text
stringlengths 174
640k
| id
stringlengths 47
47
| dump
stringclasses 17
values | url
stringlengths 14
1.94k
| file_path
stringlengths 125
142
| language
stringclasses 1
value | language_score
float64 0.65
1
| token_count
int64 43
156k
| score
float64 2.52
5.34
| int_score
int64 3
5
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Your email address will be used for Wildy’s marketing materials only. We will never give your email address to any third party.
Special Discounts for Pupils, Newly Called & Students
Browse Secondhand Online
Amnesty laws are political tools used since ancient times by states wishing to quell dissent, introduce reforms, or achieve peaceful relationships with their enemies. In recent years, they have become contentious due to a perception that they violate international law, particularly the rights of victims, and contribute to further violence.
This view is disputed by political negotiators who often argue that amnesty is a necessary price to pay in order to achieve a stable, peaceful, and equitable system of government. This book aims to investigate whether an amnesty necessarily entails a violation of a state's international obligations, or whether an amnesty, accompanied by alternative justice mechanisms, can in fact contribute positively to both peace and justice.
This study began by constructing an extensive Amnesty Law Database that contains information on 506 amnesty processes in 130 countries introduced since the Second World War. The database and chapter structure were designed to correspond with the key aspects of an amnesty: why it was introduced, who benefited from its protection, which crimes it covered, and whether it was conditional. In assessing conditional amnesties, related transitional justice processes such as selective prosecutions, truth commissions, community-based justice mechanisms, lustration, and reparations programmes were considered. Subsequently, the jurisprudence relating to amnesty from national courts, international tribunals, and courts in third states was addressed.
The information gathered revealed considerable disparity in state practice relating to amnesties, with some aiming to provide victims with a remedy, and others seeking to create complete impunity for perpetrators. To date, few legal trends relating to amnesty laws are emerging, although it appears that amnesties offering blanket, unconditional immunity for state agents have declined.
Overall, amnesties have increased in popularity since the 1990s and consequently, rather than trying to dissuade states from using this tool of transitional justice, this book argues that international actors should instead work to limit the more negative forms of amnesty by encouraging states to make them conditional and to introduce complementary programmes to repair the harm and prevent a repetition of the crimes.
|
<urn:uuid:00fbcfc5-d40c-4821-8e53-5311f308aa3e>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.wildy.com/isbn/9781841137711/amnesty-human-rights-and-political-transitions-bridging-the-peace-and-justice-divide-hardback-hart-publishing
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320582.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625203122-20170625223122-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948536
| 457
| 2.796875
| 3
|
One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
The upward deformation of a rock mass into a dome shape.‘this causes updoming of the rock surface’count noun ‘an early pre-Permian updoming’
- ‘Buildings near the updoming displayed cracks and concrete road slabs were tilted through various angles.’
- ‘The seismic data of a designated wind farm area off Borkum reveals that the wind farm area is located above the eastern flank of an updoming structure, probably a salt dome.’
- ‘The camera revealed two regions of interest to geologists: a view of a highland valley network called Nirgal Vallis and an image of Labyrinthus Noctis, an area near the crest of a large updoming in the Martian crust.’
Top tips for CV writingRead more
In this article we explore how to impress employers with a spot-on CV.
|
<urn:uuid:0b110bf1-20ae-44ca-a354-477ce68ca1ab>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/updoming
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320582.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625203122-20170625223122-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.91394
| 198
| 2.75
| 3
|
We laid them out on the table inside and waited to see what the children would think, and what they would do. Many spent absolutely ages engrossed in them, twisting, screwing, turning, fitting, threading, sorting and manipulating - the children were absorbed, focused and curious.
Nuts and bolts provide great opportunities to refine and develop many important skills.
One of these skills is 'hand -eye co-ordination'. Hand-eye co-ordination takes a lot of practice and is a critical skill, required for success in tasks such as holding a pencil for writing and drawing.
Another opportunity is that of developing 'fine motor skills'. Fine motor skills are the small, refined muscle movements required to perform delicate tasks. As the children worked with the nuts, bolts and washers they had to concentrate hard to line up the objects with each other and then gently and carefully manipulate them to make them fit together, using the co-ordination of their first finger and thumb (known as the 'pincer grip').
Pre-literacy skills include having proficiency with hand-eye co-ordination, fine motor skills and pincer grip.
The children loved investigating and exploring these objects, figuring out the mechanics of how the nuts and bolts worked.
"Repetition, repetition and more repetition creates the necessary conditions for the beginning of experimentation and the desire to experiment keeps alive the sense of curiosity, as well as giving the child even more experience patterns." (The Comprehending Hand, 1979.)
As the morning went on we became aware that these simple, everyday household objects were also extending the children's 'conceptual thinking' as they transformed into rockets, spaceships, bullets and other imaginative ideas based on the childrens prior experiences or current thinking.
Making these connections allows children to think abstract thoughts that are based on what they already know. Engaging in play experiences that include these ideas helps children to relate to abstract concepts which ultimately aid their understanding of the subject.
(posted by Christine)
|
<urn:uuid:24177dce-af64-45ae-b8e6-30938f3dcb2f>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://mairtownkindy.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/nuts-n-bolts.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320823.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626152050-20170626172050-00344.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967817
| 412
| 3.8125
| 4
|
Some notes on Ron Covells Tig Welding Basics video...it is very basic...
Old style conventional transformer tig welders weld at 60 hertz because that is the typical frequency of Alternating current in the USA. Ron is using an inverter tig welding machine that allows him to adjust the frequency of the Alternating current. He sets the frequency to 120 hertz and that provides a stiffer and more focused arc. He also mentions setting the A/C balance to 75 which means he is welding with 75% DCEN. Remember that in alternating current you have both electrode positive and electrode negative alternating rapidly and giving you some of the characteristics of each. The Electrode negative provides more penetration and the electrode positive provides what is known as "cleaning action". Without some cleaning action that you get from the electrode positive part of alternating current is is almost impossible to break thru the aluminum oxide and get a clean puddle. A drawback to old tig welding machines is that the electrode gets hot with all that electrode positive going on and you really dont need as much cleaning action as you might think. Thats why inverter tig welders are becoming so popular. When Ron says he as set his A/C balance to 75% , what means is that the are has about 75% Electrode negative instead of 50/50 like you might get with an old school tig welder. Welding at 120 hertz and with 75% Electrode negative lets you weld with a sharpened electrode instead of balling the tungsten electrode. That is a huge benefit. Especially when trying to pinpoint the arc onto an edge or if you need to prevent arcing off on something that is really close to the weld. Some Inverter tig welders like the Miller Dynasty 350 are capable of welding on alternating current with as much as 99% electrode negative and at as much as 400 hertz and are even adjustable as to how much amperage is applied on electrode negative vs. electrode positive (independent amplitude). These type adjustments are not for the typical tig welder building a hot rod but are definitely useful for very precision applications when the heat input must be controlled precisely as in some aerospace precision welding tasks.
Ron appears to be using a miller diamondback #17 style air cooled Tig torch. I dont get that. I would much rather use the smaller and more nimble #9 style torch. Sometimes you have to get the torch in places that the big #17 just wont fit into. Also, its just easier to hold. One consideration though is that the #17 will stand the heat better before needing to switch to a liquid cooled torch. Once you go to liquid cooled, its hard to go back because then you can use the small size tig torch and it never even gets warm...even when welding at high amperage like when you need to weld a cast aluminum transmission case housing.
Notice that Ron is using a piece of copper plate as a surface to weld on. Copper is really useful to have on hand and can be used for a good ground as well as for a heat sink and backing for welds. Its just not practical to use a heat sink on everything but when you are practicing welding on small pieces of aluminum like he does in this video, the aluminum gets saturated with heat quickly and behaves differently than typical weld where the piece is big enough to conduct heat away. If you can get your hands on some copper then great, if not a piece of thicker aluminum is the next best thing to conduct heat out of your practice piece.
Ron demonstrates tig welding by puddling beads without filler metal, then with filler metal, and then he welds a butt joint using 3003 aluminum and 1100 filler metal. 4043 aluminum filler metal is much more commonly used for general fabrication of 3003 and is much stronger than 1100.He uses a 3/32" 2% ceriated tungsten electrode and with the inverter power source he is using, is able to weld with a sharpened point. A note here on tungsten electrodes...Pure Tungsten is Pure crap! dont use it. I dont use it at all. Even on transformer machines like the syncrowave 250. But when using Inverter type tig machines ..definitely do not ever use pure tungsten. Miller Electrics Customer support Department routinely get calls from customers who bought a Dynasty inverter and are having poor arc starts. 9 times out of 10 they are using pure tungsten and simply switching to ceriated or lanthanated fixes it.
There are 2 things to watch for when you are learning to tig weld aluminum and doing the exercises Ron demonstrates...
1. Arc length and
dont use too much of either.
Good luck Tig welding Aluminum.
More GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING /TIG Welding Videos
Tig Welding 4130 video
In this video on gas tungsten arc welding of 4130 tubing, there are about a dozen tips for welding chromoly tubing.
and who calls TIG welding gas tungsten arc welding?
|
<urn:uuid:c5196425-06b8-48d6-b49e-d8acda77e674>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/gas-tungsten-arc-welding-video-clips.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320823.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626152050-20170626172050-00344.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93578
| 1,044
| 2.53125
| 3
|
Detecting & Preventing Burnout in Long-Term Care
PubMed Health defines burnout as “a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work. The symptoms of burnout are similar to those of clinical depression.” American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger originally coined the term in an effort to describe a set of symptoms, which include stress-related medical conditions (for example, ulcers or headaches), reduced job satisfaction, feelings of depression, anxiety, cynicism, boredom, discouragement and loss of compassion. Burnout may involve your issues, such as feeling under-appreciated or dreading going to work, but if you have begun to “go through the motions” or have become insensitive to the needs of those who depend on you for care, it is time for a time-out.
Burnout (we also hear it referred to nowadays as "compassion fatigue") is no mere occupational hazard. In healthcare, it is a system failure. It is in everyone’s best interest that burnout be detected as early as possible and then prevented at all costs.
Who is most susceptible to burnout?
As for who is most likely to experience burnout, Freudenberger singled out those who are “dedicated and committed to their positions, have poor work boundaries and who have an over excessive need to give.”
How do we detect burnout?
Look for the following:
· High levels of absenteeism and tardiness
· Extended sick leave
· Increase in worker’s compensation claims.
One study goes so far as to draw a link between burnout and higher tolerance for resident abuse.
How do we prevent burnout?
The ideal situation is to prevent it before it occurs. Consider these basic techniques if you detect burnout and wish to prevent or rectify the problem:
There is no such thing as too much training. Use educational opportunities to make expectations clear and priorities even clearer. All staff should be expected to attend at least some ongoing education programs. Something as simple as team-building or communicating about aggressive or abusive loved ones can yield large benefits. Even simple stress relief activities such as meditation or yoga can relax caregivers and improve their performance.
It is often the lowest-paid caregivers who struggle most to juggle at least one other job but are also somehow expected to stay on top of the unpredictable daily events of their child’s school schedule. Low staffing levels and erratic assignments not only contribute to burnout, but they reflect poorly on management and the company as a whole. Caregivers should still be expected to honor their commitments but their comfort level will greatly benefit from having more control over their own scheduling or at least from seeing that their supervisor is willing to work with them.
While we're at it, effective central leadership is a key component to your average employee’s work experience. With many nursing homes, most management leaves at 5:00, and the evening and night staff are left to their own devices. Management needs to make sure that all staff have proper access to them and that they are aware of performance, good or bad, on shifts when they do not customarily come in.
There is nothing wrong with compliments, but there's more to making caregiver recognition part of an effective employee or supervisory relationship. Make job expectations clear and ensure employees are clear about what constitutes a job well done, but then also provide a unified, structured way for supervisors to reward staff.
Let’s bring this full circle. Every job interview and every contact with a caregiver is an opportunity to prevent burnout. The right questions and methods help to highlight ‘red flags’ in a person's satisfaction with their job or responsibilities. It is a good idea to have loved ones themselves provide feedback if they can to provide first-hand experience as to the caregiver’s demeanor and reactions.
Our firm is always concerned with the phenomenon of burnout. We monitor staffing issues in long term care facilities on a regular basis to identify where we think care can remain consistently excellent for our clients. Our goal is to help you choose a facility for your loved one that excels at detecting and preventing burnout so that the care your loved one receives remains the same each day.
Archer Law Office Can Help
For More Information Contact this office (609) 842-9200
|
<urn:uuid:0a78ff87-4582-485b-8cc1-578cefcd73f1>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://mercerelderlaw.com/detecting-preventing-burnout-long-term-care/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321309.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627101436-20170627121436-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956111
| 898
| 2.703125
| 3
|
Metaltech I-Beams & Wide Flange Beams
History of I-Beams
I-Beams and wide flange beams, are a commonly used structural steel component used in the construction of many types of buildings and structures. Weldable, machinable, and formable, beams are also inherently very strong members (by design) that can withstand immense compression and tension forces from above and below at the flanges.
Beams are perhaps the single-most used building element ever, and their evolution into various different forms has an interesting history. Wooden and stone beams have been used for construction since time immemorial. Iron beams (wrought iron) have been in use for building construction since at least the 17th century. In the 19th century, the familiar “I” shaped beam (in cast iron) first appeared. Over time, continuous improvements and advances in materials and manufacturing methods have been made to improve the malleability, compressive and tensile strength, workability, and durability of structural steel I-beams and other beam designs. Today, we have been able to successfully construct a building over 160 stories (2,716.5 feet) high as well as several others near and over 2,000 feet tall. This would not be possible without the strong, supportive assistance and characteristics of structural steel.
If you have any further questions regarding the specific products and sizes that we stock at Metaltech or are ready to place your steel or custom steel cutting order, please call us at: (740) 373-8339.
WF BEAM STOCK ITEMS AT METALTECH
|Description||Length (ft)||Height (h)||Flange Width (w)||Flange Thickness (t)||Web Thickness (b)||Weight/Stick (lbs)|
|W4 X 13 WF-BEAM||20||4.160||4.060||0.345||0.280||260.00|
|W4 X 13 WF-BEAM||40||4.160||4.060||0.345||0.280||520.00|
|W6 X 12 WF-BEAM||40||6.030||4.000||0.280||0.230||480.00|
|W6 X 15 WF-BEAM||40||5.990||5.990||0.260||0.230||600.00|
|W6 X 20 WF-BEAM||40||6.200||6.020||0.365||0.260||800.00|
|W6 X 25 WF-BEAM||40||6.380||6.080||0.455||0.320||1000.00|
|W8 X 10 WF-BEAM||40||7.800||3.940||0.205||0.170||400.00|
|W8 X 15 WF-BEAM||40||8.110||4.015||0.315||0.245||600.00|
|W8 X 18 WF-BEAM||40||8.140||5.250||0.330||0.230||720.00|
|W8 X 24 WF-BEAM||40||7.930||6.495||0.400||0.245||960.00|
|W8 X 31 WF-BEAM||40||8.000||7.995||0.435||0.285||1240.00|
|W10 X 22 WF-BEAM||40||10.170||5.750||0.360||0.240||880.00|
|W12 X 26 WF-BEAM||40||12.220||6.490||0.380||0.230||1040.00|
|S6 X 12.5 I-BEAM||40||6.000||3.332||0.359||0.232||500.00|
|
<urn:uuid:55426b3e-761a-4551-a4ce-630e301ccf12>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://metaltechsteel.com/beams/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323808.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629000723-20170629020723-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.837059
| 854
| 2.65625
| 3
|
Piano is a great first instrument, teaching a child to use their eyes and ears and recognise patters. After learning piano for 2 years, children often start a second instrument with a flying start.
For 4-8 year olds, group keyboard lessons are common. Some teachers find that technical progress is slower but motivation can be greater. Keyboard/Piano can be taught in a group environment to any age group, obviously with some limitations compared to individual tuition.
Ensembles: Pianists are rarely required in instrumental ensembles. Pianists might play percussion in ensembles, or learn a second instrument (string, wind or brass).
|
<urn:uuid:2c04f0a5-314a-4fa1-b7c4-340151ad362c>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://musicaustralia.org.au/instrument-choices-piano/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323808.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629000723-20170629020723-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.921257
| 133
| 3.09375
| 3
|
At its core, culture of safety in the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) office means patient safety is the number one priority. The policies and actions of the doctors and staff in the practice are concentrated on that primary objective.
Patient safety is the number one priority
Development of and adherence to a culture of safety is not a promise of perfection. While the culture acknowledges that as human beings, we are all capable of making mistakes, it further holds that we are capable of recognizing our errors and identifying ways to prevent them from happening again.
Through team meetings, self-reporting and an environment that encourages collaborative thinking to improve policies and procedures, OMS offices promptly identify errors and their causes and take action to prevent their reoccurrence. The objective of the culture of safety is to be proactive, with the goal of preventing untoward events from occurring at all.
Defined by the Centers for Disease Control as "the shared commitment of management and employees to ensure the safety of the work environment," experts agree that to create a culture of safety requires certain essential steps must be taken:
- Assess the culture that currently exists in the practice: which systems or activities are working and which are not; techniques for improving problem areas; methods for implementing improvements; and ways in which those improvements may be evaluated and deemed a success or failure.
- Promote the team concept and assure that each member understands their role and how it interconnects with other team members. Cross training and collaboration are important so that members learn to appreciate the role and abilities of others and make intelligent judgments regarding who should be in charge of a particular activity.
- Employ systematic reporting and monitoring procedures to help identify potential errors or pitfalls that may result in an adverse healthcare situation. In order to prevent a similar situation in the future, staff should be encouraged to voluntarily report or discuss systemic problems.
- Create transparency. It frees staff to discuss problems without fear of reprisal and indicates there is an honest acceptance of human error, whether actual or potential and a commitment to rectifying problems.
- Establish accountability. Accountability is often confused with culpability. In the context of a culture of safety, accountability is a way of ensuring that everyone involved in the team, from the OMS to the receptionist, and including the patient/caregiver, is aware of their personal responsibility to strive for safety at all times.
The culture of safety concept was first conceived by the aviation industry. In the 1970s, the industry suffered a number of accidents attributable to human error. In response, the industry changed its standards and operations drastically. By implementing cross training, checklists, and better communication channels for now-empowered crewmembers, the safety record of the aviation industry today is an enviable one. Because of that success, it was to the aviation industry that health care, particularly hospital organizations, looked for examples when deciding to formulate its own culture of safety.
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has estimated that approximately 80 percent of medical errors in the hospital environment are system-derived. Echoing this sentiment is a report by the Institute of Medicine, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Healthcare System, which concludes, "The majority of medical errors do not result from individual recklessness or the actions of a particular group—this is not a 'bad apple' problem. More commonly, errors are caused by faulty systems, processes and conditions that lead people to make mistakes or fail to prevent them."
By adapting and implementing many of aviation's practices, the number of serious patient injuries in hospitals has declined. Surgeons in hospitals adopting these practices are now used to such procedures as a "time out" before making an incision to review that the correct procedure is being done on the correct patient and making certain the operative site is well marked while the patient is awake to ensure the correct site of surgery is identified. These are in addition to such time-honored practices of conducting pre-closure needle and sponge counts and fanatically adhering to sterile techniques.
OMS offices are, in many ways, microcosms of hospital surgery centers. Complex surgical and anesthetic procedures are regularly conducted there and yet, despite the similarities, relatively few serious patient injuries occur. However, even in the best-managed facility, the unexpected can happen. Many oral and facial surgeons have found that by reassessing the way in which their teams respond to errors, they can in fact reduce the number of mistakes and misadventures that could potentially impact patient care.
Patients play a vital role in the culture of safety
Patients, too, play a vital role in maintaining the culture of safety, especially with regard to communication. Do not be reticent or embarrassed to share information. Be forthcoming about your medical history and the drugs and supplements you take, whether prescription, over-the-counter or even illicit. Your proper treatment and your safety depend on it.
Follow your doctor's preoperative and postoperative instructions. They are meant to make the procedure and your recovery easier for you.
Do not hesitate to ask questions about anything and everything that is not clear to you. Your oral and facial surgeon wants you to understand and be comfortable with the treatment you receive. By fulfilling your role and partnering with your oral and facial surgeon in your treatment, you promote the culture of safety and the delivery of quality care.
|
<urn:uuid:d8176f9d-4f03-4f83-8aa9-9aa70cd18789>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://myoms.org/culture-of-safety
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323808.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629000723-20170629020723-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955423
| 1,092
| 2.671875
| 3
|
In order to make sense of the world, scientists consider similar characteristics and then group organisms according to those characteristics. At the time of publication, all known organisms have been placed into five kingdoms. These kingdoms include the plant, animal, protist, bacteria and fungi kingdoms. The organisms in the Fungi kingdom share many common characteristics.
On the cellular level, plants and fungi have some similarities. Both plants and fungi have cell walls. However, the cell walls of plants contain cellulose. Fungi cell walls do not contain cellulose, but contain chitin. Both types of cells have the same cytoplasmic structure, but they have different organelles within the cytoplasm. Additionally, fungi store their food energy in the form of glycogen like animal cells instead of in the form of starch as plants do. Fungi also are different because they have "small nuclei with very little repetitive DNA," according to Biology Online.
Most fungi contain stalk-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae then grow in a mass, like a twisted ball of string or the underground roots of plants. This mass of interconnected hyphae is called a mycelium. The exception to this structure is found in yeast, which has a unicellular structure.
Fungi are heterotrophs, which means they feed on other organisms. They do not contain chloroplasts or chlorophyll, which are the essential structures plants use to make their own food. Although they feed on other organisms, like animals, their method is different. Animals take in their food and then digest it internally. Fungi release enzymes into the environment which digest the material, and then they absorb it. Some fungi feed on decaying organic matter while some are parasites and still others are found in mutualistic relationships with other organisms.
Fungi usually reproduce with spores. These spores can be asexual or sexual, depending on the type of organism. Spores can also be used as a dormant, or resting stage. Fungi can also reproduce through budding or fragmentation.
|
<urn:uuid:f1479894-db5c-46f2-a845-a3b318a70e1d>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://sciencing.com/characteristics-kingdom-fungi-organisms-8425182.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323808.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629000723-20170629020723-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.950628
| 425
| 3.8125
| 4
|
It has been a long journey for the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). Once known as Triana, the satellite was conceived in 1998 to provide continuous views of Earth, to monitor the solar wind, and to measure fluctuations in Earth’s albedo. The mission was put on hold in 2001, and the partly-built satellite ended up in storage for several years with an uncertain future. In 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, and the U.S. Air Force decided to refurbish and update the spacecraft for launch.
On February 11, 2015, DSCOVR was finally lofted into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. After journey of about 1.6 million kilometers (1 million miles) to the L1 Lagrange Point, the satellite and its Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) has returned its first view of the entire sunlit side of Earth.
download large image (289 KB, JPEG, 1041×1041)
At the L1 Lagrange Point, four times farther from earth than the orbit of the Moon, the gravitational pull of the Sun and Earth cancel each other out. This point in space provides a stable orbit and a continuous view of Earth. The image above was made by combining information from EPIC’s red, green, and blue bands. (Bands are narrow regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to which a remote sensing instrument responds. When EPIC collects data, it takes a series of 10 images at different bands—from ultraviolet to near infrared.)
It has not been possible to capture images of the entire sunlit side of Earth in a single photo since the Apollo 17 astronauts captured the iconic Blue Marble photograph in 1972. While NASA has released other blue marble images over the years, those have mostly been mosaics stitched together with image processing software and not a single view of Earth taken at one moment in time.
“This first DSCOVR image of our planet demonstrates the unique and important benefits of Earth observation from space,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “As a former astronaut who’s been privileged to view the Earth from orbit, I want everyone to be able to see and appreciate our planet as an integrated, interacting system.”
View of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew traveling toward the moon. This translunar coast photograph extends from the Mediterranean Sea area to the Antarctica south polar ice cap. This is the first time the Apollo trajectory made it possible to photograph the south polar ice cap. Note the heavy cloud cover in the Southern Hemisphere. Almost the entire coastline of Africa is clearly visible. The Arabian Peninsula can be seen at the northeastern edge of Africa. The large island off the coast of Africa is the Malagasy Republic. The Asian mainland is on the horizon toward the northeast.
There are almost Seven and a half BILLION people on that beautiful blue ball, kind of gives you a sense of perspective doesn’t it?
|
<urn:uuid:12b7af32-b0c4-48c2-9285-62860eb3cba2>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.noozsaurus.com/nasa-releases-epic-new-view-earth-from-million-miles-away/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323808.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629000723-20170629020723-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.936371
| 614
| 3.65625
| 4
|
More good information about printing from Publishers Graphics. They are the printers I use and they have printing in Chicago and St. Louis.
Confused about paper? Here’s our second segment of terms for first-time authors; this time we define some common paper terms you’re sure to run into when you produce a book.
Basis weight: Basis or basic weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a 500 sheets (ream) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular paper grade. Common book text weights are 50#, 60#, 70#, and sometimes 80# text.
Caliper: The measurement of the thickness of the paper. This is listed on the online quote now.
Coated Papers: Paper that has been coated with clay and other substances for a smooth printing surface and improved ink holdout. Cast, gloss, dull and matte are four major categories.
Covers: For softcover books, we offer a few standard options for book covers, C1S in two weights, 10 and 12 point.
C1S and C2S– Acronyms for Coated One…
View original post 225 more words
|
<urn:uuid:9eeef2c2-f050-47ba-9c8b-616f5b26cef4>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://ckbookspublishing.com/2014/02/17/paper-terms-for-first-time-authors-part-ii/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319688.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170622181155-20170622201155-00223.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.914751
| 245
| 2.703125
| 3
|
For many, “early introduction” is a new term. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently updated their guidelines on introducing babies to potentially allergenic foods, recommending to start early introduction as early as four months old. This change was inspired by the findings of the landmark LEAP Study, which saw a drastic reduction in the likelihood of developing a peanut allergy after early and consistent exposure to peanut protein.
“Early introduction” means feeding a potentially allergenic food, such as peanut, early on and consistently during your baby’s immune system development. In more simple terms: early and often! Click the button for a crash course in early peanut introduction.
early introduction research
Early peanut introduction shown to reduce the risk of peanut allergy development by 98.3%
Tolerance of peanuts seems to continue after successful schedule of early introduction
All infants who followed the early introduction protocol did not develop a peanut allergy
“As the mom of an allergic child… I knew how important it was to do early introduction with my new baby”
– Jamie, Mom of 2
New NIH Guidelines for Prevention of Peanut Allergy in Infants
Early peanut introduction for infants across all risk levels.
“Aralyte is a mess-free, easy, and efficient way for peanut introduction in the household”
– Dr. Jordan Scott, Boston Children’s
|
<urn:uuid:eab130dd-9843-4281-a5a8-8eb0610decd6>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://aralyte.com/about/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320063.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623133357-20170623153357-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.915482
| 288
| 3.046875
| 3
|
What is a Japanese garden
At its heart the Japanese garden remains an attempt by humans to encapsulate the spirit of Nature, recognising the cycle of seasonal changes and the transience of life. The original conception of the garden was to create an idyllic environment that would tempt the deities down from heaven to dwell in proximity to human beings.In Japan there are myriad ways in which this over-riding aim has been expressed. When one visits Japan it becomes immediately obvious that the range of gardens is vast, from tiny landscaped spaces outside contemporary apartment blocks to historic Imperial gardens which spread over many acres. Despite this huge range they are all linked by the continuity of a long tradition going back over 1400 years.
Outside Japan, Japanese-style gardens have been created across the world. These are inevitably adaptations in one way or another, to account for differing climatic conditions, architecture, availability of suitable planting material and the availability of appropriate maintenance skills.
|
<urn:uuid:d03a8c2c-7663-47f2-88b4-e603e1b5dfc3>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.jgs.org.uk/gardens/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320243.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624082900-20170624102900-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955273
| 191
| 2.8125
| 3
|
This preview has intentionally blurred sections. Sign up to view the full version.View Full Document
Unformatted text preview: neanderthalensis Contrasts • Apes v Hominids • Australopithecines v Paranthropus • Knuckle-Walking v Bipedalism • Method: Deductive v Inductive • Mobility: Circulating v Radiating • Monkeys v Apes • Monkeys: New World v Old World • Phyletic gradualism v Punctuated Equilibrium • Reproductive Strategies: “r” v “K” • Species boundary: biology v paleontology • Teeth: reptile v mammal • Uniformitarianism v Catastrophism • Tool traditions: • Oldowan pebble tools v Acheulean hand axe • Acheulean v Mousterian Who said what? • Jeffrey Schwartz and orangutans • Hartwig-Scherer and Homo habilis • Louis Binford and living floors • Schaller and Lowther and scavanging...
View Full Document
This note was uploaded on 03/28/2008 for the course ISS 210 taught by Professor Zimmerman during the Spring '08 term at Michigan State University.
- Spring '08
|
<urn:uuid:329821b6-8e35-46e3-b8bf-18aa135f286a>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.coursehero.com/file/38131/ISS-210-Review-Materials/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320243.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624082900-20170624102900-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.68985
| 254
| 2.953125
| 3
|
A harmonized system tariff classification number is a 10-digit number in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which is used in the United States to classify imported goods, as of 2015, according to Export.gov. The U.S. International Trade Commission administers the HTS import classification system. The United States uses 10-digit Schedule B numbers to classify goods it exports to other countries. The Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau administers the U.S. export classification system Schedule B numbers.Continue Reading
The harmonized system is a classification protocol that customs officials use as an international standard to control quotas and levy tariffs on imported goods, explains Export.gov. The World Customs Organization administers the worldwide system that forms the basis for the United States' import and export classification systems. The United States derives the 10-digit numbers that it uses from the international HS codes. An importing country's classification code, a harmonized system number, and a Schedule B number all begin with the same first six digits. Regardless of its size, every physical product has a Schedule B number.
There are fewer Schedule B numbers than harmonized tariff schedule numbers, which indicates there is more detailed information on goods that the United States receives as imports than on goods that it exports, notes Export.gov. The WCO updates the harmonized system every five years.Learn more about Mail & Shipping
|
<urn:uuid:318a4b05-e0e8-4112-83b2-6e1c9923599a>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.reference.com/business-finance/harmonized-system-tariff-classification-number-44f1ae3e13486fa2
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320243.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624082900-20170624102900-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.861965
| 285
| 2.71875
| 3
|
Leadership Power and Charisma
There are times in everyone’s life when a desired result will take more than determination and commitment … when sheer personal power is needed to force an issue to its proper conclusion.
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.
Understand exactly what leadership is
Leadership is getting people to do things they have never thought of doing, do not believe are possible, or that they do not want to do. Effective leadership means influencing people to get things done to a standard and quality above their norm – and doing it willingly.
Combine both leadership strategies and character
Good leadership means not just being concerned about helping the group achieve its goals, but also caring about helping each member of the group reach his or her full potential. To do this requires developing an enthusiastic, passionate, genuine and energetic character.
Understand the role and responsibilities of a leader
We need to be able to learn and develop specific leadership skills – directing, coaching, supporting and delegating – to be an effective leader. Developing strengths in each of these roles allows us to read specific situations accurately and know what communication style is best applied.
Learn more about your leadership style
Understanding your current leadership style is essential. What are your strengths? Are these qualities helping or hindering your leadership? Once you’ve determined which areas need some work, you can begin looking for ways to improve your leadership abilities.
Learn the qualities and characteristics of successful leaders and how to foster those yourself
A great leader must have a vision of how he or she wants the things to be, then be able to communicate that vision in a clear attractive manner, generate trust and be able to know their own strengths and weaknesses.
Learn how to develop principle-centered power
The more you are respected and genuinely thought well of by others, the more real power you will have with them because the relationship is based on mutual trust, not mere technique.
Discover why some leaders fail and avoid the same traps
All too often we see leaders from almost every area of endeavour – business, politics, religion and sport – experience very public downfall. We can avoid the same traps by recognising the warning signs and paying attention to them.
Develop and exercise the ability to effectively delegate with a simple formula
Delegation is a time management strategy that you must practice. You can’t do everything – so decide what you must do yourself and what you can delegate to others. When you learn to delegate effectively, you’ll be rewarded with more time and a more empowered and satisfied staff.
Empower and inspire others
Transformational leaders provide inspirational motivation to encourage their followers to take action. Of course, being inspirational isn’t always easy but it can be learned once a leader understands what motivates others – this is perhaps the greatest challenge for any leader.
Change is all around us so as effective leaders we need to be able to model, communicate and clarify the benefits of change, and emphasise the opportunities and possibilities rather than the problems.
Discover the secrets of emotional intelligence and why it is essential for leadership
A leader’s mood and behaviour drive the moods and behaviours of everyone else in an organisation (or family, for that matter). We’re all human and even the most enthusiastic leader will have a bad day or week – but a leader’s first focus must be the impact of his or her moods and behaviours.
Achieve excellence through commitment and dedication
Excellence requires dedication, self-discipline and devotion. You need to bring out your best in order to be your best. When you commit to excellence in everything you say, think and do, your best is sure to come from the inside out.
Develop the skills to become an effective leader – these skills are imperative for all parents and an absolute “must have” for anyone in business.
After undertaking coaching training with Beyond Success six years ago, today I’m running my own successful life, business and property coaching entity. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Beyond Success supported me every step of the way with the ‘how to’ of setting up a coaching business. But most of all, Beyond Success’ boot camps helped me to uncover my own emotional intelligence. These days, I present my own workshops concurrently with my one-on-one coaching, and as I watch my business grow, my income stream is a very different story to what it was before I started coaching. Every step of the way, Beyond Success has supported me, and still continues to do so as I explore new territories and boundaries with confidence and excitement.Jill McIntyre
It only took my Beyond Success coach just 10 minutes to help me find the willpower I needed to finally lose weight. I've already lost 10kg and I'm going to lose another 15kg.Rashed Mumen
|
<urn:uuid:eb626671-eff5-45ab-ba2b-34420b2e8076>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.beyondsuccess.com.au/bootcamps/leadership-power-and-charisma/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320395.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625032210-20170625052210-00464.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953193
| 1,013
| 2.546875
| 3
|
A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Originally published by S Lewis, London, 1846.
This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.
BACHIES, a village, in the parish of Golspie, county of Sutherland; containing 145 inhabitants.
BACKDEAN, a hamlet, in the parish of Newton, county of Edinburgh; containing 45 inhabitants. This hamlet lies near the source of a small tributary to the Esk water, and borders upon the parish of Inveresk, which is situated to the north-east of Backdean.
BACKMUIR, a hamlet, in the parish of Life, Benvie, and Invergowrie, county of Forfar; containing 166 inhabitants. It is situated in the north-western extremity of the parish, upon the border of the county of Perth, and close to the Dighty water; and the road from Dundee to this place, here branches off into two roads, one leading to Cupar-Angus, and the other to Meigle.
BAILLIESTON, a village, in the late quoad sacra parish of Crosshill, parish of Old Monkland, Middle ward of the county of Lanark, 4¾ miles (E. by S.) from Glasgow; containing 639 inhabitants. This is the principal village of Crosshill parish, and is situated in the western part of the parish of Old Monkland, on the border of that of Barony, and near the roads from Glasgow to Airdrie and to Hamilton. For many years past, the Monkland, Bothwell, Barony, and Cadder Farming Society have held their annual exhibition of live stock in the village, and it is considered in Scotland as being second only to the exhibitions of the Highland Society; the description of stock is of the first class, and prizes are frequently obtained by agriculturists of this neighbourhood, at the latter exhibitions, where the competition is open to England and Scotland. A subscription library is supported here.
BAINSFORD, a village, in the parish of Falkirk, county of Stirling, 1 mile (N.) from Falkirk. This village, which forms part of the suburbs of the town of Falkirk, and is included within the parliamentary boundary, is situated on the north side of the Forth and Clyde canal, over which is a drawbridge, affording access to the village of Grahamston. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the Carron iron-works, of which the proprietors have a basin here, communicating with the canal, and which is connected with the works, in the adjoining parish of Larbert, by a railway. There is also a rope-walk, in which several persons are employed; and in the village, which is neatly built, is a well-conducted school.
BALBEGGIE, a village, in the parish of Kinnoull, county of Perth, 5 miles (N. E.) from Perth; containing 222 inhabitants. This village is situated in the northern extremity of the parish, on the road to Cupar-Angus; and the Associate Synod have a place of worship here, with a residence for the minister, and a garden attached.
BALBIRNE, a hamlet, in the parish of Ruthven, county of Forfar; containing 43 inhabitants.
BALBIRNIE, county of Fife.—See Markinch.
BALBLAIR, an island, in the parish of Fodderty, county of Ross and Cromarty; containing 7 inhabitants.
BALBROGIE, a village, in the parish of Cupar-Angus, county of Perth, 1½ mile (N. N. E.) from Cupar-Angus; containing 80 inhabitants. A weekly market has been established at this place, which is conveniently situated near the road from Cupar-Angus to Meigle, about midway between it and the river Isla.
BALBUNNO, a village, in the parish of Longforgan, county of Perth; containing 200 inhabitants. This village, which is entirely upon the lands of Mylnefield, is neatly built, and inhabited chiefly by persons employed in a bleachfield in the immediate neighbourhood, though not within the limits of the parish of Longforgan, which has been established within the last few years, and to which the origin of the village may be attributed.
BALCURRIE, a village, in that part of the parish of Markinch which forms the quoad sacra parish of Milton of Balgonie, county of Fife; containing 186 inhabitants.
BALDERNOCK, a parish, in the county of Stirling, 7 miles (N.) from Glasgow; containing, with the village of Balmore, 972 inhabitants, of whom 814 are exclusive of the village. The name of this place is corrupted, as is supposed, from the Celtic term Baldruinick, signifying "Druid's town;" and this opinion receives strong support from the numerous remains found here, pertaining to that ancient order. The parish, of which the eastern half was in that of Campsie till 1649, is situated at the southern extremity of the county, where it is bounded by the river Kelvin, which flows towards the west, and by the Allander, running in the opposite direction. It comprehends 3800 acres, of which 3100 are under cultivation, 240 wood, and the remainder roads and water, and about equal parts are appropriated for grain, green crops, &c., and for pasture. The surface is greatly diversified, and consists of three distinct portions, succeeding each other on a gradual rise from south to north, each varying exceedingly from the others, in soil, produce, and scenery, and the whole circumscribed by an outline somewhat irregular, but approaching in form to a square, the sides severally measuring between two and three miles. The northern tract, lying at an elevation of 300 feet above the sea, and embracing fine views in all directions, contains a few insulated spots under tillage, surrounded by moss land, with a light sharp soil incumbent on whinstone. Below this, the surface of the second tract assumes an entirely different appearance, being marked by many beautifully picturesque knolls, and a clayey soil, resting on a tilly retentive subsoil; and to this portion succeeds the lowest land in the parish, and by far the richest, comprising 700 or 800 acres along the bank of the river, formed of a soil of dark loam, supposed to have been washed down gradually from the higher grounds; this division is called the Balmore haughs. Barley and oats are the prevailing sorts of grain, and all the ordinary green crops are raised, potatoes, however, being grown in the largest quantity. Draining is extensively carried on, although much land is still in want of this necessary process; and the inundations from the Kelvin, formerly often destructive to the crops on the lower grounds, are now, to a great extent, prevented by a strong embankment, and by a tunnel at the entrance of a tributary of the river, by which the torrents, before pouring forth, in rainy weather, uncontrolled, are now so checked as to obviate danger. The rateable annual value of the parish is £5713.
The rock consists of trap, in the southern and midland portions; but in the northern district, limestone, ironstone, pyrites, alum, and fire-clay are abundant, several of which have been long wrought to a considerable extent, and lie in strata towards the east, stretching from the extensive coal-beds of Campsie. Iron-ore has lately been discovered in the coal-mines of Barraston, of very superior quality to the common argillaceous kind formerly wrought, and consists of a mixture of iron with carbonaceous substances, similar to that found in the mines near Airdrie. The coal and lime obtained, for 150 years, from this locality, the latter of which is excellent, and sent in large quantities to Glasgow and many other places in the country, lie in beds from three to four feet thick, and from twelve to twenty-four feet under the surface, the superincumbent strata being formed of argillaceous slate, calcareous freestone, and ironstone. Pyrites and alum are plentiful, and fireclay, for a long period, was made into bricks, highly esteemed as fire-proof. Bardowie, a very ancient mansion, once fortified, and a considerable part of which is now modernised, is ornamented, in front, with a beautiful loch a mile long, and is the seat of the chief of the clan Buchanan; towards the north-west, on an eminence, are the remains of a tower once the family-mansion, and near this is the seat of Craigmaddie, and, in another direction, the mansion of Glenorchard. The parish is traversed by a high road, running from west to east, throughout its length; and the Forth and Clyde canal passes within a small distance of the south-eastern boundary. A fair was once held in the summer, for cattle and horses, but has fallen into disuse. Baldernock is in the presbytery of Dumbarton and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and in the patronage of the Crown; the minister's stipend is £156. 19. 1., half of which is received from the exchequer, with a manse, and a glebe valued at £19 per annum. The church is a plain edifice, built in 1795, and contains 406 sittings. There is a place of worship for members of the Free Church. The parochial school affords instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic; the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4., and the fees. In the vicinity of Blochairn farm, near which a battle is said to have been fought with the Danes, are several cairns, and, not far from these, three stones called "the Auld Wives' Lifts," generally supposed to be Druidical.
BALDOVAN, a hamlet, in the parish of Strathmartine, county of Forfar; containing 44 inhabitants. It is in the south-eastern part of the parish, near the Dighty water.
BALEDGARNO, a village, in the parish of Inchture and Rossie, county of Perth, 9 miles (W.) from Dundee; containing 110 inhabitants. It is situated in the Carse of Gowrie, and southern portion of the parish, and is a neat and thriving place, the property of Lord Kinnaird. The hill of Baledgarno is finely planted with various kinds of timber.
BALERNO, a village, in the parish of Currie, county of Edinburgh, 7 miles (S. W.) from Edinburgh; containing 303 inhabitants. This place is situated on the Leith water, on which are some mills for the manufacture of paper; a freestone quarry has been worked in the vicinity for a number of years, and many of the buildings of the new town of Edinburgh have been supplied from it.
BALFIELD, a hamlet, in the parish of Lethnott and Navar, county of Forfar; containing 41 inhabitants. It lies in the south-eastern portion of the parish, a little to the north of the West water.
BALFRON, a parish, in the county of Stirling, 6 miles (E. by N.) from Drymen; containing 1970 inhabitants, of whom 1568 are in the village. There is an opinion that this place has been called by its present name, which is said to signify "the town of sorrow" or "mourning," from a dreadful calamity experienced by the original inhabitants, who, having left their children in their tents, and departed to a spot at a short distance, for the performance of religious rites, found, upon returning, that they had been all destroyed by wolves, with which the neighbourhood was infested. Others, however, interpret the name, Balfron, "the town of burns," and imagine that it received this denomination on account of the situation of the old village, now fallen to decay, at the confluence of two small streams. The parish is eleven miles in length, from east to west, and three in breadth, and comprises 14,080 acres, of which 3320 are under cultivation, 105 plantations, and the remainder waste. The surface is diversified with pleasing eminences, on one of which, gently sloping to the south, is the neatly-built and interesting village, enlivened by the stream of the Endrick, winding through a richly-wooded vale at its foot, and supplying, to the lovers of angling, an ample stock of trout, of a peculiarly fine flavour. The lofty hills called the Lennox fells, rising 1500 feet above the level of the sea, form here a singularly striking feature, bounding the scenery in one direction; and the distant view embraces the Grampian range, displaying to great advantage the majestic Ben-Lomond, with many subordinate, yet imposing, elevations. The farms, in general, are of small size, and the soil, which, in some places, is light and sandy, but more frequently wet and tilly, is cultivated with much skill; dairy-farming is a favourite branch of husbandry, and the stock, consisting of the Ayrshire breed, has been very much improved, as well as that of the sheep, in consequence of the liberal patronage of the Strath-Endrick Agricultural Club. The rateable annual value of the parish is £4704. Limestone is abundant; but it has not been wrought to any extent, through the want of coal, which, however, is supposed to exist here, on account of the usual accompanying trap-rocks having been found, though all attempts to discover it have hitherto failed. The ancient mansion of Ballindalloch, in the parish, formerly belonged to the Glencairn family, celebrated in Scottish history, and of whom Alexander, the fifth earl, was the friend, associate, and patron of John Knox.
The population was once entirely rural, and the chief point of interest was the old village, with its spreading oak, where the church and burial-ground are situated; but, about sixty-five years since, manufactures were introduced, and a new village quickly sprang up. In 1780, the manufacture of calicoes commenced; and in 1789, cotton-spinning succeeded, when a mill was erected, known by the name of the Ballindalloch cotton-works, now employing upwards of 250 hands, chiefly females, and driven by a stream supplied by the Endrick, augmented, in case of failure, by the water of a large reservoir in Dundaff moor. In the village are between 300 and 400 hand-looms, employing the larger part of the population in making light jaconets and lawns, and all kinds of fancy dresses and shawl patterns, which branches, however, have been, for some time, greatly depressed. Good roads run to Stirling and Glasgow, from which Balfron is nearly equidistant, and with which latter the chief communication is carried on, there being a daily post, and numerous conveyances; a large cattle-fair is held in the neighbourhood, on the last Tuesday in March, and another in the last week in June. The parish is in the presbytery of Dumbarton and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and in the patronage of the Earl of Kinnoull; the minister's stipend is £158. 6. 4., above half of which is paid from the exchequer, with a manse, and a glebe of 17 acres, valued at £25 per annum. The church is a very plain structure, rebuilt in 1832, at a cost of £930; it contains 690 sittings, and is conveniently situated in the village, but too remote from the eastern quarter, in consequence of which the minister preaches there, once every six weeks in summer, and once every quarter in winter. The Relief, United Secession, and Burgher denominations, have each a place of worship; the parochial school affords instruction in the ordinary branches, and the master has a salary of £25, and £10 fees. The parish also contains a library of 400 volumes in miscellaneous literature, for circulation; and one of religious books, with about 150 volumes. This place, with some others, asserts its claim to the honour of being the birthplace of Napier, the inventor of Logarithms.
BALGONIE, county of Fife.—See Coaltown, and Markinch.
BALGRAY, a hamlet, in the parish of Tealing, county of Forfar; containing 63 inhabitants. It is situated in the south-eastern part of the parish, near the church, from which it is divided by a small rivulet that rises within the limits of Tealing.
BALHADDIE, a hamlet, in the parish of Dunblane; forming part of the late quoad sacra parish of Ardoch, county of Perth, and containing 33 inhabitants.
BALINTORE, a village, in the parish of Fearn, county of Ross and Cromarty, 2½ miles (E. by S.) from Fearn; containing 313 inhabitants. This is a fishing village, situated on the coast of the Moray Frith, which has here a flat and generally sandy shore: on the south, is the ferry of Cromarty, distant about four miles.
BALISHEAR, an island, in the parish of North Uist, county of Inverness; containing 157 inhabitants. It is situated in the channel between the islands of North Uist and Benbecula, and has a small village on the east side.
BALKELLO, a hamlet, in the parish of Tealing, county of Forfar; containing 88 inhabitants.
BALLANTRAE, a parish, in the district of Carrick, county of Ayr, 13 miles (S. by W.) from Girvan; containing 1651 inhabitants, of whom 605 are in the village. This place, anciently called Kirkcudbright-Innertig, derived that appellation from the position of its church, at the mouth of the river Tig; and, on the removal of the church from that site to the town of Ballantrae, assumed its present name, which, in the Celtic language, is descriptive of its situation on the seashore. The parish is bounded on the west by the Irish Sea, and comprises nearly 25,000 acres, of which about 7000 are arable, 400 woodland and plantations, and the remainder rough moorland, affording scanty pasture. The surface is greatly diversified with hills and dales, and is intersected by a series of four parallel ridges, increasing in elevation as they recede from the shore, and of which the third and highest, is distinguished by a hill 1430 feet above the sea, which was selected as one of the stations for carrying on the late trigonometrical survey of this part of the coast. From this point is obtained an extensive and beautiful prospect, embracing the Isle of Man, the north-east coast of Ireland, Cantyre, the isles of Ailsa and Arran, and the Ayrshire coast, terminated by the West Highland mountains in the back ground; and in another direction appear the Dumfries-shire hills, the Cumberland and Westmorland mountains, and Solway Frith. The coast extends for about ten miles; the shore is bold, and interspersed with rocks, except for about three miles near the village. The principal river is the Stinchar, which rises in the parish of Barr, and, after flowing for nearly three miles through this parish, of which it forms part of the boundary to the north, falls into the sea; the Tig, rising in the high grounds, after a short course, flows into the Stinchar; and the App, a very inconsiderable stream, flows westward, through the picturesque dell of Glen-App, into Loch Ryan. These streams all abound with common and sea trout, par, and occasionally salmon, which is plentiful in the Stinchar.
The soil is chiefly of a light and gravelly quality; near the shore, sandy; and in the level lands, especially near the rivers, a rich and fertile loam. The crops are, oats, wheat, bear, potatoes, turnips, and a few acres of beans and peas; bone-dust has been introduced as manure; the lands have been drained, and considerable improvements were made, under the auspices of the late Stinchar Agricultural Association, which included this parish, in which it originated. There are several dairy-farms, all well managed, and, in the aggregate, producing annually about 5000 stone of sweet-milk cheese, known under the designation of Dunlop cheese. The rateable annual value of the parish is £7265. The natural woods are very inconsiderable, though, from the number of trees found imbedded in the soil, they would appear to have been formerly extensive; they consist mostly of oak, ash, and birch, and on the banks of the Stinchar and the Tig, are some valuable trees. The plantations are of comparatively recent formation, but are in a thriving condition, and some which have been laid down in Glen-App, and on the ridge to the north of it, by the Earl of Orkney, promise to become a great ornament in the scenery of the parish. The village, which was once a burgh of barony, by charter of James V., is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the river Stinchar, about half a mile from its influx into the sea; a public library is supported by subscription, and a post-office has been established. A considerable salmon-fishery is prosecuted at the mouth of the Stinchar; the fish are sent chiefly to the markets of Ayr and Kilmarnock, and the annual produce may be estimated at about £500; the season generally commences in February, and closes in September. The white fishery is carried on extensively, employing twenty boats, to each of which four men are assigned, and from eight to twenty nets are used; the fish are principally cod and turbot, and in some seasons, herrings are also taken in abundance; the produce may be estimated at about £2000, and the season usually commences in January, and ends in April. A court of petty-session was formerly held every alternate month, at which two of the county magistrates presided. The steam-boat from Stranraer to Glasgow calls at this place; a facility of intercourse is also afforded by excellent roads, and the mail from Ireland to Glasgow passes daily.
The parish is in the presbytery of Stranraer and synod of Galloway, and in the patronage of the Duchess de Coigny; the minister's stipend is £248. 1. 3., with a manse, and a glebe valued at £15 per annum. The present church, erected in 1819, is a substantial edifice, adapted for a congregation of 600 persons: the former church of Ballantrae, together with a manse, was erected in 1617, at the sole expense of the laird of Bargany. There are still some remains of the original church at Innertig. A place of worship has been erected in connexion with the Free Church. The parochial school is well conducted; the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4½., with £16 fees, and a house and garden, and he receives the interest of a bequest of £400, for the instruction of an additional number of poor scholars. The late Mrs. Caddall bequeathed £4500, and 15 acres of land, for the endowment and erection of a chapel and school in Glen-App, in connexion with the Established Church; the trustees have established the school, and selected land for the glebe, and intend to build the chapel, when the funds shall have accumulated sufficiently to provide for the endowment of a minister, after defraying the expense of its erection. On a rock near the village, and within the precincts of the glebe, are the remains of the ancient castle of Ardstinchar, formerly belonging to the Bargany family.
BALLATER, a village, in the parish of Glenmuick, Tullich, and Glengairn, district of Kincardine O'Neil, county of Aberdeen; containing 371 inhabitants. This place, situated in a beautiful valley, on the north bank of the Dee, was formed about the beginning of the present century, by the late proprietor, William Farquharson, Esq., of Monaltrie, by whose directions the site was measured for the erection of regular streets and squares, the former of which cross the main street at right angles, and the latter, with allotments of ground, have been let out in perpetual feu tenements. Besides numerous well-constructed private houses, the village contains an excellent inn, some good shops, a circulating library, and a post-office communicating daily with Aberdeen, to which place there is a daily mail-coach, together with several weekly carriers. The salubrity of the air, and the picturesque scenery of the locality, draw many visiters from Aberdeen and other parts, in the summer months; but the chief attraction is the chalybeate waters of Pananich, in the vicinity, which hold in solution carbonate of iron, lime, magnesia, &c., and are considered of much efficacy in scorbutic and nephritic complaints. There are superior hot, cold, and shower baths, and many convenient lodging-houses; and in a square in the village, stands the parish church, and, at a short distance, the parochial school. Over the Dee is a good wooden bridge of four arches, erected in 1834, at a cost of upwards of £2000.
BALLENDEAN, a hamlet, in the parish of Inchture and Rossie, county of Perth; containing 80 inhabitants. This place is situated in the Carse of Gowrie, near Ballendean hill, which is of considerable elevation, and also near the handsome mansion of Ballendean House.
BALLENLUIG, a village, in the parish of Logierait, county of Perth; containing 114 inhabitants. It is in the north-eastern portion of the parish, near the river Tummel, which flows on the north-east.
BALLICHULISH, a quoad sacra parish, in the parish of Kilmalie, partly in the district and county of Argyll, and partly in the county of Inverness, 11 miles (S. by W.) from Fort-William; containing 1235 inhabitants. The village of Ballichulish is situated on the south shore of Loch Leven, a branch of Loch Linnhe, and there is a ferry to the opposite coast, not far from it; the prospect is of the most imposing character, embracing lofty mountains and extensive lakes, relieved by woods and pastures, and other interesting features. The parish consists of two distinct districts, separated from each other by Loch Linnhe, with a church in each district. The district connected with the church at Ballichulish, in Invernesshire, is 17 miles by 7, or 119 square miles, in extent; that connected with the church at Ardgower, in Argyllshire, is 14 miles by 6, or 84 square miles, in extent, making a total of 203 square miles. The churches were built in June 1829, and are about four miles apart; that of Ballichulish has 300 sittings, and the church of Ardgower, 210, and public worship is performed once a fortnight in each. An Episcopalian clergyman officiates every Sunday, in a chapel in the parish of Appin, within three miles of Ballichulish church; and a Roman Catholic priest officiates once in three weeks, at Ballichulish slate quarry, likewise in Appin parish, and where there is also an Establishment chapel. A place of worship in connexion with the Free Church has been erected.
BALLINGRY, a parish, in the district of Kirkcaldy, county of Fife, 3 miles (N. E. by E.) from Blair-Adam Inn; containing 436 inhabitants. This place is supposed to have derived its name, of Gaelic origin, from its having been, at one time, an occasional residence of the Scottish kings. During the invasion of Britain by the Romans, under Agricola, a battle is said to have occurred between the Caledonians under Galgacus, and the IX. legion, which was stationed here, when the latter were totally defeated; but Agricola, upon receiving intelligence of that event, put the whole of his army in motion, and, falling upon the rear of the Caledonians, compelled them to yield to superior numbers, and retire from the field. The latter, however, retreated in good order, bravely defending the fords of Loch Leven against the invaders, and obstinately disputing every inch of ground. Numerous memorials of this contest have been met with; at the east end of the loch, and also where 'Auchmuir bridge now crosses that ancient ford, Caledonian battle-axes and Roman weapons have been discovered; and a few years since, a Caledonian battle-axe of polished stone, firmly fixed in an oaken handle, twenty-two inches long, was found near the spot.
The parish, which is of very irregular form, comprises about 3700 acres, of which 1394 are arable, 1874 meadow and pasture, 242 woodland and plantations, and the remainder common and waste; the surface is generally a level, broken only by the hill of Binarty, of which the southern acclivity has been richly planted, forming an interesting feature in the scenery. The soil, in the northern portion, is rich, dry, and fertile, but in other parts, of inferior quality; the crops are, oats, and barley, with some wheat, beans, and potatoes. Great improvement has been made by draining, but, in rainy seasons, the drains are insufficient to carry off the water; the loch on the estate of Lochore, has been drained, and now produces excellent crops of grain. The rateable annual value of the parish is £4611. Limestone and coal are found in various parts; the former is of inferior quality, and not worked, but the latter is wrought on two estates in the parish, with success; whinstone and freestone are also found here, and, on the hill of Binarty, basaltic whinstone. The parish is in the presbytery of Kirkcaldy and synod of Fife, and in the gift of the lady of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.; the minister's stipend is £172. 8. 3., with a manse, and a glebe valued at £18 per annum. The church is a substantial and neat structure, erected in 1831. The parochial school is tolerably attended; the master's salary is £34. 4. 4., with fees, and a house. The poor are supported by the rent of land producing £21, by collections at the church, and by the proceeds of a bequest of £100 by William Jobson, Esq., of Lochore.
BALLOCH, a village, in the parish and county of Inverness; containing 104 inhabitants.
BALLOCHNEY, a village, in that part of the parish of New Monkland which formed the quoad sacra parish of Clarkston, Middle ward of the county of Lanark; containing 559 inhabitants. This place, which is situated in the southern part of the parish, in an important coal and ironstone district, gives name to a line of railway extending from it, for about four miles westward, to the southern terminus of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch, and the eastern terminus of the Glasgow and Garnkirk, railroad. The capital of the company, which was incorporated in 1826, was originally £18,000; but power was acquired, in the session of 1835, to increase it to £28,000; and by an act passed July 1, 1839, the capital was further augmented to £70,000, for the purpose of improving the line, which now has several branches. In 1843, the company was empowered to increase its capital to £110,000.
BALMACLELLAN, a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 1½ mile (N. E.) from New Galloway; containing 1134 inhabitants, of whom 113 are in the village. This place takes its name from its ancient proprietors, a branch of the family of Maclellan of Bombie, lords of Kirkcudbright, who flourished here for many generations. The parish, which is bounded on the west by the river Ken, and on the east by the river Urr, is of an irregularly oblong figure, comprising about 23,737 acres, of which 4000 are arable, 300 wood and plantations, and the remainder, with the exception of some extensive tracts of moorland and moss, meadow and pasture. The surface is varied with hills, of which some rise to a considerable height, and is interspersed with small valleys, of different degrees of fertility, and great variety of aspect; the lower grounds are watered by the Craig and Crogo rivulets, issuing from a range of hills in opposite directions, and dividing the parish from that of Parton on the south, and from the parishes of Dalry and Glencairn on the north. Along the banks of the Ken, a range of mounts called Drums, extends for two or three miles into the interior of the parish, beyond which the country assumes a more wild and rugged aspect, consisting of large tracts of moor and peat moss, interspersed with a few detached portions of cultivated land. In the upper parts of the parish, are numerous lakes, of which Loch Brach, Loch Barscole, Loch Skac, and Loch Lowes are the principal; but the most extensive and beautiful is Loch Ken, on the western border of the parish, into which the river Ken, which frequently overflows its banks, discharges its waters. The several streams and lakes abound with trout, and more especially Loch Brach, in which are yellow trout, equal in quality to those of Lochinvar; pike are also found in most of them, and in Loch Ken, one was taken which weighed 72lbs. The river, in its course, forms numerous picturesque cascades, of which the most interesting and most romantic is that called the Holy Linn; the prevailing scenery is, in many parts, richly diversified, and, more particularly around the village, is beautifully picturesque.
The soil is extremely various; the lands which are under cultivation have been much improved, and towards the east, considerable tracts, hitherto unprofitable, are gradually becoming of value; but there is still much moor and moss, scarcely susceptible of improvement. The chief crops are, grain of all kinds, with potatoes and turnips; the farm-buildings on some of the lands are substantial and commodious, but, on others, of very inferior order. The cattle are generally of the Galloway breed, except a few cows of the Ayrshire kind, on one of the dairy-farms; and the sheep are of the black-faced breed, except on one farm, which is stocked with a cross between the black and the white faced, and a few of the Cheviot; a very considerable number of pigs are reared, and sent to the Dumfries market. The rateable annual value of the parish is £5115. The substratum is almost wholly whinstone, of which the rocks chiefly consist, and of which great quantities are raised, affording excellent materials for the roads; slate is found, and till lately there were two quarries in operation. The plantations, which are mostly oak, ash, and fir, are distributed throughout the lands, in detached portions of ten or twelve acres each. Holm is a handsome residence in the parish; and there are also the houses of Craig and Craigmuie. The chief village stands at the intersection of the turnpike-roads leading from Edinburgh to Wigton, and from Glasgow to Kirkcudbright; the small village of Crogo is a retired hamlet, in the south of the parish, containing about sixty inhabitants, and takes its name from the rivulet on which it is situated. In 1822, a substantial bridge of granite, of five arches, was built over the river Ken, by the floods of which two several bridges had been previously swept away; the central arch has a span of 100 feet.
The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery of Kirkcudbright and synod of Galloway; the minister's stipend is £226. 19. 8., with a manse, and a glebe valued at £35 per annum; patron, the Crown. The church is a plain structure, built in 1772, and enlarged and repaired in 1833, and contains 370 sittings; the churchyard is spacious, and commands a fine view, extending over the whole vale of the Ken. There are two parochial schools, of which the masters have each a salary of £17. 2. 2., with a house and garden, in addition to the fees, which average about £15 per annum. A free school is supported by an endowment of £70 per annum, arising from land purchased with a bequest of £500 by Edward Burdock, Esq., in 1788; the school-house was built in 1790, with a dwelling-house for the master, who has a salary of £17. 2. 2., but, in consideration of the endowment, receives no fees from the pupils. Barscole Castle, anciently a seat of the Maclellans, is little more than a heap of ruins. On Dularran Holm, is an erect stone of great size, without inscription, supposed to mark out the spot where some Danish chief fell in battle; and on a hill near the village, a large ball of oak, and a set of bowling-pins, all of which, except two, were standing erect, were discovered a few years since, by persons cutting peat, at a depth of about twelve feet below the surface of the ground.
BALMAGHIE, a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 4 miles (N. W.) from Castle-Douglas; containing 1252 inhabitants, of whom 275 are in the village of Laurieston, and 243 in that of Bridge of Dee. This place takes its name from its ancient proprietors, the Mc Gies, whose ancestor, an Irish chieftain, settled here at a very remote period, and whose descendants retained possession of the chief lands for many generations. A part was the property of the Douglas family, whose baronial residence, Threave Castle, was built upon the site of a more ancient structure belonging to the lords of Galloway, who exercised, for many years, a kind of sovereignty, independent of the crown of Scotland. In 1451, the eighth earl of Douglas, in retaliation of some aggression on his territories, seized Sir Patrick Maclellan, of Bombie, and detained him prisoner in the castle of Threave, intending to bring him to trial, by right of his hereditary jurisdiction; and on the arrival of Sir Patrick Grey, of Foulis, commander of the body-guard of James II., with a warrant from the king, demanding his release, Douglas, suspecting his errand, instantly ordered Maclellan to be beheaded in the court-yard. The castle was soon afterwards besieged by the king in person; but the artillery making no impression upon the walls, which were of extraordinary thickness, a blacksmith, who witnessed the assault, offered to make a cannon of sufficient power for the purpose; and the family of Maclellan providing him with iron for the work, he constructed the enormous cannon afterwards called Mons Meg, which weighed more than six tons and a half. This formidable engine, which was made in the immediate vicinity of the royal camp, being with great difficulty dragged to a commanding position in front of the castle, the first shot spread consternation among the besieged, and the second pierced through the wall of the castle, and, entering the banquet-hall, carried away the right hand of the countess, who, at the moment, was raising a goblet of wine to her mouth. The garrison immediately surrendered, and the king presented to the blacksmith, whose name was Mc Kim, or Mc Min, the lands of Mollance, as a reward for his ingenuity in devising and accomplishing the means of his success.
This castle was the last of the various fortresses that held out for the earls of Douglas, after their rebellion in 1453; and upon the fall of that family, and the consequent annexation of Galloway to the crown of Scotland, in 1455, it was granted by the king to the family of Maxwell, afterwards earls of Nithsdale, hereditary stewards of Kirkcudbright, and "keepers of the king's castle of Threave." During the parliamentary war, in the reign of Charles I., the Earl of Nithsdale, who held the castle for the king, maintained in it a garrison of eighty men, with their officers, at his own expense; and when no longer able to maintain it against its assailants, the king, who was unable to send him any assistance, recommended him to make the best terms he could for the garrison and himself. As hereditary keepers of the castle after the Restoration, the earls received annually, from each parish in the stewartry, a fat cow; and when they sold the estate, in 1704, they reserved the castle and the island, to which they appointed a captain, in order to secure their right to the cattle, which was regularly paid till the attainder of the earl, for rebellion, in 1715. There are still some very conspicuous remains of the ancient castle, situated on an island of about 20 acres in extent, formed by the Dee, at the south-eastern angle of the parish; they consist chiefly of the keep, which was surrounded by an outer wall, with four circular turrets, of which one only is standing. Several stone balls, weighing from one to 3½ pounds, and a gold ring, supposed to be that worn by the countess when her hand was shot off, were found in the castle, in 1843; and in the year preceding, a large ball of granite, 19 inches in diameter, thought to be that discharged from Mons Meg, was found by some labourers who were clearing the ground.
The parish, which is situated nearly in the centre of the county, is bounded on the north by the Blackwater of Dee, and on the east by the river Dee; it is about nine miles in length, and seven in extreme breadth, and comprises 22,000 acres, of which nearly 7000 are arable, and the remainder meadow, pasture, and waste, with a moderate proportion of woodland and plantations. The surface, towards the south-east, is tolerably level, but, in all other parts, hilly, though not strictly mountainous; the higher grounds command extensive views, including, to the north-west, the Carsphairn and Minnigaff hills, and, to the south-east, those of Cumberland, with the Isle of Man, in clear weather. In the uplands are several lakes, of which Loch Grannoch, or Woodhall, the largest, is about 2½ miles in length, and half a mile in breadth; and, with the exception of Lochinbreck, which abounds with trout, they are all well stored with pike and perch. The Soil in the valley of the Dee is fertile, and there are extensive and productive tracts of meadow in the parish; the principal crops grown are, oats, barley, potatoes, and turnips. The system of agriculture is improved; the farm-buildings are generally substantial and commodious, and those on the lands of Balmaghie are all of recent erection, and of very superior order. Bonedust is used as manure for turnips; the lands have been well drained, and are mostly inclosed with stone dykes. The moorlands afford tolerable pasture for sheep, of which about 4000, of the black-faced breed, are annually reared; and about 400 of the white-faced, a cross between the Leicestershire and Cheviot, are pastured on the low grounds. The cattle, of which about 1000 are fed on the uplands, are of the Galloway and Highland breeds; and on the lowland farms are numerous cows, principally Galloways, with some of the Ayrshire kind. The rateable annual value of the parish is £6603.
The substrata are chiefly greywacke or whinstone, and in the higher lands, granite is found in abundance; but there is no limestone, and what is required for building, or for agricultural purposes, is brought from Cumberland. The plantations are not extensive, but thrive well; they consist mainly of larch and oak, which appear adapted to the soil. Balmaghie House, an ancient mansion, in which parts of an older building have been incorporated, is pleasantly seated near the river Dee, in grounds beautifully undulated, and embellished with plantations: Duchrae House, a handsome mansion of granite, built in the old English style, about the year 1824, is finley situated near the confluence of the Dee and Ken. The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery of Kirkcudbright and synod of Galloway; the minister's stipend is £203. 8. 8., with a manse, and a glebe valued at £17. 10. per annum; patron, Capt. Gordon. The church, built in 1794, is situated near the Dee; it is in good repair, and contains 400 sittings. There are two parochial schools; one at the village of Laurieston, of which the master has a house, and a salary of £30, with fees averaging nearly an equal sum; and the other at Glenlochar, the master of which has a salary of £21. 6. 6., with fees amounting to about £14.
BALMALCOLM, a village, in the parish of Kettle, district of Cupar, county of Fife, 1 mile (S. E.) from Kettle; containing 113 inhabitants. It is a small place, on the road between Cupar and Leslie, and a short distance south of the river Eden.
BALMBRAE, a village, in the parish of Falkland, district of Cupar, county of Fife; containing 114 inhabitants, employed in agriculture, and in hand-loom weaving at their own dwellings.
BALMERINO, a parish, in the district of Cupar, county of Fife, 5 miles (W.) from Newport; containing, with the villages of Kirkton and Galdry, 993 inhabitants, of whom 62 are in the village of Balmerino. This place, of which the name, of Celtic origin, signifies "the town of the sea," or "Sailors' town," most probably derived that appellation from its position on the estuary of the river Tay. It appears to 'have been distinguished, at a very early period, for the mild temperature of its climate, and the salubrity of its atmosphere; and early in the 13th century, it was selected by Queen Ermengard, widow of William the Lion, and mother of Alexander II., as a place of occasional resort, for the benefit of her health; and, subsequently, by Magdalene, queen of James V., for the same purpose. A monastery was founded here by Alexander II., in 1230, for Cistercian monks, at the solicitation of Ermengard, in gratitude for the benefit she received while resident here, which monastery he dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Edward the Confessor, and in which he placed monks of that order, from the abbey of Melrose. This establishment was endowed by Queen Ermengard, with lands in this county, purchased from Adam de Stawell, to which Alexander added the church and lands of Lochmure, in Angus, and those of Petgornoc and Drumdol, in the county of Fife. It continued to increase in wealth, by the liberality of subsequent benefactors, till the Dissolution, when its revenues amounted to £704. 2. 10½. in money, exclusively of a considerable income in grain and other agricultural produce. The abbey was demolished in 1558, by the lords of the congregation, on their route from St. Andrew's; the site, with the lands appertaining to it, was subsequently granted to Sir James Elphinstone, of Barnton; and after the Reformation, the estates were constituted a lordship, in favour of Sir James, who was raised to the Scottish peerage, in 1604, by the title of Lord Balmerino, which became extinct in 1745, by the attainder and execution of his descendant, the then lord.
The parish is bounded on the north by the Frith of Tay, along the shore of which it extends from Birkhill to Wormit bay; and comprises 3400 acres, of which nearly 2700 are arable, and in profitable cultivation, 500 woods and plantations, and the remainder pasture and waste. The surface is greatly varied, and traversed by two nearly parallel ridges, extending from east to west, and inclosing a lovely valley, in which the village is situated; the highest points of these ridges are, the Scurr hill, on the north, which has an elevation of 400 feet, and the Coultry hill, on the south, which rises to the height of 500 feet above the sea. There is also a considerable portion of high table land on the southern ridge, on which the village of Galdry stands. The scenery abounds with romantic features, and is every where enriched with woods and thriving plantations: a little to the east of the church, and nearly in the centre of the valley, is a small elevation, on the brow of which is Naughton House, and on the summit are the ruins of an ancient castle; beneath is a picturesque dell, from which a mass of rock rises abruptly to the height nearly of 100 feet. The shores of the Tay are bold and rocky, having, in some parts, precipitous and lofty cliffs; and on that portion of the shore which rises more gradually, are the picturesque ruins of the abbey, overlooking the river. The Tay affords excellent facilities for bathing, being strongly impregnated with saline particles; there are no other rivers in the parish, but the lands are, notwithstanding, well watered by numerous springs, of which many appear, from their names, to have been formerly of great notoriety, and from which issue various small streams that attain sufficient power to turn several mills.
The soil is generally light; in some parts, a rich black loam; and in others, gravelly; but, under good management, rendered fertile and productive. The crops are, grain of all kinds, potatoes, and turnips; the system of agriculture is improved; the farm-buildings are substantial and commodious, and on all of the farms are threshing-machines, of which some are driven by water. The rateable annual value of the parish is £4962. The substrata are chiefly sandstone and whinstone, of the former of which there are two varieties, one extremely compact, and well adapted for building purposes; the other, more friable, and abounding with nodules of quartz and other substances. The whinstone is of different qualities, comprising amygdaloid, trap tuffa, felspar, and clay-stone porphyry; that which is of coarser grain, contains amethyst, calcareous spar, chalcedony, and agates. The Scurr hill abounds with mineral varieties; the most beautiful agates occur there, and boulders of primitive rock are found along the shore, and on the highest ridges. Naughton House was erected towards the commencement of the present century, and has since been enlarged and improved. Birkhill is an elegant and spacious mansion, on the bank of the river, and embosomed in rich and beautiful plantations.
A salmon-fishery was formerly carried on in the Tay, to a large extent, and proved a source of great gain, but, since the prohibition of the use of stake-nets, in 1816, it has materially declined; the quantity previously taken in the Firth, was, on an average, about 30,000, in the season; at present, the number of fish scarcely amounts to one-tenth part. Since this alteration, several who were once employed in the fishery, are now engaged in weaving at their own houses, for the manufacturers of Dundee; the principal articles woven are dowlas and Osnaburghs, in which about 150 persons are engaged, of whom a large portion are women. Great quantities of grain were formerly shipped from the harbour of this place, which was the chief port, on the south side of the Tay, for that article; but, at present, only small quantities of wheat are sent by the farmers here, to the bakers of Dundee, by a passage-boat which is kept up by subscription of the parishioners. Considerable quantities of potatoes are sent to the London market; and many vessels with coal land their cargoes here. The village of Balmerino is pleasantly situated on the western declivity of the Scurr hill, already mentioned.
The parish is in the presbytery of Cupar and synod of Fife; the minister's stipend is £239. 9., with a manse, and the glebe is valued at £18 per annum. The church, a neat and substantial edifice of stone, erected in 1811, is nearly in the centre of the parish. The parochial school affords instruction to about 130 scholars; the master's salary is £34. 4. 4., with £28 fees, and a house and garden. The ruins of Balmerino Abbey consist chiefly of a small portion of the walls, with some clustered columns, and part of the corbels from which sprang the arches that supported the roof, and which are in the decorated English style; and of one cell, still in tolerable preservation. There are also remains of the ancient castle of Naughton, said to have been built soon after the Conquest, by Robert de Lundon; they comprise only some fragments of the side walls, which derive their chief importance from their situation, on the summit of a lofty crag rising almost perpendicularly from a deep and richly-wooded dell. An establishment of Culdees is said to have existed here, in connexion with those of St. Andrew's; and in a field in the parish, still called the Battle Law, an engagement is reported to have taken place between the Scots and the Danes, of whom the latter were driven to their ships: near the spot, stone coffins, broken armour, and bones have been discovered. Some years since, two pieces of gold were found in a field on the farm of Peashills, which appear to have formed ornaments of some kind, and were of the value of £14 sterling.
BALMORE, a village, in the parish of Baldernock, county of Stirling; containing 158 inhabitants. It lies in the south-eastern portion of the parish, on the road between Torrance and Bardowie, and about half a mile south of the Kelvin water.
BALMULLO, a village, in the parish of Leuchars, district of St. Andrew's, county of Fife, 6 miles (E. S. E.) from St. Andrew's; containing 274 inhabitants. This village is pleasantly situated on the road to Dundee, and consists of an irregular range of houses, chiefly inhabited by persons employed in weaving and in agriculture. There is a place of worship for members of the Original Secession Synod.
BALNABRUACH, a village, in the parish of Tarbat, county of Ross and Cromarty; containing 167 inhabitants. It is a small place, situated on the eastern coast, and chiefly inhabited by fishermen.
BALNA-HUAIGH ISLE, one of the Hebrides, in the parish of Jura, district of Islay, county of Argyll. It is north of the island of Jura, and of Luing Sound, and is about a mile in circumference, and entirely composed of a bluish-coloured slate, of good quality: a number of families, who derive their subsistence from the quarry, reside upon it.
BALNASUIM, a village, in the parish of Weem, county of Perth; containing 48 inhabitants.
BALQUHIDDER, a parish, in the county of Perth, 9 miles (S. by W.) from Killin; containing, with the villages of Strathyre and Lochearnhead, 871 inhabitants. This parish, of which the name, descriptive of its situation in the county, is derived from the Gaelic, is about eighteen miles in length, and rather more than six miles in breadth. The surface is very irregular, and comprehends a rich variety of valleys and hills, of level lands and deep glens, and of lofty rocks rising abruptly from the plains. The principal hills are, Benvorlich, Benchroin, Benvane, Binean, Benchoin, and Bentallachan: near the hill at Edinample, is an ancient castle, belonging to the Marquess of Breadalbane, embosomed in a wood of lofty plane-trees, near which is a beautiful cascade; and in the hill of Craigruigh, Robert Bruce is said to have concealed himself after the defeat of his forces in the battle of Dalrey. The river Balvag, over which are two bridges in good repair, rises in Lochvoil, winds for several miles through the parish, and falls into Lochlubnaig; and the small river Calair, which issues from Glenbuckie, though generally a peaceful stream, at times overflows its banks, and acquires the rapidity of a torrent. There are numerous lakes in the parish, of which the principal are, Lochvoil, Lochdoine, and parts of Lochlubnaig and Lochearn. The scenery is also richly embellished with woods, consisting mostly of oak, birch, alder, and common and mountain ash; and with thriving plantations, which are chiefly of Scotch and spruce firs, and larch-trees, for all of which the ground is well adapted.
The soil, in the lower lands, is fertile; the hills afford pasture, and there are considerable tracts of good meadow; the system of agriculture is improved, and great attention is paid to the improvement of the breeds of cattle and sheep; the former are chiefly of the West Highland breed, and the latter, which are of the black-faced kind, command a ready sale in the neighbouring markets. The rateable annual value of the parish is £6100. The rocks are mainly of mica and clay slate, with quartz, porphyry, and primitive greenstone. Edinample Castle, the property of the Marquess of Breadalbane, an ancient mansion romantically situated, and Glenbuckie House, a handsome modern residence, are the only houses of distinction. The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery of Dunblane and synod of Perth and Stirling; the stipend of the incumbent is £275. 15. 11.; the manse is a comfortable residence, and the glebe is of the annual value of £20. The church, situated nearly in the centre of the parish, is an ancient edifice, adapted for a congregation of 425 persons. The parochial school affords a liberal course of instruction; the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4½., with £8 fees, a house, and two bolls of meal in lieu of a garden. In a field near the manse, is an upright stone, about five feet in height, called Puidrac; but nothing of its history is known; and to the east of it, is a spot celebrated as the site of a desperate battle between the families of McLaren and Leney. The late Sir John Mac Gregor Murray, Bart., an eminent Gaelic scholar, and an indefatigable collector of the writings of the ancient Gaelic bards, and who, holding the rank of colonel in the British army, raised at his own expense a regiment of infantry for the service of his country, which was commanded by his brother. Colonel Alexander Mac Gregor Murray, was, together with his brother, buried in the family vault in this parish.
BALTA, a small islet, in the parish of Unst, county of Shetland. This is nearly the northernmost isle of the Shetland range, and is situated in the latitude of 60° 47 north, and on the east side of Unst island, the sea between being called Balta Sound. Here the shore of Unst forms a fine and safe inland harbour, stretching east to west about two miles, protected at its mouth by the isle of Balta.
BALWAHANAID, a hamlet, in the parish of Weem, county of Perth; containing 23 inhabitants.
BALWHERNE, a hamlet, in the parish of Methvan, county of Perth; containing 60 inhabitants.
BANCHORY-DEVENICK, a parish, partly within, and partly without, the city of Aberdeen, district and county of Aberdeen, but mostly in the county of Kincardine; including the villages of Downies, Findon, and Portlethen, and containing 2736 inhabitants. The cognomen of Devenick, or Davenick, applied to this place, is derived from a celebrated saint of the name of Davenicus, who flourished about the year 887, and who, at one time, ministered in the district. The parish is about 5 miles long, and 3 broad, and contains about 10,000 acres. The river Dee forms the northern boundary of the Kincardineshire portion, and the parish is bounded on the east by the parish of Nigg and by the sea; the coast extends about 3 miles, and is bold and rocky, and, in many parts, picturesque. The surface is, in general, rugged and stony, and to a considerable extent covered with heath; the highest land is a part of the Tollow hill, the most easterly of the Grampian range, the elevation of which was used for the trigonometrical survey of the country. The Dee, which is the only river connected with the district, rises among the highest mountains of Aberdeenshire, and, after a course of about 60 miles, passes along the extremity of the parish, forming the line of separation between the counties of Kincardine and Aberdeen; it is here about 250 feet wide, and falls into the bay of Aberdeen a mile and a half below the eastern extremity of the parish. It is subject to great floods, rising sometimes ten or eleven feet above its usual level, in consequence of which, long and expensive embankments have been raised, for the protection of the neighbouring lands.
The soil is diversified, running through all the varieties, from pure alluvial to hard till, and from rich loam to deep moss; agriculture receives much attention, though a large part of the ground is in its natural state, and much remains yet to be done. The rateable annual value of the parish is £6946. There are several plantations, one of which covers 250 acres, but the proximity of the land to the sea-coast is an impediment to the growth of trees, as there is no shelter against the blighting influence of the east wind. The rocks consist chiefly of blue granite, which is abundant in the hilly part of the parish; but its texture is too hard to admit of its being quarried to any extent, and the produce obtained is used either for the roads, or sent for sale to the London market. The parish is entirely rural, and its population has been considerably increased, during the present century, by the allotment of portions of uncultivated land, with encouragement to small tenants, by which means much waste ground has been reclaimed, and a considerable number of persons that worked in the granite quarries and peat-mosses of Aberdeen, brought into this district. There are three harbours for fishing-boats on the coast, named Findon, Portlethen, and Downies, to which belong about eighteen boats, chiefly engaged in white-fishing, except during the herringseason, at which time several of them are employed in the Moray Frith. There are four stations for salmon-fishing in the Dee, but they have been for some years past in a low state, from the great scarcity of fish in the river. The great road from Edinburgh to Aberdeen runs through the parish, and, on the north side of the Dee, the Deeside turnpike-road passes through the Aberdcenshire division; there is also a good commutation road along the south side of the river. A suspension bridge has been recently erected over the Dee, connecting the Aberdeenshire portion of the parish with the church and school, and which cost about £1400, independently of an embankment a quarter of a mile long, on the south side, facilitating the approach to the bridge, and which cost above £50.
The ecclesiastical affairs are subject to the presbytery of Aberdeen and synod of Aberdeen; the patronage is possessed by the Crown, and the minister's stipend is £159. 2. 9., partly paid from the exchequer, with a glebe valued at £13. 6. 8. per annum. The church, which contains 900 sitting, was built in 1822, on the site of a former edifice, the bell of which is marked "1597." At Portlethen is a chapel, containing 300 sittings, the minister of which, who has been duly ordained, has a stipend of £80, partly from seat-rents: this building, which is situated about 3½ miles from the church, in a populous district, was a family chapel previously to the Reformation. Two places of worship in connexion with the Free Church have been erected. A parochial school is maintained, in which Latin is taught, with the ordinary branches of education, and of which the master has a salary of £30, a portion of the Dick bequest, £20 fees, and £20 for teaching as many children, the last amount being an endowment by a person in India. There are three other schools, namely, one at Portlethen, the master of which has the interest of a benefaction of £200; a school upon the estate of Cults, in the Aberdeenshire district, the master of which receives £25 per annum from an endowment; and a female school, built by a bequest of £100 from the late Mr. George Hogg, whose father had been for many years schoolmaster at Banchory, and endowed with £200, half of which was allotted by the same benefactor, and half by the minister of the parish. A parochial library has been founded, which has a considerable number of volumes; and a friendly society, and a savings' bank established in 1822, and which is in a very flourishing state, are supported. The antiquities of the parish consist of two Druidical circles, in very fine preservation; and three very large tumuli, occupying an elevated situation, on the north side of the river.
BANCHORY-TERNAN, a parish, in the county of Kincardine, 15 miles (N. W. by W.) from Stonehaven; containing, with the villages of Arbeadie and Banchory, 2241 inhabitants, of whom 66 are in Banchory. This place, of which the name, signifying "a fine choir," has reference to some ancient religious establishment, and its adjunct most probably to its patron saint, is of very remote antiquity. St. Terne, or Ternanus, who is said to have been a native of Mearns, flourished about the middle of the fifth century, and accompanied Palladius, in his mission to the Irish Scots; and by him he was ordained, and commissioned to extirpate the Pelagian heresy, and to establish the true faith among his own countrymen. In this undertaking, his eminent success and sanctity of life obtained for him a high degree of veneration, and many churches were afterwards erected and dedicated to his memory, among which was the church of this parish. In 1562, a battle took place between the army of Mary, Queen of Scots, under the Earl of Moray, and the forces of the Earl of Huntly, at the How of Corrichie, a glen in the hills of Fare, towards the northern boundary of the parish, in which the latter were defeated with great slaughter, and the Earl of Huntly, who was taken prisoner, died before he was removed from the field of battle. In the bottom of the glen are several tumuli, raised over the bodies of the slain; and a recess among the rocks overlooking the glen, in which, it is said, Mary witnessed the engagement, is still called the Queen's chair. There are also numerous tumuli on the north side of Glassel, where the chief carnage took place. In 1644, the Duke of Montrose, having crossed the river Dee, at a ford near the Mills of Drum, in this parish, passed a night at the house of Leys, and next day proceeded to Aberdeen, where he encountered and defeated an army of the Covenanters; and the remains of his encampment on a subsequent occasion, on his route to Strathbogie, not far from the How of Corrichie, are still pointed out, under the appellation of Montrose's Dyke.
The parish is situated on the river Dee, which-intersects the southern portion of it, from west to east, throughout its whole extent; it is nearly ten miles in length, and about nine miles in breadth, of irregular form, comprising an area of 21,600 acres, of which rather more than 6000 are arable, 5230 woodland and plantations, and the remainder, of which a considerable portion might be brought into cultivation, meadow, pasture, and waste. The surface is strikingly diversified with hill and dale, and with wood and water. The hill of Fare, on the north, has an elevation of 1793 feet; that of Kerloak, on the south, forming a part of the Grampian range, and extending eastward to the sea at Aberdeen, is 1890 feet high; and between these, is a lower ridge, of which the greatest elevation is not more than 1000 feet. That portion of the parish which is on the south side of the Dee, is intersected by the river Feugh, and is richly wooded, and interspersed with masses of barren and precipitous rock; the scenery is bold, enlivened with numerous rivulets, and embellished with handsome mansions. At the eastern extremity is Loch Drum, in the adjoining parish of Drumoak, which has been nearly exhausted by draining; and in the central portion is Loch Leys, in which is an artificial island, formed on piles of oak, with remains of ancient houses that appear to have been fortified. The river Dee, which enters the parish near Trustach Hill, flows through a rocky channel; and its stream is divided by two small islands, of which one, about eight acres in extent, is covered with furze and heath, and the other, of about one acre, and of greater elevation above the surface, is planted with trees. The Feugh, after forming various pleasing falls, divides into two channels, which, reuniting, flow into the Dee, almost in the centre of the parish; it passes under a bridge of two arches near its principal fall over a ledge of rock about twenty feet in height.
The soil varies greatly in different parts, but is generally light, and not naturally fertile; towards the river, gravelly; on the higher grounds, a strong loam; and on the lower, a species of moss, intermixed with gravel. The system of agriculture is improved; the chief crops are, oats, barley, and some wheat, with potatoes, turnips, and hay, and the moorlands afford tolerable pasture for sheep and cattle, to the improvement of which much attention has been excited by the Deeside Agricultural Association, which holds its annual meeting here, and awards prizes, to the amount of £70, to the most successful competitors at the show of cattle. The dairy-farms are more carefully attended to than formerly; the buildings are substantial and commodious, and threshing-mills have been erected on most of the farms. The rateable annual value of the parish is £7479. The hills are principally of red granite, traversed by veins of sulphate of barytes; and limestone, in some parts of coarse and inferior quality, and in others compact and highly crystallized, is found in abundance, and is extensively quarried on the lands of Tilwhilly, for agricultural purposes. The plantations, which are of very great extent, consist chiefly of pine and larch, interspersed with birch, oak, beech, ash, and a few other trees; they are of comparatively modern growth, and considerable additions have, within the last few years, been made to the number of forest trees, of which nearly 70,000 oaks have been planted on the lands of Leys. On the road to Aberdeen, is a remarkably fine holly, of more than twenty stems, springing from the crevices of a rock; and in the grounds of Crathes Castle, is a beech-tree, 25 feet in girth, and 60 feet high. Crathes Castle, a handsome baronial mansion, erected about the year 1512, is finely situated on a gentle acclivity, at the extremity of a rocky and richly-wooded ridge, on the north bank of the Dee; it is a spacious structure, with a lofty square tower crowned by embattled turrets, and many modern additions have been made. The ancient hall is still entire, and contains some family portraits, among which is a portrait of Dr. Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. The Castle of Tilwhilly, on the opposite bank of the river, is an ancient massive building, in the occupation of the tenant of the farm; Banchory Lodge, a few hundred yards from the church, was erected by the late General Burnet; Inchmarlo is a handsome mansion, erected in 1800, and Glassel and Raemoir are also good modern houses. The village of Banchory, or the Kirktown, which was anciently a burgh of barony, and is noticed, in 1324, as a place of considerable importance, and in which was held the baronial court of Leys, has almost disappeared; and only a few houses in the vicinity of the churchyard, called the Town Head, are now remaining, and the shaft of a broken stone cross. A small woollen-factory has been established, and there are likewise two bobbin factories carried on; salmon is taken in the Dee, but there is no regular fishery. Fairs, chiefly for horses, cattle, and sheep, are held on the second Tuesday in February, the last Thursday in March, the third Tuesday in June, the first Tuesday in July, the second Tuesday in August, and the first Wednesday in December.
The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil and synod of Aberdeen; Sir T. Burnet, Bart., is patron, and the minister's stipend is £287. 10. 9., with a manse, and a glebe valued at £10 per annum. The church, rebuilt in 1824, is a handsome structure in the later English style, and contains 1300 sittings. A place of worship has been erected in connexion with the Free Church; and in the village of Arbeadie, is a meeting-house for Independents. There are three parochial schools, the masters of which divide among them £51. 6. 6¾., in addition to a house and garden for each, and the fees average respectively £20, £16, and £10 per annum. A school was founded and endowed in 1638, by Sir Thomas Burnet, in conjunction with Dr. Alexander Reid, and is conducted by one of the parochial schoolmasters, who derives an additional salary of £16 from the endowment. A parochial library has also been established, which has a collection of more than 400 volumes, chiefly on religious subjects. At Cairnton, on the hill of Trustach, are some remains of an old intrenchment, now covered with birch, about 150 yards square, defended by two ramparts of earth, 300 yards in length, extending from the inclosure in a converging direction, leaving an opening of about twenty yards in width at their extremities; it is supposed to have been a Roman camp. Near Kerloak, are Druidical remains, consisting of three circles of upright stones, nearly entire, the largest of which is about 25 yards in diameter, and the others about 15 yards; in each of them, are vestiges of an inner circle inclosing a small cairn. Bishops Burnet and Douglas, both of Salisbury, were descended from families connected with this parish.
BANETON, or Baynton, a village, in the parish of Kennoway, district of Kirkcaldy, county of Fife, 1 mile (N. N. E.) from Kennoway; containing 204 inhabitants. It is in the north-eastern portion of the parish, and a little north of the road between Kennoway and Cupar.
|
<urn:uuid:7087e8a5-13ea-4765-9131-de8d5f711b62>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/scotland/pp91-101
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320593.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625221343-20170626001343-00544.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.973594
| 16,639
| 2.859375
| 3
|
The Osaka School Artists
There is an enigma about these instantly recognisable woodblock prints that we term the Osaka School. Two or three things jump out of these prints which immediately differentiate them from their near neighbours in Edo. Firstly, their size - nearly all Osaka prints are printed onto chuban size paper: 19 x 25 cm. Secondly, almost all of these prints are outstanding in their quality - that is, the number of colours and the the lavish use of metallic pigment and the often superior paper. But what about the look of these mainly portrait prints?
Like the Renaissance artist, Giotto or the Spaniard, el Greco, there is a physionomy to these intimate and careful portraits that is immediately distinguishable - a roundness of features, a narrowness to the eyes and enigmatically, a longing in the expression which seems to add an extraordinary and touching intimacy to what are in the main Actor portraits.
Long overlooked and in the shadow of their better known and infinitely more prolific counterparts in Edo, Osaka artists have become, and are becoming above all, collectors' prints. Some are highly prized, and some artists are being recognised as the equal or superior of Edo artists such as Kuniyoshi and Kunisada. Comparison in art history is unhelpful and so it is better perhaps to look at the prints as they stand; extraordinary and very great portraits in a genre of great delicacy and confinement.
Osaka was an important port of over 400,000 inhabitants. Distinct, economically and culturally from Edo and Kyoto, it nevertheless enjoyed a vibrant culture and kabuki tradition. Out of this milieu emerged a man called Sadamasu, an artist, patron and wealthy individual. He developed, idiosyncratically, a style of full face woodblock portraits on chuban sized paper. He in turn commissioned a young artist, Konishi Hirosada in 1841 to do a series of prints in the same manner and the Osaka style of woodblock print was formed. Hirosada had been a pupil of Kunisada in Edo and the twin influence of these two peers formed his distinct and exceptional style during the 1840’s. Despite periods of inactivity due to the Government restrictions of the Tempo Reforms, Hirosada was prolific over a relatively short period, his last known print being dated 1861.
Osaka prints were dominated by the chuban head and shoulders format, artists sometimes combining up to ten prints that could be read as a continuous ribbon of images or else seen as single sheets. There were also limited productions of triptychs of stage scenes although these are far less common. Edition sizes were much smaller than in Edo, making the quality of Osaka prints much more consistent. The print scene in Osaka was dominated by Hirosada and justifiably he remains the most well known, being a truly great portraitist even by international standards. There were other artists though of great stature, notably Utagawa Yoshitaki (1841 - 1899), Hasegawa Sadanobu I (1809 -1879) and Utagawa Kunihiro (active 1820 - 1843).
As previously noted, the exceptional quality of the prints, and the considered design work of the artists has led to renewed interest in Osaka artists of late. In some ways they conform more to western assumptions about fine art; many of the prints were designed and published privately and at a slower rate. For someone starting a collection, the smaller scope of the work and the increase in market interest makes Osaka prints a very attractive option. There is no doubt that prices for these works, especially Hirosada, will continue to grow in the coming years.
Read more about the Genius of Hirosada at our blog.
|
<urn:uuid:5c33aced-751f-4d56-9922-7b5449e31831>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.toshidama-japanese-prints.com/category_48/Osaka-School.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320593.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625221343-20170626001343-00544.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.973124
| 770
| 2.703125
| 3
|
According to WebMD, a small bump on the tongue is a common symptom of a canker sore. Canker sores are mouth ulcers that range in size and are often linked with stress. In many cases, bumps and sores of the tongue are no cause for concern, but it is important to consult with a health professional if the bump or sore persists longer than one week.Continue Reading
Dr. Harold Katz, founder of Thera Breath, explains that canker sores on the tongue are often caused by eating spicy foods, hormonal fluctuations, vitamin B-12 deficiency, iron deficiency, tongue injury and toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. A canker sore on the tongue first appears as a small bump and gradually forms into a painful open ulcer. A canker sore on the tongue tends to heal within three weeks. Home treatments, such as gargling with salt water or milk of magnesia, help to relieve pain and additional swelling.
According to the Mayo Clinic, most minor canker sores heal without scarring in one or two weeks, while major canker sores can take up to six weeks to heal. It is important for individuals with recurring canker sores or sores that cause severe pain or fever to consult with a medical professional to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.Learn more about STIs
|
<urn:uuid:650df14b-17df-4c0d-91b8-926b90e8264b>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.reference.com/health/mean-little-bump-tongue-62f812db4018afd3
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320841.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626170406-20170626190406-00624.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945195
| 274
| 2.71875
| 3
|
British scientists have gained new insight into Type 2 diabetes by traveling to an unusual location — high atop Mount Everest.
According to a study published Monday in the journal PLOS One, researchers found long-term exposure to hypoxia — or low oxygen levels in the body — is linked to increased indicators of insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes.
Insulin resistance occurs when cells in the body don't respond to the hormone responsible for regulating sugar levels. This could lead to too much sugar in the blood, which could lead to Type 2 diabetes. (ViaMedicom Health Interactive)
The data for the study was collected as part of a trek led by researchers, doctors and nurses who wanted to study how decreased oxygen levels affect bodily functions at extreme altitudes. (Via The Guardian)
The team chose to go to Mount Everest because the high-altitude conditions simulated the critical conditions of ill patients who often suffer from hypoxia at normal altitudes. (Via National Geographic)
The researchers say hypoxia is a common problem affecting patients in intensive care units in the United Kingdom and this research could help improve survival rates.
According to HealthDay, such levels of hypoxia observed in healthy people atop the mountain are normally seen in obese people at sea level. But the researchers say it's often impossible to study those patients because they are so ill.
A doctor involved with the study told Science Daily the research "demonstrates the value of using healthy volunteers in studies carried out at high altitude to patients at sea level. [It] is a fantastic way to test hypotheses that would otherwise be very difficult to explore."
According to Medical News Today, the researchers believe the results of the study could lead to the development of treatments for reducing the progression of diabetes indicators and possibly prevent the disease altogether.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25 million Americans have diabetes, and about 90 percent of them have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
|
<urn:uuid:46a5d938-7607-4c1f-b59e-3f159afa5aca>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.krmg.com/news/national/how-everest-helped-scientists-research-diabetes/MkvYmWmHiy8U6D1j19PGkL/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321410.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627115753-20170627135753-00704.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94619
| 403
| 3.375
| 3
|
Category Archives: see
a different moon,
in the dew,
as a pearl
as a siren’s
of the sea,
you wash yourself
by eternal dawn,
with sky, with air,
with sea wind,
by the rhythmic
contractions of the tide,
Excerpt from “Ode to the Moon of the Sea” by Pablo Neruda found in:
Neruda, Pablo. Selected Odes of Pablo Neruda. Trans. Margaret Sayers Peden. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990.
Photo from the Chicago Astronomer Full Moon Rise Party at the Adler Planetarium. 08/01/2012.
This summer has been overflowing with astronomical inspiration! From the Transit of Venus to the landing of the Curiosity Rover (and a few moon and star parties thrown in for good measure!), I have experienced more celestial wonders than I would have thought possible in such a large city. While I am not looking forward to the cold months ahead, the extra darkness and clear skies of winter will hopefully facilitate even more encounters with the empyrean kind.
In addition to all of the exciting space events of the present, this summer was also a commemoration of the men and women who helped pioneer space exploration off the ground. The world also said goodbye to both the first American woman in space, Sally Ride, and the first man to set foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong. One of the most successful space missions of all time, the Voyager spacecraft, celebrated its 35th anniversary as the still operational explorers prepared to leave our solar system.
In the last week of summer, I return to this tiny corner of the web with a full heart and expectant mind.
you have been the apple of our eye
oh near and naked neighbor
we have taken your dappled visage
as testament to the fluke heartbreaks
of gravity and fate
we have mapped each dusty poc,
for each crater is a passionate concession
of two rocks meeting
we’ve echoed your concave ripples
with our own silent rings of battle-
for all generations we have watched you
dress and undress shining scars
and we see no evidence of love,
only the collision of two bodies.
First image found in
Mitton, Jacqueline. Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of Astronomy. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. p. 233.
Second image found in
Karpeles, Eric. Paintings in Proust. London: Thames & Hudson, 2008. p. 50.
We smile at astrological hopes
And leave the sky to expert men
Who do not reckon horoscopes
But painfully extend their ken
In mathematical debate
With slide and photographic plate.
And yet, protest it if we will,
Some corner of the mind retains
The medieval man, who still
Keeps watch upon those starry skeins
And drives us out of doors at night
To gaze at anagrams of light.
Whatever register or law
Is drawn in digits for these two,
Venus and Jupiter keep their awe,
Wardens of brilliance, as they do
Their dual circuit of the west-
The brightest planet and her guest.
Is any light so proudly thrust
From darkness on our lifted faces
A sign of something we can trust,
Or is it that in starry places
We see things we long to see
In fiery iconography?
Rich, Adrienne. Collected Early Poems, 1950-1970. New York: Norton, 1993. p. 54.
Photo found on this great site.
The conjunction of Jupiter and Venus was the brightest it has been in the Chicago sky for years. The viewing of such a beautiful astronomical event in my adopted metropolis was an almost sacred experience for me, transporting me from my urban prison to the wild, rolling hills locked deep in my memory.
Not a poem, but one of the most beautiful sights in this cosmos.
Ah! why, because the dazzling sun
Restored our Earth to joy,
Have you departed, every one,
And left a desert sky?
All through the night, your glorious eyes
Were gazing down in mine,
And, with a full heart’s thankful sighs,
I blessed that watch divine.
I was at peace, and drank your beams
As they were life to me;
And revelled in my changeful dreams,
Like petrel on the sea.
Thought followed thought, star followed star,
Through boundless regions, on;
While one sweet influence, near and far,
Thrilled through and proved us one!
Why did the morning dawn to break
So great, so pure, a spell;
And scorch with fire the tranquil cheek,
Where your cool radiance fell?
Blood-red, he rose, and arrow-straight,
His fierce beams struck my brow;
The soul of nature sprang, elate,
But mine sank sad and low!
My lids closed down, yet through their veil
I saw him, blazing still,
And steep in gold the misty dale,
And flash upon the hill.
I turned me to the pillow, then,
To call back night, and see
Your worlds of solemn light, again,
Throb with my heart, and me!
It would not do- the pillow glowed,
And glowed both roof and floor;
And birds sang loudly in the wood,
And fresh winds shook the door;
The curtains waved, the wakened flies
Were murmuring round my room,
Imprisoned there, till I should rise,
And give them leave to roam.
Oh, stars, and dreams, and gentle night;
Oh, night and stars, return!
And hide me from the hostile light
That does not warm, but burn;
That drains the blood of suffering men;
Drinks tears instead of dew;
Let me sleep through his blinding reign,
And only wake with you!
Bronte, Emily. Poems of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell with Cottage Poems by Patrick Bronte. From The Works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte in Twelve Volumes, Volume 8. London: J.M. Dent and Company, 1893. pp 79-81.
Gezari, Janet. Last Things: Emily Bronte’s Poems. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. pp 29-30.
*A great blog on all things Bronte here.
Drip into rivers; all feed the ocean;
Tides ebb and flow, but every year a little bit higher.
They will drown New York, they will drown London.
And this place, where I have planted trees and built a stone house,
Will be under sea. The poor trees will perish.
And little fish will flicker in and out the windows. I built it well,
Thick walls and Portland cement and gray granite,
The tower at least will hold against the sea’s buffeting; it will become
Geological, fossil and permanent.
What a pleasure it is to mix one’s mind with the geological
Time, or with astronomical relax it.
There is nothing like astronomy to pull the stuff out of man.
His stupid dreams and red-rooster importance: let him count the star-swirls.
Jeffers, Robinson. The Beginning and the End. New York: Random House, 1963. p. 18.
More information about Isaac Roberts here.
|
<urn:uuid:08ed406b-346f-4e03-b83d-36add8b49829>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://videstellae.wordpress.com/category/see/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323864.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629033356-20170629053356-00144.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.872973
| 1,594
| 2.71875
| 3
|
Why is preventive dental care important?
Preventive dental care usually includes professional dental cleanings, dental examinations, and x-rays. These procedures allow us to check your teeth on a regular basis to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy and free from any signs of decay or disease. They also give us the opportunity to screen you for serious conditions like oral cancer.
Even with good brushing and flossing technique, it is difficult to remove all the plaque and tartar from your teeth, especially above the gumline. If this plaque is allowed to remain there, bacteria can grow and thrive and eventually lead to serious dental problems. Catching these problems before they start or nipping them in the bud will prevent infection, damage to your teeth, and eventually tooth loss.
|
<urn:uuid:fe9e4139-846c-43d3-973b-98f151b25a4b>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.raynedentist.com/faq/dental-teeth-serious-care-preventive/2107
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319902.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20170622201826-20170622221826-00503.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.949437
| 159
| 3.046875
| 3
|
Your sense of touch works by means of special sensory receptors scattered all over your body’s surface. These receptors allow you to feel an amazing range of sensations, from the pain of touching a searing hot iron to the tickling of a feather as it brushes against your skin. The receptors send messages along nerves to the spinal cord and brain, where the information is processed.
Touch receptors are types of specialized nerve ending. Meissner’s corpuscles detect fine touch and are found in hairless parts of the body, such as the lips, palms, and fingertips. Other types of receptor are sensitive to pressure, stretching of the skin, vibration, or hair movements.
Some areas of the skin, such as the fingertips and palms, are folded into ridges. These help improve both touch sensitivity (as they hold more receptors) and grip. The pattern of ridges and grooves provides a means of identification, because everyone has their own unique ridge pattern.
Developed in the 19th century by a Frenchman, Louis Braille, the Braille system allows blind people to read. Words are represented by a series of raised dots, which the reader recognizes by running his or her fingers over the page. The ability to read Braille relies on the extreme sensitivity of the fingertips to touch.
|
<urn:uuid:401b178f-ff8a-41aa-bb9e-0a251b7ac73b>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.factmonster.com/dk/encyclopedia/science/touch
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320070.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623151757-20170623171757-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946496
| 264
| 4.40625
| 4
|
What’s in your Whopper? Salt in fast food varies greatly between countries
All French fries are not created equal. It turns out that sodium levels in the same fast food items can vary significantly between countries, according to a recent study — and can you guess which country’s Big Mac is especially salty?
An international group of collaborating researchers looked at the reported sodium content of menu items from six fast food chains in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
The chains included Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Subway.
For each restaurant, the team analyzed savoury breakfast items, burgers, chicken products, pizza, salads, sandwiches and French fries.
Overall, sodium levels in similar foods were inconsistent between countries, with fast food from Canada and the US containing the most salt, and items from the UK and France remaining relatively low on the list.
In the UK, McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets contained 0.6 g of salt per 100 g, for example, but in the US, they contained more than twice that amount at 1.6 g per 100g.
Here’s how the salt in McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets broke down by country:
Australia: 1.1 g
Canada: 1.5 g
France: 1.2 g
New Zealand: 1.1 g
United Kingdom: 0.6 g
United States: 1.6 g
“Many business decisions are made by the chains saying they are making the products based on the preference of the people, but those preferences could come from a test group of 20 people,” says study author Dr Norm Campbell, from the University of Calgary.
“In Canada, our fries have about twice as much salt as anywhere else. It should be a travel advisory. But overall, our consumption is two times less than that of the United States. People want to eat healthier. Nobody can tell me the people in Canada want more salt.”
And it’s not just your fries or McNuggets that are packing the excess sodium. Restaurant food in general — and any processed or packaged food — is high in salt. “If you go to an expensive restaurant, it is just as unhealthy, you just paid more money for it,” says Campbell. “You’re no better off. If you go to the grocery store and you buy packaged food it is just as bad. It’s a much larger issue.”
Food makers often cite technical difficulties as barriers to salt reduction, but given the range of sodium levels that already exist between countries, the researchers are skeptical. According to the team, the real problem lies in a lack of government moderation.
“These are federal government responsibilities. The fast food industries are responsible for their shareholders. They are not responsible for the health of the population,” says Campbell. “We elect politicians who have responsibility to oversee the changes in added salt and sugars in our foods that are killing us.”…..
Time: Read more
Riposte from the Salt Institute:
A recent article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that the salt content of menu items at fast food chain restaurants varies from country to country with British hamburgers, for example, having a slightly lower salt content than American hamburgers. The nearly dozen scientists who conducted the research concluded that there should be no reason why food recipes should change from one country to another.
“I can only assume that the research budget must not have included travel to any local ethnic restaurants to enquire why their menu items and recipes are not all identical,” said Morton Satin, Vice President of Science and Research for the Salt Institute.
“It should be obvious that people in different countries prefer different kinds of foods and have different tastes, which even large chain restaurants have to accommodate to succeed,” he added.
The perplexing conclusion of the article (The variability of reported salt levels in fast foods across six countries: opportunities for salt reduction. CMAJ April 16, 2012) was surprising given the high level of peer reviewed clinical research normally reserved for the pages of the Journal.
“It is clear that the entire report was an agenda driven attack on what the authors consider high salt consumption. The authors specifically call for governments to mandate lower salt content in food, regardless of consumer preferences,” said Satin.
According to Satin, “The fact is that the majority of research conducted over the past few years and published in accredited peer-reviewed journals specifically cautions against lowering salt consumption for individuals. The detrimental health effects of doing so include increased morbidity and mortality from Type I and Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease and heart failure.”
“The authors of the report also failed to note that in many countries, such as those in the Mediterranean region as well as Asia, salt consumption is higher than in the United States and so is life expectancy and general health,” added Satin.
About the Salt Institute: Based in Alexandria, VA, the Salt Institute is a trade association promoting responsible uses of salt, particularly for roadway safety, nutrition and water quality. Visit http://www.saltinstitute.org
Trackback from your site.
|
<urn:uuid:b419e487-39e6-4178-9279-48ab4e0a606d>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.foodstuffsa.co.za/whats-in-your-whopper-salt-in-fast-food-varies-greatly-between-countries/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320257.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624101204-20170624121204-00664.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952118
| 1,103
| 2.9375
| 3
|
Optometrists are highly educated and well trained primary eye-care providers. As important members of the health-care team, optometrists treat ocular diseases such as glaucoma, co-manage refractive procedures, fit medical devices such as contact lenses and prostheses, prescribe therapeutic medications, and treat amblyopia as well as binocular vision disorders. Additionally, optometrists are instrumental in referring patients to health-care specialists after the detection of ocular signs of systemic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
In today's market, practice opportunities for optometrists abound. Optometrists may elect to practice individually, join group practices, teach, conduct valuable research, participate in health-care administration, or practice in military and public health-care settings. Optometrists are also important consultants in workplace designs, highway lighting, aviation, and sports vision.
As the third largest independent healthcare profession, optometry continues to have a very promising outlook. The demand for optometric services is expected to rise, according to the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Optometry Association (AOA) in part because:
|
<urn:uuid:cc70bc54-7c98-4e87-ba3f-46a078c1c8a6>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.opt.uh.edu/future-students-residents/the-optometry-profession/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320257.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624101204-20170624121204-00664.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.95333
| 248
| 2.578125
| 3
|
The History of the Russian Revolution
Volume One: The Overthrow of Tzarism
and the Peasantry
The Russian proletariat learned its first steps in the political circumstances created by a despotic state. Strikes forbidden by law, underground circles, illegal proclamations, street demonstrations, encounters with the police and with troops – such was the school created by the combination of a swiftly developing capitalism with an absolutism slowly surrendering its positions. The concentration of the workers in colossal enterprises, the intense character of governmental persecution, and finally the impulsiveness of a young and fresh proletariat, brought it about that the political strike, so rare in western Europe, became in Russia the fundamental method of struggle. The figures of strikes from the beginning of the present century are a most impressive index of the political history of Russia. With every desire not to burden our text with figures, we cannot refrain from introducing a table of political strikes in Russia for the period 1903 to 1917. The figures, reduced to their simplest expression, relate only to enterprises undergoing factory inspection. The railroads, mining industries, mechanical and small enterprises in general, to say nothing of agriculture, for various reasons do not enter into the count. But the changes in the strike curve in the different periods emerge no less clearly for this.
We have before us a curve – the only one of its kind – of the political temperature of a nation carrying in its womb a great revolution. In a backward country with a small proletariat – for in all the enterprises undergoing factory inspections there were only about 1½ million workers in 1905, about 2 million in 1917 – the strike movement attains such dimensions as it never knew before anywhere in the world. With the weakness of the petty bourgeois democracy, the scatteredness and political blindness of the peasant movement, the revolutionary strike of the workers becomes the battering ram which the awakening nation directs against the walls of absolutism. Participants in political strikes in 1905 numbering 1,843,000 – workers participating in several strikes are here, of course, counted twice – that number alone would permit us to put our finger on the revolutionary year in our table, if we knew nothing else about the Russian political calendar.
|Number in thousands of participants
in political strikes
|1914 (first half)||1,059|
|* The figures for 1903 and 1904 refer to all strikes,
the economic undoubtedly predominating
For 1904, the first year of the Russo-Japanese war, the factory inspection indicates in all only 25,000 strikers. In 1905, political and economic strikes together involved 2,863,000 mean – 115 times more than in the previous year. This remarkable fact by itself would suggest the thought that a proletariat, impelled by the course of events to improvise such unheard-of revolutionary activities, must at whatever cost produce from its depths an organisation corresponding to the dimensions of the struggle and the colossal tasks. This organisation was the soviets – brought into being by the first revolution, and made the instrument of the general strike and the struggle for power.
Beaten in the December uprising of 1905, the proletariat during the next two years makes heroic efforts to defend a part of the conquered positions. These years, as our strike figures show, still belong directly to the revolution, but they are the years of ebb. The four following years (1908-11) emerge in our mirror of strike statistics as the years of victorious counter-revolution. An industrial crisis coincident with this still further exhausts the proletariat, already bled white. The depth of the fall is symmetrical with the height of the rise. National convulsions find their reflection in these simple figures.
The industrial boom beginning in 1910 lifted the workers to their feet, and gave a new impulse to their energy. The figures for 1912-14 almost repeat those for 1905-07, but in the opposite order: not from above downwards, but from below up. On a new and higher historical basis – there are more workers now, and they have more experience – a new revolutionary offensive begins. The first half-year of 1914 clearly approaches in the number of political strikes the culminating point of the year of the first revolution. But war breaks out and sharply interrupts this process. The first war months are marked by political inertness in the working class, but already in the spring of 1915 the numbness begins to pass. A new cycle of political strikes opens, a cycle which in February 1917 will culminate in the insurrection of soldiers and workers.
The sharp ebbs and flows of the mass struggle had left the Russian proletariat after a few years almost unrecognisable. Factories which two or three years ago would strike unanimously over some single arbitrary police action, today have completely lost their revolutionary colour, and accept the most monstrous crimes of the authorities without resistance. Great defeats discourage people for a long time. The consciously revolutionary elements lose their power over the masses. Prejudices and superstitions not yet burnt out come back to life. Grey immigrants from the village during these times dilute the workers’ ranks. Sceptics ironically shake their heads. So its was in the years 1907-11. But molecular processes in the masses are healing the psychological wounds of defeat. A new turn of events, or an underlying economic impulse, opens a new political cycle. The revolutionary elements again find their audience. The struggle reopens on a higher level.
In order to understand the two chief tendencies in the Russian working class, it is important to have in mind that Menshevism finally took shape in the years of ebb and reaction. It relied chiefly upon a thin layer of workers who had broken with the revolution. Whereas Bolshevism, cruelly shattered in the period of the reaction, began to rise swiftly on the crest of a new revolutionary tide in the years before the war. “The most energetic and audacious element, ready for tireless struggle, for resistance and continual organisation, is that element, those organisations, and those people who are concentrated around Lenin.” In these words the Police Department estimated the work of the Bolsheviks during the years preceding the war.
In July 1914, while the diplomats were driving the last nail into the cross designed for the crucifixion of Europe, Petrograd was boiling like a revolutionary cauldron. The President of the French Republic, Poincaré, had to lay his wreath on the tomb of Alexander III amid the last echoes of a street fight and the first murmurs of a patriotic demonstration.
Would the mass offensive of 1912-14 have led directly to an overthrow of tzarism if the war had not broken out? It is hardly possible to answer that question with certainty. The process would inexorably have led to a revolution, but through what stages would the revolution in those circumstances have had to go? Would it not have experienced another defeat? How much time would have been needed by the workers in order to arouse the peasantry and win the army? In all these directions only guesses are possible. The war, at any rate, gave the process at first a backward movement, but only to accelerate it more powerfully in the next period and guarantee its overwhelming victory.
At the first sound of the drum the revolutionary movement died down. The more active layers of the workers were mobilised. The revolutionary elements were thrown from the factories to the front. Severe penalties were imposed for striking. The workers’ press was swept away. Trade unions were strangled. Hundreds of thousands of women, boys, peasants, poured into the workshops. The war – combined with the wreck of the International – greatly disoriented the workers politically, and made it possible for the factory administration, then just lifting its head, to speak patriotically in the name of the factories, carrying with it a considerable part of the workers, and compelling the more bold and resolute to keep still and wait. The revolutionary ideas were barely kept glowing in small and hushed circles. In the factories in those days nobody dared to call himself “Bolshevik” for fear not only of arrest, but of a beating from the backward workers.
The Bolshevik faction in the Duma, weak in its personnel, had not risen at the outbreak of the war to the height of its task. Along with the Menshevik deputies, it introduced a declaration in which it promised “to defend the cultural weal of the people against all attacks wheresoever originating.” The Duma underlined with applause this yielding of a position. Not one of the Russian organisations or groups of the party took the openly defeatist position which Lenin came out for abroad. The percentage of patriots among the Bolsheviks, however, was insignificant. In contrast to the Narodniks and Mensheviks, the Bolsheviks began in 1914 to develop among the masses a printed and oral agitation against the war. The Duma deputies soon recovered their poise and renewed their revolutionary work – about which the authorities were very closely informed, thanks to a highly developed system of provocation. It is sufficient to remark that out of seven members of the Petersburg committee of the party, three, on the eve of the war, were in the employ of the Secret Service. Thus tzarism played blind man’s buff with the revolution. In November the Bolshevik deputies were arrested. There began a general smash-up of the party throughout the country. In February 1915 the case of the Duma faction was called in the courts. The deputies conducted themselves cautiously. Kamenev, theoretical instigator of the factions, stood apart from the defeatist position of Lenin; so did Petrovsky, the present president of the Central Committee in the Ukraine. The Police Department remarked with satisfaction that the severe sentences dealt out to the deputies did not evoke any movement of protest among the workers.
It seemed as though the war had produced a new working class. To a considerable extent this was the fact: in Petrograd the personnel of the workers had been renewed almost forty per cent. The revolutionary succession had been abruptly broken. All that existed before the war, including the Duma faction of the Bolsheviks, had suddenly retired to the background and almost disappeared in oblivion. But under cover of this quietness and patriotism – and to some extent even monarchism – the moods of a new explosion were gradually accumulating in the masses.
In August 1915 the tzarist ministers were telling each other that the workers “are eveywhere hunting out treason, betrayal and sabotage in behalf of the Germans, and are enthusiastic in the search for those guilty of our unsuccesses at the front.” It is true that in that period the awakening mass-criticism – in part sincerely and in part for the sake of defensive coloration – often adopted the standpoint of “defence of the fatherland.” But that idea was only a point of departure. The discontent of the workers was digging a deeper and deeper course, silencing the masters, the Black Hundred workers, the servants of the administration, permitting the worker-Bolsheviks to raise their heads.
From criticism the masses pass over to action. Their indignation finds expression first of all in food disturbances, sometimes rising to the height of local riots. Women, old men and boys, in the market or on the open square, feel bolder and more independent than the workers on military duty in the factories. In Moscow in May the movement turns into a pogrom of Germans, although the participants in this are chiefly the scum of the town armed under police protection. Nevertheless, the very possibility of such a pogrom in industrial Moscow proves that the workers are not yet sufficiently awakened to impose their slogans and their discipline upon the disturbed small-town people. These food disorders, spreading over the whole country, broke the war hypnosis and laid the road to strikes.
The inflow of raw labour power to the factories and the greedy scramble for war-profits, brought everywhere a lowering of the conditions of labour, and gave rise to the crudest methods of exploitation. The rise in the cost of living automatically lowered wages. economic strikes were the inevitable mass reflection – stormy in proportion as they had been delayed. The strikes were accompanied by meetings, adoption of political resolutions, scrimmages with the police, not infrequently by shots and casualties.
The struggle arose chiefly in the central textile district. On June 5 the police fire a volley at the weavers in Kostroma: 4 killed, 9 wounded. On August 10 the troops fire on the Ivanovo-Voznesensk workers: 16 killed, 30 wounded. In the movement of the textile workers some soldiers of a local battalion are involved. Protest strikes in various parts of the country give answer to the shootings at Ivanovo-Voznesensk. Parallel to this goes the economic struggle. The textile workers often march in the front rank.
In comparison with the first half of 1914 this movement, as regards strength of pressure and clarity of slogans, represents a big step backward. This is not surprising, since raw masses are to a large extent being drawn into the struggle, and there has been a complete disintegration of the guiding layer of the workers. Nevertheless even in these first strikes of the war the approach of great battles can be heard. The Minister of Justice, Khvostov, said on the 16th of August: “If there are at present no armed demonstrations of the workers, it is only because they have as yet no organisation.” Goremykin expressed himself more concisely: “The trouble among the workers’ leaders is that they have no organisation, since it was broken up by the arrest of the five members of the Duma.” The Minister of the Interior added: “We must not amnesty the members of the Duma (Bolsheviks) – they are the organising centre of the movement in its most dangerous form.” These people at least made no mistake as to who was the real enemy.
While the ministry, even at the moment of its greatest dismay and readiness for liberal concessions, deemed it necessary as before to pound the workers’ revolution on the head – i.e. on the Bolsheviks – the big bourgeoisie was trying to fix up a co-operation with the Mensheviks. Frightened by the scope of the strike movement, the liberal industrialists made an attempt to impose patriotic discipline upon the workers by including their elected representatives in the staff of the Military Industrial Committees. The Minister of the Interior complained that it was very difficult to oppose this scheme, fathered by Guchkov. “The whole enterprise,” he said, “is being carried out under a patriotic flag, and in the interests of the defence.” We must remark, however, that even the police avoided arresting the social-patriots, seeing in them a side partner in the struggle against strikes and revolutionary “excesses.” It was indeed upon their too great confidence in the strength of patriotic socialism, that the Secret Service based their conviction that no insurrection would occur while the war lasted.
In the elections to the Military-Industrial Committees the defencists, headed by an energetic metal worker, Gvozdev – we shall meet him later as Minister of Labour in the Coalition Government of the revolution – turned out to be a minority. They enjoyed the support, however, not only of the liberal bourgeoisie, but of the bureaucracy, in getting the better of those who, led by the Bolsheviks, wished to boycott the committees. They succeeded in imposing a representation in these organs of industrial patriotism upon the Petersburg proletariat. The position of the Mensheviks was clearly expressed in a speech one of their representatives later made to the industrialists in the Committee: “You ought to demand that the existing bureaucratic power retire from the scene, yielding its place to you as the inheritors of the present social structure.” This young political friendship was growing by leaps and bounds. After the revolution it will bring forth its ripe fruit.
The war produced a dreadful desolation in the underground movement. After the arrest of the Duma faction the Bolsheviks had no centralised party organisation at all. The local committees had an episodic existence, and often had no connections with the workers districts. Only scattered groups, circles and solitary individuals did anything. However, the reviving strike movement gave them some spirit and some strength in the factories. They gradually began to find each other and build up the district connections. The underground work revived. In the Police Department they wrote later: “Ever since the beginning of the war, the Leninists, who have behind them in Russia an overwhelming majority of the underground social-democratic organisations, have in their larger centres (such as Petrograd, Moscow, Kharkov, Kiev, Tula, Kostroma, Vladimir Province, Samara) been issuing in considerable numbers revolutionary appeals with a demand to stop the war, overthrow the existing government, and found a republic. And this work has had its palpable result in workers’ strikes and disorders.”
The traditional anniversary of the march of the workers to the Winter Palace, which had passed almost unnoticed the year before, produces a widespread strike on January 9, 1916. The strike movement doubles during this year. Encounters with the police accompany every big and prolonged strike. In contact with the troops, the workers conduct themselves with demonstrative friendliness, and the Secret Police more than once notice this alarming fact.
The war industries swelled out, devouring all resources around them and undermining their own foundation. The peacetime branches of production began to die away. In spite of all plannings, nothing came of the regulation of industry. The bureaucracy, incapable of taking this business in hand against the opposition of the powerful Military-Industrial Committees, at the same time refused to turn over the regulating rôle to the bourgeoisie. The chaos increased. Skilled workers were replaced by unskilled. The coal mines, shops and factories of Poland were soon lost. In the course of the first year of the war a fifth part of the industrial strength of the country was cut off. As much as 50 per cent of production went to supply the needs of the army and the war – including about 75 per cent of the textile production of the country. The overloaded transport proved incapable of supplying factories with the necessary quantity of fuel and raw material. The war not only swallowed up the whole current national income, but seriously began to cut into the basic capital of the country.
The industrialists grew less and less willing to grant anything to the workers, and the government, as usual, answered every strike with severe repressions. All this pushed the minds of the workers from the particular to the general, from economics to politics: “We must all strike at once.” Thus arose the idea of the general strike. The process of radicalisation of the masses is most convincingly reflected in the strike statistics. In 1915, two and a half times fewer workers participated in political strikes than in economic strikes. In 1916, twice as few. In the first few months of 1917, political strikes involved six times as many workers as economic. The rôle of Petrograd is portrayed in one figure: 72 per cent of the political strikers during the years of the war fall to her lot!
Many of the old beliefs are burned up in the fires of this struggle. The Secret Service reports, “with pain,” that if they should react according to the dictates of the law to “every instance of insolence and open insult to His Majesty, the number of trials under Article 103 would reach an unheard-of figure.” Nevertheless the consciousness of the masses is far behind their action. The terrible pressure of the war and the national ruin is accelerating the process of struggle to such a degree that broad masses of the workers, right up to the very revolution, have not freed themselves from many opinions and prejudices brought with them from the village or from the petty bourgeois family circle in the town. This fact will set its stamp on the first stage of the February revolution.
By the end of 1916 prices are rising by leaps and bounds. To the inflation and the breakdown of transport, there is added an actual lack of goods. The demands of the population have been cut down by this time to one-half. The curve of the workers’ movement rises sharply. In October the struggle enters its decisive phase, uniting all forms of discontent in one. Petrograd draws back for the February leap. A wave of meetings runs through the factories. The topics: food supplies, high cost of living, war, government. Bolshevik leaflets are distributed; political strikes begin; improvised demonstrations occur at factory gates; cases of fraternisation between certain factories and the soldiers are observed; a stormy protest-strike flares up over the trial of the revolutionary sailors of the Baltic Fleet. The French ambassador calls Premier Stürmer’s attention to the fact, become known to him, that some soldiers have shot at the police. Stürmer quiets the ambassador: “The repressions will be ruthless.” In November a good-sized group of workers on military duty are removed from the Petrograd factories and sent to the front. The year ends in storm and thunder.
Comparing the situation with that in 1905, the director of the Police Department, Vassiliev, reaches a very uncomforting conclusion: “The mood of the opposition has gone very far – far beyond anything to be seen in the broad masses during the above-mentioned period of disturbance.” Vassiliev rests no hope in the garrison; even the police officers are not entirely reliable. The Intelligence Department reports a revival of the slogan of the general strike, the danger of a resurrection of the terror. Soldiers and officers arriving from the front say of the present situation: “What is there to wait for? – Why don’t you take and bump off such-and-such a scoundrel? If we were here, we wouldn’t waste much time thinking,” etc. Shliapnikov, a member of the Bolshevik Central Committee, himself a former metal worker, describes how nervous the workers were in those days: “Sometimes a whistle would be enough, or any kind of noise – the workers would take it for a signal to stop the factory.” This detail is equally remarkable both as a political symptom and as a psychological fact: the revolution is there in the nerves before it comes out on the street.
The provinces are passing through the same stages, only more slowly. The growth in massiveness of the movement and in fighting spirit shifts the centre of gravity from the textile to the metal-workers, from economic strikes to political, from the provinces to Petrograd. The first two months of 1917 show 575,000 political strikers, the lion’s share of them in the capital. In spite of new raids carried out by the police on the eve of January 9, 150,000 workers went on strike in the capital on that anniversary of blood. The mood was tense. The metal-workers were in the lead. The workers all felt that no retreat was possible. In every factory an active nucleus was forming, oftenest around the Bolsheviks. Strikes and meetings went on continuously throughout the first two weeks of February. On the 8th, at the Putilov factory, the police received “a hail of slag and old iron.” On the 14th, the day the Duma opened, about 90,000 were on strike in Petrograd. Several plants also stopped work in Moscow. On the 16th, the authorities decided to introduce bread cards in Petrograd. This novelty rasped the nerves. On the 19th, a mass of people gathered around the food shops, especially women, all demanding bread. A day later bakeries were sacked in several parts of the city. These were the heat lightnings of the revolution, coming in a few days.
The Russian proletariat found its revolutionary audacity not only in itself. Its very position as minority of the nation suggests that it could not have given its struggle a sufficient scope – certainly not enough to take its place at the head of the state – if it had not found a mighty support in the thick of the people. Such a support was guaranteed to it by the agrarian problem.
The belated half-liberation of the peasants in 1861 had found agricultural industry almost on the same level as two hundred years before. The preservation of the old area of communal land – somewhat filched from during the reform – together with the archaic methods of land culture, automatically sharpened a crisis caused by the rural excess population, which was at the same time a crisis in the three-fold system. The peasantry felt still more caught in a trap because the process was not taking place in the seventeenth but in the nineteenth century – that is, in the conditions of an advanced money economy which made demands upon the wooden plough that could only be met by a tractor. Here too we see a drawing together of separate stages of the historic process, and as a result an extreme sharpening of contradictions. The learned agronomes and economists had been preaching that the old area with rational cultivation would be amply sufficient – that is to say, they proposed to the peasant to make a jump to a higher level of technique and culture without disturbing the landlord, the bailiff, or the tzar. But no economic régime, least of all an agricultural régime, the most tardy of all, has ever disappeared before exhausting all its possibilities. Before feeling compelled to pass over to a more intensive economic culture, the peasant had to make a last attempt to broaden his three fields. This could obviously be achieved only at the expense of non-peasant lands. Choking in the narrowness of his land area, under the smarting whip of the treasury and the market, the muzhik was inexorably forced to attempt to get rid of the landlord once for all.
On the eve of the first revolution the whole stretch of arable land within the limits of European Russia was estimated at 280 million dessiatins. The communal allotments constituted about 140 million. The crown lands, above 5 million. Church and monastery lands, about 2½ million. Of the privately owned land, 70 million dessiatins belonged to the 30,000 great landlords, each of whom owned above 500 dessiatins. This 70 million was about what would have belonged to 10 million peasant families. The land statistics constitute the finished programme of a peasant war.
The landlords were not settled with in the first revolution. Not all the peasants rose. The movement in the country did not coincide with that in the cities. The peasant army wavered, and finally supplied sufficient forces for putting down the workers. As soon as the Semenovsky Guard regiment had settled with the Moscow insurrection, the monarchy abandoned all thought of cutting down the landed estates, as also its own autocratic rights.
However, the defeated revolution did not pass without leaving traces in the village. the government abolished the old land redemption payments and opened the way to a broader colonisation of Siberia. The frightened landlords not only made considerable concessions in the matter of rentals, but also began a large-scale selling of their landed estates. These fruits of the revolution were enjoyed by the better-off peasants, who were able to rent and buy the landlords’ land.
However, the broadest gates were opened for the emerging of capitalist farmers from the peasant class by the law of November 9, 1906, the chief reform introduced by the victorious counter-revolution. Giving the right even to a small minority of the peasants of the commune, against the will of the majority, to cut out from the communal land a section to be owned independently, the law of November 9 constituted an explosive capitalist shell directed against the commune. The president of the Council of Ministers, Stolypin, described the essence of this governmental policy towards the peasants as “banking on the strong ones.” This meant: encourage the upper circles of the peasantry to get hold of the communal land by buying up these “liberated” sections, and convert these new capitalist farmers into a support for the existing régime. It was easier to propose such a task, however, than to achieve it. In this attempt to substitute the kulak problem for the peasant problem, the counter-revolution was destined to break its neck.
By January 1, 1916, 2½ million home-owners had made good their personal possession of 17 million dessiatins. Two more million home-owners were demanding the allotment to them of 14 million dessiatins. This looked like a colossal success for the reform. But the majority of the homesteads were completely incapable of sustaining life, and represented only material for natural selection. At that time when the more backward landlords and small peasants were selling on a large scale – the former their estates, the latter their bits of land – there emerged in the capacity of principal purchaser a new peasant bourgeoisie. Agriculture entered upon a state of indubitable capitalist boom. The export of agricultural products from Russia rose between 1908 and 1912 from 1 billion roubles to 1½ billion. This meant that broad masses of the peasantry had been proletarianised, and the upper circles of the villages were throwing on the market more and more grain.
To replace the compulsory communal ties of the peasantry, there developed very swiftly a voluntary co-operation, which succeeded in penetrating quite deeply into the peasant masses in the course of a few years, and immediately became a subject of liberal and democratic idealisation. Real power in the co-operatives belonged, however, only to the rich peasants, whose interests in the last analysis they served. The Narodnik intelligentsia, by concentrating its chief forces in peasant co-operation, finally succeeded in shifting its love for the people on to good solid bourgeois rails. In this way was prepared, partially at least, the political bloc of the “anti-capitalist” party of the Social Revolutionaries with the Kadets, the capitalist party par excellence.
Liberalism, although preserving the appearance of opposition to the agrarian policy of the reaction, nevertheless looked with great hopes upon this capitalist destruction of the communes. “In the country a very powerful petty bourgeoisie is arising,” wrote the liberal Prince Troubetskoy, “in its whole make and essence alien alike to the ideals of the united nobility and to the socialist dreams.”
But this admirable medal had its other side. There was arising from the destroyed communes not only a “very powerful bourgeoisie,” but also its antithesis. The number of peasants selling tracts of land they could not live on had risen by the beginning of the war to a million, which means no less than five million souls added to the proletarian population. A sufficiently explosive material was also supplied by the millions of peasant-paupers to whom nothing remained but to hang on to their hungry allotments. In consequence those contradictions kept reproducing themselves among the peasants which had so early undermined the development of bourgeois society as a whole in Russia. The new rural bourgeoisie which was to create a support for the old and more powerful proprietors, turned out to be as hostilely opposed to the fundamental masses of the peasantry as the old proprietors had been to the people as a whole. Before it could become a support to the existing order, this peasant bourgeoisie had need of some order of its own wherewith to cling to its conquered positions. In these circumstances it is no wonder that the agrarian problem continued a sharp one in all the State Dumas. Everyone felt that the last word had not yet been spoken. The peasant deputy Petrichenko once declared from the tribune of the Duma: “No matter how long you debate you won’t create a new planet – that means that you will have to give us the land.” This peasant was neither a Bolshevik, nor a Social Revolutionary. On the contrary, he was a Right deputy, a monarchist.
The agrarian movement, having, like the strike movement of the workers, died down toward the end of 1907, partially revives in 1908, and grows stronger during the following years. The struggle, to be sure, is transferred to a considerable degree within the commune: that is just what the reaction had figured on politically. There are not infrequent armed conflicts among peasants during the division of the communal land. But the struggle against the landlord also does not disappear. The peasants are more frequently setting fire to the landlord’s manors, harvest, haystacks, seizing on the way also those individual tracts which had been cut off against the will of the communal peasants.
The war found the peasantry in this condition. The government carried away from the country about 10 million workers and about 2 million horses. The weak homesteads grew still weaker. The number of peasants who could not sow their fields increased. But in the second year of the war the middle peasants also began to go under. Peasant hostility toward the war sharpened from month to month. In October 1916, the Petrograd Gendarme Administration reported that in the villages they had already ceased to believe in the success of the war – the report being based on the words of insurance agents, teachers, traders, etc. “All are waiting and impatiently demanding: When will this cursed war finally end?” And this is not all: “Political questions are being talked about everywhere and resolutions adopted directed against the landlords and merchants. Nuclei of various organisations are being formed….As yet there is no uniting centre, but there is no reason to suppose that the peasants will unite by way of the co-operatives which are daily growing throughout all Russia.” There is some exaggeration here. In some things the gendarme has run ahead a little, but the fundamentals are indubitably correct.
The possessing classes could not foresee that the village was going to present its bill. But they drove away these black thoughts, hoping to wriggle out of it somehow. On this theme the inquisitive French ambassador Paléologue had a chat during the war days with the former Minister of Agriculture Krivoshein, the former Premier Kokovtsev, the great landlord Count Bobrinsky, the President of the State Duma Rodzianko, the great industrialist Putilov, and other distinguished people. Here is what was unveiled before him in this conversation: In order to carry into action a radical land reform it would require the work of a standing army of 300,000 surveyors for no less than fifteen years; but during this time the number of homesteads would increase to 30 million, and consequently all these preliminary calculations by the time they were made would prove invalid. To introduce a land reform thus seemed in the eyes of these landlords, officials and bankers something like squaring the circle. It is hardly necessary to say that a like mathematical scrupulousness was completely alien to the peasants. He thought that first of all the thing to do was to smoke out the landlord, and then see.
If the village nevertheless remained comparatively peaceful during the war, that was because its active forces were at the front. The soldiers did not forget about the land – whenever at least they were not thinking about death – and in the trenches the muzhik’s thoughts about the future were saturated with the smell of powder. But all the same the peasantry, even after learning to handle firearms, could never of its own force have achieved the agrarian democratic revolution – that is, its own revolution. It had to have leadership. For the first time in world history the peasant was destined to find a leader in the person of the worker. In that lies the fundamental, and you may say the whole difference between the Russian revolution and all those preceding it.
In England serfdom had disappeared in actual fact by the end of the fourteenth century – that is, two centuries before it arose in Russia, and four and a half centuries before it was abolished. The expropriation of the landed property of the peasants dragged along in England through one Reformation and two revolutions to the nineteenth century. The capitalist development, not forced from the outside, thus had sufficient time to liquidate the independent peasant long before the proletariat awoke to political life.
In France the struggle with royal absolutism, the aristocracy, and the princes of the church, compelled the bourgeoisie in various of its layers, and in several instalments, to achieve a radical agrarian revolution at the beginning of the eighteenth century. For long after that an independent peasantry constituted the support of the bourgeois order, and in 1871 it helped the bourgeoisie put down the Paris Commune.
In Germany the bourgeoisie proved incapable of a revolutionary solution of the agrarian problem, and in 1848 betrayed the peasants to the landlords, just as Luther some three centuries before in the peasant wars had betrayed them to the princes. On the other hand, the German proletariat was still too weak in the middle of the nineteenth century to take the leadership of the peasantry. As a result the capitalist development of Germany got sufficient time, although not so long a period as in England, to subordinate agriculture, as it emerged from the uncompleted bourgeois revolution, to its own interests.
The peasant reform of 1861 was carried out in Russia by an aristocratic and bureaucratic monarchy under pressure of the demands of a bourgeois society, but with the bourgeoisie completely powerless politically. The character of this peasant emancipation was such that the forced capitalistic transformation of the country inevitably converted the agrarian problem into a problem of revolution. The Russian bourgeois dreamed of an agrarian evolution on the French plan, or the Danish, or the American – anything you want, only not the Russian. He neglected, however, to supply himself in good season with a French history or an American social structure. The democratic intelligentsia, notwithstanding its revolutionary past, took its stand in the decisive hour with the liberal bourgeoisie and the landlord, and not with the revolutionary village. In these circumstances only the working class could stand at the head of the peasant revolution.
The law of combined development of backward countries – in the sense of a peculiar mixture of backward elements with the most modern factors – here rises before us in its most finished form, and offers a key to the fundamental riddle of the Russian revolution. If the agrarian problem, as a heritage from the barbarism of the old Russian history, had been solved by the bourgeoisie, if it could have been solved by them, the Russian proletariat could not possibly have come to power in 1917. In order to realise the Soviet state, there was required a drawing together and mutual penetration of two factors belonging to completely different historic species: a peasant war – that is, a movement characteristic of the dawn of bourgeois development – and a proletarian insurrection, the movement signalising its decline. That is the essence of 1917.
1. Narodnik is a general name for those non-Marxians who had originally hoped to accomplish the regeneration of Russia by “going to the people (narod),” and out of whom developed the Social Revolutionary party. The Mensheviks were the right, or so-called “moderate,” wing of the Marxian or Social Democratic party, whom Lenin abandoned in 1903. [Trans.]
2. A dessiatin is 2.702 English acres. [Trans.]
3. Kulak, the Russian word for fist, is a nickname for rich peasants – “land-grabbers”, as we micht say. [Trans.]
|
<urn:uuid:8067ae61-f3c3-48ef-9de8-83efd0efdbb6>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://1917revolution.org/the-proletariat-and-the-peasantry
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320443.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625064745-20170625084745-00024.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.96693
| 8,143
| 2.828125
| 3
|
Nest Monitoring Protocol
There is always some risk of disturbing birds when monitoring their nests. By following the NestWatch protocol, which is based on the nationally recognized Breeding Biology Research and Monitoring Database (BBIRD) Field Protocol* and input from professional biologists, you will minimize this risk and ensure that your data achieves a high quality standard and will be comparable with data collected by other NestWatchers.
- Find a nest. Putting up a nest box is an easy way to start, but please consider monitoring open cup nests as well.
- Remember where the nest is located. It may be helpful to write a short description or draw a picture of the nest site in a field notebook. Do not use flagging unless absolutely necessary because this can attract predators. If you must use flagging to relocate a nest, use a small strip, place it at least 30 feet away, and take accurate notes on how to locate the nest from the flag.
- Create a new NestWatch nest site by going to “Your Data” and clicking the “Add New Nest Site” button. If the nest site has already been recorded during a previous nesting attempt, make sure that its description is up-to-date.
- Check the nest every 3-4 days. Record the number of eggs and young observed during each visit, as well as other relevant observations such as the behavior of adult birds. Longer intervals between checks make it harder to determine the outcome of the nest, while shorter intervals increase risk of disturbance. Whenever possible, wait for the female to leave the nest on her own rather than scaring her off. Use a mirror attached to the end of a pole to see into nests that are higher than your head, or use binoculars to monitor nests at a distance.
- Visit the nest one last time after you are certain that it is empty to determine if any unhatched eggs or dead young remain.
- Record your observations online either after each nest visit or after the nesting attempt is complete by going to “Your Data” and clicking on the “Add/Edit Attempt” icon for that nest. If you prefer to enter your data at the end of the nesting attempt, please carefully record your observations in a notebook after each visit. Each nesting attempt should be recorded separately, even if a bird has a second nest in the same location as a previous attempt.
- Enter nest summary information by going to “Your Data”, clicking on the “Add/Edit Attempt” icon for that nest, and going to the “Summary” tab.
* Martin, T.E., C. Paine, C.J. Conway, W.M. Hochachka, P. Allen, and W. Jenkins. 1997. Breeding Biology Research and Monitoring Database (BBIRD) Field Protocol. Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula.
|
<urn:uuid:9fd39bd7-d1a5-436f-87f0-65b249ba2e75>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://nestwatch.org/learn/how-to-nestwatch/nest-monitoring-protocol/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320443.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625064745-20170625084745-00024.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.914961
| 601
| 2.796875
| 3
|
Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change. -IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri, March 2014. The effects of climate change, with rising global temperatures, already being felt across the globe, will likely be "severe, pervasive, and irreversible" in the years to come, impacting agriculture, human health, and water supplies across all continents, oceans, and ecosystems. (UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released March 2014)
... At the eastern tip of the backwater of Lake Celilo, the Columbia River impoundment by the Dalles Dam, basalt cliffs rise out of the still water. If you stand on the cliff’s edge, on the Washington shore, you will look south and east at the downriver face of the John Day Dam. Power lines lacing through looming gray lattice towers rise and fall conveying the river’s captured power to distant places. White, tri-bladed wind turbines form their own turgid lines of ascent and descent along all the receding ridges up and down the wide river plain flattened by ice age floods.
This particular cliff-place, with its basalt block columns, offers the largest accumulation of “bear paw” petroglyphs on the Columbia, an estimated 150-180.
Two realities about these petroglyphs occur after careful viewing. There are very few petroglyphs of any other design at this site. And: an enticing range of design variations on the “paws” motif is found here. What this may mean is purely speculation and conjecture, meaning we simply don’t know. However, I will suggest whatever the glyphs-makers’ specific intents, this site was and is a place of power. If so, the irony is readily apparent. Power - accumulated, distilled, concentrated - moves far and wide. As the animal abides.
It is entirely possible, should human systems collapse in the not-too-distant future, and the concrete abutments, towers, turbines fall silent, the animal markings will move from the stone walls outward, into and through this ever-changing Earth, alive to possibility.
This site is documented by Loring (1982) and McClure (1978), and mentioned by Keyser (1992.) It is accessible to the public. Photos by Douglas Beauchamp, March 2014: Tower & Fishing Patforms; John Day Dam; "Bear Paws" on basalt.
...A final reflection from Jungian analyst Marion Woodman: The masculine struggle… as a relationship to the feminine, extends into a collective attitude to the planet - Mother Earth - distorting her natural rhythms until she can take no more. This disturbing situation is in large measure the result of a flawed solar myth that confers upon the masculine a heroic status, which now threatens us with extinction. From The Maiden King (1998).
|
<urn:uuid:95cb1858-3e7b-4612-9bec-8197dc83b092>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://rockartoregon.com/to-become-visible/tag/Bear%20Paw%20Petroglyphs
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320443.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625064745-20170625084745-00024.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.921101
| 608
| 3.046875
| 3
|
Teaching Music is an innovative new portal to help you reflect and improve your knowledge, understanding and skills in music education. It is your space to access information, reflect on your practice, connect with others and contribute your own resources. Teaching Music is available to all those involved in music education: teachers, community musicians, senior management and policy makers. Teaching Music is funded by the TDA and managed by National Association of Music Educators (NAME) and Music Education Council (MEC).
Uit de handleiding op de site:
The Market Place
This is where you can browse resources and find lots of useful stuff.The site is full of resources created by other teachers and organisations. Each resource can be a mix of text, pictures, video, audio, downloads and links. You can also leave your own comment on any resource – so feel free to ask questions, suggest improvements or recommend things – we are all here to learn from each other.
When you find a resource you can add it to your own personal library on your page. Your library is visible to other members so it helps you recommend things and share what you find. You can also add private notes to items you add in your library – so you can remember why it was so memorable in the first place!!!
As well as leaving comments on resources and other peoples pages you can also take part in forum discussion or start your own. This is a great way to discuss hot topics, or find out more about a subject. You can also add discussions to your library for handy reference.
Share your own stuff
Teaching Music is all about sharing knowledge and experience so we want you to share yours. You can create your own resources from your page. Don’t worry about the technology we’ve made it very simple for anyone to do. Read our Resource guidelines to get you started.
|
<urn:uuid:e75ce09d-c36c-4b8b-a3b3-34b247a815fd>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://muziekdidactiek.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/teaching-music/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320443.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625064745-20170625084745-00024.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.933345
| 377
| 2.546875
| 3
|
The first groups emigrating to America from Russia to set up Jewish agricultural colonies were part of the Am Olam (Eternal people or People of the world), an organisation of young people that developed in Odessa after the 1881 pogroms and then spread across Ukraine to other cities. Before the assassination of the Tzar in 1881, there had been a relaxation of the laws limiting Jewish participation in society, and many Jews felt they might gradually integrate and become equal to Russian citizens, but after the assassination, the rules became stricter and Jews began to look to emigration to Palestine or America as the only way to find freedom. The Zionists favoured Palestine as the Jewish homeland but others looked to the Americas as a place where they might be accepted more easily as equals. This desire for freedom and equality made a socialist or communist approach to living appealing. The idea of agricultural colonies was also popular in Russia as a way of being useful to society and getting back to the essence of life as preached by Tolstoy. Young people in Odessa had been brought up in a more cosmopolitan and secular way than Jews in other parts of Russia, and they gravitated towards nonreligious, socialist colonies.
The first Am Olam group to emigrate, led by Herman Rosenthal, predominantly from Elizavetgrad, went to Sicily Island, Louisiana in late 1881 and then on to South Dakota when the Sicily Island colony failed after spring floods and malaria. One of the problems with the land in Louisiana was its isolation – a lack of nearby farms or farmers from whom the Russians could learn local farming practice or towns where produce could be sold. My great uncle Joseph Petrikovsky, from Kiev, was probably in the group that went to Sicily Island, and certainly went to South Dakota.
The first group from Odessa, led by my great uncle Simon Krimont and others like Paul Kaplan and Selig Rosenbluth, left Russia in 1882 for New York, and reached Portland, Oregon in early 1883. They had the support of some influential Jews in New York such as Michael Heilprin, Julius Goldman and Felix Adler, founder of the New York Ethical Culture School. Simon Krimont went out west looking for sites for the colony with a charismatic older Russian, William Frey, who had been involved in earlier colonies. They were influenced to settle in Oregon through one of their sponsors in New York, Henry Villard, who owned the Oregon and California Railway. He was building an extension to the railway in southern Oregon, near Glendale, where he encouraged the group to buy a mostly wooded piece of land at Cow Creek, Glendale, and he gave them a contract to cut wood for ties for the railroad to keep them going until they were growing crops.
Cow Creek near Glendale Oregon 1902
Sether Ranch 1910 (previously New Odessa)
The group, mostly young students, first settled in Portland and took various manual jobs to ready themselves for tackling the building and farm work of the colony. Some of the group went their own way at this point. In the spring of 1883, a few men with building knowledge went to the colony to help restore the old buildings, one farmhouse and several barns, and add an extension to the farmhouse for a communal kitchen, meeting room and communal sleeping quarters. By the summer, there were 36 men (4 married), seven women and five children. Most were in their 20s.
In Helen Blumenthal’s 1975 thesis on New Odessa: New Odessa, 1882-1887: United we stand, divided we fall (http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/2288/ ) there is a handwritten list of the colonists’ names from local archives:
New Odessa colonists 1885
My guess is that Simon Krimont is the fourth from the left in the centre row of the photograph, and his sister Sophie may be the woman in the light dress.
The philosophy of the colony was that everyone should work to the best of their abilities and were considered equal, both men and women. Their leisure time was spent with reading, talks, learning English, lectures by Frey on philosophy and science, singing Russian and American traditional songs and dancing. They had also brought a large library of Russian books which was an important part of their life when they were not working on the land.
Frey, who had settled in New Odessa with his wife and children, became the leader of the mostly younger men and women, and gradually imposed his strong ideology, both helping and hindering its development. For instance, although the land they bought was mostly forest filled with game and a river filled with fish, Frey was a strict vegetarian and did not allow any meat or fish to appear at their meals. And although he was a humanist, he gradually made a religion of his humanism and insisted on having services and singing hymns, which was not to the liking of many of the Am Olam group.
According to Theodore H. Friedgut in Stepmother Russia, Foster Mother America: Identity Transitions in the New Odessa Jewish Commune, Odessa, Oregon, New York, 1881–1891 (2014), one of the best sources of contemporary information about the early period in New Odessa was a series of letters about the colony, probably written by Simon Krimont, in the Russian novel Joseph Petrikovsky wrote about his experiences in South Dakota, To America: Notes from the Journal of an Emigrant Student. Kiev 1884 (Петриковский И. М. В Америку! Из записной книжки студента-эмигранта. Киев, 1884. 249 с). I had not realised that Simon and Joseph may have been friends from Russia or their first days in New York and therefore it was probably Joseph, who married my great aunt Anna when he returned to Russia to publish his novel in 1884, who introduced Simon to his wife’s sister, my great aunt Galia in New York in the late 1880s.
Cow Creek Sether Ranch
Cow Creek, Glendale, Oregon
By late 1884, only a year and a half after the colony began, the colony split and Frey left with 15 members. Besides the ideological problems, there may have been some economic ones, as the contract of cutting wood for railroad ties was not renewed by the group and selling crops in the area was not as easy as expected. Also many found the farming work more difficult than they expected, possibly because the land was quite steep. However, the colony carried on for at least another year as shown in a long 1885 magazine article about a colony wedding written by a journalist who knew no Russian and stayed at the colony for a few days to observe and take part in their lives. As names were not used in the article, there has been some question about who the bride and groom were, and no one has thought that it might have been Simon Krimont’s sister Sophie and another colonist, Alex Kislik, but all the facts in the article, especially a sister called Anuta and the mother and other sisters being present. It is an interesting American journalist’s fly on the wall view of these Russian Jewish young people trying to create a new society.
A wedding among the communistic Jews in Oregon Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine Dec 1885 Vol. VI-39, p606-11
Yesterday was Sunday, and there was a marriage in the community. Nearly all the members eat and sleep and stagnate – for I can hardly speak of it as living – in a large hall of their own construction: a wretched edifice built of rough boards and un-planed planks, and containing only two apartments, the lower story being the dining room and kitchen both in one, and the upper story a large sleeping room without partitions. In the sleeping room the Community, with the exception of two or three families who live in small shanties, not only sleeps, but lounges – and lounges, too, a good deal of the time – reads, debates, and dances. The bedsteads, which are home-made structures of boards, nailed together in the most flimsy manner, are placed under the eaves in a long row on each side of the room, and the centre is furnished with a rough table for writing. As for reading, the Russians of every type I’ve ever met always read stretched prone upon his bed. On Sunday we had been lounging on our beds most of the morning, taking a late breakfast at 10 o’clock, and going back upstairs to lounge again, or to read the philosophers of evolution, of progress, and social emancipation. About two in the afternoon I descended to the kitchen to enquire for dinner. To my surprise, I found several of the women very busy making dried apple pies and custards – great novelties, the usual dinner at New Odessa being bean soup and hard baked biscuits of unbolted flour called after the name of that wretched dyspeptic Graham….
And to my great surprise, I was told that something even more important was to be celebrated – there was to be a wedding. It was a very sudden affair, a surprise to everyone as well as myself: a young man and woman had made up their minds to enter into matrimony, and it was to be done at once. There was an immediate bustle and hurry in every man in the community trying to find the suit of clothes in which he left Russia. Two or three young girls went into the woods for flowers, and the rafters of the hall, upstairs and down, were soon hung with the flowering branches of the tulip tree. On this great occasion, white cloths instead of oilcloths were spread upon the dining table. The pies were baked with a rush, each pie being inscribed in paste with the initials of the bridegroom and bride.
The brothers and sisters had been gathered a few moments on the benches in the dining room, when the bridegroom and bride entered. Both parties were young, perhaps 22; the young man well educated, well read in philosophic and romantic literature, and rather good-looking. The bride is noted for her cunning disposition, or what might be called her womanliness; but having her hair cut short, her aspect was that of a strong-minded female. She was very nicely dressed, wore a wreath of white flowers, and looked charming enough to make any man happy. On the arrival of the bridal party, which included the mother and sisters of the bride, a little ceremony took place, in which the young man and woman were understood to unite themselves in the conjugal relation.
Descending on the colony without any knowledge of its philosophy, the American journalist was horrified by the rough furniture and large bare rooms, but this was exactly the aim of the colonists who wanted a completely communal life and the opposite of the fussy Victorian furnishings of the time. He also did not understand the importance to these Russian colonists of reading, studying and debating, and it was a Sunday.
Simon and Sophie’s mother and seven younger siblings had not intended to join New Odessa but events had worked out that way and they were there to attend the wedding. Their father had come to visit the colony in 1883 and had suddenly become ill and died. A year later the rest of the family came from Odessa to Oregon as they no longer had any livelihood in Russia.
The collapse of the colony around 1886 was precipitated by a fire which destroyed part of the house and the entire library, which had been the soul of the community. After that, the Krimont family returned to New York, and a couple of years later, after Simon married my great aunt, he went to Romania to work for an uncle’s shipping company to support his family. Several of his seven sisters in America became pacifist anarchists and helped set up colonies in both England and America which lasted until the 1950s. The colony in England, Whiteway, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, which still exists as bungalows with a meeting house on common land, helped conscientious objectors in both world wars. The colony in New Jersey, Stelton, near New Brunswick, had an innovative school, The Modern School, which influenced later creative and alternative types of education. Although New Odessa was short lived, the ideas of living communally, pacifism and equality for everyone carried on.
The Modern School magazine, 1922
Bungalow, Whiteway, Gloucestershire
|
<urn:uuid:13802422-fe1a-4b43-978f-0b95a7a2c677>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://odessasecrets.wordpress.com/tag/stelton/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320443.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625064745-20170625084745-00024.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.982492
| 2,644
| 3.140625
| 3
|
As part of my modernization theme, I ask kids to take a look at the issues behind the most ubiquitous item in modern day life - the cellphone (and tablet and soon-to-be watch). For the purpose of this mini-unit we focus exclusively on Apple products, although I stress that much of what they learn can be found in products made by other companies.
They begin by reading links and watching videos about rare earth minerals in week one and then transition into the factories that actually make the products in week two. I try to pace this so that I have a whole group discussions (the groups range in number from six to eight students) once per class to help clear up misconceptions and answer specific questions from the readings. The page with all of the materials can be found here: Gizmos.
During week three the groups begin to create their mini-documentaries using Mozilla Popcorn. I share this rubric with them, and we spend a portion of class going over all of the aspects. I provide suggestions for how to organize their work, but ultimately leave it up to each group to decide what structure works best.
When all is said and done, I end up with decent final products that I share with the other classes and teachers and parents. One of the biggest obstacles is that Mozilla Popcorn doesn't read HTML5 very well, which is the new standard format of YouTube videos. Also, as you can see below, if the owner of a video decides to remove it or make it private - you've lost it in your remix.
(Yes, I am aware - as are the students now - that the picture that starts the second video is not accurate.)
|
<urn:uuid:e21759b6-1b66-4db0-b09c-562e4573d98d>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://illestliteracy.blogspot.com/2015/05/remixing.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320865.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626203042-20170626223042-00184.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956678
| 340
| 2.8125
| 3
|
This content is sponsored by CentraCare.
In the U.S., one in every four deaths is attributed to heart disease. While in Minnesota we fare slightly better than this statistic, the fact still remains that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in our state. Dr. Chip Martin, cardiologist at CentraCare Health, shares important information and tips for keeping your heart healthy this year.
There are many steps you can take to keep your heart healthy and this applies to all ages. In fact starting healthy habits when we’re young will make it easier to continue these behaviors, as you get older. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
· Get plenty of sleep: A lack of sleep can put you at higher risk for a number of health problems, including cardiovascular disease. So make sleep a priority and aim to get between 7-8 hours of sleep most nights.
· Avoid tobacco in all forms: Using tobacco of any kind – smoking, breathing secondhand smoke or using chewing tobacco – can damage your heart and blood vessels. So if you use tobacco, we can help you quit. And once you do, your health will improve dramatically.
· Stay away from trans fats: The truth is, we need fats in our diets, including both saturated and unsaturated fats. But what we don’t need is trans fats, which are often found in processed foods, many snacks, fried fast food and margarines. So be sure to read food labels and avoid foods that have trans fats or hydrogenated oils.
· Stay active: One of the best ways to keep your heart health is to live an active lifestyle. Most people already know this, but it’s not always easy to do especially when life gets busy. So start by setting a goal of 30 minutes of activity each day. This can include walking the dog, gardening and even taking the stairs. You’ll find that by incorporating more activity into your daily routine, you’ll actually have more energy and your heart will thank you.
© 2017 KARE-TV
|
<urn:uuid:b4f8bba5-6bd4-4af9-baf3-708fe62f5324>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.kare11.com/news/health/feeling-good-minnesota/heart-health-tips-from-centracare-health/423085947
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320865.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626203042-20170626223042-00184.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944475
| 427
| 2.875
| 3
|
Twenty Dollar Bills from The 1920s
Gold certificates and national bank notes were both issued for the twenty dollar denomination in the 1920s by The United States government. Most 1922 $20 gold certificates are common, but some blue seal national bank notes can be rare.
1922 $20 gold certificates were issued by the millions. Thousands are still around today. They are neat to see, but most of them are not very valuable. You can buy a decent looking example for under $150. Notes in truly perfect condition can be worth more than $1,000. George Washington is on the front of each bill. Some people mistakenly think that these can be redeemed for an ounce of gold. Sadly, that is not true.
Series of 1902 $20 blue seal national bank notes were still being printed by some national banks in the 1920s. You can find a bill with the date of 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, or 1928 on it. That date is really not very important. The thing that is most important is the rarity and condition of the bill. We can help you determine the rarity of your bill.
If you need a free appraisal on your $20 bill, please email us. We are available 24/7. Our information is free and we are interested buyers. Sales@AntiqueMoney.com
|
<urn:uuid:0ed53cdd-45ac-4640-a9dd-d872dbdb33eb>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.antiquemoney.com/twenty-dollar-bills-from-the-1920s/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321458.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627152510-20170627172510-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.973195
| 274
| 2.578125
| 3
|
Photos for Class will give you attributions for the photo and embed these attributions right into the image itself. All done for you!
Using Compfight – you will need to switch to TEXT mode ONLY when you enter in the attribution, if you are still unsure of how to do this, watch the video posted in the WordPress Hints category.
Photo Credit: MilBrewers via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: Larry Daugherty via Compfight cc
Berkley – What Did the T-Rex Taste Like? Awesome student directed animation sites discovering genetics and how we are all related!
Your team will be responsible for looking up the following characteristics of the system assigned to you:
- In and Out Flow
- Transfer and Transformations of Energy
- Positive and Negative Feedbacks
- Synergistic Properties
- Feedback Loops
Red: Carbon cycle
Blue: Phosphorus cycle
Green: Nitrogen cycle
Yellow: Water cycle
This assignment is two fold:
- Write a ~250 word blog thoughtfully reflecting on your views regarding the environment including:
- How do you interact with the environment?
- What does your environment look like? (sun/snow/etc.). Why?
- What personal experiences and cultural understanding have led you to interact in nature this way?
2. Research and breifly define each of the terms below and then decide where you stand – what does each mean and which do you identify the most with and why? Or do you feel you have a personal hybrid of these beliefs and why?
Questions to further guide your reflection for part 2 (when in doubt):
- How might your belief influence your decision -making on a daily bases?
- Do you believe in climate change?
- Would you buy solar panels?
- Participate in composting?
- Pick up litter you see on the streets?
- Buy organic foods?
- Challenge big businesses?
- does the label you give yourself actually describe whom you are a s a person?
- Do you follow through on these beliefs or is this belief an ideal?
Due Monday February 22, Posted to blog by 9:00 AM!
As we have discussed in class, Environmental Science is very integrative. The definition we synthesized in class was:
The physical, chemical and biological interactions of organisms in the environment.
In a blog post, list 7 branches of science, define them, and then justify how they can connect to environmental science as well as connect to another branch of science.
Post a link to your blog in our Google + community.
The earth is over 4 billion years old. Life first originated in the oceans 3.4 billion years ago. The dinosaurs died out 65 million years in the past. Human recorded history stretches back 10,000 years in time. This assignment is designed to give students an introduction into global marine/terrestrial development from a scientific perspective.
Task: You are required to create a representation of historical events related to the study of life. The representation must be in the form of a timeline, but the timeline can take on a variety of styles: prezi, drawing, power point, video, song, clock, newspaper, PSA, etc… Use your creativity! Your timeline does not have to be a straight line.
The assignment and rubric can be found here.
See this example of a power point.
These are also good examples of prezi’s:
- Dayne (not exactly the same assignment – his teacher made changes to my assignment, but they are very close to one another).
Due on February 13 at the start of class!
There has been a lot of media coverage around the water crisis in Flint, Mich. You are to write one blog post explaining what has happened, and what is being done to rectify the situation. Read the article “It’s All Just Poison Now” to help get you started Your blog post must contain:
- 2 hyperlinks from sources other than the one I provided you
- 1 video
- A brief synopsis of what is happening
- Your thoughts on how this will impact the ecosystems around Flint.
If you are stuck with how to embed a hyperlink this video will help you out!
Adding a video from youtube is very easy! Just find the video you want to embed on youtube, copy and paste the link. Click on the Media button on the left hand side of the your dashboard – choose insert youtube – paste your link into the browser. Voila!
Once you are done creating your blog – you must scroll to the bottom of this page and choose the category you want it to go into (Environmental Science) – then publish!
|
<urn:uuid:68ff7acd-2a0d-4d1c-93cf-a6db2f9c3c68>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://cooperscience.wordpress.com/2016/02/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321458.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627152510-20170627172510-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.918415
| 970
| 3.4375
| 3
|
The Pacific Northwest is well-known for its lush forests. But Alaska Airlines is changing the way air travelers think about them.
On Monday, the airline operated a historic cross-country flight from Seattle to Washington, D.C. that was powered with a 20 percent blend of sustainable aviation biofuel.
Produced with the help of the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA), the alternative jet fuel was made from the leftover limbs and branches from the harvesting of managed forests. According to the SeaTac-based carrier, the industry-first alternative jet fuel is "chemically indistinguishable" from regular jet A fuel.
If Alaska Airlines were able to replace one-fifth of its entire fuel supply at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with the biofuel in the future, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 142,000 metric tons of CO2.
For comparison, that figure is equivalent to taking roughly 30,000 passenger vehicles off the road for an entire year.
More from TravelPulse
"This latest milestone in Alaska's efforts to promote sustainable biofuels is especially exciting since it is uniquely sourced from the forest residuals in the Pacific Northwest," said Alaska Airlines' senior vice president of communications and external relations Joe Sprague in a statement. "NARA's accomplishments and the investment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture provide another key in helping Alaska Airlines and the aviation industry reduce its carbon footprint and dependency on fossil fuels."
Monday's flight, which departed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and landed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, had a minimal impact in terms of reducing emissions. However the milestone is a significant step toward making forest-fueled flights a more common occurrence.
The flight comes on the heels of a pair of Alaska Airlines flights this past June that were fueled by a blend of biofuel produced from non-edible, sustainable corn
|
<urn:uuid:3721a782-5227-4c3c-a19b-70c4b4cc588c>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2016/11/15/alaska-airlines-operates-first-its-kind-flight-fueled-by-tree-limbs.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323604.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628101910-20170628121910-00344.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960299
| 384
| 2.84375
| 3
|
Children burn a large number of calories simply by growing, playing and going about their day-to-day lives. Caloric requirements for children vary according to rate at which they burn calories, their body type and their age. Average calorie needs increase as a child ages, with his peak number of calories -- between 2,200 and 3,000 daily calories -- during adolescence. Caloric requirements for children are largely based on a certain number of calories in relation to a child's body weight. The "Merck Manuals" discusses nutritional needs for infants and children, and uses a formula of kcalories -- kilocalories, what are usually called nutritional calories, or just calories--per pound of body weight.
Babies and Toddlers
The "Merck Manuals" suggested formula for an infant required daily calories equals 50 to 55 calories per pound up to 6 months of age, and drops to 45 calories per pound for 1-year olds. During infancy and into the toddler years -- around age 3 -- calorie requirements are the same for boys and girls. Online health resource KeepKidsHealthy.com reports the average number of daily calories required by infants up to 5 months old are about 650 calories. The number of calories needed to sustain normal development incrementally increases as a baby approaches his first birthday and second birthday. One year olds generally need about 850 calories each day. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 consume roughly 1,300 calories daily.
4 to 8 Years Old
Starting as early as 4 years old, children's caloric requirements may differ according to their sex. Generally speaking, boys require a higher calorie intake than girls, as reported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, or NHLBI, but each child's needs vary according to activity level. Gender differences and calorie intake diverge for most of a person's life, though calorie requirements drop once a person hits adulthood. The NHBLI estimates that 4- to 8-year-old boys require between 1,400 and 2,000 daily calories, depending on their activity level, while girls need approximately 200 calories less than boys for each development stage and activity level.
The NHLBI defines "active" as performing the equivalent of walking at least three miles each day, at a rate of 3 to 4 miles per hour. At this age, "active" may include running around at recess and participating in physical education at a high effort level. Sedentary is classified as being involved in "day to day" activities, such as eating, going to school and going through a typical daily schedule with not a lot of extra activity.
9 to 13 Years Old
The "tween" age, between 9 and 13, is a time for growing and approaching puberty. Children in this age group continue to require large numbers of calories to support their growth and sustain their body weight. The NHLBI recommendations for caloric intake for 9- to 13-year-old boys are 1,800 to 2,600, with more active boys weighing in at the higher end of the scale. Girls in this age group generally need to consume 1,600 to 2,000 daily calories. Baylor School of Medicine offers a calorie needs calculator to help parents determine their child's approximate caloric requirements based on age, body type and activity level.
The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 show that children hit their peak in terms of caloric requirements in their teen years, between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. Kids in this age group are typically active with sports and other school-related activities, and approach their full height. Boys that function at a high activity level during their teen years usually require between 2,800 and 3,200 calories daily, with girls close behind in the 2,400 calorie range. Boys who are more sedentary may only need to consume 2,200 to 2,400. Girls with a less active lifestyle typically require 1,800 to 2,000 calories daily. The "Merck Manuals" uses a formulation of 20 calories per pound when determining caloric requirements for middle teens, around 15 years of age.
|
<urn:uuid:3723a356-8260-43a5-9466-91aa9b8afb85>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.livestrong.com/article/82592-caloric-requirements-children/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323870.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629051817-20170629071817-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.957125
| 823
| 3.515625
| 4
|
The MCA BlogConnecting with others one story at a time
Doctors treating unresectable mesothelioma have traditionally used chemotherapy to help patients reduce symptoms, decrease pain and help maintain their quality of life. Unresectable mesothelioma is a type of cancer that cannot be treated with surgery. This can be because the mesothelioma has spread to other parts of the body (called metastasis), or the type of cancer itself makes it difficult to remove from the body. For these cases, chemotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment.
Clinicians have usually relied on a combination of two chemotherapy drugs together: cisplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta). This drug duo became the most widely used treatment regimen and was the gold standard of treatment.
Recently however, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) released new guidelines recommending the addition of a new drug to the group called bevacizumab, which helps to bolster the effects of the current treatment regime.
A New Drug to Fight Mesothelioma
Instead of using brand new drugs or new treatment protocols, the addition of bevacizumab is meant to enhance the action of cisplatin and pemetrexed. These two chemotherapy drugs work by stopping the rapidly dividing cancer cells in the body; the addition of a third drug (bevacizumab) has been shown to be even more effective.
Bevacizumab is special because it doesn't work like other chemotherapy drugs. One of the reason cancer cells grow so quickly is they are able to grow more blood vessels than other cells in the body, which allows them to attract more nutrients and grow at a very fast rate. Bevacizumab works by slowing the growth of these blood vessels, thus depriving cancer cells of their blood supply. So while Bevacizumab is not a classic chemotherapy drug, it is being used alongside them to fight the cancer cells using another attack method.
According to the NCCN, research has shown that by adding bevacizumab as part of a treatment program, survival rates for unresectable mesothelioma can be extended. Studies have shown that overall survival was increased by almost three months when using bevacizumab, rather than the standard cisplatin and pemetrexed regimen.
The NCCN updates their guidelines annually, with additional interim updates taking place as needed throughout the year. However, this particular update marks a significant step forward for mesothelioma treatment, as the cisplatin and pemetrexed combination (without bevacizumab) has been the standard of treatment for unresectable mesothelioma for many years.“The panel felt that the new treatment guidelines were equivalent to cisplatin and pemetrexed,” said Joan McClure, Senior Vice President of Clinical Information and Publications for the NCCN. McClure added that the new treatment is about equally as effective as the former treatment, though it could be a little more toxic and has less data backing it. Nonetheless, McClure said it “was an option that people should have available to them.”
While bevacizumab is recommended for use in most cases of unresectable mesothelioma, those who are unable to tolerate bevacizumab or are not suitable candidates for receiving it will still be treated with the traditional medicines. Patients unable to use bevacizumab includes those with poorly controlled high blood pressure, and patients with a history of blood clots.
Bevacizumab and Increased Survival
Mesothelioma is one area of cancer research in which researchers are always looking for ways to increase survival rates, prolong life expectancy, and let patients with maintain their quality of life. The addition of bevacizumab is one way in which researchers and practitioners hope to do exactly that.
When the NCCN made the recommendation to add bevacizumab to the group of chemotherapy drugs already being used to treat unresectable mesothelioma, they made that decision based on scientific research and the findings of clinical trials. One of those trials was a well-known study funded by Intergroupe Francophone de Cancérologie Thoracique. This study looked at the effects of adding Bevacizumab to the two existing drugs in the treatment of unresectable mesothelioma and they found that a patients overall survival was significantly longer with the addition of Bevacizumab.
Taking this a step further it is possible that even more gains can be made. In the future, bevacizumab and other drugs like it can be started even earlier in the treatment cycle to help improve the prognosis of mesothelioma patients.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families
- Request a Free Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
- Connect with Top Mesothelioma Doctors
- Locate the Nearest Comprehensive Cancer Center
|
<urn:uuid:7877725f-3337-4a40-9a4d-315b5bc54a39>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/emily/national-comprehensive-cancer-network-updates-mesothelioma-treatment-recommendations.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323870.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629051817-20170629071817-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948903
| 1,054
| 2.765625
| 3
|
Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Conclusion
As we have reiterated throughout this series of developmental articles, every child develops at his or her own pace. Many factors, both internal and external, can impact a child's level of emotional development. Internally, temperament (the innate or genetic component of an individual's personality) can affect how children respond to the world emotionally. Children who have more easy-going temperaments tend to have a easier time learning to regulate their own emotions as well as to respond to other people's emotions more positively. Children who have difficult or slow-to-warm-up temperaments tend to struggle to regulate their own emotions and will typically react to other people's strong emotions by becoming distressed themselves. More information on the different types of temperament can be found in the Sensorimotor Developmental Article.
Externally, role models and the environment will also influence how children react to the world emotionally. Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory discusses micro, meso, and macro-level influences. During early childhood, the immediate, or micro, level of a child's environment consists of family and direct caregivers such as teachers and babysitters. Children with caregivers who show warmth, compassion, understanding, as well as genuine concern and help toward others will also learn to show empathy and pro-social behavior during later childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Children who witness caregivers modeling mostly angry, punitive, and cold emotional responses will struggle more to develop empathy and prosocial behavior.
According to Bronfenbrenner, on a larger level or meso-level, the culture of the local community will also have an effect on children's emotional development. The meso-level includes the characteristics of a child's neighborhood or school system, such as safety, traditions, and culture. For example, if children grow up feeling unsafe or focused primarily on meeting basic survival needs, the fear of violence or sense of insecurity will flavor children's emotional reactions and beliefs. On the contrary, if children live in a safe, supportive community, a young child will have a more positive view and emotional response to that environment.
In terms of a macro-level influence, the child's nation of residence can also affect his or her emotional development. A child growing up in a peacetime country may develop more positive emotional responses and skills than a child growing up in a war-torn country governed by martial law.
|
<urn:uuid:a2e434b5-cbee-48cb-ab85-ba61e78fc8b9>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://library.wheelerclinic.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=12765&cn=462
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319933.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20170622234435-20170623014435-00063.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945107
| 485
| 3.859375
| 4
|
Difference between alot and a lot
Alot vs a lot:
Learning English grammar, specially for a non-native speaker can be quite a task. There are certain words in the English language that even linguists themselves often confuse. Then there are words that are misused often that such words often after a long period of usage become a part of our vocabulary and yet, we are unaware of the fact that they may in reality, not even exist. Alot and a lot are two such words that can be quite confusing to many, in terms of their usage and most importantly, whether such words exist or not.
What is alot?
First and foremost, it is important to say that there really is no such word as alot. The term alot may have come in to being as a result of the misuse of the term ‘a lot’ put together and often used in that manner that people may have come to believe that there does exist such a word. Thus with the word alot being practically non -xistant, the closest to the word that one may allocate to that word is ‘allot’ which means ‘to divide something in proportions to specified recipients’. An example where the word ‘allot’ has been used would be
She was allotted a two rooms to carry on her painting project.
A two acre land was allotted to the temple by the government.
What is a lot?
The term ‘a lot ‘ is used usually in order to indicate a large quantity of things that is uncountable or a large amount of substances which exist. It is used as a term which describes quantity. For example one can say that
He has a lot of money.
My mother loves us a lot.
A lot of students were absent that day.
Therefore, ‘ a lot’ is used in order to indicate a numerical account or as an indication of many. It does not matter whether the amount is tangible such as stones, money, water or intangible such as time, heat, love etc. a lot can also be used like any regular adverb. One can say that the way she sings is a lot like her grandmother or he looks a lot like his brother, etc.
What is the difference between a lot and alot?
While ‘a lot ‘ is an informal phrase which is used to indicate a large number of things, no such words exists as ‘alot’. The term ‘alot’ may be resulting out of the misuse of the words a lot which indicates a big amount of tangible or intangible quantity, or a misuse of the word ‘allot’ which means ‘to divide something in proportions to specified recipients’.
|
<urn:uuid:29ce5744-3686-4454-b6fe-5f3f878e4f83>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.wikidifference.com/difference-between-alot-and-a-lot/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319933.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20170622234435-20170623014435-00063.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.978657
| 563
| 3.296875
| 3
|
Paspalum repens is an aquatic grass native to Florida. It is frequently found submersed or floating, growing in the mud or shallow waters of rivers, ponds, streams and swamps along the Florida peninsula west to the central panhandle. Paspalum repens blooms from summer to fall. Stems grow to 18” long and are sprawling, spongy and thick; roots are dark and brush-like. Leaves are lance-shaped, 1” wide and 5 – 8” long, tapering at both ends, with a sandpapery feel on both surfaces. Leaf sheaths may have stiff course hairs or they may be smooth; they are purplish and often dotted. Inflorescences are 3 – 8” long; the main axis has many spreading branches or racemes which are very narrow, 1 – 4” long, each with a double row of spikelets that are attached only on the underside of the branch. Spikelets are elliptical and covered with fine hairs. They have single small flowers, each about 1/16” long. Fruit are small, flat, long and white.
|
<urn:uuid:8af9dec5-99a3-4929-95a4-12f7313c6110>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/paspalum-repens/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320130.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623184505-20170623204505-00144.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962349
| 239
| 2.828125
| 3
|
Performance Comparison of DSDV and AODV Routing Protocols in MANETs
This paper aims to compare performance of some routing protocols for Mobile Ad-Hoc NETworks (MANETs). A Mobile Ad-Hoc NETwork (MANET) is a collection of wireless mobile nodes forming a temporary network without using any centralized access point, infrastructure, or centralized administration. Data transmission between two nodes in MANETs requires multiple hops as nodes transmission range is limited. Mobility of the different nodes makes the situation even more complicated. Multiple routing protocols especially for these conditions have been developed during the last years, to find optimized routes from a source to some destination.
|
<urn:uuid:fc513714-08b6-4878-910d-a075a036d2c1>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.techrepublic.com/resource-library/whitepapers/performance-comparison-of-dsdv-and-aodv-routing-protocols-in-manets/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320130.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623184505-20170623204505-00144.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.899448
| 135
| 2.515625
| 3
|
Van Deursen, A.J.A.M. & Van Dijk, J.A.G.M. (2016). Modeling Traditional Literacy, Internet Skills and Internet Usage: An Empirical Study. Interacting with Computers, 28(1), 13-26. doi:10.1093/iwc/iwu027
This paper focuses on the relationships among traditional literacy (reading, writing, and understanding text), medium-related Internet skills (consisting of operational and formal skills), content-related Internet skills (consisting of information and strategic skills), and Internet usage types (information- and career-directed Internet use and entertainment use). We conducted a large-scale survey that resulted in a dataset of 1,008 respondents. The results reveal the following: (1) traditional literacy has a direct effect on formal and information Internet skills and an indirect effect on strategic Internet skills, and (2) differences in types of Internet usage are indirectly determined by traditional literacy and directly affected by Internet skills, such that higher levels of strategic Internet skills result in more information- and career-directed Internet use. Traditional literacy is a pre-condition for the employment of Internet skills, and Internet skills should not be considered an easy means of disrupting historically grounded inequalities caused by differences in traditional literacy.
|
<urn:uuid:82044700-aabc-4679-bb05-86bb99fb5e84>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://alexandervandeursen.nl/Joomla/index.php/publications/published-articles/107-2014-modeling-traditional-literacy-internet-skills-and-internet-usage-an-empirical-study
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320263.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624133941-20170624153941-00224.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.886737
| 265
| 2.546875
| 3
|
Importance of Shivratri Puja
Maha Shivratri, the most awaited and important festival of 2017 is falling on 24th and 25th February. Millions of Lord Shiva’s devotee celebrate it with great zest.
Rudra means Shiva, the destroyer of all sins and sorrows. On Maha Shivratri Rudra Pooja, He is worshiped in His ‘Rudra’ form. Lord Shiva is considered the provider of wealth as He has the control over Kuber’s wealth. Along with monetary gains, He also looks after one’s happiness, health, prosperity, grace, peace and so on.
Maha Shivratri is believed to be the night of Shiva or Supreme-Being. It occurs on the 14th night of the full moon during the month of Phalgun. Shivratri Rudra Pooja Vidhi starts with the bath of Lingam with ‘panchayavya’ i.e. milk, curd, honey, ghee, cow dung followed by the offerings of sandalwood paste, bilwa and beetle leaves, dhatura etc. Incense and fruits are also given. Usually, the devotees chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and ‘Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra’.
Wearing of rudraksha on Shivratri is considered very auspicious and beneficial for a devotee as the rudraksha beads are believed to be made from the tears of lord Shiva Himself.
When the above-described vidhi is performed with complete devotion, devotees enjoy the blessing of Shiva in the form of Maha Shivaratri Rudra Pooja Benefits like purification of mind, soul and body, attainment of knowledge and wisdom, satisfaction with worldly pleasures, eliminate all sorts of negativity leading to an upliftment of spirituality and various other.
Rudra means Shiva, the destroyer of all sins. The Laghu Rudra Pooja is considered to be the highest honour given to Lord Shiva after Maha Rudra Pooja.
11 recitations of the Sri Rudram, one of the oldest listing of various names of Lord Shiva, followed by 1 recitation of the Chamakam is known as Ekadasa Rudram. This constitutes 1 Rudra Homam. 11 Ekadasa Rudram recitation makes 1 Laghu Rudram. And 11 Laghu Rudra chanting leads to 1 Maha Rudram. The most auspicious Laghu Rudra Pooja Muhurat falls in the month of Shravan. If it cannot take place in the month of Shravan, then Mondays are believed to be the appropriate days to please the God.
Every Pooja is not made for everyone. One needs to know before conducting it. The Importance of Laghu Rudra Abhishek is suitable for a person suffering from ill effects of the moon, ailments and diseases, unable to find perfect soul-mate and on occasions like Amavasya and eclipses and other. It also helps in improving relationship, good health, career, business, positivity and the like.
Maha Shivratri For Laghu Rudra Pooja is performed by chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra ‘Om Hoom Joom Saha, Om Bhu Bhuva Swaha, Om Triambhakam Yajamahe, Sungandhim Pushti Vardanam, UrvaruKamiva Bandhanat, Mrityor Muksheeya Mamritat, Om Swaha Bhuva, Bhu Om Saha, Joom Hoom Om’, 11,111 times. This leads to the removal of evil effects of the planets, as all the 9 planets are controlled by Shiva. The Pooja is installed by 7 priests with complete ritusla of Abhishek.
Maha Shivratri is a great night dedicated to Almighty Lord Shiva. This day falls on the 13th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun. One who performs or completes the Shiv Pooja at Maha Shivratri with all its rituals is believed to attain Moksha or Salvation and released from the cycle of birth and death.
Some of the Pooja rituals include waking up early and purifying yourself with holy water, abstain from food and drink for the whole day and night, worshipping Shiva Lingam with Betel leaves, Food, Incense, Bael leaves and Vermilion paste, should wear Rudraksha mala which holds a great importance to Lord Shiva.
Usually, the products used during a Pooja varies from person-to-person. This remains true even in the case of Maha Shivratri Pooja Products. But the major products include milk, rose water, honey, ghee, water and sandalwood paste for Abhishek of Shiva Lingam followed by, bilva leaves, dhatura and vibhuti. It is believed that chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ at the end of Shiv Aarti is the best way to end Maha Shivratri Pooja.
Numerous benefits are gained by a devotee during this Pooja. Some of the Importance of Maha Shivratri Pooja are the inculcation of honesty, self-discipline, forgiveness and other such virtues. It also leads an individual to a path of spirituality and holiness. Shiva, the Supreme God showers His blessings upon devotees and fulfill their wishes.
|
<urn:uuid:f7acda16-a553-469a-b075-f39c636a9443>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://religiouskart.wordpress.com/tag/importance-of-shivratri-puja/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320263.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624133941-20170624153941-00224.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.925831
| 1,154
| 2.5625
| 3
|
DISCLAIMER: Laminine Food Supplement is not a stem-cell therapy or is it intended to replace it.
Our body is made up of cells. We have about 5 Billion to 200 Million-Trillion cells & Billions die everyday. Stem-cell is the one responsible for replenishing billions of cells that die each day. It can multiply or develop (mitosis) into any one of various kinds of cells such as blood, skin, hair, cells, & cell tissues that make an organ.
Stem cell is a simple cell that can multiply & develop into any one of various kinds of cells such as skin, hair, cell tissues. It also replenish billions of blood cells that die everyday. Laminine is not a stem cell therapy or does it contain stem cell. Stem cells are innate in our body.
There are two kinds of stem cells. During our embryonic stage, we have embryonic stem cells or ES that is able to develop and form into various body parts. As fully developed humans, ES begins to dissipate. However, stem cells are not totally diminished. We still maintain stem cells in order to replenish our blood, repair body tissues, or balance our hormones. This is called an adult stem cells.
Adult stem cells have limited abilities as compared to ES. This is the reason why scientist began looking at the possibility of extracting ES from other sources and reintroducing it to our body to repair itself.
In the 1800s, cells were basically referred to as the building blocks of life and that some cells had the ability to produce other cells. Experiments were done in the 1900s and scientist discovered that some cells has the ability to generate blood cells. These cells would be referred to as stem cells from the bone marrow.
In 1968, the first bone marrow transplant was performed successfully treat two siblings who had severe immunodeficiency. By 1997, stem cell culture became so advanced that it was able clone a lamb, nicknamed “Dolly”.
A person who undergoes this therapy (if successful) may be able to recover from all types of diseases or delay aging. Although much has still to be learned, stem cell therapy is seen as the ultimate solution in maintaining a long and healthy life.
To date, there several sources of stem cells. The most common and popular is extracting stem cells from your own bone marrow, and reintroducing it to your body. The process is painful and there are other options where Doctors can get more potent stem cells.
However, scientists are looking at other sources of stem cells that can be directly applied to neuro-degenerative diseases and conditions, as well as find treatments for diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.
Pluripotent Stem Cells or PSC are called “master cells” because they can produce other cells from our three basic body layers. These are the Ectoderm (Skin & Nervous System), Endoderm (Gastrointestinal, respiratory, glands, liver, and pancreas), Mesoderm (bone, cartilage, circulatory, muscles, etc).
PSC can potentially produce any cell or tissue the body needs to repair itself.
Sources of Pluripotent cells
1. Induced pluripotent cell (Reprogramming the cells in a laboratory using the patient’s own cell)
2. “True” embryonic stem cell (ES cells) – It is derived from embryos (Unused embryos donated by a male and female couple who underwent IVF.
3. Embryonic stem cells made by somatic cell nuclear transfer (ntES cells) – Transferring the nucleus (which contains all of a cell’s genetic instructions) from a somatic cell—any cell of the body—to another cell, in this case an egg cell. The egg is then allowed to develop in the lab for several days
4. Embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs – An unfertilized eggs can be “tricked” into developing into embryos without being fertilized by sperm, a process called parthenogenesis. The embryos are allowed to develop in the lab for several days, and then pluripotent stem cells can be derived from them
Sourcing Pluripotent Cells from human embryos remain controversial. However, scientists have begun looking at an alternative that will mimic the same process of healing and regeneration that stem cell therapy provides.
If human embryos contains elements that can develops into a full functioning human, an avian embryo also has elements that can cause its development into a full function hen. This is called the FibroBlast Growth Factor.
Fibroblast growth factors or FGF are a family of related proteins, most of which initiate fibroblast proliferation. It acts in an autocrine or a paracrine manner interacting with its specific receptors, and has been shown to play an important role in tissue formation. FGF has been found to take the role of a “director”, telling stem cells what to do or where to go. Thus Laminine which contains FGF is often referred to as a supplement for a “stem-cell like” or alternative to stem-cell therapy.
When a person undergoes stem cell therapy, his body is first injected with FibroBlast Growth Factor or FGF. FGF plays a very crucial role in order for the stem cell to work. FGF directs the stem cell where to go and what to repair. Without FGF in our body, stem cells cannot function.
● Boost immune system
● Maintain a good memory and learning
● Muscle building and weight loss
● Regulate hormones (Insulin Cortisol Adrenaline HGH)
● Repair of orgasm heart liver pancreas, hair, skin nails
There are cell organs in our body that stem-cells cannot regenerate to an optimum level. For example, stem-cells can regenerate billions each day to replenish dead red corpuscles (red blood), but it cannot easily regenerate the heart or pancreas although it can repair small muscle tissues or nerves. The stem-cell’s limitation thus results in diseases or death. But by taking FGF supplements, scientists are discovering how it equips stem-cells to work effectively in areas that they are weak. Stem-cells also depletes as we age but can regenerate with the help of FGF that fuels Amino-acids, and Amino-acids that fuels the stem-cells.
FGF directs stem-cells. Proteins are the building block of stem-cells, and Amino Acids are the building block of proteins. Our body was created to be able to heal itself through the adult stem-cells we have. However with today’s environment and type of diet, we may need to undergo stem-cell therapy. Anyone who wants to undergo this treatment must be infused with FGF, as preparation. If you are looking for a safe and fast way to have a “stem-cell like therapy”, Laminine will provide the FGF and Amino Acids your body needs to promote repair, regeneration, and rejuvenation of your aging or damaged cells. Some people who have experienced optimum health with the bonus of delaying signs of aging even calls our product, “The Laminine Stem Cell Therapy”.
First hand testimonies on Kidney (CKD) and renal failure
The following is a transcript from a webinar with Nutritionist
Food Supplement to Control Stress Cortisol or the ‘stress
Eating Habit Canada is a huge country with ten provinces and
Updated February 4, 2016 Types of Depression where nutritional
Losing weight has always been linked to the food we eat. While
Food diet that Doctors recommend should be included in a cancer
Lower cancer cells with vitamin and nutrients found in what you
Multiple sclerosis (MS), also known as disseminated sclerosis
How Laminine works against cancer What causes cancer? Cancer is
|
<urn:uuid:d11fe063-3580-4e31-845b-5ff59d162474>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.altheadistributor.com/laminine-stem-cell-therapy/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320263.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624133941-20170624153941-00224.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952218
| 1,644
| 2.921875
| 3
|
Arthroscopy (disc replacement) Surgical Procedure at SpineCenterAtlanta
Arthroscopy is an attractive surgical option for many patients as it can help to restore spinal stability while maintaining the range of motion of the spine. This alternative to spinal fusion is especially popular with younger patients with many active years ahead of them, as well as with patients who have neck or back pain related to a single level disc herniation or herniation of just two discs.
The discs in the spine serve as shock absorbers and help maintain the intervertebral height and spinal structure. When these discs are damaged, through trauma, wear and tear or illness, they may herniate or bulge, putting pressure on nearby nerves and even the spinal cord itself.
Spinal discs can take a long time to heal, if they heal at all. This is partly because they have no direct circulation, meaning that they easily become dehydrated and brittle and have no direct supply of nutrients to facilitate repair.
Traditionally, damaged spinal discs that are symptomatic are removed and the patient undergoes spinal fusion atlanta to stabilize the spine by filling the disc space with bone graft material. By fusing two or more vertebral levels together, this prevents undesirable movement in the spine. However, fusion also prevents the normal, healthy movement of the spine facilitated by healthy discs. Fusing two or more sections of the spine together can also accelerate damage in the vertebrae above and below the site of fusion.
Surgeons are now able to use artificial discs to replace worn out discs in the lumbar spine and cervical spine, giving patients an opportunity to restore stability while preserving the flexibility of the spine. Arthroscopy is typically performed through the front of the spine, allowing the surgeon to visualize the spinal structures, remove damaged disc material and correctly position the prosthesis (the artificial disc) between the vertebra.
A number of artificial discs are currently being used in Europe and are at various approval stages with the US Food and Drug Administration, meaning that options are continually increasing for patients in need of disc replacement surgery. Discs are made of metal and very hard plastic and are attached to the upper and lower side of adjacent vertebra so the implants are able to slide against each other smoothly to mimic the normal motion of the intervertebral discs.
Arthroscopy is an attractive surgical choice for many patients but may not be suitable for people with osteoporosis or severe arthritis. The usual risks of surgery apply, but complications are rare. Results so far show that disc replacement has equivalent or superior results when compared to standard discectomy and fusion. Recovery after disc replacement is typically much shorter than with discectomy and spinal fusion and eliminates the risk of pseudoarthrosis (or non-fusion).
For patients undergoing cervical disc replacement, cervical collar immobilization is typically limited to a week or less. For spinal fusion, immobilization may be recommended for 4-6 weeks. Symptoms of nerve impingement, such as pain and altered sensation, may resolve immediately or relatively quickly after arthroscopy as the surgery removes herniated disc material and other causes of nerve compression.
To see if disc replacement surgery is a good choice for you, contact Spine Center Atlanta today and discuss your options with a qualified spine surgeon.
|
<urn:uuid:97d42f13-7373-4388-ba93-0dc0f47ef7a6>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://spinecenteratlanta.com/surgical-treatment/non-fusion-alternatives/arthroscopy-disc-replacement-procedure/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320476.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625083108-20170625103108-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.938043
| 679
| 2.8125
| 3
|
The animal storyBMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1262 (Published 24 November 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:1262
- Peter L Roeder (), animal health officer1
- 1 Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Animal Health Service, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Vialle delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's global rinderpest eradication programme (GREP)—the first and only attempt to eradicate an animal pathogen—provides several learning points from the veterinary perspective
Rinderpest is (was is possibly more accurate) an ancient disease of cattle, believed to have been the origin of human measles,1 caused by an epitheliotropic and lymphotropic morbillivirus. Characterised by high fever, ocular and nasal discharges, dysentery, and dehydration it can cause death in up to 100% of cattle, water buffaloes, and yaks. Many wild ungulates are also highly susceptible, but not humans. Not surprisingly, it was the dread of farmers throughout the European, Asian, and African continents for centuries, even millennia. Sweeping west, east, and south out of central Asia, this devastating disease changed the course of history, following in the wake of marauding armies bringing death and devastation that contributed to the fall of the Roman empire, the conquest of Europe by Charlemagne, the French revolution, the impoverishment of Russia, and the colonisation of Africa.2 Having been defeated in Europe by 1928, it was the subject of intensive eradication effort in Africa and Asia for most of the last century, yet not until 1993 was a programme mounted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to bring about global eradication. The eradication programme aimed to provide coordination of autonomous, regional campaigns rather than being a centrally managed campaign. Twelve years later, in 2005, we are conceivably very close to the goal, with growing confidence that almost the whole world is now free; suspicion persists only for some pastoralist communities of the Horn of Africa, even though the virus has not been detected for four years.3
Control, elimination, or eradication of rinderpest were long considered to depend almost solely on mass, pulsed vaccination campaigns, assuming that herd immunity would rise sufficiently to extinguish transmission of the virus. If it had been possible to maintain a sufficient proportion of the population immune for a sufficient length of time (taking into account ephemeral maintenance of virus by wildlife over which we had no control) one could surely have expected rapid success. But what is a sufficient proportion? How could high herd immunity be achieved? How long must it be sustained? Only lately have we started to gain epidemiological insights into answering these questions.4
West Africa as an example?
Annual campaigns targeted the most susceptible domestic species to achieve a desired seroprevalence between 80% and 90%, until the disease disappeared. Initially no time limit was set, but latterly the duration was set at three years, essentially for pragmatic reasons. This approach worked for West Africa, making it an often cited example: twice it proved relatively easy to free that region (or virtually all of it) early in campaigns that ran from the 1960s to the 1970s and 1986 to 1998. However, a more careful appraisal finds that mass rinderpest vaccination alone might not have been responsible for the perceived success. We know from field experience that high vaccination coverage, and even immunity, can be achieved in vaccination campaigns where the efficacy of immunisation is monitored and remedial action (revaccination) taken if needed.5 However, most vaccination programmes fell far short of achieving the magical 90%, or even 80%, immunity figure. In fact, the figure rarely even reached 65% per cent, yet convincing evidence shows that the virus was eliminated from West Africa in 1988 after three years of mass vaccination. Perhaps the answer lies in the discovery that peste des petits ruminants (PPR), prevalent in West Africa and much of Asia, infects cattle, subclinically inducing immunity against rinderpest in up to 50% of cattle.6 PPR immunity in the population summated with that of the rinderpest vaccine to give high herd immunity to rinderpest, explaining how elimination of rinderpest occurred despite suboptimal vaccination coverage, not only in West Africa but also in India.7 It is fortunate that PPR fortified immunity conferred by vaccination because field studies and mathematical modelling indicate that moderate herd immunity actually helps to sustain viral transmission networks.4
Vaccination not necessary
Combined with the understanding that it was difficult to achieve an adequately high immune population by annual, pulsed vaccination across the whole population at risk, we started to appreciate that it was actually not necessary and was wasteful of resources. In Ethiopia in the early 1990s, we realised that the areas of the country where rinderpest outbreaks were most evident were in fact “indicators” of spread from persisting, endemic reservoirs in remote, extensive, pastoral communities marginalised from services and surveillance. Eliminating these residual reservoirs of infection became the core issue in eradication. Mass vaccination was therefore relegated to the start of campaigns to reduce the frequency of outbreaks and disclose sustained virus transmission networks. Targeted vaccination programmes were mounted from 1993, using innovative, community based delivery systems, and this cleared rinderpest from the 35 million Ethiopian cattle herd within three years, something that 30 years of institutionalised, mass vaccination programmes had failed to do. A similarly focused approach achieved success in the sedentary village populations of southern India at about the same time.8 The last handful of Asian and African endemic foci (except for the Somali ecosystem) were cleared by 2000. The most important lesson we learnt, perhaps rather slowly, was that a sound epidemiological understanding must precede, and be applied to guiding and focusing, any disease control programme.
GREP was designed with a deadline for fully accredited rinderpest freedom of 2010, and this has proved to be a wise move to provide a timetable to guide activities and focus minds.
The foregoing are the most important issues but other factors favouring the success of the programme deserve mention. These include:
Active, adaptively managed, global coordination.
An independent vaccine quality assurance service and production guidelines.
Robust, affordable diagnostic tests; the ability to discriminate between wild infection and vaccination would have greatly facilitated surveillance as would penside tests if they had been available earlier.
An international accreditation mechanism operated by the Office International des Epizooties.
Molecular characterisation of viruses had a seminal effect on both epidemiological understanding and the conduct of eradication programmes. Designation of a world reference laboratory, hosted by the UK Institute for Animal Health, was invaluable.
Much has been learnt since the start of GREP that merits consideration when mounting control or eradication efforts for human or animal diseases. Whether other diseases will follow for eradication or be singled out for progressive control in geographically defined areas, as are foot and mouth disease and classical swine fever in Latin America, depends largely on the outcome of the global rinderpest eradication programme and the attitude of the international community towards funding such endeavours. There is no shortage of candidates, and new ones constantly arise. Medical and veterinary epidemic disease control is becoming a single continuum. The recent zoonotic Rift Valley fever, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Hendra virus or Nipah virus, and avian influenza indicate that we need to move on from separate human and veterinary scenarios.
Competing interests None declared.
|
<urn:uuid:54c3fd3a-a34f-4604-b6af-ea0b81f9ef96>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7527/1262
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320476.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625083108-20170625103108-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948435
| 1,590
| 3.296875
| 3
|
SAN FRANCISCO—A group of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have patented and are commercializing a technology for growing gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowires on graphene, a breakthrough that could help pave the way for flexible, self-powered electronics integrated into everything from clothing to notepads.
Researchers believe that semiconductors grown on graphene will eventually form the basis for new types of devices and could fundamentally change the semiconductor industry.
NTNU's patented hybrid material offers excellent optoelectronic properties, according to Helge Weman, a professor at NTNU's department of electronics and telecommunications. "We have managed to combine low cost, transparency and flexibility in our new electrode," said Weman, who is also a co-founder and chief technology officer of the company created to commercialize the research, CrayoNano AS.
The NTNU breakthrough was recently described in Nano Letters, a U.S.-based research journal. The patented method of growing semiconductor nanowires on atomically thin graphene uses molecular beam epitaxy to grow the nanowires, according to NTNU.
"We do not see this as a new product," Weman said through a statement. "This is a template for a new production method for semiconductor devices. We expect solar cells and light emitting diodes to be first in line when future applications are planned."
Weman said the NTNU technology "fits perfectly" with the production machinery already in place at companies like IBM and Samsung, which are working on methods for using graphene as a replacement for silicon in electronics and for new applications like flexible touchscreens for mobile phones. "We make it easy for them to upgrade consumer electronics to a level where design has no limits," Weman said.
The researchers envision the possibility of nanowire solar cells, which potentially could be efficient, cheap and flexible. The researchers also envision the technology being used to create self-powered nanomachines and advanced 3-D ICs built on graphene and semiconductor nanowires, enabling smaller and more efficient electronics.
"Semiconductors grown on graphene could become the basis for new types of device systems, and could transform the semiconductor industry by introducing graphene as a preferred substrate for many applications," Weman said.
NTNU said the research underpinning this latest breakthrough has been supported since 2007 by the Research Council of Norway. The technology has been patented and spun off as CrayoNano (Trondheim, Norway), the university said.
A video produced by CrayoNano describing the technology can be viewed below.
|
<urn:uuid:2bb21ccf-aacf-48be-9769-19d609745920>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1262489&piddl_msgorder=asc
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320476.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625083108-20170625103108-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.951923
| 547
| 3.078125
| 3
|
Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, is located in the southernmost part of the country on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Dozens of sidewalk cafés serve rich espresso and freshly baked bread along the city’s wide avenues, in the shade of the jacaranda trees. Maputo’s architecture captures the history of the city; a walk around town reveals the remnants of Portuguese colonial infrastructure, early 20th century designs, a surge in Art Deco style, and of course, modern day buildings. Unpolished, slightly chaotic and always fashionable, this city is rebuilding itself to meet its pre-war reputation as one of the most sophisticated and fashionable capitals on the continent.
- Language: Mozambique’s official language is Portuguese; however, English is widely spoken in the tourism industry. Locals speak a variety of indigenous languages in addition to Portuguese.
- Currency: Metical (M) is the official currency, though established tourist facilities typically accept Rand and Dollars. ATMs are widely available for international credit cards – and work most of the time.
- When to Visit: May to September is the ideal visiting time, as it is winter in Maputo with temperatures averaging 27 degrees with relatively little rain.
- Malaria: Prevalent in Mozambique and precautions are recommended for visiting Maputo
Portuguese colonialists settled and developed Maputo – formerly called Lourenço Marques – in the mid nineteenth century, with the intention of creating a major port in Southern Africa. This sparked rapid growth in what was an otherwise small settlement. In 1887, Lourenço Marques replaced the northern Ilha de Mozambique as the country’s capital and by the early 20th century had become a lively and important cosmopolitan city. As is typical of the period, much of the riches and successes we concentrated in foreign hands.
On June 25th 1975, Mozambique won independence from Portugal, and months later Lourenço Marques was renamed Maputo. Shortly thereafter, the country descended into civil war, destroying much of the country’s and capital’s pre-existing social and economic infrastructure.
Following the signing of the 1992 Peace Agreement, Mozambique has worked tirelessly to rebuild itself into its former glory. Individuals worldwide are quickly relocating to this country to take part in one of the fastest growing African economies – Maputo’s diversity and rapid expansion are a clear reflection of this. Politically, the capital and country face new challenges with the discovery of natural gas off the northern shores, while the nation and continent watch tentatively.
When spending time in Maputo, it is ideal to see the city on foot and by tuk tuk, slowly taking in the varied regions and nuances that come with the city’s history. Street names provide a lesson in left wing political theory, while conversations over an espresso with often-talkative Mozambicans are a lesson in daily realities. As the day turns to night, be sure to watch the old colonial train station transform into a high-end club while the city comes alive.
For all the beauty of Maputo, frustrations and growing pains remain. Water shortages and citywide electricity cuts are frequent, and backup generators are sporadically available. ATMs have a tendency to run out of cash, particularly towards the end of the month. And, the heat can become unbearable. It is best to seek out a shady spot between the hours of 12pm – 2pm, since the entire city slows to a crawl to avoid these hours of intense sun.
Approach Maputo with a sense of flexibility and openness and these frustrations will be absorbed into the beauty of an unpolished city. Moreover, should the frustrations become too much, today one can seek refuge at the air-conditioned Maputo Shopping Center or with a drink at the Palona Hotel, overlooking the ocean.
Southern Mozambique is famous for its camarao, frango, pao, expresso and matapa (prawns, chicken, bread, espresso and a local speciality) and its strong Portuguese influence. These items are widely available throughout the city; however, the following locations offer some of the best meals:
- The Fish Market: Outside the city center towards Costa do Sol on Avenida Marginal is the fish market. Entering the market is hectic as dozens of restaurants compete for business, however once a decision is made the fun begins. Waiters lead their guests through rows of the freshest catches, helping to design the night’s menu. Guest selections are then cooked in one of 20 tiny restaurants surrounding a bustling courtyard as a live band plays. Popular with locals and foreigners alike, Maputo’s multicultural flare feels strongest here.
- Ali Baba’s: This tiny local spot sits northwest of the city center near 24 de Julho and Alberto Luthuli, opposite Jardim 28 de Maio. Their roast chicken with a side of chips and the soup of the day is worth the work it takes to find this place.
- Zambi: For a more upscale experience, this seafood restaurant offers top dishes and fantastic service in a modern ocean front building.
With the rapid influx of foreign influence, there is a greater variety of cuisine available. Mimmo’s is very popular with Mozambicans looking for a slight taste of Italy, and Dewar’s is a charming Portuguese restaurant out towards Costa do Sol. Dhow Café also offers great international fare with a beautiful view over Catembe and the channel.
Architecture, Museums and Art Galleries
A pleasant day in Maputo would consist of slowly touring the city and stopping at the numerous museums and art galleries while taking in the varied architecture. This can be done either through a guided walk offered by most hotels, or independently with the aid of a guidebook and a sense of curiosity. Highlights in the city include:
- The National Art Museum: This beautifully designed gallery is home to an excellent collection of Mozambican art and sculptures from the pre-colonial period through to modern day. This gallery is best viewed with a guide who is able to explain the intertwining of art and political history shown through the displayed work.
- Núcleo de Arte: This art co-operative features art by emerging Mozambican artists, as well as the opportunity to watch them work in their studios.
- Train Station: Designed by an associate of the architect of the Eiffel tower, this charming station has intricate detailing, an impressive dome, a small art gallery and transforms into a club at night
- Praça da Independência and Cathedral of Nossa Senora da Conceição: A large cathedral (popular for weddings), neo-classical government buildings, and a significant statue of the country’s first president, Samora Machel, encircle this large place of independence.
- Municipal Market and Casa Elefantes: Long aisles of vendors at Maputo’s primary market stock everything from local fish and produce to pirated DVDs and plastic basins. Continue shopping across the street is Casa Elefantes, which sells some of the best capulanas in town.
Mozambique is world renowned for its beaches, and while the crystal blue waters do not begin until about 300km north of the capital, there are some pleasant beaches to stroll along while in town. Within Maputo Central, the port largely consumes the coast. The city is making efforts to tidy this waterfront through the construction of a pleasant walking route, a mosaic and a few restaurants. However, the beach is just north of the city in Costa do Sol is more enjoyable.
Tourism and expatriate infrastructure is rapidly developing in this area, with new restaurants and complexes opening each month alongside the local vendors grilling chicken beachside. On Sundays, Costa do Sol becomes a hot spot for Mozambican youth looking for a quick escape from the city and a cold beer. It is worth noting that very few locals choose to swim in the ocean off Maputo due to waste and port run off. It is advised to stick on the beach and refresh in a hotel swimming pool.
Inhaca Island and Catembe also offer beautiful coastline, and are both accessible by ferries leaving from the Maputo harbour. Both locations are best experienced on an overnight visit at a minimum, since transport to and from can be time consuming.
While jacaranda and acacia filled boulevards make up the majority of Maputo’s nature, there remains one slightly worn out park worth visiting near the Praça da Independência, called Jardim dos Namorados. With lots of greenery and decrepit structures from a bygone era, this park offers a pleasant pause from the bustle of the city and the sidewalk dust. It is a welcome reprieve midway through a self-directed walking tour of the capital.
South of Maputo is the Maputo Special Reserve, which holds a population of nervous elephants and other wildlife. While animal sightings are challenging due to poaching, the park’s landscape is spectacular and makes for a perfect weekend escape from the city. Spend a day driving through deep sand and around various lakes before arriving at the coastal camping area. Note that there are no tourism facilities within the park and visitors must be entirely self-sufficient, unless you are with a tour.
Maputo’s nightlife is earning a very good reputation across southern Africa. From beachside bars to high-end clubs, there is an activity for every desire in the evening. Consistently popular bars include the downtown Africa Bar and the beachside Coconut Club. Nucléo de Arte, the artist cooperative, also transforms in the evening to a great place for a few drinks. As with any city, the hot nightspots are constantly shifting. In Maputo, there is always a party or a show somewhere and it is worth asking around at your hotel for more current advice. Fatima’s Backpackers (Avenida Mao Tse Tsung) is also a great place to get the latest on upcoming weekend activities and live music. Plan to stay awhile for a drink or two in Fatima’s well-traveled and pleasantly shady courtyard.
ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION
Visitors can easily access Maputo by road, domestic or international flights. The city has a series of consistent bus and airlines that service the city daily from South Africa and other international locations.
- Airport: The airport is roughly 20 minutes from the city center by taxi or longer if you take a chapa (local mini bus). It is serviced by the Mozambican airline, LAM as well as South African Airways, Ethiopian Air, Kenya Airways and a handful of others
- International Bus Routes: Several international bus companies have routes running to Johannesburg and to major cities north of Mozambique. Most long distance busses arrive at the junta 7km outside the city but a few companies depart within town so be sure to check
Chapa Stations: Local minibuses are a quick and cost-effective way of accessing smaller towns and moving around the city. Departure locations vary depending on destination, but many depart from Avenida Albert Luthuli next to the stadium.
|
<urn:uuid:ed8b55fa-6457-4156-b641-b0edeceef074>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.safariguideafrica.com/mozambique/maputo/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320476.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625083108-20170625103108-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944942
| 2,339
| 2.96875
| 3
|
The architect Renzo Piano and an energy company in Italy, they are proposing a relative small wind turbine, suitable for the average yard. They describe it as being based on the physics of dragonfly flight.
|Images © Renzo Piano|
“The new wind turbine which is sensitive to the low-altitude diffuse wind more common in Italy, has produced over 1,200 KWh in two months of testing at the Molinetto test field, in the Province of Pisa.
The new slim-line, two-blade turbine is less visible than the traditional three-blade design, to the extent that it is difficult to detect in the landscape, but it has also shown itself to be capable of functioning also with low-intensity wind.
This result has also been made possible by the research into new, ever lighter and more resistant materials and by the new technology solutions employed in the construction of the turbine.”
Read more at the press release.
|
<urn:uuid:11dbbaf4-2057-4a6d-907c-51e929accc19>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://globalenergysecurity.blogspot.com/2013/10/dragonfly-inspired-wind-turbine.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320669.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626032235-20170626052235-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.968022
| 197
| 2.515625
| 3
|
Dominating the skyline near the Villiage of Thiepval, France, stands the Thiepval Memorial which commemorates the 72,246 missing, or unidentified British Empire soldiers who have no known grave who died during the the battles of the Somme which took place between 1915 and 1918.
This magnificent memorial was constructed over a period 4 years, from 1928 and 1932. This edifice which is the largest commonwealth memorial to the missing in the world was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens who is well known for designing the Cenotaph in London, Rashtrapati Bhavan (the Viceroys House) in New Delhi, as well as many more well known structures.
The memorial is also the Anglo-French battle memorial which commemorates the 1916 offensive where Britian and France fought side by side. At the foot of the Thiepval Monument lies a cemetery containing the 300 British Commenwealth and 300 French graves which recognises further the relationship both countries had during the Somme offensive. When I visited this site earlier this year I was in awe of the sheer scale of this structure. I had seen many images of it, but it wasn’t until I was standing inside the main arch that I truly realise the sheer scale of this magnificent memorial. Surrounded by the thousands of names of the lost carved in the newly restored Portland stone I stood overwhelmed. As physically monumental in scale this structure is, it does not compare to the scale of sacrifice and horrific loss of human life that took place between the July 1915 and March 1918. Like many of the sites visited on the trip, visiting the Thiepval Memorial is something I will never forget.
Lest We Forget.
Thanks for reading.
Hugh at ReClick Photo.
|
<urn:uuid:26cdd50e-da85-4800-a747-c6868e83fb8f>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://reclickphoto.wordpress.com/2016/07/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320669.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626032235-20170626052235-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.975809
| 359
| 2.984375
| 3
|
The week-long Passover holiday is celebrated in the spring, beginning on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, rejoicing at the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt and liberation from bondage.
(Communicated by the GPO)
Passover is celebrated in the spring, beginning on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan. The holiday will take place in Israel this year between sunset on Friday 22 April, and sunset on Friday 29 April. Passover marks the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, from slavery to freedom. Jews are commanded to tell the story as if it had happened to them personally and not as a mere historical event, in order to emphasize the importance of our hard-won and precious freedom.
Preparations for Passover
The period preceding Passover is marked by extensive preparations and several special ceremonies. The most important of these concerns the removal of hametz, i.e. any food product that contains leavened wheat, oat, barley, rye, or spelt products. In keeping with the Biblical command in Exodus 12:19 and 13:7, Jews will, before Passover, thoroughly clean their homes to remove any crumbs or bits of food, etc. that may be hametz. This cleaning culminates in a ritual candlelight search for hametz in one’s home, accompanied by a special blessing and the renunciation of formal ownership over any remaining hametz. The hametz collected during the search is then burned on the morning before Passover. It is also customary to sell one’s hametz to a non-Jew – usually by authorizing a rabbi to act as an agent for the sale – as a supplementary measure. While certain types of dishes and utensils can be made kosher for Passover, many Jews will have separate sets of dishes and utensils solely for use during Passover.
In the absence of leaven, Jews will eat specially prepared unleavened bread, or matzah, on Passover. Many Jews will also eat products made with matzah "flour" – unleavened bread that has been finely ground. Matzah dates back to the Exodus, where the Jews, not having had time to wait for dough to rise before leaving Egypt, journeyed into the desert with unleavened bread.
First-born males over 13 are required to fast on the day before Passover – in commemoration of the fact that first-born Jewish males were spared when first-born Egyptian males were killed during the tenth plague – but may be released of this obligation by participating in a special festive meal, such as accompanies the conclusion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or a circumcision, on the morning before Passover.
The Sabbath before Passover – 16 April this year – is known as “the Great Sabbath,” and is marked by a special reading from Malachi 3:4-24. In the afternoon, it is traditional for rabbis to give special sermons, usually on the laws associated with Passover.
The Seder and the First Day of Passover
On the evening of Friday 22 April, after festive evening prayers, families will eat a special ceremonial meal known as the seder, which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. The guide for the seder is detailed in a book known as the Haggadah, literally "narration," which relates the story of the Exodus from Egypt. A plate placed on the seder table contains several special foods: a roasted egg, symbolizing the special sacrifices which were brought in the Temple; a roasted shank bone, recalling the special Passover lamb offered and eaten in Temple times; a mixture of chopped apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon known as haroset, symbolizing the mortar that the Hebrew slaves in Egypt used to make bricks; sprigs of parsley and lettuce, symbolizing spring; a bitter herb symbolizing the bitterness of slavery; and salt water, recalling the tears shed by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. Three sheets of matzah – marking the division of the Jewish people into priests, Levites and the general population – are also placed on the table.
During the course of the seder, the Ten Plagues are recalled. When each of the Plagues is mentioned, each participant dips a finger into his/her cup of wine and removes a drop; even though the Jews were oppressed in Egypt, we are reminded that we must not rejoice over the Egyptians’ suffering. Our cups of wine cannot thus be full.
One of the more popular seder customs for children concerns the afikoman, a special piece of matzah that is the last food eaten during the seder. The head of the household customarily hides the afikoman somewhere in the house, and the children then search for it. Once found, the afikoman is "ransomed," since the seder cannot continue until the afikoman is eaten. This helps to keep the children focused on the seder and to pique their curiosity regarding the entire Passover epic.
On the morning of Saturday 23 April, festive prayers (including a prayer for abundant dew during the spring and summer and the Song of Songs) and special readings will figure prominently in synagogue services.
The Intermediate Days of Passover
While the intermediate days of Passover (this year from sunset on Saturday 23 April until sunset on Thursday 28 April) are not full public holidays, special prayers and readings are recited in the synagogue. Schools will remain closed, as will many businesses. Post offices and banks will be open, but will have reduced hours. Newspapers will be published.
Jewish tradition maintains that the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army occurred on the seventh day of Passover, but even though Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt, Jews nevertheless do not rejoice over the death of the Egyptians in the sea and only an abridged version of Hallel (Psalms 113-118) – a holiday prayer – is recited after the first day of Passover.
From the evening of Saturday 23 April, Jews will keep a nightly count of the 49 days (seven weeks), until the evening of Friday 10 June, one day before the holiday of Shavuot. This count commemorates the Temple offering of the omer, or sheaf of new grain, in keeping with the Biblical injunction of Leviticus 23:15-16 .
The Seventh Day of Passover
The celebration of the seventh day of Passover as a full holiday is specified in Exodus 12:16 and Leviticus 23:8. This year, the seventh day begins at sunset on Thursday 28 April, lasting until sunset on Friday 29 April. On Friday morning, there will be festive services and readings in synagogues; special memorial prayers for the departed will also be said.
Maimouna – an informal, yet widely celebrated holiday which originated among the Jews of North Africa, particularly those from Morocco – is celebrated the day after Passover. When the last day of Passover falls on a Friday, as it does this year, Maimouna is postponed by one day; it will be celebrated this year from sunset on Saturday 30 April until sunset on Sunday 1 May. According to custom, families prepare elaborate tables with various sweets and baked goods, and host friends and family members. Whole neighborhoods often close as celebrations spill out into the streets and parks.
|
<urn:uuid:7f0d0280-748e-4738-a87e-09a9a29b3a41>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://algeria-us.org/2016/05/passover-2016/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320869.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626221252-20170627001252-00464.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945355
| 1,525
| 3.328125
| 3
|
Hyperglycemia in diabetes
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) affects people who have diabetes. Several factors can contribute to hyperglycemia in people with diabetes, including food and physical activity choices, illness, nondiabetes medications, or skipping or not taking enough glucose-lowering medication.
Early signs and manifestations: Recognizing early side effects of hyperglycemia can offer you some assistance with treating the condition immediately. Look for: Frequent pee, Increased thirst, Blurred vision, Fatigue, Headache. Later signs and indications: If hyperglycemia goes untreated, it can bring about harmful acids (ketones) to develop in your blood and pee (ketoacidosis). Signs and manifestations include: Fruity-noticing inhale, Nausea and heaving, Shortness of inhale, Dry mouth, Weakness, Confusion, Coma, Abdominal torment.
Get physical. Regular exercise is often an effective way to control your blood sugar. However, don't exercise if ketones are present in your urine. This can drive your blood sugar even higher. Take your medication as directed. If you have frequent episodes of hyperglycemia, your doctor may adjust the dosage or timing of your medication. Follow your diabetes eating plan. It helps to eat less and avoid sugary beverages. If you're having trouble sticking to your meal plan, ask your doctor or dietitian for help.
The numbers are staggering, and it is estimated that there are approximately 175 million worldwide sufferers.According to statistics, 67 percent of women with excessive sweating seek treatment, while only 32 percent of men with the condition do so.In all suffering from the condition the disease was bilateral, the mainly affected locations being: hands (35.7%), legs (21.4%), axilla (17.9), face (10.7%), back (7.1%), chest (3.6%) and abdomen (3.6%). There was no predominance regarding gender, age or BMI. We found a positive relationship with BMI and observed a prevalence ratio of 2.48 higher in overweight students than in normal weight or underweight ones.
|
<urn:uuid:872b6004-822a-4f89-8e0b-06e28da50f56>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.omicsonline.org/canada/hyperglycemia-in-diabetes-peer-reviewed-pdf-ppt-articles/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320869.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626221252-20170627001252-00464.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.920742
| 444
| 2.96875
| 3
|
Cut off from civilization and plunged into darkness for several months of the year, crews manning research stations in the southernmost tip of the Earth — Antarctica — have to contend with sensory deprivation, loneliness and bone-dry conditions.
The barren landscape is often dubbed “White Mars.”
Now, Canadian researchers, with new support from the Canadian Space Agency, are collaborating on a global research project to study the effects of living in these harsh conditions in the hopes of helping astronauts in future space missions.
In many ways, life in this sprawling desert mimics life in outer space, says Peter Suedfeld, a UBC psychology professor emeritus involved in one of the studies. The natural environment is dangerous and safe return is never certain; medical care is limited; it’s hard to get away from irritating crew mates; and there are long stretches of empty time punctuated by bursts of hard work.
“How do people’s psychological processes go when they’re down there for a whole year? There’s very little in the way of quantitative data,” Suedfeld said.
The studies are being carried out by crew members at two research stations on opposite ends of the continent. They will feed data to scientists in Europe and Canada. The Concordia station, run by the French and Italian polar institutes, consists of two elevated cylindrical towers, while the Halley station, run by the British Antarctic Survey, consists of a series of linked four-legged pods that would not look out of place in a sci-fi movie.
The European Space Agency has been sponsoring a variety of experiments to examine how this hostile environment can affect crew members’ bodies and minds. Studies are looking at how their eyes adapt to prolonged darkness, how sleep patterns might be altered and whether brain function changes.
In another experiment, crew members are asked to record weekly audio diaries. European researchers then analyze their pitch, rhythm and speed for signs of stress.
Canadian researchers are now contributing four new studies thanks to a $1.7-million investment by the Canadian Space Agency.
Suedfeld will analyze the content of the audio diaries, listening for the emotions they express and topics they bring up. Do they like their colleagues? Do they ask for help to solve problems or work on their own? Suedfeld hopes to begin analyzing recorded dinner-table conversations in the near future.
Meanwhile, researchers at Simon Fraser University and the University of Ottawa, are carrying out tests in which subjects are confined to an inclined bed for prolonged periods to mimic weightlessness in space to see the effects on their cardiovascular systems, muscle function and bone marrow cells.
Interviews and blog posts from people who have spent time at the research stations show life can be challenging.
British medical doctor Alexander Kumar told the BBC in 2014 that while Concordia crew members had Internet and telephone access, there was a tendency to withdraw during the long winter.
“Overwintering crew members regress further into their own rooms and minds, which can be dangerous,” he said.
The senses also become blunted with the dearth of sights and smells.
“It’s almost as if our senses become under-stimulated and wither in the darkness, ice and silence. So when a new stimuli comes along it can be disproportionately fascinating. It has been some time since I stubbed my toe walking around the station barefooted in the dark. But I can tell you it hurt each and every time, even more.”
In a blog post from Concordia last winter, Beth Healey, another British doctor, wrote that even though the temperature outside was -80 C, the biggest challenge was sleep.
“With no point of reference I regularly find myself wide awake in the middle of the night and falling asleep at lunch!” she wrote. “We are offered UV lights and vitamin supplements in an attempt to counteract this.”
A few weeks later, she noted everyone was in better spirits as the sun rose again above the horizon.
“We greeted it as if it was a long lost friend,” she wrote.
For some, the transition back to civilization can take awhile, Suedfeld said. “In fact a fair number of people say the culture shock is greater coming back than it was going there,” he said.
But they also return having spent time in an “awesomely beautiful” environment and with a potentially fresh outlook on life, he said. They’ve made new friendships and tested their resilience, courage and creativity like never before.
Suedfeld noted these studies have the potential to benefit humans on Earth, particularly those living in remote northern communities or working in logging or mining camps.
They could also spur new ideas for how to make old-age homes — which can often be isolating for seniors — more pleasant, he said.
|
<urn:uuid:a7a35835-2fcc-4d13-9700-b603803199ee>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://nationalpost.com/news/world/canadians-join-study-of-desolate-antarctica-research-stations-that-mimic-life-in-outer-space/wcm/b128d5ec-cda2-4f62-95d5-2e3d6a2a783f
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321497.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627170831-20170627190831-00544.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962008
| 1,011
| 3.84375
| 4
|
Samples are currently making news for NASA’s planetary exploration program. Last August, the rover Curiosity, equipped with a package of laboratory instruments, landed on Mars. On February 9th the rover’s robotic arm drilled its first hole in a rock selected by scientists. In their attempt to gain more information about Mars, scientists will use the rover’s science package to remotely analyze these samples on the martian surface. The results will give them some fairly detailed knowledge on the chemical and mineral make up of these rocks. But what else can we possibly learn from samples?
Geologists in general and planetary scientists in particular often emphasize that “such and such” cannot be known for certain “until we obtain samples” of some planetary surface or outcrop. What is this obsession with samples? Why do (some) scientists value them so highly and exactly what do they tell us? Answers to this question (for there is not a single, simple one) are more involved than you might think.
With today’s technology providing us with only the most rudimentary information, sample analyses made remotely on a distant planetary surface is limited. Some of the things we want to know, such as the formation age of rocks, can only be discovered with high precision, careful laboratory work. That’s a tall order for remote systems. For example, one of the most common techniques used to “date” a rock’s age requires the separation of individual minerals that make up the rock. Next, the ratio of minute trace elements and their isotopes in each grain must be determined. Assuming that the rock has not been disturbed by heating or a crater shock event, this information can be used to infer an age of formation. If we can convince ourselves that the rock being studied is representative of some larger unit of regional significance, we can use this information to reconstruct the geological history of the region and eventually, the entire alien world. So sample analysis is an important aspect of geological exploration.
As I have written previously, we used images to geologically map the entire Moon, noting its crater, basin and mare deposits, and their relative sequence of formation. When the first landing missions were sent to the Moon, great emphasis was placed on obtaining representative samples of each landing site. It was thought that such samples could be studied in detail in Earth laboratories and then extrapolated to the larger regional units shown on the geologic maps. With few exceptions, this approach worked pretty well. As we moved from the landing sites on the maria (ancient lava flows) into the complex highlands, the “context” of the samples – their relation to observed regional landforms or events – became more obscure. A lunar highland rock is typically a complex mixture of earlier rocks, sometimes showing evidence for several generations of mixture, re-fragmentation, and re-assembly. Loose samples lying on the surface were collected from the highlands, none of them were sampled “in place” (i.e., from bedrock). Although this is also true of the rocks from the maria, we observed bedrock “in place” at most of the mare sites and may have actually collected at least one sample from lava bedrock at the edge of Hadley Rille near the Apollo 15 site.
None of the highland samples possess the same degree of contextual certainty as the mare samples. This fact, coupled with their individual complexity, sometimes leads to consternation over exactly what the samples are telling us. It doesn’t help that the Moon’s early history was itself very complex, with magmas solidifying, lavas erupting, volcanic ash hurled into space and laid down in bedded deposits. On top of all those processes were cratering events that mixed and reassembled everything into a complex geologic puzzle, a virtual stew of processes and compositions that hold clues to billions of years of the Moon’s (and Earth’s) history. Nonetheless, we can still perceive most of the story of the Moon’s history, enough at this point to tell us that without those lunar samples in hand, we would be well and truly ignorant of even its most important events and basic processes. The fixation with sample return stems from the science community’s belief that with just a few more carefully selected samples from some key units, all that is now dark will be made light.
There may be severe consequences to the science community’s insistence on the primacy of sample return. The most recent “decadal survey,” the ten-year community study that gives NASA our wish lists for missions and exploration, made a sample return from Mars the centerpiece and sine qua non of future robotic missions. The NRC report was so emphatic in its insistence that it might be paraphrased as saying, in effect, “Give us a Mars sample or give us death!” (with apologies to Patrick Henry). Alas, that formulation may be more apt than anyone desired, as proposed out year budgets for the next five years of NASA funding cuts planetary exploration by almost 30% – a landscape of shifting priorities that raises questions and uncertainty for the future.
Robotic sample return missions to large bodies like the Moon or Mars are expensive because they consist of multiple spacecraft – a lander, which softly places the spacecraft on the surface, a device (such as a rover) to collect and store the samples and an ascent vehicle to bring the sample back to Earth. While none of these functions individually are exceedingly difficult to achieve, all of them (done correctly and in proper sequence) add up to a substantially difficult, complex mission profile.
In the space business (as with most endeavors), more difficult and complex means that more money is required. Moonrise, a proposed robotic mission to return about a kilogram of sample from the far side of the Moon, was projected to cost around one billion dollars. A Mars sample return mission consisted of three separate missions: one to land, collect and store the samples, another one to retrieve those samples and place them into orbit around Mars, and a final mission to return the samples to Earth. With each step costing up to several billion dollars, such a technically challenging Mars sample return mission would be unaffordable.
Although samples have many advantages over remote measurements, those benefits must be weighed against the cost and difficulty of obtaining them. Perhaps the complete extent of what can be accomplished remotely has yet to be fully explored. As mentioned above, absolute ages are key information that we get from samples. Several dating techniques could be adapted to a remote instrument; these methods may not be the most precise imaginable, but they might be of adequate precision to answer the most critical questions. On the Moon, we do not know the absolute age of the youngest lava flows in the maria; age estimates range from as old as ~ 3 billion years to as young as less than 1 billion years. In such a case, a measurement with 10-20% precision is adequate to resolve the first-order question: When did lunar volcanism cease? In addition, such a result would enable us to calibrate the cratering curve for this part of lunar history, a function that is widely used to infer absolute ages throughout the Solar System. A solid result obtained from a robotic lander – even such a relatively imprecise one – would have important implications for lunar volcanic processes, thermal history, impact flux, and bulk composition.
Complex robotic operations in space are always dicey, especially when attempting something for the first time. Samples are a key part of a planetary scientist’s toolbox but their acquisition is difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Samples from robotic missions are more likely to have ambiguous context, thus rendering less scientific value. Scientifically useful sample collection may remain problematic until people can physically go to exotic places in space and fully use their complex cognitive skills. This trade-off between cost and capability must be carefully considered when weighing future exploration alternatives and desired outcomes.
Previous relevant posts:
|
<urn:uuid:ac0e8334-cb5a-4d34-abda-03a4039f0e72>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/geological-sampling-and-planetary-exploration-17033973/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321497.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627170831-20170627190831-00544.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955305
| 1,640
| 4.0625
| 4
|
This content is syndicated from by Kelly Waters. To view the original post in full, click here.
User Stories are a simple way of capturing user requirements throughout a project - an alternative to writing lengthy requirements specifications all up-front.
User Stories are derived from XP (Extreme Programming), however they can just as easily be used for requirements gathering in any agile development methodology, or indeed in any home-grown development process.
A User Story is a simple statement about what a user wants to do with a feature of the software, written from a user's perspective. A User Story should not use technical jargon or state design goals. User Stories should be written in business language that is understandable to all.
A User Story should focus on the who, what and why of a feature, not how.
For example, on a job site, two high-level User Stories might be:
- As a job seeker, I want to search for a job, so I can advance my career.
- As a recruiter, I want to post a job vacancy, so I can find a new team member.
This is a useful construct to give a consistent shape to User Stories, and to act as a constant reminder to focus on who, what and why:
As a [user role], I want to [goal], so I can [reason].
Some people may consider the third part of the construct to be unnecessary. However I think it's good to state the user's motivation for using the feature, because:
(a) it gives clarity as to why a feauture is useful;
(b) it can influence how a feature should function;
(c) it can give you ideas for other useful features that support the user's goals.
At the start of a project, capture an initial list of User Stories up-front. In Scrum this would be the initial Product Backlog. This feature list is useful for estimating and planning. But defer capturing all the details until the story is prioritised and due to be developed in the next Sprint or iteration.
In meetings with users (or user representatives), users will often tell stories about the failings of their current system or process. Or they might tell stories about how they see things working better in future. Try capturing these stories as User Stories. On cards. While you're in the meeting. As they are told.
In traditional development projects, these stories often aren't captured as they are told, they're captured in a lengthy analysis process and captured in a lengthy document; a format that isn't particularly user friendly.
Using User Stories, you might be surprised just how easy it is to leave a meeting with users, with their key requirements already captured.
|
<urn:uuid:9ee86209-28f7-43ab-85f4-89c9cc7888b9>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.101ways.com/user-stories/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323680.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628120308-20170628140308-00624.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.954272
| 557
| 2.734375
| 3
|
Information pollution, information overload, and infoglut are some of the most common terms used to describe the “almost infinite abundance” and “surging volume” of information that “floods” and “swamps” us daily (Hemp 2009). Popular media articles appear regularly offering tips and strategies to “cope with,” “conquer,” and even “recover” from information overload (e.g., Harness 2015; Shin 2014; Tattersall 2015). Information Fatigue Syndrome, a term coined in 1996, refers to the stress and exhaustion caused by a constant bombardment of data (Vulliamy 1996). In Data Smog: Surviving the Information Glut, David Shenk (1997) argues that the surplus of information doesn’t enhance our lives, but instead undermines and overwhelms us to the point of anxiety and indecision. According to research conducted by Project Information Literacy researchers, “it turns out that students are poorly trained in college to effectively navigate the internet’s indiscriminate glut of information” (Head and Wihbey 2014, para. 7).
The study presented here emerged from “New Information Technologies,” an undergraduate course in the media and communication department at a small, private, liberal arts college in the northeast United States. The course introduced students to key concepts and tools for thinking critically about new information technology and what it means to live in a digital, global society. Course goals underscored the importance of developing students’ capacities as digitally literate learners and citizens of a global network society. We intentionally articulated course learning goals around both the content area and the practices of digital literacy embedded in course assignments. We asked students to reflectively discover, organize, analyze, create, and share information using digital tools. Our aim was to empower students with the tools and abilities to thrive in the information ecosystem as both consumers and producers, rather than flounder in information overload. We wanted students to experience research as active agents driving the process through their choices and attitudes. With these broad framing objectives in mind, we developed a multiphase research assignment called the Internet Censorship Project.
In this article, we detail our collaborative development of the Internet Censorship Project assignment and discuss a qualitative analysis of the resulting student work. In our analysis, we focus in particular on students’ engagement in and reflection on the research process and their agency and identity therein. Our close look at the assignment and student learning offers an opportunity to consider the possibilities of integrating digital tools and pedagogies to deepen students’ digital literacy in the context of liberal arts education.
Collaborating for Digital Literacy
This course provided ideal opportunities for collaboration between an information literacy librarian and a media and communication professor with shared interests in digital literacy. Our respective disciplines have a common concern for digital literacy, although we often describe and approach the concept in distinct ways. The library and information science field typically uses the term “information literacy,” while media and communication studies uses “media literacy.” The Association of College and Research Libraries (2016) defines information literacy as “the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning” (3). Media literacy, as defined by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (2017), is “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication. In its simplest terms, media literacy builds upon the foundation of traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing. Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators and active citizens.” We find common ground in these definitions and the values they convey, especially in the degree to which both disciplines prioritize critical thinking about and active engagement with information. In this paper, we invoke a shared definition of digital literacy, referring to the practices, abilities, and identities around the uses and production of information in digital forms.
Our respective understandings of digital literacy have evolved through extensive and ongoing collaboration with each other and with students. Our disciplines both recognize that definitions of literacies are shifting in the digital environment. One premise of our work is that digital technologies afford new possibilities for collaboration across disciplines and fields. We believe that digital teaching and learning benefit from, if not require, connecting diverse ways of knowing. Digital learning emphasizes connectivity and so we have designed our teaching approach to model the same.
What matters most here is how these definitions come to bear on framing student learning outcomes in this course and assignment. There were no digital literacy learning outcomes explicitly embedded within the course syllabus prior to this collaboration. Discussions about how and where to integrate digital literacy goals within existing course assignments gave rise to our collaboration. These discussions revealed that while the course aimed to promote critical thinking and analysis of the so-called information age, it did little to intentionally link theory to critical practice in ways that highlighted development of students’ digital literacy habits and abilities. The library’s statement on information literacy, inspired at the time of its creation by an earlier iteration of the Association of College and Research Libraries information literacy definition, offered a welcome starting point and with very little modification was introduced as a course goal (Trexler Library, Muhlenberg College 2010). Among course objectives, the syllabus newly included this statement: “students in this course will have opportunities to develop capacities as information literate learners who can discover, organize, analyze, create and share information.”
Assignment Design and Instructional Approaches
The Internet Censorship Project required students working in pairs or small groups to investigate the state of internet censorship and surveillance in different countries. The project extended across four weeks in the latter half of the semester. Students shared their research findings in culminating in-class presentations. The entire process was designed to encourage students to link their critical theoretical understanding with digital literacy practices. We purposefully integrated digital tools and pedagogies throughout the assignment to help students move beyond only amassing and describing sources to higher order research activities and more advanced digital literacy behaviors and attitudes.
Our first implementation of this assignment in fall 2013 revealed some of the general challenges of asking students to critically engage with information. Students tended to gather large amounts of information and dump it into their work without clear purpose or analysis. Ultimately, this resulted in lackluster project presentations in which students’ facility with the mode of digital presentation (Prezi) was often more impressive than the story being shared. These issues are not unique to this assignment, course, or campus. Many educators have likely seen evidence of students’ struggles with “information dump.” Information dump demonstrates students have collected relevant data, but they are unable to present it logically or think about it critically and analytically. This challenge relates to larger issues with helping students develop and strengthen their research habits and abilities. There is often a wide gap between where students begin and where we want them to arrive with respect to information gathering, evaluation, analysis, and synthesis. They often do not successfully make the leap from one ledge to the other (Head 2013; Head and Eisenberg 2010). Frequently what seems to be missing is students’ engagement with research as a process and their critical reflection on that process.
Among the many personal benefits students gain from research, they “learn tolerance for obstacles faced in the research process, how knowledge is constructed, independence, increased self-confidence, and a readiness for more demanding research” (Lopatto 2010). Participating in the research process also promotes students’ cognitive development, supporting their transition from novice to expert learners. Undergraduate research encourages students to exercise critical judgment and to make meaning of what they are learning. Such experiences help students construct a sense of themselves as researchers, gaining a sense of agency and ownership of the research process. If today’s students are “at sea in a deluge of data” (Head and Wihbey 2014), carefully crafted research assignments can help them acquire the skills and awareness that serve as life rafts and anchors.
This kind of work presents opportunities to promote students’ metacognition, or awareness of and reflection on their thinking and learning (Livingston 1997). A metacognitive mindset can help students identify their research as a process in which they are located and over which they have agency. “Successfully developing a research plan, following it, and adapting to the challenges research presents require reflection on the part of the student about his or her own learning” (Carleton College 2010, para. 5). By reflecting on their steps and thinking, students can perhaps more easily recognize their choices and beliefs, enhance their ability to plan for and guide their learning, as well as adapt in the face of future challenges or new situations (Lovett 2008). “Seeing oneself as capable of making the crossing to a better understanding can be empowering and even exhilarating….The ability to manage transitional states might be, then, a transferrable learning experience, one that involves increasing self-knowledge and confidence” (Fister 2015, 6).
Close review of Internet Censorship Project student learning outcomes in 2013 informed our revisions to the assignment in fall 2014. (See Appendix A for the assignment.) We strengthened the assignment by gearing it more toward process and reflection. Our goal was to better support students as they worked to bridge the gap, from start to finish, in their research knowledge and abilities. This time around, we emphasized steps within the research process and prioritized the development of critical and reflective thinking about information. We did this by redesigning the project phases and intentionally using carefully selected digital tools.
In the first phase, student partners collaborated to select and organize research sources about internet censorship and surveillance in their selected countries. They used a collaborative, cloud-based word processing application (Google Docs) to gather and share information with each other as they discovered it, working both synchronously and asynchronously. Documents started as running lists of sources with links to original content, but were to evolve into meaningfully and logically organized and annotated texts that demonstrated critical thinking about sources. In fall 2014, we dedicated more in-class time modeling for students how documents might evolve beyond mere lists into collaborative space for organizing, summarizing, assessing, and interrogating information.
We also integrated a crucial new element, a photo journal created in WordPress, into the assignment as a metacognitive bridge to support students’ development from information gathering to presentation. We selected WordPress for this activity for a number of reasons. On a practical level, we have a campus installation of WordPress and strong technology support for it. WordPress is easily customizable, extendable, and enables students to work with the various media types we sought to promote with the assignment. Just as importantly, using WordPress aligned with one of the underlying goals of the course to deepen students’ critical reflection of their own digital presence. We wanted them to gain experience working in a widely-adopted open source environment—approximately 25% of all websites that use a content management system run on WordPress (Lanaria 2015)—so that they might compare this platform to their experiences within commercial social media platforms. Overall, WordPress enabled us to provide students with hands-on experience as information producers that developed digital literacy practices that could serve them well beyond this assignment and course.
The photo journal transformed the assignment in important ways and is the focus of our case study. We described its purpose to students in the following way:
The journal is your individual representation of the process as you experience and construct it. The Photo Journal is created in WordPress and includes photos, images, drawings, screenshots, and narrative text and captions that take the viewer behind the scenes of your research process. Think of this as “the making of” your project, uncovering the questions and thinking behind your project, and documents the “what, why, where, and how” of the research you are producing.
Students were required to create a minimum of 10 posts, the first of which asked students to reflect on their ideal research environment. The final post invited students to contemplate their presentation and completion of the project. In between, the remaining eight journal entries were designed to document and reflect on students’ research experiences. We provided optional prompts to kickstart their posts, including the following:
- What do you know about the topic? What do you want to know?
- Why does this source matter?
- How did you get started?
- What led you to this source?
- What questions does the source raise for you?
- How does the source contribute to other knowledge?
- What do you know now? What have you learned?
We constructed the photo journal element to activate for students an attitude of critical engagement and a more reflective, metacognitive mindset (Fluk 2015). In documenting their research processes, the photo journal was intended to surface students’ thinking for both themselves and us as instructors. We wanted to promote their reflection on steps in the research process and, therefore, change and deepen that process. By modeling and scaffolding these behaviors and attitudes through the phases of the assignment, we hoped to move students progressively toward stronger engagement and understanding. Rather than drowning in information overload, we hoped to develop students’ sense of agency to be able to comprehend, communicate about, make meaning of, and reflect on their information consumption and production. By asking students to include images as representations of their research, we further hoped to make the research more visible as a process.
Through our qualitative analysis of students’ photo journals in this case study, we attempt to better understand both the connections students make, as well as where they need help to bridge the gaps in their learning. Our case study explores how we can use digital technologies and digital pedagogy to better foster students’ development as digitally literate researchers.
In this research, we look closely at student learning outcomes aligned with the digital literacy goals of the Internet Censorship Project. Collectively, the 17 students in fall 2014 generated 170 photo journal entries. Our data collection, coding, and analysis were conducted using Dedoose, a cloud-based platform for qualitative and mixed methods research with text, photos, and multimedia. The program enabled us to organize and code a large set of records.
Each journal entry included a narrative update or reflection on students’ research and a related image. While designated a “photo journal,” students’ posts included a considerable amount of text that is central to this study. Our qualitative content analysis concentrated on students’ description of, and reflection on, their research sources and their research steps and behaviors. We also constructed a series of identity codes to indicate those instances where students self-consciously located themselves within their research and reflected on their research as practice.
Analysis of Students’ Journals
Students’ journals varied in depth, detail, and critical engagement. Two types of journals emerged clearly: robust and limited. In robust journals, students exhibited a general thoughtfulness and demonstrated a more expansive engagement with content of sources and process. Limited journals were generally more superficial and formulaic, focused primarily on content of sources rather than process. We assign these categories to help improve our pedagogy in order to advance student learning.
In the following sections, we discuss three major areas that emerged from our qualitative analysis of student journal data:
- Students’ engagement as reflected in project pacing
- Students’ attention to process and content
- Students’ identity and agency as digital learners
Students’ Engagement as Reflected in Project Pacing
The journal project required that students submit a minimum of ten posts over four weeks at a suggested rate of two to three times per week. Past experience has shown us that students often tend to squeeze their work into a limited time frame. Student Q, for example, described his usual work tendencies in his journal:
“Typically when I study, do research, or write papers, I end up waiting until the last minute. This isn’t really a voluntary practice, I just can’t find the motivation to prioritize long term assignments until the deadline begins closing in.”
By requiring students to post consistently, we aimed to push them beyond their typical practices. We structured the experience so that students could aggregate and analyze information incrementally over time in order to develop more effective research habits—both attitudes and practices—and to avert information overload. We anticipated that students who worked steadily would have more opportunities for progressive development and reflection and therefore would engage more deeply and critically with the sources and the issues addressed in the assignment. We anticipated that students who worked inconsistently, by comparison, would be more likely to engage superficially and minimally achieve project learning goals. Our interest in “students’ engagement as reflected in project pacing,” then, refers both to the timing of students’ journal posts and the pace of students’ work on the project overall.
We characterized students’ journal pacing quality as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Excellent pacing described journals with posts spread evenly throughout the project. Good pacing described journals with posts occurring every week of the project, but with some posts closely grouped on consecutive days or even on the same day. Fair pacing denoted journals with some posts closely grouped on consecutive days or the same days and some multi-day or week-long stretches with no posts. Poor pacing referred to journals with posts primarily grouped on just a few consecutive days or the same days and no posts for long stretches of time.
Robust journals were distributed evenly across all four pacing quality categories: two each in poor, fair, good, and excellent. Limited journals, though, were predominantly in the poor pacing category: seven poor, zero fair, one good, and one excellent.
Overall, the pattern we saw in the pacing of students’ journals in part supports our intuition. Students who demonstrated lower engagement with content and less reflection on process—that is, students’ whose journals we categorized as limited—appeared to work inconsistently on the project or in a compressed manner. Yet pacing alone is not enough to ensure students’ success, as we saw in the case of robust journals. Their strength was less tied with pacing quality. Perhaps these journals were robust for other reasons such as the students’ developmental levels, their effective integration of our writing prompts, or intrinsic motivation and interest in the assignment. Many factors, then, surely contribute to students’ learning and success, yet students’ reflections suggest that adequate time and project management are among them. Student B, for example, described the positive impact of the assignment’s structure on the pacing of her work:
“The components of the project, the Google Doc, photo journal, and presentation, seemed to work well together to organize our thoughts and pace the research so we did not save it until the last minute. Even though it was a busy week for me, the way the project was set up was very helpful in facilitating the assignment.
This overall experience has taught me a lot about research and organization. It has also given me valuable experience preparing and speaking in front of a class. This project was due during a particularly busy week for me. I had three large assignments due that week, this included, but I learned to cope with that, take things one step at a time, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
Student C’s comments illustrate how the expectations of a measured pace in the assignments were a challenge for him, but that they contributed to his effectiveness in research and in preparing for his final presentation:
“By the time I finished the research for my journal entries, I had all the information I needed to prepare for my presentation. It was nice to be able to share some of the interesting things I learned about. Meeting with [name redacted] a few times before we had to present was helpful, and gave us a chance to organize and practice. . . . The biggest challenge of this project was staying on top of all my journal entries. Trying to organize how to space them out in a way that made sense, while trying to balance all my other work, was difficult. I had to be extra careful not to forget about them and leave them all to the last minute.”
Articulating and modeling for students effective strategies for doing research over time can contribute to their success with organizing and processing large amounts of information, and help students to develop and sustain deeper engagement in their learning.
Students’ Attention to Process and Content
Our assignment aimed to foster students’ metacognitive awareness of their research process which contributes to students’ learning and is essential to digital literacy. Unprompted, however, students often struggle to engage at this level of critical self-reflection. In our first attempt with this assignment, they tended to focus only on amassing and describing their sources, essentially information dump. We hoped that students’ journals, then, would provide visible evidence of their research processes in order to better understand and reflect on their steps and their thinking. By bringing the process to the surface, we hoped students’ attention would shift beyond just the what of the sources and toward the why and the how of their sources, choices, and processes for richer critical thinking. Therefore, our analysis of student journals naturally aligned into two major categories: content and process. Content codes were used to identify journal excerpts in which students commented on sources in the following ways: summary, assessment, interpretation, connection with other information or personal experience, judgment, and reinforcement/challenge of preconceived notions.
In their journals, all students summarized sources with some frequency. For some, it was the focus of an entire post. For others, an initial summary was a foundation from which they built more diversified or reflective posts. In limited journals, we saw that students often paired the description or summary with their opinions or judgments. The following excerpt from Student I’s journal illustrates this common combination. He began with a summary of a source and then segued to his beliefs on the matter:
“After The London Riots, Prime Minister David Cameron wanted to censor social media, and ban rioters from communicating on these platforms. However, this did not pan out as well as he thought. So, it was back to the drawing board. In another one of Cameron’s plans, he wanted to censor emails, texts, and phone calls. According to the article, internet service providers would have to install hardware that would give law official real-time access to users emails, text messages, and phone calls. . . .
This also relates to the fact that Cameron still wants social media sites to censor their users. I think that this really impedes on a persons’ freedom of speech. If people are posting things on social media, they are public, therefore, they can be seen by whomever. So for instance, if people were planning violent rallies on Facebook, authority members could see this, and stop it before it happened by sending troops to the spot of the rally. Still, this is a major shot at peoples’ freedom of speech, therefore, I do not think it is necessary to take away a persons’ right to post on social media.”
In robust journals, by contrast, students more often paired summary with meaning making—that is, they interpreted the sources and attempted to make connections between different sources or with personal experience, as in this excerpt from Student H’s journal:
“This article focuses on the government trying to control what is posted on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. November of the last year, the Russian government created a law that would allow them to blog any internet consent they deemed illegal or harmful to minors. The only website to resist was YouTube which is owned by Google. They removed one video that promoted suicide, but wouldn’t remove a video that showed how to make a fake wound, because YouTube declared it was for entertainment purposes.
However, when the Federal service for supervision in telecommunications, information technologies and mass communications in Russia went to Facebook and Twitter, they complied with the bans the government gave them. If they didn’t comply the whole site would have been banned from Russia. This source makes me ask was this law only created to protect minors on the internet? Are there other motives with this new law? Will they ban other content that may be appropriate but not agreeable with the Russian’s views? I want to look into what other sites or content this law has been used to ban. This source definitely gave me insight into more issues of censorship occurring in Russia.”
While judgment and meaning making both require students to interact with sources and insert themselves into the conversation, they require rather different levels of critical thinking and self-awareness. With judgment, as illustrated by Student I above, students took a stand or made a claim, often in ways that promoted or reinforced rather than challenged their assumptions. With meaning making, on the other hand, as illustrated by Student H above, students attempted to interpret, clarify, and probe sources. These are different ways of interacting with information. The latter requires a greater degree of critical awareness and self-reflection on the part of the researcher and, therefore, denotes higher order digital literacy.
Process codes were used to identify journal excerpts in which students described their steps, as well as their metacognitive reflection on those steps. They included searching strategies and behaviors, organization, source selection, information availability, use of assigned digital tools (i.e., Google Docs, WordPress, and Prezi), information needs, next steps, and collaboration with their peers.
In limited journals, students frequently described their research steps. In this excerpt, for example, Student O described transitioning from using Google to library databases in order to locate academic sources:
“After finding several newspaper articles on Google, I started to finally look at the academic journals using the library databases. I was shocked to find that there was not that much information about the internet censorship in Iraq considering it is a big controversy. The few articles that I did find did have a lot of useful information to begin sifting through. Looking at the articles from the database is much different from Google because you can read the abstract to find the significance of the article and if it is worth taking a closer look at. I read through some of the abstracts and found some great information from background to actual laws and regulation. Now that I found out so much more information, I need to read through all of the articles diligently and take notes.”
In robust journals, students described their steps, but many also elaborated on why they took those steps and the questions they raised. In the following example, Student F described her use of library databases to locate scholarly sources, but also reflected on her motivation for doing so, her strategy, and the connections between her past experience and her current research:
“For awhile, the only type of research [name redacted] and I had done was through Google. While this was extremely helpful in gathering information and background facts about the censorship in Russia, we thought it was important to ensure we got some information scholarly sources. Using the Trexler Library website, we searched multiple databases searching for information on cyber censorship in Russia. We used information we found in the articles on Google to get more information into our search.
While I know finding scholarly sources is important, I have not always been the biggest fan of database searches. I always get frustrated when I can’t find sources that match what I am looking for. However, after some research, I found some sources with great information. Although the sources we found on Google were from reputable news sources, sometimes using Internet searches does not always produce the most reliable information. We thought it would be a good idea to get started and use scholarly sources to not only gather new information, but to verify the previous information found.”
The student provided insight not only to her awareness of her information needs, but also how her past research experiences were shaping her current work. She also recognized her ability to overcome obstacles and the intellectual rewards of doing so.
Many students described their steps to organize their sources and their work. In robust journals, some also reflected on the ways their organizational practices helped or hindered their effectiveness in managing information and their project. The examples below illustrate this important contrast.
Excerpt of Student O’s journal illustrating organization:
“I printed out most of the article that [name redacted] and I shared in our google doc of research. I have spent the past few hours reading through all of the articles highlighting key points and writing notes for myself in the margins. The notes have different categories to help me organize the research that I have found such as laws, what’s banned, background, etc. I have found this organization to be very useful so far.”
Excerpt of Student M’s journal illustrating organization plus reflection:
“The most difficult part of this project was definitely the research process—I had trouble with the organization of information. I often go overboard in my research process, gathering more information than I need. Sometimes I go so far in depth that I have trouble keeping things straight in my head (even if these things are written down, it’s hard for me to retrieve the information in my brain because I get jumbled and confused due to the abundance of information). So, although organization was the most difficult, this process helped me find ways to organize information in an efficient and helpful manner.
Keeping things in a Google doc. was a great source for me. By compiling all of my research in one place (the Google doc.) I was inspired to work on the research process every day. I’m not sure why the Google doc. provoked me to work on the research process each day, but color coding my sources and breaking things down into categorizes inspired me to do my work (as corny as that sounds). I think part of the reason for this was because the research process felt less daunting when I worked on it a little bit at a time. By creating categories for myself, and working from the question posed in our rubric for the project, I was more able to deconstruct the process. Rather than spending 4 hours research in the library every week, I spent 30-40 minutes researching every day. This was a much better process for me than what I am usually used to doing. Also, I think there may be a chance that since the Google doc. was online, over time I logged onto my e-mail or Facebook I thought of the Google doc. (and it was in my bookmarks bar) which reminded me to work on it.”
Students in robust journals demonstrated more awareness and understanding of their processes. We also saw more evidence of students’ description of and reflection on more inherently metacognitive themes such as identification of their information needs, charting of their next steps, and rationales for the selection of information sources. The excerpts below show the reflection intrinsic in these areas.
Excerpt of Student B’s journal illustrating rationale for selection of information sources:
“I have learned a lot from the research we have done, not only about censorship in Egypt, but also about research in general. It is important to gather information from a variety of sources, and types of sources, to get a full perspective on the issue. We used some informational sources and some current event/popular sources. This allowed us to find out what was happening at the time of the protest and censorship in Egypt as well as the political aspect and how people felt about it.”
Excerpt of Student H’s journal illustrating description of rationale for selection of information sources:
“I’m at the point in my research where I have enough information to satisfy the requirements for this project. I now have to figure out which information is relevant and which is not, what information should go into the presentation? Do we pick information that just covers the surface of all of our research or do we choose to be more specific and go into depth on one topic? I find all the information important and interesting, so how do I pick? I’m going to look at the most reoccurring themes and terms. Organize the content by those subjects and use that in the presentation. My reasoning behind this, is if this the more popular content among different sources than this must be what is more important.”
In limited journals, then, we saw students engaged primarily with specific tools and practices. In robust journals, by contrast, we saw students negotiating the bigger picture of their project. These students reflected on their choices, discussed their place in the project and in the larger information ecosystem, and generally moved toward more analytic thinking. Such awareness and reflection are crucial to digital literacy development.
Students’ Identity and Agency as Digital Learners
When we first implemented this assignment, we noted that students lingered most comfortably in information-seeking mode and struggled with critical analysis and comprehension of the information they were gathering. Recall that our purpose was to integrate and implement digital tools in ways to help students move beyond information-seeking mode to adopt more critical analytic habits and more advanced digital literacy practices. We were especially interested in the possible uses of digital technologies and pedagogies to help demystify research practices for students so that they might identify as researchers. Our goal was to leverage the collaborative, social, and public affordances of digital tools to make research practices more visible. In this iteration, then, we examined journals for instances where students explicitly located themselves within their research and identified themselves as engaged in and driving their research processes. We also included moments where students conveyed their feelings about their research processes—in short, their affective response.
Because we emphasized both the process and product of student research, it was important to pay attention to students’ subjective experiences along the way. We structured the assignment to empower students’ digital literacy practices. As discussed above, students did describe feeling more organized and less overwhelmed with this research project compared to prior experiences. However, we found very little evidence of students overall using their journals to reflect on their identities as researchers. There were little or no differences between robust and limited journals in this category. We did see a difference in students’ remarks concerning their research paths and next steps, though. Students who produced robust journals more often voiced where they were in their research and where they were headed. In this way, they conveyed a sense of self-direction and control over their work.
Students occasionally reflected in their journals about how they were feeling about the research project. This was true in both robust and limited journals. The following excerpts illustrate such instances of affect.
Excerpt of Student M’s journal illustrating description of anxiety:
“I have also included a screenshot of all the tabs I have open on my computer. This is somewhat out of character for me, which is why I thought it would be important to document. Usually, I can’t have more than 4 tabs open at a time or I start to feel disorganized which sometimes makes me anxious. On this particular evening I have so many tabs open they don’t even all show up on the bar itself. These tabs picture the sources I am pulling from while creating my Google doc. The Google doc. is seriously helping me so much—it’s a great organization tool and it’s helping me understand my information in a really efficient way.”
Excerpt of Student A’s journal illustrating description of confidence:
“We were extremely confident and knew that we were talking about.”
Excerpt of Student B’s journal illustrating description of feeling overwhelmed:
“So far, it has been a bit daunting to start finding articles that have good information to use for the project.”
We are wary of conflating students’ affective statements about their research with self-conscious identification as researchers. We do think it is important, though, to note these instances as part of the meaning-making process. The journal provided space for students to give voice to what it feels like to practice research, thereby making public what often remains hidden in undergraduate research.
Research practices are situated in environments, both online and offline. One of the most important choices students make about their research is where it takes place. Our assignment asked students to be attentive to the “spaces” of their research. We asked students to focus on space in the first journal post by reflecting on, describing, and providing photos of their ideal research environments. Our aim was to encourage students to develop awareness that research is situated in contexts and that, to certain degrees, students can make choices that shape where research happens. When students reflect on the place of their research, they locate themselves in place as researchers. There was no difference between robust and limited journals in this category of reflection.
In this excerpt, Student A responds to that initial prompt:
“My ideal place to do research is in my room. It is the only place where I get all of my work done and efficiently at that. I’ll usually play soft music in the background for me to listen to so I don’t get bored while I’m doing my research. I get my work done best when I’m doing it on my own, in my own space, and on my own time. I like to be in control of my environment and if I’m not, I’ll struggle to get my work done. I also like to have a coffee and a water nearby in case I need a drink. When I start my work, I usually have 1 bag of pirates booty or smartpuffs to kickstart my brain and my work. Below is a picture of my desk. Unfortunately, my desk is smaller than it’s been in the past, but it still gets the job done. I’m able to spread out my work as much as I want.”
Beyond the first required prompt about the places where student research happens, we found additional instances where students reflected on the environments of their research. The first post calling students’ attention to place likely helped to train their awareness on this theme later in the project. The following excerpt is from Student M, who paid continuous attention to the contexts of her research throughout the project:
“This has more to do with my working environment right now than my research, but right now as I am doing work my three roommates are in the midst of watching Gilmore Girls (I got their consent to post this picture). I am surprised that I am able to work in this environment, and to be totally honest, I think a lot of the reason is because I do not feel anxious about this information. I know that I still have a lot more research to do and a lot more work on my plate, but rather than finding this overwhelming I am genuinely excited to find a way to put together my information about North Korea so that it makes more sense to me and makes sense to other people.”
Student M’s lack of anxiety stemmed from her ability to control the place and pacing of her research. The excerpt conveys her thoughtfulness about where and when she was doing research. Moreover, it shows her enthusiasm and intention to meaningfully develop her research to benefit her own learning as well as her peers’ learning. Rather than being adrift in a vast sea of information, wading through sources, an awareness of research as situated helps anchor digital literacy practices.
While we understand affect and place as indicators of students’ awareness of themselves as agents within a research activity, there are notably few instances in students’ journals where they explicitly identify themselves as researchers. The following remarks illustrate this infrequent theme.
Excerpt of Student K’s journal illustrating description of feeling like an expert:
“It was also an interesting experience presenting on a topic that no one else in the class had knowledge on besides us, so it made us seem like the experts of subject matter.”
Excerpt of Student P’s journal illustrating description of researcher identity:
“Personally, I try to eliminate all distractions while I’m doing research. Depending upon how pressing the assignment is, I sometimes disable texting and prevent my computer from allowing me to go on Facebook. Ideally, it would be nice to have a private office with a door, but at college, that isn’t really realistic.”
Excerpt of Student Q’s journal illustrating description of connection of research to becoming an informed citizen:
“Researching North Korea’s internet connectivity policies was especially helpful to me in analyzing how our own policies in the USA might parallel. This may help me recognize the consequences of certain laws passed, and ultimately will make me a more informed citizen and voter.”
Beyond research “skills,” our assignment hoped to promote the development of students’ metacognitive awareness of their abilities to effectively engage in research activities using various digital technologies. This includes identifying paths and next steps. When students described their current and future research paths they were locating themselves in the research. Students did not use their journals to explicitly reflect on their development as researchers, but they did frequently identify in detail plans to advance their research. This occurred more frequently in robust than limited journals.
Excerpt of Student H’s journal illustrating description of next steps:
“This time difference has me questioning the relevance of this source and how to related it to my more current sources. Although it is helpful to understanding the background of Russian Internet, I find some of the information contradicting to the current information I have found. From here I think I need to look into more sources about classifications and see if there are more recent publications on this subject.”
Excerpt of Student Q’s journal illustrating description of next steps:
“From here, I think I would like to find out the exact specifics on the restriction imparted on North Koreans in regards to the internet, and look into exactly what the distinctions are between internet users and non-internet users in North Korea (whether it is determined by class, political position, or both). Furthermore, I want to investigate how these restrictions might impact foreigners visiting the country, and how the internet restrictions may also be stemming any information leaks coming from North Korea.”
In these posts, and others like them, students conveyed awareness of where they were in their research processes. They commented on the value and limits of their current searches and sources. They suggested what they needed to do or find next to advance their projects. Often in these posts, they articulated next steps in response to a particular limit or gap in knowledge that they had identified. Such reflection indicates to us an awareness of research as an iterative process, where a student can connect their current information seeking and analysis to their future activities.
Application to Practice
Our analysis guided us to make further assignment revisions for fall 2015. (See Appendix B for the revised assignment.) First, it was clear from our analysis that there was opportunity for us to increase the transparency of the project goals and purposes. We were more intentional in articulating these goals both in the written instructions and in our class discussion of the assignment and its elements. We spoke with students about the value of metacognition and our attempt to direct and focus their awareness in the research process. Second, we recognized that students who used the guiding questions were able to dig deeper and demonstrated stronger learning outcomes. Therefore, not only did we more emphatically urge students to employ the prompts in their journals in fall 2015, we also added new prompts and organized them in two categories (content and process) to better motivate their metacognitive awareness. The table below shows the revised prompts.
|Content (commenting directly on sources)||Process (commenting on your research steps, struggles, goals)|
|Describe the source.||What led you to this source(s)?
How did you get started?
|Why does this source matter?||What questions does the source raise for you about your research process?|
|What questions does the source raise for you about the subject matter?||Where does this source lead you next?|
|How does the source contribute to other knowledge or connect to other information?||How is the environment of your research impacting your work? How are you using digital tools to promote your development as a researcher?|
|What voices or perspectives does the source include? exclude?||Take stock of your progress to date. How does it look to you, from a bird’s eye view?|
Finally, we saw that students who published to their journals inconsistently also demonstrated a lack of engagement with sources and reflection on process. We therefore modified the assignment to make consistent pacing a formal expectation for the project and included it in the evaluation rubric. (See Appendix C for rubrics.) By making this change, we made the benefit of pacing extended research projects more transparent to students. Our future analysis will consider the impact of these changes on student learning outcomes.
The rapid growth of digital technologies and their integration in higher education is spurring conversation about what it means to be literate in the digital age. On a number of liberal arts campuses across the US, educators are asking, what does “the digital” mean for liberal arts education (Thomas 2014)? Some are now speaking of the Digital Liberal Arts (Heil 2014). Our case study contributes to a growing interest in understanding what digital literacies look like and how these abilities and practices can be developed to enhance learning in the liberal arts.
In our work, we saw students grappling with and frustrated by the challenges of information overload online and offline. While information overload may be an issue, it is a well-worn tendency to blame technology for young people’s deficiencies as learners and citizens. As educators, we must design digital pedagogies that create opportunities for students to navigate this complex environment. The digital pedagogies we are developing begin by shifting the locus of agency from technology back to our students, empowering them to manage the multiple contexts of information they traverse in their learning. By integrating digital tools in research projects that foreground pacing, metacognition, and process, we can help students develop their agency and identities as researchers. This agency is central to what it means to practice digital literacy.
|
<urn:uuid:00dc7860-605d-4d84-918f-7d5fe3b364a4>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://jitp.commons.gc.cuny.edu/tag/collaboration/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323680.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628120308-20170628140308-00624.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960172
| 9,549
| 2.84375
| 3
|
Frank McDonough, a life-long snowboarder and atmospheric scientist, has five generators strategically situated along the Sierra crest. Metal and boxy with little chimneys, they look like meat smokers at the top of the world. If they do their job, they’ll help bring snow back to California during its historic drought.
“We’re being funded to try to put a little extra water in the Truckee River,” says McDonough, a research meteorologist with the Desert Research Institute in Reno. With the flip of a switch down the mountain at DRI headquarters, the generators come to life and start belching white smoke into the air. “We’re trying to make extra snow pack in the Tahoe Basin,” McDonough says, “so that water will end up coming down through this area to be available for recreation and human uses.”
McDonough is just the latest in the long line of humans who have tried to manipulate the weather to improve the environment. But the difference between the work done in the Sierras this winter and, say, rain dancing, is that McDonough and the DRI have seen results: using modern “cloud seeding” technology—which involves releasing silver iodide, a naturally occurring compound, into storm clouds—the team can compel storms to dump anywhere from five to 15 percent more snow. In the Sierras, that translates to more water in the summer and more powder at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley in the winter.
This is a big deal. For the last 60 years, onlookers have snickered at weather modification programs in the U.S. while conspiracy theorists have worked themselves into fits over the what weather scientists are really doing. (Try setting up a Google Alert for weather modification news: there are an impressive number of forums dedicated to discussing the belief that the government is spraying chemicals from airplanes, resulting in “chemtrails” in the atmosphere.) But, after years of doubt, studies are showing that cloud seeding does indeed work. A seminal ten-year study in Wyoming, published last year, looked at regions where cloud seeding was deployed versus nearby areas where storms were left au natural. The results: up to 15 percent more snow in the seeded areas. (The results shouldn’t be a surprise to ski resorts—Colorado’s Breckenridge and Winter Park already help fund regional regional cloud seeding efforts, and Vail has been working on seeding since the 1970s.)
The drive to re-engineer our planet—to make it work for us or undo the damage we’ve caused—is a tempting, contentious prospect. Although it’s been worrying scientists for a generation now, modern technology allows us to geo-engineer different aspects of the environment—from dispersing iron into the ocean to boost plankton populations to capturing carbon from the air with huge towers and building an artificial mountain in Dubai to promote rain.
But in many ways, cloud seeding is the original geo-engineering. The technique was discovered by Bernard Vonnegut (brother of author Kurt) at the General Electric Research Lab 70 years ago. In the 1940s, researchers in their lab, in Schenectady, New York, were busy creating clouds inside a sealed atmospheric laboratory, trying induce them to drop rain. The team knew that dry ice dropped into clouds below-freezing temperatures led to the formation of thousands of ice crystals. Vonnegut, an esteemed atmospheric scientist, discovered that the compound silver iodide, normally found in trace amounts in minerals, worked even better and that when added to freezing clouds, the gray dust would lead to increased snowfall. A decade later, Vonnegut’s realization led to a cottage industry that still exists today, populated by cloud-seeding companies that contract with local governments to fly planes loaded with silver iodide into storm clouds and ground-based projects like the DRI's, which burns silver iodide in its generators atop the Sierras.
But, to be fair to the conspiracy theorists of the world, weather modification hasn’t only been used add water to irrigation ditches. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, the U.S. government spent over $20 million on a classified program called Operation Popeye aimed at modifying the weather above Vietnam. The goal, declassified documents show, was increased flooding along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines. To this day, weather modification inspires such dystopian dread that Pacific Gas and Electric, a large utility in northern California that operates ground-based cloud seeding generators in the Sierra foothills to both increase hydroelectric power and benefit a local irrigation district, has a 78-page document dedicated to helping answer community questions on the project. One constant concern: that seeding clouds in the mountains “robs” the foothills and valleys of water—something Joe Busto of the Colorado Water Conservation Board flatly denies. “It's folklore,” Busto says in an email. “Several studies of the impact of cloud seeding downwind of the intended target areas have indicated that the precipitation is typically increased not decreased.”
In spite of the Orwellian overtones, the last five years have been booster seasons for the weather modifiers as widespread drought convinced municipalities to pay for any extra water they could get. California has at least a dozen ongoing cloud seeding programs, from big players the city of Los Angeles to small county water department in places like Santa Barbara County. According to PG&E, cloud seeding is taking place in 11 states across the west and Canada; in Colorado, at least two projects look to dump more snow on ski resorts. According to a 2013 report from the California Department of Water Resources, “precipitation enhancement” technologies added about 400,000 acre feet of water—enough to serve 600,000-1,000,000 houses—to the state’s watery coffers that year. In total, the efforts upped the state’s runoff by about 4 percent.
For their project above Lake Tahoe, the Desert Research Institute estimates they’ve added between 15,000 and 17,000 acre feet of water to the snowpack—enough water for up to 45,000 houses in the region. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the local water district, pays DRI about $200,000 a year for the work and John Enloe, director of Natural Resources Planning and Management for water authority, says the project is definitely worth the money. “In years like 2015, every bit of precipitation we could get was important,” Enloe says.
An extra five-to-eight percent in the reservoir is handy these days, but what do the Truckee Meadow Water Authority customers think? “I would say most are probably not aware we even do it,” Enloe says.
|
<urn:uuid:f5482e0b-12e9-4bfa-9f9e-af9fd8a9cacd>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.outsideonline.com/2080076/scientists-are-controlling-weather
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323680.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628120308-20170628140308-00624.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946754
| 1,436
| 2.609375
| 3
|
Methamphetamine--also known as speed, meth, or crystal--boosts chemical receptors, such as dopamine, and inhibits the destruction of other chemicals, such as acetylcholamine, in the brain. The result is an addicting euphoria.
Sleep deprivation and nutritional deficiencies occur and over time, good feelings turn into abnormal thoughts, users focus on irrelevant objects or tasks, and drug tolerance develops so that increasing amounts are needed to gain the desired effects.
When the addict runs out of their drug supply, lethargy, irritability, and flu-like symptoms are experienced. Cravings for the drug become very strong. Physical detox takes five to seven days. Normalization of brain chemistry may take weeks or months after drug use stops.
Methamphetamine-induced psychosis, in which the user has delusional thoughts and may even hear voices, is exactly like some schizophrenic conditions except it is exaggerated and more intense. Drug-induced psychosis goes away when drug use is stopped; usually a great improvement can be seen within a few weeks.
Treatment offers the best solution for methamphetamine addicts and their families. Afterward, addicts can take responsibility for avoiding the behaviors that lead to active addiction and for taking actions that will keep them clean, such as attending meetings, working steps of recovery, and helping others. A social support system of friends in recovery is very important. Places of worship, family members, and co-workers may be very supportive, but they cannot substitute for the fellowship of other recovering addicts who understand the unique conditions an addict must face.
Those who want to help a meth addict should understand that relapse is part of addictive disease, as are denial and compulsions. It does no good to nag or check up on the addict. A relapse can occur without warning, and the person who wants to help would be wise to incorporate the concept of One Day at a Time, otherwise they will become too ill and stressed out to think clearly when relapse does happen. Addicts often learn from relapses to respect the seriousness of the disease and how to avoid future slips. In any case, help comes in the form of natural consequences (job loss, finding oneself out on the street) that compel the addict to get back into recovery.
Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.
|
<urn:uuid:bf6c5431-61b9-454b-91b9-8a9953c82f58>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://clearbrookinc.blogspot.com.es/2010/01/helping-meth-addict.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323889.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629070237-20170629090237-00704.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958372
| 520
| 2.765625
| 3
|
Difference between revisions of "Yaeyama phrasebook"
Revision as of 16:43, 13 June 2005
There are significant dialectal differences between the islands and the following phrasebook is based on the dialect of Ishigaki, the largest and most populous island. See the separate Yonaguni phrasebook for the version spoken on Yonaguni.
"j" is pronounced like a "y" in English. Some syllables begin with a "ng", and this may be difficult for some English speakers. The triangular colon indicates a long vowel.
There is a very, very large dictionary you can get at some bookshops, it comes in two volumes, one Yaeyama->Japanese and the other Japanese->Yaeyama. It also includes a brief grammar.
|
<urn:uuid:63871db9-16aa-43a6-94dc-5b9dd73d855b>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://wikitravel.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Yaeyama_phrasebook&diff=88573&oldid=88570
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319943.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623012730-20170623032730-00343.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927731
| 162
| 3
| 3
|
Children today snack an average of three times a day, and they are mostly consuming sugary beverages, cookies, cake, candy, salty snacks and other high-calorie junk food, a new study shows.
In fact, children are now consuming 168 more calories from snacks than kids did in 1977, the research shows.
The findings confirm previous studies
that indicate snacking may have run amok in the USA, and it may be
contributing to the rising rates of childhood obesity.
"Today we think we need to be eating all the time, so we have snack foods available for our kids constantly," says Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina. "Kids are not only snacking too often, but essentially the foods they are consuming represent almost completely unhealthy foods."
He and his colleagues analyzed government data on the eating habits of more than 31,000 children, ages 2 to 18, from 1977 to 2006. Their findings, which are reported in the March Health Affairs, show that children are consuming:
•About 586 calories a day from snacks, compared with 418 calories from snacks in 1977.
•An average of 2,111 calories for the entire day, up from 2,000 in 1977.
•A greater percentage of their snack foods from sweetened beverages, juice, salty foods, candy and cereal than kids did in 1977.
•A smaller percentage of their snacks from milk and other dairy products than kids in 1977.
|
<urn:uuid:babe40d9-b63c-43b9-b067-bb1644dffd07>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/jim-liebelt/kids-pack-on-the-calories-with-frequent-unhealthy-snacks-11627047.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320174.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623202724-20170623222724-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956635
| 301
| 2.65625
| 3
|
The purpose of this tutorial is to make teachers aware of the benefits of Chrome extensions (a.k.a. add-ons), and to inform them on how to use extensions to make their teaching more interactive, engaging and productive.
The purpose of a Google Chrome extension is to add more functionality to the browser, which ultimately teachers can use to their benefits. We can use extensions to make teaching more interactive, engaging, collaborative, and productive.
Source: Alpert, Andrew. "11 Chrome Extensions Every Smart Teacher Loves To Use." - EdTechReview™ (ETR). N.p., 13 May 2014. Web. 03 June 2014. .
Extensions are extra features and functionality that you can easily add to Google Chrome. By using extensions, you can customize Google Chrome with features you like, while keeping your browser free of things that you don't use.
Source: "About Extensions." - Chrome Help. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2014. .
You will need to access the Chrome Web Store to view available extensions.
Let's practice by installing the Goo.gl extension from the Chrome Web Store. The video tutorial below will walk you through how to find the extension in the Chrome Web Store and how to install it to Chrome.
Check out these resources to find some Chrome extensions that interest you, and that you could make use of in your classrooms.
Take a moment to share a Chrome extension that sparked your interest, and tell us how you could use it in your classroom.
|
<urn:uuid:e0c89db1-849a-47be-ba5e-e598882ad872>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/useful-google-chrome-extensions-for-teachers
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320174.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623202724-20170623222724-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.917051
| 313
| 3.109375
| 3
|
What We Do
At Discovery Project we are passionate about widening participation in STEM among 6 -18 year olds. Our team have a range of backgrounds in STEM and extensive experience teaching STEM subjects to young people and adults. We have conducted various research projects looking into different aspects of developing interest in STEM subjects and careers. We now use this knowledge to develop and deliver the following outstanding opportunities for schools and families...
Junior FAB LAB - After school STEM Club
Our Fab Lab STEM clubs allow 5-11 year olds to explore science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through an after school club in their school. Each club contains either a practical challenge, and experiment or a project to make and take home. STEM Clubs are a great way for young people to explore how things work, tinker and explore.
Junior Science Ambassador Scheme
Junior Science Ambassadors is a scheme to help schools increase the amount of science in school by training Y5 or Y6 children in science communication skills and empowering them with the tools and skills to excite their peers in science.
We can bring all the resources and expertise to give your students a STEM day they will never forget!
Work for us - Join the Team
We are always on the look out for exceptional people to join our team. Do you have a background in STEM and experience with young people? If so, we would like to hear from you!
|
<urn:uuid:f65bbf0b-a806-4023-a4c5-5d33c1ebd3c2>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://discoveryproject.co.uk/whatwedo
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320489.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625101427-20170625121427-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944882
| 286
| 2.78125
| 3
|
YouTube and the Flipped Classroom
Lesson 4 will deal with the creation of the Flipped classroom, the integration of Google Sites and YouTube in your classroom and some discussions on the use of screen casting.
Here is a video from Ken Robinson. It has little to do with flipped classroom, it has more to do with how we should ENGAGE students. Remember the goal of technology is not to wow students but to ENGAGE them. The video talks about 3 principals that make human beings flourish.
1. Human beings are naturally diverse, this diversity must be respected. So your lessons encourage diversity? (Conformity in education is the standard)
2. Curiosity.Do your lessons light the spark? Are you lessons fulfilling learning? (We have a culture of compliance)
3. Human Life is inherently creative. Do your lessons encourage your students to be creative? What does creativity look like for you? (We have a culture of standardization in Ontario)
In his conclusion, he talks about the importance to make your classes/lessons look like the life students recognize. Here is a good opportunity for technology to possibly play a role.
|
<urn:uuid:aa2ba60a-130f-4932-b51c-e266b61749fd>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://edtechteach.com/ped-3110/lesson-4/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320489.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625101427-20170625121427-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944789
| 233
| 3.203125
| 3
|
Most parents would like to know if their children are identical or fraternal twins. However, research tells us, that twin parents are sometimes misinformed during prenatal scans. Some identical twins are born with individual sets of membranes, which may lead to the mistaken assumption that the babies are fraternal. Some also believe that twins with separate placentas must be fraternal twins. But, in fact, around one third of identical twins have their own placenta.
One way to tell the difference is using a twin zygosity test, due to the fact that identical twins share almost identical genetic information, while fraternal twins share around half. The twin test is done by swabbing to gently remove cheek (buccal) cells and can be done from home. The procedure is noninvasive and works on twins of any age, newborns to adults. A twin test can be ordered online and is being offered by numerous private companies. However, if you are not up for paying for a DNA-test, you may find your answer by reading the below.
Answer these twin test questions
- Do you have a boy and a girl? Then they will almost always be fraternal
- Do they have the same sex AND do you know for sure that they shared a placenta? Then they are identical
- Do they have the same sex and individual placentas, or is there doubt whether the placentas has fused together? Then they can be either fraternal or identical. In this situation choosing to be patient may do the trick. According to the Danish Twin Registry you should wait until the newborns are a bit older and if they look so much alike that friends and family can’t tell them apart, they’re likely to be identical. This method works in more than 95 percent of cases, they write on their website.
|
<urn:uuid:67173d8b-9ef5-4a6e-aec9-9ae1263af9b7>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://about-twins.com/babies/twin-test-dna-zygosity/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320679.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626050425-20170626070425-00664.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962383
| 377
| 3.09375
| 3
|
October 18, 1863 – in Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida – On October 15th, 2 Union gunboats steamed past Gadsden Point and on the next day moved up to the fort.The 2 gunboats bombarded Fort Brooke with 126 shells on the 16th. That night a landing party under Acting Master T.R. Harris disembarked at Ballast Point with 130 men, adjacent to the head of the bay, and marched 14 miles to the Hillsborough River to capture several steamers. Harris and his men surprised and captured the blockade running steamer Scottish Chief and sloop Kate Dale. The Confederates destroyed the steamer A.B. Noyes to preclude her capture. On its way back to the ship, Harris’s force was surprised by a detachment of the garrison. Despite the naval barrage, the commander of Fort Brooke, Capt. John Wescott, 2nd Florida Battalion, sent out a force that intercepted the Federals as they were about to raid local saltworks and other Confederate manufactories. The federals suffered 50 men killed & wounded and 5 captured.
|
<urn:uuid:0002da6c-9604-414a-8c8c-c928f80e849f>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://mwh52.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/october-18-this-day-during-the-american-civil-war-3/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320887.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627013832-20170627033832-00024.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960421
| 223
| 3
| 3
|
Scientific Plotting Software
Developed by Jan van der Lee ()
JPlot is a scientific plotting programme with a full graphic user interface (GUI), written in Java. The major advantage of writing this software in java is that the programme runs on any Java(2)-enabled platform, currently, at least, Linux, Solaris, MS-Windows, MacOS-X, HP and probably others as well.
JPlot accepts common ASCII datafile formats, typically in columns e.g. C1, C2, C3... Each column can be given a name, which greatly helps with selecting columns for the graph. Each X-Y couple is drawn according to specific plot-style settings, which are easily modified as shown in the screenshot to the right. One may set a point type, line colors, dash-patterns and other useful parameters allowing to obtain high quality graphs. Since version 1.1, JPlot allows to build different types of graphs such as Piper and Pourbaix diagrams (used by geochemists).
Latest version: 1.2.2 May 22, 2003
Cliquez ici pour une version franšaise
|Screenshots (click to enlarge)|
|Download and run JPlot|
Download a windows-only graphic
installation program (setup.exe) (575054 bytes).
Download the JPlot executable jar
archive version 1.2.2 (321084 bytes).
Download the sources jplot-1.2.2.tar.gz (416418
Sources of previous releases:
You can launch jplot with a datafile, e.g., jplot myfile.dat (see below), or with a project file, e.g., jplot -i mysettings.jpt. The latter contains all settings for a specific graph. Of course, you also can load data- and project files once JPlot is running.
Since version 1.2, JPlot proposes several other command-line options such as -s myfile.dat (show the graph immediately) and -u (update the graph automatically every second). The latter option can be toggled via one of the preference menu items.
JPlot makes graphs of data files. For example, the following set of
Y1, Y2 and Y3 data is a perfectly legal format:
0.1 22 1e-4 0.2 34 1.3e-4 0.3 44 1.5e-4 0.5 51 1.6e-4 ...
Loading this file in JPlot allows you to select between column 1, column 2 and column 3 for building the graph. For example, you might want to show columns 2 and 3 as a function of column 1.
It is possible to make column selection much more explicit by specifying the names of the columns in the data file. For example, the above data could also be written as follows:
# First experiment H3/LH/1002 (4 batches) # On 12/12/1998 # column 1: weight (g) # column 2: volume (ml) # column 3: concentration (molal) 0.1 22 1e-4 0.2 34 1.3e-4 0.3 44 1.5e-4 0.5 51 1.6e-4 ...
Loading this file in JPlot allows you to select between weight (g) , volume (ml) and concentration (molal) for building the graph, hence much more explicit and user-friendly than the anonymous columns of the previous example.
JPlot allows to add a specific character to lift the pen (*). For example, the following datafile draws a graph with straight lines defined by two couples of (X,Y) data. And note this nifty feature of JPlot: it can read labels from a datafile, i.e., the label followed by the position (x,y) and, evt., the rotation:
# This should be a 'normal' 2D graph but the special # character '*' will lift the pen (discontinuous lines) # # label: "Field 1", 4, 11 # label: "Field 2", 9.5, 4.4 # label: "Field 3", 5.1, -1 # label: "Field 4", 10.4, -8 # label: "rotated label 1",10.3, 13 11 # label: "rotated label 2",3, -4 11 2 -3 10 -10 * 2 8 6.9 1.5 9.2 -4.5 12 -8 * 9.2 -4.5 9.2 -9.3 * 6.9 14 6.9 1.5 * 2 18.3 12 10
X- and Y axes labels can be added using the xlabel and ylabel keywords, e.g. :
# label: "Field 1", 4, 11 # label: "Field 2", 9.5, 4.4 # label: "Field 3", 5.1, -1 # xlabel: "frequence (Hz)" # ylabel: "performance (Tf)" (data follows)Using axes labels in datafiles is not recommended, however. At each reload of the datafile, the axes labels are added to the graph. Those who need such a feature should use the sources and write a method which update the axes labels via a resource file.
|Using JPlot from within other programs|
You can integrate JPlot or JPlot features in you own java
program. JPlot 1.2 has been written to be used with its graphic user's
interface (GUI): you have to integrate parts of the GUI in your
program, such as the PlotPanels. We will upload a sample program ASAP.
Version 1.3 integrates a number of improvements which allows you to use JPlot without it's GUI. Moreover, you can use JPlot without data files. The following archive contains a simple but fully operational example illustrating of how to create a JPlot graph without it's GUI:
|JPlot and SourceForge|
JPlot version 1.3 is currently being developed and takes several new
features and enhancements into account. A development version of 1.3
is available via CVS: if you are confortable with CVS, wait a few
untill we release the 1.3 via this web site.
Any useful feedback, hints or specific requests? Interested in co-developing JPlot? Check out the SourceForge web pages (click on the logo below, search for the jplot project) and contact us at firstname.lastname@example.org
|
<urn:uuid:b13c6aba-9a7a-44d7-a6ff-1f750cca2ea4>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://jplot.sourceforge.net/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323908.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629103036-20170629123036-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.829844
| 1,392
| 2.78125
| 3
|
Where can I find books about education?
You can find books about education in the L section of the library shelves. The following is a more detailed breakdown of where these books can be found using the LC Classification system:
|LA||History of Education|
|LB||Theory and practice of education|
|LC||Special aspects of education|
|LD||Individual Institutions - United States|
|LE||Individual Institutions - America (except United States)|
|LF||Individual Institutions - Europe|
|LG||Individual Institutions - Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands|
|LH||College and school magazines and papers|
|LJ||Student fraternities, United States|
At Hammermill these books are located on the third floor of the library. Click here to view a map of the Hammermill Library.
If you need help finding books, click here for help using call numbers or ask for assistance at the circulation desk.
|
<urn:uuid:698903a3-5c1b-44f2-8cb1-fc54f55debfe>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://libanswers.mercyhurst.edu/a.php?qid=186262
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323908.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629103036-20170629123036-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.827864
| 209
| 2.640625
| 3
|
As the first face of American fascism in the 21st, I mention Donald Trump only in passing. If we peer back down the arrow of time, we find the invention of fascism as a political movement in Italy, 1921. Benito Mussolini drew from ancient Greek philosophers and others to justify the economics and discrimination of his “new” political party. His three principles: order, discipline, hierarchy. Anarchism rejects all three of these as the essence of authoritarianism and as we relax our gaze, death and waste blossom as the fruits of fascism’s promise of protection and prosperity.
Normally I stay away from quotes unless the quote itself is the subject of the piece but this bit from Emma Goldman carries us in many ways to the ultimate point.
“Anarchism stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion and liberation of the human body from the coercion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. It stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals…” ― Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays
The fascist principles of order, discipline, and hierarchy are in direct conflict with Goldman’s depiction of anarchist ideals. In fact, anarchism is the only ideology immune to these principles. Democracy, communism, socialism, and other more archaic forms of government are susceptible to the influence of any and all fascist principles. Order is demanded by any form of government. Discipline is implied by any form of government. All governments are structural hierarchies. Many Americans will argue that their republican democracy and their founding documents have safeguards against the worst results of rule. But as recently as Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, certain groups have suffered discrimination in violation of these safeguards. And as far back as the founding fathers, the American republic has kicked the can on discrimination and slavery of certain groups. None are immune.
So here we stand, only a few meager strides into this newest millennium and the seeds of the rotting products of WWII and the Cold War have germinated in the ignorance of the hillbilly religious right of the same nation that supposedly defeated fascism in a storm of patriotism, blood, and atomic explosions. It begs the comparison to religions that would not die in the face of conquering cultures. The Canaanite gods became the Israelite gods. The Greek gods became Roman gods. And the Christian god(s) wormed almost unhindered into Roman culture, spawning the Catholic Church. Ideas are contagious and, like many viruses and bacteria, they may hibernate until viable conditions for their flourishing exist. The War on Terror has provided just that sort of landscape. The rhetoric of the Right (spurred by the suicidal political correctness of the Left) is plowing the fields fear, gearing for the next electoral season. Fascism needs a scapegoat, an easily painted target. Radical, fundamentalist Islam is the willing recipient of such labels, after all, their ideology requires scapegoats as well and the interventions and economic piracy of the West has made the makeover quite simple and arguably correct.
And yet we actually see pushback from a certain percentage of the American Right in the face of outright discrimination. And for good reason. They have seen this before. Even though they may at some weird nexus agree with denying certain groups the full liberty promised in their laws, they know that once one group is crushed, another scapegoat must follow and one’s religious affiliation is the easiest to target. I as an atheist do not believe—cannot believe—in a higher power than nature but that does not equate to hatred for any religion or its adherents.
Contrary to what many religious people understand, to be a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu all one must do is label oneself a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu. When Goldman says “…the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion…” she doesn’t bar its existence, only denies any religious authority. We should all have the freedom to affiliate or not. We should all have the freedom to pursue our happiness down whatever path we feel might lead us there. The same rule applies to any label. If one chooses to be a Republican or a Democrat, a socialist or an anarchist, all that is required is to call oneself a Republican, Democrat, socialist or anarchist. We all have our labels and those labels show the world an approximation of our personality. If one chooses to espouse fascism, so be it. But the freedom to subscribe to any ideology comes with consequences. There are alot of people, thankfully, who were brought up to hate fascism as dogmatically as fascism dogmatically hates whatever the fuck is on the menu.
So when a minority of crazed nationalists cries for the removal and exclusion of a particular religion or ideology, they had better prepare for the crosshairs to find them in the succeeding days for they will have removed any protections they mistook in their divine rules of law.
Buy Skitz O'Fuel's novel That Night Filled Mountain
available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle.
Short stories like Finding Romulus' Rome, The Blood, & The Weapon are FREE in the Books section.
Unless noted, all pics credited to Skitz O'Fuel.
|
<urn:uuid:7c0d96d5-e37a-49e3-981b-1c7dc73b5917>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://skitzofuel.weebly.com/blog/anarchism-fascism-and-the-scapegoats-of-the-new-millennium
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323908.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629103036-20170629123036-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.947971
| 1,074
| 2.796875
| 3
|
Professional Reference articles are written by UK doctors and are based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. They are designed for health professionals to use, so you may find the language more technical than the condition leaflets.
Synonyms: erythema neonatorum allergicum; toxic erythema of the newborn
Erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN) only occurs in the newborn. It has the appearance of small, erythematous papules and vesicles. Occasionally pustules also occur. The lesions are often surrounded by areas of diffuse blotchy erythema, giving the appearance of a distinct halo. Individual lesions are quite transient and usually disappear quickly, only to be replaced by others in different parts of the body. The condition is benign, causes no symptoms and resolves spontaneously.
The condition has been known throughout the ages and was described by ancient Mesopotamian physicians. The exact cause is not known but some authorities have attributed it to an allergy because of the prominence of eosinophils within the lesions. Some popular theories include:
- An immune system reaction involving hair follicles (the condition normally occurs on hair-bearing areas and clusters of mast cells can be seen around hair follicles).
- An innate immune response against commensal colonisation by organisms such as Group B streptococcus.
- Over-expression of high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGP-1), a proinflammatory cytokine released by macrophages and keratinocytes.
- A transient adjustment reaction of the newborn skin to mechanical or thermal stimulation.
A Spanish study reported a prevalence of 16.7%, a Turkish study reported a prevalence of 13%and an Indian study 23%. There is considerable geographical variation. A Chinese study estimated prevalence to be about 44%.
- Caucasian race.
- Higher birth weight.
- Greater gestational age.
- Maternal age less than 30 years.
- Term birth.
- The birth season (higher in summer and autumn).
- Feeding with milk powder substitute or a mixed diet.
- The length of labour in vaginal delivery.
Some studies suggest it is more common in male infants and in babies born to women who have had two or fewer pregnancies; however, other studies have contradicted these findings.
The typical rash appears in newborns between the ages of 3 days to 2 weeks. Rarely, it can occur within the first 48 hours. The transience of the lesions is characteristic; they can appear or disappear within minutes to hours.
- The characteristic appearance of the lesions, their fleeting nature and the lack of systemic features make the condition fairly easy to diagnose clinically.
- If the clinical picture is atypical, material taken from a pustule should be examined to exclude bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
- A peripheral blood film may show eosinophilia.
- If systemic sepsis is suspected, blood cultures should be taken to exclude Group B streptococcus, Listeria spp., Escherichia coli and other pathogens.
- If necessary, a skin biopsy should be taken. Typically, there is accumulation of primary eosinophils. Other features may be neutrophils in the follicular epithelium, hyperkeratosis and follicular plugging.
The condition is self-limiting and requires no treatment. Parents should be reassured about this but advised to report any atypical features.
No complications occur. Despite the presence of eosinophils within the lesions, no links to atopic conditions have been established.
Full resolution is expected within two weeks of onset. 11% of patients develop a recurrence six weeks later.
Did you find this information useful?
Further reading & references
- Mahajan VK, Sharma NL; Erythema toxicum neonatorum. Indian Pediatr. 2010 Sep 47(9):793.
- Morgan AJ, Steen CJ, Schwartz RA, et al; Erythema toxicum neonatorum revisited. Cutis. 2009 Jan 83(1):13-6.
- Marchini G, Stabi B, Kankes K, et al; AQP1 and AQP3, psoriasin, and nitric oxide synthases 1-3 are inflammatory mediators in erythema toxicum neonatorum. Pediatr Dermatol. 2003 Sep-Oct 20(5):377-84.
- Yamasaki O, Manabe K, Morimoto A, et al; Pustular erythema toxicum neonatorum in two siblings born to a mother with group B streptococcus colonization. Eur J Dermatol. 2011 Mar-Apr 21(2):271-2. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2010.1229.
- Monteagudo B, Labandeira J, Cabanillas M, et al; Prospective study of erythema toxicum neonatorum: epidemiology and predisposing factors. Pediatr Dermatol. 2012 Mar-Apr 29(2):166-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2011.01536.x. Epub 2011 Nov 8.
- Ekiz O, Gul U, Mollamahmutoglu L, et al; Skin findings in newborns and their relationship with maternal factors: observational research. Ann Dermatol. 2013 Feb 25(1):1-4. doi: 10.5021/ad.2013.25.1.1. Epub 2013 Feb 14.
- Haveri FT, Inamadar AC; A cross-sectional prospective study of cutaneous lesions in newborn. ISRN Dermatol. 2014 Jan 20 2014:360590. doi: 10.1155/2014/360590. eCollection 2014.
- Liu C, Feng J, Qu R, et al; Epidemiologic study of the predisposing factors in erythema toxicum neonatorum. Dermatology. 2005 210(4):269-72.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Patient Platform Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.
|
<urn:uuid:4f2156ae-b380-4fde-9830-db515aa67d03>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://patient.info/in/doctor/erythema-toxicum-neonatorum-pro
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323908.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629103036-20170629123036-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.854569
| 1,335
| 3.125
| 3
|
Category: Earth Changes and Scalar biowarfare
Members of the Jesuit Order were the first people to fully understand both seismology and the ionosphere. I strongly suggest you study their actions down at Manila Observatory since 1951. When you understand how the ionosphere can be manipulated to direct earthquakes then most of the climate and weather issues will soon become clear. Look into ionospheric heaters such as EISCAT and the connection to the Open Skies Treaty in conjunction with the Stratospheric Aerosol Geo-engineering program by the U.S. Air Force. Do some research on the USAF’s document called ‘Owning the weather in 2025’. Weather warfare has been taking place for decades utilizing space based weapons platforms and laser-based satellites in conjunction with the technologies mentioned earlier such as scalar interferometers.
|
<urn:uuid:8c2b13a8-557a-475e-828a-8b731a62ccd0>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://theunhivedmind.com/wordpress4/category/earth-changes-and-scalar-biowarfare/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319992.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623031127-20170623051127-00623.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953906
| 170
| 2.765625
| 3
|
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
- enPR: pärʹ-səl, IPA(key): /ˈpɑɹsəl/
- Rhymes: -ɑː(r)səl
- Hyphenation: par‧cel
parcel (plural parcels)
- A package wrapped for shipment.
I saw a brown paper parcel on my doorstep.
- 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate, chapter II:
- At twilight in the summer […] the mice come out. They […] eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly […] on the floor.
1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Lisson Grove Mystery:
- “H'm !” he said, “so, so—it is a tragedy in a prologue and three acts. I am going down this afternoon to see the curtain fall for the third time on what [...] will prove a good burlesque ; but it all began dramatically enough. It was last Saturday […] that two boys, playing in the little spinney just outside Wembley Park Station, came across three large parcels done up in American cloth. […]”
- An individual consignment of cargo for shipment, regardless of size and form.
- A division of land bought and sold as a unit.
I own a small parcel of land between the refinery and the fish cannery.
- (obsolete) A group of birds.
- An indiscriminate or indefinite number, measure, or quantity; a collection; a group.
- A small amount of food that has been wrapped up, for example a pastry.
- A portion of anything taken separately; a fragment of a whole; a part.
A certain piece of land is part and parcel of another piece.
package wrapped for shipment
division of land bought and sold as a unit
- To wrap something up into the form of a package.
- To wrap a strip around the end of a rope.
- To divide and distribute by parts or portions; often with out or into.
- Their woes are parcelled, mine are general.
- These ghostly kings would parcel out my power.
- the broad woodland parcelled into farms
- To add a parcel or item to; to itemize.
- That mine own servant should / Parcel the sum of my disgraces by / Addition of his envy.
to wrap a strip around the end of a rope
parcel (not comparable)
- (obsolete) Part or half; in part; partially.
- Sir Walter Scott
- The worthy dame was parcel-blind.
- One that […] was parcel-bearded.
- Sir Walter Scott
- parcel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- parcel in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
parcel m (plural parcéis)
|
<urn:uuid:63f21772-e983-400b-8620-7ab8b69b1700>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/parcel
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319992.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623031127-20170623051127-00623.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.830511
| 669
| 2.6875
| 3
|
Looking old linked to higher risk of heart attack
If you look old, you might be at higher risk of heart trouble.
People with several visible signs of aging such as hair loss and fatty deposits around the eyes have a higher risk of developing heart problems than those of the same age who look younger, according to a study presented Tuesday.
“The visible signs of aging reflect physiologic or biological age, not chronological age, and are independent of chronological age,” Anne Tybjaerg-Hansen, senior author of the study and professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said in a statement.
Tybjaerg-Hansen presented the results at an annual conference held by the American Heart Association in Los Angeles.
The study, focused on almost 11,000 people aged 40 and older, found that those who had three to four aging signs had a 57 percent increased risk of heart attack and a 39 percent increased risk for heart disease.
Among the aging signs cited were a receding hairline at the temples, baldness at the crown of the head, earlobe creases and yellow fatty deposits around the eyelids.
Over the course of 35 years of follow-up, 3,401 of the participants developed heart disease and 1,708 had a heart attack.
“Individually and combined, these signs predicted heart attack and heart disease independent of traditional risk factors,” said the American Heart Association. “Fatty deposits around the eye were the strongest individual predictor of both heart attack and heart disease.”
The risk of having a heart attack and developing heart disease increased with each additional sign of aging among both men and women, who made up 45 percent of survey participants. The strongest individual predictor of both were fatty deposits around the eyes.
The highest risks were observed among those in their 70s and those with several signs of aging.
“Checking these visible aging signs should be a routine part of every doctor’s physical examination,” Tybjaerg-Hansen said.
|
<urn:uuid:dde4d1e3-8971-43d0-a3d7-3d46a5fb60a6>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.rawstory.com/2012/11/looking-old-linked-to-higher-risk-of-heart-attack/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128319992.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623031127-20170623051127-00623.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.963059
| 418
| 2.65625
| 3
|
Death appears to be the ultimate threat to our lives and senses of security. People in different parts of the world, with different religions and local beliefs, offer diverse depictions of an afterlife. On July 2, the Hong Kong Anthropological Society had invited Allie Kwong, an MPhil student of our department, to give a talk on “Is Death the End? Senses of Life after Death in Guangdong”. Allie has been doing research on the topic and had interviewed people in Guangdong to see how they envisioned their lives after death, in what contexts their imaginations were situated, and how their senses of life after death related to their understanding of life.
|Allie presenting her research at the Hong Kong Museum of History|
Allie’s informants included believers, agnostics and non-believers of life after death. Use of specific terms and concepts by non-believers revealed the forces that shaped their non-belief. These forces included the materialist and atheist education in the socialist era, the celebration of science and hierarchy created between science and “superstition”. Beliefs in life after death was considered and “superstition” by many. It was associated with the rural population and negative traits such as being “uncultured” and “uneducated”. For the believers of an afterlife, rather than adhering to a single doctrine, they constructed their own version of life after death by selecting different themes from available resources. Allie identified two conditions that encouraged such process of personalization and privatization. First, the religious policy in the reform era created a hierarchical plurality in the religious field. A diversity of religious views have been allowed for choice in contemporary China. Second, the stigma that supernatural beliefs continued to carry contributed to the privatization of beliefs in life after death.
Allie argued that there are relationships between senses of life after death and how individuals understand or lives their life. First, senses of life after death influences individuals’ lives. Beliefs in reincarnation, paradise and hell, and heaven and hell provided believers moral guidance and motivated believers to perform good deeds, while beliefs in spirits inflicted emotions and influenced decision making of the believers by supernatural agents’ direct participation in believers’ life. Non-believers spoke of the moral freedom that non-belief granted, which allowed them to be more “practical” and “flexible”. Second, individuals’ senses of life after death may be a reflection of their emotional bonding with the deceased. In turn, the imagination/belief of afterlife or its absence help them make sense of their feelings towards the deceased, how they should position themselves in the relationship and how they should proceed with life. Finally, senses of life after death becomes a means through which people imagine a better China, one that is morally regulated as they feel that today is not.. A number of interviewees, believers and non-believers believed that if more people in China believed in reincarnation or heaven and hell, China would become a better place. Allie argued that this statement, unsupported empirically, had to be understood as a response to the “moral vacuum” resulted from the end of a single dominant code of ethics and the emergence of heterogeneous values since the fall of the communist ideal.
Around 40 people attended the talk and audience showed great interest in the topic. They raised questions about symbolic immortality through descendants and nationalism, the differences between Guangzhou and Hong Kong people in their attitudes towards life after death, the social and economic pattern of believers and non-believers, and how the research influences the researcher in return. The discussion was lively and engaging. In short, Allie’s talk addressed the deepest fears of individuals in Guangdong and discussed how societal values and individuals’ senses of lives influenced each other. Individuals’ imaginations reflected their pursuits in life, their attitude to life, and the social values they internalized.
|
<urn:uuid:a25708b7-967a-49c6-9f56-839c09b7c605>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://anthrocuhk.blogspot.in/2015/07/is-death-end-senses-of-life-after-death.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320201.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623220935-20170624000935-00704.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.959432
| 816
| 2.859375
| 3
|
In a world where science and technology are influencing ever more of our choices, the way science is presented in TV programmes and on the web and modern media is of increasing significance. The Earthwake project held a two day seminar in Strasbourg to explore the issues and opportunities surrounding how Europe’s TV and AV world should adapt to the new scientific world. In particular, the role of non-science based slots in bringing science and technology to fresh audiences is at the heart of this seminar. There were sessions on the Natural and Reported worlds and TV drama as well as contributions on the expanding opportunities for web productions and advertising. There was also a public session where a general audience will view some innovative examples from existing European output, vote on their favourites, and contribute to the debate on how programme makers and broadcasters should present science in the coming decade.
ALL Earthwake Project information is available at: www.earthwake.eu
Report on the EARTHWAKE project, examining the opportunities for science on European television over the next decade.
A project funded by the Research Directorate of the European Commission under framework programme 6.
This report sets out the conclusions and recommendations from the EARTHWAKE forum held in Strasbourg on 8th and 9th November 2007. The intention of the forum was to prepare a strategy (aimed particularly those responsible for the further shaping of FP7 and policy at European level relating to Science in Society issues) to harness the appeal of popular strands of TV to create a new awareness and interest in science. It brought together leading European TV executives, scientists, science communicators, TV writers and producers, the general public, advertisers and web designers. The report proposes a series of 16 recommendations for action. These cover a wide spectrum of issues but may be encapsulated in the following general conclusions that represent a synthesis of the discussions that took place over the two weeks:
Science and scientific culture can occupy a much larger part of the totality of broadcast content and to facilitate this would be valuable as a means to embedding better scientific culture into popular culture The broadcasting community are insufficiently aware of the opportunities for them that are inherent in scientific content and have limited knowledge of the role and realities of science or of how to find out more about the area The science community understand that there is a need to enhance public awareness of the role of Science in Society and the potential impact of broadcasting to this end. But they are not sufficiently aware of or connected to, the mechanisms and networks that could make this happen and do not have a broad understanding of the variety of genres that offer opportunities for science strands in broadcasting.
Consequently there exists a fundamental need for a large scale programme of bridge building and facilitation between these two communities. This would include mechanisms to offer support and contacts to writers and producers so that they could access science stories and supporting science advice and likewise for science communicators and scientists to improve their interface with the broadcasting community. Ideas on ways to do this include:
- the sponsoring of high profile festivals that showcase best practice and offer a prestigious forum and prizes that reward the considerable efforts required of writers, producers and their scientific collaborators to bring scientific culture to popular notice (these should go beyond the focus on scientific documentaries to promote a more pervasive presence of science on television).
- the establishment and support of networks amongst the various actors spreading broadly across Europe, that could provide an infrastructure for the effort, in particular:
- The sponsoring (or support) of events bringing Science and Technology in a user friendly way to Writers, Producers and Broadcasters (as for example the event in this project or those developed by PAWS/EuroPAWS)
- Support, at the ideas stage i.e. early in programme development, for new productions potentially involving science and technology, notably in TV genres not rooted in science such as drama and general magazine formats
Click here to download the full report (.pdf – Right click and select ‘Save Target As…’)
|
<urn:uuid:d5cf6613-8378-4a9c-9c66-c07d6fb6c8d8>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://europaws.org/archive/earthwake-project/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320323.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624184733-20170624204733-00064.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945609
| 800
| 2.609375
| 3
|
Mexicans have a national holiday every May 5th called Cinco de Mayo.
Esperanza wrote: "Cinco de Mayo is actually more of a US holiday than a Mexican one. Folks in Mexico don't really celebrate the day! For Mexicans, holidays that are more important are independence day (September 16) or the Mexican revolution (November 20). Those days they really celebrate."
Barbara wrote: "I wouldn't say that Cinco de Mayo is actually more of a US holiday than a Mexican one. It is just celebrated differently. Cinco de mayo is definitely a very important date for Mexicans and we are very proud to celebrate every one of our national holidays. Our home will always have a Mexican flag out and will have a nice Mexican meal. At school kids learn about this day."
Over 100 years ago, France started a war with Mexico. In the Mexican city of Puebla, two forts blocked the advance of the French troops. There were about 6,000 French and 2,000 Mexican soldiers. The Mexicans were under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza.
On May 5, 1862, the French attacked the two forts. Before the day was over, one of the forts was destroyed and more than 1,000 French soldiers were killed. The Mexicans had won the battle. This battle is known as the Battle of Puebla.
The battlefield is now a city park, with a statue of General Zaragoza on horseback and a war museum that was once one of the forts the General and his men defended.
In the museum is a display of hundreds of toy soldiers arranged to show what happened during the battle.
Cinco de Mayo continues to be celebrated with parades, dancing and special foods.
|
<urn:uuid:382f7d8a-1c58-404d-bb03-aa3aa8f323bb>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/cinqodemayo.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320323.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624184733-20170624204733-00064.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980938
| 366
| 3.3125
| 3
|
- Development & Aid
- Economy & Trade
- Human Rights
- Global Governance
- Civil Society
Saturday, June 24, 2017
MEXICO CITY, Jun 5 2014 (IPS) - The Las Cruces hydroelectric project in the northwestern state of Nayarit is one of the threats to biodiversity in Mexico, according to activists.
“It will have an impact on the Marismas Nacionales wetlands reserve, because the dam will retain 90 percent of the sediment which is necessary for the survival of the ecosystem,” said Heidy Orozco, executive director of the non-governmental organisation Nuiwari.
Besides, “the hydrological regime would be modified and the low-lying jungle would be flooded,” she told IPS.
Nuiwari, which forms part of the Free San Pedro River Movement, has been dedicated since 2006 to protecting the San Pedro river basin, where the dam would be built.
The Federal Electricity Commission plans to build and operate the hydropower plant 65 km north of the city of Tepic, in Nayarit. It will have an installed capacity of 240 MW and a 188-metre high dam, with a reservoir covering 5,349 hectares.
The environmental impact study for the dam acknowledges that subsistence-level farming and small-scale livestock production will be replaced by fishing activities in the reservoir.
The Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, the most extensive mangrove forest system along Mexico’s Pacific coast, is the year-round habitat for 20,000 water birds and is a winter home to more than 100,000 migratory birds.
The reserve is recognised as a Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
In the Marismas – which means marsh – Reserve more than 300 species of animals have been reported, 60 of which are endangered or threatened, especially due to overuse and destruction of habitat, and 51 of which are endemic, according to the Ramsar Convention, in effect since 1975.
Fishing activity that depends on the wetland ecosystem generates between 6.5 and 13.5 million dollars a year for local communities, according to official figures.
Furthermore, the dam would destroy 14 sacred sites and ceremonial centres of the
Náyeri or Cora, Wixárica or Huichol, Tepehuano and Mexicanero indigenous communities.
Protection of biodiversity and the distribution of benefits are the core focuses of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation, signed in Nagoya, Japan in 2010.
The protocol, which complements the Convention on Biological Diversity, in force since 1993, stipulates that every signatory must adopt measures to ensure access to traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources and held by indigenous and local communities.
The protocol establishes that such knowledge must be “accessed in accordance with prior informed consent” and under “mutually agreed terms”.
“Parties shall in accordance with domestic law take into consideration indigenous and local communities’ customary laws, community protocols and procedures, as applicable, with respect to traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources,” the protocol adds.
Pedro Álvarez-Icaza, general coordinator of Biological Corridors and Resources in the government’s National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), described the difficulties in complying with these stipulations.
“The big problem is how the benefits are to be distributed,” he told IPS. “Who do they go to – the community? The person providing the information? A group of people? I’m also worried about false expectations – about the idea that a plant could give rise to a medicine, and people spend 10 years waiting for that to happen.”
The government official also said “the legal framework is not necessarily the most up-to-date. The key is to strengthen the capacity of local and indigenous communities and raise their awareness of their right to the fair distribution of benefits.
“The important thing is information, so that if a country wants to patent a resource, it has to demonstrate that the information was obtained through a benefit-sharing agreement, with prior, informed consent,” he said.
With financing from Germany’s technical cooperation agency, GTZ, CONABIO is carrying out the project “Governance on Biodiversity: Fair and Equitable Benefit-Sharing Arising from the Use and Management of Biological Diversity”, to establish a group of pilot cases to serve as reference points.
The initiative, which has a budget of six million euros (8.2 million dollars), is to run though 2018.
“As long as the autonomy of indigenous peoples is not recognised and traditional knowledge is not valued, it is a mere expression of good intentions. There will be no fair and equitable distribution of benefits,” independent consultant Patricia Arendar told IPS.
Mexico is one of the 12 most biologically diverse countries in the world. The country has identified 2,692 species of fish, 361 amphibians, 804 reptiles, 1,096 birds, 535 mammals and over 25,000 plants, according to CONABIO statistics.
The Commission also indicates that there are 127 officially extinct species, 475 endangered, 896 threatened and 1,185 species subject to special protection in Mexico.
The Sectoral Programme of Environment and Natural Resources 2013-2018 indicates that natural ecosystems have been lost in nearly 29 percent of Mexican territory while the ecosystems in the remaining 71 percent are surviving with different levels of conservation.
Natural capital is one of the issues on the agenda of the Jun. 6-8 Second World Summit of Legislators of GLOBE International (the Global Legislators Organisation) in Mexico City, which will draw nearly 500 parliamentarians from more than 80 nations.
With financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Mexico’s environment ministry is leading the analysis of options for adapting the country’s legal framework to the Nagoya Protocol. The alternatives are modifying the law on wildlife, passed in 2000, or creating a specific new law.
So far, 92 countries have signed the Nagoya Protocol. But only 36 of the 50 needed for it to enter into force have ratified it. The only Latin American countries to have done so are Honduras, Mexico and Panama.
“Without a state policy for the protection of biodiversity, it is very difficult to develop strategies around the Nagoya Protocol, for example,” Arendar said. “It’s not a priority in today’s politics. There are more natural land and marine areas, and greater knowledge about biodiversity, but we’re still losing biodiversity.”
“The dam shouldn’t be built,” argued Orozco. “It is unacceptable from any point of view; the few benefits don’t justify the terrible permanent impacts. We demand that Mexico live up to international environment and human rights treaties, but experience from other cases indicates to us that this doesn’t always happen.”
IPS is an international communication institution with a global news agency at its core, raising the voices of the South
and civil society on issues of development, globalisation, human rights and the environment
Copyright © 2017 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. - Terms & Conditions
|
<urn:uuid:2b0593ad-336b-4d23-bb66-a4c51623c950>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/06/mexicos-biodiversity-under-siege/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320323.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624184733-20170624204733-00064.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.923204
| 1,544
| 3.203125
| 3
|
Chapter 1: Scotland's low carbon energy potential
Our geographical advantages are so great that Scotland has the opportunity - if it can be grasped - to consolidate its position as a net energy exporter thus providing us with long-term energy security and long-term economic benefits.
17. Scotland has an enormous geographical competitive advantage in the field of low carbon and renewable energy:
- In a UK context, Scotland punches well above its weight. The waters around the Scottish coast contain around 40% of the UK's fixed offshore wind practical resource; 35% of the floating resource; three-quarters of the wave resource; and over a third of the combined tidal stream and tidal range resource. 1
- In a European context, current estimates show that Scotland has 25% of Europe's potential offshore wind and tidal power and 10% of its wave potential.
- Scotland's offshore storage capacity for carbon emissions is the largest in the EU and greater than the capacity of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany combined.
18. Our geographical advantages are so great that Scotland has the opportunity - if it can be grasped - to consolidate its position as a net energy exporter thus providing it with long-term energy security and long-term economic benefits. Indeed, our future economic prosperity may hinge on the successful and environmentally sustainable exploitation of our natural resources.
19. Some examples of the potential economic benefits of the next energy revolution are worth citing:
The Scottish Low Carbon and Environmental Goods Sector was worth £8.5 billion in 2007/8 and is forecast to grow to around £12 billion by 2015/16. 2
More than 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs could be created in the offshore wind sector, if the most ambitious development scenarios can be realised, according to recent research for Scottish Renewables. Indirect and induced effects could create another 20,000 jobs by 2020. 3
The development of Carbon Capture and Storage ( CCS) opportunities in Scotland has the potential to support 10,000 jobs in Scotland, and, in a broader sense, low carbon employment in Scotland could increase by around 60,000 to approximately 130,000. 4
20. At a time of economic recession across the Western world, when ever deeper budget cuts start to take effect, the opportunity now opening up to Scotland by the next energy revolution is one that we must not miss.
21. Major challenges lie ahead of us, of course, as we try to capitalise on that opportunity:
Maintaining and enhancing the environmental status of our seas must lie at the heart of all our actions in developing a low carbon economy. To allow our precious natural resources to be exploited unsustainably would not just destroy the environmental legacy that future generations will rightly expect us to pass on to them, it would also undermine the very energy revolution that we are seeking to bring about.
We must provide and attract investment into the development of low carbon energy sectors. The necessary infrastructure, research and development, training, technology development and offshore supply-chain all require significant investment, sustained over a number of years, if the full potential of the next energy revolution is to be grasped.
22. Notwithstanding these major challenges, taking the right strategic decisions now on the economic, environmental and planning levels will be key to us grasping the opportunities open to us. They will be key to the successful development of a flourishing and environmentally sustainable renewables industry and low carbon economy; to achieving long-term energy security; to the overall long-term well-being of Scotland as a nation; and to the continued development of thriving local communities the length and breadth of the country.
|
<urn:uuid:c5de6d22-091d-4cdf-aec8-2923fac4332d>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/26094907/3
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320695.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626083037-20170626103037-00224.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.929583
| 727
| 2.859375
| 3
|
Posters & Bumper Stickers
Posters. To save a local copy of these posters: Right-click on the links below and select save as.
The first poster below shows the programs planned or ongoing as part of many geoengineering schemes that are being proposed by a few scientists that want to use the Earth, our atmosphere, and the oceans as a giant, unregulated, physics laboratory. These scientists want unlimited rights, with no Congressional or Public Oversight, to conduct multiple types of experiments using a wide variety of methods, many of which are detrimental to the environment and human health. The U.S. House of Representatives has held three hearings (two in 2010), on this subject and is working with the UK on a Global Geoeningeering Governance Scheme. The ADC opposes all current and ongoing geoengineering schemes...and those proposed to be used in the future.
PERSISTENT JET CONTRAILS
The Contrail Poster below was first introduced to the public in 2006, and has been revised in 2010. This poster is about jets leaving various types (listed), of contrails which, according to NASA studies (2005 Newsletter), are "...trapping warmth in the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming..." NASA goes on to state that "...any change in the global cloud cover may contribute to long-term changes in the Earth's climate. Contrails, especially persistent contrails, represent a human-caused increase in the Earth's cloudiness, and are likely to be affecting climate and ultimately our natural resources..."
SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT - GEOENGINEERING SCHEMES
There are many proposed geoengineering schemes that are designed to reduce the amount of direct sunlight reachign the Earth. (Persistent Jet Contrails that turn into white haze and man-made clouds currently are reducing the amount of direct sunlight reaching the Earth.) Without direct sunlight reaching the Earth Photosynthesis is reduced. The three posters below demonstrate the importance of photosynthesis and the need for direct sunlight to reach the ground for not only tree health but stable and increasing crop production.
Our weather in the United States is being modified by private corporations, states, cities, counties, the military, universities, and other groups without congressional oversight, public notification or consent. The poster below represents more than 60 ongoing weather modification programs in the western states in 2009, according to NOAA public record documents.
No weather service notes that these programs are ongoing in these states or local areas...these programs are not being reported by local weathermen whether or radio or television, or by your local newspapers. Thus, weather caused by these programs is reported to either be normal, caused by global warming or other phenomena they cannot explain. Many times unusual weather cannot be explained because these weather modification programs are not noted in their forecasts.
WATER VAPOR IS A GREENHOUSE GAS & AVIATION HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON CLIMATE
Cap & Trade Ponzi Schemes:
Cap & Trade 2.pdf (2.5MB)
Cap & Trade Train 4.pdf (3.1MB)
US Navy vs Nature:
The U.S. Navy Section in this website, on Warfare Testing Programs, was updated in 2010, and will continue to be updated with new information on a monthly basis or as new information is available. Expansions or new areas for warfare testing are planned for the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Many of these warfare programs are ongoing in these ocean areas at the current time to the detriment of millions of marine mammals.
BAR Navy Marine 1 small.jpg (55KB)
BAR Navy Marine 1 big.jpg (2741KB)
Marine Mammals 16.pdf (5.8MB)
Navy Warfare Test 2.pdf (1.6MB)
Postcard Navy Marine 8.pdf (0.4MB)
Postcard Navy Marine 8 big.jpg (3.6MB)
Range Complex Poster 9.jpg (11.4MB)
Rods from GOD 2.pdf (3.6MB)
US Senate Bill 1733 Cap & Trade Bill promoted by Senator Barbara Boxer:
Climate/Energy/Jobs/Cap & Trade/ PRI Pollution Reduction Investment Ponzi Scheme Bill
Senators Kerry and Lieberman will be introducing a new climate/jobs bill in 2010. It will be modeled on U.S. Senate Bill 1733 and the Climate/Energy Bill passed in the U.S. House in 2009, which is supported by Senator Boxer. This massive Ponzi Scheme that will not regulate any green house gases for seven to ten years should be defeated. This group of posters demonstrate why and what harm these bills will do to the environment while enriching Wall Street and the Banks which are written into all current climate/energy. Read more on this subject under the Climate Cap & Trade Section of this website.
Any Climate/Energy Legislation passed by the U.S. Senate would automatically be integrated into the U.S. House Bill during conference committee negotiations and then be sent to the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate for another vote. If passed, this legislation would go before the President for his signature or veto. Since the President is supporting this legislation there is no hope that he will veto this final bill. The ADC does not support any verion of the Climate/Energy Bills in the U.S. Senate.
Ponzi Horse 2.pdf (2MB)
Ponzi Horse 4.pdf (3.2MB)
Senate 1733 Back 5.pdf (3.3MB)
Senate 1733 Back 6.pdf (2MB)
Senate 1733 Front 8.pdf (3.3MB)
|
<urn:uuid:0243a55a-d7ec-422a-880b-fcae8065ddcc>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://agriculturedefensecoalition.org/content/posters-bumper-stickers
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320915.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627032130-20170627052130-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.90383
| 1,181
| 2.9375
| 3
|
Worker Safety After a Flood
The danger of a flood does not end when the rains cease. Cleanup crews must work together and look out for one another to ensure safety.
For most work in flooded areas, workers will need hard hats, goggles, heavy work gloves, and watertight boots with steel toe and insole (not just steel shank).
Exposure to flood waters does not increase the risk of tetanus, and tetanus immunization campaigns are not needed. While documentation of vaccination is preferred, it should not be a pre-requisite for work. During flood cleanup, the risk of wounds may be increased. For this reason, cleanup workers should be sure that they are up-to-date with tetanus vaccination, ideally before starting cleanup activities. Adults need a tetanus booster shot every 10 years. Td or Tdap can be used; getting the Tdap instead of Td for one tetanus booster during adulthood is recommended to maintain protection against pertussis. Being up-to-date for tetanus vaccine can greatly simplify the treatment for any wound that might occur.
First aid, even for minor cuts and burns, is very important during flood cleanup. Immediately clean all wounds and cuts with soap and clean water. Talk to a doctor or other health professional on the scene to find out if you need more treatment.
Excessive noise from equipment such as chain saws, backhoes, tractors, pavement breakers, blowers, and dryers may cause ringing in the ears and subsequent hearing damage. If you must shout over noise to be heard, you should wear earplugs or other hearing protection devices.
- Storm, Flood and Hurricane Response
Work-related hazards that could be encountered include electrical hazards, carbon monoxide, musculoskeletal hazards, heat stress, motor vehicles, hazardous materials, fire, confined spaces, & falls. From the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Traumatic Incident Stress: Information for Emergency Response Workers
Members of emergency response teams may be at risk for experiencing traumatic incident stress.
- Page last reviewed: June 5, 2012
- Page last updated: July 13, 2008
- Content source:
|
<urn:uuid:667241f4-f44a-4f13-bb45-76ef26c69509>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/workersafety.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320915.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627032130-20170627052130-00304.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.91975
| 453
| 3.015625
| 3
|
Learning From Scale-Up Initiatives
We Need to Gather Strong Data as We Go
In launching an unprecedented effort to improve school achievement and other youth outcomes by “scaling up” evidence-based programs, the Obama administration has given education a golden opportunity on the research front. With new funding, the administration has shown its commitment to supporting “what works.” These scale-up initiatives—including the White House’s Social Innovation Fund, or SIF, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts on teen-pregnancy prevention and home visitation, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation Fund, or i3,—present a real opportunity for us to learn to do this work better and make lasting impacts on the lives of young people.
The i3 Fund is likely the effort most familiar to educators. Among the 49 successful i3 applicants are Success for All, KIPP’s Effective Leadership Development Model, Teach For America, and Reading Recovery, each of which will try to reproduce its effects in new communities, schools, and classrooms. This work faces a serious challenge, however. Research and prior scale-up efforts have shown that programs that are effective at small scale (perhaps because they were implemented in favorable circumstances by the original developer) have trouble maintaining that effectiveness when extended more broadly. We see that the expanded programs make a difference in some locations, but not others, and with some youths, but not enough.
So, how can we scale up good programs effectively? What leads to achieving robust implementation, reaching young people who need the services, and recognizing sites that can support innovation? More specifically, what are the right strategies for expanding such programs, what types of organizations can effectively implement them, and how do local policies and other conditions influence their effectiveness? When is the introduction of a new program an improvement on the status quo? Prior research gives policymakers and practitioners almost no guidance on these important issues, so they have to rely on their past experiences and hope their new work produces positive results at scale.
We need more than practitioner wisdom to improve the success rate of such initiatives—we need to learn from strong data as we go. The good news is that these initiatives allow us the chance to examine with whom and under what conditions programs can serve as the missing ingredients in the “what works” agenda.
To learn more about what influences program effectiveness, we need three elements: (1) reliable estimates of a program’s impact in a large number of different sites, (2) good measures of the background characteristics of the participants, and (3) data on the conditions within and outside a program that might influence results.
The scale-up initiatives can meet the first criteria, at least potentially. Particularly in i3, proposals that received the biggest grants had to include strong impact evaluations of their expanded efforts. While these awards are grants and not contracts (funders have more control under a contract), funding agencies need to strongly encourage the winners to deliver on their promised impact evaluations. If such rigorous evaluations are done, we will know how much of a difference these innovations make in each new site. So, if the historical problem of varying effectiveness repeats itself, we will be poised to understand why.
For the second element, we can leverage the promised impact evaluations. For example, one finding common to evaluations is that programs are more effective for some subgroups of a target population than for others. Many educational interventions have little or no impact on schools, teachers, or students who do not really need the intervention, or on those who need more than the intervention can deliver. If the Department of Education asks the various local evaluators to gather a common set of baseline data for students involved in the i3 expansions, uniformly capturing information such as age for grade, English-language-learner status, and prior achievement, we could look across sites and groups of similar innovations for patterns. Maybe certain i3 strategies will be most effective with particular students. If we don’t gather common data on the students across sites and grants, we will never find out.
Similarly, for the third item, most developers believe that the innovations will make the most difference when implemented in communities or schools that have a commitment to a new effort, the human and financial resources to put an innovation in place, and few comparable programs already. However, this practical wisdom has not been confirmed by strong data. We should ask the local evaluators to gather uniform information on these factors across the sites, since variation is highly likely. Then, we can see if practical wisdom is borne out in results.
Gathering good data from these scale-up initiatives can also tell us if we’re thinking about past evidence in sensible ways. Is it as important as we think? Does it predict results under some circumstances, but not others? Using prior evidence as a condition of funding has led to concerns that some well-funded and well-evaluated innovations might stifle support for other deserving programs that do not yet have evidence of their positive impact. There is considerable variation in the evidence base for the i3 winners, and the same will likely be true in the other initiatives. The extent of prior evidence can be codified by a group such as the federal What Works Clearinghouse. With consistent data on how much evidence exists about the past performance of each winner, we can determine whether our current standards for evidence predict future effectiveness.
Translating research into good policy and practice often requires a leap of faith. Now, we have the opportunity to make sure we land on our feet. Thanks to rigorous evaluations of the effects of social programs, we know that they are sometimes effective and sometimes not. We need to use the scale-up initiatives to help us learn why. These recommendations will provide an understanding of the characteristics of youths, settings, and resources that predict effects. Knowing all this will help policymakers and practitioners target and support effective programs. In the longer term, it will help us improve outcomes for all young people.
Vol. 30, Issue 12, Pages 26-27Published in Print: November 17, 2010, as Learning From Scale-Up Initiatives
|
<urn:uuid:6bc58226-4bb0-4d78-b240-95d083ea9dd0>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/11/17/12granger.h30.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321938.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627221726-20170628001726-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946548
| 1,262
| 2.75
| 3
|
A Growing History
Living the Legacy. Fulfilling the Vision.
Celebrating Over 95 Years of Natural History.
Rooted in nearly a century of conservation, today's Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with a rich history. In 2014, we celebrated four anniversaries: 95 years as a botanical garden; 60 years being open to the public; 45 years as a zoo; and 10 years since the vote to purchase the land. It's been a wild 95 years with an even more exciting future ahead!
The large graphics heading each section below were published in the Naples Daily News to celebrate this historic year.
The story of Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens begins with botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling. An early conservationist, Nehrling wrote in 1904, "It is high time to protect and preserve what is still left." He first acquired the Naples site in 1919 to avoid a repetition of the disastrous freeze to his plant collection in central Florida in 1917. At that time, this portion of Naples was being sold in farm plots for agriculture. In regard to his new work, he stated, "In my 66th year, I again became a pioneer of the wilderness." His newfound devotion allowed him to say in 1925, "My garden, containing about 3,000 species of tropical plants, is a constant source of intense pleasure and delight." His new home, the famed "Tropical Garden," one of the earliest plant collections in Florida, occupied the northern acreage of the present day Gardens. Many of his plantings, still remaining, provided the inspiration for current endeavors. Dr. David Fairchild, the veteran plant explorer associated with Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables, wrote of Nehrling, "He was always a naturalist at heart...a great plantsman of the type so rare that one can hope to meet only a few, even in a long life of travel."
Leading scientists and environmentalists of the day consulted with the keenly observant botanist about his work during their visits to his gardens. Nehrling's guests included the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, nature writer John Burroughs, horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey, pioneer naturalist Charles Torrey Simpson, botanist David Fairchild, and famed inventor Thomas Edison. During his work for the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction to the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry, Nehrling introduced over 300 new and beneficial plants to the United States including the colorful and immensely popular caladium. Dr. Whitmer Stone of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia said of him, "A typical German professor of the old school, of courtly manner and enthusiastically absorbed in his work, he made a host of warm friends and was pleased as a child when visitors admired his garden."
Following his death in 1929, however, more than twenty years were to pass before his garden was admired again. Of Nehrling himself, David Fairchild reflected, "The wildlife is passing. Man is destroying it. Dr. Nehrling loved it and taught thousands to follow his lead." Indeed, although he received some recognition in his lifetime including the Meyer Medal for service in the introduction of plants to the United States, the far reaching work of Dr. Nehrling is continuing to receive even more attention into the present time including the "Plant Protection Award of Eminence" and "Honor Roll of Eminence" awarded by the Florida Department of Agriculture in 1997. Most of his writings are maintained at Rollins College. Two of his texts were edited by a Smithsonian Institute botanist for reprint in in the 21st century.
The story of Nehrling's tropical garden resumes in 1946 during lunch at the Naples Hotel. Julius Fleischmann of Cincinnati, Ohio arrived in town to soon change the vision of Naples. His grandfather established Fleischmann Yeast that eventually became Standard Brands. Along with entrepreneurial success, the Fleischmanns also had a history of cultural contributions. One of Julius' Naples contemporaries stated he "was active in the family business, but his interests were divergent and included publishing, ownership in several hotels, theatrical production, director and president of the Ballet Russe in Monte Carlo, and he was one of the most renowned yachtsmen in the world." In the 1930s, Fleischmann had sailed the Pacific on a commission to survey plants of the South Seas for the United States Department of Agriculture. During that trip, Fleischmann was also documenting previously uncharted waters. Those charts proved very useful for the military during World War II. He also collected many artifacts currently held by the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History.
By the early 1950s, he had begun constructing buildings along present day 3rd Street. In 1952, after choosing a dedicated staff, Fleischmann set about the immense restoration of Nehrling's garden. Clearing a trail through the gardens, removing years of debris, nurturing old plantings, digging lakes and planting a multitude of new species, Fleischmann created a showplace for his guests to see the almost forgotten dream of 1919. By 1954, complete with an array of tropical birds, the garden was ready to delight guests once again and now under its present name Caribbean Gardens. Naples itself was still in its infancy. Early brochures for the garden describe the garden's location as "just north of Naples."
A vacation in 1967 initiated the next era for the Caribbean Gardens. Col. Lawrence and Nancy Jane Tetzlaff, known as Jungle Larry® and Safari Jane®, visited the Gardens as they were seeking out a winter quarters for their collection of rare animals. The Tetzlaffs were well known expedition leaders and zoo operators in the Midwest. Larry Tetzlaff had taken his childhood interest in animals and built it into a lifelong mission. Following the publication of one of his scientific papers while still in college, Tetzlaff was offered a job by the famed animal collector Frank Buck during the 1939 World's Fair in New York City.
And that was just the beginning. In those early years, Tetzlaff experienced all manners of animal work - from doing stunt work for Johnny Weissmuller in the Tarzan films to milking venomous snakes to provide serum for the soldiers in the Pacific islands. After the war, Tetzlaff returned to the Midwest to communicate his knowledge of the animal kingdom. Audiences ranging from school children to supreme court justices listened to his message of conservation. During this time, Nancy Jane joined him not only as wife but also as partner. Together they traversed both lush Amazonian rainforest and dusty African roads. On their expeditions, Larry recorded cultures and the animal life on 16mm motion picture film while Nancy documented with still photography. Back home in the states, they shared the wonders of these foreign locales in person and on television. Combining film footage and living animals, the Tetzlaffs taught many to appreciate the awesome diversity our planet offers and the critical need to protect it. Their early conservation programs also included domestic concerns like their mid-1960s program called "The Vanishing Everglades." And Larry's often repeated phrase "Conservation is the name of the game" was in print years before the Endangered Species Act was established.
Beginning in 1964, they also operated a zoological area within the Cedar Point theme park in Ohio and began entertaining and educating over a million guests a season. Although committed to their summer audience, the Tetzlaffs wanted a warm winter home so the animals could be outside all year long. During that vacation in 1967, the Tetzlaff family fell in love with the Gardens but learned the property was not available. The Tetzlaffs did not forget Naples, however, and, shortly after Fleischmann's death, the Tetzlaffs were contacted to see if they would exhibit their animals within the Gardens. They readily agreed. Surveying the grounds, however, the Tetzlaffs then faced the challenge of carefully placing the exhibits around decades old exotic plants and trees. The magnificence of beautiful animals in such a garden proved well worth all the effort. On September 1, 1969, a wide range of the world's animals greeted the Gardens' guests for the first time.
Since that time, the tranquillity of the Gardens has inspired many successful breeding programs for some of the earth's most beautiful animals. Zoo director Jack Hanna commented, "When you think of Jungle Larry, you think of a man and his family who literally dedicated their lives to exotic creatures of the earth." Although Larry Tetzlaff passed away in 1984, Nancy Jane Tetzlaff, her family, and staff continued the vision of her late husband through expanded exhibits and educational activities. You can easily see that vision today in presentations like Safari Canyon -- a technologically updated version of what Larry & Nancy did years ago with their films and live animals. The concept for the new show was envisioned by their oldest son David Tetzlaff and the educational graphics and video were coordinated by youngest son Tim Tetzlaff. In 2000, one of a handful of bronze markers celebrating Naples Diamond Jubilee was placed by the Tetzlaffs to commemorate the historical value of the garden beginning with Dr. Nehrling's pioneering work.
The Zoo also continued its rich tradition of conservation through funding and staff time for varied projects around the world from the panthers of Florida to the lemurs of Madagascar. In 2001, Naples Zoo achieved national accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organization that sets the highest standards for zoos and aquaria. (AZA accreditation is reviewed every five years and was also achieved in 2006 and 2011.)
During this time of earning national accreditation, the Zoo faced its biggest crisis. Since 1969, the property was leased from the Fleischmann estate. In 2002, the side of the Fleischmann family that inherited the land let it be known that they were interested in selling the 43 acres of Zoo property and the nearly 120 surrounding acres - the first time the property had been for sale since Julius Fleischmann acquired it in the 1950s. Armed with this knowledge and knowing that an outside buyer would bulldoze the Zoo, the Tetzlaffs began public meetings with the Board of Collier County Commissioners regarding a public purchase of the property. During this time, the Fleischmann family waited to allow the community to act. In 2004, a referendum was placed before the voters to let them decide the fate of the Zoo.
Wonderfully, the land purchase was approved with a record 73% of voters in favor. An arrangement with The Trust for Public Land allowed the final transition. And to make this purchase easier for the county and other parties, the Tetzlaffs converted the Zoo to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and handed over control to the new Naples Zoo Board of Directors. This change allowed the community to keep their historic trees and Zoo with decades of improvements and national accreditation. At the same time, the community did not to buy Zoo assets or take on any operational expenses. Even though the land was paid off in 2009, the benefits to Collier County residents continue.
Today, with its future secured and guided by an expert senior management team, the nonprofit Naples Zoo is poised for another great leap forward as the people's Zoo. With a Master Plan that creates exciting new ways to connects children with nature including our historic botanicals, we invite you to be part of the ongoing success and promising future that awaits by visiting, becoming a member, or becoming a donor.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the people who nurtured the garden you experience today. As you can see, it's been a wild 95 years with an even wilder future ahead!
|
<urn:uuid:abb1ec63-e61b-4132-a69a-503d3509c9ee>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.napleszoo.org/history
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321938.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627221726-20170628001726-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.972977
| 2,412
| 2.578125
| 3
|
Check out this article about the the Eiffel Tower being turned green. The idea is to paint it green and cover it in plants to promote being environmentally friendly! What do you think about this? Post a comment!
To help us remember some characters we have decided to collage the character to make it look like the word it represents. Here are some of our examples of ‘shui’.
Year 2 have been learning ‘Vive le vent’ the French version of Jingle Bells. We have practiced in various styles, like romantic, country and western, and rock n roll.
They have also been drawing fabulous flashcards for winter words will be scanned in shortly.
|
<urn:uuid:474ee964-b11e-4b8d-ad7e-312bf5deda89>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://robinhoodpmfl.wordpress.com/tag/class-blogs/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321938.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627221726-20170628001726-00384.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.954032
| 143
| 2.921875
| 3
|
Dental Implants are cutting edge technology for tooth replacement and provide a long-lasting cosmetic and oral health solution for adults who struggle with tooth loss. With a dental implant, a titanium screw is surgically affixed into the jaw bone, taking the place of the tooth roots. After the bone has healed and bonded to the implant, a second stage takes place where an abutment, (the upper half of the implant), is mounted onto the implant itself, and then a crown is seated on top of the abutment, replacing the missing tooth. Implants can also be used as anchors for a fixed bridge or dentures as a way to replace multiple teeth.
A root canal may be needed when the pulp-filled cavity at the root of the tooth becomes infected and the infection must be treated by removing the decaying pulp. During root canal therapy, our dentist will first take digital X-rays to evaluate the tooth damage and use these X-rays as a guide during treatment. Next, our dentist will drill a small hole through the tooth into the area where the infected pulp is located. Our dentist will then remove the diseased pulp, clean the canal, and seal the tooth to reduce the risk for future decay. In some cases, this will be a two-part procedure because we will need to allow the infection to first clear up before we can seal the tooth. During your initial consultation, our dentist will advise you of the expected treatment timeline.
A dental crown is a type of fixed tooth prosthetic used to restore teeth. It is made from various kinds of materials, and can be combined with other dental treatments such as an implant or a bridge. Often times the tooth structure is deteriorated to the point that a simple filling won’t hold up, and so the whole tooth needs to be capped to restore strength and functionality. Also crowns or veneers can be used to reshape, or resurface teeth for cosmetic purposes. The tooth will need to be ground down to where it will fit inside a crown that fills in the space of the natural tooth. Dental crowns can be made of various types of material such as PFM porcelain, E.max all porcelain, and Zirconium Ceramic.
Veneers are thin, custom made castings, that cover the front side of your teeth. Patients choose to get veneers to correct uneven teeth, discoloration, worn enamel, irregular spacing, and chipped teeth. Veneers can last over 20 years and protect damaged teeth from further harm. The process begins with a thorough examination of your teeth, which often includes X-rays and taking impressions of your teeth. We then remove a thin layer of enamel from your teeth and create an impression to send to our laboratory to create a veneer. We may provide you with temporary veneers while your permanent mold is being made. Your permanent veneer’s size and color are given one last adjustment before they are cemented to your teeth. Types of veneers include E.max Porcelain, Empress Porcelain, Lumineers Porcelain.
An efficient and economical method for tooth replacement is the use of removable partial or full dentures. These dental appliances can restore your smile, and can look very realistic. Partial dentures are used to replace missing teeth, when there are still some viable teeth left on the arch. The partial is made to hook onto the existing teeth, and is held in place with clips. A full denture is used when there are no teeth left to hold onto, and usually requires some denture adhesive to hold the denture in place through suction. Implants may also be used as anchors for a fixed bridge.
Composite resin is material that is matched to the color of your teeth and hardened with the use of an ultraviolet lamp. Because the resins are matched to your tooth’s color, they become invisible when applied. We have found composite fillings also provide an excellent seal on the affected area, preventing further tooth decay. The factors that go into our decision to use composite fillings include the size of the area that needs to be filled, the location of the affected area in the mouth (i.e., a tooth that is heavily relied on for chewing), allergies the patient might have, the preference of the patient regarding the use of metals in the mouth, and whether it is necessary cosmetically to have a tooth-colored filling.
Great oral health begins with regular dental examinations and cleanings. Our team of dentists, dental assistants and hygienists provide personalized routine dental examinations. During each six-month checkup, a thorough examination is conducted of a patient’s teeth, gums, tongue, jaw, and neck. If necessary, we may recommend X-rays, an oral cancer screening, or a periodontal (gum) inspection. This comprehensive examination is then followed by a thorough cleaning and polishing.
Having one or more missing teeth can have a serious effect not only on your smile, but also on your dental health. Similar to implants, dental bridges are used to replace a missing tooth, and are supported by the abutment teeth on either side. Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices, unlike dentures.
Extractions / Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Tooth extraction may be necessary when it is not possible to save a tooth due to the level of deterioration. Extractions may also be done when teeth are problematic (like wisdom teeth), or if a patient lacks the budget to save the tooth. When an extraction is called for, our dentists are very capable, and are able to reduce the stress and discomfort of the patient. In the case of a complicated extraction, like a fully impacted wisdom tooth, we call in our specialist.
Individual Bone Graft
There are various types of bone grafts, all of which are designed to build up the bone that is missing. The ridge or socket preservation graft is a type of graft that is done when a patient does not have adequate jawbone for an implant. It is used to fill in the hole from an extraction site, so there is no vacancy around the implant, which would cause it to fail. A sinus lift is for when the patient has suffered too much bone loss for an implant to be placed without building up the bone. A sinus lift is used in smaller areas of a few teeth, in the upper jaw, below the sinus cavity. Thirdly, a sinus graft or block graft is for when there is a lot of bone loss in the sinus area, front of the mouth, or even in the lower jawline. A block of bone material (consisting of artificial bone, cadaver bone, or bovine bone) is screwed into place with small titanium screws. After the bone has healed and integrated into the natural bone, it serves well to hold implants. If a patient is in need of a bone graft, the type of graft, and the material used would be determined by your dentist.
|
<urn:uuid:03a76a4c-0be6-4d74-bea9-a821cc2c54aa>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://mexicodental.network/dental-treatments/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323970.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629121355-20170629141355-00544.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.935323
| 1,444
| 2.75
| 3
|
Published on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19235739
Laryngoscope. 2009 Mar;119(3):496-9. doi: 10.1002/lary.20101.
Olfactory function is known to be modulated by repeated exposure to odors. The aim of this investigation was whether patients with olfactory loss would benefit from "Training" with odors in terms of an improvement of their general olfactory function. It was hypothesized that olfactory Training should produce both an improved sensitivity towards the odors used in the Training process and an overall increase of olfactory function.
The prospective study was performed in patients with olfactory dysfunction.
One group of patients performed the Training (n = 40), whereas another part did not (n = 16). Exclusion criteria for patients were sinunasal disease. Olfactory training was performed over a period of 12 weeks. Patients exposed themselves twice daily to four intense odors (phenyl ethyl alcohol: rose, eucalyptol: eucalyptus, citronellal: lemon, and eugenol: cloves). Olfactory testing was performed before and after training using the "Sniffin' Sticks" (thresholds for phenyl ethyl alcohol, tests for odor discrimination and odor identification) in addition to threshold tests for the odors used in the training process.
Compared to baseline, training patients experienced an increase in their olfactory function, which was observed for the Sniffin' Sticks test score and for thresholds for the odors used in the training process. In contrast, olfactory function was unchanged in patients who did not perform olfactory training. The present results indicate that the structured, short-term exposure to selected odors may increase olfactory sensitivity.
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
|
<urn:uuid:24a81dd7-7a9e-49cc-b4e6-5890bbeecc18>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://aromatherapycare4u.blogspot.com/2014/11/effects-of-olfactory-training-in.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320023.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623063716-20170623083716-00183.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93178
| 395
| 2.78125
| 3
|
The Australian Government Interoperability Framework addresses the information, business process and technical dimensions of interoperability. It sets the principles, standards and methodologies that support the delivery of integrated and seamless services.
Interoperability describes the ability to work together to deliver services in a seamless, uniform and efficient manner across multiple organizations and information technology systems. Promoting interoperability between agencies is a key focus to achieving whole-of-government collaboration. Interoperability improves government’s ability to design policies and services to the needs of clients and to derive efficiencies as a result of streamlined interactions both within and across agencies.
To be interoperable, agencies need to actively engage in a process of ensuring that their systems, information and business planning activities are managed to maximize opportunities for exchange with and reuse by others.
To achieve this, agencies need to grapple with diverse issues including:
|
<urn:uuid:b491b229-c1ae-464a-8260-896e6ce28fc4>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://itlaw.wikia.com/wiki/Australian_Government_Interoperability_Framework
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320209.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624013626-20170624033626-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.931381
| 175
| 2.5625
| 3
|
An umbrella goes up when rain comes down. To solve this riddle, the person being questioned has to think about items that rise when rain is falling, aside from natural elements.Continue Reading
This particular riddle can have other answers that are equally as "correct" as "umbrella." Other things that go up when rain comes down include car windows and water levels.
Another riddle that involves rain is, "What do you find at the end of a rainbow?" which is answered with "The letter W."
Or, "What falls down but never stands up?" with the answer being "rain," because it falls but does not stand up.Learn more about Rain
|
<urn:uuid:e84c1d63-5ebc-4058-ae10-1d9723d82071>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.reference.com/science/goes-up-rain-comes-down-6df02b05c5db87f
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320338.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624203022-20170624223022-00344.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.968817
| 137
| 2.796875
| 3
|
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Afghanistan is experiencing a "large influx" of returning refugees that is severely testing the country's ability to absorb so many displaced people.
In a report issued this week, the IMF said more than 700,000 refugees returned to Afghanistan last year, mainly from Pakistan, but also from Iran, Europe, and elsewhere.
"This is seriously aggravating the government's capacity to absorb refugees in an already difficult environment of high unemployment and internally displaced people after decades of conflict," it said.
The organization urged the country to strengthen internal coordination and planning and said the international community needs to play a role in providing financing and humanitarian support to avert a crisis.
The IMF said that many of those coming from Pakistan are not coming "voluntarily."
It said analysts estimate that up to 2.5 million more will return over the next 18 months, representing almost 10 percent of the Afghan population.
Decades of war and instability have driven millions of Afghans from their homes and out of the country.
Millions of refugees returned to Afghanistan after the U.S.-led invasion of 2001 drove the Taliban from power, but security has deteriorated since 2014, when most NATO combat forces had withdrawn from the country.
The security situation now remains difficult in many areas of the country, with militant groups like the so-called Islamic State (IS) battling Afghan government forces and remaining U.S.-led forces.
"Many of the Afghans who lived abroad for decades are returning to a country facing conflict, insecurity, and widespread poverty," the IMF said.
"Given the difficult economic climate, prospects for returnees are generally poor," it added. 'While there are also wealthier returnees, a typical returning refugee has a high risk of falling into poverty."
|
<urn:uuid:5404efa8-c456-447f-95fb-aa3254508dd1>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.rferl.org/a/imf-afghanistan-refugees-displaced-person-return/28265160.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320338.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624203022-20170624223022-00344.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958949
| 360
| 2.53125
| 3
|
With our first series on Schopenhauer’s The Wisdom of Life complete, we now turn toward 19th century New England to learn from famed transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau.
On July 4, 1845, in an exercise of ascetic living in pursuit of his highest self, Thoreau began a two year, two month, and two day adventure living in a self-built cabin on the edge of Walden pond, which led to his magnum opus, Walden; or, Life in the Woods(public library). The significance of his experiment was not recognized until long after his return and remains a siren song warning against the dangers of conformity at the sacrifice of one’s own soul.
Thoreau has been met with mixed reception. Lovers of nature praise his work as scripture, nonconformists as the consummate iconoclast, and the democratic damn him for his complete lack of social obligation.
In 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote “Henry David Thoreau: His Character and Opinions” for Cornhill Magazine, both praising and criticizing Thoreau and his work. Stevenson denigrates him as an “idle, selfish, self-improver” and a “skulker” while praising him as “almost shockingly devoid of weakness…not touched with a feeling of our infirmities.” Ultimately, Stevenson summed up Thoreau’s relationship to his fellow man beautifully in saying:
“He was not so much difficult about his fellow human beings as he could not tolerate the terms of their association.”
Thoreau believed the mass of men were encumbered by a mode of living unworthy of the life we exchange for it, happily making the sacrifice of relationships to others in preservation of his relationship to himself. In the same essay, Stevenson acknowledges his motivations:
“Thoreau lived by a rigorous code of values, compelled to self-mastery and understanding above all else.”
I have read Walden more than any other book and it has shaped my philosophy in proportion. My life is richer and more meaningful because Thoreau went to the woods.
Each man gives what he has, in the way he is suited to give it. Thoreau was not built for a life of philanthropy. He was called to a life of quiet introspection. But, in so doing, he left behind an ode to personal development, imploring each of us to a life of self-actualization, away from conformity and toward themselves.
At the site of Thoreau’s cabin, there is a wooden sign with his now famous words:
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived…”
Thoreau went to the woods to hear those truths which go unheard in crowds of men. He transcribed his findings in Walden so that we may learn from his experiences and come to honor our own. For a man accused of a complete lack of concern for others, he has done a great service for all those willing to heed his words.
In our first post, we will learn what Thoreau had to teach about living simply to better understand life’s complexity.
|
<urn:uuid:9e25a56a-2b89-43cf-8c13-f42e3a91ce08>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://buildthefire.com/btf-philosophy-introducing-henry-david-thoreaus-walden/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320539.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625152316-20170625172316-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.979308
| 710
| 3.234375
| 3
|
In the US, GSM solutions use two frequency bands while there are also two diverse frequency bands that were used by them else...
Maybe youre a businessman who needs to stay in touch with youre clients even if youre traveling from one side of the planet to an additional or maybe youre just somebody who wants to be updated of all the news and hips around. So, youre hunting for a ideal telephone that suite your wants, are you not? But what type of frequency band will you contemplate?
In the US, GSM solutions use two frequency bands whilst there are also two diverse frequency bands that were utilised by them elsewhere in the globe. Thinking about this dilemma, some of the notable mobile phone producers like Nokia, Siemens, Ericsson and Motorola developed a telephone that can function on all 4 frequency bands commonly named as quad-band phones.
So what about this frequency band? Let us attempt to comprehend much more about it.
Cellular phones use radio waves to transmit conversations. If people require to discover more on why is rf testing necessary critique, we know of many resources people should think about pursuing. These radio waves can be at different frequencies. If you desire to be taught more on rf inspection los angeles, we recommend many databases people might think about investigating. Think about this exciting record of distinct frequencies utilized by diverse types of radio solutions.
GSM cell phones use frequencies within four different frequency bands.
850 MHz (824.2 - 848.eight MHz Tx 869.2 - 893.eight MHz Rx)
900 MHz (880-2 - 914.8 MHz Tx 925.two - 959.8 MHz Rx)
1800 MHz (1710.2 - 1784.8 MHz Tx 1805.two - 1879.eight MHz Rx)
1900 MHz (1850.2 - 1909.8 MHz Tx 1930.two - 1989.8 MHz Rx)
Despite the fact that 850 and 900, 1800 and 1900 are seemingly close figures, a phone that operates in one particular frequency band unfortunately can not perform in the frequency band next to it unless added as a particular extra frequency band. To contrast, when you have your FM radio tuned to a radio station at 98.1 MHz, you can obviously by no means hear what is taking place on one more radio station at 98.3 MHz unless you retune your radio. You got it? This is truly how the telephone frequency band works.
Formerly, the US only utilised 1900 MHz for its GSM cell phone service. But in the passing years, there has been a developing amount of GSM service on the 850 MHz band just due to the fact this type of service is normally been employed in rural places, because it has much better range than the 1900 MHz band. Nevertheless, it was also been utilised in city regions specifically when the cell phone company has spare frequencies unused in the 850 MHz band and no remaining frequencies to use in the 1900 MHz band.
On the other hand, when the US started to use GSM, a handful of other countries with quite close links to the US chose to copy the US and use the identical frequencies that US employed. In reality, almost without exception, all international nations that use the non-US international frequency bands have 900 MHz service.
So which frequencies are necessary when traveling internationally?
If you intend to use your phone only internationally, you need to choose if you'll be using the phone in countries that use the international frequencies or in nations that use the US frequencies, or in both. Visiting visit site certainly provides tips you should use with your uncle. Nonetheless, in all widespread bands, 900 MHz was utilised internationally and the 1800 MHz will only give expanded coverage in countries that also have 900 MHz.
However, if you intend to use your phone only in the US, you just need to have to get a dual band phone that has each 850 MHz and 1900 MHz. A single band phone with only 1900 MHz will give practically as very good coverage anyway.
Summing up, if you intend to use your phone in both the US and internationally the very best answer is to get a quad-band telephone that will perform on 4 bands which is the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands..EMF & RF Solutions
1106 2nd Street Encinitas, CA 92024
|
<urn:uuid:7f1dd327-232f-4435-afdb-e1316b0cbbfc>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://consumers28b.wallinside.com/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320539.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625152316-20170625172316-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944
| 896
| 2.875
| 3
|
In the literature recently there’s been a flurry of activity around pacing as a concept. When I first wrote about pacing I couldn’t find very much that had been published, and I ended up writing something that made sense to me at the time. Today I hope to add to that by summarising a few of these recent papers, and discussing some findings from my PhD research.
Firstly, what is pacing?
Pacing isn’t well-defined. In one of a few recent papers on pacing, Nielson, Jensen, Karsdorp, & Vlaeyen (2013) suggest that pacing should be defined as “…the regulation of activity level and/or rate in the service of an adaptive goal or goals” (p. 465). Gill & Brown (2009) point out that because pacing is poorly defined, and despite the term being used widely and most especially in the mid 20th century (and related to the “3 P’s” of planning, positioning and pacing used for rheumatoid arthritis), there are a diverse range of articles mentioning pacing, but no consensus as to what it might include.
Jamieson-Lega, Berry and Brown (2013) scanned the literature and sought feedback from stakeholders from a range of disciplines, and developed a concept map for the term. Concept mapping involves identifying the use of the concept in the literature, defining the attributes of the concept and developing a model case (a “pure” example), and both borderline and contrary cases (incorporating none or only some of the concepts). Antecedent and consequent outcomes associated with the concept of pacing were also defined, and empirical referents, or phenomena that show how the concept has occurred.
Key criteria for pacing, drawn from the literature by Jamieson-Lega, Berry & Brown (2013) show that pacing has five consistent attributes:
- Action – pacing involves intentional behaviour
- Time – pacing occurs over time and involves attending to time
- Balance – weighting activity and rest in accordance with intended outcomes
- Learning – pacing needs to be learned, it requires an effort
- Self-management – the process of using pacing involves independently integrating the practice once the skill has been developed.
The definition proposed by this group is therefore slightly different from Neilson and colleagues:
“Pacing is an active self-management strategy whereby individuals develop self-efficacy through learning to balance time spent on activity and rest for the purpose of achieving increased function” (p. 209).
When would someone need to develop this skill and what might happen if they use it successfully?
Janieson-Lega, Berry and Brown (2013) suggest that there are prerequisites for the need to develop pacing. These involve activity disruption secondary to pain, imbalance between activity and rest, patient’s lack of pain self-management knowledge and having pain. When an individual successfully uses pacing, the expected outcomes are pain management, self-direction and improved self-efficacy, avoidance of pain exacerbation, balanced activity/rest, increased functional ability, and increased knowledge and skills in activity planning and prioritising (p. 210).
Therefore, if a person with chronic pain isn’t able to engage in what they want to do, finds it difficult to have sufficient rest or activity, lacks self-management knowledge and has pain, they could expect that pacing would enable them to manage their pain more effectively, become self-directed and more confident, minimise flare-ups, have a balance between activity and rest, be able to do more, and know more about what is important and how to achieve what is valued.
What does the literature suggest?
Despite the problems with defining pacing, and consequently having no real measure of pacing, there have been several studies examining the relationship between pacing and other important variables. The first study I saw of pacing was McCracken and Samuel’s 2007 paper looking at the relationship between avoidance, pacing and other activity patterns. Surprisingly, these authors found that pacing was associated with both activity avoidance and disability. From this study, the authors suggested that avoidance activity may resemble healthy coping (and from this I deduced that pacing is considered “healthy”).
Murphy, Smith & Alexander (2008) conducted a small pilot study of activity pacing in women with lower limb osteoarthritis. This study used actigraphy to monitor movements, and correlated this data with self-reported pain and fatigue. This study found that “high pacers” had more severe, escalating symptoms, and activity pacing was related to lower physical activity. Karsdorp & Vlaeyen (2009) found that activity avoidance but not activity pacing was associated with disability, and challenged the notion that pacing as an intervention is essential in pain management. van Huet, Innes, & Whiteford (2009) on the other hand, found that “graduates” from a pain management programme continued to use pacing strategies years after completing a programme, but made no comments as to the effect on outcomes although they did comment that “the application of pacing tended to be individualised, with the use of self-selected time increments and novel strategies providing structure to limit over-activity” (p. 2036).
Andrews, Strong & Meredith (2012) completed a systematic review of activity pacing in relation to avoidance, endurance and functioning. This study found that pacing was linked to better psychological functioning but more pain and disability, but couldn’t comment on the direction of this relationship.
What about people with chronic pain, what do they think?
People with chronic pain indicate that they use pacing in studies within the qualitative literature. The problem is that these describes rarely include definitions of pacing. van Huet, Innes and Whiteford’s study from 2009 provides quotes from graduates of pain management programmes who describe pacing as “doing things in bursts of 20 minutes and half an hour, then changing what I’m doing, then go back”; “you don’t have to do the whole lawn at once”.
From my study of people who cope well with pain, participants were selective about their use of pacing. Many of them indicated that pacing was not used when they had an important goal to achieve, while using “chunking” or breaking activities into smaller units was used from time to time – what was interesting is that pain intensity wasn’t used as an indicator for when to stop. Patients I’ve worked with in the past have described using pain intensity or fatigue as the indicator – they always stopped before their pain or fatigue “got out of hand”.
Where does this leave us?
My take in pacing as it currently stands is that there is a great deal of confusion on the matter. My personal opinion, and from both the literature and my own experience with my fibromyalgia, is that pacing can be useful in several ways – but can also be unhelpful.
Here’s how I think it can be useful:
- When beginning to work towards an increased activity level – by setting a baseline level of activity, then titrating this level up by time or “chunk” increments rather than using pain or fatigue as a guide
- When individuals are finding it hard to maintain activity levels over a day/week/month, pacing using time or quota as the guide can help extend activity levels over a longer period
- When people are not sure of their symptoms and find it difficult to know what triggers an exacerbation, usually during the “making sense of pain” phase of adjusting to chronic pain
- When engaging in routine activities that don’t need to be carried out all at once, such as mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, vacuuming the house. Things that need to be done, but might be carried out over a longer period of time than a single session. I used this approach to write my PhD using Pomodoro Technique. I also use it when doing housework.
When might it be unhelpful?
- When individuals continue to use pain as a guide to stopping activity, and “stop before it flares up”
- When individuals monitor their pain intensity and seek to avoid fluctuations in pain
- When working to a quota doesn’t help them reach goals and isn’t used to reduce distress, disability and isn’t progressed. A good example of this is the “5 minute break” I saw instituted in a data entry workplace. It was a computerised system that stopped the keyboard for five minutes with no over-ride. The “5 minute break” was obligatory for everyone every 45 minutes, there was no rationale for using it, it interrupted flow, and people HATED it. I’ve seen similar things used when people are returning to work – “work for 15 minutes then stop for 5”, maintained for weeks without being reviewed and without establishing effect.
Having arrived at a reasonable definition, I think it’s time to see how people use pacing in daily life, within the context of the ebb and flow of normal activities. I’d like to see an ecological momentary assessment approach to see what triggers use of pacing, how well do people return to their activities, how long is a break, and whether there is an impact on both disability and distress.
Andrews, Nicole E., Strong, Jenny, & Meredith, Pamela J. (2012). Activity Pacing, Avoidance, Endurance, and Associations With Patient Functioning in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93(11), 2109-2121.e2107.
Gill, Joanna R., & Brown, Cary A. (2009). A structured review of the evidence for pacing as a chronic pain intervention. European Journal of Pain, 13(2), 214-216. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.03.011
Jamieson-Lega, K., Berry, R., & Brown, C. A. (2013). Pacing: a concept analysis of the chronic pain intervention. Pain Research and Management, 18(4), 207-213.
McCracken, Lance, & Samuel, Victoria. (2007). The role of avoidance, pacing, and other activity patterns in chronic pain. Pain, 130(1), 119 – 125.
Murphy, S. L., Smith, D. M., & Alexander, N. B. (2008). Measuring activity pacing in women with lower-extremity osteoarthritis: a pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(3), 329-334.
Nielson, Warren R. PhD, Jensen, Mark P. PhD, Karsdorp, Petra A. PhD, & Vlaeyen, Johannes W. S. PhD. (2013). Activity Pacing in Chronic Pain: Concepts, Evidence, and Future Directions. Clinical Journal of Pain, 29(5), 461-468.
van Huet, Helen, Innes, Ev, & Whiteford, Gail. (2009). Living and doing with chronic pain: Narratives of pain program participants. Disability and Rehabilitation: An International, Multidisciplinary Journal, 31(24), 2031-2040. doi: 10.3109/09638280902887784
|
<urn:uuid:5cfdde35-6bdc-4538-8ebc-9ce005cdde40>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://healthskills.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/pacing-activity-management-concepts-a-longer-than-usual-post/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320539.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625152316-20170625172316-00424.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.937488
| 2,371
| 2.546875
| 3
|
The Rule of History - Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, and the hold of time.
Jill Lepore The New Yorker, 20.04.2015 (source SG)
In 1199, after Richard’s death by crossbow, John, no longer lacking in land or soft of sword, was crowned king of England. « Many times he went to battle. He lost more castles than he gained. He lost Anjou, and much of Aquitaine. He lost Normandy »
« In May of 1215, barons rebelling against the King’s tyrannical rule captured London. That spring, he agreed to meet with them to negotiate a peace. They met at Runnymede, a meadow by the Thames.
The barons presented the King with a number of demands, the Articles of the Barons, which included, as Article 29, this provision: « The body of a free man is not to be arrested, or imprisoned, or disseised, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way ruined, nor is the king to go against him or send forcibly against him, except by judgment of his peers or by the law of the land » »...
The King died in October, 1216. He was buried in Worcester, in part because, as Church writes, « so much of his kingdom was in enemy hands ».
« By 1225, what was left—nearly a third of the 1215 charter had been cut or revised—had become known as Magna Carta. It granted liberties not to free men but to everyone, free and unfree. It also divided its provisions into chapters. It entered the statute books in 1297, and was first publicly proclaimed in English in 1300 ».
« in the seventeenth century Magna Carta became a rallying cry during a parliamentary struggle against arbitrary power, even though by then the various versions of the charter had become hopelessly muddled and its history obscured ».
« In the United States in the nineteenth century, the myth of Magna Carta as a single, stable, unchanged document contributed to the veneration of the Constitution as unalterable »
WW2 : « The Lincoln cathedral’s Magna Carta was deposited in the Library of Congress where it was displayed next to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with which, once the war began, it was evacuated to Fort Knox. It was returned to the Lincoln Cathedral in 1946 ».
« The rule of history is as old as the rule of law. Magna Carta has been sealed and nullified, revised and flouted, elevated and venerated. The past has a hold: writing is the casting of a line over the edge of time. But there are no certainties in history. There are only struggles for justice, and wars interrupted by peace ».
Jill Lepore cite :
Nicholas Vincent, « Magna Carta: A Very Short Introduction » (Oxford).
David Carpenter, « Magna Carta » Penguin Classics
|
<urn:uuid:90bfe217-c9d9-4d9a-a96a-c46915b519a5>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://clioweb.canalblog.com/tag/jilllepore
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320707.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626101322-20170626121322-00504.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958427
| 627
| 3.421875
| 3
|
Welcome to the second installment of this two-part blog series on animals you’d likely encounter in a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not zoo if the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not franchise did indeed have a zoo. If you haven’t read Part 1 you can check it out by clicking the following link:
Here are the next 5 super strange critters on my list!
Deep Sea Pompeii Worm
Image Source: news.sciencemag.org
Contrary to appearances, this is not some outlandish proctology case study. It’s a very special kind of deep-sea worm that belongs in the cool-sounding category of the “extremophiles,” which are organisms that thrive in extreme environments. The neighborhoods of choice for Pompeii worms are hydrothermal vents and volcanic fissures, especially around the active plate boundaries in the Pacific Ocean. Also known as bristle worms, these rather hideous deep-sea squishies are a very recent addition to our taxonomic system, having only been discovered off the coast of the Galápagos Islands in the 1980’s.
Named After: Pompeii worms are named after the Roman city that got completely leveled by Mount Vesuvius’ epic tantrum in AD79. It’s kind of ironic that these worms, which thrive in volcanically active areas, are named after a city that did anything but thrive in a volcanically active area.
Physical Address: Pacific Ocean
It’s On This List Because: Pompeii worms live in water that is close to boiling point! They’re also covered in hairs that aren’t hairs at all: they’re stringy colonies of bacteria that are thought to help them withstand the perpetual heat they live in. To repay them, the worms secrete a delicious gooey snot that the bacteria feed on. Bloody charming.
The echidna is just one of Australia’s many and very unique offerings to the animal kingdom. They look very much like hedgehogs, with a bristling back of spines that would deter even the hungriest, most desperate and stupid of predators. Like the duckbilled platypus, the echidna is a monotreme; the order of mammals that lays eggs. Yes. A mammal that lays eggs.
If you want to impress an echidna, lay out a picnic spread of termites and ants and they’ll hoover up the lot. There are three different species of echidna in Australia and one of them is named after my third favorite old man, Sir David Attenborough. My dad comes first and Santa Claus a close second.
Close Relatives Include: Duck-billed platypus.
Physical Address: New Guinea and Australia.
It’s On This List Because: It’s a mammal that lays eggs. I mean, could you imagine walking in on your cat sitting on a clutch of eggs? So weird!
Sphynx Hairless Cat
In Egyptian mythology, the Sphynx was a great and terrible beast that had the head of a man and the body of a lion. In fact, the Sphynx was such a douchebag, it would get a kick out of posing travellers impossible riddles that – if they got wrong, which they invariable would – would land them up as lunch. Today, however, the Sphynx has been very much downgraded from merciless flesh-eating beast to a bald, comical looking cat. Whether it’s divine justice or coincidence that these two share the same name is yet to be proven by science.
Around the 1960’s some idiot got it into his or her head that it would be fun to own a hairless cat and rather than simply shave a regular domestic cat, they began a selective breeding program that has resulted in the breed known as the Sphynx. They’re strange-looking beasts, with velvety downy skin, huge sardonic eyes and prominent cheekbones; an aesthetic they share with most runway models.
Closest Relatives: The Egyptian Sphynx (yet to be proven by science)
Physical Address: Yours possibly… if you like your cats hairless.
It’s On This List Because: It’s a bald cat that doesn’t seem to know it, or care.
Photo Source: Miguel A. Landestoy T. 2007
Okay, so I KNOW you’ve never heard of this one before! In fact, I had to slowly pronounce the name of this critter about 7 times before I could say it out loud properly. The Hispaniolan solenodon is not a Latin dinosaur*. Rather, it’s a long-snouted nocturnal mammal that – get this – is venomous! The Hispaniolan solenodon gets its very name from the unique structure of its teeth (dont meaning tooth in Latin), which are capable of delivering a shot of venom into its prey or enemies. This special critter is found exclusively on the island of Hispaniola, hence its name, although there is another specie of solenodon on Cuba.
*Please excuse my culturally inaccurate joke.
Physical Address: Of the two surviving species of solenodons, the Hispaniolan solenodon can be found hanging out on the island of Hispaniola (shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti) and the other smoking cigars in Cuba.
It’s On This List Because: It’s a rodent-like critter that’s poisonous! Also, solenodons closely resemble the primitive mammals that were alive towards the end of the reign of the dinosaurs.
The goblin shark is one of those creatures whose name pretty much nails their appearance. It’s probably a good thing these animals dwell at ocean depths where no sunlight filters through, because if girl goblin sharks saw just how ugly boy goblin sharks are, the species would likely go into extinction. In fact, the first person who accidentally discovered this species reportedly thought it was a regular shark that had been accidentally or genetically disfigured.
Goblin sharks usually grow to between 3 to 4 meters in length and use their very large and sensitive schnozz to sense out the weak electrical impulses generated by other deep-sea animals. They typically hang out below 100m depth and the only reason we know they exist is because the odd one gets dredged up by deep-sea fishing trawlers.
Physical Address: Goblin sharks adore the inky darkness of the deep ocean, so you’ll find them around submarine canyons and upper continental slopes.
It’s On This List Because: It could literally eat an apple through a tennis racket with those teeth and its nose would make a Jewish banker jealous.
What’s Your Suggestion?
That concludes my list! So, apart from your husband, what do you find to be the strangest animal and why?
|
<urn:uuid:641df057-0e96-4ec2-a9a3-f923f2c3c864>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://chibuikeokey.wordpress.com/2015/12/21/ten-most-weird-animals-on-earth-2/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320707.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626101322-20170626121322-00504.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93488
| 1,456
| 2.640625
| 3
|
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids
"The Good Fats - EPA & DHA"
The "good fats" or "healing fats" are the fats that we must obtain in order to be healthy. The key components of healing fats are the essential fatty acids - EPA & DHA. There are several different families of fatty acids but only two of these families are considered essential because the body must have them, but cannot make them. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) must come from foods. EFAs (particularly, DHA & EPA) play a critical role in the proper functioning of almost all of the major systems in the body.
Essential Fatty Acid Families:
1. Superunsaturated Omega 3 Family
· Alpha-linolenic Acid (LNA)
2. Polyunsaturated Omega 6 Family
· Linoleic Acid (LA)
Even though both of these fatty acids are considered essential in the diet and we (pets and people) can't live without them, it is also critical that they are consumed in a properly balanced ratio. This ratio should be around 2:1 Omega 6 to Omega 3. However, experts agree that the diets of both people and pets are providing an excessive amount of Omega 6 (LA) and little, if any, Omega 3. An imbalance as great as 20:1 is extremely common with the high consumption of overly-processed foods and very little whole, raw and fresh foods being incorporated into the modern diet. This imbalance has been proven to be a factor in most of the degenerative diseases that are common in our pets today. By adding a high quality source of Omega 3 to the diet, we can prevent or alleviate many of these diseases.
There are two basic sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids:
1. Plant based sources, such as flax seed, hemp seed, soybeans, walnuts, etc. (Sources of LNA)
2. Cold water fish oils. (Direct source of EPA and DHA)
Plant sources contain the parent omega 3 essential fatty acid, Alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), which must be converted in the body to Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in order to perform most of their critical functions. The body requires approximately 10 LNA to produce 1 EPA. This conversion can be difficult or impossible for some older animals or those with degenerative conditions and weakened immune systems. Unfortunately these are the animals that need it the most. Taking into consideration this conversion factor, it becomes necessary to consume a lot more of the plant sources in order to get the required daily allowance. If palatability is low, this can be extremely challenging.
On the other hand, cold water fish oils are a readily available abundant & direct source of both EPA and DHA, eliminating the need for this conversion in the body. Fish oils also tend to be a much more palatable source for animals. Both dogs and cats absolutely love the taste, which makes it easy and enjoyable to administer.
Omega 3 Fish Oils are the richest source of EPA and DHA!
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Omega 3 fatty acid family Omega 6 fatty acid family
Alpha-linolenic Acid (LNA) Linoleic Acid (LA)
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Dihomogamma-linolenic Acid (DGLA)
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Arachidonic Acid (AA)
Series 3 Prostaglandins Series 1 & 2 Prostaglandins
Essential Fatty Acids and their derivatives serve a number of major vital functions in the body. They are required for the transport and metabolism of both cholesterol and triglycerides. They are required for normal brain development and brain function. They are required in visual function (retina), brain and nerve function (synapses), and adrenal function. They are required in the structure of the membranes that surround each cell in our body. They stimulate metabolism, increase metabolic rate, increase oxygen uptake, and increase energy production. They slow down growth of cancer cells.
DHA (from fish oil) has been shown to be a key in neural development. Research, unveiled at the 2004 American Veterinary Medical Association convention, examined the role DHA (a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) - plays in puppies' neural development.
The research shows "that puppies nourished with enhanced (high) levels of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were smarter, more trainable than typical-DHA (low-DHA) nourished puppies."
DHA is one of the most abundant fatty acids in the brain, and thought to be vital for mental function. DHA has long been praised as a wonder nutrient for human infants and now it's been found to boost healthy brain development in puppies.
DHA, and its companion, EPA, are the forms of omega-3 essential fatty acids naturally available in fish oils -- for optimum utilization.
EPA (from fish oil) also converts to series 3 prostaglandins, which have many benefits. They regulate inflammatory responses (Skin and Joint). They regulate immune function, which can help in fighting disease more effectively. They regulate platelet stickiness. They regulate arterial muscle tone, which involves blood pressure regulation.
The series 1 & 2 prostaglandins have the exact opposite effect on the body as the series 3. They stimulate inflammation, constrict the arteries, make platelets stickier, and inhibit immune response. That is the reason why a properly balanced ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 is so critical. In essence they keep each other in check.
In conclusion, the lack of Omega 3 and the excessive amount of Omega 6 in the modern diet ultimately create degenerative conditions. The store-bought processed foods still do not supply an adequate amount of Omega 3 to properly balance the ratio. Many nutritional supplements are still promoting and loading up the Omega 6 (LA) fatty acids -exacerbating an already severely imbalanced and unhealthy situation. The best solution to insure our pet's health is to provide a high quality Omega 3 Fish oil supplement along with a premium food.
Omega 3 Fish Oils
Healthy skin & glistening coat, decreased inflammation, increased stamina, a strong immune system and reduced shedding!!
The biologically-available source of DHA & EPA
Omega 3 Fish Oils
Home Gallery Back E-mail
|
<urn:uuid:9b977cef-89e8-4c75-9b60-1ab8e378f13b>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://nightmagicpride.com/omega3overview.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320995.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627050500-20170627070500-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.923807
| 1,352
| 3.140625
| 3
|
Just Like the Financial Crisis, the Gulf Oil Spill, and All Other Crises, Government Covers Up Instead of Addressing the Real Problems
2 weeks after the Fukushima accident, we reported that the government responded to the nuclear accident by trying to raise acceptable radiation levels and pretending that radiation is good for us.
Radiation from Fukushima is slamming Tokyo, as well as the West Coast of North America.
Fukushima radiation is showing up in fish on the West Coast of the United States. Scientists are starting to sound the alarm as to additional human deaths and health problems on the U.S. West Coast due to Fukushima radiation, and an epidemic of injuries to sealife.
And it’s not just Fukushima …
An investigation by Associated Press found that 75 percent of all U.S. nuclear sites have leaked radioactive tritium.
And an accident in the U.S. could be a lot larger than in Japan … partly because our nuclear plants hold a lot more radioactive material. Radiation could cause illness in huge numbers of Americans, and a major nuclear accident could literally bankrupt America.
So what has the American government done to protect us?
It has pressured the Japanese government to re-start its nuclear program, and is allowing Fukushima seafood to be sold in the U.S.
And U.S. nuclear regulators actually weakened safety standards for U.S. nuclear reactors after the Fukushima disaster.
And as we noted 6 months after Fukushima melted down:
American and Canadian authorities have virtually stopped monitoring airborne radiation, and are not testing fish for radiation. (Indeed, the EPA reacted to Fukushima by raising “acceptable” radiation levels.)
The failure of the American, Canadian and other governments to test for and share results is making it difficult to hold an open scientific debate about what is happening.
And it’s happening again …
Forbes reported last week:
The acting EPA director on Friday signed a revised version of the EPA’s Protective Action Guide for radiological incidents, which critics say radically relaxes the safety guidelines agencies follow in the wake of a nuclear-reactor meltdown, dirty-bomb attack, or other unexpected release of radiation.
According to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) [a government whistleblower support group], that means agencies responding to radiation emergencies may permit many more civilian fatalities.
“In soil, the PAGs allow long-term public exposure to radiation in amounts as high as 2,000 millirems,” PEER advocacy director Kirsten Stade said in a press release. “This would, in effect, increase a longstanding 1 in 10,000 person cancer rate to a rate of 1 in 23 persons exposed over a 30-year period.”
Medical doctor Helen Caldicott notes:
The radiation guides (called Protective Action Guides or PAGs) allow cleanup many times more lax than anything EPA has ever before accepted. These guides govern evacuations, shelter-in-place orders, food restrictions and other actions following a wide range of “radiological emergencies.” The Obama administration blocked a version of these PAGs from going into effect during its first days in office. The version given approval late last Friday is substantially similar to those proposed under Bush but duck some of the most controversial aspects:
- In soil, the PAGs allow long-term public exposure to radiation in amounts as high as 2,000 millirems. This would, in effect, increase a longstanding 1 in 10,000 person cancer rate to a rate of 1 in 23 persons exposed over a 30-year period;
- In water, the PAGs punt on an exact new standard and EPA “continues to seek input on this.” But the thrust of the PAGs is to give on-site authorities much greater “flexibility” in setting aside established limits; and
- Resolves an internal fight inside EPA between nuclear versus public health specialists in favor of the former. The PAGs are the product of Gina McCarthy, the assistant administrator for air and radiation whose nomination to serve as EPA Administrator is taken up this week by the Senate.
- Despite the years-long internal fight, this is the first public official display of these guides. This takes place as Japan grapples with these same issues in the two years following its Fukushima nuclear disaster.
“This is a public health policy only Dr. Strangelove could embrace. If this typifies the environmental leadership we can expect from Ms. McCarthy, then EPA is in for a long, dirty slog,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that the EPA package lacks a cogent rationale, is largely impenetrable and hinges on a series of euphemistic “weasel words.”
“No compelling justification is offered for increasing the cancer deaths of Americans innocently exposed to corporate miscalculations several hundred-fold.”
Reportedly, the PAGs had been approved last fall but their publication was held until after the presidential election. The rationale for timing their release right before McCarthy’s confirmation hearing is unclear.
Since the PAGs guide agency decision-making and do not formally set standards or repeal statutory requirements, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and Superfund, they will go into full effect following a short public comment period. Nonetheless, the PAGs will likely determine what actions take place on the ground in the days, weeks, months and, in some cases, years following a radiological emergency.
When the economy imploded in 2008, how did the government respond?
Did it crack down on fraud? Force bankrupt companies to admit that their speculative gambling with our money had failed? Rein in the funny business?
Of course not!
The government just helped cover up how bad things were, used claims of national security to keep everything in the dark, and changed basic rules and definitions to allow the game to continue. See this, this, this and this.
So now that Japan is suffering the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl – if not of all time – is the government riding to the rescue to help fix the problem, or at least to provide accurate information to its citizens so they can make informed decisions?
Of course not!
The EPA is closing ranks with the nuclear power industry ….
Indeed, some government scientists and media shills are now “reexamining” old studies that show that radioactive substances like plutonium cause cancer to argue that they help prevent cancer.
In other words, this is a concerted propaganda campaign to cover up the severity of a major nuclear accident by raising acceptable levels of radiation and saying that a little radiation is good for us.
|
<urn:uuid:201c51cb-d329-4b23-a3ec-5da3a404b1ab>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/04/government-reacts-to-fukushima-radiation-crisis-by-raising-acceptable-radiation-standards-instead-of-fixing-anything.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320995.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627050500-20170627070500-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.940188
| 1,378
| 2.59375
| 3
|
Connected to Lisa’s post about transcribing Genesis, lines in typographical works like A Descriptive Catalogue are also raising questions. Here, ruled lines are used as a decorative element, as in this example from the title where a double line appears below Blake’s handwritten addition.
In line with (haha!) our policy of “transcribe what you see,” I created a transcription that displays like this:
However, this issue was discussed over the summer when the Editors were trying to decide whether or not to number ruled lines in our transcriptions. Deciding not to, Rachel suggested that “we put one bold line instead of a multiple line and then include a note explaining what’s there.”
I like this suggestion because I think that transcribing the multiple lines changes the overall spacing on the page and in both of these cases, I would argue that we should treat it as a single line, and the double/triple rule is just a decorative feature. Similarly, they are not necessarily lines by Blake, which makes leaving off the line number make sense too.
So my questions are:
How do we differentiate between a line that Blake himself seems to have ruled (e.g. Genesis) and one that has perhaps been inserted by someone else (i.e. a printer)? Do we even have any way of knowing that this may be the case?
Do I need to include an object note or even a <handShift> tag as I have done for the handwritten words inserted by Blake in this object to explain what it is?
|
<urn:uuid:501b93f8-073b-4160-9812-f37b74dd99fe>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://blog.blakearchive.org/2013/10/01/the-line-problem-2-a-descriptive-catalogue/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320995.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627050500-20170627070500-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.970986
| 328
| 2.625
| 3
|
Skyrim, also known as the Old Kingdom, Throat of the World, the Fatherland or Keizaal (Dovahzul: Keiz-Aal, "Rebellion-May"[note 1]), is a vast region set in the northern part of Tamriel. It is home to the Nords, large and hardy men and women who have a strong resistance to frost, both natural and magical. Skyrim was originally inhabited by a race of Mer known as the Snow Elves, though after the Atmoran-Snow Elf War, the Snow Elves were destroyed and the Atmorans settled the land. It is bordered by Morrowind to the east, Cyrodiil to the south, Hammerfell to the southwest, and High Rock to the west. The island of Solstheim lies to the northeast of Skyrim.
- Main article: Merethic Era
Expedition to Skyrim
During the Merethic Era, a legendary Atmoran leader named Ysgramor, led an expedition from Atmora to the land that would later be known as Skyrim. They called the land Mereth, in recognition of the vast number of Mer that lived there. It was the first region of Tamriel to be settled by humans, who migrated there from the land of Atmora in the far north, across the Sea of Ghosts. According to legend, Ysgramor landed first at Hsaarik Head, at the extreme northern tip of Skyrim's Broken Cape. It is said that he and his companions were fleeing the civil war in Atmora, which at that time had a sizable population.
The Atmorans settled the area that in the future would be known as Winterhold hold; they eventually built a city in the region and called it Saarthal. For a long while, relations between the Snow Elves and the Atmorans were relatively peaceful.
Night of Tears
- Main article: Night of Tears
The Night of Tears is the name of the sacking of Saarthal by the Snow Elves. There are a variety of accounts as to why this happened. Some say the Snow Elves saw that the Nords, with their considerably shorter life expectancy, fast rates of physical maturation and expedient (by Elvish standards) reproductive cycle, would eventually overtake them if left unchecked. Another theory suggests that the sacking of Saarthal was brought on by the Atmoran discovery of the Eye of Magnus beneath the city. Other sources are less certain in their pronouncements, but also point to a very focused attack on locations that are not of strategic importance, lending weight to the theory that the Eye of Magnus, not the extermination of the Nords was the primary reason for the attack. According to legend, only Ysgramor and his two sons were able to escape back to Atmora.
- Main article: The Return
When Ysgramor and his sons returned to Atmora, they told stories of the events that occurred in Skyrim, and gathered many around them for a return to retake Skyrim and avenge Saarthal. After Ysgramor was set to return to Skyrim with an army known as the "Five Hundred Companions", composed of the heroes of the Atmoran Civil War. On the Day of Final Passage, the Five Hundred Companions left the port of Jylkurfyk to return to Skyrim.
Atmoran-Snow Elf War
The Atmoran-Snow Elf War took place in the late middle Merethic Era, and was a campaign which seemed to be indecisive for much of its duration. The battle that decided it for the Atmorans was the Battle of the Moesring. During the battle, the Atmorans were winning and it appeared that they would be victorious, until the arrival of the Snow Prince. He rallied and led his forces into combat, inspiring the troops of the last remaining army of Snow Elves, before allegedly being killed by a small child. The death of the Snow Prince shattered the morale and motivation of the remaining Snow Elf warriors. Many Snow Elves fled, and those who remained on the battlefield were killed. The Snow Prince himself was buried with honors by his Nord foes.
The war would end shortly after, and was followed by a purge of Skyrim's remaining Snow Elves. The Five Hundred Companions, without much resistance, secured the region and laid the foundations for the Ysgramor Dynasty.
Founding of Whiterun
After the war against the Snow Elves, the Five Hundred Companions broke into separate groups to find their own way in the newly conquered land. The crew of Jorrvaskr, led by Jeek of the River, journeyed around Skyrim until they came upon a mysterious yet wondrous sight; "a monument of a bird, whose eyes and beak were opened in flame." This monument, that would soon later known be known as Skyforge, was older than the Snow Elves themselves.It was supposedly as old as Nirn and was "some remnant of the god's efforts to render a paradise in Mundus before the shattering of Lorkhan." A city was built up around Jorrvaskr, and this city became known as Whiterun, with the initial area around it later known as Whiterun Hold.
Founding of Windhelm
Ysgramor and his group traveled eastwards, heading towards Yngol Barrow. After stopping there, Ysgramor's eyes turned to the south, where a river met the sea. He decreed that he and his crew would build a great city, in monument to the glories of Mankind, and so he could look upon his son's final resting place and "feel that his line would know peace in this new home that was never known in Atmora." The city was built with a long bridge stretching across the White River, with much of the city made of stone. This city would be known as Windhelm, the City of Kings.
- Main article: Dragon War
Disclaimer: There is not much information on the dragon government and its timeline. The lore would suggest that the rule of the dragons preceded the greater wave of Atmoran colonization, and there is also little information about the dragons' interaction with the Dwemer and Snow Elves and their activities outside of Skyrim.[source?]
When the Atmorans came to Skyrim, they brought with them their history and culture, including their religion. Their religion focused on the worship of animal gods, the chief deity of which was the Dragon. Just as Dragons ruled supreme in Atmora, with dragon priests being their lieutenants to whom actual governance was left, the same occurred in Tamriel.
At an unknown time, the people of Skyrim rebelled against the Dragons. At first, people died by the thousands. Later, Kyne, the Nordic goddess of the Storm, intervened to help Mankind. She gave Paarthurnax the task of teaching Mankind the Voice.The tide began to turn in favor of Man, and eventually Dragons were hunted down and the cultists were killed or overthrown. The Atmorans solidified their victory after Hakon One-Eye, Felldir the Old and Gormlaith Golden-Hilt seemingly vanquished the Dragon lord Alduin. Mankind would win the Dragon War, with many Dragons killed and the remnants of the Dragon Cult dispersing and going into hiding. What was left of the Dragon Cult built the Dragon mounds, entombing themselves and the remains of the dragons that died during the war with the belief that Alduin would one day return and resurrect the faithful.
- Main article: First Era
Split with Atmora
Snow Elves persisted within the borders of Skyrim until the reign of the Thirteenth of the Ysgramor Dynasty, King Harald, at the beginning of the First Era. King Harald was the first to relinquish all holdings in Atmora (until that time, the Nords of Atmora and Skyrim had been considered the same group), proclaiming that the people of Skyrim were an independent people.
The First Empire of Men
Vrage the Gifted started the expansion that would eventually lead to the First Empire of Men. Within fifty years of his reign, the Nords ruled all of Skyrim as well as parts of High Rock, Cyrodiil, and the Dunmer lands of Morrowind.The acquisition of Morrowind was particularly bloody, still remembered by the Dunmer. The purpose of the formation of the Chimer-Dwemer kingdom of Resdayn was to expel the Nords.
War of Succession
In 1E 369, High King Borgas was killed during the Wild Hunt. His death led to the start of Skyrim's War of Succession. The War of Succession caused Skyrim's influence over many of its dominions to wane. The Direnni Hegemony took advantage of the internal strife in Skyrim, and began taking land north and south of High Rock, even claiming portions of Skyrim at certain moments.
First Battle of Red Mountain
In 1E 416, the discord produced by the War of Succession greatly weakened the Nords and caused them to be expelled from Morrowind during the First Battle of Red Mountain (the Second Battle of Red Mountain would occur in 1E 700). The Nords lost all of their territory in Morrowind, and their armies suffered huge casualties at the hands of the combined Chimer-Dwemer army.
War of Succession ends
In 1E 420, the Skyrim War of Succession ended with the Pact of Chieftans and the crowning of Olaf One-Eye as High King. Records indicated that Olaf expanded Skyrim's boundaries when he conquered the Reach.
Following Olaf's reign, the Crown of Verity was created to ensure that the Moot would select a ruler worthy enough to rule Skyrim. The crown caused controversy when it rejected the Moot's choice of King, Asurn Ice-Breaker. Following this rejection, Asurn was then killed by Kjoric the White, who took the crown for himself.
War of Righteousness
Relations soured with Cyrodiil when Kjoric rebelled against Emperor Gorieus and his Alessian Army, but was killed at the Battle of Sungard in 1E 477 or 478. His son and heir, Hoag Merkiller, resented the Alessian Order so much that he allied with the Direnni Hegemony and King Rislav Larich's insurgents in their war against the Order. Hoag was soon killed at the Battle of Glenumbra Moors and his successor, Wulfharth, continued his predecessor's work in devastating the Alessian Order.
High King Wulfharth reestablished the Nordic pantheon as the mainstream faith in Skyrim, drove the Direnni Hegemony from Skyrim, and waged war against the Orcs. Legend has it that Wulfharth drew the ire of the Orcs' god Orkey, and that he had the ghost of Alduin Time-Eater reduce all the Nords to the age of six. Wulfharth pleaded with Shor to aid them and supposedly Shor's own ghost fought the Time-Eater on the spirit plane, as he did at the beginning of time, and won. Orkey's followers, the Orcs, were ruined by this act. Wulfharth watched the battle in the sky and learned a new thu'um that would change his people back to normal. But in his haste to save so many, he shook too many years out on himself. He grew older than the Greybeards themselves, and died.
Allegedly, Wulfharth would later be resurrected as Shor's avatar and united the sons of Skyrim to invade Morrowind and reclaim the Heart of Lorkhan. The initial battles for the Nords were devastating after making landfall. Although they thought the Dwemer and Chimer armies would be weaker with reports of them warring with each other, they were surprised to be beset by both armies. Believing that Shor's army would need all the strength it could muster, Wulfharth had also allied himself with orcish clans and House Dagoth in his holy war, much to the vexation of some Nords who still clung to old hatreds. Some tales claimed Voryn Dagoth deceived Wulfharth and the Nords into believing he was an ally, and betrayed the sons of Skyrim by leading them into a combined Dwemer-Chimer ambush. Other tales claimed that some of Wulfharth's Nords deserted him when he allied himself with their traditional enemies and fell in the climactic battle with the combined Dwemer-Chimer army. Ultimately, Wulfharth died at the Battle of Red Mountain in 1E 700, either by being weakened by Dumac and slained by Indoril Nerevar, or blasted away into ashes by Vivec. The Tribunal wrested Kagrenac's Tools and the Heart of Lorkhan from Voryn Dagoth and used them to give themselves divine powers. Unbeknownst to them, Voryn Dagoth did not die from their conflict but had secretly connected himself to the Heart long ago, turning into Dagoth Ur and becoming a divine being himself.
- Main article: Second Era
While the Akaviri Potentate saw the decline and disintegration of much of the Second Empire, Skyrim was one of the most rebellious provinces in this respect, destroying a fortress at Dawnstar, which catalysed the Potentate to crush all other large-scale armed forces on Tamriel.
During this period, Skyrim maintained most of its own structure, with the Moot continuing to elect kings and functioning largely independently of Versidue Shae and his son. King Logrolf was the last High King during the Potentate, and was assassinated in 2E 431.
Following Logrolf's assassination, the Crown chose his daughter, Freydis, as High Queen. This was disputed by Svartr, the Jarl of Solitude, who held a partial moot to proclaim himself High King in the west, signalling the split of Skyrim into two kingdoms. Svartr was unable to keep an influx of orcs fleeing the recent destruction of Orsinium out of his realm, and the chieftan Yashnag Gro-Yazgu, along with increasingly rebellious Reachmen, was a disruptive presence in the West for several decades, although some sources claim this was confined to Falkreath. This was ultimately ended in 2E 467, when Hakkvild slew Yashnag in single combat. Without a leader, the orcs scattered into the Wrothgarian Mountains.
The Second Akaviri Invasion of Tamriel
The Second Akaviri invasion landed east of Windhelm in 2E 572, rather than landing on the east of Morrowind. The leader was the king of the Kamal, Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal. They sacked Windhelm, and killed Queen Mabjaarn and Nurnhilde, her heir. Jorunn, her younger son, either escaped the sack, or was in Riften and came to Windhelm as the gates fell. In response to this invasion, the Ebonheart Pact is formed.
Jorunn and rallied troops from across eastern Skyrim, including summoning the spirit of Wulfharth to help the Nords. Following the return of Jorunn, now calling himself King Jorunn, the Nords held the Akaviri at bay while the Dunmer approached from the East and cornered the Akaviri at Stonefalls, and, supplemented by a legion of Argonians, drive the Akaviri into the sea.
Another account claims that Jorunn and Fildgor Strong-Prince arrived at the battle at the same time, and following the invasion dueled for the kingship of Eastern Skyrim to avoid civil war. After three hours of fighting, Jorunn emerged victorious and banished Fildgor, who fled to the Daggerfall Covenant. Ten years after the formation of the Pact, Jorunn is noted to be its head.
Battle of Sancre Tor
- Main article: Battle of Sancre Tor
In 2E 852, an allied force of Nords and Bretons occupied the fortress of Sancre Tor in the Jerrail Mountains in northern Cyrodiil, which was then besieged by Talos under the authority of King Cuhlecain, and defeated through Breton treachery. Following the battle, the Nords swore allegiance to Tiber Septim, and joined the efforts to conquer Cyrodiil. Note that available texts regarding the battle do not say that this was the point where Skyrim joined the Second Empire, merely that Nordic troops joined the Cyrodiilic army.
There is no documented account of how or why Skyrim was reunified, but it had presumably been a single entity for some time when the first Pocket Guide to the Empire was published in 2E 864, as its division and reunification does not merit a mention in the text. Either that, or the Imperial Geographic Society had some motive to hide the fact that the kingdom was ever divided. It is also likely that Tiber Septim reunified Skyrim through his actions at Sancre Tor.
- Main article: Third Era
The Wolf Queen
Princes Potema, child of Pelagius II, known to Tamrielic history as the "Wolf Queen", was married to King Mantiarco, noted as "King of Solitude", in 3E 82, when she was 14, and had her first child, Uriel, after many miscarriages, in 3E 97. In the intervening years, she spent much time gaining the allegiance of other Skyrim nobility. She initially attempted to be made Empress herself by forging a letter by her brother, claiming he knew he was a bastard, but she was discovered. Following this, Potema and her son Uriel attempted to have her brother's heir, Kintyra, declared a bastard before co-ordinating several attacks on the empire across Skyrim and High Rock, and ultimately a succressful attack on the Imperial City in 3E 121. These initial attacks resulted in the Empress Kintyra's capture in 3E 121 and execution at Glenpoint Castle in High Rock, and Uriel proclaiming himself Uriel Septim III. This triggered the War of the Red Diamond.
The War of the Red Diamond lasted for six years, between the rival claimants. Uriel was captured after the Battle of Ichidag in Hammerfell in 3E 127, and killed by a mob while en route to Cyrodiil for trial. Following this, Potema's allies deserted her and swore loyalty to Cephorus, while Potema summoned Daedra and raised undead to serve her dwindling armies in the next years. After a 3 year siege of her castle in Solitude, the Wolf Queen was declared dead in 3E 137.
The Oblivion Crisis
At the beginning of the Fifth Century of the Third Era, the Oblivion Crisis began with Mehrunes Dagon's attempt to enter Tamriel in his "true and terrible form." Oblivion Gates opened up all over Tamriel, and a massive war between Mortals and Daedra ensued. Though most of the fighting took place in Cyrodiil, it is known that Oblivion Gates opened up all across Tamriel.
- Main article: Fourth Era
The Red Year and its Aftermath
In 4E 5, Red Mountain erupted in Morrowind. Much of the land was destroyed, and as such many Dunmer were forced to flee their homeland. to 4E 6. In 4E 16 the High King of Skyrim gave the island of Solstheim to the Dunmer, giving the refugees coming from Morrowind a place to live. Four years later, in 4E 20, the Decree of Monument was signed by the Jarls to "decree this site as a monument to the struggle of those who fled their native home of Morrowind in the time following the Red Year."
The Foresworn Uprising
In 4E 174, a group of Reachmen launched an uprising in which they took the city of Markarth. This event would later be known as "The Forsworn Uprising." Since the Empire was fighting against the Third Aldmeri Dominion in Cyrodiil at the time, Markarth was undefended and was thus left open for attack. The Reachmen who took control of Markarth took over the government administration and created an independent Reach kingdom.
- Main article: Markarth Incident
Two years later, in 4E 176, Hrolfdir, who was the Jarl of Markarth prior to the Reachmen reclaiming it, asked a militia force led by Ulfric Stormcloak to retake Markarth. The militia was victorious, however, many people who were related to the Forsworn were put to the sword and killed, those of the Forsworn who didn't flee Markarth were killed, except for Madanach, Nepos the Nose and a handful of others. Those of the Forsworn who did manage to escape swore revenge against the Nords for preventing them a life of independence. After this the Imperial Legion returned and had to accept the agreement of free Talos worship, which was made between Ulfric and Hrolfdir, supposedly due to chaos running through the streets in Markarth. However, some time after this the Thalmor found out that the Empire wasn't honoring the White-Gold Concordat, and demanded them Ulfric and his men to be arrested or to face another war. The choice was clear for the Jarl, Ulfric and his men were arrested and the Thalmor came to Skyrim with their treaty enforcers, the Thalmor Justiciars to ensure that the Talos ban wouldn't be dishonored again. It was the founding day for the Stormcloaks and where the civil war in Skyrim truly started.
Skyrim Civil War
- Main article: Skyrim Civil War
The Civil War in Skyrim is known to have started prior to 4E 199 and after 4E 176. The exact cause for the war is a matter of debate in the province. On the Imperial side it is generally thought that Ulfric coveted the High King's throne and that he's just in it for the throne. On the Stormcloak side however, people see him as a liberator who tries to free Skyrim from the claws of a corrupt and dying Empire. Whiterun is neutral in this war and its Jarl claims that it will stay that way until the Hold is forced to draw its sword against one side or the other. There haven't been recorded any significant clashes in the Civil War prior to the Dragonborn arriving in Skyrim. Save from a few skirmishes outside of Windhelm and Whiterun and Skyrim in general. As a result, not much territory has been gained by either side.
The Dragon Crisis was a series of events that occurred in 4E 201, when Alduin, the Nordic god of destruction, returned to Tamriel. He, along with the many dragons that he resurrected, caused destruction and chaos throughout Skyrim, already in strife from the Skyrim Civil War. However, a mysterious individual—later revealed to be the hero of legend, the Dragonborn—rose up and was able to defeat Alduin, as foretold by the Elder Scrolls.
Skyrim is the most rugged region on Tamriel; not only containing five of the highest peaks on the continent, but also very snowy and cold. Much of Skyrim is vertical; mountains, cliffs, and deep valleys. The vast majority of settlements cling to these valleys.
Flora and fauna
A vast number of types of flora are found throughout Skyrim. Plants can be found anywhere in Skyrim, even in the least hospitable of locations. Flora such as Snowberries and Frost Mirriam are capable of surviving in cold, harsh conditions. There are nine types of Fungi found in Skyrim. These can be found in cave networks beneath the surface. Of particular note are Jazbay grapes, originally a rare delicacy, tundra cotton, an alternative clothing fibre to animal skins, and Bleeding Crown, a fungus common to many of Skyrim's caverns.
One of the most intriguing plants in Skyrim is the Nirnroot plant. Nirnroot typically grows near fungi and water resources, and depends on water and sunlight to survive. This rare plant is light green or crimson and emits a very bright glow, as well as a chiming sound. Nirnroot flourished on Skyrim and all of Tamriel until the event known as the Sun's Death (1E 668), which catastrophically affected almost all plant life, including Nirnroot.
- Main article: Creatures (Skyrim)
A number of animals found in Skyrim are domesticated. These include the dogs, horses, chickens, cows and goats. The horses of Skyrim are hardy and strong, and "make up for endurance what they lack in speed." Horses and horse-drawn carriages are commonly used as methods of transportation. Both are capable of traveling the harsh terrain and climate with ease.
- Main article: Hold
Holds are the nine administrative sections of Skyrim. Scattered across the rugged landscape of Skyrim are five major cities and four minor ones, as well as minor towns, villages and settlements.
- Main article: The Pale
- Main article: Dawnstar
A garrison town on the northern coast of Skyrim, Dawnstar is the trade center of the region. It was named capital of the Pale after the destruction of a fortress in Dawnstar during 2E 283. [source?] Dawnstar is one of the northern most cities in Skyrim along with Solitude and Winterhold.
- Main article: Falkreath Hold
- Main article: Falkreath
Falkreath is a city in southwestern Skyrim, capital of Falkreath Hold. It is close to the border with both Cyrodiil and Hammerfell. Falkreath is known for its cemetery, which dominates the southern part of the town.
- Main article: The Reach
The Reach is infamous for harboring the Forsworn, Reachmen who are fighting a long war of independence and seek to retake Markarth from the Nords and free the hold from Imperial authority. With the constant threat of Forsworn attacks looming over Markarth and its surrounding settlements, the Reach is often considered the most dangerous hold of Skyrim, fit only for seasoned adventurers or hardened mercenaries.
- Main article: Markarth (Lore)
A city in west-central Skyrim, Markarth is the capital city of The Reach. Markarth was notable for possessing the Imperial College of the Voice, which was founded by Tiber Septim to restore the Voice to the art of warfare. Half of the town is controlled by a wealthy family known as the Silver-Bloods. Violence runs rampant throughout most of the city due to the Forsworn and government corruption.
- Main article: Hjaalmarch
- Main article: Morthal
Morthal is a small city in North central Skyrim in the Drajkmyr Marsh. A common legend about The Pale Lady has been spread around Morthal. It tells of a story about a dangerous ghost who stalks the marshes to find her daughter.
- Main article: The Rift
- Main article: Riften
Riften, also known as Rifton, is capital of The Rift. This town is located in south-eastern Skyrim, close to the province's borders with both Cyrodiil and Morrowind. Home to the Skyrim Thieves Guild, it was in Riften that Barenziah joined the Guild during her return to Morrowind from exile in Skyrim.
Maven Black-Briar is one of Riften's most influential figures, and has de facto control of both the Riften Guard and the Jarl, as well as connections in both the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood.
Haafingar is the smallest Hold by area. Its symbol is a wolf's head. Since the Fourth Era, the High King of Skyrim reigns from Solitude. The hold is separated from Hjaalmarch by the Karth River and The Reach by mountains. Dragon Bridge is the only access to the hold by road, crossing the Karth River. Much of the hold is rocky and mountainous with soaring snowy mountains surrounding the north and west of Solitude, though the lower lying areas including Dragon Bridge are mostly comprised of forests and hills.
- Main article: Haafingar
- Main article: Solitude
Solitude is the center of Imperial influence within Skyrim and capital city of Haafingar. Castle Dour is located there, from which General Tullius runs the Imperial Legion in Skyrim. The nobility are housed within the Blue Palace. Solitude is located far to the northwest. The home of the famous Bards College, Haafingar is also one of Skyrim's few natural harbors and chief ports; ships from up and down the coast can be found at her crowded quays loading timber and salted cod for the markets of Wayrest, Anvil, and Senchal. [source?]
Founded during Skyrim's long Alessian flirtation, the Bards College continues to flaunt a heretical streak, and its students are famous carousers, fittingly enough for their chosen trade. [source?] Students yearly invade the marketplace for a week of revelry,[source?] the climax of which is the burning of "King Olaf" in effigy, possibly a now-forgotten contender in the War of Succession. Graduates have no trouble finding employment in noble households across Tamriel, including the restored Imperial Court in Cyrodiil, but many still choose to follow in the wandering footsteps of illustrious alumni such as Callisos and Morachellis.[source?]
- Main article: Whiterun Hold
Whiterun Hold is the largest of the nine holds, and is located in the center of mainland Skyrim. The Hold features a wide variety of geographical features, including rolling plains, green hills and snow-capped mountains, including the Throat of the World, which is the tallest mountain in all of Tamriel. Whiterun Hold is located at the center of Skyrim, and is the hub of trading and a core part of the province's economy. Whiterun Hold's major city is Whiterun, and features two other settlements, Riverwood and Rorikstead.
Whiterun Hold's economy is helped by the major trading and business in Whiterun City, the sawmill business in Riverwood, and five farms, three of which are located just outside of Whiterun City, while the other two are located in Rorikstead.
- Main article: Whiterun
Whiterun is a city in central Skyrim and capital of Whiterun Hold and the trading hub of the region.
This hold contains Whiterun and High Hrothgar, and was once referred to as the "Imperial City of Skyrim" before it underwent several acts of chaos including a dynastic feud, attacks by bandits and frost trolls, and a series of annihilating winters of alternating floods, droughts, and fires. A self-proclaimed priestess of Lorkhan, Jsashe the Witch-Queen, wielded de facto authority in the Hold and the local witches' coven, during the late Third Era. The local giant population uses the grasslands and tundra outside Whiterun as a pasture for their mammoth herds, and a place to set camp, such as in Bleakwind Basin.
- Main article: Winterhold (Hold)
Winterhold, sometimes known as "The Winterhold", is one of the nine Holds of Skyrim. It is one of the four oldest holds in Skyrim, known collectively as Old Holds. At one point Winterhold was the capital of Skyrim.[source?] Its symbol is a crown. Winterhold is located on the north-east corner of Skyrim. It is a vastly cold region, most of the hold is covered in snowy tundra plains and high mountain ranges. Along the cost is a polar environment of glaciers and icebergs. The surrounding holds are Eastmarch, to the south, and The Pale, to the west.
- Main article: Winterhold (City)
Winterhold, the capital city of Winterhold Hold was once a wealthy and influential city and county in north-eastern Skyrim. Winterhold is heavily affected by Dunmer ways and ideas, being close to the border. It contains the Ysmir Collective and the well known College of Winterhold. Winterhold's current Jarl is Korir.
Due to The Great Collapse, most of the historic city sank into the ocean two hundred years prior to the dragon attacks. It is the smallest hold capital, with only a tavern, the Jarl's Longhouse, and the College of Winterhold.
- Main article: Eastmarch
Eastmarch is located along the eastern border with Morrowind. The northern part of Eastmarch features snowy tundras and mountains, while the central and southern areas of the Hold are volcanically active. The western part resembles much of central Skyrim, while the eastern part borders the Velothi Mountains. Eastmarch's major city, Windhelm, is located in the northern part of the hold.
A smaller settlement, known as Kynesgrove, is located south of Windhelm. Eastmarch's economy is supported by three farms, Brandy-Mug Farm, Hlaalu Farm and Hollyfrost Farm, all located just outside of Windhelm. Eastmarch is also supported by Mixwater Mill and four mines: Darkwater Crossing, Goldenrock Mine, Steamscorch Mine and Gloombound Mine.
- Main article: Windhelm
Windhelm was once the capital of the First Empire of Skyrim, but as of the Fourth Era, it was the capital city of Eastmarch. The palace of the Ysgramor Dynasty still dominates the center of the Old City. Windhelm was sacked during the War of Succession, and again by the Akaviri army of Ada'Soon Dir-Kamal; the Palace of the Kings is one of the few First Empire buildings that remain. In the Second and Third Era, Windhelm was the only sizable city in the Hold of Eastmarch, and served as a base for Imperial troops guarding the Dunmeth Pass into Morrowind during Tiber Septim's reign.
Bleakrock Isle is located north of the Dunmer city of Blacklight and northeast of Windhelm. The ruling capital on the small island is Bleakrock Village which is the only real settlement on Bleakrock. There are a few Nordic ruins located on the isle including the massive ruins known as Skyshroud Barrow. Bleakrock Village has a set of ruins to the southeast of it called the Last Rest. Southwest of Bleakrock Village is a monument called Companions Point which depicts Ysgramor of the Five Hundred Companions.
Roscrea is an island located off the northern coast of Skyrim in the Sea of Ghosts. In the late third era, Solitude began to annex former Imperial territories including Roscrea.
The whole province of Skyrim is ruled by the High King (or Queen) and their consort. Each hold is ruled by a Jarl. Following the death of King Harald, the High King was chosen through a Moot of the Jarls, which has varied in importance from the ultimate legitimiser of a High King's rule to a mere ceremonial acknowledgement of the heir apparent. Disagreements over the Moot in the First Era led to the War of Succession in 1E 369, and after that a Moot has only been convened when the current High King has had no direct heir.
Until the Stormcloak Rebellion and Civil War, the province was included in the Empire of Tamriel. While under this banner, Skyrim enjoyed military aid from the Emperor's army and inclusion in world affairs, as part of the Elder Council. The High King and each Jarl held a seat on the council.
The Jagged Crown was symbol of leadership and power of a High King or High Queen. It was made out of the teeth and bones of Dragons and was an ancient relic of the Nords. It was made for King Harald. The last High King to wear the crown was King Borgas and the crown was lost during the War of Succession.
There are no known laws or legal documents of Skyrim. There were some surveys, censuses and records used by the government, such as the Book of Life, which was a census that kept track of people and livestock in a certain region. The government also kept records of cities' general status and economic production. One such survey was the Survey of the Holdings of Jarl Gjalund, taken down during the First Era by Slafknir the Scribe, under the rule of Jarl Gjalund.
Other than the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks, Skyrim appears to have no centralized armed forces. Each Hold has its own section of Hold Guards who act as both a national guard and police force. These soldiers are the first line of defense against any opposing force who threatens Skyrim and her people. All the Hold Guards were Legion Soldiers prior to the Civil War and were able to be conscripted by the Empire in times of war. After the Civil War erupted some time after the Markarth Incident, the Hold Guards of Skyrim were divided just as Skyrim itself was, with Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, The Reach and Falkreath Hold remaining loyal to Imperial control and Eastmarch, The Pale, The Rift and Winterhold Hold changing to Stormcloak control.
The Hold Guards and all armed forces are under the command of their respective Jarl of the nine Holds which are largely independent. However, in theory all Jarls must swear fealty to Skyrim's High King who can unify the Holds' armed forces into a centralized army. The Nords' warlike character and history of conflict contributed much to Skyrim's formidable reputation. As an ally of the Empire, it was also considered to be the Empire's strong arm.
Skyrim is a wealthy and powerful province and traditionally was a profitable trading partner of the Third Empire.
In the Fourth Era, Skyrim was politically unified until the outbreak of the Civil War, which pitted the Eastern Holds against the Western Holds. Although this, coupled with The Great Collapse, has caused some damage to Skyrim's economy, the city of Riften has become an industrial powerhouse, producing mead and fish. Skyrim is also abundant in a variety of wildlife that is hunted as prey by local hunters. These animals are hunted for their meat and pelts which can be sold or utilized for cooking and leather crafting.There are many forms of economic production in Skyrim. This includes agriculture, which is common despite the harsh and cold conditions, as well as grain production, mining, stone-cutting and logging. In Skyrim, there are many farms, Grain Mills, Mines, saw mills, docks and ports that produce goods and services. In addition, the trading and shipping industries are another part of Skyrim's economy. In each major city in Skyrim, of which there are five, there is a central marketplace where business, trading and social activities take place.Some cities, towns and villages produce specific goods and services. During the First Era, Rorik's Steading (Rorikstead) produced grain, leather and horses, Korvanjund produced hides and meat, Volunruud produced meat and worked ivory, Bromjunaar produced lumber and stone, Granite Hill held a weekly market and Hillgrund's Steading (Ivarstead).
The East Empire Company is a multi-national, monopolistic trading and shipping company based out of Cyrodiil. The East Empire Company essentially dominates the shipping and trading industry in Solitude, which is a major shipping port of Skyrim. However, the East Empire Company has been having troubles with the Blood Horker pirates, who were used by Clan Shatter-Shield to dimish the flow of Imperial goods to Skyrim, which in turn enabled Clan Shatter-Shield's trading and shipping business to rival them in Windhelm.
The most populous race in Skyrim are the Nords. However, people from all Tamrielic demographics can be found throughout the province.
Skyrim and her people, the Nords, have a diverse culture that spread across multiple aspects, such as holidays and festivals, music, religion, architecture and infrastructure and education. Some elements of their culture even date back to the Merethic Era and the Atmorans, the Nords' ancient ancestors.[source?]
Nords consider themselves to be the children of the Sky. They call Skyrim the Throat of the World because it was where the sky first brought the North Winds upon land and formed them. Breath and the voice are the vital essences of a Nord; the art of breathing, speech and articulation is with them. Though the art of speech is usually associated with the goddess Dibella, the art of the Thu'um, or Storm Voice, is associated with Kynareth, who gave Men the ability to speak.
Nearly all Nords have the capability to speak, but some have the capability of using the Thu'um, or Storm Voice. The power of these Nords can be articulated into a Shout. The Way of the Voice was a pacifist philosophy developed by Jurgen Windcaller. The philosophy preached the Thu'um should only be used for worship and glory of the Gods rather than martial exploits. Jurgen Windcaller first developed this philosophy after the First Battle of Red Mountain in 1E 416. He then founded the Greybeards, a monastic group of Tongues who practice the Way of the Voice.
Saunas are also popular in Skyrim.[OOG 1]
There are two religious pantheons of Skyrim, both worshiped in different time periods throughout Skyrim's history. The first was the Ancient Nordic Pantheon, worshiped during the Merethic and early First Era. The Ancient Nordic Pantheon venerated animal gods; the deities were the hawk, wolf, snake, moth, owl, whale, bear, fox, and the dragon, which some scholars equate to the Nine Divines in different forms. The second was the Nordic Pantheon, revered during the rest of Skyrim's history prior to the Fourth Era. During the Fourth Era they adapted to the Imperial Pantheon.
The Nordic Pantheon consists of various deities, resembling the Nine Divines. Specific deities venerated by Skyrim and her people include: Alduin, Dibella, Orkey, Tsun, Mara, Stuhn, Kyne, Jhunal, Shor, Ysmir, Herma-Mora, Maloch. Shor is considered the father deity of the province, as opposed to Akatosh, the chief Divine of Cyrodiil. Some scholars report that Akatosh and Alduin are the same deity, while others disagree. Sovngarde is believed to be the Nordic afterlife created by Shor. When Nords, as well as anyone who believe in the Nordic Pantheon, die a heroic and honorable death, they ascend to Sovngarde.
Daedra worship is rare in Skyrim, although the traditional Nordic Pantheon acknowledges some of these beings. These include Herma-Mora, an Atmoran demon who some claim is the incarnation of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora. Mephala, the Daedric Princess and webspinner, is Herma's sister, supporting claims that he is a Daedric Prince. Mauloch, an incarnation of Malacath, is the patron of the ostracized.
Other Daedric Princes worshiped in Skyrim are by those who do not follow predominant faiths in the provice. These include Azura—whose followers fled Morrowind after receiving spiritual dreams from their liege; Nocturnal—worshiped by the Nightingales; Namira—worshiped by a cult of cannibals; and Hircine, largely patronized by lycanthropes.
Because Tiber Septim liberated Skyrim from the elves, many consider his divine apothesized form, Talos, as worthy of veneration. Worship of Talos is prevalent in Skyrim, despite the Thalmor and the Elder Council signed the White-Gold Concordat as a treaty to the Great War conflict. The document contained explicit demands by the Third Aldmeri Dominion to uproot the worship of Talos in Cyrodiil and its territories. Skyrim, at the time, was a territory of the Empire of Tamriel, its High King being a member of the Elder Council. Loyalists supported the efforts of Imperial Legion and the Thalmor to eradicate Talos worship in Skyrim, although rebellious groups such as the Stormcloaks refused to relinquish these beliefs. Sometime after the Concordant was signed into law, the shrine of Talos in the Temple of the Divines was desecrated and removed.
Many songs are found in Skyrim's culture; some notable songs included Ragnar the Red, the Song of the Dragonborn, The Dragonborn Comes and Tale of the Tongues. Music is also popular in relation to war and propaganda. In the third century of the Fourth Era, when the Civil War was taking place, two songs were produced with lyrics altered to suit each side. The Age of Aggression was for the Empire and The Age of Oppression was for the Stormcloaks. These songs are sung by Bards in Inns and Taverns all across Skyrim.
One very notable song of the past was King Olaf's Verse. The verse, written by Bard Svaknir, criticized King Olaf One-Eye and his adventures and referred to his adventures as "lurid and false." In response, King Olaf One-Eye ordered Svaknir to be imprisoned and all copies of his verse to burn. In 4E 201, the Last Dragonborn joined the Bards College; their initiation task was to retrieve the last known copy of King Olaf's Verse from Dead Men's Respite.
Queen Elisif the Fair banned the Burning of King Olaf, a festival of the Bards College, after the death of her husband, Torygg. She considered it to be in bad taste. The Bards,however, desired for the festival to take place. Viarmo and the Last Dragonborn went to Elisif the Fair and presented to her King Olaf's Verse. Elisif soon allowed holding of the Burning of King Olaf festival. The festival was to be held that day, and for all days in the future when the festival was to take place.
Festivals and holidays
A few notable holidays and festivals are customary in Skyrim and in Nordic culture. One notable festival is the Feast of the Dead, which is held on the 13th of Sun's Dawn in Windhelm to honor Ysgramor and the Five Hundred Companions. During the festival, the names of the Five Hundred are recited.
Architecture and infrastructure
The architecture and infrastructure of Skyrim is a mix of rural and urban; much of Skyrim is untamed wilderness, broken up by nine major cities spread across the province. Of these nine cities, there are five that are more urbanized, heavily populated, and more city-like, and four that are smaller, less populated, and more rural in nature.
The actual architecture of the buildings varies, but it is unknown what they were based on. The city of Markarth was originally built by the ancient Dwemer. The buildings were made of stone and the unique metal known only to the Dwemer. After the Dwemer disappeared in 1E 700, people started to settle into Markarth, so the Nords who settled the city did not have to use their cultural styles of architecture and infrastructure.
Examples of Ancient Nordic architecture include longhouses, with "each beam and cornice festooned with carvings of dragons, bulls, boars, leering wild men, and dancing, long-tressed women."[OOG 2] The Ancient Nords, known as the Atmorans, built massive structures called Word Walls. Whether it was out of fear or respect, the Ancient Nords learned the language and writing system of the dragons.
There are also examples of Akaviri architecture present in Skyrim. Sometime during the First Era, Sky Haven Temple was constructed for and by the Akaviri Dragonguard. In 1E 2812, Emperor Reman II permitted the construction of Alduin's Wall in the Temple, a massive stone mural built to record all of the Akaviri's accumulated dragon-lore and the Prophecy of the Dragonborn. Sky Haven Temple and Alduin's Wall are testaments to Akaviri architecture and sculpturing, and is considered to be some of the best preserved examples of early Akaviri structures and sculptures.
Three colleges are recorded as existing in Skyrim throughout its history: the Imperial College of the Voice in Markarth, the Bards College in Solitude, and the College of Winterhold in Winterhold. Tiber Septim endowed a college in Markarth to begin teaching the Voice as a tool of war, but whether this college began teaching or not is unclear. There is no trace of the college in any of the games.
- The Elder Scrolls: Arena
- The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (Mentioned only)
- The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (Mentioned only)
- The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar
- The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Mentioned only)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Mentioned only)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- ↑ If divided differently, the word Keizaal can become Keiza-Al, which translates to "to Rebellion-Destroyer."
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Children of the Sky
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Provinces of Tamriel
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- ↑ Dialogue with Knight-Paladin Gelebor
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Skyrim
- ↑ The Annotated Anuad
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Before the Ages of Man
- ↑ Yngol and the Sea-Ghosts
- ↑ Night of Tears — Dranor Seleth
- ↑ Imperial Report on Saarthal
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Songs of the Return, Vol 2
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Skyrim — Imperial Geographic Society
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Fall of the Snow Prince
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 The Falmer: A Study — Ursa Urthrax
- ↑ Songs of the Return, Vol 7
- ↑ Songs of the Return, Vol 19
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 The Dragon War — Torhal Bjorik
- ↑ Seven Thousand Steps Etchings
- ↑ Alduin's Bane
- ↑ Note (Forelhost 1)
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Morrowind
- ↑ Nerevar at Red Mountain — Alandro Sul
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 The Crown of Freydis - Taleon Mythmaker
- ↑ Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: High Rock
- ↑ Olaf and the Dragon — Adonato Leotelli
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Windhelm Palace of the Kings Plaque
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Rislav the Righteous
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Five Songs of King Wulfharth
- ↑ Kagrenac's Tools
- ↑ History of the Fighters Guild
- ↑ Orcs of Skyrim - Thora Far-Wanderer
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 The Second Akaviri Invasion - by Yngmaer Raven-Quill
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Jorunn the Skald-King - Helgreir Lute-Voice
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 The Brothers' War
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Guide to the Ebonheart Pact
- ↑ Events of The Elder Scrolls Online
- ↑ Battle of Sancre Tor
- ↑ Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition
- ↑ The Wolf Queen, Book II - Waughin Jarth
- ↑ Biography of the Wolf Queen - Katar Eriphanes
- ↑ The Wolf Queen, Book III - Waughin Jarth
- ↑ The Wolf Queen, Book VI - Waughin Jarth
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Brief History of the Empire, Book I - Stronach k'Thojj III
- ↑ The Wolf Queen, Book VI - Waughin Jarth
- ↑ Brief History of the Empire, Book II
- ↑ The Wolf Queen, Book VIII
- ↑ Events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- ↑ History of Raven Rock, Vol. I — Lyrin Telleno
- ↑ Lymdrenn Tenvanni's Journal
- ↑ Events of The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn
- ↑ An Elder Scrolls Novel: Lord of Souls
- ↑ Decree of Monument
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5 The Bear of Markarth — Arrianus Arius
- ↑ The Bear of Markarth
- ↑ Dialogue with Nepos the Nose during The Forsworn Conspiracy
- ↑ Dialogue with Braig
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 Dialogue with Igmund
- ↑ Dialogue with Alvor
- ↑ Dialogue with Thalmor Justiciars
- ↑ Dialogue with Solaf
- ↑ Dialogue with Saerlund
- ↑ Dialogue with Elisif the Fair
- ↑ Dialogue with Ralof
- ↑ Dialogue with Ulfric Stormcloak
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 Dialogue with Vulwulf Snow-Shod
- ↑ Dialogue with Balgruuf the Greater
- ↑ Dialogue with Captain Aldis
- ↑ The Book of the Dragonborn
- ↑ Events of the Main Quest
- ↑ Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim
- ↑ Sinderion's Field Journal
- ↑ The Nirnoot Missive — Sinderion
- ↑ 73.0 73.1 73.2 73.3 Loading Screens (Skyrim)
- ↑ 74.0 74.1 The Holds of Skyrim: A Field Officer's Guide, For Use By Officers of the Imperial Legion
- ↑ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Game Guide
- ↑ Lost Legends
- ↑ Was thus named in The Elder Scrolls: Arena
- ↑ The Real Barenziah, Book II - Plitinius Mero
- ↑ King Olaf's Verse
- ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 Skyrim's Rule: An Outsider's View — Abdul-Mujib Ababneh
- ↑ Dialogue with Galmar Stone-Fist
- ↑ A History of Daggerfall — Odiva Gallwood
- ↑ 83.0 83.1 Holdings of Jarl Gjalund — Slafknir the Scribe
- ↑ Dialogue between Elisif the Fair and Bolgeir Bearclaw
- ↑ Dialogue of Balgruuf the Greater
- ↑ Nords of Skyrim — My People, My Pride — Hrothmund Wolf-Heart
- ↑ Rise in the East
- ↑ 88.0 88.1 88.2 88.3 88.4 Varieties of Faith in the Empire — Mikhael Karkuxor
- ↑ 89.0 89.1 Dialogue with Arngeir
- ↑ Children of the Sky
- ↑ Dialogue with Cirroc
- ↑ Dialogue with Antonius Nuncius
- ↑ The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy: Book Seven of 2920, The Last Year of the First Era — Alexandre Simon, High Priest of the Akatosh Chantry, Wayrest
- ↑ Alduin is Real — Thromgar Iron-Head
- ↑ Sovngarde, a Reexamination — Bereditte Jastal
- ↑ Dialogue with Aranea Ienith
- ↑ Dialogue with a priest in the Temple of the Divines
- ↑ Songs of Skyrim — Giraud Gemane
- ↑ Dialogue with Giraud Gemane
- ↑ Events of "Tending the Flames"
- ↑ The City of Stone: A Sellsword's Guide to Markarth - Amanda Alleia
- ↑ Dragon Language: Myth no More — Hela Thrice-Versed
- ↑ 103.0 103.1 Annals of the Dragonguard — Brother Annulus
- ↑ Dialogue with Esbern
- ↑ An Elder Scrolls Novel: The Infernal City pg 196
- ↑ An Elder Scrolls Novel: The Infernal City pg 121
|Tamriel||Cyrodiil • Skyrim • Morrowind • High Rock • Hammerfell • Valenwood • Elsweyr • Black Marsh (Argonia) |
• Summerset Isles (Alinor)
|Akavir||Tang Mo • Kamal • Ka Po' Tun • Tsaesci|
|
<urn:uuid:a167b366-f234-4ea6-9b60-c33a9f17d642>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Skyrim
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321961.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627235941-20170628015941-00664.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956533
| 12,042
| 2.5625
| 3
|
Accepting every day, every situation, as it comes; and committing to make the best of it, for all beings.
What is acceptance?
“Being Accepting” is about accepting similarities and diversities in opinions, feelings, values, views. Acceptance is facilitated by understanding that there is strength in diversity: one should we stick to only one colour, when we can enjoy the whole rainbow?
What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is “a confidence and satisfaction in oneself; self-respect” (Webster). In Western psychology, it was often postulated that one needs to develop self-esteem in order to properly relate with the world. But there are not many evidences to support this theory. Understanding the value and values of all beings is certainly necessary to interact with the word; however, giving to one own esteem a kind of priority on the rest, it is not an evidence-based approach. Focusing on self-esteem may result in the vicious circle: self-esteem, self, self-interest, greed, feeling disconnected from other people, need to reinforce self-esteem, etc.
Nurturing acceptance, or self-esteem?
Steven Hayes, with his Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), has been creating awareness about the importance of nurturing acceptance. And then, to commit to keep the valuable approaches, and make the necessary changes.
Albert Ellis, with his work including the book “The myth of self-esteem”, stated that self-esteem is conditional, while acceptance is unconditional. Such conditionality of self-esteem makes us vulnerable and harder to cultivate empathy. For these reasons, he suggested to cultivate acceptance. And also to rate our behaviours and traits, to rate our aliveness, choosing to live healthfully and peacefully. He suggested not to rate our overall “worth”, because people who assign negative values to it create a self-fulfilling prophecy of poor results. If one really wants to rate overall worth, he suggested to rate all beings positively, because we are all on the same boat, and all worthy.
He also invited people to know the difference between needing, and wanting what we really need is limited, what we want unlimited. If we let the craving grow, soon there will be little space for empathy and happiness.
Exercises to cultivate acceptance
Think about something you want to let go. Put it in a bubble. The bubble starts to fly away, until it disappears in the sky.
|
<urn:uuid:204660ce-3764-4c11-8190-f69d61aad432>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.amareway.org/holisticliving/05/acceptance-or-self-esteem/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321961.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627235941-20170628015941-00664.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955993
| 514
| 3.421875
| 3
|
Humans have a natural drive to reduce physical effort in nearly every activity, including using language. Instead of saying "goodbye", we often say "bye", getting the same message across with half the syllables. The ways that effort-reduction affect human language have been the subject of extensive research in the field of linguistics, though the overwhelming focus has been on spoken languages. By studying this effect in sign languages, two linguists from Swarthmore College have discovered a new way in which language is shaped by our innate drive to make physical activity easier.
In their paper published in the June 2016 issue of the scholarly journal Language, Nathan Sanders and Donna Jo Napoli report on their discovery of "reactive effort", which is used to keep an incidental body part stable while articulating language. For example, when using a sign language, movement of the arms can produce rotational force (torque) on the torso which would cause it to twist and rock if not counteracted by the reactive effort of using various stabilizing muscles.
In this work, "Reactive effort as a factor that shapes sign language lexicons", Sanders and Napoli analyze dictionary entries of three unrelated sign languages (Italian Sign Language, Sri Lankan Sign Language, and Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language), finding that certain classes of signs that produce torque on the torso are statistically underrepresented in comparison to signs that do not. That is, a sign language's vocabulary naturally avoids those signs which call for extra reactive effort. All three languages show nearly identical patterns in reactive effort reduction, which hints at a biological universal. Thus, this work opens up new lines of research, not just for sign languages, but for all languages, and perhaps many physical activities.
Additionally, reactive effort would likely have remained undiscovered if linguists studied only spoken languages, because the relevant body parts in speech are too small to produce significant movement elsewhere in the body. Thus, this work also demonstrates the importance of studying sign languages on their own terms, because they can reveal insights into language not easily observed in spoken languages.REHACARE.com; Source: Linguistic Society of America
|
<urn:uuid:de030c0c-7096-4a4d-b699-57d3370267e2>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.rehacare.com/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Sign_languages_provide_insight_into_universal_linguistic_short-cuts.html?oid=43662&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321961.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627235941-20170628015941-00664.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.943279
| 437
| 3.609375
| 4
|
The Importance of using Games in the ESL Classroom
As an educator, using games and play as part of my lessons is one of the most interactive strategies to promote success in a language class. I achieve the best results and get everyone to participate and be engaged. I believe games have a significant meaning to children because they feel happy, natural, and free, while playing. They become ‘themselves’, forgetting they are at school.
Through play, children not only develop their physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills, but also put into practice the language skills they have learned. With anecdotal and other unobtrusive observational techniques, I note what I see and hear from this natural interaction to guide my lesson planning, e.g., students have difficulty with prepositions, directions, or taking turns.
Play teaches children to be cooperative and work as a team. It encourages them to experience, imitate, learn and follow rules. I see it as a practical type of learning. I use songs, chants, card games, drama, bingo… all in context to help them attain a better grasp of the language they are learning. I also incorporate technology with iPad apps with differentiated activities to suit various learning styles.
Also, I typically praise my students with small rewards (stickers, a pencil) to motivate them. They really enjoy learning English in an environment where lesson variety alternates between movement, music, seat work, drama, games, centers, and quiet time. It’s common to hear groans from the class when the period is up because they’ve had so much enriching interaction with my subject.
Students understand my classroom is a place where they are free from judgement, encouraged to take risks, and are allowed/encouraged to make mistakes… all part of a healthy, happy individual’s life.
|
<urn:uuid:d1375e7f-8110-402d-9166-51ce890688ce>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://edudirectionz.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/games-in-the-esl-classroom/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128329372.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629154125-20170629174125-00104.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.965473
| 378
| 3.515625
| 4
|
A common misconception is that computers understand code. This is not true. Computers only understand machine code, that is, code that is assembled for the architecture of the computer's processor. Some programs come in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and those using a 32-bit operating system cannot run 64-bit programs. Compilers turn the code that the programmer writes into machine code.
|
<urn:uuid:c5b305f4-d038-4f35-8e74-63dd5e9e59d7>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
https://www.reference.com/technology/functions-compiler-395080178618f9d4
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128329372.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629154125-20170629174125-00104.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962455
| 80
| 3.1875
| 3
|