Navy to develop "best practices" for cleaning vessels for this purpose. These guidelines will guide cleanup of ships for shoreline and barrier island protection projects as well. MARAD has also engaged the same federal agencies in developing a streamlined application process. | <urn:uuid:c59799e7-99f4-4eae-bda5-3fc8ccde873b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIII/MMIIIMar12a.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397873.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00137-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956635 | 364 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Arguing that the contemporary commitment to the importance of cultural identity has renovated rather than replaced an earlier commitment to racial identity, Walter Benn Michaels asserts that the idea of culture, far from constituting a challenge to racism, is actually a form of racism. Our America offers both a provocative reinterpretation of the role of identity in modernism and a sustained critique of the role of identity in postmodernism. "We have a great desire to be supremely American," Calvin Coolidge wrote in 1924. That desire, Michaels tells us, is at the very heart of American modernism, giving form and substance to a cultural movement that would in turn redefine America's cultural and collective identity--ultimately along racial lines. A provocative reinterpretation of American modernism, Our America also offers a new way of understanding current debates over the meaning of race, identity, multiculturalism, and pluralism. Michaels contends that the aesthetic movement of modernism and the social movement of nativism came together in the 1920s in their commitment to resolve the meaning of identity--linguistic, national, cultural, and racial. Just as the Johnson Immigration Act of 1924, which excluded aliens, and the Indian Citizenship Act of the same year, which honored the truly native, reconceptualized national identity, so the major texts of American writers such as Cather, Faulkner, Hurston, and Williams reinvented identity as an object of pathos--something that can be lost or found, defended or betrayed. Our America is both a history and a critique of this invention, tracing its development from the white supremacism of the Progressive period through the cultural pluralism of the Twenties. Michaels's sustained rereading of the texts of the period--the canonical, the popular, and the less familiar--exposes recurring concerns such as the reconception of the image of the Indian as a symbol of racial purity and national origins, the relation between World War I and race, contradictory appeals to the family as a model for the nation, and anxieties about reproduction that subliminally tie whiteness and national identity to incest, sterility, and impotence.
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Rent Our America 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Walter B. Michaels. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Duke University Press.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our tutors now. | <urn:uuid:1a67ee05-8d2b-46c8-b239-04b7a9d838b9> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.chegg.com/textbooks/our-america-1st-edition-9780822320647-0822320649?ii=20&trackid=115373c9&omre_ir=1&omre_sp= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783408840.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155008-00187-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936327 | 508 | 2.84375 | 3 |
In finance, cushion may have several meanings:
Cushion refers to the period of time before a bond reaches maturity. During this period, a bond cannot be called, and investors receive interest payments.
Cushion in a Company’s Account
Cushion may also refer to a reserve account in a company’s financials, set up for the purpose of paying off bad debts.
A Higher-Priced Bond
Alternatively, the term cushion may also refer to a kind of bond which is usually priced slightly higher. The higher price is mainly because of this kind of bond includes a provision allowing the bond issuer to repurchase the bond or security at a price which is more or less equal to the current price. Also, coupon payments are higher than the typical rates offered in the market.
Cushion bonds are known for having high current yields and are not susceptible to increases in price. These are high-coupon bonds, which also means that if price changes do occur, they are not very drastic. In the event of a rise in interest rates, the value of a coupon bond should not depreciate drastically.
On the other hand, should interest rates fall, the value of the cushion bond does not appreciate as much a regular bonds. This is because with cushion bonds, there is always a risk that the issuer will call the bond. As such, conservative investors who wish to enjoy higher returns may choose to purchase cushion bonds. | <urn:uuid:ceca25be-3476-462e-8c9e-e3f962c54c78> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.businesspundit.com/encyclopedia/investing/cushion/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397795.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00001-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964774 | 299 | 2.640625 | 3 |
|Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute||Home|
Joan Rapczynski and Florence Zywocinski
First, we hope to make the students aware that there are distinctions between legitimate force and violence. The teaching of peace and aggression is vital for schools in a democratic society. If young people are to be responsible citizens of their nation, then they should have some understanding of the problems besetting their world. As teachers we cannot dodge these issues of decision making and participation if the student is to exercise his or her moral responsibilities. An attempt will be made to show that understanding peace, aggression and responsibility is the only solution to human progress and moral development. Aggression in everyday life has to be minimized and eliminated on a personal level before the student can have an impact on a national level. Students will examine aspects of human aggression and realize that there are other responses to conflicts besides aggression and avoidance.
Second, we hope to give the students an awareness of the morality of war. Are all wars just or is there such a thing as an unjust war? What must be realized is that the reasons for war as well as the way in which the war was fought must both be examined.
The third objective is to motivate the students to think about the problems of obedience to authority, survival, moral responsibility and dissent. If an effort is not made to develop an awareness in recognizing dangerous and immoral assumptions, then it can lead to serious undesirable consequences. Obedience to authority without questioning its morality can lead to destructive and violent acts. Students should be taught the importance of logical reasoning. Such a skill will give the student a valuable tool to question leaders as to their motives and their moral responsibilities. It will also give individuals the courage to question immoral acts and refuse to be a participant in anything that is immoral. The student should hopefully acquire the capacity to meet unexpected challenges and should be able to make informed value judgments. These objectives will prepare the student to go on learning for a lifetime.
The fourth objective is to give students an understanding that all people (including leaders) are complex, and that this complexity is a result of many different factors which in turn affects the role they play as well as their behavior.
The fifth objective is to reinforce the necessary skills for a student of history; the ability to determine fact from opinion, the ability to understand new vocabulary words, the ability to evaluate alternatives, the ability to participate in decision making, and the ability to achieve the tools for critical thinking.
To illustrate that there are other alternatives other than aggression as a solution to resolve a situation or gain their point, the students can be given choices in how to avoid an aggressive situation. Humor may be one of the alternatives. A question that may be addressed is—Do you think that a problem solved through humor is more likely to stay solved than one where force is part of the solution? Explain your answer. Students would be asked to suggest as many ways as they can by which problems can be resolved without resort to force. After a discussion students would be asked to investigate a situation in the 1960’s where aggression was used, evaluate the situation, and suggest how the situation or problem could have been resolved peacefully and with long lasting effect. A good example would be the Kent State tragedy as can be seen in the sample lesson plan.
In examining the second objective on the morality of the Vietnam War, Michael Walzer’s Just and Unjust Wars is an excellent source to be used as a base. He states: “The morality of war is divided into two parts. War is always judged twice, first with reference to the reasons states have for fighting, secondly with reference to the means they adopt. The first kind of judgment is adjectival in character: we say that a particular war is just or unjust. The second is adverbial: we say that the war is being fought justly or unjustly.” With Walzer’s twofold definition the teacher should discuss the reasons for the war in Vietnam as well as the “justifications” for American involvement and the unconventional way in which the war was fought. Pertinent information on the war can be found in the appendix. This would also be a good time to use the sample lesson on important dates in the Vietnam War.
At this time the students should address such questions as: Is war inevitable? When does a nation legitimately intervene? Are there any moral responsibilities a soldier has while engaged in combat? What are the rights of civilians in war? Is guerilla warfare morally right or wrong? What is the difference between a terrorist and a guerilla? Should guerillas be entitled to prisoner of war status when captured? Should reprisal or revenge be justified as a means to bringing an end to war? What is considered a war crime? Was the American war in Vietnam a justified or unjustified intervention? Was the Vietnam War fought in a just manner? Should self-preservation in the face of an enemy be an excuse for an immoral act?
There are differences of opinion on most of these questions. On the question of legitimate intervention, Michael Walzer offers three situations where it would be acceptable. First in the case of secession or civil war. Second, if the country is invaded by foreign armies. Third, if human rights are being violated as in a massacre or enslavement.
It is at this point that the teacher should relay the following information about the nature of war. Mankind has always known war. From the beginning of time man has fought against man. People joined together have found relative peace with each other under some kind of custom or law, but they have always waged war with strangers. Even today, with the planet’s very existence at stake, there is little recourse when nations disagree. Fear and distrust are prevalent. The strong still crush the weak. The “haves” stubbornly defend the status quo. The fear of the atomic bomb hangs over everyone’s head. Peace seems to be a distant dream. Many nations also face serious domestic unrest. While law and government appear to be war’s best prevention, they are not an absolute guarantee of peace. People sometimes rise against their established governments to wage hideous war until one side finally triumphs and either a new order is established (often as unjust as the old) or the insurgents are brutally crushed.
Thus, there are two kinds of war; those between organized societies, and those within an organized society. The second while not as common as the first, is usually the most frightful—it is here that you might encounter fighting between brothers.
If people can live in peace, then why can’t nations? Why must there be war? Why have many wars been glorified? These are questions the teacher may use to begin a discussion on the nature of war. One of the strongest things about war is its appeal to the imagination, despite its atrocity. The songs, the flag waving, the sounds of trumpets, the rolling drums and marching feet have stirred men’s blood for centuries. The teacher may at this point ask the students how many war movies they have seen? Why do you think these movies about war were made? What is it about these movies that compel people to spend their money seeing men kill other men and nations destroying other nations. Oh, the “glory” of war: Why is it that a nation’s history seems to revolve around its battles and triumphs? Does a nation’s heritage revolve around its heroes? Why does a nation never forget the man who says, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! or “I only regret that I have one life to live for my country.”
Even the most avid opponents of war can understand the intensity of the war experience. Nothing can compare with the comradeships forged under fire, with the exhilarating sense of purpose when people work together for a “just” cause. The powers of war’s enchantment can be seen when veterans who have faced the most terrible horrors of war can later look back with nostalgia on their war years.
But what about the Vietnam War? Why hasn’t this war been glorified? Where were all the trumpets, flags and songs; the marching bands when this war was being fought? Where was all the exhilaration when our “boys” were finally brought home? Where are all the heroes? Why was all so silent when the war was finally over. These are all good questions for discussion.
The Vietnam War was such a different and unconventional war. There were no Normandies or Gettysburg’s. There were no epic clashes that decided the fates of armies and nations. The war was mostly a matter of enduring weeks of expectant waiting, and, random viscous manhunts through jungles and swamps where snipers and booby traps were waiting. The tedium was occasionally relieved by a large scale search and destroy operation, but the “exhilaration” of riding the lead helicopter into a landing zone was usually followed by more of the same hot walking, with the mud sucking on boots and the sun beating on helmets, while invisible enemies shot from distant tree lines. The rare instances when the VC chose to fight a set piece battle provided the only “excitement” of contact. Weeks of bottled tensions would be released in a few minutes of violence-grenades exploding and the rapid burst of automatic rifles.
It is at this time that the teacher might want to use selections from the book Everything We Had by Al Santoli. By reading the different personal accounts of 33 veterans of the Vietnam War, the students might better understand the reality of fighting in such an unconventional war. It is also a good opportunity for the students to familiarize themselves with a primary source. As Al Santoli states in his preface: “It must always be remembered that the Vietnam War was a human ordeal and not an abstract heroic adventure as might be understood by Hollywood or a politician’s speechwriter . . . In our book we hope you will see what we saw, do what we did, feel what we felt.”
In dealing with the third objective-problems of obedience, moral responsibility, survival and dissent, the Vietnam War may be successfully used to illustrate all. Any or all of the following lesson plans would be appropriate to use at this time; You Are In the Army???, Dissent, Civil Disobedience.
In order to illustrate the variety of reactions to the American involvement in the Vietnam War, the following information may be used. The United States participation in the Vietnam War became one of the most divisive foreign policy issues in United States history. Americans disagreed on both the objectives and the strategies of U.S. involvement. The war became increasingly unpopular as casualties increased and chances for victory appeared to decrease.
The basic premise that communism should be opposed in Vietnam was not questioned; it was firm U.S. policy to oppose communism everywhere. Some Americans believed that U.S. participation was necessary to stop communist aggression and to maintain U.S. honor and prestige. Paramount was the domino theory, that if one nation fell to communism, another and another would inevitably follow like a set of dominoes. The National Security Council believed that the loss of one single country in Southeast Asia would ultimately lead to the fall of Southeast Asia and then to India and Japan and finally endanger the stability and security of Europe.
Other Americans believed that the conflict in Vietnam was a Civil War in which the United States should not be involved. They felt U.S. security was not threatened and the U.S. should not attempt to be a world policeman. Still other Americans felt that the U.S. armed forces were supporting a corrupt, undemocratic government in South Vietnam and that the war was drawing money away from vital U.S. domestic programs. Then there were those Americans who opposed the war because it resulted in hundreds of thousands of military and civilian casualties and left large areas of Vietnam in ruin.
Some military experts argued for more military involvement stating that North Vietnam would only surrender if the war was carried to North Vietnam by bombing or other means. Others disagreed and wanted more emphasis on counterguerilla methods in South Vietnam. Still others feared U.S. bombing would bring China into the war.
As the war dragged on year after year with no end in sight, opposition began to increase in the United States. The opposition was slow in developing; at first many people felt that the government knew what it was doing and it seemed that many people who opposed the war in the beginning were the same sorts who would have cheered Chamberlain after Munich. But when the American atrocity at My Lai was revealed many other Americans began to feel that something was wrong, especially since the newspapers gave the impression that this was one atrocity of many. United States officials on the other hand insisted that American atrocities were amazingly few, while Viet Cong cruelty abounded. They maintained that the press was totally disinterested in Communist atrocities.
Many American newspapers began to give the impression that the war had degenerated into one of American soldiers against civilians; that it featured ruthless destruction of hamlets and villages. More and more Americans, therefore, began to believe that the war contained the same basic fallacy as the Phillipine insurrection some 65 years earlier—that the only way of liberating a country was to destroy it. They began to wonder why the massive military machine was in that tiny place some 10,000 miles away where the majority of people never heard of Marx or Lenin and were merely struggling to feed their children.
In 1967 Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara wrote “ . . . a feeling is widely and strongly held that the ‘Establishment’ is out of its mind. The feeling is that we are trying to impose some U.S. image on distant people we can not understand . . . and that we are carrying the thing to absurd lengths.”
By the beginning of the 1970’s it was generally believed that some serious mistakes had been made, that the course which the U.S. government had pursued was failing to accomplish its goals. Anger and frustration grew as many Americans began to feel that the government was unresponsive to their views. Dissension increased bordering in some areas on revolution. More and more Americans began to demand an immediate end to the war.
In April, 1970 with the invasion of Cambodia many people felt that Nixon was widening the war. Antiwar protests broke out on hundreds of college campuses in the United States. At Kent State University in Ohio, National Guardsmen fired into a crowd of demonstrators killing four students and wounding nine others. They thought they had been fired upon by the demonstrators, but this was later proved to be false.
Tensions mounted in the United States as Nixon silently vowed not to be the first President to lose a war. But how does a nation extricate itself from a mistake especially after the investment of so many years, so much money and the loss of so many lives? Nixon decided to pursue a gradual withdrawal from Vietnam.
An analysis of the Vietnam War will require a perspective of many more years. However, one fact remains incontestable whether history will find the war justifiable or not, the American people gradually lost all heart for it. Mounting dissension at home gradually undermined America’s position at the bargaining table, leading the enemy to believe that he would triumph in any event. The result however viewed is one of great disappointment for the United States.
The tide of time and events can work for people. This does not mean forgetting the lessons of the past, but rather continually adjusting them to conditions of the present. It would be a tragedy if we substitute “No More Vietnam” for “No More Munich” or lost sight of the fact that communism has dangerous expansionist aspects or forget the vital lessons of World War II that weakness invites aggression. Maybe the lesson of Vietnam should be. “No More Easy Slogans.”
In introducing the fourth objective on the complexity of people and their roles, it is suggested that you begin the lesson with the following questions: How many persons are you? You should get answers such as “I am a brother/ sister.” “I am a son/daughter.” “I am a citizen of the U.S.” “I am a dancer/singer/football player.” (or any other activity they take seriously. The discussion should illustrate that people are complex personalities, and it is this complexity that affects their behavior which in turn affects the various roles they play. If students through discussions realize their various roles, they may be able to understand why there are conflicts in their roles as students, citizens, sons, brothers and friends etc. It may give them some insights as to who they really are. Perhaps they could avoid conflicts and re-examine their behavior without resorting to aggressive acts. Students would be asked: Do any of your roles conflict with each other? and Is relating to others who have different values or ideas of behavior difficult? The students would have to discuss their reasons. It should be pointed out that the soldiers in Vietnam, the protesters against the war, and political leaders were also many persons in one. They were not only activists, but they played various roles that may have colored their outlook and actions. Another question that may be discussed is—How did they play so varied a role and not see the enormous moral conflict of their actions as participants in planned or unplanned destruction? When does a soldier disobey a military command issued by his commanding officer? These questions would lead to activities and discussion on moral responsibility vs. traditional military behavior.
To understand the actions of people and their leaders in the 60’s one may ask the student on what moral basis did people make their decisions in regard to the course of action taken to obtain or achieve their objectives. Possible questions that could be asked are: Do leaders put the whole nation’s interest before their own political or economic interests? Do you think all leaders are concerned about history’s judgments just as we are concerned about our friend’s or family’s judgments of us as individuals? Are the judgments we make of events at the time they happen usually correct? Why does a judgment of an event or a person often change with the passage of time? Students would be asked if they could cite some examples which have been changed by the passage of time. Can they identify the factors which caused the change in judgments (such as additional evidence, cooling passions, research by objective scholars, etc.)? Comparing newspaper articles that were published during the sixties and articles that were published in the eighties on the same subject would be helpful in answering the questions posed in regard to the changes in the passage of time. Interviewing people who were participants in the various causes during the sixties and how they feel about their participation now would also be a valuable tool as well as a good primary source in determining change with the passage of time.
Speakers of opposing views would be invited to address the students about their experiences in the sixties, hopefully discussing what factors helped to shape them into the person they were in the sixties. Such a resource would offer students the opportunity to question firsthand and receive answers which should give them a more personal feeling and an awareness of the times.
The last objective to be discussed is that which deals with skills that all students of history should successfully complete. At the beginning of this unit students should be given a map of Southeast Asia and be able to identify those key places that became newsworthy during the Vietnam War. A sample lesson on map skills is provided for this purpose. Students should also be given an assignment on determining fact from opinion. So much has been written about the Vietnam War that is opinion, it is necessary for the student to be able to separate the two. Films, filmstrips, records of speeches and propaganda materials would be viewed, listened to and explored to give the student various experiences of prejudice and the psychology of mass persuasion. The students hopefully will be aware of propaganda techniques, exploding stereotypes and myths.
The list of new vocabulary terms should be distributed to the students. There is a sample lesson plan offered for this reason. The teacher may then give the student a word like aggression and ask them to list the first word or adjective that comes to their mind when they see or hear this word. After that, exercise answers should be exchanged with the rest of the class. Here they would come to realize that the word aggression means different things to different people. This is one example where communication may block a solution because different people have a different concept of the same word.
The next skill students should be able to perform successfully is to be able to distinguish primary sources from secondary sources. It is hoped that once they can distinguish one from the other, they will realize the advantages of using primary sources for a supply of information. It is suggested that the teacher use selected passages from Everything We Had or Dispatches as examples of primary sources.
The ability to evaluate alternatives is another important skill that students should be able to master. It is suggested that the lesson plan “You’re in the Army Now” be used at this time. This lesson offers student the opportunity to have experience in decision making as well as evaluating alternatives. Luring the 1960’s young men facing the draft had to make some very important decisions. By putting the students in their “shoes” (role playing), they should be able to get a feel for the importance of having to make such a decision as well as becoming aware of the consequences of the various alternatives.
The last skill that will be developed under this objective is the ability to think critically. Students need much practice in critical thinking. All too often they are just anxious for the “right answer”. By presenting them with dilemmas they will be forced to do some analytical thinking. The sample lesson on “Civil Disobedience” is offered for this purpose.
Objective to show students how a protest against aggression resulted in violence itself.
- 1. Remind students of the rights under the First Amendment
- 2. Present the following information to the class:
- ________On April 30, 1970, President Nixon made a speech on national television to announce the invasion of Cambodia. He said the purpose of this mission was to destroy central military headquarters of the Communist forces in South Vietnam which he claimed was hidden in Cambodia. He thought such an act would shorten the war; however, people thought the war was being expanded.
- ________Mass rallies and protests were held throughout the U.S. against the bombing in Cambodia. One such rally was held at Kent State University in Ohio. At noon on May 1, 1970, 300 Kent State students rallied in protest. Black United Students had held that rally. That night 1000 people rallied in downtown Kent. Windows were broken. On Saturday May 2, the National Guard were called out. Later that same evening 2000 students marched on the ROTC building and set fire to it. While it burned the guardsmen were given orders to shoot anyone that was cutting the fire hoses. No shooting took place, but the mood was set.
- ________On May 4, at noon students gathered in the Commons. The speaker called for a student strike. Meanwhile state troopers arrived and stated that the gathering was an illegal assembly. They told the people to leave the premises. A few students threw rocks at the state police. When the National Guardsmen arrived they gassed the crowd. Some of the protesters left, but not all. Rocks were thrown at the guardsmen and the guardsmen fired shots into the crowd. The guardsmen later stated that they thought they had been fired upon, but this was later proved to be false. Four students were killed and many were wounded. Within a few days 350 universities across the United States went on strike.
- 3. Questions for discussion:
- ____a. Describe the mood of the time.
- ____b. Was this an illegal assembly as was proclaimed by the state police?
- ____c. Evaluate the circumstances of this tragedy; Could it have been resolved peacefully or was violence inevitable?
- ____d. Discuss this statement—This was to be a peaceful assembly protesting violence (bombing of Cambodia), yet it led to aggression.
Objective to expose the students to different kinds of aggression.
- 1. The teacher is to distribute worksheets on aggression which would list various situations and elements to consider when making a definition or accusation of aggression.
- 2. The student would be instructed to label aggressive acts and explain why they feel it is an aggressive act.
- 3. The teacher will explain to the student the following elements to consider when making a definition or accusation of aggression.
- ____a. intent v. accident
- ____b. humans v. nonhumans (animals)
- ____c. humans v. nonhumans (plants and inanimate objects)
- ____d. fantasy v. actual behavior
- ____e. effectiveness v. ineffective (attempt to harm)
- ____f. obedience v. enjoyment
- ____g. immediate harm v. long range good
- 4. Worksheet on aggression. The teacher will distribute a worksheet with the following examples of aggressive acts. The student would then be instructed to label those acts they consider to be aggressive and state why.
- ____a. A spider eats a fly.
- ____b. A soldier shoots his enemy on the front line.
- ____c. The warden of a prison executes a prisoner by turning on the gas.
- ____d. Two hungry men fight for a piece of bread.
- ____e. A man viciously kicks a dog.
- ____f. A boy kicks a car.
- ____g. An angry driver kicks his flat tire.
- ____h. A man mentally rehearses killing his wife.
- ____i. A small child kicks another small child while fighting over toys.
- ____j. A mother spanks her child.
- ____k. A mother locks her child in a closet as punishment.
- ____l. A principal while breaking up a fight shoves a student against the wall.
- ____m. Jean, a notorious gossip, speaks disparagingly of many people.
- ____n. Jane, far more subtle in her ways speaks with barely detectable, yet cutting irony to those who fail to live up to her expectations.
- ____o. Mr. Jones, known for his great sarcasm, verbally tears his boss to shreds.
- ____p. A woman daydreams about meeting her old boyfriend and slapping him in the face. She really has no expectations of actually doing this, but she loves to think about it.
Objective to give students an idea of the various reactions that young men had concerning being drafted during the Vietnam War.
- 1. Give the following information to the class:
- ________Let’s turn the clock back to November 13, 1969. President Nixon has just made the following statement to the Senate: “I know this war is she most difficult and controversial war in our nation’s history.” Since 1968 it had been the longest war in which the U.S. had become involved and more Americans had been killed in Vietnam than in the Korean War. Many Americans were becoming impatient and wanted to put an end to the war. “Let’s bring our boys home was what was being heard across the U.S.” In October, 1969 a Moratorium Day was declared. The Vietnam War was clearly one of the most divisive foreign policy issues of our history.
- 2. Role playing. Inform the students that they have just received in the mail notification that they are to report for their physical in order to be classified by the Selective Service. Being drafted is now on their doorstep. What would they do if it really was their decision to make? Assign the following roles to the various students. Have them split up into groups with one person from each role. Once they are in their groups tell them to discuss the various options that they have. (listed below)
- ____a. 18 year old high school graduate
- ____b. 22 year old college graduate
- ____c. 18 year old high school drop out
- ____d. 22 year old college graduate who had been active in the ROTC
- ____e. 19 year old high school graduate, working a full time job; 23 year old brother had already been killed in Vietnam
- ____f. 22 year old college graduate from a military family
- 3. What are your options? The following were various decisions that young men of draftable age made in the 1960’s.
- ____a. enlist in the branch of service of their choice instead of waiting to be drafted in the army
- ____b. waited to be drafted in the army, yet hoping their lottery number would be high enough so as not to be called
- ____c. try and get into the Reserves
- ____d. try and get a conscientious objector status
- ____e. try and get a medical deferment
- ____f. leave the United States and move to another country
- ____g. refuse to go, burn your draft card and suffer the consequences in the United States
- 4. After the students have discussed the various options as a group bring all the groups together as a class and discuss the outcomes with the entire class.
- 5. Questions for class discussion:
- ____a. How did you come to your decision concerning the draft? What factors did you take into consideration?
- ____b. Should individuals give obedience to authority without questioning its morality?
- ____c. Should individuals refuse to be a participant or question anything that they believe is immoral?
- ____d. Was U.S. participation in Vietnam necessary to stop communist aggression?
- ____e. Would you consider it to be “unAmerican” to refuse to participate in a war you thought to be immoral or unjust?
- ____f. Would you consider it to be “unAmerican” to refuse to participate in a war in which the United States was deliberately attacked on their own soil?
Objective to have the students achieve a good understanding of the key words that are constantly in use in a unit on Vietnam.
- 1. Put the following terms on the blackboard or on a ditto sheet and discuss them with the class. It is suggested that this be done before the unit is begun.
- 1. Vietminh—a group controlled by the Communists and headed by Ho Chi Minh; gained power in North Vietnam; fighting broke out between French forces and the Viet Minh in 1946
- 2. Geneva Conference—April, 1954, an international conference to arrange a peace settlement for Vietnam; representatives of the Vietminh and of the French supported the state of Vietnam; also France, Great Britain, United States, China and Russia; divided Vietnam into two zones; called for the country to be reunited through elections in 1956
- 3. French Indochina—included Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
- 4. Viet Cong—also known as the VC; Communist guerillas
- 5. boat people—refugees who left Vietnam in the late 1970’s
- 6. ARVN—South Vietnamese army; opposed the Viet Cong
- 7. National Liberation Front—also known as the NLF; a Political group organized in Hanoi in 1960 to support the Viet Cong
- 8. Ho Chi Minh Trail—many of the VC supplies and troops came from a system of roads and trails
- 9. Vietnamization—policy whereby American troops would be replaced by South Vietnamese forces, began in 1969
- 10. DRV—Democratic Republic of Vietnam; formed September 2, 1945, controlling northern Vietnam
- 11. dissenters—people who disapprove of certain policies of government or society and let others know how they feel
- 12. aggression—destructive behavior
- 13. civil disobedience—deliberately breaking the law because they feel it is unjust or immoral, hoping that this course of action will then change the unjust or immoral law
- 14. containment—an American policy to stop the spread of communism
- 15. SEATO—Southeast Asia Treaty Organization sponsored by the Eisenhower administration; an alliance that was to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia; formed to allay the fears of South Vietnam after the Geneva accord in 1954
- 16. communism—a theory or a system of a social organization based on the holding of property by the government; a system where the state controls the production, the distribution and the consumption of industrial products.
- 17. moratorium—a temporary suspension of activity
- 18. colonialism—a policy advocating control over another province or country like that of a mother country
- 19. imperialism—the policy of extending the rule of an empire or nation over foreign countries either by direct acquisition or by indirect control of economic and political life
- 20. draft dodger—one who evades or tries to evade compulsory service in the armed forces
- 21. guerilla—one of a band of independent soldiers who prey on the enemy by harassment, surprise attack, and short, sharp engagements, often behind the lines
Objective to give students an understanding that all Americans have the right to dissent, but with limitations.
- 1. Discuss the wording of the First and the Fourteenth Amendments with the class.
- 2. Present the following information to the class:
- ________It is true that the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution guarantee certain basic liberties to all Americans. But it is also true that there has to be certain limitations on these freedoms. For example, you can not yell “fire” in a theater causing the crowd to rush for the nearest exit (when there is no fire) and then claim free speech as a defense for your actions.
- ________The Constitution states that all Americans are guaranteed the rights to free speech, free press and the right to assemble and petition. Does that mean that people can say or print anything? Can people assemble anywhere? Obviously not. The man who yelled fire as a joke might have incited a riot with people trampling over one another trying to get to the door. A newspaper is not permitted to print false information about an individual or call someone a murderer unless it is true. To do otherwise would deprive that person of his rights.
- ________A group wishing to protest a government action has the right to meet, but not in your backyard unless they were invited. Nor do they have the right to meet on a public highway during rush hour backing up traffic for miles.
- ________A person has the right to free speech, but if he is inciting a crowd to riot he may be arrested for disturbing the peace.
- ________The right to protest in schools against government policy has come before the Supreme Court. In a famous case several students were suspended from school because they were wearing black arm bands to classes. The armbands were a sign of mourning for those who had died in the Vietnam War and to protest the war itself. The Supreme Court decided that the students had a right to wear armbands if they did not disrupt the normal school program. The Court called this the right to symbolic speech.
- ________Certain broad rules apply to dissent.
- ____a. People have the right to speak out against things they oppose when their speech does not interfere with the rights of others.
- ____b. People have the right to organize with others to support their position. They have the right to assemble, picket and hold demonstrations as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others.
- ____c. If the activities present a “clear and present danger” to the security of the U.S. or to others in the society, then these activities are illegal.
- 3. Present the following questions to the class for discussion:
- ____a. The right to free speech, free press and the right to assemble is not an absolute right. Explain.
- ____b. How far can people go in what they say or do in protest?
- ____c. If you do not like what a group stands for, should you be allowed to prevent it from meeting?
- ____d. Should everyone have the right to criticize the government if the criticism is dangerous to our national interest?
- ____e. If there appears to be no clear danger of violence, do you think any group should be allowed to protest against the government?
Objective to encourage analytical thinking on an issue where there is no right or wrong answer.
- 1. Present the following information to the class:
- ________The war in Vietnam led to many acts of civil disobedience. Many Americans felt that it was an unjust and immoral war. Some people in order to dramatize their feelings resorted to acts of civil disobedience. Selective Service offices were invaded and records were destroyed. The President and members of Congress were interrupted when they tried to make public speeches. Colleges and universities were shut down by demonstrations against the war.
- 2. Present the following arguments used for these acts of civil disobedience:
- ____a. The law was broken to protest a far greater crime: American participation in the Vietnam War.
- ____b. They used the arguments that Dr. King used in the fight for civil rights. There is a higher law—the law of God. If the government’s law violates the law of God then it is an unjust law; one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. An individual who breaks a law that his conscience tells him is unjust and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice is in reality expressing the very highest respect for the law.
- ____c. A nation whose history enshrines the civil disobedience of the Boston Tea Party can not fail to recognize at least the symbolic merit of demonstrated hostility to unjust laws.
- 3. Present the following arguments used against the acts of civil disobedience:
- ____a. Lawlessness can not be justified on the grounds of individual beliefs.
- ____b. Even if the war is immoral, the general level of morality of the country is not much improved by such conduct.
- ____c. If we let the individual conscience guide disobedience to the law, we must take all consciences. The law does not distinguish between saints and sinners.
- ____d. Our government can not function if people take it upon themselves to break the law.
- ____e. When people take the law into their own hands, there is no longer any government. Civil disobedience will destroy our democracy.
- 4. Questions for discussion:
- ____a. Are citizens ever justified in breaking a law?
- ____b. If you believe that it is right in some instances to disobey unjust laws, who would you say should be the one to decide which laws are unjust?
- ____c. How far should civil disobedience go? Is violence ever justified as a means of protesting an unjust policy or law?
- ____d. Is there room for civil disobedience in a democracy?
- ____e. Could a bank robber claim that he took the money as an act of protest against immoral bank practices?
- ____f. What would happen to our government if Democrats decide to ignore laws passed by Republican majorities or vice-versa?
- ____g. Suppose a person decided that the government was spending citizen’s tax money incorrectly. Should that citizen be allowed to decide whether or not to pay taxes?
- 5. Homework assignment: Write your opinion on civil disobedience and the reasoning you followed in coming to that opinion.
- 1. Students will be aware of the events leading up to the American involvement in the Vietnam War.
- 2. Students will be able to identify the President who was in office at the time of each event.
- 1. Put the events listed below on the blackboard or a ditto sheet. Do not put them in the correct chronological order.
- 2. Assign the student research the dates of the following events. Have the students place them on a time line in the correct chronological order.
- 3. Assign to the students—state next to each event the name of the President who was in office at that time.
Important Dates in the Vietnam War
- 1957 The Viet Cong began to attack the South Vietnamese government headed by President Ngo Dinh Diem.
- 1963 (June) Buddhists in South Vietnam began large scale demonstrations against the Diem government.
- 1963 (November) South Vietnamese generals overthrew the Diem government and Diem was killed the next day.
- 1964 (August 7) The U.S. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution which gave the President power “to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”
- 1965 (February) The President orders marines to be sent to Da Nang, South Vietnam to protect American bases there. The marines were the first U.S. ground troops in the war.
- 1967 (September 3) South Vietnam held the first elections under its new constitution, adopted earlier that year. Nguyen Van Thieu was elected president.
- 1968 (January 30) The Communists launched the TET offensive, a large scale attack against 30 South Vietnamese cities.
- 1968 (March 16) U.S. troops killed hundreds of South Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai. One officer, Lieutenant William L. Calley Jr. was found guilty of murder by a U.S. court martial.
- 1968 (May 13) Preliminary peace talks between the U.S. and North Vietnam began in Paris.
- 1969 (June 8) The President announced that the U.S. troops would begin to withdraw from Vietnam.
- 1970 (June 24) The Senate repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
- 1973 (January 27) The U.S., North and South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong signed a cease fire agreement in Paris.
- 1973 (March 29) The last American troops left South Vietnam.
- 1975 (April 21) President Thieu resigned.
- 1975 (April 30) South Vietnam surrendered to the Communists.
Objective The students will be able to locate key places that became newsworthy during the Vietnam War.
- 1. Give to each student a blank map of Southeast Asia.
- 2. Put the following places on the blackboard and have the students locate them on their own maps.
a. North Vietnam m. Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) b. South Vietnam n. Da Nang c. Cambodia o. Dak To d. Laos p. Saigon e. Thailand q. Mekong Delta f. Hainan r. Phnom Penh g. Gulf of Thailand s. Bangkok h. South China Sea t. 17th parallel i. Gulf of Tonkin u. Mekong River j. Bien Dien Phu v. Ho Chi Minh Trail k. Hanoi w. Pleiku l. Haiphong x. Central Highlands
Background of the Vietnam War
Before World War II, Vietnam was a part of French Indochina, which also included Laos and Cambodia. During World War II, Japan occupied Indochina, but much of the area came under French control after the war. Ho Chi Minh, Communist leader of the League for the Independence of Vietnam became head of an independent government in northern Vietnam.
Trouble started as early as 1946, when the Vietminh revolted against the French. Fighting dragged on for seven and a half years, during which time Ho Chi Minh repeatedly asked for American and United Nations intervention against French colonialism. He even asked that President Truman give Vietnam the same status as the Philippines for a period of tutelage before independence. But because Ho Chi Minh had direct communist connections his appeals were not answered.
The French were defeated in May, 1954 despite generous American aid which did make many people uncomfortable. Such aid was questioned for by trying to help the French defeat communism, the U.S. in turn found themselves on the side of imperialism. President Eisenhower had agreed to American aid which paid for much of the French war effort, but refused to intervene militarily.
In April 1954, representatives of the DRV, the state of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, France, Great Britain, Russia and the United States met in Geneva, Switzerland to arrange a peace settlement for Vietnam. Vietnam was to be temporarily divided into two sections, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The dividing line was the 17th parallel. Elections were to be held in two years for the purpose of uniting the north with the south. The territory south of the 17th parallel became the Republic of Vietnam after Emperor Bao Dai was deposed in 1955. President Ngo Dinh Diem then began to rule with the backing of the United States. Some officials in the U.S. were disappointed with the surrender of northern Vietnam to the Communists. Since direct military aid was not offered, there was little the U.S. could do except refuse to sign the Geneva accord. Other officials however, felt appeased that at least colonialism no longer existed. Even though they did not sign the accord, both the U.S. and South Vietnam announced their intention to abide by the agreement.
Upset by the Geneva accord and to allay the fears of South Vietnam of a Communist take-over, the Eisenhower Administration sponsored a new alliance, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. The purpose of this organization was to stop the spread of communism in that part of Asia. SEATO’s members agreed to act together if any country in the region was threatened by aggression.
Following the Geneva agreement, President Eisenhower pledged America support to South Vietnam. This support helped to rehabilitate the country. President Diem stayed in power largely because of U.S. support. American support was economic as well as military, including equipment and training of a South Vietnamese army.
President Diem became increasingly unpopular as he neglected the peasants and showed favoritism to his family, particularly his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu. When Diem was supposed to hold elections according to the Geneva accord, he refused on the grounds that North Vietnam would not permit campaigning in its territory and Ho Chi Minh would gain control of a united Vietnam. He appointed his own village officials and ended all local elections. Popular feeling against him mounted.
History of the War
Viet Cong raids began as early as 1957. Guerillas began to attack farm villages, particularly in the Mekong Delta. The Viet Cong guerillas were under Communist control, but many of them were not Communist party members. They fought against the South Vietnamese government because of its repressive measures and its failure to provide the necessities of life. They won easy victories.
In 1961 when John Kennedy became President, Communist forces controlled much of the country. They virtually encircled the city of Saigon. The U.S. was forced to choose between the collapse of the South Vietnamese government and increasing its support. At that time the U.S. had about 750 advisors in South Vietnam. President Diem was constantly appealing for American combat troops and tactical air squadrons.
Kennedy like Eisenhower, believed that the U.S was engaged in a global conflict with communism. In his inaugural he had promised that “ . . . we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty . . . ” He felt that it was essential to prevent a Communist takeover of South Vietnam.
During his 34 months in office, he increased the American military advisors from 750 to roughly 16,000. This was accomplished so quietly that few Americans realized what was happening. A steady growing casualty list 14 Americans killed in 1961, 109 in 1962, 489 in 1963, finally alerted newsmen that at least some Americans were in combat situations. The White House insisted that they were attempting to help Vietnam to maintain its independence and not fall under the domination of the Communists.
If Kennedy had lived, would he have continued that course leading the U.S. into an all-out ground and air war that President Johnson pursued? There is no way of knowing.
In 1963 many Buddhists in South Vietnam were protesting treatment they were receiving under the rule of President Diem. They claimed that Diem, a Roman Catholic, was treating them unfairly because of their differences in religion. Some Buddhist monks even went so far as to burn themselves alive as a sign of their protest. Special forces under Diem’s brother Nhu raided and wrecked some Buddhist pagodas. When news of these events reached the U.S. Diem’s government was formally criticized and certain types of economic aid were suspended.
The South Vietnamese generals encouraged by the U.S. disapproval of Nhu’s actions, overthrew the Diem government on November 1, 1963. Diem and his brother were killed on November 2, 1963. A series of short lived regimes governed South Vietnam for the next two years. In June, 1965 Air Force Commander Nguyen Cao Ky headed a military committee that took power.
The shocking assassination of Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, following a coup that Kennedy had known about in advance and tacitly approved could have been a turning point especially since political conditions actually worsened after Diem’s death. Before he left for Dallas in November 1963 Kennedy requested a plan for a total withdrawal of American forces by 1965. He had also requested in depth review of the entire Vietnam situation including whether the U.S. should be there at all.
Lyndon Johnson continued what Kennedy had started and that road led straight to the outright war that developed in 1965; for once the basic objectives had been set, Viet became mainly a military problem. A determination to achieve victory led to continued escalation. Controversy among government officials during these years centered around strategy and tactics, not over whether the U.S. should be in Vietnam at all.
The American people had virtually no control over these developments, although many were drafted to serve in the war. President Johnson did obtain a congressional “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.” On July 30, 1964 South Vietnamese naval crafts raided islands in the Gulf of Tonkin, north of the 17th parallel. Two U.S. destroyers were patrolling nearby. North Vietnamese PT boats, probably while pursuing the South Vietnamese attacked the destroyers. Two PT boats were sunk. U.S. planes then bombed the PT boat bases. This was the first U.S. attack on North Vietnamese territory. * After this incident Johnson asked Congress for powers “to take all necessary measures to repel an armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” Congress granted these powers by an overwhelming vote. Johnson used this Gulf of Tonkin resolution as a chief legal basis of U.S. support for South Vietnam in the war.
The war gradually grew in intensity. In late 1964 South Vietnamese morale was very low and the United States began to consider bombing North Vietnam as a way of assisting. An attack on two U.S. camps at Pleiku in early 1965 triggered the decision for the bombing of infiltration routes and military installation in North Vietnam. In midspring of 1965, following the bombing of North Vietnam, large numbers of North Vietnamese troops began arriving in South Vietnam. In March, 1965, President Johnson ordered U.S. marines into South Vietnam with General William C. Westmoreland as commander of all U.S. troops.
In 1966 and 1967 the fighting in Vietnam increased. Meanwhile, South Vietnam tried to establish a representative government. In 1967, voters approved a new constitution and elected a President, Vice-President, and a legislature. General Nguyen jan Thieu was elected President and Ky became Vice-President.
In 1968, the Vietnam War became the longest war in which the United States had ever been involved. By March, 1969, more Americans had been killed in the Vietnam War than in the Korean War. More and more Americans became impatient for the war to end. In June, 1968 President Nixon announced the first of several withdrawals of U.S. forces from Vietnam. He said American troops would be replaced by South Vietnamese. This policy became known as Vietnamization.
* It has been suggested that few Congressmen realized that the U.S. had been mounting secret provocative attacks against North Vietnam for months and were looking for an incident to justify the bombing of North Vietnamese targets. In April, 1970 U.S. and South Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia to attack the North Vietnamese supply depots there. Nixon said the action would save the lives of American troops in South Vietnam and shorten the war. By June, 1970 all U.S. troops were removed from Cambodia.
As U.S. troops were being withdrawn during 1970 the level of fighting fell sharply. However, little progress was being made at the Paris peace talks. In 1970, each side presented peace proposals, but each side refused to agree to the other.
Early in 1971 South Vietnamese troops invaded Laos in an effort to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail. U.S. forces provided air and artillery support. The South Vietnamese destroyed many enemy supplies, but they suffered heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw. Many U.S. planes were shot down. During 1971 both the U.S. and the Viet Cong presented new peace proposals. Neither was acceptable. On March 30, 1972 North Vietnam launched a major offensive in South Vietnam. President Nixon then ordered the mining of North Vietnamese harbors to cut off war supplies from Russia and China. Bombing of rail and highway networks also took place. By August, 1972 the Communist offensive was halted.
U.S. troops continued withdrawal during 1972. Formal peace talks in Paris continued while secret negotiations between Kissinger and North Vietnamese officials were being conducted. However, when the talks broke down Nixon ordered the full scale bombing of the Hanoi-Haiphong area. The bombing ended after 12 days and the talks resumed again. Finally on January 27, 1973 a cease fire agreement was signed in Paris by the U.S., North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong.
The cease fire was to be supervised by joint military commission of the signing parties and by the International commission of control and supervision. By the terms of the agreement all U.S. and allied forces were to be withdrawn and all prisoners were to be released, both within 60 days; the continued presence of North Vietnamese forces was tacitly agreed to; South Vietnam was assured that it was to have a government of its own choosing; and the U.S. guaranteed economic and military aid to South Vietnam. The first prisoners of war were released on March 2, 1973 and by March 29, 1973 the exchange of prisoners of war was supposedly complete and the last American troops left Vietnam. A 13 party conference in Paris endorsed the cease fire agreement which was signed by the foreign ministers of China, Russia, United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the Viet Cong.
However, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the Viet Cong violated the cease fire. The fighting in Southeast Asia continued and intensified as the Communist forces took the offensive in 1974. In Cambodia, during 1974 and 1975, Communist troops captured much of the country and surrendered the capitol of Phnom Penh. In April, 1975 the last remaining Americans were evacuated by helicopters and the victorious Communist armies took control of Cambodia.
Meanwhile in South Vietnam, resistance to the Communists was also crumbling. When the South Vietnamese government ordered a withdrawal of its troops from the north and central highlands in March, 1975, entire units abandoned their equipment and retreated southward before the advancing North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. In a last desperate attempt to prevent a complete collapse of South Vietnam, President Ford asked Congress to vote $772 million in emergency military aid. But Congress, convinced that the South Vietnamese cause was hopeless and fearing a renewal of American involvement, refused to support the President. At the end of April, with Saigon surrounded, American helicopters and ships lying off the coast withdrew the remaining Americans as well as 100,000 South Vietnamese. The Vietnamese refugees for the most part destitute, were temporarily housed on American military bases until they could be relocated in new homes throughout the United States. And so, with the Communist takeover of South Vietnam in 1976 three tragic decades of fighting in Vietnam came to an end. The war toll included the deaths of 57,000 U.S. troops (46,000 in combat) 303,700 wounded, and over 780 missing; the deaths of 254,300 South Vietnamese,and 1,027,100 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong.
A good general history of the Vietnam War.
Bain, David, Aftershocks, A Tale of Two Victims. Metheum: 1980.
Discusses the psychological and emotional effects of the Vietnam War on veterans.
Halstead, Fred, Out Now. New York: Monad Press, 1978.
A participants account of the American movement against the Vietnam War during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Herr, Michael, Dispatches. New York: Avon Books, 1978.
A frank personal account of the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a journalist.
Hersh, Seymour, My Lai. New York: Random House, 1970.
A report on the My Lai massacre and its aftermath.
Hersh, Seymour, Cover Up. New York: Random House, 1970.
Discusses the army’s secret investigation of the My Lai massacre.
Higgins, Marguerite, Our Vietnam Nightmare. New York: Harper and Row, 1965.
Traces the American involvement in the Vietnam War through 1965.
Hodgson, Godfrey, America in Our Time. New York: Vintage Books, 1976.
A good general comprehensive account of the 1960’s and early 1970’s
Kendrick, Alexander, The Wound Within—America in the Vietnam Years. Little Brown, 1974.
Discusses the turmoil going on in the United States during the Vietnam War years.
Kovic, Ron, Born on the Fourth of July. New York: McGraw-Hill 1976.
A soldier’s account of the Vietnam War; offers personal narratives demonstrating conflicts.
Moore, Robin, The Green Berets, New York: Crown Publishers, 1965.
An account of the role of the Green Berets during the Vietnam War.
Podhoretz, Norman, Why We Were In Vietnam. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982.
Discussion on the reasons for United States involvement in the Vietnam War; attempts to justify our intervention.
Polner, Murray, No Victory Parades. New York: Holt, 1971. Discusses the lack of concern for the Vietnam veteran.
Shaplen, Robert, The Lost Revolution. New York: Harper and Row, 1965.
The story of 20 years of neglected opportunities in Vietnam and America’s failure to foster democracy there.
Simon, Hamel, & Kirschenbaum, Values Clarification. New York: Hart Publishing, 1972.
A good handbook of practical strategies for teachers and students. The book provides the teacher with specific practical strategies to help the students to consider alternative modes of thinking and acting.
Smith, Julian, Looking Away, Hollywood and Vietnam. New York: Scribners, 1975.
A look at the way in which movies have depicted the Vietnam War.
Walzer, Michael, Just and Unjust Wars. New York: Basic Books Inc. 1977.
Covers such subjects as the moral reality of war, the theory of aggression, dilemmas of war and the question of responsibility. He presents his arguments for antiwar by giving examples dating back to ancient Greece to Vietnam.
Caputo, Phil, A Rumor of War. New York: Ballantine Books, 1977.
An honest account of a young college graduate’s experience in the Vietnam War as a lieutenant in the Marine Corp., admits to having enlisted in the marines for the “heroic” experience of war.
Goettel, Elinor, America’s Wars-Why? Illinois: McDougal, Littell, 1974.
Traces the involvement of the U.S. on the world’s battlefields; Why did America fight? Is there any set pattern?
Johnson, Lyndon, “Peace Without Conquest” Public Papers of the President of the U.S., Volume I Washington D.C. Government Printing Office, 1966.
President Johnson presents his defense for the American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Marks, Richard, The Letters of PFC Richard Marks. New York: McGraw Hill, 1976.
A personal account of a young private’s experiences in Vietnam in the Marine Corp.
Merklin, Lewis, They Choose Honor. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.
Presents the arguments used for those young men who were issued conscientious objector status during the Vietnam War.
Parrish, John A. 12, 20, & 5. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1972.
A memoir of one man’s agonized confrontation with war; a young doctor who reluctantly accepts a military commission and spends a year behind the front lines in Vietnam.
Raskin, Marcus, The Vietnam Reader. New York: Random House, 1965.
A collection of articles and documents on American foreign policy and the Vietnam crisis.
Sanders, Jacquin, The Draft and the Vietnam War. New York: Walker, 1966.
Discusses the various options that were available to young men of draftable age during the Vietnam War.
Santoli, Al, Everything We Had. New York: Random House, 1981.
An oral history of 33 Vietnam veterans telling of the experiences they had and the feelings they encountered.
- America’s Pledge—We Seek No Wider War
- Covers the Vietnam struggle in the early months of 1965.
- History of the U.S. Foreign Relations, Part 4, The Road to Interdependence
- Follows the development of U.S. foreign policy from 1945-1970.
- Ho Chi Minh
- The life and personality of Ho Chi Minh; includes the powerful roles he played and the struggle for Vietnamese independence, unification and the division of Vietnam.
- My Country—Right or Wrong
- A college student and his father disagree over obligations and patriotism.
- The Sixties
- An exciting and perceptive look at America during the 1960’s.
- Nostalgic and entertaining view of what has been seen on television including newsclips of the Vietnam War and the peace marches.
- Vietnam—An Historical Document
- A study of the war; offers explanation for U.S. involvement and the events that led up to the withdrawal.
- Vietnam Epilogue
- Presents the chronology of fighting in Vietnam from 1954-1973.
- Vietnam, Guardians at the Gate
- Offers a brief history of North and South Vietnam; includes the role of the U.S. in the war and a clip of President Johnson explaining America’s responsibility to Vietnam.
- Vietnam in Retrospect
- A documentary of America’s commitment to South Vietnam.
- Vietnam—Journal of War
- Cameras probe the Vietnamese people, their villages, and their rehabilitation centers.
Contents of 1983 Volume IV | Directory of Volumes | Index | Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute | <urn:uuid:62a55016-f517-40bc-a1f2-03a55550205d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1983/4/83.04.02.x.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394937.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00140-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967385 | 13,243 | 3.515625 | 4 |
The advent of telematics and new technologies mean a lot can be done with your smartphone right on up to reducing your fuel consumption.
IFPEN’s engineers said they have used innovative scientific algorithms to design GECO, an application aimed at reducing fuel consumption at the wheel.
IFPEN stands for IFP Energies Nouvelles, a public research and training player. It sates it has an international scope, covering the fields of energy, transport and the environment and that from research to industry, technological innovation is central to all its activities.
GECO, said IFPEN, has been designed to guide drivers on their urban trips, helping them to adopt more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly driving behaviors. The objective? To reduce fuel consumption without necessarily reducing average speed. Their target is a 10 to 15 percent in fuel savings. The research firm states that by consuming less, drivers will spend less but they will also reduce their pollutant and CO2 emissions.
Using smartphone sensors, the application computes in real time the ideal driving behavior to adopt, on the basis of the specific trip, added IFPEN. It is then compared to the actual behavior adopted by the driver. The screen displays the driver’s score and energy performance and offers real-time advice aimed at improving overall driving. An online community of GECO-drivers 2.0 will also allow drivers to compare their results and become “Eco-drivers”.
Created as a free application, GECO is said to offer an approach that is innovative (based on algorithms that evaluate driving in real time), flexible (with driving advice, numerous calculation parameters and an automated assessment) and very easy to use. Fitting with current trends and eco-responsible, IFPEN said this application prefigures the integration of functionalities of this type in the so-called “connected” cars of the future. | <urn:uuid:23e636e9-e7ca-4915-83bd-748e3040242d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.hybridcars.com/geco-fuel-consumption-reducing-app/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396222.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00189-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950026 | 395 | 2.671875 | 3 |
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This document was written by David M. Harrison, Department of Physics, University of Toronto, mailto:firstname.lastname@example.org. in November, 1999. This is version 1.9, date (m/d/y) 04/10/02.
This document is Copyright © 1999 - 2002 by David M. Harrison
This material may be distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Open Content License, v1.0 or later (the latest version is presently available at http://opencontent.org/opl.shtml).
"Time and space are modes in which we think and not conditions in which we live." -- Einstein
"Space is the order of coexistence, and time is the order of succession of phenomena." -- Leibniz
"For the sage, time is only of significance in that within it the steps of becoming can unfold in clearest sequence." -- I Ching
One of the features of Hawking and Bekenstein's development of black hole thermodynamics is that it ties many many pieces of physics together. Among those pieces are:
Finally, background information on black holes can be found here.
Recall Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. It basically puts a limit on how much we can reduce the disturbance we introduce in a system by doing a measurement on it. There are a number of forms of the principle, and here we shall use only one of them:
The uncertainty in any measurement of the energy of an object times the uncertainty in when the object had that energy will always be at least equal to a universal constant.
Technical note: The universal constant is Planck's constant h divided by 2 pi.
A moment's reflection on the implications of this form of the Uncertainty Principle may convince you that this means that the energy does not even have a definite value but only a lower and upper bound.
Thus the principle of conservation of energy can be violated so long as the violation occurs for only a brief period of time.
Now consider Dirac's infinite sea of negative energy electrons. One of those electrons can violate conservation of energy by spontaneously jumping into a positive energy state provided it falls back into the hole quickly enough. You will recall that we interpret the hole in the sea as a positron. Thus, we believe that this virtual pair production is occurring everywhere in the universe. The pair can only exist for a time of about 10-35 seconds, i.e. 34 zeroes followed by a 1 to the right of the decimal point; this is called the Planck time.
Similarly we believe virtual pairs of proton-antiprotons, neutron-antineutrons etc. are continually being formed and disappearing everywhere in the universe. Wheeler, then, characterises the vacuum at a scale of very small distances as being quantum foam.
Here is yet another "little" fact that we will need soon: Thermodynamics says that any body with a temperature above absolute zero will radiate its energy away.
Recall that heat is just the internal energy of motion and vibration of the molecules of the substance. And also recall that whenever a body with electric charge vibrates it radiates energy as electromagnetic radiation. These two facts explain the radiation process.
Your body is radiating at a rate of about 60 Watts, the same as a 60W light bulb. Most of that radiation is in the infrared region.
The higher the temperature of a body the faster it radiates energy away.
Technical note: for a perfect radiating body the rate of energy radiation is a universal constant times the fourth power of the absolute temperature.
Whether the radiation is mostly as infrared or visible light or X-rays etc. depends on the temperature of the body. For example, if we heat up a steel bar it starts to glow "red hot." Increasing the temperature shifts the radiation spectrum and it glows "white hot." Raise the temperature further and the radiation becomes blue.
We consider here one of Stephen Hawking's contributions to Physics. A reference is his famous book A Brief History of Time. Sadly, a former tutor in JPU200Y was completely correct when he proposed the following multiple choice question for a test:
Stephen Hawking is: A. a lousy writer.
Lost in the media blitz surrounding Hawking is that, working independently, Bekenstein also came to many of the realisations we describe here.
We imagine a black hole as the singularity in the center surrounded by a spherical event horizon.We know that when a black hole is created by a collapsing neutron star that the neutrons are crushed out of existence; by this I mean that all their neutronness is wiped out. However their total mass-energy remains.
Another way of stating this is that outside of the event horizon all properties of the matter that formed it are gone except for the total mass-energy, rotation, and electric charge: this is sometimes called the Black Hole Has No Hair theorem.
The total mass-energy is manifested as the curvature of spacetime around the singularity.
We have seen that all matter has a wave aspect, and Quantum Mechanics describes the behavior of these waves. So, we shall think about representing the mass-energy inside the event horizon as waves.
Now, what kind of waves are possible inside the black hole? The answer is standing waves, waves that "fit" inside the black hole with a node at the event horizon. The possible wave states are very similar to the standing waves on a circular drum head that we saw earlier; they aren't exactly the same because the waves exist in three dimensions instead of just the two of the drumhead, but they are very close to the same.
Note that I just said "three dimensions." This is correct; we are using non-relativistic quantum mechanics.
The energy represented by a particular wave state is related to the frequency and amplitude of its oscillation. As we saw for the standing waves on a drumhead, the higher "overtones" have a higher frequency and thus these Quantum Mechanical waves contain more energy.
Assume that the total mass-energy inside the event horizon is fixed. So, we have various standing waves, each with a certain amount of energy, and the sum of the energy of all these waves equals the total mass-energy of the black hole. There are a large number of ways that the total mass-energy can distribute itself among the standing waves. We could have it in only a few high energy waves or a larger number of low energy waves.
It turns out that all the possible standing wave states are equally probable. Thus, we can calculate the probability of a particular combination of waves containing the total mass-energy of the black hole the same way we calculated the probability of getting various combinations for dice. Just as for the dice, the state with the most total combinations will be the most probable state.
But we have seen that the entropy is just a measure of the probability. Thus we can calculate the entropy of a black hole.
We have also seen that the entropy measures the heat divided by the absolute temperature. The "heat" here is just the total mass-energy of the black hole, and if we know that and we know the entropy, we can calculate a temperature for the black hole.
So, as Hawking realised, we can apply all of Thermodynamics to a black hole.
In a previous section we saw that any body with a temperature above absolute zero will radiate energy. And we have just seen that a black hole has a non-zero temperature. Thus thermodynamics says it will radiate energy and evaporate. We can calculate the rate of radiation for a given temperature from classical thermodynamics.
How is this possible? Nothing can get across the event horizon, so how can the black hole radiate? The answer is via virtual pair production.
Consider a virtual electron-positron pair produced just outside the event horizon. Once the pair is created, the intense curvature of spacetime of the black hole can put energy into the pair. Thus the pair can become non-virtual; the electron does not fall back into the hole.
There are many possible fates for the pair. Consider one of them: the positron falls into the black hole and the electron escapes. According to Feynman's view we can describe this as follows:
The electron crosses the event horizon travelling backwards in time, scatters, and then radiates away from the black hole travelling forwards in time.
Using the field of physics that calculates virtual pair production etc., called Quantum Electrodynamics, we can calculate the rate at which these electrons etc. will be radiating away from the black hole. The result is the same as the rate of radiation that we calculate using classical thermodynamics.
The fact that we can get the radiation rate in two independent ways, from classical Thermodynamics or from Quantum Electrodynamics, strengthens our belief that black holes radiate their energy away and evaporate.
Technical note: if we measure the mass-energy M of a black hole in units where the mass of our Sun is one, then the absolute temperature of the black hole is 6 × 10-8 / M Kelvin and its lifetime, in seconds, is: 1071 M3.
Above we mentioned the Black Hole Has No Hair theorem, which states that no matter what falls into a black hole, the only properties that remain are the total mass, charge, and angular momentum of the object. Thus if, say, an encyclopedia falls into a black hole all the information in the encyclopedia is lost.
We can state this circumstance in another way using Quantum Mechanical terminology. Before it falls into a black hole the encyclopedia has in principle a single well defined wave function. This is called a pure state. After it falls into the hole, however, we have seen that the description of its mass-energy becomes a combination of the possible standing wave states that can exist with nodes on the event horizon. This is called a mixed state.
However, Quantum Mechanics provides no mechanism by which a pure state can become a mixed one. This is usually called the "Information Problem" with black holes.
Hawking, Kip Thorne and others believe that when this problem is resolved, it will turn out that the information really has been irretrievably lost. However, John Preskill and others firmly believe that a mechanism for the information to be released by the evaporating black hole must and will be found in a correct theory of quantum gravity.
Thus, in February 1997 Preskill offered a bet to Hawking and Thorne that:
"When an initial pure quantum state undergoes gravitational collapse to form a black hole, the final state at the end of black hole evaporation will always be a pure quantum state."
Hawking and Thorne accepted the bet. The wager is:
"The loser(s) will reward the winner(s) with an encyclopedia of the winner's choice, from which information can be recovered at will."
Consider the universe. It has a size of about 15 billion light years or so. It also has a total amount of mass-energy. If we represent this mass-energy as quantum mechanical standing waves, just as we did for black holes, we can calculate the total entropy of the universe.
It turns out that the entropy of either a black hole or the universe is proportional to its size squared.
Thus for a given amount of total mass-energy, the larger the object the higher the entropy.
But the universe is expanding, so its size is increasing. Thus the total entropy of the universe is also increasing.
This leads us to the idea that the Second Law of Thermodynamics may be a consequence of the expanding universe. Thus cosmology explains this nineteenth century principle.
Put another way, recall that we have realised that the direction of time, "time's arrow," can come either from the fact that the universe is expanding or from the Second Law of Thermodynamics. We have now found a relationship between these two indicators of the direction of time.
It is amusing to speculate about what will happen to the Second Law of Thermodynamics if the universe is closed, so that at some point the expansion stops and reverses.
Even more wild is the idea that if the expansion of the universe determines the direction of time's arrow, then if the universe starts to contract the direction of time will also reverse.
Hawking and Bekenstein did much of the above work on the thermodynamics of black holes and the universe. In this section we consider a speculation for which I must take the blame.
Reference: D. Harrison, "Entropy and the Number of Sentient Beings in the Universe," Speculations in Science and Technology 5 (1982) 43.
First, we must think a bit about information.
The search for extra-terrestrial life has concentrated on scanning the universe for radio waves and trying to see if the patterns of the radiation could contain evidence of intelligence. When the pulsars, the radio sources that send blips at highly regular intervals, were first discovered some people got very excited and thought perhaps the search had yielded a positive result; now we believe that the pulsars are the radiation from rapidly rotating neutron stars.
If we receive a radio transmission that is just static, there is very little information in it. The information content of a signal depends on that signal being ordered, not random. Thus if the extra-terrestrial beings are sending information to us in radio waves the signal will be ordered in some way.
Thus, information must have low entropy. You may recall that earlier we mentioned the negentropy, which is the negative of the entropy: it measures the amount of order in a system. People who work in information theory customarily think about the negentropy.
We are, hopefully, acquiring information about the world, ourselves, our friends all the time. Thus we are creating negentropy in our mental system.
Now, the Second Law of Thermodynamics says that the entropy is increasing. This is a sort of strange law for a physicist: it says that the entropy is never conserved. This is as opposed to the types of laws that we are used to, which talk about conditions under which things are conserved.
You will also recall that Quantum Mechanics seems to say that there are no observers in the universe, only participators. Thus the universe is in some sense brought into being by communicating participators acquiring information about it (and vice versa).
What if the Second Law of Thermodynamics is not quite complete as stated? My speculation is that it could be extended to read:
The rate of production of physical entropy by the universe equals the rate of production of negentropy by sentient beings in the universe.
Now we have a conservation law.
However, the total physical entropy of the universe is increasing, and we can calculate the rate of that increase. If we could calculate the rate at which a typical human-like creature acquires information throughout its lifetime, then a simple division will allow us to calculate the number of such sentient beings there are in the universe.
To guess at the rate at which we produce negentropy we take our memory system to be essentially digital, with each of the 1014 synapses in our brain in either an on or off state. The combinations of synapse states are just the same as the combinations of black marble-white marble states that I insisted we think about when we discussed entropy in an earlier class. So, just as always, we count the number of combinations to calculate the entropy, whose negative is the negentropy.
We assume evolution is efficient, so the memory store is full after 100 years.
The result of dividing this rate of negentropy production into the rate at which physical entropy is being produced by our expanding universe is a number on the order of 10102 sentient human-like beings in the universe. To put this number into context, there are on the order of 1080 protons plus neutrons in the universe.
So, perhaps this is a failed speculation. Other alternatives include: | <urn:uuid:819e1c0b-696a-49be-90f5-b6f23767ad62> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/BlackHoleThermo/BlackHoleThermo.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394937.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00162-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935989 | 3,348 | 2.9375 | 3 |
24 Sep, 09 | by BMJ Group
A group of doctors warned last week that if climate change is not effectively tackled we all face a health catastrophe. What they did not say is that the catastrophe is already here for millions of the world’s poorest people, because when they get sick, or even have a baby, they cannot afford the medical bills. A new mother who has to undergo an emergency caesarean section in Sierra Leone can expect to be presented with a bill of up to £175 –three times higher than the average annual salary. Her family then risks slipping into even deeper poverty than it is in already.
This week, at the UN General Assembly, Britain’s prime minister Gordon Brown is to lead a new push to scrap fees for essential health care in seven poor countries, a move that could end farcical situations such as this.
Making patients pay for healthcare was introduced in poor countries in the 1980s, often as a condition of attracting lending from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, but the fees have rarely contributed to more than 5% of a country’s running costs for health services.
The fees, however, are extremely effective in keeping people away from hospitals, clinics, and doctors. In our experience, charging as little as 50 pence deters patients from seeking care, with serious consequences. Children with fever aren’t taken to the doctor and, instead of being diagnosed and treated early, come to our free clinics with severe pneumonia, often too late to be saved. That is hardly in line with the real needs of the population. It has been estimated that if fees had been abolished in 2000, when the UN Millennium Development Goals to fight poverty and to improve health care were introduced, more than 2.5 million children’s lives would have been saved by now.
Removal of user fees is a welcome step but in isolation it is not enough. In some countries where fees have been abolished the number of patients seeking care has increased fivefold, when there are not the extra numbers of doctors and nurses to cope. Ending fees must be accompanied by extra funding and technical assistance to support and train more health workers and supply drugs and equipment and make free healthcare policy a reality.
That is the commitment that world leaders can pledge this week: to get the money through – and develop the technical assistance – and not let it become a feel-good promise with no concrete result. Mozambique has been planning to abolish fees but no donor country has come forward to provide the needed £8 million a year, which is 10 per cent of its current health budget.
The evidence for scrapping fees is compelling. In Sierra Leone, one year after we abolished flat fees for patients, our doctors diagnosed and treated 10 times more children with malaria. In contrast, Burundi introduced fees in 2002, and two years later a survey showed that four out of five patients had gone into debt or had been forced to sell food they had grown for themselves in order to pay the bills. Patients who failed to pay risked being imprisoned by clinics or having their identity papers confiscated. Since then, Burundi has implemented free care for children and maternal deliveries. The positive impact on use of health services is patently clear.
This week, world leaders at the UN must go beyond simply making a laudable public commitment at a high-profile meeting and actually direct the necessary money to all the right places and make a major difference to the lives of millions of people cut off from essential care.
Tejshri Shah is head of Médecins Sans Frontières UK’s Manson Unit, which provides direct medical support to Médecins Sans Frontières teams in the field. | <urn:uuid:99a5125b-6f22-4498-9aba-da720448c031> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2009/09/24/tejshri-shah-on-scrapping-healthcare-fees-in-developing-countries/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397636.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00132-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971414 | 760 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2001 July 22
Explanation: The Orion Nebula is visible to the unaided eye as a fuzzy patch near the famous belt of three stars in the Orion. The above picture captures a part of the Orion Nebula that primarily reflects light from bright Orion stars. This reflection nebula appears blue because the blue light from the neighboring stars scatters more efficiently from nebula gas than does red light. The dark lanes are composed of mostly interstellar dust - fine needle-shaped carbon grains.
Authors & editors:
Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Technical Rep.: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA/ GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U. | <urn:uuid:92f5435f-1d29-4e46-bb90-1836dcebf0d0> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010722.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398873.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00010-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905601 | 173 | 3.453125 | 3 |
To view this film, you will require Adobe Flash 9
Director Halas & Batchelor
Duration 9min 2sec
Release Date 1948
Sponsor Central Office of Information for Ministry of National Insurance
Synopsis Charley questions the need for the National Insurance Acts of 1948
Text version of this film
The Welfare State
The key principle underpinning the Welfare State was that it was universal. And that it would also be free of discrimination, free of stigma and paid for by everyone through National Insurance payments.
The National Insurance Act of 1948 was a comprehensive system for state-run social insurance. Flat-rate individual contributions, one stamp and one card were introduced. The benefits covered sickness, old age, unemployment and industrial injury. At the time it was said to provide 'a shield for every man, woman and child. against the ravages of poverty and adversity'.
The Attlee government introduced ambitious welfare schemes, paid for through National Insurance payments made by all. Huge effort was put into trying to explain to the public how their contributions were being put to good use.
Copyright and access | <urn:uuid:4612d18e-86d5-4f03-8414-9a091def5158> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1945to1951/filmpage_cmot.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396029.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00074-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965626 | 221 | 3.203125 | 3 |
A text editor is a computer program that lets a user enter, change, store, and usually print text (characters and numbers, each encoded by the computer and its input and output devices, arranged to have meaning to users or to other programs). Typically, a text editor provides an "empty" display screen (or "scrollable page") with a fixed-line length and visible line numbers. You can then fill the lines in with text, line by line. A special command line lets you move to a new page, scroll forward or backward, make global changes in the document, save the document, and perform other actions. After saving a document, you can then print it or display it. Before printing or displaying it, you may be able to format it for some specific output device or class of output device. Text editors can be used to enter program language source statements or to create documents such as technical manuals.
A popular text editor in IBM's large or mainframe computers is called XEDIT. In UNIX systems, the two most commonly used text editors are Emacs and vi . In personal computer systems, word processor s are more common than text editors. However, there are variations of mainframe and UNIX text editors that are provided for use on personal computers. An example is KEDIT, which is basically XEDIT for Windows. | <urn:uuid:a9eff1f3-3bab-4238-acbb-588754f36e38> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/text-editor | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396949.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00065-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907222 | 271 | 3.8125 | 4 |
The Evolution of Women's Rights in Inheritance
Kristine S. Knaplund
Pepperdine University School of Law
Hastings Women's Law Journal, v. 19, p. 3, 2008
Pepperdine University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2008/6
This article presents the research results of an extensive examination of 1893 Los Angeles County probate records, which are the earliest such records still remaining in the Los Angeles County Archives. This research was undertaken to determine what effect the 1861 California Married Women's Property Act, together with subsequent changes in California probate law that were implemented throughout the latter half of the 19th century, had on testate and intestate succession of women's property. The article first provides historical background information about Los Angeles as it was 1893 (including population figures, the racial and gender makeup of the inhabitants, issues related to communication, migration, and technology, and a snapshot of California probate law at the time). It then gives a brief factual overview of each of the decedents whose records were studied, followed by an analysis of testate distribution patterns (with particular attention to differences between male and female decedents). Finally, it provides additional information about so-called problem wills - those which gave rise to will contests and other litigation.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 51
Keywords: women, inheritance, probate, wills, testamentary, California
JEL Classification: K11
Date posted: January 17, 2008 ; Last revised: November 8, 2010
© 2016 Social Science Electronic Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This page was processed by apollobot1 in 0.203 seconds | <urn:uuid:339b7809-9538-4158-bd41-3e033f9b830e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1085062 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00167-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930062 | 342 | 2.640625 | 3 |
This comes from page 38 in the Scholar’s Edition of Human Action. I just had to paste this into a project I’m working on; thought it would be relevant:
All geometrical theorems are already implied in the axioms. The concept of a rectangular triangle already implies the theorem of Pythagoras. This theorem is a tautology, its deduction results in an analytic judgment. Nonetheless nobody would contend that geometry in general and the theorem of Pythagoras in particular do not enlarge our knowledge. Cognition from purely deductive reasoning is also creative and opens for our mind access to previously barred spheres. The significant task of aprioristic reasoning is on the one hand to bring into relief all that is implied in the categories, concepts, and premises and, on the other hand, to show what they do not imply. It is its vocation to render manifest and obvious what was hidden and unknown before.
In the concept of money all the theorems of monetary theory are already implied. The quantity theory does not add to our knowledge anything which is not virtually contained in the concept of money. It transforms, develops, and unfolds; it only analyzes and is therefore tautological like the theorem of Pythagoras in relation to the concept of the rectangular triangle. However, nobody would deny the cognitive value of the quantity theory. To a mind not enlightened by economic reasoning it remains unknown. A long line of abortive attempts to solve the problems concerned shows that it was certainly not easy to attain the present state of knowledge. | <urn:uuid:9fffc6b5-475b-46b1-b46c-cd9c40271748> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://consultingbyrpm.com/blog/2013/09/mises-on-a-priori-reasoning.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393093.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00178-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963981 | 317 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Resource Library for Gender: Women and Girls
To find something specific please use the search function below:
Menstrual hygiene matters is an essential resource for improving menstrual hygiene for women and girls in lower and middle-income countries. Nine modules and toolkits cover key aspects of menstrual hygiene in different settings, including communities, schools and emergencies. This resource was developed by WaterAid, SHARE and a number of collaborating organisations.
The UN Enable site provides resources and links with a gender perspectives on disability and the disability perspective on the situation of women and girls with disabilities, including an on-line discussion group and network and a link to an interactive panel discussion on Cross-sectionalities of gender, disability, and development. Women and girls with disabilities experience double discrimination, which places them at higher risk of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment and exploitation.
Kelsey, D. (2012). ACID Research in Development Series, Report no. 4. The resource reports on the findings of research conducted in June 2010 to assess the gendered outcomes of WaterAid’s WASH programming in two communities in the Liquica district of Timor-Leste. The research sought to understand what it would mean to address gender systemically in its work, and to develop policy and practice that better responds to gender concerns.
For Her It's the Big Issue (3029 KB)
Fisher, J. (2006). WSSCC: Geneva. The vital role of women in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions is undeniable. But even though women’s involvement in the planning, design, management and implementation of such projects and programmes has proved to be fruitful and cost-effective, the substantial benefits of this approach are not properly recognised. One result is that, all too often, women are not as centrally engaged in water and sanitation efforts as they should be.
Gender analysis frameworks (215 KB)
Includes references for a number of different gender analysis frameworks that can be useful in analysing and developing strategies to address gender issues in the development and WASH sector.
Isis International: Phillipines. This toolkit on Gender and Climate Change is part of an important endeavour by Isis International to explore innovative and strategic ways to communicate gender justice and climate justice issues, especially from Southern feminist perspectives.
Women in Cities International (2011). This document reports on the findings of the action research project Women’s Rights and Access to Water and Sanitation in Asian Cities; Carried out in Delhi, India from 1 February 2009 to 31 July 2011.
Water and Sanitation Program. (2010). Working Paper. For use by ministries, donors, citizens, development banks, NGOs and service providers. This paper looks at links between gender and WASH at the policy level, operational level, monitoring and evaluation, citizen engagement, behaviour change and HIV/AIDS. It showcases examples of good practice and provides checklists for practitioners.
Gender, Culture and the Pacific (562 KB)
Underhill-Sem, Y. (2011) Asia- Pacific Human Development Report Background Paper Series. This paper provides a deeper understanding of how culture in the Pacific impacts gender equality and human development. The analysis addresses two views that are widely held in the Pacific: 1) that gender is biologically determined, and 2) that culture is a sacred template should not be meddled with. Both these notions have attracted sound scholarly consideration in the Pacific, which has shown that rath
Reed, B.J. et al. (2007). WEDC, Loughborough University, UK. This guide is aimed at to engineers, technicians and project managers to ensure that the infrastructure and services they provide are suitable for whole communities. The resource has a special focus on awareness of gender issues.
Simpson, S. (2014). Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Focusing on access to WASH as a basic human right to be upheld by states, the paper looks at the reality of women in their ability to exercise this right in day-to-day life in India and Nepal. The paper focuses on females who who are subjected to further stigma, discrimination and inequity in their ability to access WASH facilities due to not confomring to social ideals within t
WaterAid Nepal (2009). This study looks at the perspectives and experiences of menstrual hygiene management among school girls in Nepal. It brings the issue to the attention of policy makers and practitioners, and makes recommendation on how capacity for effective menstrual hygiene management can be increased.
House, S. & Cavill, S. (2015). Frontier of CLTS: Innovations and Insights Issue 5, Brighton Institute of Development Studies. This handbook looks at the links between gender based harassment and violence and WASH facilities and programs. It looks at the implications of such harassment and violence, and puts-forth key principles and points for action that can be built in to CLTS programs to reduce vulnerabilities to harassment and violence.
Mahon, T. & Fernandes, M. (2010). WaterAid. Focussing on effective menstrual hygiene management, as a key aspect of WASH, this resource looks at examining related cultural and religious taboos, as well as male dominance in the development sphere, to overcome barriers to effective menstrual hygiene management. It provides examples of successful initiatives and programs that tackle menstrual hygiene in WASH in the South Asia region.
Menstrual Hygiene Management (397 KB)
Carrard, N (2011) A snapshot of lessons from learning events on menstrual hygiene management (part of AusAID's Learning Fund). During the learning events, participants talked about their efforts to break the silence, working with women and girls to ensure menstrual hygiene management needs are addressed through WASH programs.
Dayal, R., Wijk, C. & Mukherjee, N. (2000). A guide prepared by the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre that offers practical tools for bringing gender and poverty-sensitive participation into WASH programs. The MetGuide is useful for communities, project staff, project managers, program designers, donors, researchers and policy makers.
Pathfinder 2011: Equity and Gender (1045 KB)
This resource assesses existing knowledge on equity, equality and access to sanitation and hygiene services in relation to gender. It looks specifically at concepts of economic, social, spatial and political inequality and their significance in enabling or inhibiting access to sanitation and hygiene services. It puts-forth requirements to ensuring equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services that overcome structural inequalities, and provides guidance for direction of future research in t
Halcrow, G. et al. (2010). International Women’s Development Agency and Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney. This guide is to assist program and field staff involved in the design, implementation and/or evaluation of community-based WASH programs, to work effectively with both women and men. The guide references research on gender outcomes from rural water, sanitation and hygiene projects in Vanuatu and Fiji.
Pillitteri, S. (2011). In this briefing note on the SHARE website, WASH Consultant Sally Piper Pillitteri, answers a call from WaterAid for “evidence from the field”. She provides data on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for schoolgirls in Malawi, with a view to determining one or several recommendations for improved MHM in schools. This material is also of value to WASH professionals, policy makers, NGOs and education authority.
Balla, M. (2013). Engineers Without Borders Australia. This resource gives an overview of the issues women and girls in the developing world face, and how this relates directly to the provision of basic WASH facilities. It goes on to discuss the contingent impact this can have on the trajectory of women and girls; including issues such as gender based violence, education and low literacy levels, and increased crime rates, among other social issues.
Jansz, S. & Wilbur, J. (2013). WSSCC and WaterAid.This resource gives a brief overview of some prominant gender issues in WASH, including: maternal and newborn health, girl's education, menstrual hygiene, violence against women/dignity and self esteem, inequality and discrimination, economic empowerment, and women's rights.
A brief hand-out guide to working effectively with women and men in WASH programs.
World International for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank. (2011). The report's authors underlines three dangerous phases in a woman's life, girls at birth, birth to five years old and women of reproductive age and stresses the role of WASH at these times. This report has nine chapters in three parts.
This briefing note was written with WSSCC for the Women Deliver conference in 2013. It details how WASH can help women's rights be realised and bring about gender equality. | <urn:uuid:a317ba7f-2142-4b97-9bf7-9ded128f6b11> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.inclusivewash.org.au/resource-library-gender-women-and-girls | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397749.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00127-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91429 | 1,837 | 3.046875 | 3 |
The wealth gap is growing, and if the Occupy Wall Street and its satellite protests are any indication, those not within the top one percent of income earners are not happy with their circumstances or the policies that help foster the wealth of those at the top. It’s been called class warfare, but there are other dimensions to the wealth gap than the spectrum that includes poor, working middle class, upper middle class, and wealthy.
The gap in wealth between young and old Americans is growing. Today, the Pew Research Center released new data showing the widening divide between Americans 35 years old or younger and Americans 65 and older. In 1984, the median net worth for the younger group was $11,521 (adjusted for inflation). The same year, the median net worth for the older group was $120,457. Net worth includes the value of all one’s assets, including a house, minus the value of all one’s liabilities, including student loan debt, credit card debt, and mortgages.
The passing of twenty-five years makes a difference. Today’s median net worth — actually not today’s number, but 2009′s number — for Americans 35 years old or younger is $3,662. That’s a 68% decline! Today’s youth is significantly less wealthy than the youth of the previous generation. In 2009, the older group’s median net worth was $170,494, a 42% increase.
This is a comparison between age groups, which I would expect to be fairly similar to each other and similar to the past in terms of socioeconomic distribution. They would have to be, or the data would need to be standardized, for the numbers to have merit. There are great reasons to be happy about the increase of wealth in one group, but there is also a wide variety of reasons why young people (and I am one — I’ll remain 35 for just a few more months, if all goes well).
- Unemployment within the young age group is high, while older workers are opting to stay in their jobs longer. In fact, recent graduates facing unemployment may never reach their income potential. This problem isn’t just going to go away when the job market improves.
- Some call today’s young adults (or old adolescents) the Boomerang Generation. After college, they move back to their parents’ house while looking for a job. They delay marriage and purchasing a house, both activities that are correlated with increased wealth. Yesterday’s recent graduates had jobs and houses, both of which contributed to gains over the past 25 years, particularly if the house was purchased in advance of the real estate bubble.
- Student loan debt is a much more significant part of a young person’s life today than it was in 1984. College costs have far outpaced inflation, and lenders have always been keen to extend the availability of higher education to more students (otherwise known as borrowers and customers).
- A college education is increasingly seen as the gateway to a good career in any field. It’s difficult to compete in an information-based economy (opposed to a manufacturing-based economy) without a bachelor’s degree. A high school diploma is no longer enough for participation, particularly when companies can afford to be selective in hiring.
If you’re in the younger group, the question should always be what you can do to reverse this trend. While there can be some results by supporting public policies that don’t include bail-outs for the rich (socialization of losses) while cutting back resources for those with the least opportunity (privatizing the gains), it’s important to put yourself in the best position possible so that you don’t need to rely on public policy in your favor.
Assume you’re a major league baseball player. (That will easily put you in a position where your wealth is quite healthy, but that’s besides the point at the moment. Just go with the unexpected metaphor for a second.) You have three balls and two strikes, there are two outs, you’re down by one run, the bases are loaded, and it’s the bottom of the ninth inning. You hit your next pitch to the shortstop. He mishandles the ball but gets it over to first base. It’s a close play, a tie, but the umpire calls you out. Your manager rushes the field from the dugout to argue, but it’s no use. You head back to the showers momentarily defeated.
It’s easy to blame the umpire for getting the call wrong on such an important play. It’s your job to perform well enough that there’s never any question about whether you’re safe or out. The “system” that requires an umpire to make a snap judgment call on a close play is the same “system” that makes it difficult for people to succeed financially. By taking control of your finances, you make the “system” — the job market, the economy, politician’s policies, to name a few societal aspects that aren’t easily controlled by one person — less relevant to your long-term success. | <urn:uuid:262026d8-bf8c-4d86-821e-153e372bbb04> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/wealth-gap-young-vs-old/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403826.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00026-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957207 | 1,088 | 2.625 | 3 |
(Norse) Balder was the second son of Odin, chief of the gods, and Frigg. His mother took oaths from all plants, creatures, elements and metals that they would not harm him, all except the mistletoe plant for she felt it was too young and too small to harm him. He was therefore thought to be immune from harm and the other gods, in sport, would throw things at him. Loki, the god of mischief, deceived Hod (Hoder), a blind god and Balder's brother, into throwing a spear made from mistletoe at Balder, thereby killing him.
(Norse) The god of poetry and eloquence, son of Odin and Gunnlod, a female giant. He was married to Idun (Iduna) guardian of the "apples of immortality".
Forseti or Forsetti (Forsite)
(Norse) God of justice. Son of Balder and Nanna.
(Norse) A god of the Vanir race. Twin brother of Freyja. He was the god of peace, fertility and weather. He was married to Gerd (Gerda).
(Norse)She was originally from the Vanir. Goddess of love, fertility, and beauty, sometimes identified as the goddess of battle and death. She was also quite accommodating in sexual matters. She is said to have traded sexual favors (by sleeping with the four dwarves who had fashioned the necklace) to possess the necklace of the Brisings. When it was taken from her by Loki, she started a war of retaliation. Her father was Njord, a fertility god. Blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful, Freyja traveled in a chariot drawn by cats. She resided in the celestial realm of Folkvang, where it was her privilege to receive half of all the warriors slain in battle and take their souls to her hall, Sessrumnir, in Folkvang; the god Odin received the other half at Valhalla. She loves music, spring and flowers, and spends much time with the fey. She is seen wearing a cloak of bird feathers, which allows the wearer to change into a falcon and the beautiful necklace of the Brisings given to her by dwarves, which the Norse still refer to as the Milky Way. In Germany, Freya was sometimes identified with Frigg, the wife of Odin. She was also the sister of the god Frey.
Frigg (Frigga, Frija, Fricka)
(Norse)Goddess of the sky. Daughter of Fjorgyn, goddess of the earth. She was Odin's wife and mother of Balder and Hoth. Friday is named after her. Frigg is the patroness of marriage and motherhood. She assists women in labor and is associated with the naming of children. Frigg has the reputation of knowing everyone's destiny, but never reveals it. Being the wife of the god Odin, she was known as the Queen of the Heavens. She is the central diety in Asgard where her hall, Fensalir ("water halls")
(Norse) He is said to be the son of nine mothers. He lived at the foot of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, and guarded it. He was known as the watchman of the gods. Heimdall was the keeper of the Gjallahorn, the "ringing" horn, which he was to sound when Ragnarök, the end of the world, was near. In an Irish myth he is called Rígr, and is considered the father of mankind. He consorted with three women, from whom descend the three classes of mankind: serf(thrall), freeman(karl), and nobleman(jarl).
Hod (Hodr, Hodur)
(Norse) The blind brother of Balder, tricked by Loki, throws a mistletoe dart at his brother and kills him.
Idun (Iduna, Idunnor)
(Norse) She was the goddess of spring and eternal youth. Wife of Bragi, and guardian of the golden apples of immortality which the gods ate whenever they wanted to renew their youth.
(Norse) He was one of the Aesir (the principal gods), but a cause of dissension among the gods. Loki was a sometimes friend to the gods who admired his clever plans when he was helping them. But he was mischievous and evil too. He was responsible for the death of Balder, Odin's son. Loki had the ability to change his form and even to change his sex. He, through Angrboda, produced Hel, goddess of death, Jörmungand, the evil serpent who was Thor's mortal enemy, and Fenrir, the wolf. With his second wife, Sigyn, he fathered Vali and Narvi.
(Norse) Also Niord, Niordhr, or Njorthr. The god of the wind and the sea. He was the father of Frey and Freyja by his own sister. He was the protector of ships, who lived at Noatun by the sea-shore. His wife Skadi lives in the mountains because the cries of the gulls disturbs her sleep.
Also Odhinn, Woden, Wodan, and Woutan. He is the supreme god and oldest of all in Norse mythology, god of wisdom, poetry, magic, and war. He belonged to the Aesir race of gods. Among his many names is All-father, for he is the father of all the gods. One story about him relates how he acquired great wisdom. Supposedly he gained this wisdom when he hanged himself on the world tree for nine days and nights and was pierced by a spear. This was a spiritual death in which he sacrificed himself to himself. Another story about his acquiring wisdom is that he sacrificed an eye for the privilege of drinking from Mimir's, fountain of wisdom. He had two black ravens, Huginn or Huninn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory), who flew forth each day to gather the news of the world to bring back to Odin. His greatest treasures were Sleipner (an eight-legged horse), Gunger (a spear), and Draupner (a ring).
(Norse) Sif is the golden-haired wife of Thor and the goddess of crops and fertility. She was the mother, by a previous marriage, of Uu, god of archery and skiing.
A myth about her:
Loki, one night cut off her beautiful golden hair. Next morning Thor was beside himself with rage at Sif's distress. When Loki protested that it was only a joke, Thor demanded to know how he was going to rectify the situation, the fire god said he would get the dwarfs to weave a wig as a replacement. So Loki asked the sons of Ivaldi to make a wig from spun gold. The wig when finished was quite remarkable, for it was so light and realistic that even a slight breeze was enough to ruffle it and so real that it grew on her head like magic. Thinking to get the gods even more into their debt,the sons of Ivaldi constructed a collapsible boat named Skidbladnir for Freyr and a magic spear called Gungnir for Odin. On his way back to Asgard Loki met the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eiti. They were so jealous of the workmanship that had gone into the wig, the boat and the spear that Loki easily persuaded them to make something better; he even bet his own head on their inability to do so. As a result, the dwarf brothers fashioned the magic hammer known as Mjollnir. The gods were delighted with the treasures Loki and Brokk had brought back. However, Brokk demanded Loki's head. The gods would not agree, but they had no objection to Brokk sewing up Loki's lips with a thong when Thor dragged the god back home after he tried to flee, which caused Loki to plan revenge against Thor.
(Norse) The god of thunder and lightning, eldest son of Odin, ruler of the gods, and Jord, the earth goddess. Thor was the strongest of the Aesir, the chief gods, whom he helped protect from their enemies, the giants. Thor owed three magical treasures. Mjollnir his hammer (thunderbolt) which when thrown at an enemy returns to Thor. He is able to handle Mjollnir with the second of his treasures, iron-clad gloves. The third treasure is his magic girdle, a belt that increases and replenishes his divine strength when he wears it. Thunder was supposed to be the sound of the rolling of his goat-driven chariot. Thursday is named for Thor.
Tyr (Tiu, Tiw, Tiv, Tiwaz)
(Norse) Son of Odin and Frigg, and younger brother of Thor. A god of war and of justice. It was he who placed his hand in the mouth of the giant wolf, Fenris, to show good faith as the rest of the gods, pretending sport but intending a trap, chained the wolf. When Fenrir realized he had been tricked he bit off Tyr's hand. Tuesday is derived from Tyr's name.
(Norse) A son of Odin noted for his taciturnity, and his fearless destruction of Fenrir (Fenris).
Aesir , A-K , L-Z
Celtic Gods and Goddesses , Egyptian Gods and Goddesses , Greek Gods and Goddesses , Middle Eastern Myth , Mythological Creatures , Native American Gods , Norse Gods , Roman Gods and Goddesses , Deities Correspondences
A Letter From Mom And Dad , An Open Letter to a Witch , Banner Links , Blessings , The Charges of the Gods , Crafts , Correspondences , Devotions , Dictionary , Goddess Months , Gods and Goddesses , Herbs , Invocations , Magickal Needs , Meditations , Metaphysical , Miscellanous Items , Oghams , Recipes , Redes and Laws , Rituals , Runes , Sitemap , Spells , Short Stories , Tarot , Text Links , Webrings , What is Wicca? , What Law Enforcment Agencies Need To Know About Witchcraft | <urn:uuid:d000dbcf-2457-47f5-8f34-61f4057ba64b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://onespiritx.tripod.com/gods31.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396027.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00170-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979108 | 2,138 | 2.515625 | 3 |
In the beginning, there was only the bare
mkdir command. In accordance with Unix's design principles, this simple command performed one simple task: creating a directory.
mkdir acquired a
-p option to handle a common use case where the caller wants to create zero, one or more directories to ensure that a particular path exists. This was not made the default operation for several reasons. First, not all systems had this more complex feature, and requiring the
-p option meant that scripts that used it would get a reasonable error message (something like
mkdir: invalid option -z) rather than strangely failing to create directories occasionally. Second, and most importantly, the behavior of
mkdir -p is not a compatible replacement of
mkdir in all cases.
In particular, on most fileystems,
mkdir is an atomic operation. If a program runs
mkdir playground and the command succeeds, the program knows that it created the
playground directory. This allows the program to treat the new directory as its exclusive playground: if another instance of the same program is running concurrently, its call to
mkdir playground will fail. This property is obviously not provided by
mkdir -p since it allows the argument to exist.
mkdir -p had existed from the start, it could have been made the default mode, with something like
mkdir -a for the single-directory creation command. But that would not have followed the usual Unix design philosophy: most basic utilities are simple wrappers around the underlying primitives, with fancier behavior (like creating multiple directories in one go) requiring fancy options. | <urn:uuid:771c1188-e447-4c70-99d6-2a55ba08d732> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/23668/why-does-mkdir-not-have-the-p-flag-set-by-default-to-allow-for-nested-directory/23684 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391519.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00194-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93047 | 334 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Voter fraud in the U.S. is one of two things: It's rampant and requires strict measures like photo IDs to stop it — or — it's a devious ploy to keep certain voters from the polls.
Sorting through the rhetoric — and finding common ground — is as difficult as getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on a tax policy.
In fact, the voting fraud issue tends to fall along party lines, with many GOPers at the forefront of the movement for voter IDs while most Democrats see the requirement as a way to stop certain constituents from voting for them.
Accusations of voter fraud and stuffing ballot boxes have a long history. But a look at recent developments — and trying to separate fact from fiction — shows how contentious the issue and the need for voter IDs has become.
Do states have ID requirements to vote at polls?
Some do and some don't, and the requirements vary.
The first state laws requiring ID's at the polls were passed in 2003. This came on the heels of the 2002 Help America Vote Act that required anyone in the country who registered by mail AND had not previously voted, to show a valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility or bank statement or government check or any ID with a name and address, when they showed up to vote.
The act was a direct result of the hotly contested 2000 presidential election between Al Gore, who won the popular vote, and George W. Bush, who with the Supreme Court's decision, took the electoral vote and the White House.
Which states have voter ID requirements at the polls? Eight states, including Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee and Wisconsin require photo IDs at polling stations. South Dakota and Texas have similar laws but are awaiting Justice Department approval before implementing them.
South Carolina prohibits the use of student IDs, as does Texas.
A photo ID or an alternative such as proof of residency or answering personal questions from poll workers are needed in such states as Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan and South Dakota.
Several states, like California, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Illinois, currently do not have any laws requiring IDs when registered voters show up at the polls.
Update:On Monday, March 12, 2012 a Wisconsin judge struck down the voter identification measure signed into law by Governor Scott Walker— ruling that it was unconstitutional because it would deny some the right to vote.
And on the same day, the U.S. Justice Department used its power under the Voting Rights Act to halt the Texas voter ID law—saying that the measure may disproportionately harm Hispanics.
Is there massive voter fraud at the polls?
This is the heart of the controversy, with charges back and forth that fraud is widespread to there's little proof at all.
"There are no major voter fraud cases that we can find," says Keesha Gaskins, a senior counsel for the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's School of Law.
"We can't say there isn't fraud, but there's no proof it's widespread," Gaskins says.
Current reports of voter fraud have turned out to be inconclusive.
The Department of Justice under President George W. Bush launched a five-year investigation into voter fraud that resulted in 86 convictions across the country.
In a recent attempt to stop the Justice Department from blocking a new voter ID law, South Carolina charged that the names of some 900 dead people were used to cast ballots in 2010. However, a search by the state's election committee showed some inconsistencies in registration but no widespread fraud.
And while defending its photo ID law before the Supreme Court in 2008, Indiana failed to cite one instance of voter impersonation. But the court ruled in favor of the law, and many states followed with their own versions.
Regardless of the case, some say the need for tough voter ID laws is just common sense.
"Is voting so unimportant it doesn't deserve such a basic obvious protection?" asks Ted Scofield, a New York lawyer and former political consultant.
"If something as simple as requiring IDs would reduce errors, why not implement it?" Scofield contends. "I was asked for an ID recently at a drug store for cough syrup. Voting is not less important."
"Voter IDs are suppression tactics."
What is the impact of tougher voter IDs on voters?
Again, the facts are elusive, but opinions are plenty.
"These voter ID laws are clearly voter suppression tactics," says Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
"These laws are not addressing fraud but are modern-day poll taxes designed to remove eligible voters from our democracy. They should be stopped immediately," she says.
But others say voters don't mind the requirement.
"Many people thanked us for asking for IDs," says Deborah Chamberlain, a poll worker in Wauwatosa, Wis., since 2000 and the owner of a media and marketing service.
"People had been offering photo IDs before they were required here as a show of support prior to passage of the law (in 2010)," Chamberlain says.
Many Americans eligible to vote don't have photo IDs — not everyone drives a car or needs to. Some people don't belong to a group or organization that provides photo IDs.
It's estimated that 11 percent of all voting age citizens — and some 18 percent of people over 65 — don't have photo IDs, but would have other forms of identification. As many as 25 percent of African-Americans are said to lack acceptable identification for some current ID laws.
Studies on voter suppression show some negative results — even if slightly. A paper from the Harvard Law and Policy Review that studied voter ID laws from 2002 to 2006 concluded that there was a 1.1 percent decline in voter turnout in states that had photo ID laws during those four years.
The paper also concluded that by 2006, the states without ID requirements or with nonphoto ID laws at the polls showed higher voter turnout than states that had either one.
Where are voter ID laws headed?
In the end, it may fall mostly along party lines. Just one state with a Democratic controlled legislature — Rhode Island in 2011 — has passed a voter ID law so far.
The Justice Department can step in to block the laws, but only in certain states that have a "history of discriminatory practices" as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The department did so in the case of South Carolina's law but the state is appealing the decision.
In an era of state budget cutbacks, the cost for the laws has not come cheap. Indiana's cost taxpayers more than $10 million just to issue new IDs, according to reports . Estimates by other states projected costs of up to $25.2 million in North Carolina over three years and $16.9 million in Missouri over three years.
Cost aside, those against the voter ID laws say the system does need some updating.
"Voting registration lists do need cleaning up and to be current," says Brennan's Gaskins. "Certainly those that have passed away and those not eligible to vote should be taken out. But voter IDs at the poll doesn't ensure voting rights."
What's missing from the overall discussion is how to get more Americans legally into the voting booths, says Chamberlain, the Wisconsin poll worker.
"Personally, I haven't seen any fraud." Chamberlain says. "But I think we need voter IDs. We also need the state to help people who have problems getting IDs. Even one legal voter should not be held back from this basic right." | <urn:uuid:64702a95-53a6-49ea-9307-3c2e9eb6376b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.cnbc.com/id/46412510/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783400031.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155000-00060-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968237 | 1,552 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Are the principles of interval training the same for everyone?
Yes — but you can take interval training to many levels. If you simply want to vary your exercise routine, you can determine the length and speed of each high-intensity interval based on how you feel that day.
After warming up, you might increase the intensity for 30 seconds and then resume your normal pace. The next burst of more intense activity may last two to three minutes. How much you pick up the pace, how often and for how long is up to you.
If you're working toward a specific fitness goal, you may want to take a more scientific approach. A personal trainer or other expert can help you time the intensity and duration of your intervals — which may include movement patterns similar to those you'll use during your sport or activity — based on your target heart rate, the ability of your heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to your muscles (peak oxygen intake), and other factors.
Does interval training have risks?
Interval training isn't appropriate for everyone. If you have a chronic health condition or haven't been exercising regularly, consult your doctor before trying any type of interval training. Recent studies suggest, however, that interval training can be used safely for short periods even in individuals with heart disease.
Also keep the risk of overuse injury in mind. If you rush into a strenuous workout before your body is ready, you may injure your muscles, tendons or bones. Instead, start slowly. Try doing just one or two higher intensity intervals during each workout at first. If you think you're overdoing it, slow down. As your stamina improves, challenge yourself to vary the pace. You may be surprised by the results.
March 24, 2015
See more In-depth
- Developing an interval training program. ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal. 2014;18:3.
- Weston M, et al. Effects of low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIT) on fitness in adults: A meta-analysis of controlled and non-controlled trials. Sports Medicine. 2014;44:1005.
- Gillen JB, et al. Is high-intensity interval training a time-efficient exercise strategy to improve health and fitness? Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2014;39:409.
- Nakahara H, et al. Low-frequency severe-intensity interval training improves cardiorespiratory functions. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. In press. Accessed Feb. 20, 2015.
- Kessler HS, et al. The potential for high-intensity interval training to reduce cardiometabolic disease risk. Sports Medicine. 2012;42:489.
- Elliott AD, et al. Interval training versus continuous exercise in patients with coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis. Heart, Lung & Circulation. 2015;24:149.
- Sharman JE, et al. Exercise and cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension. American Journal of Hypertension. 2015;28:147.
- ACSM information on: High-intensity interval training. American College of Sports Medicine. https://www.acsm.org/access-public-information/brochures-fact-sheets/brochures. Accessed March 3, 2015.
- Tanisho K, et al. Training effects on endurance capacity in maximal intermittent exercise: Comparison between continuous and interval training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2009;23:2405. | <urn:uuid:89feb9c8-4bc4-4f51-859d-294a0c7dc745> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/interval-training/art-20044588?pg=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403826.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00057-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.904705 | 718 | 2.6875 | 3 |
2nd Grade, Research and Inquiry Activities
2. Click on the small round audio icon located next to the photo. Listen to the description of the special clothes firefighters wear.
3. Click on each picture on the far left to learn more about firefighter's clothing. You must click on the audio button after each picture to hear a description out loud.
4. Read the sentences and circle True or False:
a) Firefighters use a special mask to breathe underwater. True or False
b) Firefighters put on their gloves last. True or False
c) Firefighters might use a light on their helmet to help them see in the dark. True or False
d) Firefighters clothes burn very easily. True or False
e) Firefighters use fire hoses to wash their cars. True or False
For additional information on firefighters go to http://www.state.il.us/kids/fire/housein.htm | <urn:uuid:3ebe335c-6ceb-4189-b151-f7085da12980> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/georgia/families/activities/grade2/book1/unit1/time-for-kids-fighting-the-fire/firefighters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393997.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00141-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.885882 | 192 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Photo courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
The high-resolution sum frequency generation spectrometer developed by EMSL's Hongfei Wang serves as a resource for scientists studying iron oxides and aerosol particles.
Even after the holiday hustle and bustle, Amanda Mifflin can smell Christmas in the air – and in, of all places, a research lab at EMSL. That's because she's studying alpha-pinene, an organic compound emitted from trees – such as pine trees – that gives off a pleasant odor.
"Normally chemicals we use in our studies don't smell good," said Mifflin. "But with this, it smells like Christmas."
But scientists question if alpha-pinene's impact is less than pleasant. Studies at EMSL may help answer that question. EMSL, or the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, is a Department of Energy national scientific user facility within Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) supported by the DOE Office of Science.
Alpha-pinene (α-pinene) is a terpene, one of the organic compounds emitted by plants and trees that are important in biology for cell signaling and species communication. When released into the atmosphere, these small volatile molecules are oxidized by ozone and hydroxide, and their products form particles that affect air quality and climate.
Scientists, including Mifflin, want to understand the conditions under which these transformations occur and then quantify their impact on air quality and climate in hopes of improving global climate models. The problem is not insignificant. The ecosystems in which these compounds appear stretch across 10 time zones, in some cases.
Mifflin began studying α-pinene at EMSL while on sabbatical from her role as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Puget Sound in 2012. At EMSL, she has conducted a series of studies in collaboration with EMSL chief scientist Hongfei Wang and Franz Geiger, a professor at Northwestern University and her former graduate advisor.
At the center of her efforts is a new high-resolution sum frequency generation (SFG) spectrometer Wang and postdoc Dr. Luis Velarde developed that improves the resolution that can be achieved by more than 10 times over previous systems. Greater resolution provides greater levels of detail about complex particle structure and reactions on surfaces. With α-pinene, Mifflin and Geiger wanted to understand the structural properties and how they might change under different conditions.
Beauty of peaks
The data obtained with Wang's new system "are beautiful," Mifflin says. Past techniques provide data that, when graphed, look like rolling ‘hills.' With such wide hills (or broad data peaks), it leaves lots of room for interpretation and, as Mifflin says, "scientists are arguing about how to interpret the meaning." With HR-SFG, however, those rolling hills become jagged peaks – as many as a dozen in the same space as the wide hills - that provide much more specific data and, therefore, meaning.
Photo courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
EMSL Scientist Hongfei Wang (right) and collaborator Amanda Mifflin work on the high-resolution sum frequency generation spectrometer prior to running experiments.
The data clearly showed more structure than had ever been achieved before in studying this complex molecule and how it interacts with surfaces.
"This technique is in fact giving us new information that will be really helpful," Mifflin says. "When we first saw the peaks, it was a beautiful spectrum."
What the newly resolved peaks and valleys mean will be addressed in studies through a collaboration with Geiger, Regan Thomson of Northwestern University, Scot Martin of Harvard University and Victor Batista of Yale University. The next phase will be using HR-SFG to study samples that are grown in Martin's laboratory and that are from a research site in the Hyytiälä forest of conifer trees in Southern Finland known for its long, dry and cold winters and its short but pleasant summers.
Geiger values collaborations across multiple institutions, including EMSL, and says Wang's "machine is just wonderful. It's really a terrific method."
This method is the gift that keeps on giving. Mifflin also has studied iron oxides, a complex mineral oxide, using HR-SFG. Iron oxides are much tougher to analyze than commonly studied oxides like silica. She'll be looking at how organic ligands bind to iron oxides and then capture a geochemical perspective of metal transport in groundwater.
The interactions of organics and mineral surfaces are poorly understood even though they can be important in the transport of contaminants in groundwater and the subsurface.
Mifflin appreciates that the HR-SFG allows her to study a variety of scientific challenges all related to environmental issues, from air pollution to carbon cycling and climate. And she recognizes that with EMSL, she can pursue these passions in many forms.
"I'm a physical chemist by training but it's the environment that keeps me interested. The direct tie of my work to environmental chemistry is a big draw for me."
The Department's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information please visit
. Mifflin spent her seven-month sabbatical at EMSL located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory through PNNL's Alternate Sponsored Fellow program. For more information about PNNL's Alternate Sponsored Fellow program, please visit the web
. For more information is available on the HR SFG
Staci West is the communications manager for EMSL at PNNL | <urn:uuid:d6497f4a-9ac8-42df-bb73-55280e1050bb> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://science.energy.gov/news/featured-articles/2013/01-30-13/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397636.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00165-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949554 | 1,167 | 3.234375 | 3 |
City of Philadelphia
City of Philadelphia
Discrimination & Enforcement
History of the Commission
History of the Commission
History of the Commission
Senior Staff Directory
Meetings and Events
Established in 1951 under the City’s Home Rule Charter, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations is the local agency that enforces the civil rights laws and deals with matters of intergroup conflict within the City of Philadelphia.
PCHR's 60 Year History
Philadelphia becomes the first city in the United States to include a provision for a human relations agency in its Home Rule Charter. That year, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations was born and assumed the powers and duties of the former, more limited Fair Employment Practices Commission. The FEPC, formed in 1948, combated prejudice and discrimination in employment based upon race, color, religion or national origin.
The PCHR’s founding commissioners are Robert J. Callaghan, Esq., chairperson; Sadie T. M. Alexander, Esq.; Francis J. Coyle; Nathan L. Edelstein, Esq.; Elizabeth H. Fetter; James H. Jones; Albert J. Nesbitt; Lawrence M. C. Smith; and Leon C. Sunstein, Sr. George Schermer shortly thereafter became the executive director.
The Commission quickly begins its assault on discrimination by issuing a publication, Philadelphia Negro Population Facts on Housing and working with the Philadelphia Housing Authority to integrate public housing by admitting African-Americans to exclusively White housing projects.
In response to violent incidents against Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood, the Commission issues a report, Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia, to highlight the challenges faced by the Spanish-speaking community.
The PCHR continues its efforts to reduced restrictive housing practices by issuing What to Do: A Program for Leaders in Changing Neighborhoods: A Guide for Community Leaders in Racially Changing Neighborhoods.
The PCHR develops a comprehensive training program for the Philadelphia Police Department.
Sadie T.M. Alexander becomes the chairperson of the Commission. Her tenure continued until 1968.
PCHR holds public hearings and investigates labor unions for excluding African-American workers. The Commission found widespread membership discrimination and negotiated settlements.
City Council passes the Fair Practices Ordinance, replacing the more restrictive Fair Employment Practices Ordinance.
Civil disturbances erupt in North Philadelphia. The PCHR calls together community leaders in an emergency meeting at Emmanuel Baptist Church. They march to end the rioting. The efforts of the PCHR shorten the disturbance and quicken the pace of reconciliation. The PCHR North Philadelphia Field Office is established.
Young African-Americans, led by Cecil B. Moore leader of the local branch of the NAACP and Georgie Woods of radio station WDAS picket Girard College (a boarding school for White fatherless boys). Mayor Tate asks PCHR Chair Sadie Alexander to intervene between the picketers and the school’s trustees. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Girard College must admit African-American boys.
Clarence Farmer becomes the executive director of the PCHR.
The PCHR launches a Helpmobile, a City Hall on Wheels. The Helpmobile made tours during the summer months of inner city neighborhoods and distributed information on the services of the PCHR.
Protests by African-Americans, seeking greater input in their schools, were met by police force in November 1967. Clarence Farmer stepped in to negotiate with both sides to end the violence.
On the day following the assassination of Martin Luther King, April 6, 1968, Clarence Farmer organizes a memorial march and rally at Independence Mall.
Farmer brings African-American radicals to the table with liberal moderates like Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., William Coleman, Esq., and Robert N.C. Nix, Jr., and White civic leaders like Philadelphia Savings Fund Society’s R. Stewart Rauch, Jr. and Wannamaker’s Richard C. Bond. The effort led to the creation of the Black Coalition.
The PCHR addresses the problem of blockbusting, the practice by which real estate agents and speculators induce panic selling by White homeowners fearful that an influx of minority purchasers will decrease property values.
PCHR strengthened its service to the City’s Spanish-speaking neighborhoods by providing interpretation services and preparing Spanish-language literature for residents and media.
Prohibitions on discrimination based on sex are added to the Fair Practices Ordinance.
Housing and public accommodation provisions and provisions that protect the rights of disabled persons are added to an expanded Fair Practices Ordinance.
PCHR creates a Dispute Resolution Program to help neighbors resolve disputes.
Violence in Kensington erupts between Whites and Latinos and in Southwest Philadelphia between Whites and African-Americans. Commission staff worked with neighborhood church groups, public agencies and community organizations to calm tensions.
Marital status, source of income, age, and the presence of children are added to the housing provisions of the Fair Practices Ordinance.
Sexual orientation, disability, and discrimination in employment based on age over 40 are added to the Fair Practices Ordinance.
Clarence Farmer negotiates, at various times, between the police and MOVE members.
The PCHR holds four public hearings concerning the problems of Asian immigrants in Philadelphia. Following the hearings, the PCHR issued a report, Asians and their Neighbors, and a subsequent report, Race Relations in Philadelphia.
PCHR begins accepting complaints of discrimination in the delivery of City services.
The City Solicitor defines AIDS as a disability under the Fair Practices Ordinance and Mayor’s Executive Order 4-86 is issued prohibiting discrimination based on AIDS in the delivery of City services.
The Commission issues a report, The State of Intergroup Harmony Race Relations in Philadelphia: A 1989 Perspective-A 1990 Opportunity.
After mounting tension and concerns in the Latino community, the PCHR holds public hearings and issues a report to the Mayor titled Report on Public Hearings Regarding Concerns of the Philadelphia Latino Community and a report The State of Intergroup Harmony.
Philadelphia and the Commission hosts the 43rd Annual Conference of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA).
The PCHR organized conferences on fair lending laws in collaboration with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The conferences began a continuing dialogue between community groups and lenders about mortgage and community development issues.
PCHR issues studies on mortgage lending patterns and practices in Philadelphia and low-income community credit needs.
The PCHR began providing staff for the City’s Fair Housing Commission (FHC), which deals with complaints of landlords engaging in unfair rental practices.
The PCHR joins with the Women’s Law Project to end the exclusion of pregnant women from drug treatment programs.
The PCHR blocks the Rev. Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam from holding a males-only rally at the Civic Center. The meeting proceeds, open to all.
PCHR initiates the Interagency Civil Rights Task Force made up of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
In collaboration with the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies and the Fielding Institute of California, the PCHR institutes a neighborhood-based project called Focus Philadelphia, using video technology to create a better understanding of diverse communities.
Acts of ethnic intimidation directed at African-American renters in White neighborhoods in Bridesburg and Grays Ferry generate calls for peace and efforts by the PCHR to support the victims.
The statute of limitations under the Fair Practices Ordinance is increased from 90 days to 300 days.
Historic Life Partnership provisions are added to the Fair Practices Ordinance for registration of same-sex domestic partners and eligibility for benefits for Life Partners of City employees.
The PCHR convenes a public investigatory hearing and issued a report on Race and the Criminal Justice System.
In the aftermath of the tragic attack on September 11, the PCHR moves forward to establish a dialogue with law enforcement, criminal justice and social services agencies to promote understanding of the culture, customs and concerns of the Arab/Sikh/Muslim community.
Gender identity is added to Fair Practices Ordinance as a protected class.
PCHR and the Center City Proprietors Association present Forging Alliances, an initiative that encouraged dialogue among the City’s small/minority businesses and associations.
The PCHR holds a public investigatory hearing for providers of services to immigrants and refugees.
The PCHR raises awareness of the linguistic burdens of immigrants in its claim against cheesesteak impresario, Joey Vento, whose establishment bore a “SPEAK ENGLISH” sign. A split panel of the PCHR concluded that this sign did not convey the message that service would be denied to non-English speakers.
A Prayer Vigil for a Restored Civility is held following the fatal shooting of Philadelphia Police Officer Charles “Chuck” Cassidy.
City Council passed Entitlement to Leave Due to Domestic or Sexual Violence, an amendment to the Fair Practices Ordinance that requires employers to provide unpaid leave to victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, or the family or household member of a victim.
Following the attack on 26 Asian immigrant students at South Philadelphia High School, PCHR arranges face-to-face meetings between the students and the administration of the School District of Philadelphia as part of an effort to end the boycott and resolve the students’ grievances.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) honors the PCHR as a Champion of Equal Opportunity.
PCHR conducts a yearlong series of eleven public hearings to hear from the community on issues relating to intergroup tension and violence in the City’s public schools.
Based on the testimony of 130 witnesses and 40 written submissions received during its public hearings in 2010, the PCHR issues Widening the Circle of Our Concern: Public Perceptions of the School District of Philadelphia’s Response to Intergroup Conflicts, a report from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.
The Fair Practices Ordinance is overhauled with landmark legislation intended to increase remedies and penalties, to streamline procedures, and to add genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, or familial status as protected categories.
The PCHR is named the enforcing authority for the City’s new Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards, commonly referred to as “Ban the Box.”
Discrimination & Enforcement
Arts & Culture
Transportation & Utilities
People We Serve
Right to Know Policy | <urn:uuid:20896598-923c-4631-9999-9658a95ed45e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.phila.gov/HumanRelations/AboutUs/Pages/History.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396875.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00051-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906742 | 2,161 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Sample Essay Questions
Some teachers will provide essay writing prompt for the class to get started with writing. An essay needs to have a certain topic or purpose before it can satisfy the information hunger of the readers. Therefore, there should be a starting point in writing an article. There are some sample essay questions that we can share with you. Usually, teachers will ask a question then the students will be writing an essay to respond to that question. Let us take a look at some possible questions according to the direction of writing.
For an argumentative essay: Do you think labor outsourcing is good for the economy? Are you in favor of penalizing countries that do not allow open trades with the US?
For a narrative essay: (Sample essay questions may be modified here to become an instruction) Write about a certain experience when you went out on a camping. Compose a narrative that talks about your observation in school policy implementation. | <urn:uuid:d722dd85-f6f9-4365-97a8-f4dc5791bd1e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://essay911.org/search/sample-essay-writing-my-idol.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396455.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00045-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934609 | 187 | 2.765625 | 3 |
France 1839 – 1906
[Baigneurs] c. 1890
oil on canvas
canvas 60.0 (h) x 82.0 (w) cm
Musée d'Orsay, Paris , Gift of Baroness Eva Gebhard-Gourgaud 1965
© RMN (Musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski
Paul Cezanne produced hundreds of paintings of bathers during his career. He typically produced many studies of the same subject, gradually refining the composition. Here, a group of figures gathers around a swimming hole or the banks of a river. The figures are shown in different poses – standing, sitting or about to leap into the water. The foreground figures form a triangular shape, with the two outside ones leaning in towards the centre. One of the central figures gestures up to the sky leading our eye towards the billowing clouds. The other bathers are gathered around the water source. Nude bathers are a traditional way of depicting figures in the landscape and have been a popular subject for artists since the Renaissance.
The warm flesh tones of the bodies contrast with the cool colours of the sky and vegetation. The interplay of these colours contributes to the dynamic nature of the painting.
Cezanne became a devout Catholic in 1890, the same year this painting was completed. Some commentators interpret this scene as baptisimal, with the figure on the left pouring water over the head of the bather in the water next to him. This interpretation creates further discussion when considering the gesturing of some figures towards the heavens and the pine trees, which look like church spires, pointing up towards the sky.
Text © National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2009
From audio tour Masterpieces from Paris: Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin and beyond Post-Impressionism from the Musée d'Orsay | <urn:uuid:72cdea0b-75d6-4d6c-a3a8-4a5387f20beb> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.nga.gov.au/Exhibition/MASTERPIECESfromPARIS/Default.cfm?IRN=191185&BioArtistIRN=21796&mystartrow=13&realstartrow=13&MnuID=3&GalID=AUD&ViewID=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404405.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00087-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917504 | 391 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Skin cancer is a serious threat, and with the current sunscreens available in the U.S., its protection is lacking as the nearly 15 year old products have not been revised to meet new UVA and UVB needs.
The American Cancer Society claims that skin cancer is the most common of cancers seen in America. The agency estimates that 1 in every 5 Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, kills nearly 10,000 Americans every year, and the number of cases have been rising for 30 years.
The depletion in the ozone layer each year due to the release of the chemicals chlorine and bromine has allowed larger than normal amounts of UVB rays to hit the planet. Thus exposing us to higher levels of UV (ultraviolet radiation) levels and higher UVB (ultraviolet short wave radiation) levels. It is the UVB levels that have the greatest impact.
From The World Health Organization: Computational models predict that a 10% decrease in stratospheric ozone could cause an additional 300,000 non-melanoma and 4500 melanoma skin cancers.
The UVB rays damage the surface of our skin and cause sunburns. UVA rays penetrate beneath the surface layer of skin tissue, and can lead to skin cancers like melanoma.
In the U.S., most sunscreens use chemicals such as oxybenzone and avobenzone to filter UVA radiation. But those ingredients protect only against certain UVA rays, and they break down quickly, according to skin cancer-research groups.
Although in the past 10 years or so, new UV-blocking agents have been developed for sunscreens, including a chemical filter called ecamsule, the FDA hasn’t expanded its approved list of sunscreen ingredients since 1999. Eight ingredients are currently awaiting approval, and ecamsule has only been approved in a few products in the U.S.
In other words, our sunscreens are not up to date which could explain the high skin cancer rates.
Advocates have put pressure on the FDA to approve the new sunblock ingredients, and commissioner Margaret Hamburg said sunscreen was “one of the highest priorities” in a 2013 Capitol Hill hearing.
“We’re basically saying that the American people should make do with what was the most innovative science from 10 to 12 years ago,” she said. “Ask someone if they want to buy automobile technology from 12 years ago, or computer technology from 12 years ago.”
Image via YouTube | <urn:uuid:a06eecd3-bd94-4d2e-8180-ac9e8794d35f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.webpronews.com/sunscreen-ingredients-long-needed-updates-ignored-2014-03/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393518.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00015-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936501 | 527 | 3.171875 | 3 |
CORVALLIS, Ore. – After further evaluation, officials at Oregon State University say there is no apparent geographic connection that would link dogs that had recently become ill with visitation to the McDonald Forest area north of Corvallis, and the area remains open for public use as usual.
Veterinarians and researchers from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Forestry and Research Forests have examined these cases, following public reports that one or more dogs may have become ill after drinking from water in the area.
Upon closer examination of all cases, including communication with pet owners, they found no geographic link between the cases, no consistent symptoms of ill health and no way to attribute illnesses to any known toxin.
“After reviewing these cases, we could find no evidence that suggests something in McDonald Forest is posing a special risk to animals,” said Jana Gordon, an assistant professor in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and expert in small animal internal medicine. “In light of that, the forest will remain open for public use and pets will continue to be welcome there.”
OSU officials said that pet owners should continue to take ordinary precautions as they would anytime they bring pets into a forest or wildlife area. Pets are at risk of injury from falls, encounters with wildlife, or consuming unclean water, plants, animals and animal matter that may cause illness. Pets that aren’t physically fit or have some medical conditions may also be more susceptible to exercise or heat-induced illness.
Routine precautions when visiting a forested or wild land area should include:
- Pets should be kept on a leash and under supervision at all times;
- Encounters between pets and other wildlife should be avoided;
- Water should be carried in for the pets, or water purification systems used;
- A veterinarian should be consulted if a pet has any medical conditions, exercise restrictions or other precautions;
- A pet should be kept well-hydrated and cool when exercising in warm weather.
If a pet shows any signs of illness following outdoor activities, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately. | <urn:uuid:d58d3660-6c0c-4154-97e7-f52540e98708> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/categories/college-veterinary-medicine?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397873.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00045-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951494 | 436 | 2.875 | 3 |
Posted by Shae on January 10, 2004
In Reply to: She moved through the fair posted by Lewis on January 09, 2004
: : : Does anybody know the meaning of the following phrases:
: : : "she crossed the green"
: : She walked across the grassy ground.
: : : "in the same intellectual plane"?
: : understands the same concepts
: this post reminds me of that haunting air - 'as she moved/walked through the fair' - I seem to have quite a number of versions - in the hands of a good singer it can be a masterpiece.
: 'in the same intellectual plane' sounds rather Lloyd Cole, but anyway a plane is a two dimensional shape of zero thickness, so to be aligned 'on the same plane' means that there is an unusual connection between two people.
'She moved through the fair' is a poem written by IRISH (yay hay!!!!) poet, Padraic Collum. The air to which it is sung is 'traditional,' meaning that the name of the composer is unknown. One of the best versions, in my opinion, is rendered by Loreena McKennitt. | <urn:uuid:c84f608d-3dce-4984-be91-f2de3726e109> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/27/messages/537.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399522.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00163-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963152 | 243 | 2.53125 | 3 |
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