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Frequently Asked Questions - ALL
What can we learn from ALL?
Information from ALL is designed to address questions such as:
- What is the distribution of literacy skills among American adults—that is, what proportion of Americans perform at each literacy level? How does this distribution compare to other countries? Are there particular groups of adults at risk?
- What is the relationship between these literacy skills and the economic, social, and personal characteristics of individuals? For example, do different age or linguistic groups manifest different skill levels; do males and females perform differently; at what kinds of jobs do people at various literacy levels work; what wages do they earn?
- What is the relationship between these skills and the economic and social characteristics of nations? For example, which industries are growing in a given country? How do the skills of the adult labor force of that country match with those growth areas?
<< Previous Question | Next Question >>
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Because beautiful garments were prized and carefully stored, even if they were rarely worn, many have survived and remain in excellent condition. Sometimes, the sponsor of a theatrical performance would reward an outstanding actor by tossing a sumptuous garment onto the stage. Military lords recognized loyalty in many ways, often with gifts of fine cloth and clothing. Finely woven fabrics also were valued, even if the original garments were worn; given to temples, they were cut up and reassembled into patchwork surplices to be worn by Buddhist abbots and high-ranking priests.
Eleven years ago, John Weber began collecting Japanese art by purchasing robes that resembled those he saw in ukiyo-e paintings of beautiful women. One group of garments on view in this gallery showcases the technical finesse and artistic genius of Japanese weavers, dyers, and embroiderers, in robes created for the wives of Japan's military elite and wealthy merchants in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Traditional seasonal and floral motifs are intrinsic to their design.
Also on view are several garments from the first half of the twentieth century, classified as meisen, an immensely popular style during the Taishō period (1912-26), when artistic and technological exchange between Japan and the Western world escalated. In 1909, a silk-weaving center outside Tokyo developed an innovative stencil-printing process that modified the traditional labor-intensive technique of tying and dyeing bundles of thread by hand (called kasuri or ikat). This innovation, along with new bright chemical dyes, allowed artists to create complex, modern patterns that sometimes were influenced by contemporaneous international movements such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco. For young urban women of the middle and upper classes, these dynamic meisen kimonos reflected the worldly and adventurous spirit of an increasingly cosmopolitan Japan.
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Bullying is rampant in America and Canada. Thousands of kids are picked on, insulted, beat up and called derogatory names each day for anything perceived as being "different." Reports estimate that 160,000 students stay home from school every day for fear of being bullied. Bullied victims are between two and nine times more likely to consider suicide, over 14 per cent of high school students have considered suicide, seven per cent have attempted it and 4,400 take their own lives in the U.S. alone each year. And lesbian and gay teens are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other bullied teens. The numbers are staggering. What is happening to our youth and what can we do to foster love and acceptance and eradicate intolerance and bullying?
If you're a parent, teacher or friend, you can watch for signs that indicate a child is being bullied: depression, changes in sleeping or eating habits, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, social withdrawal or negative self-talk such as "I wish I were dead." Be vigilant. Inquire. Let them know you care. Encourage them to tell adults. And of course, intervene when you see or hear any behavior that belittles another. However you don't have to be a parent, or hold a position of leadership such as a teacher, to intervene. Anyone can step up and stop it.
I think one element of bullying that we don't talk enough about is the need for parents of teens who do the bullying to step up. After some recent suicides, I have even heard stories of the bullies posting comments and even showing up at funerals to say how glad they are about the suicide. Where are the parents of these kids? We tend to think of bullying as physical acts, but much of bullying today is more subtle and carried out through social media, increasingly with girls as much as boys. Parents need to look for ANY sign of lack of tolerance in their own children -- we need to step up and check it, deal with it, even if it seems harmless, because it is NOT harmless. When I was a teen, I bullied a kid once and when my mother caught wind of it she read me the "riot" act. It never happened again.
The Responsibility Ripple: Two Canadian Teens Who Made a Difference
People want to end bullying, but they feel the issue is too overwhelming and widespread for one person to make a difference. In my latest book, Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything, I explain that one reason we feel disempowered is we forget to factor in the power of "aggregate influence." That is, we look at our own small actions as one person, seeing them as insignificant in the big scheme of things. The paradox is that while real change is often dependent on many people taking action, aggregate influence requires each individual to act. When you step up, others are more likely to take initiative. I call this the responsibility ripple.
A classic example of this is the Pink Shirt story. Students David Shepherd and Travis Price did not hold positions of leadership, but in September 2007 they did decide to lead. It was the first day of school at Central Kings Rural High School in Nova Scotia, Canada when a ninth grader arrived wearing a pink polo shirt. He was bullied mercilessly by a group of 12th graders who called him a fag and told him if he ever wore a pink shirt again he'd pay for it. When two seniors, David and Travis, got wind of what happened, they had an idea. They purchased 50 pink shirts and tank-tops and sent out emails and a Facebook post inviting as many kids as possible to wear them to school. Not only did they easily distribute the shirts, but hundreds of students showed up dressed in pink from head to toe! One of the bullies saw the sea of pink and threw a trash can in protest, but as David would say later, not a peep was heard from the bullies after that day. The story was picked up by the national media across Canada and later overseas as well. Today there are schools around the world that hold annual pink shirt days across Canada and elsewhere, all because two Canadian twelfth graders decided to step up and lead.
Step Up --Take a Stand -- Make a Pledge
Being pro-active is the best way to stop bullying. Make a personal commitment and get involved. There are lots of organizations committed to eradicating bullying.
The Great American NO BULL Challenge is a student-led video contest and teen video awards show that brings awareness to the issue of cyberbulling in America. The goal is to join students, educators, counsellors, organizations, and corporations together in an effort to enable change at the student level. Check out their website: www.nobull.votigo.com for campaign details. Maybe we need a similar Canadian effort -- anyone willing to step up?
Another great organization is The Trevor Project -- the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. The Trevor Project offers educational programs and has a crisis support line.
Edmund Burke once said, "All that is required for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." The converse is also true, all that is required to change things is for more of us-parents, teens and bystanders to step up, speak up, and let our voices be heard.
Dr. John Izzo is the author of five best selling books including Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything and The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die. He has spoken to over one million people at conferences and corporate events.
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In 1992, the American Association for University Women published a groundbreaking report called "How Schools Shortchange Girls." The report named a variety of topic areas that, while typically avoided in the formal classroom environment, are central to learners' lives, and coined these topics the "evaded curriculum."
Topic areas include:
The AAUW challenged schools to no longer exclude these and other subjects related to students’ emotional lives.
We as educators have to ask how well equipped are we to relate Jewish educational content to these adolescent realities, and create space for content areas that might not readily emerge from our curricula. We have an opportunity and an obligation to engage in educational Jewish moments in these areas—teachable moments—if we are indeed invested in the holistic education of our youth.
On July 1, 2006, through generous seed funding from the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, Dr. Shira D. Epstein commenced a project initially titled “Addressing the Evaded Curriculum in Jewish Education.” She gathered both practitioners and organizations dedicated to the development of resilient, healthy Jewish girls and built the project’s Advisory Group. Their charge: to name the issues and initiate systemic change in the field of Jewish education by focusing Jewish educators on these critical, unaddressed needs.
Naomi Less, MA (Davidson 2000) joined the project team in July 2007, serving as lead consultant for the project. Less and Epstein will be expanding their current training workshop, "Educational Jewish Moments” into two additional workshops for educators. The project is now called "Addressing Evaded Issues in Jewish Education."
Training workshops available to educators or educational venues
Visit the training workshops page for professional development opportunities.
Advisory Committee and Contact Information
The following individuals and organizations serve as advisers to Dr. Epstein's and Ms. Less's work.
View staff bios and contact information
Initial support for this project was generously provided by
Generous support for the creation and implementation of the
Evaded Curriculum Resource Guide for Jewish Educators was provided by
Continued support was provided generously by the
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A team of atmospheric chemists has
published a study suggesting we hunt down trapped survivors in
disaster zones by testing for chemicals found on the human
The researchers, led by Wolfgang Vautz of Germany's Leibniz
Institute for Analytical Sciences, developed the technique using a
combination of rapid gas chromatography and ion mobility
spectrometry, which they believe could be a portable and quick
alternative to the use of animals in the field -- while dogs sniff
out people with their finely-tuned senses, they will often be
unable to distinguish between an individual who is dead or alive.
Of course emergency teams will be working to retrieve all people
from debris in disaster zones, but every second is important when
it comes to getting to the survivors first.
This new technique tunes into the chemicals a survivor will
exhale. The idea is that a tube is fed deep into rubble to
collect air samples. These are then run through a gas chromatograph
to separate the different chemicals in the vapour. The resulting
gases are then fed through a portable ion mobility spectrometer,
which ionises the chemicals before hurling them through a chamber
-- the team can identify what the chemical is by recording how long
it takes for them to pass through the chamber.
Carrying out a field test, Vautz and his team asked ten
volunteers to spend time in a confined space that replicated a void
within debris. With those volunteers trapped in for six hours at a
time, the team would extract an 8ml air sample every 20 minutes.
After running the samples through the gas chromatographer, then
breaking down the ions, it took the team just three minutes to
compare the results against a database and identify 12 chemicals
commonly found on human breath, including acetone and benzaldehyde.
All ten volunteers were successfully identified. In another
experiment, the team was able to identify the presence of a person
in a 25 square metre cubed room after they had spent 30 minutes in
it, meaning the process is sensitive enough to pick those 12
Although the process appears to be a helpful tool, with rescue
workers focusing purely on finding high levels of those 12
chemicals, it will no doubt have its practical problems. Feeding
the tube through a chaotic mass of debris will need a
time-consuming trial and error approach to get it through
blockages. The whole process would also need simplifying so that
rescue workers rather than trained chemists can carry out the work
-- they'd need a user-friendly version of the analysis equipment.
Nevertheless, it's promising to see progress in a field where we
still rely largely on the senses of both humans and animals.
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The Disease Process of Cancer
According to the most widely accepted theory of cancer development, cancer originates in a single cell somewhere in the body. The cell divides and grows in the organ of origin, causing a localized tumor. Cancer cells then spread to adjacent tissues or regional lymph node drainage areas, and then advance to distant organs or structures, creating metastatic tumors. Cancer can spread directly from the organ of origin through the bloodstream into distant organs without involving adjacent organs and regional lymph nodes.
Many cancers go through a matured course, advancing in tumor size or involvement to regional nodal involvement and eventually to distant metastasis. Small tumors can metastasize, with the first sign of the cancer being the metastasis.
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Ricardo and Marshall are Brothers
David Ricardo (1772-1823) was one of the great classical British economists. His main work is Principles of Political Economy and Taxation. The economic model Ricardo developed was the heart of classical theory until classical economics was overturned by the neoclassical revolution at the end of the 1800s.
by Fred E. Foldvary, Senior Editor
Ricardo sought to determine how the output or wealth of an economy is divided into the owners of the three input-factors, land, labor, and capital goods. When settlers come to a new land, they first use the most productive land, and later settlers go to ever less productive land. On free land, all the product goes to labor and capital goods. But since there is one common wage level and a common costs of capital goods, the output of the superior land all goes to the owners as rent.
Ricardo's theory therefore has a triangle sloping down from the best to the worst land in use, the flat bottom side being the production that goes to labor and capital goods, the sloping down top side being the total product. The triangle is the portion of wealth going to land rent. That triangle gets bigger and bigger as production moves to ever less productive land.
Alfred Marshall (1842-1924) was the great British economist who developed the supply and demand curves of neoclassical economics. The neoclassical turn emphasizes supply and demand rather than the factors of production, and it simplified economics to two factors, land and capital goods, folding in land into capital goods.
In the neoclassical school of thought, the supply curve of goods being produced slopes up, since it represents the costs of production. The lowest-costs producers are able to sell goods at a low price, and as the market price goes up, producers with ever higher costs are able to sell their goods profitably. Meanwhile there is a downward sloping demand curve, with folks buying ever more as the price goes down.
Imagine the supply curve sloping up as the demand curve slopes down. Somewhere they cross, and that is the market-clearing point that determines the market price and the market quantity sold.
The revenue from production is represented by the rectangle starting at the origin and going to the market price and the market quantity, revenue being price times quantity. That revenue rectangle is cut into two parts by the upward-sloping supply curve.
If the supply curve is drawn as a straight line, the two parts are triangles. The bottom triangle is the revenue or output that goes to pay for labor and capital goods, since these determine the supply. Where does the rest of the revenue and output, represented by the upper triangle, go?
Neoclassical economists call the upper triangle, between the supply curve and the price line, the "producer surplus." It is the extra revenue left over after paying for labor and capital goods, which is surplus because the producers would supply the good if they just got a return for their labor and capital goods.
So who gets this producer surplus? The producers don't receive it, because the surplus is not due to having better labor or capital goods tools, but because of locational advantages. Therefore, the surplus goes to the landlords as rent. Landlords are able to charge more rent in the more productive areas, because the more productive areas sell at the same price as the less productive areas, and the difference in revenues can be captured by the landlords as rent.
We can see that Marshall's triangle of the producer surplus is the very same thing as Ricardo's triangle that represents the land rent of superior lands. Marshall's producer-surplus triangle is Ricardo's rent triangle turned upside down. But the classical economists clearly labeled it "land rent," while the neoclassical economists, having only "producers" in their model, call it a "producers' surplus" even though the producers are not getting the surplus, but rather the landowners.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) recognized there was a surplus from production, but mistakenly thought it was that part of wages that was taken away by producers as profit. Henry George (1839-1897) clearly saw it as a social surplus that was being taken by the landowners, but that should instead go to society as public revenue, replacing taxes on labor and capital.
Marshall and Ricardo recognized the surplus that arises from production, and thus they are brothers in economic theory. But today's neoclassical textbooks don't bother to ask who gets this so-called "producer surplus". They don't tell students that this surplus is paid as land rent.
Millions of students are learning neoclassical economics today and read about the producer surplus. The implicit conclusion is that the producers are getting this surplus as profit. They don't stop to think about what factor owner of production - of land, labor, or capital goods - gets the profit.
Henry George had it right. The producer surplus is really a social surplus that belongs to the people. If labor and capital are taxed, it hurts production, while if rent is used for public revenue, this has no ill effect, since the rent is a surplus rather than an economic cost of production. Once it is recognized that the producer surplus is rent, it becomes clear that this rent should be public revenue, rather than taxing labor and capital.
-- Fred Foldvary
What is your opinion? Share it with The Progress Report:
Page One Page Two Archive Discussion Room Letters What's Geoism?
Copyright 2001 by Fred E. Foldvary. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, which includes but is not limited to facsimile transmission, photocopying, recording, rekeying, or using any information storage or retrieval system, without giving full credit to Fred Foldvary and The Progress Report.
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Economy and Trade
After two millennia of being invaded by various outsiders, from the Romans in the first century BC to the German Reich in 1940, Belgium is very much at the heart of European efforts to ensure a stable, prosperous, and secure European Community (EC). The country has one of the world’s highest per capita GDP (ranked consistently in the top 30), and borders the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France. Capitalizing on its central geographic location, Belgium has built a highly developed transport network, and established a well-diversified industrial and commercial base. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium regularly outperforms the eurozone average in terms of growth and economic indicators. The fact that Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is also home to the headquarters of the European Union has attracted a large number of multinationals to establish their European headquarters in Belgium.
Economic Policy over 12 Months
Belgium is fully committed to the Lisbon Strategy of focusing on growth and employment, and seeking to make the European Union the world’s most competitive, knowledge-based economy. However, the country has been particularly hard hit by the global recession, and the government has had to adopt an interventionist stance, bailing out several major financial institutions, including Fortis and Dexia in late 2008.
The new prime minister, Yves Leterme, who took office in November 2009, has pledged to continue the fiscal stimulus measures adopted by his predecessor, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the provision of work subsidies for the unemployed. Indeed, increasing employment levels will be the government’s key priority in 2010.
However, the government’s fiscal support will be constrained by its membership of the eurozone. The European Commission has asked Belgium to reduce its budget deficit to below the 3% of GDP ceiling established by the EU Stability and Growth pact by 2011, from around 6% in 2009. Belgium’s public debt levels reached around 100% to 105% of GDP in 2009. There is evidence that a public debt/GDP ratio of 90% and above has an impact on economic growth.
Since joining the eurozone on January 1, 2002, Belgium has ceded control of its monetary policy to the European Central Bank (ECB). As one of the smaller economies in the eurozone, Belgium is unlikely to have much, if any, influence over the ECB’s policy decisions. Thus, fiscal policy has assumed greater importance, since Belgium no longer has the option of devaluing its currency to boost competitiveness.
Even before the downturn, Belgium faced difficult long-term challenges to solve, including meeting the future costs associated with an ageing population. The country’s dilemma in the existing downturn is to fine-tune policy in such a way as both to stimulate the economy, and to create the minimum possible deficit while so doing. The bigger the deficit, the less scope the country will have to put money aside to pay pensions and healthcare for its ageing population.
The country’s existing fiscal federalism arrangements have been exacerbating imbalances internally. Divided on linguistic lines, the country has had a devolved structure since August 1980, with Flanders managing its affairs, and the Walloon Regional Parliament managing affairs in Wallonia. Further constitutional reform established a separate parliament and government for the German-speaking cantons in 1983, with yet another regional parliament and government for the Brussels Capital Region in 1989. Structural rigidities in the economy, including mandatory wage indexation, are dampening growth and impeding job creation.
Economic Performance over 12 Months
With exports equivalent to more than two-thirds of GDP, Belgium is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international trade. Indeed, it is often regarded as a bellwether of the global economic cycle. Thus the global downturn has had a significant impact on the country, with the fall-off in demand, caused by a deepening recession in the economies of many of the country’s major trading partners, including the eurozone, the United Kingdom, and the United States, affecting manufacturing and related service industries hard.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on the economy, published in March 2010, described the near-term outlook as challenging, and said that real GDP fell by around 3% in 2009. It projected a gradual recovery for 2010. The IMF anticipates that the unemployment rate, which stood at 8% in 2009, up from 7% in 2008, will continue to rise in 2010. However, the downturn has had a positive impact on inflation, which fell to a negative rate of –0.2% in 2009, down from 4.5% in the previous year.
The economic and financial crisis and public bailouts have led to a significant deterioration in the public finances. The overall deficit increased to 5.8% of GDP in 2009 with the public debt rising to close to 100% of GDP. The 2010 budget aims at streamlining spending and boosting revenue to reduce the overall deficit to 5.1% of GDP.
The IMF says that the banking sector has stabilized after massive public intervention, but its financial situation remains fragile and it is vulnerable to potential spillovers from mature markets and emerging Europe. An uncertain profitability outlook, according to the IMF, also constrains the banks’ capacity to rebuild a high-quality capital base through internal capital generation. The authorities plan to withdraw emergency support from the financial sector gradually to avoid market disruptions and a credit squeeze.
The government remains strongly committed to supporting a diversified economy. Belgium’s industrial and service sectors have to work particularly hard to overcome the disadvantages associated with the country having almost no natural resources. The country’s industrial base includes engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, and petroleum. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. The services sector is even more important to the country, accounting for some 74.6% of GDP (source: US Department of State). About 78% of Belgium’s trade is with fellow EU member states. Given this high percentage, Belgium continues to seek to diversify, and expand trade opportunities with non-EU countries.
Support for Inward Investment and Imports
Invest in Belgium is the first port of call for potential investors in the country. The Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments (FDFI) provides free, confidential advice.
There is a tax shelter program offering fiscal incentives for investors in Belgian or European audiovisual and film works. There are other pro-business tax incentives. Details can be obtained from the FDFI (tel: +32 (0) 257 938 66).
GDP growth: −3.1% (2009 est.)
GDP per capita: US$36,600 (2009 est.)
CPI: 0% (2009 est.)
Key interest rate: 3% (December 31, 2008)
Exchange rate versus US dollar: €0.7338 (2009)
Unemployment: 8.3% (2009 est.)
FDI: US$848.5 billion (December 31, 2009 est.)
Current account deficit/surplus: −US$18.92 billion (2009 est.)
Population: 10,423,493 (July 2010 est.)
Source: CIA World Factbook except where stated
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This is the time of year when I get a lot of email from athletes describing how they just did their first races of the season and were going great until a cramp came on. Should they eat more bananas, is the most common question.
That cramps are more common in the first races of the year and not in the late season probably tells us something. No matter how hard you've been training this spring the workouts are not as hard as the races are. The body simply isn't in race shape yet. By the end of the season the body has adapted to the stresses of racing and is less inclined to cramping.
But for a few athletes the problem continues throughout the year. There is no more perplexing problem for these athletes than their susceptibility to cramping. Muscles seem to knot up at the worst possible times during their important and hard-fought competitions.
The real problem is that no one really knows what causes them. There are just theories. The most popular ones are that muscle cramps result from dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. These arguments seem to make sense—at least on the surface. Cramps are most common in the heat when low body-fluid levels and the possible decrease in body salts are likely to occur.
But the research doesn’t always support these explanations. For example, in the mid-1980s 82 male runners were tested before and after a marathon for certain blood parameters considered likely causes of muscle cramps. Fifteen of the runners experienced cramps after 18 miles of the race. There was no difference, either before or after the race, in terms of blood levels of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, hemoglobin or hematocrit. There were also no differences in blood volume between the crampers and the non-crampers. Nor were there any significant differences in the way the two groups trained.
For very long events, those lasting more than about four hours, a bit more is known. A few studies have linked these cramps to hyponatremia—low sodium levels. This condition may result from drinking large volumes of fluids that are low in sodium and may be aggravated by starting the event with low levels of sodium. Since serious athletes are particularly good at avoiding the use of salt on food, they may be highly susceptible to hyponatremia. The day before and the morning of a very long race it may be a good idea to use salt more liberally to increase the body’s levels. The sports drink used for the race should also provide adequate levels of sodium. For long races, eating salty foods may also help prevent not only cramping, but also the life-threatening symptoms of hyponatremia.
It’s interesting to note that athletes are not the only people who experience muscle cramping. Workers in occupations that require chronic use of a muscle, especially one that crosses two joints, but don’t sweat profusely as athletes do, are also susceptible. A good example is musicians who are known to cramp in the hands and arms.
So if it isn’t dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, what causes cramping? Other theories are emerging. One is that poor posture or inefficient biomechanics are a cause. Poor movement patterns may cause a disturbance in the activity of the Golgi tendon organs. These are “strain gauges” built into the tendon to prevent muscle tears. When activated, these organs cause the threatened muscle to relax while stimulating the antagonistic muscle—the one that moves the joint in the opposite way—to fire. There may be some quirk of body mechanics that upsets a Golgi device and sets off the cramping pattern.
If this is the cause, prevention may involve improving biomechanics, and regular stretching and strengthening of muscles that seem to cramp along with their antagonistic muscles.
Another theory is that they result from burning protein for fuel in the absence of readily available carbohydrate. In fact, one study supports such a notion. In this research, muscle cramps occurred in subjects who reached the highest levels of ammonia release during exercise. High ammonia levels indicate that protein is being used to fuel the muscles during exercise. This may indicate a need for greater carbohydrate stores before, and better replacement of those stores during intense and long-lasting exercise.
When you feel a cramp coming on there are two ways to deal with it. One is to reduce the intensity and slow down—not a popular option in an important race. Another is to alternately stretch and relax the effected muscle group while continuing to move. This is difficult if not impossible to do in some sports such as running and with certain muscles. Actually there is a third option which some athletes swear by—pinching the upper lip. Strange, but true.
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Observing Your Air Quality
There are many ways to gauge air quality. The most common measure is visibility, since most of the constituents of air pollution form visible haze. You can use your own observations and a digital camera to estimate visibility wherever you are. You can gauge the concentration of particles in the atmosphere by measuring the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground. Finally, you can measure ozone concentrations.
Part I: Estimate Visibility
You will need:
- Digital camera
- Notebook or computer with data sheets to record data
- Internet connection to access the EPA Air Quality Index for your region
- Google Earth
- Choose a location where you can make observations of the sky at about the same time every day. An ideal observation point will allow you to see landmarks at varying distances along the horizon to help you gauge visibility.
Go to idoscience.net and click on “CARSON—Air Quality.” Instructions on how to register are in the sharing data section of this guide. Click on "Estimating and Measuring Visibility" and then select the new observation tab on the top of the page. You will use this form to share your observations with the community of citizen scientists who are interested in monitoring air quality.
- If you are interested in tracking your observations over time [highly recommended], you should keep a record of your observations on your computer or in a notebook. You may download a printable data sheet. You will need one data entry form per day.
- On the data sheet and/or online reporting form, record the date and time.
- Photograph the horizon. You will want to compare photographs from day to day, so make sure the photo is taken from the same location and perspective and as close to the same time as possible.
Note the camera settings (ISO, exposure) to ensure that they are the same from day to day. (The user’s manual for your camera should provide some guidance if you're not sure how to do this.)
Record the sky color. This is a subjective scale, but your photo record should help you rank the color consistently over time.
- Dark blue
- Bright blue
- Light blue
- White/milky blue
- Record visibility. Again, this is a subjective scale, but your photo
record will help you be consistent.
- Extremely clear
- Somewhat hazy
- Extremely hazy
- Record the air temperature.
- Note weather conditions, especially if they influence or impede your assessment of the sky color. Heavy rain, snow, or fog, for example, obscures the sky.
- Since cloud cover can also impede visibility, you’ll need to
record how much of the sky is obscured by cloud. Looking directly
overhead, estimate what percentage of the sky is covered with
clouds. If you look at the horizon to assess cloud cover, your
estimate will be high, since you can't see breaks in the clouds from
an angle. Record both the percentage and the cloud cover category as
- <10% Clear
- 10–25% Isolated
- 25–50% Scattered
- 50–90% Broken Overcast
- >90 Overcast
- Note the farthest landmark that you can see clearly when you look at the horizon.
- Open Google Earth. If you don’t have the software on your
computer, you can download it
- Type the address of your observation site in the “fly to” box on the upper left side of the page and hit enter. Google Earth will zoom into your location.
- Place the cursor over your observation site. The latitude and longitude of that location will appear in the bar at the bottom of the screen. Note the latitude and longitude in the study site location fields of the data sheet.
- In the comments field for the location, also describe factors about your observation location that could influence your visibility. Are you on the 12th floor of a building? On top of a bridge or small hill? At ground level?
- To help you jump to your location for future observation, it
will be helpful to put a placemark in this location.
- To place a placemark, click on the yellow pushpin in the top tool bar or go to the Add menu and select placemark.
- Click on the placemark on the map and drag it to your observation location. As you move the pin, the latitude and longitude of the pin’s location will be displayed in the placemark pop-up screen Make sure that the placemark is centered on the latitude and longitude you recorded as your location on the data sheet.
- Name the placemark so that you can save and return to the location next time you open Google Earth.
- The next time you open Google Earth, the location name and a small pushpin will be listed in the left menu bar under Places. Double click on the location, and Google Earth will take you there.
- Locate the landmark you observed in step 10 on Google Earth. You may type the address or location in the “fly to” field as in step 12 or visually locate the landmark on the Google Earth display.
- Zoom in or out until both the landmark and your observation point are visible on the screen at the same time.
- Go to the Tools menu and select ruler. A Ruler tool box will open. Select line.
- Click on your placemark (observation point).
- Click on the landmark you observed on the horizon.
- Google Earth will draw a straight line between the two points and tell you the length of the line. On the data sheet, record the distance between your observation point and the landmark. This will tell you approximately how far you can see on a clear day compared to a hazy day.
- Repeat this procedure daily to track changes in your local air quality. You could also take several observations throughout the day to track how air quality changes throughout the day.
Relating Visibility to Air Quality
Poor air quality contributes to poor visibility, but poor visibility doesn’t always mean that the air quality is bad. Fog or clouds may be limiting visibility. To find out if your measurements of visibility are related to air quality, go to AirNow.
Note: AirNow provides air quality measurements for much of the United States, but measurements are not available for many regions. You will only be able to relate your observations of visibility to air quality if AirNow provides a measurement within 50 kilometers (30 miles) of your location.
- From the drop-down menu on the left side of the page (under the map), select your state and click go.
- On the data sheet, note the air quality index for both ozone and particles as well as the color code. Note how these values compare to visibility in your area.
Human observations of haziness are subjective, but you can make a numerical measurement of the amount of light reaching the ground using a sun photometer. Scientists relate these measurements to particle pollution in the atmosphere. A sun photometer ranges in price from $75 to $130, and may be purchased through the GLOBE Program.
GLOBE, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, is a world-wide program in which students and teachers collect environmental data that is useful to scientists who study Earth’s environment. The GLOBE Program developed a procedure for measuring aerosols using a sun photometer.
While visibility is a good gauge for air quality, you may not be able to see all pollutants. Using simple test strips, you can measure ground-level ozone, a major component of air pollution.
To measure ozone, you will need an ozone test kit. A relatively inexpensive test kit and reader may be purchased through Vistanomics.
The Ecobadge kit contains test strips that change color when exposed to ozone. The card records the peak ozone exposure, which can be estimated from the card’s color. The Eco Badge Kit, Jr., a set of cards and a color chart may be purchased for $39.99. You may purchase Zikua the Eco Badge Test Card Reader for $189.99 to get a more precise numeric measurement of the ozone level.
The GLOBE Program developed a protocol for measuring ground-level ozone using the cards and a card reader.
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Art by Mark Hallett
Oviraptor has a reputation it doesn't deserve. Discovered in 1923 in the Gobi in Mongolia, its first known fossil lay on a nest of fossil eggs thought to belong to Protoceratops. Scientists called the toothless, beaked theropod "egg thief," assuming it had been stealing from Protoceratops nests. What's wrong with this picture? Everything, says evidence from the past decade. "Now we know Oviraptor was brooding its own eggs," says Catherine Forster, a paleontologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. "Paleontologists have found several more Oviraptors squatting over similar nests, with their forearms spread protectively around the nest just like birds." The clincher? Eggs from some nests in the group held 80-million-year-old Oviraptor embryos.
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|SRC files patent for “Bioenhanced Formulations”|
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a poorly water soluble active ingredient, at least one solubilizer and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and a process for manufacturing the same. Aqueous solubility of any therapeutically active substance is a key property as it governs dissolution, absorption and thus the in vivo efficacy. Poorly water soluble compounds have solubility and dissolution related bioavailability problems. The dissolution rate is directly proportional to the solubility of drugs. Drugs with low aqueous solubility have low dissolution rates and hence suffer from oral bioavailability problems. The poor solubility and poor dissolution rate of poorly water soluble drugs in the aqueous gastro intestinal fluids often cause insufficient bioavailability. Other in-vivo consequences due to poor aqueous solubility include increased chances of food effect, more frequent incomplete drug release from the dosage form and higher inter-patient variability.
Improvement in solubility of a poorly water soluble drug would increase gastrointestinal absorption of the drug thereby increasing the bioavailability which may result in reduction of dose. Further this would also decrease food effect and inter-patient variability. In effect, this would result in improving the therapeutic efficacy and increase patient compliance.
Nearly 40% of the new chemical entities currently being discovered are poorly water soluble drugs. Thus, there is a greater need to develop a composition, which provides enhanced solubility of the poorly soluble drugs and increases its dissolution rate and thus improves its bioavailability to provide a formulation with reduced dose and better therapeutic efficacy and as a result overcomes the drawbacks presented by the prior art.
INDIA Tel: +91 80 4262 7200
US Tel:+1 818 760 1000
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It's not a conventional camera, but it's like a camera -- particularly when it comes to learning curve and ease of use. If you can use a point-and-shoot Nikon, you'll find the Lynx even easier to use. Instead of outputting 2D images, it produces 3D models of whatever you point it at.
The camera does three things: scene modeling, object modeling, and motion capture. The goal is to capture high-quality content that would otherwise be made by hand today, much like what the 2D camera did for oil painting: five hour 3D modeling tasks can be done in just seconds, animators can have a motion capture studio in their backpack, reducing the total amount of time required to animate, and directors can use accurate 3D models to plan shots during pre-visualization. People who are into 3D printing (makers) will also have a new way to gather 3D models -- capturing them. Imagine a 3D scanner next to every printer, allowing you to image and replicate objects without touching modeling software.
Take a look at some of the features of the Lynx A camera in the video below:
With a price point roughly equal to that of full-framed DSLR camera, the Lynx device could be a serious value for small outfits and innovators trying to break into these technologies.
Most of the folks at Lynx Laboratories are students at the University of Texas at Austin, and the technology came from research conducted by the group at the university. The team is comprised of former UT students and one college professor, with over a combined 15 years of expertise in computer vision. Each person on the team is involved with customer projects and communities, talking to VFX artists, architects and makers daily. The company has also launched a Kickstarter campaign in support of the project, which kicked off today.
Source: Lynx Laboratories
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http://www.awn.com/print/news/technology/lynx-laboratories-launches-3d-camera
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In Montana, the CFS measured $10 billion of goods weighing 82 million tons. Montana accounted for approximately 0.2 percent of the value and 0.8 percent of the weight of total U.S. shipments. See attached table. The CFS data cover shipments by establishments in mining, manufacturing, wholesale, and selected retail and service industries. The data exclude most shipments of crude oil; therefore, the totals and percentages do not fully reflect the contribution of pipeline shipments.
The major commodities shipped by establishments vary when ranked by value and by weight of the shipments. The main commodities shipped from Montana by value were: petroleum or coal products; food or kindred products; lumber or wood products, excluding furniture; farm products; and coal. The main commodities by weight were: lumber or wood products, excluding furniture; petroleum or coal products; farm products; clay, concrete, glass, or stone products; and food or kindred products.
Local transportation of freight is important to Montana's commerce. The distribution of commodities by domestic destination and distance of shipments reflects the importance of local transport. The CFS shows that in 1993, about 53 percent of the value and 42 percent of the weight of total shipments from Montana were shipped to destinations within the state. About 30 percent of the value and about 31 percent of the weight of all shipments were between places less than 50 miles apart. In comparison, about 30 percent of the value and 56 percent of the weight of total U.S. shipments were between places less than 50 miles apart. In Montana, about 41 percent of the value of shipments and 37 percent of the weight of shipments were between places less than 100 miles apart.
Less than half (47 percent) of the value and over half (58 percent) of the weight of all shipments from Montana went to other states. The main destination states by value of shipments were: Washington, Wyoming, California, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The main destination states by weight of shipments were: Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
A large proportion of commodities were moved by truck, about 62 percent of the value and about 35 percent of the weight. Rail accounted for about 22 percent of the value and 52 percent of the weight of shipments. Pipelines were used to transport 5 percent of the value and 3 percent of the weight. The CFS data confirm the rising importance of parcel, U.S. postal, and courier services that have emerged in recent years. In 1993, this mode of transport was used to ship 30 thousand tons of goods worth over $685 million or 7 percent of the value of all shipments in Montana. In comparison, about 9 percent of the value of total U.S. shipments were moved by this mode.
The Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) is a comprehensive effort to learn where and how goods are shipped in the U.S. The CFS measures shipments of commodities by establishments with paid employees and engaged in manufacturing, mining, wholesale trade, or selected retail and services industries. Prior commodity surveys covered shipments only by manufacturing firms. Commodity flows are estimated for a universe of approximately 900,000 establishments.
Data collected on individual shipments include total value, total weight, commodity type, modes of transport, domestic origin and destination; data for export shipments include the city and country of destination, mode and port of exit. Information is also be obtained on whether shipments are containerized or a hazardous material. Some firms provided data concerning on-site shipping facilities and access to shipping facilities, plus data on ownership and leasing of transportation equipment.
The CFS is conducted by the Bureau of the Census as part of the Economic Census. Funding and technical guidance is provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Initiated for 1993, the CFS is scheduled for 1997 and every 5 years thereafter for years ending in 2 and 7. Commodity surveys were conducted between 1963 and 1982, but data for 1982 were not published. No data were collected for 1987. Participants will report for a sample of shipments during a 2-week period each quarter during the reporting year.
The CFS is a mail-out/mail-back survey of 200,000 sampled employer establishments in selected industries. Establishments were selected by stratified sample, with strata based on geographic location and industry. Geographic strata are the 89 National Transportation Analysis Regions(NTARs), which provide nationwide coverage and are aggregations of Bureau of Economic Analysis economic areas. Within the strata, all establishments with annualized employment above a specified cutoff were selected with certainty, and the remaining smaller establishments were sampled with probability proportional to annualized payroll.
For 1993, each sampled establishment reported on a sample of individual shipments during a 2 week period in each calendar quarter. In addition, about 20,000 establishments will provide information on transportation facilities and arrangements in their final reporting period.
For further information about survey design and printed products, contact the Commodity Flow Survey Branch, Services Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233, or by calling 301/457-2805 or 2114. For information on related data programs and studies, contact the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at 202/366-DATA for voice, 202/366-3640 for fax, or CFS@BTS.GOV for e-mail.
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The internet is an enormous resource to everyone today. However, it can be difficult to organize and investigate facts, let alone find them. These six investigations are designed to expand student's internet awareness, and to teach them about different scientific problems the world faces today.
In these lessons, you will learn how to navigate the web, and how to root out false information that you may find.
The purpose of this lesson plan is to show students how to use the internet efficiently to do research. This lesson also gives students an opportunity to explore the internet, use problem solving skills and participate in cooperative learning.
#1Select a branch of science from the following categories.
Investigate and record the different scientific subfields that make up that branch. Select a subfield within one of the branches and investigate the career possibilities in that subfield.
Now choose a specific career and describe the following:
#2Some animals require protection under the laws of the United States. Generate a list of some of these endangered species and the laws that are used to protect them.
Design and conduct an experiment to prove that sound travels faster when molecules are closer together.
NASA is considering constructing a space station on one of the planets in the future. Investigate the characteristics of each planet. Select the one you feel is best suited for this project. Prepare to report your findings to NASA.
Is our global climate changing, and if so, why? What impact does global climate change have on the oceans and the land?
Explore at least 3 different alternative energy sources that could replace the nonrenewable resources that we now use. Decide, and justify, which source would be the best replacement.
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Neil Alden Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He has a degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University. He also has a masters degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California. From the year 1949 to 1952, Armstrong was a naval aviator. Upon leaving military service, he became a test pilot. While he was being a test pilot he was chosen to be a member of the astronaut corps. He was on the backup crew of many previous flights. His first space flight occurred in 1966 aboard Gemini 8. During this flight, he and another astronaut David Scott. They successfully performed the first docking in space between two vehicles. In July of 1969, Neil Armstrong was the commander of Apollo 11. America's first attempt to land a vehicle on the Moon. On July 20, 1969 Commander Neil Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin Aldrin successfully touched down on the lunar surface. Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon, he spoke the unforgettable phrase, "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind". He and Aldrin explored the Moon's surface for 2.5 hours. Armstrong was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his accomplishments and his contributions to the space program.
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America's Interstate Highway System Has Almost 70,000 Kilometers of Roads
Download MP3 (Right-click or option-click the link.)
This is Sarah Long. And this is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program EXPLORATIONS.
Several years ago a first time visitor to the United States was asked what he liked best about the country. He immediately said, "I love your roads. You can drive a car very quickly anywhere." Today we tell about the history of the American national road system.In the United States it is possible to drive more than 4,000 kilometers from the east coast on the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast on the Pacific Ocean. You can also drive more than 2,000 kilometers from near the Canadian border south to the Mexican border.
You can drive these distances on wide, safe roads that have no traffic signals and no stop signs. In fact, if you did not have to stop for gasoline or sleep, you could drive almost anywhere in the United States without stopping at all.
This is possible because of the Interstate Highway system. This system has almost 70,000 kilometers of roads. It crosses more than 55,000 bridges and can be found in 49 of America's 50 states.
The Interstate Highway system is usually two roads, one in each direction, separated by an area that is planted with grass and trees. Each road holds two lines of cars that can travel at speeds between 100 and 120 kilometers an hour. The Interstate Highway system is only a small part of the huge system of roads in the United States.
To understand the Interstate Highway system, it is helpful to understand the history of roads. Roads in most countries were first built to permit armies to travel from one part of the country to another to fight against an invader.
The ancient Romans build roads over most of Europe to permit their armies to move quickly from one place to another. People who traded goods began using these roads for business. Good roads helped them to move their goods faster from one area to another.
No roads existed when early settlers arrived in the area of North America that would become the United States. Most settlers built their homes near the ocean or along major rivers. This made transportation easy. A few early roads were built near some cities. Travel on land was often difficult because there was no road system in most areas.
In 1785, farmers in the Ohio River Valley used rivers to take cut trees to the southern city of New Orleans. It was easier to walk or ride a horse home than to try to go by boat up the river.
One of the first roads was built to help these farmers return home after they sold their wood. It began as nothing more than a path used by Native Americans. American soldiers helped make this path into an early road. The new road extended from the city of Nashville, in Tennessee to the city of Natchez in the southern state of Louisiana. It was called the Natchez Trace.
You can still follow about 700 kilometers of the Natchez Trace. Today, the road is a beautiful National Park. It takes the traveler though forests that look much the same as they did 200 years ago. You can still see a few of the buildings in which early travelers slept overnight.
The Natchez Trace was called a road. Yet it was not what we understand a road to be. It was just a cleared path through the forest. It was used by people walking, or riding a horse or in a wagon pulled by horses.
In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation that approved money for building a road to make it easier to travel west. Work began on the first part of the road in Cumberland in the eastern state of Maryland. When finished, the road reached all the way to the city of Saint Louis in what would become the middle western state of Missouri. It was named the National Road.
The National Road was similar to the Natchez Trace. It followed a path made by American Indians. Work began in 1811. It was not finished until about 1833. The National Road was used by thousands of people who moved toward the west. These people paid money to use the road. This money was used to repair the road.
Now, the old National Road is part of United States Highway Forty. By the 1920s, Highway Forty stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. You can still see signs that say "National Road" along the side of parts of it. Several statues were placed along this road to honor the women who moved west over the National Road in the 1800s.In 1900, it still was difficult to travel by road. Nothing extended from the eastern United States to the extreme western part of the country.
Several people wanted to see a road built all the way across the country. Carl Fisher was a man who had ideas and knew how to act on them. Mr. Fisher built the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway where car races still take place
In 1912, Carl Fisher began working on his idea to build a coast-to-coast highway using crushed rocks. He called this dream the Coast-to-Coast Rock Highway
Carl Fisher asked many people to give money for the project. One of these men was Henry Joy, the president of the Packard Motor Car Company. Mr. Joy agreed, but suggested another name for the highway. He said the road should be named after President Abraham Lincoln. He said it should be called the "Lincoln Highway."
Everyone involved with the project agreed to the new name. The Lincoln Highway began in the east in New York City's famous Times Square. It ended in the west in Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California. The Lincoln Highway was completed in about 1933.
Later, the federal government decided to assign each highway in the country its own number. Numbers were easier to remember than names. The Lincoln Highway became Highway Thirty for most of its length.
Today, you can still follow much of the Lincoln Highway. It passes through small towns and large cities. This makes it a slow but interesting way to travel. Highway Thirty still begins in New York and ends near San Francisco. And it is still remembered as the first coast-to-coast highway.In 1919, a young army officer named Dwight Eisenhower took part in the first crossing of the United States by army vehicles. The vehicles left Washington, D.C. and drove to San Francisco. It was not a good trip. The vehicles had problems with thick mud, ice and mechanical difficulties. It took the American army vehicles 62 days to reach San Francisco.
Dwight Eisenhower believed the United States needed a highway that would aid in the defense of the country. He believed the nation needed a road system that would permit military vehicles to travel quickly from one coast to the other.
In 1956, Dwight Eisenhower was president of the United States. He signed the legislation that created the Federal Interstate Highway system. Work was begun almost immediately.
Building such an interstate highway system was a major task. Many problems had to be solved. The highway passed through different areas that were wetlands, mountains and deserts
It was very difficult to build the system. Yet lessons learned while building it influenced the building of highways around the world. Today, the interstate system links every major city in the United States. It also links the United States with Canada and Mexico
The Interstate Highway system has been an important part of the nation's economic growth during the past 40 years. Experts believe that trucks using the system carry about 75% of all products that are sold. Jobs and new businesses have been created near the busy Interstate Highways all across the United States. These include hotels, motels, eating places, gasoline stations and shopping centers.
The highway system has made it possible for people to work in a city and live outside it. And it has made it possible for people to travel easily and quickly from one part of the country to another.
The United States government re-named the Interstate Highway system at the end of the Twentieth Century. Large signs now can be seen along the side of the highway that say "Eisenhower Interstate System."This program was written by Paul Thompson. It was directed by Cynthia Kirk. Our studio engineer was Mick Shaw. This is Steve Ember. And this is Sarah Long. Join us again next week for another EXPLORATIONS program in Special English on the Voice of America.
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News articles on agriculture
Mongabay.com news articles on agriculture in blog format. Updated regularly.
(05/15/2013) With islands and atolls scattered across the ocean, the small Pacific island states are among those most exposed to the effects of global warming: increasing acidity and rising sea level, more frequent natural disasters and damage to coral reefs. These micro-states, home to about 10 million people, are already paying for the environmental irresponsibility of the great powers.
Eat insects to mitigate deforestation and climate change
(05/14/2013) A new 200-page-report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) urges human society to utilize an often-ignored, protein-rich, and ubiquitous food source: insects. While many in the industrialized west might turn up their noses at the idea of eating insects, already around 2 billion people worldwide eat over 1,900 species of insect, according to the FAO. Expanding insect-eating, the authors argue, may be one way to combat rising food needs, environmental degradation, and climate change.
Continued deforestation in the Amazon may kill Brazil's agricultural growth
(05/09/2013) Continuing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest could undermine agricultural productivity in the region by reducing rainfall and boosting temperatures, warns a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
U.S. loses nearly a third of its honey bees this season
(05/09/2013) Nearly a third of managed honeybee colonies in America died out or disappeared over the winter, an annual survey found on Wednesday. The decline—which was far worse than the winter before—threatens the survival of some bee colonies. The heavy losses of pollinators also threatens the country's food supply, researchers said. The US Department of Agriculture has estimated that honeybees contribute some $20bn to the economy every year.
Sugarcane production impacting local climate in Brazil
(05/01/2013) Intensification of Brazil's sugarcane industry in response to rising demand for sugar-based ethanol could have impacts on the regional climate reports a new study by researchers from Arizona State University, Stanford University and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Following the conversion of cerrado grasslands into sugarcane in Brazil, a recent study in Geophysical Research Letters found local cooling that approached 1 degree Celsius during the growing season and maximum local warming near 1 degree Celsius post-harvest.
Indigenous tribes say effects of climate change already felt in Amazon rainforest
(04/30/2013) Tribal groups in Earth's largest rainforest are already being affected by shifts wrought by climate change, reports a paper published last week in the British journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. The paper, which is based on a collection of interviews conducted with indigenous leaders in the Brazilian Amazon, says that native populations are reporting shifts in precipitation patterns, humidity, river levels, temperature, and fire and agricultural cycles. These shifts, measured against celestial timing used by indigenous groups, are affecting traditional ways of life that date back thousands of years.
Europe bans pesticides linked to bee collapse
(04/29/2013) The EU has banned three neonicotinoid pesticides (imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam) linked to the decline of bees for two years. The ban will apply to all flowering crops, such as corn, rape seed, and sunflowers. The move follows a flood of recent studies, some high-profile, that have linked neonicotinoid pesticides, which employ nicotine-like chemicals, to the widespread decline of bees seen both in Europe and North America.
What if companies actually had to compensate society for environmental destruction?
(04/29/2013) The environment is a public good. We all share and depend on clean water, a stable atmosphere, and abundant biodiversity for survival, not to mention health and societal well-being. But under our current global economy, industries can often destroy and pollute the environment—degrading public health and communities—without paying adequate compensation to the public good. Economists call this process "externalizing costs," i.e. the cost of environmental degradation in many cases is borne by society, instead of the companies that cause it. A new report from TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity), conducted by Trucost, highlights the scale of the problem: unpriced natural capital (i.e. that which is not taken into account by the global market) was worth $7.3 trillion in 2009, equal to 13 percent of that year's global economic output.
Probe confirms Singapore-based palm oil company engaged in land-grabbing in Borneo
(04/26/2013) An independent investigation has shown that First Resources Ltd, a palm oil plantation company and member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), failed to obtain proper consent from local communities before clearing rainforests for plantations in Indonesian Borneo, an Indonesian indigenous rights group reported last week.
RSPO failing to meet sustainability objectives for palm oil production, says WWF
(04/23/2013) An initiative that aims to improve the social and environmental performance of palm oil production is faltering in its mission by failing to establish strong performance standards on greenhouse gas emissions and pesticide use, argues a new statement issued by WWF, the initiative's biggest green supporter.
Indonesian palm oil industry would support land swaps to protect forest, while expanding production
(04/19/2013) Indonesian palm oil companies would support land swaps as a means to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation while simultaneously expanding production, representatives from the country's largest association of palm oil producers told mongabay.com in an interview last month.
Up for grabs: how foreign investments are redistributing land and water across the globe
(04/18/2013) In 2007, the increased human population, increased prices in fuel and transportation costs, and an increased demand for a diversity of food products prompted a Global Food Crisis. Agricultural producers and government leaders world-wide struggled to procure stable food sources for their countries. But the crisis had impacts beyond 2007: it was also the impetus for what we now know as the global land-grabbing phenomenon.
Madagascar swamped by locust invasion
(04/17/2013) More than 60 percent of Madagascar is suffering from a massive locust infestation that is threatening crops and livestock, potentially increasing risks to native wildlife and forests from hungry farmers, warns the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Conservation policies that boost farm yields may ultimately undermine forest protection, argues study
(04/17/2013) Rising agricultural profitability due to higher prices, improved crop productivity, and forest conservation itself could make it increasingly difficult for conservation programs tied to payments for ecosystem services to succeed, warns a study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
6 lessons for stopping deforestation on the frontier
(04/09/2013) In 1984, at the tail end of the Brazilian dictatorship, I took up residence in a frontier town called Paragominas in the eastern Amazon. I went to study rainforests and pasture restoration, but soon became captivated as well by the drama of the frontier itself. Forests were hotly contested among cattle ranchers, smallholder communities, land speculators and more than a hundred logging companies, sometimes with fatal results. If we are to meet rising global demand for food, conserve tropical forests, and mitigate climate change at the pace that is necessary, we must become much better at taming aggressive, lawless tropical forest frontiers where people are making a lot of money cutting forests down.
Featured video: stemming human-caused fires in the Amazon
(04/09/2013) A new series of 5 films highlights how people use fire in the Amazon rainforest and how such practices can be mitigated. Collectively dubbed "Slash & Burn" each film explores a different aspect of fire-use in the Amazon. In recent years the Amazon has faced unprecedented droughts, possibly linked to climate change and vast deforestation, making the issue of human-started fires even more important.
Still hope for tropical biodiversity in human modified landscapes
(04/09/2013) As primary forests become increasingly rare and expensive to protect, many ecologists are looking to better management of Human Modified Landscapes (HMLs) to shepherd and shield biodiversity in the tropics. Secondary forests, selectively logged forests and lands devoted to sustainable agriculture already play an important role in conservation efforts. However, the idea that HMLs will serve as a "Noah's Ark" for biodiversity, is controversial.
Norwegian Pinot Noir?: global warming to drastically shift wine regions
(04/08/2013) In less than 40 years, drinking wine could have a major toll on the environment and wildlife, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study finds that climate change will likely force many vineyards to move either north or to higher altitudes, leading to habitat loss, biodiversity declines, and increased pressure for freshwater. Some famous wine-growing areas could be lost, including in the Mediterranean, while development of new wine areas—such as those in the Rocky Mountains and northern Europe—could lead to what the the scientists describe as "conservation conflicts."
30% of Brazil's emissions from deforestation are export-driven
(04/05/2013) 2.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions or 30 percent of the carbon associated with deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 2000 and 2010 was effectively exported in the form of beef products and soy, finds a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. The research underscores the rising role that global trade plays in driving tropical deforestation.
Can we meet rising food demand and save forests?
(04/03/2013) A few weeks ago the Skoll World Forum hosted an online debate on how increased global consumption can be balanced with sustainability. The debate asks how a rapidly growing world that is ever consuming can hope to feed everyone, and at the same time address the deforestation that is emitting massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and destroying the world’s greatest tropical forests. Many contributors made very strong points—even contradicting one another in their approaches and ideas.
Domesticated bees do not replace declining wild insects as agricultural pollinators
(04/03/2013) Sprinkled with pollen, buzzing bees fly from one blossom to another, collecting sweet nectar from brilliantly colored flowers. Bees tend to symbolize the pollination process, but there are many wild insects that carry out the same function. Unfortunately, wild insect populations are in decline, and, according to a recent study, adding more honey bees may not be a viable solution.
Is hemp the silver bullet for fighting climate change and creating green jobs?
(03/30/2013) Though Obama has frequently spoken of the need for more “green jobs,” he has failed to acknowledge the inherent environmental advantages associated with a curious plant called hemp. One of the earliest domesticated crops, hemp is incredibly versatile and can be utilized for everything from food, clothing, rope, paper and plastic to even car parts. In an era of high unemployment, hemp could provide welcome relief to the states and help to spur the transition from antiquated and polluting manufacturing jobs to the new green economy. What is more, in lieu of our warming world and climate change, the need for environmentally sustainable industries like hemp has never been greater. Given all of these benefits, why have Obama and the political establishment chosen to remain silent?
China's hunger for resources has big environmental impact in Latin America
(03/29/2013) Amazonian forest cleared in Ecuador, a mountain leveled in Peru, the Cerrado savannah converted to soy fields in Brazil and oil fields under development in Venezuela's Orinoco belt.
Common pesticides disrupt brain functioning in bees
(03/27/2013) Exposure to commonly used pesticides directly disrupts brain functioning in bees, according to new research in Nature. While the study is the first to record that popular pesticides directly injure bee brain physiology, it adds to a slew of recent studies showing that pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, are capable of devastating bee hives and may be, at least, partly responsible for on-going Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
Tropical croplands expand by 48m ha in 10 years, raising environmental concerns
(03/19/2013) Croplands in the tropics expanded by an average of 4.8 million hectares per year between 1999 and 2008, increasing pressure on forest areas and other ecosystems, reports a study published in the journal PLoS ONE. The research found that soybeans and maize (corn) expanded the most of any crops in terms of absolute area, followed by rice, sorghum, oil palm, beans, and sugar cane. The countries which added the largest area of new cropland were Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Brazil.
Innovative idea: wildlife income may help people withstand drought in Africa
(03/18/2013) Getting local people to become invested in wildlife conservation is not always easy, especially in parts of the world where protected areas are seen as taking away natural resources from local communities. This tension lies around Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, where a growing population of livestock herders competes with wildlife.
Cambodia loses half its seasonal wetlands in 10 years
(03/18/2013) Cambodia lost more than half of its seasonally flooded grasslands in ten years due to industrial agricultural conversion, abandonment of traditional farming, and illegal drainage, putting several endangered bird species at risk and undermining traditional livelihoods in the region, reports a new study published in the journal Conservation Biology.
Strong ‘no deforestation’ commitments save forests and feed people
(03/12/2013) As a global community, we have so far failed to answer this most pressing question; we have yet to build our cloud. Deforestation rates are down in some places, but overall, our forests continue to disappear much as they have for the past 50 years, driven principally by increasing global demand for food. Can we feed the world and save our forests? Yes, we can, and the solution lies in the global supply chain and the message some companies are now sending their suppliers: 'If you cut down trees, I won’t buy your product.' This has the power to silence bulldozers. It’s already doing so and now it’s time to go to scale.
Saving forests by putting a price on them
(03/04/2013) During the 2013 SuperBowl, the championship game of the US National Football League, a truck company aired an advertisement that likened farmers to God’s favorite assistant. It suggested that when God needs something tough, or gentle, done, he calls a farmer. The narration, taken from a speech given to the Future Farmers of America in 1978 by Paul Harvey, a radio host, plays directly to the near mythical stature of farmers and ranchers in American culture and their deep connection to nature.
Violence in Kenya's Tana River Delta stems from natural resource conflict
(03/02/2013) Since August 2012, Kenya's Tana River Delta has been besieged by civil conflict continuing into the New Year. The New York Times reported in January at least 200 people are dead and 36,000 displaced in increasingly violent skirmishes between the herders and farmers who share the delta of Kenya's largest river. Although the conflict began as an isolated dispute over water, both groups engaged in retaliatory attacks that have earned comparisons by major global media to the violence preceding Kenya's notoriously violent presidential election.
Saving forests by stemming agricultural sprawl
(03/01/2013) I’m fortunate to travel the world helping conserve habitats for some of the world’s most iconic species. When I visit places like the Amazon and Sumatra, I’m still awestruck by their diversity and pristine beauty. I’m also reminded how threatened they are. Our growing demand for food and fiber is fueling deforestation in resource-rich regions of the world. As environmentalists, if we don’t change where and how we produce food and fiber, we can turn off the lights and go home. There won’t be any biodiversity left to protect.
Can saving forests help feed the world?
(02/28/2013) As world population climbs from 7 to a projected 9 billion people and emerging and developing economies demand ever more of the food and fiber that drive deforestation, many environmentalists ask with increasing urgency whether and how tropical forests can survive. But the question may actually be whether and how the world’s increasing, and increasingly rich, population can be fed unless tropical forests survive.
Scientists: stop treating population growth as a 'given' and empower women
(02/27/2013) Climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, water scarcity, and land issues: almost all of the world's environmental problems are underpinned by too many people inhabiting a finite planet. A new study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B warns that overpopulation—combined with over-consumption—is threatening to push the entire globe into "a collapse of global civilization." But cultural changes, especially more empowerment of women and access to contraceptives, may hold the key to reducing population growth and eventual sustainability.
Nitrogen pollution in China increased 60% annually between 1980 and 2010
(02/25/2013) Nitrogen deposited on land and water in China increased 60 percent annually from the 1980s to the 2000s due to rising use of fertilizer, growth in livestock production, increased coal burning, and a sharp rise in car ownership, reports a study published last week in the journal Nature.
Deforestation, wetlands loss in Brazil and Indonesia generated 45b tons of CO2 in 20 years
(02/22/2013) The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a global set of statistics on carbon emissions from deforestation, agriculture and other forms of land use for the 1990-2010 period.
Controversial palm oil project concession in Cameroon is 89 percent 'dense natural forest'
(02/21/2013) Satellite mapping and aerial surveys have revealed that a controversial palm oil concession in Cameroon is almost entirely covered by "dense natural forest," according to a new report by Greenpeace. The activist group alleges that the concession, owned by Herakles Farms, is under 89 percent forest cover. The U.S.-based corporation intends to build a 70,000 hectare palm oil plantation in a region surrounded by four protected areas, including Korup National Park, but has faced stiff criticism from numerous environmental groups as well as conflict with locals.
Stress makes organic tomatoes more nutritious, sweeter
(02/20/2013) Organic tomatoes are sweeter (more sugar) and more nutritious (more vitamin C and anti-oxidants) than tomatoes grown with pesticides and chemical fertilizers, according to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. The scientists theorize that stress may be why organic farming produces a more nutritious and tastier tomato.
EU pushes ban on pesticides linked to bee downfall
(02/05/2013) Following a flood of damning research on the longterm impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on bee colonies, the EU is proposing a two year ban on the popular pesticides for crops that attract bees, such as corn, sunflower, oil seed rape, cotton. The proposal comes shortly after European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a report that found neonicotinoid pesticides posed a "number of risks" to bees.
From slash-and-burn to Amazon heroes: new video series highlights agricultural transformation
(01/31/2013) A new series of short films is celebrating the innovation of rural farmers in the Manu region of Peru. Home to jaguars, macaws, and tapirs, the Manu region is also one of the top contenders for the world's most biodiverse place. It faces a multitude of threats from road-building to mining to gas and oil concessions. Still the impact of smallscale slash-and-burn farming—once seen as the greatest threat to the Amazon and other rainforest—may be diminishing as farmers, like the first film's Reynaldo (see below), turn to new ways of farming, ones that preserve the forest while providing a better life overall.
Loans tied to environmental compliance reduced Amazon deforestation by 15%
(01/30/2013) A rural credit law that ties loans to environmental compliance made a significant contribution to reducing deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 2008 and 2011, argues a study published by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI).
Popular pesticides kill frogs outright
(01/28/2013) Commonly used agrochemicals (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides) kill frogs outright when sprayed on fields even when used at recommended dosages, according to new research in Scientific Reports. Testing seven chemicals on European common frogs (Rana temporaria), the scientists found that all of them were potentially lethal to amphibians. In fact, two fungicides—Headline and Captain Omya—wiped out the entire population of frogs at the recommended dosage. The study warns that agricultural chemicals could be having a large-scale and largely unrecorded impact on the world's vanishing amphibians.
Bolivia takes step to boost agriculture and curb surging deforestation
(01/28/2013) Bolivia has passed a land use law that aims to boost food security and slow deforestation in a region that is wracked by illegal forest clearing. Approved earlier this month, Ley 337 seeks to regulate land use in the Bolivian Amazon where deforestation for industrial agricultural production is surging. The law requires landowners who illegally deforested land prior to 2011 to either reforest or establish 'productive agriculture' on the land and pay reduced fines for past transgressions.
Living beside a tiger reserve: scientists study compensation for human-wildlife conflict in India
(01/21/2013) During an average year, 87% of households surrounding Kanha Tiger Reserve in Central India report experiencing some kind of conflict with wild animals, according to a new paper in the open-access journal PLOS One. Co-existence with protected, free-roaming wildlife can be a challenge when living at the edge of a tiger reserve. "Local residents most often directly bear the costs of living alongside wildlife and may have limited ability to cope with losses" wrote the authors of the new paper.
New website tracks protected areas under attack
(01/16/2013) The struggle to safeguard wild lands and species doesn't end when a park or protected area is created. In fact, social scientists and conservationists are increasingly uncovering a global trend whereby even long-established protected areas come under pressure by industrial, governmental, or community interests. This phenomenon, recently dubbed PADDD (which stands for Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement), includes protected areas that see their legal status lowered (downgraded), lose a section of their land (downsized), or are abolished entirely (degazetted). Now, a new website from WWF seeks to track PADDD events worldwide.
Throwing our food away: Up to 50% of the food produced worldwide is wasted
(01/10/2013) A new report titled 'Global food, waste not, want not' published by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers has found that 30 to 50% of all food produced in the world never reaches a stomach.
Paradigm shift needed to avert global environmental collapse, according to author of new book The Blueprint: Averting Global Collapse
(01/10/2013) Global strategist, trained educator, and international lecturer Daniel Rirdan set out to create a plan addressing the future of our planet. His book The Blueprint: Averting Global Collapse, published this year, does just that. "It has been a sixty hour a week routine," Rirdan told mongabay.com in a recent interview. "Basically, I would wake up with the burden of the world on my shoulders and go to sleep with it. It went on like this for eighteen months." It becomes apparent when reading The Blueprint that it was indeed a monumental undertaking.
Scientists work to discover watermelon's lost genetic diversity
(01/04/2013) A hard, white, and bitter watermelon has plant geneticists licking their lips with anticipation. The size of tennis balls, wild watermelons grow natively in southern and western Africa. Geneticists cracked open this small relative to the juicy, summertime treat to extract ancient genetic material. They are mining the fruit’s DNA for useful traits such as disease resistance that cultivated, or domesticated, watermelons have lost.
Biochar: a brief history and developing future
(01/02/2013) Biochar - charcoal produced from pyrolysis of biomass - has received tremendous attention and support in recent years, and championed as one of the potentially most useful techniques for soil restoration and carbon sequestration in the modern era. Although a multitude of initiatives in biochar research and application have sprung into action many critical details remain uncertain.
The year in rainforests
(12/31/2012) 2012 was another year of mixed news for the world's tropical forests. This is a look at some of the most significant tropical rainforest-related news stories for 2012. There were many other important stories in 2012 and some were undoubtedly overlooked in this review. If you feel there's something we missed, please feel free to highlight it in the comments section. Also please note that this post focuses only on tropical forests.
Recovery of Atlantic Forest depends on land-use histories
(12/10/2012) The intensity of land-use influences the speed of regeneration in tropical rainforests, says new research. Tropical rainforests are a priority for biodiversity conservation; they are hotspots of endemism but also some of the most threatened global habitats. The Atlantic Forest stands out among tropical rainforests, hosting an estimated 8,000 species of endemic plants and more than 650 endemic vertebrates. However, only around 11 percent of these forests now remain.
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April 1958 | Volume 9, Issue 3
The Confederates’ Hunley was the first submarine to sink an enemy warship, but her crude design made her a coffin for her crew
The sun set in a clear sky behind Charleston the afternoon of February 17, 1864. The besieged city lay in defiant silence, watching the Federal monitors at the entrance to the harbor. Out at Fort Sumter, where the war had begun, the faint boom of the sunset gun proclaimed that the little pile of rubble, now scarcely more than a symbol of resistance, was still held by its Confederate garrison. As the shadows lengthened, picket boats put out from the ironclads to begin the nightly vigils which the Federal Admiral John Dahlgren had so insistently prescribed.
Outside the bar, where the wooden ships comprising Dahlgren’s second line of blockade lay guarding the harbor’s entrance, the handsome sloop of war U.S.S. Housatonic prepared for a quiet night. A slight mist lay on the water as lookouts of the first watch took their stations. They were watchful but relaxed; it was not the sort of night a blockade-runner would choose for crossing the bar, and besides, the hard-driving Dahlgren was away on a trip to Port Royal.
About 8:45, Acting Master J. K. Crosby, officer of the deck, observed a slight disturbance in the water about a hundred yards distant and abeam. Crosby thought it was a porpoise, or a school of fish, or even a plank moving in the water. Whatever it was, it came on directly toward the ship. Crosby looked once more, decided to take no chances, and gave orders to slip the chain, beat to quarters, and call the captain.
His decision was a wise one. The Housatonic’s was about to experience the only submarine attack of the Civil War.
The Housatonic’ s dubious distinction came about by chance. If David Farragut had waited longer to capture New Orleans, Acting Master Crosby would have stood an uneventful watch. For the story of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley , known variously and mistakenly as the Fish , the American Diver , and the David , and nicknamed with grim accuracy the Peripatetic Coffin, really began in New Orleans. But for the early fall of that city, the Hunley ’s builders would never have begun a journey that led, eventually, to Charleston.
Sometime in 1861, James R. McClintock and lîaxter Watson of New Orleans, marine engineers and machinists, determined to build a submarine at private expense and operate it against the Federal blockade at the mouth of the Mississippi.
No submarine in recorded history had ever sunk a ship in combat, but McClintock and Watson were not discouraged by this. David Bushnell’s one-man submersible, the Turtle , had almost done the trick during the Revolutionary War, and Robert Fulton’s later submarine demonstrations left no doubt that men of daring and ingenuity could make and operate a lethal undersea weapon. Caught up in the fervor of the war’s first year, the two engineers determined to try.
To patriotism was added another motive, profit. At the start of the war, Jefferson Davis had invited applications for letters of marque authorizing private citizens to wage war against Union vessels. The Confederate government was ready to pay handsome financial prizes for the destruction of enemy men-of-war. A submarine operated with any success in the waters of a blockaded port might pay its way and show a return on the investment without ever going to sea.
Work on the boat began late in 1861. As expenses mounted, others joined in the project—John K. Scott, Robin R. Barron, H. J. Leovy, and Horace L. Hunley, a man whose enthusiasm for submarines was to grow with every setback. In the spring of 1862 the submarine, christened the Pioneer , was ready for a trial run in Lake Pontchartrain. When she destroyed a target barge, the enthusiasm of her owners was boundless. A letter of marque was obtained and plans were laid for action against the blockade.
At this point, Farragut entered the picture. He moved up the Mississippi late in April and captured New Orleans. The Pioneer disappeared, sunk either by accident or design, and was forgotten until it was found and raised many years later. McClintock, Watson, and Hunley packed their bags and moved to Mobile.
Farragut would come to Mobile, too, but not until the summer of 1864. When the ardent trio of submarine builders from New Orleans arrived, the city-seemed an ideal spot for their work. There were plenty of enemy vessels for their craft to operate against when they built it; there were shops in Mobile and about as much raw material for the construction as could be found anywhere in the blockaded South; and the city was under the command of an imaginative officer, Major General Dabney H. Maury, who was sympathetic toward projects involving underwater torpedoes. He welcomed the three men heartily, approved their plans for private financing of the project, and ordered the boat to be built in the machine shops of Park & Lyons. Furthermore, he extended technical assistance. Two young engineers from the 21st Alabama Infantry, Lieutenants George E. Dixon and William A. Alexander—the latter an Englishman who had come to America in 1859—were detached for special duty at the shops.
A submarine was built and towed off Fort Morgan to be manned for an attack on the blockading fleet. It promptly sank, and the job had to be done all over again. It is with this third effort that we are concerned.
Somewhere an iron boiler was found, about twenty-five feet long and four feet in diameter, and the builders went to work to make a submarine out of it. They cut it in two longitudinally, tapered it fore and aft, inserted boiler-iron strips in the sides, and attached bow and stern castings. Inside the castings, bulkheads were riveted across to form water-ballast tanks for use in raising and lowering the boat. Of the tanks, Alexander noted later that “unfortunately these were left open on top”—a colossal understatement.
A strip twelve inches wide was riveted the full length on top, and flat castings were fitted to the outside bottom for ballast, fastened by bolts which passed through stuffing boxes inside the boat so they might be loosened to drop the ballast if necessary. Sea cocks were installed in the water-ballast tanks, and force pumps to eject the water.
Propulsion was the big problem. Coal could not be burned below water, both because of the limited air supply and for lack of a smokestack. A storage battery adequate to operate even the smallest submarine had not yet been invented. The builders spent weeks trying to devise some kind of electromagnetic engine but finally gave it up and settled for manual power. A propeller shaft was installed almost the length of the boat, supported on the starboard side by brackets, with eight cranks spaced so that the crew could sit on the port side and turn the cranks. The arrangement left no room to pass fore and aft, but at least it assured some motion in the water.
For depth control another shaft was installed, passing laterally through the boat just forward of the end of the propeller shaft. This controlled lateral fins, live feet long and eight inches wide, on the outside. A lever amidships allowed the fins to be raised or lowered. For the pilots guidance, a mercury gauge was attached to the shell near the forward ballast tank to indicate the depth of the boat when submerged, and a compass was installed nearby. A wheel, acting on rods that ran the length of the boat, operated the rudder.
Fore and aft on the boat’s flat deck, hatchways were installed with coamings eight inches high. Glass panes installed in the coamings provided the only means of seeing out of the boat when the hatches were closed. There was no periscope. An air box was set between the hatchways and equipped with a pipe so that fresh air could be taken in on the surface without opening the hatches. All in all, it was a fantastically primitive affair.
The boat was boarded from both ends, part of the crew passing through the forward hatch with the skipper entering last, and the rest entering through the after hatch with the second officer in the rear. The seven crew members took their seats facing the propeller shaft, the two officers fastened down the hatch covers, and the skipper lit a candle which would provide illumination under water and also give warning when the oxygen supply ran low.
When all was ready, the first and second officers let water into the ballast tanks until the water level outside reached the glasses in the hatch coamings, an indication that the deck was about three inches under water. Then the sea cocks were closed, the second officer took his seat with the others at the propeller shaft, and the cranking began. The captain, still standing, lowered the fin lever and the boat slid deeper under the water, the mercury gauge indicating its depth. When he was ready to rise, he raised the lever, elevating the forward ends of the fins; as the boat reached its normal ballast trim of three inches below the surface, or earlier if the captain chose, he and the second officer operated the pumps to force water from the tanks, lightening the boat. When they were safely afloat and ready to land, the second officer opened his hatch cover, climbed out, and passed a line ashore.
She could go four miles an hour in smooth water and remain submerged as long as the air lasted. She was named the H. L. Hunley , in honor of her chief financial backer.
The torpedoes were copper cylinders holding charges of ninety pounds of explosive each, with percussion and friction primer mechanisms set off by flaring triggers. The plan for firing them was as desperate as everything else connected with the project. A torpedo attached to the submarine by a line two hundred feet long would float behind the boat, which would approach its prey, dive under it, and surface on the far side. The torpedo would thus be dragged against the target and explode.
Almost from the moment she was put into the water, the Hunley was plagued with trouble and disaster. Her first trial in the smooth waters of the Mobile River was a success; as General Maury watched, she towed a floating torpedo, dived under an old flatboat and scored a hit, blowing fragments a hundred feet into the air. But once she was taken out into the choppy waters of the bay, it was another story. She responded poorly, she was in constant danger of swamping, and that deadly torpedo trailing behind her was continually swinging in the direction of the wrong boat.
In later months, when the Hunley ’s latent tendency to drown her crews had become virtually a fixed habit and she had become known as the Peripatetic Coffin, it was generally reported that she sank first in Mobile Bay, drowning a full crew of nine men. This is apparently incorrect; but though she did not sink until later, General Maury and her owners alike agreed that her future in Mobile Bay was exceedingly dubious.
They talked it over and decided Charleston would be a better base of operations. Nowhere was the need for aid more acute than at this beleaguered port in the summer of 1863. Fort Sumter was under almost constant bombardment, a combined land and sea attack was underway, and the magnificent Federal ironclad, the New Ironsides , loomed as one of the greatest threats to the city. If the Hunley could slip out some night and sink that great ship, it would be a tremendous blow for the Confederacy.
Maury, accordingly, offered the privately owned boat to General P. G. T. Beauregard, commander of the city’s defenses. Beauregard had been trying in vain to establish a fleet of torpedo boats, but the big brass of the Confederate Navy had been slow to assist him. Why waste money on torpedo boats when you can build ironclads?
To Beauregard, the offer must have come almost as an answer to prayer. He accepted, the Hunley was loaded on two flatcars for what must have been one of the most remarkable railroad trips of the war, and destiny’s date with the Housatonic drew nearer.
And now the Hunley ’s difficulties began in earnest.
Beauregard asked Commodore John R. Tucker, flag officer at Charleston, for naval volunteers to operate the deadly-looking little boat. Lieutenant John Payne, an Alabamian whose valor had been demonstrated in a skirmish with enemy pickets only a few weeks before, immediately asked for the command. A crew joined him, and the Hunley was towed to Fort Johnson for trial runs.
A few nights later tragedy struck. The submarine was lying at the wharf, ready to go out for a dive. The crew members had already taken their places, and Payne was standing forward ready to close the hatchway, when the swell from a passing steamer poured over the deck. The Hunley swamped and went down like a rock.
Payne escaped through the open hatch, watched the bubbles rising where the boat had sunk, and grimly asked permission to raise the boat, collect another crew, and try again.
The experiment might have been given up at this point except for an event that electrified Charleston, delighted Beauregard, and redoubled the optimism of the Hunley ’s backers.
While the Hunley had been traveling across country on her flatcars, work was being completed at Charleston on a small iron boat that lay low in the water with a long pole extending from its bow. It was called the David , and the projection off its bow was a spar torpedo—a pole capable of being raised or lowered from the boat, with a torpedo fitted into a socket at the end of it. It was operated by a crew of four men.
On the night of October 5, the David , under command of Lieutenant William T. Glassell, steamed out to the New Ironsides , rammed her with the torpedo, and damaged her so badly that she was out of action for the remainder of the siege of Charleston. The explosion poured water down the David ’s little smoke-stack and drowned her boiler, and sailors on the ironclad were peppering her with shot; Glassell gave the order to abandon ship. He and James Sullivan, the fireman, were captured in the water, but Engineer James H. Tomb after a while noted that the David was drifting away from the ironclad. Returning to the boat, he found Pilot J. Walker Cannon, who could not swim, hanging to it, and the two re-entered it, got the engine going, and brought it back into port.
This was another first, the first time a warship had been damaged by a torpedo boat, and at Charleston enthusiasm reached fever pitch. In this atmosphere, Lieutenant Payne had no difficulty in finding a second crew for the Hunley . So the Hunley was raised, repairs were made, and the practice runs were resumed. And history repeated itself, this time alongside the wharf at ruined Fort Sumter. The little boat swamped again, and only Payne and two others of the crew escaped. (It might be well to note at this point that no exact count of the men lost on the Hunley is ever likely to be made. Her unhappy fame resulted in such garbled reports, even from those close to her, that scarcely two stories agree. All that can be done at this date is to make an informed guess, and on that basis fourteen men had now lost their lives on the submarine.)
For all his enthusiasm, Beauregard began to wonder if the Hunley was worth the effort. But at that time, Horace Hunley himself arrived from Mobile with a volunteer crew and a burning conviction that the navy crews simply did not understand how to operate his boat. He asked permission to operate her himself, with a crew who had learned her eccentricities at Mobile.
With some misgivings, Beauregard agreed. The Mobile crew took out the Hunley , dived successfully, and returned safely. The general relaxed. Then, on the rainy morning of October 15, in the presence of a large number of persons, Hunley took his boat into the water, submerged, and failed to come up.
The word reached Mobile, and the two young engineers, Dixon and Alexander, who had been assigned to help build the boat, heard it with mixed emotions. Both men were determined now to offer their services for yet another try at operating the Hunley . They applied for permission to make the effort, and Beauregard, reserving judgment until the Hunley should be raised again, ordered them to report to his chief of staff, General Thomas Jordan.
Beauregard himself was present when the submarine was brought up, and the sight of its interior left an indelible impression on his mind. Fourteen years later he still remembered the horror of it. “The spectacle,” he recalled, “was indescribably ghastly; the unfortunate men were contorted into all kinds of horrible attitudes; some clutching candles, evidently endeavoring to force open the manholes; others lying in the bottom tightly grappled together, and the blackened faces of all presented the expression of their despair and agony.”
Sickened, he called a halt to the experiments. But Dixon and Alexander pleaded eloquently for a chance to bring some good out of the repeated tragedies. Beauregard hesitated, and General Jordan offered a suggestion: instead of using the Hunley as a submarine, why not use it as a David? In short, fit it with a spar torpedo instead of the dangerous trailing explosive, and let it attack from the surface.
Under these terms the General consented, or such was his recollection in 1878. But later his resolve may have softened, or the terms were interpreted broadly, for while the Hunley acquired a spar torpedo it continued to operate under water.
Meanwhile, Dixon and Alexander were making their own expert appraisal of the story as they pieced it together after the Hunley was raised.
The boat had been found on the bottom of the river at an angle of about 35 degrees, her bow deeply buried in the mud. The bolts holding down each hatch cover had been removed, but the hatches were closed. Considerable air and gas escaped when they were lifted. Hunley’s body was found forward, his head in the hatchway and his right hand still extended in the dying effort to open the cover. The candle in his hand, significantly, had never been lighted. The sea cock on the forward ballast tank was wide open and the cock wrench lay on the bottom of the boat. In the after hatchway the corpse of Thomas Parks, second-in-command and a member of the firm at whose shop the boat had been built, still pushed at the hatch cover; the sea cock on his tank was closed. Hunley and Parks had died of asphyxiation while the others drowned below them. The clumsy arrangement for dropping the iron keel ballast had failed; the bolts had been partly turned, but not enough to release it.
Studying the grim evidence, the two engineers thought they could agree without question on what had happened. The decisive moment had come immediately after the boat submerged. Hunley had turned the fins to go down and then decided he needed more ballast—that is, more water in his tank to assist in the dive. Without pausing even to light his candle, he had opened the cock. Instantly, the boat dropped so low that the glass panes in the coamings were covered and the craft was plunged in darkness. Hunley began trying to light his candle, the water continued to rush into the tank through the open sea cock, and the boat sank rapidly. The ballast tanks, it will be recalled, were “unfortunately left open on top.” Now, Hunley’s tank flooded in the darkness.
“The first intimation they would have had of anything being wrong,” Alexander wrote in later years, “was the water rising fast, but noiselessly, about their feet in the bottom of the boat. They tried to release the iron keel ballast, but did not turn the keys quite far enough, therefore failed.”
The boat was refitted, and Dixon and Alexander went to General Jordan to ask for a crew. Jordan relayed their request to Beauregard, who balked at first but finally agreed to let the Alabamians go aboard the Indian Chief , the Confederate Navy’s receiving ship, and ask for volunteers. He insisted, however, that they give a full account of the Hunley ’s past misadventures. This was done, and eventually a crew of volunteer sailors took their places, under command of two lieutenants from an infantry regiment, in a privately owned submarine operated on orders of an army general.
The Hunley was off and, if not running, at least limping again.
The attitude of Confederate Navy officers on the scene appears to have been skeptical if not downright hostile. Flag Officer Tucker, asked to provide the submarine with a tow down the harbor, assigned the David to the task, with Lieutenant Tomb, one of the heroes of the New Ironsides attack, in command. Tomb was directed to report his opinions as to the Hunley ’s safety and efficiency to Tucker.
Tomb was skeptical, but in the days that followed, Dixon, Alexander, and their crew appeared to have broken the Hunley jinx at last. They made a series of successful dives in Charleston’s immediate vicinity, and it was decided the Hunley must seek a victim among the blockading vessels outside the bar instead of going out after a monitor, as had been earlier planned. For, alarmed by the success of the David in disabling his finest warship, Admiral Dahlgren had ordered chain booms to be placed around the monitors—the Weehawken , the Passaic , the Montauk , the Catskill , and the Nahant . Accordingly, Dixon was ordered to moor his boat off Battery Marshall on Sullivan’s Island, where it could proceed by interior channels to the area where Dahlgren’s wooden boats lay.
By now it was November. Quarters for the crew were provided at Mount Pleasant, seven miles from the battery, and practice runs were begun in earnest.
A major problem soon became apparent, the matter of distance. The station of the nearest frigate, which they understood was the Wabash , was twelve miles away. The Hunley could reach a speed of about four miles an hour in comparatively smooth water and light current, but in rough water her speed was much slower. The ideal attack plan, Dixon and Alexander agreed, would be to go out with the ebb tide on a dark, calm night, strike, and come in with the flood tide.
But whole weeks went by, and the wind held contrary. The Wabash , or whatever vessel it was that lay off in the distance, was too far for the crew of the Hunley to reach by a reasonably safe hour. They ventured out five, six, even seven miles, but each time they were forced to turn back, the men cranking with all their might to avoid drifting out to sea.
In all this time, the Hunley showed only one structural fault. The air box, which was supposed to provide fresh air through a pipe while the Hunley lay just below the surface, had not worked out well. When ventilation was needed it was necessary to come up high enough for the after-hatch cover to be opened. Several times, when they did this, they could hear conversation and song from Federal picket boats, and they realized how vitally important it was to choose dark nights for their expeditions.
The whole matter of the limited air supply at last led Dixon and his English associate to undertake an experiment. Painfully conscious of their exposed condition and low speed when they had to surface, they decided to find out just how long it was humanly possible for them to stay down without coming up for air.
The Back Bay off Battery Marshall was chosen for the test. All hands agreed they would go out, submerge, sink, and lie on the bottom for as long as possible. When any man felt he had reached the limit of his endurance and must go up for air, he was simply to say, “Up.” Regardless of who spoke the word, it was to be considered an order for all hands to obey instantly.
Late one afternoon, after making several brief dives, they were ready. While a crowd of soldiers watched from the bank, unaware of the plan, Dixon and Alexander compared watches, noted the time, and took the Hunley down. She sank to the bottom of the bay, the men quit turning the propeller, and the experiment was on.
For a long time they sat motionless, looking silently at one another across the shadows cast by Dixon’s candle. Twenty-five minutes passed. The candle went out and could not be relit. Still no one spoke the word that would terminate the experiment.
As the Hunley continued to lie on the bottom of the bay, the curiosity of the watching soldiers ashore turned to alarm, and then to a conviction of disaster. A message was sent to General Beauregard, reporting that the ill-fated “coffin” had claimed another crew. Powerless to attempt a rescue, the watchers gradually drifted away as the sun set.
And now, in the darkened boat, the limit was reached at last. A man gasped, “Up!” and, in the instant he spoke, every other man aboard echoed the word.
“Start the pumps!”
The bow of the Hunley began slowly to rise, but the stern clung to the bottom. Something had gone wrong with Alexander’s pump; it was not emptying its tank. As the boat began to tilt dangerously, Alexander made a desperate guess. The valve must be fouled. Working frantically, he felt for the cap of the pump, took it off, lifted the valve, and fumbled for an obstruction.
Seaweed lay thick around the valve. The Englishman snatched it off, replaced the cap, and renewed his pumping. One of the crew had begun to babble incoherently as the stern of the Hunley slowly began to rise.
But the worst was over. They reached the surface, and with all the strength he had left Alexander flung open his hatch cover. For a while they slumped, gasping. Then they made for shore. A match was struck, and watches were examined. It had been two hours and thirty-five minutes since the submarine had dived.
Meanwhile, the secret of the Hunley had reached the ears of the distracted Admiral Dahlgren. A Confederate deserter gave him a remarkably accurate account of the submarine, her construction, her weaknesses, and her potentialities. Dahlgren had called for precautions against torpedo boats after the New Ironsides was attacked, but now he made his orders doubly detailed.
“The ironclads,” he directed, “must have their fenders rigged out and their own boats in motion about them. A netting must also be dropped overboard from the ends of the fenders, kept down with shot, and extending along the whole length of the sides, howitzers loaded with canister on the decks and a calcium [light] for each monitor. The tugs and picket boats must be incessantly upon the lookout, when the water is not rough, whether the weather be clear or rainy.”
But, as Dahlgren went out nightly to see for himself whether his monitors were maintaining a proper vigil, the “diving torpedo” he feared was watching its opportunity to go against a wooden vessel outside the bar. It was an eventuality the harassed admiral had not considered.
Now that the underwater test had been successful, the Hunley resumed her regular schedule, going out as often as the weather permitted and taking even more risks than before in her efforts to reach a target. But still the wind was against her.
About the end of January, 1864, there came an even bigger disappointment. Alexander was ordered back to Mobile to build a breech-loading repeating gun. Alexander departed, crushed, and Dixon set out dejectedly to train a new second-in-command.
So matters stood when, on the night of February 17, the wind turned to fair and the sea grew calm. Dixon decided that, in spite of a bright moon, he could wait no longer. At Battery Marshall, a signal was agreed on for his use in case the Hunley wanted a light as a guide for her return trip. The crew filed aboard, the hatches were closed, and the Hunley slipped under the water. The time had come at last.
Acting Master Crosby’s prompt alarm at sight of the supposed plank floating in the water abeam of the Housatonic brought the sloop’s captain, officers, and men piling onto the deck. By now a moving phosphorescent light clearly marked the path of the strange object below them.
It had changed direction. At the sound of the call to quarters it had come almost to a halt and then begun to move toward the stern of the vessel. When Captain Charles W. Pickering arrived on deck, the object was already on the Housatonic ’s starboard quarter.
The sloop, a screw steamer of 1,240 tons launched at Boston late in 1861, carried thirteen guns, but by now it was impossible to use these weapons. The shadow in the water was so near that attempts to train a gun on it were futile. Captain Pickering and several others on deck began firing with revolvers and rifles.
The chain had been slipped, and now the engines began backing. At the time the order was given it was the right thing to do, for the submarine was abeam. But now it was approaching from the starboard quarter, and the Housatonic ’s engines sent the sloop closer toward its enemy.
It was too late to change direction. Before the men on deck had grasped what was happening, the vessel was shaken by a great explosion between the mainmast and mizzenmast. Timbers and splinters flew through the air; men fell stunned or injured to the deck; the entire stern of the vessel seemed to disintegrate. There was a great rushing of water, an immense cloud of black smoke rose from the stack, and the Housatonic went down almost immediately. Less than an hour after Acting Master Crosby had first sighted the mysterious shape in the water, the survivors of the Housatonic were being rescued. At muster next morning, only five members of the crew failed to answer.
History had witnessed the first sinking of a warship by a submarine. The feat would not be duplicated for half a century.
A Federal court of inquiry convened aboard the Wabash the following week, reviewed the evidence, and found no indication that anyone aboard the sunken ship had been remiss in his duties. Admiral Dahlgren hastened back from Port Royal, redoubled his precautions against torpedo attacks, and called on the Navy Department to offer a large reward to any crew that captured or destroyed a torpedo boat. And in Charleston and Mobile friends of the Hunley and her crew waited word of the submarine’s fate.
The word did not come for a long time. Not until a Federal picket boat was captured off Fort Sumter did Beauregard, and the whole Confederacy as well, learn the magnitude of the little submarine’s accomplishment. Coupled with this news was the report that Dixon and his men had not been captured, a grim indication that they must have been lost.
It was April before a letter was sent to General Maury, still pressing from Mobile for official word of the Hunley ’s fate. Captain M. M. Gray, torpedo officer in the Office of Submarine Defenses, expressed the opinion that she had sunk with the Housatonic . Gray believed the submarine had gone into the hole made in the Housatonic by the explosion and had been unable to muster sufficient power to back out.
It was as good a guess as any. Alexander speculated later that it must have happened just that way. Dixon, he reasoned—in a long memoir in the New Orleans Picayune of June 29, 1902, which is the richest source of information about the Hunley —had deliberately risked the moonlight in his ardor to sink the sloop, and had been observed by the lookout when he came to the surface for a final observation before striking her. Not knowing the Housatonic was about to back down upon him, he had submerged a few feet and steered for the stern. The combined momentums of the two vessels brought them together sooner and with greater force than he had anticipated, and he and his crew had been unable to back their boat out of disaster.
Partly because of the Federals’ justified fear of torpedoes, Charleston did not fall until February 17, 1865. When divers first went down to look at the wreck of the Housatonic , they saw no trace of the Hunley . But years later she was found, lying on the bottom of the harbor, still pointing toward the vessel she had sunk. Within her still lay the remains of the last crew of the Peripatetic Coffin.
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Whether it’s tweeting every five minutes about boredom in class, or sending cryptic statuses about an ex on Facebook – everyone is involved in social media. However, in the digital age, lawmakers struggle to retain our right to speak freely, but they now find themselves caught in an even more difficult spot: How to address the dilemma of cyber bullying.
Social networking has irreversibly affected interpersonal communication, but it has also become an additional task on many of our daily agendas.
It is not only a way to pass the time, but also an outlet for self-expression. We exercise our right to freedom of speech every day, something our Founding Fathers could never have imagined some 200 years back.
Since the inception of the Internet, cyber bullying has gained more prominence in our lives as we become aware of the dangers that it poses to the lives and reputations of millions of Americans young and old. Laws restricting such behavior have spread from sites like Twitter and Facebook, and 2011 were expanded to include text messages, emails and instant messages for students in high school.
Under this legal umbrella, any act considered to fall in this category can be reported to law enforcement or school officials in hopes that they will handle the situation appropriately.
Interestingly enough, this law does not extend to comments or pictures posted on websites.
There are people who hold a firm stance on these types of media, going so far as to supporting a government program aimed at protecting victims of cyber harassment to include adults and those outside of an educational environment.
Cyber harassment may be geared toward stalking or manipulation of one’s image, but what of those who willingly put their lives in the public sphere?
“It wouldn’t bother me if someone put my name out in public. I’m confident in the person I am,” business administration major Jennie Sale said. “For example, tabloids talk about people all the time.”
To be supportive of stricter laws getting passed means restricting the content of all of what people post, comment or argue about online.
Comments people are making about the President, celebrities or laws themselves could be deemed inappropriate and a potential criminal charge.
Placing our trust in the government to determine what is acceptable and what can be defined as bullying may in fact diminish the power of our freedom of speech – the very voice that is cherished by Americans and the world.
Arizona has passed an anti-online harassment bill that doesn’t allow anyone to feel threatened or harassed via electronic communication. Several other states have passed similar laws, such as Alabama, Colorado, and Connecticut, but they all vary on the details. Some focus more on the threats at hand, and others focus more on the stalking issue.
“People oftentimes take things on the Internet as fact, especially in a society where children learn this same thing. It must be regulated,” senior Spanish major Cynthia Latham said. “If there was more regulation, we would be able to see the Internet as a more trustworthy source.”
Other countries do not allow Facebook or Twitter to be accessed at all and while their rights to view this platform for free speech is more in question, their voice is what suffers most.
Not being able to voice their opinions and thoughts is at the heart of what we hold dear as Americans, our right to speak up.
The Dirty is a blog that allows the public to post people on the site with a picture and comment. Readers are allowed to make comments on stories, both good and bad.
“Reckless overreaction to criticism is just as irresponsible as someone who makes a comment that arguably goes too far,” creator of the site Nik Richie said. “Unless you live in a cave, you need to be prepared for some details about your life to make their way online, and that is going to result in some people saying really nice things and maybe a few not-so-nice things.”
The site gives people a chance to voice their thoughts and ideas that may be controversial and entertaining – but remember, that is our right.
In this time of evolving and potentially explosive new types of mass media, the way people brand themselves via their Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts makes them fair game to criticism from those who have access to seeing them.
In the digital lives people are living, free speech may twist that vision into something they may regret.
Monique Millan, a senior communications major, is a staff writer for the Campus Times. She can be reached by email at email@example.com.
- 10 December, 2012 @ 16:07 [Current Revision] by Monique Millan
- 10 December, 2012 @ 16:07 by Eric Borer
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Researchers identify proteins that indicate which kidney tumors are most likely to spread
Researchers at St. Michael's hospital have identified 29 proteins that are likely to be involved in the spread of kidney cancer. The discovery will help physicians recognize which tumours are going to behave more aggressively and provide those patients with more intensive treatment and closer followup.
"Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is one of the most treatment-resistant malignancies and patients have dismal prognosis," said Dr. George M Yousef, a laboratory pathologist. "Identification of markers that can predict the potential of metastases will have a great impact on improvement patient outcomes.
Dr. Yousef's research appears online in the journal Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.
Kidney cancer in general is very aggressive and has a high chance of metastasis, or spreading to other organs. The five-year survival rate for metastasized kidney cancer is less than 10 per cent. Although imaging technology has led to increased detection of kidney tumours, 25 to 30 per cent have already spread by the time they are found.
Using a mass spectrometer, Dr. Yousef identified 29 proteins that change when cancer cells spread from the original site of the kidney tumour. All 29 proteins have been previously been linked to other malignancies.
Dr. Yousef said if physicians can determine which kidney tumours have those proteins, and are likely to spread, they can monitor and treat those patients more aggressively. Patients who don't have those proteins and biomarkers might not have to undergo costly and intensive treatment or surgery.
The next steps would be to find ways to stop the proteins from turning on and triggering the metastasis.
Journal reference: Molecular & Cellular Proteomics
Provided by St. Michael's Hospital
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BE FOOD SMART: CFI's Six Safe Food Practices
The best way to ensure safe food is to prevent food from becoming contaminated. People can help reduce – but not eliminate – the risk of foodborne illness by following CFI’s Six Safe Food Practices.
CFI's first 5 safe food practices are based on the World Health Organization's Five Keys to Safer Food.
CFI has also added a 6th practice -- report foodborne illness -- so that researchers can increase their understanding about the sources, trends, health outcomes and preventive strategies related to foodborne disease.
Food safety is everyone’s responsibility!
Eat safe! Eat Smart!
- Use safe water and food
- Report foodborne illness
Please read our detailed CFI's Six Safe Food Practices document.
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Electronic Field Trips
Programs for Elementary and Middle Schools
Colonial Williamsburg's Electronic Field Trips series of seven different and varied historical programs are targeted to the social studies curriculums of students in grades 4-8. These exciting, inspiring stories about America's history, from the colonial era to the present day, are available online 24/7 during the school year.
The stories are told through engaging video segments, student-friendly gaming technology, and classroom interactives. Schools that subscribe to each program are provided with a teacher guide containing historical background information, glossary, time line, and classroom lesson plans that are designed by teachers, for teachers. Students receive a password to web activities and a message board where they can discuss their opinions or post questions year-round. They also have an amazing opportunity to participate in the live field trip event, connecting with historical characters and historians via phone, video, email, online voting, or live video chat.
Thank you for being a Colonial Williamsburg Advocate!
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A young Portuguese scholar, Diogo Roque, presented an M.Phil. dissertation on this subject to the Department of History of the Lisbon University on June 27. Invited to be on the Board Of Examiners, I had an opportunity to appreciate the work first hand. The study identifies interesting issues.
The study covers the surrender of the Portuguese armed forces on December 19, 1961, and the daily routine of the POWs in provisional and definitive camps till their repatriation in May 1962. The surrender was interpreted by the Salazar regime as a violation of its orders to resist unto death. Consequently, the Governor and the Armed Forces were subjected to court-martial. Even some who resisted valiantly in Diu were considered for posthumous awards and most were admitted for pension only in 2003, nearly three decades after the restoration of democracy in 1974.
Diogo Roque has sifted through most published memoirs of the detainees, and has checked them against primary archival sources as well as interviews with many ex-POWs still living and willing to talk about their experiences. Very important is the use of archival sources, including reports of the Portuguese officers in-charge of the detention camps, collaborating with the Indian authorities managing the camps. These reports are now preserved in Portugal. Also, the PIDE (Portuguese security police) reports are preserved at the Portuguese National Archives in Lisbon and have been tapped.
The study refers to Krishna Menon’s initiative in constituting a task force under the Chairmanship of the General D.K.Palit to prepare a plan for the invasion of Goa on short notice. General Palit is cited to confirm that some unco-operative Goan officers were arrested. Valmiki Faleiro revealed to us recently the identity of the Goans officers in operational command of the Operation Vijay, but we know little about those who opted out or were kept out.
Some publications by Goan authors do not figure in the Bibliography. Among these are Leo Lawrence’s ‘Nehru Seizes Goa’ (1963), which contains important clues for understanding the background of the conflict, but needs to be used with utmost caution. This Goan served as Portuguese political agent to muster support among the Goans in Bombay through the Luso-Indian Institute.
When expelled by the Indian authorities from Bombay, Leo was appointed Assistant Director of Information and Tourism in Goa. He chaperoned the foreign journalists invited by the Portuguese government to report on the Indian threat of military action. Before the annexation of Goa to India, Leo Lawrence moved to Portugal and served for nearly two decades in the Portuguese Foreign Affairs Ministry, promoting campaigns aimed at denouncing India’s occupation of Goa.
There are other interesting publications that the young researcher could tap. The biographical notes of Pascoal Menezes, published as ‘Once More Upon a Time’, wherein Pascoal refers to the Portuguese decision to return the gold shifted to Portugal by BNU. He tells us that the BNU officials who came to Goa in 1991 also brought a letter for him. They remembered with gratitude a payment of Rs. 5000 made by Pascoal Menezes to buy the political freedom of five BNU managers in 1961. The letter promised to help Pascoal Menezes during his visits to Lisbon. We are told that he tested the promise more than once and did not find it wanting.
Diogo Roque tells us that with the exception of a single Goan Police officer among the POWs, most others accepted the Indian offer of freedom and integration in the Indian Police Service. The study quotes Portuguese claims that Goans enjoyed equal rights of citizenship as any metropolitan Portuguese, but seems unaware that the Portuguese Major-General Pezarat Correia, who served in Goa as a commander of a Portuguese volunteer force sent in 1954, wrote that Goans enjoyed no such equality. They were not bound by compulsory military service as the Portuguese citizens were. For him Goa was protected by Portuguese forces of occupation.
To conclude, one more interesting aside is that several Portuguese POWs wanting to marry Goan women were refused permission by the Indian authorities to do so. Would they be marriages of convenience? We are told that the white Portuguese POWs did not seem to like the natives imprisoned along with them and often looked at them as Indian spies.
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The latest news from Bat Conservation International….
Bat Conservation International learned this week that the fungus linked to White-nose Syndrome, which has killed more than a million bats to date, has been confirmed on another bat species. A southeastern myotis found at Virginia’s Pocahontas State Park last month has tested positive for the White-nose fungus. This is the ninth bat species so far threatened with White-nose Syndrome.
This southern species could carry the fungus into the deep South, since its range reaches from Indiana and Illinois south along the Mississippi River and East Texas and then along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts to North Carolina.
In addition to caves, southeastern myotis use an assortment of roosts, such as hollow trees, underground cisterns, bridges, buildings and culverts. To date, the WNS fungus has only been found on bats that hibernate in caves and mines.
Biologists do not know whether the WNS fungus will survive in warm, humid climates or in non-cave habitats. Many hope a climate barrier will stop the fungus or prevent its progression into disease. We may soon find out, as this new species signals an important shift in latitude.
More than a million bats have died from White-nose Syndrome so far, and as it continues to spread, millions more are threatened. BCI will continue to work around the clock to combat this deadly disease. Learn more about White-nose Syndrome here.
See here for a map
Bat Conservation International
P.S. – To support Bat Conservation International’s efforts to combat this devastating epidemic, you can donate at www.batcon.org.
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Alcohol Overdose: The Dangers of Drinking Too Much
Celebrating at parties, cheering a favorite sports team, and simply enjoying a break from work are common activities throughout the year. For some people, these occasions also may include drinking—even drinking to excess. And the results can be deadly.
Although many people enjoy moderate drinking, defined as 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men, drinking too much can lead to an overdose. An overdose of alcohol occurs when a person has a blood alcohol content (or BAC) sufficient to produce impairments that increase the risk of harm. Overdoses can range in severity, from problems with balance and slurred speech to coma or even death. What tips the balance from drinking that has pleasant effects to drinking that can cause harm varies among individuals. Age, drinking experience, gender, the amount of food eaten, even ethnicity all can influence how much is too much.
Underage drinkers may be at particular risk for alcohol overdose. Research shows that people under age 20 typically drink about 5 drinks at one time. Drinking such a large quantity of alcohol can overwhelm the body’s ability to break down and clear alcohol from the bloodstream. This leads to rapid increases in BAC and significantly impairs brain function.
As BAC increases, so do alcohol’s effects—as well as the risk for harm. Even small increases in BAC can decrease coordination, make a person feel sick, and cloud judgment. This can lead to injury from falls or car crashes, leave one vulnerable to sexual assault or other acts of violence, and increase the risk for unprotected or unintended sex. When BACs go even higher amnesia (or blackouts) can occur.
Continuing to drink despite clear signs of significant impairments can result in a potentially deadly type of overdose called alcohol poisoning. (See the table for tips on identifying alcohol poisoning.)
Alcohol poisoning occurs when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that areas of the brain controlling basic life support functions—such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature control—begin to shut down. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion; difficulty remaining conscious; vomiting; seizures; trouble with breathing; slow heart rate; clammy skin; dulled responses, such as no gag reflex (which prevents choking); and extremely low body temperature.
BAC can continue to rise even when a person is unconscious. Alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body.
It is dangerous to assume that an unconscious person will be fine by sleeping it off. Alcohol acts as a depressant, hindering signals in the brain that control automatic responses such as the gag reflex. Alcohol also can irritate the stomach, causing vomiting. With no gag reflex, a person who drinks to the point of passing out is in danger of choking on vomit, which, in turn, could lead to death by asphyxiation. Even if the drinker survives, an alcohol overdose can lead to long-lasting brain damage.
If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, get medical help immediately. Cold showers, hot coffee, or walking will not reverse the effects of alcohol overdose and could actually make things worse.
At the hospital, medical staff will manage any breathing problems, administer fluids to combat dehydration and low blood sugar, and flush the drinker’s stomach to help clear the body of toxins.
The best way to avoid an alcohol overdose is to drink responsibly if you choose to drink.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005 (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), moderate alcohol consumption is defined as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. Know that even if you drink within these limits, you could have problems with alcohol if you drink too quickly, have health conditions, or take medications. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, you should not drink alcohol.
Heavy or at-risk drinking for women is the consumption of more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 per week, and for men it is more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 per week. This pattern of drinking too much, too often, is associated with an increased risk for alcohol use disorders. Binge drinking for women is having 4 or more drinks within 2 hours; for men, it is 5 or more drinks within 2 hours. This dangerous pattern of drinking too much, too quickly, is associated with increased risk for immediate adverse consequences.
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It all started with a walk.
When Matthew Berger, 9, was out with his father one summer day in 2008, he did what his dad always told him to do:
He kept his eyes on the ground – and observed closely.
That’s what led Matthew to an exciting discovery – for him and for scientists around the globe.
He spotted a strange-looking rock, brown with a yellow stripe running through it, sticking partly out of the dark soil near their home in Johannesburg in South Africa.
Matthew decided to look closer.
With his dad, paleontologist and scientist Dr. Lee R. Berger, a professor at the Institute for Human Evolution at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Matthew examined the rock and the two made the exciting realization that the odd-looking rock was an important scientific find.
The “yellow” matter was actually bone – part of a clavicle from what scientists believe could be an ancient ancestor of human beings.
Starting with that one fossil find, scientists ultimately unearthed two complete skeletons at the site.
Lee Berger will come to Buffalo this weekend to talk about his discovery in a lecture that is open to the public. Joining him will be Marc Aronson, Berger’s co-author on a new book for readers age 10 and up about the fossil discovery.
According to Aronson, the lesson for everyone – especially kids – in the Bergers’ find is about possibilities.
“So many new things are still being found,” said Aronson. “Kids should be excited – not discouraged.”
“The Skull in the Rock: How a Scientist, a Boy, and Google Earth Opened a New Window on Human Origins,” was released by National Geographic in September. It costs $19.
The free program is co-sponsored by the Penn-Dixie Paleontological & Outdoor Education Center; it will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the WNED studios, Lower Terrace Boulevard. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
Aronson that the purpose of the book and Saturday’s talk is simple: it’s about inspiration, for a younger generation.
“We want young people to understand there is a whole world of discoveries and explorations around them,” he said.
Even in Western New York?
“That’s what’s exciting to me,” replied Aronson. “This can happen anywhere. Are we all going to find [human ancestor] bones? Not likely. But are we going to find something else? Absolutely.”
The Penn-Dixie/WNED event will be family-oriented activities, with fossil displays from Penn-Dixie, “Tilly the Trilobite,” displays by the Past and Present Rock Shop in Blasdell, and Dr. Don Birdd and his “Dienoncyhus” costume.
Although the morning program is free, registration is required. Go online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/skullwned or call 1-800-344-9611, ext. 2023.
Berger and Aronson also will be at the Barnes & Noble bookseller store on Niagara Falls Boulevard on Saturday, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
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Different magnitudes of projected subsurface ocean warming around Greenland and Antarctica
Recent acceleration of Greenland and Antarctic outlet glaciers and ice flows is closely linked to ocean warming, especially in the subsurface layer. This land ice melt will cause sea level rise.
We find that in response to an increase in atmospheric greenhouse-gas concentrations, the subsurface oceans (200-500 m) surrounding the two polar ice sheets both warm substantially more than has been observed thus far. Model projections suggest that the maximum ocean warming around Greenland will be double the global mean, whereas ocean warming around Antarctica will be only half the global mean (see figure).
A detailed evaluation indicates that the climate mechanisms behind the projected warming are likely realistic and capable of driving substantial increases in ice mass loss and sea level rise in the future. A more accurate simulation and projection of ice sheets and their interactions with the ocean and the atmosphere require refined resolution Earth system models, which resolve fast-moving ice flows and small-scale temperature changes.
The availability of these models in the future would significantly advance our understanding of ice sheet dynamics, and in turn improve sea level rise projections. Until then, these results suggest substantial dynamic ice sheet mass loss due to continued ocean warming should be considered a real possibility.
Figure. Projections of subsurface (200-500 m) ocean warming during 2091-2100 and 2191-2200 under the A1B scenario. Warming along the land-ocean boundary of Greenland and Antarctica, together with the global mean in the same layer. Grey dots and dashed lines indicate the projections by individual models and the ensemble mean, respectively. Red and blue circles indicate the GFDL CM2.0 and CM2.1 results, respectively.
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Dinner With A Scientist
"Dinner with a Scientist" represents Sacramento's participation in a nationwide effort to inform and encourage junior high and high school students interested to pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). It is a collaboration between the UC Davis Department of Education, Powerhouse Science Center, the Sacramento Area Science Project, and school districts within Sacramento County.
"Dinner with a Scientist" offers students an opportunity to meet active science professionals, and through casual conversation, gain a better understanding of the pathways to a science career, different job opportunities, and various professional options, as well as the day-to-day realities of working in STEM positions.
We are grateful to our sponsors who make these evenings possible and the scientists who were are generous with their time.
And to all our student attendees: Best wishes for your future education and career choices! Maybe one day YOU will be a scientist participating in "Dinner with a Scientist"!
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Extension Agent: Seven steps to a healthy home
- unverified comments
Thank you for your submission.Error report or correction
We all want to take good care of our families.
We try to eat foods that contribute to good health. We take our children to the doctor for regular checkups.
We try our best to protect our family from accidents and to prevent illness. We also want to live in a safe neighborhood.
But many of us have hidden dangers in our home that can affect our health and the health of everyone who lives in the home.
Just how do we track down those hidden dangers? Not all of these steps are controlled by design, construction or remodeling, so how people actually live in a home affects how healthy it is.
The following steps focus on the things we can do to affect the health of our home.
Step 1. Control moisture
Water and excessive humidity support the growth of mold, insects, rodents and dust mites. Keeping a home dry helps control mold and pests, and it discourages dust mites.
Relative humidity inside the home should be maintained between 40 and 60 percent. When cooking or showering, use exhaust fans or open a window if the outside air is dry. If you have a clothes dryer, make sure it is vented to the outside. Increase airflow in problem areas, such as closets and behind furniture on outside walls.
The three most important sources of moisture that require control are rainwater, groundwater and plumbing. Repair leaking roofs, walls, doors or windows. Cover or repair windows if they leak.
Step 2. Keep it clean
A clean house is a healthier house. Clean your home often. Dust provides food for mold, insects, rodents and dust mites. In older homes, the dust may contain lead, which is harmful to your children.
Clutter makes it difficult to clean, and in many cases, it may serve as food for pests.
Keep the clutter down. Store your belongings in an enclosed area such as a chest, plastic box or even a cardboard box rather than in piles or stacks. Smooth and cleanable surfaces make it easier to remove dust. Control the dust and pollen that comes in at each entry by using washable throw rugs.
Step 3. Keep it ventilated
Ventilation provides a way to remove pollutants and to control humidity. Windows that open and exhaust fans that run help control pollutants. When outdoor air is brought into the home, ideally it is filtered to remove pollens and other outdoor pollutants.
Step 4. Keep it free of combustion by-products
Combustion by-products, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and soot, should not be in a healthy home. Furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces that burn fuel must vent to the outside.
Stoves, ovens, and cook-tops that burn fuel must be used with fans that vent the combustion by-products to the outside.
Never use the kitchen stove or oven to heat your home because they release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. Never warm up a car in an attached garage because of the carbon monoxide it releases. You should install a carbon monoxide alarm that will make a loud noise when CO levels become too high.
If the alarm goes off, get out of the house and call 911 from a phone outside your home. Don't go back home until all problems have been fixed.
Step 5. Keep it pest free
Pests can lead to allergic reactions and to the use of pesticides. Food and water attract pests. Controlling food and water helps to minimize pests. Sealing the points where pests enter the home can also minimize pests.
A clean house minimizes the number of pests that are attracted. If you open the windows, window screens that are in good condition are a must. If you must use pesticides, use the least toxic ones. Make sure any pesticides that you do not use are either destroyed, shared with someone else or stored safely away from young children.
Step 6. Keep it free of chemicals
No environment can be totally free of chemicals, but we can control our exposure. We can select household materials that don't smell or release chemicals.
We also can control the cleaning compounds, pesticides, oil or alkyd-based paints and solvents that we use in our homes. It is best not to store these products inside the home.
These products have information on them about how to safely dispose of them. Many municipalities operate household chemical disposal programs, which promote safe disposal.
Step 7. Keep it comfortable
A comfortable temperature and humidity level in a home allows for the windows to be closed if needed. Too hot or too cold is usually uncomfortable. When a home is uncomfortably humid (above 60 percent relative humidity), particularly in the summer and fall, it may require a dehumidifier or air conditioner.
If you have windows that open and fans that run, they can help to ventilate the home when the outside weather conditions are favorable. If the home is too dry (less than 20 percent relative humidity), you can increase the humidity through normal household activities like cooking, showering, laundry, etc. A humidifier is typically not recommended because people tend to over humidify.
It is up to you to make sure your home is a healthy home.
Erika Bochat is a Victoria County extension agent-Family and Consumer Sciences.
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Islam is a monotheistic religion originating with the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th-century Arab religious and political figure. The word Islam means "submission," or the total surrender of one's self to God. Islam's adherents are known as Muslims, meaning "one who submits (to God)". There are between 1 billion and 1.8 billion Muslims, making Islam the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity. Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet, and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. They do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original monotheistic faith of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. Islamic tradition holds that Judaism and Christianity distorted the messages of these prophets over time either in interpretation, in text, or both. Adherents are generally required to observe the Five Pillars of Islam, five duties that unite Muslims into a community. In addition to the Five Pillars, Islamic law (Sharia) has developed a tradition of rulings that touch on virtually all aspects of life and society. Almost all Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the Sunni and Shi'a. The schism developed in the late 7th century following disagreements over the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community. Roughly 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni and 15 percent are Shi'a.
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On this date in History: During World War II, rubber was a difficult commodity to acquire in the United States since many of the world’s rubber plantations were in control of the Japanese. As part of an overall conservation and rationing campaign during World War II, tire drives were held in the US where people turned in old tires so that the rubber could be recycled for the war effort. People also surrendered rubber rain coats, rubber boots and anything else that was at least partly made from rubber. The production of tires was limited and gasoline rationing came about to partly limit American’s driving on tires. Along those same lines, Americans were urged to carpool; riding alone was described as “riding with Hitler.” The government even put out advertising to inform people how they could care for rubber products so that they would last longer. But, the demand for rubber in the war for rafts, gas masks, boots and truck tires was so great that Uncle Sam needed to find something to substitute for rubber. So, stateside chemists went to work to find an alternative to rubber. General Electric engineer James Wright was working on the project when he mixed silicone oil with boric acid. On this date in 1943, the effort of James Wright resulted in a gooey substance that could be molded like clay, stretched, snapped and shattered when struck with a hammer. If a piece was pressed to news print, it picked up the ink. I’m not certain of the process of events that led to that revelation. At one point, Wright dropped it and he found that it bounced. None of this seemed too practical for his project and, as a suitable replacement for rubber, Wright’s effort was a failure. But the boys in the lab had a lot of fun with his accidental invention. The only use GE had for it was to sell it as a molding material or caulk.
Enter toy store owner Ruth Fallgatter. The “Nutty Putty,” as the boys at GE had called it, had been passed around to family and friends and some of the interesting substance found its way into her hands in 1949. Her advertising consultant, Peter Hodgson, convinced her to obtain and package some “Nutty Putty” and put it in her catalog. At two dollars a piece, the fun stuff was the biggest selling catalog item that year next to a 50 cent box of crayons. The success caught the attention of Hodgson who was looking for a way to get out from under a $12,000 debt. Now, GE had a bunch of the stuff on hand and wanted to get rid of what seemed to be a product without much of a market. So, in 1950, Hodgson borrowed $147 and bought a bunch of it and presumably also obtained production rights. He got a bunch of Yale students to divide the globs of goo into one ounce balls and place them in plastic eggs that were placed in egg cartons. I’m not sure why Hodgson did not just call it “Nutty Putty,” but after a while of contemplation and suggestion taking, he finally determined his toy would be called “Silly Putty” and the price would be one dollar per egg. In February 1950, He took his Silly Putty to the International Toy Fair in New York but no one had much vision because his pitch fell on deaf ears. While he could not convince folks at the fair of Silly Putty’s potential, he was a good enough salesman to get his eggs stocked in Neiman-Marcus and Doubleday bookstores. But it took a bit of luck for Hodgson’s idea to pay off.
A reporter for The New Yorker just happened to go into a Doubleday bookstore and notice the display of eggs. He bought one and took it home. That led him to write a story about Silly Putty in the “Talk of the Town” section of the August 26, 1950 publication. Advertising consultant Hodgson inadvertantly had gotten the best free advertising he could imagine. Orders for Silly Putty came flooding in. At first, it was marketed as a “real solid liquid” and was considered an adult novelty item. But, by the mid 1950′s the strategy shifted from adults to kids, which is probably what Hodgson had in mind in the first place. Hodgson strategically placed television advertisements for Silly Putty on broadcasts of The Howdy Doody Show and Captain Kangaroo. Since those shows were the favorites of children, he efficiently used his advertising dollars to influence his target audience.
In 1961, his son took up the marketing reigns and went to Russia for a bunch of expositions, including one in Gorky Park where Silly Putty was introduced to thousands. As he traveled, he utilized various forms of transportation. He even rode a motorcycle to Kiev and the Caucasus. On his way home, he married a Swede! Two years later his introduction of Silly Putty to England coincided with the debut of The Beatles. He must have gotten his father’s advertising genes because, in 1976, he tied a promotion to the Tour de France. Peter Hodgson, Jr remained active until his father’s death that same year. But, the mistake of James Wright continues to intrigue kids of all ages to this date.
There are some interesting aspects of Silly Putty that only reinforce the moniker. In the 1950′s, the Smithsonian Institute had a Silly Putty exhibit and then in 1968, the astronauts of Apollo 8 took some Silly Putty with them when they orbited the moon. After Hodgson’s death, the makers of the Crayola Crayons that had outsold Silly Putty in the 1949 toy catalog bought the rights to Silly Putty. Today, the Binney and Smith company (now known as Crayola LLC) turns out about 600 pounds of Silly Putty a day at its silly plant in Pennsylvania. But, alas, one of the great aspects of Silly Putty has gone by the wayside. A change in the printing process prohibits Silly Putty from copying images of comics in most modern publications. Nevertheless, the same substance that was useless as a rubber substitute has found some practical purposes as people use it to plug holes, remove lint and relieve stress. And to cap it off, a physicist used Silly Putty as the basis of experiment to demonstrate the utility of a microscope in determining time dependent matrial properties. As we go deeper into the 21st century, there is no telling how Silly Putty might change the world.
Weather Bottom Line: I believe the official high in Louisville on Tuesday was 95 degrees, which is far short of the record of 101. Yes, it’s hot but it’s not unprecendented. Look for highs again today in the mid to upper 90′s. We have a cold front that will come down here but it will do so at night. It seems to me that we should have a fair chance of rain, even though its at night because it seems that a low may be riding along the front as it moves through the area. However, none of the models are too enthusiastic as they are measuring rain in the hundreths of inches. I think it will be more than that but it does not appear that we will get nearly enough rain. Nevertheless, the front will knock about 7 or 8 degrees off the mercury both in the afternoons and the overnight hours through the weekend.
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The “moon” could abruptly disappear in May 2013.
The sky actually is a giant hall of mirrors and what we call “moon” could not be a body, but just an image…
May 2013. It seems we must prepare ourselves for a wondrous surprise.
Our Sun is currently undergoing a number of unusual changes and researchers do not understand all of them. Approximately every 11 years the magnetic field on the sun reverses completely – the north magnetic pole switches to south, and vice versa. This flip coincides with the greatest solar activity seen on the sun in any given cycle, known as “solar maximum.” This flip is undergoing in May 2013.
Moreover many have realized that gravity is not a fundamental force of nature. We do experience it on the Earth’s surface, but it could not be due to the Earth’s entire mass as previously believed. Gravity seems to be an entropic effect, due to the cold temperature of the Earth’s thin biosphere, the place where we “live” or rather suffer…
We now face a deep crisis that seems economic
The true crisis actually regards humans’ happiness, in my view.
Time is money; time implies increasing debts too. However the link between money, debt and time is not a natural fact; it is a huge bluff of the human minds. We don’t actually know what time is. We can remind that our day depends on the Earth’s rotation on its own axis – what physicists call “intrinsic angular momentum” – and our year depends on the Earth’s rotation around the sun, on the “orbital angular momentum”. This latter momentum considers the Earth as a rigid body, a hypothesis that recent discoveries are radically disproving. The Earth’s crystalline, solid Core – a sphere with a radius of 1200 km – rotates faster than the Earth’s surface, while the Earth’s inner, inner Core – a sphere with a radius of 300 km – rotates in the opposite versus, Westwards instead of Eastwards. However all the times depend on the rotations. Our human body seems still. Yet all the particles, that compose it, do spin. As the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance shows, our body’s health depends on the orientation of its nuclear spins.
All these facts show the crucial importance of rotation, the probable existence of a universal rotational field that is the fundamental force of all nature; it could be linked to the “mysterious” dark energy that is accelerating the expansion of the universe, so showing that it is not so mysterious after all.
Dark energy is the rotational energy of all the visible bodies and also the invisible ones, such as spinning black holes.
Happiness is expansion, communion, love.
In May, 9-10 2013 an annular solar eclipse is going to occur.
During a solar eclipse, the Earth’s rotation abruptly changes. This means that our terrestrial time changes too. This fact was discovered in the 50’s by Maurice Allais who won the Nobel price as an economist, in 1988. He presented a theory that centred on the idea of a sort of ether, or what he called an anisotropy of space. Physicists are now looking for the Higgs field, carried by bosons, which have spin zero. This means that Higgs bosons do not rotate, but they can generate all the rotations, backward and forward in time. The parity of these two arrows of time should exist, as a theory.
As a practice parity violation has been observed up to now.
Men always choose masculine terms. What some call “ether” and others “Higgs field” might coincide with the Mother Substance of which many sages have already spoken. “She” – the Mother Substance – generates all the rotations, both clockwise and anticlockwise. “She” is therefore eternal, implying all the times, which flow forward and backward in time. All the events occurring in May 2013 might finally show that parity is the law of an abundant Nature that allows us to make a jump in the future.
It is not a usual “quantum jump”. It implies a cold nuclear fusion, transmuting the “normal” matter that has composed the observable universe – our human bodies included – up to now. This fusion unveils each one’s individual immortality and the way towards joy and transparency, consciousness of the eternal Source of Life, the Mother Substance. Therefore we might face a wondrous revelation; the universe – astronomers have observed – is just a videogame, “fallen” into the past, into a chaotic state, apparently determined by gravity.
According to recent data, celestial space is a giant hall of mirrors that could reflect infinite images of one same body. Did scientists discover new Earth-like planets? They could be various images of the same Earth. And what about the moon? Our “natural” satellite could be a larger, distant image of a smaller and closer, artificial satellite.
This thesis appears as an absurdity to many people. Yet in May 2013, we might finally test it, thanks to the sun’s anomalous flipping.
The international research team led by Saku Tsuneta, a professor at NAOJ, has been performing the monthly polar observations with Hinode from September 2008 to this date. Currently the polarity at the north of the sun appears to have decreased close to zero – that is, it seems to be well into its polar flip from magnetic north to south — but the polarity at the south is only just beginning to decrease.
“Right now, there’s an imbalance between the North and the South poles,” says Jonathan Cirtain, a space scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre. “The north is already in transition, well ahead of the south pole, and we don’t understand why.” If the north pole is already flipping, the Sun may soon have not two, but four poles! Curiously, the Earth is showing four poles too. Morevoer various planetary configurations are occurring. The exact square Uranus and Pluto, Mars opposite Saturn. All the configurations can interact with the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) linked to the solar wind, a plasma critically dependent on the Sun’s daily rotation that is similar to the Moon’s one: 27-28 days. The IMF reverts its own polarity each 2-3 minutes!
If the “moon” is just a hologram, it is possible that the “moon will no longer give its light” as John wrote in his Revelation, two millennia ago. Let’s see what happens.
I wish to you all an extraordinary year 2013 , the beginning of the wondrous Rebirth that will finally bring what we have yearned for millennia: utopia, individual freedom and collective harmony, overall prosperity, well-being, the friendship of all the people, the ones living on the Earth’s surface and also the ones who live above and/or below it.
We are finally approaching the announced event: the REVELATION that infinite, intelligent worlds do exist.
We have not seen them up to now, simply because our human sight is terribly limited. We can observe no more than 1% of all what scientific minds now calculate, we ignore that the Earth’s surface is surrounded by two plasma screens – the Van Allen belts – that have prevented us to see the many futures that already exist. We haven’t observed a universe as many people still believe. We usually observe electromagnetic light in optical frequencies and therefore just one of its infinite possible images. Many scientists now speak about biomagnetic, geomagnetic and heliomagnetic fields that are quickly changing and so affecting our human ways of feeling and perceiving. They are perfectly right, in my view. Yet they neglect the CAUSE of all these fields. It is MOTION, mainly ROTATION and not just vibration, as many say.
The CAUSE is the peculiar RELATION between every single body and the massive weak neutral current that penetrates it. This is the carried by billions and billions of massive Z bosons, which make all the particles spin, either left or right, i.e, either anticlockwise or clockwise. This nuclear current is the same River of Life of which Heraclitus spoke millennia ago, in my view; it indicates that we all participate in an Organic Universe Invisible, but so real as to make the molecules of our human bodies spin so as move us.
Ignoring the River and just looking at the dark side - the electromagnetic field - astronomers believe we are imbedded into a vast, lifeless and mechanical universe. They still trust the Copernican Principle, forgetting the many evidences that refute it.
Thanks to spatial researches we can now realize that the sky is a hall of mirrors, as I show in my video Copernican Illusions.
Thanks to seismic tomography, we know that the Earth’s Core is extremely dense, composed of three Cores that move independently from each other. Thanks to neurosciences we know that our human brain is composed of three brains (rational, emotional and reptilian). Does a direct communication exist between them all? Yes, it does. It is similar to that between a central Hard Core and Its terminals, with a substantial difference though. In the latter case the dark side - electromagnetic field - is involved, whereas in former one, the weak nuclear current links and moves them. This current is the River of Life that can move our emotional brain, blocked by human fear and by a “knowledge” that ignores what Life is.
Since December, 21, 2012, a deep sense of Rebirth is spreading all over the world. During the last winter solstice something exceptional has occurred. Has it involved the centre of galaxy, as Maya said? Much more. It has mainly involved the Earth’s innermost Core (radius 300 km) that is a main spinning black hole. I saw the exceptional event in an inner vision of mine. In order to describe it, I need superluminal theories and not just quantum physics, realize what Life is and, last but not least, what matter is.
I describe this exceptional event in my latest book, BABY SUN REVELATION (in Italian) and I’m looking for publishers who are willing to translate it into their language and publish it.
I want to add that our triune brain and the Earth’s three Cores overwhelm any kind of physics and unveil the true “secret”. It is the “dark” expansive, rotational energy of all the particles that compose any body without any need for fuel. It is a double movement, powered by itself, by the two “opposite” rotations, linked to each other. The “secret” of the infinite energy is the parity between anticlockwise and clockwise rotations inside any body, contrary to the parity violation that we have been observing outside. An analogous parity could finally emerge inside the proteins, the macromolecules of our human body, and even into our DNA.
The announced Event is the REVELATION of the true Sun within the Earth, coinciding with an overwhelming peaceful (R)EVOLUTION of our human minds. The Earth’s innermost Core could be the BLACK SUN many traditions have spoken about, a BLACK HOLE, instantly linked with the WHITE HOLE that appears as the visible sun in the sky. This opportunity implies an overwhelming revision of all what we have believed up to now.
The rational and bipolar, lower mind should leave its dominant role so as to allow the Higher Mind to show Its oneness with the infinite Organic Universe, Its attuning to the light Side of the Force. The Higher Mind is composed of special cells that do not use the dark side of the Force, as I show in my short movie The stars will fall from the sky. People often look for scientific explanations in order to explain spirituality. This effort is useless in my view. The true “secret” regards the inner movements of any coherent body, ultimately the nuclear spins that compose it. The true “secret” is the extremely sophisticated organic matter that composes our human body. An inner alignment is possible for all the people who want it. This would help all the other people who don’t know what is occurring, but anyway yearn for a sage, right and prosperous world.
I made workshops with hundreds of people and many of them were able to “see” the Earth’s inner Sun, “feel” the fascinating and wondrous Opera the same Sun composes and emits. Observing within ourselves is not a spiritual meditation as many people believe. It is the ability to follow the ways of the Force, the activation of each one’s Higher Mind that so progressively becomes what it is planned for: a hyperspace antenna.
I describe my researches and discoveries in my latest book BABY SUN REVELATION that is in Italian despite its title in English. Feeling my self as a citizen of the world, I wrote the title in English, trusting that the Force, Life, will show me the ways of diffusing it. Yet no words can describe the intense emotion and joy of being what you truly are: an immortal Being in this world, but not from this world.
Therefore I wish you all an extraordinary and joyful Rebirth
“I am a world citizen, Father Sun’s and Mother Earth’s son” said Giordano Bruno through his exceptional synthesis many people consider as a deep truth.
Yet… what is the world? If we are sincere, we realize we have different views about the world and these do not match at all. A common view is the geopolitical one. Last August, in Teheran, the summit of the 120 Non-Aligned countries rejected the interference of the Aligned countries (70 – among which Italy – out of the 190 UN members). They suggested reforming UNO, an interesting initiative the media did not spread. Given the endless wars, the sorrow and costs that fall on peoples as well as the deleterious effects of UN troops, such a reform is surely desirable.
Is this enough to get peace in the world? I really do not think so. It is fair to reject the interference or even the arrogance of USA, Europe and Israel in the Middle East, but I consider it naïve to trust in the ‘goodness’ of the Non-Aligned nations and specially of the Islamic ones. If we really want peace, it is urgent to discern between peoples, nations and the borders to be “protected” by UN troops or governmental armies. Peoples have neither these borders nor need they to be protected ‘against’ other peoples.
Peoples do not want war. Peoples want to live well, with dignity and prosperity.
What is needed to have a fair world, with no borders or armies? The consciousness that we are world citizens.
We all have the same primary and secondary needs too. We, men and women, all want to be free, to express our creativity, to cultivate friendships and mutual respect, to share happenings, to enjoy nature, to use non-invasive and useful technologies and, why not, to eliminate the inconsiderate use of medicines.
Do you know what all this means in terms of energy as well as happiness?
It means that there are plenty of resources. The biggest energy consumptions actually come from arms and pharmaceutical industries. I do not know exactly how much it is to maintain military aircrafts, but I think it is quite expensive, also considering training and design costs. Redeploying armies in order to improve the environment, canalizing waters, sanitizing water networks, helping people in need – all this is possible. Why do men consider it impossible? Because they identify the world, or better the universe, with the history they were taught at school.
The Big Bang theory, the origin of universe within a few minutes – 13.7 billion years ago – followed by the origin of the solar system within a few days – 4.7 billion years ago, then the abrupt flourishing of Life 2 billion years ago. This mysterious entity, Life, is only present on planet Earth and able to evolve through its own catastrophes until the appearance of Homo Sapiens. Here we are. Are we actually wise (sapiens)? No, we are so ignorant as to believe in the lies we are being told, peculiarly, in the key concepts – space and time - orthodox sciences still maintain at a public level.
“Only one Force, Life, joins endless intelligent worlds ” wrote Giordano Bruno (1548-1600), announcing its future revelation too. A wondrous, cosmic Force was actually revealed in the 80′s and named Electroweak, but physicists do not suspect it is Life. This Force has two, dark and light, sides and involves an imponent and expansive flux of Z bosons, faster than light messengers which challenge our classical idea of time.
The elasticity and reversibility of time are tested properties at present, but academies and media do not spread them. People might suspect that “real values” such as money, debt, interest, etc. are all based on an irreversible and immutable arrow of time that doesn’t actually exist. This idea of time is just virtual and illusory, useful for maintaining the dominant paradigm that has exploited men’s naive credulity up to now.
Another illusion is space. Since Galileo pointed a telescope toward the sky, space look empty and immense, populated by distant stars and planets, all rigorously lifeless. What has modern astronomy observed for about three centuries? Just the optical frequencies of the electromagnetic field . Thanks to new instruments and spatial probes, we can now see different images of any body, and realize that shapes and mutual distances critically depend on the frequency we choose to observe. For instance the image of the Earth in extreme ultraviolet – the plasmasphere – is 4-5 times larger than the optical one, as I show in my video The star will fall from the sky.
Yet most of us mistake the optical images for the only existing reality. What if the image of the Earth, in ultraviolet frequencies, represented the Promised Land? If it were so, we might realize our millenary deception and why we haven’t seen the other intelligent worlds up to now. Simply because our human sight, the scientific one included, is usually limited to the electromagnetic light that is the dark side of the Force. The so called plasmasphere could actually involve dark matter and dark energy that no scientific instrument can register. The dramatic and conflictual situation of our world depends on a blind culture. Sciences just use instruments that cannot see the other intelligent world and we all, humans, do not use the largest portion of our brain – white matter – that is able to use the light side of the Force.
Therefore we all miss consciousness, the sense of unity that Life has always shown, the instant interconnectedness of many different spaces and times. Please notice that consciousness is not to be mistaken for awareness, nor for channelings which are spreading the fear of catastrophe all over the world. There will be one, it is even ongoing, only in its original Greek meaning – katastrofé – that is deep renewal of a small portion of our brain, our sluggish mind – grey matter – that mistakes what it sees for reality.
The pictures may not match the real astronomical bodies, especially as the Earth is imbedded into a giant hall of mirrors, as the microwave observations have proved.
Nowadays, there are many novelties which a few people spread, because everyone wholly trusts astrophysics, ignoring that it just observes a half of the electromagnetic field, the one coming from the past. Astronomers do not observe the other half, the one coming from the future, that must exist even according to the laws of physics. The NASA’s THEMIS probes have recognized that huge solar storms provoke spacequakes that are reflected onto the Earth’s nightside at about 2 or 3, as it is shown in this short video SPACEQUAKE _ EARTHQUAKE
As a fact, many people wake up at 3 in the morning with new sensations and/or make dream announcing future events. These facts prove that there is no separation between heaven and earth, past and future; the latter is already there, filled with spaceships and hidden by astonomers’ blindness, at least 96% of the calculated mass, according to their same calculation.
Last 21st September a meeting at the Keshe Foundation (Belgium) took place, where extraordinary technologies have been introduced to many government representatives. It is important to know that these technologies do exist, that they are valid and designed by those world citizens who already travel by spaceship.
Yet, in my opinion, to believe that technology will save us is another illusion. We, the world citizens living on Earth’s surface, will save ourselves on our own, by using all of our brain and realizing that we have not been seeing the real reality up to now but believed in a science – the Copernican astronomy – which has depicted a 3D-film that is no more valid. Are we just a few? Yes, just a few, yet helpful to everyone.
Life is the Cause of the genetic evolution that is taking place. If it is the gentle, imponent and wondrous Force, physicists call Electroweak, you should know that this Force needs no critical mass, as it is usually believed. It is just suggesting all of us, humans, to evolve and preparing an imminent jump in the future.
The task of the few conscious people is to help other people and themselves understand that the change is mainly a perceptive catastrophe. This is not the end of the world, instead the beginning of a new era when all the world citizens in the heaven and on earth will gather. The revelation of intelligent people is imminent, since the Earth’s magnetosphre is vanishing. It protect us, according to the orthodox sciences. It is not so, in my view. The Earth’s magnetosphere has hidden the future that has always existed on heaven and on the Earth’s soil too, as dreams, sensations, intuitions, human yearning for a peaceful and prosperous world.
So we will finally realize that the Promised Land is neither place nor Israel. It is a “new” way of perceiving that implies the conscious use what we all have: our brain white matter, as I wrote, in my new book, BABY SUN REVOLUTION, that is in Italian and will be published in Italy into the end of 2012.
Last July the news about start-of-art technologies, able to modify gravity and to allow shifts from one continent to another within a few minutes. The Iranian nuclear engineer Mr Mehran Keshe has designed plasma reactors, which generate their own fields – magnetic and gravitational – and can allow us to win the Earth’s gravity. I have soon visited the website http://www.keshefoundation.org and I have found many analogies with my own research. I don’t know Keshe’s technology, but I appreciate its theoretical basis. I am glad that it demystifies the taboo of gravity – the ‘mystery’ that sciences passe off as solved and that, on the contrary, it is not at all.
In a video Mr Keshe shows the basic principles of his technology and points out the existence of a wormhole – a black hole – at the Earth’s centre. He proposes a conception of matter in agreement with the Standard Model, in my view. In my book, recently translated in French, Petit Soleil, I state that this black hole, within the Earth, is the same one that geophysicists call “inner inner core” – a sphere with a radius of 300 km – in the centre of the Earth’s Crystalline Core. Moreover, I also suggest that this peculiar black hole concides with the SOL INVICTUS, or BLACK SUN, linked to the worship of Mithras, which originated in Persia (Iran) and was widely diffused in the ancient Rome too. The pieces of history fall into place through the Hermetic theses I put forward again: the black hole at the Earth’s centre is linked instantly to the white hole at the Sun’s centre. This implies an astronomic and anthropic revolution, many sages have announced, while orthodox religions and mechanical sciences have hidden for ages.
Hermetic theses are not effects of the scientific method, but evidences of men’s brain abilities, and the higher complexity of all our cells. Thus it is evidente that human brain is an outstanding hyperspace antenna and the nuclei of our cells are mini wormholes, which link parallel universes as I show in my video: The stars will fall from the sky. During my workshops, many participants and I have ‘seen’ that the Sun in the sky is definitely not the ball of gas depicted by astrophysics. Within the Sun’s core there are neither hundred-million degree temperatures nor hot nuclear fusion. Mr Keshe’s gravitational technology certainly shows realistic perspectives, it is not an unfounded story as some media claim. I wonder which governments will send their representatives to the meetings of September 2012, fixed by the Keshe Foundation. How can they find ‘experts’ available to discuss it? His technology could change the destiny of the world, yet it might be vanished by the usual power play. This is the mis-knowledge of the real reality the same power intentionally fosters, so as to make people ignore their own infinite resources.
As I point out in my book Petit Soleil, and my videos* there is a similarity between the traditional image of the ancient BLACK SUN and the current PARKER SPIRAL that describes the extremely rapid motions of the IMF (Interplanetary Magnetic Field). This is a recently discovered field, which quickly reverses its own North-South polarity and, when it points to South, erases the Earth’s magnetosphere that points to North since thounsands of years. Their common characteristic is the duality of the motions that shift from anticlockwise to clockwise and viceversa. We now know that its reversal occurs each 2-3 minutes. This “new” field, IMF lets us confirm the event announced by many prophecies, the revelation.
What we, humans, call “sky” is not the real reality, but a 3D, holographic movie, projected on the apple-shaped magnetosphere that sorruounds all of us. Thus eating the apple means mistaking a 3D film, or matrix, for reality. In the meantime, the ‘good’ governments – among which the Italian one – threaten Iran, the ‘bad’ nation fighting against Israel. All of them, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ones, try to hide the real reality, so as to silence the people’s actual will, peace, prosperity and true justice. These innovative technologies will allow all the people to get rid of the biblical sentence ‘you will work in the sweat of thy brow salt thou eat thy bread’.
Therefore I invite you to spread the news about the Keshe Foundation so that serious researchers will go to its meetings and that such technologies will not be buried by the usual “global power” which shows off the virtual “values”: money, debt, war, etc.
In July 2012 at CERN a great announcement: they have finally discovered the so called “God particle” that is the Higgs boson that confirms the Standard Model. After a long research, huge costs and thousands of people working on it, we are almost sure that the Higgs field – a sort of “creator” able to generate masses – actually exists.
Does it mean that god exists? I like the Standard Model and dislike the term “god”.
“There is no god” wrote Giordano Bruno, burnt at the stake for heresy in 1600 at Rome. I agree. Being a heretic physicist and using the Art of Memory, i.e. developping my cognitive potentials, I have interpreted the Standard Model in an ancient/new perspective that explains humans’ origins and shows that the real reality is an infinite and eternal Organic Universe, as the same Giordano Bruno had already stated.
The observable universe is not the real reality in my view, but just an optical illusion, transmitted by the electromagnetic field, a sort of “god”, since it is the creator of spacetime, strictly linked to the other “god” – the gravitational field – as Einstein has already shown. These two “gods”, or rather fields, are both eternal and linked to a third eternal “god”, the strong nuclear field. The respective messengers – photons, gravitons and gluons – of the three “gods” are all massless.
The Standard Model shows the crucial role of a “fourth” field – the weak nuclear one – that is rarely mentioned and carried by three massive messengers, named W+, W- and Z bosons. The weak nuclear field is quite special for many reasons, as I show in my books; it is unpredictable, extremely unstable, shows a clear preference for left rotations, typical of crystals, organic molecules, planets, galaxies etc, hence it is neither eternal nor a “god”.
In the 80’s the great discovery: the two – electromagnetic and weak nuclear – forces can be described by a single theory, that of the Electroweak Force. It is easy to recognize that the “weak” shares Its same messengers, hence it is what we might call “the light side of the Eloctroweak Force”, whereas the electromagnetic is the “dark side” because it just shows a minimal portion of the mass we calculate. Scientists have subjected the electroweack theory to many experimental tests and verified that it works. However, its basic equations seem to require all particles to be massless. Why do the W+, W- and Z bosons have huge masses and why don’t they respect the scientific theories? There are many possible answers. One is clearly shown in the Star Wars Saga. Using the Force implies a hard training that allows the disciple to feel the true reality, see parallel worlds, including the one of the so called “dead people”. It is what I and most of the participants experience during my workshop as well.
Physicists just use their artificial instruments and mathematics, they do not trust humans’ feelings and therefore they proposed a mechanism that, if added to the equations, would allow particles to have different masses. This is now known as the Higgs mechanism. Integrating it into the Standard Model allowed scientists to make predictions of various quantities, including the mass of the heaviest known particle, the top quark. Experimentalists found this particle just where equations using the Higgs mechanism predicted it should be. The Higgs mechanism works as a medium that exists everywhere and at any time. Particles gain mass by interacting with this medium of which the Higgs boson is the fundamental component, much as the photon is the fundamental component of electromagnetic light.
Ok, welcome Higgs boson. What surprises me is the common, tenaucious interest for particles’ different masses, in contrast with the lack of interest for their respective times. At least this is what most media speak about. The usual images of the Standard Model show four groups of particles: one is composed of the W+, W-, Z bosons that carry the Electroweak Force, able to operate on all the other three groups that are three different kinds of matter (each consisting of four matter particles, two leptons and two quarks for a total of twelve). Yet only one – the so called “normal matter” – is sufficient to explain the observable universe, say physicists. The other two groups are unstable and seem to differ from the “normal” one “only” in their larger mass, as they say. So doing scientific minds neglect the key problem – time – and induce us to believe that only what is stable is real.
As a fact, the one stable and the two unstable groups are all linked to the unstable and unpredictable, weak nuclear force, the light side of the Force.
“A new word is possible” many people say.
“Infinite intelligent worlds already exist” wrote Giordano Bruno in Renaissance, adding that “one only Force, Love, links and gives life to them”.
Looking at the Standard Model we can realize that “the only Force” – Love – is the weak nuclear current, carried by the Z bosons. This is so quick as to take account for most life processes, such as eros, orgasm, conception, cellular regeneration, etc. It actually involves extremely high frequencies, much higher than the daily ones that lead our waking state. Human minds are “educated” to believe in one linear time, just one rate of time, and do not suspect that our dreaming and rest states can have other rhythms as they actually have. Ww cannot find Love bombarding a target at high energies, as they do in the laboratories, but just observing our same emotions, feelings. sensations. A new, wider perception is urgently needed.
So believing, humans sustain their own slavery, their dependence on the temporal power. No conflict actually exists among sciences, finances and religions; they are all useful for making us humans dependent on the same “power” that pretends to represent eternal “gods”, and allows all the banks to link money to linear time, hence to an increasing debt.
Do we live in free democracies?
No, we suffer in a global debtcracy, afflicted by the perennial idea of a “scarcity” that doesn’t actually exist. The unstable and unpredictable “weak” nuclear current is the most powerful force of the universal Nature.
“What god has united, man must not divide” is a famous sentence, quoted during any catholic marriage and stressing god’s morbid interest in humans’ sexuality.
Looking at the true Standard Model we can realize that any “division” is just cultural and referred to much more fundamental questions than marriages. One regards masses and times and, another, the existence of antimatter.
The true Standard Model actually implies not only the previously mentioned three kinds of matter, but also three kinds of antimatter, which flow from future to past and involve antigravity. Except the “normal” one we can observe, five groups are unstable, have different times and can even reverse the flow of time. Can these compose invisible universes? Yes, they can, and can also communicate with the “normal” observable one and with each other, through the Electroweak Force. This is the “only Force, Life, that links and moves intelligent worlds” as Bruno wrote. It is Universal Life, according to my heretic interpretation, “unstable” but able to trigger fleeting event, flow from past to future and from future to past, involve Memory and Plan.
The Force implies an Intelligent Design and shows the tenacious interest of the dominant paradigm to deny it.
The Standard Model could help us to realize the oneness of various universes in which we, humans, can participate and with which we can interact at any moment, when we fall in love, we are dreaming, resting and planning a new future.
Even limiting ourselves to its more succesful version, that only considers four groups of particles, we can envisage an interesting analogy with the four ELEMENTS – FIRE, AIR, WATER AND EARTH – that the Greek philosopher Empedocles (490-430 BC) proposed at his time and are still used by astrologers.
Therefore the “discovery” of the Standard Model rather marks a “rediscovery” that sages had made long time ago, probalby realizing what is now evident and neglected: mass is energy and cannot be divided by its proper time. Since different masses exist, also different times must exist.
Orthodox physicists, or rather official media, forget it as well as the fact that any single particle or body is indissolubly linked to its own motions; it has therefore its own proper time and can fulfil actions in the present that are the effects of its memories and plans. Any action is the true quantum varialbe that creates the true reality: eternal present.
The key problem of contemporary physics is mass, whereas the true problem of our crazy society is time. If we realized that these two cannot be divided and that the real reality is made of actions, facts and not og words, theories or theologie, svirtual values such as spread, PIL etc, many conflicts would vanish.
Do different times exist? Yes they do, as it is obvious, just looking at our human perception of time or better times.
Many clues and events show that we are approaching the end of times that is the beginning of eternity, the revelation that we are in this world, but not from this world. Each of us can have different bodies, each composed of one kind of matter and/or antimatter too. According to the hermetic thesis a cosmogony, quite different from the current cosmology, emerges. The seven Elements of the Standard Model are eternally brought into union, and eternally parted from each other. Many features now indicate that they are again brought into union. A new consciousness is actually emerging and an overwhelming new cosmogony could be proved. Practicing the Art of Memory we actually “see” many worlds, clearly consisting of antimatter, therefore, anti gravity. Visiting these “antiworlds”, we “inner travelers” also experience a time reversal.
Media have produced a lot of articles about the Higgs field, but most of them forget the existence of the three kinds of antimatter. Why? Because antimatter poses the millenary problem, “forbidden” by the dominant paradigm: time.
No science knows what time is.
No religion knows what Life is.
Are time and Life linked to each other? Of course they are, simply because Life is the coherence of all the nuclear motions in an organism, the harmony of all its rhythms, a piroetting dance, composed of the individual nuclear spins, as the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) diagnosis even shows.
Scientists’ belief in experimental objectivity is contradicted by their same discoveries.
Most people look for a paradigm shift.
I have been looking for it too and realized that this implies the transit from dualism, mainly the one between subjects and objects, to the unitary parameter or quantum variable that is made of our same human actions, ultimately, our true WILL.
If our actions are coeherent with Life PLAN – humans’ genetic evolution, the full use of our same brain and body – limits and/or eternal “gods” change.
We just need to use our Higher Mind, able to interact with the light side of the Force, the invisible “weak” energy that we can feel. We can always live Its/our fleeting events, such as love, eros, orgasm, emotions, feelings, intuitions, sensations.
Many events show that we will become also free from the eternal “gods” of physics, the gravitational, electromagnetic and strong nuclear fields.
What about the Higgs one? My feeling is that this field is changing too.
A nuclear fusion among particles and antiparticles is actually occurring, showing their union and mainly our human oneness with them all. This implies the revelation that we have been imbedded into a matrix, just one of the infinite possible ones, and this is now tansmuting.
For further details see my book Organic Universe
News from Rome, Italy: more and more people perceive their “dead” who are alive, conscious and willing to share their happiness. On the visible scenery, physical and political tremors occur, electromagnetic and gravitational fields fail, mystery deepens around the Vatican scandals. Are all these events connected? Yes, they are…
20th May 2012: a solar annular eclipse and a strong earthquake hit North Italy, an area considered as seismically safe. In South Italy terrorism kills again and, in Rome, Vatican scandals emerge. Meanwhile the Italian Prime Minister had joined the G8 in Washington and reached an agreement on ‘growth’: of what, of GDP? We all yearn for happiness, everyone’s wellbeing and overall prosperity; we want to express our own talents and don’t want to pay the debts created by the big banks. What is the main cause of the financial crisis that shakes all the governments of the world?
It could be the pillar that has supported any market for millennia: the temporal power. The Vatican has managed it so well as to make people forget that salaries, loans and debts all depend on the arrow of time that leads any being to death. This has meant a life troubled with the anxiety of the future and the need for religions that pretend to “represent” eternity. The fact is that time is not an independent and immutable “arrow” as calendars make us believe: it is instead a special effect of the electromagnetic field that, in its turn, is an effect of gravity, as Einstein has shown. Thus the temporal power has not natural foundation.
Soon after the earthquake, many were looking for its “culprits”, such as the HAARP programme, the US antenna system installed at the North Pole. Yet whatever electromagnetic field has not enough energy to cause earthquakes. HAARP has another fatal function. The Earth’s natural magnetic field is going off so much as to let us see the spaceships, showing that a future has always existed. Thus HAARP creates an artificial magnetic field that hides them and so maintains the temporal power, based on the false belief that only the past is “reality”.
In the Gospels, it is mentioned the “true LIGHT”. Announced by sages like Giordano Bruno, burnt at the stake in Rome (1600), a “new” FORCE was revealed at the end of the last century and awarded by various Nobel prizes. It is the synthesis of two already-known fields: weak nuclear and electromagnetic. Called by a difficult name – electroweak – this FORCE can ‘engender endless, intelligent worlds’, as Bruno had claimed. It involves a nuclear LIGHT having all the features of the true LIGHT that is ‘in this world, but not from this world’, as the Gospels quote: it can be the light side of the FORCE, i.e. the CAUSE that has accelerated the universe’s expansion in a few years.
This nuclear LIGHT can win gravity and even death in a few moments.
“The dead will rise”, as many prophecies sustain. Of course, it is not the powdered corpses coming back to life. It is the use of the FORCE, which allows us to perceive them and so realize that they are alive and sentient. The “dead” have been invisible up to now, simply because their bodies are composed of dark matter that doesn’t reflect the electromagnetic light, the only kind of light our eyes can see. Yet during a dream-like state we can use the light side of the FORCE, the only one able to move infinite universes that sciences calculate and cannot observe. These just observe the dark side – the electromagnetic field – as usual, i.e. the “creator” of spacetime, namely of the optical illusion that both sciences and religions maintain.
Thus we humans suffer from a profound ignorance – the meaning of LIFE. If It is the universal and eternal electroweak FORCE, as I claim, we can realize why all the organisms can perceive It, while the mechanical or artificial instruments cannot. These have no cellular structure, no blood system needed for perceiving and transmitting Its motions that we, humans, can feel as emotions.
Our common, mechanical “education” makes most humans behave like robots and lets them contribute to the “democratic” societies with their own beliefs. They just use their lower mind that is bound to sight, hence to the dark side - the electromagnetic field - of the FORCE. Our lower mind is a small portion of our brain, yet the ruling one; it trusts sciences, religions, parties, ideologies, “spiritualities” and, mainly, the good-evil division. Always looking for enemies outside, our lower mind never wonders about the main “mystery” that makes men slaves of markets: the relation between money and time, a “democratic” convention with no natural foundation.
The light side of the FORCE provides us, humans, with the energy needed to consciously use all of our brain. This also involves a HIGHER MIND, able to use the FORCE and directly interact with eternity. Many actually have dreams and sensation, not limited to spacetime. A great adventure is about to start and the events of these days indicate its main features, in my view.
The first earthquake in North Italy occurred at the same day as the eclipse – the Sun-Moon-Earth alignment. Very few know that, during the eclipses, Earth’s gravity and rotation change. This phenomenon is known as ‘Allais effect’ and was first observed, in 1954, by the French economist Maurice Allais, awarded with the Nobel Prize for economics in 1988. It is another clue that the ‘crisis’ actually concerns humans’ faith in an “objective reality” that doesn’t actually exist. As already known, a coin or a paper money, certified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is a just a convention. Sciences also have their “money” most people accept without discussing – the mass or its equivalent energy – which are neither objective nor limited. A “new” dark energy is heating the entire universe, so showing that global warming doesn’t depend on the “man made” greenhouse effect. A novel form of cranial energy was recently measured by prof. J. N. Hansen through a torsional pendulum. All these facts indicate that no energy limits exist. So why do most people believe in limits? Because they don’t listen to the truths our HIGHER MIND transmits.
This is the larger portion of our brain, composed of glial cells, which do not use electricity and are not linked to a bipolar view as the lower mind is. Our HIGHER MIND is the seat of consciousness, in a unanimous vision; it is sensitive to emotions, linked to eros and psyche, and supporting our same lower mind. Our HIGHER MIND could conduct the inner harmony of our nervous system, if we were not ‘educated’ to control emotions, to separate them from sexuality and to believe that reality is only what we can see and count. If we pay attention to our inner voice, our same consciousness, we can listen to the universal HARMONY that is increasing Its own intensity so much as more and more people can hear it. What about Its cost? No one.
On June, 5-6, 2012 the Venus-Earth-Sun alignment will take place. It can mark the beginning of our great adventure, A JUMP IN THE FUTURE that changes our ways of conceiving “reality”, hence our actions, relations and, mainly, motions. What kind of motions? Mainly the nuclear spinning ones we can feel as emotions that critically affect the flow of our individual time. The Venus-Earth-Sun conjunction can affect the collective time. We just need to realize that any time is an effect of rotation. The surface of the Earth turns anticlockwise and to us, observers glued to it, everything goes in the opposite direction, that is from past to future. The surface of Venus, instead, turns clockwise and to “Venusians” everything goes from future to past. The alignment of these two planets is a gate to eternity through which we can go, listening to the FORCE we can feel as truth, love, emotion, consciousness that infinite intelligent universes do exist.
According to mythology, Venus is Rome’s divine mother, the goddess of beauty, love and the sexuality, up to now conditioned by the fear of a “god” who had first created and then forbidden it. We can understand that the key of any ‘power’ actually lies in the apparent “separation” eros and psyche, between what we feel – eros – and what our psyche trusts. As the same myth shows such a “separation” ceases, when our human psyche dares to go to the kingdom of the dead.
I want to communicate that here, in Rome, more and more people are realizing that the dead are alive and that all of us, humans, are immortal.
The apparent world is just a vanishing matrix.
The real reality is the Organic Universe, involving infinite universes, all connected with LIFE and disconnected from any kind of marketing.
Was it a natural phenomenon?
According to the experts, it was the evidence of a huge coronal hole, part of the sun’s “normal physiology” and mainly due to our human brain that is trained to see patterns.
Yet the “experts” cannot explain why Massive Coronal Ejections (CME) leave these coronal holes, release huge quantities of matter and electromagnetic fields that can cause geomagnetic storms and even cancel the Earth’s magnetosphere that the same “experts” consider as a “protective shield” from the “harmful” cosmic rays.
According to me, we rather have to protect our minds from experts’ ideas and also from the catastrophic ones that circulate on the net. Cosmic rays are not at all dangerous: they compose a parallel universe in which we could even participate. Being composed of a peculiar kind of dark matter, we cannot observe it with our eyes, but we can feel its intelligence, recognize that it is linked to a future we have always felt as need for a right, sage and prosperous world.
Earth and Space sciences promote a huge illusion instead: they don’t actually know what reality is, simply because they cannot observe it. Space sciences just observe the electromagnetic field, created by the apple-like Earth’s magnetosphere. Contrary to the human brain, sciences are neither trained to see patterns nor able to understand their meaning. The Earth’s magnetosphere could be the famous, biblic APPLE that we, humans, still “eat”, as I show in my video 1 Time and Apple. We “eat” it in the sense that we mistake the illusory spacetime, that this APPLE creates, for reality. We haven’t realized it is just a 3D movie projected on the two plasma screens – the Van Allen belts – that surround the Earth’s surface. We are afflicted by false beliefs 2 The shadows of the ideas
Yet we are approaching an imminent JUMP IN THE FUTURE.
3 The stars will fall from the sky
The sun’s activity is increasing; if it will maintain this rhythm, it will reach its maximum during the first months of 2013. It is therefore crucial for all of us, who want to participate in the JUMP, to avoid panic and to help the people to realize what it is actually occurring: the end of a 3D movie we have mistaken for a real “universe”. If you appreciate my videos, please diffuse them, adding that:
“It will not be the end of the world, but rather the end of a slavery, the announced revelation of the ORGANIC UNIVERSE in which we, humans, participate. It is the great opportunity for us to be the protagonists of a peaceful and prosperous organic society on the Earth’s surface.”
Thanks and best wishes for an extraordinary new future,
J’ai la sensation claire et nette que nous sommes entrés, ces jours-ci, dans une nouvelle phase de l’évolution et que de nombreux signes, intérieurs et extérieures, le démontrent. Le 13/03/2012 une forme triangulaire est apparue sur le Soleil.
Est-ce un phénomène naturel? Oui, d’après les experts. Ce triangle est un trou dans la couronne – partie de la “physiologie normale” du Soleil. Cela nous parait étrange car notre cerveau est habitué à reconnaitre des formes connues, tel que le triangle.
Toutefois, les “experts” ne savent pas expliquer pourquoi depuis ces trous jaillissent des émissions gazeuses massives et chaotiques ainsi que des champs magnétiques se dirigeant vers la Terre. Ces derniers prennent un ordre croissant au fur et à mesure qu’ils s’approchent de la planète. Pendant que les média passent sur cet évènement, la NASA lance des alarmes: ces émissions peuvent causer des tempetes géomagnétiques, détruire le réseau des transmissions électriques de notre planète et même effacer la magnétosphère terrestre que les experts considèrent comme un “écran de protection”.
A mon sens, il faut que nous protégions nos esprits des idées des experts et aussi de celles catastrophistes qui circulent sur le net. Les Sciences de la Terre et de l’Espace ne disent pas ce qu’est la réalité car, tout simplement, elles ne l’observent pas. Normalement, elles se limitent à observer un champ illusoire, celui électromagnétique créé par la magnétosphère terrestre, laquelle est en forme de POMME. Contrairement au cerveau humain, la physique ne reconnait pas les formes ni la CAUSE des formes. La CAUSE en est le Cristal au centre de la Terre: il tourne plus vite que la surface de la Terre où nous sommes et il est comme un PETIT SOLEIL dont le Soleil au dessus de nos tetes n’est qu’un reflet, un hologramme en… dissolution.
La forme triangulaire peut être une preuve que le Soleil dans le ciel est en fait une singularité de l’espacetemps, un trou blanc en contact instantané avec le TROU NOIR qui se trouve dans le cœur du Cristal même. J’ai essayé de résumer les résultats de ma recherche en mon livre PETIT SOLEIL et aussi en trois vidéos:
Je veux contribuer au SAUT DANS LE FUTUR imminent et réduire la crainte inutile. L’activité du Soleil s’accroit et, si elle garde son rythme habituel, elle atteindra son maximum dans les premiers mois de 2013. Si vous appréciez ces vidéos, je vous invite à les partager, en ajoutant que:
“Ce n’est pas la fin du monde, mais plutot la fin d’un esclavage. C’est la révélation de la SOURCE DE VIE, le PETIT SOLEIL au sein de la Terre. C’est une occasion extraordinaire pour renaitre avec un esprit libre et pour devenir les protagonistes d’une société organique qui garantira paix et prospérité dans le monde entier.”
Je vous souhaite un nouvel avenir.
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Zora Neale HurstonBorn in the small town of Eatonville, Florida, Zora Neale Hurston is known as one of the lights of the Harlem Renaissance. She first came to New York City at the age of 16 -- having arrived as part of a traveling theatrical troupe. A strikingly gifted storyteller who captivated her listeners, she attended Barnard College, where she studied with anthropologist Franz Boaz and came to grasp ethnicity from a scientific perspective. Boaz urged her to collect folklore from her native Florida environment, which she did. The distinguished folklorist Alan Lomax called her Mules and Men (1935) "the most engaging, genuine, and skillfully written book in the field of folklore."
Hurston also spent time in Haiti, studying voodoo and collecting Caribbean folklore that was anthologized in Tell My Horse (1938). Her natural command of colloquial English puts her in the great tradition of Mark Twain. Her writing sparkles with colorful language and comic -- or tragic -- stories from the African- American oral tradition.
Hurston was an impressive novelist. Her most important work, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), is a moving, fresh depiction of a beautiful mulatto woman's maturation and renewed happiness as she moves through three marriages. The novel vividly evokes the lives of African-Americans working the land in the rural South. A harbinger of the women's movement, Hurston inspired and influenced such contemporary writers as Alice Walker and Toni Morrison through books such as her autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road(1942).
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Hegel’s Science of Logic
The many ones have affirmative being; their determinate being or relation to one another is a non-relation, is external to them — the abstract void. But they themselves are now this negative relation to themselves as to affirmatively present others — the demonstrated contradiction, infinity posited in the immediacy of being. Thus repulsion now simply finds immediately before it that which is repelled by it. In this determination repulsion is an exclusion; the one repels from itself only the many ones which are neither generated nor posited by it. This mutual or all-round repelling is relative, is limited by the being of the ones.
The plurality is, in the first place, non-posited otherness, the limit is only the void, only that in which the ones are not. But in the limit they also are; they are in the void, or their repulsion is their common relation.
This mutual repulsion is the posited determinate being of the many ones; it is not their being-for-self, for according to this they would be differentiated as many only in a third, but it is their own differentiating which preserves them. They negate one another reciprocally, posit one another as being only for-one. But at the same time they equally negate this being only for-one; they repel this their ideality and are. Thus the moments which in ideality are absolutely united are separated. The one is, in its being-for-self, also for-one, but this one for which it is is its own self; its differentiation of itself is immediately sublated. But in plurality the differentiated one has a being; the being-for-one as determined in exclusion is, consequently, a being-for-other. Each is thus repelled by an other, is sublated and made into that which is not for itself but for-one, and that another one.
The being-for-self of the many ones shows itself, therefore, as their self-preservation through the mediation of their mutual repulsion in which they mutually sublate themselves and each posits the others as a mere being-for-other; but the self-preservation at the same time consists in repelling this ideality and in positing the ones as not being for-an-other. This self-preservation of the ones through their negative relation to one another is, however, rather their dissolution.
The ones not only are, but they maintain themselves through their reciprocal exclusion. Now in the first place that which should enable the ones to maintain their diversity in opposition to their being negated is their being, in fact, their being-in-itself as opposed to their relation-to-other; this being-in-itself is that hey are ones. But this is what they all are; they are in their beingin-itself the same instead of this latter being the fixed point of their diversity. Secondly, their determinate being and their relation to one another, that is, their positing of themselves as ones, is the reciprocal negating of themselves; but this likewise is one and the same determination of them all, through which then they rather posit themselves as identical; similarly, because they are in themselves the same, their ideality, instead of being posited through others, is their own, and they therefore repel it just as little. Consequently, as regards both their being and their positing, they are only one affirmative unity.
This reflection that the ones, determined both as simply being and as inter-related, show themselves to be one and the same and indistinguishable, is a comparison made by us. But we have also to see what is posited in them in their interrelatedness. They are — this is presupposed in this inter-relatedness — and they are only in so far as they reciprocally negate one another and at the same time hold themselves aloof from this their ideality, their negatedness, that is, negate this reciprocal negating. But they are only in so far as they negate; consequently, since this their negating is negated, their being is negated. It is true that since they are, they would not be negated by this negating, which for them is only something external; this negating by the other rebounds off them and touches only their surface. And yet it is only through this negating of the others that the ones return into themselves: they are only as this mediation, and this their return is their self-preservation and their being-for-self. Since their negating is ineffectual because of the resistance offered by the ones either as simply affirmative or as negating, they do not return into themselves, do not preserve themselves, and so are not.
The observation was made above that the ones are the same, each of them is a one like the other. This is not only a relating of them by us, an external bringing of them together; on the contrary, repulsion is itself a relating; the one which excludes the ones relates itself to them, to the ones, that is, to its own self. Hence the negative relationship of the ones to one another is only a going-together-with-self. This identity into which their repelling passes over is the sublating of their diversity and externality which they, as excluding, ought rather to maintain relatively to one another.
This positing of themselves by the many ones into a single one is attraction.
Remark: The unity of the One and the Many
Self-subsistence pushed to the point of the one as a being-for-self is abstract, formal, and destroys itself. It is the supreme, most stubborn error, which takes itself for the highest truth, manifesting in more concrete forms as abstract freedom, pure ego and, further, as Evil. It is that freedom which so misapprehends itself as to place its essence in this abstraction, and flatters itself that in thus being with itself it possesses itself in its purity. More specifically, this self-subsistence is the error of regarding as negative that which is its own essence, and of adopting a negative attitude towards it. Thus it is the negative attitude towards itself which, in seeking to possess its own being destroys it, and this its act is only the manifestation of the futility of this act. The reconciliation is the recognition that the object of this negative attitude is rather its own essence, and is only the letting go of the negativity of its being-for-self instead of holding fast to it.
It is an ancient proposition that the one is many and especially that the many are one. We may repeat here the observation that the truth of the one and the many expressed in propositions appears in an inappropriate form, that this truth is to be grasped and expressed only as a becoming, as a process, a repulsion and attraction-not as being, which in a proposition has the character of a stable unity. We have already mentioned and recalled the dialectic of Plato in the Parmenides concerning the derivation of the many from the one, namely, from the proposition: the one is. The inner dialectic of the Notion has been stated; it is easiest to grasp the dialectic of the proposition, that the many are one, as an external reflection; and it may properly be grasped externally here inasmuch as the object too, the many, are mutually external. It directly follows from this comparison of the many with one another that any one is determined simply like any other one; each is a one, each is one of the many, is by excluding the others — so that they are absolutely the same, there is present one and only one determination. This is the fact, and all that has to be done is to grasp this simple fact. The only reason why the understanding stubbornly refuses to do so is that it has also in mind, and indeed rightly so, the difference; but the existence of this difference is just as little excluded because of the said fact, as is the certain existence of the said fact in spite of the difference. One could, as it were, comfort understanding for the naive manner in which it grasps the fact of the difference, by assuring it that the difference will also come in again.
Repulsion is the self-differentiating of the one, at first into many, whose negative relationship is without effect because they presuppose one another as affirmatively present; it is only the ought-to-be of ideality. In attraction, however, ideality is realised. Repulsion passes over into attraction, the many ones into one one. Both repulsion and attraction are in the first place distinct from each other, the former as the reality of the ones, the latter as their posited ideality. The relation of attraction to repulsion is such that the former has the latter for presupposition. Repulsion provides the material for attraction. If there were no ones there would be nothing to attract; the conception of a perpetual attraction, of an absorption of the ones, presupposes an equally perpetual production of them. Spatial attraction as pictorially conceived makes the flow of attracted ones proceed uninterruptedly; in place of the atoms which vanish in the centre of attraction, another multitude comes forth from the void, and so on to infinity if one wishes. If attraction were conceived as accomplished, the many being brought to the point of the one one, then there would be present only an inert one and no longer any attraction. The ideality present in attraction still also bears within itself the determination of the negation of itself, the many ones of which it is the relatedness: attraction is inseparable from repulsion.
In the first place, attraction belongs equally to each of the many ones as immediately present; none has any precedence over another; this would result in an equilibrium in attraction, or, strictly speaking, an equilibrium of attraction and repulsion itself, and an inert state of rest in which ideality would have no determinate being. But there can be no question here of a precedence of such a one over another, for this would presuppose a specific difference between them; rather is attraction the positing of the immediately present undifferentiatedness of the ones. It is only attraction itself that is a positing of a one distinct from other ones; these are only immediate ones which should maintain themselves through repulsion; but through their posited negation arises the one of attraction, which is consequently determined as mediated, the one posited as one. The first ones, as immediate, do not in their ideality return into themselves but have this ideality in another one.
The one one, however, is the realised ideality, posited in the one; it is attraction through the mediation of repulsion, and it contains this mediation within itself as its determination. Thus it does not absorb the attracted ones into itself as into a centre, that is, it does not sublate them abstractly. Since it contains repulsion in its determination, this latter at the same time preserves the ones as many in it; through its attracting, so to speak, it acquires something for itself, obtains an extension or filling. There is thus in it the unity of repulsion and attraction in general.
The difference of the one and the many is now determined as the difference of their relation to one another, with each other, a relation which splits into two, repulsion and attraction, each of which is at first independent of the other and stands apart from it, the two nevertheless being essentially connected with each other. Their as yet indeterminate unity is to be more precisely ascertained. ®
Repulsion, as the basic determination of the one, appears first and as immediate, like its ones which although generated by repulsion are yet also posited as immediate. As such, repulsion is indifferent to attraction which is externally added to it as thus presupposed. Attraction on the other hand is not presupposed by repulsion in such a manner that the former is supposed to have no part in the positing and being of the latter, that is, as if repulsion were not already in its own self the negation of itself and the ones were not already in themselves negated. In this way we have repulsion abstractly on its own account and, similarly, attraction relatively to the ones as affirmatively present, has the side of an immediate determinate being and comes to them as an other.
If repulsion is thus taken merely by itself, then it is the dispersion of the many ones into somewhere undetermined, outside the sphere of repulsion itself; for repulsion is this, to negate the interrelatedness of the many: the absence of any relation between them is the determination of the many taken abstractly. But repulsion is not merely the void; the ones, as unrelated, do not repel or exclude one another, this constitutes their determination. Repulsion is, although negative, still essentially relation; the mutual repulsion and flight is not a liberation from what is repelled and fled from, the one as excluding still remains related to what it excludes. But this moment of relation is attraction and thus is in repulsion itself; it is the negating of that abstract repulsion according to which the ones would be only self-related affirmative beings not excluding one another.
In starting, however, with the repulsion of the determinately present ones and so, too, with attraction posited as externally connected with it, the two determinations although inseparable are held apart as distinct; but it has been found that not merely is repulsion presupposed by attraction, but equally, too, there is a reverse relation of repulsion to attraction, and the former equally has its presupposition in the latter.
As thus determined they are inseparable and at the same time each is determined as an ought and a limitation relatively to the other. Their ought is their abstract determinateness in the form of the in-itself, but with this determinateness each is simply directed away from itself and relates itself to the other, and thus each is through the mediation of the other as other; their self-subsistence consists in the fact that in this mediation each is posited for the other as a different determining: repulsion as the positing of the many, attraction as the positing of the one, the latter as at the same time a negation of the many, and the former as a negation of their ideality in the one, so that attraction, too, is attraction only through the mediation of repulsion, just as repulsion is repulsion through the mediation of attraction. But the fact that in this interdependence the mediation of each through the other is rather negated, each of these determinations being a self-mediation, becomes evident after a closer consideration of them and brings them back to the unity of their Notion.
In the first place, that each presupposes itself, is related only to itself in its presupposition, this is already implied in the relationship between repulsion and attraction in their initially still relative character.
Relative repulsion is the mutual repelling of the present many ones which are supposed to be immediately given. But that there are many ones, this is repulsion itself; any presupposition which it might have is only its own positing. Further, the determination of being which might belong to the ones apart from the circumstance that they are posited — whereby they would be already there-belongs likewise to repulsion. The repelling is that whereby the ones manifest and maintain themselves as ones, whereby they are as such. Their being is repulsion itself, which is thus not a relative determinate being over against another such, but relates itself simply and solely to its own self.
Attraction is the positing of the one as such, of the real one, in contrast to which the many in their determinate being are determined as only ideal [ideell] and as vanishing. Attraction thus directly presupposes itself — in the determination, namely, of the other ones as ideal, which ones are otherwise supposed to be for themselves, repelling others, and therefore also any attracting one. Ideality, as opposed to this determination of repulsion, does not belong to the ones only through the relation to attraction; on the contrary, it is presupposed, it is the ideality inherent in the ones in that, as ones — including the one conceived as attracting — they are not distinguished from one another, are one and the same.
Further, this self-presupposing of the two determinations each for itself, means that each contains the other as a moment within it. The self-presupposing as such is the one's positing of itself in a one as the negative of itself-repulsion; and what is therein presupposed is the same as that which presupposes-attraction. That each is in itself only a moment, is the transition of each out of itself into the other, the self-negating of each in itself and the self-positing of each as its own other. The one as such, then, is a coming-out-of-itself, is only the positing of itself as its own other, as many; and the many, similarly, is only this, to collapse within itself and to posit itself as its other, as one, and in this very act to be related only to its own self, each continuing itself in its other. Thus there is already present in principle (an sich) the undividedness of the coming-out-of-itself (repulsion) and the self-positing as one (attraction). But in the relative repulsion and attraction, which presuppose immediate, determinates existent ones, it is posited that each is in its own self this negation of itself and is thus also the continuity of itself in its other. The repulsion of the determinately existent ones is the self-preservation of the one through the mutual repulsion of the others, so that (1) the other ones are negated in it-this is the side of its determinate being or of its being-for-other; but this is thus attraction as the ideality of the ones; and (2) the one is in itself, without relation to the others; but not only has being-in-itself as such long since passed over into being-for-self, but the one in itself, by its determination, is the aforesaid becoming of many ones. The attraction of the determinately existent ones is their ideality and the positing of the one, in which, accordingly, attraction as a negating and a generating of the one sublates itself, and as a positing of the one is in its own self the negative of itself, repulsion.
With this, the development of being-for-self is completed and has reached its conclusion. The one as infinitely self-related — infinitely, as the posited negation of negation — is the mediation in which it repels from itself its own self as its absolute (that is, abstract) otherness, (the many), and in relating itself negatively to this its non-being, that is, in sublating it, it is only self-relation; and one is only this becoming in which it is no longer determined as having a beginning, that is, is no longer posited as an immediate, affirmative being, neither is it as result, as having restored itself as the one, that is, the one as equally immediate and excluding; the process which it is posits and contains it throughout only as sublated. The sublating, at first determined as only a relative sublating of the relation to another determinately existent one-a relation which is thus itself not an indifferent repulsion and attraction — equally displays itself as passing over into the infinite relation of mediation through negation of the external relations of the immediate, determinately existent ones, and as having for result that very process of becoming which, in the instability of its moments, is the collapse, or rather going-together-with-itself, into simple immediacy. This being, in the determination it has now acquired, is quantity.
A brief survey of the moments of this transition of quality into quantity shows us that the fundamental determination of quality is being and immediacy, in which limit and determinateness are so identical with the being of something, that with its alteration the something itself vanishes; as thus posited it is determined as finite. Because of the immediacy of this unity, in which the difference has vanished but is implicitly present in the unity of being and nothing, the difference as otherness in general falls outside this unity. This relation to other contradicts the immediacy in which qualitative determinateness is self-relation. This otherness sublates itself in the infinity of being-for-self which makes explicit the difference (which in the negation of the negation is present in it) in the form of the one and the many and their relations, and has raised the qualitative moment to a genuine unity, that is, a unity which is no longer immediate but is posited as accordant with itself.
This unity is, therefore, [a] being, only as affirmative, that is immediacy, which is self-mediated through negation of the negation; being is posited as the unity which pervades its determinatenesses, limit, etc., which are posited in it as sublated; [b] determinate being: in such determination it is the negation or determinateness as a moment of affirmative being, yet determinateness no longer as immediate, but as reflected into itself, as related not to an other but to itself; a being determined simply in itself-the one; the otherness as such is itself a being-for-self; [c] being-for-self, as that being which continues itself right through the determinateness and in which the one and the intrinsic determinedness is itself posited as sublated. The one is determined simultaneously as having gone beyond itself, and as unity; hence the one, the absolutely determined limit, is posited as the limit which is no limit, which is present in being but is indifferent to it.
Remark: The Kantian Construction of Matter - next section
Hegel-by-HyperText Home Page @ marxists.org
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Learn something new every day More Info... by email
There are a plethora of devices specifically designed to aid people who are deaf or hard of hearing and other devices that can act as aids but are not necessarily targeted toward this group. Text-to-speech devices are frequently used to better communicate with those who cannot hear. In addition, computers and mobile phones with text and video chat capabilities can be beneficial. These devices may be advertised as beneficial to deaf or hard of hearing people rather than as technology for the hearing impaired. This is primarily because some people who are hearing impaired see the inability to hear as a difference between them and other people rather than a disability or impairment.
Text-to-speech devices and programs are a very common technology for the hearing impaired in developed countries. They can come in the form of a hand-held portable devices or free software found on the Internet. Text-to-speech can significantly improve communication between a deaf person and his or her family or friends. For example, by using this type of technology for the hearing impaired, a person can make a telephone call by typing his or her words and having a machine or real person relay them. It could also be used to more easily make business calls and order take-out or other things a deaf person might not be capable of doing on the phone without assistance.
Some types of technology for the hearing impaired are centered around making existing technology for alerting a person with sound usable for alerting a hearing-impaired person. One typical way of doing this is to replace sounds with flashing lights, though for some applications vibrating devices are used. A usual way that this type of technology is implemented is by making life-saving devices, such as carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, able to alert the hard of hearing by emitting a distinct type of easily noticeable flashing light. Another common application of this kind of technology is for phones, which may have the technology built in or added as an accessory. Lastly, alarm clocks for the hearing impaired often rely on bright flashing lights or vibrations to wake people up.
There are a few types of ordinary devices that can be very useful to those who are hard of hearing. For example, video phones can be used to allow a person to communicate over significant distances via sign language. Also, personal computers and mobile phones can be helpful by facilitating easy communication using text.
Another technological device that is geared for the hearing impaired individuals is the Just5 Easyphone. This is a cell phone and a PERS at the same time. This phone is great not only for non-tech savvy but also for vision and hearing impaired people because of its very practical features. Some of these are its big buttons, voice confirm, and amplified sound. My Dad is using this phone. And really, he’s able to enjoy a clear communication via phone with his Just5 despite of his hearing impairment due to old age.
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With the long and arduous journey that lead to the passing of U.S. Healthcare Reform, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and still less than a year old, the idea of establishing a more globalized healthcare system may seem like a mountain that is too high for us to climb. However, a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) outlines some very simple and realistic policies that could provide healthcare coverage to a large proportion of people living in low-income nations who currently have little to no access to healthcare. What is really interesting is how similar these policies are to those of the ACA.
One of the WHO recommendations that parallels policies in the ACA is avoiding wasteful spending in the healthcare system. Initiatives put into place to improve hospital efficiency, utilize new healthcare technologies, and eliminate waste and corruption could improve any country’s healthcare system, regardless of economic status. So if these WHO strategies might have the same benefit as the ACA is projected to have on the U.S. healthcare system, what is stopping the developing nations from putting these plans into action?
One major obstacle in implementing these strategies is the lack of resources in low-income nations. The WHO report estimates that, on average, low-income nations would need to nearly double their per capita spending on healthcare to ensure adequate access to medical treatment for the majority of their citizens. Many groups are working with underdeveloped nations to provide financial support and resources that would help close the gap on healthcare spending. Organizations like the Gates Foundation are funding initiatives aiming to provide medical assistance to those in need. In addition, both the International Healthcare Volunteers and Doctors Without Borders help to provide relief to nations in desperate need of medical care.
Given the various new healthcare policies and support from the global community, low-income nations now have a better chance of developing a national, self-sustaining healthcare system.
To learn more about the global healthcare initiative and to find out how you can get involved, visit the websites for the Gates Foundation, Doctors without Borders, or the International Healthcare Volunteers.
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Black Box Explains... SCSI termination
Product Data Sheets (pdf)...Ultra2 LVD SCSI Cables and Terminators
This is the oldest method of termination. A passive terminator sits on the bus to minimize reflections at the end of the cable. Passive terminators simply provide impedance close... more/see it nowto that of the cable. The terminator is “passive” because it doesnt do any work to regulate power for termination; it relies on the interface card to provide steady power.
This is a more stable form of terminating SCSI cables. Active terminators control the impedance at the end of the SCSI bus by using a voltage regulator, not just the power supplied by the interface card.
Of all SCSI terminators, this is the most complex. A cable with a forced-perfect terminator can actually change its impedance to compensate for variations along the bus. Forced-perfect terminators force the impedance of the cable to match each device through diode switching and biasing. collapse
Black Box Explains...SCSI-1, SCSI-2, SCSI-3, and SCSI-5.
Product Data Sheets (pdf)...Mac/SCSI Adapters
There are standards
and there are standards applied in real-world applications. This Black Box Explains illustrates how SCSI is interpreted by many SCSI manufacturers. Think of these as common SCSI connector... more/see it nowtypes, not as firm SCSI specifications. Notice, for instance, theres a SCSI-5, which isnt listed among the other approved and proposed specifications. However, for advanced SCSI multiport applications, SCSI-5 is often the connector of choice.
Supports transfer rates up to 5 MBps and seven SCSI devices on an 8-bit bus. The most common connector is the Centronics® 50 or a DB50. A Micro Ribbon 50 is also used for internal connections. SCSI-1 equipment, such as controllers, can also have Burndy 60 or 68 connectors.
SCSI-2 introduced optional 16- and 32-bit buses called Wide SCSI. Transfer rate is normally 10 MBps but SCSI-2 can go up to 40 MBps with Wide and Fast SCSI. SCSI-2 usually features a Micro D 50-pin connector with thumbclips. Its also known as Mini 50 or Micro DB50. A Micro Ribbon 60 connector may also be used for internal connections.
Found in many high-end systems, SCSI-3 commonly uses a Micro D 68-pin connector with thumbscrews. Its also known as Mini 68. The most common bus width is 16 bits with transfer rates of 20 MBps.
SCSI-5 is also called a Very High-Density Connector Interface (VHDCI) or 0.8-mm connector. Its similar to the SCSI-3 MD68 connector in that it has 68 pins, but it has a much smaller footprint. SCSI-5 is designed for SCSI-5, next-generation SCSI connections. Manufacturers are integrating this 0.8-mm design into controller cards. Its also the connector of choice for advanced SCSI multiport applications. Up to four channels can be accommodated in one card slot. Connections are easier where space is limited. collapse
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Definition of manifold :
1. A copy of a writing made by the manifold process.
2. A cylindrical pipe fitting, having a number of lateral outlets, for connecting one pipe with several others.
3. Exhibited at divers times or in various ways; - used to qualify nouns in the singular number.
4. The third stomach of a ruminant animal.
5. To take copies of by the process of manifold writing; as, to manifold a letter.
6. Various in kind or quality; many in number; numerous; multiplied; complicated.
conglomerate, manifold paper, mixed, complicated, intricate, multiply, procreate, composite, breed, mingled, multiple, compound, entangled, abstruse, confused, reproduce, obscure, tangled, involved, heterogeneous
car part (part of speech: noun)
cylinder, shock absorber, accelerator, headlights, hood, choke, spark plug, horn, differential, crankcase, bumper, windshield, gearshift, gear, connecting rod, bearings, distributor, dashboard, crankshaft, brake, glove compartment, camshaft, carburetor, generator, steering wheel, fan, chassis, ignition, clutch, taillights, piston, radiator, transmission, muffler, gearbox, cowl, exhaust, odometer, speedometer, fender
various (part of speech: adjective)
multifaceted, various, multiplex, multifold, polymorphous, diversiform, assorted, multiform, heteromorphous, complex, multiphase, diverse, many-sided, different, polymorphic, sundry, variegated, diversified, numerous, multifarious, motley
- He can behold Things manifold That have not yet been wholly told,- Have not been wholly sung nor said. - "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow", Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
- The only truths that burn themselves into the conscience, that work themselves out through the slow and manifold processes of the personal will into a pattern of social improvement, are the contradictions and the commonplaces! - "Marcella", Mrs. Humphry Ward.
- Thor's Cave is in a lofty rock on the Manifold River. - "Castles and Cave Dwellings of Europe", Sabine Baring-Gould.
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Healthy Kids Recipes
Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers
Baked Mac & Cheese
Healthy Eating for Kids Recipes and Menus
Healthy Kids Lunch Recipes & Tips
I’ve been thrilled by my husband’s eating evolution, but I had never really stopped to consider how a man who had eaten one way for over 30 years successfully pulled off a dietary one-eighty. Then, a few months ago at a nutrition conference, I attended a lecture on taste preferences by Julie Mennella, Ph.D., a scientist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. “What we like to eat is shaped by both biology and experience,” Dr. Mennella explained. Jack’s diet transformation was starting to make sense.
There are five distinct tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami, which means “savory” in Japanese and is associated with meats and cheeses. When we eat, chemicals in our food are sensed by the thousands of taste buds on the bumpy projections (fungiform papillae) of our tongues. The chemicals attach to receptors in the buds, sending signals to the brain, which registers taste perceptions. Receptors also respond to the temperature of foods and chemicals that create physical sensations (think of chili with fiery jalapeños). Smell plays into one’s flavor experiences, too: foods release chemicals that travel up the nose to olfactory receptors, triggering a chain reaction of signals that amplify taste perceptions. (Prove this to yourself by holding your nose and sampling a jelly bean: you’ll taste sweet, but won’t get a burst of “flavor”—the term used to refer to taste plus smell—until you unplug your nose.
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The basic deployment described in Chapter 9, Designing a Basic Deployment assumes that a single Directory Server is enough to satisfy the read and write requirements of your organization. Organizations that have large read or write requirements, that is, several clients attempting to access directory data simultaneously, need to use a scaled deployment.
Generally, the number of searches a Directory Server instance can perform per second is directly related to the number and speed of the server's CPUs, provided there is sufficient memory to cache all data. Horizontal read scalability can be achieved by spreading the load across more than one server. This usually means providing additional copies of the data so that clients can read the data from more than one source.
Write operations do not scale horizontally because a write operation to a master server results in a write operation to every replica. The only way to scale write operations horizontally is to split the directory data among multiple databases and place those databases on different servers.
This chapter describes the different ways of scaling a Directory Server Enterprise Edition deployment to handle more reads and writes. The chapter covers the following topics:
Load balancing increases performance by spreading the read load across multiple servers. Load balancing can be achieved using replication, Directory Proxy Server, or a combination of the two.
Replication is the mechanism that automatically copies directory data and changes from one directory server to another directory server. With replication, you can copy a directory tree or subtree that is stored in its own suffix between servers.
You cannot copy the configuration or monitoring information subtrees.
By replicating directory data across servers, you can reduce the access load on a single machine, improving server response time and providing read scalability. Replicating directory entries to a location close to your users also improves directory response time. Replication is generally not a solution for write scalability.
The replication mechanism is described in detail in Chapter 4, Directory Server Replication, in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.3 Reference. The following section provides basic information that you need to understand before reviewing the sample topologies described later in this chapter.
A database that participates in replication is defined as a replica.
Master or read-write replica. A read-write database that contains a master copy of the directory data. A master replica can process update requests from directory clients. A topology that contains more than one master is called a multi-master topology.
Consumer replica. A read-only database that contains a copy of the information in the master replica. A consumer replica can process search requests from directory clients but refers update requests to master replicas.
The following figure illustrates the role of each of these replicas in a replication topology.
The previous figure is for illustration purposes only and is not necessarily a recommended topology. Directory Server6.x supports an unlimited number of masters in a multi-master topology. A master-only topology is recommended in most cases.
A Directory Server that replicates to other servers is called a supplier. A Directory Server that is updated by other servers is called a consumer. The supplier replays all updates on the consumer through specially designed LDAP v3 extended operations. In terms of performance, a supplier is therefore likely to be a demanding client application for the consumer.
A server can be both a supplier and a consumer, as in the following situations:
In multi-master replication, a master replica is mastered on two different Directory Servers. Each server acts as a supplier and a consumer of the other server.
When the server contains a hub replica, the server receives updates from a supplier and replicates the changes to consumers.
A server that plays the role of a consumer only is called a dedicated consumer.
For a master replica, the server must do the following:
Respond to update requests from directory clients
Maintain historical information and a change log
Initiate replication to consumers
The server that contains the master replica is responsible for recording any changes made to the master replica and for replicating these changes to consumers.
For a hub replica, the server must do the following:
Respond to read requests
Refer update requests to the servers that contain a master replica
Maintain historical information and a change log
Initiate replication to consumers
For a consumer replica, the server must do the following:
Respond to read requests
Maintain historical information
Refer update requests to the servers that contain a master replica
In a multi-master replication configuration, data can be updated simultaneously in different locations. Each master maintains a change log for its replica. The changes that occur on each master are replicated to the other servers.
Multi-master configurations have the following advantages:
Automatic write failover occurs when one master is inaccessible.
Updates can be made on a local master in a geographically distributed environment.
Multi-master replication uses a loose consistency replication model. This means that the same entries may be modified simultaneously on different servers. When updates are sent between the two servers, any conflicting changes must be resolved. Various attributes of a WAN, such as latency, can increase the chance of replication conflicts. Conflict resolution generally occurs automatically. A number of conflict rules determine which change takes precedence. In some cases conflicts must be resolved manually. For more information, see Solving Common Replication Conflicts in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.3 Administration Guide.
The number of masters that are supported in a multi-master topology is theoretically unlimited. The number of consumers and hubs is also theoretically unlimited. However, the number of consumers to which a single supplier can replicate depends on the capacity of the supplier server. You can use the SLAMD Distributed Load Generation Engine (SLAMD) to assess the capacity of the supplier server. For information about SLAMD, and to download the SLAMD software, see http://www.slamd.com.
The smallest unit of replication is the suffix. The replication mechanism requires one suffix to correspond to one database. You cannot replicate a suffix, or namespace, that is distributed over two or more databases using custom distribution logic. The unit of replication applies to both consumers and suppliers, which means that you cannot replicate two suffixes to a consumer that holds only one suffix.
Every server that acts as a supplier maintains a change log. A change log is a record that describes the modifications that have occurred on a master replica. The supplier replays these modifications to its consumers. When an entry is modified, renamed, added, or deleted, a change record that describes the LDAP operation is recorded in the change log.
A replication agreement identifies the following:
The suffix to replicate
The consumer server to which the data is pushed
The times during which replication can occur
The bind DN and credentials that the supplier must use to bind to the consumer
How the connection is secured, SSL or client authentication, for example
Information about the replication status for this particular agreement
Information about replication filtering
In versions of Directory Server prior to Directory Server 6.x, updates were replicated in chronological order. In this version of the product, updates can be prioritized for replication. Priority is a boolean feature, it is on or off. There are no levels of priority. In a queue of updates waiting to be replicated, updates with priority are replicated before updates without priority. In a queue of updates waiting to be replicated, updates with priority are replicated before updates without priority.
The priority rules are configured according to the following parameters:
The identity of the client
The type of update
The entry or subtree that was updated
The attributes changed by the update
For more information, see Prioritized Replication in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.3 Reference.
A successful replicated directory service requires comprehensive testing and analysis in a production environment. However, the following basic calculation enables you to start designing a replicated topology. The sections that follow use the result of this calculation as the basis of the replicated topology design.
Estimate the maximum number of searches per second that are required at peak usage time.
This estimate can be called Total searches.
Test the number of searches per second that a single host can achieve.
This estimate can be called Searches per host. Note that this should be evaluated with replication enabled.
The number of searches that a host can achieve is affected by several variables. Among these are the size of the entries, the capacity of the host, and the speed of the network. A number of third party performance testing tools are available to assist you in conducting these tests. The SLAMD Distributed Load Generation Engine (SLAMD) is an open source Java application designed for stress testing and performance analysis of network-based applications. SLAMD can be used effectively to perform this part of the replication assessment. For information about SLAMD, and to download the SLAMD software, see http://www.slamd.com.
Calculate the number of hosts that are required.
Number of hosts = Total searches / Searches per host
Replication can balance the load on Directory Server in the following ways:
By spreading search activities across several servers
By dedicating specific servers to specific tasks or applications
Generally, if the Number of hosts calculated in Assessing Initial Replication Requirements is about 16, or not significantly larger, your topology should include only master servers in a fully connected topology. Fully connected means that every master replicates to every other master in the topology.
The Number of hosts is approximate and depends on the hardware and other details of the deployment.
The following figure assumes that the Number of hosts is two. LDAP operations are divided between two master servers, based on the type of client application. This strategy reduces the load that is placed on each server and increases the total number of operations that can be served by the deployment.
For a similar scenario in a global deployment, see Using Multi-Master Replication Over a WAN.
If your deployment requires a Number of hosts significantly larger than 16, you might need to add dedicated consumers to the topology.
The following figure assumes that the Number of hosts is 24 and, for simplicity, shows only a portion of the topology. (The remaining 10 servers would have an identical configuration, with a total of 8 masters and 16 consumers.
A change log can be enabled on any of these consumers if you need to do the following:
Promote the consumer to a master in the event of an outage
Perform a binary initialization from a master to any one of the consumers
If the Number of hosts is several hundred, you might want to add hubs to the topology. In such a case, there should be more hubs than masters, with up to 10 hubs for each master. Each hub should handle replication to only 20 consumers at most.
No topology should have the same number of hubs as masters, or the same number of hubs as consumers.
When the Number of hosts is large, the use of server groups can simplify the topology and improve resource usage. In a topology with 16 masters, the use of four server groups, each containing four masters, is easier to manage than 16 fully meshed masters.
Setting up a such a topology involves the following steps:
Configure the 16 masters, without any replication agreements.
Create four server groups and include four masters in each group.
Set up replication agreements between all the masters in a single group.
Set up replication agreements between the first master of each group, the second master of each group, and so forth.
The following figure shows the resulting topology.
Directory Proxy Server can use multiple servers to distribute the load of a single source of data. Directory Proxy Server can also ensure that if one of the servers is unavailable, the data remains available. Apart from distributing data, Directory Proxy Server provides operation-based load balancing. That is, the server is able to route client operations to a specific Directory Server, based on the type of operation.
Directory Proxy Server supports operation-based load balancing, and a variety of load balancing algorithms that determine how the workload is shared between Directory Servers. For a detailed description of each of these algorithms, see Chapter 16, Directory Proxy Server Load Balancing and Client Affinity, in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.3 Reference.
The following figure illustrates how the proportional algorithm is used to balance read load across two servers. Operation-based load balancing routes all writes to Master 1, unless that server fails. On failure all reads and writes are routed to Master 2.
Note that the configuration for load balancing is not recalculated when one server instance fails. You cannot use proportional load balancing to create a “hot standby” server by setting a server's load balancing weight to 0.
Imagine, for example, you have three servers A, B, and C. Proportional load balancing has been configured such that servers A and B each receive 50% of the load. Server C is configured to have 0% of the load as it is designed to be a standby server only. If server A fails, 100% of the load will go to server B automatically. Only if server B also fails, will the load be distributed to server C. So, either the instance participates in load balancing all the time, always ready to take part of the load, or all primary instances have to fail before that server will take any load.
You can achieve something like a hot standby by using the saturation load balancing algorithm and applying a low weight to the standby server. Although the server is not a true standby server, you can configure the algorithm such that requests are distributed to this server only if the primary servers are under heavy load. Effectively if one primary server is disabled, the load on the other primary servers increases to the extent that requests must be distributed to the standby server.
Write operations are resource intensive. When a client requests a write operation, the follow sequence of events occurs on the database:
The backend database is locked
The entry is locked in the database cache
The access control check plug-in is called
Any backend pre-operation plug-ins are called
The database transaction begins
The database files are updated
The old entry cache is replaced with new data
The database transaction is committed
Any backend post-operation plug-ins are called
The backend database is unlocked
Because of this complex procedure, an increased number of writes can have a dramatic impact on performance.
As an enterprise grows, more client applications require rapid write access to the directory. Also, as more information is stored in a single Directory Server, the cost of adding or modifying entries in the directory database increases. This is because indexes become larger and it takes longer to manipulate the information that the indexes contain.
In some cases, the service level agreements might only be achieved by having all the data cached in memory. However, the data might be too large to fit on a single memory machine
When the volume of directory data increases to this extent, you need to break up the data so that it can be stored in multiple servers. One approach is to use a hierarchy to divide the information. By separating the information into multiple branches based on some criteria, each branch can be stored on a separate server. Each server can then be configured with chaining or referrals to enable clients to access all the information from a single point.
In this kind of division, each server is responsible for only a part of the directory tree. A distributed directory works in a similar way to the Domain Name Service (DNS). The DNS assigns each portion of the DNS namespace to a particular DNS server. In the same way, you can distribute your directory namespace across servers while maintaining, from a client standpoint, a single directory tree.
A hierarchy-based distribution mechanism has certain disadvantages. The main problem is that this mechanism requires that the clients know exactly where the information is. Alternatively, the clients must perform a broad search to find the data. Another problem is that some directory-enabled applications might not have the capability to deal with the information if it is broken up into multiple branches.
Directory Server supports hierarchy-based distribution in conjunction with the chaining and referral mechanisms. However, a distribution feature is also provided with Directory Proxy Server, which supports smart routing. This feature enables you to decide on the best distribution mechanism for your enterprise.
Directory Server stores data in high-performance, disk-based LDBM databases. Each database consists of a set of files that contains all of the data that is assigned to this set. You can store different portions of your directory tree in different databases. Imagine, for example, that your directory tree contains three subsuffixes, as shown in the following figure.
The data of the three subsuffixes can be stored in three separate databases as shown in the following figure.
When you divide your directory tree among databases, the databases can be distributed across multiple servers. This strategy generally equates to several physical machines, which improves performance. The three databases in the preceding illustration can be stored on two servers as shown in the following figure.
When databases are distributed across multiple servers, the amount of work that each server needs to do is reduced. Thus, the directory can be made to scale to a much larger number of entries than would be possible with a single server. Because Directory Server supports dynamic addition of databases, you can add new databases as required, without making the entire directory unavailable.
Directory Proxy Server divides directory information into multiple servers but does not require that the hierarchy of the data be altered. An important aspect of data distribution is the ability break up the data set in a logical manner. However, distribution logic that works well for one client application might not work as well for another client application.
For this reason, Directory Proxy Server enables you to specify how data is distributed and how directory requests should be routed. For example, LDAP operations can be routed to different directory servers based on the directory information tree (DIT) hierarchy. The operations can also be routed based on operation type or on a custom distribution algorithm.
Directory Proxy Server effectively hides the distribution details from the client application. From the clients' standpoint, a single directory addresses their directory queries. Client requests are distributed according to a particular distribution method. Different routing strategies can be associated with different portions of the DIT, as explained in the following sections.
This strategy can be used to distribute directory entries based on the DIT structure. For example, entries in the subtree o=sales,dc=example,dc=com can be routed to Directory Server A, and entries in the subtree o=hr,dc=example,dc=com can be routed to Directory Server B.
In some cases, you might want to distribute entries across directory servers without using the DIT structure. Consider, for example, a service provider who stores entries that represent subscribers under ou=subscribers,dc=example,dc=com. As the number of subscribers grows, there might be a need to distribute them across servers based on the range of the subscriber ID. With a custom routing algorithm, subscriber entries with an ID in the range 1-10000 can be located in Directory Server A, and subscriber entries with an ID in the range 10001-infinity can be located in Directory Server B. If the data on server B grows too large, the distribution algorithm can be changed so that entries with an ID starting from 2000 can be located on a new server, Server C.
You can implement your own routing algorithm using the Directory Proxy Server DistributionAlgorithm interface.
In this scenario, an enterprise distributes customer data between three master servers based on geographical location. Customers that are based in the United Kingdom have their data stored on a master server in London. French customers have their data stored on a master server in Paris. The data for Japanese customers is stored on a master server in Tokyo. Customers can update their own data through a single web-based interface.
Users can update their own information in the directory using a web-based application. During the authentication phase, users enter an email address. email addresses for customers in the UK take the form *@uk.example.com. For French customers, the email addresses take the form *@fr.example.com, and for Japanese customers, *@ja.example.com. Directory Proxy Server receives these requests through an LDAP-enabled client application. Directory Proxy Server then routes the requests to the appropriate master server based on the email address entered during authentication.
This scenario is illustrated in the following figure.
In many cases, data distribution is not required at the top of the DIT. However, entries further up the tree might be required by the entries in the portion of the tree that has been distributed. This section provides a sample scenario that shows how to design a distribution strategy in this case.
Example.com has one subtree for groups and a separate subtree for people. The number of group definitions is small and fairly static, while the number of person entries is large, and continues to grow. Example.com therefore requires only the people entries to be distributed across three servers. However, the group definitions, their ACIs, and the ACIs located at the top of the naming context are required to access all entries under the people subtree.
The following illustration provides a logical view of the data distribution requirements.
The ou=people subtree is split across three servers, according to the first letter of the sn attribute for each entry. The naming context (dc=example,dc=com) and the ou=groups containers are stored in one database on each server. This database is accessible to entries under ou=people. The ou=people container is stored in its own database.
The following illustration shows how the data is stored on the individual Directory Servers.
Note that the ou=people container is not a subsuffix of the top container.
Each server described previously can be understood as a distribution chunk. The suffix that contains the naming context and the entries under ou=groups, is the same on each chunk. A multi-master replication agreement is therefore set up for this suffix across each of the three chunks.
For availability, each chunk is also replicated. At least two master replicas are therefore defined for each chunk.
The following illustration shows the Directory Server configuration with three replicas defined for each chunk. For simplification, the replication agreements are only shown for one chunk, although they are the same for the other two chunks.
Client access to directory data through Directory Proxy Server is provided through data views. For information about data views see Chapter 17, Directory Proxy Server Distribution, in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.3 Reference.
For this scenario, one data view is required for each distributed suffix, and one data view is required for the naming context (dc=example,dc=com) and the ou=groups subtrees.
The following illustration shows the configuration of Directory Proxy Server data views to provide access to the distributed data.
Distributed data is split according to a distribution algorithm. When you decide which distribution algorithm to use, bear in mind that the volume of data might change, and that your distribution strategy must be scalable. Do not use an algorithm that necessitates complete redistribution of data.
A numeric distribution algorithm based on uid, for example, can be scaled fairly easily. If you start with two data segments of uid=0-999 and uid=1000–1999, it is easy to add third segment of uid=2000–2999 at a later stage.
A referral is information returned by a server that tells a client application which server to contact to proceed with an operation request. If you do not use Directory Proxy Server to manage distribution logic, you must define the relationships between distributed data in another way. One way to define relationships is using referrals.
Directory Server supports three ways of configuring how and when referrals are returned:
Default referrals. The directory returns a default referral when a client application presents a DN for which the server does not have a matching suffix.
Suffix referrals. When an entire suffix has been taken offline for maintenance or security reasons, the server returns the referrals defined by that suffix. Read-only replicas of a suffix also return referrals to the master server when a client requests a write operation.
Smart referrals. These referrals are stored on entries within the directory. Smart referrals point to Directory Servers that have knowledge of the subtree whose DN matches the DN of the entry that contains the smart referral.
The following figure illustrates how referrals are used to direct clients from the UK to the appropriate server in a global topology. In this scenario, the client application must be able to connect to all the servers in the topology (at the TCP/IP level), to enable it to follow the referral.
You can use Directory Proxy Server in conjunction with the referral mechanism to achieve the same result. The advantage of using Directory Proxy Server in this regard is that the load and complexity of client applications is reduced. Client applications are only aware of the Directory Proxy Server URL. If the distribution logic is changed, for any reason, this change is transparent to client applications.
The following figure illustrates how the scenario described previously can be simplified with the use of Directory Proxy Server. Client applications always connect to the Proxy Server, which handles the referrals itself.
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Diamond is one of the toughest, naturally occurring materials found on Earth. Now, the Z machine at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, can melt them using pressure, electromagnetic pulses and enough current to light 100 million light bulbs.
The interior of the Z machine is 33 meters wide, and it was designed to research nuclear fusion, not to melt diamonds. It can also explore the behavior of materials at high temperatures and pressures, as well as act as a source of intense X-rays.
To begin, current is fired at hundreds of tiny tungsten wires, vaporizing them to form plasma, which in turn produces a magnetic field that forces the particles to line up at the center of the machine. They point out the horizontal plane of its surface, along the z-axis. This arrangement will cause the particles to collide, producing very powerful X-rays.
The magnetic field can be harnessed to accelerate metal plates and crush materials. Experimentally, the machine has been able to apply over 5 million atmospheres to squeeze diamond into a liquid puddle.
The photo taken above shows lightning that sparks outside of the metal protrusions when the current is switched on. They only happen in an instant when the machine starts firing. The huge electromagnetic pulse would kill anyone trying to observe the firing of the accelerator.
[via New Scientist]
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Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
The original name of the city was Gladbach, which is even today often applied to the town. To distinguish the town from another town of the same name (the present Bergisch Gladbach) it took the name München-Gladbach in 1888. This spelling could lead to the fallacy, that Gladbach is a borough of Munich (München in German). So the name was changed to Mönchen Gladbach in 1950 and Mönchengladbach in 1960.
The origin of the town was an abbey founded in 974. It was named after the Gladbach, a narrow brook, that runs subterraneously today. The abbey and adjoining villages became a town in the 14th century. Nearby the town of Rheydt was located, which is today incorporated in Mönchengladbach.
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
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Many articles have been written on the subject of the importance of poetic rhyme and metre in connection with the learning of the English language.
However, without even having studied this subject at university, English people realize this link and have applied it, from the earliest days, to their own children's learning of English. We feed our children with nursery rhymes even before they can speak. The fact that there is strong metre in nursery rhymes which is soothing to a small child's mind is one aspect of it, but this metre is there to emphasise the fact that in English our words have natural stresses and accentuations that a poet uses to the full when writing rhythmic poetry. English speaking children listen to these stresses and accentuations in the speech of their parents, and so they pick them up naturally, but the problem for many students who are learning English away from a native English speaker is that they may not hear a true native English speaking voice, and how are they to pick up on these things?
For example, look at the following words: important, development, university, mathematics.
Each of these words has several syllables, but which syllable carries the heavier stress? From words on the page it would be difficult to know. I am English and I learned my language from my parents in my early years. If they had had strong accents I would have learned those also. I would have picked up the language in its entirety from them, learning first and foremost the sounds of the language well before I saw the written word. ESL students may not have this opportunity, naturally, and this is the problem. English speaking people meet people from overseas in our streets etc and when someone speaks to us they may well put the emphasis on the wrong part of the word (as I have done when I have spoken Italian to Italians). They and I have seen the other person's face cloud over a bit because they have not understood. Why? It is probable that they or I, in Italy, have put the stress on the wrong part of the word. The word, therefore, has not been said properly and it is this which causes the confusion. Am I correct? Yes, of course
Our language, unlike many others in the world, is multi-syllabic and when you hear English spoken, you will hear the beauty of the language shining through in the rise and fall of the speech and the naural stress pattern within the words. So I would put the stresses in this way on the above words:
imPORtant, deVELopment, uniVERsity, matheMATics etc.
We also speak in such a way that we run quickly over many of our smaller words, and put extra stress within the multisyllabic words. In poetry, a good poet will use all of this to bring metre or rhythm into the poem. This is why it is so important to hear poetry read, especially if you are using it to help you with learning the languge. Poetic words are written with metre, and English poetry uses iambic metre, eg ti TUM ti TUM ti TUM ti TUM with a light stress followed by a heavier one. It is this which has divided poetry from prose since the very beginning of poetry writing. and the metre is measured in feet which links it to dance, song and music as well. For this reason, many of my poems can easily be put to music as a song. It is the same with the nursery rhymes which we recite to our children. It doesn't seem to matter about the fact that the language in the nursery rhymes is so old fashioned that many words we don't use in English any more, for many of these rhymes were written hundreds of years ago. The fact is that they are written with good metre all the way through and children and adults love this. So our children learn where the natural stresses lay from these soothing rhymes. Little children, in particular, therefore, love poetry which is written in this way and without studying they are learning to speak well.
Overseas students of English will also realize the value of these rhymes and from my Google Analytics tool on this computer, I know that teachers from many overseas countries are using my poems in their classrooms. Last year the poems went into 188 countries of the world. I welcome notes from all teachers in my guestbook. Please let us know where you are from and which poems your children/students have enjoyed.
When it comes to literacy, both English speaking children and ESL students really find where the problem with English lies - ie spelling. Our language is not phonetic by any means and there is no way of learning English but to keep hearing and seeing words written in the same way. I learned, as a teacher, that in the formation of habits, you need to see and hear the same thing three times to begin to build a lifelong habit. I used to teach a very difficult subject: Pitman's shorthand. This is a phonetic way of writing our language. So words such as 'pay' would just be written with the p and the a. Students knew that the strong A was there because the word was written on the line. If it was written above the line then they knew it was the light 'a' as in apple. They omitted the vowels in their writing altogether. They would write the word 'rhyme' above the line with just a 'r' and 'm' but if the word was 'rim' as in 'the rim of a glass' they would write the 'r' through the line. It sounds easy, but it was indeed a very difficult subject indeed and equal to any language. I was a 140 words per minute writer at one time - more than two words a second. So I guess I became an expert on phonetics, teaching this subject as I did. The problem was that my students had to have an excellent command of English in order to transcribe the words. They would know that although 'time' and 'rhyme' might sound the same, the spelling was completely different.
When students use rhyming poetry to learn the English language, it certainly helps them to both read and hear the pronunciation of words at the same time, and I have always added my voice recording many of my poems, space on my website permitting.
Rhyming poetry helps with vocabulary extension also. When I read poems to children, I will read the poem through first of all and tell the children to listen carefully because on the second reading I will stop at the rhyming word and ask them to supply it. They absolutely love this game. Yesterday I spoke to a friend's little son who was playing with his toy giraffe. I said: 'Don't laugh at the giraffe' for this is the title of one of my poems. His face lit up. Here were two rhyming words that were fun to him. He didn't realize that these words, with the same sounds, had completely different spellings. He just enjoyed the sounds. When he is older and learns to read, he will suddenly see this and remember it because they are words he loves. If you are teaching English to children or ESL students, I would suggest the following: Allow them to read the poems three times, noting as they go along the words which sound alike and their spellings. They could even prepare this for homework. The next day you could read the poem and stop at the rhyming word and ask them to write it down and then check their spellings. Children love repetition, so it would be no hardship to do this again the next day and make it a fun exercise. For adults, even without the voice recording, it would be easy from a rhyming poem to know that the word 'laugh' would be pronounced 'laf' if the word it rhymed with ended with the sound of 'af' wouldn't it?
I get letters from all over the world from teachers who use poetry to teach the English language. Already teachers are realizing the importance of using rhyming poetry in the learning of English for both children and overseas students.
Oh, just before I go, you can try this experiment. Ask people if they like poetry? I often do this, of course, and I tell them I write poems, especially for children. About 99 per cent of people do like poetry, especially children, and their faces light up for they remember the fun they had with poetry as a child themselves. If I start off: 'There was a young woman from Rangley Bottom, but what was her name for I've quite forgotten' you can be sure a smile will come. So try this experiment for yourselves and prove that rhyming and metred poetry is fun as well as being an excellent tool for the learning of the English language.
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|Carrying out a successful project financing by optimising the time and minimising the risks
Project finance (PF) is a method used for financing highly complex structures, characterised also by the involvement of private sector bodies. The financing of each project is evaluated solely on the basis of its capacity to generate cash flow and profit sufficient to reimburse equity investors and to repay financial debt. Usually the financing recipient is an economic-legal entity (Special Purpose Vehicle or SPV), established for the purposes of carrying out a specific project.
PF is used in the context of public private partnerships (PPP), that representa specific form of cooperation between government and one or more private sector companies, that aim at guaranteeing the sources of financing, the construction, the refurbishment, the management and the maintenance of an infrastructure or at submitting services that are in the public interest.
Since the early 90's, the importance of PPP has been growing as a consequence of governments' efforts to minimise investments in infrastructures and other public goods in order to comply with the Maastricht criteria.
In addition, PPP is commonly used when public bodies are not able to raise necessary financial resources or when they lack the required knowledge and competences to carry out the projects. This way, PPP guarantees the fulfilment of public interest (assured by government supervision) and the provision of resources (financial, infrastructural, "know-how" and human) supplied by private bodies.
Usually, PPP is mainly characterised by:
- a long term partnership, which implies a cooperation between the public and the private sector relating to different aspects of the projects to be carried out;
- a particular method of financing, partially provided by private bodies, through complex arrangements that involve several parties. Often, part of the financing is contributed by the public sector;
- the important role of the private sector during different stages of the project (i.e. financing, development, engineering, building, operating). The public partner is mostly in charge of defining and monitoring the targets to reach, in terms of public interests, quality of supplied services and pricing policies;
- an improved risk allocation, characterised by an enhanced involvement of the private sector on which part of the risks are transferred;
- a wide range of guarantees provided by private bodies.
Over the years, PwC has provided advisory services to numerous clients, pertaining to both the public and the private sector, carrying out project finance deals.
With regards to PPP, we support the public sector in planning and coordinating project financing operations, in terms of :
- assistance to public administration in valuation of offers, during different phases of binding procedures (definition of transparency and competitive procedures, preparation of tender documentation, offer valuation) on all aspects of offer valuation, negotiations and contract drafting;
- assistance to promoters in the phase of proposal presentation (preparation and certification of economic-financial plans, agreements, etc.) and to other parties during the presentation of competitive offers (opportunity analysis, financial modeling and evaluation, optimisation of the financing mix, assurance and guarantees, legal, fiscal and contractual aspects);
- assistance in establishing a special purpose vehicle;
- assistance in building the financial structure of a project and in selecting and negotiating with credit institutions.
In particular, during fund-raising process, we provide assistance in arranging competitive financing structures in PF and in selecting a suitable syndicate of banks on the basis of our clients’ necessities and in order to obtain competitive conditions offered for a specific form of a financing.
How PwC delivers value add and why we differ from credit institutions
- Extensive experience and knowledge of the sector
- Our experience, gathered through numerous projects in PPP carried out both in the public and private sector, allows us to offer clients our knowledge and vast connections with the main players in the sector;
- Established experience in predisposing complex financial models
- PF requires specific competences relating to the predisposal of complex financial models in order to support the funding activity and to arrange the most suitable financing structure. PwC relies on an extensive track record containing more than 100 projects carried out both in Italy and abroad;
- Searching for the most suitable sources of financing;
- As an independent adviser, we reconcile our goals with our clients’ needs;
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of our clients
- As we usually work for both the private and public sector, we have an extensive knowledge of their aims and constrains;
- Global network
- Our global experience enables us to exploit competencies gained in an international environment in order to successfully carry out an operation worldwide.
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Grab that stack of old optical drives you have in the corner and get to work building this laser engraver. [Groover] is taking a no-nonsense approach to the build and we think it is just simple enough to be accessible to a very wide audience.
The physical assembly uses sleds from two optical drives. These are mounted some angle bracket. Since lasers cut at one specific focal length, there is not need for a Z axis (simplifying the build greatly). In fact, we think the hardest part of the assembly is retrieving the laser diode from a DVD-R drive and packaging it for use with this setup.
The electronics are a combination of a couple of consumer products. Two pre-fab motor drivers are used to command the stepper motors on the optical sleds. These receive their commands from an Arduino. A package called GRBL reads in G-code ([Groover] shows how to generate this from Inkscape) and in turn sends commands to the Arduino.
The results are quite remarkable. It can engrave wood with great resolution and contrast. The video after the break even shows it cutting out shapes from construction paper. Now we still want our own full-size laser cutter, but this project is much more fiscally possible for us.
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Mars rover landing 'miracle of engineering,' scientists say
PASADENA, California |
PASADENA, California (Reuters) - NASA scientists hailed the Mars rover Curiosity's flawless descent and landing as a "miracle of engineering" on Monday as they scanned early images of an ancient crater that may hold clues about whether life took hold on Earth's planetary cousin.
The one-ton, six-wheeled laboratory nailed an intricate and risky touchdown late on Sunday, much to the relief and joy of scientists and engineers eager to conduct NASA's first astrobiology mission since the 1970s Viking probes.
"We trained ourselves for eight years to think the worst all the time," Curiosity lead engineer Miguel San Martin said. "You can never turn that off."
Mission control engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Los Angeles erupted in cheers and applause when confirmation was received that Curiosity, touted as the first full-fledged mobile science lab sent to a distant world, had landed on the Martian surface.
NASA engineers said the feat stands as the most challenging and elaborate achievement in the history of robotic spaceflight, and opens the door to a new era in planetary exploration.
President Barack Obama hailed the accomplishment as a historic "point of national pride."
The landing also marked a much-welcome success and a major milestone for a U.S. space agency beset by budget cuts and the recent cancellation of its space shuttle program, NASA's centerpiece for 30 years.
The landing was a major initial hurdle for a two-year, $2.5 billion project whose primary focus is chemistry and geology. The daredevil nature of getting the rover to Mars captured the public's imagination.
Encased in a capsule-like protective shell, the nuclear-powered rover capped an eight-month voyage as it streaked into the thin Martian atmosphere at 13,200 miles per hour (21,243 kilometers per hour), 17 times the speed of sound.
Plunging through the top of the atmosphere at an angle producing aerodynamic lift, the capsule's "guided entry" system used jet thrusters to steer the craft as it fell, making small course corrections and burning off most of its downward speed.
Closer to the ground, the vessel was slowed further by a giant, supersonic parachute before a jet backpack and flying "sky crane" took over to deliver Curiosity the last mile to the surface.
The rover, about the size of a small sports car, came to rest as planned at the bottom of a vast impact bowl called Gale Crater, and near a towering mound of layered rock called Mount Sharp, which rises from the floor of the basin.
A trio of orbiting satellites monitored what NASA had billed as the "seven minutes of terror," but the anxiety proved to be unfounded.
From an orbital perch 211 miles (340 km) away, NASA's sharp-eyed Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped a stunning and serene picture of Curiosity gracefully riding beneath its massive parachute en route to Gale Crater, located near the planet's equator in its southern hemisphere.
At 10:32 p.m. PDT on Sunday (1:32 a.m. EDT on Monday/0532 GMT on Monday) flight controllers at JPL received the equivalent of a text message from Curiosity that its journey of 352 million miles (566 million km) had ended safely.
Seven minutes later, the rover transmitted a picture, relayed by another Mars orbiter called Odyssey, showing one of Curiosity's wheels on the planet's gravel-strewn surface.
"When you see a picture of the surface of the planet with the spacecraft on it, that is the miracle of engineering," lead scientist John Grotzinger told reporters on Monday.
With the late-afternoon sun slipping behind the crater's rim, Curiosity relayed six more s ample pictures and the results of initial health checks of some of its 10 scientific instruments before shutting down for the Martian night.
Additional photos taken by Curiosity were relayed hours later, including a batch of 200-plus images snapped at nearly four fames per second by the craft's bottom-mounted camera as it was lowered to the ground by parachute, rocket pack and sky crane. They were assembled by NASA into a rough-cut clip of moving footage showing the rover's descent from its own perspective, starting from the ejection of its heat shield.
LANDING ZONE OF INTRIGUE
Curiosity touched down about 6.2 miles (10 km) from the foot of Mount Sharp, a monstrous formation of sedimentary rock that rises like a stack of cards three miles (5 km) from the floor of Gale Crater. Higher from base to summit than California's Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States, Mount Sharp crests above the northern rim of the crater.
An image of the mountain in the distance was captured by one of the rover's front-mounted hazard cameras, a flat, gravel-strewn plain in the foreground and the vehicle casting a silhouetted image on the ground.
The picture reveals that Curiosity landed virtually face-to-face with the mountain, with no obstacles between the two. A separate photo shot in the opposite direction shows the northwestern rim of the crater.
Scientists believe Mount Sharp may have formed from the remains of sediment that once completely filled the basin, offering a potentially valuable geologic record of the history of Mars, the planet most similar to Earth.
For that reason, it is a key focus of interest for Curiosity scientists looking for evidence of Martian habitats that may have supported microbial life. It may be months, however, before Curiosity heads over to Mount Sharp.
As project manager Pete Theisinger put it, "We have a priceless asset and we're not going to screw it up."
After a flawless landing, the mission's surface phase was starting out as apparently trouble-free.
Asked at an afternoon briefing if anything had yet gone wrong, mission manager Jennifer Trosper replied simply, "No."
"There are an awful lot of things that have to continue to go right," she added. "There's a lot ahead of us, but so far we're just ecstatic about the performance of the vehicle."
The rover comes equipped with an array of sophisticated instruments capable of analyzing samples of soil, rocks and atmosphere on the spot and beaming results back to Earth.
One is a laser gun that can zap a rock from 23 feet (7 meters) away to create a spark whose spectral image is analyzed by a special telescope to discern the mineral's chemical composition.
Among Curiosity's first tasks will be to chemically analyze the soil near its landing site.
"We're on gravel plain of Mars, a somewhat familiar scene," Grotzinger said, noting that the gravel seemed to be quite uniform in size. "We're a complex spacecraft, and simple geology is a good thing to start off with."
Scientists are also eager to explore rocks and pebbles that appear to have been transported by flowing water to a fan-shaped region near the landing site.
On Monday, the rover was expected to unfurl its dish-shaped antenna so it could better communicate directly with Earth.
(Editing by Eric Walsh and Stacey Joyce)
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The bullhook is a tool used to punish and control elephants. It is also called an ankus, elephant goad, elephant hook, or a guide. The handle is made of wood, metal, plastic, or fiberglass, and there is a sharp steel hook and a point at one end. Its shape resembles a boat hook or fireplace poker. Some bullhooks have long, "shepherd’s crook" cane-style handles, allowing the trainer a firmer grip so that greater force can be exerted while pulling and yanking the hook deeper into the elephant’s flesh.
Both ends inflict damage. The trainer uses the hook and the point to apply varying degrees of pressure to sensitive spots on the elephant’s body (see diagram), causing the elephant to move away from the source of discomfort. Holding the hooked end, the handle is swung like a baseball bat and induces substantial pain when the elephant is struck on the wrist, ankle, and other areas where there is little tissue between skin and bone.
The thickness of an elephant’s skin ranges from one inch across the back and hindquarters to paper-thin around the mouth and eyes, inside the ears, and at the anus. Their skin appears deceptively tough, but in reality it is so delicate that an elephant can feel the pain of an insect bite. A bullhook can easily inflict pain and injury on an elephant’s sensitive skin. Trainers often embed the hook in the soft tissue behind the ears, inside the ear or mouth, in and around the anus, and in tender spots under the chin and around the feet.
San Jose, Calif., humane inspectors found that seven elephants used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus "had injuries behind or on the back of their left ears. Some of the elephants had scars behind their left ears. Almost all of the injuries appeared to be fresh, with bright red blood present at the wound sites." These bloody wounds were likely caused by the bullhook. In fact, Ringling opposed a proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy that stated, "An ankus may not be used in an abusive manner that causes wounds or other injuries." Former Ringling employee Glen Ewell said that beating elephants with bullhooks was a normal routine and that "Ringling even employs a guy to use some special powder to stop up the bleeding when an elephant is hooked too hard. They call it ‘spot work.’" The powder is Wonder Dust, or something similar, used to conceal the wound and stop the bleeding.USDA inspectors noted and described bullhook wounds on elephants used by Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus elephants: "Helen and Bessie both have several white circular inactive ankus scars. Bessie has white circular inactive ankus scars under her chin, on the neck, and dorsal areas. Helen also has the same type of scars behind her right eye and at the dorsal right ear. She also has two longitudinal scars on her tail. … Two of the six elephants had obvious hook mark wounds on their rear legs. Some hook marks were also observed under the jaw of one elephant. … [F]our of the six elephants were observed with what appears to be hook marks. These wounds were small in size, round, some were healing, while others were red in appearance. These wounds were present on rear legs, above tails, and on [the] back of front legs."Within hours of being punctured by a bullhook, a welt or boil may erupt. The wound may grow larger if it becomes infected.
While performing in the ring, an elephant responds to verbal commands from a trainer carrying a bullhook and moderate pressure from the bullhook because the elephant has been conditioned through violent training sessions that refusal to obey in the ring will result in severe punishment later. Moments before entering the ring, while out of view of the public, trainers may give the elephants a few painful whacks to remind them who's boss and ensure that the elephants perform the specified tricks on command.Because a dispirited elephant submits to a dominant trainer toting a bullhook, circuses mislead the public with spurious claims that a bullhook is only used to guide or cue an elephant. The difficult tricks that elephants are forced to perform place a great deal of stress on their muscles and joints. They are physically strenuous and no elephant would perform these grotesquely exaggerated maneuvers on command, over and over, hundreds of times a year without the constant threat of punishment. In the wild, an adult elephant would lie down in slow, gradual movements no more than once or twice per day. A typical circus act requires that they lie down and rise very quickly several times in a single show. If it were possible for an elephant to simply be "guided" to perform rapid successions of headstands, hind-leg stands, lying down, tub-sitting, crawling, and twirling, the trainer would be carrying a soft, cotton wand, not a hard, pointed object.Elephants exhibit typical pain avoidance responses to the bullhook by recoiling or emitting fear vocalizations.
In addition to bullhooks, trainers use baseball bats, ax handles, pitchforks, and electric shock. Chains, ropes, and block-and-tackle are used as restraints.
Alan Roocroft, an elephant consultant to circuses and zoos, cowrote in his book Managing Elephants:
[W]hen corporal punishment is administered to an elephant, it has to be fairly forceful in order that it is perceived by the elephant to be punishment at all. … [T]he trainer must now intimidate the animal in order to acquire a dominant position. … [R]estraining a potentially hostile elephant needs at least a crew of eight, preferably 10, in order to insure sufficient ‘muscle’ is available. Once immobilized, the elephant may be the object of punishment in the form of blows with a wooden rod.
In I Loved Rogues, elephant trainers George "Slim" Lewis and Byron Fish wrote:
Circus animals are performers, and training them depends on a certain amount of rough treatment.What is true of training for performance is even more true of the basic discipline that must be established before an elephant can work or act. It isn’t kept in a cage, and, while it is chained much of the time, there are many occasions when it walks at liberty with only the respect it pays its handler to keep it in check. It is absolutely essential, therefore, that the animal must have this respect for its handler; and to get down to blunt facts, this quality begins with fear: fear of punishment and discomfort.A good stout stick should be used, and it should have a sharp prod on the end of it to keep the elephant from turning its head.[Teaching an elephant to lie down is] done by gradually tightening the chain, a few inches at a time, until the elephant is supporting its weight entirely on the front and hind legs that are free. It is very tiring for a bull to hold up its mass in this manner. When the handler sees it weakening, he gives the command, ‘Down! Come on down.’ The command is repeated until the elephant obeys. Just before it gives in, it will show signs of fear and defeat. Its eyes will bulge and its bowels become loose and watery as they are emptied several times. When the elephant finally surrenders and falls over on its side, it knows it is comparatively helpless and that it has lost a psychological battle.
In July 1998, 30 elephant calves between 2 and 7 years of age were captured from the Tuli Block in Botswana. Their front legs were tightly hobbled and the back legs chained in a stretched position so they were unable to lie down. They were deprived of adequate food and water and beaten repeatedly with rubber whips and bullhooks that caused abscesses and lesions. An investigator with the National Council for the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals described a training session, "One elephant was tied up in the warehouse. ... When the elephant simply moved its trunk or shifted its weight, the mahouts [elephant handlers] would all hit it. Especially the mahout in front, who would whip its face with a rubber whip. I counted that during this training session of 20 minutes, the elephant was hit or stabbed with an ankus a total of 136 times."
released shocking photos of baby elephants bound and electro-shocked by trainers in order to force them to
learn tricks. Ringling breaks the spirit of elephants when they're
vulnerable babies who should still be with their mothers. Parents taking their
children to the circus would think twice if they saw these shocking photos of the elephants who are
enslaved with ropes, bullhooks, and electric shock prods in
these violent training sessions—all for a few moments
Submission Is the Mission
The bullhook is a purposely cruel tool that is brandished against these gentle giants to coerce obedience. No circus could use elephants without it. Its appearance is so menacing that police charged a California activist with possessing a deadly weapon when she used a bullhook in an educational display at a circus demonstration to illustrate the barbaric treatment of performing animals .The federal Animal Welfare Act does not prohibit bullhook use, but some local communities do. Pompano Beach, Florida, banned the bullhook by amending its animal control ordinance to categorize it as a device that is "likely to cause physical injury, torment, or pain and suffering to animals."
Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more.
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What is Vision K-20?
Vision K-20 is the belief that to better prepare our nation's students, every K-20 educational institution should effectively utilize modern technologies to:
- Personalize learning to increase student engagement and achievement
- Document and track student performance
- Maximize teaching and administrative effectiveness
- Provide equity and access to new learning opportunities
- Empower collaborative learning communities
- Build student proficiencies in 21st century skills
SIIA's Vision K-20 includes 7 Educational Goals and 5 Technology Measures.
Read the full Vision & get started!
How you can use the Vision K-20 Survey
Educators in the classroom, district, or campus can use the Vision K-20 Survey to benchmark their current implementation. The Survey consists of 20 statements related to the Vision K-20 goals. Individual Survey results provide the survey responder with a yearly snapshot of their use of educational technology. Yearly progress can be tracked by completing the survey every year.
Educators can also indicate their ideal implementation relative to their current implementation. The "ideal implementation" responses, when compiled, create a common vision for how technology is best used to improve learning and teaching.
Take the Vision K-20 Survey!
Check your organization's progress towards the vision.Click Here
Learn more about the
7 Educational Goals and
5 Technology Measures for achieving the vision for
K-20 Education... Read more
Need help implementing
Vision K-20 at your institution? Check out these resources provided by SIIA members and partners...Click here
Research and case studies of the successful use of technology in the classroom... Read more
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A local area network, or LAN, might be what you’re connected to if you’re using your computer inside your home or another building. LANs connect computers within a relatively small area using Ethernet cables. You might recognize Ethernet cables, as it is most likely the manner in which you’re able to use the Internet right now. But what is the history of this networking standard? While it may seem like a new technology, the story of Ethernet begins back in 1973 in Palo Alto, California.
A researcher at the Xerox Corporation named Bob Metcalfe was the first to construct a working Ethernet network. Metcalfe was tasked with designing a system of networks for the Palo Alto Research Center that was able to connect the center’s computers to a new laser printer Xerox had just created. The challenge lied in constructing a fast network with the ability to connect to a large number of computers, something unheard of before the Ethernet.
In 1979, Metcalfe left the company to advance LAN technology, persuading companies such as Xerox, Intel and Digital Equipment to encourage the standardization of Ethernet.
Much like the Internet and all means of telecommunications, the Ethernet uses a protocol. The Ethernet’s protocol is called CSMA/CD, which includes three distinct components of the Ethernet’s operation. The first, carrier sense, ensures that computers connected to the network have carriers to send data through. The second, multiple access, means the connected computers can use the network as they please. The last, collision detection, confirms that simultaneous data sending does not interfere with each other and dispenses with corrupted data.
More than 70 percent of the world is connected through the Ethernet and local area networks, so the likelihood is high that you are as well. The Ethernet is fast and reliable thanks to the research of Metcalfe, and the technology is constantly improving.
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The Messel Pit Fossil Site, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 1995, holds some of the richest deposits of mammal fossils in the world.
To date, geoscientists have unearthed approx. 50,000 individual finds from the former volcanic crater lake, formed around 47 million years ago. These include ancestors of today’s mammals (e.g. prehistoric horses), fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians and plants. The preservation of fully articulated skeletons, skin and hair, unborn foetuses and stomach contents that reveal the animal’s last meal is truly remarkable. Museums in Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Messel display fascinating exhibits from the Messel pit and preserve them for future generations. From 2010, visitors can also discover more about ‘Time and the Worlds of Messel’ at the visitor centre. This window on the past is situated approx. 10km east of Darmstadt in the forests of the Messel hills and is easily accessible from Frankfurt.
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A composition of chlorate of potash and antimony, which readily ignites by friction.
“A friction-primer consists of a tube charged with gunpowder, to the top of which is fastened a spur containing friction-powder, which is exploded by means of a slider pulled out by a lanyard.”
‘friction-powder’ hasn't been added to any lists yet.
Looking for tweets for friction-powder.
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By adding together the eye movement data from a group of test subjects, we can learn where most people look in a given picture.
To create the image below, the eye-tracking technology recorded the scanpath data of sixteen different subjects and compiled the information into composite images, called heatmaps. The red and orange colors show where 80-100% of the subjects halted their gaze. The bluer or darker areas show where hardly anyone looked.
Here’s the heatmap for the painting Marketplace of Ideas, which we discussed in the last two posts.
It turns out that there was very little interest in either of the main vertical columns. Instead, the red splotches reveal a concentration of interest in the figures. There were secondary interest areas in the far buildings and the sign in the upper right.
The interest in people, especially faces, appears to reflect a hardwired instinct to understand our fellow humans.
In the heatmap for Chasing Shadows, which shows a group of children running along a beach with a Brachiosaurus, there’s a strong focal point around the dinosaur's front feet and the nearby running children.
There are secondary points of interest at the dinosaur’s head and the leading child. Note how the action of the walking pose was read without directly looking at the rear leg.
Other spots of interest congregate around the dinosaur’s tail, the base and the top of the tree, and the vanishing point along the beach.
Hardly anyone looked directly at the sky, the upper palm fronds, or the middle section of the palm trunk. But these areas were presumably perceived in the halo of peripheral vision around the center point of vision.
Have a look at this painting, and be aware of where your eyes travel.
The heatmap for the painting Camouflage (click to enlarge) shows that everyone noticed the dinosaur’s face. They also spotted the hidden man and the small pink dinosaur.
According to statistical data connected to timing, these three faces drew almost everyone’s attention within the first five seconds. The dinosaur's face was statistically the first thing most people looked at, followed quickly by the hiding man. Below is one subject's scanpath, with the black numbers counting off seconds.
I was surprised that the two patches of lichen on the tree above the man scored near 100% attention. Evidently viewers noticed these strange shapes in their peripheral vision and checked them to make sure they weren’t important, or somehow a threat to the man. From a narrative standpoint, I suppose they were a bit of a red herring, distracting with no payoff.
The sunken log and the detailed patch of leaves in the lower left drew 60% of the viewers, perhaps because those were likely places for other dangers to hide.
Just because an element has sharp detail or strong tonal contrasts, it doesn’t necessarily attract the eye. The dark branches behind the dinosaur’s head drew almost no attention because they fit into the natural schema of a forest scene. Apparently the viewers developed a search strategy based on the threatening situation of a hungry dinosaur looking for a bite to eat.
These experiments force us to question a few of our cherished notions about composition and picture-gazing.
1. The eye does not flow in smooth curves or circles, nor does it follow contours. It leaps from one point of interest to another. Curving lines or other devices may be "felt" in some way peripherally, but the eye doesn't move along them.
2. Placing an element on a golden section grid line doesn’t automatically attract attention. If an attention-getting element such as a face is placed in the scene, it will gather attention wherever you place it.
3. Two people don’t scan the same picture along the same route. But they do behave according to an overall strategy that alternates between establishing context and studying detail.
4. The viewer is not a passive player continuously controlled by a composition. Each person confronts an image actively, driven by a combination of conscious and unconscious impulses, which are influenced, but not determined, by the design of the picture.
5. The unconscious impulses seem to include the establishment of hierarchies of interest based on normal expectations or schema of a scene. For example, highly contrasting patterns of foliage or branches will not directly draw the gaze unless they are perceived as anomalous in the peripheral vision.
5. As pictorial designers we shouldn’t think in abstract terms alone. Abstract design elements do play a role in influencing where viewers look in a picture, but in pictures that include people or animals or a suggestion of a story, the human and narrative elements are what direct our exploration of a picture.
As Dr. Edwards succinctly puts it, “abstract design gets trumped by human stories.” The job of the artist, then, in composing pictures about people is to use abstract tools to reinforce the viewer’s natural desire to seek out a face and a story.
Related posts on GurneyJourney:
Eyetracking and Composition, part 1
Eyetracking and Composition, part 2
Eyetracking and Composition part 3
Introduction to eyetracking, link.
How perception of faces is coded differently, link.
All the paintings are from Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara.
Many thanks to the team at Eyetools, Inc. for their assistance.
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For her outstanding contributions to genetics and radiation biology including her discovery of the chromosomal basis for sex determination in mammals and her contributions to our knowledge of the effects of radiation on the developing embryo and fetus. Her findings, and their implications for humans, have been the benchmark for the study of mutations in mammals and for genetic risk assessment worldwide.
Liane B. Russell has made fundamental scientific contributions to basic genetics, teratogenesis, and mutagenesis. Some of the most renowned are her discovery of the chromosomal basis for sex-determination in mammals by establishing that the Y chromosome determines maleness in mammals, her demonstration that only one of two X chromosomes in a cell is active, and her discovery that mutations induced in reproductive cells at different stages differ qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Her findings, and their implications for humans, have been the benchmark for mammalian mutagenesis and for genetic risk assessment worldwide.
At a time when only scattered reports were available about the effects of radiation on embryos and fetuses, Dr. Russell undertook an extensive, systematic study in mice on the relationship between prenatal irradiation and the occurrence of developmental anomalies and birth defects. She was the first to identify periods during embryogeny that were critical for the normal development of various parts of the body. Her data helped convince doctors of the need for precautions against exposure of embryos to diagnostic irradiation, especially during very early stages when a pregnancy might still be unsuspected. Her specific recommendations for avoiding such exposures were accepted by the national and international medical community. Subsequent to her studies on developmental effects, Russell devoted her energies to studying the frequency and nature of mutations induced by radiations and chemicals in reproductive cells and transmitted to the next or future generations. She pioneered a number of mammalian mutagenesis tests that are in use worldwide.
Dr. Russell has been a leader in effecting the transition from classical genetics to molecular analysis. She had the foresight to preserve numerous mutants and subject them to in-depth genetic and functional analyses. Her group is now using this mutational resource as biological reagents for DNA-function/structure mapping and characterization of selected regions of the mouse genome and of corresponding portions of the human genome. The mouse provides an excellent model for exploring the in vivo functions of human genes and for studying the nature of genetic disorders because neither inducing mutations nor experimenting on development are feasible in humans. Recent examples of mutations being studied by Russell's group are some that cause congenital cleft palate, polycystic kidney disease, obesity/diabetes, and auto-immune disorder.
Over the past three decades, Russell has had a second career as a volunteer activist for the protection of wild and natural lands and rivers in Tennessee and the Nation. With the help of an organization she helped to found, her efforts have led, among other things, to the designation of the 125,000-acre Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the Obed National Wild and Scenic River. Last year she received the prestigious Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Award of the National Parks and Conservation Association.
Liane Brauch Russell was born in 1923 in Vienna, Austria. She earned her A.B. from Hunter College in New York City in 1945 and she became a naturalized citizen in 1946. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Dr. Russell began her career as a research assistant at Jackson Memorial Laboratory and as a fellow at the University of Chicago. In 1947, she moved to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she is currently Senior Corporate Fellow and Section Head. Her many honors include the international Roentgen Medal (1973), Hunter College Hall of Fame (1979), and the Environmental Mutagen Society's EMS Award (1993). Dr. Russell was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1986.
Back to 1990's Laureates
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Warning Signs of Suicide in Children and Teens
Common warning signs for suicide include:
- Making suicidal statements.
- Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.
- Giving away belongings.
- Withdrawing from friends and family.
- Having aggressive or hostile behavior.
It is extremely important that you take all threats of suicide seriously and seek immediate treatment for your child or teenager. If you are a child or teen and have these feelings, talk with your parents, an adult friend, or your doctor right away to get some help.
Other warning signs can include:
- Neglecting personal appearance.
- Running away from home.
- Risk-taking behavior, such as reckless driving or being sexually promiscuous.
- A change in personality (such as from upbeat to quiet).
Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts
Certain problems increase the chances of suicidal thoughts in children and teens. Other problems may trigger a suicide attempt.
- Problems that increase the chances of suicidal thoughts include having:
- Reference Depression Opens New Window or another mental health problem, such as Reference bipolar disorder Opens New Window (manic-depressive illness) or Reference schizophrenia Opens New Window.
- A parent with Reference depression Opens New Window or Reference substance abuse Opens New Window problems.
- Tried suicide before.
- A friend, peer, family member, or hero (such as a sports figure or musician) who recently attempted or committed suicide.
- A disruptive or abusive family life.
- A history of sexual abuse.
- Problems that may trigger a suicide attempt in children and
- Possession or purchase of a weapon, pills, or other means of inflicting self-harm.
- Drug or alcohol use problems.
- Witnessing the suicide of a family member.
- Problems at school, such as falling grades, disruptive behavior, or frequent absences.
- Loss of a parent or close family member through death or divorce.
- Legal or discipline problems.
- Stress caused by physical changes related to puberty, chronic illness, and/or sexually transmitted diseases.
- Staying separate from others and keeping thoughts to themselves.
- Uncertainty surrounding sexual orientation (such as bisexuality or homosexuality).
Signs of depression, which can lead to suicidal behavior, include:
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed.
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits.
- Difficulty thinking and concentrating.
- Complaints of continued boredom.
- Complaints of headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue with no actual physical problems.
- Expressions of guilt and/or not allowing anyone to give him or her praise or rewards.
FDA advisory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Reference advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, a person taking antidepressants should be watched for warning signs of suicide. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.
|By:||Reference Healthwise Staff||Last Revised: Reference April 5, 2011|
|Medical Review:||Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.sutterhealth.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?A=C&type=info&hwid=ty6090§ion=ty6090-sec
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Now Playing:Aerial video Japan's mega-quake near nuclear plant center
Description: Japanese Prime Minister Naota Kan is telling people living near a crippled nuclear power plant to stay indoors. Kan went on NHK Television in Japan today to warn people of the dangers of being exposed to elevated radiation levels. He says radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in northeastern Japan following Friday's 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. And, he says, there's a threat of further leaks of radioactive substances. Some 70000 people living within 12 miles of the nuclear plant already have been evacuated. But another 140000 remain in the new warning zone of within 19 miles of the plant. The prime minister says engineers are working hard to prevent any further radioactive leaks or explosions.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.vidoosh.tv/videos/10599/aerial-video-japans-mega-quake-near-nuclear-plant-center
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The Bible is at the heart of Christian Science. As a child, Mary Baker Eddy took to the Bible instinctively and as an adult studied it intensively. Through this study she discovered the healing power of God and experienced it firsthand. This inspired her to delve even deeper into the Scriptures, finding their spiritual meaning, which ultimately led to her writing the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Together the Bible and Science and Health are the pastor of the Christian Science Church.
Christian Scientists follow Mrs. Eddy’s powerful example of scriptural study, searching the Bible for the spiritual truths it contains. The Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly are an important component of this study. Each week brings a new Lesson consisting of correlated passages from the Bible and Science and Health organized to show that issues people are confronting every day—from sickness and injury to financial problems, unhappy relationships, and more—are addressed and healed by the laws of God illustrated in the Bible. As people see that what they’re learning from the Bible Lessons helps them in tangible ways, they naturally find that the spiritual truths found in the Bible Lesson can also be brought to bear on crime, environmental issues, and other global challenges.
At the end of the week in which a Lesson is studied, it’s read as the Sunday sermon in Christian Science churches worldwide. Listening to the Lesson with understanding and inspiration rooted in the week’s in-depth study and application of the ideas presented in the Lesson creates a healing atmosphere that embraces and benefits everyone present. The Lesson also is a prominent fixture in Christian Science Sunday Schools, where young people learn how to apply spiritual laws in their own lives to help not only themselves but everyone around them.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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Dust and ash plumes off California
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
October’s massive wildfires in Southern California stripped the ground of the vegetation that holds dirt in place. The freshly exposed soil and the overlying ashes are vulnerable to winds, as this true color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image shows. Here, a tan plume of dust and ash is blowing over the Pacific Ocean and San Clemente Island. In this image, newly burned areas are dark brown against the tan of the surrounding land. The sprawling grey patch along the coast is Los Angeles. Beneath the dust plume, a smaller grey area is the city of San Diego. The dust is clearly coming from the burn scar left by the Cedar fire near San Diego. The Terra satellite captured this image on November 27, 2003.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=69424
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Explore health content from A to Z.
I need information about...
Have you every wondered what causes a stroke? Your experience may reflect that it occurs suddenly, without warning. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. View the animation and learn how and why strokes occur and more importantly, warning signs that can save a life.
Copyright © 2013 Baylor Health Care System All Rights Reserved. | 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246-2017 | 1.800.4BAYLOR
Privacy and Patient Rights |
Site Map |
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://healthsource.baylorhealth.com/94,P08396
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Not too long ago I was reading the book The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom, 1750-1925by Herbert Gutman (New York: Random House, 1976). This book is considered a standard in the field of the study of enslaved families, though it also has many opponents.
Reading the book through the eyes of a genealogist who specializes in the study of enslaved families, I was struck by a weakness in Gutman’s methodology. While he does indeed utilize a wide variety of record groups, making the greatest use of Freedmen’s Bureau records and manuscript plantation records, Gutman only uses a single record group for any individual slave or group of slaves. As a genealogist we know that we must examine all relevant records in order to come to a genealogical conclusion. Gutman’s conclusions about the families he discusses should have been bolstered through the use of federal census enumerations, tax lists, probate records, and the combination of deeds and maps. Yet he does not use these records and his identifications of enslaved families suffer because of this negligence.
But the bottom line for Gutman was not how specific slaves were related. His identification of the relationships between various slaves served only to demonstrate the truth of his conclusions. This is the difference between historians and genealogists. For the genealogist, the identification of an individual or specific relationships among various individuals are the conclusions we seek. For the historian, these identifications are the evidence upon which their conclusions are formed. The conclusions are much more generalized. Gutman believed that “enslaved families did this” while his detractors and opponents believe that “enslaved families did that.” Whether these conclusions are true for a specific family is beside the point.
I read quite a bit of historical research to improve my genealogical research. Books, journal articles, and dissertations all express the latest thoughts of this or that historian. I appreciate these perspectives because they help me blend my genealogical research methodologies with more generalized historical research methodologies.
Understanding the generalities can provide significant insight into the families I am researching. Did they behave in a manner common to others of their background in that location during that time period? Or were they “odd men out”? This may help to explain and identify their actions throughout their lives.
This is just a single example of how historical research can inform genealogical research.
I began this essay by speaking of the weaknesses of Gutman’s study. Had his conclusions been based on a more methodological–and genealogical–study of the relevant evidence, rather than a select group of records, his conclusions would have been far more, well, conclusive.
This is a single example of how genealogical research can inform historical research.
I recently became aware of the work of Mark Auslander. Dr. Auslander is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and the Director of the Museum of Culture and Environment at Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington.
In an interview concerning his book, The Accidental Slaveowner: Revisiting a Myth of Race and Finding an American Family, Dr. Auslander described a research trail that will sound familiar to genealogists:
I had learned at the National Archives in Washington D.C. that Kitty’s second son was named Russell Nathan Boyd; might he have been named for his father I asked Tolstoy, who purred approvingly. So I called up Freedman’s Savings Bank records on Ancestry.com, and lo and behold, there was a “Nathan Boyd,” opening a bank account in Atlanta in 1871, listing as his wife “Catherine, Dead” and as his eldest son, “Alfred Boyd.” That led me and my wife to Keosauqua, Iowa, where Alfred had settled after the Civil War, and along the trail of African Methodist Episcopal churches he had pastored in the midwest, leading to the church in Rockford, Illinois where his great grandson Mr. Caldwell, an enormously kind man in his eighties, served as trustee.
Dr. Auslander even used Ancestry.com!
In another post, on his blog Cultural Productions, Dr. Auslander illustrates his philosophies on blending historical and genealogical research:
My recently completed book manuscript (The Accidental Slaveowner: Revisiting a Myth of the American South) attempts to integrate restorative cemetery work and genealogical research–in a way that is linked to a single institution of higher learning, Emory University.
I have not yet read The Accidental Slaveowner, but it has been placed at the top of my “to-read” list.
I would like to applaud Dr. Mark Auslander, and his recognition of the value that genealogical research can have for historians.
Derek Krisoff, “Mark Auslander interviewed about The Accidental Slave Owner,” in Mark Auslander’s The Accidental Slaveowner Blog, posted on 1 August 2011 (http://www.theaccidentalslaveowner.com/Mark_Auslander/Blog/Blog.html : accessed 27 Aug 2011).
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://michaelhait.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/genealogy-and-history/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=9233933e84
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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Provides an object representation of a uniform resource identifier (URI) and easy access to the parts of the URI.
Assembly: System (in System.dll)
Thetype exposes the following members.
|Uri(String)||Initializes a new instance of the class with the specified URI.|
|Uri(String, UriKind)||Initializes a new instance of the class with the specified URI. This constructor allows you to specify if the URI string is a relative URI, absolute URI, or is indeterminate.|
|Uri(Uri, String)||Initializes a new instance of the class based on the specified base URI and relative URI string.|
|Uri(Uri, Uri)||Initializes a new instance of the class based on the combination of a specified base instance and a relative instance.|
|AbsolutePath||Gets the absolute path of the URI.|
|AbsoluteUri||Gets the absolute URI.|
|DnsSafeHost||Gets an unescaped host name that is safe to use for DNS resolution.|
|Fragment||Gets the escaped URI fragment.|
|Host||Gets the host component of this instance.|
|IsAbsoluteUri||Gets whether the instance is absolute.|
|IsUnc||Gets whether the specified is a universal naming convention (UNC) path.|
|LocalPath||Gets a local operating-system representation of a file name.|
|OriginalString||Gets the original URI string that was passed to the constructor.|
|Port||Gets the port number of this URI.|
|Query||Gets any query information included in the specified URI.|
|Scheme||Gets the scheme name for this URI.|
|UserEscaped||Indicates that the URI string was completely escaped before the instance was created.|
|UserInfo||Gets the user name, password, or other user-specific information associated with the specified URI.|
|CheckSchemeName||Determines whether the specified scheme name is valid.|
|Compare||Compares the specified parts of two URIs using the specified comparison rules.|
|Equals||Compares two instances for equality. (Overrides Object.Equals(Object).)|
|EscapeDataString||Converts a string to its escaped representation.|
|EscapeUriString||Converts a URI string to its escaped representation.|
|Finalize||Allows an object to try to free resources and perform other cleanup operations before the Object is reclaimed by garbage collection. (Inherited from Object.)|
|FromHex||Gets the decimal value of a hexadecimal digit.|
|GetComponents||Gets the specified components of the current instance using the specified escaping for special characters.|
|GetHashCode||Gets the hash code for the URI. (Overrides Object.GetHashCode().)|
|GetType||Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object.)|
|IsBaseOf||Determines whether the current instance is a base of the specified instance.|
|IsHexDigit||Determines whether a specified character is a valid hexadecimal digit.|
|IsWellFormedUriString||Indicates whether the string is well-formed by attempting to construct a with the string and ensures that the string does not require further escaping.|
|MakeRelativeUri||Determines the difference between two instances.|
|MemberwiseClone||Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object.)|
|ToString||Gets a canonical string representation for the specified instance. (Overrides Object.ToString().)|
|TryCreate(String, UriKind, Uri)||Creates a new using the specified String instance and a UriKind.|
|TryCreate(Uri, String, Uri)||Creates a new using the specified base and relative String instances.|
|TryCreate(Uri, Uri, Uri)||Creates a new using the specified base and relative instances.|
|UnescapeDataString||Converts a string to its unescaped representation.|
|SchemeDelimiter||Specifies the characters that separate the communication protocol scheme from the address portion of the URI. This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeFile||Specifies that the URI is a pointer to a file. This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeFtp||Specifies that the URI is accessed through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeGopher||Specifies that the URI is accessed through the Gopher protocol. This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeHttp||Specifies that the URI is accessed through the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeHttps||Specifies that the URI is accessed through the Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS). This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeMailto||Specifies that the URI is an e-mail address and is accessed through the Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP). This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeNetPipe||Specifies that the URI is accessed through the NetPipe scheme of the "Indigo" system. This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeNetTcp||Specifies that the URI is accessed through the NetTcp scheme of the "Indigo" system. This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeNews||Specifies that the URI is an Internet news group and is accessed through the Network News Transport Protocol (NNTP). This field is read-only.|
|UriSchemeNntp||Specifies that the URI is an Internet news group and is accessed through the Network News Transport Protocol (NNTP). This field is read-only.|
A URI is a compact representation of a resource available to your application on the intranet or Internet. The class defines the properties and methods for handling URIs, including parsing, comparing, and combining. The class properties are read-only; to create a modifiable object, use the UriBuilder class.
Relative URIs (for example, "/new/index.htm") must be expanded with respect to a base URI so that they are absolute. The MakeRelativeUri method is provided to convert absolute URIs to relative URIs when necessary.
The constructors do not escape URI strings if the string is a well-formed URI including a scheme identifier.
The properties return a canonical data representation in escaped encoding, with all characters with Unicode values greater than 127 replaced with their hexadecimal equivalents. To put the URI in canonical form, the constructor performs the following steps:
Converts the URI scheme to lowercase.
Converts the host name to lowercase.
If the host name is an IPv6 address, the canonical IPv6 address is used. ScopeId and other optional IPv6 data are removed.
Removes default and empty port numbers.
Canonicalizes the path for hierarchical URIs by compacting sequences such as /./, /../, //, including escaped representations. Note that there are some schemes for which escaped representations are not compacted.
For hierarchical URIs, if the host is not terminated with a forward slash (/), one is added.
Any reserved characters in the URI are escaped in accordance with RFC 3986.
As part of canonicalization in the constructor for some schemes, escaped representations are compacted. The schemes for which URI will compact escaped sequences include the following: file, http, https, net.pipe, and net.tcp. For all other schemes, escaped sequences are not compacted. For example: if you percent encode the two dots ".." as "%2E%2E" then the URI constructor will compact this sequence for some schemes. For example, the following code sample shows a URI constructor for the http scheme.
Uri uri = new Uri("http://myUrl/%2E%2E/%2E%2E"); Console.WriteLine(uri.AbsoluteUri); Console.WriteLine(uri.Query);
When this code is executed, it returns the following output with the escaped sequence compacted.
The following code example shows a URI constructor for the ftp scheme:
Uri uri = new Uri("ftp://myUrl/%2E%2E/%2E%2E"); Console.WriteLine(uri.AbsoluteUri); Console.WriteLine(uri.Query);
When this code is executed, it returns the following output with the escaped sequence not compacted.
You can transform the contents of the class from an escape encoded URI reference to a readable URI reference by using the ToString method. Note that some reserved characters might still be escaped in the output of the ToString method. This is to support unambiguous reconstruction of a URI from the value returned by ToString.
Some URIs include a fragment identifier or a query or both. A fragment identifier is any text that follows a number sign (#), not including the number sign; the fragment text is stored in the Fragment property. Query information is any text that follows a question mark (?) in the URI; the query text is stored in the Query property.
The URI class supports the use of IP addresses in both dotted-decimal quad-notation for IPv4 protocol and colon-hexadecimal for IPv6 protocol. Remember to enclose the IPv6 address in square brackets, as in http://[::1].
The constructors for allow a Silverlight application to create a instance for many schemes as described in the Scheme property. However, only instances for the UriSchemeHttp or UriSchemeHttps schemes are supported by the WebClient and HTTP classes in the System.Net namespace.
International Resource Identifier Not Supported
Web addresses are typically expressed using uniform resource identifiers that consist of a very restricted set of characters:
Upper and lower case ASCII letters from the English alphabet.
Digits from 0 to 9.
A small number of other ASCII symbols.
The specifications for URIs are documented in RFC 2396 and RFC 3986 published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
With the growth of the Internet, there is a growing need to identify resources using languages other than English. Identifiers which facilitate this need and allow non-ASCII characters (characters in the Unicode/ISO 10646 character set) are known as International Resource Identifiers (IRIs). The specifications for IRIs are documented in RFC 3987 published by IETF. Using IRIs allows a URL to contain Unicode characters.
The existing class in Silverlight does not currently provide support for IRI or Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) parsing applied to the domain name.
Silverlight applications cannot derive new classes from the class.
If you use a Web.config file that contains URIs to initialize your application, additional time is required to process the URIs if their scheme identifiers are non-standard. In such a case, initialize the affected parts of your application when the URIs are needed, not at start time.
Because of security concerns, your application should use caution when accepting instances from untrusted sources and with dontEscape set to true.
For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.
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Monte Sant' Angelo and the Via Sacra Langobardorum
Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities
Region: Puglia - Province: Foggia
Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.
Ever since the Greek colonisation, multifarious myths and rites took hold in the Gargano until this area was Christianised - partly on account of the peculiar morphological features, being this a wild, rugged area, covered by forests, and rich in ravines. Many of those myths and rites were related to the presence of therapeutic waters and the practice called incubatio, i.e. a rite whereby one had to sleep close to a holy place to receive, in the following morning, revelations from a deity. These pre-existing rites left some traces in the features typical of the cult of St. Michael.
The history of the shrine and the cult of the Angel in the Gargano could be outlined on the basis of the "Liber de apparitione sancti Michaelis in Monte Gargano", a hagiographic text dating back to the end of the 8th century. The first appearance of the Archangel is said traditionally to have occurred in the year 490, however it is quite likely that the cult arrived in the Gargano in the mid-5th century or even at the beginning of that century. Initially, the cult of the Archangel Michael was mainly a cult of natural, healing forces based on the Saint's appearance and revelations - in line with the ancient pagan worship - and was strongly marked by oriental influences.
Starting from the half of the 7th century, the shrine became the most important place of the cult for the Archangel Michael in the Western world; it was the aim of numberless pilgrimages undertaken by both famous characters and worshippers from all social areas, some of them coming from remote locations. Nowadays, St. Michael's cave continues to be visited by pilgrims.
The huge development of this cult is inextricably related to the coming of Lombards to the Southern part of Italy, at the end of the 6th century. They founded the Duchy of Benevento and marched repeatedly as far as Sipontum, which at that time was under Byzantine rule; it is there that they came in touch with the cult of St. Michael, in whom they recognised many features typical of their main pagan deity, i.e. Wodan. Recently, several early medieval inscriptions could be found, where religious and social traditions of the Lombards are expressly referred to - which led to amending the views developed by previous historians. Lombard sovereigns also repeatedly restored and enlarged the shrine.
The contacts with the Lombards partly modified the features of this cult. Preference was given to the image of the Saint as head of celestial armies - a warrior and the patron saint of warriors. There is little doubt that the devotion to the Archangel Michael facilitated the quick conversion of the Lombards to Catholicism.
The cave in the Gargano was the Lombards' national shrine up to the end of the 9th century, when the Byzantines came back to the Gargano area and tried - albeit unsuccessfully - to appropriate the origin of the cult for the Archangel. Meanwhile, the Normans were conquering the Southern part of Italy, and they also developed a strong link with the shrine in the Gargano - partly because they were already familiar with the cult of St. Michael in Normandy.
Starting from the early Middle Ages, there were numberless pilgrims who went to visit St. Michael's cave and left indelible traces of their passage on the stones and rocks making up the shrine. There are actually symbols, prayers, messages, signs or just names (of Greek, Latin, Semitic, Saxon and German origin, bearing testimony to the heterogeneous features of the pilgrims flocking to this place) inscribed all over the place; they date back to different periods, which shows the unrelenting devotion paid to the shrine uninterruptedly - a feature that is almost unequalled in the Christian world. The earliest traces left by pilgrims date back to the 6th century, therefore they antedate even those related to the Compostela route - the well-known camino jacobeo. The pilgrims include high-ranking members of the Church, members of imperial and royal families, noblemen as well as representatives from the lower classes - which shows that the cult had taken hold also among the have-nots. Exceptional importance should be attached to the presence - which is unique in Italy - of at least five inscriptions written in letters of the ancient Runic alphabet; they were left by Anglo-Saxon pilgrims and bear testimony to the European dimension attained by this pilgrimage in the early Middle Ages.
Additionally, the shrine became an important stop on the route leading to the Holy Land.
With the spreading of the cult for St. Michael, the road crossing the Stigliano Valley - which was basically the same as the ancient via Traiana - was named Via Sacra Langobardorum [i.e. Holy Road of the Lombards]. Along the via Sacra, several shrines can be found together with the traces of the buildings affording shelter to pilgrims (churches, hostels, monasteries, inns, hospitals) and highly valuable historical and artistic items.
The town of Monte Sant'Angelo itself shows remarkable features as to both its urban structure and the historical and artistic sights. The town can be regarded as one of the most interesting examples in Apulia of a "settlement" perched on the crest of a hill; its buildings follow the level curves of the mountain without affecting the integrity of the landscape, whilst defence requirements could be met by building a castle on the topmost part of the town.
Among the monuments in the town, reference should be made to St. Michael's Shrine, whose bronze doors were cast in Constantinople in 1076 whilst Charles of Anjou - under whose rule major works were carried out on the Shrine and its original structure was modified - had the octagonal spire built in the second half of the 13th century. Mention should also be made of the Castle, the so-called Tomb of Rotari - probably a Baptistry dating back to the 12th century - and the Santa Maggiore Church.
The Shrine has always played a key role in the development of the historical centre of Monte Sant'Angelo. Most of the buildings within both the first and the second circle of walls, i.e. those built between the 11th and the 13th century, are closely related to religious activities and the need to provide accommodation to pilgrims. Therefore, the urban structure very much resembled that of an Abbey until the 13th century.
The Shrine in the Gargano was taken as a model also outside Italy. In particular, in France, at the beginning of the 8th century, a shrine was dedicated to St. Michael on a promontory jutting out between Brittany and Normandy - and it came to be known worldwide as the Mont Saint Michel. As a consequence, the cult for St. Michael became widespread in France as well, and many other places of worship were dedicated to the Saint; special importance should be attached to one of them, i.e. St. Michael's Monastery at Verdun, which was founded around the year 722 by Wolfand after he had come back from a pilgrimage to the Gargano.
Satements of authenticity and/or integrityIntegrity of both the cultural landscape along the Via Sacra Langobardorum and the relevant monuments are guaranteed by the many measures banning any changes, as taken pursuant to national legislation protecting cultural heritage; in addition, they are safeguarded by town-planning provisions for territorial governance.
Comparison with other similar properties
Over two hundred places of worship dedicated to St. Michael can be found in the sole Langobardia minor, whilst many other such places can be found in the rest of Italy and in Europe - where the cult for St. Michael took hold between the 8th and the 9th century. However, the Shrine at Monte Sant'Angelo is the oldest place of worship dedicated to St. Michael in the western world, and served as the model for all other shrines.
The pilgrimage to the Shrine in the Gargano, as shown by the graffiti dating back to the 6th century left by pilgrims, antedates the practice of the pilgrimage to Compostela along the well-known camino jacobeo.
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Since the 14th of December, the tropical tempest Washi litteraly shakes the South of the Philippines, and provokes deadly floods, rivers of mud and debris, and mudslides. Entire villages are said to have disappeared in this region, usually spared by typhoons. According to the last information, the death toll would rise to 1.010 and numerous missing people.
The poorest layers of the population, living in flimsy housing at the water's edge, were particularly touched by the catastrophe. Millions of people are, as a consequence, homeless and lack food or clothes. At the same time, more than 280.000 people would be displaced, 40.000 could be sheltered in temporary housing centers.
President, Benigno Aquino, promised to the victims a special help from the State, devoted to the building of new houses. One condition to receive this finantial assistance: avoid the areas liable to flooding. The government and the Red Cross asked the international society to answer to the urge needs. The UN relayed this call. On the EU's side, 3 million euros were given to the local authorities to evacuate the victims and enable a food and sanitary assistance.
The important issue is above all to prevent any emidemic to develop. With corpses, debris, water stagnation, the situation might slip soon.
This natural disaster is only one out of the long list of the ones that occured in 2011. Unfortunately, because of climate change, dramatic situations like this are likely to increase. According to the estimates, 375 million people might be victims of natural disasters before 2015.
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Doom for the universe from Higgs Boson 'God particle', say researchers
The mass of the so called 'God particle', uncovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, is a key ingredient in a calculation that signals the future of space and time.
"This calculation tells you that many tens of billions of years from now there will be a catastrophe," Joseph Lykken, a theoretical physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia said.
"It may be the universe we live in is inherently unstable, and at some point billions of years from now it's all going to get wiped out," added Lykken, a collaborator on one of the LHC's experiments.
The sub-atomic particle is a manifestation of an energy field pervading the universe called the Higgs field, which is thought to explain why particles have mass, 'LiveScience' reported.
Physicists at the LHC announced in July 2012 that they had discovered a new particle whose properties strongly suggest it is the Higgs Boson.
To confirm the particle's identity for sure, more data are needed. But many scientists say they're betting it is the Higgs.
"This discovery to me was personally astounding," said I Joseph Kroll, a University of Pennsylvania physicist.
"To me, the Higgs was sort of, it might be there, it might not. The fact that it's there is really a tremendous accomplishment," Kroll said.
And finding the Higgs, if it's truly been found, not only confirms the theory about how particles get mass, but it allows scientists to make new calculations that were not possible before the particle's properties were known.
If that particle really is the Higgs, its mass turns out to be just about what's needed to make the universe fundamentally unstable, in a way that would cause it to end catastrophically in the far future.
Because the Higgs field is thought to be everywhere, so it affects the vacuum of empty space-time in the universe.
"The mass of the Higgs is related to how stable the vacuum is," said Christopher Hill, a physicist at Ohio State University.
Scientists said if the Higgs mass were just a few per cent different, the universe would not be doomed.
Be the first to comment.
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Do Stink Bugs Stink?
Stink bugs get their name from the unpleasant odor they produce when they are threatened. Scientists think this odor helps protect the bugs against predators.
The stink bugs produce the smelly chemical in a gland on their abdomen. Some species can actually spray the chemical several inches.
There are many species of stink bugs in North America. They are found in almost every area of the United States. Since most stink bugs feed on plants outdoors, homeowners often do not notice them until the bugs make their way inside the home.
In some areas, certain stink bugs enter homes and other buildings during the summer and fall. They spend the winter inside walls, attics or crawl spaces.
In the springtime, the bugs try to leave the home. They often come out inside the living space. They gather on walls and windows where they become a nuisance.
Many stink bugs are large insects. Some can reach almost 2 cm in length. Their size and their unpleasant odor make them very unwelcome visitors.
Some homeowners use a vacuum cleaner to remove stink bugs from the walls or windows of their homes. The smell sometimes remains in the vacuum for some time.
Homeowners who want to prevent stink bugs from invading should start by inspecting the outside of the home carefully. Cracks around windows and doors can be entryways for bugs. These cracks can be sealed with caulk. Caulk can also seal holes around pipes and cables that enter the home. Attic and crawl space vents should be screened. Torn or damaged window screens should also be repaired.
When faced with stink bug invasions, pest control professionals can develop a pest control strategy and select the most effective next steps.
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Advantages of Quitting Smoking
Smoking cessation has immediate health benefits, including decreased tobacco stains on teeth, improved lung health, and restored sense of taste and smell.
Photograph by Lukasz Jac (sxc.hu)
Quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to enhance your well-being and live a long, healthy life. The affects begin to show about 20 minutes after you put out your cigarette.
According to the American Heart Association, smokers are twice as likely to die from a heart attack as are nonsmokers. When you quit smoking, circulation increases, and the carbon monoxide and oxygen levels return to a normal state of operation. This affect shows up 20 minutes after your final smoking experience.
Smoking causes 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. Just 2 months after you quit smoking, the functioning of the lungs improves almost 30 percent, according to the American Lung Association. Breathing becomes easier in times of stress, exercise and taking care of your children.
Your risk of getting cancer will lessen with each passing year. Smoking not only puts you in danger of getting lung cancer, but you also risk getting other forms of cancer as well, such as cancer of the mouth, larynx, stomach, throat, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney and cervix.
Quitting smoking will help keep your eye muscles from degenerating, so you will not have to worry about smoking-related blindness as you age.
Women who quit smoking have a better chance of carrying their babies the full term. Women who smoke are more likely to have a miscarriage or have a baby with lower birth weight. Babies born with low birth weight may have physical handicaps, or they may not survive.
Quit smoking now, and you will have immediate advantages. Your breath smells better to others, your teeth will appear whiter, your clothes will start to smell better as your sense of smell returns, yellow fingernails will go away, everyday activities will not leave you gasping for air, and foods and drinks will taste better, as your sense of taste returns to normal.
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Since its birth, Pakistan has faced grave water challenges. Chief among these has been obtaining access to the headwaters of the Indus and rivers of the Punjab, whose headwaters were, at the stroke of a British pen, committed to other countries. A second major challenge has been dealing with waterlogging and salinity in the world’s largest contiguous irrigation system. [This problem led to a long and highly productive relationship with Harvard, which started in 1963 when Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan asked U.S. President John F. Kennedy for help. A multidisciplinary Harvard team was mobilized and worked closely with Pakistani experts to devise a solution to what seemed to be an intractable issue]
Today, Pakistan faces the “Malthusian-plus” challenge of dealing with rapidly growing water demands (for energy, agriculture and people) from a resource base that is likely to change substantially as the glaciers of the western Himalayas melt and monsoon patterns change.
As might be expected for a country which depends on one river, Pakistan long has had outstanding water and water-related professionals. The Harvard Initiative would partner with a consortium of Pakistani researchers, with Pakistan’s premier private university, LUMS in Lahore, acting as the convening partner institution. An initial Harvard/Pakistan meeting will take place in Lahore in June 2009 and will focus on sketching areas of potential joint interest. The focus will then be on obtaining funding for young professionals – undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs and young faculty – who would address specific issues as part of an overall framework to identify risks to water resources and devise strategies for adapting to those risks. There has been a strong positive response from professional and political leaders in Pakistan to the idea of re-kindling a water partnership with Harvard, in the context of the broader Harvard South Asia Initiative.
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http://www.johnbriscoe.seas.harvard.edu/research/pakistan
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|Product #: TCR3999|
Ancient History Readers' Theater Grd 5 & up
Why use Readers' Theater in history classes? The format gives students a sense of involvement with the human dramas that make up history. Performers can relate to the tension of a young married couple escaping from slavery to freedom. They can imagine the terror of wading through the water at Omaha Beach as bullets strike their buddies. They can visualize Hugh Glass crawling across rocks and cactus on his 100 mile journey to safety. Each of 15 scripts is accompanied by background information, extension activities (including literature connections), and discussion questions.
Submit a review
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Record Search Query:[Parameters: Topic='BIOSPHERE', Term='TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS', Variable_Level_1='DESERTS']
GIS analysis, biological samples (soil microorganism, invertebrate and plant), automatic weather station data and vegetation and invertebrate surveys to determine the terrestrial biocomplexity of the McMurdo Dry Valleys
The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest area of snow-free land in Antarctica. Managers ability to promote and protect these areas would benefit if we knew the biodiversity present and what controls it distribution. The research therefore focused on describing and predicting biodiversity of terrestrial habitats in the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. The aim is to produce a GIS/biodiversity database ... that links biodiversity with environmental factors such as geology, and soil moisture content, to produce a model that is easily understood and useable by non-specialists and endusers. Samples of soil, invertebrates and mosses were collected from the Miers, Marshall, and Garwood Valleys for geochemistry and biological analysis. Over 450 sampling sites were visited although roughly 15 were inaccessible due to terrain or snow cover. A total 435 vegetation and invertebrate surveys were made and over 450 soil samples collected. At each location up-to-date molecular techniques were used to describe the biota from visible lichens, mosses and invertebrates to the hidden microbes. The soil samples were subsampled and analyses of soil geochemistry, soil respiration, microinvertebrate content (e.g. nematodes, rotifers, tardigrades), and microbiological assays. Samples were collected and split in the field using aseptic techniques for DNA analysis. New genomic approaches that examine microbial communities as a whole (i.e., metagenomics) or even their entire functional aspects (i.e., metatranscriptomics) were used to provide a comprehensive picture of systematic and functional biodiversity, which will help resolve the drivers of biodiversity in the environment. The samples are part of a major landscape scale study to determine the primary drivers of biodiversity and distribution of flora and fauna in the Dry Valleys. In addition, the SOM and other nutrient status including the form of subsidy was determined, and this information will be placed, together with site-specific variables such as aspect, slope, water, snow, stability. The use of GIS is central to the success of this project and considerable success in collating, analysing and preparing information for the GIS analysis. Two automatic weather stations were installed together with various trap systems to measure transfer of material within the Miers and Garwood Valleys in the 2007-2008 field season and in the 2008-2009 field season another was installed in the Marshall Valley.
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Many cases of Alzheimer's disease could potentially be prevented by certain lifestyle measures like quitting smoking and getting more exercise, according to a new report. The findings suggest, but do not prove, that people can take steps to reduce their risk of Alzheimer's, a disease that affects more than 33 million people worldwide.
"Given the current absence of disease-modifying treatments, as well as increasing awareness that symptoms develop over many years or even decades, there has been growing interest in identification of effective strategies for prevention of Alzheimer's disease," explained authors of the report, from the University of California, San Francisco. The findings were published online in The Lancet Neurology, a British medical journal.
For the study, the authors examined the medical literature and identified seven lifestyle factors that may influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's. They looked at stopping smoking, increasing physical activity and mental stimulation, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, and managing obesity and depression. Reducing all seven of these risk factors could prevent as many as 3 million cases of Alzheimer's worldwide, they estimated.
It is uncertain whether any of these lifestyle factors actually promote the development of Alzheimer's. Advancing age and genetics remain the most important risk factors for the disease. But numerous population studies suggest that all may play a role in Alzheimer's onset. Here's what they found.
Diabetes: Having diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in several studies. More than 10 percent of older Americans have diabetes, so it is important to manage the condition properly, and to take steps to avoid getting diabetes in the first place. Lack of exercise and weight gain can both contribute to diabetes onset.
High blood pressure: Many studies suggest a link between heart health and brain health. Hypertension in middle age, for example, has consistently been linked to an increased risk for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in old age. (In old age, on the other hand, low blood pressure has been linked to increased Alzheimer's risk.) People who get treated for high blood pressure have also been shown to be less likely to have cognitive problems down the road.
Obesity: Being overweight in midlife is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's in old age, numerous studies have shown. (In old age, on the other hand, low body weight is associated with increased dementia risk.) Obesity is a particular problem in the United States.
Depression: People with a history of depression have a two-fold increased risk of dementia compared to those who are not depressed. Getting good medical treatment for depression may improve cognitive function in some people. People who are depressed also tend to be socially withdrawn, and social connection has been shown to lower the risk of Alzheimer's among seniors.
Being sedentary: Physical inactivity has consistently been shown to be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. And staying active, whether it's walking, jogging or ballroom dancing, may lower dementia risk. Healthy but sedentary older people who begin exercise programs show improvements in thinking skills.
Smoking: Recent studies report that smoking increases the risk of Alzheimer's. Quitting smoking, in other reports, has been shown to lower the risk of developing dementia.
Low education levels and lack of mental stimulation: There's good evidence that few years of formal education may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Mental stimulation – whether it's doing crossword puzzles, learning a new language or playing a musical instrument – may help lower Alzheimer's risk, It's possible that mental stimulation may enhance connections between brain cells and build up so-called brain reserve. As a result, if some brain cells are destroyed by Alzheimer's, enough remain to delay the onset of symptoms.
The authors found that these seven risk factors may contribute to as many as half of Alzheimer's disease cases worldwide. Lack of exercise remained the most important risk factor in the United States.
The findings are suggestive of lifestyle and health factors that may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Anything that may prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's in old age could have a dramatic impact on the lives of millions of people and their families.
Source: Deborah E. Barnes, Kristine Yaffe: "The Projected Effect of Risk factor Reduction on Alzheimer's Disease Prevalence." The Lancet Neurology, July 19, 2011.
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Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the 20 regions of Italy, and one of the five autonomous regions with a special statute. This region is situated in the north-east of Italy and borders Slovenia and Austria. Friuli-Venezia Giulia overlooks the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by high mountains, enclosing varied landscapes.
The impressive Carso plateau is formed by windswept rocks, and soil erosion has created a series of caves, hollows and resurgences. The mountains are spectacular as well, in the Eastern Dolomines, the Carnia and the Julian Alps. It also offers serene lakes, valleys and protected areas as perfect locations to shoot.
From its boundary with Veneto up to Mon Falcone, the coast is trimmed with lagoons and has long, sandy beaches, with several tourist resorts. From Mon Falcone to Trieste, the coast is rocky and provides a diversity of locations. The great variety of landscapes matches a rich and variegated cultural heritage that was determined by a complex history and by the confluence of different civilisations in this territory. This is why Friuli-Venezia Giulia looks like a small universe with many different traditions. It is a land of contrasts.
A natural opening to the sea for many Central European countries, the regionis traversed by major transport routes between the east and west of Southern Europe. It encompasses the historical geographical region of Friuli and a small portion of the historical region of Venezia Giulia known in English also as Julian March, each with its own distinct history, traditions and identity.
The history of this region is special, given its geographic, ethnic and cultural location as a frontier hub between central Europe to the north, the Slav regionsto the east and the Italian Peninsula to the west and south. One of the oldest inhabited Italian regions, it is believed that the first humans here dated as far back as 20,000 years ago. Its geographical position has proved to be a meeting point for peoples of different languages and cultures. This often caused conflicts and battles, evidence of which is still visible in many places of historical interest all around the region.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia spans a wide varietyof climates and landscapes from a mild Mediterranean climate in the south to Alpine continental in the north. The region has a temperate climate. However, due to the terrain’s diversity, it varies considerably from one area to another. Walled by the Alps on its northern flank, the region is exposed to air masses from the East and the West. Along the coast, the climate is mild and pleasant.
The Film Fund provides grants in cash to audio-visual productions filming in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. These contributions vary, depending on the production’s period of stay in the regional territory. Theyrange from the maximum annual grant of 1,50,000 Euro designated for productions filming in the region for a minimum 35 days, to a grant of up to 5,000 Euro designated for productions filming in the region for at least 5 days.
Deadline to apply for Film Fund:March 15 to October 15
*Each grant concerns one film only
FVG Film Fund settles some grantee liabilities:
a) At least 150 per cent of the regional grant must be spent in the region itself, with the exception of crews and investment expenses
b) Filming in the region must equal atleast 50 per cent of the total filming of the cut, except for productions filming in the region for less than 25 days, and for serials of more than two episodes (in said cases, filming in the region must equal at least 10 per cent of the entire external filming of the cut)
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valence electronArticle Free Pass
valence electron, any of the fundamental negatively charged particles in the outermost region of atoms that enters into the formation of chemical bonds. Whatever the type of chemical bond (ionic, covalent, metallic) between atoms, changes in the atomic structure are restricted to the outermost, or valence, electrons. They are more weakly attracted to the positive atomic nucleus than are the inner electrons and thus can be shared or transferred in the process of bonding with adjacent atoms. Valence electrons are also involved in the conduction of electric current in metals and semiconductors.
What made you want to look up "valence electron"? Please share what surprised you most...
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Stage and Grade of Cancer
The stage and grade of a cancer are ways to measure how severe the disease is. Tumors are described by their size, whether they have spread, and how their cells look under a microscope.
There are three parts to staging:
This staging system is commonly referred to as the TNM cancer staging system. Some cancers, such as lymphomas, have a different staging system. Most leukemias don't have a staging system.
Tumor grading describes how tumor cells look under a microscope. Tumor cells that look like normal cells (well-differentiated) are called Grade 1 tumors. They usually grow slowly. Cells that look very different from normal cells are said to be undifferentiated (Grade 4). These cells often grow quickly and spread rapidly.
The following system may be used to grade tumors:
eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
Find out what women really need.
Pill Identifier on RxList
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WebMD Medical News
Louise Chang, MD
Aug. 29, 2012 -- New research provides another helping of sweet news for chocolate lovers.
Men who eat a moderate amount of chocolate each week may be less likely to have a stroke, compared to men who don’t eat any chocolate.
Most studies suggest that health benefits come mainly from dark chocolate, but the new research seems to extend these perks to milk chocolate. The study took place in Sweden, where about 90% of the chocolate is milk chocolate.
Chocolate contains heart-healthy antioxidants called flavonoids, which may be responsible for some of its health benefits. Other studies have shown that eating a moderate amount of dark chocolate may protect against heart disease and also help with memory.
The new findings appear in Neurology.
The study included more than 37,000 Swedish men aged 45 to 79 who filled out questionnaires about the foods they ate, including chocolate. During a 10-year period, there were 1,995 cases of stroke.
The men who reported eating the largest amount of chocolate, or about one-third of a cup of chocolate chips per week, were 17% less likely to have a stroke compared to those who ate the least.
The researchers also analyzed the combined findings of five studies (including their own) that had a total of 4,260 cases of stroke. People who ate the most chocolate were 19% less likely to have a stroke compared to their counterparts who ate the least chocolate.
One caveat: As with most studies done on chocolate's benefits, the findings are a link, not cause and effect.
Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, says that there may be something different about milk chocolate from Sweden compared to the U.S. She is a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
“Is ours more processed? “she asks. “In the U.S., I still recommend dark chocolate, as that is where all the research points. Chocolate could be beneficial for your heart and brain and may hit your sweet spot, too.”
There are things we know we can do today to lower risk of stroke, Caron Rockman, MD, says. She is an associate professor of surgery at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City.
“I don’t think the message should be run out and eat chocolate to prevent stroke,” she says. “You are better off controlling other known stroke risk factors than eating more chocolate.”
Irene Katzan, MD, agrees. She is a stroke neurologist in the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
“I don’t know that I would counsel patients to eat chocolate, but I would tell them that chocolate is not harmful -- especially dark chocolate,” she says. “This is great news because it gives people who love chocolate something to hang their hat on.”
SOURCES:Larsson S, Virtamo J, Wolk A. Neurology, 2012, study received ahead of print.Caron Rockman, MD, associate professor, department of surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center.Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, preventive cardiologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City.Irene Katzan, MD, neurologist, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
The Health News section does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.
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Hearing on Voter Verification in the Federal Elections Process
June 21, 2004, 10:00 a.m., 301 Russell Senate Office Building
The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency that advises the President and Congress on issues affecting 54 million Americans with physical and mental disabilities. NCD's fundamental purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve competitive employment, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, inclusion, and integration into all aspects of society.
For many years, NCD has published reports and recommendations focused on ensuring equal voting access for people with vision, hearing, intellectual, physical, language, and technology needs. NCD has recognized that few attributes of citizenship can be more important than the right to vote. Excerpted below are sections of NCD's previous reports and correspondence expressing its views and recommendations on accessible voting:
- Letters to The Editor of The New York Times June 21, 2004:
The New York Times Editorial of June 11, 2004, "Making Votes Count: The Disability Lobby and Voting," has prompted the National Council on Disability (NCD) to write this letter in response . . . .NCD is concerned that the fundamental right of people with disabilities to cast an accessible vote has been pitted against the need to ensure security and reliability in the voting process. Accessibility, security, and reliability are not mutually exclusive and should not be portrayed by the media as being in competition with one another. It is the responsibility of a democratic government to both provide every citizen the opportunity to cast a private and accessible vote, and ensure the integrity of the voting process,-not one or the other. It is regrettable that select counties and states have made the decision to remove accessible voting machines. The effect of this action is that people with disabilities and others who benefit from electronic voting machines find themselves, once again, on the outside of the mainstream of society and stripped of their ability to participate in one of the hallmarks of a democratic society-the right to vote independently, and privately, in public elections. As we continually work to improve and perfect the voting process overall, we must remember that access to voting is not merely one consideration; it is a constitutional right.
- National Disability Policy: A Progress Report December 2002-December 2003
For people with disabilities, the right to vote privately and safely requires more than a statute. It requires facilities that are accessible and voting machines that are independently usable. HAVA established for the first time a national commitment and the right to these opportunities . . . One issue that has emerged as an area of increasing concern is the verifiability of the vote totals reported by touchscreen or other so-called direct recording equipment (DRE) voting machines . . . NCD does insist . . . that no changes be made that would compromise or jeopardize the levels of accessibility and independent voting mandated in HAVA.
- National Disability Policy: A Progress Report December 2001-December 2002
NCD congratulates all those involved in enactment of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Among its reforms, the new law provides authorization for funding to assist states in creating accessible polling places and requires installation of at least one accessible voting machine in each precinct . . . .To provide a baseline for evaluating the success of the Act in enfranchising Americans with disabilities, NCD recommends that the Administration (through the voluntary oversight commission created by the statute, in combination with DOJ, the Federal Elections Commission, HHS or such other entity as may have the resources and the jurisdiction to be of assistance) undertake research during and after the 2004 election campaign aimed at determining whether or not significant numbers of voters with disabilities who might not otherwise have been able to vote were facilitated in doing so by the law, and whether or not significant numbers of persons with disabilities who could not previously do so were enabled to exercise the right of a secret ballot.
- National Disability Policy: A Progress Report December 2000--December 2001
A year ago, NCD urged adoption of amendments to the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act. These recommended amendments provided that all polling methods used in federal elections, including voter registration, be accessible to voters with disabilities and voters who are elderly . . . .As anecdotes and surveys have made clear, many Americans with disabilities face obstacles in voting far greater than confusing instructions or malfunctioning machines. Some are able to vote only with difficulties that would be intolerable to other citizens or by forfeiting the fundamental protection of the secret ballot, and some are unable to vote at all, solely by reason of the interplay between their disabilities and the arrangements for voting we have thus far made.
- Inclusive Federal Election Reform National Council on Disability March 15, 2001
*14 million people of voting age who have a disability are unregistered voters
*People with disabilities vote at a rate 11 percent lower than the general population
*81 percent of voters who are blind or have visual impairments rely on others to mark their ballots
*An estimated 20,000 of the nation's 170,000 polling places are inaccessible to voters who use wheelchairs
*1,231 of the 1,681 (73%) polling places in Philadelphia were physically inaccessible to voters with disabilities
One of the fundamental rights guaranteed to Americans is the right of voting through a secret ballot. However, this right is often denied to Americans with disabilities and other disenfranchised groups, such as senior citizens, people from diverse cultures, and those who have low incomes. Statistics show that for 35 million voting-aged citizens with disabilities:
These statistics highlight the need to improve voting procedures and systems. President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative contains proposals for improving access to polling places and ballot secrecy. Many proposals to reform the electoral process are currently before the 107 th Congress. Voting reform will certainly be considered and likely enacted in time to affect the 2002 elections. It is imperative that any voting reform law also provides full access for voters with disabilities, and allows for their private and independent voting.
NCD continues to strongly focus on full participation in the democratic process by all citizens. NCD respectfully suggests that the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration retain this focus with any examination of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
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The name “cottonmouth” is from the whitish lining of its mouth. When alarmed, it opens its mouth widely, showing the cotton-white lining. The body is black with little or no pattern or dark brown with darker bands on the back. Belly is dark brown or black. Young cottonmouths are patterned something like a copperhead and usually have a yellowish-green tail. Like all venomous snakes in Missouri, cottonmouths have a hole between the nostril and the eye, and the pupils are vertical, like a cat’s.
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6 x 9
The University of Chicago Readings in Western Civilization (nine volumes) makes available to students and teachers a unique selection of primary documents, many in new translations. These readings, prepared for the highly praised Western civilization sequence at the University of Chicago, were chosen by an outstanding group of scholars whose experience teaching that course spans almost four decades. Each volume includes rarely anthologized selections as well as standard, more familiar texts; a bibliography of recommended parallel readings; and introductions providing background for the selections. Beginning with Periclean Athens and concluding with twentieth-century Europe, these source materials enable teachers and students to explore a variety of critical approaches to important events and themes in Western history.
Individual volumes provide essential background reading for courses covering specific eras and periods. The complete nine-volume series is ideal for general courses in history and Western civilization sequences.
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Focus on the basics first otherwise this will confuse you.
Basically structure/class members are stored as a data structure in memory, one after the other. So if you have:
then at an instantiation of class foo at address 1000 then **depending on how the compiler implements this**, there could be an integer at 1000, 10 chars at 1004 and a double at 1014. So to get at z without an accessor function, assuming the definition foo bar;, you would use something like char *hack=(char*)&bar; double *z_ptr=&(hack);
Tried it in Visual Studio 2008:
printf("this=0x%08lx; &x=0x%08lx; &y=0x%08lx; &z=0x%08lx\n",this,&x,&y,&z);
void setdata(double a)
z = a;
wibble just prints the addresses of this, x,y and z.
The first printf just checks I've worked out z_ptr correctly.
The second printf displays the value of z without using an accessor function.
this=0x00417140; &x=0x00417140; &y=0x00417144; &z=0x00417150
***THIS IS NOT PORTABLE AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED***
Use *only* if you have no other choice.
An accessor function is much better.
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http://www.go4expert.com/forums/function-within-structures-t18499/
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AIDS 2012: Four Ways to Find a Cure
August 1, 2012
While ARVs extend life expectancy by 30 years or more, why is this not the same as for HIV negative people, and will there be a cure?
The recent increased focus on these questions, especially in relation to a cure, covers four main areas of research.
Some research looks at how to eradicate HIV completely but some is looking at a functional cure (where you would still be HIV positive but treatment could be stopped).
Within a few weeks of infection, HIV gets inside very long-lived CD4 cells that then enter a resting or sleeping stage that can be anywhere from dozing to in a coma. These cells are not affected by ARVs which is why treatment is lifelong.
Even one infected cell would be enough to restart infection, even if it was the only infected cell after 50 years of treatment.
One aspect of cure research is looking at how to wake the HIV in these cells and studies using vorinostat have shown this might be possible. Another looks whether HIV might still be reproducing in other parts of the body such as the gut.
Thirdly, researchers are trying to find out why CD4 counts do not completely recover after starting treatment. They are also looking at how HIV can cause the immune system to be over-activated when not on treatment, and whether this is reversed when viral load becomes undetectable. This research overlaps with many of the questions about HIV and ageing.
Finally, even if latent HIV is activated, a new immune response may still be needed. Gene therapy can make some CD4 cells resistant to HIV. Or a vaccine? A few people can control HIV without treatment either from infection or after stopping treatment and their responses may be key.
Cure research at the meeting was reported in HTB and is available here.
This article was provided by HIV i-Base. It is a part of the publication HIV Treatment Bulletin. Visit HIV i-Base's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.
Add Your Comment:
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Internet search results. Be careful when providing personal information! Before
adding your comment, please read TheBody.com's Comment Policy.)
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Collecting Kennedy half dollars is a fun series for all types of collectors. It is easy enough for the beginning collector and provides enough challenges for the intermediate and advanced collectors too. The diversity of different types of Kennedy half dollars and the errors and varieties provide multiple opportunities for all collectors.
Collecting Kennedy Half Dollars
Assembling a collection of Kennedy half dollars is very doable and very affordable. Most collectors assemble a date and mint mark set of business strike coins. Intermediate collectors will also add proof coins to their collection. Advanced collectors strive to assemble a complete collection of business strikes, proof strikes, special strikes (including the rare 1998-S Silver Matte Finish Proof) and well-known errors and varieties.
There are several subtypes of Kennedy half dollars that you will need to know in order to become a knowledgeable collector.
- Silver Coinage (90% Silver)
Due to the rising price of silver in the early 1960s, the 1964 Kennedy half dollar was the only 90% silver business strike to enter circulation.
- Silver Clad Coinage (40% Silver)
Beginning in 1965, the mint began producing Kennedy half dollars that contained only 40% silver. The outer layers contained a mix of 80% silver and 20% copper, while the inner core was composed of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper.
- Special Mint Set (SMS) Strikes
Due to the nationwide coin shortage from 1965 to 1967, the mint stopped making proof strike coins for collectors and started making Special Mint Sets. These sets contained coins were special strikes that used special dies on coin presses that used extra pressure to produce the coins. Although not proof coins, most coins had a proof like appearance.
- Copper-Nickel Clad Coinage
In 1971 the mint switched all production to the current copper-nickel clad composition. The outer layers are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a core of pure copper.
- 1976 Bicentennial Coinage
To mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Congress authorized the production of a circulating commemorative Kennedy half dollar. In anticipation of extreme demand by the public, the mint did not produce any 1975 dated Kennedy half dollars because they began minting the 1776 - 1976 dated Bicentennial half dollars a year early. Special collector edition coins were struck on 40% silver clad planchets in both business strike and proof editions.
- Proof Silver Clad Coinage
Proof collector coins were minted in every year since 1964 with the exception of 1965 through 1967 and 1975. From 1968 to 1970, and once again in 1976, the mint made proof coins from the standard 40% silver clad planchets. These coins were only available to collectors through purchasing a complete set of proof coins for that year.
- Proof Copper-Nickel Clad
Beginning in 1971, proof Kennedys were struck on copper-nickel planchets. These too were only available in proof sets.
- Proof Silver
In 1964 the mint produced proof Kennedy half dollars for collectors in the standard 90% silver composition. In 1992, the mint began producing a special series of coinage specifically marketed to collectors. These special proof coins were struck on a 90% silver planchet and were only available to collectors through the purchase of a "Silver Premier Proof Set."
- Proof Silver Matte Finish
In 1998 the US mint issued a special collectors' coin set that honored John F. Kennedy's brother, Robert F. Kennedy (RFK). The set contained the RFK Commemorative Silver Dollar and a specially struck proof Kennedy half dollar with a matt/satin finish. Since only 63,000 coins were struck at the San Francisco mint, collectors will pay a premium for an example of this rare coin.
Keys to Collecting Kennedy Half Dollars
Beginning collectors can start assembling a set of circulated Kennedy half dollars by obtaining rolls of coins from your local bank at face value. Unfortunately, the mint stopped producing business strikes for circulation in 2002 and now only produces them for inclusion in collector sets. But you can still obtain 2002 and later dated coins from your local coin dealer at a small premium over face value. The key date coins for beginners are the 1964 and 1964-D (price is driven by the silver content) and the 1970-D (low mintage; issued only in mint sets).
Intermediate collectors will strive to assemble a complete set of uncirculated Kennedy half dollars while advanced collectors will endeavor to pull together a set that includes uncirculated, proofs, special strikes and error and variety types. Most of these coins will have to be obtained through coin dealers or online auctions. The key date coins are the 1995-S silver proof and the 1998-S Silver Matt Finish Proof (priced around $200).
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By Fabienne Faur
Titanic director James Cameron described a “desolate” and “alien” environment on the bottom of the sea after a record-setting solo submarine dive to the deepest point in the world’s oceans.
Mr. Cameron plunged about 11 kilometres down the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific, the first one-person mission to the lowest point of the oceans.
“I felt like I — in the space of one day — had gone to another planet and come back,” he said, saying the ocean floor was a “completely featureless, alien world.”
Speaking after resurfacing from the mission, the Canadian filmmaker-explorer described the barren ocean floor as not unlike the surface of the moon. It was a “very lunar, very desolate place. Very isolated,” Mr. Cameron said.
The experience of hurtling down the “yawning chasm” of the ocean in his specially designed submersible, Deepsea Challenger, was like “falling through darkness — that’s something that a robot can’t describe,” he added.
The voyage was the first manned expedition to the trench since 1960 and the culmination of more than seven years of planning.
“Most importantly, though, is the significance of pushing the boundaries of where humans can go, what they can see and how they can interpret it,” he said in a statement.
The journey down to the Challenger Deep valley of the Mariana Trench, which lies southwest of Guam, took two hours and 36 minutes, according to the mission organized with National Geographic.
Mr. Cameron, 57, told reporters in a phone press conference that he was at the bottom of the ocean for a little more than two and a half hours, and had to cut short the planned stay of six hours because of problems with the ocean craft’s hydraulics system.
Being able to make the journey was “the culmination from my perspective of a lifelong dream,” he said, adding he hopes to be able to continue to marry his love of exploring the depths of the sea with his work as a director.
He collected samples for research in marine biology, microbiology, astrobiology, marine geology and geophysics, and captured photographs and 3D moving images.
Mr. Cameron is the first person to make a solo dive to the Pacific Ocean trench.
After a faster-than-expected, roughly 70-minute ascent, Mr. Cameron’s sub, bobbing in the open ocean, was spotted by helicopter and plucked from the Pacific by a research ship’s crane, organizers said.
National Geographic said Mr. Cameron had reached a depth of 10,898 metres at 7:52 a.m. Monday.
The images he collected will be used to make a 3-D feature film, which is expected to be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
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The breeding cycle, year-round distribution and activity patterns of the endangered Chatham Petrel (Pterodroma axillaris)
Rayner, Matt J.; Taylor, Graeme A.; Gummer, Helen D.; Phillips, Richard A.; Sagar, Paul M.; Shaffer, Scott A.; Thompson, David R.. 2012 The breeding cycle, year-round distribution and activity patterns of the endangered Chatham Petrel (Pterodroma axillaris). Emu, 112 (2). 107-116. 10.1071/MU11066Full text not available from this repository.
Petrels are highly mobile seabirds that face many threats and whose conservation is frequently hampered by a lack of understanding of their biology at sea. We used a combination of data from burrow monitoring and geolocation-immersion loggers to study the intra-and inter-seasonal distribution and behaviour of the endangered Chatham Petrel (Pterodroma axillaris), breeding on Rangatira Island, New Zealand. Breeding extended from November to June with a pre-laying exodus of 35 days; an incubation period of 46 days, with up to five incubation shifts; and a chick-rearing period of 87 days, including a desertion period of 10 days. When breeding, Chatham Petrels foraged between the Subtropical Convergence and Subantarctic Fronts, moving 2000-3000 km to the south-east of the Chatham Islands, during the pre-laying exodus and incubation period, but restricting foraging to the south of the Chatham Islands, around the Bollons Seamount, during chick-rearing. Between April and June birds migrated east and north to core non-breeding distributions similar to 1000 km from the coast of Peru and Chile. Birds spent a greater proportion of time resting and nocturnally active during the non-breeding period than when breeding, when birds where active during darkness and daylight. These data contribute to the conservation management of the Chatham Petrel and to conservation initiatives to identity marine protected areas for endangered seabirds on the high seas beyond national jurisdictions.
|Programmes:||BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems|
|Date made live:||28 Jun 2012 10:52|
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Parents should help teens take a critical look at Facebook
Parents should talk to their children about Facebook postings, and how much of "real life" it really is. On Facebook, teens can often act with less civility because it is easier to insult people when they are physically distant.
Special to The Seattle Times
Five things parents can do
• Make sure privacy controls are set up correctly; recheck periodically.
• Explain that many parents can see their kids' wall, so not much is private.
• Explain that once an image is posted, it is hard to erase.
• Teach them to respect others' feelings online.
• Ask a cousin, aunt or other mentor figure to "friend" them and advise them if they see something amiss.
In the old days (five years ago), the question "What are your high-schooler's hobbies?" might be answered with, "He plays guitar" or "She writes poetry." Now it's often, "My teen does homework and Facebook."
Outgoing or shy, posting all their thoughts or just logging in to read everyone else's, teens are finding Facebook to be a favorite pastime and a great way to keep up with summer-camp friends, ask classmates about homework assignments, or share a funny video.
"For most teens, these are exciting and rewarding spaces," said Amanda Lenhart, lead author of a Pew Research Center report that studied teen social-media experiences. "But the majority have also seen a darker side."
Parents, though, can help their children navigate the world of Facebook.
Teens want to be part of a social tribe, said Laura Kastner, a psychologist and co-author of books on teen brain development and behavior, so they are attracted to Facebook and the acquisition of "friends" there. But the Facebook tribe is made up of manufactured personas, she said, rather than a social group built around common activities and shared interests.
Kastner said teenagers online are more prone to impulsiveness and showing off. "It's all about 'Look at my friends! Look at my stuff!' " she said. And while teens can create an online image that makes them look good, they can make others feel excluded or inferior.
Parents should talk to their children about Facebook postings, and how much of "real life" it really is, Kastner said. On Facebook, teens often act with less civility because it is easier to insult people when they are physically distant, she said.
And while parents might coach a child on how to answer a phone politely, there is less instruction about online etiquette, said Fred Lane, an attorney and author of "CyberTraps for the Young," because much of it goes on outside the parents' purview.
Parents need to teach kids that just as in real life, insulting people, cursing, or other negative behaviors online are not only hurtful, but can affect how people regard them, he said. There are even more witnesses to those actions on Facebook.
And it's not just friends who see their online behavior. "A significant number of parents have their child's Facebook, Skype and email passwords and check in on their accounts, so they see the actions of their teenager and their classmates," Lane said.
Colleges and prospective summer-job employers may also do some checking.
Parents can also teach teens to be aware that their postings are seen widely, so something as innocent as a request for a ride to a party or posting pictures afterward can make the uninvited feel left out.
A new feature on Facebook lets users customize who sees each post when the user writes it. "This is great for a teen who is posting a photo of herself in a bathing suit, or information about a social event," said Vanessa Van Petten, author of "Do I Get my Allowance Before or After I'm Grounded?"
The Internet and social media also have changed the nature of bullying, according to Lane. "When we had a bad day growing up, we might come home and play cards with dad or walk the dog and feel better," he said. "Now the bullying follows kids home because it's there when they open their computer or look at their phone."
Lane tells parents to keep phones and computers out of their teen's bedrooms, especially if they are being bullied. "Being alone in the dark at night with the nasty messages on your computer can really magnify a teen's depression," he said.
Teens are much more comfortable sharing their personal information online and have a different view of privacy, Lane said. Though they seem savvy, many teens are sharing more information than they realize.
Van Petten, who has the website RadicalParenting.com, suggests parents check in on their teens' privacy setting periodically. She also advises parents to ask an aunt, cousin, mentor or other adult to "friend" their teen and keep an eye on them online. Once the info is out there it can be hard to erase, said Lane. Parents need to help kids understand their digital footprint can be permanent. Van Petten suggests parents set up Google Alerts or other service to tell them when their child's name has been posted publicly.
Family communication is also key. Van Petten suggests sitting down with teens once a month and asking them to share their favorite videos or funny wall posts, new websites or games.
"From there, parents can naturally weave in their thoughts about online behaviors and values," she said.
One piece of good news is that much of the angst and bad behavior online seems to lessen in adulthood. In Pew's study of adult users, instances of mean behavior were lower than those reported in the teen study; instances of positive behaviors were higher.
Teens are finding other ways of expressing themselves online. Audrey Stocker, an eighth-grader in Seattle, used to spend more time on Facebook, but has recently moved to Pinterest, a new website that lets users create online collages of photos, videos, quotes, etc. around favorite topics.
"It's more fun to create something yourself and share it," she said, "than read what other people are doing all day."
Julie Weed is a freelance writer in Seattle.
Watch for more coverage on how teens and tweens use technology.
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New England is sometimes considered the birthplace of religious liberty in America because several of the early colonies were founded by adherents of denominations being persecuted in Europe in the seventeenth century. They saw the isolation of colonies in the new world as a haven to practice their faith.
But only their faith.
The irony of the deeply ingrained popular myth of religious liberty in New England is that most of the New England colonies were effectively closed to other Christian sects, especially Catholics. For generations, these colonies, including Connecticut, forbade public worship by Catholics and outlawed "popish” priests from practicing their ministry within the boundaries of the colonies.
All this supposedly changed when the Founding Fathers at the end of the eighteenth century proposed a series of amendments to the national Constitution guaranteeing various forms of personal liberty. Standing at the head of the list is the First Amendment, which bans Congress (and, by inference, the States as well) from "establishing” religion or "prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Recent developments in the Connecticut legislature, however, brought these issues to the fore in a dramatic confrontation between church and state. At least for a while, the state blinked, and the church won. What was going on?
On a Thursday afternoon in early March, the two co-chairmen of the legislature's Judiciary Committee, a joint committee of the two houses, introduced a bill with the rather vague but ominous title "An act modifying the corporate laws relating to certain religious corporations.” The "certain religious corporations” turned out to be solely the parishes of the Catholic Church in Connecticut. The legislative leaders had given church officials no notice of this initiative, and they scheduled it for a hearing the following Wednesday before the judiciary committee, which they thought that they controlled.
Behind the seemingly innocuous title addressing "corporate laws” relating to the church were truly breathtaking proposals. The goal was to force the restructuring of Catholic parishes to transform them into Catholic parallels to Congregationalist communities of the traditional New England design. Instead of having the pastor supervise all of the affairs of the parish, subject to the direction and control of the local ordinary, the bill would have transferred control of each parish to a "board of directors consisting of not less than seven nor more than thirteen lay members.” The lay board of directors was to be elected annually by the congregation.
Displacing the current corporate structure in which the local bishop effectively appoints and controls the corporate boards of individual parishes, which consist of the bishop, the vicar general and the pastor along with two lay persons selected by the church officials, the new structure would relegate the bishop to non-voting ex officio membership on the board. Not only would the pastor no longer even be a member of the board of his own parish, he would instead report to the lay board.
The bill purported to focus on reassigning primarily the "general administrative and financial powers” of the parish to the lay board and asserted that it was not to "derogate” from the responsibility of the bishop and the pastor "in matters pertaining exclusively to religious tenets and practices.” The bill reflected a crabbed view of what would have been left to the bishop and pastor, however, for it gave the lay board ultimate authority over, among other activities, "developing and implementing strategic plans and capital projects” and "developing outreach programs and other services to be provided to the community.” Thus, the bishop and the pastor would be stripped of their authority to establish and direct the work of the church in the world and their role would be restricted to doctrine and ritual.The Church and the Connecticut Legislature
As with virtually any assault on the traditional role of the clergy in the Catholic Church, the back story illuminates the issues that otherwise may be obscure. As it happens, the two co-chairmen of the Judiciary Committee have taken offense at several of the church's teachings on moral questions, particularly issues dealing with gay rights. The Connecticut legislative leaders have clashed with church officials on their efforts to broaden the rights of gays and lesbians. For example, the church actively (and unsuccessfully) opposed a "civil union” bill that the legislature adopted. Despite a substantial Catholic population, Connecticut now is one of the few states to create even a right to "gay marriage.” (Massachusetts and California are the others, but California voters in November adopted a state constitutional overturning that policy).
The church also lost the legislative battle over the "morning after” pill, which most church leaders view as the equivalent of an early-term abortifacient. Over church opposition, the Connecticut legislature required all hospitals in the state, including Catholic hospitals and Catholic health care workers, to inform rape victims of the availability of this treatment and to provide the therapy, if requested, regardless of conscientious scruples forbidding cooperation with this perceived moral evil. Also on the legislative drawing boards are measures encouraging stem cell research using embryonic stems cells and creating a right to "death with dignity,” the clever euphemism for assisted suicide.
In a practical sense, the church has found itself in a weak political position to resist socially "progressive” measures like these. The loss of political clout resulted from twin factors for which church leaders themselves were at least partly responsible. The first is the clergy sexual abuse scandal. Even faithful Catholics, including those in elective office, share the wide perception that many church leaders failed to act early enough or aggressively enough to protect the young and vulnerable from clerical predators. Even the newer cadre of bishops must labor under the loss of moral credibility resulting from the carelessness or naiveté of their predecessors. It has become politically easy for proponents of policies that offend important church principles to nullify church statements on moral issues by countering that the hierarchy forfeited its right to the moral high ground.
Nowhere was this self-inflicted wound of greater impact than in another struggle that the church leadership lost before the Connecticut legislature a few years ago. Led by some of the same elements behind the parish restructuring bill, the legislature brushed aside objections to enlarging the statute of limitations in cases involving sexual abuse of minors. In all states, there are time limits that prevent an allegedly aggrieved person from filing a law suit more than a few years after the misconduct (if any) occurred. These periods are sometimes as short as one year, and more typically two or three years, and rarely as long as six years.
In the midst of the abuse scandal, however, with the church rocked back on its heels, Connecticut decide to allow a claimant to start a law suit any time within thirty years after the claimant reaches the age of majority (now age eighteen). This measure reopened the capacity of claimants to file lawsuits seeking millions of dollars that had been time-barred for decades. The new measure cost the church in Connecticut-and thus the faithful-tens of millions of dollars to resolve the new round of claims. Many of these newly resurrected claims related to incidents that allegedly occurred more than thirty years earlier and that involved priests who were long dead and thus unable to defend their reputations or to assist their dioceses in resisting financial accountability for the alleged misdeeds.
Arguments about the basic unfairness of such retroactive tampering with established notions of civil justice fell on deaf ears, simply because too many legislators concluded that the voice of the church commanded little attention.
A second, related factor also contributed to the political weakness of the church in defending its moral principles in the legislative arena: political skittishness. Badly bruised by battles over clerical abuse and the legislative reactions to it, some church leaders have been reluctant to return to the fray in any aggressive, coordinated way. They have felt that the hierarchy is cast in the lonely role of Jeremiah, but with the laity not heeding the call, or at least not willing to rally around their bishops in the arena of public policy.
The immediate predicate-or pretext-for the parish-restructuring bill was another scandal, albeit of a slightly (but only slightly) less lurid character. Two parishes in the Bridgeport diocese suffered financial irregularities at the hands of their pastors. In one, the pastor helped himself to over a million dollars to frolic with his lover. With the cooperation of the diocese, the federal authorities prosecuted him and he was sentenced to prison. The ostensible reason for reorganizing Catholic parishes to put all "administrative and financial” matters (among others) under the control of an elected lay board of directors was to prevent similar misappropriation of funds.
Almost fortuitously, the bishops of the three dioceses in Connecticut learned of the bill shortly after its sponsors dropped it in the legislative hopper. Spurred by Bishop William E. Lori of the Diocese of Bridgeport, the bishops began mobilizing. They encouraged constitutional scholars to prepare to testify. They directed their pastors to inform their parishes at Sunday Masses about this legislative initiative. They organized buses to transport concerned Catholics to the State Capitol for the hearing to show their opposition. Bishop Lori even appeared on at least one nationally televised morning talk show to raise the alarm. The issue generated attention across the country and quickly became the hot topic on legal blogs.
The bill suffered from two serious flaws, one practical and one constitutional. On the practical side, it was a "solution” in search of a problem. The bishops already had instituted strict financial controls to minimize the risk of further embezzlements. Moreover, even the presence of a lay finance council had not guaranteed that the dishonest pastor could not siphon off huge amounts of cash. More basically, the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause require that the state keep its hands off the internal affairs of any church, including ours. That is the authentic meaning of the "separation” of church and state.
There seemed to be some confusion about whether this constitutional policy applies only to matters of abstract religious doctrine or private belief, but has no bearing on the organization and governance of a church. Even a professor of Catholic studies at Fairfield University was quoted as saying that he saw no problem with the bill, because it did not interfere with the bishop's ultimate responsibility for doctrinal matters.
For well over a century, however, the Supreme Court has been crystal clear in insisting that the First Amendment requires that government respect the autonomy of religious congregations to organize and govern themselves according to their own traditions and rules, not those preferred by the state. For example, in one of the leading cases, the Supreme Court considered a state statute, like the one proposed in Connecticut, that “[b]y fiat, . . . displaces one church administrator with another.” Invalidating the statute, the Court declared that the First Amendment protects the power of churches "to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine.” Kedroff v. Saint Nicholas Cathedral, 344 U.S. 94, 116 (1952) (emphasis added). Some years later, Justice William J. Brennan, an ardent defender of the separation of church and state, reiterated that the religion clauses of the Constitution "permit hierarchical religious organizations to establish their own rules and regulations for internal discipline and government.” Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese v. Milivojevich, 426 U.S. 696, 722 (1976) (emphasis added).
Canon law, furthermore, is clear that we are an apostolic, hierarchical church. As successors of the Apostles, bishops are endowed with both the power and the responsibility to administer even the "secular” affairs of the church, which involves raising and allocating money not only to maintain houses of worship but also to promote massive works of charity.
"It is for the diocesan bishop to govern the particular church entrusted to him with legislative, executive, and judicial power according to the norm of law.” Code of Canon Law, tit. 391, § 1
Our Catholic tradition, therefore, illustrates why it is fatuous to draw a line between "doctrinal” matters and "organizational” or "administrative” affairs. The Gospels are a call to action in the world, not just to private devotion in a chapel. As St. Paul said, faith without works is dead. In Connecticut, for example, the largest private provider of social services to the poor and the sick is the Catholic Church. Any effort to drive a wedge between the bishop and his pastors on the one hand and the laity on the other concerning ultimate responsibility for the church's administrative or financial affairs necessarily seeks to transmogrify the church into something alien.
Stunned by the massive campaign of letters, emails, and phone calls, the Democratic co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee who had sponsored the bill announced that they were withdrawing it for further study. Not willing to let them off the hook that easily, the Republican caucus unanimously opposed the bill and scheduled its own informal hearing to let the opponents have their say. Perhaps 5,0000 Catholic faithful, clergy and laity alike, braved a cool March rain to come to Hartford to show their opposition, even though the bill had been pulled.
As it turned out, the ill-conceived bill may have undermined the apparent political dominance of the forces hostile to the church in Connecticut. While no one expects them to fold their tents and silently steal away, the massive coordinated counter-attack demonstrated that church leaders are not helplessly trapped in a legislative free-fire zone.
Perhaps more significant in broader terms, the reaction from the laity to this appeal from the local hierarchy showed a kind of solidarity that has been missing at least since the sex abuse scandal erupted. Observers at the rally reported on the sense of community between pastors and their congregations. In recent years, beleaguered and demoralized pastors have sensed-or worried-that their flocks felt a degree of embarrassment at admitting that they are Catholic.
The spirit of Hartford, however, revealed just how deep and strong is the love of the church among the faithful. No one has any illusions about the human flaws and vices that afflict some churchmen. But these are our problems, and we can deal with them in our own way, the rallying crowd seemed to be saying. For two millennia, we have persevered under leadership from saints and, occasionally, sinners. We do not need the state legislature to intrude into our church's affairs. The founding fathers would have been proud.
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Pythons Hunted in Florida in Bid to Stem Invasive Tide and Rescue Native Species
With native wildlife in jeopardy, Florida officials are going to great lengths in their attempt to stem the population of Burmese pythons slithering around the Everglades.
On Saturday January 12, more than 800 hunters heeded the call, signing up for Python Challenge 2013, hoping to win some bounty money for catching one of the reptiles. A $1,500 prize will go to anyone killing the most pythons, and $1,000 for the longest. The hunt goes through midnight on February 10.
Although the number of invasive pythons decimating native species in the Everglades isn’t known for sure, the problem seems to have intensified since Hurricane Andrew washed away a Quonset hut full of the creatures in 1992, according to the Miami Herald.
"If you look at a logarithmic scale, you are talking tens of thousands of them," wildlife biologist Joe Wasilewski told the Miami Herald. However, he added, the snakes are hard to spot, and it takes an experienced hunter to ferret one out. Given that many of the hunters—837 to be exact, according to the Miami Herald—are not experienced, he was not sure it would make much of a dent in the population.
"Even if they catch 200 or 300 snakes, it's insignificant compared to the overall population," Wasilewski said. "But any female they take out, that's minus 30 eggs. Every one you pull out, it's one less for reproduction. I hope they pull out a lot, but I don't think they will."
The problem reared its head last year with the capture of a 17-foot python holding 87 eggs. The previous January, a study had revealed the extent of the beasts’ effects on wildlife, finding several species near the point of extinction in Everglades National Park, all eaten by pythons. They included bobcats, whose numbers were down 87.5 percent; opossums, down 98.9 percent, and raccoons, down 99.3 percent, according to the study reported in the journal PNAS: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
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Recognizing the role that forests play in everything from mitigating climate change to providing wood, medicines and livelihoods for people worldwide, the United Nations today kicked off a year-long celebration to raise awareness of the value of this important resource.
“Forests for People” is the main theme of the International Year of Forests, which was launched at a ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York attended by world leaders, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai and forest experts.
The General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests, on which at least 1.6 billion people depend for their daily livelihoods and subsistence needs. Forests are also home to over 60 million people, mainly members of indigenous and local communities, who reside in forests.
“By declaring 2011 as the International Year of Forests, the United Nations General Assembly has created an important platform to educate the global community about the great value of forests – and the extreme social, economic and environmental costs of losing them,” noted Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Today’s launch ceremony, presided over by General Assembly President Joseph Deiss, is part of the high-level segment of the UN Forum on Forests, an intergovernmental policy forum dealing with forest-related issues. “Every one of us, all seven billion people on earth, has our physical, economic and spiritual health tied to the health of our forest ecosystems,” noted Jan McAlpine, the Director of the Forum’s Secretariat. “Throughout 2011, we will celebrate this intricate, interdependent relationship between forests and people,” she said.
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), also noted that forests represent many things to many people including spiritual, aesthetic and cultural dimensions that are, in many ways, priceless. “But they are also cornerstones of our economies, whose real value has all too often been invisible in national accounts of profit and loss,” he added.
Forests cover about 31 per cent of total land area, amounting to just under 4 billion hectares, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which today released its “State of the World’s Forests” report.
The report, which is published every two years, stresses that the forest industry forms an important part of a “greener” economy and wood products have environmental attributes that would appeal to people.
The industry is responding to numerous environmental and social concerns by improving sustainability of resource use, using more waste materials to make products, increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. For example, 37 per cent of total forest production in 2010 came from recovered paper, wood waste and non-wood fibres, a figure that is likely to grow to up to 45 per cent in 2030, with much of that growth from China and India.
“What we need during the International Year of Forests is to emphasize the connection between people and forests, and the benefits that can accrue when forests are managed by local people in sustainable and innovative ways,” said Eduardo Rojas, FAO’s Forestry Director.
Ms. Maathai noted in her address at the launch, as well as in a briefing to reporters, that the value of the International Year is the opportunity to “explore the value of the trees, the forests and the environment, as well as the value of the environmental services that these resources give us.”
She added that too often forests and the services they provide are taken for granted and seen as resources that are unlimited. “But we all know now that we are facing situations where these forests are disappearing,” she told reporters.
As part of the launch, international filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand will premiere his short film “FOREST.” The ceremony also featured clips from winning films from the International Forest Film Festival which was organised by the UN Forum on Forest Secretariat in collaboration with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.
On Behalf of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ambassador Zahir Tanin spoke at a round table session on “Forests for People.” He described the dramatic changes in the Afghan forest coverage over the last thirty years. “As a result of the absence of forest management and poor agricultural practices amongst other contributing factors due to decades of conflict and instability,” he said, “forests cover less than 3% of total land area in Afghanistan today.” Ambassador Tanin explained the necessity of preserving forests in order to serve as a primary energy source as well as for their non-timber products.
According to Ambassador Tanin, “UN Environmental Protection experts predict that at the current rate of deforestation, Afghanistan’s forests will disappear within 30 years if collective action is not taken to reverse the destruction.” The government of Afghanistan, he explained, is working to address the issue through the adoption of a national plan to improve policies in relation to forests.
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Wind Power Has Great Potential
The letter by Frits de Wette (Claims for Wind Power Greatly Overblown, APS News May 2007) makes a few good points but completely ignores the literature that evaluates the wind energy potential, grid integration, and technology in the US and in Europe. For example, the on-shore wind electric potential of the US has been analyzed in considerable detail. Taking into account restrictive land use constraints and economics, the potential is over 1200 GWavg, about 90 percent of which is located in the Great Plains. This potential is understated by about 30 percent since maximum wind turbine tower height was assumed to be 45 m, and towers as high as 100 m are currently being used. This also ignores the US offshore wind electric potential which is very conservatively estimated at about 100 GWavg. Compared to the total US generated electrical power of 440 GWavg (2005), there is clearly the possibility that wind generated electricity could make a substantial contribution to the power supply in the US, especially if energy efficiency and conservation were taken seriously.
Wind turbines are designed to produce power locally at the least possible cost for a given wind regime, which results in a capacity factor (the ratio of average power to maximum power) of about 30 percent. However, it is possible to design wind turbines with a much higher capacity factor. For example, a capacity factor of about 50 percent is possible if the cost of electricity increases by about 10 percent, and even higher capacity factors are obtainable but at an ever-increasing cost. Moreover, if large premiums are paid for wind-generated electricity, as is the case in Germany, then capacity factors of 15-20 percent are tolerable. Since maximizing profitability is the only consideration for the wind turbine owner, low capacity factors are a perfectly reasonable choice.
Good wind resources are usually located far from consumers, and large amounts of intermittent energy are not easily handled by utilities, so that transmission and storage issues must be acknowledged and overcome if intermittent wind energy is ever to contribute significantly to demand. This analysis has been done, and one can conclude that it is technically and economically feasible to transform intermittent wind energy to a reliable power source for distant consumers by combining large-scale wind turbine arrays with high voltage transmission lines and compressed air energy storage (CAES).
CAES is based on gas turbine technology and uses compressed air stored in underground structures (solution mined salt caverns or porous rock in a stratigraphic or structural trap) as the storage medium. This is a proven technology, with plants operating in the US and Germany, and is the lowest cost utility scale storage technology available.
Such an approach to wind energy integration has been taken by a group of Iowa utilities, who are building a 268 MW CAES plant with underground porous rock storage. More details are available at www.isepa.com.
Current wind energy development relies on utilities to provide transmission and back-up for the intermittent power, often without compensation. This is the reason behind the hostility on the part of some utilities and system managers to intermittent renewable energy, and it is evident in the E.ON report cited by de Wette. Of course, demanding anything without compensation is a good way to make bitter enemies. While it may be justifiable for small numbers of wind turbines on a grid, this should not be expected to continue.
It is unfortunate that renewable energy advocates continue to use hand-waving arguments to justify, or simply ignore the difficulties with, integrating large amounts of intermittent renewable energy on the grid, and that skeptics refuse to examine the issues carefully. One can show that it is possible to power a modern industrial economy using intermittent renewable energy, and that it is not technical or economic limitations, but our lack of imagination that prevents us from taking this approach.
New York, NY
1. Elliott, D.L. et al., 1991, An Assessment of the Available Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential in the Contiguous US, PNL-7789, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA.
2. Cavallo, A.J., 1997, Wind Turbine Cost of Electricity and Capacity Factor, J. Solar Energy Eng, 119, 312-314.
3. Cavallo, A.J., 1995, High Capacity Factor Wind Energy Systems, J. Solar Energy Eng, 117, 137-143.
4. Cavallo, A.J., 2007, Energy, 32, 120-127.
Why Not Go Where the Winds Really Blow?
With reference to the letters on wind power in the March and May issues of APS News: while it is wonderful to generate electricity (inefficiently) in our own back yards, WHY NOT GO TO WHERE THE WINDS REALLY BLOW? Among sailors, the winds of the far southern hemisphere are well known, particularly at >40 degrees S. latitude. They are known as the furious forties, or even more so the frightful 50’s, or smashing 60’s. Locations falling into this category would be such as (the infamous) Cape Horn, southern New Zealand and Cape of Good Hope, S. Africa. There are also numerous isolated islands, more like rocks, in the southern oceans, e.g. there is a solitary rock about 300 km south of Cape Horn–just imagine the winds. Locations as above have few calm days where the wind drops to only about 60 km/hr.
The next question is how to move the energy extracted to populated areas, particularly in the case of the more remote of the above sites. Perhaps underseas very high-voltage cables are even currently available; if not, then perhaps this would be a worthwhile area for engineering research. Alternately, possibly the energy could be transported in another form–say electrolysis to generate hydrogen, and maybe that could even be converted to methane or propane. Also, energy-consuming industries might be relocated to near these surplus electric generation areas; e.g. aluminum metal extraction.
Russell W. Dreyfus
US Qualifies as a “Rogue State”
I applaud the emphasis on the human dimension in Elizabeth Turpen’s Back Page article (APS News, April 2007). But she concentrates on the possibility of pure fissile material becoming available, primarily to terrorists but also to “rogue states”. The crucial human dimension, however, is the feelings, of both governments and the people, in countries which have not yet made nuclear weapons but might do so. We should recognize those who have decided not to do so and give them and their countries honor and thus enhance their legitimate national pride.
Associated with that is the human dimension in the United States government which persists in arrogant and non-scientific attitudes. Most scientists argue that the Anti-Ballistic Missile program will not work. The US Senate failed to ratify a test ban when it has been shown that in every postulated scenario the US would be safer with such a ban than without. The military still maintains a stockpile of 10,000 nuclear weapons when 100 should be enough to scare anyone. It must be recognized that in much of the world these three counterproductive actions are enough to classify the USA as a “rogue state”. Many scientists and others overseas, with considerable justification, argue that the USA is, in effect, the principal violator of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty, earlier of sections 4 and 6 and recently of sections 1 and 2.
During the cold war between the USSR and USA there were many personal scientific interchanges, in some of which I participated. I and many others have suggested that these personal interactions were crucial in keeping the war cold. Where now are the daily interactions between Iran and the USA? A former minister in the Iranian government recently told me privately that whereas most Iranians were not interested in nuclear energy as recently as 5 years ago, now 70% of the people would vote for a strong supportive position, as a matter of national pride. We need to help them find national pride in peaceful activities for the benefit of the region and the world, instead of the more warlike uses which we, unfortunately, have taught them.
Premature Praise for California
In his essay, “Climate Change is all about Energy” that appeared as the Back Page in the May 2007 issue of APS News, Drew Shindell writes, “Primarily through mandating more efficient use of energy, California has held its per capita energy use roughly constant since the early 1970s. During this same period, per capita energy use has gone up ~50%, nationwide.”
This last statement is not correct. Since the early 1970s, the nation’s per capita energy consumption has remained relatively constant–apparently similar to California’s (see http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec1.pdf). Inasmuch as California’s energy consumption has pretty much tracked that of the rest of the nation it might be a bit premature to sing praises to that state’s regulatory policies.
Drew Shindell replies:
In my essay on climate change, I referred to California’s successful energy efficiency program. I should have made clear, however, that the efficiency gains that greatly diverge from the national average were in the electricity sector. California’s per capita electricity use has been roughly constant since the 1970s, while the US as a whole has seen per capita electricity use increase by ~50%. As stated in the essay, the remarkable success in California is primarily due to gains in building, appliances, and utilities. These could be replicated nationwide, and indeed some other states and cities are adopting similar regulations. As electricity generation is the single largest contributor to US greenhouse gas emissions, California demonstrates that increased efficiency can lead to substantial reductions in global warming emissions, with ancillary benefits such as reduction of air pollution and reliance on imported oil. Clearly other sectors of the economy that contribute to overall energy use, such as transportation and industrial emissions, also need to be addressed.
Inconsistency is an Acceptable Price for Democracy
I’m not sure what point Michael Lubell is trying to make with his column about term limits in the May, 2007 issue. Very few of the members of Congress who made term-limit pledges actually honored those pledges in 2006. Instead, those who were replaced failed to get re-elected for a litany of reasons from rampant corruption to lack of character to anger over the war. Mr. Lubell laments the loss of consistency in policy as a result of the election and, recalling the term-limit pledges and the bills passed twelve years ago after the last major “change” election, imagines that the new members are there because of term limits. What actually happened was that we had an election, in which the voters chose new representatives because of the less than satisfactory performance of the old ones. Is he lamenting our democratic political process because of the lack of consistency it occasionally engenders? Or is he, as I suspect, saying that mandatory term limits should be approached with caution? The latter is a perfectly good argument to make, but I must confess a lack of dismay that some of the new members still need to be educated about competitiveness issues and the need for science funding, when I weigh that minor inconvenience against the value of being able to change our government when change is needed. I, for one, will not mourn the “consistency” of the old Republican majority. We should all gladly suffer a little inconsistency and uncertainty about our pet issues, such as science funding, to preserve the means of peaceful change and accountability that elections provide. And I can think of few worse examples to illustrate the dangers of mandatory term limits than the 2006 elections. From where I sit, the 2006 elections demonstrated the benefits of turnover in government, if anything at all.
Newport News, VA
Need a Comprehensive View of Climate Change
I read Drew Shindell’s Back Page (APS News, May 2007) with interest and appreciate his discussion of the physics of climate change and its relation to energy consumption. It stimulated my interest while at the same time increasing my frustration at ever hoping to gain a comprehensive view of the dynamic equilibrium that results in the climate we have. Lay articles as well as those written for the general physics community seldom (never in my experience) deal with more than one or a few of the mechanisms that affect our climate; and then usually not with enough quantitative (or even ball-park semi-quantitative) detail to allow evaluation of their relative importance.
For example, if an author quotes the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere per person per year, I would also like to know how much carbon is absorbed per acre per year of forest, agricultural land, or surface water. Knowing the fractional imbalance in the emission would be an important part of a quantitative understanding.
Likewise, although everyone talks about carbon dioxide, very few talk about methane or ozone like Shindell did. But he gave no quantitative hint about the relative importance of the latter two relative to carbon dioxide.
Water vapor in the air is an infra-red active absorber; why is it not discussed? Is it important or not? If the surface temperature of Earth rises, then the rate of evaporation of water should increase. Will this lead to a run-away effect in global warming or will there be an increase in cloud cover, reflecting sunlight, that reduces insolation?
I sure would appreciate a more comprehensive article on climate equilibrium than the usual one.
©1995 - 2013, AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY
APS encourages the redistribution of the materials included in this newspaper provided that attribution to the source is noted and the materials are not truncated or changed.
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Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism
WebMD Live Events Transcript
Are you one of the more than 3 million Americans suffering with Graves'
disease or hyperthyroidism? If
you have questions about the diagnosis or treatment of these thyroid problems
and their effects on your weight, energy level, heart rate, and more, Mary J.
Shomon joined us on July 21, 2005.
The opinions expressed herein are the guests' alone and have not been
reviewed by a WebMD physician. If you have questions about your health, you
should consult your personal physician. This event is meant for informational
Welcome to WebMD Live, Mary. Thank you for joining us today. It seems as though the first hurdle that patients face is getting an accurate diagnosis. Why is that?
The problem is that for thyroid disease the symptoms can be vague and common to many other conditions. When you are looking at everything from fatigue to weight changes to hair loss to depression it's common for a doctor to say you are stressed, depressed or PMSing rather than run the actual tests needed to diagnose a thyroid condition. That's why it's extra important for women to understand their family history, know about the symptoms and to advocate for themselves with their doctor. Symptoms of a thyroid condition depend on what kind of condition that you have.
What are symptoms that would send you to the doctor for a thyroid check?
If you are hypothyroid or have an underactive thyroid the symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, depression, hair loss, constipation, fertility problems, and dry skin, dry hair, body aches and pains, and numerous other problems that show the body slowing down.
If your problem is hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid
you may have anxiety and panic attacks, rapid heart rate, weight loss, difficulty sleeping and insomnia, extreme pain in the legs and arms, a complete lack of menstrual period, hair loss, depression, diarrhea, high blood pressure and other signs of an overactive metabolism.
|"Unfortunately, even when we have our thyroid condition treated and we are taking thyroid medications like Levoxyl, we may still be battling the problem of additional weight." |
What are the tests that the doctor will perform to check the thyroid?
Typically, the main test most doctors use as a first diagnostic effort is called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test. TSH is considered the standard blood test by most physicians to evaluate the thyroid. A high THS level is evidence of underactive thyroid, and low THS is evidence of hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. This can be confusing because sometimes the doctor will tell you that you have a high thyroid, when you actually have a high TSH. Some people misunderstand the terminology so it's important your doctor explain what he or she means when they say your thyroid is high or low and you need to be clear on what your specific level is.
It's important to know that TSH number because in recent years, the lab standards for what is considered normal have changed. It used to be, in the past several years, a level of 0.5 to 5.0 was considered the normal range and now it's 0.3 to 3.0. This is a fairly dramatic difference that many doctors and labs are still not aware of. So, if your TSH is 0.3 or below, you may be hyperthyroid and if your TSH is 3.0 or above, you may be hypothyroid. That's only using the TSH test as the first test.
Other doctors may use an additional battery of tests, known as the thyroid panel, and that includes Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibodies to help make a formal diagnosis.
My doctor just gave me a result of 0.185 and said his norm is 0.5 to 1, but wants me to remain on my current medication of Levoxyl .125 and see me again in four months. Should I seek a second opinion? I feel fine. I am just having the weight issue, but have recently cut sugar out of my diet after reading your book. I have been on the new medication for 2.5 months.
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This certificate was awarded to John Vance Tidwell, a coal passer aboard the SOLACE. It reads "A CUSPIDE CORONA/The/People of California/John V. Tidwell/Coal Passer/U.S.S. Solace/Spanish American War/1898-1899."
John Tidwell's career involved service aboard a number of famous Spanish American War vessels. He joined the U.S. Navy at San Francisco, being inducted on March 30, 1898. His inital service was aboard the U.S. Receiving Ship INDEPENDENCE. On May 17, 1898, he joined the crew of the USS CHARLESTON, serving aboard her on her trip to Manila, during which she captured the island of Guam. On November 3, 1899, he became a member of the crew of the gunboat, USS HELENA, though he stayed aboard less than a month at which time he was transferred to the USS PETREL, a veteran of the Battle of Manila Bay. Next, as of January 14, 1900, he was again transferred. This time his new berth was aboard the monitor USS MONTEREY.
On December 28, 1900, he became a member of the crew of the SOLACE. He remained a member of her crew until he was discharged on March 29, 1901 at San Francisco.
John Tidwell, a native of Thornton, Texas passed away on May 29, 1939 at the Veterans Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi in his 62 year.
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EL ATASCOSO, TX
EL ATASCOSO, TEXAS. El Atascoso was an early Spanish settlement (see SPANISH TEXAS) on what is now State Highway 21 some eight miles east of Nacogdoches in eastern Nacogdoches County. The Rancho Atascoso, as it was sometimes known, was established by José Mora in 1778 after the Spanish withdrawal of 1772–73 and was located where El Camino Real crossed Atascoso Creek. The section of El Camino Real between Atascoso and Puenta Suelas creeks was the site of numerous such camps; others settled nearby, joining Mora for protection from the Indian inhabitants of the area. A Texas Historical Commission marker was established at the site in the 1970s.
Marker Files, Texas Historical Commission, Austin.
The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.Christopher Long, "EL ATASCOSO, TX," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hresh), accessed May 23, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
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Russia's Lost Masterpieces
Up to quarter of a million artefacts are missing from Russian museums, a revelation that has received a negative reaction in the Western press
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According to Lyubov Molchanova, a consultant to the Museums Department at Russia's Ministry of Culture, the number of objects unaccounted for may be as high as 250,000. This was described as "astonishing" by some Russian and international media; yet it is anything but a secret. Two years ago, the minister of culture Alexander Avdeyev reported that "through all the years since the beginning of the Soviet period, less than 1pc of the items have been lost, and those were not the most valuable pieces. . ."
Indeed, the number of missing items represents only 0.33pc of the entire museum inventory of more than 83 million pieces. A mere drop of paint bearing in mind the turbulent nature of the last 93 years of Russian history. What makes less sense is the minister's statement about the losses being "minimal".
Russia's artistic legacy in the 20th century is of a slow and steady bloodletting of its own. The first decrees on the nationalisation, in early 1918, were adopted not only in relation to productive assets, but also towards major art collections and to any significant work of art in private hands. Everything that was not destroyed by the revolutionary masses rampaging the landowners' estates was earmarked for the specially created "state museum fund" - an entirely new form of art ownership and management proved to be most effective in ideological manipulations of the "proletariat state", but disastrous in every other sense. Culture became the priority of bureaucrats, not artists. Exempt from free circulation and subjected to brutal censorship, art and artistic expression became confined to the limits of communist doctrine.
Subsequently, millions of artworks were distributed among newly organised museums or buried to rot in the deep vaults of depositories.
Vladimir Lenin declared Soviet Russia to be the state of new type, pursuing its own "proletarian" identity: masterpieces of the "bourgeois art" from what is now state fund collections were auctioned in Berlin, Paris, London. According to the data in Soviet statistical handbooks, in 1928 a ton of pictures, engravings "and other items" was sent out of Soviet Russia. In 1930, it was already nine tons of "fine art", together with 568 tons of "other art" – furniture, silver, Russian icons.
Raphael's "Saint George" and "Madonna Alba", Titian's "Venus with a Mirror", Jan van Eyck's "Annunciation", Rubens's portrait of his wife, and Velazquez's portrait of Pope Innocent III – star lots from the Hermitage collection were being sold to private collectors in America and to European art dealers throughout 1920s. The true extent of the soviet "cultural policy" will probably be never known.
A new threat in the form of law comes from the Russian government. A recent draft legislation submitted to the lower Chamber of Russian parliament – the Duma – stipulates the ways "cultural property" will be "returned" to the religious organisations – the Russian Orthodox Church and other legally registered religious groups. If enacted, the law opens the way for millions of "religious objects and works of art" to change hands: "Restoration of former religious property to religious organisations", as the Moscow Patriarchy, the main beneficiary of the law, calls the initiative, has nothing to do with justice, nor with legal continuity.
Since the days of Peter the Great, Church assets were incorporated into the Imperial domain and as such nationalised by the Soviet government in 1918. Thus, the property to be "returned" can in no way be traced back to any existing religious organisation, but only to the house of Romanov.
Also, the report prepared by the experts of the so-called Civic Chamber, a state-sponsored institution that analyses draft legislation, criticises the law as unfair. "The cultural objects will become inaccessible by people of religions other than Russian Orthodox Christians," write the members of Chamber's commission on national culture protection and development.
If enacted, the law, they insist, would be "in conflict with a number of constitutional principles and international regulations".
The law may also lead to a massive loss of thousands of ancient works of art deprived of skilled hands of qualified restorers and conservators. The fate of 12th-century icon of "Bogoliubskaya, Mother of God", transferred to the monastic community in Vladimir and severely damaged by an enthusiastic dust-cleaner, is a good example.
Patriarch Kirill has recently hailed the dawn of the new era, where the Church plays the pivotal role in the creation of a "modern" Russia. Vast natural resources and everlasting enthusiasm of its people are the guarantees of this country‘s great future. Yet, ever-growing hunger of those entrusted with the political leadership and spiritual guidance for cash and power makes this future quite distant, if not altogether bleak.
Source: Russia Now
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New South Pole Telescope to Study Mysterious Dark Energy
The South Pole Telescope.
CREDIT: National Science Foundation
The new South Pole Telescope (SPT) has successfully collected its first light as part of a long-term project to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology, researchers announced today.
The goal of SPT is to learn the nature of mysterious dark energy, an antigravity force that permeates the cosmos and is driving the universe apart at an ever-increasing pace.
The telescope does not make conventional images. Instead, it will take advantage of excellent viewing conditions-cold and dry-in Antarctica to detect the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. The CMB is said to be the afterglow of the Big Bang.
On the electromagnetic spectrum, the CMB falls somewhere between heat radiation (infrared) and radio waves.
The CMB is largely uniform, but it contains tiny ripples of varying density and temperature. These ripples reflect the seeds that, through gravitational attraction, grew into the galaxies and galaxy clusters visible to astronomers today.
The CMB was imaged in unprecedented detail by the WMAP space telescope, helping to pin down the age of the universe at 13.7 billion years.
Now scientists are eager to get more detailed data.
SPT will record small variations in the CMB to determine if dark energy began to affect the formation of galaxy clusters by fighting against gravity over the past few billion years.
Galaxy clusters are groups of galaxies, the largest celestial bodies that gravity can hold together.
"Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is in one of these clusters," said Stephan Meyer of the University of Chicago. "And these clusters of galaxies actually change with time."
The CMB allows astronomers to take snapshots of the infant universe, when it was only 400,000 years old. No stars or galaxies had yet formed. If dark energy changed the way the universe expanded, it would have left its "fingerprints" in the way it forced galaxies apart over the deep history of time. Different causes would produce a different pattern in the formation of galaxy clusters.
According to one idea, dark energy is Albert Einstein's cosmological constant: a steady force of nature operating at all times and in all places. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant into his theory of general relativity to accommodate a stationary universe, the dominant idea of the day. If Einstein's idea is correct, scientists will find that dark energy was much less influential in the universe 5 billion years ago than it is today.
"Clusters weren't around in the early universe. They took a long time to evolve," said SPT project leader John Carlstrom of the University of Chicago.
Another version of the dark energy theory, called quintessence, suggests a force that varies in time and space. Some scientists even suggest there is no dark energy at all, and that gravity merely breaks down on vast intergalactic scales.
To pinpoint when dark energy became important, SPT will use a phenomenon called the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, which distorts the CMB as it passes through the hot gas of intervening galaxy clusters. As the microwaves interact with gas in the clusters, some of the microwaves get kicked into a higher frequency. SPT will measure the slight temperature difference associated with the frequency change and produce an image of the gas in the cluster.
SPT [image] can scan large regions of the sky quickly. Scientists expect it to detect thousands, or even tens of thousands of galaxy clusters within a few years.
The $19.2 million telescope is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), with additional support from the Kavli Foundation of Oxnard, Calif., and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco.
MORE FROM SPACE.com
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The Mexican government is likely to authorize the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) corn in Mexico. And until now Mexican citizens, with the help of organisations like Greenpeace, have managed to prevent agribusiness giants like Monsanto, DuPont and Dow AgroSciences from gaining approval in Mexico for genetically engineered corn.
Graciela invited me to her home in El Salto, a city on one of Mexico’s most polluted rivers, the Rio Santiago. She wanted to share the story of her community’s struggle for environmental justice.
“Every family here has at least one person with a serious illness or a loved one who passed away before their time,” Graciela told me. “The people are suffering. Their health and livelihoods are suffering. And industry is earning billions of pesos. It’s just not right.” I saw anger and sorrow wash over her eyes as she spoke about their plight. Continue reading →
In Greenpeace International’s latest report, “Toxic Threads: Under Wraps”, we show the results of water samples that were taken at discharge pipes used by two manufacturing facilities supplying Levi’s: Lavamex and Kaltex. Both facilities were found to be discharging a cocktail of hazardous chemicals. One of the facilities was also found to be discharging nonylphenol, a chemical used in textile manufacturing that has already been banned in many countries. This chemical is very persistent and remains toxic even as it works its way through the food chain. It is able to act as a hormone disrupter, accumulate in the tissue of fish and has recently been detected in human tissue. Continue reading →
I have visited more than 20 times the pipe Huntsman Corporation – one of the largest suppliers of chemical substances in the world for the textile sector – uses to discharge wastewater into the Santiago River in Jalisco, Mexico.
It has never had the same colour. Usually red, sometimes blue and once yellow, it looks like this facility is trying to dye the water as if it was playing with it.
A recent study by Greenpeace Mexico has shown that even the government admits that people living close to this water are risking their health due to water polluted with hazardous chemicals. But the Santiago River is not a private plaything for Huntsman – it is one of Mexico’s most important rivers. Continue reading →
Blogpost by Tommy Crawford, Greenpeace International
Pierre Terras is a Toxic Campaigner in Greenpeace Mexico, and was part of the team that travelled to El Salto de Juanacatlán waterfalls for World Water Day to raise awareness of the toxic pollution that is destroying the Río Santiago. He wanted to share this story with you in order to shine a spotlight on the impacts this pollution is having on the environment and on the lives of local communities, and to show you why the work on the Detox Campaign is so important for people around the world.
World Water Day At The Salto Waterfall
When I first came to see El Salto de Juanacatlán waterfalls on the Río Santiago, the only things I knew were that there was a polluted river and community-based movements asking for a toxic-free environment.
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Last modified: 2011-10-01 by rob raeside
Keywords: irish lights | commissioner of irish lights | lighthouse | lightship | st patricks cross |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors
by Martin Grieve, 30 March 2008
Source: British Flags and Emblems (Bartram, 2004)
The current flag of the Commissioners of Irish Lights features the St.
Patrick's Cross, not the St. George's Cross as on the old flag.
Source: Graham Bartrum, British Flags & Emblems, Tuckwell Press, 2004
Miles Li, 17 September 2004
Commissioners of Irish Lights is a cross-border body (although its HQ is
actually in Dublin, Eire). Irish Lights vessels in Northern Ireland fly the
defaced blue ensign; vessels in Eire fly the Irish National Flag.
Miles Li, 19 September 2004
image by Martin Grieve, 29 March 2008
image by Martin Grieve, 26 March 2008
image by Martin Grieve, 28 March 2008
Flaggenbuch (1939) also reports there was a
Martin Grieve, 28 March 2008
In 1863 the Port of Dublin Corporation, which was not only the General Lighthouse Authority in Ireland, but also the Corporation for preserving and improving the Port of Dublin, was granted permission to use the Blue Ensign defaced with a badge in the fly. This consisted of a lighthouse on a circular blue background surrounded by a scroll bearing the words "Irish Lights Department". The General Lighthouse Authority became a separate body in accordance with the Dublin Port Act of 1867, and was designated the Commissioners of Irish Lights. At the same time, the design of the badge on the Blue Ensign was changed as shown to that shown above.
The flag of the Commissioners is white, three by two, charged with the red cross of St. George; each quarter comprises a seascape - first and fourth showing a lighthouse on a rock, second and third a lightship, all proper. There seems to be no record of the date of the adoption of this flag. Similar charges, only placed within a circle, are displayed on the blue triangular field bearing the St. George's Cross, of the "Pennant". This is flown at the main masthead, but is replaced with the Commissioners' flag whenever they are embarked. The Commissioners' flag is also flown at all lighthouse stations in the Republic of Ireland; however, those in Northern Ireland fly the Blue Ensign defaced, as described above."
Source: Carr (1961)
Jarig Bakker, 28 August 2001
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Returning from the flurry of the start of the semester, I want to consider the close of Coleridge’s “The Raven” (much as Tim has now brought to a close his wonderful readings of “The Rime”). When we last left our bird, he’d returned to the oak—now “grown a tall oak tree”—and brought along with him a “She.” The pair built themselves “a nest in the topmost bough, / And young ones they had, and were happy enow.” But avian tragedy ensues in full, dramatic measure:
But soon came a Woodman in leathern guise,
His brow, like a pent-house, hung over his eyes.
He’d an axe in his hand, not a word he spoke,
But with many a hem! and a sturdy stroke,
At length he brought down the poor Raven’s own oak.
His young ones were killed; for they could not depart,
And their mother did die of a broken heart.
Many a reader of Thoreau’s Walden will halt (“Pause, Dweller!”) at the text’s mention of the Woodman’s brow, pendulous “like a pent-house.” Coleridge may have adapted this simile of a slant-roofed forehead from Dryden’s description of “pent-house eye-brows” (King Arthur III.i.30). But the relation to dwelling, in this context of a woodman cutting down a tree that will be transformed into a ship, suggests more than appearance. The Woodman uncannily conveys lean-to houseness with him in his human bearing and attitudes: human ecology (conceptualized dwelling, houseness, the [un]heimlich) trumps and destroys an avian ecosystem and its dwellers. The Woodman’s “guise” moreover suggests something less than authentic, as if he were playing a role as an actor or agent of transformative dwelling: my dwelling from yours. So the poem’s vision of eco-nomy seems to go. The Raven’s “own oak,” dwelt in but not of course “owned” in human terms of commerce and property rights, is “brought down,” and the young birds, unable yet to fly, are “killed” by the Woodman’s action. This scene is obviously conveyed with a good deal of anthropomorphism. Even the word “own” smacks of human possession. And then there’s the sentimental mother raven’s death from “a broken heart.” Pathetic fallacy, anyone?
Yet I can’t help but recall a memory from my youth. Goose hunting one early morning on a reedy lake in Washington state (USA), I listened to a lone goose forlornly calling as he or she circled and circled round our boat. My father and I both surmised that the bird was calling for its missing mate, who likely had been shot down by some other hunter. Was that goose’s heart “broken”? Who can say? That it called and called, and that its vocalizations conveyed a sense of mournful loss—well, those were my burdensome impressions then (and, however sentimental and erroneous, no doubt later played a part in my becoming a vegetarian). Emotional suffering is not the sole domain of humankind.
Now comes the transformation, perhaps along the lines of what Ashton Nichols heralds as “urbanature,” whereby nature is converted not into Hegelian-Emersonian culture but into that nature forged by human animals as another—“green” or not-so-green–portion of the world. Beavers use trees to make dams; humans use them to build houses and ships (and poems):
The boughs from the trunk the woodman did sever;
And they floated it down on the course of the river.
They sawed it in planks, and its bark they did strip,
And with this tree and others they made a good ship.
Now for the ironic close, whereby human mastery is thwarted. Poetic justice or just bad luck? Or is this finale best read allegorically, for instance regarding late eighteenth-century British politics? Certainly the poem (composed circa 1798) alludes to many a past shipwreck, and also eerily foreshadows, at least to my eyes, the wreck of John Wordsworth’s ship in 1805:
The ship, it was launched; but in sight of the land
Such a storm there did rise as no ship would withstand.
It bulged on a rock, and the waves rush’d in fast;
Round and round flew the Raven, and cawed to the blast.
He heard the last shriek of the perishing souls–
See! see! o’er the topmast the mad water rolls!
Right glad was the Raven, and off he went fleet,
And Death riding home on a cloud he did meet,
And he thank’d him again and again for this treat:
They had taken his all, and REVENGE IT WAS SWEET
All the mariners drown in the shipwreck, and the ship itself vanishes beneath the waves. With this disaster comes the poem’s anthropomorphic, almost surreal, zinger: the raven feels “right glad” and indeed grateful for this shipwreck–so much so that he repeatedly thanks a home-bound, dwelling-aimed “Death” on his pale cloud. “They,” human landlubbers and mariners alike, “had taken his all,” his young ones and wife, and so “revenge” tasted “sweet.” A bird feel (and taste) revenge? Surely this point is where the poem slips off the rails of all verisimilitude, if it ever rode them at all. And of course all along the poem has operated as a fable with stock figures: “Woodman,” “Raven,” “Oak,” etc. Yet if Coleridge and Wordsworth could elsewhere ponder emotional-neuronal connections and correspondences between humans and animals (notably birds) regarding joy or happiness, why not less appealing emotions, as well? Who is to say that revenge has no animal analog or source? Outlandish as this fable becomes in terms of the distraught Raven’s tracking of the oak’s journey and material transformation, and of the bird’s own grief and anger—outlandish as these things are, they give me pause. For that out-land of distinction, of distance, is a “natural” separation we rely on very much: our difference from birds and all animals, even the most “intelligent” of animals. There’s much here to ponder, “though inland far we be.”
Like Coleridge’s “Rime,” his “Raven” risks being too simply reduced to an eco-morality tale, where destructive human actions are justly decried. The poem soon becomes a plea for habitat preservation–or to be destroyed at our peril. But of course the poem doesn’t make this moral so easy, anymore than does “The Rime.” The bird does not quite exact his revenge (he doesn’t cause the storm), but he fully enjoys the ship’s and mariners’ destruction. Morality play then becomes revenge play. Revenge seems to be a feeling that is outlandishly our own: a form of feeling policed and cathartically controlled since at least Homer’s Iliad. Revenge is socially toxic, transforming men into beasts (of war), and it is thus also quintessentially “human.” Along with grief and sex, the feeling of vengeance is one of the key driving forces behind art—at least behind ancient-heroic art. In Coleridge’s forged fable vengeance is not like an animal emotion, it IS one. The fable arguably views all emotions as natural, with the difference between animal and human a matter more of degree than kind, however much we may prefer to see it differently. Our houses, our furniture and culture, come from other animals’ dwellings or dwelling places, as parts of a larger, global transformation not of nature into culture so much as of dwelling into dwelling, with a dash of the unheimlich, of an unhomely, uncanny sense of loss and lurking revenge, to discomfort us under our roofs and penthouse brows. (More to come.)
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The following HTML text is provided to enhance online
readability. Many aspects of typography translate only awkwardly to HTML.
Please use the page image
as the authoritative form to ensure accuracy.
How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School
final answers, to questions of great interest to educators. There is growing evidence that both the developing and the mature brain are structurally altered when learning occurs. Thus, these structural changes are believed to encode the learning in the brain. Studies have found alterations in the weight and thickness of the cerebral cortex of rats that had direct contact with a stimulating physical environment and an interactive social group. Subsequent work has revealed underlying changes in the structure of nerve cells and of the tissues that support their function. The nerve cells have a greater number of the synapses through which they communicate with each other. The structure of the nerve cells themselves is correspondingly altered. Under at least some conditions, both astrocytes that provide support to the neurons and the capillaries that supply blood may also be altered. The learning of specific tasks appears to alter the specific regions of the brain involved in the task. These findings suggest that the brain is a dynamic organ, shaped to a great extent by experience—by what a living being does, and has done.
It is often popularly argued that advances in the understanding of brain development and mechanisms of learning have substantial implications for education and the learning sciences. In addition, certain brain scientists have offered advice, often with a tenuous scientific basis, that has been incorporated into publications designed for educators (see, e.g., Sylwester, 1995:Ch. 7). Neuroscience has advanced to the point where it is time to think critically about the form in which research information is made available to educators so that it is interpreted appropriately for practice—identifying which research findings are ready for implementation and which are not.
This chapter reviews the evidence for the effects of experience on brain development, the adaptability of the brain for alternative pathways to learning, and the impact of experience on memory. Several findings about the brain and the mind are clear and lead to the next research topics:
The functional organization of the brain and the mind depends on and benefits positively from experience.
Development is not merely a biologically driven unfolding process, but also an active process that derives essential information from experience.
Research has shown that some experiences have the most powerful effects during specific sensitive periods, while others can affect the brain over a much longer time span.
An important issue that needs to be determined in relation to educa-
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Austrian physician; born at Praschnoaugezd, Bohemia, Dec. 8, 1816. After having studied philosophy at the gymnasium of Prague, he attended the University of Vienna (1836-42), where he devoted himself to the study of medicine. From 1843 to 1845 he acted as assistant physician at the communal hospital of Vienna; from 1845 to 1849 he was a private practitioner in Prague; and in 1849 he was appointed director of the Jewish hospital of Vienna. When Baron Anselm von Rothschild, impressed by the efficiency of the hospital in spite of its limitations, erected a better building and presented it to the congregation, Wölfler devoted his whole energy to the new institution, and visited several hospitals of western Europe in order to study their methods.
Wölfler founded (1872) a society for the gratuitous care of consumptives, without distinction of creed. Two country houses at Kierling, near Klosterneuburg, were secured; and every summer a number of patients have enjoyed a stay there with proper professional attendance. Wölfler has been a curator, and for many years president, of the institute for the blind founded at the Hohe Warte by Dr. Ludwig August Frankl. In 1866 the government conferred upon him the Order of Francis Joseph, and in 1873 he received the title of imperial councilor. On the occasion of his eightieth birthday (1896) the committee of the Jewish community of Vienna hung his portrait, painted in oil by the Countess Adrienne Pötting, on the wall of the committee-room in the hospital, among the portraits of its benefactors.
- Wurzbach, Biog. Lex. vol. lvii., s.v.
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For years, cancer patients -- especially breast cancer patients -- have been told not to lift anything heavy.
It was thought that carrying something or working out would trigger a painful swelling of the arms called lymphedema, especially in those who had lymph glands radiated as part of treatment.
But new research says getting fit with resistance training actually makes the condition less likely.
Dr. Eric Winer of the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston said a recent study showed that women who lifted weights had fewer problems because they had better muscle tone.
Working out also helps patients keep their moods up, retain muscle and bone strength, and stay at a healthy weight.
In the study that could change medical thinking, the women wore a compression sleeve on their arm while working out.
The doctors who studied the issue warned, however, that before starting a training program, women should get advice from a certified trainer, start slowly and wear protective garments.
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by Ben Chapman
Below is the infosheet and highlights:
- Storing low-acid foods in a jar and sealing them without either acidifying or processing using pressure creates the ideal conditions for toxin formation.
- Tested recipes and directions for safe canning can be found at the National Center for Home Food Preservation:
- In 1977, 59 patrons of a Detroit Mexican restaurant became ill with botulism after consuming improperly canned peppers after restaurant staff put lightly-cooked peppers and water in jars and sealed them.
- Low acid foods (pH greater than 4.6) like beets cannot be safely canned using a boiling water bath unless acidified according to a tested recipe.
Click here to download.
© 2012 US Food Safety Corporation. No copyright claim is made for portions of this blog and linked items that are works of the United States Government, state governments or third parties
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Type II diabetes is rising at an alarming rate in this country, which is one reason November has been designated National Diabetes Month. Over 8% of the American population has diabetes according to the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet—and the number has surely grown! Of the two main types of diabetes, type II diabetes is by far the most common. So how can you control your blood sugar naturally and minimize your chances of getting diabetes? Start with what you eat, how you spice, and how you move!
As always, when beginning a new health plan, do not go off any medications or jump in head-first without first having a discussion with your physician.
How well do you understand type II diabetes? Let’s start with what happens in your body when you eat food. Your body converts carbohydrates from the food into a simple sugar called glucose, which is your body’s primary source of fuel. Then, the glucose passes into your bloodstream during digestion, which causes your blood glucose levels to rise—and this triggers the release of insulin. (Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that helps move the excess glucose from your bloodstream to your cells, where it is used for energy.) Diabetes is a condition in which your body cannot regulate blood sugar levels, and this results in an unhealthy buildup of glucose in the bloodstream; down the road, high blood glucose can lead to serious complications like heart disease, nerve damage, kidney failure, and decreased wound healing.
In type II diabetes specifically, your body’s cells become insensitive to insulin, which results in the rise of blood sugar. Another term for this is insulin resistance. The main way to manage diabetes is to keep the blood sugar levels as close to healthy as possible. In addition to the tips below, discover other ways to manage diabetes in The Natural Health Dictionary.
You may not realize that the answer to living without diabetes may be right under your nose in your very own kitchen cupboard! Spices and herbs flavor your food, and they also have amazing healing powers. This spice & herb blend is helpful for pre-diabetes and diabetes conditions. One standout ingredient is cinnamon, which has been linked to lowered blood sugar. Research has demonstrated improvement in insulin sensitivity with cinnamon polyphenols, as well as total and LDL cholesterol. It doesn’t hurt that it is tasty, too! Find out more about cinnamon in The Natural Health Dictionary.
The herbs and spices in this spice blend are an all-around heart support, helpful for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes conditions, and diabetes. You can easily mix this tasty spice blend yourself. Fresh is best: when possible, grind your own spices from the original dry source (think cinnamon sticks, white pepper corns, whole cloves). If a mortar and pestle is not your thing, use a coffee grinder. Store in a glass jar for up to a month. To use, simply add the spice blend to your meals just as you finish cooking the dish—about 1 minute before you turn off the heat. Add to your soups, stir-frys, fish and veggie dishes, and bean and grain dishes. Mix together in equal measure:
• ground cinnamon
• fennel seed
• ground cloves
• ground star anise
• ground white pepper
• dried parsley
• ground ginger
• cayenne pepper
The key to maintaining normal sugar levels in the body is to eat a balanced diet of complex carbohydrates, organic sources of proteins, and good fats. Eat at regular intervals because skipping meals is a surefire way to cause blood glucose to bounce up and down. Eat more black beans, soybeans, tofu, garbanzo beans, mung beans, sweet potatoes, yams, peas, artichokes, pumpkin, celery, spinach, daikon radishes, cabbage, water chestnuts, millet, oats, amaranth, quinoa, bran, lentils, organic chicken, turkey, fish, egg whites, unsweetened low-fat yogurt, nuts, seeds, olive oil, flax seed oil, virgin coconut oil, and fresh berries.
A daily 30-minute cardiovascular activity that stimulates circulation, conditions the heart, and builds muscles will encourage your body to metabolize sugars properly, helping with diabetes prevention. Research has shown that tai chi or qi gong exercises benefit the hormonal system.
Try this time-tested qi gong exercise to help balance your blood sugar levels, strengthen your hormonal system, and avoid the significant complications of diabetes. I often recommend this simple walking exercise “Merry-Go-Around” to my patients to help with managing diabetes. Try to do it twice a day.
1. In a quiet outdoor setting find a thick-trunked tree with at least 5 feet of clear space around the trunk in all directions. Perform the following walking exercise for 15 minutes.
2. Walk with a relaxed, steady gait, keeping your hands raised to your trunk. Each time you complete a circle, change the position of your arms by slightly raising or lowering your hands in front or on the sides of your torso.
3. For the first half of the exercise, walk clockwise around the tree. For the second half, walk counterclockwise.
I hope you spice up your diabetes management plan and get moving!
Much of the information in this article come from The Natural Health Dictionary, a comprehensive guide that answers all your questions about natural remedies, healing herbs, longevity foods, vitamins, and supplements. Also, you can find more ways to live a long and healthy life in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle.
Follow me on Twitter to get insider tips and to ask your health questions.
I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
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To purchase Dr. Mao's book, "The Natural Health Dictionary," click here.
To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.
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