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With the growing number of adolescents going through "the System" each year, there is an increasing need for sentencing alternatives and public education of the judicial process. Youth Court offers a voluntary alternative to the criminal justice system for young people who have committed a crime or an offense. The goal of Youth Court is to intervene in early anti-social, delinquent, and criminal behavior, and to reduce the incidence and prevent the escalation of such behavior. Youth court strives to promote feelings of self esteem and desire for self improvement, and to foster a healthy attitude toward rules and authority.
The purpose, aside from sentencing, is to educate and motivate both defendants and student participants while promoting better communication between attorneys, defendants, the court, and the community. The Youth Court Program is two-fold in its purpose. First, to subject youthful offenders to sentences by their own peers; and secondly, to encourage more participation in the judicial process with increased understanding of the day-to-day application by all young people.
Through enabling teens to understand the consequences of their actions, by focusing on their strengths and giving them an opportunity to take an active role in making amends, The Third District Youth Court is a unique process that incorporates teens, victims, and the community in a new form of justice—one that is believed to be effective in reducing juvenile crime. Entrusting youth to make difficult decisions about a peer’s behavior sends an unmistakable message: that these youth are valued, influential, contributing members of our community. Moreover, the sentence is likely to be more casually related to the offense than a fine or even specified hours of volunteer service given by a judge. For example, offenders in Youth Court are often asked to write essays about the offense or its effect on them and/or their victim. Some youth offenders are required to read these essays to a class at a local school.
Lastly, the participation and education of young people is accomplished by the structure of Youth Court. A student jury is employed to hear two to four offenses each Youth Court session. Each session also requires student attorneys, a student bailiff, a student clerk, and a student coordinator. Over the course of a year, several hundred students develop an appreciation of the law, the work of attorneys and jurors, and the process of sentencing. The learning involves real cases and real defendants and is, therefore, much more practical in its application.
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Our current legal system is in the hands of a few hundred men and women whom we elect as our representatives. When we elect them, we effectively transfer our voting powers to them. These few hundred gather and decide which laws are passed, effectively affecting the lives of everyone.
Yet in most circumstances the votes of such a small amount of people can not be statistically representative of the opinions of hundreds of millions. Especially when personal incentives may taint the decision making process of our representatives. How can we truly be sure that their choices are motivated by altruism rather than personal gain? After all, elected representatives are only human...
When we elect our representatives, we also transfer our powers to introduce new laws effectively removing our ability to suggest solutions to problems faced by the nation. In most democracies today, people do not have the right to call for a national popular referendum by producing a petition signed by a sufficient number of registered voters. In the United States, the constitution does not provide for popular referendum at the federal level. In Britain, France, Spain, Germany,Greece and most other European countries, national popular referendum cannot be called for by the people. Switzerland, on the other hand, does provide such right to its citizen and is one of the most economically stable countries in the World.
Now, imagine an online platform empowering all the people of a nation to suggest, debate and vote on the laws that govern their lives. An open source system created by the people for the people. A freely available secure software based on the principles of transparency, collaboration and participation. An online legislative platform created and improved with the input of all those wishing to live in a true democracy.
In this digital age, We the People, have the collective skills, knowledge and wisdom to design, build and implement such a system. We also have access to the sum of our collective social networks effectively enabling us to propagate ideas faster than ever before. And for those of us already living in democratic countries, some of us already have the right to peacefully bring about a referendum to allow us to upgrade our democracy. At the least we have the right to petition to gain the right to call national popular referendum.
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There is little information in the art history books about Auguste Jean-Baptiste Roubille (1872-1955). He was an engraver and a painter (he did café murals), a book illustrator, and a designer of posters and dioramas. Thanks to Stanley Appelbaum’s French Satirical Drawings from ‘L’Assiette Au Beurre’ for this little bit of biography. Beginning in 1897, Roubille worked for many of the Paris humor magazines, such as Le Courrier Français, Le Rire, Le Sourire, Le Cri de Paris, Cocorico, and others. L’Assiette claimed his services for its very first issue in April 4, 1901 and frequently in the years that followed.
Around 1900, he completed a series of 13 lithographic posters for the writer/publisher Antonin Reschal at Librairie Parisienne Arnaud et Cie. They titled the set Le musée de sires, feuille de Caricatures Politiques (Museum of Lords or Rulers, sheets of political caricatures). My colleague Eduardo Tenenbaum offers a reading of the pun they make with the series title Gueulerie contempoiriane (after the series Galerie contemporaine): “gueule” (f.) in French is the muzzle or face of an animal, but in slang it means a person’s face or mouth, and is often used derogatorily. When used as a verb, “gueuler” can mean “to yell” or “to scream.” The phrase “gueulerie contemporaine” suggests to me humans braying like a bunch of animals, or in this case, politicians.
The rulers in this museum are surprisingly international in scope. Here are a few more:
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Organisers of the International Barcode of Life conference, in Adelaide this week, plan to use miniature DNA decoding devices to answer the question: “What species is that?”
Conference co-chair and director of the Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity at the University of Adelaide, Professor Andrew Lowe, says this is one of the most exciting developments in genomics.
“You point this thing at an alien species and it tells you all about it. That’s where we want to get to … maybe in five years, which is really neat.”
By 2015 scientists expect to have a reference library of five million standardised DNA sequences they can use to identify 500,000 species, which is more than a quarter of all known species on Earth.
They would take a sample and then compare it with the sequences in the database, looking for a match.
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Well it was just a matter of time before some commie scientists named an extinct animal after the 44th president of the United States. Obamadon gracilis is the name, and the foot-long creature — which was discovered in a
fossil bed in Montana — has been extinct for about 65 million years. And
ironically, its extinction may indicate that paleolithic changes in
climate affected animals differently than previously believed.
Paleontologist Nicholas Longrich explains that scientists are now
rethinking the idea that the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
spared smaller lizards like Obamadon:....
India’s Biological Diversity (BD) Act was enacted in 2002. There is now a decade of its existence to reflect on.The genesis of the law can be traced to the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD), which was signed at the Rio Summit in 1992. While assessing the 10 years of the Act, one has to be mindful of how India itself has undergone change in these years. By the time the Act came into force, trade imperatives had begun to influence environmental law and policy making both at the national and global level. The final shape of the Act and the manner of its implementation through the BD rules issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests....
the birth announcement of Endow-Bio, Inc., the First National Endowment for
Biodiversity. Please help us to
publicize our brand new, all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) public charity. Endow-Bio, Inc. operates wholly within the
Our current crises of nature, conservation and culture call
for an audaciously hopeful response in the form of this new public
charity. Our mission is to further
conservation of biodiversity of native species and their habitats in the U.S.,
to expose the full breadth of our environmental problems, to show there are
good-hearted people working to solve these problems who would ....
“We are looking to make wildlife and livestock more compatible by dealing with diseases, by dealing with human/wildlife conflict, and at the same time seeking economic opportunity in both of these arenas.” Steve Osofsky, director of wildlife health policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), developed the Animal & Human Health for the Environment And Development (AHEAD) program at WCS and served as the first wildlife veterinary officer for the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks. In an interview with Worldwatch Research Fellow Molly Theobald, Dr. Osofsky discusses how farmers can both help and benefit from wildlife c....
Will, it's rarely functional to shell out much more regarding handbags still which has a replica gives you'll total satisfaction on your way powerful yearnings having to break ones price savings consideration. I hate shopping. It is a general fact that if you are intending outside then you require a purse.
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RIP Edward Stobart - the UK trucking legend023:24, 31 March 2011 RIP Edward Stobart - the UK trucking legendHistory SummarizeA very sad day today for the UK trucking legend. I thought it would be appropriate to have this Facebook page for people to share memories of the legend. I did meet him the once at Truckfest several years ago. Personally, had if of not been for Edward's business acumen, I would not have known of Stobart, joined the fan club, collected the models and made that part of it into a career. His idea of creating a fan club found a way in creating a frenzy of hauliers following his lead in having models made and it's down to his idea that I am in business doing what I do today, making models for Stobart and other UK truck companies.
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Wabash River: Agriculture's Impact on Wabash River
by Clayton Craig '08
June 28, 2006
Three Wabash men elected to navigate Indiana’s length of the Wabash River to study its history, biology, and beauty.
The Wabash River Drainage Basin encompasses approximately 80 percent of Indiana as well as small portions of both Ohio and Illinois; essentially, its one massive funnel that drains into the Wabash River. To gain a slightly better understanding of the enormity of this funnel, it covers approximately 62,000 square kilometers of Indiana, 22,500 square kilometers of Illinois and 740 square kilometers of Ohio. With that much water flowing toward one location it is bound to have a major impact on the Wabash River.
For as long as there has been agriculture, farmers have had to deal with erosion. Farmers located within the Wabash River Drainage Basin are no exception. My part, as the biologist in the Wabash River Group, was to look at the impact agriculture has had on the Wabash River ecosystem. During a 340-mile canoe trip down the river three College men observed different farming practices such as planting to the edge of banks of rivers and streams and how each practice affects the Wabash River.
We canoed from the Mississinewa River north of Peru all the way to where it empties into the Ohio. Throughout the duration of the trip Craig took water measurements testing for conductivity, oxygen saturation, secchi depth, and the total amount of dissolved solids. Each of the measurements offers a general knowledge of how much sediment is being dumped in the river via tributaries that stem from throughout the Wabash River Drainage Basin.
Craig has synthesized his data and written a paper addressing the problems of agricultural erosion and what steps are being taken to prevent it.
Craig '08 is a biology major from Morristown, Ind.
For more information see:
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In 1819 the liberation of New Granada was achieved, finally gaining its freedom from Spain. Panama and the other regions of former New Granada were therefore technically free. Panama weighed its options carefully as it considered union with Peru or with Central America in federations that were emerging in the region. Finally it was won over by Venezuela's Simon Bolivar, who's ambitious project of a Gran Colombia (1819-1830) was beginning to take shape. Then, timing the action with the rest of the Central American isthmus, Panama declared its independence in 1821 and joined the southern federation. As the isthmus' central interoceanic traffic zone, as well as the City of Panama had been of great historical importance to the Spanish Empire and subject of direct influence, so, the differences in social and economic status between the more liberal region of Azuero, and the much more royalist and conservative area of Veraguas displayed contrasting loyalties. When the Grito de la Villa de Los Santos independence motion occurred, Veraguas firmly opposed it.
Origin of the movement:
The Panamanian movement for independence can be indirectly attributed to the abolishment of the encomienda system in Azuero, set forth by the Spanish Crown, in 1558 due to repeated protests by locals against the mistreatment of the native population. In its stead, a system of medium and smaller-sized landownership was promoted, thus taking away the power from the large landowners and into the hands of medium and small sized proprietors.
The end of the encomienda system in Azuero, however, sparked the conquest of Veraguas in that same year. Under the leadership of Francisco Vázquez, the region of Veraguas passed into Castillan rule in 1558. In the newly conquered region, the old system of encomienda was imposed.
Arrival of the printing press:
After the region of Veraguas was conquered, the two regions settled for a mutual dislike of each other. To the inhabitants of Azuero, their region was symbolic of the power of the people, while Veraguas represented an old, oppressive order. Diametrically, to the inhabitants of Veraguas, their region was a bastion of loyalty and morality, while Azuero was a hotbed for vice and treason.
The tension between the two regions finally peaked when the first printing press arrived in Panama in 1820. Under the guidance of JosĂ© MarĂa GoitĂa, the printing press was utilized to create a newspaper called La Miscelánea. Panamanians Mariano Arosemena, Manuel MarĂa Ayala, and Juan JosĂ© Calvo, as well as Colombian Juan JosĂ© Argote, formed the writing team of the new newspaper, whose stories would circulate throughout every town in the isthmus.
The newspaper was put to use in the service of the cause of independence. It circulated stories expounding the virtues of liberty, independence, and the teachings of the French Revolution, as well as stories of the great battles of BolĂvar, the emancipation of the United States from their British masters, and the greatness of men such as Santander, Jose MartĂ, and other such messengers of freedom.
Due to the narrow area of circulation, those in the capital were able to transmit these intoxicating ideals to other such separatists, such as those in Azuero. In Veraguas, however, there remained a strict sense of submission to the Spanish Crown.
José de Fábrega:
On November 10, 1821, the Grito de La Villa de Los Santos occurred. It was a unilateral decision by the residents of Azuero (without backing from Panama City) to declare their separation from the Spanish Empire. In both Veraguas and the capital this act was met with disdain, although on differing levels of said emotion. To Veraguas, it was the ultimate act of treason, while to the capital, it was seen as inefficient and irregular, and furthermore forced them to accelerate their plans.
The Grito was an event that shook the isthmus to the core. It was a sign, on the part of the residents of Azuero, of their antagonism towards the independence movement in the capital, who in turn regarded the Azueran movement with contempt, since they (the capital movement) believed that their counterparts were fighting their right to rule, once the peninsulares (peninsular-born) were long gone.
It was, as well, an incredibly brave move on the part of Azuero, which lived in fear of Colonel José de Fábrega, and with good reason: the Colonel was a staunch loyalist, and had the entirety of the isthmus' military supplies in his hands. They feared quick retaliation and swift retribution against the separatists.
What they had not counted on, however, was the influence of the separatists in the capital. Ever since October 1821, when the former Governor General, Juan de la Cruz Murgeón, left the isthmus on a campaign in Quito and left the Veraguan colonel in charge, the separatists had been slowly converting Fábrega to the separatist side. As such, by November 10, Fábrega was now a supporter of the independence movement. Soon after the separatist declaration of Los Santos, Fábrega convened every organization in the capital with separatist interests and formally declared the city's support for independence. No military repercussions occurred due to the skillful bribing of royalist troops.
Having sealed the fate of the Spanish Crown's rule in Panama with his defection, Jóse de Fábrega now collaborated with the separatists in the capital to bring about a national assembly, where the fate of the country would be decided. Every region in Panama attended the assembly, including the former loyalist region of Veraguas, which was eventually convinced to join the revolution, out of the sheer fact that nothing more could be done for the royalist presence in Panama. Thus, on November 28, 1821, the national assembly was convened and it was officially declared (through Fábrega, who was invested with the title of Head of State of Panama) that the isthmus of Panama had severed its ties with the Spanish Empire and its decision to join New Granada and Venezuela in Bolivar's recently founded Republic of Colombia.
Posterior to the act, Fábrega wrote to BolĂvar of the event, saying:
"Exalted Sir, I have the pleasure to communicate to Your Excellency the praiseworthy news of the Isthmus' decision of independence from Spanish dominion. The town of Los Santos, to the comprehension of this Province, was the first town to pronounce with enthusiasm the sacred name of Liberty and immediately almost every other town imitated their glorious example... Inasmuch as I am concerned, Most Excellent Sir, the effusion of my gratitude is inexplicable, at having had the unique satisfaction capable of filling the human heart, as is to deserve the public confidence in circumstances so critical to govern the independent Isthmus; and I can only correspond to such high distinction with the sacrifices I am willing to make since I devoted myself, as it wished, to the mother country that has seen me be born and to who I owe all that I own..."
BĂłlivar, in turn, replied,
"It is not possible to me to express the feeling of joy and admiration that I have experimented to the knowledge that Panama, the center of the Universe, is segregated by itself and freed by its own virtue. The act of independence of Panama is the monument most glorious that any American province can give. Everything there is addressed; justice, generosity, policy and national interest. Transmit, then, you to those meritorious Colombians the tribute of my enthusiasm by their pure patriotism and true actions..."
Panama and Colombia:
Bolivar, well aware of geographical obstacles but also of the unique qualities and critical role in trade throughout history and under Spanish tutelage, had hesitated to include Panama in his Gran Colombia project. Besides the geographical argument, there was the fact that Simon Bolivar's actions had been the decisive military factor in the independence of Venezuela, New Granada and Ecuador, while his role in Panama's independence was none. Thus, while Bolivar knew that the nation of Panama was linked historically and culturally to South America, he was also conscious of the fact that the region was part of the Central American geography. This view is clearly seen in some of his famous documents and quotes such as his Carta de Jamaica (1815):
"The Isthmian States, from Panama to Guatemala, will perhaps form an association. This magnificent position between the two great oceans could with time become the emporium of the universe. Its canals will shorten the distances of the world: they will narrow commercial ties between Europe, America and Asia; and bring to such fortunate region the tributes of the four parts of the globe. Perhaps some day only there could the capital of the world be established!
New Granada will join Venezuela, if they convene to form a new republic, their capital will be Maracaibo..This great nation would be called Colombia in tribute to the justice and gratitude of the creator of our hemisphere."
Nevertheless in 1821, convinced that under Bolivar's leadership the nation's destiny would move in the most progressive direction, the Isthmus joined Venezuela, New Granada (present day Colombia) and latter Ecuador, in 1822. The Republic of Colombia (1819-1830) or 'Gran Colombia' as it began to be called only after 1886, more or less corresponded in territory to the old colonial administrative district called the Viceroyalty of New Granada (1717-1819). While Panama had also been included in the Viceroyalty during the colonial period, the Isthmus' economic and political ties had been much closer, for all practical purposes, to the Viceroyalty of Peru (1542-1821).
In September 1830, under the guidance of General JosĂ© Domingo Espinar, the local military commander who rebelled against the nation's central government in response to his being transferred to another command, Panama separated from the Republic of Colombia and requested that general SimĂłn BolĂvar take direct command of the Isthmus Department. It made this a condition to its reunification with the rest of the country. BolĂvar rejected Espinar's actions, and though he did not assume control of the isthmus as he desired, he called for Panama to rejoin the central state. Because of the overall political tension, Republic of Colombia's final days were approaching. BolĂvar's vision for territorial unity disintegrated finally when General Juan Eligio Alzuru undertook a military coup against Espinar's authority. By early 1831, with order restored, Panama reincorporated itself to what was left of the republic -forming a territory now slightly larger than present day Panama and Colombia combined- which by then had adopted the name of Republic of New Granada. The alliance of the two nations would last seventy years and prove precarious.
Independence of Mexico
History of Bolivia
Regions of Chile
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Last weekend, the night sky was illuminated in New York by two twin beams of light shining upward from Lower Manhattan.
The 9/11 “Tribute in Light” memorial is in its ninth year. The rays, which are made up of more than 40 xenon light bulbs, are the strongest shafts of light ever projected from Earth into the night sky. Each year, they evoke the shape of the Twin Towers beginning at dusk on September 11 and fading with the dawn on September 12. Each year, they honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of 2001 and illuminate the sky as a silent, symbolic tribute.
The Municipal Art Society sponsors the display each year. For more information, see the New York Times article.
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By Yuliya Chernova
This spring a sea-gliding robot deployed by start-up Liquid Robotics to collect data in the Gulf of Mexico sent an alarming text message to its pilot ashore that something was wrong.
The pilot, who remotely guides the robot on its mission — in this case to collect data on water chemistry, current information, and acoustics for BP PLC — directed it to take underwater pictures of itself. The acoustic instrument had tangled up. It was time to return to port.
Once the robot was back on firm ground, the Liquid Robotics crew found the culprit. The underwater glider, which the robot uses to propel itself under water without the use of any fuel, had bite marks on it. “It was attacked by a shark with about a 12 to 14-inch size bite from the shape of the tooth marks on the gliders fins,” said Bill Vass, the company’s new CEO, who hails from years in the computer industry as a high level executive at Sun Microsystems.
Thankfully, he noted, after 150,000 combined miles at sea with the company’s robots, this was the only shark attack.
“How often in a start-up do you get to say, ‘a shark just attacked my robot,” Vass said.
The robot is back on another mission in the Gulf, about a hundred miles offshore, and is expected to be at sea for another 120 days.
Liquid Robotics’ Wave Gliders have the unique ability to travel for months, years even, across the world’s oceans without having to refuel. They are designed to convert the power of waves mechanically to propel themselves.
This opens up ocean exploration in a way previously unthinkable , said Alan Salzman, who joined the company’s board as a result of a $22 million round of financing the start-up recently raised. The round, which also included small investments from oilfield services company Schlumberger Ltd. and Stanford University, valued the company at about $70 million, including cash on hand, Vass said.
The promise of clean technology is not just in new power-generation, said Salzman, but in applications beyond that. Besides helping BP evaluate water quality in the Gulf, the Wave Gliders are traveling to other disaster sites. They are going to Japan, for example, to measure radiation in the waters there, Vass said.
Other applications are security and weather-related. “A few governments have asked for a “picket fence” application,” Vass said. “For example, having a grid of a thousand robots along their coast tracking ships and subs in their waters as well as looking for a tsunami.”
This is not a nonprofit endeavor. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company expects to have revenue of about $13 million to $14 million this year. It has about 60 robots deployed now.
The primary business model for Liquid Robotics is to deploy robots and sell data they collect. Each annual contract would provide about $500,000, Vass said. The beauty of its business model is that the company could use the same robot, mount various instruments on it, and sell different data to several customers while keeping operating and capital costs nearly stable.
The CEO declined to specify exactly how much it costs to operate and make the robots, but said: “The robots use no fuel, have no crew, have very low liability insurance requirements, and low maintenance costs because of the simplicity of the design,” said the CEO.
When Vass first saw a video of how the glider is made, he said “it was like the invention of the wheel. It was so obvious and beautiful, the way it operated.”
The company was co-founded in 2007 by Roger Hine, who is now chief technical officer.
For Vass, turning from the world of Sun Microsystems to the ocean was in some ways a return to what he has done many years ago. “In a galaxy far, far away,” he said, he was a merchant marine, wrote software that was used to design submarines and ships, worked offshore on geoseismic vessels, and worked for Western Geophysical as a data processor and programmer.
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Ice ages are times when the entire Earth
experiences notably colder climatic conditions where the addition of snow consistantly exceeds melting
. During an ice age, continental-size glacier
s can cover considerable large regions of the earth. The polar
regions become much colder than they are presently and there are noticeably large differences in temperature from the equator
to the pole.
There have actually been a number of ice ages in the history of the Earth. Large glaciations occurred during the late Proterozoic
(between about 800 and 600 million years ago), during the Pennsylvanian
(between about 350 and 250 million years ago), and the late Neogene to Quaternary
(the last 4 million years and includes the Pleistocene epoch).
There have been at least 4 major ice advances since the Pleistocene
epoch (which began about 1.6 million years ago). Called the Wisconsin
, and Nebraska
n, these glaciations refer to the southernmost limit of glacial movement in North America
When scientists refer to the ice age, they are usually talking about the most recent glaciation, the Wisconsinan.
The Pleistocene ice age is important in human history because it is theorized that this was the time when Homo sapiens
evolved and spread through most of the world.
Water was stored in massive sheets of ice resulting in the lowering of sea level. This allowed our species to migrate from continent to continent by landbridge
There are many discussions among scientists to whether or not we are entering global warming
or just experiencing a warming trend before the next ice age. So, it is possible that our modern climate
is simply a very short, warm period between glacial advances.
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Whether it's as part of a high school track program or cross-country team or just a way of getting in shape, running is a wonderful sport. It's great exercise, virtually anyone can do it, and all you really need to get started is a good pair of sneakers.
But running is not without its risks. Injuries — from sprained ankles and blisters to stress fractures and tendonitis — are commonplace. And runners need to be aware of potential hazards (from vehicles to wild animals) when choosing a place to run.
To keep things safe while running, follow these tips:
Avoiding Running Injuries
Statistically speaking, you're more likely to be injured when running than you are while skiing or bicycling. Granted, running-related injuries are typically less severe than those suffered by skiers and cyclists. But the odds are good that at some point in your running career you will get injured.
Running, especially on asphalt or other hard surfaces, generates a tremendous amount of stress on the legs and back. This can lead to all manner of lower-body problems. The most common running injuries include sprained ankles, blisters, Achilles tendonitis, chondromalacia (runner's knee), iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome, plantar fasciitis (heel pain), and shinsplints.
Runners also often get groin pulls, heel spurs, and hamstring pulls.
Two steps can help you avoid serious injuries from running:
Try to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. Use the right gear, warm up your muscles before you start, and take precautions to deal with weather conditions — like staying well hydrated in hot weather and keeping muscles warm in the cold.
Stop running as soon as you notice any symptoms. Ignoring the warning signs of an injury will only lead to bigger problems down the road.
Running might require less gear than other sports, but it is still vitally important to get the right equipment to minimize the stresses it puts on your body. Anyone who has ever run in the wrong shoes can tell you what a painful experience it can be, and anyone who has run in the wrong socks probably has blisters to prove it.
Here are a few tips to make sure you get the right footwear before you start running:
Before you buy a pair of running sneakers, know what sort of foot you have. Are your feet wide or narrow? Do you have flat feet? High arches? Different feet need different sneakers to provide maximum support and comfort. If you don't know what sort of foot you have or what kind of sneaker will work best for you, consult a trained professional at a running specialty store.
All running shoes should provide good support, starting with a thick, shock-absorbing sole. Runners with flat feet should choose shoes that advertise "motion control" or "stability." Runners with high-arched feet should look for shoes that describe themselves as "flexible" or "cushioned."
Getting shoes that fit correctly is more important in running than in virtually any other sport. As you rack up the miles, any hot spots or discomfort will become magnified and lead to blisters and stress-related leg problems.
If you plan on running on trails or in bad weather, you'll need trail-running shoes with extra traction, stability, and durability. Whichever type of shoes you end up purchasing, make sure they are laced up snugly but not so tight that they cause discomfort.
Running socks come in a variety of materials, thicknesses, and sizes. The most important factor is material. Stay away from socks made from 100% cotton. When cotton gets wet, it stays wet, leading to blisters in the summer and cold feet in the winter. Instead, choose socks made from wool or synthetic materials such as polyester and acrylic.
Some runners like thicker socks for extra cushioning while others prefer thin socks, particularly in warm weather. Make sure you wear the socks you plan to wear when running while you try on sneakers to ensure a proper fit.
One of the nice things about running is that you can do it almost anywhere. In most cases, it will be possible to simply step out your front door and begin. That being said, there are definitely safer places to run and places that you might want to avoid.
Look for streets that have sidewalks or wide shoulders. If there are no sidewalks or shoulders, and you find yourself having to run in the street, try to find an area with minimal automobile traffic. Always run toward oncoming cars so you can see any potential problems before they reach you.
Avoid running routes that take you through bad neighborhoods. If you're running in an unfamiliar area, be prepared to change your route or turn around if you sense that the area you're headed toward may not be safe. Trust your intuition.
Find someone to run with if you can — there's safety in numbers. Can't find a running partner? Consider joining a running club through your school or the local parks and recreation department. When running in a group, be sure to run single file and keep to the side of the road. Always yield the right-of-way to vehicles at intersections. Don't assume that cars will stop or alter their paths for you. Obey all traffic rules and signals.
Choose well-maintained trails. Steer clear of trails that are overgrown or covered with fallen branches — you don't want to trip or encounter ticks or poison ivy! Also, you should avoid trails that travel through deserted areas or take you far away from homes and businesses. Know the location of public phones and the fastest way back to civilization in the event of an emergency.
Watch for dogs or wild animals. If you encounter a mountain lion, bear, or other dangerous animal stop running and face it. Running may trigger the animal's instinct to attack. Make yourself look larger by raising your hands over your head. Give the animal plenty of room to escape. If the animal appears to be acting aggressively, throw rocks, sticks, or whatever is readily available at it. Stay facing the animal.
If you run into an aggressive dog, don't make eye contact — the dog might see this as a threat. The dog may be trying to defend its territory, so stop running and walk to the other side of the street. If the dog approaches, stand still. In a firm, calm voice, say "No" or "Go home." If you keep running into the same dog, choose a new route or file a report with animal control.
If you intend to run in rain or snow, make sure you dress for the conditions (windproof jacket, hat, gloves, etc.). Wear synthetic fabrics that will help wick away moisture from your body. Consider putting Vaseline or Band-aids on your nipples to keep them from being chafed by a wet shirt.
If it's windy, run more slowly than you normally would when facing into the wind. This will help you keep from overexerting yourself while still giving you the same amount of exercise. Try to start your run by heading into the wind so that you will have the wind at your back later in the run when you are tired.
On hot days, drink plenty of water before your run and bring extra water with you. Heat prostration can be a very serious problem for runners. Wear white clothing to reflect the sun's rays and a hat to shade your head from the sun, and stop running if you feel faint or uncomfortable in any way.
Before You Start
Before you begin, warm up. Jog in place for a minute or two or do some jumping jacks to get the blood flowing. Then be sure to stretch well, with a particular focus on your calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, and ankles.
Carry a few essentials with you. These include some form of identification, a cell phone or change for a pay phone, and a whistle. Don't wear headphones or earbuds or anything else that might make you less aware of your surroundings while you run.
Tell a friend or family member your running route and when you plan to return. If no one is available, write down your plans so you can be located in the event of an emergency.
Try to run only during daylight hours, if possible. If you must run at night, avoid dimly lit areas and wear bright and/or reflective clothes so that others can see you clearly.
When you begin, have a definite idea of how far you intend to go. Less experienced runners should start by running short distances until they build up their stamina and get a better idea of how far they can run safely. For younger teens, the body is still developing and can easily be stressed by running long distances. As a general guideline, a 10K race is the upper limit of what a 13-year-old should attempt, and no one under 18 should try to run a marathon. (Most marathons will limit their entries to people 18 and older.)
Stay alert. The more aware you are of your surroundings and the other people around you, the less vulnerable you will be. Staying safe while running involves the same common sense you use to stay safe anywhere else, like avoiding parked cars and dark areas, and taking note of who is directly behind you and ahead of you. If a car passes you more than once or seems suspicious, try to note the license plate number, and make it clear that you are aware of the vehicle. Most runners don't get attacked, especially if they take precautions like running in populated areas. You just need to use common sense.
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- Tell me, Grandpa, wherefrom did the stars came?
- When the first Grandpa decided to leave the Earth to wander in the skies, he promised, as their folk had asked him, to mark the places of his stroll. As they convened, he promised he would light a small fire to print his footsteps in the skies. And he said: "as long as the stars blink in the skies I will remember all of you and send a gift to everyone. The first star will grant a desire. The second will keep a secret. The third will bring you a recollection. And we will gather around them, as we do now, to tell our stories. This way the stars were born. The stars are the small fires alighted by the first Grandpa. They recollect his stories to our minds.
- And the lakes, Grandpa? What the lakes are?
- When the first Grandpa leaved the Earth and decided to build the skies with his strolls, the beings were split in two kinds: the celestial and the terrestrial ones. He took to the skies fires he had taken from Earth. These were the stars. And in the Earth he left a few things taken from the skies. Lakes are skies pieces placed in the Earth. They mirror the stars. The sun and the clouds. Lake images are the skies wandering in the Earth. And their waters, heated by the sun, stroll in the skies as clouds, that come back as rain, to refresh and feed the plants and all other beings. A clean mind will see the sky mirrored in the lakes.
- And the rivers, Grandpa? Where did they come from? - When the waters, heated by the sun go to the clouds, to walk in the skies, they explode in tiny drops so as to, cleansed, be able to absorb the breath of the skies. And as drops they fall to spread celestial blessings everywhere. But, as all other beings, waters want to be together. So, in their longing for the Earth, all of them take the route to lowlands, the bosom of the valleys, to meet again. Rivers are the waterís roads. Their strolls across the Earth. And the waterfalls are their merry plays, when they fasten their steps and sing by the whiteness of their foam.
- And the trees, Grandpa, the mountains, where did they come from? - Before the first Grandpa leaved to the skies, the whole Earth was a prairie and all plants were crept to the ground, embracing the soil. When the first Grandpa started his celestials wanderings, some of them tried to climb, extending their arms in a praise of Grandpa, and the Earth bursted upstairs as mountains trying to reach the skies to search and see him. Birds got wings and in songs sang their joy.
- And the flowers, Grandpa? Where did they come from? - Before the leave of the first Grandpa, division was unknown. Not males and females were known. Then division came. Things were split apart so as to feel attraction. And the force known as love begun to unite what had been separated. So came the flowers, to announce this longing for union.
- And the questions, Grandpa? where do they come from? - When the first Grandpa leaved, he took the whole world and everybody inside him, so as not to suffer from longings. And he built the inside and the outside. Then, the eyes began to see outside and inside. And ears started to hear outside and inside. Heart is what unite inside and outside. Questions are but alleys, roads between people, things, and inside and outside worlds. - And the words, Grandpa? Where do they come from? - When the first Grandpa went, and the space appeared, so as not to be a void, the world begun to build places for things. Many things. And each thing, so as not to feel alone, won a meaning. The first Grandpa wrapped the meaning of each thing in a word. So, inside each word, there lies the meaning of each thing. Then nothing is void and alone, for each thing carries its meaning in a word. - And life, Grandpa, where did it came from? - In his wanderings, once Grandpa went very far, far away. From so far, he could see all stars. He felt a joy the size of the sky. And he started to dance all that joy. He danced and danced. So much did him dance that he began to wish that his joy could be shared. This desire begun to grow and grow. So big it became that resulted in the biggest explosion that ever happened. From that explosion, numberless sparks were spread. A big breath took these sparks away. This was Grandpaís breath of joy. And all things came to life by these sparks and breath. - But Grandpa, before the first Grandpa left there was not life here? - Before the Grandpa leave, things were quite different. All things were inside him. To start with, there was not after, nor before. Nor end, neither beginning. Time, itself, was a big ball of thread kept inside the first Grandpaís ear. By the time of his Big-Joy, this thread - ball begun to unroll itself. And the thread of time begun to weave the wide plot of which all life stories are woven. - But Grandpa, the first Grand didnít live here, with us? Didnít he leave from here? Is he too far? Where is he? Is it difficult to meet him? - Since the first Grandpa existed before after and before existed, no after nor before exist for him. He just stays. And where he passes, there he is. -Is it difficult to meet him? - No. The difficulty lies in staying quiet. You just have to be quiet to meet him. When the thread of time unrolls, it makes a small noise. If you can hear this little noise, you are hearing Grandpa. -But can we see him? -The first Grandpa existed before inside and outside existed. To see the first Grandpa, you must know that he is everywhere. Maybe he is in a dream of yours - or, maybe, in a small lizard. As every word keeps something inside, and every thing is a box with a meaning inside, so is Grandpa, the meaning. - But can we see the meaning? - Now, here is where the secret of inside and outside lies. You have to overcome these barriers to see the meaning. You have to allow a thing to enter inside you. Or it is you that have to enter her to find its meaning. Then, you will be able to see the first Grandpa. - Can we talk to him? - Of course. But you shouldnít. Learning to hear him is what minds. Many people talk and talk with the first Grandpa. They finish by talking with themselves. It is said that the first Grandpa does not hear them. That is not true. The true is that they donít know how to hear. - Does the first Grandpa hear us? - Yes. Always. Since the big timeís thread-ball fell from his ear and started to unroll itself. - Is he hearing us? Now? - Yes. Sure. We are talking with him. We are talking about him. We are the questions. - Then...- he is the answers! - Yes. - Has he been with us all this time? - Yes. And he stays where he flows ... - So, we can keep him forever? - Yes; as he keeps us. - But, suppose we forget him ..., grandpa. - You just have to stay quiet. Then, call him. Ask him questions. Learn again to hear him. Then, we will feel the breath of his great joy blowing our life to its fullness.
The autor, Paulo Barros, is a gestalterapist, a webnaut, a lover of nature, life ,animals, plants, a writer for short stories; likes cooking and dancing. Enjoy people and lonlyness. Email= email@example.com
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School Composting…The Next Step in Recycling
A Manual for Connecticut Schools
This manual, written specifically for K-12 schools, outlines the steps necessary for establishing and maintaining a successful school-wide composting program for cafeteria food scraps. The manual, published in 2002, is written by and based on the experiences of a group of dedicated educators who have developed the composting program at Mansfield Middle School. We are grateful to the Town of Mansfield for the groundbreaking work that they have done in both implementing a model school recycling and composting program, and producing this manual.
The Connecticut DEEP funded the production of the manual to provide a model for Connecticut schools…to help them reduce their waste steam, increase recycling, and to teach students about responsible waste management and the environmental advantages of composting. In the manual you will find strategies for initiating a compost plan, bin design, routine steps of the composting operation, promotional activities, as well as an exhaustive section on lessons and resources. Specific information about what worked well at Mansfield Middle School has been incorporated throughout the manual in special call-out boxes.
For waste reduction purposes, the manual has only been reproduced in electronic format. It is available to download from this website as a PDF document. A CD-ROM of the manual has been mailed to every Connecticut public and private K-12 school. It is our hope, after reviewing the manual, that educators at Connecticut schools will become proactive and expand their recycling program to include composting of food scraps. If they take the next step in recycling, this manual will prove to be an integral and valuable resource.
Download the manual:
School Composting…the Next Step in Recycling. A Manual for Connecticut Schools (pdf, 3.46 mb)
Please let us know what you think about the manual. We are eager to hear from you. Your questions and comments can be directed to K.C. Alexander, DEEP Recycling Program at (860) 424-3239 or Ginny Walton, Mansfield Recycling Coordinator at (860) 429-3333.
Content Last Updated in November 2005
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WASHINGTON - One of the solar system's most evocative mysteries - the origin of Saturn's rings - may be a case of cosmic murder, new research suggests.
The victim: an unnamed moon of Saturn that disappeared about 4.5 billion years ago.
The suspect: a disk of hydrogen gas that once surrounded Saturn when its dozens of moons were forming, but has now fled the crime scene.
The cause of death: A forced plunge into Saturn.
And those spectacular and colorful rings are the only evidence left. As the doomed moon made its death spiral, Saturn robbed its outer layer of ice, which then formed rings, according to a new theory published online Sunday in the journal Nature.
"Saturn was an accomplice and that produced the rings," said study author Robin Canup, an astronomer at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo.
The mystery of Saturn's rings "has puzzled people for centuries," said Cornell astronomer Joe Burns, who wasn't involved in the study and said Canup's new theory makes sense.
One of the leading theories has been that either some of Saturn's many moons crashed into each other, or an asteroid crashed into some of them - leaving debris that formed the rings. The trouble is Saturn's moons are half ice and half rock and the planet's seven rings are now as much as 95 percent ice and probably used to be all ice, Canup said. If the rings were formed by a moon-on-moon crash or an asteroid-on-moon, there would be
Something had to have stripped away the outer ice of a moon, a big moon, Canup said.
So her theory starts billions of years ago when the planets' moons were forming. A large disk of hydrogen gas circled Saturn and that helped both create and destroy moons. Large inner moons probably made regular plunges into the planet, pulled by the disk of gas.
These death spirals took about 10,000 years and the key to understanding the rings' origins is what happened to them during that time. According to Canup's computer model, Saturn stripped the ice away from a huge moon while it was far enough from the planet that the ice would be trapped in a ring.
The original rings were 10 to 100 times larger than they are now, but over time the ice in the outer rings has coalesced into some of Saturn's tiny inner moons, Canup said. So what began as moons has become rings and then new moons.
This helps explain Tethys, an odd inner moon that didn't quite fit other moon formation theories, she said. Saturn has 62 moons - 53 of them have names. New ones are discovered regularly by NASA's Cassini probe.
But this doesn't explain rings on other planets in our solar system, such as Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus, which probably formed in a different way, Canup said.
The rings and ice-rich inner moons are the last surviving remnants of this lost moon, "which is pretty neat," Canup said.
Burns said Canup's theory explains the heavy ice components of rings better than other possibilities. Larry Esposito, who discovered one of Saturn's rings, praised the new paper as "a very clever, original idea."
"I would call it more like cosmic recycling," Esposito said because the moon became rings which then became moons. "It's not so much a final demise, but a cosmic effort to reuse materials again and again."
Online: Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature
NASA on Saturn's moons: http://tinyurl.com/28rn3ln
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_16843088
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Up on the roof of Professor Fritz Vollrath's lab in the zoology department atOxford University, there is a makeshift greenhouse in which he nurtures his favourite golden orb web spiders. Walking into the greenhouse is a little like finding yourself inside one of those Damien Hirst vitrines that dramatise fast-forward life and death. The air is frenzied with the buzz of flies and thick with the smell of rotting fruit; look up and dozens of the mature African spiders, three inches across, are sitting pretty on elaborate webs among the foliage, clearly living the arachnid life of Riley. Vollrath points out their offspring, thousands of tiny spiderlings, scurrying about on leaves beneath.
It seems a good place to ask him exactly how he first got interested in spiders and their webs. He laughs and turns the question around. "The strange thing to me," he says, "was always the question of why scientists were not more interested in them. I mean, here is a creature which, according to its size, can build from its own body a structure on the scale of a football pitch overnight, every night, and can catch the equivalent of an aeroplane in it. Why would you not want to study how it did that?"
There were more practical reasons, too. Vollrath was a graduate student of neurophysiology when he started looking at webs and spider silks in earnest. "To do any small thing in neurophysiology, you had to read an awful lot of scientific literature. With spiders, I realised there was hardly any literature at all. You could just do a lot of looking."
His fascination with spider silk began when he was at university in Munich in 1972 and the lightweight, high-tensile Olympic park, designed by Frei Otto to mimic spider-web construction, created a new imaginative framework for architecture. Vollrath, who speculated that spider silk might generate a similar revolutionary shift in the emergent field of biomaterials, was snared.
In the years since, he has probably spent more time studying how spiders spin their everyday miracles than any man alive. He has fed spiders drugs, tiny droplets of amphetamines and caffeine, and measured the dramatic disruptive effect it has on their web building. He has tested ways of training spiders with a tuning fork and discovered how to make them to "write" in their webs – the Vollrath Christmas card of 1988 featured a picture of a web in which he had "taught" a spider to write the number "88" by manipulating the orientation of the web as the spider worked. Mostly, though, Vollrath has defined a pioneering area of study into the properties of spider silks that not only promises to revolutionise various polymer industries, but also could have huge potential medical benefits for humans in everything from knee replacements to nerve repair to heart transplants.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.richarddawkins.net/news_articles/next_article?article=2323&category=&videos=
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Pegasus, that winged horse from mythology, combines the symbolic characteristics of those mythological figures most closely related to him: emotion from his father, Poseidon, wisdom from his protectress, Athena, creativity from his master, Zeus, and love from his nursemaid, the Muse Urania. He was also around the other Muses quite a lot, Perseus (known for his intellect), Bellerophon (known for his impudence), and Medusa (known for her wisdom, as well as her snake-ish hair… but that doesn’t seem to have worn off on Pegasus). (For more on Pegasus, see Rich’s Pegopedia.)
All of these things put together have generated quite a complex symbolic aura for Pegasus. There’s even a syndrome named after him! But my favorite symbolic concept places Pegasus at the point where innovation, creativity, wisdom, deliberation, and a healthy sense of humor intersect. That’s the place I’d like teachers, learners, and librarians to inhabit.
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http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2006/03/why-pegasus.html
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Aquatic Biodiversity Center
Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center
Many species of mollusks, like the Spiny Riversnail (Io fluvialis) are either extinct or missing from state waters. The AABC will lead efforts to return many species to state waters, where future generations of Alabamians will benefit from the clean water initiatives these unique animals can promote.
The Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center (AABC) is the largest state non-game recovery program of its kind in the United States. The mission of AABC is to promote the conservation and restoration of rare freshwater species in Alabama waters and in turn, restore cleaner water in Alabama's waterways.
Alabama is known to have the greatest number of freshwater species of mollusks and fish in the United States. However over the past 80 years, Alabama has lost over 67 species of these mollusks and fish to extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have listed more than 54 species as threatened or endangered in Alabama's waters. AABC will help to restore threatened or endangered species of mollusks and fish through propagation and restoration. By culturing, restoring and conserving these species, we can help aid in clean water efforts in Alabama's waterways.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 183 lakes and streams in Alabama are considered troubled water bodies. Even though this is far less than other states including Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi, introducing mollusks into streams and waterways will promote water-quality improvements throughout in the state.
Mollusks act as Mother Nature's vacuum cleaner by filtering water through their bodies. In the most basic terms, they are filter feeders who suck in water and pull out bacteria and suspended solids. A small mussel can filter over 12 gallons of water per day. In healthy ecosystems throughout the Southeast, freshwater mollusks historically numbered in the hundreds of millions.
To restore the mollusk populations in Alabama, the Center will first target Mobile River Basin species because these are the most endangered groups that we have in Alabama. Initially, the Coosa River at the Weiss Lake bypass will be the first targeted waterway.
The Department of Conservation is also assisting in additional outreach efforts in Alabama such as requiring and monitoring sanitation devices on boats to further promote water-quality issues through the Alabama Clean Boating and the Clean Vessel Act.
The Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center is located near the City of Marion in rural Perry County, Alabama. The Center is a complex of four buildings that sits on 36 acres of property near the Cahaba River and adjacent to the Marion State Fish Hatchery, Perry Lakes Park, and The Nature Conservancy's Barton's Beach Preserve. The facility was last operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Biological Resources Division, as the Claude Harris National Aquiculture Research Center. In 1995, the USGS closed the facility, and the property was deeded to the State of Alabama from the U.S. Department of Interior in 1999.
The facilities at the Center include three aquatic culture buildings with over 7,500 square feet of space under roof, a 4,300-square-foot administration building with office and laboratory space, and approximately 30 surface acres of aquatic culture ponds.
A staff of nine employees is planned to begin the program. Five full-time employees are currently employed at the Center. The Program Supervisor is Dr. Paul Johnson, former Director of the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute, who joined the program in October 2005. The telephone number is (334) 683-5000.
See the October 1, 2010, AL.com article with video about the rainbow mussels planted in Choccolocco Creek.
Note: In Alabama, it is illegal to stock or move any fish, mussel, snail or crayfish to any public water without a permit.
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http://windcreek.statepark@dcnr.alabama.gov/research-mgmt/aquatic/
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What Factors Help Determine Nitrogen Rates?
Nov 21, 2012
Question: What is the deciding factor in varying the rate of nitrogen? Is it relative to CEC?
Answer: There are multiple factors that have to be put into play. Are you dealing with a high-yield or low-yield environment (both of which can be in a single field)? What is the plant density--are we pushing for high yields? What is the soil’s ability to supply nitrogen?
Traditionally that is a factor dealing with organic matter CEC. The healthier the soil, the more nitrogen it usually supplies. But, it can also depend on field history such as whether it’s been in corn-on-corn, or if manure has been applied to it. One of the things we’re looking at is testing for organic nitrogen followed up with nitrate testing, trying to predict high, medium or low mineralization rates.
The last thing we need to tie into this is the potential for nitrogen loss through nitrification or leeching. An example of this would be a high-yield environment with the ability to supply sufficient nitrogen that it would allow us to reduce our input of nitrogen. Yet that environment could be a high-risk area due to drainage, or, under wet conditions the nitrogen could be lost and we’d have to rescue those areas with more nitrogen.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.agweb.com/farmjournal/blog/ask_an_agronomist/what_factors_help_determine_nitrogen_rates/
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Mary MacKillop was an early adopter of education methods, and her modern sisters are early adopters of computing technology. If you wander into the Mary MacKillop museum next to her shrine in North Sydney, you will find a large table-top screen, a unique nexus of computing design.
You can manipulate images 360 degrees (for a class gathered around), you can access historic documents and information in surprising ways, delving into the finest detail of who Mary MacKillop was. This is one saint who, through the mysteries of modern computing science, we can know in great detail - someone who can be really known as a person.
St Mary of the Cross is a saint who can be accessed through the touch screen. This is spirituality of the most practical kind.
This program, though broadcast last weekend, can be dowloaded from the ABC website.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=30513
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History Of Madame Tussaud's
( Originally Published 1920 )
The story of Colour-Sergeant Bates's march through England to prove Anglo-American goodwill—Start from Gretna—The dove of peace.
AN ephemeral celebrity of a bygone day, who fittingly comes into the picture at the present time —for we are still dealing with events that happened in the seventies—was Colour-Sergeant Gilbert H. Bates, of the 24th Massachusetts (U. S. Artillery) Regiment.
This gallant soldier of the Federal Army, after carrying the Star-spangled Banner through the Southern States of America to prove that the war had not killed the respect felt for the national flag, crossed the Atlantic, in fulfilment of a wager, and bore the Stars and Stripes from Gretna Green to London, amid most enthusiastic scenes, demonstrating that Bates was right when he insisted that John Bull and Uncle Sam were the best of friends at heart.
Mr. Joseph Tussaud modelled a portrait of the sergeant, who had an honoured place in the Exhibition for several years.
Bates was a patriotic American who had a firm belief in the friendship of the English people for their American brethren.
For 1,500 miles through States whose streets had been Stained with the blood of civil carnage he had marched with the national flag to the strains of patriotic music, an eloquent tribute to his countrymen's deep-rooted love of peace. His passage was a triumphant success, and the exploit is handed down to posterity, in Captain Mayne Reid's stirring poem "From Vicksburg to the Sea," the first of its five verses being:
Bear on the banner, soldier bold !
This was remotely the origin of Bates's English expedition. Calumny was rife in the States. No theme had been so often discussed for the two years then past as that of the feeling of John Bull towards Uncle Sam. The malicious craft of certain politicians had led them to foster elements of hatred towards the Old Country, and a corrupt section of the Press had lent itself to the unworthy task of exaggerating trifles and distorting facts to suit the fancies of gullible readers.
It was in the course of one such discussion as to the feeling of the English towards Americans that this lover of concord was led to make a wager of 100 dollars against 1,000 dollars that the people of England would not insult the flag of America, but would welcome it heartily wherever it should be borne by an American soldier. Not a few of his compatriots were incredulous of his success, and they predicted that he would miserably fail; while one said, "I bet he don't travel twelve miles before he sets face homeward and leaves his bean-pole in the custody of some parish beadle."
The gallant sergeant was determined and confident, however, and, taking passage in the Anchor liner Europa, he crossed the Atlantic.
Bates was a small but well-built man, 5 feet 7 1/2 inches in height, square-shouldered and square-headed, clean shaven, with clear grey eyes, dark hair, and swarthy skin. His age was thirty-four, and he wore the uniform of a sergeant of the Federal Army. He is described as modest, intelligent, well-informed, and a very good specimen of the unassuming, matter-of-fact, and practical Yankee.
The flag he carried was from a piece of army bunting from the headquarters of General Sheridan. It was of regulation size, 6 feet by 6 1/2 feet, and the hickory staff measured 9 feet. Before he left he was assured by a Member of Parliament in Chicago that as the Americans had honoured the English Prince when he visited that country, the English people, in return, would honour the American "prince"— which was their flag. And so it turned out.
On the 5th of November, 1872—Guy Fawkes Day and the anniversary of the Battle of Inkerman—Sergeant Bates left Edinburgh for Gretna Green, that romantic spot at the southern extremity of Scotland.
It was with difficulty that he managed to leave the northern city without unfurling the flag, as his Scottish friends felt that they should have an opportunity of testifying their good feelings to the banner which waved over so many of their kindred in homes beyond the Atlantic. But his mission had been planned, and he had decided to begin his march from the border of England itself.
With no quiver of fear and with a heart full of gladness, he stood upon Sark Bridge and, uncovering his head, gave the Star-spangled Banner to the breeze. A few merry rustics greeted him with cheers, and the historic march was begun. The country before him was England, the mother-country, the home of the English language, the freest and most peaceful country in Europe.
He reached Carlisle that evening without anything more important happening than a rigid cross-examination by an excited old woman as to whether he was heralding a Fenian invasion, and an anxious inquiry from a little boy as to when the circus would arrive.
At the Bush Hotel at Carlisle a party of commercial travellers gave him a right hearty British welcome, and this henceforth became the order of the day at whatever town or village he put in an appearance. News of his coming preceded him, and his progress was one continuous ovation, culminating in a veritable furore when he reached his journey's end.
Through Penrith and Shap, where he was cheered by the miners, who had sent men from the quarries to watch for his approach, he made his way to Kendal, where, at a dinner given in his honour, he announced that he had written to cancel the wager he had made. He did this in token of the purity of his motives, and to prove that he was not actuated by mercenary considerations.
From Kendal he proceeded to Lancaster, which city he entered followed by an enormous crowd, a similar concourse escorting him to the outskirts on his departure.
Garstang, between Lancaster and Preston, at that time enjoyed the peculiar distinction of having a Mayor and capital burgesses without its having been constituted a borough. Here he was entertained at a sumptuous repast, and the streets were full of people, the church scholars, drawn up in line, cheering the flag and its bearer as they passed.
The streets of Preston were lined with spectators; at Chorley cheers were given for the Queen and President Grant; and at Bolton the flag-bearer was presented with a pair of clogs, and given a live turtle-dove to take back with him to the American President.
He was almost carried by an eager, applauding crowd along Bradshawgate on his way to Manchester, and the Bolton Evening News of the 14th of November, 1872, records that "there was more handshaking than we have ever seen bestowed on any person. Far from insult, every respect was shown to the flag of the great Republic, and," the newspaper facetiously adds, "if the bearer is rewarded all along his journey as he was at Farnworth, his pockets will be filled with the metal that makes the mare to go."
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<urn:uuid:d2b7ebf5-8998-4f57-8067-49d97e294345>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.oldandsold.com/articles21/madame-tussaud-21.shtml
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Creativity & Innovation
You know you’ve made it when your work is featured on an episode of NBC’s “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.”
That’s the case for Ed Tronick, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
The developmental and clinical psychologist’s Still Face Experiment, which shows the strong reactions of a baby trying to win back its mother’s attention, was used as a plot point on the show in 2009.
Still Face Experiment Goes Viral
Tronick was one of the first researchers to show that babies are profoundly affected by their parents' emotional states and behavior. His Still Face Experiment is now the standard for studying social emotional development, and a video of it has gone viral on YouTube.
Tronick studies the neurobehavioral and social-emotional development of infants and young children, and infant memory for stress. He has also investigated the effects of prenatal cocaine abuse and other toxic substances on infant behavior and development.
Tronick’s latest research focuses on the impressionable nature of genes, an emerging and controversial field known as epigenetics.
“Epigenetic processes are part of normal development – for example, they occur during cell division, fetal development and over the course of the life span,” Tronick explains. “We now know that single nutrients, toxins, prenatal or postnatal environmental exposures, and even parenting practices can silence or activate a gene without altering its genetic code.”
Discoveries in behavioral epigenetics may lead to targeted therapies for depression, addiction, schizophrenia, and learning disorders.
In addition to teaching at UMass Boston, Tronick is chief of the Child Development Unit, which moved from Children’s Hospital Boston to UMass Boston in January 2012. Tronick also has faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School, Fielding Graduate University, and Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.
He has co-authored and authored more than 150 scientific papers and chapters. His book, The Neurobehavioral and Social Emotional Development of Infants and Children, is a tour de force according to a review in New England Psychologist.
Go Inside UMass Boston
- Psychology Department
- Infant-Parent Mental Health, Post-Graduate (Certificate)
- Child Development Unit
Go Off Campus
- Children’s Hospital Boston
- Harvard Medical School
- Fielding Graduate University
- Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute
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<urn:uuid:b6396659-bef2-4e2c-a6fc-c9338df25aca>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.umb.edu/why_umass/ed_tronick
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In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered The Americas. This is how the Europeans learned that North America and South America were there. The Europeans colonized the Americas. Because of this, most people now living in North America are the descendents of Europeans.
Sometimes, science fiction stories talk about humans colonizing outer space on space stations or planets other than Earth. Some science fiction stories like The Matrix speak of the robots the human beings made, taking over, and colonizing Earth.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonisation
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The format is:
P <point id> <line cat> <offset> [<side offset>] L <segment id> <line cat> <start offset> <end offset> [<side offset>]
P 1 356 24.56 P 2 495 12.31 ...
Points are generated along the lines at the given distance(s) from the beginning of the vector line.
The side offset is the orthogonal distance from the line. Positive side offsets are to the right side of the line going forward, negative offsets are to the left (d.vect with display=shape,dir shows the direction of vector lines). As the segment distance is measured along the original line, side-offset lines will be longer than the start-end segment distance for outside corners of curving lines, and shorter for inside corners.
All offsets are measured in map units (see "g.proj -p").
To place a point in the middle of a line, the v.to.db module may be used to find the line's length. Then half of that distance can be used as the along-line offset.
# extract lines from railroad map: v.extract railroads out=myrr list=1 # join segments into polyline and reassign category numbers v.build.polylines myrr out=myrr_pol v.category myrr_pol out=myrailroads option=add # zoom to an area of interest g.region n=4928200 s=4921100 w=605600 e=613200 # show line, category, direction (to find the beginning) d.vect myrailroads disp=shape,cat,dir lsize=12 # extract line segment from 400m to 5000m from beginning of line 1 echo "L 1 1 400 5000" | v.segment myrailroads out=myrailroads_segl d.erase d.vect myrailroads d.vect myrailroads_segl col=green width=2 # set node at 5000m from beginning of line 1 echo "P 1 1 5000" | v.segment myrailroads out=myrailroads_segp d.vect myrailroads_segp icon=basic/circle color=red fcolor=red size=5 # get points from a text file cat mypoints.txt | v.segment myrailroads out=myrailroads_mypoints # create parallel 1km long line segments along first 8km of track, # offset 500m to the left of the tracks. v.segment myrailroads out=myrailroads_segl_side << EOF L 1 1 1000 2000 -500 L 2 1 3000 4000 -500 L 3 1 5000 6000 -500 L 4 1 7000 8000 -500 EOF d.erase d.vect myrailroads disp=shape,dir d.vect -c myrailroads_segl_side width=2 # A series of points, spaced every 2km along the tracks v.segment myrailroads out=myrailroads_pt2km << EOF P 1 1 1000 P 2 1 3000 P 3 1 5000 P 4 1 7000 EOF d.vect myrailroads_pt2km icon=basic/circle color=blue fcolor=blue size=5 # A series of points, spaced every 2km along the tracks, offset 500m to the right v.segment myrailroads out=myrailroads_pt2kmO500m << EOF P 1 1 1000 500 P 2 1 3000 500 P 3 1 5000 500 P 4 1 7000 500 EOF d.vect myrailroads_pt2kmO500m icon=basic/circle color=aqua fcolor=aqua size=5
Last changed: $Date: 2011-11-08 03:29:50 -0800 (Tue, 08 Nov 2011) $
Main index - vector index - Full index
© 2003-2012 GRASS Development Team
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<urn:uuid:dd90b505-ff7e-48d4-8417-d10573bc6789>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.geo.unipr.it/grassmirror/grass64/manuals/html64_user/v.segment.html
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Christianity is one of the most mature of the world's religions and is the most widespread. It is estimated that there are some 2 billion Christians in the world today (33% of the entire population of planet earth). There are a huge number of different theological views and beliefs, but they all are founded on the teachings and examples attributed to one central figure - Jesus Christ. It is estimated that there are over 26000 Christian denominations (more than all the variants of all the world's other faiths put together). These denominations range from some rationalists and free-thinkers (who accept ethical teachings but not Christ's miracles) to fundamentalists (who militantly insist on the literal truth of the Gospels and condemn all those who cannot bring themselves to accept Christ). Christian lobby groups and individuals exert an overwhelming influence in the dynamics of world politics. The Living Christianity CD-ROM covers these aspects in extensive detail in a manner that people of all faiths fill find absorbing and astonishing, and yet in a manner that is unbiased and progressive.
Despite the natural social and theological developments within Christian movements, there are a core number of essential and common teachings that form the foundation of the Christian faith. These are based on the belief that Jesus was God incarnate on earth.
Jesus - God on Earth -
Jesus is the central figure in all of Christianity. He was born a Jew about 2000 years ago and he became active at the age of 30 as a preacher, teacher and a healer for about three years. His crucifixion was as that of a common criminal. Christians believe that through his death on the cross, "…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…"
The history of Christianity begins with Jesus Christ - a man of insignificance who during his life was unknown outside the obscure corner of the Roman Empire where he lived and died. By studying the History section on the "Living Christianity" CD-ROM you will be able to understand how the belief of a few people in a remote and insignificant outpost of the Roman Empire have outlasted all mighty empires since and how the various churches, denominations, movements, and doctrines have come into being. This is done by looking at the development of the Church and the development and evolution of Christian belief.
The Bible is the holy book of Christians. The word Bible is derived from the Greek word Biblia meaning 'The Books'. The Bible is a collection of books written over a period of over 1300 years, written in diverse cultural and historical scenarios and in a huge variety of styles and language. It is the world's most translated book. It was translated into English in the fourteenth century. For Christians and many people of the world, the Bible occupies a unique position on a bookself. For many Christians and even people of other faiths, the power and meaning of the Bible goes beyond mere literature.
The Christian Calender -
Christians have festivals that mark key points of the year and celebrate important events. These dates of these events is associated with seasonal cycles rather than dates of the actual events. The key festivals are Christmas (the feast that celebrates the birth of Christ), Lent (the time for preparation for celebrations of Easter), and Easter (a time for baptisms and remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ).
Theological, cultural, and social variations in the way people see and interpret the deeds of Christ (as written in various versions and translations of the Bible) have led to a huge number of denominations and practices. Often these variations are fundamental and irreconcilable. However, the Church hierarchy, leadership, and laity stress the common belief of the power of Jesus, and this is often enough for the denominations to forgive the other differences.
Religious Organisations and Educationalists Praise 'Living Religion Series'
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Twenty-six new sites inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List this year
The World Heritage Committee on Monday morning inscribed Lena Pillars Nature Park of the Russian Federation, the last site to be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List during this year’s session. Chad, Congo, Palau and Palestine had World Heritage sites inscribed on the List for the first time.
Lena Pillars Nature Park is marked by spectacular rock pillars that reach a height of approximately 100 metres along the banks of the Lena River in the central part of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). They were produced by the region’s extreme continental climate with an annual temperature range of almost 100 degrees Centigrade (from -60°C in winter to +40°C in summer). The pillars form rocky buttresses isolated from each other by deep and steep gullies developed by frost shattering directed along intervening joints. Penetration of water from the surface has facilitated cryogenic processes (freeze-thaw action), which have widened gullies between pillars leading to their isolation. Fluvial processes are also critical to the pillars. The site also contains a wealth of Cambrian fossil remains of numerous species, some of them unique.
A total of five natural World Heritage Sites were inscribed during the present session of the World Heritage Committee: Lakes of Ounianga (Chad); Sangha Trinational (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo,); Chengjiang Fossil Site (China); Western Ghats (India); Lena Pillars Nature Park (Russian Federation).
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (Palau) was inscribed as a mixed natural and cultural site.
A total of 20 cultural sites were inscribed during the session:
- Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy (Bahrain); Major Mining Sites of Wallonia (Belgium);
- Rio de Janeiro, Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (Brazil);
- The Landscape of Grand-Pré (Canada);
- Site of Xanadu (China);
- Historic Town Grand-Bassam (Côte d’Ivoire);
- Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin (France);
- Margravial Opera House Bayreuth (Germany);
- Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy (Indonesia);
- Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan (Islamic Republic of Iran),
- Gonbad-e Qābus (Islamic Republic of Iran);
- Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel : The Nahal Me’arot/Wadi el-Mughara Caves (Israel);
- Archaelogical Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (Malaysia);
- Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage (Morocco);
- Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine);
- Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications (Portugal);
- Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (Senegal);
- Heritage of Mercury Almadén and Idrija (Slovenia/Spain);
- Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland (Sweden);
- Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük (Turkey).
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine) was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger, as it was added to the List of World Heritage. Two of Mali’s World Heritage sites, Timbuktu and the Tomb of Askia, were also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, as were Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City (UK) and the Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Panama).
Two conservation success stories were recognized by the World Heritage Committee allowing for them to be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger: Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines).
UNESCO press officers in St Petersburg:
Roni Amelan: r.amelan(at)unesco.org - +33(0)6 12 19 74 01
Victoria Kalinin: v.kalinin(at)unesco.org - +33(0)6 31 54 30 36
Contact for Media accreditation:
Anastasia Chernelevstikaya: chernelevskaya(at)polylog.ru
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Rabbits are really popular pets in the UK, second only to cats and dogs, and they can make great companions. However, despite peoples best efforts their needs are often misunderstood and rather than being treated as the intelligent, social animal they are, many are condemned to a life of loneliness and boredom in a cage at the bottom of the garden. It is not difficult to look after rabbits in a way that will keep them both healthy and happy, so what do they really need?
The most important thing you can do to keep a rabbit healthy is feed them a balanced diet. The most common problems that vets see in rabbits are over-grown teeth, tummy upsets and obesity related disease, all of which are directly related to them being fed incorrectly. The vast majority of a rabbit’s diet, at least 80%, should be good quality hay. As a rough guide, every day a rabbit should eat a pile of hay as big as it is. Rabbit’s teeth grow continually and without hay to grind them down, they can develop painful spikes, which rip into the tissues of the mouth, and nasty abscesses in the roots. Hay is also required for good digestion (rabbits can easily die from upset tummies) and helps prevent them getting fat. In addition to hay rabbits should have a small amount of fresh vegetables every day, half a handful is enough and a small amount of pelleted rabbit food, no more than a tablespoon twice a day. This is often where people go wrong, leaving the rabbit with an over-flowing bowl of rabbit food, which, because it is high in calories and very tasty, it is all they eat, giving them a very unbalanced diet.
Rabbits are extremely social creatures, in the wild they live in large family groups, and they should never be kept on their own. The best thing to do is to buy sibling rabbits when they are young. You can introduce rabbits when they are adults but it has to be done with care as many will fight at first. However, it is important to persevere and get the right advice as rabbits are miserable when alone. They are also very intelligent, so make sure they have a variety of toys in their cages and runs to keep them entertained. These don’t have to be expensive, there are plenty of commercially available rabbit toys or just a couple of logs they can play on and nibble are fine.
All rabbits should be neutered, even if they are kept with others of the same sex, and this can be done from the age of 4 months for boys and 6 months for girls. Neutered rabbits make much calmer pets and are far easier to handle. They are also much less likely to fight with each other; 2 entire males kept together, even if they are siblings, can become very aggressive once their hormones kick in. Neutering also has huge health benefits, particularly for the females, of whom 80% will get uterine cancer if they are not spayed.
For most people the whole point of owning a rabbit is because they are cute and cuddly creatures but anyone who has tried to pick up a startled or poorly handled rabbit will know that they can do a lot of damage with their strong nails and back legs! So, it is important that they are played with and handled everyday so they are used to human interaction. Rabbits are prey animals in the wild and their only defence mechanism when frightened is to struggle and try to run away. This is why they don’t always make great pets for children, who can be, unintentionally, quite rough or unpredictable in their handling and it is a big reason why rabbits bought as pets for children end up forgotten and neglected at the bottom of the garden; because no child will play with a pet which has hurt it. However, with regular, careful handling from an early age rabbits can become great companions and members of the family.
Rabbits can make great pets but they need just as much care and attention as other animals and shouldn’t be seen as an ‘easy’ option. Although they are often bought for children they are not always the most suitable pet for young people and they should always be kept with at least one other rabbit. However, they can be real characters once you get to know them and really give back what you put in, provided, of course, you give them what they really need!
For details on examining a rabbit, neutering and vaccinations, take a look at our Pet Care Advice pages. If you are worried about any symptoms your rabbit may be showing, talk to your vet or use our Rabbit Symptom Checker to help decide what to do.
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Like most athletes, you undoubtedly want to reduce or illiminate your chances of injury while participating in your sport. Injuries decrease the amount of time you can spend in leisure activities, lower your fitness and impact competitive performance. Sports scientists suggest that injury rates could be reduced by 25% if athletes took appropriate preventative action.
Coaches and athletes believe that males have higher injury rates than females - male and female athletes have about the same injury rate per hour of training.
Among runners it is considered that training speed is the cause of injuries (Speed Kills) but research indicates that there is no link between speed and injury risk.
Do not overdo it
The amount of training you carry out plays a key role in determining your real injury risk. Studies have shown that your best direct injury predictor may be the amount of training you completed last month. Fatigued muscles do a poor job of protecting their associated connective tissues, increasing the risk of damage to bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. If you are a runner, the link between training quantity and injury means that the total mileage is an excellent indicator of your injury risk. The more miles you accrue per week, the higher the chances of injury. One recent investigation found a marked upswing in injury risk above 40 miles of running per week.
The two best predictors of injury
If you have been injured before then you are much more likely to get hurt than an athlete who has been injury free. Regular exercises have a way of uncovering the weak areas of the body. If you have knees that are put under heavy stress, because of your unique biomechanics during exercises, your knees are likely to hurt when you engage in your sport for a prolonged time. After recovery, you re-establish your desired training load without modification to your biomechanics then your knees are likely to be injured again.
The second predictor of injury is probably the number of consecutive days of training you carry out each week. Scientific studies strongly suggest that reducing the number of consecutive days of training can lower the risk of injury. Recovery time reduces injury rates by giving muscles and connective tissues an opportunity to restore and repair themselves between work-outs.
Some studies have shown that athletes who are aggressive, tense, and compulsive have a higher risk of injury than their relaxed peers do. Tension may make muscles and tendons tighter, increasing the risk that they will be harmed during workouts.
Many injuries are caused by weak muscles which simply are not ready to handle the specific demands of your sport. This is why people who start a running program for the first time often do well for a few weeks but then as they add the mileage on, suddenly develop foot or ankle problems, hamstring soreness or perhaps lower back pain. Their bodies simply are not strong enough to cope with the demands of the increased training load. For this reason, it is always wise to couple resistance training with regular training. Weak or inhibited gluteal muscles can be the cause of lower back and lower limb injuries.
Kemp (2000) identified that screening for muscle imbalances is the current cutting edge of injury prevention. The rationale behind this is that there are detectable and correctable abnormalities of muscle strength and length that are fundamental to the development of almost all musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Detection of these abnormalities and correction before injury has occurred should be part of any injury prevention strategy. Assessment of muscle strength and balance and regular sports massage can be beneficial in this strategy.
Muscle stiffness refers to the ratio between the change in muscle resistance and the change in muscle length. Muscle stiffness is directly related to muscle injury risk and so it is important to reduce muscle stiffness as part of a warm up.
Research work by McNair (2000) and Knudson (2001) has indicated that only dynamic stretches - slow controlled movements through the full range of motion - decrease muscle stiffness. Static exercises did not decrease muscle stiffness.
This suggests that dynamic stretches are the most appropriate exercises for warming up and not static stretching exercises. Static stretches are perhaps more appropriate for the cool down as they help to relax the muscles and increase their range of movement. For further information see the following articles:
A "trigger point" (TP) is a thick knot in a muscle that is palpable and tender (even painful to the touch).
Larsen (2002) identified that trigger points can be caused by: training errors, inadequate preparation, worn shoes or equipment, poor biomechanics, muscle fatigue, poor flexibility, nutritional factors (vitamin deficiency), psychological factors (lack of sleep, stress).
Treatment of a TP (separating the fibres of the muscle knot) can be achieved by applying direct pressure to the point for 10 to 20 seconds, gradually releasing the pressure and repeating the process 4 of 5 times. The amount of pressure, which will depend on the sensitivity of the TP, can be applied by using one or both thumbs.
A number of treatments may be required but as the sensitivity (pain) of the TP reduces it will become harder to find. If after a couple of treatments the pain does not reduce then you should seek medical advice. Alternative approach to treating a TP is sports massage where petrissage, friction and effleurage techniques can be used to help breakdown the TP.
Trigger points are an early warning to a potential serious injury so checking for TPs is very beneficial. A regular massage is well worth is as the therapists, when conducting a massage, can check for TPs and treat them.
Fascia is continuous uninterrupted, three-dimensional web of tissue that extends from head to toe, from front to back, from interior to exterior and an injury in one location may be due to a problem elsewhere in the fascia chain e.g. low back pain may be due to tight quads - tight quads cause the hip flexors to tighten, pulling the spine down and forwards resulting in low back pain. So working on the quads may alleviate the low back pain.
These connected muscles make up a fascia chain and Chew (2008) explains how his Ming Method uses the plasticity of fascia to elongate tight, contracted areas in a fascia chain to relieve the pain they cause.
Make it specific
Resistance training can fortify muscles and make them less susceptible to damage, especially if the strength building exercises involve movements that are similar to those associated with the sport. Time should be devoted to developing the muscle groups with strength training as appropriate to the demands of the sport. If you are a thrower then lots of time should be spent developing muscles at the front of the shoulder that increases the force with which you can throw, but you must also work systematically on the muscles at the back of the shoulder which control and stabilise the shoulder joint.
Injury prevention tips
The key is rapid action when the injury first appears and a lot of psychological support to back up the remedial treatment. Educate yourself and your athletes in the art of Cryotherapy. It is when things are not going well that the athlete really needs their coach. It is important for the coach to have an alternative training program to help the athlete through the injury recovery period. If the coach continues with a training program that is too intense for the injury they may actually worsen your condition and be liable for Personal Injury Claims to be made against them
Our Genes may indicate liability to injury
Our genes control our biological systems such as muscle, cartilage and bone formation, muscle energy production, lactic acid removal, blood and tissue oxygenation. Research by Kambouris (2011) identified that variations in the DNA sequence of these genes have an impact on an individual's vulnerability to sports injury, components of fitness (endurance, speed, strength etc.) and nutritional requirements.
Mauffulli & Merzesh (2007) found that mutations in collagen called COL5A1 led to the structure that supports the tendon being more loosely connected, making the tendon less stable and perhaps more susceptible to injury.
The reference for this page is:
The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:
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Videogames let people pretend to save the world, but they can’t actually help them do it, right? In Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, game designer Jane McGonigal says they can.
Games, says McGonigal, help us develop valuable skills. So the 183 million self-declared “regular” gamers in the U.S., playing on average 13 hours a week, or the millions of World of Warcraft players who have collectively put in over 50 billion hours since the game’s launch, aren’t frittering away their time, they’re learning how to work together and stay optimistic in the face of adversity. What’s more, games can be designed that bring those skills to bear on real-world problems.
As a game designer, McGonigal is at the forefront of developing games with real-world applications. Last year, she developed Urgent Evoke, a game for the World Bank Institute that challenged players to come up with practical, local solutions to global problems, like food security and sustainable energy.
The Daily Beast spoke with McGonigal last week.
In what ways do games make us better, and is that something all games do, or are some games better at bringing out certain virtues in players?
There are lots of studies that show how the kind of optimism and altruism we get in games spills over into real life. And people who play music games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero are more likely to pick up an instrument in real life, even if they’ve never played an instrument before. Surveys of thousands of gamers have shown that they’re more likely to play real music if they play a music videogame. So it’s an interesting relationship where the games aren’t replacing something we do in real life, they’re serving as a springboard to a goal we might have in real life, like learning to play an instrument.
There’s also research that shows if you play even for just 90 seconds with an avatar that is powerful or attractive in a virtual world, that that changes our confidence levels for the rest of the day, that we’re more confident and therefore successful in flirting with members of the opposite sex or negotiating contracts or difficult workplace situations, that we bring that sense of confidence and power into the real world with us.
Also, I mention in the book that great nine-university study that playing a game where you help another character, just playing it for 30 minutes, makes you more likely to help a friend, a neighbor, a stranger—for the entire week. Those are just some of the ways you can see how the games we play impact our real lives, so you can start to figure out what are the rules for the best games to be playing. Games that make you feel good about yourself are good games to be playing.
Yeah, at a lot of major game studios have play-testing labs where they track gamer emotion. There are companies that will come in and consult with you when you’re making a game and they’ll take photos or videos of player’s faces while they’re playing so they can actually show, this is where the player is feeling pride, this is where the player is feeling optimism, this is where they’re feeling love, or awe and wonder. Or they’ll do biometrics to show where people are most engaged in the game. Where they’re feeling the most positive stress. Positive stress is another important thing that we get from games, a physiological activation that gets adrenaline going, charges up our attention centers—we can really focus. You can measure all that in the lab.
You write that work and school should become more like games, but it seems like positive stress is something you can only feel when you’re doing something you want to do. Can work and school become more game-like without positive stress becoming negative stress?
Right, it’s all about putting that sense of opting into a challenge into schools and workplaces. School is a great example. We would normally be tested in school, normally you don’t get to pick when you take a test, and you have to take it on that day, no matter how well you feel or how prepared you feel, and if you fail, you fail, and that’s it. And if you do well, that’s it, but you get one shot at it. There’s a great charter school in New York City where they’re trying to take the best aspects of games and apply them to curriculum design, they’re looking at the way people perform in game worlds. In game worlds, you choose when you’re ready to tackle a difficult quest. It’s up to you to say, I’m ready, I want to try.
When I was reading the section about the New York charter school, it reminded me of a part of Jaron Lanier’s book, You Are Not a Gadget, that compares Facebook to No Child Left Behind in that both are dangerously reductive, they make people quantify complex things like relationships and learning. How would you respond to that view? Is it possible to make education more like a game without also reducing what counts as learning?
It’s an interesting question, but I would say it’s the exact opposite of a school like Quest to Learn, where they’re not reducing it to bare abstract metrics and performance goals, they’re looking at what kids are actually interested in and in what their strengths and capabilities are, and they’re finding mentors for them to work with, the same way as when you go into a game world you get mentored by experienced players. And they’re putting people in collaborative teams in which people get to work according to their strengths and abilities. So it’s actually the opposite of that kind of flattening, reductive, technological sense.
You point out how much work gamers are doing—something like six million years collectively performing tasks on World of Warcraft. And you also say there’s something subversive about games, in that they let you opt out of a culture that looks for happiness in external things, like having a nice car or clothes. How would respond to someone like Steven Poole, who takes the opposite view, that games are becoming more like work, that players performing tasks in exchange for experience or gold and then using that experience and gold to buy skills and assets is actually training in, I think what he calls it is, “capitalist virtue.”
He’s talking about a specific genre of games, mostly MMOs [Massive Multiplayer Online Games]. Some social games are like that now as well. When I think of the subversive act of gaming, what matters to me is that those people are saying, I value these virtual goods more than I value a new car, or a new three-thousand dollar handbag, or sneakers, or whatever. They’re saying these virtual goods, which bring me better gameplay, are worth more than what I could buy in the real world, and therefore I will work for them in the game world, this is what I want, I want more engagement, I want more superpower—that is subversive. Even if they’re working hard in the game world to acquire those powers and experiences, I mean, that’s work. Games are work. There are economies popping up in games now because people value them. I just think it’s rather extraordinary that there are easily tens of million of people who believe that experience is more valuable than stuff.
So gamers are working really hard. You say in the second half of this book that this is a workforce that’s just asking to be directed toward real-world problems. Can games get people to volunteer for these jobs that wouldn’t already be volunteering for things like stopping climate change or ending world hunger?
The Foldit game is a really great example, that’s the game developed by scientists at the University of Washington. They wanted to take something that was really a strong skill of gamers, creativity in solving problems, and resilience in the face of failure, they wanted to take those gamer skills and apply them to curing cancer. So they created this virtual environment where gamers could play with 3D proteins and fold them up into different shapes. You can think of it as super-dimensional Rubick’s cube meets Tetris…And they asked gamers to find new shapes to fold these proteins into that might, if they were reproduced in our physical bodies, actually prevent disease.
And that’s where the real state of the art is right now in these world-changing games, it’s figuring out what can ordinary people do, safely, without fear of failure, that can really add up to something extraordinary.
Part of it is about motivating people to volunteer. But part of it is about making accessible problem solving opportunities. So these scientists figured out how to make a game that gave gamers something real to do. And that’s where the real state of the art is right now in these world-changing games, it’s figuring out what can ordinary people do, safely, without fear of failure, that can really add up to something extraordinary.
A lot of your examples in the book have superheroes and secret missions in them. How important is the fictional narrative in enticing people to play the game?
In Evoke, we use that narrative to inspire a sense of possibility. We were primarily reaching out in that game to people in sub-Saharan Africa, because one of the goals was to help young people in sub-Saharan Africa start coming up with solutions to the problems they face, as opposed to just giving them aid money. What we found was that a lot of young people in those countries didn’t feel like it was realistic for them to do anything, to be successful. They didn’t see that possibility for themselves. They were kind of mentally stuck.
We used the narrative to tell a story set ten years in the future where it was the young people in Africa who had been working on these incredibly daunting challenges who had developed the creativity and the ingenuity to save the rest of the world. So each week there was a crisis in Tokyo or a crisis in London or a crisis in Rio, and it was the young people in Africa who said, well, we’ve been dealing with food shortages, we’ve been dealing with floods, with not having clean water, and that enabled the students we were working with to see a positive future, to see that epic win, and to be inspired by the story. I do think narrative is important, it provokes emotions like awe and wonder and curiosity.
Games aren’t just fun because we can win them. There are all these other emotions that are part of it, and narrative and art and music can be a really important ways to provoke the emotions that are necessary to stick with the challenge and to imagine that epic win.
Josh Dzieza is an editorial assistant at The Daily Beast.
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The expression criterion standard, according to the AMA Manual of Style, represents the “diagnostic standard for a particular disease or condition, used as a basis of comparison for other (usually noninvasive) tests. Ideally, the sensitivity and specificity of the criterion standard for the disease should be 100%.” This definition on its face seems a fairly straightforward way to identify the best method for making a diagnosis or the best treatment plan for a given disease.
A controversy, however, emerges in a parenthetical phrase that suggests the alternate expression gold standard be avoided because it “is considered jargon by some.” This assertion is supported by a reference to A Dictionary of Epidemiology, third edition, by John M. Last, published in 1995. Treating it as slang, his entry not only presents gold standard in quotes but, to be sure the reader understands his meaning, follows it with the word “jargon” in parentheses before defining it. Last provides no alternate expression and does not include criterion standard in his dictionary. He does, however, include criterion, which he defines as “[a] principle or standard by which something is judged. See also STANDARD.” And that is defined as “[s]omething that serves as a basis for comparison.”
In his fourth edition, however, Last does not include a gold standard entry. His definitions for both criterion and standard remain the same, and because they have nearly identical definitions could account for his not including an entry for criterion standard.
The gold standard entry returns in the fifth edition, edited by Miquel Porta. It is again presented in quotes but omits the parenthetical naming of it as jargon and defines it as “[a] method, procedure, or measurement that is widely accepted as being the best available. Often used to compare with new methods of unknown effectiveness (e.g., a potential new diagnostic test is assessed against the best available diagnostic test).”
Looking at another source, Annals of Internal Medicine Editor Hal Sox in his book Medical Decision Making never mentions the expression criterion standard. He does, however, talk about gold standard, which he takes out of the realm of epidemiology and into clinical practice by defining the gold standard test as “[t]he procedure that is used to define the true state of the patient.”
Although the “when” of its adoption as the preferred expression for JAMA and the Archives Journals seems to have escaped memory, the “why” remains among most of the medical editors. Some suggest avoidance of gold standard because it crosses disciplines from economics to medicine. As an economic term, it had served as the basic support of paper money. Another consideration, offered by former JAMA Deputy Editor Richard Glass, is that “gold standard …implies more of a sense of permanence than is appropriate for scientific topics.” With new knowledge, he reasons, comes new standards.
Practice, however, defies style preference. A search of JAMA articles in 1998 shows that criterion standard was used 7 times while gold standard was used 42 times. Jumping ahead 10 years, the trend holds: criterion standard was used 9 times; gold standard, 35 times.
Yet the practice of using gold standard over the style recommendation may all boil down to what JAMA Deputy Editor Drummond Rennie wrote in an e-mail. “If we are prepared to consider using ‘criterion standard,’ we should really prefer ‘criterion criterion’ (though ‘standard standard’ sounds a tad less pompous, even if just as meaningless). We all know what ‘gold standard’ means. It has the merit of being customary, memorable, understandable.”
And isn’t that the job of editors? — Beverly Stewart, MSJ
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If, when there is an increase in the value of land, there were a corresponding increase in the prices of agricultural products, I could understand the objections raised against the theory presented in chapter 9 of this book. It could then be said: As civilization advances, the worker's situation becomes less favorable in relation to the landowner's; this is perhaps a necessary development, but it is certainly not a law of harmony.
Fortunately, this is not the case. In general, the circumstances that increase the value of land decrease at the same time the prices of what is raised on it. Let me explain this by an illustration.
Let us suppose that there is a farm located twenty miles from the city and worth one hundred francs. A highway is constructed that runs close to this farm. It opens up a market for the crops, and at once the value of the farm rises to one hundred and fifty francs. The landowner, now having the means to make improvements or to raise a greater variety of crops, improves his property, and its value increases to two hundred francs.
Thus, the farm's value has been doubled. Let us examine this additional value, first from the standpoint of justice, then from the standpoint of the utility enjoyed, not by the proprietor, but by the consumers in the city.
As for the increase in value coming from the improvements made by the landowner at his own expense, there is no question. This is a capital investment and follows the law of all capital investments.
The same is true, I venture to say, for the highway. The operation follows a more circuitous course, but the result is the same.
In fact, the owner, by reason of his farm, pays his share of the public expense. For many years he contributed to the general utility by doing work on outlying areas. Finally, a road has been constructed that runs in a direction that is helpful to him. All the taxes he has paid can be compared to stocks he might have bought in government enterprises; and the yearly rent, which now comes to him because of the new highway, may be regarded as their dividend.
Will it be said that a landowner may pay taxes forever and never receive anything in return for them? This case, then, is analogous to the other; and the improvements, although effected through the complicated and more or less questionable medium of the tax, may be considered as having been carried out by the landowner and at his expense in proportion to the partial advantage that he realizes.
I spoke of a highway, but I could have cited any other example of government intervention. Police protection, for example, gives value to land as well as to capital and labor. But who pays for police protection? The landowner, the capitalist, the worker.
If the state spends its revenue wisely, equivalent value must in some form or other find its way back to the landowner, the capitalist, and the worker. For the landowner it can only be in the form of an increased price for his land. If the state spends its revenue unwisely, it is unfortunate. The tax money is lost; the taxpayers should have been more alert. In that case the land does not rise in value, but certainly that is not the fault of the landowner.
But, now that the land has thus increased in value through government action and private initiative, do the crops raised on it bring a higher price from the city dwellers? In other words, is the interest on these hundred francs added as a surcharge on every hundredweight of grain that comes from this land? If the grain previously cost fifteen francs, does it now cost fifteen and a fraction? This is a most interesting question, since justice and the universal harmony of men's interests depend on its answer.
I reply confidently: No.
No doubt the landowner will now get a return of five francs more (I am assuming a profit rate of five per cent), but he will not get them at a cost to anyone. Quite the contrary; the buyer, in his turn, will profit even more.
The fact is that the farm we have chosen as an illustration was originally remote from any markets, and little was produced on it. Because of transportation difficulties the products that reached the market were expensive. Today production has been stepped up; transportation is economical; a greater amount of grain reaches the market, costs less to get there, and is sold at a better price. So even though he yields the landowner a total profit of five francs, the buyer profits even more.
In a word, an economy of effort has been effected. To whose profit? To the profit of the two contracting parties. According to what law is a gain of this kind shared? The law that we have often cited in reference to capital, since this increase in value represents a capital gain.
When there is a capital gain, the landowner's (or capitalist's) share increases in absolute value and diminishes in relative value; the worker's (or consumer's) share rises in both absolute and relative value.
Observe how this occurs. As civilization develops, the lands nearest the centers of population increase in value. Inferior crops give way to superior ones. First, pasture lands give way to cereal crops; then, cereals are replaced by truck gardens. Foodstuffs come from greater distances at less cost, so that—and this is an unquestionable fact—meat, bread, vegetables, even flowers, cost less than in more backward countries, although labor is better paid than elsewhere.
Services are exchanged for services. Often services prepared in advance are exchanged for present or future services.
Services have value, not according to the labor they demand or have demanded, but according to the labor they save.
Now, it is a fact that human labor is becoming more efficient.
From these two premises is deduced a very important phenomenon for social economy: In general, labor previously performed loses value when exchanged for current labor.**51
Twenty years ago, let us say, I made something that cost me a hundred days' work. I propose an exchange and say to my prospective buyer: Give me something that costs you likewise a hundred days. Probably he will be able to reply: In the last twenty years great progress has been made. What cost you a hundred days can now be made with seventy days' labor. Now, I measure your service, not by the time it cost you, but by the service it renders me. This service of yours is worth seventy days, since with that amount of time I can perform it for myself or find someone to perform it for me.
Consequently, the value of capital falls constantly, and capital, or previous labor, is not in as favorable a position as superficial economists believe.
There is no machine not completely new that has not lost some of its value, exclusive of deterioration resulting from use, from the very fact that better ones are made now.
This is true also of land. There are very few farms that have not cost more labor to bring them to their present state of fertility than it would cost today with the more efficient means we have at our disposal.
Such is the general, but not inevitable, trend.
Labor performed in the past may render greater service today than it did previously. This is rare, but it does happen. For example, I have kept some wine that represents twenty days' labor. If I had sold it immediately, my labor would have received a certain remuneration. I have kept my wine; it has improved; the next crop was a failure; in short, the price has gone up, and my return is greater. Why? Because I render more service, because the buyer would have to take more pains to get this wine than I took, because I satisfy a want that has become greater, of higher value, etc.
This is the question that must always be considered.
There are a thousand of us. We each have our acre of land, which we clear. Time goes by, and we sell it. Now, it happens that out of the thousand of us nine hundred and ninety-eight do not receive, or never will receive, as many days of current labor for our land as it has cost us; and that is because our past labor, which was less skillful, performs relatively less service than current labor. But there are two landowners whose labor has been more intelligent or, if you will, more successful. When they offer it for sale, it is found to represent inimitable services. Everyone says: It would cost me much more to perform this service for myself; hence, I shall pay a high price; and, provided I am not coerced, I am still very sure that it will not cost me as much as if I performed this service by any other means.
This is the story of the Clos-Vougeot. It is the same as the case of the man who finds a diamond or who has a beautiful voice or a figure to exhibit for five sous, etc.
In my native province there is much uncultivated land. The stranger never fails to ask: Why do you not cultivate this land? The answer is: Because the soil is poor. But, it may be objected, right beside it is absolutely similar land, and it is cultivated. To this objection the native finds no reply.
Is it because he was wrong to answer in the first place: The soil is poor?
No, the reason why new land is not cleared is not that the soil is poor; for some of it is excellent, and still it is not cleared. This is the reason: to bring this uncultivated land to a state of fertility equal to that of the adjacent cultivated land would cost more than to buy the adjacent land itself.
Now, to any man capable of reflection this proves incontestably that the land has no value in itself.
(Develop all the implications of this idea.)**52
Notes for this chapter
[The author has left only two or three short fragments on this important chapter. The reason is that he intended, as he said, to rely principally on the works of Mr. Carey of Philadelphia to refute Ricardo's theory.—Editor.]
[The famous Burgundy vineyard possessing a particular quality of soil enabling it to produce correspondingly superior grapes (and wine). Bastiat uses it, along with the diamond, as an illustration of a commodity having—apparently, but not actually—value derived from "the gratuitous gifts of Nature."—Translator.]
[The same idea is presented at the end of the supplement to chap. 5.—Editor.]
[Of these proposed developments not one, unfortunately, exists; but we may be permitted to present here, in brief form, the two main conclusions to be drawn from the phenomenon that the author describes:
1. Suppose two fields, one, A, cultivated; the other, B, uncultivated. Assuming them to be of identical quality, the amount of labor previously required to clear A may be taken as the amount necessary to clear B. We can even say that because of our better knowledge, implements, means of communication, etc., it would take fewer days to put B into cultivation than it took for A. If the land had value in itself, A would be worth all that it cost to put it into cultivation, plus something for its natural productive powers; that is, much more than the sum now necessary to put B into comparable condition. Now, the opposite is true: A is worth less, since people buy it rather than cultivate B. When they buy A, they therefore pay nothing for its natural productive powers, since they do not pay even as much for the labor of cultivating it as this originally cost.
2. If field A yields 1,000 measures of wheat per year, field B when cultivated would yield the same quantity: A has been cultivated because, in the past, 1,000 measures of wheat fully compensated for the labor required both for its original clearance and its annual cultivation. B is not under cultivation because now 1,000 measures of wheat would not pay for an identical amount of labor—or even less, as we noted above.
What does this mean? Obviously that the value of human labor has risen as compared with the value of wheat; that a day's labor of a worker is worth more and receives more wheat in wages. In other words, wheat is produced for less effort and is exchanged for less labor, and the theory of the rising costs of foodstuffs is false. See, in Vol. I (of the French edition), the postscript of the letter addressed to the Journal des économistes, dated Dec. 8, 1850. See also on the subject the work of a disciple of Bastiat, Du revenu foncier (Income from the Land) by R. de Fontenay.—Editor.]
[See "Accursed Money!" Vol. V (of the French edition), p. 64.—Editor.]
[See "Interest-free Credit," Vol. V (of the French edition), p. 94.—Editor.]
NOTES TO CHAPTER 14
End of Notes
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Cancer therapy for children has come a long way over the last several decades, and the cure rate for some forms of pediatric cancer is at an all-time high. Although this success rate offers tremendous hope and optimism, there are some children whose disease fails to respond to conventional treatment, leaving doctors to explore novel ways to conquer cancer.
A pediatric oncologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia achieved a complete response in one of his patients by using an innovative treatment approach that involved reprogramming the child’s own immune cells to attack an aggressive form of childhood leukemia, called acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Physicians can cure roughly 85 percent of ALL cases but the remaining 15 percent of such cases resist standard therapy.
The prospects for 7-year-old Emily (Emma) Whitehead were grim when her cancer relapsed after she received the conventional treatment for ALL, the most common form of childhood leukemia and the most common childhood cancer. Faced with few viable treatment options, oncologist Stephan A. Grupp, MD, PhD, tried an experimental therapy using bioengineered T cells that were custom-designed to multiply rapidly and destroy leukemia cells.
Emma received the therapy as part of a research clinical trial conducted by investigators at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and CHOP. Three weeks after the treatment, Emma’s doctors found no evidence of cancer.
The research by Dr. Grupp, director of Translational Research for the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at
CHOP, builds upon his ongoing collaboration with Penn scientists who originally developed the modified T cells as a treatment for B-cell leukemias. The Penn team, led by Carl H. June, MD, reported on early results of a trial using
this cell therapy in adult chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in August 2011. Dr. Grupp and his colleagues at Penn then adapted the treatment for use in treatment-resistant ALL cases.
The investigators presented new data on the clinical trial at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting today, reporting that nine of 12 patients with advanced leukemias — including Emma and one other pediatric patient — responded to treatment with CTL019 cells.
The CTL019 therapy, formerly called CART19, represents a new approach in cancer treatment. As the workhorses of the immune system, T cells recognize and attack invading disease cells. However, cancer cells fly under the radar of immune surveillance, evading detection by T cells. CAR T cells (chimeric antigen receptor T cells) are engineered to specifically target B cells, which become cancerous in certain leukemias like ALL and CLL, as well as types of lymphoma, another cancer of the immune cells.
“These engineered T cells have proven to be active in B cell leukemia in adults,” said Dr. Grupp. “We are excited to see that the CTL019 approach may be effective in untreatable cases of pediatric ALL as well. Our hope is that these results will lead to widely available treatments for high-risk B cell leukemia and lymphoma, and perhaps other cancers in the future.”
The pioneering research also underscores the importance of timing when considering experimental therapies for relapsed patients.
“To ensure newly relapsed patients with refractory leukemia meet criteria for options like CTL019, we must begin exploring these innovative approaches earlier than ever before,”added Susan R. Rheingold, M.D., one of the leaders in the Children’s Hospital program for children with relapsed leukemia. “Having the conversation with families earlier provides them more treatment options to offer the best possible outcome.”
In August 2012, Novartis acquired exclusive rights from Penn to CART-19, the therapy that was the subject of this clinical trial and which is now known as CTL019.
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Last Updated: May 29, 2012
This article appeared in the May 2012 Rural Policy Matters.
Editor's note: Links are free and current at time of posting, but may require registration or expire over time.
The "BabyFACE" project will be the subject of the next Rural School Innovation webinar on June 13 from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. EST. This is the fifth in a series of webinars featuring successful, innovative educational strategies in rural districts.
BabyFACE was awarded a federal Investing in Innovation (i3) grant to provide services to high-need Native American children and their families from the child’s prenatal stage through age 3. Participating families come from 24 Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. The goal of the project is to improve educational outcomes for these children and is supported by evidence from prior evaluations with various populations.
BabyFACE is implemented by Parents as Teachers, a national organization which supports work with parents during the early years of their children's lives, from conception to kindergarten. The concept for Parents as Teachers was developed in the 1970s when Missouri educators noted that children were beginning kindergarten with varying levels of school readiness. Research showed that greater parent involvement is a critical link in the child's development of learning skills, and early childhood professionals suggested that a program to provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, and education to help parents understand their role could help improve school readiness and parent involvement.
Presenters for this event are Marsha Gebhardt, who is the BabyFACE project director and Judy Pfannenstiel, senior research associate with Research and Training Associates, Inc.
A link to registration can be found here. A day prior to the event, you will receive an email with dial-in instructions and a PDF of the presentation.
Read more from the May 2012 Rural Policy Matters.
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About Your Audience
Involving the Audience | Adult Learners
One of the most frequent criticisms of educational programs is that they are conducted in a passive format; the speaker imparts knowledge while the audience listens impassively.
Here are some ways to keep the audience involved and interested:
- Ask for their questions. All session formats include time for questions and answers. Be prepared! Before your presentation, think about what questions could be asked; formulate brief, clear answers to each and rehearse those answers. Develop some questions of your own to ask the audience if the question and answer period begins slowly. Throughout your presentation, ask questions of the group, if only for them to answer in their minds.
- During your presentation, answer questions to clarify ambiguities immediately. Postpone questions related to resolving a specific problem to the end of the session. If someone asks a question that you can't answer, don't panic! You have several options:
- Say that you will locate the answer and get back to them
- Suggest appropriate resources that will provide the answer
- Ask for suggestions from other members of the audience
- Have attendees work with a partner or a small group to discuss scenarios, problems, or to share experiences, and use case studies, group discussions, role playing, etc., to keep your presentation moving.
- Ask the attendees how they plan to apply your information.
- Use samples (if applicable), quizzes, strategic plans, or other hands-on documentation for the audience to work with during the session.
- Adult learners are different from other types of audiences. They bring a wealth of experience to the session and have highly tangible reasons for attending a certain presentation:
- Continuing Education credits
- Networking opportunity
- Upgrade their skills
- Need information
- Reputation of sponsor/speaker
- Adult learners are goal-oriented and less flexible than other learners. They want a speaker to provide activities, guidance and materials that facilitate learning. They are more interested in a performance-based model of education, with the emphasis on:
- Processing information
- Applying new knowledge
- The delivery/instructional method is as/more important than the quality of the information. Audiences want to get involved in the learning process. Adults want:
- Active involvement in the learning process
- To practice what they are learning
- A physical and emotional atmosphere conductive to learning
- To use their experience to reinforce and give meaning to learning
- To focus on problems and how to solve them; this puts learning in context
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Self-Tracking Tools Help You Stay HealthyMain Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness | Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 14 Jan 2013
Self-tracking is a new trend in personal electronic health where computing tools such as wearable sensors and mobile apps collect, process and display a wealth of personal data to help you keep track of and manage all aspects of your health. These tools monitor and record details of your everyday activity, from counting steps or miles walked, and floors climbed, to monitoring calorie consumption, and even daily patterns and hours of sleep.
Spurred by movements like the Quantified Self (QS), an increasing number of people are using gadgets to monitor exactly how they use their time, and in some cases, take action, not only in order to improve health and personal efficiency, but also because, as personal productivity and health blogger Ari Meisel puts it:
"Optimizing your life can help free up time to enjoy more activities".
At the start of January 2013, Alexandra Carmichael of QS listed over 200 tools for self-trackers.
The emergence of the smartphone is also helping to link together sophisticated processing tools with mobile sensors, enabling users to do more unusual things like track mood alongside physical activity and consider how the two might be related.
Software developers are now building mobile self-tracking platforms that allows the smartphone-based app to collect data from a tracking device worn by the user (for instance movement activity, pulse rate, even heart ECG data) and combine this with self-reported data collected on pre-programmed questionnaires filled in by the user (for instance to track feelings and mood over the same period).
Although aimed at researchers, some of this more advanced software is being offered open source, which will spur developers in the commercial personal tools market to offer increasingly sophisticated personal tracking devices at lower cost.
In this article we offer an overview of three self-tracking devices, Nike+ FuelBand, Jawbone, and FitBit.
The idea is to set a daily energy burning goal and then achieve it with everyday physical activity.
The Fuelband tracks each step taken and calories burned and as the day progresses, the lights on it change from red to green as you near your goal.
One Amazon customer says it encouraged him to take the dog out for an extra walk so he could reach his daily target.
The device syncs wirelessly to an app on your iPhone so you can see your results. You can also connect it to a computer via the USB connector which forms part of the bracelet closure.
The device measures "fuel count", calories burned, steps taken, and shows the time, so you can opt to wear it instead of a watch.
Matthew Miller, who reviewed the Fuelband for ZDNet's The Mobile Gadgeteer blog, initially chose a daily fuel burning goal of 3,000 calories, which he says "seemed a bit aggressive" as he works in an office. But he managed to reach the goal three times in the week he tested it.
Through the iPhone app you can view your current Fuel status, and activity for the day, week, month and year. You can also set your mood for the day, and connect to your Facebook friends that have the Fuelband setup through Facebook.
There are also motivational aids, such as getting notified when you reach goals, you can earn awards, and you can Tweet your achievements.
Prices for the Nike+ Fuelband start at around $200 or £120, depending on size and color.
Jawbone UPThe Jawbone is also a wristband device. But as well as tracking movement it measures sleep and eating. It also includes a vibrating silent alarm, which one reviewer says "anyone who shares a bed should at least try".
The Jawbone does not clasp around the wrist like the Nike+ Fuelband, but has two overlapping ends to secure it in place.
It carries a button that you set to the mode your are in: sleep, active or normal.
Set to normal movement mode the device tracks steps. In active mode it tracks workouts and runs.
You can also set it to vibrate if you are inactive for long periods, say after every 45 minutes of inactivity. This could be a useful way to remind you to get up and walk around if you tend to sit for a while.
The sleep function monitors quality of sleep and distinguishes between light and heavy sleep.
Through the iOS app, which is the only way to interact with the data, you can set a silent alarm that vibrates the band up to 30 minutes ahead of your designated waking up time if it senses you are sleeping lightly around that time.
There is also a "power nap" option that looks at your sleep habits and decides whether you should have a shorter or a longer power nap this time.
The eat function just lets you take pictures of what you eat, and stores them so you can look at them later. The software provides a reference to a a study that shows people who logged what they ate lost more weight than people who did not record what they ate.
The Jawbone sells at around $100 (£62).
FitbitThe Fitbit One (and the earlier model Fitbit Ultra) is not a wristband but a small clip-on and measures a lot more of your life than the other two devices. (However, there is a wriststrap you can wear it in at night if you want the vibrating alarm to wake you up).
It tracks steps taken, miles travelled, flights of stairs climbed, calories burned, calories consumed, daily eating, and various information about sleep, including how long it takes you to fall asleep, number of times you woke up, and total sleep time.
You can change the tracking mode (such as jogging or sleeping) by pressing and holding down the mode button.
The device has a small display to show the data, and it also shows motivational statements like "Let's go", or "I like you".
The data uploads to a web account where you can add any data that the device has missed. For example, the device can't log activities like cycling and swimming so you have to enter this yourself, but the software will incorporate this into the record seamlessly so you can see your activities aligned. (Note the other two devices don't do this).
If you don't want all the functions of the Fitbit One, you can opt for the cheaper and more basic Fitbit Zip.
The Fitbit One sells for around $100 (£62).
The Importance of Motivation and MindsetPeople who have been self-tracking for a while and are getting something out of it, find that the mindset they bring to looking at the data they collect has a big influence on their ability to make changes in their lives.
If you just keep beating yourself up, "there I go again, always eating the wrong things", or "not another day without completing my 10,000 steps", then you are probably going to have a hard time keeping an open and creative mind for problem solving.
It is important to be able to step back and detach yourself from the negative self-talk and see the bigger picture the data is showing.
Accept what you discover, adopt a non-judgemental perspective, and look for patterns in your data: "that's interesting, it's usually at the end of the week that I don't reach my walking target", or "it looks like my sleep is more disturbed when I exercise less".
"Long-time self-trackers have an almost insatiable curiosity," says Alexandra Carmichael, co-author of a Quantified Self book on self- tracking.
As well as curiosity and acceptance, Carmichael advocates developing self-compassion:
"We've found that self-compassion is an essential part of maintaining a tracking practice," says Carmichael, explaining that experienced self- trackers learn to accept that whatever it shows, their data "is what it is, and it's ok. It's nothing to be embarrassed about".
A lot of the time, you probably won't have a clue as to what the tracking data means, and there's no reason why you should.
Another thing to bear in mind, is that once you start making changes in your life, as you go along, these changes affect the rest of your life too. So don't be too rigid, be prepared to adapt plans to fit in with what else is changing, as long as it is all going generally in the right direction.
Hang on to your sense of humour, and above all, remain humble, as Woody Allen sums up well in his famous quote:
"If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans."
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: MediLexicon International Ltd
Original article posted on Medical News Today.
Articles not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
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“Six Million Pilgrims (2009) is a photographic typology of the backs of three hundred Mexican Catholic pilgrims on their journey to the
Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City. Â This yearly pilgrimage, undertaken by approximately six million people every year takes place
on the anniversary of the five apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe between the 9th and 12th December 1531 to the indigenous man Juan Diego in Tepeyac, the sacred place of the Aztec goddess Tonantzin. The myth of the apparitions marks a turning point in the spiritual conquest of native Mexicans by the Spanish and lead to the amalgamation of Tonantzin and the Virgin Mary. This is the origin of the devotion of Mexicans to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Â Since the spiritual conquest of Mexico (arguably one of the most important legacies of the colonial period), the image of the Virgin has been of central importance in the history of Mexico. Her image was used by political leaders as a symbol of faith and freedom during the Independence movement in 1810, and again during the Revolution a century later.
In 2010 the Virgen de Guadalupe continues to be the center piece of our cosmology as Mexicans. This work is an observation of her role in contemporary visual culture and the vast layers of symbolism transmitted through her iconic image. I am also interested in the pilgrimage as a socio-political and cultural phenomenon and in the psychological and emotional relationship that each individual has with the Virgin.  The work is inspired by the Becher tradition of systematic documentation.  I chose to photograph the pilgrims that are carrying their virgin, which is usually hanging in their home.  They take their paintings, sculptures, posters or cloaks of the Virgen to the Basicila to be blessed and to give thanks. Each portrait was taken separately, then ‘cut out’ and mounted onto a plain background. This decontextualization is intended to focus our attention on the individual. It also functions as a means to be able to then recombine it with the other hundreds of pilgrims. When placed back into the series the image has a direct relationship to the other portraits
rather than with the rest of the elements originally in the image. The large number of portraits creates a visual maze of similarity and difference, perhaps metaphoric of Mexican identity and makes us imagine the millions of pilgrims that visit the Basilica every year.”
(Alinka is part of “La (otra) maleta mexicana”– a Tóxico collective art project.)
(Click pic twice to enlarge)
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Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2002 August 25
Explanation: Old photographs show no evidence of the above nebula. In 1992, a white dwarf star toward the constellation of Cygnus blew off its outer layers in a classical nova explosion: an event called Nova Cygni 1992. Light flooded the local interstellar neighborhood, illuminated this existing gas cloud, excited the existing hydrogen, and hence caused the red emission. The only gas actually expelled by the nova can be seen as a small red ball just above the photograph's center. Eventually, light from the nova shell will fade, and this nebula will again become invisible!
Authors & editors:
Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Technical Rep.: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA/ GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
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Description of the basin
The Green Lakes Valley (GLV) is U-shaped glacial valley located along the Colorado Front Range with an area of 7 km2 and ranging in elevation from 3250 ~ 4000 m. It is located about six kilometers east of the Continental Divide and just west of large agricultural and urban areas between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, Colorado within the Silver Lake Watershed, which provides approximately 40% of the water supply for the City of Boulder, Colorado. Public access is prohibited throughout the watershed. The Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site - with permission from the City of Boulder - tracks long-term data on climate, atmospheric chemistry, hydrology and surface water chemistry.
The Green Lakes Valley (GLV) watershed consists of two catchments. The lower catchment has an area of approximately 5 km2, and is subalpine. It includes Lake Albion and Green Lakes 1, 2, and 3. The upper catchment is an alpine ecosystem of about 2 km2 located above treeline, and includes Green Lakes 4 and 5. The two subcatchments are separated by a steep (~100 m tall) waterfall. The upper basin is primarily fed by snowmelt, with minor contribution from glacial run-off including a small rock glacier. Lake sediments are slightly acid and reduced, containing moderate amounts of organic matter, and the median diameters of the sediment particles lie in the medium grained silt range (McNeeley 1983). The dominant erosion process appears to be mass wasting, although additional erosion processes such as hydrostatic pressure may occur (McNeeley 1983). Historically, the upper two lakes were fishless, but due to accidental stocking in 1998, Yellowstone cutthroat trout now inhabit both Green Lakes 4 and 5.
The watershed receives most of its precipitation in the form of winter and spring snowfall. Green Lakes 4 and 5 are ice-free only during the short growing season from late June or early July until early to mid October.
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||This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.
Sir Lyman Poore Duff, a former judge of the Supreme Court of Canada
|Names||Judge, Justice of the Peace, magistrate|
|Competencies||Analytical mind, critical thinking, impartiality, common sense|
|Education required||Usually experience as an advocate (varies by jurisdiction)|
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a magistrate has limited law enforcement and administration authority. In civil law systems, a magistrate might be a judge in a superior court; the magistrates' court might have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. A related, but not always equivalent, term is chief magistrate, which historically can denote a political and administrative officer.
Magistrate derives from the Middle English word magistrat, denoting a "civil officer in charge of administrating laws" (c.1374); from the Old French magistrat; from the Latin magistratus, which derives from magister (master), from the root of magnus (great).
Original meaning
In ancient Rome, the word magistratus referred to one of the highest offices of state, and analogous offices in the local authorities such as municipium, which were subordinate only to the legislature of which they generally were members, often even ex officio, and often combined judicial and executive power, together constituting one jurisdiction. In Rome itself, the highest magistrates were members of the so-called cursus honorum -'career of honors'. They held both judicial and executive power within their sphere of responsibility (hence the modern use of the term "magistrate" to denote both judicial and executive officers), and also had the power to issue ius honorarium, or magisterial law. The Consul was the highest Roman magistrate. The Praetor (the office was later divided into two, the Urban and Peregrine Praetors) was the highest judge in matters of private law between individual citizens, while the Curule Aediles, who supervised public works in the city, exercised a limited civil jurisdiction in relation to the market. Roman magistrates were not lawyers, but were advised by jurists who were experts in the law.
The term was maintained in most feudal successor states to the western Roman Empire, mainly Germanic kingdoms, especially in city-states, where the term magistrate was also used as an abstract generic term, denoting the highest office, regardless of the formal titles (e.g. Consul, Mayor, Doge), even when that was actually a council. The term "chief magistrate" applied to the highest official, in sovereign entities the head of state and/or head of government.
Continental Europe and its former colonies
Under the civil law systems of European countries such as Italy, Belgium and France, "magistrat" (French) or "magistrato" (Italian) is a generic term which comprises both prosecutors and judges (distinguished as 'standing' versus 'sitting' magistrature). It should be noted that the legal systems of these countries are not identical, and thus show some relevant differences in the judiciary organization.
In Finland, a magistrate is a state-appointed local administrative officer whose responsibilities include keeping population information and public registers, acting as a public notary and conducting civil marriages and same-sex unions.
In Mexico a Magistrado (magistrate), is a superior judge (and the highest-ranking State judge) hierarchically beneath the Supreme Court Justices (Ministros de la Corte Suprema) in the Federal Law System. The magistrado reviews the cases seen by a judge in a second term, if any of the parties disputes the verdict. For special cases, there are magistrados superiores (superior magistrates) who review the verdicts of special court and tribunal magistrates.
English common law tradition
United Kingdom
England and Wales
In the courts of England and Wales, magistrates—also known as justices of the peace (JPs)—hear prosecutions for and dispose of 'summary offences' and some 'triable-either-way offences' by making orders with regard to and placing additional requirements on offenders. Magistrates can only sentence for six months for one offence and twelve months consecutively, they can also give a maximum of a £5,000 fine; community orders which can include curfews, electronic tagging, requirements to perform unpaid work up to 300 hours or supervision up to three years and or various other options. Magistrates hear committal proceedings for certain offences, and can establish whether sufficient evidence exists to pass the case to a higher court for trial and sentencing. In more serious cases, magistrates have power to pass 'either-way' offenders to the Crown Court for sentencing when, in the opinion of the magistrates, a penalty greater than can be given in the magistrates' court is warranted. A wide range of other legal matters are within the remit of magistrates. In the past, magistrates have been responsible for granting licences to sell alcohol, for instance, but this function is now exercised by local councils though there is a right of appeal to the magistrates' court. Magistrates are also responsible for granting search warrants to the police and some other authorities, therefore it used to be a requirement that they live within a 15-mile (24 km) radius of the area they preside over (the commission area) in case they are needed to sign a warrant out-of-hours. However, commission areas were replaced with Local Justice Areas by the Courts Act 2003, meaning magistrates no longer need to live within 15 miles (24 km), although, in practice, many still do. Section 7 of the Courts Act 2003 states that "There shall be a commission of the peace for England and Wales— . . . b) addressed generally, and not by name, to all such persons as may from time to time hold office as justices of the peace for England and Wales". Thus every magistrate in England and Wales may act as a magistrate anywhere in England or Wales.
There are two types of magistrate in England and Wales: justices of the peace and district judges (formerly known as stipendiary magistrates) permanently employed by the Ministry of Justice (until May 2007, the Department for Constitutional Affairs). Justices of the peace sit voluntarily, apart from an allowance being paid for loss of earnings, mileage and subsistence (which are at a standardised rate agreed by the Ministry of Justice). According to requirements, around 50% of them are women. Over 41% of magistrates are retired from employment while others may be self-employed or able to arrange leave from their employment. That said, there are those who recognise[who?] that three de facto jurors from the community may well have a more realistic understanding of local life than a single district judge whose background is in law rather than working in the wider community.
No formal qualifications are required but magistrates need intelligence, common sense, integrity and the capacity to act fairly. Membership is widely spread throughout the area covered and drawn from all walks of life. Police officers, traffic wardens and members of the armed forces, as well as their close relatives will not be appointed, nor will those convicted of certain criminal offences including recent minor offences. All magistrates receive a 3 day training before sitting, carried out in conjunction with a mentoring program (mentors are magistrates with at least 3 years service), which covers basic law and procedure and then continue to receive training throughout their judicial career. Additional training is given to magistrates choosing to sit in the Youth Court, or those dealing with family matters. New magistrates sit with mentors on at least six occasions during their first eighteen months.
Magistrates are unpaid appointees but they may receive allowances to cover travelling expenses, subsistence and loss of earnings for those not paid by their employer whilst sitting as a magistrate up to £116.78 a day. A Justice of the Peace may sit at any magistrates' court in England & Wales but in practice, are appointed to their local bench, (a colloquial and legal term for the local court), and are provided with advice, especially on sentencing, by a legally qualified Clerk to the Justices. They will normally sit as a panel of three with two as a minimum. Many are members of the Magistrates' Association, which provides advice, training and represents the approximately 28,000 magistrates to the Government. The Association also represents magistrates on the Sentencing Guidelines Council.
The second group are known as District Judges (Magistrates' Court) (known as Stipendiary Magistrates - which is to say, magistrates who received a stipend or payment - up until August 2000). Unlike magistrates, District Judges (Magistrates' Court) sit alone. District Judges have tended to be appointed from the ranks of legal advisors to the magistrates' court and will be qualified solicitors or barristers. Questions have been raised by the Magistrates Association as to the legal safeguards of a single District Judge allowed to hear a case, decide the outcome and pass sentence without reference to another party.
In Scotland, the lowest level of law-court, the District Court, is presided over by a Justice of the Peace. The District Courts were replaced with Justice of the Peace Courts beginning in Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders in December 2007.
Federal Magistrate
A Federal Magistrate occupies an office created in 1999. The Federal Magistrates' Court of Australia deals with more minor Commonwealth law matters which had previously been heard by the Federal Court (administrative law, bankruptcy, consumer protection, trade practices, human rights and copyright) or the Family Court (divorce, residence (or custody) and contact (or access) of the children, property division upon divorce, maintenance and child support). The court's name is misleading, in that it exercises a jurisdiction well in excess of that of the state magistrates' courts, and similar to that of the District and County courts of the Australian states.
The Federal and Family Courts continue, but the Federal Magistrates hear shorter or less complex matters or matters in which the monetary sum in disputes does not exceed given amounts. For instance property divisions where the total assets are A$700,000 or less and consumer law matters (trade practices) where the amount claimed is less than $750,000. However, in some areas, such as bankruptcy and copyright, the court has unlimited jurisdiction.
The Federal Magistrates’ Court has assumed a significant part of the work load of the two superior courts. By 2004/05 the court was dealing with 73% of the total number of applications made in the three courts (see the Annual Report of the Federal Magistrates' Court 2004/2005).
State Magistrate
The State Magistrates in Australia derive from the English Magistrates. All Magistrates are salaried officers, they can be from a legal background or promoted through the Court Registry. They do not require formal legal training or a law degree.
Magistrates hear bail applications, motor licensing applications, applications for orders restraining a given individual from approaching a specific person (“intervention orders” or “apprehended violence orders”), summary criminal matters, the least serious indictable criminal matters, and civil matters where the disputed amount does not exceed A$40,000 to A$100,000 (depending on the State).
In some states, such as Queensland and NSW, the Magistrate may appear robed, although some Magistrates are known to prefer a business suit. Magistrates presiding in the Koori Court (which deals with Aboriginal defendants) were originally of a mind not to appear robed; however elders within the Indigenous community urged Magistrates to continue wearing robes to mark the solemnity of the court process to defendants. Robing is being considered for Magistrates in other states; however, neither Counsel nor solicitors appear robed in any Australian Magistrates' court. Robing in summary courts is unlikely to extend to the legal profession.
Historically Magistrates in Australia have been referred to as “Your Worship”. (From Old English weorthscipe, meaning being worthy of respect.) However, members of the magistracy are now addressed as "Your Honour" in all states. This was partly to recognise the increasing role magistrates play in the administration of justice, but also to recognise the archaic nature of "Your Worship" and the tendency for witnesses and defendants to incorrectly use "Your Honour" in any event. It is also acceptable to address a magistrate simply as Sir or Madam.
Hong Kong
There are currently seven magistrates' courts in Hong Kong. Magistrates exercise criminal jurisdiction over a wide range of offences. Although there is a general limit of two years imprisonment or a fine of HK$100,000, certain statutory provisions give Magistrates the power to sentence up to three years imprisonment and to impose a fine up to HK$5,000,000.
- A Chief Judicial Magistrate
- Judicial Magistrates First Class,
- Judicial Magistrates Second Class, and
- Executive Magistrates
"Chief Judicial Magistrate" includes Additional Chief Judicial magistrates also. There is a Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in every Sub Division, although he is technically only a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC). Judicial Magistrates can try criminal cases. A Judicial Magistrate First Class can sentence a person to jail for up to three years and impose a fine of up to 5000 (US$92). A Judicial Magistrate Second Class can sentence a person to jail for up to one year and impose a fine of up to 1000 (US$18).
An Executive Magistrate is an officer of the Executive branch (as opposed to the Judicial branch) who is invested with specific powers under both the CrPC and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These powers are conferred by Sections 107-110, 133, 144, 145, and 147 of the CrPC. These officers cannot try any accused nor pass verdicts. A person arrested on the orders of a court located outside the local jurisdiction should be produced before an Executive Magistrate who can also set the bail amount for the arrested individual to avoid police custody, depending on the terms of the warrant. The Executive Magistrate also can pass orders restraining persons from committing a particular act or preventing persons from entering an area (Section 144 CrPC). There is no specific provision to order a "curfew" The Executive Magistrates alone are authorized to use force against people. In plain language, they alone can disperse an "unlawful assembly". Technically, the police is to assist the Executive Magistrate. They can direct the police about the manner of force (baton charge/ tear gas/blank fire/ firing) and also how much force should be used. They can also take the assistance of the Armed Forces to quell a riot.
There are, in each Revenue District (as opposed to a Sessions District) the following kinds of Executive Magistrates:
- One District Magistrate (DM)
- One or more Additional District Magistrates (ADM)
- One or more Subdivisional District Magistrates (SDM)and
- Executive Magistrates
All the Executive Magistrates of the district, except the ADM, are under the control of the DM; for magisterial duties, the ADM reports directly to the government and not to the DM.
These magistracies are normally conferred on the officers of the Revenue Department, although an officer can be appointed exclusively as an Executive Magistrate. Normally, the Collector of the district is appointed as the DM. Similarly, the Sub-Collectors are appointed as the SDMs. Tahsildars and Deputy/Additional Tahsildars are appointed as Executive Magistrates.
Under the old CrPC, there was no distinction between the Executive and Judicial Magistrates; some states still follow the old CrPC, e.g. Nagaland; there, the Collector is also the head of the judicial branch of the district and can pass sentences, including capital punishment, under IPC.
New Zealand
The position of stipendiary magistrate in New Zealand was renamed in 1980 to that of district court judge. The position was often known simply as magistrate, or the postnominal initials SM after a magistrate's name in newspapers' court reports.
In the late 1990s, a position of community magistrate was created for district courts on a trial basis; two community magistrates were initially required to sit to consider a case. Some of these community magistrates are still serving.
United States
Magistrates are somewhat less common in the United States than in Europe, but the position does exist in some jurisdictions.
The term "magistrate" is often used (chiefly in judicial opinions) as a generic term for any independent judge who is capable of issuing warrants, reviewing arrests, etc. When used in this way it does not denote a judge with a particular office. Instead, it denotes (somewhat circularly) a judge or judicial officer who is capable of hearing and deciding a particular matter. That capability is defined by statute or by common law. In Virginia, for example, the Constitution of 1971 created the office of magistrate to replace the use in cities and counties of the justice of the peace, which is common in many states for this function.
As noted above, the terms "magistrate" or "chief magistrate" were sometimes used in the early days of the republic to refer to the President of the United States, as in President John Adams's message to the U.S. Senate upon the death of George Washington: "His example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations, as long as our history shall be read" (December 19, 1799).
Federal courts
In the United States federal courts, a magistrate judge is a judge authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 631 et seq. Magistrate judges are appointed by the life-term federal district judges of a particular court, serving terms of eight years if full-time, or four years if part-time, and may be reappointed. Magistrate judges conduct a wide range of judicial proceedings to expedite the disposition of the civil and criminal caseloads of the United States District Courts. Congress set forth in the statute powers and responsibilities that could be delegated by district court judges to magistrate judges. To achieve maximum flexibility in meeting the needs of each court, however, it left the actual determination of which duties to assign to magistrate judges to the individual courts.
State courts
In many state court systems in the United States, magistrate courts are the successor to Justice of the Peace courts, and frequently have authority to handle the trials of civil cases up to a certain dollar amount at issue, applications for bail, arrest and search warrants, and the adjudication of petty or misdemeanor criminal offenses.
Other traditions
People's Republic of China
Magistrate, or chief magistrate, is also a common Chinese Chinese translation of xianzhang (县长/縣長 literally: county leader) the political head of a county or xiàn (县/縣) which ranks in the third level of the administrative hierarchy of the PRC. The translation dates from imperial China in which the county magistrate was the lowest official in the imperial Chinese bureaucracy and had judicial in addition to administrative functions.
In modern day Mainland China, the county leader is technically elected by the local people's congress but in fact is appointed by the Communist Party. Although there have been some elections at the lower township level, these elections (with one exception, which was considered irregular and illegal) have not extended up to the county level. Although not an important official, county leaders, particularly in rural areas, can sometimes have a strong impact on the lives of ordinary people by enforcing central government regulations or by turning a blind eye to their violation.
In Switzerland, magistrate is a designation for the persons holding the most senior executive and judicial offices. On the federal level, the members of the Federal Council, the Federal Chancellor and the judges on the Federal Supreme Court are called magistrates. The designation of magistrate is not a title or style. It does not, by itself, confer any particular privileges.
In Taiwan, magistrates are the heads of government of counties. The county magistrate elections are heavily and sometimes bitterly contested, and are often a stepping-stone to higher office. County magistrate elections were first open to election in the 1960s and, before the end of martial law in 1991, were the highest elected position of any real power and hence the focus of election campaigns by the Tangwai movement.
In popular culture
- British humourist P.G. Wodehouse wrote in one of his Jeeves and Wooster stories, "Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit" (1955), "Well, you know what magistrates are. The lowest form of pond life. When a fellow hasn't the brains and initiative to sell jellied eels, they make him a magistrate." Bertie Wooster often appeared before magistrates when he was arrested for minor offenses.
- A plump and foolish magistrate is a key character in Amy Tan's children's book (and the related PBS television show) Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat.
- In the post-colonial novel Waiting for the Barbarians by J. M. Coetzee, the story is told from the narrative perspective of the magistrate of one of the settlements in what is presumed to be Africa.
- In the Walt Disney movie Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, Davy is appointed magistrate of the local community.
- Magistrates appear to be in the Star Trek universe as well. In the Deep Space Nine series, constable Odo often threatens detainees or those he suspects are guilty of various crimes and violations that he will send them to the Magistrate, telling them sarcastically, in response to their pleas of innocence, to "Tell it to the Magistrate".
- In the first installment of the popular Starcraft real time strategy series, you play as a Magistrate working for the Confederacy, a cruel government. You later join the Sons of Korhal, aiding in the rebellion.
See also
- p4 and p18, Nicholas, Barry, An Introduction to Roman Law (Oxford University Press, 1975) ISBN 0-19-876063-9
- Under a law of 1729 which instituted Brewster sessions, a special meeting of quarter sessions (Richardson, John (1974) The Local Historian's Encyclopedia. New Barnet: Historical Publications; p. 270; Hey, David, ed. (1996) The Oxford Companion to Local and Family History. Oxford University Press; pp. 46-47)
- The Magistracy and the work of magistrates
- John Thornhill, Chairman of the Magistrates Association - Solicitors Journal - April 2011
- "section 29 of CrPc". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- Education 2020 Homeschool Console; Government couse - Vocabulary, "usage" section for magistrate: "The term, magistrate, is often used for any independent judge who is capable of issuing warrants and reviewing arrests."
- See art. 1 of the Bundesgesetz über Besoldung und berufliche Vorsorge der Magistratspersonen, SR/RS 172.121.
|Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Magistrate|
- Become a magistrate (GOV.UK, England and Wales)
- Criminal courts - magistrates' courts (GOV.UK, England and Wales)
- How sentencing works: You be the Judge
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Russia's conquest of Central Asia ends in 1885. This finalizes the establishment of czarist Russia's southern borders. This region is unified under the name of the "Turkestan Government-General" with Tashkent as its capital and Konstantin Petrovich von Kaufman (18181882) as its first governor. Until World War I, Turkestan is governed by a civil bureaucracy modeled on that of Russia. Although Russified, it retains its Islamic system of jurisdiction, education, and local administration. The Russians are relatively benevolent colonizers and do not interfere significantly in local religious practices. The main spheres of change under the Russians, however, include the economy and infrastructure. The region is increasingly used as a market for Russian industrial products and a supplier of raw materials, particularly cotton. Trade with Russia has its consequences. Local crafts now have to compete with Russian trade goods, diminishing their popularity and marketability. Crafts, such as metalwork, woodwork, weaving, and embroidery are altered to suit export and thus craftsmen do not take the same care in producing objects as before, leading to a decline in quality.
After the fall of the Russian czarist monarchy in February 1917, city governments and executive committees are set up as organs of the Provisional Government of Russia. Shortly after, political authority falls into the hands of the councils of workers' and soldiers' deputies. The Muslims of Central Asia do not really participate in the revolutionary events. In Turkestan in 1919, the power of the soviets (councils) is concentrated in Tashkent and hardly penetrates other areas, but eventually Moscow takes firmer control of the greater region, instituting a socialist order and new policies. By the 1920s, the khanate of Khiva and emirate of Bukhara come under Soviet control and Turkestan becomes an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic governed by a totalitarian ideology. In 1928, Stalin imposes the First Five-Year Plan: collectivization of agriculture, mechanization of the cultivation of cotton, industrialization, and the exploitation of natural resources. After the 1920s, atheism is imposed, mosques and religious schools are closed, courts secularized, religious foundations confiscated, and veiling actively discouraged. The Arabic script is replaced first by the Latin script and subsequently by the Cyrillic alphabet in 1940. Meanwhile, the Russians make serious attempts to battle illiteracy and improve health and hygiene. In the 1940s and '50s, Soviet scholars, linguists, anthropologists, and ethnographers conduct research in the traditional arts, languages and folk traditions of Central Asia. The Soviets also devote significant attention to the preservation of architectural monuments and historical sites. The traditional crafts of the region, which had undergone significant changes under the czarist regime, are further transformed under the Soviets. Craftsmen are now workers and craft guilds become professional unions. With the introduction of modern machinery and equipment, the professional unions are eventually converted to factories. The result is a compromise in the delicacy, refinement, and quality associated with the crafts of the region.
The October Revolution of 1917 radically affects the arts of the region and by the mid-1920s, the new Soviet art overshadows anything that came before. The subject of this art is the dynamic of change under the new regime. Art is used increasingly as a powerful tool to convey new political ideas and essentially comes to serve the state. As a result, the traditional arts suffer as propagandistic qualities outweigh artistic values.
In 1986, during perestroika (reform), opposition builds against the Soviet central government. In 1990, sovereign rights are demanded from the Union and in 1991 the republics of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are declared independent states.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, artists of the new independent republics become active in producing creative work that is socially and politically criticalone that expresses their unique concerns. Emerging from 140 years of Russian rule, Central Asian artists begin to come to terms with their role in a changing global community and grapple with issues of the reintroduction of religion, gender, their Islamic and pre-Islamic origins. They work in a multitude of media, including installation, painting, photography, and video.
The history of Afghanistan during this period takes a different path. Britain grants Afghanistan full independence in 1919 and Emir Amanullah (r. 191929) introduces various modernizing reforms. During the cold war, Muhammad Zahir (r. 193373) develops close ties with the Soviet Union, accepting extensive economic aid. He is overthrown by Muhammad Da'ud in 1973, who in turn is ousted in a coup by Nur Muhammad Tarah'ki (19171979) and his successor Babrak Karmal (19291996) shortly after. Armed insurgents oppose Karmal and fight to create an Islamic state in Afghanistan. In order to defend his government and save it from collapse, Karmal calls for Soviet military backing. Thus, Moscow carries out a full-scale invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.
A fierce resistance builds to the Soviet presence, primarily led by guerrilla forces called the mujahideen, who call for jihad (holy war) to expel the invaders. The United States then intervenes by providing arms to the resistance. This results in civil unrest between factions. The Soviets do not withdraw until February 1989 and in 1992, Islamic rebels finally end Soviet rule. This leaves a power vacuum and fighting breaks out among competing factions, one of which, the Taliban, seizes control of Kabul in 1996. The Taliban impose fundamentalist laws in every sphere of life. Afghan women are particularly affected and many refugees flee the country to Pakistan and Iran. Meanwhile, Osama bin Laden (born 1957) is sheltered by the Taliban and finances terrorist training complexes in the country. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States, Bin Laden emerges as the prime suspect in the tragedy. In response, the United States and its allies begin air strikes against the Taliban military establishment in December 2001. The Taliban regime collapses, as the United States and its allies maintain a military presence in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai (born 1957) is named the leader of Afghanistan's interim government and in June 2002 he becomes president. The U.S. and fifty other countries pledge billions of dollars to rebuild the war-torn country.
The unstable political situation since the early 1970s is not conducive to the development of the arts in Afghanistan. Under the Taliban particularly, artistic expression is overtly discouraged and decrees are issued forbidding art, music, dance, and photography, among things. With the postwar rebuilding efforts and greater freedom of artistic expression, there is a rebirth of cultural life in the country. The National Gallery reopens, and serious attempts are made to locate treasures missing from the National Museum and to restore the country's cultural heritage.
190119Emir Habibullah Khan of Afghanistan pushes for modernization of his country. During his reign, the first colleges open, and hospitals, factories, and roads are built. His pro-British policies, however, are not supported, and he is assassinated in 1919.
1907The Anglo-Russian Convention defines British and Russian spheres of influence in the region, which each country agrees to respect. These borders currently define the present republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
1912Muslims in the Xinjiang Province of China are allowed self-rule, which brings peace to the region after many years of unrest. Sir Aurel Stein (18621943) is among the European archaeologists now able to travel through and study the area.
1916A revolt against Russian rule is triggered by the announcement that men from the Central Asian provinces will be required to dig trenches for the Russian troops in World War I, but will not be permitted to fight. The rebellion is brutally suppressed and many ethnic Kyrgyz flee to neighboring Xinjiang.
1917With the revolution in Russia and the collapse of the monarchy, it seems possible that the Central Asian protectorates of the Russian empire will become free, but they soon fall to the Bolshevik armies. Calls for greater rights grow and a Congress of Central Asian Muslims is organized, but the Bolsheviks reject Muslim autonomy. An estimated 13 million people die in the famines of 191819 in Central Asia.
1918Afghan intellectual and poet Mahmud Tarzi introduces modern journalism into Afghanistan with the creation of several newspapers.
1919In the Treaty of Rawalpindi, Britain cedes control of Afghanistan's foreign relations and King Amanullah becomes the first ruler of an independent monarchy. He assists the neighboring khanates of Bukhara and Khiva in resisting the Bolshevik armies; they are eventually absorbed into the Soviet Union but Amanullah signs a nonaggression pact with the Russians and avoids the same fate. After traveling through Europe and the Middle East in 192728, he accelerates the pace of reform in his own country. Powerful conservative factions oppose the changes, however, and Amanullah is forced to abdicate.
192024As the fledgling Soviet government sets out to determine how the new union of republics will be organized, the local Muslim division of the Communist party calls for one state encompassing the entire Turkic region, rather than a division along ethnic lines. In 1922, once the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is formed, the decision is made for the latter and in 1924 the republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are born.
1921Mongolia, under Chinese rule since the seventeenth century, expels the occupying troops to become independent; however the new nation soon falls under the political and cultural sway of the Soviet Union. It undergoes its own socialist revolution and becomes the People's Republic of Mongolia in 1924.
1921The Afghans conclude a Treaty of Friendship with the new Bolshevik regime of the Soviet Union.
1924Afghanistan's first national museum is inaugurated by King Amanullah at Koti Baghcha. In 1931, its holdings are transferred to the present building in Darulaman.
1928The Central Asian republics of the USSR switch from the Arabic to the Roman script. In 1940, they will be forced to use the Cyrillic script as part of a larger process of Russification, which includes the changing of many city names.
1931Afghani painter and composer Abdul Ghafur Brechna (19071974), fresh from studies in Germany, returns to Kabul, where he establishes the School of Arts and Crafts. The school will later become the Academy of Fine Arts.
1931Afghanistan becomes a constitutional monarchy.
193373During the long reign of Muhammad Zahir, Afghanistan once again struggles through a series of reforms. A new banking system is implemented, agricultural exports increase, and newspapers flourish under new free press laws, but many Afghans oppose social change and few outside of Kabul enjoy greater rights.
1941Hitler invades the USSR.
1942Xinjiang comes under the control of the Chinese Republican Government.
1949When the People's Republic of China is declared, Xinjiang becomes the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
1966The Afghan Institute of Archaeology is established in Darulaman.
1973Afghan king Muhammad Zahir's minister Muhammad Da'ud seizes power, abolishes the monarchy, and establishes the Republic of Afghanistan. Muhammad Zahir goes into exile in Rome.
1978A pro-Moscow revolution in Afghanistan overthrows Muhammad Da'ud's government, but the new government's communist and antireligious leanings alienate most of the population. A second, Soviet-backed revolution succeeds in installing a puppet government. In response, a holy war is declared, which continues through the 1980s as the United States aids the mujahideen against their Soviet-supported foes.
1979In December, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.
1985Anti-Russian riots erupt in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and again in 1989 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
1986With the opening of the Karakoram Highway and the Sino-Soviet Trans-Eurasian Railway in 1991, China and Central Asia are linked by trade again, as they had been by the Silk Road.
1989Protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing are joined by hundreds of thousands of workers and students; the ensuing massacre by government troops results in hundreds of casualties.
1989Under Gorbachev, Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan, after which civil war ensues.
1990The USSR collapses.
1991Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan become independent republics.
1992In Afghanistan, the Islamic mujahideen overthrow the pro-Soviet president Muhammad Najibullah (19471996). After the invasion of Kabul in this year, the Kabul Museum is plundered and many historic artifacts are destroyed and the precious collections lay in ruins. Many art objects appear on the international art market.
1994In the chaos of the 1990s, the Taliban movement gains momentum in Afghanistan. The Taliban represent the interests of both the country's ethnic Pashtuns and those who wish to return to a more strictly Islamic state, and promise to remove from power the despotic warlords who have taken over the country. In 1994, Taliban forces take Kandahar and two years later enter the capital of Kabul. By 1998, the group controls almost 90 percent of the country. Women's rights are sharply curtailed under the Taliban government, which enforces an extreme form of Islamic law.
1996Osama bin Laden (born 1957) is given safe haven in Afghanistan.
2001The Bamiyan Buddhas are demolished by the Taliban, who assert that the statues are idolatrous. The United States army moves into Afghanistan after the World Trade Center attacks on September 11. The Taliban government falls and is replaced by an Afghan Interim Authority. Its chairman, Hamid Karzai (born 1957), is elected president in 2002, and his government is renamed the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.
2004In January, the delegates of Loya Jirga (Great Assembly of Tribal Families) agree on a new constitution for Afghanistan.
2004Leeza Ahmady curates the first exhibition of contemporary Central Asian art after independence, entitled Contemporaneity, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Amulet, late 19th–early 20th century
Pectoral ornament, late 19th–early 20th century
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Computer vision syndrome
Computer vision syndrome
Over the last twenty years, the pace of advance in electronic technology has been breathtaking. From the first limited-use personal computers and their fuzzy-imaged information exchange monitors (also known as CRTs and VDTs), the industry has evolved to offer faster chips, more capable software, higher storage capacity, the promise of the Internet with on-line living and the tease of a paperless society.
The change in capability has been rapid and massive, but the
information exchange medium for the computer user has evolved only a
little. Now, we view slightly less fuzzy VDT monitors and liquid
crystal display (LCD) screens, which are still not at all friendly
to the human visual system. Twenty years ago, optometrists began to
hear the first murmurings of vision-related complaints from their
computer-using patients. Today, we hear the same array of symptoms
from a great many more patients, but we give the impression to be no
closer to a good set of reliable answers.
Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a term that describes eye-related problems and the other symptoms caused by prolonged computer use. As our dependence on computers continues to grow, an increasing number of people are seeking medical attention for eye strain and irritation, along with back, neck, shoulder, and wrist soreness.
These problems are more noticeable with computer tasks than other near work because letters on the screen are formed by tiny dots called pixels, rather than a solid image. This causes the eye to work a spot harder to keep the images in focus.
The people normally blink less when working on computer and blinking is necessary to keep eyes moist and relaxed. Less blinking causes excess of evaporation and dry eye.
Some people also have minor problems such as eye coordination and focusing that aren't apparent in other activities, but become an issue when using the computer.
Computers are often set up in ways that make eyes work too hard.
The computer typeface may be too small
The glare from nearby lights or windows may be too bright
The monitor may be placed higher than is natural for your eyes.
People over 40 with bifocals or reading glasses
often run into problems because their glasses are geared to looking
at books held 16 inches away, rather than computer screens that are
typically two feet away.
CVS is caused by decreased blinking reflex while working long hours focusing on computer screens. The normal blink rate in human eyes is 16-20 per minute. The blink rate to decrease to as low as 6-8 blinks/minute for persons working on the computer screen. This leads to dry eyes. Additionally, the near focusing effort required for such long hours puts strain on ciliary muscles of the eye. This induces symptoms of asthenopia and leads to a feeling of tiredness in the eyes after long hours of work. Some patients present with inability to properly focus on near objects after a short duration. This can be seen in people aged around 30-40 yrs of age, leading to a decrease in the accommodative focusing mechanisms of the eye. This can be a setting for early presbyopia
2. Blurred vision
3. Dizziness or nausea
5. Red, dry or burning eyes
6. Increase in nearsightedness
7. Change in color perception
8. Slow refocusing
9. Excessive fatigue
10. Neck, shoulder and back pain
11. Eye-teaming problems and/or occasional double vision.
If you have trouble with your eyes when computing, follow the preventive measures which can give you relief from most of the symptoms:
Position your monitor 16 to 30 inches away from your eyes, depending on what's comfortable.
It should be four to eight inches lower than eye level, so you're look- slightly down towards it. And it should be tilted slightly up, as if it were a book or magazine. Looking down covers more eye and so tear evaporation from exposed surface is less.
Place light sources perpendicular to your computer, so they won't shine in your eyes or reflect on your screen. If you have a glare problem, consider installing a glare screen or a three-sided hood on your computer.
Use a large enough typeface. Experiment with
different fonts and background colors to see if one is easier for
you to read.
Adjust your monitor for the most contrast that you are comfortable with.
Make efforts to blink frequently.
Take short breaks that are look away from the screen or close the eye periodically for few seconds / minutes.
In persons above 40 who are using bifocals will need special glasses for computer work.
1. Use of artificial tears or contact lens wetting solution to keep your eyes moist gives relief from symptoms.
2. People with moderate to severe eyestrain or fatigue may need glasses.
Dr. Makbul G. Mansuri
M.S. (Ayu.) Shalakyatantra,
J.S. Ayurved College,
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- 'The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.’
1.7 billion people have gained access to safe drinking water since 1990. Yet 884 million people worldwide still do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines.
Target 1: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
Target 2: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss.
Target 3: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Target 4: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
Rio +20 a Chance for Bangladesh
Experts believe that the Rio+20 summit this June could be a real opportunity for Bangladesh to negotiate a road to sustainable development. The nation of Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change, and to achieve sustainability they will require huge financial support. However, as Bangladesh has recently become a leader amongst the least developed countries, politicians are hopeful that successful and viable outcomes could be achieved. To read a Reuters report on the situation, click here.
False Celebration for Safe Drinking Water?
The World Health Organisation has claimed that the UN’s recent announcement that it had reached its goal of halving those without access to safe drinking water may have been premature.
The discrepancy is due to differences in the definition of ‘safe’, and what one views as adequate sanitation. According to WHO, the real number of people still without safe water may be as high as 4 billion. Read this article to find out more about the problems surrounding MDG7 and the progress made.
Rio - Whose Earth?
The countdown to the Rio+20 Summit in June is really underway. Huge achievements have been made to combat climate chaos in the past 20 years, but we still have a long way to go to save our planet. Tearfund's new video 'Whose Earth' shows the progress made and problems still to be faced. Watch it and join with Christians worldwide to pray in preparation for this important meeting.
Breaking the Sanitation Taboo
Anurodh Lalit Jain of the Hindu Times discusses how, in India, the problems surrounding sanitation are still often swept under the carpet, with the government unwilling to act on such ‘unsavoury’ topics as open defecation. Citing the positive examples of Brazil and Rwanda, Jain encourages his leaders to end their silence on issues which still cause the preventable deaths of 1,000 Indian children daily.
EU Increases Green Development Funding
The EU has announced plans for a new 50 million euro initiative designed to promote green development and energy in the developing world. The project, Energising Development, aims to provide access to sustainable energy for an additional 500 million people by 2030. To read more about the initiative and the role that sustainable energy could play in achieving the MDGs, click here.
Agricultural Investment Important for Poverty Reduction
Investing in agriculture is the most direct and influential way of achieving poverty relief, according to senior UN official Kanayo F. Nwanze,.President of the International Fund for Agicultural Development (IFAD). This week IFAD will host a conference in Addis Ababa, focussing on how to plan post-2015. Read more about why agricultural investment is so important here.
World Water Day
March 22nd was World Water Day, an international event held annually to bring attention to the need to sustainably manage freshwater resources. To find out more about the day, download resources or see pictures and stories from events held across the globe, click here.
Listen to a radio programme from the BBC outlining the main differences that clean water has made to communities in Kenya. The world has achieved this part of MDG6 ahead, the UN announced last week.
Early Triumph for Safe Water Access
89% of the global population now have access to safe drinking water, the UN has revealed. In the past 20 years, over 2 billion people have gained access to safe water, transforming lives and communities across the globe. However, whilst this is obviously good news, other sanitation targets – such as hygienic waste and latrines – are still far from being achieved, warns the UN.
Read more about recent accomplishments here.
GM Crops: Solution or
The debate over whether to accept or avoid genetically modified crops rages on. Clive James, founder and chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), believes that GM crops could significantly help the achievement of the MDGs, particularly due to their ability to optimise crop productivity. To read his arguments, click here. To take part in the debate, leave a comment at the bottom of the post.
Resilient People, Resilient Planet
The UN’s panel for Global Sustainability released a report entitled “Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing” on 30th January, in preparation for the highly profiled Rio+20 conference to take place in Brazil this June. The report strengthens the possibility of establishing a set of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) to be put into place after 2015. Click here for an article summarising the reactions and recommendations of NGOs, or click here to download the full report.
Support for Nigerian Farmers
Farmers in the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) of Nigeria have received assistance to help develop farming methods and procedures, in accordance with the FCT Millennium Development Goals program. Particularly supported by the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), the scheme aims to ensure that citizens are engaged in the development of their nation. Read more about the scheme and its goals here.
Progress in African Agriculture
Africa has made significant steps in its recent agricultural development. Of particular note are the closure of Ghana’s yield gap, a new fund for increased productivity of Rwanda’s hillside farming, a boom in Burkina Faso’s cotton trade, new research into the sector from South Africa, and the planting of 26 new seed varieties in Tanzania. Read more about the African success story here.
The doubled worth of biodiversity
Conserving biodiversity hotspots could earn poor people worldwide up to $5bn a year, a new study has shown. Currently, populations are often not paid for trying to conserve these areas, which if maintained could provide clean water, valuable resources and even contribute to pollution reduction. Although many of the effects of this conservation, entitled “ecosystem services,” would be invisible, the study led by a team from Conservation International is confident of their far-reaching benefits. A PDF version of Global Biodiversity Conservation and the Relief of Poverty can be found here; or read a summarizing article from the Guardian.
First Draft of Rio+20 Declaration Published
The UN has published the much-anticipated first draft of its environmental declaration for the Rio+20 Sustainable Development conference to be held in Brazil this June (20th-21st). The document, which strengthens the agreements made at the Earth Summit of 1992, would establish new aims and objectives for post 2015. The draft declaration can be viewed here.
2011 Human Development Report
The United Nations Development Committee launched the 2011 Human Development Report on 13th December. The report focuses on sustainability and equity, and highlights the relationship between environmental degradation and social inequality. It concludes with a call for bold new approaches to global development financing and environmental controls. To download a copy of the report, click here.
World Toilet Day 2011
Saturday 19th November marked the 10th anniversary of World Toilet Day, designed to promote awareness of sanitation-related illnesses and improve toilet facilities in developing nations. One focus this year was the unequal progress in other domains; for example, whilst billions of people globally have mobile phone contracts, 4,000 still die daily from sanitation-related diseases. To read a CNN report on the need for better toilet facilities, click here.
Communicating the science of climate change
How do scientists convey to a poorly informed public the truth about climate change and its consequences? Read the following article for fascinating insights into public perceptions and communication strategies.
UN hails Ecuador’s progress towards Environmental Sustainability
A project set up by the government in Ecuador, in collaboration with the UN, has been feted for the progress it has made towards achieving MDG7. The Yasuni rainforest has the highest biodiversity in the world, and officials in Ecuador are seeking to protect it and its inhabitants. To read the UN Secretary-General’s recent comments click here, or to discover more about the project click here.
Eco-warriors from all around the globe rallied together on 24th September to hold a variety of events on climate justice. Watch some highlights:
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About the California School Climate Survey
The California School Climate Survey (CSCS) (pdf) for school staff is an important component of a comprehensive, coordinated effort by the California Department of Education (CDE) and WestEd to help schools foster positive learning and teaching environments that promote academic achievement and youth well-being. The survey helps identify fundamental learning barriers and assess the need for learning and teaching supports. As a companion to the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) for students, it enables districts and schools (school-level reports available on request) to compare both student and staff data. The survey is supported by a wide range of technical assistance, guides, and trainings for administering the survey and using the data.
Purpose: Why Conduct the Survey?
According to the National Research Council, the fundamental challenge to school reform is to create a set of circumstances in which students take pleasure in, and see the value of, learning, and have the supports they need to be able to learn. In its seminal report on Engaging Schools (NRC, 2000), the Council further stressed that the level of teacher engagement and support at a school is equally critical. The CSCS is designed to provide the kinds of data that schools need in order to create that set of circumstances and realize the highest performance among both students and staff. To further enhance its value in addressing fundamental education issues, the CSCS also provides better data related to meeting the needs of racial/ethnic minorities (specifically, closing the achievement gap) and of students in special education.
To-date, school reform strategies have primarily focused on improving academic curriculum, instruction, and governance. They have largely ignored the school context and the non-cognitive, environmental factors (often called school climate) that can impede students' motivation and readiness to learn and, in turn, their ability to benefit from improvements in instruction or curriculum.
Equally important is the influence of school climate on instruction and a school's ability to attract and retain quality teachers. Research on teacher attrition, both in California and nationally, has suggested that workplace conditions, control over the workload, and perceptions about administrative support are highly correlated to attrition rates. They may be as important (or even more important) than salary (Futernick, 2007). Drugs and violence on campus, lack of parental involvement, overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and lack of teacher supports and involvement in decision-making all contribute to problems in recruiting and retaining teachers.
Questions the CSCS Can Help Answer
- Does the school provide students with an inviting, supportive, and culturally relevant learning environment?
- Are all students treated fairly, with respect, and given equal opportunities, regardless of their race or ethnicity?
- Do students encounter high expectations for academic success and rigorous classes?
- Are students motivated to learn? What learning barriers do they appear to be encountering?
- Is school a safe place for students and staff?
- How much of a problem for the school are student drug use, violence, truancy, etc.?
- Do school programs and resources address student success and achievements as well as student problems and needs?
- Do staff feel responsible for improving the school?
- Do staff support, trust, collaborate, and have close professional relationships with each other?
- Are staff provided the materials, resources, and training they need to do their job, and what are their professional development needs?
© 2013 WestEd. All rights reserved.
730 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Toll free 888.493.7833 | Fax 415.565.3012
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The text below is an edited version of a speech by Knight Foundation president Alberto Ibargüen delivered to a group of journalism educators, business, non-profit and media leaders at the Boston Foundation on Thursday, June 10, 2008.
By Alberto Ibargüen, CEO and president, Knight Foundation
I wouldn’t presume lecture to this group about the First Amendment or why it is such an extraordinary document. But this is a talk about communications and the First Amendment is so much at the core of Knight Foundation that it’s worth outlining why it is.
First, consider the concept. The premise of the Amendment is a notion that citizens have certain natural rights. The Amendment grants no rights; it only prohibits Congress from abridging five specified rights inherently in the people: to speak freely and to publish, worship, gather and demand that government serve us…in other words, the key elements that define and distinguish us as Americans.
Knight Foundation exists because of tax laws that channeled towards community purpose the fortune that Jack and Jim Knight built through their business success, practicing free speech, publishing newspapers in cities across America.
But as much as those rights may be natural and safeguarded in the Constitution, they are not a guarantee that society or markets will value them, nor that the models we employ to exercise them will thrive or even survive. Freedom has consequences, and we are living one of those periods of consequences, transitioning away from a time when our civic structures and information systems basically conformed to the same geography.
Jack won the Pulitzer Prize for editorials against the war in Vietnam – an exercise of free speech that earned him controversy, and might have landed him in jail in another country. But not here. Why? Because of the First Amendment. So we, at Knight Foundation, owe our very existence to an American ideal that protected our founder and allowed him to prosper, protected by the rule of law.
Jack was a journalist and his brother a businessman. They were both also community builders and realized that information was vital to communities. And in order to get that information to communities – and to make a profit -- they seized upon new technology in printing, transportation and communications, including relatively new inventions like the telephone.
They didn’t seek to make their news operations uniform across communities. They ran a company of newspapers, not a newspaper company, and each of their newspapers reflected the needs and values of each different and distinct community.
They delivered to their communities the news and information that helped people decide their “own true interests,” as Jack Knight used to say. And they delivered it in a pattern consistent with the government, social and economic units in which we lived. In other words, the circulation area of a Knight newspaper was roughly defined by the geographic definition of the metropolitan areas they served.
I. A Community is Connected by Shared Knowledge
The notion that units of government, local and regional economies and social patterns should be consistent with information delivery and sharing is not new and the Knight brothers were not the first ones to build on it. The notion goes back to the ancient Greeks, to Aristotle, who suggested that the ideal size – and limiting factor – of a polis was that it should be small enough so that all citizens could gather in a public square and hear a speaker.
A community, and the ideal unit of government, was only as large as the sphere of shared information. Fast forward through history, even to the relatively recent history of the United States and you’ll see that, even as we grew, Aristotle’s “sphere of shared information” could be defined by the circulation area of a newspaper or the reach of a local radio or television station.
Stop for a moment. Just think how antiquated that already sounds to our ears in 2008…that a sphere of shared information should be limited to an area the size of a newspaper’s circulation.
Google, Yahoo!, YouTube and Facebook, any newspaper with a website or any individual with Internet access can be heard in every town square all over the world. The world is turned upside down!
That has enormous benefits. We are more attuned to global challenges than ever before. We are more connected to other peoples and cultures and continents.
But our government and our civic life are still organized around geographically-defined, physical-space communities. The people we elect to decide big issues and small, are selected and elected from within comparatively small geographically delineated units. Congresspeople and mayors who decide environmental and education policy, war and peace and, locally, who fixes the potholes and supports the police, all are still chosen from cities and towns, not from Second Life…at least not yet! No wonder there’s a tension between the way we share information and our civic life, and no wonder there’s a deficit and a lack of focus in the information that effectively informs our community life in physical space.
These changes have been hard on industries we’ve grown up with and loved. You all know that newspaper readership is down and revenues have tanked. Local television covers less civic information and a Clear Channel radio station might actually be run by remote control from a central location thousands of miles from the community they serve.
Institutional investors in newspapers have financial – not civic – interest in news operations, and their interests are short term, defined by an investment strategy not an indefinite commitment to a community. For example, an investment group might move in and out of their stake in a Chicago paper but the Chicago Tribune will only ever be Chicago’s paper.
But there’s little to be gained from lamenting how the media landscape has changed. A more productive approach is to embrace the change and make it yours, infusing it with your values.
II. The Knight Approach: Experimentation and Engagement
That’s what we’ve chosen to do at Knight Foundation.
We believe technology can strengthen community information, and through that information, communities themselves.
If I had to pick a single statement of purpose, I’d say that it’s exactly the same as our founders, Jack and Jim Knight: we, like they, seek to meet the information needs of communities in a democracy. And we, like they, seek to fund projects that advance the communities in which they owned newspapers, advance journalism, the craft that brought them wealth and distinction and support ideas and innovators whose work transforms.
Over time, we’ve invested $400 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. But the perhaps the most telling figure, the one that best describes our purpose and intent, is that in the last three years, we’ve committed more than $100 million to media innovation initiatives.
Today, our work is focused on innovation and experimentation. The question we ask is not “How do we save newspapers?” The question is, “How do we save effective communication that communities need to manage their affairs in this democracy?” In other words, how do we save journalism in the digital age?
Our media innovation strategy is this:
- Experiment broadly.
- Analyze impact and make some bets on trends.
- Engage the best journalism training minds in the process.
- Engage other funders.
- Seek the wisdom of the crowd.
Let me elaborate just a little.
We have opted to make our contribution by experimenting with a wide range of ideas to meet the information needs of communities. The more experiments we seed, the more likely we are to find innovations that will serve communities, strengthen journalism … and that markets will adopt and sustain.
We’re not looking for ideas to create virtual communities. We’re looking for digital tools to support the delivery of information to geographically-delineated communities—our version of Aristotle’s public square.
Our signature effort in this is the Knight News Challenge, now beginning its third year. We offer $5 million each year, funding ideas that use digital platforms to deliver news and information to geographically defined communities. We want to use the World Wide Web not to make a world-wide connection, but a local one.
Last year, we had more than 3,000 applications and we funded 16. About 20% of the grants went to applicants who were 25 years or younger.
Examples from last year’s winners include Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web that caused an explosion of communication within the Internet. Now an MIT professor, Berners-Lee continues to be an advocate of keeping the Web free. He is concerned about the integrity of content on the Web and we will support his team’s development of technology that will allow writers to disclose sources – and readers to quickly verify information. They plan to use technology in the service of fact-checking.
Another idea we support came from David Cohn. His project, spot.us, invites investigative reporters to pitch their stories on the web. Instead of an editor telling them “yes” or “no,” people like you and I can support their stories by donating toward the cost of doing the story. If someone wants to investigate public corruption or product failures, for example, they would put a proposal on the web in spot.us and people could choose to fund it, each limited to small dollar amounts so no one can own the story.
When our News Challenge readers considered this proposal, the journalists hated it; the techies said it was exactly what the web was for. We decided to fund it.
We’re also supporting an effort to deliver news and information to cell phone users in Zimbabwe. And in Sochi, Russia, we’re supporting technology that will allow a virtual town meeting to discuss how the town is changing in preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics. This may sound unremarkable, until you consider how unusual community empowerment and information sharing are in a closed society.
Our second media innovation initiative was a $20 million investment in the Knight Center of Digital Excellence.
We started with the premise that, today, if you’re not digital, you’re a second class citizen. You’re second class in access to information and second class economically and even socially. For a foundation dedicated to community and communications, that’s not acceptable. So we set out a goal of universal digital access in each of our communities.
In each of these communities you’ll find public interest in online access and commercial interest. Public interest might be personified by a mayor or embodied in a school board and the assets they own vary enormously. Some have wired school systems, others have lamp posts from which you can hang Wifi or Wimax transmitter boxes. Others actually own spectrum. Communities also vary in their level of sophistication about what they own and how it might be used, connected or leveraged.
Commercial interests (Comcast, Verizon, etc. ), naturally target that part of the public that can pay for access and they are typically far more sophisticated about digital access than their public counterparts.
That difference in sophistication and focus is what has given us an opportunity to enter the field as consultants. We’ve created a pro-bono consulting organization, the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, that will bring in expertise of whatever sort is necessary to level the playing field between the public and the commercial interests as they negotiate. Our participation can help not only facilitate a better deal for the public interests but ensure focus on that part of the community that would otherwise have fallen on the other side of the digital divide.
I’m happy to tell you that we’ve begun to work, at different stages of development, with cities as different as Akron and Philadelphia, Miami, Detroit and Milledgeville, Georgia.
A third media innovation initiative we’ve undertaken is the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy at the Aspen Institute.
The commission’s charge is straightforward:
- Articulate the information needs of communities in this democracy,
- Take a snapshot of where we are today and
- Propose public policy that will encourage market solutions to get from where we are to where we should be.
We don’t expect magic in the form of new business models that will somehow turn around the finances of traditional media. What we do expect is smart, public policy solutions that will encourage markets to experiment and innovate and get us from where we are to where we want to be in community communications. That could mean FCC policy, postal rate policy or tax policy. They might consider, for example, whether it should be the policy of the United States to support local community information resources and, if so, whether the tax policy of the United States should encourage and promote that.
The co-chairs of this commission will be Ted Olson, the former Solicitor General of the United States, and Marissa Mayer, who is the Vice President of Search Products and User Experience at Google. Other members of the group will include Akamai CEO Paul Sagan, who is here tonight, former LATimes editor John Carroll, two former FCC chairmen, Michael Powell and Reed Hunt and Mary Junck, ceo of Lee Enterprises.
At the same time we’re looking at high level policy, we also want to seed grassroots experiments, and there, we’re looking for partners.
III. Call to Action: Community Grants
Community foundations were created to meet the core needs of communities. In a democracy, information is a core need. But like most people, community foundations often assume news and information will be there, as they always have been, in their newspapers and local radio and TV. They have not, until now, paid much attention to the diminishing availability of civic information and, until now, have had little reason to believe that they can affect that slide.
We want to change that. Knight’s community foundation initiative, is a five-year, $20 million experiment designed to match community foundation efforts to meet the information needs of their communities. We plan to match their funding of proposals to support innovative, community-based journalism delivered on digital platforms.
A community foundation might, for example, fund five bloggers who will regularly write about education and the schools in their town, or support the local online daily or weekly that needs to hire reporters, or even endow a chair in journalism at a local newspaper or radio station or the local PBS or NPR affiliate. We’ll match the funding.
We’ll also provide expertise in the form of a “circuit rider” operation — teams, each with a media expert and technology experts to work with community foundations and their boards to consider and implement their ideas for media innovation.
The common thread that runs through these four initiatives is media innovation. That defines Knight’s direction and is also the common thread connecting other recent media grants like the Carnegie-Knight initiative to improve journalism education, sending all of NPR’s program staff to Berkeley for new media training, media innovation programs at Berkeley, USC and Arizona State, J-Lab training now moving to American University and NewsU at the Poynter Institute in St Petersburg, Florida. All together, that’s serious money – about $100 million – in a relatively short period of time.
And there will be more. We’re only at the beginning of a transition. As a recent speaker at an MIT conference on the subject put it, on a change/time scale of 1 to 10 we’re at about “2.”
Knight Foundation can afford to be innovative. Unlike industry, we’ve no need to deliver profit to an investor. We can tolerate failure in the interest of learning. But much more than that, what better purpose can a foundation have than supporting experiments to move the society forward?
Our goal is to bring communities together through information. I think that’s consistent with Jack Knight’s definition of a great newspaper that he said should inform and illuminate the minds of its readers, define and expand their understanding of things and allow them to pursue what he called “their own true interests.”
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
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Canon, History and Ideology
This strand will examine how jazz has developed in each partner country and how the music relates to arts policies, cultural infrastructure and education.
How has the cultural canonicity of jazz developed over time, in changing circumstances and amidst changing available media?
How are distinctions of ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture reinforced or challenged within transnational jazz contexts?
How do different versions or interpretations of jazz history compete and underpin opposing ideological evaluations?
Since its inception, jazz has been at the centre of discourses about European identity, politics and cultural value, with the music developing a variety of roles within different national settings. From the outset, jazz has offered a model from which to examine transnational identity, uniting musicians and audiences across geographical boundaries in their passion for African American-derived music. And yet, the music has also provided a site for national and regional differences to be cultivated. For example, historically, the development of jazz in Britain was inevitably affected by the nation’s geographical and cultural positioning, a triangulation of influences between North America, the Caribbean and Western Europe; as George McKay suggests, characteristics of jazz in Britain throughout the 20th century largely developed through a variety of transatlantic interrelationships (McKay: 2005, 5). Furthermore, the Ministry of Labour ban on visiting American jazz musicians had a heavy impact on the development of jazz culture in Britain. The ban, which stemmed from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s, severely limited the influx of overseas artists into the country. In the 1930s, for example, the BBC not only continually sought to preserve a sense of the ‘highbrow’ in its choice of musical programming but also strongly urged singers not to use American accents during performances, and even tried to ban crooning. Even though, in reality, several distinguished US jazz stars visited Britain during this period, their limited representation within the media and the overwhelming sense of preserving the integrity of British culture, affected the growth and dissemination of jazz. This state of affairs arguably created a paradoxical environment where musicians and record collectors alike developed an interest in US jazz as ‘authentic’ music whilst also developing distinct localised jazz scenes within Britain itself. Local scenes, for example, often stemmed from other roots or fed into musical practices that were antithetical to the evolutionary chronology of jazz in the US, serving to create a distinctive body of post-war British jazz performers.
Building on these observations, the development of jazz cultures in Europe, and similarities and differences between national scenes, have never been studied in a comprehensive way. This strand addresses the need for a complex and multifaceted study of jazz cultures, examining how the concepts of cultural canonicity, history and ideology change in different European contexts and analysing the wider inferences that can be drawn from this.
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Equations and formulas
Today I received the April/May 2003
issue of The Industrial Physicist (my first
copy ever) and found it quite interesting,
especially the letters and the article “Curve
Fitting Made Easy,” by Marko Ledvij (p. 24).
I would like to make Mr. Ledvij aware of a little-
known detail of the English language— “formula” designates
chemical compounds (H2O is the formula for water); “equation” should
be used for all mathematical expressions that contain an equal
sign, e.g., Y = A*exp(–X/X0)].
WABCO Freight Car Products
[Copy editor replies: Thank you for your comment.
The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary
defines a formula as “a general fact,
rule, or principle expressed in usually mathematical
symbols.” The word “rule” in that
definition includes equations.]
In regard to your recent News Brief “20
watts of terahertz” (April/May, p. 9), even
though I think the topic is interesting and the
results described are important, I found the
article to be sloppy and misleading about the
terahertz field in general. A 20-W average-power
terahertz source is impressive and will
allow some nice measurements in the future.
However, using accelerators to generate
coherent terahertz radiation has been around
for a long time, for example, at the Center for
Terahertz Science and Technology at the University
of California at Santa Barbara, and
FELIX in The Netherlands.
The beginning of the second paragraph is
in some sense correct in that the average
power levels of most existing terahertz
sources tend to be low compared with this
new source, but many can exceed 1 mW.
Some techniques are just limited by scaling,
and, given the money and large enough
accelerators, many smaller sources could be
power-combined to yield 20 W as well.
There just is not a driving force to do so.
The first paragraph makes it sound like
the only gap in the spectrum is 100 to
300 µm, while the actual “gap” is much larger,
if one is thinking of commercial devices.
However, devices such as molecular gas
lasers fill in many discrete portions of this
range, and quantum cascade lasers and
many other techniques also can be used in
the terahertz range. These were not the point
of the article, but they should not be disregarded
by saying that there were no good
coherent sources until recently.
The last thing I wish to point out is that
terahertz radiation is also known as submillimeter
(not submicrometer as stated in the
first sentence). This is important because
many people are claiming that terahertz is a
new field of research, while a large amount
of literature exists dating back decades that
seems to be generally forgotten (or ignored).
The technology is improving rapidly, but the
field has been around for a long time.
Sandia National Laboratory
Albuquerque, New Mexico
[Gwyn P. Williams of Jefferson Lab responds:
Two relevant articles appeared in the November issue of Nature.
In one (Nature 2002, 420, 153), colleagues from three
national laboratories and I reported the
generation of broadband terahertz light at
average powers “several orders of magnitude
higher than any existing source.” In
the other (p. 131), Mark Sherwin of the
University of California at Santa Barbara—
commenting independently—wrote that
“such a beam has never previously been
created,” and that the work has “opened
the door to new investigations and applications
in a wide range of disciplines.” However,
we absolutely agree with Michael
Wanke that this work in no way lessens the
importance of techniques and facilities for
terahertz light having other characteristics.
As Sherwin noted, “The 20-W broadband
beam complements other sources of terahertz
[The error in the first line has now been
Thin-film solar energy
Just a note to say congratulations on the
Flms Seek a Solar Future,” by
Ineke Malsch (April/May, pp. 16–19). It
was exceptionally well researched and written.
Michael T. Eckhart
Solar International Management, Inc.
I recently helped my university build
a 25,000 sq ft energy research center in
Muskegon, Michigan. The building will be
powered (combined heat and power) by a
molten-carbonate fuel cell running nearly
85% efficient on natural gas. The building’s
roof will feature 30 kWP (kW “peak”—at
full sun with the material at 20 ºC) of building-
integrated photovoltaics. This is the first
application of United Solar’s
thin-film amorphous silicon on stainless steel, which will be
bonded to the
single-ply membrane roof. The peel-andstick
film features eight layers with a total
thickness of less than 1 µm and operates at
The UniSolar thin-film amorphous silicon
on stainless steel continuous deposition
process now running in Auburn Hills,
Michigan, is a nearly a football field long
and cost $67 million to build. Its annual
capacity (adding all the wattage from the
material made in one year) is about 30
MWP. This is now the least-cost option for
Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jeers to whomever edited the article “Industry
Salaries Still Rising,” on page 13
of the April/May issue. The author and editor
apparently do not understand the difference
between plural and possessive nouns.
Throughout the article the term “Ph.D.’s”
(possessive) was used when the correct
form would be “Ph.D.s” (plural). Somebody
needs to repeat an English class!
NASA Glenn Research Center
[Copy editor replies: The use of Ph.D.’s as the
plural is widely accepted by language authorities. The Chicago Manual of Style (14th
ed., Sec. 6.17), states: “Abbreviations having
more than one period, such as M.D. and
Ph.D., often form their plurals by the addition
of an apostrophe and an s.” And The
New York Public Library Writer’s Guide to
Style and Usage (p. 397) says, “The question
of how to form plurals of abbreviations is
largely stylistic, and authorities differ over
whether to use an apostrophe before the s.
This book recommends using only s to form
plurals of abbreviations, initialisms, and
acronyms—HMOs, YMCAs, WASPs—but
with the following exceptions to ensure clarity:
abbreviations with periods (M.A.’s) and
abbreviations that are single letters (A’s) or
all lowercase letters (rpm’s).” Thank you for
your interest in this fine point.]
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Step 7: Remove, Dry, and Finish the Gourd
A plaster mold adheres to the gourd more tenaciously and usually the mold is destroyed in the course of removing it from around the gourd.
The gourd is then allowed to dry slowly, and the outer coating called the "cuticle" is removed.
Then the finishing steps, if any, are done.
On this gourd, the details of the face and hair were then traced with the point of a jade knife to enhance the detail, It was dyed with dark tea, and a coat of varnish was applied to make it shiny.
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Two key groups of neurons control morning and evening activity
Waltham, Mass.- A Brandeis University study published this week in Nature shows for the first time that a molecular signal maintains coherence among brain clock cells that regulate daily activity of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). The two key groups of neurons control morning and evening activity and are maintained in synch even when the flies are plunged into darkness for extended periods of time.
This daily resetting signal flows from the morning to the evening cells and maintains a 12-hour difference between the timing of morning and evening activity, without the need for any environmental cues. The Brandeis researchers came to this conclusion by speeding up only the morning cell clock or only the evening cell clock. The results showed clearly that these two clocks always remained coupled in a network that was governed by the morning cell signal.
"We think it very likely that something similar is occurring in the brain of mammals, including humans, because their clock neurons also maintain remarkable coherence," said Professor Michael Rosbash, director of the National Center for Behavioral Genomics at Brandeis, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. "However, circadian brain anatomy in mammals is much more complicated and the tools much too primitive to allow a similar network approach at this time. Flies are state-of-the art. Fortunately, their circadian clocks and even neural mechanisms are quite conserved with mammals."
"We were curious about how these brain cells stay synchronized, so we controlled the way time was ticking in individual clocks: we made the morning cells run faster and the evening cells relatively slower, and the other way around," explained researcher Dan Stoleru. "In this fashion, we introduced phase differences between them. It turned out that no matter the manipulation, the morning cells set the pace of the entire system, so that the rhythm always stayed on track."
The study showed that the morning clock resets the evening clock every day, without changing the intrinsic speed of the evening clock. Between daily resets, therefore, the evening cells time evening activity with their own clock, but they will always start counting time from the moment they were reset by the morning cells. In other words, the evening clock triggers the alarm at its own pace, but it is the morning clock which sets the alarm every day.
"So if you are looking over several days, only one period will be observed – the one dictated by the morning clock," Stoleru said.
Research by the same Brandeis team, published last year in Nature, had shown that two distinct groups of clock neurons determine morning and evening activity. The present study greatly advanced the understanding of how temporal coherence between these two cell groups, and between their behavioral outputs, is achieved.
Source: Eurekalert & others
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
When humor goes, there goes civilization.
-- Erma Bombeck
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Drury - Meaning of Drury
[ 2 syll. dru-ry, dr-ury ] The baby boy name Drury is also used as a girl name. It is pronounced as DRUWRiy †. Drury is largely used in the English language and its origin is Old French. The name is of the meaning friendship. Its meaning is derived from the element 'druerie'. Drury has 11 variants. Variants include Drewrea, Drewree, Drewrey, Drewri, Drewrie, Drewry, Drurea, Druree, Drurey, Druri, and Drurie.
Drury is infrequently used as a baby name for boys. It is not listed in the top 1000 names.
† Pronunciation for Drury: D as in "day (D.EY)" ; R as in "race (R.EY.S)" ; UW as in "two (T.UW)" ; IY as in "eat (IY.T)"
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How to build green for a healthy future
By Michael Buzzelli – rabble.ca
Canadians know that our built environment — homes, offices, factories, roads and infrastructure — holds the key to an environmentally sustainable and healthy future. The energy and environmental demands of the built environment will undergo substantial changes in the years ahead. Several pressures exist: looming carbon cap and trade legislation, shrinking energy resources and, perhaps most importantly, evolving attitudes toward our consumption and production patterns.
One-third of Canada’s energy use goes to running our homes, offices and other buildings. The federal government’s Office of Energy Efficiency reports that a corresponding one-third of our current greenhouse gas emissions come from the built environment. This is a large proportion that can be addressed in both the short and long term by modifying how we build and how we use our homes and offices.
Green building and development (GBD) faces a classic policy paradox: we collectively agree that improvements are needed in the built environment but we are caught in a whirlwind of information and debate about how to move forward.
We are motivated by widespread adoption of green ideals but stymied by issues related to implementation. There is confusion over whether a technological or behavioural approach should be prioritized. “Greenwashing” (the overuse of “eco” and “green” labeling and branding, particularly where there are no environmental benefits) also adds a layer of doubt over green building benefits. And, depending on the region, over 10 green building standards — such as LEED or R-2000 — currently exist in Canada. How do builders choose among them in bringing new homes to the market? Which standard(s) should serve as the model in retrofitting houses and buildings? How do consumers choose?
A range of stakeholders are implicated in the questions asked here. Municipalities are closest to the construction and design process given their front-line role in issuing permits and approvals. Builders and developers, from which the leaders and risk-takers will emerge, provide the built environments that we occupy and use. And of course consumers, whether the household or the office building tenants, will also be concerned with the built environments that they occupy.
Given the range of technical complexity (innovation), the economic costs and potential risks involved, and the range of stakeholders, how can we move the GBD agenda forward? How do we encourage GBD risk-takers and early leaders while at the same time protecting the public interest?
Canadian Policy Research Networks recently released a report, Green Building and Development as a Public Good, which documents the range of options for implementing GBD, and concludes that collaborative governance structures in particular are critical for advancing GBD effectively and efficiently.
The report also suggests that there is no single approach or fixed set of “solutions” to the provision of green built environments. We need locally sensitive means of building green rather than uniform regulation or a mandated system that may negate or disregard region-specific issues.
GBD involves multiple stakeholders because it is new, complex and involves risk. Risk-spreading may be necessary for new and bold developments that achieve the greatest rewards. We are at the beginning of the GBD “product life cycle,” and risk-takers and leaders should be encouraged while, at the same time, safeguarding the public interest.
Industry champions will emerge but will find little incentive to take the lead or remain out front if GBD plans are consistently forestalled and if they can revert back to standard building methods, materials and products.
Since consumer demand is key, home owners also need to understand the clear benefits, including return on their investments. For example, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, property values rise on average by $20 for every $1 of utility savings.
Specifically, governance structures involving co-operative and collaborative approaches will need to be developed so that our communities can adapt to delivering alternative kinds of built environments. A policy development framework is needed, providing a balance between higher-level guidance, knowledge sharing and codevelopment, and the municipal scale of administration and action.
A GBD strategy must be regionally relevant and harness many of the initiatives already under way, and at the leading edge, in the region. The region needs to devise a method for promoting, but not punishing, risk-taking. Leadership is key and it should also be fostered within and across organizations.
Local areas must work to develop their governance structures to encourage and put into (best) practice GBD strategies and methods. Cities, builders, consumer groups and others will have to work through the as yet unseen plans, challenges and opportunities in delivering environmentally and energy-sustainable built environments.
Municipalities — particularly those new to GBD — will find the first steps the most prohibitive. While local areas will have their own particular circumstances and opportunities, relevant lessons from other jurisdictions may be lost if we do not think of mechanisms for ongoing, consistent and informed exchange. The wider community of municipalities and higher levels of government can and should nurture the process. Higher-order knowledge development and transfer is therefore equally important.
GBD should be viewed holistically; should capitalize on existing regulation while also developing incentives and should build on existing strengths and best practices. We also need the right measurements developed in order to monitor progress and assess outcomes.
The path to greener built environments is barely marked and obstacles remain. A significant part of the story will pivot on the local and collaborative efforts that will at first develop slowly and then be taken for granted as the new “normal.”
One might say that the future inevitably will be green, though how quickly we get there will depend on how we plan for it now.
Michael Buzzelli is Director of Housing and Environment at Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) and Professor of Geography at the University of Western Ontario. The full report, Green Building and Development as a Public Good is available at www.cprn.org.
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| 0.941251
| 1,228
| 2.9375
| 3
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Internet-linked history encyclopedias
Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece
- A fascinating guide to Ancient Greek civilisation from the Minoans to Alexander's empire.
- Includes information on the key figures, battles and geography of the Ancient Greek empire, as well gods and goddesses, the Olympic games and the day-to-day life of its citizens.
- Features stunning photographs and illustrations, a comprehensive factfinder section with a time chart, who’s who and glossary, making it perfect for reference use.
- Internet links to websites with virtual tours, reconstructions and more information.
We don’t have any reviews for this book yet. Why not write your own?
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| 0.818942
| 143
| 2.9375
| 3
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The experimental test flights were conducted starting with a blend of jet fuel and biodiesel. The engine data was measured and the performance was evaluated and found acceptable for continued use, eventually resulting in the landmark flight using 100% renewable biodiesel fuel. According to Chief Pilot Carol Sugars who wrote and conducted the test program, “As we gradually increased the amount of biodiesel in the fuel blend, the data confirmed that the aircraft continued to perform well, giving me the confidence to transition to 100% biodiesel.” Flight tests were conducted up to an altitude of 17,000 feet showing no significant difference in performance compared to conventional jet fuel.
They have also announced that they plan to fly around the world in the near future running on 100% biodiesel. This is certainly a great feat in the aviation industry, but of course being biodiesel, the fuel still comes with its own environmental and economic impacts, though it's certainly a way better alternative than using oil.
written by Sam Scott, October 12, 2007
written by Jonathan Field, October 12, 2007
written by David, October 14, 2007
written by campbell, November 12, 2007
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| 0.978157
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Visual disturbances are abnormalities of sight. Visual disturbances associated with neurological disorders often include double vision (diplopia), moving or blurred vision due to nystagmus (involuntary rapid movements of the eyes), reduced visual acuity, reduced visual field, and partial or total loss of vision as in papilledema, a swelling of the optic disc, or in blindness. Visual disturbances are often symptoms of other disorders, in particular neurological disorders, but can also occur due to muscular disorders, vascular...
(The entire page is 1746 words.)
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| 0.900209
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The term evolution is commonly used to describe a number of things, usually involving a gradual process of development, formation, or growth. The word has a connotation of leading to a more advanced or complex form in many cases, although this is not the case for biological evolution.
In biology, the process of evolution is the change in a population's genetic structure over successive generations. Specifically, it is the change in allele frequency over time. The many sub-processes of evolution account for the diversity of life, such as genetic inheritance, which accounts for the continuity of traits, mutation, which accounts for novel traits, and natural selection, which accounts for the environmental filtering of traits.
A scientific model, or theory, explaining this process is called a theory of evolution (ToE). The current widely-accepted theory of evolution is the modern evolutionary synthesis, also called the Neo-Darwinian theory. Sometimes, the theory of evolution is simply shortened to "evolution" (as in, "Evolution explains the diversity of life"). Richard Dawkins also contributed with the theory of gene selection.
Ceationists often use the word evolution as though it were an exclusively historical phenomenon, referring only to the origin and past development of species over the course of geologic time. This contradicts scientific use of evolution, and roughly corresponds to the general idea of Darwinian origins. It is variously described as referring to the more specific theories of common descent, natural selection or macroevolution (though macroevolution and natural selection have been directly observed in modern field and lab studies).
However, creationists also frequently apply the word evolution to phenomena outside the scope of evolutionary biology, such as abiogenesis, the Big Bang, and general chemical and galactic evolution. Sometimes, no distinction at all is drawn by creationists between biological and non-biological evolution.
Confusion regarding the definition of evolution is made worse when the media repeats the mistakes of creationists (such as saying humans descended from apes or monkeys). This perpetuates the misunderstanding among laypeople. Humans descend from apes, not monkeys. Dictionary definitions also often add to the confusion; even older editions of the Oxford Scientific Dictionary and Scientific American give ambiguous or erroneous definitions of evolution. Definitions in many dictionaries have been corrected in recent years, but the damage has already been done to public understanding.
Chemical evolution can refer either to the theory of the development of the chemical elements through nucleosynthesis in stars, or to the theory of the development of life from non-life through chemosynthesis (see abiogenesis). Both theories are considered well-supported by modern scientists, although there is significant disagreement regarding the specifics of abiogenesis.
Galactic and stellar evolution is the development of galaxies and stars is often described as "evolution".
Sociocultural evolution encompasses many different theories describing the development of societies and cultures over time, including memetics, linguistic evolution, and technological evolution (see also Wiki evolution).
Links & Resources
- Talk.Origins: What is Evolution?
- Introduction to Evolutionary Biology
- Five Major Misconceptions about Evolution
- Talk.Origins: Evolution is a Fact & Theory
- Teaching Evolution in School Science Classes
- The Story of Human Evolution
- Understanding Evolution
- Understanding Evolution: History, Theory, Evidence, and Implications Deals heavily with the history of evolutionary thought
- Evolution by Natural Selection - An outline of the chain of reasoning behind the theory of evolution by natural selection.
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Individual differences |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Astigmatism is an affliction of the eye, where vision is blurred by an irregularly shaped cornea or eye which causes distortions in the light reaching the retina. The cornea, instead of being shaped like a sphere, is more oval-like and reduces the cornea's ability to focus light. Astigmatism is a refractive error of the eye in which there is a difference in degree of refraction in different meridians. So, rather than the surface topology of the eye being spherical, it has two curves, one steeper than the other, in a similar way to the shape of an oval. The condition is typically characterized by an aspherical, non-figure of revolution cornea in which the corneal profile slope and refractive power in one meridian is greater than that of the perpendicular axis. Astigmatism causes difficulties in seeing fine detail, and can often be corrected by glasses with a cylindrical lens (i.e. a lens that has different radii of curvature in different planes), contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
Astigmatism occurs when either the cornea or the lens of the eye is not perfectly smooth or round. As a result, the eye has different focal points in different planes. For example, the image may be clearly focused on the retina in the horizontal (sagittal) plane, but not in front of the retina in the vertical (tangential) plane.
In some cases vertical lines (e.g., walls) may appear to the patient to be leaning over like the tower of Pisa.
Types of astigmatismEdit
Based on asymmetry of structureEdit
- Corneal astigmatism - astigmatism due to an irregularly shaped cornea (like an American football or rugby ball instead of a soccer ball)
- Lenticular astigmatism - astigmatism due to an irregularly shaped lens
Based on Axis of the Principal MeridiansEdit
- Regular astigmatism
- Against-the-rule astigmatism
- With-the-rule astigmatism
- Oblique astigmatism
- Irregular astigmatism
Based on focus of the principal meridiansEdit
- Simple astigmatism
- Simple hyperopict astigmatism
- Simple myopic astigmatism
- Compound astigmatism
- Compound hyperopic astigmatism
- Compound myopic astigmatism
- Mixed astigmatism
According to an American study published in Archives of Ophthalmology, nearly 3 in 10 children between the ages of 5 and 17 have astigmatism . A recent Brazilian study found that 34% of the students in one city were astigmatic . Regarding the prevalence in adults, a recent study in Bangladesh found that nearly 1 in 3 (32.4%) of those over the age of 30 had astigmatism.
A number of studies have found that the prevalence of astigmatism increases with age.
Signs and testsEdit
There are a number of tests used by ophthalmologists and optometrists during eye examinations to determine the presence of astigmatism and to quantify the amount and axis of the astigmatism. A Snellen chart or other eye chart may initially reveal reduced visual acuity. A keratometer may be used to measure the curvature of the steepest and flattest meridians in the cornea's front surface. A corneal topographer may also be used to obtain a more accurate representation of the cornea's shape. An autorefractor or retinoscopy may provide an objective estimate of the eye's refractive error and the use of Jackson cross cylinders in a phoropter may be used to subjectively refine those measurements . An alternative technique with the phoropter requires the use of a "clock dial" or "sunburst" chart to determine the astigmatic axis and power.
Astigmatism may be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. Various considerations involving ocular health, refractive status, and lifestyle frequently determine whether one option may be better than another. In those with keratoconus, rigid gas permeable contact lenses often enable patients to achieve better visual acuities than eyeglasses. If the astigmatism is caused by a problem such as deformation of the eyeball due to a Chalazion, treating the underlying cause will resolve the astigmatism.
- ↑ http://www.eyetopics.com/articles/45/1/Astigmatism
- ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/astigmatism/article.htm
- ↑ http://www.hipusa.com/eTools/webmd/A-Z_Encyclopedia/astigmatism%20symptoms.htm
- ↑ http://www.hipusa.com/eTools/webmd/A-Z_Encyclopedia/astigmatism%20treatment.htm
- ↑ http://www.stlukeseye.com/eyeq/Keratometry.asp
- ↑ http://www.emedicine.com/OPH/topic711.htm
- ↑ http://www.quantumoptical.com/onlinecourses/nysso/brp/slide1.asp?courses=19
- ↑ http://www.nova.edu/hpd/otm/nbeo/refract1.htm
See also Edit
- MedlinePlus article
- AllAboutVision.com article
- VisionSimulations.com | What the world looks like to people with various diseases and conditions of the eye
- Medical Info on Astigmatism
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).|
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was conceived in September 2005, just after Hurricane Katrina had caused the greatest ever loss of life and destruction on the United States mainland. It was formed by a small core group of Australian, Canadian and local volunteers, and documented by Australian filmmaker Hereward Dundas-Taylor.
The idea of the Hurricane Choir was inspired by the remarkable true story of survival of a large group of Australian and British Army nurses and Dutch Civilians who were interned in a punishing rat hidden jungle camp Samtura during World War II. Most notably was Australian Army nurse Lt. Vivian Bullwinkel, and two British women: a missionary, Margaret Dryburgh, and a civilian woman who was a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London and who was also the first female conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra in the 1930's, Norah Chambers.
Dryburgh had a photographic memory for music and Chambers knew how to conduct the music. This was a rare and unusual situation in any setting, let alone in the middle of the jungle in WWII, and together they found a way to use music to lift their spirits beyond the wire. The Australian Army nurses were only too willing to form the backbone of the camp choir, even though it put their lives in further danger if they were caught rehearsing.
The camp choir also gave these women a sense of freedom their captives could not break. More importantly however, it gave them an incredible sense of hope. As a result almost half of their number survived the atrocious conditions. Each of these survivors attributed their survival to singing in this unique choir. This was in part depicted in the 1997 motion picture Paradise Road starring Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett, Frances McDormand and Pauline Collins and others. It was this spirit of survival, of surviving in adversity, that lead to the idea of the Hurricane Choir. In the modern day setting of the disaster that unfolded in New Orleans where tens of thousands of people suffered the symptoms of post traumatic stress, the healing power of music was again put to the test in a real life situation.
Two of the Australian volunteers of the Hurricane Choir project helped develop the film script and movie. One became the first musical director of the Hurricane Choir. The other became the film director of the international documentary, and the television director of their live concerts.
Like the camp choir, The Hurricane Choir was made up of those suffering severe traumatic stress. However, unlike the camp choir it included many mental health professionals including substantial support from the Volunteers of America, Mental Health Association in Louisiana and the Minority of Mental Health (Baton Rouge). The youngest choir member was just 9 years old. The eldest active member was a youthful 98 year-old survivor from the worst hit area of New Orleans, the lower 9th Ward. She waded through waist and neck deep water for 40 city blocks, singing and gathering people as she struggled and found her own way out of the heavily flooded city.
In the many months of rehearsals, it was noted through medical research conducted by Sentiens Health in Western Australia, that those initially suffering severe PTSD were slowly being empowered through the activity of community singing. The signs were so significant that the Governor of Louisiana wrote to the Prime Minister of Australia thanking him for the efforts of his countrymen, particularly Sentiens for their research. Before the volunteers shipped out in June 2006, the Hurricane Choir had given many public performances, the last three being very highly successful. These were documented by a voluntary multi-camera film crew made up of Australians, Canadians and Americans, and led by the Australian filmmaker.
Multiple cases of survivors suffering severe trauma, some with suicidal tenancies after having lost so much, were the focus of the filmmaker and Sentiens Health. The survivors long journey to recovery was dramatically shortened from years to just several months with the caring support of volunteer organizations and the act of communal signing.
Of these volunteers, only the filmmaker remained after the closing concert at the end of June 2006. Forever changed by the experience, he proactively lobbied the Hurricane Choir to form a bona fide not for profit organization. A board of Directors was formed in July 2006 and it was later granted State not for profit status under the name of Sing For Humanity. This took over from the defunct commercial operation that ceased to operate in June.
In May 2007, Give Them A Go Group began the lengthy process of creating a Federal not for profit status for Sing For Humanity USA. Over the following two years, many of the choir members gradually pieced their lives together and the choir slowly faded without having achieved its primary goal, to sing on the steps of Capitol Hill with thousands of voices in defiance of mother nature’s destructive forces and to bring attention to the power of music.
In late 2010 with Federal not-for-profit status in the wings, Give Them A Go Group notified former members of the choir that it would like to assist in the reestablishing the Hurricane Choir in 2012, and the first initial goal would be to sing on the steps of Capitol Hill with thousands of voices. The response has been deafening!
Give Them A Go Group also oversees the construction of the new website for the Hurricane Choir. The website is being built with the technical expertise of iVent Services and the creative team from Give Them A Go Group. When this new website is launched early 2012, a link will be provided here.
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Apr. 9, 2008 NOAA scientists are now flying through springtime Arctic pollution to find out why the region is warming — and summertime sea ice is melting — faster than predicted. Some 35 NOAA researchers are gathering with government and university colleagues in Fairbanks, Alaska, to conduct the study through April 23.
“The Arctic is changing before our eyes,” said A.R. Ravishankara, director of the chemistry division at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo. “Capturing in detail the processes behind this large and surprisingly rapid transformation is a unique opportunity for understanding climate changes occurring elsewhere.”
Observations from instruments on the ground, balloons, and satellites show the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the globe. Summer sea-ice extent has decreased by nearly 40 percent compared to the 1979–2000 average, and the ice is thinning.
Industry, transportation, and biomass burning in North America, Europe, and Asia are emitting trace gases and tiny airborne particles that are polluting the polar region, forming an “Arctic Haze” every winter and spring. Scientists suspect these pollutants are speeding up the polar melt.
Called ARCPAC (Aerosol, Radiation, and Cloud Processes affecting Arctic Climate Change), the project is a NOAA contribution to International Polar Year 2008. The experiment will be coordinated with the agency’s long-term climate monitoring station at Barrow, Alaska, and with simultaneous projects conducted by NASA and the Department of Energy.
“This is our first airborne deployment of a powerful new suite of instruments in the Arctic,” said ARCPAC lead scientist Dan Murphy, also of NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory. “When we analyze all the data, we’ll be able to piece together the equivalent of a ‘high-def’ movie of the atmosphere as springtime sunlight warms the region and sparks a chain of chemical reactions.”
Scientists aboard the NOAA WP-3D research aircraft will use nearly 30 airborne sensors to answer questions about airborne particles, altered clouds, low-altitude ozone, and soot deposited on snow. All are produced or affected by human activities and may be playing key roles in the rapid warming.
In a related study, also taking place this month, the NOAA-led International Chemistry Experiment in the Arctic Lower Troposphere (ICEALOT) will gather shipboard measurements of atmospheric fine particles and trace gases in the air above the North Greenland and Barents seas, which are closer to sources than the ARCPAC study area. NOAA scientists are eager to compare the pollution north of Alaska with the more recent emissions near Europe.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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William Shakespeare was the most remembered and famous playwright of all times. His work is commonly assigned to all levels of educational assignments from grade school through journalism doctorate. His 37 plays and 157 sonnets are the cornerstone of all English literature, and still quoted in conversations all over the globe. It seems only fitting that his own ancient but renowned theatre was called the Globe in premonition of his long lasting and world wide fame.
William Shakespeare, the most famous playwright, poet and actor to ever live, was born in April, 1564. lived in the era of the Black Plague, and other devastating pestilence and disease. Shakespeare grew up in Stratford on Henley Street which is about one hundred miles northwest of London. He lived with his Father, John Shakespeare, his mother Mary Arden Shakespeare, and his seven siblings, Joan, Margaret, Gilbert, Richard, Edmund, the younger Joan, and Anne. Joan, Margaret, and Anne died in childhood.
At age 15, William Shakespeare purchased the second largest house in Stratford probably with his own earnings. William married 26 year old Anne Hathaway, when he was 18 years old. They had 3 children, Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet and Judeth were twins, Hamnet died at age 11. Anne lived in the house at Stratford and rarely left home. William however found it more convenient to live in London at times, from around 1601. He invested substantially in real estate in Stratford, both land and rental properties, and was thought of as a businessman in Stratford.
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets in his lifetime, many when he was very young. By the year 1597, 15 of his 37 plays were already being performed. Shakespeare worked at the Globe Theatre directing and coaching his own plays, as well as spending countless hours writing all those plays and sonnets, yet he still found time to be active at the Christian Holy Trinity Church where he was a lay rector, and took an active interest in community and local business affairs. Shakespeare died April 23rd 1616.
- William Shakespeare Biography: Absolute Shakespeare offers a biography, quotes and essays, as well as information about his plays, sonnets, and poems.
William Shakespeare’s plays are commonly divided by genre’. Ten tragedies, 17 comedies, seven histories, 157 sonnets and three long poems are to his credit. These works have all been extensively studied and copied more than any other body of literature in history. Among the best known and widely appreciated are his tragedies, many of which also document historical figures, such as Julius Caesar, and Anthony and Cleopatra. Even the fictional tragedy characters seem to have such realism that it seems unlikely that they did not live at some time and place. The wit of his comedies is not lost on modern audiences, and they are widely enjoyed by all readers. Another note to his credit is his use of iambic pentameter. By using a rhythm to the words, rather than rhyming his work is infinitely more translatable. Any word for word translation would reflect his poetry as well as the original English so that his poetry does translate well into other languages. Shakespeare is one of the greatest and most timeless writers. The works of Shakespeare have endured for centuries, and will live on for many centuries to come.
- Othello: Entire work with a drop-down list of scenes.
- Macbeth Plugged: A complete annotated, on-line version of the Shakespearean tragedy.
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I have always wondered how Davao came to be today. I read about it somewhere then from a dissertation. We have the Del Norte and Del Sur as the northern and southern part of Davao. We also have the Oriental which is the eastern part of it. But where is Davao Occidental anyway?
I’m talking about the western part of Davao which could be called Davao Occidental. Is there a western part of Davao which we can call the Occident? Upon this writing and from further investigation, I have learned that there already is a proposal for this on the Senate. I know I have heard it discussed somewhere, probably on the local radio. And it is but important for it to be heard and discussed further, more so by the Davao residents and constituents.
For those not so familiar with the region, Davao is now divided to only three, in terms of its orientation. Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, and Davao Oriental. Davao City is located in Davao del Sur. The major city in Davao Del Norte is Tagum City, the City of Mati in Davao Oriental, and Digos City in Davao Del Sur.
Each of these regions have their own Provincial Capitols in which I understand are considered to be Local Governments. Three local governments on three regions are understandably appropriate. But still there’s a hole to fill. What about the west? The Occident?
The present 15th congress issued a press release last May 16, 2012 entitled “Davao Occidental Province Soon To Be Realized”. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., sponsored the bill for the creation of Davao Occidental. From his speech, he empasized the slow development on certain districts in Davao Del Sur.
Their distance from the provincial capitol has impaired their growth. The senator was referring to the towns of Malita, Sta. Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani. Mostly from the second district of Davao Del Sur, all of which would comprise the realization of the Province of Davao Occidental.
The respective Local Government units have already expressed their support of this move. House Bill 4451 seeks the creation of the Province of Davao Occidental. The province has already satisfied the Local Government Code of 1991. As required by law, a proposed province should have a population of at least 250,000. Its land area and average annual income also exceeds the law’s minimum requirement. I just wondered how the senator could have claimed its impaired growth when all the while it has exceeded the minimum requirements provided by law.
But all of these clearly reflect the point that it’s about time. It’s about time the Province of Occidental be realized. The move would inspire economic growth on the region. And then there’s the thought for urban planners and government to peruse before declaring a certain area for development, that there should be that idea that an area for development should be divided into four immediately before implementing its seat of local governments.
The North, South, East and West. And of course, they must already have, considering the only part that’s left is the western part which could be eventually be converted as Davao Occidental.
[About the author:
Ryan Avellanosa is a Dabawenyo native. He is an architectural enthusiast who likes the character of Howard Roark in Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead, an Internet geek, rock n roll artist, has a 3-digit IQ, and creator of thesoundtripper.com.
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The Gulf of Maine haddock fishery has been rebuilt, according to a 2011 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. However, New England still has the highest overfishing levels in the country.
According to NOAA's annual report to Congress on the status of U.S. fisheries, a total of 13 species in New England are overfished, meaning the fish population is too low. These include Atlantic cod, halibut and salmon; yellowtail flounder and windowpane, a type of flounder. Some of these species are also subject to overfishing, meaning the rate of removal of the stock is too high. However, the region did make some improvements -- smooth skate in the Gulf of Maine is no longer overfished, and winter flounder is no longer overfished in the Georges Bank and southern New England regions. As a result, catch limits for winter flounder for the Northeast regions were raised for 2012.
Nationally, the majority of fish stocks in 2011 were at sustainable levels. A total of 222 stocks, or 86%, were not subject to overfishing, while 14%, or 36 stocks, were subject to overfishing. Forty-five stocks, or 21%, were overfished, while 27 stocks were rebuilt. More stocks in 2011 were declared rebuilt than any other single year.
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Several of the new finds are in the area of Saqqara.
At least 17 pyramids, 1,000 tombs, and 3,000 settlements ~ all previously unknown ~ have been revealed through use of an infra-red satellite survey of Egypt. Initial excavations have confirmed some of the findings, including two of the suspected pyramids.
“We were very intensely doing this research for over a year,” Dr. Sarah Parcak tells the BBC. She has pioneered the work in space archaeology from a NASA-sponsored laboratory in Birmingham, Alabama. “I could see the data as it was emerging, but for me the a-ha moment was when I could step back and look at everything that we'd found.”
The team analyzed images from satellites orbiting 700km above the earth, equipped with cameras so powerful they can pinpoint objects less than 1m in diameter on the earth's surface. According to the BBC, ancient Egyptians built their houses and structures out of mud brick, which is much denser than the soil that surrounds it, so the shapes of houses, temples and tombs can be seen.
"These are just the sites [close to] the surface,” Parcak says. “There are many thousands of additional sites that the Nile has covered over with silt. This is just the beginning of this kind of work.”
Click here for the complete article and photos.
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Ohio county government
Ohio county government is the structure of official managerial and legal bodies of the counties of Ohio, USA. It is marked by a loose organization and a diffusion of power, the basic framework not having been changed since the Nineteenth century. The Ohio Constitution allows counties to set up a charter government as many cities and villages do, but only Summit and Cuyahoga counties have done so. Counties operating under a constitutional government do not possess home rule powers and can do only what has been expressly authorized by the Ohio General Assembly. However, Article X of the Ohio Constitution gives county government benefits similar to those conferred on cities and villages under the home rule amendments of 1912.
- Three county commissioners (the Board of Commissioners): Control budget; approve zoning; approve annexations to cities and villages; set overall policy; oversee departments under their control
- County auditor: Values property for taxation; issues dog, kennel, and cigarette licenses; issues licenses for retailers for sales tax purposes; inspects scales, fuel pumps, etc., used in commerce to see that they are accurate
- County clerk of court of common pleas: Keeps filings of lawsuits and orders of the county Court of Common Pleas; issues and records titles for motor vehicles
- County coroner: Determines causes of death in certain cases; is the only person with the power to arrest the sheriff.
- County engineer: Maintains county roads and land maps
- Prosecuting attorney: Prosecutes felonies and is the legal advisor to all other county officials and departments
- County recorder: Keeps all land records, including deeds, surveys, mortgages, easements, and liens
- County treasurer: Collects taxes, invests county money, provide financial oversight to municipalities and school districts in the county
- County sheriff: Chief law enforcement officer, polices areas without local police; runs the county jail; acts as officer of the local courts (transporting prisoners, serving subpoenas, acting as bailiff, etc.)
All of these officials are elected to four-year terms in November of even-numbered years after being nominated in partisan primary elections. One commissioner and the auditor are elected in the same year as the governor in one cycle; the other two commissioners and the other officials are elected in the same year as the president of the United States. The clerk, coroner, prosecutor, recorder, and sheriff begin their terms on the first Monday in January. The auditor's term begins on the second Monday in March. The treasurer's term begins on the first Monday in September. The commissioner who is elected with the governor begins his term on January 1. Of the other two seats, one term begins on January 2 and the second on January 3.
Requirements to serve
Any citizen of Ohio and the United States who is 18 years of age or older and lives in the county may run for commissioner, auditor, treasurer, clerk of courts, or recorder. The other offices have specific additional requirements: candidates for prosecutor must be licensed to practice law; candidates for coroner must be licensed to practice medicine for two years; candidates for engineer must be both licensed surveyors and engineers; and candidates for sheriff must have either a two year college degree or five years of supervisory experience in law enforcement.
If a vacancy arises, it is filled by the county central committee of the political party to which the former official belonged, i.e., the Republicans appoint someone to an office held by a Republican and the Democrats to an office held by a Democrat. If an office becomes vacant before the November election in the even-numbered year midway through the term, the appointee must run in a special election for the remainder of the term. If the office becomes vacant after then, the appointment is for the remainder of the term.
Board of County Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners is the combined executive and legislative branch of county government but as their control over the independently elected officials is limited, there is effectively no real executive. Though the commissioners receive a full-time salary, most commissioners have full-time occupations on the side and so many boards hire a county administrator to oversee the county's day-to-day affairs. The board also employs a clerk to record its proceedings if it is deemed necessary to have a full-time clerk, otherwise the Auditor is ex officio the clerk. One of the members of the board is named president of the board.
The board of commissioners often create numerous subordinate departments to handle specific services. These vary from county to county; among the most common are departments for building and zoning, health, economic development, water and sewer service, and emergency management.
Board of Education
There is also a county educational service center (previously known as the county board of education) presided over by a board of education, typically numbering five members, elected to staggered four-year terms in non-partisan elections in odd-numbered years. The center supplies services to the individual school districts in the county and exercises some limited control over the class of school districts known as "local school districts." ("City school districts" and "exempted village school districts" are free from any oversight by the county board.) Some counties have combined their educational service centers with other counties'. Counties also have a board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities to educate disabled children. The members of the board are appointed.
Elections are administered in each county by a four-member board of elections which consists of two Republicans and two Democrats appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State at the recommendation of each county party. The board employs a director, who must be of the opposing political party of the chairman of the board of elections, and a deputy director, who must be of the political party of the chairman of the board.
County courts
Every county has a court of common pleas, which is the court of first instance for felonies and certain high-value civil cases. In many counties there are also municipal courts which operate in a defined territory and handle misdemeanors such as traffic tickets and smaller civil matters. Some counties also have one or more county courts, which handle the same cases as a municipal court but which occur outside the jurisdiction of a municipal court. In counties with large populations, the jurisdiction of the common pleas court may be divided into several specific departments, including a probate court (which handles wills, adoptions, and issues marriage licenses), a juvenile court, or a domestic relations court. All judges in Ohio are elected to six-year terms in non-partisan elections after being nominated in partisan primaries. County judges are elected in even-numbered years, municipal court judges in odd-numbered years.
Notes and references
- County Commissioners Association of Ohio
- County Loss Control Coordinators Association of Ohio
- County Treasurers Association of Ohio
- Ohio State Coroners Association
- Ohio Recorders Association
- Buckeye State Sheriffs Association
- Ohio Clerks of Court Association
- County Engineers Association of Ohio
- County Auditors Association of Ohio
- Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association
- Ohio Educational Service Center Association
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all the following variables were changed by singh compared to the Lombardi study she did not even use the same primers or type of PCR compared to lombardi she did not even isolate RNA
The quantitative reliability of the PCR process is limited by the amplification process itself. Due to its geometric
nature, small differences in any of the control variables will dramatically affect the reaction yield. The variables that
influence the yield of the PCR process include
1. the concentration of the DNA polymerase,
2. the initial concentration of dNTPs,
3. the concentration of MgCl2,
4. initial concentration of the DNA strand,
5. the concentration of primers,
6. the denaturing, annealing, and synthesis temperature,
7. the length and the number of cycles,
8. ramping times,
10. the presence of contaminating DNA and inhibitors in the sample, and
11. the tube-tube variation.
If anyone really wants to read the background chemistry and physics governing PCR outcomes the link is below!
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http://niceguidelines.blogspot.com/2011/05/all-following-variables-were-changed-by.html
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Long-delayed rules to limit toxins like mercury and arsenic from coal-burning power plants will be approved today, after twenty years of delay that protected coal utility profits at the expense of American health. The Los Angeles Times reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will finalize its mercury rule today, marking the end of an era of deliberate pollution despite the scientific knowledge that pregnant women and small children were being poisoned:
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to approve a tough new rule on Friday to limit emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxins from the country’s power plants, according to people with knowledge of the new standard. Though mercury is a known neurotoxin profoundly harmful to children and pregnant women, the air toxins rule has been more than 20 years in the making, repeatedly stymied because of objections from coal-burning utilities about the cost of installing pollution control equipment.
In 1990 the bipartisan legislation that amended the Clean Air Act ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to set standards for the emission of mercury, arsenic, and other toxic air pollution from power plants. Although a court decree mandated EPA standards by 2000, the rules were repeatedly delayed again. In 2006, the Bush administration released rules that were thrown out by the courts for failing to protect the public health. The health risks of mercury and arsenic are enormously well-documented. In the 21 years since the EPA was ordered to issue these rules, 17 states have independently acted to limit mercury emissions from power plants. Coal-fired power plants alone produce 772 million pounds of airborne toxins every year—2.5 pounds’ worth for every American.
Even with this finalized Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, power plants will have years to comply. Upgrading power plants to cut air toxics is expected to create 31,000 construction jobs to 158,000 jobs installing pollution controls. “Jobs are created” when power companies are forced to clean up their plants, Mike Morris, CEO of American Electric Power has recognized.
Of course, the primary economic benefit of the mercury rule comes from its life-saving impact. Methylmercury from coal pollution accumulates in fish, poisoning pregnant women and small children. Mercury can harm children’s developing brains, including effects on memory, attention, language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills. Upgrades to the aged and dirty coal plants will also significantly reduce harmful particle pollution, preventing hundreds of thousands of illnesses and up to 17,000 premature deaths each year. “The ‘monetized’ value of these and certain other health benefits would amount to $55–146 billion per year,” the Economic Policy Institute states.
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http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/12/16/390939/after-20-years-of-poisoned-babies-epa-will-finally-close-coal-industrys-toxic-mercury-loophole/?mobile=nc
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In general, the term disability is often used to describe a physical or mental challenge. This could be a bump in life that can be managed or a mountain that creates serious changes and loss. Either way, this term should not be used to describe a person as weaker or lesser than anyone else! Every person has a purpose, special uniqueness and value, no matter what hurdles they may face.
In addition, just because a person has a disability, does not mean they are disabled. Many living with physical or mental challenges are still active in their work, sports or hobbies. Some with disabilities are able to work full or part time, but struggle to get through their day, with little or no energy for other things. On the other hand, others are unable to maintain gainful or substantial employment due to their disability, have trouble with daily living activities and/or need assistance with their care.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) an individual with a disability is a person who: Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment (Disability Discrimination).
Furthermore, “A person is considered to have a disability if he or she has difficulty performing certain functions (seeing, hearing, talking, walking, climbing stairs and lifting and carrying), or has difficulty performing activities of daily living, or has difficulty with certain social roles (doing school work for children, working at a job and around the house for adults)” (Disabilities Affect One-Fifth of All Americans).
Often people think the term, disability, only refers to people using a wheelchair or walker. On the contrary, the 1994-1995 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) found that 26 million Americans (almost 1 in 10) were considered to have a severe disability, while only 1.8 million used a wheelchair and 5.2 million used a cane, crutches or walker (Americans with Disabilities 94-95). In other words, 74% of Americans who live with a severe disability do not use such devices. Therefore, a disability cannot be determined solely on whether or not a person uses assistive equipment.
The term invisible disabilities refers to symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, cognitive dysfunctions, learning differences and mental disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments. These are not always obvious to the onlooker, but can sometimes or always limit daily activities, range from mild challenges to severe limitations and vary from person to person.
Also, someone who has a visible impairment or uses an assistive device such as a wheelchair, walker or cane can also have invisible disabilities. For example, whether or not a person utilizes an assistive device, if they are debilitated by such symptoms as described above, they live with invisible disabilities.
Unfortunately, people often judge others by what they see and often conclude a person can or cannot do something by the way they look. This can be equally frustrating for those who may appear unable, but are perfectly capable, as well as those who appear able, but are not.
International Disability expert, Joni Eareckson Tada, explained it well when she told someone living with debilitating fatigue, “People have such high expectations of folks like you [with invisible disabilities], like, ‘come on, get your act together.’ but they have such low expectations of folks like me in wheelchairs, as though it’s expected that we can’t do much” (Joni).
The bottom line is that everyone with a disability is different, with varying challenges and needs, as well as abilities and attributes. Thus, we all should learn to listen with our ears, instead of judging with our eyes.
LIST OF ILLNESSES THAT ARE CONSIDERED INVISIBLE DISABILITIES:
We do not maintain a list of specific illnesses and diagnosis’s that are considered invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities are such symptoms as debilitating fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunctions and mental disorders, as well as hearing and eyesight impairments and more.
There are thousands of illnesses, disorders, diseases, dysfunctions, birth defects, impairments and injuries that can be debilitating. Therefore, all conditions that are debilitating are included when we talk about invisible disabilities throughout the website. However, our focus is not to attempt to provide a vast amount of information about thousands of specific conditions (there are plenty of websites that do that).
We are here to provide awareness, education, connection and support for everyone who lives with a debilitating condition. We do this by offering articles, pamphlets, booklets, resources, radio, video, seminars and more to give hope and compassion to all living with invisible disabilities as well as information for loved ones to better understand.
If you would like to suggest a link to an organization or foundation that provides information about your specific condition, please send it to us through the contact page. We would love to hear about it!
Disabilities Affect One-Fifth of All Americans, 1997 census.gov/prod/3/97pubs/cenbr975.pdf
Disability Discrimination eeoc.gov/types/ada.html
Americans with Disabilities census.gov/apsd/www/statbrief/sb94_1.pdf
Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni and Friends International Disability Center. www.joniandfriends.org/radio/2006/7/5/invisible-disabilites/
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By: MICHELLE K. SMITH | Published Friday, December 14, 2012, 11:49 AM | Updated Friday, December 14, 2012, 11:49 AM
Irish Derivation Variations of spelling include MacCabe, McAbe, and MacAbe
Name Meaning- The name comes from the Irish word “cab” or which means cap or helmet.
Counties associated with the name- Cavan, Louth, Monagham
Coat of arms motto- The motto in Latin is “aut vincere aut mori” which translates to “either to conquer or to die.”
Interesting Facts The McCabes who came over as mercenaries in the 14th were given the name
McCabe because of their peculiar helmets.
McCabe is one of the most numerous names in Co Cavan
William Putnam McCabe- Member of the United Irishmen
Billy McCabe- American baseball player
Gerard McCabe- Northern Irish actor
General Information The McCabes came to Ireland from Scotland during the 14 century as mercenaries for the O’Reilly and the O’Rourke clans in Co Cavan. McCabes received lands in recognition for their work holding back English soldiers. They lost their lands in Co Cavan after the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. Many McCabes migrated to the United States, settling along the eastern seaboard during the eighteenth century. Some of them migrated to Canada during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Several McCabes participated in the American Civil War. After the Famine, many McCabes emigrated from Co Cavan to the United States. Emigration continued to the beginning of the twentieth century.
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3 Public health concerns
3.1 Surveys in different parts of the world have found that between about 45% and 90% of blooms of blue-green algae produce toxins. These toxins are largely retained within the blue-green algal cells during their development and growth phases and are released, in the main, on cell death.
3.2 Blue-green algae of several genera can produce a range of toxins including neuro- and hepatotoxins and lipopolysaccharides. An algal bloom may contain more than one species, each producing the same or different toxins, either singly or in combination. In addition, the toxicity of one species might change over time to a pattern that might vary for different places on a particular water body. Further information on algal toxins is given in Annex B.
3.3 Evidence of toxicity comes from reports of the effects of exposure of people and of animals to algal blooms and from laboratory investigations of algal toxins.
3.4 In 1989, a group of soldiers took part in canoe training, including rolling and swimming exercises, at Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire. Two became severely ill with atypical pneumonia; others reported abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, blistering of the mouth and sore throats. Further incidents of effects on human health have occurred after recreational contact with blue-green algal scums and blooms in UK inland waters in recent years. The effects were probably associated with exposure to blue-green algae and ingestion of the toxin-containing blue-green algal scum.
3.5 Gastroenteritis, neurological effects and acute hepatocellular damage have been reported from other countries. Illnesses and deaths of haemodialysis patients, probably resulting from blue-green algal toxins in inadequately-treated water, occurred in Brazil in 1996. Further exposures of haemodialsis patients to blue-green algal toxins, followed by illness, occurred in Brazil in 2001.
3.6 Ingestion of hepatotoxic and neurotoxic scums of blue-green algae are reported to have caused the deaths of cattle, sheep, dogs and birds. There is also evidence that blue-green algal toxins have been major contributors to fish kills and deaths of other aquatic animals.
3.7 Another potential source of intoxication for both animals and humans is bioaccumulation of algal toxins in the food chain. The principal concern here would be accumulation of algal toxins in shellfish including freshwater and brackish-water mussels and in fish. However, no cases of intoxication from this source have been reported to date in Scotland.
3.8 Episodes of blue-green algal contamination of drinking water supplies occur periodically. In September 1997, a massive blue-green algal bloom affected the main water supply loch on Westray, Orkney Isles, and resulted in a ban on the use of water for drinking, cooking and washing. Large quantities of water treatment chemicals were needed to reduce blue-green algal concentrations to a level where even a reduced throughput could be maintained and aluminium levels in the final water eventually rose to a level considered unfit for consumption. The water had also become unacceptable due to taste and odour. No blue-green algal toxins were detected. The water authority arranged for potable water to be transported as bottled water and in tankers to serve the human population. Fortunately, the very large cattle herd on the island at the time was able to continue to drink the loch water without ill effect. In July 2005, consumers of water from the Loch of Boardhouse supply in Orkney complained of an earthy taste and musty odour. A visual check of the loch identified green growth around the loch consistent with an algal or cyanobacterial bloom. Analysis confirmed mixed blue-green algal species, predominantly Anabaena, resulting in high levels of 2-methylisobornereol and geosmin. Blue-green algal toxin (microcystin) concentrations were below 1 microgram per litre. A temporary powdered activated carbon dosing plant was installed which improved the taste and odour of the final treated water. The blue-green algae had virtually disappeared by mid-August. Approximately 4,000 consumers were inconvenienced by disruption to their water supply and were supplied with bottled water. A similar problem with blue-green algae and geosmin tainting affected the taste and odour of water from the Glenfarg reservoir in 2006, also resulting in the use of carbon dosing.
3.9 There are occasional reports of animal deaths attributed by their owners to contact with blue-green algal scums. However, objective evidence is not always available to confirm an association with toxin exposure. In summer of 2003 there was good evidence to suggest that the deaths of two dogs in Fife were associated with ingestion of blue-green algal sludge at Town Loch in Dunfermline. Restrictions were imposed and were supported by ongoing monitoring and shoreline deposits were safely removed and disposed of. Another dog death on Shetland reported to SEPA in 2006 was investigated and cyanotoxin analysis suggested that toxin exposure was a strong candidate cause of death. Further incidents have been reported involving dogs and calves where the associations were circumstantial. As often occurs with such incidents, there were gaps in the recognition of a possible link and in the investigation, such that it was difficult to establish a definitive cause.
3.10 Surveillance by HPS using the Scottish Environmental Incident Surveillance System ( SEISS), from 2002 onwards, identifies between 30 to 40 incidents being reported, by SEPA, Local Authorities and NHS Boards annually. Algal blooms are inherently complex (Paragraph 3.2) and assessment of the associated risks to public health is not straightforward. Such assessments should therefore take account of specialist advice ( Annex C). Where advice is not immediately available, action of the kind described below may still be appropriate.
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The Common Lugworm is a segmented worm that can be pink, red, green, brown or black. It can be seen all along the English coast where there are muddy shorelines and also in sheltered estuaries, but it is very rarely seen because it lives in burrows. The burrows can be ‘U’ or ‘J’ shaped and can be as deep as twenty to forty centimetres.
The Common Lugworm can grow up to twenty centimetres long and it has a firm body. Its head is quite small and holds no eyes. The middle part of its body has segments with tiny ‘parapods’ which are like little-legs covered in bristles. Its abdomen is narrower than the rest of the body and has lots of segments without the parapods. The Common Lugworm also has a ‘proboscis’ which is a long thread-like tubular organ which shoots out of the worm’s mouth when it wants to feed.
Female Lugworms lay their eggs in burrows and when the larvae hatch out of the eggs, they crawl to the surface where they are taken to different locations by water currents. The larvae eventually settle on the sand and live inside tubes made out of mucus for about two months. Then they drift in the water again before they eventually settle on the sand again to make burrows of their own and to develop into adult Common Lugworms.
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Friday, December 03, 2010
Strolling Winnemucca's Streets to Find the Town's History
Shone House, Winnemucca
Many Nevada communities have discovered that visitors love to hear about a town’s history and folklore because it helps to make the place come alive.
One of the most popular ways that towns are telling their stories is with historical walking and driving tours that guide visitors through neighborhoods, pointing out commercial buildings, public structures and houses of historical significance.
Among the Nevada communities that have produced an historical walking tour guide in recent years is the central Nevada town of Winnemucca, located about two hours north of Fallon.
“Take A Walk Through History,” is the title of an informative walking tour guide brochure available for free from the Winnemucca Convention & Visitors (call 1-800-962-2638 to receive a copy).
The brochure offers a brief history of the community, which started out as a trading post on the Humboldt River in the early 1860s. In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad helped establish a settlement there, which was named Winnemucca in honor of a local Paiute leader.
A well-designed map depicts the streets of downtown Winnemucca and traces a one-and-a-half to two-hour walking tour of the community’s most historic treasures.
The tour begins at George Nixon’s First National Bank (352 Bridge St.), which was the site of Winnemucca’s most famous bank robbery. It’s generally believed that in September 1900, members of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang robbed the bank—although the crime was never solved.
Other downtown structures on the tour include:
• The Turin Brown Mercantile (355 Bridge St.), which was built in 1898 by the Brown family and served as the town’s first hardware and home furnishing store. It has been restored in recent years and remains in use as a business.
• The Shone House, built in 1906. This quaint two-story wooden hotel escaped a disastrous fire that destroyed much of Upper Winnemucca in 1919.
• Humboldt County Courthouse (5th and Bridge St.), erected in 1921. The classical, pillared hall of justice was designed by noted Reno architect Frederick DeLongchamps.
• Winnemucca Fire House (5th and Bridge St.), which was completed in 1935. This sleek, streamlined structure—it has a very 1930s look—remains in use as the town’s fire house.
• Winnemucca Hotel (95 Bridge St.), which was erected in 1863 by Louis and Theopile Lay and Frank Baud. The hotel is the oldest structure in Winnemucca and is still in operation as a Basque hotel and restaurant.
• St. Paul’s Catholic Church (4th and Melarkey St.), constructed in 1924. This fabulous church boasts Old Spanish mission style architecture with Romanesque features.
From the commercial district, the walking tour heads into neighborhoods filled with historic homes. For instance, the Legarza Home (451 W. 2nd St.) was originally owned by local banker George Nixon (later an U.S. Senator from Nevada). Nixon sold the house in 1908 to prominent local sheep ranchers Juan and Florenzia Legarza, after whom it is named.
Nearby is the magnificent Reinhart Home (343 W. 2nd St.), which was constructed in 1909 for Simon Reinhart, part owner of the Winnemucca Bank and Trust Company. Built in a Greek Revival style, the house was one of the most impressive and expensive houses erected in the town at the time it was completed.
Across the street from the Reinhart Home is the two-story, bungalow-style Turin Brown Home (322 W. 2nd St.), which was constructed in 1913 by the owner of the town mercantile.
The W.C. Record Home (146 W. 2nd St.), which the brochure describes as having been built in the “Victorian, vernacular gothic revival-style,” was erected in 1874 and is one of Winnemucca’s oldest houses. Listed on the national register of historic places, the two-story house has largely retained its original appearance and is used by a commercial business today.
Around the corner from the Record Home is the Gables Guest House (124 Lay St.), which was completed in 1903 and originally used as a sanitarium. It served as the town’s main surgical hospital until the community opened its own hospital in 1908. Apparently, sometime during the next decade it was converted into an apartment house, which it remains today.
A few doors down is the Schmidt Home (82 Lay St.), a solid redbrick house built in 1911 by the Schmidt family, which operated a boarding house on Bridge Street. A fire destroyed the house’s second floor in 1969 but it was rebuilt as a one-story structure and today is home of a graphic arts studio.
In Winnemucca, there's history on nearly every street.
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|Classification and external resources|
normally produced in 20:1 ratio to triiodothyronine (T3)
Iodine deficiency is often cited as the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide but it can be caused by many other factors. It can result from the lack of a thyroid gland or from iodine-131 treatment, and can also be associated with increased stress. Severe hypothyroidism in infants can result in cretinism.
A 2011 study concluded that about 8% of women over 50 and men over 65 in the UK suffer from an under-active thyroid and that as many as 100,000 of these people could benefit from treatment they are currently not receiving.
|Primary||Thyroid gland||The most common forms include Hashimoto's thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease) and radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism.|
|Secondary||Pituitary gland||Occurs if the pituitary gland does not create enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to induce the thyroid gland to produce enough thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Although not every case of secondary hypothyroidism has a clear-cut cause, it is usually caused by damage to the pituitary gland, as by a tumor, radiation, or surgery. Secondary hypothyroidism accounts for less than 5% or 10% of hypothyroidism cases.|
|Tertiary||Hypothalamus||Results when the hypothalamus fails to produce sufficient thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH prompts the pituitary gland to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Hence may also be termed hypothalamic-pituitary-axis hypothyroidism. It accounts for less than 5% of hypothyroidism cases.|
Signs and symptoms
Early hypothyroidism is often asymptomatic and can have very mild symptoms. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a state of normal thyroid hormone levels, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), with mild elevation of thyrotropin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). With higher TSH levels and low free T4 levels, symptoms become more readily apparent in clinical (or overt) hypothyroidism.
- Cold intolerance, increased sensitivity to cold
- Weight gain and water retention
- Bradycardia (low heart rate – fewer than sixty beats per minute)
- Decreased sweating
- Muscle cramps and joint pain
- Dry, itchy skin
- Thin, brittle fingernails
- Rapid thoughts
- Poor muscle tone (muscle hypotonia)
- Female infertility; any kind of problems with menstrual cycles
- Hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea
- Elevated serum cholesterol
- Slow speech and a hoarse, breaking voice – deepening of the voice can also be noticed, caused by Reinke's Edema.
- Dry puffy skin, especially on the face
- Thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows (sign of Hertoghe)
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Low basal body temperature
- Thyroid-related depression
- Infertility in women
- Mood swings
- Acute fatigue syndrome
- Decreased libido in men
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral paresthesia
- Impaired memory
- Impaired cognitive function (brain fog) and inattentiveness.
- A slow heart rate with ECG changes including low voltage signals. Diminished cardiac output and decreased contractility
- Reactive (or post-prandial) hypoglycemia
- Sluggish reflexes
- Hair loss
- Anemia caused by impaired haemoglobin synthesis (decreased erythropoietin levels), impaired intestinal iron and folate absorption or B12 deficiency from pernicious anemia
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shortness of breath with a shallow and slow respiratory pattern
- Increased need for sleep
- Irritability and mood instability
- Yellowing of the skin due to impaired conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A (carotoderma)
- Impaired renal function with decreased glomerular filtration rate
- Acute psychosis (myxedema madness) (a rare presentation of hypothyroidism)
- Decreased libido in men due to impairment of testicular testosterone synthesis
- Decreased sense of taste and smell (anosmia)
- Puffy face, hands and feet (late, less common symptoms)
- Enlarged tongue
Subclinical hypothyroidism
Subclinical hypothyroidism occurs when thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) levels are elevated but thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels are normal. In primary hypothyroidism, TSH levels are high and T4 and T3 levels are low. TSH usually increases when T4 and T3 levels drop. TSH prompts the thyroid gland to make more hormone. In subclinical hypothyroidism, TSH is elevated but below the limit representing overt hypothyroidism. The levels of the active hormones will be within the laboratory reference ranges.
Any TSH level above 2.5 can be considered subclinical and should respond to treatment effectively to reduce symptoms.
Pregnancy and fertility
During pregnancy there is a substantially increased need of thyroid hormones and substantial risk that a previously unnoticed, subclinical or latent hypothyroidism will turn into overt hypothyroidism.
Subclinical hypothyroidism in early pregnancy, compared with normal thyroid function, has been estimated to increase the risk of pre-eclampsia with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.7 and the risk of perinatal mortality with an OR of 2.7. In subclinical hypothyroidism, supplementation with levothyroxine results in significantly higher delivery rate, with a pooled relative probability of 2.76.
Even mild or subclinical hypothyroidism is known to adversely affect fertility.
0.3% of the general American population have overt hypothyroidism, and 4.3% have subclinical hypothyroidism. A 1995 survey in the UK found the mean incidence (with 95% confidence intervals) of spontaneous hypothyroidism in women was 3.5/1000 survivors/year (2.8–4.5) rising to 4.1/1000 survivors/year (3.3–5.0) for all causes of hypothyroidism and in men was 0.6/1000 survivors/year (0.3–1.2). Data from the CDC spanning the years 1999 to 2010 yield similar numbers: hypothyroidism is four times as common among women as among men.
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. In iodine-replete individuals hypothyroidism is frequently caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or otherwise as a result of either an absent thyroid gland or a deficiency in stimulating hormones from the hypothalamus or pituitary.
Exposure to iodine-131 from nuclear fallout, which is chemically indistinguishable from non-radioactive isotopes and taken up by the thyroid gland with them, destroys thyroid cells and increases the risk of hypothyroidism.
Congenital hypothyroidism is very rare, accounting for approximately 0.2% of cases, and can have several causes such as thyroid aplasia or defects in the hormone metabolism. Thyroid hormone insensitivity (most often T3 receptor defect) also falls into this category, although in this condition levels of thyroid hormones may be normal or even markedly elevated.
Hypothyroidism can result from postpartum thyroiditis up to 9 months after giving birth, characterized by transient hyperthyroidism followed by transient hypothyroidism. The syndrome is seen in 5 to 9% of women. The first phase is typically hyperthyroidism; the thyroid then either returns to normal, or a woman develops hypothyroidism. Of those women who experience hypothyroidism associated with postpartum thyroiditis, 25 to 30% will develop permanent hypothyroidism requiring lifelong thyroxin replacement therapy.
Temporary hypothyroidism can be due to the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. A very high intake of iodine can be used to temporarily treat hyperthyroidism, especially in an emergency situation. Although iodide is a substrate for thyroid hormones, high levels reduce iodide organification in the thyroid gland, decreasing hormone production. The antiarrhythmic agent amiodarone can cause hyper- or hypothyroidism due to its high iodine content.
Hypothyroidism can be caused by lithium-based mood stabilizers, usually used to treat bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression). In fact, lithium has occasionally been used to treat hyperthyroidism. Other drugs that may produce hypothyroidism include interferon alpha, interleukin-2, and thalidomide.
Stress and hypothyroidism
Stress is known to be a significant contributor to thyroid dysfunction; this can be environmental stress as well as lesser-considered homeostatic stress such as fluctuating blood sugar levels and immune problems. Stress's effect on thyroid function can be indirect, through its effects on blood sugar levels (dysglycemia), but it can also have more direct effects. Stress may cause hypothyroidism or reduced thyroid functioning by disrupting the HPA axis which down-regulates thyroid function, reducing the conversion of T4 to T3, weakening the immune system thus promoting autoimmunity, causing thyroid hormone resistance, and resulting in hormonal imbalances. Indeed, excess estrogen in the blood caused by chronic cortisol elevations can result in hypothyroid symptoms by decreasing levels of active T3. Stress also affects thyroid functioning through the sympathetic nervous system. A 1994 study of refugees from East Germany who experienced chronic stress found them to have a very high rate of hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism, although not all refugees displayed clinical or behavioral symptoms associated with this reduced thyroid functioning. TSH levels correlate positively with physiological stress.
The only validated test to diagnose primary hypothyroidism, is to measure thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4). However, these levels can be affected by non-thyroidal illnesses.
High levels of TSH indicate that the thyroid is not producing sufficient levels of thyroid hormone (mainly as thyroxine (T4) and smaller amounts of triiodothyronine (T3)). However, measuring just TSH fails to diagnose secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism, thus leading to the following suggested blood testing if the TSH is normal and hypothyroidism is still suspected:
- Free triiodothyronine (fT3)
- Free thyroxine (fT4)
- Total T3
- Total T4
Additionally, the following measurements may be needed:
- Free T3 from 24-hour urine catch
- Antithyroid antibodies – for evidence of autoimmune diseases that may be damaging the thyroid gland
- Serum cholesterol – which may be elevated in hypothyroidism
- Prolactin – as a widely available test of pituitary function
- Testing for anemia, including ferritin
- Basal body temperature
Hypothyroidism is treated with the levorotatory forms of thyroxine (levothyroxine) (L-T4) and triiodothyronine (liothyronine) (L-T3). Synthroid, produced by Abbott Laboratories, is the brand name counterpart to the generic Levothyroxine. Synthroid is also the most common pill prescribed by doctors that has the synthetic thyroid hormone in it, and it is taken by over 40% of people with hypothyroidism. This medicine can improve symptoms of thyroid deficiency such as slow speech, lack of energy, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, and feeling cold. It also helps to treat goiter. It is also used to treat some kinds of thyroid cancer along with surgery and other medicines. Both synthetic and animal-derived thyroid tablets are available and can be prescribed for patients in need of additional thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is taken daily, and doctors can monitor blood levels to help assure proper dosing. Levothyroxine, the generic form of synthroid, is best taken 30–60 minutes before breakfast, as some food can diminish absorption. Calcium can inhibit the absorption of levothryoxine. Compared to water, coffee reduces absorption of levothyroxine by about 30 percent. Some patients might appear to be resistant to levothyroxine, when in fact they do not properly absorb the tablets – a problem which is solved by pulverizing the medication. There are several different treatment protocols in thyroid-replacement therapy:
- T4 only
- This treatment involves supplementation of levothyroxine alone, in a synthetic form. It is currently the standard treatment in mainstream medicine.
- T4 and T3 in combination
- This treatment protocol involves administering both synthetic L-T4 and L-T3 simultaneously in combination.
- Desiccated thyroid extract
- Desiccated thyroid extract is an animal-based thyroid extract, most commonly from a porcine source. It is also a combination therapy, containing natural forms of L-T4 and L-T3, as well as L-T1 and L-T2, which are not present in synthetic hormone medication.
Treatment controversy
The 2002 Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry state that during pregnancy, "The L-T4 dose should be increased (usually by 50 mcg/day) to maintain a serum TSH between 0.5 and 2.0 mIU/L and a serum FT4 in the upper third of the normal reference interval." Doctors however often assume that if your TSH is in the "normal range", sometimes defined as high as 5.5 mIu/L, it has no effect on fertility. Healthy pregnant women however have a TSH level of around 1.0 mIU/L.
Subclinical hypothyroidism
There is a range of opinion on the biochemical and symptomatic point at which to treat with levothyroxine, the typical treatment for overt hypothyroidism. Reference ranges have been debated as well. As of 2003, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (ACEE) considers 0.3–3.0 mIU/L within normal range.
There is always the risk of overtreatment and hyperthyroidism. Some studies have suggested that subclinical hypothyroidism does not need to be treated. A 2007 meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found no benefit of thyroid-hormone replacement except "some parameters of lipid profiles and left-ventricular function." A 2002 meta-analysis looking into whether subclinical hypothyroidism may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as has been previously suggested, found a possible modest increase and suggested further studies be undertaken with coronary-heart disease as an end point "before current recommendations are updated."
Alternative treatments
Compounded slow-release T3 has been suggested for use in combination with T4, which proponents argue will mitigate many of the symptoms of functional hypothyroidism and improve quality of life. This is still controversial and is rejected by the conventional medical establishment.
Non-human presentation
Hypothyroidism is also a relatively common disease in domestic dogs, with some specific breeds having a definite predisposition.
See also
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Pituitary disease
- Subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis
- Thyroid hormone resistance
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- Baisier, W. V.; Hertoghe, J.; Eeckhaut, W. (June 2000). "Thyroid Insufficiency. Is TSH Measurement the Only Diagnostic Tool?". Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine 10 (2): 105–13. doi:10.1080/13590840050043521.
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Further reading
- Tchong L, Veloski C, Siraj ES (May 2009). "Hypothyroidism: management across the continuum". J Clin Outcomes Manage 16 (5): 231–5.
- Rayman, Margaret P (July 2000). "The importance of selenium to human health". Lancet 356 (9225): 233–41. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02490-9. PMID 10963212.
- "Hypothyroidism Booklet" (PDF). American Thyroid Association. 2003.
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I am here to help you learn
about the letter Z!
Check out all my fun ideas below.
Just for you!
Print Capital Z and
- Ziploc Rainbows - Squirt a few different colors of paint into a ziploc bag. Seal the bag and love the paint around by running your finger over the bag or squoosh it around if you choose.
- Go for a walk and see how many zeros you can find.
- Make crayon rubbing of a zipper.
- Go on a trip to the zoo.
- Z Collage Picture - Print out or draw a letter Z. Paint glue inside the Z and cover with zigzag lines. Can you think of other things that start with an Z that you can add to your picture.
- Make a Letter Z beaded safety pin.
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And Activity Ideas
- Have a bowl of Alphabits cereal for breakfast, or how about some letter-shaped pancakes.
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- Do an alphabet crayon rubbing using letters cut out of sandpaper.
- Cut out felt letters to use is any of the shared crafts just for a little variety.
- Gather a few kids together and see how many letter shapes they can make with their whole bodies.
- Lunch time? Have alphabet soup and Jello jigglers cut into alphabet shapes.
- Fingerpaint your letters... Instead of finder paint, why not try using pudding or shaving cream?
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ANT 267: Food and Culture
Spring 2008, T, Th 10:00 - 11:15, Chambers 1006
Office Hours: M, W 11:30-12:30 am;
T, Th 11:30-12:30 am or by appointment
This course introduces how food practices shape societies and cultures throughout the world. Foodways will be examined from an anthropological perspective for its social and cultural implications; this is not a survey of nutritional or dietetic sciences. Topics to be covered include: the use of food in social contexts (food exchanges and the social construction of groups; food as a marker of social boundaries;); the symbolism of food (folk conceptions of food; body image; food taboos and other religious restrictions; vegetarianism and alternative consumption regimes;); and the political economy of food (globalization and global food industries; changes in dietary patterns; famine and food emergencies; the invention and commodification of new foods).
The anthropological perspective is largely a "bottom-up," comparative examination of particular social processes, and is presented in the form of ethnographic monographs and articles that describe everyday life in detail. The main question that we will be addressing throughout this course is how food and foodways is both a reflection of and reflection on social structures and cultural practices.
This course is structured along the lines of community-based learning. This means that students will apply the lessons learned from the classroom to issues that affect our local community. In groups, we will work with community leaders to develop and execute various projects. Such experiential learning reinforces the understanding of theoretical and methodological issues, while also benefitting the community.
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Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Contributor
I cover the forces and innovations that shape our energy future.
The long-awaited (and twice delayed) report “Macroeconomic Impacts of LNG Exports from the United States” was released yesterday. This study was commissioned by the Obama Administration to look specifically at the economic impacts associated with potentially large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The key point of the study was to “estimate expected levels of U.S. LNG exports under several scenarios for global natural gas supply and demand” and to evaluate whether LNG exports would have net export benefits even if higher domestic gas prices resulted from this activity.
The study ran numerous scenarios, looking at costs of production and world prices, and found that there were net benefits to the US economy under all export scenarios, even where exports were modeled as unlimited. The study also found that there would be no ultimate linking of natural gas to world oil prices in any scenario examined (oil and gas prices are currently indexed in other markets, such as Asia).
As far as price impacts, the study found that “Natural gas price changes attributable to LNG exports remain in a relatively narrow range across the entire range of scenarios.” From the point where exports commence (initial prices could be up to $.33 higher), prices might increase as much as $1.11 five years out in a high export scenario. “The higher end of the range is reached only under conditions of ample U.S. supplies and low domestic natural gas prices, with smaller price increases when U.S. supplies are more costly and domestic prices higher.”
The economic losers are other gas-dependent industries, such as the chemical industry, where Dow and others are anticipating significant investments to take advantage of competitively priced gas. Dow, in particular, is investing $4 billion to build a 1.5 million tonne-per-year ethylene plant in Freeport, Texas LNG exports would also have a non-zero price impact on the electricity sector, which has increasingly turned to gas as the fuel on the margin.
The winners are the exporters and the large gas producers such as Range resources and Chesapeake Energy. Owners of nuclear fleets such as Exelon, Duke, and NRG will benefit as well. When the marginal price of electricity increases (driven by underlying gas prices), they derive more value from their existing nuclear assets (assuming they are unhedged).
The importance of the study findings is this: the would-be LNG exporters have filed permits equaling over 60% of today’s domestic consumption, and they are lined up to move forward with the permitting process. Most of these companies probably won’t make it through all the hurdles. The permitting process with the Federal Energy regulatory Commission can cost up to $100 million (that’s how much Cheniere indicates it will spend on approvals for its Corpus Christi facility).
The facilities themselves cost in the billions and take years to build. Cheniere will spend over $5 bn on its Sabine Pass facility – to be ready to export within the next 2 to 3 years. Another potential exporter, Exxon Mobil Corp., is partnering with Qatar Petroleum to build an installation near Port Arthur, Texas, involving some $10 billion to turn a gas-import terminal into one that capable of LNG exports.
The next steps will occur neither cheaply nor quickly. But the just-released study opens the starting gate for the next stage of the approval and development process.
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Bad Breath in Dogs
We all know bad breath—also known as halitosis—when we smell it. Bad breath is the result of a build-up of odor-producing bacteria in your dog's mouth, lungs or gut. Persistent bad breath can indicate that your dog needs better dental care or that something is wrong in his gastrointestinal tract, liver or kidneys. In all cases, halitosis is a red flag that should be investigated.
What Is Bad Breath Caused By?
Most often, canine bad breath is caused by dental or gum disease, and certain dogs—particularly small ones—are especially prone to plaque and tartar. However, persistent bad breath can also indicate larger medical problems in the mouth, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract or organs.
How Can I Determine The Cause of My Dog's Bad Breath?
Your veterinarian is the best person to pinpoint the cause. A physical examination and laboratory work may be performed. Be ready to answer questions about your dog's diet, oral hygiene, exercise habits and general behavior.
When Is It Time To See The Vet?
If your dog's breath suddenly has an unusual smell, please consult your veterinarian. The following cases can signal to medical problems that need immediate treatment.
How Is Bad Breath Treated?
Treatment depends on your vet's diagnosis. If plaque is the culprit, your dog might require a professional cleaning. If it's an issue of diet, you might have to change your dog's regular food. If the cause is gastrointestinal or an abnormality in your dog's liver kidneys or lungs, please consult your vet about steps you should take.
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Once upon a time, wallpaper was simply that—printed paper—applied to walls with a flour-based paste. In the mid-twentieth century, manufacturers added so-called improvements: vinyl and PVC, formaldehyde, chemical dyes, fungicides, and powerful adhesives. The “paper” went up with less effort, lasted longer, and even peeled off easier. The unfortunate byproduct, though, was volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic vapors from the solvents, plastics, paints, and glues that may cause headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, memory impairment, respiratory illness, and even liver or kidney damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Happily, a few manufacturers are coming full circle, eliminating the chemical additives and offering an array of natural or recycled materials and less toxic adhesives that offer wall-to-wall beauty.
ALL-NATURAL WALL: Renewable resources such as rice, sisal, bamboo, linen, grasses, wood, and cork are just a few of the beautiful options that create rich, diverse textures and are mostly biodegradable. If you choose wood, select a product that’s been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (www.FSC.org).
WALL “PAPER”: Handmade paper, parchment, and rice paper are available in every pattern and color imaginable. Newer, greener options tout water-based inks without formaldehyde, heavy metals, PVC, or vinyl backing. (Avoid using paper-type wallcoverings in moist areas where mildew and mold can develop.)
RECYCLED: Polyester, cloth, and phone books are just two of the post-consumer materials being reused in innovative wallcoverings. Though not “natural,” they keep waste out of the landfill. Check with the manufacturer to ensure low VOC emissions and odors.
Stay Away From:
• vinyl backings and coatings, which emit VOCs
• mildew and insect repellents (except for boric acid)
CRAFT A WALL
Handcrafted wall decorating is back in vogue and ever so resourceful when you use scraps. If you’re not ready to commit to an entire room, try a border, a contrast stripe, or one wall. Do a test run on a scrap board or the inside of a closet to watch for colorfastness and adhesion. Then check again for durability and fastness when dry.
• newspapers and comics
• wallpaper samples and scraps
• torn paper sacks, applied in a patchwork (looks like leather)
• cloth and ribbons (stapled, draped, or held in place with molding; batting underneath makes a great sound muffler)
• copies of old photos
• pages from an old book
• botanical prints
OFF THE WALL
These innovative wallcoverings may sway future trends.
• DialTones wallpaper (by Pallas) is made from recycled Japanese phone books. Mixed with natural tints, it comes in several hues.
•New York University students have created solar-powered wallpaper from electroluminescent materials that responds to a room’s natural lighting needs and can be manually adjusted with the help of a solar-powered battery.
• Johns Manville’s Textra might be called “glass wallpaper” because it’s made from abundant resources: sand, lime, and clay. Textra covers everything from outdated paneling to cracked plaster, and it’s low VOC, mold repellent, and super durable.
Now That’s Recycling: When the Vicksburg, Mississippi, newspaper found itself without the resources for a printed page during the Civil War, publishers published the Daily Citizen on the back of stripped wallpaper.
Newport Coast Wallcovering
Sinan Company Tobias Stucco
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EAVESDROPPING on the inaudible rumblings of damaged knees could help doctors diagnose diseases such as osteoarthritisor let football managers decide if an injured player is ready to take to the pitch again.
Many knee conditions involve damage to cartilage, the soft tissue on the ends of bones that cushions the joint. When a joint is in action, the cartilage gets compressed and vibrates and some doctors have used stethoscopes or even a small microphone to amplify the sound it makes. But it's hard for doctors to tell the sounds of healthy and damaged cartilage apart, so they mostly prefer expensive magnetic resonance imaging for examining joints. According to Canadian researchers, however, they've been listening to the wrong sound frequencies all along.
Sridhar Krishnan and his team at Ryerson University in Toronto have applied for a patent on a diagnostic device that relies on vibration sensors similar to those in ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.
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02/07/2009 - All countries need to trade, with their neighbours and globally, to sustain long-term economic growth. Some low-income countries lack the instutitions, infrastructure and supply-side capacity to benefit from open markets and lift their people out of poverty.
The Aid for Trade Initiative, launched in 2005, encourages developing countries to make trade a priority and donors to supply new funds to help them build trade capacity.
Secretary-General Angél Gurria presents "Aid for Trade at Glance 2009" at the WTO in Geneva on 6 July.
Mr. Gurría noted that, “More and better aid for trade is particularly important in the context of the crisis. It can help to build the capacity and infrastructure developing countries need to take full advantage of freer trade. Aid for trade should also support the broader development goals we all share, focusing not only on building trade capacities but contributing to a healthier environment and to fighting poverty.” Read the speech in full.
Developing countries are using these funds to overcome infrastructure bottlenecks and to build their capacity in trade-related fields: aid targeted for economic infrastructure dominates (53%), followed by productive capacity (43%). Trade-related technical assistance accounts for the remaining 4% of total aid-for-trade flows.
Aid for trade does not come at the expense of other assistance programmes - it is “additional” aid.
Furthermore, OECD calculations show that 9 out of 10 aid-for-trade commitments have resulted in actual aid-for-trade projects and programmes. Finally, funding for global and regional programmes – identified as an area for special attention by the first Global Review – has more than doubled in volume since 2005.
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You've noticed, of course, that the 1900 U.S. Census includes both the birth year and the age. But have you noticed that adding the year and age together gives 1899 or 1900? Makes sense, doesn't it, since this is the 1900 census. You can use this tip when the year is hard to read, but the age is plain.
What if the year is obviously wrong, as in the case to the right? Using our tip, one can see that 1553 should be 1853. Which do you enter in FamilySearch Indexing?
I was surprised at the answer from FamilySearch support:
You will index the information the way it is written on the Census Record. When the Patron is doing research on this person they will see the orginial [sic] census record and the indexing we have done. They will enter the correct information on their personal record. We are making a mirror image of the census records.
O.K. Pop quiz! Everyone take out a paper and a pencil. Here's the question. What year would you enter for the record shown to the right? If you think it will help, click here for a good website containing instructions given to the enumerators.
Add a comment below, give the year and explain why you chose that value. Next week I'll give the correct answer.
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Drought expected to drive up cost of milk, cheese
The heat and drought ravaging much of the nation will soon be hitting America at the supermarket counter: cheese and milk prices will rise first, and corn and meat are probably not far behind.
Price hikes in basic food staples are causing huge concern to milk producers and others who rely on dairy to sustain an important part of the national farming economy.
The rises foreshadow expected price hikes in coming months for other food staples, such as meat, says Bruce Jones, a professor of agricultural economy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dairy is affected quickly because cows immediately make less milk.
There will still be milk to buy, says Roger Hoskin, an agricultural economist with the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. "I can't imagine situations where you'd have people standing in line to get milk at the dairy counter. But they might not want it at the price it's selling at."
He adds that "you'll see less cheese on pizzas and in salad bars."
Temperatures in the 90s and above mean cows give less milk, and sky-high feed prices are making it more expensive to feed them. Add to that the cost dairies must pay for fans and sprinkler systems to keep the animals cool during long hot days and nights.
This year, every state east of the Rockies is enduring its hottest or second-hottest year on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Overall, 28 states are seeing their hottest year since accurate weather records began in 1895.
Milk prices are actually the lowest they've been in 18 months because of surpluses built up over an ultra-mild winter and spring. In March 2011, wholesale milk sold for $19.60 per hundred pounds. Last month, it was $16.10, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service figures.
By August, the cost of a gallon of milk at the supermarket could rise by 10 to 15 cents and by Christmas an additional 25 cents on top of that, says Mary Ledman, chief analyst with the Daily Dairy Report in Libertyville, Ill.
Wholesale cheese prices are at about $1.72 a pound. "I expect the cheese price to get up to $1.95 in November," says Jerry Dryer, editor of the Dairy & Food Market Analyst in Delray Beach, Fla.
"We've had seven records here in July that have already been broken," says Richard Gorder of Gorder Dairy in Mineral Point, Wis. His 60 Holsteins are producing about 20% less milk because of the heat. "They don't want to do anything, they don't eat," he says.
Since there's been no rain since the beginning of June, "I'm looking at a corn crop that's 75% and 100% gone," he says. Corn is close to $8 a bushel. "If I have to go into the market and buy that corn, it will take me between two and three years to recover."
In Illinois, cows normally give 90 pounds of milk per cow per day. "Now they're down to around 60 pounds," says Jim Fraley of the Illinois Milk Producers Association in Bloomington, Ill.
It's an area of huge concern to milk producers. At the American Dairy Science Association annual meeting in Phoenix this week "we had a standing-room-only meeting on the needs of cows under heat stress," says Ellen Jordan, a dairy specialist at Texas A&M University-Dallas.
The top milk producing states are California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York and Pennsylvania. Only New York is "in decent shape," in terms of heat, says Pamela Ruegg, a milk quality expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. States like Illinois, Indiana and Ohio have been severely affected.
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Identifying remote survey material via the web – combining traditional invertebrate collecting methods with modern biodiversity informatics tools.
I’ve joined a camel trek run by Australian Desert Expeditions with Beth Mantle (CSIRO) to survey the invertebrate fauna of remote red dune country on the Ethabuka reserve in south-western Queensland, owned by Bush Heritage.
Although we will use the usual collecting methods such as pitfall trapping, malaise nets, light trapping, beating, sweeping, litter sifting and hand collection, Beth and I are using a satellite modem to blog our daily activities and upload images of noteworthy specimens in order to seek assistance to help identify specimens as we post them to the web.
Follow our journey via the Atlas of Living Australia blog, and my Museum colleague, Lynda Kelly, will also be helping me post our progress.
Watch this space!
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Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Marine Debris in the North Pacific:
Marine debris can degrade ocean habitats, endanger marine and coastal wildlife, interfere with navigation, result in economic losses, and threaten human health and safety. Beginning in the 1970s a growing number of studies on the occurrence and effects of marine debris in the open ocean have provided a greater, yet still incomplete, understanding of this vast problem. This report answers some frequently asked questions about the scope of marine debris in the North Pacific Gyre and its potential impacts; however, research is not yet complete on this issue, so this report also identifies data gaps that highlight some of the questions remaining to be answered.
- What is marine debris and where does it come from?
Marine debris is any solid, manufactured material that is disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment. It may consist of plastic, glass, metals, polystyrene, rubber, derelict fishing gear and derelict vessels. Plastics are estimated to represent between 60% and 80% of the total marine debris floating in the world’s oceans. Almost all of the plastic debris in the North Pacific consists of very small pieces of plastic floating at or slightly below the water surface. Such debris is composed of fragments of manufactured plastic products (user plastic) and also preproduction plastic pellets that were spilled at some point during shipping or at the factory.
Debris is generated on land at marinas, ports, rivers, harbors, docks, and storm drains. Debris is generated at sea from fishing vessels, stationary platforms and cargo ships. In the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands – Marine National Monument (NWHI-MNM), approximately 52 metric tons of derelict fishing gear accumulate annually. Once it is in the ocean, it is very difficult to pinpoint the exact source of most of this debris.
Click on the below links to additional data sources and information about preproduction plastic pellets:
- Ocean Conservancy- Tracking Trash (PDF) (43 pp, 56M large file)
- National Marine Debris Monitoring Program
- Preproduction Plastic Debris Program
- Operation Clean Sweep website
In order to gain an accurate and meaningful assessment of the quantity and type of plastics and their influence, large-scale and long-term monitoring is needed across countries and environments, including the sea floor, and across a range of debris sizes, from very small micro-debris to large debris items such as derelict fishing nets.
- How do wind and ocean currents affect the concentration of plastics and other marine debris?
Multiple atmospheric and oceanic currents flow in a general clockwise pattern around the North Pacific to create what is known as the Pacific Gyre. When derelict nets and other marine debris circulating in the open ocean enter the Pacific Gyre they usually remain there. This has created an ongoing concentration of debris. Scientific models suggest marine debris deposited along the coast tends to accumulate in the central oceanic gyres within two years after deposition. This area of concentrated debris consists of two accumulations: the "Western Garbage Patch" located off Japan and the "Eastern Garbage Patch" located between Hawaii and California. These two sub-gyres are connected by a narrower band of marine debris north of the Hawaiian archipelago referred to as the Subtropical Convergence Zone (STCZ). The STCZ migrates north and south with seasonal changes in air and sea surface temperatures and fluctuations on ocean currents. (Figure 1).
The occurrence and transport mechanisms of marine debris in the surface waters and coastal habitats of the North Pacific are well documented. Unfortunately, due to the logistics of sampling the substrate in deep waters, the occurrence of marine debris on the seafloor is less known. Accumulation of micro-organisms and algae onto plastic debris in surface waters may alter the buoyancy of the plastic, resulting in sinking and deposition on the seafloor.
- How much marine debris ends up in the Pacific Gyre?
The distribution and quantity of marine debris within the garbage patches are difficult to determine because they are constantly expanding and moving. The patches are estimated to contain approximately 100 million tons of garbage; most of the debris is found just below the water surface, extending down to depths of 100 feet or more, and is not tightly packed. Approximately half of all plastics are neutrally to positively buoyant and thus remain close to the ocean surface. Over time as the plastic breaks down into smaller pieces, organism and sediment fouling add weight to the particles which can cause the plastics to sink and eventually reach the seabed.
Limited research indicates that most land-based marine debris originates in the Western Pacific. The California Coastal Commission found that plastic bags comprise 13.5% of shoreline litter; the City of Los Angeles found that plastic bags made up 25% of litter in storm drains. Data from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) found that polystyrene makes up 15% of storm drain debris. The most commonly found items on beaches in Orange County, California are plastic pellets (17% by weight), expanded polystyrene, and other plastic food and beverage containers. In the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, approximately 52 metric tons of derelict fishing gear accumulates annually. 96% of the plastic found in the North Pacific was small pieces of plastic, more than in any other ocean.
For more information, visit the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
The highest densities (number per square kilometer) and concentrations (gram per square kilometer) of plastic floating at or just below the surface occurred in the Japan Sea/nearshore Japan Water, in Transitional Water, and in Subtropical Water. Studies based on satellite-derived information and ocean circulation models, and confirmed by flight observations, show that the largest debris concentration in the North Pacific is found within the North Pacific STCZ. Debris densities appear to be significantly correlated with sea-surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration.
Few studies have attempted to quantify the abundance and mass of floating debris in the open ocean, perhaps because ship time for extensive open ocean trawls are costly and time-consuming. Analyses of plastic debris in the environment derived from beach-cleaning surveys typically only provide data on coarse trends and larger items More studies are needed to correlate marine debris accumulations with currents and shipping lanes to determine the fate and transport of debris––sources and destinations––to target clean up and prevention efforts.
- How do plastics and other marine debris negatively affect the environment?
Marine debris travels throughout the world’s oceans, accumulating on beaches and within gyres. This debris can degrade physical habitats, transport chemical pollutants, threaten marine life, and interfere with human uses of marine and coastal environments. Plastic marine debris has great potential to alter the environment and impact humans and wildlife since it floats at the surface, is widely transported by ocean currents, persists in the environment for years, and is not readily digestible when consumed. Therefore, the impact of plastic marine debris is much more than a mere aesthetic problem.
Physical Habitat Impacts
As debris accumulates, habitat structure may be destroyed, light levels may be reduced in underlying waters, and oxygen levels may be depleted. These changes can undermine the ability of marine life to survive in open water and on the ocean floor.
Derelict fishing gear, including nets and lines, can settle on coral reefs as currents and waves transport them to shallow habitats, resulting in fragmentation and abrasion of coral branches. Degradation of coral reefs globally has the potential to undermine the survival of a diverse array of invertebrates, fish, and vertebrates that depend on this limited resource, including a number of threatened and endangered species.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical compounds created in manufacturing and other human activities that persist for a long time in the environment. Marine debris, specifically plastics, is itself a mechanism for the transport of POPs. Plastics may contain other organic pollutants such as phthalates, organotins, and phenols, including bisphenol A (BPA). Plastics also attract and concentrate PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and DDT and other pesticides and can serve as a potential global transport mechanism for contaminants.
- How are seabirds, turtles, fish and other animals harmed by plastics and other marine debris?
There is a substantial body of evidence documenting the negative effects of marine plastic debris on marine biota. It has been estimated that plastic marine debris adversely affects 267 species globally, including 86% of sea turtles, 44% of seabirds, and 43% of marine mammals. The most common threats include ingestion and entanglement.
Ingestion of plastic debris by seabirds, fish, and sea turtles has been widely documented, and incidences of ingestion have been reported for marine mammals as well. Additionally, fur seals and other predators may indirectly consume plastics by eating fish and other prey that have already ingested plastic debris. The plastics can block an animal's digestive system, ultimately causing death.
Marine debris entanglements have been documented for 135 species of invertebrates, fish, seabirds, sea turtles, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales, with many species experiencing injury and even mortality. One of the greatest threats of entanglement to marine life and seabirds is derelict fishing gear, including monofilament line, trawl nets, and gill nets. Lost and free floating fishing gear can continue to "ghost fish" for months and even years, ensnaring a wide range of species, particularly in areas adjacent to fishing grounds, along current convergence zones, and along shorelines where debris is deposited by currents and waves.
- How are humans affected by plastics and other marine debris?
In addition to degrading the habitats and ecosystem services that humans use, plastic marine debris can directly interfere with navigation, impede commercial and recreational fishing, threaten health and safety, and reduce tourism. Large debris, such as derelict fishing nets and lines that float at or just below the surface, pose the greatest threat to vessel navigation. Lines and nets can become wrapped around propellers and entrained in intakes of motors, and vessels may strike large items, damaging hulls and propellers. Immobilization of commercial and recreational vessels can result in increased cost of navigation due to lost time, costly repairs, as well as the loss of human life. In a tragic example, derelict fishing gear contributed to the sinking of a Korean passenger ferry in 1993 that resulted in the deaths of 292 passengers.
Humans can also be directly impacted by marine debris, becoming entangled in nets and lines while swimming or being injured by sharp debris that accumulates on beaches. It is not uncommon for scuba divers to become entangled in nets or lines. In most instances they are able to free themselves; however, in rare instances entanglement has resulted in injury and even death.
Not only does the accumulation of debris pose a human health risk, but it also reduces the aesthetic and recreational values of beaches and marine resources. The buildup of plastic debris on beaches is of particular concern for coastal cities, since unsightly debris, and the distressing sight of entangled marine life and seabirds, can reduce the area’s attractiveness to local residents and tourists. As a result, immense economic costs are incurred to clean marine debris from beaches.
The effects of small-plastic debris on marine animals, including toxicity of pellets and fragments that wash up on beaches throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago, remains unknown but should be investigated.
Further data is also needed to assess the transfer of pollutants found in and accumulating on plastic to marine life and potentially throughout the marine food web. Impacts to humans from consumption of fish and invertebrates that ingest plastics are in large part unknown. Currently, there is only a limited amount of data on the transfer of POPs from plastic marine debris to conspicuous marine organisms, such as sea birds. By studying the effects of plastics on everything from plankton to top predators, a better understanding of potentially important impacts of plastics throughout the food web can be gained.
Download the full report with references in PDF format:
Marine Debris in the North Pacific - Existing Info + Data Gaps (PDF) January 2011 (23 pp, 700K)
|Pacific Southwest NewsroomPacific Southwest Programs||Grants & FundingUS-Mexico Border||Media CenterCareers||About EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest)A-Z Index|
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http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/faq.html
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Cunard Road construction completed
Construction on the Cunard Road has been completed and the road is now open. Access may be delayed at times while striping is being painted.
Rend Trail closure
Repairs to the stone retention wall will cause closures from June through September, 2013. More »
Peregrine Falcon 2007
2007 Peregrine Falcon Program Summary
In 2007, 24 nestling peregrine falcons were released over the course of three separate hacks. This effort marked the largest release of peregrine falcons from a single site in the species' recovery history. A 100% success rate was observed using the 14-day criteria, which is phenomenal given the number of falcons that were released. In fact, only two falcons dispersed before being on the wing for 30 days (i.e. 27 and 29 days). Additionally, one falcon from the 2006 release was observed in NERI for nearly a week before dispersing out of the area.
This year also marked the implementation of a solar powered video camera monitoring system, which was observable by not only NPS staff, but also the public from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and from home via the internet. The camera system allowed NPS staff and the public to observe the falcon's development and behavior prior to and following the falcon's release.
A month after the release of the third group of falcons from the hack site, NPS staff were offered a unique opportunity to track six falcons using satellite technology.
On July 18, the park obtained six satellite transmitters from the College of William and Mary and VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries. These transmitters, valued at $18,000.00, were donated to the park for attachment and subsequent tracking of the newly released peregrine falcons at NERI. The transmitter is a solar powered unit that charges a battery which fuels a capacitor and the operating software within the unit. The transmitters will last at least 3 years, providing daily location data that is collected from 1300-2000 hours. The data collected are not continuous, but provide single point-in-time locations of individual birds daily.
Following the approval of park management, resource management staff designed a method of trapping the falcons, which was based upon the Indian bal-chatri or “boy’s umbrella” trap. The ancient trap used horsehair nooses and cane baskets containing live prey, which enticed raptors to land on the noose covered basket, thus leading to their capture. The trap that NERI staff developed was based on the white plywood feeding trays that had been used to provide quail to the falcons following release. (Note: Juvenile falcons cannot hunt on their own for 3-5 weeks after they take flight) The modified feeding trays were covered with 20lb monofilament nooses, utilizing a special locking slipknot to insure capture, once a bird was entangled. Following capture, the falcons were quickly restrained and removed from the trap, with special attention being placed on the removal of the monofilament from the bird’s legs.
On July 20-21, NPS and WVDNR staff assisted by numerous volunteers initiated the recapture operation on the cliff. All of the falcons had been on the wing for at least 32 days, so we felt that the odds of capturing six falcons would be low. However, by the end of the day on the 19th, the team had successfully captured 5 falcons. On the 20th, the team worked the trap the entire day and just before dark, the last falcon was captured. During the trapping operation on the 20th, the five previously captured falcons were fitted with the satellite transmitters and released by staff from the NPS, WVDNR, Three Rivers Avian Center, and the College of William and Mary. The process of attaching the transmitter takes 30-60 minutes for each falcon, due to the precise fit required when attaching such a device to wild animal. Although falcons can survive for over 15 years, the reality is that 90% of juvenile falcons perish before reaching sexual maturity at age 3.
Since the 21st, the six peregrine falcons fitted with transmitters have ventured into 12 states and Canada. The wandering activity of the falcons is typical for juvenile raptors, especially peregrine falcons. Consequently, this wandering behavior oftentimes results in the falcons roosting in unknown territory that presents unknown risks. Statistically, all but 2-3 of the released falcons from 2007 will perish before their 3rd birthday; however we are hopeful that the NERI falcons can beat the odds at becoming breeding adults in the future.
Take a look at the information on the falcons being monitored using satellite tracking. We have also added short biographies for each of the birds.
- Updated 7 February 2008
Did You Know?
The New River Gorge was logged extensively thoughout the past century. The landscape is now recovering, with the park ecosystem returning to its more natural state, but there are still plenty of signs of the past activities.
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Follow In Lincoln’s Footsteps
“Thank God that I have lived to see this! It seems to me that I have been dreaming a horrid dream for four years, and now the nightmare is gone. I want to see Richmond.”
- Abraham Lincoln - 1865
Steven Spielberg chose the Richmond Region as the location to shoot his new film Lincoln . Spielberg directed two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis in this revealing drama that focuses on the 16th president's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. Lincoln premiered nationwide in November, 2012. Watch the Trailer Now
When Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States in 1860 it divided the nation. Less than two months after his inauguration the country was engulfed by a civil war that would rage for the next four years. Lincoln was the central figure in a conflict that defined who we are as a people and as a nation. He dedicated his life to his countrymen and struggled through the darkest days of America’s history to end slavery and preserve the union of the United States.
Just ten days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln walked through the streets of Richmond. He came to visit the capital of the Confederacy not as a conqueror, but to symbolize his commitment to “bind up the nation’s wounds” and begin rebuilding the country. Thousands of people lined the streets as Lincoln and his son Tad slowly made their way from the James River into the city towards the Confederate White House. Shouts of joy could be heard all along the route as African Americans who just days before had been slaves “beheld him who had given them their liberty.” Click here to listen to a podcast describing Lincoln's visit to the Richmond Region.
We invite you to visit Richmond and Petersburg where you can walk in Lincoln’s footsteps, tour the same streets and visit the same sites as he did in 1865. Experience first hand the places where our nation was reborn – the historic Richmond Region.
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The proper name for Lumen is ANSI Lumen, but in informal communication nad most formal communication it has been shortened to simply 'Lumen'.
The American National Standards Institution Lumen has been adopted world-wide. It is a standard measure of brightness in display systems. Lumens define luminous flux, a physics term for energy within the range of frequencies of visible light. For example, a wax candle generates 13 ANSI lumens; a 100 watt bulb generates 1,200 ANSI lumens.
A small room typically requires from 200 to 300 ANSI lumens, whereas a large room may require from 400 to 600. A large auditorium may need 2000 or more.
See Also: Ambient Light, Brightness, Linked Constant Light Output
Below, we offer a selection of links from our resource databases
which may match this term.
Entries for Lumen:
in our database matching the Term Lumen:
Results by page
News containing the Term Lumen:
Results by page
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vaccine Recalls
Vaccines go through years of testing before and after they are approved for use. Sometimes a vaccine or a particular lot (batch) of vaccine may be withdrawn or recalled from doctor's offices, clinics, hospitals, and other places permitted to administer vaccines.
Many types of products, including cars, toys, and food products, are sometimes recalled temporarily or withdrawn permanently from the market because they don't work properly or could pose a safety hazard. Similarly, vaccines or vaccine lots can also be withdrawn or recalled.
Vaccine recalls or withdrawals are almost always voluntary by the manufacturer. Only in rare cases will the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) request a recall. But in every case, FDA's role is to oversee a manufacturer's strategy and assess the adequacy of the recall.
There have been only a few vaccine recalls or withdrawals, most due to concerns about the vaccine's effectiveness, not its safety. When the strength of a vaccine lot has been recalled, those vaccines may not produce an immune response that is strong enough to protect against disease. Although those vaccines may not be effective, they are still safe. Vaccines are tested carefully and monitored continuously before and after they are licensed for use. If a vaccine lot is found to be unsafe, the FDA recalls it immediately.
Your doctor should notify you if a vaccine given to you or your child is recalled. When a recalled product has been widely distributed, the news media often reports on the recall. Not all recalls are announced in the media, but all recalls are listed in FDA's weekly Enforcement Reports. See a list of vaccines that have been recalled in the past few years.
Most vaccine recalls are due to low vaccine potency or strength. When the strength of a vaccine lot is lower than it should be, vaccines from the lot might not produce an immune response that is strong enough to protect against disease. Therefore, the people who were vaccinated with a recalled vaccine may need to be vaccinated again to ensure they are protected against the disease.
CDC, FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and other federal agencies monitor vaccine safety and investigate any possible problems with the safety of vaccines. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) accepts reports from the public about possible problems following vaccination. The FDA reviews reports weekly and closely monitors reporting trends for individual vaccine lots.
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Projectors provide images by generating the image in an image forming unit and projecting the same onto a screen. The projectors are classified into front projection projectors and rear projection projectors according to the method of magnifying and projecting an image onto a screen. In the operation of an image projection system, an image is projected from an image source to a screen, and the projected image is viewed by a viewer in front of the screen. When there are a large number of viewers, they must be positioned in many positions in front of the screen. Projector screens used for projectors fall into two types: a transmission type wherein projection lights are illuminated from the rear side of the projection screen and seen at the front side; and a reflection type wherein projection lights are illuminated from the front side of the projection screen, and the reflected lights are seen at the front side. Projection screens can be used to reflect a variety of projected images. To improve the image quality, screens often include a reflective region surrounded by a light-absorbing border, such as a black material, to enhance the contrast between the projected image and ambient or secondary light. Typical materials for projection screens for use in such conventional projection systems include white-colored paper or cloth materials, and plastic films coated with white inks that diffuse light. Besides, high-quality projection screens that comprise diffusing layers containing beads, pearlescent pigments capable of controlling the diffusion of imaging light, are also available.
There's no product listing here. Be the first to
submit your product information.
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Sequence of Tenses
The rules governing verb tenses are dictated by logic; an action in the future obviously cannot happen before an action in the past. In writing, it’s a matter of looking at your clauses and sentences, and determining when each action is happening. The past must come before the present, and the present before the future, etc. Pay particular attention to the verb sequence when you have a dependent clause before the independent clause, or a result clause before the if clause.
When the independent clause is in the past tense, the dependent clause may be written in the past or possibly the present (see Exceptions), but not the future.
The cat was bathing because his feet are dirty.
Because the tense of the independent clause is in the past (was bathing), the verb in the second clause (are) is in the wrong tense.
The cat was bathing because his feet were dirty.
The cat is bathing because his feet are dirty.
Exceptions: There are two exceptions to this rule:
for cases involving universal knowledge
Even the early doctors knew that the washing of hands prevents infection.
when using a modal which has no past tense form
Could you please help me move this bookshelf?
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the actual verbs have to be in chronological order, just the actions. We can put the dependent clause at the beginning of the sentence.
Athena will continue to learn English when she gets to the States.
It’s alright to have the future tense (will continue) before the present tense (gets) because the temporal conjunction when shows that the second action actually happens first.
Watch out for conditional clauses, too.
We’ll go for a walk if the weather held.
The future tense of the result clause is too distant from the past tense of the if clause.
We’ll go for a walk if the weather holds.
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Jan. 9, 2013 Scientists have long wondered how nerve cell activity in the brain's hippocampus, the epicenter for learning and memory, is controlled -- too much synaptic communication between neurons can trigger a seizure, and too little impairs information processing, promoting neurodegeneration. Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center say they now have an answer. In the January 10 issue of Neuron, they report that synapses that link two different groups of nerve cells in the hippocampus serve as a kind of "volume control," keeping neuronal activity throughout that region at a steady, optimal level.
"Think of these special synapses like the fingers of God and man touching in Michelangelo's famous fresco in the Sistine Chapel," says the study's senior investigator, Daniel Pak, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology. "Now substitute the figures for two different groups of neurons that need to perform smoothly. The touching of the fingers, or synapses, controls activity levels of neurons within the hippocampus."
The hippocampus is a processing unit that receives input from the cortex and consolidates that information in terms of learning and memory. Neurons known as granule cells, located in the hippocampus' dentate gyrus, receive transmissions from the cortex. Those granule cells then pass that information to the other set of neurons (those in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, in this study) via the synaptic fingers.
Those fingers dial up, or dial down, the volume of neurotransmission from the granule cells to the CA3 region to keep neurotransmission in the learning and memory areas of the hippocampus at an optimal flow -- a concept known as homeostatic plasticity. "If granule cells try to transmit too much activity, we found, the synaptic junction tamps down the volume of transmission by weakening their connections, allowing the proper amount of information to travel to CA3 neurons," says Pak. "If there is not enough activity being transmitted by the granule cells, the synapses become stronger, pumping up the volume to CA3 so that information flow remains constant."
There are many such touching fingers in the hippocampus, connecting the so-called "mossy fibers" of the granule cells to neurons in the CA3 region. But importantly, not every one of the billions of neurons in the hippocampus needs to set its own level of transmission from one nerve cell to the other, says Pak.
To explain, he uses another analogy. "It had previously been thought that neurons act separately like cars, each working to keep their speed at a constant level even though signal traffic may be fast or slow. But we wondered how these neurons could process learning and memory information efficiently, while also regulating the speed by which they process and communicate that information.
"We believe, based on our study, that only the mossy fiber synapses on the CA3 neurons control the level of activity for the hippocampus -- they are like the engine on a train that sets the speed for all the other cars, or neurons, attached to it," Pak says. "That frees up the other neurons to do the job they are tasked with doing -- processing and encoding information in the forms of learning and memory."
Not only does the study offer a new model for how homeostatic plasticity in the hippocampus can co-exist with learning and memory, it also suggests a new therapeutic avenue to help patients with uncontrollable seizures, he says.
"The CA3 region is highly susceptible to seizures, so if we understand how homeostasis is maintained in these neurons, we could potentially manipulate the system. When there is an excessive level of CA3 neuronal activity in a patient, we could learn how to therapeutically turn it down."
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Sewanhaka makes A.P. honor roll
(Page 2 of 2)
The majority of students who are enrolled in A.P. classes are in grades 10 through 12, she explained. The most popular classes are language composition and U.S. history. The district fosters collaboration among teachers, and their disparate subjects, so students can get the most out their lessons. Many teachers in the high schools, Champ said, coordinate readings from language composition with U.S. history to enhance students’ learning.
The district encourages students to take A.P. classes even if they fear they might not be able to handle them. Each student meets with his or her advisor halfway through the school year to discuss the course load for the following year. While some students may already know they want to take an A.P. course, advisers and teachers encourage students who might be on the fence. “If the student is willing to put in the work and has interest,” Champ said, “we encourage them to try.”
Taking A.P. courses at the high school level helps many students move into higher-level courses once they reach college, Ferrie said, saving them time and money. Even if they don’t receive college credit, he added, most feel better prepared for college.
“Parents are supportive of offering these courses,” Ferrie said. “They see the value, and they want us to continue.”
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You are currently browsing the archives for the Mesothelioma Patient category.
Asbestos is an extremely hazardous substance, which can demonstrate no signs of exposure for long periods. Most of the time mesothelioma patients will not experience any ill effect for up to 40 years. Because of its long latency period, finding early warning signs of asbestos exposure can be very difficult.
The only universally identified cause of mesothelioma cancer is asbestos exposure. Most people that have been exposed to asbestos encountered it at the workplace, which brings up the question of how to avoid exposure to the substance in the workplace.
Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma cancer. Up until the 1970’s, a tremendous amount of asbestos related products were used in construction, and thousands of workers and their families were exposed to asbestos. Those who were exposed to asbestos and had discovered that they had mesothelioma mostly comprised of senior citizens; however, an increasing number of younger patients are now getting diagnosed.
Pericardial mesothelioma is a disease which consists of deadly, cancerous tumors formed due to asbestos exposure. Like other forms of mesothelioma cancer, such as peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma, this is a terminal disease which currently has no cure. Here are a few frequently asked questions related to pericardial mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma patients have several treatment options available to them. Some patients may choose natural and traditional treatments to improve their health and to cope with the pain caused by this deadly disease. Take a look at the top 5 natural treatments for mesothelioma.
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|Founded||3 November 1911|
William C. Durant
|Headquarters||Detroit, Michigan, United States|
|Key people||Mark Reuss, President GM North America|
|Owner(s)||General Motors Company|
Chevrolet (pron.: //), colloquially referred to as Chevy, is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors (GM). Originally founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted General Motors founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911 as the Chevrolet Motor Car Company, it was acquired by General Motors in 1918 and positioned by Alfred Sloan to sell mainstream vehicles to compete with Henry Ford's Model T.
Chevrolet-branded vehicles are sold in most automotive markets worldwide, with the notable exception of Oceania, where GM is represented by their Australian subsidiary, Holden. In 2005, Chevrolet was relaunched in Europe, primarily selling vehicles manufactured by GM Korea and slotting in below Opel.
In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks. Due to the prominence and name recognition of Chevrolet as one of General Motors' global marques, Chevrolet ,Chevy or Chev is used at times as a synonym for GM or its products, one example being the GM LS1 engine, commonly known by the name or a variant thereof of its progenitor, the Chevrolet small-block engine.
On November 3, 1911, Swiss race car driver and automotive engineer Louis Chevrolet co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Detroit with William C. Durant and investment partners William Little (maker of the Little automobile) and Dr. Edwin R. Campbell (son-in-law of Durant) and in 1912 R. S. McLaughlin GEO of General Motors in Canada.
Durant was ousted from the management of General Motors in 1910 for five years. He took over the Flint Wagon Works, incorporating the Mason and Little companies. As head of Buick Motor Company prior to founding GM, Durant had hired Louis Chevrolet to drive Buicks in promotional races. Durant planned to use Chevrolet's reputation as a racer as the foundation for his new automobile company.
Actual design work for the first Chevy, the costly Series C Classic Six, was drawn up by Etienne Planche, following instructions from Louis. The first C prototype was ready months before Chevrolet was actually incorporated.
Chevrolet first used the "bowtie emblem" logo in 1914. It may have been designed from wallpaper Durant once saw in a French hotel room. More recent research by historian Ken Kaufmann presents a case that the logo is based on a logo of the "Coalettes" coal company. Others claim that the design was a stylized Swiss cross, in tribute to the homeland of Chevrolet's parents.
Louis Chevrolet had differences with Durant over design and in 1915 sold Durant his share in the company. By 1916, Chevrolet was profitable enough with successful sales of the cheaper Series 490 to allow Durant to repurchase a controlling interest in General Motors. After the deal was completed in 1917, Durant became president of General Motors, and Chevrolet was merged into GM as a separate division. In 1917, Chevrolet's factories were located at New York City; Tarrytown, N.Y.; Flint, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; Fort Worth, Texas, and Oshawa, Ontario. In the 1918 model year, Chevrolet introduced the Series D, a V8-powered model in four-passenger roadster and five-passenger tourer models.
Chevrolet continued into the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s competing with Ford, and after the Chrysler Corporation formed Plymouth in 1928, Plymouth, Ford, and Chevrolet were known as the "Low-priced three". In 1933 Chevrolet launched the Standard Six, which was advertised in the United States as the cheapest six-cylinder car on sale.
Chevrolet had a great influence on the American automobile market during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1953 it produced the Corvette, a two-seater sports car with a fibreglass body. In 1957 Chevy introduced its first fuel-injected engine, the Rochester Ramjet option on Corvette and passenger cars, priced at $484. In 1960 it introduced the Corvair, with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine. In 1963 one out of every ten cars sold in the United States was a Chevrolet.
The basic Chevrolet small-block V8 design has remained in continuous production since its debut in 1955, longer than any other mass-produced engine in the world, although current versions share few if any parts interchangeable with the original. Descendants of the basic small-block OHV V8 design platform in production today have been much modified with advances such as aluminium block and heads, electronic engine management, and sequential port fuel injection. Depending on the vehicle type, Chevrolet V8s are built in displacements from 4.3 to 9.4 litres with outputs ranging from 111 horsepower (83 kW) to 994 horsepower (741 kW) as installed at the factory. The engine design has also been used over the years in GM products built and sold under the Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Hummer, Opel (Germany), and Holden (Australia) nameplates.
In 2005, General Motors re-launched the Chevrolet marque in Europe, using rebadged versions of the Daewoo cars produced by GM Korea.
The Chevrolet division is currently recovering from the economic downturn of 2007–2010. GM began developing more fuel efficient cars and trucks to compete with foreign automakers. In late 2010 General Motors began production of the plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt (and related Opel/Vauxhall Ampera), which later was announced as the 2012 North American Car of the Year, European Car of the Year, and World Green Car of the Year.
International operations
|Top Ten Chevrolet sales markets
North America
Mexico has a mix of Chevrolet models from different GM brands and platforms branded as Chevrolet. The models come from Chevrolet USA, GM Korea, Mexico and other origins. Examples of Opel-sourced vehicles are Vectra, Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira and Captiva (Opel Antara). Mexico also has some cars of its own, such as the Chevy C2, which is a reworked older-generation Corsa B. Vehicles based on US platforms are the Avalanche, the Suburban, the Equinox, the Tahoe, the Cheyenne (which is similar to the Silverado), the Aveo, the HHR, the Traverse, the Malibu,the Camaro and the Corvette. The Chevrolet Optra, assembled in South Korea by GM Korea, was also sold in Mexico. The European Epica was sold as a business-only vehicle. GM also manufactures Chevrolet vehicles such as the Suburban and Avalanche in Mexico for export to other markets, chiefly the US and Canada.
In 2009 China became Chevrolet's third largest market, with sales of 332,774 vehicles, behind only the United States and Brazil (1,344,629 and 595,500 vehicles respectively). By 2010, Chevy sold just over half a million, with the Cruze being its best seller there.
Launched by GM's India operations, Chevrolet is among the more recent auto brands. Until 2003, GM India—originally a joint venture with Hindustan Motors, sold the Opel Corsa, Opel Astra and the Opel Vectra. Chevrolet officially began business in India on June 6, 2003. The Corsa and Astra were built at a plant in Halol, Gujarat.
Chevrolet currently sells the Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Tavera, Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet CRV, Chevrolet Beat, Chevrolet Sail and Chevrolet Aveo U-VA. The Chevrolet Forester, a rebadged Subaru, was imported directly from Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan until 2005. The Cruze and Tavera are built at the Halol plant. Chevrolet also is the sole Engine supplier for the Formula Rolon single seater series in India.
From 1995 to 2000 Toyota in an agreement with GM sold the third generation model Chevrolet Cavalier as the Toyota Cavalier in Japan in exchange for the Geo/Chevrolet Prism in an effort to avoid additional restrictions on their exports to the US. In the mid-2000s, Suzuki imported and marketed the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and the Chevrolet Optra wagon in Japan. Suzuki, a GM partner, also assembled and marketed the Chevrolet MW microvan. The MW was originally a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R+ and later a rebadged Suzuki Solio. Suzuki had also marketed the Chevrolet Cruze subcompact in the past. General Motors Japan Limited currently distributes and markets the Sonic, Captiva, Camaro, and Corvette in limited numbers through an agreement with Yanase Co., Ltd. dealerships. In the 2000s, General Motors Asia Pacific (Japan) had distributed and marketed the TrailBlazer also. As of 2010[update], Mitsui Bussan Automotive distributes and markets the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Express, Chevrolet HHR, Silverado, and Traverse. Previously, it had also marketed the Starcraft versions of the G-Van and Chevrolet Trailblazer. Mitsui Bussan Automotive had been importing and distributing certain GM models since 1992, but will cease their GM import business in November 2011, as GM Japan wants to consolidate the distribution channels. The Chevrolet models that have been imported by Mitsui will no longer be sold once existing inventories are depleted. Thus there were three distinct distribution channels for Chevrolet-branded vehicles at one time in Japan.
Between 2003 and 2009 a joint-venture between GM and DRB-HICOM, called Hicomobil, marketed the Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Nabira and Chevrolet Lumina. The joint venture was succeeded with Naza in 2010.
Middle East
In the Middle East, Chevrolet-badged cars, trucks, SUV's, and crossovers are sourced from GM Korea (in South Korea), GM in North America, and GM Holden (in Australia). The Middle East market has a separate division called Chevrolet Special Vehicles (CSV), which (as of December 2007) sources the high-performance 400 bhp (300 kW) CR8 sedan from Holden Special Vehicles. The Holden Commodore is badged as the Chevrolet Lumina in the Middle East, as well as South Africa. The longer wheelbase Holden Caprice is sold as the Chevrolet Caprice in the Middle East. The Middle East fleet (particularly Saudi Arabia) also includes the likes of Cruze, Malibu and Sonic in the Sedan category, Captiva in the SUV category, Tahoe & Traverse in the Wagon category and Avalanche & Silverado in the Truck category.
In Pakistan, Chevrolet introduced its cars in collaboration with a local automobile manufacturer called Nexus Automotive. The current lineup available from Chevrolet Pakistan includes Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Joy, Chevrolet Aveo, and Chevrolet Colorado. The company plans to add Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Epica and Chevrolet Cruze to its lineup in the future.
South Korea
Many global-market Chevrolet vehicles are designed and manufactured by GM Korea of South Korea, but they had been sold under Daewoo brand in South Korea until February 2011. Daewoo brand was fully replaced by Chevrolet in March 2011. All Daewoo products relaunched under Chevrolet brand, with the release of Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Orlando and Chevrolet Aveo.
General Motors is currently exploring cost cutting options as part of its restructuring plan. One of these options involve expanding the Rayong, Thailand plant to add additional capacity to export Colorados to the U.S. This would allow the Shreveport, Louisiana plant to be closed (where the Colorado is also produced). This scenario is plausible only if a free-trade agreement is signed between the U.S. and Thailand, as the American tariff on imported pickup trucks from non-FTA countries is currently 25%. The United Auto Workers is the most vocal opponent to a change in the tariff structure.
In addition to the Colorado pickup trucks, General Motors began assembling Chevrolet Captiva sport utility vehicle in its Rayong plant during June 2007. The Thai-assembled Captiva is based on THETA platform under the program code C100. Also produced at the General Motors' Rayong plant are the Chevrolet Aveo (launched in September 2009 under the platform T100) and Chevrolet Cruze (launched in November 2010 under the platform GLOBAL DELTA).
Production, Retail Sales and Registration of Chevrolet brand in Thailand during 2011 (Units)
Even though the Australian market of today mainly consists of Australia's own automotive companies alongside Asian automobile brands, Australia once had its fair share of American cars as well.
Bodies for the local assembly of Chevrolets were built in Australia as early as 1918 and by 1926 the newly created General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd had established assembly plants in five Australian states to produce Chevrolet and other GM vehicles using bodies supplied by Holden Motor Body Builders. The merger of General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd with the troubled Holden Motor Body Builders in 1931 saw the creation of General Motors – Holden's and the ongoing production of various GM products including Chevrolet. GMH departed from traditional US body styles with the release of the Chevrolet Coupe Utility in 1934 and the Chevrolet "Sloper" Coupe in 1935. Post-war production recommenced in 1946. From 1949 Australian Chevrolets were to be locally assembled from components imported from Chevrolet in Canada although local production of the Coupe Utility body continued until 1952. 1968 was the last full year of Chevrolet assembly in Australia.
Classic Chevrolet models such as Bel Air, Biscayne, Impala etc., are still found in many states around Australia. From the early 1970s to the early 1980s the Chevrolet name was also used on various light commercials in Australia. These ranged from the LUV (a rebadged Isuzu KB) to the third generation C-series trucks. From 1998 to 2001 the Chevrolet Suburban was sold in Australia as the Holden Suburban.
With General Motors introducing Opel to Australia, GM will continue to sell Holdens in lieu of Chevrolets for the Oceania market.
South Africa
|1974 Braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet advert at the Springbok Radio preservation society.|
In South Africa, Chevrolet was GM's main brand name until 1982, with a number of Vauxhall Motors and Holden derivatives being built under the Chevy name from 1964. In the 1970s, the advertising jingle "braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet" (adapted from the US "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pies and Chevrolet") came to epitomise the ideal lifestyle of white male South Africans. Holden in Australia used the jingle "Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars". Originally, Chevrolets were CKD kits of US models assembled in their plant in Port Elizabeth. However, since South Africa was right-hand drive and the US was left-hand drive, along with encouragement by the South African government to use local content, Chevrolets such as the Biscayne were eventually made entirely in South Africa, along with GM's "own car for South Africa": the Ranger.
By the 1970s, larger South African Chevrolets were based on Australian General Motors-Holden's models, the Kommando being based on the Holden Kingswood and the Constantia on the Statesman, while the smaller Firenza was based on the Vauxhall Viva. The Chevrolet Nomad sold in South Africa was entirely different from the Nomad sold in America; whereas the American Nomad was originally conceived as a station wagon version of the Corvette and eventually became the station wagon version of the Bel Air, the South African Nomad was an SUV of truck proportions before SUVs were popular. Due to local content laws the cars usually received different engines than in their home markets.
However, these were replaced by Opel models like the Rekord, Commodore, and Senator, and in 1982 the Chevrolet brand name was dropped in favour of Opel. Because of the political climate at the time, GM decided to divest from South Africa in 1986, and a local group eventually bought out GM's South African operations (including the Port Elizabeth plant) and renamed the company as the Delta Motor Corporation, which concentrated on Opels, Isuzus, and Suzukis, built under licence.
However, thanks to an improved political climate in the 1990s, GM decided to reenter South Africa, eventually buying out the whole of Delta. In 2001, the Chevrolet name made a comeback, used on the Lumina, a rebadged Holden Commodore, and later on, on the Daewoo range of cars. Current Chevrolets include the Spark (a rebadged Daewoo Matiz), Aveo, Optra, Cruze, the Lumina (including the Ute model), the Vivant, an MPV that is a rebadged version of the Daewoo Tacuma, and a pick-up version of the Opel Corsa known as the Corsa Ute.
Until 2005, Chevrolet Europe sold a few models, mostly United States domestic market (USDM) models modified to suit European regulations. Among them were the Chevrolet Alero (which was a rebadged Oldsmobile Alero) and the Chevrolet Trans Sport (which was a Chevrolet Venture with the front end of the Pontiac Trans Sport). Among other models sold by Chevrolet Europe were the Camaro, the Corsica/Beretta, the Corvette, the Blazer, and the TrailBlazer. The current generation of North American–built Chevrolet Impala V8 sedans has also been available in Europe in recent years, marketed as both large family sedans and more economically priced alternatives to Jaguars and BMWs as high performance executive cars.
From 2005 all the mainstream models from GM Daewoo were rebranded as Chevrolet in Europe. (The ownership of the SUV models in the former Daewoo range had reverted to ownership of SsangYong Motor Company by this time.) However the Daewoo name was retained in South Korea and Vietnam until 2011. In the rest of the world, most Daewoo models have worn the Chevrolet badge since 2003. Exceptions include the use of the Suzuki badge in the United States and Canada, the Pontiac badge in Canada, the Holden badge in Australia and New Zealand, and the Buick badge in China.
During the mid-2000s, the Corvette and Cadillac range were marketed in Europe through a separate distribution channel operated by Netherlands-based Kroymans Corporation Group but following their bankruptcy in 2010, General Motors established a new Swiss based subsidiary to relaunch Chevrolet in Europe and add the Corvette, Camaro and Malibu models to the European range.
During World War II in Poland Home Army the Polish resistance movement built an improvised armoured car - Kubuś which was based on the chassis of a civilian Chevrolet 157 truck, license-built in pre-war Poland by the Lilpop, Rau i Loewenstein company. The car was used against the German army in Warsaw during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. The damaged Kubuś survived the war and in 1945 was towed to the Polish Army Museum where it is currently on exhibition. A full-scale operational replica was created in 2004 by Juliusz Siudziński and is, as of 2009, on exhibition at the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
In Russia, various GM Daewoo and US Chevrolet models are available. GM-AvtoVAZ is joint venture between GM and Russian AvtoVAZ was established in 2001 and makes the Chevrolet Niva, an SUV especially for Russian market and conditions.
General Motors Uzbekistan, or GM Uzbekistan, became the new name of Uz-Daewoo Auto in March 2008 as part of a new joint venture owned by Uzavtosanoat JSC (75%) and General Motors Corporation (25%) with a factory in Asaka producing a variety of Chevrolet models. Currently, in Uzbekistan producing models, such as, Damas (N150), Matiz (M150), Nexia (N150), Spark (M300), Epica, and Captiva (SUV).
South America
Historically, many Latin American-market vehicles from GM were modified derivatives of older models from GM's North American and European operations. The current S10 and Blazer exemplify this strategy. However, more modern vehicles are now being marketed as market conditions change and competition increases. Besides those older models made in Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mercosur countries, Korean sourced cars from former Daewoo factories some markets also get Korean and U.S. made Chevrolet on top of their local line-ups.
In 1924 General Motors started importing Chevrolet Double Phaeton models and were welcomed with great demand. In 1925, in order to reduce costs in the Argentine market, General Motors decided to manufacture in Argentina and started producing a sedan, a roadster, a truck chassis and the Chevrolet Double Phaeton, now called "Especial Argentino", a model exclusively designed for the Argentinean market. Sales increased and soon the Oldsmobile, Oakland and Pontiac units were incorporated to the assembly line.
When the Second World War broke out the operations were complicated. In 1941 the Chevrolet 250.000 was made, but the shortage of products made car production impossible. The last Chevrolet went out of the plant in August, 1942. In order to avoid the total stoppage, the company made electrical and portable refrigerators and car accessories amongst other items. After the war, GM started producing the Oldsmobile and Pontiac lines and later Chevrolet is added.
In 1959, manufacturing plants are enlarged and set up to produce cars, pick ups and trucks. On January 25, 1960 the first Argentinean Chevrolet pick-up was introduced. The following year the national government approves the investment plan for 45 million dollars which included a plant of 12,000 m2. On March 12, 1962 the first Chevrolet 400 was made based on the North American Chevy II. The original plan considered a national integration of 50% during the first year of production; this amount had to be 90% in 1964 with a production of 15,000 units. By 1969, the Chevy line, derived from the American Chevy Nova, was presented.
In the middle of the seventies, General Motors market share was reduced sharply from 9% in 1976 to 2% in 1978. Losses exceeded $30 million and the head company in the USA decided to halt production activities in Argentina.
The Chevrolet trademark reappeared in 1985 for the production of the pick-up in its versions C-20 and D-20. In 1995, a plan for the manufacturing destined for export specially to Brazil and other countries of Mercosur materialized with the building of a new facility near Rosario, Santa Fe, for the production of the Opel-based Chevrolet Corsa and the Suzuki-based Chevrolet Grand Vitara 4x4.
In Brazil, the Chevrolet Opala was based on the German Opel Rekord and American Chevrolet Nova from the late 1960s, continuing in production until the early 1990s, when it was replaced by a version of the Opel Omega. Other smaller Chevrolets in Brazil, such as the Kadett and Monza, were based on the Opel Kadett and Ascona respectively.
Chevrolet's product line-up in Brazil comprised some exclusive designs like the Corsa "B" based Celta, which was sold in Argentina under the Suzuki brand, the Astra, and a Brazilian designed Vectra based on the Opel Astra H. The passenger car range currently includes the Cruze, the Captiva, the Agile hatchback,Chevrolet Onix . The latest home-grown product is the Chevrolet Prisma MKII, released in 2013.
Utility and four wheel drive vehicles line-up includes the S10, the Blazer, and the Montana. The Montana is a compact pickup truck, based on the Agile, that is also sold in other Latin American markets. From the 1960s to the mid-1980s, there was also a large station wagon, derived from the C10 truck (somewhat similar to the Suburban), called the Veraneio.
Chevrolet has been operating in Ecuador for 80 years. GM Ecuador sells US Chevrolets alongside GM Korea sourced models. It also sells the 1983 Suzuki Supercarry under the Chevrolet namel, and the Isuzu Rodeo was sold as the Chevrolet Rodeo throughout the 1990s.
In Venezuela, Chevrolet has been operating since 1948, when truck production began in Caracas. In 1979 production moved to a plant in Valencia that was purchased from Chrysler. Chevrolet assembled more than 1,500,000 vehicles in its first 50 years in Venezuela.
The Colombian Automotive Factory SA (Colmotores) was founded in 1956 and initially produced vehicles in Austin; in the '60s, Simca and Dodge automobiles (its first car manufactured was a Coronet 440); and then, in 1980, began producing Chevrolet cars. Currently Colmotores has more than 75% of the domestic market, with models from GM Korea and Suzuki. Particularly worthy of mention is the Aveo, Optra and the Spark.
Trinidad and Tobago
Since the early 1920s, Chevrolet cars and trucks were marketed in this country. The Master Deluxe Sedan of the late 1930s was considered to be a pinnacle of luxury. All cars sold through the local dealer, Neal and Massey (also franchisee for Vauxhall and Buick), were right-hand-drive, and imported from Canada and Australia. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, GM maintained a market presence with the Bel Air, Impala and Fleetline. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Australian Holden DeVilles badged as Chevrolet Caprices were sold, though a few "Islander" limited edition American Chevrolet Caprices were imported. Neal and Massey gave up the GM franchise in 1974 and the brand left the market.
During the period 1998–2001, Southern Sales Ltd. imported the Chevy Monza and Joy. Based on the Opel Corsa platform and assembled in Mexico, these were the cheapest new cars available. Poor build quality, unprofessional dealer service, and a limited spare parts supply saw these cars exit the market with only a few units being sold. In 2003, the local Renault dealer marketed the Aveo sedan and hatchback, as well as the Optra sedan (a rebadged Suzuki Forenza), with limited success.
A more intensive marketing campaign by the latest Chevrolet dealer, Lifestyle Motors, has met more success. The models available are the Chevrolet Colorado (Isuzu D-Max twin), Spark (micro-car based on the Daewoo Matiz), Aveo sedan and hatchback, Optra sedan, hatchback and wagon, the Captiva SUV, and the Epica large saloon. In March 2011, the Cruze was added to the lineup and features a 1.8 litre gasoline engine. It bridges the gap between Optra and Epica models. Once the Optra is phased out, a 1.6 litre Cruze will be made available.
Vehicle models
Major teams include Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Stewart Haas Racing who all drive Chevy SS themed cars. Hendrick has 10 championships, RCR has 6 championships, Stewart Haas has 1 championship. Chevrolet is the most successful manufacturer to be involved in NASCAR with 35 manufacturer's titles and the most recorded wins by manufacturer. Previously the Chevy Monte Carlo and Impala were used.
American Le Mans Series
The Corvette runs in the American Le Mans Series GT class. Corvette Racing started in 1999 at the Daytona 24-hour race and has since won eight consecutive ALMS GT1 manufacturers and team championships and seven ALMS GT1 drivers' titles. The Corvette also takes part in the French 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
FIA World Touring Car Championship
In 2005, when the Chevrolet brand was re-launched in Europe, Chevrolet took part in the WTCC with a version of the Lacetti, developed by the UK-based Ray Mallock Ltd (RML). In 2009 the Cruze replaced the Lacetti and in 2010 won the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championship.
British Touring Car Championship
British football
In May 2012, Chevrolet replaced Audi as the official car sponsor of the British football team Manchester United, and from the start of the 2014-15 season Chevrolet would become the team's shirt sponsor. The deal is contracted to run for seven years.
In July 2012, Chevrolet and English Premier League football team Liverpool F.C. announced a four-year partnership which would see Chevrolet become the official automotive partner of the club.
Chevrolet bowtie logo
The Chevrolet bowtie logo was introduced by company co-founder William C. Durant in late 1913. According to an official company publication titled The Chevrolet Story of 1961, the logo originated in Durant's imagination when, as a world traveler in 1908, he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on wallpaper in a French hotel. He tore off a piece of the wallpaper and kept it to show friends, with the thought that it would make a good nameplate for a car. However, in an interview with Durant's widow, Catherine published in a 1986 issue of Chevrolet Pro Management Magazine, Catherine recalled how she and her husband were on holiday in Hot Springs, Va., in 1912. While reading a newspaper in their hotel room, Durant spotted a design and exclaimed, "I think this would be a very good emblem for the Chevrolet." Unfortunately, at the time, Mrs. Durant didn't clarify what the motif was or how it was used. Ken Kaufmann, historian and editor of The Chevrolet Review, discovered in a Nov. 12, 1911 edition of The Constitution newspaper, published in Atlanta, an advertisement appeared from by the Southern Compressed Coal Company for "Coalettes," a refined fuel product for fires. The Coalettes logo, as published in the ad, had a slanted bowtie form, very similar to the shape that would soon become the Chevrolet icon. The date of the paper was just nine days after the incorporation of the Chevrolet Motor Co. One other explanation attributes the design to a stylized version of the cross of the Swiss flag. Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchatel, to French parents, on Christmas Day 1878. An October 2, 1913 edition of The Washington Post seems, so far, to be the earliest known example of the symbol being used to advertise the brand.
The first bowtie logo without embedded text first appeared in 1985, as part of the Heartbeat of America ad campaign. In 2004, Chevrolet began to phase-in the gold bowtie that serves as the brand identity for all of its cars and trucks marketed globally.
The Klavika Condensed font was designed by type design studio Process Type Foundry under the art direction of Aaron Carámbula for General Motors marketer FutureBrand as part of Chevrolet's 2006 redesign. After the expiry of the exclusivity period, the commercial version of the font (Klavika Condensed) was released to the public in the fall of 2008. In the Young Creative Chevrolet corporate identity guidelines, Klavika is listed for use in all communication materials. Klavika was phased out beginning in 2012 and replaced by Knockout (from Hoefler & Frere-Jones) while the campaign was still ongoing. Currently, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners is utilizing the typeface families Louis, a group of simplified, legible grotesque gothics named after co-founder Louis Chevrolet, and Durant, a roman group, just as simplified and legible, named after co-founder William Durant, on print, television and Chevrolet's website advertisements.
100th anniversary
As part of Chevrolet's 100th anniversary in 2011, a dedicated channel was created by the American internet based Pandora Radio station, playing the Top 100 songs mentioning the brand. Beginning on November 3, 2011, Chevrolet celebrated the countdown to its 100th birthday by encouraging its customers and fans to tell their Chevy stories, vote for their favorite Chevrolet cars and trucks, and take the birthday party to their communities with the help of Chevrolet and its dealers. A feature-length documentary titled 'Chevy100, An American Story', produced by Roger Sherman, was premiered on November 3 at Detroit Institute of Arts in downtown Detroit, features drivers, collectors, restorers, racers and journalists who live and breathe cars and trucks. In honor of the 100th birthday of Chevrolet, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chevrolet and Indianapolis businessman David Ring have arranged to properly mark the grave of Arthur Chevrolet, brother of Chevrolet co-founder Louis Chevrolet.
||This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2011)|
Earlier marketing efforts touted efficiency combined with savings – ("enormous buying power," 1914; "Quality at low cost," 1923, ""A Six for the Price of a Four," 1929), interspersed with what could be described as "loftier" messages (positioning the automobile –and Chevy by extension—as "Man's conquest of time," 1923). Of the marketing campaigns from more recent decades, "See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet" (used in the 50s and 60s) was one of the longest lasting. In 1949 Chevy sponsored "Inside USA" on CBS; while this was a short-lived show, the tune created for it got new life in 1951, when Chevy began sponsoring the Dinah Shore show and Shore sang it at the close of every show.
A selection of Chevrolet's more recent marketing campaigns includes the following:
- See The U.S.A. In Your Chevrolet (1950s–1960s)
- Putting you first keeps us first (1960s)
- It's Exciting! (mid-1960s)
- Building a better way to see the USA (early 1970s)
- Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet (1975;2006)
- Chevy makes good things happen(1982)
- USA-1 Taking Charge (1983)
- Today's Chevrolet—Live It (1985)
- The Heartbeat of America (1987–1994)
- Rock, Flag and Eagle (1985–1987)
- Genuine Chevrolet (1994–2001)
- Tried, Tested, and True (1996–2004 Canada)
- We'll Be There (2001–2004 United States)
- Like a Rock (1991–2004; Chevrolet Trucks) Featuring the Bob Seger song of the same name
- An American Revolution (2004–2009)
- For All Life's Roads (2004–2006; Canada)
- Our Country, My Truck (2006–2007; Chevrolet Trucks)
- America's Best Trucks (2007–present; Chevrolet Trucks)
- Let's Go (2007–2009; Canada)
- May the Best Car Win (2009–2010; United States & Canada)
- Excellence for Everyone (2010–present)
- Chevy Runs Deep (2010–2013; United States): A series of TV commercials were produced with Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, and was unveiled during the week of 2010 MLB World Series. Early commercials include 'Chevrolet: Anthem', 'Chevrolet: Dogs and Pickups', 'First Car', 'Chevrolet: Coming Home', 'Chevrolet Volt: Anthem', which positioned Chevy as a brand that is part of the American fabric in song, culture and in most of our pasts in one way or another. In 2011, General Motors announced the campaign would continue. Most television commercials run in this ongoing campaign feature voice-over by television and film star Tim Allen.
- Chevrolet is the Car (2011–2012; South Korea)
- Driving Our World Forward/I'm proud (2011-; Canada): Chevrolet Sonic and Chevrolet Orlando ads were produced by Toronto-based production company Holiday Films. In Quebec, the brand introduced a new tag line: 'I'm proud'. The campaign included commercials in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Punjabi and Hindi languages. French version of the Antham ad also uses alternate slogan 'Chevrolet, et fier de l'être.' The fully integrated campaign includes TV, print and outdoor elements as well as extensive social media. The General Motors brand also held live events, including a concert in Toronto, presentations by parenting expert Nanny Robina and 'mompreneur' Erica Ehm, and a live yoga session. Mike Speranzini, director of advertising and communications for General Motors Canada, claimed that by leveraging the fact that Chevrolet is a global brand, consumers are seeing it in a more favourable light. Slogan in other languages include: 'Driving me (and) your world' (驅動你我的世界) (Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese)
- LOVE. LIFE. CHEVROLET (2012–present; South Korea) As part of the Cruze campaign (in association with MacLaren McCann, Canada), outdoor vinyl materials, recycled seatbelts and bicycle inner tubes were made into messenger bags, laptop sleeves, and oversize totes.
- Live Better. (2012–present; United States)
- Find New Roads (2013-; United States, Canada): The slogan replaced the previous Chevy Runs Deep tag line, after Chevy Runs Deep campaign had been criticized as ineffectual. External applications of 'Find New Roads' was set to begin globally later in the first quarter of 2013. The first Find New Roads commercial, a 90-second commercial titled 'Dog & Doe' (produced by Commonwealth) featuring Chevrolet Volt, Spark, Sonic, Impala, Corvette Stingray, was premiered during 2013 Grammy Awards. The campaign was expected to cover 13 product launches for 2013 in the U.S. and 20 introductions throughout the world.
Marketing agency
FutureBrand, an Interpublic Group of Companies company, has been working with General Motors since 2000, who also involved the commissioning of a font that would later sold as Klavika Condensed, as part of re-design of Chevrolet in 2006.
In 2010, General Motors replaced the advertising agency Campbell-Ewald, also of Interpublic Group of Companies, with Publicis Worldwide. Campbell-Ewald had served Chevrolet since 1919. In May 2010 Chevrolet's advertising account was awarded to Goodby, Silverstein and Partners.
As part of the attempt to attract 18-24 year-old drivers, General Motors hired MTV Scratch. Some of the collaboration results include Chevy ads showing their cars skydiving, bungee jumping, doing other stunts. The commercial was produced with consultations from students from UCLA, Pepperdyne and high schools. Some of the footage was later used in Chevrolet Sonic ad titled 'Stunt Anthem' during Super Bowl XLVI.
In March 2012, General Motors announced two competing agencies, San Francisco-based Goodby, Silverstein and Partners (part of Omnicom Group), and New York-based McCann Erickson Worldwide (part of Interpublic Group), will join to form an equal joint venture company called Commonwealth to handle most of Chevrolet's ads. Prior to the joint venture, Goodby, Silverstein and Partners performed marketing in the U.S., including the "Chevy Runs Deep" campaign; McCann handled Chevrolet ads in China, Latin America, Mexico, Canada and other markets. Commonwealth would handle and supervise creative work worldwide out of Detroit for all markets except China, India and Uzbekistan, where GM has joint auto-making ventures. McCann would continue to handle ads in China and India, and Uzbekistan will be contracted as needed. MacLaren McCann continued on as AOR for the entire GM brand in Canada, but the Chevrolet brand will act as a “spoke” to Detroit’s creative hub, with content and messaging flowing through Commonwealth, but adapted for the Canadian market.
Performance Marketing Group Incorporated manages Chevrolet Racing’s experiential marketing properties for its at-track activation platforms in conjunction with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the IZOD IndyCar Series, and the American Le Mans Series with Team Corvette.
Chevrolet-only naming attempt
In 2010, a memo signed by Chevrolet sales and service vice president Alan Batey and General Motors marketing division vice president Jim Campbell was sent to Chevrolet employees at its Detroit headquarters, instructing employees to only use Chevrolet when addressing the brand, in order to present a consistent brand message. A postscript to the memo says a sort of cuss jar - a plastic "Chevy" can - has been placed in the hallway. "Every time someone uses 'Chevy' rather than Chevrolet," the note said, the employee is expected to put a quarter in the can. The proceeds were to be spent on "a team building activity." Paul Worthington, head of strategy for Wolff Olins, noted that the branding effort ran counter to a trend in which corporate names had become more casual. Ian Beavis of Nielsen Automotive Group noted that marketers can't control what consumers call their products, but nickname doesn't work in new markets where Chevrolet is trying to get a start. Following the release of the memo, General Motors published a statement claiming the note was in no way discouraging customers or fans from using the Chevy name. Following the 2010 memo incident, Chevy Runs Deep campaign remains to use the 'Chevy' name, while Driving Our World Forward campaign uses the 'Chevrolet' name.
In 2007, General Motors allowed AJS-Production SA to register the Louis Chevrolet trademark for a line of premium quality Swiss watches watch marketed under the Louis Chevrolet brand name. Although the watches bear the name of Louis Chevrolet, they are not marketed or produced in association with General Motors.
The watch brand pays tribute to Louis Chevrolet, co-founder of the Chevrolet automobile company, whose father was a watchmaker and in his childhood helped his father at the workbench. The collection was called Frontenac, the name inherited from the race car company founded by Louis Chevrolet. The Chevrolet watch collection comprises automatic, manually wound and quartz models, equipped with ETA and Ronda movements.
The Louis Chevrolet Frontenac watches, manufactured in Porrentruy, the Swiss Jura region, feature the styling cues suggested by the Chevrolet cars. The collection was developed while applying the same materials as used in the car industry. Pearled appliques on the Chevrolet watches' dials remind the metal forms of the old dashboards. The number "8", Chevrolet's racing number, is sported on the case back.
See also
- General Motors Canada
- Super Sport
- Chevrolet Hall
- Mason Truck
- Mark IV Big Block Engine
- Geo – A brand of small cars and SUVs sold through Chevrolet dealerships throughout North America from 1989–1997
- U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year – Sponsored by Chevrolet.
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- Stone, Simon. "Chevrolet". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- "Man Utd gets Chevrolet as new shirt sponsor". BBC News. July 30, 2012.
- "History with a Mystery: The Chevrolet Bowtie". Media.gm.com. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Ken Kaufmann. "Chevrolet Bowtie History". Home.earthlink.net. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- The Evolution of the Chevy Bowtie[dead link]
- By Aaron Richardson RSS feed. "How Chevrolet decided on its iconic Bowtie logo". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Custom Fonts". Processtypefoundry.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Young Creative Chevrolet - Ci Guidelines" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Knockout, the functional family". Typography.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "OLA guide". bugula.com. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
- "Chevrolet Celebrates 100 Years in Song" (Press release). Media.gm.com. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevy Marks 100 Years with Fans, Owners and Communities" (Press release). Media.gm.com. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "‘Chevy100, An American Story’ premieres in Detroit" (Press release). Media.gm.com. 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Arthur Chevrolet’s Grave Gets Marker on Chevrolet Birthday" (Press release). Media.gm.com. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Boles, Doug (2011-11-03). "100 Years Later - Chevrolet name still involved at IMS". Indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Jerry Garrett (October 21, 2011). "A Century of Chevy, From Cheap Date to America’s Sweetheart". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- "100 YEARS: From 'See the USA in your Chevrolet' to 'Like a Rock,' Chevy ads run deep". Automotive News. October 31, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- Jack Doyle (March 22, 2009). "Dinah Shore & Chevrolet, 1956-1963". Pop History Dig. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- Automotive News, October 31, 2011
- "Chevrolet to employ new "Excellence for Everyone" ad campaign". Autoblog.com. March 11, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
- Kiley, David. "The Why? behind "Chevy Runs Deep" slogan". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Shunk, Chris. ""Chevy Runs Deep" campaign to stick around". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevrolet - Driving our world forward". Gm.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Driving Our World Forward". Holidayfilms.wordpress.com. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "GM Canada begins "largest vehicle launch" in its history". Marketingmag.ca. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Chevrolet Anthem - Version 60 secondes[dead link]
- Shaw, Hollie (2011-10-14). "Chevy repositions". Business.financialpost.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "2012 Sonic" (PDF) (in Mandarin). General Motors media. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "2012 Sonic" (PDF) (in Cantonese). General Motors media. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "2012 CHEVROLET LOVE LIFE AD KOREA 1 LOVE LIFE KOREA". Dragtimes.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevrolet: Billboards Into Bags". Adsoftheworld.com. 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevrolet Converts Old Billboards into Stylish Bags". Chevroletofjoplin.com. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Chevrolet: Billboards Into Bags. "Chevrolet: Billboards Into Bags". Ibelieveinadv.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevrolet To 'Find New Roads' As It Drops 'Chevy Runs Deep'". Forbes.com. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Ross, Jeffrey N. "Chevrolet introducing "Find New Roads" global tagline". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevrolet Will ‘Find New Roads’ as Brand Grows Globally - Aligns around the world behind singular vision" (Press release). Media.gm.ca. 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevy Touts Product Variety In Inaugural 'Find New Roads' Ad". Forbes.com. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Nudd, Tim (2013-02-19). "Inside Chevrolet's Bustling, Magical 'Find New Roads' Launch Spot Commonwealth's Linus Karlsson on creating five ads in one By Tim Nudd". Adweek.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevrolet's new tagline: 'Find new roads'". Freep.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- GM Expressing the corporate vision
- "GM dumps Chevrolet's longtime ad agency -- like a rock ", USA Today, April 26, 2010.
- McMains, Andrew. "GM Confirms Chevy's Shift to Goodby". Adweek. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- Tutor, Chris. "GM turns to MTV to sell cars to younger generations". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Team Scratch (2012-03-20). "Crowdsourcing: Next Gen Consumers in the Driver’s Seat". Blog.mtvscratch.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "SXSW: Crowdsourcing". Blog.gsdm.com. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Chevy Sonic "Stunt Anthem" | Chevy Super Bowl XLVI Ads | Chevrolet Commercial". Dailymotion.com. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "GM to combine Chevy advertising, hopes to save $2B". Boston.com. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- March 27, 2012 by Megan Haynes (2012-03-27). "Chevrolet merges creative teams to form global agency". Strategyonline.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Performance Marketing Group - Chevrolet Motor Division". Pmgincorporated.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Saving Chevrolet Means Sending ‘Chevy’ to Dump
- Woodyard, Chris (2010-06-11). "Chevrolet memo gets the word out: Don't call me Chevy". USAtoday. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Statement" (Press release). GM media. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Schepp, David (2010-06-10). "The Name Is 'Chevrolet' - Not 'Chevy.' Er, Never Mind". Dailyfinance.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Log in om een reactie te plaatsen. (2010-06-10). "Chevy vs. Chevrolet An Explanation". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- "Louis Chevrolet Swiss Watches". worldtempus.com. December 28, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
- "Legendary Chevrolet on the Wrist". Watches.infoniac.com. September 26, 2007. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
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Statistical significance is the measure of what statistical evidence there is to suggest an observed effect was due to the independent variable (what is being tested) rather than chance. A significant effect, therefore, is one which would most likely be observed in subsequent experiments - i.e., it's a real effect, not just a fluke. The easiest way to demonstrate significance is with a larger sample size, as it is less likely that a larger number of data points would conspire to be incorrect by chance.
The word "significant", in this sense, does not mean "large" or "important" as it does in the everyday use of the word. Statistically significant effects can, in fact, be very small indeed although larger sample sizes are required to demonstrate significance of smaller effects.
In frequentist statistical approaches, statistical significance often arises when reporting the results of hypothesis testing. An alternative hypothesis (that there is an effect) is favoured - and a null hypothesis (that there is not an effect) is rejected - if the experimental evidence shows a significant difference from the null hypothesis. If a significant difference is not present the null hypothesis remains favored and the alternative hypothesis is rejected, because there's a good possibility that the effect was just random.
A common misinterpretation of statistical significance is that "a lack of statistical significance" or "no significant difference" are synonymous with "not enough data to draw a conclusion." In fact, a non-significant result is a conclusion in favor of the null hypothesis -- there isn't enough evidence to throw it out and accept the alternative hypothesis. A better way of interpreting "non-significant" is "there's a good chance that the outcome was a random event, and we can't differentiate between two competing effects".
Similar abuse of statistics is when journalists or certain agenda pushers ignore the concept of significance entirely - leading to false information being given out to people. In 2005, a report commissioned by the UK government concluded that there had been "no significant increase in drug use in UK schools". Not content with the conclusion that "things aren't that bad, actually", a few newspapers jumped on the report and decided to draw their own conclusions. In their, frankly amateurish, search for something to data mine, they noticed that cocaine use in schools went from 1% to 2% - although these were rounded off for the summary, it was actually 1.4% and 1.9%, so a 35% increase, rather than a 100% increase. They had their smoking gun; despite what the government concluded, cocaine use had doubled, cocaine was flooding the playground and the government were covering it up. However, the government's conclusion was more accurate, because it took into account significance, clustering and the fact that the use of many different drugs had been polled. If you test many variables the chances of one of them showing a clear trend by chance increase, and so tests for significance have to be altered appropriately. Upon doing the actual maths, the results were actually very insignificant, essentially produced by accident and the random chance that the sample would have fallen on a cluster of individuals using drugs that wasn't representative of the whole sample.
Problems with statistical significance
In most statistical methods significance is defined by some threshold value, often referred to as the alpha value. This threshold value is set usually at 0.05 or less. This means that there is a less than five percent chance of getting the results by chance alone. There is nothing fundamentally magic about an alpha level of 0.05 yet after many generations of using it in analysis it seems to have taken on a certain magical value for many sciences. If a statistical test comes back with p=0.04 results are called significant and if p=0.06 they are called non-significant.
With this standard alpha level about 1 in 20 results should come back significant when there really is no effect. This does and can happen frequently so it is wrong to assume a good value means you're completely certain, it's still all about probability. In individual experiments that run many statistical tests this is a problem, if you run 40 tests about 2 of them will show an effect that is not really there. This is often referred to as a family wise error rate and is difficult to control for but some measures can be used. While it is easy to see this problem in a single set of experiments in a single paper the same phenomenon emerges if a bunch of single experiments are published in multiple papers. With the thousands of experiments run everyday all over the world a very large number of them will show a statistical significance when there really is no effect at all. Publishing biases in journals exaggerate this problem because journals rarely publish experiments that show only a non-effect (i.e., "failed" experiments), and are much more likely to publish papers that show an effect. So you wind up with a massive uncontrolled bias in the published papers towards showing statistical significance where there really is none.
(Ab)use in pseudoscience
This is one reason why picking out a single test in a single paper to make a point is meaningless. It is a common tactic in pseudoscience to search through thousands of papers to find that one result that's significant and makes their point. Real science must be accompanied by the preponderance of evidence, and experimental results need to be replicated repeatedly and reliably before they should be incorporated in the body of accepted knowledge. This is why scientific consensus is important and quacks and cranks that go against this consensus do not gain points by finding a single example in a paper that might support their claims.
The problems above are due mostly to the use of frequentist approaches to statistical analysis. There is a growing movement of scientists who are encouraging the use of Bayesian based statistics. Bayesian approaches are not subject to the same sort of systematic error propagation issues as frequentist approaches (however they are subject to their own unique sets of issues).
"P-value fishing" is a pejorative term for a statistical sleight of hand often abused by cranks and those with an agenda to push. There are two common ways to get a statistically significant result that doesn't mean much at all. The first is, in studies with a large number of variables, to run comparisons of all the variables and hope that something comes out significant. Proper methodology dictates that the experimenter choose which variables are being compared beforehand and to run post-hoc corrections on any further comparisons. In other words, just comparing as many variables as possible will eventually turn up a significant result, though it's likely to be statistical noise. The post-hoc correction calculates how many of these comparisons will be significant by chance and so if the post-hoc analysis comes up with equal to or fewer significant results than the correction allows for, it's still insignificant.
The second trick is to fish for p-values by cranking up the number of subjects until significance is achieved. Normally, it's good to have more subjects, however, the data should be interpreted in light of that. What often happens with a large subject pool is that even a slight difference in means will become significant even though the effect size is close to nothing. This is why it's important to look at the effect size in addition to the p-value.
Proposed solutions to the problems
Another approach has been to argue that statistics needs to lose its magical status in science as some sort of analogy to a proof, but rather needs to be seen as an argument. The p value of statistics are just one piece in the broader perspective and should be weighed against other types of evidence. Rather then assigning a magical threshold value, p values can be reported directly, allowing people to integrate them with other evidence in making their conclusions. If other evidence is weak maybe a p value of 0.05 is not convincing, or maybe if all the other evidence is strong a p value of 0.1 is good enough.
- What does it mean for a result to be "statistically significant"? Stats FAQ, George Mason University
- 9 circles of scientific hell, Neuroskeptic
- The Cult of Significance Testing, John D. Cook
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What is a feminist anyway?
I changed the title of this article from sexism to asking the question after a conversation with a great friend. The definition of a feminist according to directionary.com is advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men. Feminism according to wiki is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Feminism is mainly focused on women’s issues, but because feminism seeks gender equality, some feminists argue that men’s liberation is therefore a necessary part of feminism, and that men are also harmed by sexism and gender roles.
Some women’s ignorance that inequality doesn’t exist may depend on individual experience or ignorance to see beyond immediate surroundings. Even if you have not experienced gender, economic and social unfairness in your personal life. If you have been outside your home and read time to time, you will know it exist. I would also say that the media is where you see clear inequality, if you look at how women are exploited at every level, particular when it comes to sex. Addressing inequality has to do with the power to know that you are a victim of it. We’ve all experienced some form of inequality in our lives, women and men alike. I have had discussions with women and men alike who have said a feminist is someone who fight against men. If you believe by standing up for women equality is to go against men, I wonder who gave you birth? There are those who detest the opposite sex and I think that’s where the misunderstandings are.
Sexism is an attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles. Discrimination or devaluation based on a person’s sex, as in restricted job opportunities; especially, such discrimination directed against women – Online dictionary definition. Sexism is alive and well. When I hear people say “conservatives” or women in the Republican Party do not believe sexism or women inequality exists, I ask myself if that’s really true? Perhaps they are in denial or playing the ignorance card if that is the case.
Inequality should be everyone’s concerned. Inequality isn’t going anywhere as long human beings exist, it is here to stay. It’s like an incurable disease, you will not cure it but you can treat it so that you can live with it. The idea that people are dying for not having equal opportunities, unable to live in peace because of race, gender, religion, or one culture refusal to accept the other is very evil. As long someone isn’t a threat, imposing their values onto you or disturbing your peace, what right should you have to isolate or treat them differently?
Women are fighting for equal rights in every corner. If women continue to blame each other and men for their issues, then we have a problem. If you believe the reasons that men hold the majority of the wealth in your country, make the decisions that affect you, control your freedom and abuse you because they have the right, than stand up and fight. Speak up and be heard, perhaps men are not aware of the problems you are facing and we need to educate them. Men have fought in many corners to help women gain freedom, some will listen if we speak to them and some we may have to fight them. Yes, that comes with consequences. I know this isn’t easy, but the more you deny your disease the less curable it becomes. To answer my own question, I will say this. If your definition of a feminist is someone who is against the opposite sex, than I am NOT that woman. If a feminist is someone who believes in equal rights for all, than yes, I AM a proud feminist and hope to be for as long as I live.
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 13th, 2011 at 11:21 and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Metallic copper is inherently antimicrobial and kills bacteria rapidly*. In contrast, bacteria can survive for days on stainless steel surfaces. Copper is registered as a solid antimicrobial material at the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The CopperPen for Hygiene
It has been shown that frequently touched objects which cannot readily be sanitized, such as keyboards, cell phones, or pens are often heavily populated by bacteria. The CopperPen helps to reduce such microbial contamination by the antimicrobial properties of copper*. The body and knob of the CopperPen are made of 99.9% copper (C12200/ C11000), the clip is of hardened steel, plated with 20 µm of copper for durability.
The 'Copper Smell'
Copper and copper-containing alloys like brass develop a characteristic smell when touched. This is due to the formation of trace amounts of volatile aldehydes and ketones when copper comes into contact with the human skin. The human nose is extremely sensitive for these compounds, but they are of no health concern. In fact, the copper smell distinguishes real copper from fake, copper-looking materials.
Care of the CopperPen
The CopperPen will never loose its antimicrobial properties if cleaned regularly. Light abrasives such as toothpaste or a microfibre cloth will help to restore its original look. The pen should not be treated with oil, wax, or anti-tarnishing agents, as this will impair the antimicrobial properties.
*Laboratory testing showed that, when cleaned regularly, copper kills greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Copper surfaces are a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices and have been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but do not necessarily prevent cross contamination; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices.
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Climate change is threatening the survival of a number of Asian bird species, including those in India, a new study warns.
The research conducted by Durham University and BirdLife International says that many avian species from the region are likely to suffer from climate change.
The species will require not just enhanced protection of important and protected sites, but also better management of the wider countryside, the study says.
"In some extreme cases, birds may be required to be physically moved to climatically suitable areas for survival, says the report recently published in the journal "Global Change Biology".
This study was conducted for 370 Asian bird species, whose conservation is a cause for concern, across the biodiversity hotspots of eastern Himalayas and lower Mekong River basin regions in Bhutan, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and parts of India and Nepal.
The findings demonstrate that the survival of species will be dependent upon how conservation sites are managed and whether movement is possible from one site to another.
Projections show that at least 45 per cent and up to 88 per cent of the 370 species studied will experience decline of suitable habitats, leading to changing species composition in specific areas.
Co-lead author, Dr Robert Bagchi, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University said, "Even under the least extreme scenarios of climate change, most species we examined will have to shift their ranges in order to find suitable areas in the future.
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Books & Music
Food & Wine
Health & Fitness
Hobbies & Crafts
Home & Garden
News & Politics
Religion & Spirituality
Travel & Culture
TV & Movies
Food Sensitivity and ADD
For years any suggestions that foods might contribute to the development or severity of Attention Deficit Disorder were dismissed as “old wives” stories. While nobody knows all of the reasons that cause people to develop ADD, it is clear that it is a biological disorder which tends to run in families. Environmental factors are also credited with contributing to the development and severity of ADD. However, studies in recent years also point to foods and food additives as possible causes.
An Australian study released in 2010 pointed a finger at the “Western diet” as an associated factor in developing Attention Deficit Disorder. The Western Diet was compared to the “Healthy” diet that was high in folate, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. Adolescents who ate this healthy type of diet consumed fish, fruits, and vegetables. Fresh food was emphasized. Contrast that with the Western diet that is high in carry-out foods and sweets. Western diets are also associated with fried foods and foods that are highly processed. As would be expected, these foods are high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. This Western diet was associated with twice the risk of having an Attention Deficit Disorder diagnosis before the age of 14 years.
Australian researchers believe that several mechanisms might be involved in developing symptoms of ADD. These included a lack of micronutrients, food additives, combined with a less than beneficial fatty acid profile.
In 2011, research conducted by Dr. Lidy Peisser in the Netherlands was reported in The Lancet. Dr. Peisser believes that external factors cause much of the Attention Deficit Disorder that is diagnosed. Again, her research was focused on the interaction of food with the child’s body chemistry and how the food could cause the negative symptoms of ADD.
While not all children showed improvement through manipulation of the diet in Dr. Peisser's study, as many as 64% did show positive changes in behavior. This amazed the adults who were working with them. Dr. Peisser feels that the medical profession should start children who have the symptoms of ADD on a diet that seeks to identify food-related items that they might be sensitive to. This research could show whether the children might be helped by changes in the diet, or whether medication or behavioral interventions should be used.
The University of Copenhagen reviewed studies detailing the effects of diet on children with Attention Deficit Disorder and released their findings in 2012. Their major finding is that diet does help some, but not all, young people with ADD. These reviewed studies suggest that changing the diet, especially adding omega-3 fatty acid, can improve the symptoms of ADD.
This study points out that Attention Deficit Disorder stems from several factors. There are different types of ADD/ADHD, and researchers need to identify which types of ADD are improved through dietary manipulation. A way to predict the effect of diet on ADD/ADHD needs to be devised. Formulating a way to foresee which children might be helped could cut down on medication in that population of children who have Attention Deficit Disorder.
These three studies are leading into a future where more attention should be paid to diet as a factor in ADD. More research needs to be conducted to get a clearer picture of the extent that food is implicated in the development and severity of the negative symptoms of ADD.
This article is for information only, and it is not meant to replace the advice of a medical professional. Any change of diet should be discussed with a medical doctor.
Research Australia (2010, July 29). Western diet link to ADHD, Australian study finds.ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬/releases/2010/07/100729091454.htm
http://www.adhdenvoeding.nl/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Pelsser-The-Lancet-2011-Publication-INCA-study.pdf (This is fascinating reading, if you enjoy the technical reading of scientific studies.)
University of Copenhagen (2012, April 24). Dietary changes help some children with ADHD.ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com-/releases/2012/04/120424121904.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmind_brain%2Fadd_and_adhd+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Mind+%26+Brain+News+--+ADD+and+ADHD%29
Content copyright © 2013 by Connie Mistler Davidson. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Connie Mistler Davidson. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Connie Mistler Davidson for details.
Website copyright © 2013 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved.
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Antibacterial vs. Non-Antibacterial Soap
Handwashing with antibacterial soap produces statistically greater reductions in bacteria on the skin when compared to using non-antibacterial soap.
Those are the findings of a review of two dozen relevant published studies – analyzing the effectiveness of antibacterial soaps – featured in the November 2011 edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of Food Protection.
Researchers Donald Schaffner and Rebecca Montville of Rutgers University's (New Jersey) Food Science Department conducted a quantitative analysis of existing data in order to determine if there was a difference in effectiveness between antibacterial and non-antibacterial soaps.
"A difference in the effectiveness of antimicrobial and non-antimicrobial soaps appears to exist and is repeatedly observed through a variety of analyses; antimicrobial soap is consistently and statistically always more effective than non-antimicrobial soap," the researchers wrote.
The research article, "A Meta-Analysis of the Published Literature on the Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Soap," reviewed a total of 25 publications containing 374 observations found to have examined use of both antibacterial and non-antibacterial soap in the same study.
"Although differences in efficacy between antimicrobial and non-antimicrobial soap may be relatively small, they do exist, and small but significant differences in pathogen levels on hands can have a significant effect on public health," wrote Schaffner and Montville.
Added Dr. Schaffner: "In addition to our findings on antimicrobial effectiveness, I was really struck by the similar behavior of very different species of bacteria in response to antibacterial soap. In other words, we found that antibacterial soap did its job against a variety of bacteria, including E. coli and Staph."
The research in the Journal of Food Protection (Vol. 74, No. 11 2011, Pages 1875-1882) was supported by the Topical Antimicrobial Coalition, which consists of the American Cleaning Institute and the Personal Care Products Council.
Links to this and other studies demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps are available online at www.FightGermsNow.com.
For more information on cosmetic and personal care products, visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.
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Brainwashing, Consciousness-Raising, and Cult Indoctrination
"Brainwashing" came to be recognized as a term around 1950, in Mao's attempts to transform revolutionary China. The term came into use in the western world in the USA during the Korean War of the 1950s, when it became known that the Chinese communists were using brainwashing techniques on western prisoners of war.
What is brainwashing?
In the late 1950s, psychologist Robert Jay Lifton studied former prisoners of Korean and Chinese war camps. He determined that they'd undergone a multistep process that began with attacks on the prisoner's sense of self and ended with what appeared to be a change in beliefs. Lifton ultimately defined a set of steps involved in the brainwashing cases he studied:Source.
1. Assault on identity
4. Breaking point
6. Compulsion to confess
7. Channeling of guilt
8. Releasing of guilt
9. Progress and harmony
10. Final confession and rebirth
Each of these stages takes place in an environment of isolation, meaning all "normal" social reference points are unavailable, and mind-clouding techniques like sleep deprivation and malnutrition are typically part of the process. There is often the presence or constant threat of physical harm, which adds to the target's difficulty in thinking critically and independently.
These methods should be familiar to anyone who has experienced indoctrination into a cult, or the political indoctrination known as "consciousness raising." Consciousness raising is a method of "programming" a person into an extremist philosophy--and is common practise in many leftist and nazi-type organisations. In fact the original method of programming for radical feminists was consciousness raising. It is important to separate the individual from her previous "program", in order to program her into the new ideology.
Our study groups were radicalizing our own consciousness and it suddenly became apparent that women could be doing on a mass scale what we were doing in our own group, that the next logical radical action would be to get the word out about what we were doing. This kind of study would be part of what was necessary to achieve the liberation of women on a mass scale. Source.
Cult indoctrination and indoctrination in muslim extremism follows much the same form as the other types of brainwashing.
* Breaking sessions: that pressure a person until they crack.
* Changing values: to change what is right and wrong.
* Confession: to leave behind the undesirable past.
* Entrancement: open the mind and limit rational reflection.
* Engagement: that draws a person in.
* Exhaustion: so they are less able to resist persuasion.
* Guilt: about the past that they can leave behind.
* Higher purpose: associate desirability with a higher purpose.
* Identity destruction: to make space for the new identity.
* Information control: that blocks out dissuading thoughts.
* Incremental conversion: shifting the person one step at a time.
* Isolation: separating people from dissuasive messages.
* Love Bomb: to hook in the lonely and vulnerable.
* Persistence: never giving up, wearing you down.
* Special language: that offers the allure of power and new meaning.
* Thought-stopping: block out distracting or dissuading thoughts.
Anyone reading the above list of characteristics of "conversion techniques" will notice similarities between cult techniques, political ideological techniques, and techniques used against prisoners of war in the Korean and Vietnamese wars.
The sad truth is, in leftist dominated universities in the western world, as in muslim and extreme fundamentalist religious schools, such "consciousness raising" types of brainwashing are routinely used in many classes given by women's studies, ethnic studies, political science, and many other departments where political and religious indoctrination is considered more important than preparing the students to be fit to meet the future.
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Hunger Crisis in the Sahel
A major food crisis looms over the Sahel, a zone that extends across the African continent, separating Sahara and savanna. Some 2.6 million children are at risk of deadly malnutrition as pastoralist populations, largely dependent on biomass-rich pastures for grazing livestock, face widespread shortages of food and fodder. With a lack of rainfall and the early arrival of this year’s “hunger gap”—the period of seasonal scarcity between harvests—substantial biomass losses have been documented across the region, imposing food shortages on human and animal populations alike across Africa’s Sahel.
When a crisis as complicated and deep-rooted as the one in Africa’s Sahel region hits, getting a sense of the size and scope of it can be daunting. That’s why we want to share the latest information on what’s going on at the country and regional levels. ... Read
Support emergency response in the Sahel.
- Action Against Hunger is committed to helping 800,000 people across the Sahel region in 2012.
- In the coming months, we expect to reach more than 20,000 children in two of the most devastated areas of Chad, Kanem and Bahr el Ghazal.
- In March and April 2012, we are assisting more than 8,000 Malians displaced by the country’s coup by covering basic needs, running food distributions, and increasing the capacity of 31 nutrition centers.
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A typical question I get this time of year is this: “I’ve got weeds in my lawn. What kind of weed killer do you recommend?” I usually respond with a couple of questions: What kinds of weeds are growing in your lawn? Are you managing your lawn properly?
Weeds often appear in thin or weak stands of grass. Growing an unadapted grass or improperly mowing, watering and fertilizing your lawn will invite weedy invaders. Other pests and conditions that affect the health of your lawn, such as insects, diseases, compacted soil and thatch, will give weeds a competitive edge over lawn grasses.
Many weeds are fairly reliable indicators of growing conditions. For example, acid or low pH soils support an abundance of sorrel or sour grass. This weed is a close relative of the salad herb, which has larger leaves and a more refined lemony taste.
Compacted soils tend to favor goosegrass, prostrate knotweed, prostrate spurge, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, mouse ear chickweed and rushes.
Low fertility favors legumes such as white clover and black medic, as well as carpetweed, poorjoe, quackgrass, sorrel, yarrow, annual trampweed and yellow woodsorrel.
In damp, wet, poorly drained areas look for annual bluegrass, barnyard grass, common chickweed, ground ivy, mouse ear chickweed, moss, pennywort, rushes, sedges, speedwells and violets.
The secret to reducing the abundance of any of these weeds is to change the conditions that favor their growth. Soil improvement, not an herbicide, is the best way to assure that your lawn grasses gets the upper hand. Improve drainage by adding organic matter or filling in low spots with native soil. Have your soil tested every three or four years and follow the recommendations from on the report. Maintaining the appropriate soil pH (generally between 6.2 and 6.5) and supplying only the minerals that are deficient will improve the growing environment for your lawn grasses. Warm-season lawns, such as centipede grass, bermuda grass, and zoysia grass, can be aerified at this time of year. Aerification loosens compacted soil and increases the availability of water and nutrients. It also enhances oxygen levels in the soil, stimulating root growth and enhancing the activity of thatch-decomposing organisms, thereby enhancing thatch breakdown.
Information about these and other lawn maintenance practices that will help your lawn naturally outcompete weeds for light, water, nutrients and space can be found at the Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center (http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/).
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Matrices and Fourth Dimension
How can matrices relate to the 4th dimension?
A matrix is a set of numbers in a pattern that relates one set of dimensions
to another. A 4-by-4 matrix can transform one 4 dimensional quantity (a
space-time vector) into another. It can also be used as part of a
relationship between two 4 dimensional objects, acting very much like a
fancy multiplication. Because matrices are a general mathematical form,
they can actually relate to anything that is at least two-dimensional.
Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Illinois Central College
They are only loosely connected. A matrix is a mathematical entity: an
array of numbers containing 'n' rows and 'm' columns that obeys certain
algebraic rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The
algebra of matrices makes them useful in a wide variety of applications in
the physical sciences and engineering. There is no special connection to
the dimensionality of a space.
Click here to return to the Mathematics Archives
Update: June 2012
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