text
stringlengths 213
24.6k
| id
stringlengths 47
47
| dump
stringclasses 1
value | url
stringlengths 14
499
| file_path
stringlengths 138
138
| language
stringclasses 1
value | language_score
float64 0.9
1
| token_count
int64 51
4.1k
| score
float64 1.5
5.06
| int_score
int64 2
5
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Already stressed state budgets are shouldering an extra burden to cover expensive emergency room (ER) treatment for toothaches and other avoidable dental ailments, according to a new report by the Pew Center on the States. A Costly Dental Destination estimates that preventable dental conditions were the primary reason for 830,590 ER visits by Americans in 2009—a 16 percent increase from 2006. Pew concludes that states can reduce hospital visits, strengthen oral health and reduce their costs by making modest investments to improve access to preventive care.
Dental-related hospital visits are fueled by the difficulty that disadvantaged people have getting regular preventive care from dentists and other types of providers. In 2009, 56 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children did not receive dental care—not even a routine exam. The access problem is driven by multiple factors, including a shortage of dentists in many areas of the U.S. and the fact that many dentists do not accept Medicaid-enrolled children.
The cost of ER care can be substantial. For example, in Florida, dental-related, emergency hospital visits produced charges exceeding $88 million in 2010. States are saddled with some of these expenses through Medicaid and other public programs.
“The fact that so many Americans go to hospitals for dental care shows the delivery system is failing,” said Shelly Gehshan, director of the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign. “The care provided in an ER is much more expensive, and it generally doesn’t solve dental problems. Most hospital ERs are not staffed with dentists, and the medical personnel who work there are not trained to treat the underlying problems of patients with untreated dental issues.”
|
<urn:uuid:b5555c61-21ad-4449-bf05-69a664f8f67a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=85899372468
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961068
| 346
| 2.359375
| 2
|
In Their Own Words – Expectations
This “In Their Own Words” essay is written by Erin Perry. Her son was diagnosed in March of this year. You can read more about Erin and her family at their website Autism Village.
Life is full of expectations. From the minute we all enter the world, we are expected to do things like walk, talk, go to school, have a first kiss, graduate, get a job, have a family – the list goes on and on. So entrenched are these expectations that we live our lives by them, become upset or disappointed when we don’t meet our own (or more likely when other people don’t meet ours) , and we judge others according to them. Expectations are a powerful tool – but when you have a child with autism, in an instant every expectation you once had, is ripped away leaving you feeling raw, vulnerable, and frankly, scared.
I have always been a very driven person. I expect a lot of myself, and I expect a lot of others. So when I found out I was pregnant, I built up in my head what my life would be like with a child. I imagined taking family vacations and watching my son play sports. I thought about the late night conversations we would have when he came home too late for curfew. I expected that it would all be typical, normal, and even (dare I say) easy.
With Brayden’s diagnosis, I have learned there is only one thing to expect – the unexpected. The first adjustment I had to make was letting go of those later in life dreams, for now. No more thinking about college and grandkids – my son lives in the moment, and I had to learn how to alter the way I thought to only include the immediate future. Instead of looking forward to college, we work with every breath to hopefully get Brayden to kindergarten, and maybe even in a mainstream classroom, but that is about as far in the future we go.
On the other side, when we heard the final diagnosis of autism, certain expectations also go along with it. It’s the long list of things your child may not and will not ever do. But that’s the funny thing about autism – just when you expect your child to never do something, he will blow away that expectation. My child has a frequent habit of doing just that. For me, I believe it’s his own little way of saying, “See, mommy, I can do it – keep pushing, keep going.”
Today at Brayden’s new developmental preschool, he sat in a classroom full of seven or eight of his peers, and when the teacher sang “Old McDonald had a…” and stopped, waiting for one child to shout out an animal so the song could continue – my son screamed out, “A COW!” For those unfamiliar with my son, he very rarely says anything without a prompt by an adult to do so. What most people would expect a child of 2 1/2 to do naturally and easily…turned out to be the best unexpected surprise of my day – and another little moment that whispered in my ear, “Keep going, Mommy.”
When Brayden was diagnosed, we expected many things that never came true. We expected to have a better support system, we expected insurance would cover therapy, we expected that people would be accepting of our son. But when our support system crumbled, insurance wouldn’t pay, and people started judging our son and us – other, more positive things, have filled the damaged parts of us. We never expected the support and kindness of so many strangers. We never expected so many people to reach out to us the way they have – and fill our lives with hope again. And we never expected people to be willing to give up time, money, thoughts, and prayers – all for our little boy.
So while we now are learning to let go of expectations – it is these positive unexpected things – that make me still have faith in the world (as cliche as that sounds), and push me to keep going for Brayden every day.
“In Their Own Words” is a series within the Autism Speaks blog which shares the voices of people who have autism, as well as their loved ones. If you have a story you wish to share about your personal experience with autism, please send it to email@example.com. Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content. Because of the volume of submissions, not all can be published on the site.
|
<urn:uuid:5e7f0a82-82f1-4f59-865f-5682882c4cbd>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2010/07/28/itow-perry-expectations/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=39170bc4ce
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.975783
| 960
| 2.046875
| 2
|
“Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering – an image of death.” – BuddhaPublished July 13, 2012 Fitness , Nutrition , Positive Attitude Leave a Comment
Just a quick post about my new health and fitness page on Facebook! It’s called “Jazzed Up Health and Fitness.” On the page you’ll find motivational pictures, videos, details about challenge groups and so much more! Please check it out when you get a chance and let me know what you like about the page, keeping in mind it is still being worked on, and what else you would like to see on the page. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/JazzedUpHealthAndFitness
If you’re a health conscious person you probably check the nutritional facts of many foods you buy. You check the amount of fat (avoiding those nasty trans fats), sugar, fiber, protein and essential vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron. But how often do you read the list of ingredients? Do you know what is actually in that healthy cereal or energy bar you bought? Chances are, the list of ingredients is probably quite long and you are not sure how to pronounce many of the ingredients. Even if you can pronounce all the ingredients, do you know what they are? Even some of the energy bars that are known for being healthy contain mysterious ingredients and WAY more added sugar than necessary. Take Clif Bars for example, they contain better ingredients than many energy bars, but the very first ingredient is brown rice syrup! That means there is more sugar than anything else in the bar because ingredients are listed in descending order of prevalence per gram (ie whatever there is the most of if listed first). Evaporated cane juice is listed multiple times because it’s in the chocolate or white chocolate chips added to the bars and added to the organic toasted oats! So, if Clif Bars have that much added sugar, can you imagine what some of the other bars have?
How about Balance Bars? Yes, they are relatively low calorie (about 200 per bar) and have 15g of protein, but there is little to no fiber and almost 20 grams of sugar; that’s about 5 teaspoons of sugar in one bar! Then, the list of ingredients is incredibly long. For example, the ingredients in a peanut butter flavored Balance Bar are: Protein blend (soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, partially hydrolyzed milk protein isolate, calcium caseinate, casein), fructose, glucose syrup, partially defatted peanut flour, peanut butter (peanuts), sugar, water, fractionated palm kernel oil, natural flavor. Contains less than 2% of dextrose, sodium caseinate, salt, caramel added for color, soy lecithin, maltodextrin, tocopherols added to protect flavor, soybean oil.
Just think of all the processing needed to make a bar that contains “partially defatted peanut flour” and “partially hydrolyzed milk protein isolate.” I am not saying, “Don’t eat energy bars!” or “All energy bars are bad!” All I am saying is, check the ingredients and ask yourself, “Do I really want to put this in my body?” There are energy bars out there with very few ingredients and no added sugar (only sugar from the fruits in the bar). LARABARs, for example, only contain fruits, nuts, and cocoa if chocolate flavored. But, they can get expensive (typically around $2 per bar). So, a great alternative I have found is making my own energy bars! If I make my own energy bars I know exactly what is in them and don’t have to waste time reading hundreds of labels!!!
Here is a recipe for homemade energy bars. And before you say, “Beans? Those energy bars cannot possibly taste good!” I ask you to try them first! You don’t taste the beans at all!
Chocolatey chip Black Bean Energy Bars
Makes about 8 bars
3/4 cup canned black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 TB milled flaxseed mixed with 2 TB water (or substitute with 2 TB of your favorite nut butter)
2 TB agave nectar
1/2 one small banana mashed
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 rolled oats
1/4 cup baking cocoa powder + 1/4 cup oat flour (or any flour)
2 TB mini chocolate chips + 2 TB raisins + 2 TB shredded coconut
1/4 cup water
In a food processor, combine first 5 ingredients and blend until smooth. Put mixture into a bowl and stir in the remaining ingredients. If the mixture consistency seems spreadable, you’re good. If it’s too dry, add a little more water; if too wet add a little more flour (the mixture consistancy should be similar to that of chocolate chip cookie dough)
Grease 8×4 pan (I use a bread pan) with baking spray or rub with 1 tablespoon oil, then spread mixture into pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Let cool then cut into bars. Store in airtight container. Best within 7-10 days (bars will last longer if stored in fridge).
Note: You’ll have the most success if you use unsalted, unsweetened versions of the ingredients, and control the sweetness and saltiness through the sweetener and added salt.
It’s the middle of June, which means the year is almost half way over, and I have one question for you: how far have you come in achieving the goals you set for yourself this year? Most people start the year off by outlining a list of goals for the year, but by the time June rolls around those lists have been long abandoned. The good news is there’s still time to make great strides in achieving your goals! On June 12th the saying of the day from my “African Wisdom for Life” calendar was a Sudanese proverb stating: “The one who wants to do something finds a way; the one who doesn’t, finds an excuse.” We use excuses for everything in life: skipping workouts, poor eating habits, not returning phone calls/emails, racking up debt on our credit cards, not spending time with loved ones, etc… I know, we all think our excuses are legitimate; I am just as guilty as the next person. However, I have discovered some resources to help combat excessive use of excuses and start making progress on my list of goals.
In March I signed up as an Independent Team Beachbody Coach. One of the first things my sponsor had me do was create a vision board of goals. It was only March and I had already lost sight of many of the goals I had laid out in January, but creating my vision board (and making in the background on my computer desktop) helped me gain momentum and confidence in working towards those goals. All through March and April I stayed very diligent about my goals, then May rolled around and I started to slack off again. I was feeling frustrated because my coaching business wasn’t growing as fast as I had hoped it would. Through personal development reading of The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy and support from fellow coaches helped me stay positive about the business aspect, but my determination towards some of my other goals began to dwindle.
(My vision board)
June brought about the second resource: Dani Johnson (Actually, I was introduced to Dani Johnson’s work in mid May, but I went on vacation to Ireland for two weeks so I didn’t start listening to her audios or reading her books until June). I am currently reading Dani Johnson’s book First Steps to Wealth. The book title suggests that it’s about helping you get rich (ie make a lot of money), and while this is true, the book is also about making you rich in all aspects of your life. One of Dani’s biggest points, in both the book and her audios, is that excuses are just well constructed lies; excuses obstruct our ability to realize and accomplish our goals.
So, again, I am going to ask, how far have you come in achieving the goals you set for yourself this year? What excuses have you come up with that are limiting you from being who you want to be? If you could make one change in your life this year, what would it be? How are you going to make that change?
Note: for more information about creating your own vision board and/or joining the Beachbody coaching team, please contact me at www.beachbodycoach.com/jazpiri
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not. – Mark TwainPublished June 2, 2012 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
While Mr. Twain was an amazing writer, he was mistaken in his notions about health. Yes, in the beginning, when you make the decision to eat healthy, it feels like you’re eating what you don’t want, drinking what you don’t like, etc… But once eating clean, healthy, nutrient dense foods becomes your new lifestyle you body actually craves all the things you thought you didn’t like! When you indugle in empty calories (foods with little to no nutrient value) your body reminds you why you don’t eat them all the time and you actually end up craving the healthy, nutrient dense foods your body has become acustome to. At least, that’s been my experience.
I just returned from a 15 day vacation in Ireland. I typically eat very few processed foods, about 80% of my diet is raw foods, I don’t eat dairy or other animal products, and I rarely drink alcohol. While in Ireland I ate Irish scones, french fries, ice cream, creamy soups, porridge with full fat milk, smoked salmon, and drank beer – all of these foods were things I don’t normally eat, but on vacation I always make exceptions. While all the food tasted good, my body reminded me that it really doesn’t like eating this way. I began craving my big kale salads with tofu or tempeh. I missed my morning Shakeology after my hard workouts. I missed my raw cashews, walnuts, and almonds that I snack on between meals. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy indulging in empty calories, and there are times when we all need to eat food purely for the pleasure it provides, but our bodies want clean, nutrient dense foods. PBS recently ran a program featuring Dr Fuhrman and his insight on nutrient rich foods. He confirms my own experiences with craving clean, nutrient rich foods. Check out these two links for some more information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6u-yLDLANI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LruyZOzpvnI&feature=related
Would you like to change your eating habits and live a more energized life? My friend, and fellow Beachbody Coach, Jennifer and I are starting a 21 day Ultimate Reset Challenge group on Monday July 9. Contact me for more information or visit www.myultimatereset.com/jazpiri. Summer is the perfect time to make a commitment to yourself to eat healthier because there are so many yummy fruits and vegetables in season! It’s the best, and easiest, time of year to eat healthy!
In his book Compound Effect, Darren Hardy talks about the importance of consistency. It’s not about being the best from the very beginning, it’s about establishing good habits and being consistent with them. It’s very difficult to achieve goals if you try and change your life all at once, but if you take it one step at a time, making little changes regularly, then you can achieve anything!
However, there are times when it may help to jump in with both feet and just go for it. As Americans, we have the worst diets in the world. We eat tons of processed foods, very few fruits and vegetables, and way more animal products than is healthy! Have you said many times that you want to eat healthier, make great strides, and then fall back into old habits? Do you wish you had more energy for the activities and people you love? Well, this might be the time to jump in with both feet and take the 21 day Beachbody Ultimate Reset. My friend, and fellow Beachbody Coach, Jennifer and I are starting a reset challenge group on June 4th. If you’re interested comment on this post and/or visit http://www.myultimatereset.com/jazpiri
Beachbody Ultimate Reset will clean your body from the inside-out. Learn more about it in this informational video.
We’ve all heard it, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” But to really get your day started right, bypass the doughnuts, muffins, frozen waffles, etc… Go for something that will energize you and keep you full for several hours. Here’s what I ate for breakfast this morning.
Raw oatmeal with chopped apples, almonds, and flax seed meal.
Nutritional Facts (approx):
It’s super easy to make: Put 1/2 cup raw oatmeal and 2 tablespoons of flax seed meal in a bowl. Add water to the dry mixture (about 3/4 cup; just enough so it’s all covered in water). Chop up your favorite apple and 2 tablespoons of your favorite nuts and mix it in with the dry mixture. Add a little bit more water (or 1/4 cup milk – I used almond milk). Mix in cinnamon. Then cover and let it sit overnight in the fridge so the water is absorbed by the oats.
|
<urn:uuid:fe546c26-fefa-4c77-991f-4b7843889b87>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://positiveattitudeandenergy.wordpress.com/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948395
| 2,950
| 1.984375
| 2
|
Jefferson, LA Real Estate
According to census data in the year 2000 there were 5,841 housing units in Jefferson.
This represents a 23.8% decline from 7,667 in 1990.
Of those housing units, 5,841 were located in either urbanized areas or urban clusters, and none were located in what is classified as a rural area.
Homeownership rate in Jefferson is about 56.2%.
Jefferson's vacancy rate, including seasonal lodging, is about 7.1%.
Average household size is 2.11 people.
The majority of houses, apartments or condos in Jefferson were built after 1955.
|Housing Units by Size|
|Five Bedrooms or more||0.60%|
Owned Homes, Apartments and Condos
|Average Household Size||2.24|
|Median year structure was built||1951|
|Median Value of occupied units||$98,100|
|Median Price asked for vacant units||$73,600|
Rented Homes, Apartments and Condos
|Average Household Size||1.93|
|Median year structure was built||1959|
|Median Monthly Rent asked for vacant units||$397|
Owners Finance Status
|Second Mortgage & Equity Loan||0%|
|Home Equity Loan||4.10%|
|Median part of Monthly Household Income dedicated to covering home ownership costs||15.4%|
|
<urn:uuid:a3e4be6d-9527-43bf-8b73-81beb0370518>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.idcide.com/realestate/la/jefferson.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.941407
| 307
| 1.960938
| 2
|
- Here's an example I created.
You get about 90seconds to give your comment and you need a microphone and a webcam of course. You just open up the web page you want to comment on and select the appropriate microphone and camera driver.
This would be a nice tool for students to use to talk about and share their favourite websites. Or it could be a good way for you to share websites with your students, rather than having and text annotated list of resources.
Really handy stuff. I might start using it with each of my posting here.
Hope you enjoy it.
|
<urn:uuid:24a41c95-df9d-4029-9a7d-a0cdaf4217f3>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://quickshout.blogspot.jp/2008/07/great-video-commenting-tool.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946398
| 120
| 2.328125
| 2
|
Funding appropriated for beehive research
At ceremonies at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol this week, Governor Neil Abercrombie proclaimed June 18–24 as “Hawaiʻi Pollinator Week” and signed a bill into law that appropriates funds to the University of Hawaiʻi for statewide beehive research.
House Bill 2100 appropriates $30,000 for beehive research done in consultation with the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.
The funding will aid in Hawaiʻi’s fight to control pests and diseases that have been impacting the state’s bee populations. This includes work being performed at UH Hilo’s 110-acre Agricultural Farm Laboratory in Panaʻewa to develop more efficient methods for controlling the small hive beetle, a major pest of honeybee hives on Hawaiʻi Island.
UH Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney attended the signing along with UH Hilo Professor of Entomology Lorna Tsutsumi, UH System Vice President Rockne Freitas and officials from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture.
“Bees are particularly important as pollinators for our macadamia nut and coffee industries; bee-pollinated crops contribute about $106 million to our local economy,” said Abercrombie. “The University of Hawaiʻi is leading research that will help to protect many of Hawaiʻi’s own native pollinators, including seven species of yellow-faced bees that are candidates for the endangered species list.”
Hawaiʻi Pollinator Week coincides with National Pollinator Week to raise awareness of the issue of declining pollinator populations. Loss of beehives is a threat to the agricultural economy on all islands because bees are necessary to pollinate many crops.
Media coverage of the bill signing:
- Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald, June 19, 2012: “Bee research to get funding”
- KPUA, June 19, 2012: “Abercrombie proclaims Hawaiʻi Pollinator Week”
- Big Island Now, June 18, 2012: “Abercrombie proclaims ‘Hawaiʻi Pollinator Week’”
- Honolulu Civil Beat, June 18, 2012: “UH gets funding for bee hive research”
- KHON, June 18, 2012: “Governor enacts measure for bee hive research”
Beekeeping courses and research at UH Hilo
UH Hilo has been offering an introductory course on beekeeping for more than 20 years, and now also offers an advanced beekeeping course that allows students to build upon their acquired skills with independent projects that include research and creative activities.
The campus has also partnered with Chef Alan Wong on the Adopt-A-Beehive program, which was launched in June 2011 to raise awareness of the critical plight of honeybees and to promote local solutions to sustaining the local honeybee industry.
Watch the video below as Wong and Tsutsumi explain the plight of Hawaiʻi’s apiary and food industries if urgent beehive problems are not addressed.
|
<urn:uuid:e6943ba1-6706-4665-820e-1536b4278a82>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2012/06/22/funding-appropriated-for-beehive-research/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.928891
| 689
| 2.125
| 2
|
3 March 2010
Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris, France
Grave of the engineer, inventor and manufacturer Charles-Joseph Pigeon (1838-1915) and his wife. See more information about the grave at Findagrave.com and Insecula.com.
Grave of André-Gustave Citroën (1878-1935) and his family. He was a French entrepreneur who first of all is remembered for the make of car named after him.
Grave of Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935), a French officer made famous for the trial and conviction on charges of treason in 1894 (the Dreyfus affair). It was unfortunately not so easy to take a good photo of his grave.
Grave of the philosopher and author Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) and his partner, the philosopher, feminist and author Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986).
Grave of Baron Charles de Morand (1786-1869) and his wife Marie Caroline (d. 1877), née Cardon de Vidampierre. More details are welcome!
A cat lover? Grave of Ricardo. The sign says: "Pour notre grand Ami Ricardo. Mort trop tôt jeune, aimé, et beau. 10 juin 52-21 sept 89".
Cimetière du Montparnasse is situated in Montparnasse, Paris at 3 boulevard Edgar Quinet. The nearest metro station is also named Edgar Quinet (line 6). The cemetery can also be reached by bus 38, 83 an d 91 to Port Royal.
Updated on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 19:55.
|
<urn:uuid:a2a5c970-d80e-4103-b045-7784879cd8d8>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://dagtho.blogspot.com/2010/03/cimetiere-du-montparnasse-paris-france.html?showComment=1268765551895
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.915319
| 365
| 1.828125
| 2
|
The Charles Bridge is the oldest preserved Prague bridge that still serves its original purpose. It connects Mostecka street in the Lesser Quarter and Krizkovnicke Square in the Old Town. It arches not only over the Vltava river but also over the mill supply flume at Certovka (Devil River) and Kampa island.
The foundation stone was laid by Charles IV. on 9 July 1357. The construction of the bridge was finished in 1402. The Charles bridge was designed according to the plans of Petr Parler using the cuboidal technique and consists of six arches. The bridge is 515m long and 9,5 m wide.
At both ends there are watchtowers with gates. In Mala Strana (The Lesser Quarter) it is the Malostranska bridge tower (the smaller tower was part of the Judith bridge that was destroyed in 1170) and on the opposite side it is the Old Town tower. The walkway and one arch are decorated by statues.
The bridge has been seriously damaged many times since it was built. It is one of the most beautiful architectural jewels in the whole of Prague.
|
<urn:uuid:f798a805-0c39-4e7b-9db6-97cdd7c804fe>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.hotelhastalprague.com/en/location/prague_guide/charles_bridge/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.974262
| 240
| 3.109375
| 3
|
The best known tradiion connected with leap years is that this is the one time when girls can decently make marriage proposals. Men are warned that it is bad luck to turn such an offer down, though - according to the Scots - they will be immune from such ill fortune if the girl concerned has neglected to wear a scarlet flannel petticoat, which must be partly visible, under her dress.
Feburary /29: Old Slavic Velja Noc/Great Night/New Year's Eve--Spirits of the dead visit their living relatives, overseen by Veles, Lord of the Dead.
People wearing animal masks and wool cloaks wandered through the villages representing the dead, and a grain effigy of the Morana of the old year was burned. Morana and Jarilo are born of Solntse (Goddess of the Sun) and Perun (God of the Sky). Veles steals Jarilo and raises him in Virey, realm of the dead. [a/k/a Wielkanoc]
Powers greatly increased on this night. Invoke the spirits and the angels who might reveal the symbols and the secret words.
|
<urn:uuid:92b45855-0f70-4efc-b8e3-0a22c77cb9f6>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.witchskel.com/2/category/leap%20year/1.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.938
| 245
| 1.914063
| 2
|
Only one in eight people ask their GP for advice before deciding to have cosmetic surgery
, a new survey has found.
According to the latest research by Which?, consumers are failing to consult their GP before opting for cosmetic surgery, with only 15 per cent of people who were planning surgery and 11 per cent of patients who had already had surgery visiting their own doctor first.
Which? health campaigner Frances Blunden said that it was "quite shocking" to discover how many people trust magazine adverts and don't consult their GP before deciding to have cosmetic surgery.
"It's not a decision to take lightly, particularly as, in some cases, people will undergo a major operation which obviously involves risks that should be talked through with their own, impartial doctor first," she said.
The survey found that people were more likely to have asked friends or family for advice instead of their doctor.
However, four in five people who did visit their doctor said that the advice had been helpful, and three in four said that their GP's advice had proved to be accurate.
Consumers who are considering cosmetic surgery are advised to ensure they are fully informed before selecting a surgeon, as there are risks associated with any kind of operation. © Adfero Ltd
Cosmetic surgery news : 16/05/2007
|
<urn:uuid:04cd5c0f-5aa9-4c4e-97fb-699ef2b0eb87>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/news/may-2007/cosmetic-surgery-patients/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.991819
| 263
| 1.65625
| 2
|
Learn How to Swimming Safely
children view swimming as a fun activity and find it
exciting. However, this isn’t the case for all
kids. Some have a fear of water or are worried when it
comes time to swim. Consider the following tips to help
your kids learn how to swimming safely. With these tips
you can make learn how to swimming safely be a logical
sequence of steps that make the process easy for your
child who has a fear of water.
The first step is to have your child get their face
wet. A good way to start this is with a simple game such
as blowing bubbles in the water or blow ping-pong balls
across the water. These activities should be done in
a shallow kiddie pool of bath tub so the child doesn’t
become frightened about the depth of the water.
The next step is to duck under water. With this you
can teach the child using a doll or toy. Tell them to
hold their breath while holding the doll underwater and
then raise the toy out when they need to breathe again.
As you play the game with them you can eventually encourage
them to go underwater along with the toy. This is best
done in waist-high water.
Next you move on to lie across the water in order to
swim. This teaches them how their body feels when underwater.
From here you can teach them to stroke. Place them on
a floating board and then teach them to paddle with alternating
arm pulls. Emphasize the need for strong, slow strokes
in order to glide across the water.
Then when your child is ready you can teach them to
jump into the water. Use a hula hoop to entice a child
into jumping from the pool or dockside into the water.
Once this has been achieved you child will be developing
a confidence in water and can move on to the final stage
which is diving underwater. Throw a weighted object into
the water that is bright in color and have the child
retrieve them. By the time you reach this level your
child will be having so much fun they will have forgotten
their fear of the water.
Swim Articles Archives
|
<urn:uuid:a5b52547-1937-4380-88c3-9655bb10a614>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.lessonswithjulie.com/articles/kids-swim-safety.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945054
| 468
| 2.953125
| 3
|
If you haven’t noticed, Google has been criticised and called downright evil as it makes some changes to its privacy policies. These latest critiques follow the release of “Search Plus Your World” (SPYW), a personalised search feature that seems to prioritise Google+ results over the relevant results that Google was so well known for.
In response to the critics, Google’s search chief Amit Singhal says SPYW is a new product with plenty of work and improvements to be made in the future. He encourages critics to think of the long-term potential of the product rather than focusing on the first 2 weeks of the launch.
So what does this all mean for Google?
To sum it up, Google has consolidated over 60 separate privacy policies into a single, consistent, and easy to read policy. This move is intended to make the user’s experience more intuitive and helpful when they are signed into their Google account by collecting and sharing user data across an entire account rather than by site. The benefits, according to the official blog, include more relevant advertising, location-based reminders, and more accurate spelling suggestions.
Google will combine user data across Google services but they won’t be collecting any more data or behaviour information than they did before. Instead, they are using this data in new ways. Critics say that this information could be used by Google to create ads that are biased towards their own services – but this is highly unlikely, “given that Google ads are generally unobtrusive and have been based on user behaviour for years” (My Business).
Another major criticism revolves around the inability to opt out unless you are logged out of your Google account. That said, an opt-out setting is available if you prefer not to see ads based on your interests and demographics. And, according to Google:
You still have choice and control. You don’t need to log in to use many of our services, including Search, Maps and YouTube. If you are logged in, you can still edit or turn off your Search history, switch Gmail chat to “off the record,” control the way Google tailors ads to your interests, use Incognito mode on Chrome, or use any of the other privacy tools we offer.
So there you go, just log out! For a “skeptic’s guide to gaining back some privacy while continuing to be connected”, check out this article to maintain some privacy without becoming a Luddite.
Privacy in 2012
Whatever your take is on Google and its latest policies, these issues illustrate the importance of online privacy. Amit Singhal says that the negative atmosphere around SPYW is due to bloggers, while the user feedback given to Google has been positive, but we have yet to see if the public will respond to these Google changes with their feet – or should I say clicks? mice? – and delete their accounts.
In a non-scientific poll over on the Washington Post, 65% of the 17,962 respondents voted “Yes, I will cancel my Google Account because of the privacy changes”. Interesting to see where this goes on a larger, more long-term scale.
|
<urn:uuid:9608798d-a843-4081-9eef-b85f739dbb69>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.bwired.com.au/?action=blogs&form_name=view_post&form_action=view&bid=7&bcid=430
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945846
| 659
| 1.890625
| 2
|
Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute
I am interested in understanding physical interaction with the environment --- how do we select and apply exactly the right forces to maneuver bulky and heavy objects, scramble over large rocks using both hands and feet, or use hand held tools?
In robotics, a better understanding of these interaction forces can help us create more dexterous robots that are able to operate in an environment such as the home. In particular, we would like to create natural grasping and manipulation behavior using measured human examples as a resource. In initial experiments we have demonstrated a humanoid robot tumbling a variety of large, heavy objects using a strategy derived directly from a human example. Some of the questions that remain to be answered are "what does it really mean for a robot to perform a task in the same way as a person?", and "how can we convert a collection of measured human examples into a robust control policy for a robot?"
In computer graphics, an understanding of interaction forces can help us to create more natural looking motion when a character climbs, performs athletic maneuvers, or manipulates objects. We have developed fast techniques for computing optimal, physically plausible motion. We are also exploring the importance of physical correctness in graphics applications. How physically incorrect can motion be before people start to notice? In other words, how much can we cheat?
One of my particular areas of interest in both robotics and graphics is the hand. Modeling convincing hand motion is very difficult; in fact the hand itself has almost as many degrees of freedom, or directions of motion as is typically used to model the entire rest of the body! However, observed motion of the hand often appears to be much less complex. By studying examples of human hand motion and studying human hand anatomy, we hope to characterize hand behavior in a way that can be exploited for easier control of animated hands and effective control of robot hands.
|Research Interest Keywords|
|animation, computer graphics, human motion simulation, humanoid robotics, manipulation, quality-of-life technology|
|The Robotics Institute is part of the School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University.|
Contact Us | Update Instructions
|
<urn:uuid:8718aad4-5092-4350-af15-ecec3977f1a9>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.ri.cmu.edu/person.html?person_id=951&fcode=1&menu_id=251
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.926726
| 430
| 2.890625
| 3
|
As we look back on 2012, we're also starting to anticipate the trends of 2013.
According to the Canadian Press, Canadians can look forward to the following food trends in the upcoming year. Bon appétit!
Baking is back.
Yes, homemade baked goods are hip again, thanks, in part, to Anna Olsen and Cupcake Wars. But instead of cracking open The Joy of Baking, at-home bakers are expected to choose specific baking challenges such as gingerbread houses, pies and pastries.
There are even cookbooks dedicated to homemade marshmallows.
"It shows that baking's gone from being something you just do because you want something sweet and into the realm of macrame and knitting," says Dana McCauley, a Recipe to Riches judge on Food Network Canada. "It's become project based."
If baking isn't your thing, apparently canning is also cool again. So bring pickles to that dinner party if your homemade doughnuts fail.
Also see: Seven edible holiday gifts you can make
Doughnuts: The new cupcakes?
Speaking of doughnuts, expect to see them everywhere.
In 2013, doughnuts are going to receive a little more of that high-end attention. (Not that there's anything wrong with a Timmy's Boston cream.)
"Doughnuts aren't just the old-fashioned sugar-sprinkled or glazed pieces of deep-fried dough with a hole in the middle any longer — though of course those are still available. These sweet morsels are yet another iconic food that has undergone a makeover, with unusual flavour combinations and decorations, and are even served at upscale restaurants," the Canadian Press reports.
This trend coincides with another one predicted by Canadian Grocer, the "trickle-up effect," where dining trends will begin in street markets and make their way to restaurants.
Also see: Fun cocktails for the holidays: video
"We'll always love kale, but it's time for a breather from all those chips, salads, and sautés," Epicurious writers lament of the kale overload in 2012.
Whether you opt for kale or cauliflower, Canadian Grocer predicts 2013 will be the year of veggie-centred meals. Yes, vegetables are finally "chic."
It's a good thing, too, as the price of beef might climb by as much as 8 per cent next year.
Read the other top trends of the new year, including the new sriracha and at-home molecular gastronomy, here.
Which trend are you most likely to wholeheartedly embrace in the new year?
Watch the video below for Fabio's take on the ultimate doughnut.
|
<urn:uuid:45d975ce-15d5-4d41-9b04-885e3d591242>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/shine-on/canadian-food-trends-look-forward-2013-192151093.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953186
| 559
| 1.5
| 2
|
You can view the current or previous issues of Diabetes Health online, in their entirety, anytime you want.
Click Here To View
Latest A1c Test Articles
Popular A1c Test Articles
Highly Recommended A1c Test Articles
Send a link to this page to your friends and colleagues.
Pramlintide (Symlin) is a synthetic amylin analogue. First described in 1987, amylin is a neuroendocrine hormone produced by beta cells, which also produce insulin. This hormone is absent in type 1 diabetes and decreased in type 2 diabetes.
Both hormones are released in response to a rise in blood glucose levels. When used with insulin, three major actions occur: appetite suppression, suppression of abnormal post-meal glucagon release that stimulates the liver to release glucose, and delayed digestion of food through the digestive system, permitting slower absorption of glucose from the gut to circulation. Because these actions lower glucose levels, it is necessary to reduce the pre-meal fast-acting insulin dose by 30 to 50 percent when starting to use this additional therapy.
At this time, pramlintide is injected subcutaneously, but it is not approved for delivery via an insulin pump. The only recommended injection sites are the abdomen and upper thigh. Insulin and pramlintide should never be mixed in the same syringe.
Doses start at 15 micrograms (2.5 units by 30-unit insulin syringe) and are gradually increased to a maximum of 60 micrograms (10 units) for type 1s, and 60 to 120 micrograms (10-20 units) for insulin-using type 2s.
Injection is before meals and snacks containing at least 250 calories or at least 30 grams of carbohydrate. Peak action is reached in 20 minutes and diminished over three hours. If you are not eating, it is not injected.
Benefits for pump users
Bolus delivery adjustments needed
Recommended pre-meal bolus reduction starts at 50 percent. Some individuals may need less of a reduction. This can be determined with good BG recordkeeping and communication with the medical team.
Hypoglycemia can occur within three hours of injection and if bolus decreases are not made. A burning sensation at the injection site. Three-hour post-meal hyperglycemia. Some pump users have experimented with the dual wave/combination bolus timing as a method to decrease risk of this problem. Nausea at initial use that should decrease over time or with a reduction in dose.
For more detailed information about who can and cannot use this therapy, contact your diabetes care provider, or go to www.symlin.com or call (800) 349-8919. The Web site information was updated in January 2006.
For more about Symlin, see the article “FDA Approves Symlin, a New Treatment Option for Type 1s and Insulin-Using Type 2s,” by Daniel Trecroci (Diabetes Health, June 2005).
Apr 1, 2006
Diabetes Health is the essential resource for people living with diabetes- both newly diagnosed and experienced as well as the professionals who care for them. We provide balanced expert news and information on living healthfully with diabetes. Each issue includes cutting-edge editorial coverage of new products, research, treatment options, and meaningful lifestyle issues.
|
<urn:uuid:4872ede3-712b-473e-b4b0-4bc426c53830>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2006/04/01/4555/what-pump-users-should-know-about-pramlintide/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.910004
| 689
| 2.46875
| 2
|
Oversight and monitoring
To ensure that public sector agencies, including the Queensland Police Service (QPS) properly investigate matters referred to them, we monitor their performance and hold them accountable for how they have acted. This enables us to identify any deficiencies in their processes and recommend strategies to address them.
Our monitoring can include:
- overseeing an investigation while it is taking place (and helping to interview witnesses if necessary)
- reviewing an agency’s finalised investigation report before any disciplinary or other managerial action is taken, to ensure the matter has been dealt with properly and that the suggested outcomes are warranted
- after a matter has been finalised, reviewing how an agency dealt with a complaint
- auditing how an agency has dealt with a general class of complaints (e.g. , police use of illicit drugs or excessive force)
- auditing an agency’s overall integrity framework, including its policies and systems for complaints management
- recording outcome data for all referred matters to inform analysis of complaint trends and areas that may require closer monitoring
- reviewing the outcomes of all misconduct disciplinary hearings conducted by the QPS, and exercising our review rights where necessary.
Reviewing our original assessment
If information that would have affected our original assessment of a complaint comes to our notice when we are monitoring how an agency is handling a matter, we have a right to review our assessment and take over the investigation if this is appropriate.
In other cases we may decide to investigate the complaint with the agency if, for example, our coercive powers or other resources are required for a productive investigation.
Review of disciplinary decisions by QCAT
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) is an independent body which has the jurisdiction to hear disciplinary proceedings for official misconduct. These hearings are open to the public.
The Crime and Misconduct Act states that the purpose of such disciplinary proceedings is to:
- protect the public
- uphold ethical standards within public sector agencies and the police service
- promote and maintain public confidence in the public sector.
If we refer alleged official misconduct by a police officer to the QPS, and they decide not to initiate disciplinary proceedings, we can take the matter directly to QCAT to commence disciplinary proceedings. This is known as referring a matter in its ‘original jurisdiction’.
If the QPS does initiate proceedings but we are not satisfied with the outcome of their disciplinary hearing, we can ask QCAT to review this decision. This is known as referring a matter in the ‘review jurisdiction’.
If we refer a matter to QPS where the allegation relates to police misconduct and they initiate proceedings, we can seek a review in QCAT if we are not satisfied with the outcome of their disciplinary hearing.
However, if QPS decides not to initiate proceedings when we refer a complaint of police misconduct to them, under the current legislation, we have no power to request QCAT to review that decision.
|
<urn:uuid:ca3ae880-19da-49dc-a0cf-527e3a1cff15>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/topics/misconduct/role-of-the-cmc/oversight-and-monitoring
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93452
| 599
| 1.640625
| 2
|
On the same day that the ConDem regime announced massive cuts to frontline services to British people, the European Parliament voted in a new budget which is set to increase the cost of British membership of the EU membership by nearly a billion pounds every year.
MEPs voted to increase the annual EU budget from nearly £108 billion this year to more than £114 billion in 2011, a rise of 5.9 percent. There were 546 votes in favour of the budget, with only 88 against (including, of course, the British National Party’s two MEPs, Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons).
The issue goes now goes into arbitration between MEPs, EU ministers and the European Commission, with this year's budget being rolled over into 2011 if no deal is done by January.
Nearly £400 million has been allocated to finance the new EU diplomatic service which will open offices in New York, Beijing and Moscow, despite all EU members already having embassies in those nations.
Another EU budget allocation which was doubled end was that of the “entertainment” department. This body puts on champagne receptions and courtesy limousines, amongst other things.
Most of the increased spend would however be directed toward agricultural subsidies and aid to the Continent’s poorer regions, particularly those southern European nations who are already struck by financial instability.
It was therefore not surprising to see almost all the Greek, Spanish and Portuguese MEPs vote in favour of the budget, with many rebelling against their political group policy on the matter.
The Lisbon Treaty has put more pressure on the budget by giving the EU new tasks and creating new senior posts, something which David Cameron claimed to have opposed but who now, infamously, accepts as a done deal.
* The EU’s Budget Commissioner has also proposed a new VAT tax which, if approved, will be applied in all member states.
Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski has announced that he wants to revivie stalled plans for a taxation system across all 27 member nations to help finance the EU’s operations.
Other taxes under consideration include levies on carbon emissions, air transport, financial transactions or bank profits.
EU chiefs have already indicated that they want to scrap the remains of
Britain’s multi-billion pound annual rebate.
|
<urn:uuid:892c8a49-d794-43f2-beff-abbc9edf1f9d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/another-%C2%A31-billion-set-be-added-eu-membership-bill
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97113
| 470
| 1.546875
| 2
|
We may not realize it, but we all make risk assessments everyday in almost everything we do. For example, some folks will drive nothing but the safest car on the road, typically a Volvo with airbags in every direction, while others ride motorcycles without helmets.
It’s no different with personal finance. Some of us are very risk averse - shying away from stocks, investing in bonds, wanting to secure our futures with reliable investments. While others love taking risks – day-trading stocks, shorting stocks, chasing returns. Ideally, a smart investor finds a middle ground that will allow for some growth while still maintaining a strong core.
When I first started investing, I would often say that I was willing to take on more risk because I wanted to build a portfolio that would allow me to retire early. I knew I had to invest in stocks to achieve that. And I reasoned that if I failed, then I would simply continue to work like every other poor slob until my normal retirement!
In those terms, it seemed like a no-brainer. Why not take discretionary income and invest it instead of spending it? While my friends and co-workers bought bigger homes, lavish vacations and more toys, I enjoyed having a "higher goal". Whenever I mentioned retiring early to them, they looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. For many, the concept had never occurred to them. And as they gave it some thought, you could see the painful realization in their faces that they will never be able to do such a thing.
Many of us have similar goals in life. We aim to graduate from high school, then college, then we want to land a good job. What comes next is not so well-defined. Some wish to climb the corporate ladder, others want their own business, while others seek challenging assignments. For me, I never desired to ascend into corporate bureaucracy, I never wanted my boss’ job ( even though I did eventually get it). I wanted interesting work, but even more, I wanted security. Typical woman, eh? My goal to retire early was driven by that need and the fact that I prefer to work for myself. I like my job, but to this day, I would much rather spend time working on one of my personal projects than going in to work. I craved that freedom and early retirement was the answer.The real bonus is that now that I have the means to retire early, I also have new-found powers. I can pick and choose my work assignments, I call more shots, I take off when I want to, I don’t worry about where my career is going, what the boss might say, what co-workers might think, I can walk out any day, any time. I am in charge! My job is so much more fun.
|
<urn:uuid:e983dbea-5f2c-45f2-af99-4a0321532b9d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://thefinancialengineer.blogspot.com/2008/09/risks-and-road-to-early-retirement.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.983937
| 579
| 1.78125
| 2
|
Wyoming Wildlife Action Plan
By the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Wyoming’s Wildlife Action Plan provides a long-range strategy to conserve the state’s wildlife and their habitats. The plan identifies 279 species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) in Wyoming, along with key habitats for these species. Of these species, 44 have been included because of specific known conservation needs; the remaining 235 (nearly 85 percent) have been included primarily due to a lack of key data necessary to assess their conservation status. Little, if any, research exists to confirm the abundance and distribution of these species within Wyoming’s borders. A review of the species accounts for each of these SGCN indicates information needs can be divided into four distinct categories: distribution, habitat, biology, and population.
The plan identifies both the threats or challenges to the species of greatest conservation need and the proposed actions to conserve them and their associated habitats. The most important conservation action under this plan will be data collection. The plan also identifies monitoring measures, and will guide conservation decisions in Wyoming through 2010.
Wyoming is a mosaic of public and private lands, with the eastern third of the state primarily in private ownership, the western third being primarily in federal ownership and the central third being a mixture of both. Efforts to manage wildlife and wildlife habitat must take into account the complex needs and desires of a host of stakeholders.
From grizzly bears in the Absarokas to tiger salamanders in a city park, from swift fox to sturgeon, over 800 species of wildlife call Wyoming home.
Primary Challenges to Conserving Wildlife in Wyoming
By far the most significant challenge facing species of greatest conservation need in Wyoming is absence of data. This problem affects 235 of 279 species of greatest conservation need. For those species that have documented threats in addition to absence of data, habitat-related issues are important. For example, 100 species (36 percent of the SGCN) either are or may be experiencing problems with habitat degradation; it is a particularly important threat to mammals, birds and fishes. Habitat fragmentation is also important: 57 species (21 percent of the SGVN), particularly fishes and birds, either are or may be experiencing problems. Other significant threats for some species include human disturbance for mammals and birds, inter-specific competition for fishes, and habitat loss for birds.
Challenges to key habitats for species of greatest conservation need vary by eco-region within the state and by ecological system (habitat type) within eco-region, but clearly addressing resource extraction, rural residential development and a host of challenges to riparian and aquatic habitats will be important in Wyoming over the next five years.
Working Together for Wyoming’s Wildlife
Extensive outreach efforts on the action plan began with radio and TV features explaining the need for the action plan and introducing viewers/listeners to Wyoming’s species of greatest conservation need. The list of SGCN and species accounts were posted on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website. Media coverage continued, and additional news coverage featured a specific species of greatest conservation need, and advised stakeholders of upcoming meetings. A draft of the plan was posted on the website, where visitors were advised of opportunities to comment on the plan. Partners and major stakeholders were contacted prior to seven public meetings to encourage them to share information on these meetings in their newsletters, websites, etc. Comments on the draft were solicited; a total of 20 written responses were received and those comments incorporated. Partners and stakeholders were invited to review the final draft and to meet to express any final concerns and provide any additional input prior to the presentation of the plan before the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, who then approved the final plan.
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies represents all of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies, promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues.
|
<urn:uuid:ccc538e8-c987-4aec-b4f5-80008f14cca7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.landscope.org/wyoming/priorities/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93344
| 803
| 3.375
| 3
|
A name given only to the worthiest of men. A hero in every right, a Ghazi is one whom has never tasted defeat and laughs in the face of danger. He embellishes those who he holds dearest and never lets harm come to them.
He endeavors to pursue every ambition to the fullest no matter how challenging or impossible it may seem, his unwavering sense of compassion elevates him in the eyes of those who bare witness to his profundity.
His maverick leadership style en stows others with a formidable sense of self worth and inspiration through his belief, that the moment we stop fighting for each other, is the moment we lose our humanity. That every man dies, but not every man truly lives.
That is Ghazi the Man..........The Myth............The Legend.
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The Ghazi may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
By the time he could stand, Ghazi was baptized in the fire of combat. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death on the battlefield, was the greatest glory he could achieve in this life.
A man who is GAY in everyway!
hey look thats ghazi coming out of the visual studies class
|
<urn:uuid:d8cea8d4-7315-4721-b377-e8a0bd8a238b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ghazi&defid=6607603
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.947717
| 273
| 2.171875
| 2
|
Sometimes you have to wonder if humanity would ever get anything done if it weren’t for disasters.
you knew i had to complain about this at some point, right?
It took a massive hurricane for New Orleans –a city stupidly built below sea level on a river delta– to actually spend any money to build adequate levies to prevent rising river/lake/sea water from ravaging the city. Japan needed to have a nuclear meltdown at one of their power plants before they thought, “Hey, maybe it would be a good idea to build impenetrable sea walls around our nuclear power plants!” Apparently, reacting after a disaster is the only way to save face.
And just as in the real world, the powers that be in soccer need to have their lack of action blow up in their faces before they decide to go about making needed changes in the game.
Refereeing has been the bane of FIFA’s existence the last year and a half. Bad decision after horrible decision, missed call after botched call, affected game after ruined game, the overall quality of supposed “top-level” referees in the game seems to have taken a massive dip. Some high-profile recent examples include:
- The France-Ireland World Cup qualification handball incident.
- Frank Lampard’s un-awarded goal in South Africa.
- Robin van Persie’s dismissal for shooting a ball after the whistle.
- Barcelona escaping any punishment for all of their diving during the Champions League clásicos.
- Tottenham falling to Chelsea on an offsides goal and a goal that never crossed the line (see above).
Now to be fair, and I have been pretty harsh to the lot on this blog, all of the blame can’t be shouldered by the referees. Yes, some of the poor performances are definitely their fault: not being in the right place on the pitch to see the action, being inconsistent in the calls being made, or just plain making the wrong call. But a lot of this can also be blamed on the dramatic increase in the speed of the modern game. It can be awfully difficult to make a judgement call on a possible infraction that took place in a matter of milliseconds.
Regardless of the reason for the poor quality of refereeing, it’s clear these blind mice need some sort of help. And luckily for us, these events over the last year have finally forced FIFA’s dirty little hand.
Last week, FIFA announced a 2012 deadline for finding a suitable solution to the much maligned goal line technology debate. A long over due pledge, goal line technology is likely the easiest to solve of the issues plaguing the organization (At least they’re finally caving on one issue). And just in time, as it’s an issue that has recently severely impacted the results of some very major games.
So in light of such an important announcement, I thought it might be worthwhile to take some time to look at some of the contenders proposed to solve FIFA’s big problem.
a brilliant concept, but can CTRUS actually meet the standards for an actual ball?
CTRUS by agent
Purely conceptual (I think), we’re still a long way from seeing CTRUS as a viable solution for FIFA… and for multiple reasons.
- A functioning model has yet to appear.
- It requires no inflation, meaning by definition, it’s not a ball FIFA would approve. Massive rule changes would need to be instituted just for this mechanical ball to earn the coveted official “FIFA Approved” logo.
- It’s way too cool for an archaic, old-fashioned organization to adopt.
What’s awesome about the CTRUS concept is that it’s not just the referee who will receive notice of a potential goal: everyone will. Thanks to the ball’s on-board GPS, RFID and multiple POV cameras, the ball will be able to determine its location and signal a goal or ball out-of-touch by changing its colors with LED lighting.
All bad ass ideas, but all assuming that Agen can actually get the thing to work.
"wait, i can't see around this post."
The Five-Man System
Everyone should be fairly familiar with FIFA’s only somewhat-sanctioned form of goal line technology, where an extra official is placed just behind and to the left of each goal mouth. Let’s first diligently declare that this is not a “technology” per se… unless the extra officials are some form cyborgs. And to be honest, this solution is really just four extra eyes to watch a ball from a closer angle.
Problem is, I don’t think that these guys provide that much additional value.
Since these guys are already qualified as professional referees, they’re allowed not only rule on goals, but also on other infringements in the penalty area. Sadly, I can’t think of one occasion where I’ve seen them call anything. Secondly, there’s still plenty of room for human error. In fact, there’s twice as much room for human error. So there’s really no possible way that this “technology” could even meet FIFA’s own 100% accuracy standards.
A relative unknown, at least as far as the media are concerned, Goalminder is a solution that involves placing fiber-optic, high-speed cameras in the posts and crossbar of each goal. Very reminiscent of the NHL’s downward facing camera used to verify goals, check out the video below for a horribly drawn out (and ADD distracted) demonstration:
One major problem with this solution is the time it would take to make a decision with cameras. Someone would need to watch the video, possibly frame by frame, and every angle could potentially be obscured by an errant arm, leg, foot or body. Are the referees supposed to pause the game as they wait for or make a decision? Who watches the video replays? In reality, there are more questions that actual answers with regards to Goalminder.
the infamous sputnik ball makes a return to WSOTP.
remember the Sputnik ball that I had stupidly propped up on my site a few weeks back that purported to be the official 2014 World Cup ball? Well, as I said in the story, it’s not the next ball but rather an old prototype utilizing the “Cairos GLT” technology in adidas’ Teamgeist II.
A joint venture between adidas and Cairos Technologies, this system utilizes a series of in-ball sensors that, when the ball completely crosses the goal line, would immediately notify the referee that a goal should be awarded. It requires the posts and bars to transmit electromagnetic fields that would be measured by the ball’s microchips to determine its location on the pitch.
An earlier version of this system was demoed at the 2005 U-17 World Cup, but apparently wasn’t able to make the grade. With a bad taste already in FIFA’s mouth, adidas and co hopefully did their homework a bit better this time around in order to convince anyone that it’s a viable option.
Vegum/Tag-Heuer’s Goal Line Technology (GLT)
Cleverly named product, isn’t it? The famous watchmaker’s system was first developed ahead of 2010 Olympic Hockey tournament, and is currently solely marketed for use in hockey. It utilizes a centrally located microchip within the ball to gauge its position with regards to an electromagnetic field emanating from the posts, crossbar, and goal line.
Other than this link to a promotional video, I can’t dig up much on Vegum and Tag Heuer’s innovative collaboration.
hawk-eye's software uses multiple views to verify a goal. extra sets of intelligent eyes are never a bad thing.
Already the master of millimeter-precise solutions for tennis, cricket, and even snooker, Hawk-Eye is the solution FIFA should already be using.
Hawk-Eye is a computer program that utilizes a set of 6 high-speed cameras at both ends of the stadium, each providing a different angle on the goal line action. The computerized brain then analyzes all of the video feeds to determine the trajectory, speed, and exact location at any given time. Even in situations when the ball is obstructed from every view, the system’s historical database can make accurate assumptions about the ball’s location, based on where it isn’t and historical data. So for those not able to follow, the system can “see” the ball even when it can’t.
The company and Premier League claimed in 1997 that they had the technology ready for in-game implementation, but FIFA was too busy turning a blind eye to the situation at that point. It’s proven to be invaluable in the sports that currently use the technology, which should lend plenty of credence to using it in goal-line decisions.
Others companies (such as Swiss watch-maker Longines) are reportedly submitting proposals, but they’ve kept their brainchildren hidden away in the depths of the internet where I can’t find them.
It is also important to remember that this isn’t the first time FIFA have attempted to tackle the goal line technology debate. Back in February, FIFA put ten solutions through the wringer only to have them all fail to meet the stringent accuracy standards demanded by the
ruling regime governing body. And that begs to question whether or not any of the possible solutions listed above will even be able to make the grade.
For everyone’s sake, let’s hope it does. FIFA and UEFA have spent too much time with their heads in the sand, and their precious game is suffering tremendously for it.
|
<urn:uuid:6a564706-e7d5-4faa-8226-57fdf901b0d6>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://wrongsideofthepond.com/tag/england/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952861
| 2,080
| 1.640625
| 2
|
No Time to Read All the Cool Stuff You Find Online? Read It Later!
Ever started to read an online article…just a sec…my son’s calling me… that you were really interested in, but you…sorry, doorbell…didn’t have time to read then and there?
Well, there’s a nifty little browser extension called Read It Later that allows you to store articles, websites, tweets, and basically anything you want to be able to check out later into a reading list with the click of a button. Kind of like a DVR for your online reading (good-bye endless tabs and bookmarks that get forgotten when you close your browser window).
Read It Later is way better than bookmarks which just stay on one computer because you can log into your Read It Later account from anywhere. There’s even apps for tablets and smartphones and other devices. And, because this is such a useful idea many sites, like Zite and Pulse, are building Read It Later buttons right into their programs.
So check out this Twirl and…shoot, one sec. my son’s calling again…find out how you can read what you want later, when you have more time. Although who knows when that’ll be.
|
<urn:uuid:23efbe24-b534-47a3-a361-101226a6b1ae>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.momeomagazine.com/no-time-to-read-all-the-cool-stuff-you-find-online-read-it-later/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.941099
| 264
| 1.757813
| 2
|
Travel to Sri Lanka: Kandy: Palaces and Medamahanuwara
"There is nothing worthy of remark either in their architecture or decorations." That was the opinion of Major Jonathan Forbes in his Eleven Years in Ceylon (1840). It's not quite fair, but there's this much truth in it: The Kandyans in 1800 were no longer building to the standards of their ancestors. We look here at some of their handiwork and then at the last refuge of the last of their kings.
The magulmaduva, or royal council chamber. The portion on the left, with the lower floor, was added by the British in 1875 to accommodate a visit from the Prince of Wales--the columns were taken from another palace building and replaced there by brick. The British eventually restored the original part of the building, too, which was near collapse in the 1920s. In his official diary, Government Agent William Kindersley wrote in March, 1923, that "The Audience Hall remains propped up with jungle posts and is a pathetic sight. Many of the pillars have so rotted at the base that the pillars have sunk from 1 to 3 inches from the beam that they are supposed to support."
New posts and beams.
Here's part of the maligawa, or royal palace, of the last king. Its relation to the Temple of the Tooth is shown well here, but the picture isn't a fair representation of what the building really looked like, because it's been stripped of the massive veranda that once wrapped it.
You can get a sense of the decorative plaster on the brick building, but the veranda kept it all in the deep shade.
Inside, (this part of the palace is now part of the national museum--other parts are off-limits and still in government use) there is this elaborate floor lamp of clay, though it looks like a timber turned on a lathe.
The heavy roof demanded massive columms and beams, once joined with these proportionally massive capitals.
Another set of capitals.
A pair of doors, in a nearby building.
We've driven east for about an hour to the small town of Medamahanuwara, then walked for 10 minutes to this stone monument. The path is poorly marked, because this isn't a place dear to Kandyan hearts: it's where their last king, fleeing Kandy and seeking refuge, instead surrendered to trackers who turned him over to British captivity. Indeed, were it up to the Kandyans, there would be no monument at all. The stone was instead placed by the government agent in Kandy in 1908, almost a century after Sri Wikrama Rajasinha was captured in 1815. He was taken to exile in India, where he died in 1830.
J. Penry Lewis, who erected the monument, quotes a source as follows: "On the following morning the gratifying intelligence was received at Headquarters that the King had been surrounded on the morning of the preceding day (i.e., on February 18, 1815) by some Kandyans of the Province of Dumbara... at a place... very near to Meydemahanoowera." Lewis also quotes from Henry Marshall's Ceylon, which offers these additional details: "It appears that the few Malabar attendants remaining with the King made some resistance, and wounded one of the assailants under the command of Eheylopola, on which the party fired upon the house. The King then appeared and delivered himself up. His pursuers forthwith bound and plundered him of whatever articles of value he had on his person."
The king is remembered by Kandyans as a tyrant, which helps to explain why he was captured by his own people. Their commander, Eheylapola, had his own motive: revenge. The king had earlier tried to punish him for insurrection. Failing to capture him, the king had instead ordered the execution of Eheylapola's wife and young children. Their courage facing death is legendary in Sri Lanka today, although the king himself, when assailed by the British for such barbarity, insisted that he had acted according to Kandyan law and custom.
* Australia's Northern Territory * Austria * Bangladesh * Belgium * Brazil (Manaus) * Burma / Myanmar * Cambodia (Angkor) * Canada (B.C.) * China * Czech Republic * Egypt * France * Germany * Greece * Hungary * India: Themes * Northern India * Peninsular India * Indonesia * Israel * Italy * Japan * Jerusalem * Jordan * Kenya * Laos * Kosovo * Malaysia * Mexico * Morocco * Mozambique * Namibia * Netherlands * Norway * Oman * Pakistan * Philippines * Poland * Portugal * Singapore * South Africa * Spain * Sri Lanka * Sudan * Syria * Tanzania * Thailand * Trinidad * Turkey * United Arab Emirates * United Kingdom * U.S.: East * U.S.: West * U.S.: Oklahoma * Uzbekistan * Vietnam * West Bank * Yemen * Zimbabwe *
|
<urn:uuid:fd016a66-e038-40dd-a042-b67b233dc7aa>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.greatmirror.com/index.cfm?countryid=376&chapterid=938&picturesize=medium
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.972457
| 1,036
| 2.8125
| 3
|
Regular readers of this blog have a pretty good sense of my policy preferences. But for those occasional readers who might be stopping by, let me reiterate what I would do right now if I were the fiscal king.
I would institute an immediate and permanent reduction in the payroll tax, financed by a gradual, permanent, and substantial increase in the gasoline tax. I would make the two tax changes equal in present value, so while the package results in a short-run budget deficit, there is no long-term budget impact. Call it the create-jobs, save-the-environment, reduce-traffic-congestion, budget-neutral tax shift.
I recognize that some state governments are now struggling in light of the macroeconomic crisis. For the next two years, I would let each state governor have the authority to divert a portion of the payroll tax cut in his or her state and take the funds instead as state aid. This provision would essentially be giving governors the temporary authority to impose a payroll tax on his or her citizens, collected via the federal tax system. Those governors who think they have valuable infrastructure projects ready to go would take the money. When designing a fiscal stimulus, there is no compelling reason for one size fits all. Let each governor make a choice and answer to his or her state voters. It is called federalism.
Any further federal spending projects should be evaluated on the basis of cost-benefit analysis. That analysis would take time, but it would ensure that the projects are not a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Some traditional Keynesians would object that government spending has a larger multiplier than tax cuts. Even though that is the prediction of standard Keynesian models, the evidence is not completely consistent with that conclusion, as I have discussed here in previous posts. In addition, given the lags inherent in large spending projects, and the risks inherent in hasty spending at the federal level, the case for taxes over spending as the fiscal instrument of choice is compelling. To me, at least.
None of this should be viewed as a substitute for fixing the banking system and trying to come up with a better process for homeowners and banks to work out mortgage loans in default. Housing and finance are the real sources of the macro problem. Any fiscal stimulus, such as the one I propose above, is only an attempt to mitigate the symptoms. Those symptoms are severe, so mitigation is fully appropriate. But fiscal policy is not a panacea for what now ails the economy.
The GOP Mortgage Plan: Con and Pro February 5, 2009.
Congressional Republicans are proposing that the government offer people 4 percent mortgages, which is below current market rates for mortgages but above the current government bond rate. Harvard economist Ed Glaeser is opposed...
Feldstein on Fiscal Stimulus February 4, 2009.
Interview with Marty (Felstein) December 13, 2008.
|
<urn:uuid:77341e20-f4bc-451f-b73e-7b20f1a151c8>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.deanstalk.net/deanstalk/2009/02/professor-of-economics-at-harvard-university.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.963052
| 584
| 1.609375
| 2
|
Source: Security Focus
Linux Kernel Hardening
by Anton Chuvakin, Ph.D.
last updated January 23, 2002
This article will cover the issues of Linux hardening, with a specific focus on kernel hardening and its use on production systems. Several kernel-hardening approaches and their usability will be analyzed.
Is Linux secure? The question is much less useful, than 'Is Linux "securable"?' The answer to the latter is a definite yes. Being securable means that Linux can be made more secure (to whatever degree necessary) by applying a clearly defined sequence of steps that always produces the same result, and that can be automated and applied to systems that have been in operation for a long time. It would be ideal to be able to make securing systems understandable by regular system administrators who donít have formal security training. However, the last requirement might be pushing it a bit, since security will likely always require expertise.
Linux can be made more secure by hardening the system. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss system hardening; however, there are a number of system hardening resources available, such as:
There are also utilities available, such as Bastille linux. The latter automate the hardening process with detailed explanations on each step. Hardened Linux distributions such as EnGarde Linux and Immunix are also available. Typical steps that are taken during the system hardening include:
- Minimizing installed software
- Patching the system
- Securing filesystem permissions and S*ID binaries
- Improving login and user security
- Setting some physical and boot security controls
- Securing the daemons via network access controls
- Increasing logging and audit information
- Configuring vendor supplied security software (IDS, host firewall)
It is curious to note that hardening is not just a matter of fixing bad defaults the vendors throw at users. It is believed that vendors ship systems with mostly open default setting based on customer feedback. Thus hardening should be viewed not as "fighting the evil vendor", but rather as optimizing the system based on local business and security needs.
Hardening is also a great example of defense in depth. Such a Linux system will be much harder to crack and utilize for nefarious purposes. There are examples of Linux servers running for years without a successful penetration and with no firewall. Their reliability is due to a professionally hardened OS.
However, system hardening appears to be lacking in several aspects. For example, buggy SUID programs and network application will still give the attacker root and user access. If attacker gets "root", there is positively no way to stop them from anything on a normal Linux system. In addition, basic Unix access controls will not stop authorized system users from doing various bad things (port scanning, accessing unauthorized resources, running password crackers or banned network applications), which cannot be prohibited using Ďaccess controlí without rendering the system unusable. And while hardening, improved logging, audit and intrusion detection will complicate rootkit deployment by attackers, kernel-level rootkits can easily overcome those preventive measures.
To combat these threats, kernel hardening is needed. Kernel hardening can be defined as enabling additional kernel-level security mechanisms to improve the security of the system, while keeping system close to traditional Linux. What are some approaches to kernel hardening? Current Linux kernel security can be tightened a bit without adding any new features or patches. One can compile the kernel with no module support (in this case, most kernel rootkits cannot function) and some security-related kernel options can be turned on.
The full article can be wieved here.
|
<urn:uuid:accfcee0-8f1e-476e-bc62-dd1e554eb5c0>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.antionline.com/showthread.php?156601-Linux-Kernel-Hardening..&p=384772&viewfull=1
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.918129
| 746
| 2.671875
| 3
|
What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
Chronic kidney disease occurs when your kidneys are damaged and no longer work as well as they should. Normal, healthy kidneys remove waste from the blood. The waste then leaves your body in your urine. The kidneys also help control blood pressure and make red blood cells. If you have chronic kidney disease, your kidneys cannot remove waste from the blood as well as they should. Almost 20 million people in the United States have this disease.
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
|
<urn:uuid:f502204f-35c2-4f5b-94b0-ff21ce77e9ad>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease.printerview.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.968993
| 106
| 3.5
| 4
|
Edward IVArticle Free Pass
The second half of Edward’s reign.
The last decade of Edward’s reign also saw an improvement in law enforcement. One especially disturbed area was Wales and the Welsh marches; Edward used the royal estates there as a foundation on which to base a council that acted in the name of his infant heir, the Prince of Wales, and employed the royal prerogative to make a start in repressing disorder. It was the forerunner of the council of Wales and the marches that subjugated the area to English rule.
Modern research has emphasized these administrative achievements of Edward IV, and contemporary and Tudor historians viewed his later years as a time of prosperity and success. He rebuilt St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, and collected illuminated Flemish manuscripts. He was also a friend and patron of the printer William Caxton, and his book collection became the foundation of the Old Royal Library, later one of the glories of the British Museum.
Edward’s promiscuity enabled Richard of Gloucester, after his death, to question the validity of his marriage and so to ruin his sons. As a young man Edward had been trustful and openhanded, but his experiences made him increasingly suspicious, leading him in 1478 to execute his brother George, duke of Clarence, who in former years had sided with Warwick against him. In 1482, Louis XI, in order to come to terms with the rulers of Burgundy, tacitly repudiated the Treaty of Picquigny and the annual tribute that it provided. Edward contemplated a fresh invasion of France, but before it could be carried out he fell ill and died at the age of only 40. By Elizabeth Woodville he had seven children who survived him: two sons, Edward (afterward Edward V) and Richard, duke of York, who were probably murdered in the Tower of London in August 1483, and five daughters, of whom the eldest, Elizabeth, married Henry VII.
What made you want to look up "Edward IV"? Please share what surprised you most...
|
<urn:uuid:620c10bc-839d-440e-8c9c-2340702b9fc8>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/179735/Edward-IV/2034/The-second-half-of-Edwards-reign
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.982818
| 425
| 2.9375
| 3
|
Feb. 29, 2012 Scientists at University College Dublin have discovered a new way of measuring the potential success rate of an embryo before it is transferred back into the womb during in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
According to the findings published online in the journal Fertility and Sterility, the fluid within a woman's ovaries that surrounds the egg or oocyte holds metabolic information that can improve predictions on which embryo is more likely to lead to pregnancy.
"We analysed samples of the follicular fluid surrounding the immature ovum or egg before it was retrieved for IVF," says Dr Lorraine Brennan, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland.
"We identified clear metabolic differences between the follicular fluids from women who successfully achieved pregnancy as a result of IVF to the fluids from the women who did not."
"Before the test can be regularised for use during IVF, our results need to be validated across a larger cohort of women undergoing treatment, and we are hopeful that the results obtained from larger samples will support our initial findings," says Dr Brennan.
Today, approximately 32% of IVF cycles result in pregnancy, so the standard procedure involves the transfer of multiple embryos back into the womb to increase the potential success rate.
But when more than one embryo is transferred back, there is an increased chance of multiple births like twins and triplets. There are increased health risks associated with multiple pregnancies for both mother and infants including an increased risk of miscarriages and preterm labour, leading to premature infants with admission to neonatal intensive care.
"In more recent years there has been an increase in the number of single embryo transfer (SET) as an effective way of reducing potential multiple births, but the widespread acceptance of SET is limited because there is no fully accurate method of embryo assessment and selection for transfer during IVF cycles."
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
- Martina Wallace, Evelyn Cottell, Michael J. Gibney, Fionnuala M. McAuliffe, Mary Wingfield, Lorraine Brennan. An investigation into the relationship between the metabolic profile of follicular fluid, oocyte developmental potential, and implantation outcome. Fertility and Sterility, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.01.122
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
|
<urn:uuid:8735eca1-a81c-44e9-8c41-3c7ba3f9a2fc>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229105029.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.934437
| 482
| 3.03125
| 3
|
Volvo Buses is a worldwide bus manufacturer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company manufactures chassis and complete buses, and use Volvo engines and transmissions.
Volvo built their first bus on a truck chassis in 1928. Over the next three decades, Volvo would continue to innovate in the bus market with their own bus chassis, their own diesel engines, and a mid-chassis engine placement. Their first chassis to sell in large numbers, the B58, was introduced in 1965.
Volvo Buses is created as an independent division within the Volvo Group in 1968. Volvo buses acquires a number of companies between 1981 and 2004 with the first acquisition, Karossfabrik AB in 1981. Leyland Motors is acquired in 1998, and the popular Olympian continues under Volvo Buses. In 1995, Volvo becomes part owner of Prevost Car of Quebec, Canada. Volvo acquires Finish body company Carrus OY and Mexican manufacturer MASA in 1998. The same year, Volvo acquires a share in Nova Bus, a Canadian transit bus manifacturer. The remaining 50% of Prevost Car is acquired in 2004, and Volvo becomes the parent to Prevost and Nova brands.
- Volvo Buses Milestones, volvo.com, retrieved on 2009-09-30
- Personal notes & sightings
|
<urn:uuid:24aa844b-fe64-4400-9f08-64abfdc43f23>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Volvo_Buses
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.930039
| 267
| 2.28125
| 2
|
Generation of Mutants for Aspect Oriented Programs
Testing of aspect oriented programs is a new programming paradigm. Many researchers had contributed their research in the field of testing AOP. Mutation testing is an emerging area of research in testing of aspect oriented programming. The effectiveness of mutation testing depends on finding fault types and designing of mutation operators on the basis of faults identified. Therefore the effectiveness of testing depends upon the quality of these mutation operators. The authors already have the mutation operators for procedural and object oriented languages, but for aspect oriented language only a few researchers have contributed. In this paper, they will study in detail about the fault types and related mutation operators for AspectJ language. This paper also proposes the implementation framework to implement these mutation operators automatically.
|
<urn:uuid:68590558-c7a4-4c05-af7b-9a8a8ae7bc9a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.techrepublic.com/whitepapers/generation-of-mutants-for-aspect-oriented-programs/4455893?cname=software-development-tools
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00076-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.913158
| 152
| 2.40625
| 2
|
Though prices for smaller flat-screen displays could rise this year, big-screen TV prices are set for a prolonged slide as a battle rages between liquid crystal and plasma display standards. Sacrificing profit for market share?
Manufacturers of large sets over 40 inches using either liquid crystal (LCD) and plasma (PDP) technology are spending aggressively on technology to make cheaper sets and draw consumers away from boxy, smaller cathode-ray TVs.
Consumer tech giants such as Sony and LG Electronics are sacrificing profit for market share, analysts say.
"Above all, price will be the most important factor when it comes to who will win the battle between plasma and LCD for big flat-screen TVs," said UFJ Tsubasa Securities analyst Kazuya Yamamoto.
"Most consumers are not happy about forking out upwards of 500,000 yen ($4,640) for a TV, no matter if it's LCD or plasma. So the question is which side can lower costs the fastest to spur on and capture demand."
Over the past year, prices of both have fallen sharply.
A 42-inch plasma TV set using high-definition technology, which is widely expected to emerge as a global broadcast standard, currently sells for around $4,000, while the same size LCD costs about $5,000, according to Samsung Electronics and LG. A less hi-tech 42 inch plasma set can be bought for $2,000.
"LCD makers will need to add new generation lines faster than originally planned to meet the aggressive plasma pricing," Lehman Brothers said.
Cathode-ray sets account for more than 90 percent of global TV sales. As smaller LCD sets get cheaper that share will fall to 81 percent next year, Lehman Brothers said. But it has been a costly battle for makers.
LCD prices dropped nearly a third last year and are still more than double the price of comparable cathode-ray sets.
Analysts say the price of a 32 inch LCD set should drop another 40 percent to around $1,430 to grab more customers.
In the race for profitability, LCD makers say prices for some flat screen sets -- particularly 17-inch models, which can be bought for a few hundred dollars -- are set to recover in the second half of this year.
LCDs last longer than plasma screens but are not as bright, while energy-hungry plasma screens have a wider viewing angle but can require noisy fans to keep them cool.
In the medium term, plasma appears to have the edge in prices for big-screen TVs but huge LCD investment plans could change the picture.
"As LCD prices come down, they will manage to beat out plasma in the 40-inch area in 2007 and 2008. We will see a cut-throat price war between the two competing technologies next year," said Michael Min, a tech analyst at Dongwon Securities in Seoul.
"The key is how much PDP makers can cut their price to compete with free-falling LCDs."
DisplaySearch, a research group, says that by 2008, plasma will account for 73 percent of the global market for 40-inch or larger flat TVs.
LG Electronics, Samsung SDI, Panasonic products maker Matsushita Electric Industrial and Pioneer Corp. are betting on plasma technology.
"We expect production costs to drop by some 20 percent with the introduction of a new technology called 'single scanning' that halves the number of driver chips required to display images on the screen," said G.W. Kim, a spokesman at LG Electronics.
Pioneer said it would raise efficiency by consolidating different panel sizes into three from six.
Asian LCD makers plan to invest more than $51 billion in production over the next decade, which could lower costs dramatically.
"Nearly all of Taiwan's major display makers focus on LCDs as they think the future mainstream TV products will be below 40 inch," said Ben Lee, head of Nomura International's equity research in Taiwan.
LG.Philips LCD, the world's No.2 LCD maker, unveiled a $5.3 billion plan in November to build an advanced factory line for mass production in the first half of 2006.
Bigger rival Samsung Electronics just started volume production of high-end panels at its joint venture with Sony, while Sharp Corp. plans to invest 160 billion yen to open a new plant in 2006.
Taiwan rivals AU Optronics and Chi Mei Optoelectronics also have new factories planned.
|
<urn:uuid:49dfa9e0-484f-4112-a50e-133d78ecd20d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Print.aspx?NewsId=13905
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.943684
| 921
| 1.632813
| 2
|
Tragedies, Crimes and Trayvon Martin: How Newt
Played the ‘Race Card’ Against Obama’s Decency
By Carl Davidson
Keep On Keepin’ On
Every so often an outrage happens that lights up the sky, like when lighting strikes at night, and all of a sudden everything previously hidden in darkness and shadow stands out in sharp, bright relief.
The murder of Trayvon Martin was such an event, even though it took a while for the rolling thunder of its full impact to spread across the country. Slowly at first, and then in greater leaps, the news media, after being nudged, picked it up.
I have one quarrel with most of the reports and statements. This was not so much a tragedy as a crime. It was an old-fashioned lynching dressed up with modern-day ‘gun rights’ being exercised in today’s gated communities.
But put that to the side. Most everyone now has dutifully called it a tragedy, called for an impartial investigation to ‘get to the bottom’ of it and see that ‘justice is served.’ Even President Obama finally spoke up, with the proper caveats against prejudging “current investigations,’ but adding that if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon, a point he made to show empathy with the Martin family.
Then we have our former House Speaker and GOP presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich, who, after deploring the tragedy, came up with this attack on Obama in an interview with Sean Hannity:
“It’s not a question of who that young man looked like. Any young American of any ethnic background should be safe, period. We should all be horrified no matter what the ethnic background,” Gingrich said. “Is the President suggesting that if it had been a white who had been shot that would be ok because it didn’t look like him?”
“That’s just nonsense dividing this country up. It is a tragedy this young man was shot,” Gingrich continued on Hannity’s show. “It would have been a tragedy if he had been Puerto Rican or Cuban or if he had been white or if he had been Asian-American of if he’d been a Native American. At some point we ought to talk about being Americans. When things go wrong to an American, it is sad for all Americans. Trying to turn it into a racial issue is fundamentally wrong. I really find it appalling.”
Newt, I have news for you. There’s something truly appalling here; in fact it stinks to high heaven. But it’s not Obama, and if you want to see the source of it, look in the mirror.
Gingrich fancies himself an historian, even something of an expert on the Civil War and its aftermath. He should then know something about lynching. If so, he would know that when the Reconstruction governments were overthrown, the KKK terror started in South Carolina by lynching nearly as many poor whites as Black Freedmen. The aim was to deeply drive home the wedge of the original ‘Southern Strategy’ aimed at dividing the working class in the South and elsewhere.
But as lynching rolled on over the decades, tens of thousands of Blacks bore the brunt of it. Anti-Lynching laws, also for decades, were promoted mainly by Blacks and a few radical allies, while white reactionaries blocked them.
There is nothing colorblind about lynching. It never ceases to amaze me when Republicans claim to be colorblind lovers of Dr. King, while being ‘appalled’ at what they consider the main racists in high places, who are the African Americans supposedly ‘playing the race card.’ The trade union movement over the years has paid some high tuition to learn that mutual respect among nationalities is not rooted in being ‘blind’ to each other’s distinctiveness. Solidarity with a white top and a Black bottom simply doesn’t get the job done.
But the race card is indeed being played against us. It’s been constantly played by those who would keep us under their thumbs, from Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 up to a ‘gated community’ in Stanford, Florida. If you want to see it in action, for starters, watch Fox News or the GOP campaign any day of the week—then to oppose it, gather up some friends to attend a ‘Justice for Trayvon’ rally and work to defeat every candidate and incumbent of the party of the ‘Southern Strategy’ in November.
Carl Davidson is a national co-chair of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. He lives in Western Pennsylvania and writes for BeaverCountyBlue.org
|
<urn:uuid:b71949d0-d374-4b7a-a7d7-10bb495d4502>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://carldavidson.tumblr.com/tagged/Carl-Davidson
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97355
| 1,001
| 1.5
| 2
|
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade, Allowing Construction Supplies
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Audie Cornish.
The Israeli government has taken steps to ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip. For the first time in five years, Israel is allowing shipments of gravel, cement and other construction materials into Gaza. The move is meant to help Palestinians rebuild after November's brief war between Israeli forces and Hamas. [POST-BROADCAST CLARIFICATION: Previously, aid organizations had been allowed to import construction material into Gaza. The eased rules apply to private-sector builders.] Sheera Frenkel reports.
SHEERA FRENKEL, BYLINE: Throughout Gaza, construction work is in full swing, as many hasten to repair the damage caused during by Israel's eight-day aerial offensive in November. The announcement that Israel would begin allowing gravel and other construction materials into Gaza was welcomed here, in Ali Abdula'al's construction goods store. He says it's a good thing, but he's not sure it means real change quite yet.
ALI ABDULA'AL: (Through Translator) It is good but the cost is still very high.
FRENKEL: Abdula'al says that over the last five years, Gazans have perfected the art of smuggling in their own construction material through a network of tunnels that run between Gaza and Egypt. The newly available Israeli gravel costs more then the stuff he gets from the tunnels.
ABDULA'AL: (Through Translator) And the Egyptian gravel is just as good. There is also new Turkish gravel that is better and cheaper then the Israeli stuff.
FRENKEL: He says that for as long as the tunnels are operating, he'll continue to depend on them to get the material he needs.
Israel imposed a wide-ranging embargo on Gaza in 2007, after the militant Hamas movement seized control of the coastal strip. Hamas refuses to recognize Israel and has claimed responsibility for many terrorist attacks in the Jewish state. Israeli officials say they banned construction material because they feared Hamas would use the goods to build bunkers and tunnels.
Guy Inbar is a spokesman for Israel's Defense Ministry in the department of coordination with the Palestinian territories. He says that materials which are deemed dual use, or which could be used by militant groups, are still banned from Gaza.
GUY INBAR: These new steps are especially for the private sector for the population in Gaza, in order to distinct between the civilian population and the Hamas terrorist.
FRENKEL: Inbar says that the Defense Ministry decided to allow the new goods into Gaza due to the short-term success of the cease-fire agreement with Hamas. Egyptian mediators helped Israeli and Hamas officials reach that accord in November, after an eight-day conflict that left 133 Palestinians and six Israelis dead.
Inbar says there is ongoing dialogue through Egyptian mediators; and that if the quiet prevails, Israel will continue to increase the flow of goods to Gaza.
INBAR: If the calm will continue, Israel will consider to approve more measures and more steps.
FRENKEL: Sari Bashi, executive director of the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement in Tel Aviv, says allowing some construction materials into Gaza is a great step, because it shows that Israel is looking to remove restrictions that don't raise security concerns. But the Israeli activist says much more could be done.
SARI BASHI: People in Gaza should be able to build not just buildings, but also an economy and their professional aspirations. And to do that, they certainly need to be able to bring construction materials in. But people in Gaza also need to be able to travel and market goods, so that they can invest in their own economic and social future.
FRENKEL: She says that the last five years have created severe shortages across Gaza that will take years to overcome.
For NPR News, I'm Sheera Frenkel.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.
|
<urn:uuid:dd8b9f35-5de2-4515-a521-547846f9ed1e>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/01/168417035/israel-eases-gaza-blockade-allowing-construction-supplies
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.951025
| 890
| 1.914063
| 2
|
Australian Legislators Open Door for Credit Unions
Increased Competition Likely to Improve Consumer Service
New regulations in Australia would help credit unions like Community First Credit Union, located in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe, further grow its mortgage loan portfolio.
SYDNEY, Australia — Wayne Swan, Australia's national treasurer, would like to see his country's "big four" banks become more competitive. To make his point, Swan last week opened an account at his local credit union in Toombul, north of Brisbane, demonstrating his belief that credit unions can offer consumers better service and more competitive rates than banks.
The act preceded the anticipated issuance this week of new regulations that would give Australia's credit unions and building societies greater access to capital. The changes would allow smaller financial services providers, including financial cooperatives, to become a more competitive alternative to the four largest banks. Greater capital access for credit unions will mean better rates for Australia's home mortgage market, according to World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) Director Louise Petschler, chief executive of WOCCU member Abacus Australian Mutuals, which represents credit unions and building societies in Australia.
"If we got 20% of the home lending market, you would see a more competitive market and banks would see their margins eaten away," Petschler told the Sydney Morning Herald. "We need diversified funding, and there needs to be more liquidity in the wholesale market."
Swan's move echoes the government's desire to apply more competitive pressure on Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank and Westpac Banking Corp. The four banks are known as the "four pillars," reflecting a government policy that forbids mergers among the four to create even larger - and presumably less competitive - banks. By empowering smaller financial institutions, including credit unions, through new regulations and increased access to capital, lawmakers hope to create a fifth pillar that will provide better rates and services to consumers.
Government policy decisions during the global economic crisis deemed necessary to support Australia's financial system had inadvertently reduced competition in the banking and financial sector. The new measures are designed to correct the imbalance.
In support of the initiative, the government is expected a reopen a guarantee program on a limited basis for credit unions and other smaller institutions. The government guarantee would put smaller lenders in better position to raise funds in the wholesale market with the goal of increasing their share of home mortgages. The government also is considering injecting more capital into the securitization market, which currently stands at AU$16 billion, enabling non-bank lenders to raise funds at costs similar to those of the large banks.
"The Australian mutuals sector believes it is ready for a new era in banking, and there are a number of reasons why," said Daniel Newlan, senior advisor for policy and public affairs for Abacus. "The average credit union holds a capital ratio in excess of 16%, well above the average 11% held by retail banks. A credit union in Australia is backed by the federal government's AU$1 million retail deposit guarantee, just like the banks, and they are regulated by the same rules, making them just as safe."
The government's new initiative comes in the middle of the first national marketing effort launched by Abacus earlier this year on behalf of the country's credit unions. The campaign is designed to increase visibility and utilization of the country's 104 credit unions and nine building societies, which currently hold AU$73 billion in assets and serve 4.6 million members. The marketing initiative aims to grow the financial cooperative sector and increase financial cooperatives' share of the home mortgage market from less than 10% to 20%.
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.
NOTE: Click on photos to view/download in high resolution.
Contact: Mike Muckian
Organization: World Council of Credit Unions
|
<urn:uuid:21591065-cc30-4644-9e6a-9503d6bc3b5a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.woccu.org/newsroom/releases/Australian_Legislators_Open_Door_for_Credit_Unions
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960197
| 924
| 1.75
| 2
|
Public transport in Lima used to be orderly, clean, efficient and safe. Bus routes ran across the city in an organised way, drivers and ticket sellers were gentlemanly and vehicles were uniform, functional and spacious. This all changed with the Presidency and quasi-dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s, something that the old-timers of the transport industry lament.
Based on reporting by Alberto Villar Campos
Don Manuel just remembers that at some point in the early 90s, the city suddenly rushed towards him with rage. We travelled in an old bus with creaking windows, doors and chairs, swinging around onto Avenida del Ejército from Avenida Brasil when he had just boarded minutes earlier.
“Before”, he begins to speak, “the very same driver of the bus would ask the young men to give up their seats to the women. The seats were comfortable, without graffiti and street sellers weren’t allowed to board. Now this is nothing more than a dream.”
At 82 years old, Don Manuel has lost all hope and his daily journey has become a nightmare. The tranquillity of yesteryear succumbed to the frenzy of the combi and the coaster.
Lima is not what it used to be, but life goes on. The old man gets off at the next corner, near the sea and his grandchildren.
The age of orderly streets in Lima is history. 100,000 buses are waging a fierce battle through traffic at any one time, all the while the victims are not saying a word. 18 years ago life was different and today it looks like nothing wants to change.
Heart of Cocharcas
In May of 1921, the first ten buses appeared in Lima and began a battle that saw the end of the electric tram system. Routes started in central Lima and ran out to Barranco, Miraflores, Magdalena and Callao. During this time the city was home to only 300,000 inhabitants.
A 26 seater Dodge 300 driven by Alberto Barrientes is one of the few buses continuing to ferrying passengers across the city for a famous and ageing bus company called the Cocharcas. Founded in the 30s, it has so far survived, albeit in a wounded state.
Surrounding Alberto’s vehicle are coasters, and if he wants to stay in business, he too will so have to buy one. “Our route used to go from Puente Piedra to El Agustino until we passed the church of Our Lady of Cocharcas in central Lima. We used to have 180 buses, but now we just have 50″, he explains.
Theirs is a sad story. Since work began on the Vía Expresa, seven of the ten companies that served it had to buy combis to cover other routes and stay in business. David Quintana of the Drivers Federation of Peru complains the problem, “Since the start, our capital was developed in parts and never in an integrated way.”
Alive, despite the combis
The old Ikarus buses that ploughed the streets of Lima in the 70s and their operators were synonymous with punctuality and the respect shown to passengers. When the coasters and combis arrived – in 1991 during the Fujimori government – this all ended. “The collapses of the system accentuated unpunctuality and broke rules of respect and consideration for others”, explains sociologist Aldo Panfichi with regards to traffic and society in Lima.
The Ariza brothers, Victor and Carlos, have been driving buses on route 73 for 15 years for the Etupsa company. Unlike other drivers, both enjoy and are happy in their jobs, because despite the hellish conditions they must overcome day after day on their long route from Callao to Pachacamac, they – just as Barrientos – still retain the spirit of a bygone era. Respect for the passengers no matter what and consideration for others despite everything.
|
<urn:uuid:3d0c4c83-075f-40a7-aa9c-8e1952e11164>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://enperublog.com/2009/02/12/the-last-stop-nostalgia-street/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.969602
| 832
| 2.28125
| 2
|
Play/download mp3 file
This intriguing article appeared on the NY Times website on June 15 (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/arts/people-argue-just-to-win-scholars-assert.html). I said intriguing, because I've always suspected that debates are a dubious way to get at the truth of things. Winning or losing a debate isn't really a measure of the truth of an argument -- it's a measure of debating skills, period. And yet there has always been this assumption that winning a debate somehow gives the winner's claim a legitimacy. A case in point is the debate between the prosecutor and the defense in a court of law, which is presumed to deliver justice. But this assumption needs to be seriously reexamined.
I was thinking something along this line the other day, when I happen to watch a quiz show on TV. The players were sevearl professors of science at famous universities (attended by their students as sidekicks), who competed in a sort of an inter-collegiate battle of intellect. They were shown a series of seemingly elementary experiments in physics using pendulums and baloons and what not, and were asked what the outcome would be. Whichever team that gave correct answers most often would win. Simple enough, right? One would imagine that professors at prestigious universities couldn't possibly get the answers wrong. Well, what happend was that with each question, the professors made wildly divergent predictions (which began to seem more like guesses as the show went on), and most of them got the answers wrong each time! What seemed most interesting to me was that at each question, the professors explained in a logical manner why they would expect a certain outcome, and each argument actually seemed to have some merit. In other words, they all seem to be right -- until the experiment actually played out.
What this game show revealed was that arguments may appear to be sound but could produce completely erroneous answers. If the merit of each argument were to be examined and judged only in a "market of ideas" without the reality test, the most persuasive argument would certainly win. And yet such judgment could be completely irrelevant, because the truth exists outside those arguments, in the form of actual results of experiments, for instance. In the face of hard facts, arguments must cease and after-the-fact reasoning begins.
The judicial system is never that black-and-white, however, and we have no choice but to grope in the dark by listening to dubious arguments and make the best guesses. The question is, do we try to get at the truth, or do we just try to guess which argument would be most appealing? That's a crucial difference, I think.
|
<urn:uuid:f8274e0d-8dfe-4b83-adeb-71437a8ea9bc>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://lite.air-nifty.com/air/cat20833888/index.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.982152
| 564
| 2.25
| 2
|
MARTINEZ -- When Joshua Bigness finishes his day at Martinez Junior High School, he heads to New You Dance Center (NYDC) and begins rigorous dance training.
"I think it's pretty cool to be able to dance," says the 11-year-old. "Not only can I show off moves, it also helps with flexibility and strengthening every muscle in your body."
Joshua is among the growing number of boys taking up dance as an extracurricular activity, and Alexander John "AJ" Rogers owner, director of NYDC, is teaching them the moves.
"Most of our (student) percentage is boys. That's unheard of in California," Rogers says.
Although statistics for the number of boys versus the number of girls enrolled in any dance classes or schools are vague and elusive, empirical studies indicate girls greatly outnumber boys.
"About 35 percent of girls and 8.4 percent of boys report dance as part of their regular physical activity," noted a study examining the prevalence of dance among youth by Jennifer O'Neill, Russ Pate and Angela Liese of Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina published in October 2011.
Additionally, national statistics show the number of boys enrolled in the nation's 32,000 private dance studios is also low.
But the numbers of male dancers are on the rise, says Rogers, who attributes the television dance competition show, "So You Think You Can Dance" as a factor for increased interest among boys. The TV series began
Rogers performed on the show and says he took his own dancing to a new level after a weeklong intensive study with the show's famed choreographer, Brian Friedman. Rogers says dancing and the opportunity to study with Friedman gave him the confidence to identify his own style.
A self-taught hip-hopper, Rogers began teaching in Walnut Creek in exchange for professional dance instruction when he was 15, and continued until he was 18.
During his years working with professional choreographers, including Cris Judd who has worked with the likes of Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson, as well as dancing with Dave Scott, the lead choreographer for many motion pictures, including "You Got Served" and "Step Up 2," Rogers developed his own style of dancing and teaching.
"I don't (teach) out of a book," Rogers says.
Instead, the award-winning dancer deconstructs the various dance steps and body movements that make the dance happen.
"I break it down so I can teach it to kids," Rogers says.
He then develops a dialogue to communicate to individual students how they need to control their muscles to re-create the body movement.
Rogers is building his studio through teaching dance at various schools' after-school programs. Along with teaching dance, students are entertained with a personal performance that gets them excited to learn, particularly the boys.
"A lot of boys come up to me after and ask, "how can I do this?" says Rogers. "Boys see me as a male role model."
It was a performance by Rogers that excited Joshua, 9, who was attending his 3-year-old sister's ballet recital. Among the different acts was a dance by Rogers.
Joshua was hooked. He wanted to dance.
"I never really thought about it until I saw AJ," says Joshua. "I saw his solo and I thought it was pretty cool. He made it look really easy."
Joshua's mother, Carrie, signed him up for classes.
"It was really hard," he says. But he kept on dancing. "I think I might like making it a career."
Joshua is not shy about dancing saying, "I've had a couple of people come up and ask me to dance." And he obliges.
Joshua, who has studied ballet and jazz at NYDC, says the hardest part of dancing is the stretching to become flexible enough to perform a routine. The easiest is "probably learning the numbers; doing them is a different than knowing them."
The best part is "finishing a dance and performing," he says.
Joshua spends many hours learning new routines and getting in shape for the 2013 competition dancing.
But like with all dance students, Rogers insists students pay attention to their school studies. NYDC has an area above the dance area that is quiet for students to do homework while waiting for their class or when taking a break.
For more information, call 925-293-4726 or visit www.newyoudancecenter.org.
|
<urn:uuid:3c337478-eb4a-4da9-8020-1ca3aec2b82b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.contracostatimes.com/pleasant-hill/ci_22379247/martinez-more-boys-are-putting-their-dancing-shoes?source=most_emailed
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.983113
| 935
| 1.6875
| 2
|
The BlackBerry smart card reader has achieved FIPS 140-2 certification level 3. This is the highest level of certification by any wireless card reader on the market. For those of you that do not know about the smart card reader here is a great description from RIM:
So you can see how this little device can enhance security. It basically locks down your computer whenever the computer cannot communicate with the card reader. This is really important in high profile environments where security is paramount.The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader is designed to work with personal identification cards issued by government organizations or other high-security organizations. Users insert a smart card into this lightweight reader and wear it on a lanyard as a two-factor authentication device for secure access to BlackBerry smartphones, desktop computers and facilities. BlackBerry smartphones and desktop computers automatically lock when the user’s smart card is not in proximity.
|
<urn:uuid:ce530ff4-3e5e-4550-b26a-fc66c2e6d889>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.blackberryos.com/blackberry-administrators/24665-blackberry-smart-card-reader-receives-fips-certification.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927415
| 176
| 1.671875
| 2
|
Bodhi Linux runs on Google's Nexus 7 tablet
We've already seen Ubuntu loaded on the device, with Canonical even coding an official tool that allows Linux enthusiasts to more easily install the OS on Google's tablet. The utility requires an unlocked bootloader, a computer running Ubuntu and a USB cable to connect the Nexus 7 to your PC.
And now prolific Bodhi Linux developer Jeff Hoogland has released a utility that allows Linux fans to install the lightweight flavor on Mountain View's $199 tablet.
As Liliputing's Brad Linder points out, Bodhi for the Nexus 7 is still a work in progress. Meaning, while the touchscreen and user interface (UI) works, the audio isn’t fully functional yet.
Nevertheless, the OS does feature a touch-friendly app launcher, neatly arranged app icons, toolbars at the top or bottom of the screen, an on-screen keyboard and desktop-style apps in resizable windows.
It should be noted that Hoogland also offers Linux ports for a number of other devices, including Samsung's stalwart $250 Chromebook - which is powered by the company's ARM-based Exynos Cortex-A15 processor.
Fortunately, the install process is still fairly straightforward. First off, the Chromebook must be placed into developer mode, which effectively wipes out local data while keeping the operating system intact.
You then connect to the internet, activate a terminal, download and run the Bodhi installer which painlessly walks you through the rest of the process - much like installing Ubuntu via the ARM ChrUbuntu utility.
Now once Bodhi is up and running, you'll have an ARM-powered Chromebook with Google's cloud-centric Chrome OS and Bhodi Linux. Best of all, you can switch between the two operating systems simply by entering a terminal command.
The Chromebook can be returned to its factory default by exiting developer mode and having the system reset itself.
It should be noted that although Bodhi runs well on Samsung's $250 ARM-based laptop, the current build lacks support for hardware-accelerated graphics, which will undoubtedly affect some games and certain applications.
Nevertheless, Linux aficionados may want to give Bodhi a try, if only for the experience. Plus, the OS should be just fine for running non-graphics intensive apps.
|
<urn:uuid:83edc7fd-2bf1-476e-aaa6-3c3cd6851cdc>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-features/68263-bodhi-linux-runs-on-googles-nexus-7-tablet
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.908239
| 478
| 1.765625
| 2
|
Career counseling is more than just helping you find a job. Career development is a lifelong process which requires discernment, planning, and the acquisition of needed skills and/or credentials. It is important that you start your own life planning process early and continue throughout your time at seminary. Our career counselors can help you to begin this process and offer valuable coaching while you're a student and after graduation.
The Office of Career Services offers a number of career development services to Fuller students and alumni/ae. These services include:
- Résumé writing
- Practice interviews
- Training in negotiation skills
- Career assessment testing
- Assistance in discerning your call
- Job fairs and interview opportunities
- Dossier circulation for Ph.D. graduates
Cost Of Living Information
As an aspect of career planning, it is important to think about how much salary you'll need to live where you will be working. To find this information for U.S. areas, go to the CNN Cost of Living Comparison Calculator. For international areas, look at the currency exchange rate to figure out the buying power of your U.S. salary. The current exchange rates can be found at x-rates.com.
For those considering careers in ministry, there are few decisions more important than denominational choice. If you are seeking to learn about different denominations, ElectronicChurch contains links to the web sites for numerous denominations in the United States and Canada. Fuller also maintains a list of denominational liaisons on campus or in the area who can provide more assistance. Contact us to learn more.
Online Career Assessment Tests
The Office of Career Services provides low cost career assessment tests administered by a trained professional. However, there are also several web sites that offer some form of interactive assessment of personal skills, personality, and interests. You might find these helpful in discovering who you are and what kind of career you might like to pursue.
JobHuntersBible.com Career counselor and renowned author Dick Bolles' introduction to online career tests – how to take them, what they mean, and cautions to keep in mind.
The Princeton Review Career Quiz Short test of 24 questions that seeks to identify both your interests and your preferred working style, and suggests career choices based on the results.
The Career Key Short test also using the RIASEC model. Provides links to more detailed information on suggested occupations.
Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) Free Career Analysis test seeks to reveal your motivations for work, learning styles, and work preferences, and matches you with top vocational areas.
|
<urn:uuid:52f17704-4885-434c-98d5-8ccfde07fa0d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://fuller.edu/printable.aspx?id=2036
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94415
| 528
| 1.640625
| 2
|
But those are Hodgson’s orders, now that a giant statue of his likeness stands atop the famed White Cliffs of Dover. On Thursday, the 100-foot-tall structure was unveiled on England’s southern coast.
Built by betting company Paddy Power, the statue is called “Roy the Redeemer.” It is a replica of the iconic “Christ the Redeemer” statue that overlooks the Brazilian metropolis Rio de Janeiro. The pose is the same, but Hodgson’s face adorns the body with out-stretched arms. It took one week to install, and it weighs eight tons.
Hodgson’s reign begins in earnest on Monday, when England meets France in its opening game of the 2012 European Championship. Ironically (or intentionally), it can be seen from France’s north coast.
Watch the unveling of the “Roy the Redeemer” statue in the video below.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@AAllenSport
|
<urn:uuid:ef7b2728-4c41-4a15-844a-cf59aca5f2b9>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://nesn.com/2012/06/giant-roy-hodgson-statue-guards-england-from-french-european-invasion-video/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948215
| 214
| 1.648438
| 2
|
2012 School Safety Poster Contest
Congratulations To The 2012 WPS School Poster Competition Finalists and Winners!
Each year, as part of the Labor Commission’s community relations program and by utilizing money from the WPS Fund, the Commission sponsors a “Take Safety Seriously” poster contest specifically aimed at promoting safety awareness for Utah’s future workforce.
The WPS School Poster Competition, in its 14th year now, is currently open to all middle and junior high schools across Utah, including Charter Schools and private schools. Cash awards are given to the winners and matching awards to the school’s art program for participating. This year, the level of interest and participation was unprecedented with over 1,700 entries submitted by 59 different middle and junior high schools throughout Utah. The top 12 entries are included in the Labor Commission’s annual safety calendar. We print about 15,000 copies and they are distributed without cost to schools, businesses, and community based organizations for purposes of increasing workplace safety awareness throughout the state of Utah.
|
<urn:uuid:decf1e92-86e7-4dde-9de0-563cd32213ff>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://laborcommission.utah.gov/services/WorkPlaceSafety/workplace_safety_posterwinners2012.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960648
| 210
| 1.523438
| 2
|
Broken fire-rescue boats and fewer lifeguards could increase dangerous situations for beach goers in the future. City Councilmember Lorie Zapf and James Gartland with the San Diego Association for Lifeguards discuss the issue in this report from NBC 7's Nicole Gonzales.
San Diego's Mission Bay lifeguard force and fleet are said to be in dire straits.
So a key City Council committee is moving to sort out the highest priorities for upgrading public safety.
The Mission Bay Lifeguard Service unit has been a chronic victim of city budget neglect.
Among its 11 vessels are two multi-purpose rescue fireboats -- one near the end of its useful life, and both subject to constant breakdowns.
"We've had a couple calls, serious calls, where they haven't performed," says Lifeguard Sgt. Ed Harris. "One of (the calls) was (for) 'fuel in the bilge', which is like a bomb. And we had no ability to pump water … so we don't want to get to a point where we have a disaster."
The fleet that patrols Mission Bay covers 27 miles of shoreline that encompass 11 marinas with more than 2,200 boats, and six major hotel properties.
Staffing and training have been issues, as more and more lifeguards hit retirement age and qualified replacements are at a premium.
The unit handled nearly 800 boat fires or accidents and 200 swimmer rescues last year.
On Wednesday, the City Council's Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee formed a working group to look at where new money would do the most good, in the most timely fashion.
"I think we are going to be in a position to help public safety in general," says Councilman Todd Gloria, a committee member. "Every council member has acknowledged that to be their top priority.
"I think what the lifeguards are asking for in terms of additional equipment -- specifically a boat -- that's a one-time expense which is far easier to accommodate in a limited budget environment."
But the lifeguards warn that time is of the essence.
They say further study of priorities will push back the delivery timeline for a new fireboat -- which generally runs nearly a year after an order is placed.
The projected cost: $800,000 to $1 million.
|
<urn:uuid:5375fdd9-2748-43a8-bef4-0b455e8feace>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Mission-Bay-Lifeguards-Seeking-Financial-Rescue-142713125.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.964939
| 474
| 1.515625
| 2
|
This classified ad has expiredClick here to view current advertisements similar to this one.
Many couples would want to get pregnant with a girl as their first child or would want to have a baby girl after a baby boy or so. There is now greater amount of information available on how to get pregnant with a girl and that also naturally. Many people would take medicines and try out various sex positions to get pregnant with a girl but actually that is the hard way to go about it. A couple can have intercourse in any position as it may not contribute much to the gender they want for their child but many doctors suggest a particular sex position.
Man and woman must know about their bodies in detail. The body of woman is different than a man and when a couple is having intercourse, they must know, that the deeper the man will penetrate, the less acidic that area of the vagina will be and more would be the chances of male sex sperms with Y chromosomes to survive. This would lead to a baby boy. So what men must know is that they should penetrate less into their partners so that their sperms carrying X chromosomes have more chances to survive in the vagina of female for long and travel in the blood of woman to give rise to a baby girl.
This is one of the ways. Another natural way to conceive a baby girl is by having intercourse much time before the ovulation. This is the time when the body of woman is being prepared and the level of hormones in the body of woman can help the X chromosomes from men survive for long and travel in the blood to fertilize the egg carrying only X chromosome. This is a natural way to get pregnant with a girl.
What women can do is have foods and fruits that are more acidic and that would create an acidic environment in the blood that would only be fit for the survival of X chromosomes from the males. This can be done by women by taking grapefruit, vegetables, dairy products and fish. All these foods will create the right environment in the body of women to help them conceive a baby girl. Other foods can be citrus fruits and juices that can maintain the acidic levels in the blood.
These methods are natural and carry no side effect. The couple can look for other natural ways for conceiving a baby girl. There are other ways to conceive a baby girl but those methods are more scientific and more detailed. They tend to make the couple tired and keep them under the stress of conceiving a baby girl. If you have tried all natural ways to get pregnant with a girl, then you must consult your doctor and ask your doctor about what should be done next. Some scientific methods have proven to be safe and have given positive and accurate results regarding the gender of the child.
|Copyright© 1999 - 2013 USFreeads. All rights reserved|
Terms of Service
|
<urn:uuid:79a88365-297b-4c50-98b4-83f872c8d501>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.usfreeads.com/3088938-cls.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958858
| 574
| 2.15625
| 2
|
Author: Morrissey, John
Date published: January 1, 2012
As former chief informat ion officer of a Maryland hospital system, Douglas Abel remembers the relatively brief consideration of behavioral health data in fledglingattempts co build a comprehensive information sharing network in the mid2000s. Brief, because mental health and substance abuse information were pointedly "carved our" out of the process, says Abel.
The discussion, which was reprised years later when Maryland began designing statewide health information exchange, came to this conclusion: "It was an easier path to carve those [categories of data] out and set those aside, because that's where you were goi ng to generate the most conflict in trying to get all stakeholders to agree that sensitive information, number one, should beshared, and number two, could be protected appropriately," says Abel, formerly with Anne Afundei Health System in Annapolis and, since mid-2011 , an executive vice president at Net-smart Technologies.
At Capital Region Health Gire- - a New Hampshire healthcare holding company with a hospital, physician group and mental health practice - leaders made concerted efforts to integrate behavioral health ifito medical environments. It included placing practitioners from its River Bend Mental Health Associates into the hospital's emergency department and at medical practice locations. But tike information systems for benavi˘ral and medical clinicians remain separate for now, sÓys Deane Morrison the Concord-based system's chief information officer.
Physical, behavioral conditions are linked, but records are not
The aims of the federal government and commercial insurers to make providers accountable for health outcomes add financial consequence to statistics showing that behavioral health problems complicate medical health, and that people with cooccurring physical and mental conditions are the most expensive to treat and constitute an outsize share of healthcare costs.
But a coordinated and complete understanding of what behavioral and medical providers are doing for a patient requires coordinated and complete information sharing. Experts in both fields agree that while this is technically achievable, it won't happen without determined effort on four fronts:
* Clarification of federal and state confidentiality regulations that govern the protection and disclosure of a range of sensitive health information, such as Individual alcohol and drug abuse treatment records.
* Management ofi those protections within electronic health records (EHRsJ and health Information exchanges (HlEs) using common, software-based algorithms.
* Technological ability to exchange Information frara separate TT systems.
* AffordaMllty of healm information systems in the behavioral health sector.
The recognition that people were coming to Anne Arundel with both physical and behavioral health conditions led the system to establish a substance abuse treatment facility, says Abel. But "as we were deploying a systemwide EHR, we immediately put the appropriate checks and security around the information about patients that were being seen in the substance abuse area." That information was accessible only to clinicians who worked in that unit.
The River Bend group at Capital Region has its own EHR, but its completely separate from the hospital and medical practice systems, says Morrison. Behavioral health providers have access to their EHR from within the hospital and also can get access at a medical group location if a patient is treated at that location. With state privacy laws even stricter than federal, Morrison says it's a challenge "that has to be thoughtfully worked through: How do you share mental health information appropriately with primary care and with the ED?"
Capital Region has worked around the problem by "essentially having the providers in the same space; fundamentally when they're taking care of patients, they're talking about the issues rather than being in two separate locations," he explains. So the solution is not integration of the information but integration of the providers using it "That seems pretty rudimentary, but believe it or not, that makes a big difference in coordinating care for our mental healdi patients."
Technology offers solutions for handling privacy questions
Technology standards for sharing information are improving rapidly and no longer are the barrier they once were, says John Leipold, chair of the Software and Technology Vendors' Association (SATVA), a trade group for vendors of behavioral health IT systems. Patient confidentiality remains a sticking point, though members of SAT VA are developing an electronic system for managing consent-directive queries. "Privacy and confidentiality are the 800-pound gorillain the room of otherwise wonderfully evolving healthcare standards, all of which are going to make medical and behavioral healthcare work better," Leipold says.
The privacy laws are put there for good reason, he adds. The disclosure statute from the 1970s known as 42 CFR Part 2, for example, is "absolutely what we need" to keep people with addiction problems secure in seeking treatment without dues to their condition getting out via, say, the medications they're taking.
But there are Ways to enable behavioral/ medical information sharing contractually among closely cooperating entities, says Westley Clark, MD, director ofSAMHSAs Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and strategic lead for the federal agency's information technology initiative. "It is our belief that if you re a substance abuse program, you can create what's called a qualified service organization agreement with a primary care setting and exchange information that is useful for the care of the patient."
It's a way to systemize the permission to exchange patient information rather than deal with it on a patient-by-patient, situation-by-situation basis, says Clark. "If you're going to have an integrated structure, whether it's co-located or a partnership, you need to have thought it through and have incentives going back and forth - 'we'll send our patients to you, you're the entity that sees our patients on a regular basis.'" Clark says that this sets up the qualified service agreement where each side respects the confidentiality of the information, "and you essentially at that point have unlimited access to that information."
SAMHSA has issued 49 supplemental grants to behavioral health providers for funding health IT infrastructure "with the expectation that they facilitate interoperability with the general health providers in their community," but providing first the basic affbrdability of health IT, Clark says. "You can't have interoperability, you can't have bi-directional flow of information if one partner in that dynamic has access to computers ... and the other partner in that system has paper and pen."
The biggest problem: Lack of EHR funding
The bigger problem facing the behavioral health community, says Clark, is that as a market, it's dwarfed by the physical healthcare sector and only peripherally eligible for the billions of dollars in federal stimulus funds for Meaningful Useof EHRs that IT vendors are racing to facilitate. "Although people talk about privacy and confidentiality as barriers, the fact is there is a larger impediment, which is a resource and technological [adoption] impediment."
Evolution to payment model alternatives like the patient-centered medical home may provide the financial motivation to put EHRs in behavioral health hands, says Leipold, who is executive vice president and chief opetating officer of the Valley Hope Association, an addiction treatment firm with centers in seven states. Valley Hope also is a vendor of an internally developed EHR. Health reform carries "the dear requirement that everybody will have to function in this structure of the electronic health record," he says. "If you don't, there's going to come a time in the future where you cannot participate in reimbursement strategies."
A key challenge now and a bigger one in the medical home model is medication reconciliation, says Morrison. So far, Capital Region has isolated within River Bend the contingent of providers who treat patients with medications, putting them on the EHR for the hospital and medical group, but in a separate database. For starters, that provides more power to manage the medication component of behavioral health, since the medical EHR has tools not included in the more assessment-based behavioral version.
"Ultimately we're going to have to figure our how to integrate the meds so that the drug interaction checking can occur on one coordinated list of meds rather than having someone in the middle try to figure out if this is a problem or not," he says. As motivation, the healthcare network need only refer to its own research on the healthcare needs and costs of its service area. With a database of records on most people in the region, Capital Region looked at the 5 percent who use the most resources - emergency department, hospitalizations, visits - and found that nearly 70 percent of that fraction have a co-morbid mental health condition.
Device improves compliance for patients with behavioral and co-morbid conditions
Integrating behavioral and physical health management doesn't always have to be expensive or complicated. At Capital Region Health Care, a simple device placed in patient homes to collect data each day and encourage compliance with care regimens had a positive impact on behavioral health.
Among the components of the healthcare network is a regional visiting nurse association responsible for monitoring people's recovery after hospital stays and preventing relapses and readmissions. Using devices called Health Buddies, patients key in personal data that are tracked by nurses, who can dispatch someone quickly if a problem arises.
"The economic model for the VNA was that if they get paid a bundled fee to take care of patients, they wouldn't have to make as many phone 'visits,' they would make visits to people who actually needed intervention," says Deane Morrison, the network s CIO.
Another partner in the network, the mental health services group, wondered if the devices also could improve compliance for their own lagging patients. In a 100-person trial, 50 used the devices and 50 did not. Halfway through, the 50 devices were switched to the other cohort. Compliance went up by 15 to 20 percent when mental health patients entered whether they took their medications, says Morrison.
But that wasn't all. Participants also being treated for a medical condition entered whether they took the medications for that condition. Even though it was a secondary question, outcomes of co-morbid health conditions also improved - for example, a 20- to 30-percent improvement in management of blood sugar. "We didn't even try to do that, but people started managing their diabetes better," Morrison says.
That's something to tuck away for the day when providers are accountable for the high costs of treating people with co-morbid physical and behavioral conditions. "With a little bit of prodding through the Health Buddy, we not only got people to take their meds more regularly but we got them to pay attention to their other conditions and improve the way they were managing all their conditions," says Morrison. "That is a very positive sign for taking care of this group of patients."
John Morrissey is a Chicago-based healthcare writer.
|
<urn:uuid:1d06a59a-c6c1-47f9-a5e1-32f6511859f0>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.readperiodicals.com/201201/2605903361.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.96371
| 2,199
| 2.03125
| 2
|
The popular iced teas are losing the high-fructose corn syrup and the dated font. The bottles are becoming more svelte (to better fit into cup holders, which became a force after Snapple iced teas were originally introduced). The labels will also emphasize the green and black tea leaves used to make the drink. The changes are rolling out over the first few months of the year, and they are expected to hit New York in early March, according to Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which is now the owner of the brand.
Snapple, which once defined the genre of specialty tea, now finds itself fading in an increasingly crowded field of competitors. The brand, which passed through many hands before landing as part of Dr Pepper Snapple, went through a round of focus group testing over the last two years.
“Through that work we really found that Snapple had lost of its luster and had been replaced in the minds of consumers by other beverages out there,” said Jim Trebilcock, an executive vice president with Dr Pepper Snapple.
Real sugar is replacing the corn syrup. (Sugar vs. corn syrup, by the way, is the difference between Mexican and American Coca-Cola.) In some cases, that has actually resulted in a decrease in calories.
The old ingredient list for Lemon Snapple Iced Tea: “water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, tea, natural flavors.” Calories: 200. The new ingredient list: “filtered water, sugar, citric acid, tea, natural flavors.” Calories: 160.
The label is also being refreshed. Gone is the print-block style sun, the handwritten fonts, and the red highlights. Instead, they are putting more emphasis on “All Natural” and “Made From Green & Black Tea Leaves.” The “Snapple” itself is going from a heavy-set typeface to a more elegant serifed typeface. (Logo redesign seems to be in these days.)
Of course, Snapple’s origins are rooted in selling juices to health food stores. Originally, in 1972, it was a partnership of three men that was named Unadulterated Food Products.
The five-year, $166 million “official beverage” agreement with New York is scheduled to expire this year, because it failed to live up to its potential, but the drink and the city are still tightly bound. Not only was the original company founded in
Queens in 1972, but also, about 40 percent of Snapple sales today are concentrated in New York City — arguably the highest concentration of any nationally distributed beverage in the United States.
Mr. Trebilcock said that Dr Pepper had 30 percent of its sales concentrated in five southwestern states, but still that was 30 percent, and across five states. “The New York consumer has made Snapple what it is,” he said.
While on the phone with the Snapple executives, this reporter took the opportunity to lodge a protest about the inability to find Mint Snapple Iced Tea, which apparently was discontinued despite protests and petitions. (Others are trying to take steps to remedy the absence, too.) Mint Snapple Iced Tea lovers, your voices have been heard.
|
<urn:uuid:a11f073e-f375-46dd-a785-5c85caf126a2>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/reading-the-tea-leaves-snapple-refreshes-itself/?scp=1&sq=snapple&st=cse&apage=3
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.973547
| 679
| 1.789063
| 2
|
Seasons occur because of Earth's changing distance from the Sun
This myth sounds right, but science says otherwise.
Earth experiences seasons because our planet tilts 23.5° with respect to its orbital plane. This statement just means the reason it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere is because Earth's North Pole tilts toward the Sun at that time.
These four images of Earth show how our planet’s tilt affects its appearance at the start of each season.
Photo by NASA/JPL/Johns Hopkins University
At the same time, however, the South Pole tilts away from the Sun. That means winter is beginning for inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere.
And, regarding distances, Earth is approximately 3 million miles (5 million km) closer to the Sun in early January than it is in early July. That works out to a bit more than a 3 percent swing from Earth's nearest approach to the Sun to its farthest. Although small, 3 percent is not insignificant. The different distances mean the Southern Hemisphere receives more solar energy during its summer than the Northern Hemisphere does in its summer.
Summer and winter occur on dates called the solstices, which mark the highest and lowest points the Sun reaches in our sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun stands 47° (our planet's 23.5° tilt times two) higher in the sky June 21 than it does December 21. So, around June 21 of each year, summer begins north of the equator, and winter begins south of that line. For this reason, it's incorrect to call June 21 the "summer" solstice. Summer begins on that date only in the Northern Hemisphere. Here at the magazine, we use the terms June solstice and December solstice to signify these dates.
|
<urn:uuid:37b42a15-f6a5-400a-9816-349b1df1b215>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www2.astronomy.com/en/News-Observing/Astronomy%20Myths/2009/11/Seasons%20occur%20because%20of%20Earths%20changing%20distance%20from%20the%20Sun.aspx
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.957271
| 362
| 3.875
| 4
|
- Curious about the physical world around you?
- Motivated to solve real-world problems?
- Persistent when taking on a challenge?
- Driven to understand the big picture?
- Looking for a major with good career prospects?
...then you should consider an Applied Physics Major!
Physicists measure and model phenomena in the physical world, and applied physicists connect fundamental physical principles to real-world problem-solving.
The Physics catalog copy contains our degree requirements and course descriptions.
Thinking of grad school? AAPT's handbook on grad school will help!
Some career prospects for Physics Majors are discussed at careerthoughts.com.
Explore the links on the left to learn a little more about a Major or Minor in Applied Physics or Applied Electronics! For further questions, please get in touch with the Undergraduate Advisor, Professor Gerardo Dominguez.
|
<urn:uuid:5f50317b-51b7-4517-aa2b-a06ca38b081a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.csusm.edu/physics/major/index.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.901252
| 184
| 2.265625
| 2
|
- November 9 down the years
The spying gameWhat happened on this day in Formula One history
Renault was forced to admit that it had been using data from McLaren, acquired when an engineer moved between the teams bringing sensitive information with him which was then shared within Renault. McLaren, who had been fined $100 million in the notorious Spygate affair, were left incredulous when the FIA in effect let Renault off after accepting none of the information had been used in its designs. "I am absolutely at ease with it.' Renault boss Flavio Briatore said: 'I wish to pay tribute to the team, who have handled the matter with integrity and dignity." The media could not help compare his reaction with his splenetic attacks on McLaren during Spygate … nor of his close relationship with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. "Is it fair?" Ecclestone said. "We are always fair."
On the eve of the title decider, it emerged Damon Hill was locked in a row with Williams over money. Hill's retainer of £300,000 was overshadowed by the £950,000 per race paid to Nigel Mansell on his occasional outings. "I'm pretty disgusted with some of the things that have gone on," he said on his arrival in Adelaide. "I feel they [Williams] have not contributed to making me feel that the team is behind me to win the championship. I have been in negotiation with the team about my contract. I do have a contract: they have taken up their option on my services for next year, but I reckon I am a lot better than my contract says I am. The dispute is about the team recognising what you feel yourself to be worth. I have won nine grands prix. This year I have had to carry the role of No. 1 driver in only my second season in F1. I'm one point off the championship lead with one race to go." Hill lost the championship but did agree a new contract. He eventually won the title in 1996, but did so after Williams had already dumped him for the following season.
Eddie Irvine ruled out a switch to rallying after testing with Colin McRae's Ford team. Irvine, who had been released by the Jaguar at the end of the season, said: "The experience has shown me that I can't just jump in to a rally car and be quick."
The fallout from the Max Mosley libel case continued with Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre claiming the "arrogant and amoral" judgments of Mr Justice Eady were "inexorably and insidiously" imposing a privacy law on the British press. Dacre said in the case brought by Mosley against the News of the World, Eady "effectively ruled that it was perfectly acceptable for the multi-millionaire head of a multi-billion sport that is followed by countless young people to pay five women £2500 to take part in acts of unimaginable sexual depravity with him. The judge found for Mosley because he had not engaged in a 'sick Nazi orgy' as the News of the World contested, though for the life of me that seems an almost surreally pedantic logic as some of the participants were dressed in military-style uniform."
|
<urn:uuid:701ed63c-7f06-49f7-9a0f-fe5ec274452b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/2543.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.986608
| 665
| 1.5
| 2
|
For the last four decades, Leeds Women’s Aid has become a safe haven for women whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. Laura Bowyer reports.
IT takes a lot of strength for women to make that first step and realise that they are the victims of abuse.
And over the last 40 years, hundreds of women who have become victims of domestic violence have been brave enough to seek support from Leeds Women’s Aid.
The charity has around 300 women under its care at any one time.
Figures reveal that Leeds Women’s Aid received more than 3,000 calls in one year to its dedicated domestic violence helpline from victims of physical and mental abuse.
Whether it is offering advice, providing a refuge or helping women who are victims of trafficking, the charity is there to help women through their darkest hours.
But finding the strength to come forward and report domestic violence is the biggest battle of all.
Statistics show that women are hit around 35 times before they tell anybody about the abuse they suffer in their own homes at the hands of those they trust.
The charity’s director Kate Bratt-Farrar warned that anyone can become a victim.
She said: “Domestic violence can happen to anyone.
“There is no distinction between race, class or background because it can happen to anyone.
“I think people often feel shame because we all think it can never happen to us but it can.
“Women come to us and they have been strangled, they have been kept locked in their homes and they have had no access to money.
“Some have had no access to a mobile phone and they are not able to go anywhere without every movement being monitored.
“They have often experience sexual violence in the home as well but I think it is amazing that they have the bravery to take that step and walk away.”
The Yorkshire Evening Post revealed earlier this year that the number of reports of domestic violence in the city have increased over the last three years.
Police in West Yorkshire get one call every 15 minutes from victims of domestic violence.
But experts fear that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg because crimes of this nature often go unreported.
More than 37,300 reports of domestic violence have been recorded by the force in the past year.
And more than a third of those victims are from Leeds.
Police say they have received more than 11,350 reports of domestic violence in Leeds between April 2009 and March 2010.
But they received a total of 13,970 reports between April 2011 and March 2012.
Kate hopes that these figures show that victims now feel able to pick up the phone and ask for help.
She said: “My hope is it’s not about domestic violence increasing.
“It’s the fact people are more aware of the service and they are more proactive in voicing the fact that domestic violence is wrong.
“People feel more able to ask for help than ever before.
“We do see spikes for example when the World Cup is on but my hope is it’s because people feel able to call the police.”
Law enforcers revealed they are set to declare war on domestic violence after Safer Leeds – the crime-fighting partnership that brings together police, the council and other organisations – has named tackling the problem as its top priority for this year.
And Kate is pleased that the authorities have declared war on domestic abuse.
“Leeds has always been quite forward thinking and that just enforces that,” she said.
“We have to work together to look at how we can make what we do better jointly.”
Leeds Women’s Aid was formed in 1972 and was one of the first charity’s to open a refuge to women who wanted to flee abusive relationships.
Over the last 40 years women from across the city have come to the charity to seek safe haven at their refuge.
They been given a place to keep themselves and their children safe from harm.
They are offered support and advice such as information on how to find alternative housing and how to get the money they are entitled to.
Leeds Women’s Aid offers around 16 refuge spaces and received around 2,000 referrals last year.
But over the last 40 years the charity has flourished and has become a lifeline to those in need.
The charity was recently awarded over £19,000 from Jimbo’s Fund to help provide extra support to more people.
And members of the community help to ensure that the charity can offer Christmas presents and toiletries to women who seek a safe haven.
Kate said: “Leeds Women’s Aid gets credited for the job we do but really it should go to people who start their lives over.
“Often people come to us with just the clothes on their back and I think they are an inspiration.”
But she warned that domestic violence isn’t always physical abuse.
She said that women are often subjected to mental abuse through controlling partners.
Kate added: “The statistics say women are hit 35 times before they tell anyone and often leave and return home seven or eight times before that final break.
“Perpetrators use control and it’s often about control and not physical violence.
“Perpetrators will use anything in their arsenal to control their partner.”
The charity recently marked its 40th birthday with a reception hosted by patron and Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves at the Civic Hall.
Kate added: “In one way we wish we didn’t need to exist but I think that our plan is to continue to identify the needs of families who are experiencing violence and find new ways to help meet their needs.”
Leeds Women’s Aid is looking for ex-staff, volunteers and people who have been supported by the service to come forward to help celebrate its milestone birthday.
To find out more email: firstname.lastname@example.org
Leeds Women’s Aid provides confidential telephone support and information 365 days a year.
To contact their dedicated helpline call 0113 246 0401
For information about Leeds Women’s Aid and support it offers, visit: www.leedswomensaid.org.uk
In emergencies women are advised to contact West Yorkshire Police’s emergency number on 999.
Or you can speak or email specially trained police officers at Leeds Safeguarding Unit by emailing: email@example.com or contact (0113) 2414180.
24hr National Domestic Violence helpline on 0808 2000 247
|
<urn:uuid:a92ff977-40c2-4448-8502-db324de83e3e>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/leeds-women-s-aid-reaching-out-to-protect-the-vulnerable-1-5433356
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.970043
| 1,405
| 1.953125
| 2
|
Lexington, KY, March 5, 2012 - The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) is providing coordination for the U.S. Equine Disaster Relief Fund to support horse owners affected by this past week's tornadoes. KHC has experience responding to equine crises through this fund and the Save Our Horses (SoHo) Fund. "In the past, we have supported many victims of flooding and disasters in other states, and now it is Kentucky which needs this support. Our hearts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragedy. The U.S. Equine Disaster Relief Fund will help Kentucky horse owners with temporary feed and fencing as they work to recover from this disaster," remarked Anna Zinkhon, President of the Kentucky Horse Council. "We are also in touch with the Indiana Horse Council to determine the extent of the need there," she continued. The Kentucky Horse Council has been contacting officials in those areas most affected by the tornadoes, to assess the impact of the extensive tornado damage on horse owners. "We are relieved that over the weekend, horse organizations such as the Northern Kentucky Horse Network have already relayed important information among horse owners regarding temporary shelter and how to assist those victims who have horses. Buffalo Mounted Patrol has traveled to West Liberty, where the devastation was incredible, to patrol damaged areas until rescue efforts could be fully mobilized," commented Ginny Grulke, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Council.
When any state needs assistance due to a natural disaster, KHC notifies its members and the Kentucky horse community and begins the process of responding to the needs of the affected horses, typically by purchasing feed which the local response agencies then distributes to affected horses. For the tornadoes that hit this past weekend, it is Kentucky who needs the help. Donations to the U.S. Disaster Relief Fund can be made at www.kentuckyhorse.org/disaster-relief/. ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL - The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programs and information, scholarships, personal liability insurance, trail riding advocacy, horse show support, and an annual statewide equine industry directory. The specialty Kentucky Horse Council license plate, featuring a foal lying in the grass, provides the primary source of revenue for KHC programs.
|
<urn:uuid:cfc30007-2fec-443e-84a3-48f96395bc0c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://kyhorsepark.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=tag&tag=Indiana%20Horse%20Council&Itemid=880
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.957517
| 493
| 1.703125
| 2
|
High speed internet connection has in many ways proved to be one of the best and most reliable methods of connecting to the internet. With the broadband internet connection, life has become a good place to live in. Everything we do in life has in one way of the other been affected by internet connection, and human beings are now finding it difficult to stay away from the internet even for a second just because of the benefits they derived from using the internet on daily basis.
When it comes to the aspect of speed, high speed internet connection is known by most internet users as the fastest means of internet connectivity available till this present moment-no other method of internet connection has been able to surpass high speed internet connection in area of high speed and download rate.
High speed internet connection is fast, reliable and efficient but, there are instances when broadband internet connection will be slowed down and this will make the user feel disappointed in one way or the other because of the ugly experience he/she got from using the connection at that very point in time. For this cause, lots of internet users have been searching for a lasting solution to make their internet connection works faster than how it is working before.
Today in this post, we shall be looking into ways in which you can follow in order to increase your internet connection speed and productivity and here below are the three ways in which you can use to improve the efficiency of your internet connection and to make it perform faster than it is presently.
Your computer will continue to work faster and also will your internet connection functions properly well if you make it as a point of duty in updating your computer system regularly without procrastinating on it till next day which you may likely forget to remember. Antivirus software’s on your computer are some of thing you must take proper care of on your computer system, you need to update it as soon as possible so as to enjoy a clear and perfectly working computing experience. As we all known, if the computer is not functioning very well, how will the internet connection on it perform well? It is not possible like that; you need to take care of your computer by upgrading it in case if it has old versions of operating system installed on it or if you perceive that your computer system (pc) antivirus software is out of date.
Load Few Website Tabs
Whenever you are surfing the internet, you should make it a type of your habit not to load multiple tab in your internet browser if you want to enjoy the internet connection. Opening multiple tabs can have negative effects on your internet connection pace, it can slow down the whole thing. So, you should be very careful about this because prevention is better than cure. If you load more Website page in different tabs, it will certainly slow down your internet connection and likewise your computer system respectively. In most cases, this can results in too much bandwidth consumption.
End All Background Running Applications
At times, some applications on your computer can be using your high speed internet connection bandwidth at the background of your computer screen unknown to you while they (those background applications) will be slowing down your internet connection. These type ofcomputer applications will continue to perform their usual work until you come into the situation and stop them before they can stop affecting your internet connection.
Remove All Unwanted Programs From Your Computer
Many times, there are many unwanted applications that may find your computer as their home without you needing them in the place they occupied, and they at most time can eats-up your computer memory and thereby decrease your computer speed which will later after you internet connection speed. You should make sure to check if there are temporary files on your computer systems or some computer applications that are unused on the computer system and make sure to eradicate them so as to improve your internet connection performance.
Scan Your Computer Frequently For Virus Infection
Make it a point of duty to schedule a scan for your computer on daily or weekly basis if possible. Your computer may get infected faster than how you might think it’s been used to access the internet and it is possible for it to get infected with some of the internet trojans that can cause your computer to malfunction.
Sometimes, most of this trojans and viruses can prove dangerous by using your internet connection to send your private data to hackers on the internet, which in return they will use the data collect to hack your online and offline files (valuable information can be lost due to this reason if there’s no valid computer and internet protection software currently installed on your pc). You should make sure that you scan your computer system regularly so as to prevent virus attack which can later affect you internet connection functionality.
Don’t Violate Your Internet Connection ISP Law
Your internet connection will give you the best results if only you can abide by the rules and law guiding the internet connection service provider(ISP) you’re using. Most of internet service providers of today are different from those ones we’re familiar with before and the way they operate this days is quite different from how it is done before. Everything we do everyday are guided by law here and there and there’s nothing we can do about it than to accept the fact and try to adjust to it.
Violating your internet connection service providers laws can cause your internet connection to slow down. They can put law on certain things which you mustn’t do and if you do it you are going to face the consequence of doing so.
Always Disable Browser’s Add-ons on Your Computer
Add-ons are computer browser’s based application software that adds additional features to your computer web browsers. Some certain features may not be included in your web browser from the producing company that develop it and this features can be added to the computer browser with the use of an Add-on. You may ask, Add-on is good to computer, then in why would browser add-on affect my internet connection? The answer to this question is far fetched, since add-on can add additional features to your web browser for more functionality so also can it cause havoc to your website browser’s health if care is not well taken about it. It can also infect your computer with latest virus threat in town if you don’t know how to identify the one that is good to use among all the add-ons that is in the market(on the internet world).
Most programmers (those people that creates the add-on software) produce good and likewise some programmers create bad add-on software for the purpose of doing one or two task that pertains to evil, they can create add-on tool mainly for the purpose of hacking or displaying annoying ads on the user computer’s browser. Though, this solely depends on the type of programmer that develop the application and what they plan to use it for and this brings us to this suggestion that you must not use any add-on application if the developer is not a trusted individual organization such as Microsoft, Mozilla, Google and many other household names that you can trust.
|
<urn:uuid:f3501a3d-11ca-4078-bae0-e7e5bbd8ad7b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://techatlast.com/enjoy-high-speed-internet-connection/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.939346
| 1,433
| 1.742188
| 2
|
Category - Wholesale Military PatchesArmy Navy Store » Military Patches, Insignia, Ribbons, Dog Tags » Military Patches
Patches are generally ironed on or sewed on or glued on to an item. They can also contain a hook and loop closure where the patch sticks to a piece of clothing and no sewing is necessary. Iron-on can be created by applying heat from a household iron. Military patches are military themed patches that generally contain military branch patches, military embroidered patches, military wording patches, and much more. Military patches are fashionable accessories than can be added to articles of clothing. They can be worn on the sleeves of shirts, front of shirts, or on the back of shirts. Military patches can be worn to show pride in ones country and to support there troops. Our military patches are great for professional use, gift ideas, halloween, and much more. Military Patches are also known as customized uniform insignias, replica Velcro army badges, embroidered Vietnam veteran flag, genuine United States Marines embroidery, cheap sewn on decorative patches, etc. Military Patches are commonly misspelled as government issued pow mia attachments and accessories, etc.
Item Details• GalaxyArmyNavy.com Item # 72136
• Product Description: Iron on/sew on military embroidered patch. Seventh infantry division emblem pictured on the front of the patch in black coloring on a subdued background. Replica military patch. The 7th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. The division was based at Fort Ord, California for most of its history. The final duty for the 7th Infantry Division before its inactivation in 2006 was as a training and evaluation unit for Army National Guard brigades. Due to its extensive combat history, the division is highly decorated, and has been featured numerous times in American popular culture. Nickname: Hourglass, Bayonet. Motto: Light, Silent, And Deadly. US Army patch. Seventh infantry division. Size: 2.5" round. NSN: 8455-01-528-9070 (7th infantry division)
• Sale Price: 3.99 +
• Link: http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/item-72136.asp
We offer special low pricing for bulk orders and cheaper prices on large quantities for wholesale Subdued - US Army 7th Infantry Division Military Patch, 2.5". Our online army navy shop is always open to take your order to purchase and buy the Subdued - US Army 7th Infantry Division Military Patch, 2.5" on sale at the cheapest and lowest price at our army navy store. We carry unique army navy clothing, military clothing, army gear, military surplus, camo clothing, vintage fatigues, emt ems uniforms and army supplies. GalaxyArmyNavy.com is the online military store and army navy shopping catalog.
|
<urn:uuid:cadd6dd3-e1a1-4dd7-a8ce-cd5b556fa485>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/item-72136.asp
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.938426
| 597
| 1.625
| 2
|
short- or long-term bonds, Lay recommends that you first check out the yield on the Fed funds rate, a benchmark for bond investors, which is currently 5.5%. According to Lay, two-year Treasury notes typically trade about 75 basis points, or .75, above the Fed funds rate. Currently, though, two-year Treasuries are trading at about .25, a sign there’s “no value in the shorter bonds,” says Lay.
Meanwhile, Lay says longer maturities currently look like a bargain, even after yields on the 30-year Treasury have fallen from 6.7% to 6.05% recently. Lay, who notes that the 30-year Treasury has historically paid 5% interest, says long-term rates should decline from current levels. “In my opinion, long-term interest rates are going to go down dramatically as inflation fears subside here in the U.S., and as the balanced budget agreement limits Uncle Sam’s need to borrow,” he says. “During the coming year,” he predicts, “30-year interest rates should fall to around 6%, if not lower.”
If Lay is right, you’ll get a whole lot more bang for your buck with long bonds, or those that mature in 10 years or more. But remember one thing before you buy: experts say it’s best to invest money you’re trying to protect from losses in short-term Treasuries because bonds that mature in 10 years or less typically incur less risk. Also, it’s good to choose a maturity that ties into a specific goal you have in mind — say paying for your kid’s education in 10 years.
|
<urn:uuid:2dc66a9a-bb80-4c91-8ee8-6ac98159ca3e>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.blackenterprise.com/mag/no-curves-thrown-here/2/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.95542
| 362
| 2.15625
| 2
|
Let Us Sing Together The Song
"O beloved, let us sing together the song of joy,
for the night has gone and dawn has come once again.
Everywhere, within and without, the beautiful gardens blossom with fragrant flowers.
In every place my steadfast mind is taking care.
There is no fear of the darkness,
so lets sing the song of joy in the enchanting garden."
"May You Always Feel Loved"
May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.
May the pain you have known
and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation with courage and optimism.
Always know that there are those whose love
and understanding will always be there,
even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others
to believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch,
a warm smile be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine
when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate,
and let that love embrace you
as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire
become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours
are always a part of you, even if the encounters
were less than you would have wished
It is the content of the encounter
that is more important than its' form.
May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value
on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty
and love in the world around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
but each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard
may be more than compensated for in another
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future
as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent on another's judgements
of your accomplishments.
May you always feel loved
~Sandra Sturtz Hauss
Ah, Valentine's Day - the day we've set aside to celebrate love. The origin of this celebration is shrouded in mystery, but probably goes back to the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. In it's early days, Romans, who were then mostly shepherd folk, called upon their god, Lupercus, to keep them and their flocks safe from the great packs of wolves that roamed in the vast wilderness that surrounded them. A spring festival to honor Lupercus was held each February 15th. (The calendar used at the time had February falling in the springtime)
The wolf figures quite prominently in early Roman history. The name of the festival, and the God it honors, comes from the latin word for wolf, lupus Legend has it that the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were nursed by a mother wolf.
One of the customs of Lupercalia was name-drawing. On the eve of the festival, February 14th, the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew a slip. The girl whose name was chosen was to be his sweetheart for the year. It is also said that during that time, the young man wore the girl's name on his sleeve, and the phrase 'wearing your heart on your sleeve' may come from this practice.
Another reported ritual involved young noble men running through the streets of Rome carrying goatskin thongs called februa (from a latin word meaning 'to purify'). Young women would crowd the streets in hopes of being lashed by the thongs because it was believed it made them better able to bear children. According to legend, the month of February gets it's name from this practice.
Lupercalia was celebrated long after Rome went from a countryside of shepherds to a powerful empire, and when the armies of Rome invaded France and Britain, they took their customs with them. But the name changed along the way.
It is believed the current name for this celebration honors a Roman priest named Valentine, who defied Emperor Claudius II's orders and continued to marry couples secretly. It seems the Emperor believed married men would want to stay home with their wives rather than go off to war and so forbade potential soldiers to marry.
Valentine was eventually caught and sentenced to death. While in prison, legend has it that he was frequently visited by the jailer's daughter, whom he fell in love with. Before his death, he allegedly wrote her a letter, signing it 'From your Valentine' , a phrase still used today.
Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, the eve of Lupercalia. After his death, Valentine was named a saint by the Catholic Church, and as Rome became more Christian, the priests moved the spring holiday from the 15th of February to the 14th - and now the holiday honored Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus. As nearly all holidays celebrated today, Valentines Day is a blend of pagan and Christian lore woven together through time.
And so, today, we set aside a day to honor love. But in truth, love is the mover and shaper of all our days. Everything we do, everything we are, is a result of the love we give and receive or the result of the love we deny or have been denied. Our natural state of being is love and when we express who we are freely, our lives are filled with joy. When love is denied, that joy is replaced with pain and suffering and every definition of evil. It's a lovely thing to set aside a day to honor love...but unless all our days are filled with it, life is devoid of meaning. Satin hearts filled with chocolate are no substitute for a loving heart filled with warmth, compassion and care. So, by all means, celebrate love today with those you love. But more importantly, celebrate it every day. Honor it every day. BE it every day. Find more and more recipients to share it with until you can honestly say there are none in this world you cannot share it with. Then, as Teilhard de Chardin said, " ... after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and, for a second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire."
The following links will take you to some of my favorite stories, quotes and poems about love. The first is a link to my 2003 Valentine's Day page, when in the midst of celebrations of love, we were also on heightened terrorist alert. It was, to say the least, a strange combination.
Happy Valentine's Day. May it, and each day of your life, be filled with love.
THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE AND DUCT TAPE, Valentines Day, 2003
S H M I L Y
LETTER TO A FRIEND
LOVE QUOTES AND SHORT STORIES
POETRY OF LOVE
100 WAYS TO SAY "I LOVE YOU"
this link is to one of 'My Favorite Stories' pages
entitled Love Letter to a Cat
this link will take you to a lovely flash movie
called The Journey of Genuine Love
and this is to
A SPECIAL VALENTINE WISH
from Joan Adams Burchell
|
<urn:uuid:a239f972-5a89-48e2-a338-239b31dfa551>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/spiritsong/VDay.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.965177
| 1,621
| 1.742188
| 2
|
We all understand why Sony PlayStation 3 limits 3D performance to 1280X720P resolution in stereoscopic 3D gaming. There is clearly a performance limitation that creates a barrier of what can be realistically achieved, and 720P is pretty standard with traditional 2D console games anyway.
However, in the case of the upcoming Nvidia 3DTV Play software, and AMD's HD3D solution, HDMI 1.4A displays are limited to 1280X720P for gaming purposes. With all that horsepower under the hood, why is this barrier so difficult to break?
Today we find out! Check out the above interview with Steve Venuti, President of HDMI Licensing. Please note that the performance Steve is talking about is related to HDMI bandwidth, and not graphics card processing power.
We have a lot more to share, but we will have to post the stories later.
|
<urn:uuid:3b642c6a-6fab-4c84-aa01-8ba530b6adf4>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.mtbs3d.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12068:hdmi-14-mystery-solved-at-ces&catid=35:news&Itemid=73
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.910829
| 176
| 1.75
| 2
|
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Food prices have been rising worldwide, as the cost of raw materials and agricultural products surge, contributing to political unrest around the globe.
In December, international food prices broke an all-time high when they rose 25% for the year, led by rising costs for staples like rice, wheat, and maize, the United Nations reported.
The sharp rise in food prices, in particular, has become "a source of political instability," New York University economist Nouriel Roubini, told CNNMoney's Poppy Harlow, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week.
Roubini, nicknamed "Dr. Doom" for his famously bearish predictions, said spiking energy and food prices pose one of the greatest global threats -- especially to emerging market economies.
Why prices are rising: Bad weather in Australia and Russia over the summer severely diminished wheat crops, partially fueling the latest commodities surge.
Rising incomes in emerging markets like China and India also play a role, analysts at the Eurasia Group say. The growing middle class in those countries has prompted a shift from a grain-based diet to one consisting of more meat.
And a push toward biofuels has also led to rising demand for corn and sugar, pushing up commodity prices.
Where it's hitting: The pinch has been felt most in rapidly developing countries like China, India, and Russia, which still have large portions of their population living in poverty.
Food inflation in China was recently at 9.6%, while in India it surged a staggering 18%.
Countries that depend on imports and don't grow a lot of their own grains, like many Middle Eastern nations, are also feeling the pain from price pressures. The recent turmoil there, with outbreaks of riots and violent clashes with police and military forces, is partially related to surging food prices.
"What has happened in Tunisia, is happening right now in Egypt, but also riots in Morocco, Algeria and Pakistan, are related not only to high unemployment rates and to income and wealth inequality, but also to this very sharp rise in food and commodity prices," Roubini said.
In Egypt alone, food prices soared 17% -- in part because of the worldwide surge in commodities prices but also because of local supply imbalances.
How it's playing out: Many countries in North Africa, including Egypt, subsidize the costs of basic staples. Citizens there pay about 1 cent for a small serving of bread, said Hani Sabra, a research analyst with the Eurasia Group.
But that doesn't mean citizens there are completely insulated from price pressures.
About 40% of Egypt's citizens live off less than $2 a day, so any price increase hurts.
"There's a pretty expensive food subsidy system in Egypt," said Richard Fox, head of Middle East and Africa sovereign ratings at Fitch Ratings. "Having said that, definitely high inflation has been squeezing people's incomes."
Plus there's a thriving black market that often drives up the prices poor households are paying for foodstuffs, Sabra said.
Meanwhile the bigger problem lies not in just prices, but in the fact that when citizens are unhappy, they have little opportunity for political recourse.
|Overnight Avg Rate||Latest||Change||Last Week|
|30 yr fixed||3.66%||3.58%|
|15 yr fixed||2.79%||2.72%|
|30 yr refi||3.64%||3.57%|
|15 yr refi||2.79%||2.72%|
Today's featured rates:
Glass employees speak openly on public concerns More
Between ballooning student loans, credit cards and money owed to family members, graduates of the class of 2013 are facing an average $35,200 in debt, a Fidelity survey found. More
|
<urn:uuid:2f1aeee3-90fc-4623-a9de-ff195dab60a8>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/28/news/international/inflation_food_prices_middle_east/index.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945301
| 796
| 2.71875
| 3
|
With this spot we want to explore the world of ballpoint ink. We really want to let the ink become dimensional and move in space, away from camera and even behind camera so that we feel immersed in this beautiful world. All the objects and environments in that world will be shaded in a photorealistic way, so that the ink defines the outlines, but we can introduce light and shadows as well. The environment will feel very lively and lush and will be very easy to read. The combination of those two visual elements will feel very organic.
This spot is all about the connectedness of events and how somewhat unrelated objects are connected by a visual thread. We are in a world made of line drawings by an ink pen. The medium is predominately the ball point blue pen. The lines drawn by this pen will be the “thread” in this spot.
Our landscape is broadened using layers of inky texture that wash in a mixture of photography to ground the scenarios subtly in reality and brings us a sense of depth of field that you may find in the deep ocean that the squid is found. We’d see slight details, underwater life in the background while the foreground ink line is telling the story. The color palette is reduced to subtle and restrained hues of ink, deep aqua blues, violets, ultramarines, and cobalts.
We open on a beautiful landscape, it is the surface of the ocean. A blue pen line begins to draw and creates an oil rig. The oil rig is shaded in a photo-real way, but the outlines are drawn by the ballpoint pen. The lines that draw the ocean foreground are connected to the oil rig, perhaps they are supporting poles to the rig. The lines are waves, rippling and splashing on the camera lens and these lines change into something more organic, moving with the waters current. Other lines split from this line as we are pushing into a stunning swirl of line work that entwine. As the camera follows the line, other lines are seen in the distance and we suddenly realize that in the depth of the ocean blue the abstracted lines are not seaweed, or water lines but now have formed a squid.
This squid is in a lush underwater world, with swarms of fish swimming through frame and light shining down through the surface of the ocean. We see the light play on the squid, coloring it in all shades blue, green and turquoise. With a strong push the squid pushes away from us and squirts an unfolding dark blue mass of ink, the lines of ink roll out from underneath one another and float through the water.
We push into the lines of ink so that they bulge behind camera and we are now inside the cloud of ink, inside a beautiful shape of lines. Those lines keep drawing on and transition into a Pen, which moves across the screen and pulls a line out of the cloud of ink. As we pull out and follow the lines we are lifted out and we see that a fountain pen is drawing some of the line works. The nib of the fountain pen has intricate etchings in the metal that form a bowl of pasta, in which a fork
lifts up a portion of pasta.
The camera booms up so that we only see the last strand of pasta. We keep booming up and see how the line of pasta draws on upwards and we see it transform into a young sapling which grows and becomes a beautiful tree.
We will build all the objects in 3D space and animate them, using live action footage as reference. This gives us the flexibility to transition smoothly from scene to scene. The movement will feel completely real. The shading of the objects will be essentially photoreal as well. Having everything in a unified 3D environment gives us the option of animating the ballpoint ink along the edges of the objects.
We will then take those elements and combine them with live action elements for the backgrounds. The fish swarm under water, the clouds in the sky, all those thing will further enrich the scenes.”
Name: T. Rowe Price
Creative Fields: Animation
Artist: Jason Conradt
Directed: Mate Steinforth
3D: Jacob Slutsky (Lead), David Barosin (Lead), Jae Ham, Jimmy Gass, Jonah Friedman, Andy Hara, Boris Ustaev, Xuan Seifert,Lee Wolland
Compositing: Jason Conradt (Lead), Manu Gaulot, Colin Hess
Additional Compositing: Matt Hanson, Yussef Cole, Christopher Gereg
Producer: Eve Strickman, Tarun Cahraipotra, Lucia Grillo (EP)
Design: Mate Steinforth
Creative Direction: Marie Hyon
Text Description: © Courtesy of Jason Conradt
Images: © Jason Conradt
|
<urn:uuid:7a05ac42-2be6-43eb-9d3e-a6b56d869a66>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://designalmic.com/t-rowe-price-jason-conradt/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927665
| 995
| 1.59375
| 2
|
Unit Overview: Artist Estelle Ishigo, the European American wife of a Japanese American, was among the American citizens forced out of California during World War II. Ishigo and her husband, Arthur, were first sent to Pomona Assembly Center and later to Heart Mountain Relocation Center, in a remote area of Wyoming. There, Estelle Ishigo continued her work as a painter. Students reflect on Ishigo's personal letters, artwork, and official documents to relate the themes of tolerance and prejudice to the era, understand that media plays a part in propaganda, and learn how artists convey thoughts and emotions through art.
This lesson plan was originally created at the UCLA Institute on Primary Resources.
|
<urn:uuid:d018b123-1193-4f5d-a565-4e22659ba96b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/jarda/lesson_plans/beauty-behind-barbed-wire.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967411
| 138
| 3.75
| 4
|
Photograph by Willy Waterton, Parks Canada
Date Established: 1929
Size: 3,459 acres
Windswept white pine, rock faces scraped bare, and wide, wild waters number among the most prominent features of Georgian Bay Islands National Park. These characteristics are what drew a collective of painters—known as the Group of Seven—to the area during the 1920s. Their paintings, done in strong, bold brushstrokes, wove the park into the fabric of the Canadian national identity.
A frontcountry park with backcountry scenery, Georgian Bay’s vistas and accessibility make it a popular destination. Beausoleil is the park’s largest island, with facilities that include docks, 130 campsites, and 8 rustic cabins. It also boasts a network of 11 well-marked and groomed trails ranging from wheelchair-accessible walking paths to more difficult scrambles across the Precambrian rock of the Canadian Shield.
• Ancient History Beausoleil’s size has made it a popular seasonal stopover for centuries. Natives first used the island as a base for hunting and trading as far back as 7,000 years ago. Early voyageurs marked it as a midpoint on their travels between the Severn River and north Georgian Bay.
• Ghost Town to Cottage Boom The southeast side of Beausoleil hosts evidence of a 19th-century Ojibway village, abandoned when the poor quality of the island’s thin, acidic soil drove the community west to more arable environs. But while Beausoleil’s glaciated ridges proved too rugged to work, they were perfect for settling. The Georgian Bay cottage boom that cropped up in the early 1900s surrounds the park on all sides.
• Islands and Islets Thanks to a handful of locals, whose petitions led the government to establish the park in 1929, visitors today can still find pristine beauty among the 63 park islands and islets that pepper the shore between Honey Harbour and Twelve Mile Bay. Though all islands are open to the public, Bone is the only island besides Beausoleil to offer services, including docking facilities, outhouses, and picnic tables.
How to Get There
From Toronto, 103 miles south of the park, get on Rte. 400 N. Take exit 156 and follow the signs for Honey Harbour Road/Regional Road 5. From Sudbury, which lies 149 miles north of the park, take Rte. 69 S to Rte. 400 S. Then take exit 162 toward White’s Falls Road. Turn right at South Bay Road and follow it to Honey Harbour Road/Regional Road 5.
The gateway to the park is located at the Parks Canada Operations Base, across from the Honey Harbour Towne Centre. A sign at the left of the road directs you downhill to the docks, where you can catch the park’s Day Tripper to Beausoleil.
When to Go
During summer, Georgian Bay churns with the chop of powerboats. Even experienced paddlers should wait until the end of August, when visitor numbers drop and boating slows down. During fall the water is calm, the campsites quiet, and the trails less traveled. Late September to early October is the best time to see the stunning fall foliage for which southwestern Ontario is so well known. The park’s paths are quilted with a patchwork of leaves in shades of scarlet and cinnamon.
In winter, visitors must blaze their own trails across the bay via snowshoe, ski, or snowmobile, as services are not maintained. Hiking on Beausoleil’s windward west side is a trade-off—much of the snow blows into the woods, but you have to contend with December gales. Winter camping is only offered at Cedar Spring and Chimney Bay.
How to Visit
For an afternoon visit, book a seat on the Day Tripper to Beausoleil and hike a leisurely 3.4-mile loop around the south end of the island. If you have a full day, explore the immense diversity of the park. Though small, Georgian Bay Islands is home to more than 600 different plant and animal species. Beausoleil also marks Ontario’s north-south transition zone. Cycling or hiking the island’s bike-friendly Huron Trail highlights the dramatic differences between the two regions.
Despite the rugged appearance, the park’s primitive campsites are considered frontcountry camping due to constant activity on the bay. Mimic a backcountry experience with a weekend trip at the end of September, when you’re likely to pass days without seeing anyone. Rent a kayak in nearby Waubaushene, establish a base camp on Beausoleil, and hike out to the Beausoleil Island Light Range. If you happen to have your own boat, you may wish to explore the surrounding islands as well.
—Text adapted from the 2011 National Geographic book Guide to the National Parks of Canada
Canada is chock-full of national parks, marine reserves, and other protected places. Here are our picks for the top ten don't-miss spots.
Maple syrup, fresh corn, German sausage, a sweet treat called BeaverTail—what's not to love about Ontario's culinary offerings? Here are our picks for the province's top ten tastes.
Shop National Geographic
|
<urn:uuid:d5d90100-9747-4b63-a88d-de5cfb80c9c5>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/parks/georgian-bay-islands-canada-park/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.932823
| 1,117
| 3.078125
| 3
|
The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements by individuals, businesses, organizations, educational institutions and agencies for successful environmental projects and conservation measures.
The awards are designed to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of effective practices and projects and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the natural resources of their community and the state. The awards also promote leadership by example in order to increase promotion, protection and conservation of the natural resources of the State of Tennessee – its wildlife, forests, soils, air, water, natural heritage, parks and recreation.
The Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards are the most prestigious environmental and conservation awards in the state. For more than 20 years, the awards have been presented to individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the protection and improvement of our natural resources and wildlife.
|
<urn:uuid:d74ef8b5-e88d-420c-b77d-853d54bae56f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://tennessee.gov/environment/awards/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944941
| 177
| 2.109375
| 2
|
Posts Tagged "development"
The eternal controversy. Does it really matter? Well, it depends. For a company like Optimyth Software, it does matter. Why? because we measure and analyze software, and software is built with code. We have to be up-to-date with the technologies and languages developers around the world use. If we want them to measure and track the quality of the software they develop, we have to support the languages they use. So, we do look into this to plan the evolution of our products.Read More
Today, all companies that develop software have a common challenge: Efficiency. They all want to reach their goal, maximizing the use of all their available resources, whereas they are physical, economic or human.
The problem is that, most companies sacrifice one of the most important concepts in software engineer to get to be more efficient: Software quality. This is something that escapes my understanding of efficiency and this article tries to explain why.Read More
Just a quick post about the importance of bug tracking. If you can spare some extra time, I encourage you to read Jim Bird’s recent article “A Bug is a Terrible Thing to Waste” in his blog. He writes about how bugs are tracked —or not tracked at all— in different kinds of projects, in particular in his projects
My takeaway is that you have to pay attention to every single bug you find. You should track the most important ones or the ones you can’t fix immediately.Read More
Last week I was discussing with some colleagues the challenges organizations face these days regarding software development and application life cycle management. We all agreed that most organizations are looking at outsourcing as a way to reduce structure and cost, but outsourcing may bring other variables into the picture: Manage several providers, control the quality of deliverables, maintenance contracts, some opacity in the process.Read More
Agile development and software quality, or software quality and agile development. What comes first?
I’ve always said that before starting a new development project, if you want to measure and control the quality of the final product, you have to sit back, relax and come up with solid quality model to fit your needs. No matter what development methodology you are going to use.Read More
|
<urn:uuid:2bdcde21-6694-4fb3-8932-0fac2716271a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://blog.optimyth.com/tag/development
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955432
| 466
| 1.53125
| 2
|
Lessons learned from school funding outcome
The purest form of democracy is built within the initiative and referendum process. We have a representative democracy, which works well most of the time, but when the elected representatives act against the will of the people, the citizens have the right to rise up and petition their government for a change. This gives their representatives a chance to correct their action, rather than be voted out in a recall.
At our urging (June 11 editorial), we felt a petition was necessary to initiate a change. We felt that our government had acted against the will of the people when the assembly, counter to overwhelming public testimony at meetings, supported cutting municipal funding of the school below the state-allowed cap level for Skagway. A couple of citizens took up our challenge and hit the pavement. In a few days, they gathered nearly 400 signatures – almost as many people as who voted in the last municipal election. This was a staggering number that the assembly could not ignore. The initiative process worked, and the representatives eventually voted to support a budget amendment to restore municipal funding to the cap level.
What alarmed some in the public is that the four assembly members who changed their position on the cap funding then voted to cut a portion of the so-called outside funding amount, as part of the new budget amendment. In our mind, if the assembly was going to cut the school budget, then the extra funding was the area where it should have happened all along. It would have been better to have done this in April – they could have compromised on a figure then and avoided the painful process of facing an outraged public over cutting the cap – but the fact that they cut the extra funding now, after restoring the cap funding, does not go against the will of the petition.
We have always supported full funding of our education needs in Skagway. As citizens, we voted in 2007 for an extra percent of sales tax in the summer to support the needs of our community. One of the top needs noted at the time was our school, and this has not changed. But enrollment at our school has dropped to a point where there needed to be some cutting, painful as it is for us to accept. We felt the school district had cut enough and had presented a reasonable budget this spring, yet some of the assembly members felt the school could have done more. It took a long time, but the compromise we now have – funding to the cap with an additional $250,000 in extra funding – while not desirable to us, is at a level we can accept.
The citizens also should accept this figure, and reach out to the school board and educators to work on keeping our school’s performance at a high level. They should thank the assembly for funding the school to the cap and beyond. Many communities are not in the position to grant extra funding: Skagway is able to help, and it has. The amount of extra funding needed will continue to be debated every year until enrollment grows to a point where the school is sustainable at the cap level. It will be up to the citizens to elect assembly members who either support extra funding or do not, or who can compromise at a level the public accepts. One thing is certain, as evidenced by the recent petition: the municipal cap funding level is sacred and should never be toyed with again.
Finally, we respectfully disagree with our mayor that this issue has divided the community. We believe the passionate debate over the funding of our school did more to bring the citizens together than any issue in recent memory, even more than the fight for borough formation. While the final outcome over the funding issue may still divide some of us, there is a greater awareness of what our school needs: everyone working together to keep students here in Skagway and performing well, so the school’s enrollment can grow with a supportive community behind it. – WJB
|
<urn:uuid:831c5b70-e20c-47a7-aecd-35f4475b0ada>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.skagwaynews.com/072310opinion.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980491
| 790
| 2.265625
| 2
|
Only one week after the winter storm that dumped 10 inches or more of snow across the area, parts of Western and North Central Nebraska saw record high temperatures on Friday, November 6th. A change in the jet stream pattern caused temperatures to warm up quickly following the last snow event in October. This melted the wet, heavy snow in a period of only a few days.
*Broken Bow set a new daily record high. The old record was 81 degrees set in 1931.
**Valentine set a new daily record high. The old record was 78 degrees set in 1909.
|
<urn:uuid:a25f8719-64d3-485c-aaf8-414a2081e696>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.1011now.com/weather/headlines/69460547.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945464
| 118
| 1.632813
| 2
|
List of Tutorials in Introduction to Multimedia
SIP It gives a basic understanding of SIP, the components and commands involved and how it works.
RTP This tutorial tells you what RTP is, how it is used and goes into the details of RTP packets upto certain level. RTCP is also discussed.
SDP It contains a short SDP tutorial in the form of a powerpoint presentation. A complete html version of it will be ready soon.
Recently added VoIP section is not really a tutorial but answers a lot of common questions regarding VoIP technology and VoIP phones.
|
<urn:uuid:0d72f463-4b2e-44a5-a808-c6d519768493>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.siptutorial.net/tutorial_list.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.910398
| 125
| 2.0625
| 2
|
What is Conflict Diamonds?
Through the love of art and the way art shifts the way people feel about a specific topics. Conflict Diamonds benefits organizations accumulate new accounts through art not just any art but "Art That Matters".
Conflict Diamonds starts by listening to the clients concept to see which way would be best to represent the art project collaboration. There after we consider the time and date for the event. once we come upon the right venue for the art show we head straight to the promotions, social media, radio and fliers. Conflict Diamonds has a strict way of doing business. "If the collaboration could not teach, or help the community in any way it is considered a dead end", in which Conflict Diamonds will pull the plug on the project. With that said, Conflict Diamonds brings out the leading people, or artist of that specific genre. At the event there will be tickets sold to come in attached with a raffle ticket to enter a drawing to win an art piece. A percentage of what Conflict Diamonds makes from art work, will go to youth programs. Conflict Diamonds makes sure to always bring out a panel where the list of things that will be bought with the percentage given to children in need. The kids on the wish list will be present at the event as Guest of Honors.
|
<urn:uuid:d9512c3e-4862-41b7-9dcb-0e20bace1620>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.iamfenixlax.com/conflict-diamonds
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948192
| 268
| 1.796875
| 2
|
In the spirit of continuing my investigation into the world of touch interfaces, check out this innovation from Visual Planet (I found out about this invention through interaction design blog). They are releasing an “interactive foil” that can be coupled with a standard LCD or projection display from 30 to 116 inches to deliver touchscreen functionality. Check out the video below of a prototype in action. If the cost is sufficiently low this will further drive the proliferation of touchscreens in public places – in doing so it will open up new opportunities and challenges for interaction designers.
As this technology increasingly becomes more available, it will be interesting to see how people respond to the appearance of touchscreen devices in different places. How will the type of interactions that people are willing to engage in differ based on their context. For example, people will feel comfortable engaging in some types of interactions in the privacy of a back of taxi that they would not be willing to do in a more public place, such as a bus stop.
As an inexperienced and technology-loving designer I have to always remind myself that I have a higher comfort-level with technology-based interactions than most others (my wife can attest to this). This is part of the reason that I have chosen to pursue this curriculum in interaction design – to help unleash the power of computation to enhance our experience of the world and improve quality of life.
|
<urn:uuid:a22f2033-68f8-46b4-a979-6602cce14838>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://julioterra.com/journal/2008/10/interactive-foil-making-touch-displays-out-of-lcds-and-projectors/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945897
| 276
| 2.3125
| 2
|
Tipnut’s Guide To Green Tea
Did you know that when tea was first discovered, it was mainly used for medicinal purposes? Over time it became better known as a daily beverage (it’s second only to water), but we’re now rediscovering its health benefits.
I’m a coffee lover and never had much luck finding a satisfying tea, but after hearing so much about how good it was for you, I took some time investigating them, sampling different blends and now I’m hooked!
Here’s what I’ve learned…
Suggested Health Benefits
- Helps prevent gum disease, plaque buildup, bad breath & cavities (it contains fluoride)
- Boosts the immune system, resists infections
- Reduces risk of breast cancer & prevents other cancers
- Lowers the risk of heart disease
- Lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol (HDL) plus prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries)
- Helps with weight loss, raises the metabolic rate, burns calories and speeds up fat oxidation
- Helps fight against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- A great way to stay hydrated and meet the daily water intake requirements
It isn’t meant to replace fruits or vegetables, but its leaves contain more antioxidants than many antioxidant rich produce. The antioxidant activity in two cups of tea is equal to seven glasses of orange juice, five medium-sized onions or four medium-sized apples.
There are plenty of studies done that suggest many more benefits of drinking green tea daily, you can do some research online for more information.
The plant Camellia sinensis is where it comes from and it’s made into four different varieties: Black, Oolong, Green and White Teas. Although they all come from the same plant, each is different in flavor, aroma and color. This is mainly due to how the leaves are prepared.
- Yields a hearty and more pronounced flavor
- Has higher caffeine content
- This is the most popular and one that you’re probably most familiar with
- It has a reddish-orange color
- This is pronounced as “woolong”
- The flavor and caffeine content is between the black and the green varieties
- Oolong is a light brown tea with delicate flavor
- Goes through less processing than the other varieties above, therefore it has more health benefits
- Produces a brew that is pale greenish or yellow in color
- This is the purest form since it undergoes the least amount of processing
- Contains the most amount of anti-oxidants
- Contains the least amount of caffeine
- This is handpicked in early spring, making it limited in quantity
Each of the four types are separated by leaf quality, region they were grown in, how it’s harvested and may be flavored with oils or herbal blends–each giving a different taste experience. That’s why you’ll find many different varieties of Green, White, Oolong and Black teas. It’s quite an adventure to sample all the different varieties available!
Herbal teas are an infusion made from ingredients other than the Camellia sinensis plant. They’re made from herbs and plants (such as mint or chamomile). Although the benefits of them are different than green teas, you’ll still find drinking them a good choice. See this page for how to make your own.
This is gaining in popularity as a beneficial beverage with health qualities compared to green tea, but it’s not a true tea since it doesn’t use leaves from the Camellia consensus plant and comes from the South African shrub Aspalathus linearis.
- Is reported to dissolve and prevent cholesterol buildup (preventing heart disease)
- High in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
- Contains no caffeine
- Is favored as both a hot and cold drink
- Low in tannin
- Is pronounced as “RoyBoss”
How Much To Drink Daily
Drinking three to ten cups a day is believed a sufficient amount to receive health benefits (with an average of five seeming to meet most requirements).
Since it naturally contains fluoride, you may wish to use fluoride free toothpaste or filtered water so you don’t consume too much fluoride daily (too much fluoride is a problem).
There is also a suggestion by some that women should limit their intake during pregnancy since there is a concern how large levels of tea may affect fetal development. I haven’t been able to find anything concrete on this nor have I found anything suggesting that women in Asia (who are traditionally consume more) have more difficulties with pregnancies than women who don’t drink it.
It does contain caffeine, but typically 1/3 to 1/2 less than coffee (when comparing liquid volume). To drop the levels of the caffeine you can do a couple things:
- Dump the first steeped batch (steep for about 30 seconds, dump water then add a fresh batch of water to steep)
- You can also reduce the brewing time since the longer it is brewed, the higher the caffeine levels will be (this will affect flavor)
How To Store
It should be handled in the same manner as herbs and spices, you want to keep it sealed airtight, in the dark and avoid moisture.
You can buy small tins or cannisters or just keep them in ziploc bags with as much air removed as possible.
If stored properly, they can be kept quite awhile before becoming stale. I’ve found some suggestions that when stored adequately they are good for years, but fresh is best.
Considering you can brew three full steeps from each measured amount of dried loose tea (without noticeably affecting the flavor), and you only need approximately 1 level teaspoon per cup, paying a little more for good quality is a luxury that you can likely afford. It’s actually quite a frugal beverage–especially when compared to coffee. One blend I enjoy costs me less than 10 cents a cup (and that includes shipping & handling fees)!
My initial experiences with green tea were a turn off, I was trying the boxes of “special” bags you buy in the grocery store. I’ve discovered that these are mainly made of the bits and pieces leftover from making the good stuff (or those that didn’t meet quality requirements for selling as good loose leaf tea). No wonder I could never figure out what the big deal was .
If you want to experience what it’s really all about, you need to go to a specialty store or buy some online. They’ll come in packages of loose tea, not as bags, and they taste so much better and are vastly different than the cheap stuff. You really don’t need to spend a lot of money to get started, try a small sample bag or two and you’ll see how many delicious cups that will get you (remember you can get three steeps per teaspoon when using a good quality blend). You may find yourself hooked like I did, but thankfully–this is a guilt-free, inexpensive & healthy addiction .
To learn how to brew a pot, you’ll find a step-by-step tutorial on this page.
|
<urn:uuid:417614bd-8e45-4fc6-b975-f3a2d83f273d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://tipnut.com/guide-green-tea/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952753
| 1,533
| 2.28125
| 2
|
The legislation would covers fossil fuels and renewable resources offshore and on federal land.
What the outcome of Tuesday's election means for everyone from the coal industry to green groups.
The president took more than 90 percent of the Democratic primary vote in Montana on Tuesday.
Bill would give a 60 percent funding increase to fossil fuels research, a $207 million jump.
Opinion: America needs an “all-of-the-above” approach to our energy needs.
Their specific policy positions evoke little difference among the 2012 GOP candidates.
Opinion: A strategy to reduce the military’s reliance on fossil fuel will save lives.
Green groups push the Obama administration to curb a controversial coal-industry technique.
Thanks to a spate of disasters, energy industry officials face an escalating crisis.
The president attmpts to reassure the nation.
|
<urn:uuid:5a5229db-46ae-4479-a0fe-050b391a94e4>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.politico.com/tag/fossil-fuels
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.909019
| 177
| 1.679688
| 2
|
One Year Down the Line: Is this the Independence We Fought for?
One year ago when South Sudan celebrated the most prestigious occasion in the annals of history in the modern era, the citizens of this country knew that their problems would come to an end once and for all. On this day one year ago, I wrote an article trying to suggest possible choices available for South Sudan.
The central theme of my writing was that what South Sudan can learn from the independence of other Africans States. Will it be business as usual? Clinging on to power, corruption, tribal politics characterised by “we fought syndrome?”
Or will South Sudan choose the exceptional case of Botswana which served the interest of its people not the individuals in power. All its concentration was projected on economic development, good policies and service deliverance.
Well, as we enter into the second year of the independence it is clear which path we have chosen.
It is imperative to note that the population of this country are still happy with the independence because the main thing for them is their identity. I agree with Prof Alfred Lokuji when he said that the most important thing is not whether the expectations of the people would be fulfilled in one year or not but the identity of south Sudanese as free people was the essence of the independence.
The challenges affecting the country are overwhelming and nobody expect the miracles within one year to get all of these resolved. There is nobody in this country that ever thinks that he/she would wake up in the morning after independence and found out that our roads are built from Nadapal to Awiel and from Nimule to Reng.
No! They are not also thinking that there shall be everything such as factories, skycrappers built free for them. They understand that it is still a struggle and independence is a stepping stone in achieving what they have been yearning for.
What do not go down well with them is that the gap between the people and those managing their resources is increasingly widening every other day. The citizens don’t even know what the priorities of their government are. They don’t understand why we become two groups- “the haves and haves not?”
The citizens are asking why some few individuals would fly out to India for treatment when they are pierced by a thorn yet there is no aspirin in Juba Teaching hospital?
What moral ground do our leaders have when they go to the villages and carefully choose their English words to encourage the citizens; we are starting from the scratch, Rome was not built in one day.
What they fail to tell the citizens is why they are driving posh cars that cannot be found anywhere in the Sub-Sahara if we are starting from the scratch?
Citizens are tired of excuses. Blaming Khartoum won’t help either, why don’t the government provide clean water to the people yet the river Nile flows from Lake Victoria in Uganda not from Khartoum?
Why is the Law review commission not given support to give us the permanent constitution that carries the aspirations of the people of this country on how they want to be governed?
In the list of worries, citizens are worried about the impunity that is growing within our system. How the executive has become untouchable not even answerable to the parliament and Judiciary?
The budget shows that the government is not going to employ anybody for the next one fiscal year. Young graduates are not going to get jobs soon and the government has no policies that protect them and ensure that they should work in NGOS. Those who are working in the government will experience a salary cut which is in sharp contrast with the prices in the market. The graduate in grade 9 will spend his whole salary on food for 15 days only not to mention other basic needs such as cloths and shelter.
Another fundamental worry is how Juba is becoming? If you go to the country side you will realise that Juba is becoming another Khartoum. Resources are concentrated here.
A local think-tank organization carried out a social accountability research and found out that for the last six years Juba alone has spent SSP 22 billion and the ten states spent only six billion. Do your math. Who are in Juba? A certain clique who call themselves the owners of this country!
Why can’t the government reduce the bureaucracy in Juba by decentralising the resources? Thoughtfully, one of the ways is to have only about ten Ministries at the centre and take the other ministries to the states.
People in this country are now like passengers in the bus who could only contemplate the accident ahead with a curious mind. It is high time the government made it clear to us especially on issues of critical importance to the people.
We deserve to own a working government to enable the leaders stamp out the “who cares” complexity.
As we celebrate our independence, we should replicate on the values and ideas we fought for and judge whether we are still following the road that we intended to travel.
Like Patrice Lumumba said that, “history will one day have its say,” may the dreams of our heroes can be realised. Otherwise the future is unpredictable.
By Michael Thon Mangok, JUBA – SSN:, 21/07/2012
|
<urn:uuid:fa3cd393-3615-4a42-ae83-6099a2cf2451>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=212646
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.966577
| 1,092
| 1.8125
| 2
|
It was the heart of the women’s athletics’ rise nationally at what was then called Trenton State College, and longtime Trenton Times sportswriter Harvey Yavener was interviewing a head coach at an area college. He asked if she would be interested in returning to TSC, her alma mater, to coach, but didn’t get the answer he expected.
“She said something like, ‘Are you kidding? They want to win too much. I like it here, there’s no pressure to win,’” Yavener remembers.
Such a mindset was infectious at what is now known as TCNJ, even if other schools were slow to embrace it. The drive for excellence across the campus helped move women’s athletics at the College to the forefront of NCAA Division III during the early decades of Title IX.
“We were like the poster child,” said football coach Eric Hamilton ’75, today the dean of TCNJ coaches, who watched it all unfold. “You wanted to be like Trenton State if you wanted to be competitive.”
Forty years have passed since Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was enacted into federal law, banning discrimination against women in education and providing an equal opportunity in athletics. Before Title IX, less than 30,000 women participated in college sports. Today, there are more than 200,000 participants, with more than three million playing high school sports.
The passing of Title IX, though, wasn’t a quick fix in women’s athletics, because some schools went kicking and screaming over it. TCNJ was shouting about it, too—but over the benefits.
From former College presidents Clayton R. Brower and Harold W. Eickhoff, to former athletic directors Roy Van Ness ’43 and Kevin McHugh, to the school’s administration, coaches, and student-athletes, the concept of women’s athletics standing alongside the men was trumpeted throughout the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. The 1981 field hockey team followed the 1979 wrestling team with the Lions’ second NCAA championship, and today, 34 of the school’s 40 national team titles are on the women’s side.¹ In addition, there are countless New Jersey Athletic Conference championships, NCAA medals, All-America honors, and other achievements across the board.
“We’ve hung our hat on athletic history in women’s athletics,” Brower says today.
Small steps, then a leap
Of course, it wasn’t always that way. TCNJ resembled a lot of other schools long before Title IX, only taking small steps toward what women’s athletics are today.
As early as the 1930s, the men on campus competed in intercollegiate football, basketball, baseball, and track. Meanwhile, the women competed on a limited scale in intramural and club sports, all the way into the 1960s. That reflected the national climate, even for a TCNJ campus that had more female students than men at what was then a teacher’s college.
There usually was minimal opportunity for female athletes in high school, so the lack of competition at TCNJ didn’t seem out of the ordinary, said June Belli Hemmingson ’56, who played intramural lacrosse. Added Joan Manahan ’62, who played field hockey, basketball, and softball, “I don’t think any of us ever sat around saying, ‘We don’t get to play enough.’ We were happy with what we had.”
Such notions began to change during the 1961–62 academic year. The women were brought to the varsity level in field hockey, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, and softball, with faculty members Lilyan Wright (also a department chairperson) and Patricia Morris heading up the programs under the wing of the health and physical education department. “Women like to compete the same as men do,” says Manahan, who prided herself on the level of coaching—a prelude to one of the important factors in TCNJ’s eventual national success.
The Lady Lions, or Lionettes, as the women’s teams were called then, later added such varsity sports as bowling, fencing, gymnastics, and swimming. The growth helped TCNJ remain ahead of the national curve in its dedication to women’s athletics. There was enough progress that many of the Lions teams would have enjoyed success even if Title IX did not come along. Once it did, though, the growth was exponential at TCNJ.
The College already had a strong health and physical education program for both men and women, so the elevation of women’s athletics was a natural fit. Van Ness, the athletic director from 1964–87, championed the feeling that TCNJ athletics was a team of men’s and women’s sports, and not separate entities. The feeling, according to coaches, grew without resistance from the men’s athletic programs, which wasn’t always the case at other schools.
“Everybody went to the football games, everybody supported everybody else, everybody worked their butts off,” said Ferne Labati, who coached women’s basketball.
“There was a very strong feeling from my point of view and from the [College’s] Board [of Trustees] as we talked about athletics,” Brower said, “about establishing a firm position on Title IX and having equal opportunities for women as well as men in athletics.”
In 1978, the health and physical education faculty voted to create full-time coaching positions. The coaches who were tenured faculty in the department headed by Ken Tillman had to choose between remaining there as professors, but not as coaches, or relinquishing their tenure and joining the athletics department under shorter coaching contracts. Most of the faculty remained in the PE department, although that didn’t stop influential coaches and/or instructors such as Wright (field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse), Joyce B. Cochrane (gymnastics and PE department classes), and Shirley Fisher (field hockey) from continuing to support the programs and the new coaches.
June Walker and Brenda Campbell were exceptions to the norm. They made the move from the PE department to full-time coaching positions. Walker had taken over the softball program in 1974 and later became associate director of athletics, with the force of Title IX behind her. Campbell, who arrived on campus in 1969, guided the women’s swimming and tennis programs. She even had a bigger budget for women’s tennis than what the Lions men had because the women had proven themselves on a national level, beginning with two-time All-American Kathy (Mueller) Rohan ’78 being named the 1978 national player of the year for all divisions.
That year, Labati was hired from highly successful Immaculata College to coach the women’s basketball team and Melissa (Magee) Speidel came aboard with the field hockey and lacrosse teams, joining Walker and Campbell under the newly created full-time positions. Speidel went on to coach a certain player named Sharon (Goldbrenner) Pfluger ’82, who eventually became her successor in 1985. Labati eventually turned the basketball reins over to Mika Ryan, and TCNJ found itself with a growing cadre of coaches who seemed to be outworking those at other schools.
The coaches were unselfish, fueled by a passionate yet professional approach to their craft, and mostly weren’t looking to use TSC as a stepping stone for a position at a bigger school. Today, Pfluger calls it a labor of love in which the coaches are working for the student-athletes, and not the other way around.
“The late Mr. Van Ness, he had a great knack for just having a feel for who was going to make a good coach and who wasn’t,” Campbell added. “And he wasn’t afraid to go with youth and a lack of experience. If you look back at the coaches that he hired, the phenomenal jobs they did, it was incredible. That was an area [in which] TSC was far out in front of a lot of schools, especially [those that] became Division III.”
“That was really exciting for the women professionally,” Speidel said, “that we were full-time coaches. We as the coaching staff had a bond that this was just sort of the beginning for acknowledging women in athletics.”
Van Ness, who had great loyalty to his alma mater, and Walker were the biggest influences within the athletics department, and they shared a similar vision for the role of women’s athletics. In the decade leading up to Van Ness’ retirement, TCNJ enjoyed an unparalleled level of success among the more than 300 Division III colleges at that time. A former coach himself, Van Ness had a good sense of humor, and he saw the profession as an extension of the classroom, giving his coaches the freedom to shape their programs.
Of course, one of those coaches was the intense Walker, who not only championed women’s athletics in an administrative role but also guided a softball program that posted a 721–154 record, won five NCAA titles, and was the national runner-up seven times in her 22 seasons before she retired in 1995.
“Roy Van Ness, I have to sing his praises over and over again. He was just a visionary,” Speidel said. “He shepherded it, all opportunities, encouraged us, and came to our games. He was sort of the Pied Piper and all of the women were just joining his enthusiasm.”
Walker “was ahead of her time,” Hamilton told Yavener in the Times upon her death in 2001. “A person of conviction, the stone in the shoe that moved Mr. Van (Ness) to make this campus so prominent in women’s sports. She prodded and prodded and shaped what it became, and never wavered.”
Raising the Profile
A myriad of other factors also played in the continued athletic success on campus. When Brower stepped down in 1980, and Eickhoff became president, the College was in the process of raising its academic profile nationally as a leading liberal arts college. The College was enrolling achievers, and in doing so the recruiting base for student-athletes opened to places where many Division III programs could not go.
“We were finding student-athletes who were tops in academics,” Brower said. “But within that group, there were some outstanding athletes as well.”
“The trustees were very clear on how they wanted to see the College develop. Their vision for the institution was to do whatever we do at the very highest level,” said Eickhoff. “Over the process, a very short process, we came to the conclusion that the athletic program had a very good foundation, and that we kind of underlined the development of the College’s excellence in academic areas by making sure that our athletic programs matched that commitment to excellence. And the way we defined excellence—that was kind of easy. If we were going to be excellent, we should be winning national championships.”
And that’s what TCNJ did. While other schools struggled financially to send athletes to national competitions, TCNJ provided the support and brought home the titles.
Lacrosse won the AIWA national title in the spring of 1981, and after the NCAA opened up its doors to women’s sports, the field hockey team followed with a national title that fall. More national titles poured in, with softball gaining its first one under Walker in 1983, having already been the AIWA runner-up in 1980 and 1982. Campbell later guided the women’s tennis team to the 1986 NCAA title, which was the first for a men’s or women’s program in the Northeast.
If Lions teams weren’t capturing NCAA titles, they were claiming national runner-up finishes. And all the women’s teams seemed to have All-Americans at their disposal, many of whom were also Academic All-Americans, including such notables as Tracy Warren ’87, the softball player who now is a national broadcaster, and Kimm Lacken ’88, the all-time leading scorer for TCNJ women’s basketball.
The prestige bestowed on TCNJ was felt beyond the athletic fields. Support was so good that the student body voted for student fees to go toward improving athletic facilities. The most important addition was Van Ness’ vision, the installation of a multi-purpose AstroTurf field, Lions’ Stadium, which opened in 1984. Few schools’ facilities matched the versatility of the turf, on which the football, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s lacrosse teams practiced and played in both good and inclement weather.
Meanwhile, other athletic facilities, which included the Student Recreation Center for general student use, became jewels. Then the Aquatic Center opened in 1987. Each facility provided a recruiting advantage to keep TCNJ athletics ahead of the game.
“I think one of the greatest things [Van Ness] did was get an AstroTurf field,” said Pfluger, who has coached her teams to 11 NCAA titles in lacrosse (including the vacated 1992 title) and eight in field hockey. “We were one of the first [in Division III]. We were playing everybody else on grass for years. I think that was a big commitment. He was very innovative.”
With innovation came separation from other schools, and that has remained at TCNJ for a long time. Women’s soccer was added as a varsity sport in 1990, and three years later, Coach Joe Russo led the Lions to the first of three Division III women’s soccer titles.
With TCNJ’s blueprint in place, other elite schools in Division III eventually caught up. But the mix of high academic and athletic standards hasn’t wavered, and winning is still a big deal on campus. In fact, the women’s tennis program entered the 2012–13 school year having won all of its conference matches, and all of the titles, since the NJAC (and its previous Jersey Athletic Conference) added the sport in 1982.
In 2011, the field hockey team won another national title under Pfluger, ending a five-year drought for TCNJ athletics, fittingly on the 30-year anniversary of the Lions’ first NCAA title in the sport under Speidel. The 33 NCAA team titles (officially 32 in NCAA records) remain the most among all Division III schools.
“More than Title IX, I just think it was the willingness to put good teams out and look upon sports as something women could have as well as men,” Yavener said. “There is no underestimating how important athletics was in changing the image. Suddenly kids wanted to go there who had never even heard of it.”
“There was so much excitement when we started at Trenton State,” Speidel said. “Title IX provided the opportunity for women to play and compete and it energized all of us. It was this energy that led to our success and put [the College] at the top of Division III women’s athletics. I moved on to coach at Old Dominion in Division I, and there was never the same thrill of being part of the team as at [the College].”
Women’s National Team Championships¹
Thirty-four of TCNJ’s 40 national team championships have been won in women’s varsity sports:
Lacrosse (14): 2006, 2005, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1981
Field Hockey (10): 2011, 1999, 1996, 1995, 1991, 1990, 1988, 1985, 1983, 1981
Softball (6): 1996, 1994, 1992, 1989, 1987, 1983
Women’s Soccer (3): 2000, 1994, 1993
Women’s Tennis (1): 1986
¹ All are NCAA titles except for the lacrosse team’s Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national championship in 1981. The 1992 lacrosse title was later vacated by the NCAA.
|
<urn:uuid:70337e59-97de-43c1-a0e3-174f6ddb0ee7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.tcnjmagazine.com/?p=6231
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.982837
| 3,480
| 2
| 2
|
Although it's almost managed to fly under the radar, it looks like New Hampshire might actually repeal the January 2010 law that legalized gay marriage. The state’s Republican-controlled House and Senate are expected to pass the bill eliminating the right to same-sex marriage. Though Democratic Governor John Lynch has promised to veto the bill, it’s still possible that both houses of the General Court will have enough votes to override the veto.
The bill isn’t expected to be voted on until after New Hampshire’s Republican primary -- the second in the country -- on January 10th so that the candidates have as much time as possible to “get their message out.” “This is the time for them to shine. We want them to get all the attention possible,” says House Leader D.J. Bettencourt. Despite more than half their own party wishing they’d stop talking about gay people already and their own beliefs about a small federal government, Republican presidential candidates campaigning in New Hampshire have been weighing in on the issue. Support for the bill appears to be largely split along party lines, but a recent political ad opposing the bill features New Hampshire residents from both sides of the aisle.
Proponents of the bill argue that legal partnerships will still be available for gay couples, while those who oppose it worry that the bill lacks key language that would actually make civil unions a viable option. The bill itself seems to suggest that civil unions wouldn’t be permitted under the new law; the fiscal notice reports that “The Department of State states this bill prohibits same sex marriages and civil unions.” Like California’s Prop 8, it also includes a provision that recognizes marriages that took place between January 1st, 2010 and the date that the law could take effect.
New Hampshire is currently one of six states (plus Washington, D.C.) where same-sex marriage is legal. In the nearly two years since marriage replaced civil unions, over 1,800 couples have wed, bringing in approximately $500,000 per year to the State. Ironically, voting on the bill was put on hold last session to keep the focus on the state budget. If it passes in January, the bill is estimated to cost $50,500 in "programming changes" and will incur losses in state revenue. While the state will be missing out from money that could be earned from marriages licenses, the people who will take the biggest hit are the New Hampshire citizens who need help most, as $38 of the $50 charged per license goes to domestic abuse programs.
II. No woman shall marry her father, father’s brother, mother’s brother, son, brother, son’s son, daughter’s son, brother’s son, sister’s son, father’s brother’s son, mother’s brother’s son, father’s sister’s son, mother’s sister’s son, or any other woman. (<-- tacked on like it’s just there as an afterthought)
Perhaps most worryingly, the bill’s only actual argument against marriage equality boils down to everyone’s (least) favorite rallying cry: Think of the children!
III. The vast majority of children are conceived by acts of passion between men and women – sometimes unintentionally. Because of this biological reality, New Hampshire has a unique, distinct, and compelling interest in promoting stable and committed marital unions between opposite-sex couples so as to increase the likelihood that children will be born to and raised by both of their natural parents. No other domestic relationship presents the same level of state interest.
IV. A child has a natural human right to the love, care and support of his or her own mother and father, whenever possible. Marriage is the primary social institution that promotes that ideal and encourages its achievement.
After all the progress that’s been made, it’s troublesome to think that our rights will be so quickly stripped away -- and not with reason or compelling legal arguments, but with clumsy appeals to bigotry. As children of abusive biological parents or loving adoptive families, single mothers and fathers, and, yep, even gay parents will tell you, though opposite-sex, genetically-related families may be the norm, they are often far from ideal. Conflating social constructions of normalcy with the natural order of things is becoming a tired trick in the anti-gay playbook and I’m getting impatient waiting for it to have its day in court. A state's interests should be in protecting it's people and their freedoms, not in "encouraging the achievement" of an ideal that will leave hundreds of families unrecognized. We should expect, and demand, real acceptance for different types of families and a higher commitment to the right to live free or die.
|
<urn:uuid:6dd5cd2e-9b8b-47ae-b47f-e26a0d768a98>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.autostraddle.com/2012-might-see-anti-gay-bigots-successfully-repeal-marriage-equality-in-nh-126005/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.95942
| 1,004
| 2.21875
| 2
|
Jacques-Philippe Piverger, 35, went from a finance career to the head of a company hoping to bring light to the darkest places.
The chief executive and co-founder of Mpowerd was at CES this week demonstrating the Luci solar lantern, designed for campers, eco-devotees and people caught in disaster scenarios -- such as a hurricane.
About 3.1 billion people live with little or no access to energy, Piverger said.
The Luci lamp, manufactured in Asia, is a transparent cylinder that weighs four ounces. It’s waterproof. It’s collapsible.
The 10 LED lights inside can brighten a space of up to 15 square feet, producing six to 12 hours of light after being charged in direct or indirect sunlight for four to six hours.
The lights can be set on high or dimmed, even put in flashing mode. A single lamp costs $15.99 -- Mpowerd is offering two for $19.99 in a buy-one-give-one deal.
The company was launched less than a year ago and went through as many as 25 Luci prototypes, Piverger said. He said 5,000 lamps have been sold in the last five months, with a mass order for 10,000 units coming in this week.
Mpowerd is now trying to raise $200,000 on crowd-funding platform Indiegogo.
|
<urn:uuid:4521aa9e-0b64-4d05-a35e-21f37c956ad7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.portlandscw32.com/news/business/la-fi-tn-ces-mpowerd-luci-solar-20130110,0,1242964.story
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956416
| 295
| 2.0625
| 2
|
Classic 25 Description
|The following information originates from the Classic 25 Construction and Operating Manual.
Our experiences during the development of line level pre-amplifiers emphasised the importance of handling these high level signals with the same care that we would apply when dealing with the much lower level signals from a phono cartridge. It was vital that the selection, attenuation and following driver stages were designed to minimise compression of the signal whilst still allowing coupling with unrestricted bandwidth to the power stages of the amplifier.
The volume and balance controls as well as the gold plated selector switches were chosen after careful sonic evaluation and are coupled directly to a high linearity series regulated push pull gain stage. This in turn feeds our proprietry floating para-phase phase splitter configuration with carefully selected component values to minimise amplitude distortion. The resulting signals are further amplified and buffered by a driver stage before being fed to the output stage. The EL34 (6CA7) output stage is operated in the CLASSIC ultra linear push pull configuration with the valves biased in pure class A operating mode. The resulting high voltage signal is impedance matched to 4 or 8 ohm loudspeaker outputs by our in house designed high quality output transformers.
A fundamental of good amplifier design is the power supply and care has been taken to ensure the supply is kept constant under varying signal conditions thereby always allowing the amplifier to retain its smooth composed sound quality. This has been achieved by the use of our in house designed mains transformer in conjunction with high quality smoothing capacitors which ensure a very stable low impedance supply regardless of circuit demands. The supplies to the input valves are further heavily decoupled to allow them to operate without being influenced by the output stage. The input and phase splitter valves are DC heated to reduce noise and ensure stable thermal operation when dealing with the lower level input signals.
The Classic 25 uses selected polyester signal coupling capacitors and close tolerance metalfilm resistors throughout the audio circuit. The PCB is of a heavy duty type which has been carefully designed to minimise interstage interference and provide good ground return paths.
This amplifier offers the facility to accept up to 4 inputs as well as a tape loop and therefore represents an excellent choice for audio enthusiasts seeking improved performance from the high quality line source components that are currently available.
If a tape recorder is connected to TAPE OUT it is possible to monitor what is going onto the tape by setting the TAPE.SOURCE switch to TAPE. This allows direct comparison between the source signal and what is being recorded. This may be useful for setting correct recording levels.
The speaker output terminals are located on the rear panel, two red and one black for each channel. The two red binding posts correspond to the two secondary windings on the output transformer, l.e. 4 and 8 ohms. The positive conductor in each speaker cable should be connected to the terminal which most closely matches the impedance of the speakers. The negative conductor is connected to the relevant black terminal.
N.B. Most sensibly designed loudspeakers have a minimal Impedance of 4- 8 ohms. Comparison of the results obtained using the 4 or 8 ohm terminals is recommended. Use whichever suits the loudspeakers.
The Classic Stereo 25 reaches optimum performance within 20 to 30 minutes from switch on.
Allow any valve amplifier to cool down before moving it. The valves are rated for about 6000 hours use. As a guide, if the amplifier is used for 4 hours each day the valves should last for approximately 4 years.
We sincereIy hope you enjoy many years of pleasure from your Classic Stereo 25 amplifier. Please keep this manual safely for future reference.
CLASSIC STEREO 25 SPECIFICATIONS
|
<urn:uuid:7d1346e8-66a5-42b0-826b-775f02c7abd4>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://members.chello.nl/~m.heijligers/classic25/original/intro/intro.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.930871
| 758
| 1.84375
| 2
|
Lesbian and gay families took part in the historic Easter Egg Roll at the White House yesterday.
At a time when issues such as gay marriage and adoption rights are being contested all over America, the Family Pride Coalition encouraged hundreds of LGBT families to attend the annual Easter egg roll outside the Presidential residence.
Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of Family Pride, said:
“We were proud to join the many diverse families attending the White House Egg Roll this year.
“For the second year in a row, gay and lesbian-headed families participated in a great American tradition.
“Despite the cold weather and freezing temperatures, gay and lesbian families came and made their presence known, making our existence real to millions of Americans.”
The tradition began in 1878 and is a day of fun and games for children of all ages.
Approximately 18,000 tickets were sold for the 2007 event, which was hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.
Family Pride first started encouraging gay families to attend the Easter Egg Roll last year, a move which caused massive controversy.
PinkNews.co.uk reported how one Christian family group, the Traditional Values Coalition, labelled the decision “distasteful” and said it was “inappropriate to politicise the occasion and to use children to do so.”
However, First Lady Bush defended the participation of gay families.
“Mrs. Bush wants to make sure all families are welcome to attend the Easter Egg Roll,” said a White House spoke last year.
7,200 eggs were needed for the egg roll races.
Enjoyed this article? Add Pink News to your Facebook news feed
|
<urn:uuid:42c2b8d8-f4e0-416e-bacd-f67405fd1363>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2007/04/10/gays-take-part-in-white-house-easter-tradition/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962412
| 342
| 1.78125
| 2
|
In recent weeks we’ve been following reports of massive duck die offs in Indonesia, supposedly linked to the arrival of clade 2.3.2 of the H5N1 virus (see VOA Report On The Indonesian Duck Die Off), but with cooler weather bird flu activity is on the rise in other places around the world as well.
The chart above shows the `seasonality’ of bird flu outbreaks in poultry, with generally a lull seen during the summer and early fall, and a peak in the winter to late spring.
Not unexpectedly, two countries often plagued by H5N1 outbreaks in recent years are reporting reoccurrences this week; Bangladesh and Nepal.
First stop Nepal, where an outbreak of bird flu is being reported in the capital, Kathmandu. We saw reports of an outbreak last October (see Nepal: H5N1 Outbreak In Poultry) in two eastern provinces; Sumari and Ilam.
2,500 chickens die; 19,000 eggs destroyed
KATHMANDU, Dec 25: The rapid response teams of District Animal Health Office Kathmandu on Tuesday destroyed over 19,000 eggs after bird flu was confirmed in a Kathmandu-based poultry farm.
The central veterinary laboratory under the Directorate of Animal Health (DoAH) had confirmed bird-flu virus in the poultry farm owned by Subirman Singh Basnet of Ramkot-6, Kathmandu two days ago.
Meanwhile, in Dhaka, Bangladesh - 600 to the east - authorities are combating what they are calling the worst outbreak of avian flu in 5 years. This report from AFP.
Wednesday December 26, 2012
DHAKA: Bangladesh's livestock authorities are slaughtering around 150,000 chickens at a giant poultry farm near Dhaka after the worst outbreak of avian flu in five years, officials said Wednesday.
The deadly H5N1 strain of flu was detected at Bay Agro farm at Gazipur, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Dhaka, on Monday after dozens of chickens died, prompting the company to send samples to a laboratory for tests.
And over the past several weeks we’ve seen numerous reports of H5N1 in poultry in Egypt. A partial listing of recent outbreaks from the FAO EMPRES-i RSS feed includes:
While many countries have managed to control, or even eradicate, the H5N1 virus - outbreaks in poultry remain fairly common in places like Egypt, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and even Nepal.
For now, these outbreaks pose only a limited public health hazard, as this avian virus remains poorly adapted to human physiology. Human infections remain rare, but when they are reported, they often end up being fatal.
The concern is that one of these days the virus will `figure us out’, and learn how to transmit efficiently from human to human. It may never happen, or it could happen tomorrow.
Which is why we follow outbreaks in wild and domesticated birds, along with rare human infections, with considerable interest.
|
<urn:uuid:96c6fa58-1a45-4816-83f3-6e666618ccad>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2012/12/tis-season-for-avian-flu.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945146
| 630
| 2.6875
| 3
|
The future of breast implant
litigation is beginning to look like a bust to the nation's trial
Study after study has shown
no link between breast implants and disease.1
Trial lawyers hoping to profit
from future implant case awards and settlements took a major hit
recently when a panel of four expert, neutral scientists appointed
by the federal judge handling 9,0002 implant cases reached this conclusion:
available scientific evidence does not link breast implants with
Furthermore, a congressionally-ordered
study conducted by the Institute of Medicine also reported this
summer that implants cannot be shown to cause connective tissue
The case against the case against
implants is not limited to the United States. In 1998, the European
Committee on Quality Assurance and Medical Devices in Plastic
Surgery found "conclusive" evidence that auto-immune
and connective tissue diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and
lupus, are not caused by implants. The British government's Independent
Review Group reached the same conclusion.5
All this is good news indeed
for the one percent of American women with implants, approximately
20% of whom got them for reconstructive purposes.6
But what is good news for patients
isn't good news for trial lawyers spoiled by the $7.2 billion
implant manufacturers have made available for settlements.7
With money pouring in at that rate, these lawyers are unwilling
to see the spigot turned off.
These lawyers and their allies
aren't happy that scientific studies are easing women's worries.
They want studies that show implants are harming women: so much
so, they're getting involved in the medical studies themselves.
But "scientific" studies
involving parties with a financial stake in the outcome are rarely
One FDA study that is raising
more than a few eyebrows is expected to be published soon in the
British medical journal Lancet. This study of implant rupture
rates includes in a leading role a radiologist who has been paid
by plaintiffs lawyers to testify in breast implant cases. The
researcher not only analyzed the rupture rates for the study,
but trained the technician who performed MRI scans for diagnosing
This is significant because
a rupture finding through an MRI is highly subjective. What appears
to one researcher to be a rupture may not to another. To increase
accuracy, ultrasound and mammography can be used to verify the
MRI findings, but that was not done in this study. The best way
to diagnose a rupture is removal and examination of the implant.
This method was not used in this study either.
According to the study protocol,
it also diagnoses "rupture" in cases where no actual
rupture or defect is found. The study cites as a "rupture"
any case in which silicone is found outside an implant. This leads
to an artificially high rupture rate, since silicone from earlier
implants, from injections and from other procedures may be present.
Even if rupture is the correct
diagnosis, the study does not determine if the cause is manufacturer
error. Implants can rupture for many reasons, including trauma
and surgical error. There is even a medical procedure, called
a closed capsulotomy, in which trauma is intentionally inflicted
to loosen normal scar tissue surrounding the implant. This procedure,
which is not recommended by implant manufacturers, can cause rupture.
Another warning sign is that
the study examines a nonrepresentative sample of women. The study
drew participants from a larger study of 17,424 women found through
19 plastic surgery practices, but only took women from two of
those practices, both located in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham
is the unofficial capital of breast implant litigation. Respondents
there are more likely than most to have a history of implant complaints.
Furthermore, of the 3,593 women invited to participate in the
study, only 359 agreed to do so. It is not unlikely that women
with implant problems were more interested in participation than
women with no complaints.
This is somewhat akin to studying
the nation's fondness for the Pittsburgh Steelers by interviewing
only Pittsburghers with an interest in football. The study's results
simply won't be representative of the nation as a whole.
Given the Clinton Administration's
propensity to grant favors to its political donors, and the fact
that trial lawyers are top Clinton donors, the FDA should explain
its involvement in a study of questionable objectivity. Trial
lawyers are pinning their hopes that this study will do for them
what so many others have failed to do: find that breast implants
are causing unexpected health dangers for women. The continued
profitability of breast implant lawsuits requires no less.
1. See Amy Ridenour, "Alar
Redux: Hollywood Peddles Shaky Science Once Again," National
Policy Analysis #202, The National Center for Public Policy Research,
Washington, D.C., June 1999, http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA202.html;
Doug Bandow, "Torts Later, The Case Against Implants Collapses,"
Wall Street Journal, November 30, 1998; among others.
2. "Burst Ballon: There's
No Proof Breast Implants Cause Serious Ills," Time, December
14, 1998, page 75.
3. Marcia Angell, "Trial
by Science," New York Times, December 9, 1998.
4. Gina Kolata, "Panel
Confirms No Major Illness Tied to Implants," New York Times,
June 21, 1999.
5. Doug Bandow, "Torts
Later, The Case Against Implants Collapses," Wall Street
Journal, November 30, 1998.
6. "FDA Studies Breast
Implant Complaints," UPI Science News, UPI, November 9, 1998.
7. Jocelyn Kaiser, "Panel
Discounts Implant Disease Risk," Science, American Association
for the Advancement of Science, June 25, 1999.
8. Eric Peters, "Junk Science
Jeremiad," Washington Times, August 6, 1999.
Amy Ridenour is president of The National
Center for Public Policy Research. Comments may be sent to [email protected]
|
<urn:uuid:bde90394-e32c-4a87-8a82-a65da718967a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://nationalcenter.org/NPA262.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93002
| 1,310
| 1.9375
| 2
|
Art by Ruth Kedar
Art by Ruth Kedar
I work with a variety of media, from Monotypes to Digital Art.
Since I am particularly interested in variations, patterns and developing new visual languages, the choice of the these media is self-evident.
My fine arts portfolio, as well as all other projects I have been involved with, concentrate on the above areas of interest. After struggling for a while on how to curate my internet studio, I have decided to divide it into four major themes:
and Playing Cards
Please feel free to browse and jump from one theme to the other,
since they seem to merge more often than not...
In order to make the download of these pages faster, small conceptual thumbnails and icons were created. They are not, however, miniaturized versions of the actual images. So, I encourage you to click on them - hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised!
For more details on how to navigate through this internet show, some additional thoughts and an outdated photograph (!), check my Artist's Statement.
A collection of fine art thematic variations:
and "Patter Patterns."
From the whimsical to the pragmatic, from chaos to order, from the individual to the collective, thematic variations allow ideas to develop and evolve. New directions are discovered, and the fourth dimension is evoked. The digital medium (and my computer in particular) has proven a great collaborator, and many of these variations are a direct result of this (at times very boisterous) dialog.
Process: the whys and hows become clearer and enlightment usually
follows. As a designer and artist I am constantly probing and
questioning the status quo. As a teacher, the thinking process becomes the key of understanding a student's unique point of view. Through the Monotype medium I am able to develop thematic variations through a process that links them both physically and intellectually, since each image is built upon the ghost print of its predecessor.
I use Monotypes as the visual grammar in the process of developing new visual languages.
Art and Technology: New processes as a means of inspiration. The computer allows for further manipulations of my monoprint series.
The thematic variations are now played on a broader scale, the dry definitions of the various media are questioned, and art emerges as the universal denomination.
Playing cards have always fascinated me. They are surrounded by
mystique and for centuries people have lived and died by them: be it
in the perpetual search for their fortune at the hands of
fortune-tellers or loosing their fortunes and lives at the gambling
tables of the Far (and not so far) West. My Playing card designs
integrate an innovative visual language with strong links to
the tradition and lore of traditional playing card design.
This show is still under development!
|
<urn:uuid:094ad700-9a68-4bc4-a818-d20d5e849f16>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://art.net/studios/visual/Kedar/previous/index.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.942195
| 587
| 1.6875
| 2
|
This article deals with Piaggio ignition fault finding where the scooter has no spark
Covers... All 50cc Piaggio and Gilera 2-stroke engines plus some geared 50cc (e.g. Derbi) which use the same ignition. It's assumed you have and know how to work a multimeter!
Testing for a spark
The best option is to use a spark tester which plugs into the spark plug lead (instead of the plug) and is clipped to an earth point on the moped engine. It will have an adjustable gap which the spark can jump across and the gap can be adjusted.
At its simplest you can check for a spark by removing the plug and resting its threaded part on a good earth point on the engine and either turn the engine over on the starter or kick it over with the ignition on. A better option is to connect the threaded part of the plug to earth with a jump lead to make sure there is a good connection and that the plug doesn't keep falling off.
*Unfortunately it is not enough just to see the spark plug sparking*. This is an important point- the distance the spark can jump directly reflects the voltage of the spark. If the spark is weak it's perfectly possible for the spark to be strong enough to jump the 1mm spark plug gap out of the bike and appear good, but not to actually spark at all when the plug is fitted.
Part of the reason for this is that a spark cannot travel so far in the compressed air atmosphere of the cylinder. This is especially true in more highly tuned higher compression moped engines. Also the spark simply may not be strong enough to ignite the mixture correctly.
For this reason it's necessary to check the spark voltage (how strong the spark is) and the easiest way to do this is by checking how far the spark can travel in open air. If you have a spark tester just keep increasing the gap until you reach the maximum distance the spark will consistently jump without missing, if it can jump minimum 7mm this represents over 15,000 volts and this will be fine for Piaggio/ Gilera engines but anything less is likely to cause running problems.
If you don't have a spark tester you'll have to improvise, you can screw two screws into a block of wood approx 7-10mm apart, connect one to the terminal up inside the spark plug cap with a wire and the other to engine earth.
Things to remember when testing...
- The spark plug may be faulty... always test with a plug you *know* is working or a new one
- It's not enough just to see the spark plug spark... the spark must be able to jump at least 7mm
- Try not to zap yourself
There is no spark, what next?
The Piaggio/ Gilera ignition is competely independent to the rest of the bike electrics. This means that it is unaffected by any faults in the charging system, battery condition, or any other electical faults and makes it pretty straight forward to fault find.
Click to enlarge picture
First to test the pickup (CDI red wire)
The pickup is located on the side of the flywheel and generates a small voltage everytime a nobble on the flywheel passes it. From the timing of this voltage 'pulse' the Piaggio CDI works out when to make the spark. Without this signal the CDI will never spark.
First we need to disconnect the CDI block connector as a faulty CDI can mess up the results.
Click to enlarge picture
Connect a multimeter set to read resistance (ohms) between the red wire and a good earth point (see pic)
Piaggio state this reading should be 80-90ohms, but it is nearly always 120-130ohms. You should get a reading between 85 to 140 ohms if all is well.
We've not yet seen a faulty one which has given readings within this range. The only other thing to check is the air gap between the pickup and the nobble on the flywheel. Rotate the flywheel by hand until the nobble passes the pickup and check the gap, it should be approx 0.8mm. Anything more than 1mm loosen the 2 mounting screws and move it closer. If there is no adjustment left you may have to bend it very carefully to get the airgap correct.
If you get this reading and the pickup gap is ok then the pickup is almost certainly ok and you can move on to the next section
If you don't get the correct reading either the pickup is faulty or there is a problem with the wiring between the pickup and the coil/cdi block connector. To check the wiring disconnect the flywheel/pickup/stator block connector and retest the red wire from there instead (see pic below for block connector location)
Click to enlarge picture
If you still get a bad reading from between the red wire here and earth then the pickup is faulty and the Piaggio Stator and Pickup assembly will need to be replaced.
If the reading is now good but was not good before there is a fault in the wiring, almost certainly in the flywheel block connector which tend to get damaged or corroded. This must be rectified before proceeding.
Testing the CDI earth (CDI white wire)
Disconnect the CDI connect block again and making sure the flywheel block connector is reconnected check the resistance between the white cdi wire and a good earth (or battery -(negative) terminal)
You should have a reading of 0 Ohms as the white wire should be connected directly to earth.
if so you can move on to the next section... otherwise read on
If not disconnect the flywheel block connector and check the white wire again from there. If you now get a good reading but didn't before then there is a problem with the white wire between the flywheel block connector and the cdi block connector, it will almost certainly be the flywheel block connector which can sometimes become corroded or damaged. This must be rectified before proceeding.
Testing the Piaggio stator output (CDI green wire)
If the pickup reading is fine at the CDI connector block and the white wire is earthed ok then we can move on to the green wire. The ignition key must be in the 'ON' postion for these tests. The green wire carries AC voltage (approx 80volts) from the stator to the CDI which is generated by the stator as a power supply for the CDI. This is completely independent to the other stator coils (not shown on our diagram) which generate power to charge the battery and operate the lights and are not involved in the ignition circuit.
QUICK TEST:- with both block connectors reconnected test the voltage between the green wire at the CDI and earth- if you get more than 50V AC when cranking the engine you can move on to the next section... otherwise read on
With the CDI block connector disconnected (but make sure the flywheel block connector is connected if you disconnected it previously) connect the multimeter between the green wire (at the CDI block connector) and a good earth point and set to ohms. You should get a reading between 600-1000 ohms. If you get an open circuit (infinite resistance) or short circuit (0 ohms) there is a definite problem (but carry on with the following test which will confirm it).
Next change the multimeter setting to volts AC and crank the engine over. If you get a reading of less than 50 volts AC (should be around 80V AC) there is a problem and you will need to repeat the test by disconnecting the flywheel block connector and retesting the green wire from there as we did before with the pickup.
If you can't get over 50V AC directly from the flywheel block connector you'll need to replace the Piaggio Stator and Pickup assembly.
If the reading is ok at the flywheel connector but not at the CDI connector there are 2 possibilities. The most likely is that there is a problem with the green wire between the flywheel connector and the CDI connector (almost certainly the flywheel block connector will be damaged or corroded)
If you look again at our diagram (click here) you'll see that the green wire also goes off to the ignition switch and the rev counter. To see if there is a problem here test the resistance between the green wire at the CDI block connector and earth with both the CDI block connector and the flywheel block connector disconnected. You should get 0 ohms with the ignition key in the 'OFF' position and infinite resistance (greater than 20M ohms) with the key in the 'ON' position. Anything inbetween these values demonstrates a problem with the key switch or tacho.
If all is well so far we have one more test. On Piaggio's it's still possible for the stator coil to be faulty even if it's giving us a healthy voltage when tested at the CDI block connector, so we need to do one more test to check that it isn't failing when placed under load.
Reconnector both block connectors and again test the voltage between the green wire at the CDI and earth. With the CDI plugged back in you should still have at least 50V AC when cranking the engine. If so all is well, if not and you have completed these tests correctly in order you'll need to replace the Piaggio Stator and Pickup assembly.
Done all that, still no spark- what next?
Ok, we've now confirmed that... you have more than 50V AC between the green wire at the CDI and earth when cranking the engine AND the white wire at the CDI has good continuity to earth AND there is between 80 and 140 ohms resistance at the cdi plug between the red wire and earth (with the cdi disconnected).
This means you have eliminated everything except the cdi itslef and you'll need to replace the Piaggio CDI/ Coil Assembly. The standard Piaggio/ Gilera CDI is restricted to approx 10,500-11,000rpm which is pretty high and won't bother most people even with a sports 70cc cylinder kit and exhaust fitted. But if you need higher revs or are thinking of tuning your bike any higher in the future it's probably better to get a CDI with unlimited RPM (no rev restriction) such as the Athena De-restricted Piaggio CDI
|
<urn:uuid:8d338125-7f65-4f45-816a-c62dc4aa900f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.pedparts.co.uk/blog/piaggio-parts-piaggio-ignition-fault-finding
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.941712
| 2,189
| 2
| 2
|
A pole barn is one of the easiest structures to build. If you know how to handle a hammer and saw, you can construct your own pole barn.
Before you start any construction project, ask your local Building Inspector for the building code requirements.
Select the location of your pole barn. It should provide a base area that is level and firm. Then plan the building dimensions and the materials that you will use for the different parts of the pole barn.
Parts of the Pole Barn
2’x 8’ poles are commonly used. Telephone poles are inexpensive, but come in different sizes so you will have to do the moving, cutting and placing by yourself.
You can use plywood and shingles, but it is easier and cheaper to use pre-built trusses roofed with galvanized corrugated sheet metal.
You can make your own trusses from lumber or buy used trusses.
You may or may not choose to install walls. It depends on how you intend to use the pole barn If you want to park a tractor and other vehicles in it, you may not want walls. If you will put walls, plywood or boards may be used.
- Storm clips
If you live in a windy area or experience storms, storm clips, which are similar to joist hangers, help to keep your roof in place.
You don’t even need to build any floor or footing. You can just cover the ground with gravel. If you change your mind, you can still construct a slab flooring later.
Steps to Build a Pole Barn
- When your plan is ready and you have procured the materials, you can start to dig. The poles must have a distance of 2′ to 10′ between them. They must also be at least 18″ deep. The recommended distance between posts is 10 feet.
- The depth of your postholes will depend on the type of soil where you are digging. You need to dig deeper in sand or soft soil, as compared to hard ground. If you have cold winters, your postholes should be at least one third of your wall height.
- After digging the postholes, prop the poles in an upright position and secure them with concrete.
- When the concrete has dried, you can lay the flooring if you plan to build one.
- Put the roof trusses in place.
- Install walls with braces, if your design includes one. Don’t forget to leave space for a door.
- Mount the roof. Screwed roofing nails are more secure than hammered in standard nails.
Filed Under: Building
About the Author:
|
<urn:uuid:3ed86b10-329d-4992-9722-4ff4ea94cd7e>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.iqio.org/How-to-Build-a-Pole-Barn/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.920098
| 551
| 1.929688
| 2
|
Josephine Givnin is 99 and a regular voter, but to cast a ballot this year she needs a photo identification card - which she lacks because she never had a driver's license.
Cards are free at Pennsylvania driver's license centers, but to get one, Givnin first needed copies of her birth certificate and Social Security card.
So about a month ago, her daughter, Maureen Givnin-Haas, who lives with her in Mountain Top, took a day off from work. They drove to Scranton, one of six cities where the state Department of Health issues birth certificates, to obtain the document for her mother.
Later, they went to a Social Security office to get a Social Security card.
When they have another free day, they will go to a driver's license center of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to receive a photo ID card.
Obstacles that voters like Givnin encounter led to a challenge of the photo ID law, which the Legislature enacted this year to deter vote fraud.
Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court is scheduled to decide on July 25 whether to grant an injunction against the law.
In a challenge, 10 citizens and four groups list examples of voters who cannot obtain birth certificates from other states, have trouble traveling to driver's license centers because of disabilities or face other obstacles because of the law.
Givnin, who will turn 100 on Sept. 1, couldn't travel to government offices herself but still really wants to vote in November, so her daughter doesn't mind helping her obtain identification.
"I may be more outraged at the law than she is. I think it is so unfair to take away people's rights," Givnin-Haas said. "... What bothers me is the people who don't have anyone to help them."
The challenge to the law says it also provides for unequal treatment of women who are more likely to change their names, 61,000 Amish citizens who must meet special requirements because being photographed violates their religion, and other groups including people whose driver's licenses expired after 1990 and don't need to show a birth certificate to get an ID card.
Moreover, the petition said proponents of the law produced no examples of people committing fraud by impersonating voters.
Voter fraud wasn't the only reason for enacting the law, according to what Majority Leader Mike Turzai of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives let slip last month. In remarks made to the Republican State Committee and repeated through national media, Turzai said the law would allow Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney to carry Pennsylvania in this year's election.
Instances of fraud
Regardless of how the law will affect the upcoming election, fraud has altered vote totals in other elections.
Two former prosecutors recall one instance apiece from their long careers.
Thomas Marsilio, a former assistant U.S. attorney and assistant district attorney, remembers presenting the case against Frank Sacco.
Sacco confessed to changing votes cast on paper ballots for candidates in Kline Township in 1993 when he was director of elections in Schuylkill County.
The key witness, Marsilio recalled, traced a nickel on the back of his ballot and could verify that his vote was changed.
Robert Gillespie, a former district attorney in Luzerne County, recalls a case of vote fraud in Pittston.
Ten people including a city clerk, a Pittston Area school director, and four county election officials pleaded guilty to voting multiple times or other election law crimes, according to a report to Congress filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1982.
Gillespie, a Democrat, and Marsilio, a Republican, both favor the Photo ID Law.
Gillespie said poll watchers such as judges of elections provide the best defense against fraud, but even they don't recognize everyone who arrives to vote.
A federal judge who detected fraud in a 1993 election changed the outcome of the vote and, consequently, flipped the majority of the Pennsylvania Senate.
The judge, Clarence Newcomer, ruled that Democrat William Stinson had won through fraud and awarded the Philadelphia area seat to Republican Bruce Marks.
Most of the fraud in that election occurred on absentee ballots.
Changes for absentees
Under the new law, voters don't need a photo ID to obtain an absentee ballot.
"The Photo ID Law also creates the irrational situation in which one of the most likely sources of voter fraud - absentee voting - is given preferential treatment over in-person voting," the petition challenging the law in Commonwealth Court said. The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Pennsylvania State Conference and the Homeless Advocacy Project filed the petition along with 10 voters.
Despite their claim, the law provides election officials with a new tool for preventing fraud on absentee ballots.
People requesting absentee ballots must list the number of their Pennsylvania driver's license, if they have one, or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Election officials can enter those numbers into databases to verify identities before mailing absentee ballots to the applicants.
Meanwhile, election officials in the Pennsylvania Department of State are preparing to mail letters to 758,939 registered voters. Those voters lack identification numbers from PennDOT, meaning they might not have a driver's license or non-driver's ID card.
Their ranks include 16,869 voters who live in Luzerne County, 2,286 in Carbon County and 8,154 in Schuylkill County.
Among the people who will receive letters statewide, 167,566 are inactive voters, which generally means they haven't voted in five years.
Of those planning to vote this year, not all will need a photo ID card.
Some already have driver's licenses or non-driver's ID cards, but in slightly different names than the names on the voter rolls.
Plus, voters without driver's licenses might have other identification that they can use to vote.
The law says people also can vote after showing passports or current identification cards issued by the military; local, state or federal governments; colleges, or retirement homes.
In the Hazleton area, retirement homes such as Fritzingertown in Butler Township plan to make photo ID cards for residents who need them.
At the Laurels in Hazle Township, residents will be offered rides to the driver's license center in Hazleton. The non-driver's ID cards obtained from the center will enable them to vote and to cash in chips at the Mohegan Sun casino in Plains Township.
At Heritage Hill in Weatherly, residents will fashion their own ID cards at a craft session later in the year.
|
<urn:uuid:363ce534-79a6-45b2-a10e-fd10f1689c9c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.ydr.com/state/ci_21088033/debate-rages-over-voter-id-law-court-challenge
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.95732
| 1,365
| 1.75
| 2
|
There are a number of federal laws and regulations, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Title I funding program for low-income children, that require or encourage districts to provide additional services to certain students. Since this federal funding is attached to categories of children and is, at least in principle, entirely independent of school district size, it is necessary to control for the impact of federal categorical spending on district expenditures. Specifically, this study controlled for the total federal revenues per pupil received by each district. This control also takes into account school spending on free and reduced-price lunches for low-income students, because these lunch programs also receive federal funding.
It might be argued, however, that since some federal funding programs are elective rather than mandated (for example, gifted and talented programs), and since larger districts have more administrative personnel available to apply for federal grants, larger districts may bring in more federal money at least partially due to their size. If that were the case, then including total federal revenues as a control variable in the regression would understate the true significance and magnitude of the district-size term, since some of the size term’s effect would be subsumed by the federal-revenue term.
While this hypothesis is certainly plausible, it does not appear to be a cause for concern in practice. The standard correlation coefficient (“Pearson’s r”) between district size and total federal revenues per pupil is quite low (0.075),[*] as is the Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficient (-0.175), which suggests that a district’s size and a district’s ability to raise per-pupil federal grant funding are not strongly correlated.
[*] A Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0 indicates the absence of a linear relationship between the two variables and a correlation coefficient of 1 (or -1) indicates perfect positive (or negative) linear correlation (i.e., one variable can be expressed as a linear function of the other).
|
<urn:uuid:259ff4a2-972b-44bf-b7b4-12290cd560e8>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.mackinac.org/8673
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956805
| 415
| 2.375
| 2
|
the impact of the recession on young people
In the previous Household Labour Force Survey Investigation Report1 we looked at why men were more affected by recessions than women. In this quarter’s report we will take a closer look at how young people are being affected by the recession.
Youth (those aged 15-24 years) are typically one of the most affected groups during labour market downturns and this recession is no different. This group is of particular concern because their long-term labour market outcomes may suffer from not being able to enter the labour market easily given limited job opportunities during a recession. In the last two years there has been a substantial number of job losses for youth. Some young people who have lost their jobs have continued to look for work, causing the youth unemployment rate to increase. Others have decided to leave the labour force altogether, with many of these youth returning to study.
Youth have experienced disproportionate jobs losses
Most of the jobs that have been lost in the downturn were held by young people. Between December 2007 and December 2009, employment of 15-19 and 20-24 year olds declined by 34,400 and 11,300 respectively, while employment for the rest of the population (25 years and older) increased by 13,200. This pattern was seen for all ethnicities except for the Asian/MELAA2 ethnic group. Maori youth employment fell by 17% between December 2007 and December 2009, followed by Europeans (down 14%) and Pacific (down 12%).
Why have youth lost a greater share of jobs compared to older workers? Is it because they are more likely to be laid off (e.g. due to lack of experience or skills), or because they happen to work in industries where there have been many job losses?
Youth are over represented in five3 out of the 16 industries in the economy. These five industries accounted for just over 50% of total youth employment in December 2007. Four of these five industries have experienced disproportionate job losses over the course of the downturn. These four industries are hospitality, retail trade, communication services and construction. Additionally, Figure 1 shows that youth have experienced job losses at a greater rate than older workers (25 years and older) in ten4 out of sixteen main industries.
So overall, it seems that youth have been concentrated in affected industries and are more likely to lose their jobs more generally when compared to older workers.
Figure 1: Change in employment for youth (15-24 years) and older workers (25 years and older), Dec 07 –Dec 09 with industries with a high proportion of youth on the left hand side
Source: Statistics New Zealand
How have youth responded to losing their jobs?
Most youth have continued to look for work over the course of the downturn, causing the youth unemployment rate to increase over the last two years. The Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) shows that the unemployment rate for youth has roughly doubled (8.7% to 18.4%) over the December 2007 to December 2009 period.
While the youth unemployment rate has increased substantially, they make up the same share of all unemployed. At the start of the recession, youth represented 46% of total unemployment (December 2007 quarter). This figure was unchanged two years later in the December 2009 quarter.
How does this compare to the early 90s recession?
The 9.6 percentage point increase in youth unemployment is so far less than that seen in the early 1990s recession of 13.1 percentage points. However, because youth make up a sizeable proportion of total unemployment this means that the number of unemployed youth is large and now stands at 72,700 (up 60,300 since December 2007). This is slightly less that the December 1991 figure of 77,400.
The share of youth (those aged 18 to 24 years) receiving the unemployment benefit has increased since December 2007
Figure 2 shows that the number of people receiving the unemployment benefits has increased across all age groups. What is of concern is that the share of youth (those aged 18-24 years) receiving the unemployment benefit has increased from 23% in December 2007 to 34% in December 2009, while the shares for the rest of the population have remained relatively stable or declined.
Figure 2: Counts and share of unemployment benefits by age group, December quarters
Source: Ministry of Social Development
There has been a substantial increase in youth taking part in education
While unemployment for youth increased at about the same rate as older workers, a higher share of youth have left the labour market entirely.
Table 1 shows that youth not in the labour force increased by 12% between December 2007 and December 2009. This figure is higher than that for older workers, which increased by 1% during the same period. It is likely that youth are more easily able to leave the labour force as they generally do not have the same financial responsibilities as older workers that force them to remain in the labour market.
Table 1 shows that the number of youth not in the labour force that are participating in formal study has risen by 21% since December 2007. While the number of youth in informal study rose by 62% over the same period. This means that a total of 175,000 out of 231,000 youth not in the labour force were either studying or at school in the December 2009 quarter. While participation in education has grown throughout the recession, there remains a significant number of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET). The number of NEET rose by 42% over the last two years to reach 95,000. As they are neither working nor training, this group remains a particular concern.
Not in the labour Force (NILF)
|25+ years Dec-09
Dec 07-Dec 09
|25+ years % change Dec 07-Dec 092|
|Engaged in Formal Study||57.9||35.2||21%||18%|
|Engaged in Informal Study||16.5||10.4||62%||-19%|
|Student still at school||100.9||1.2||0%||-33%|
|Total NILF in study or at school||175.3||46.8||10%||5%|
|Total NILF (all study statuses)||231.3||833.3||12%||1%|
|Not employed or in education or training (NEET)||95.3||863.7||42%||6%|
Source: Statistics New Zealand
This note has looked at employment impacts on young people and their subsequent decisions. There have been significant job losses for youth as they are more likely to be laid off (due to their low level of experience and skills), compared with older workers and because youth are heavily employed in industries that have been particularly affected in the recession. While employment has certainly fallen, there has been a substantial increase in youth taking part in education or training during the downturn and means that they will be better placed for the economic recovery.
2 Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) ethnic grouping
3 Hospitality, Retail trade, Cultural and Recreational Services, Communication Services and Construction.
4 Hospitality, Retail trade, Communication Services, Construction, Manufacturing, Finance and Insurance Services, Property and Business Services, Wholesale Trade, Transport and Storage and Government.
5 May include people that are undertaking caregiver or home duties
|
<urn:uuid:33d97142-2036-41cd-948a-92944bd903fe>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/lmr/hlfs-investigation-reports/recession-impact/index.asp
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967823
| 1,520
| 2.984375
| 3
|
Recently, AgapePress reported that over 10,000 members of the clergy from mainline churches had signed a letter stating they rejected a literal interpretation of the creation story. The "Clergy Letter Project," the brainchild of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh administrator Michael Zimmerman, advocates that "the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist." The purpose of the letter is to urge school board members to reject such teachings as Scientific Creationism and Intelligent Design and "preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge."
It is most unfortunate so many Christian leaders have concluded that evolution is scientific, whereas creationism and intelligent design are simply religious -- when, in fact, evolution is incapable of being scientifically proven.
Evolution operates too slowly to be measured. To actually observe the transmutation of one organism to a higher form would presumably take millions of years. No team of scientists could ever make measurements on such an experiment, and, therefore, the matter is beyond the realm of empirical science. Although there is some evidence of small variations in organisms today, there is no way to conclusively prove the changes within the present kinds can eventually metamorphose or actually change into different and higher kinds.
Leading evolutionist Theodosius Dobzhansky, in On Methods of Evolutionary Biology and Anthropology, once admitted: "The applicability of the experimental method to the study of such unique historical processes is severely restricted before all else by the time intervals involved, which far exceed the lifetime of any human experimenter. And yet, it is just such impossibility that is demanded by the anti-evolutionists when they ask for 'proofs' of evolution which they would magnanimously accept as satisfactory." L. Harrison Matthews in the forward of a 1971 edition of Darwin's Origin of Species, once concluded: "Our theory of evolution has become ... one which cannot be refuted by any possible observations. It is thus 'outside of empirical science,' but not necessarily false. No one can think of ways to test it."
There can essentially only be one reason for favoring evolution, and that reason has nothing to do with science. It has to do with something outstanding British biologist D.M.S. Watson said in Nature back in 1929: "[T]he theory of evolution itself, a theory universally accepted not because it can be proved logically coherent evidence to be true but because the only alternative, special creation, is clearly incredible."
Indeed, special creation is incredible and it's diametrically opposed to evolutionary theory. The two cannot possibly be reconciled, no matter how many clergy sign a letter saying they can. Dr. Henry Morris, in his book Scientific Creationism, rightly contends: "The evolutionary system attempts to explain the origin, development, and meaning of all things in terms of natural laws and processes which operate today as they have in the past. No extraneous processes, requiring the special activity of an external agent, or Creator are permitted. The universe, in all its aspects, evolves itself into higher levels of order (particles to people) by means of innate properties." In other words, evolution is a system of belief that argues that creation is totally naturalistic, material, and purposeless -- all of which are fundamentally opposed to the creation account in Genesis. It can't be both ways -- either one is true and the other false.
Moreover, to doubt a literal interpretation of the creation account is to undermine everything taught in the Bible. In Exploring Genesis, John Philips argues that to abandon the creation account as "unfactual and unreliable, as mere mythology, as a doctored-up copy of the Babylonian creation epic, as totally unacceptable to modern science" is to surrender to Satan. Philips adds, "If the Holy Spirit cannot be trusted when He tells of creation, how can He be trusted when He tells of salvation. If what He says about earth in Genesis 1 can be questioned, then what He says about heaven in Revelation 22 can be questioned. If the Holy Spirit cannot be trusted in Genesis 1, how can he be trusted in John 3:16?"
Is it any wonder a recent survey by Barna Research discovered a large majority of pastors believe their congregant's faith in God is a high priority when in fact it is not. Barna reported that in Protestant churches, "Not quite one out of every four (23%) named their faith in God as their top priority in life." Obviously, ministers are failing to recognize that their compromises with worldly philosophies in their religious instruction are destroying the ability of their parishioners to thrive in a personal relationship with God. Certainly if clergy compromise with evolutionary dogma and imply by that good thinking is naturalistic thinking, that life is essentially materialistic, and bringing God into the picture can lead to confusion and error, does one honestly think it's possible for members of the church to see God as a reality one can never afford to ignore?
According to AgapePress, Zimmerman says these 10,000 members of the clergy that have signed the Clergy Letter Project "are saying that intelligent design, creation science, is not only bad science as defined by the world community, but it is also bad religion." Hah! It's just the opposite! Evolution neither makes for good science nor religion.
This article originally appeared on February 24, 2006.
Rev. Mark H. Creech (email@example.com) is the executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
|
<urn:uuid:79308157-ac43-4600-8c35-3f010037330e>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.christianpost.com/news/rebuking-the-clergy-letter-project-6642/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955192
| 1,130
| 2.4375
| 2
|
It’s a word that many people don’t take very seriously anymore, yet it names a concept well worth keeping in mind, both on and off the job.
Modern Machine Shop, Mark Albert,
Click Image to Enlarge
Mark has been writing his Mark: My Word column every month since January, 1981.
The word is sin. Many of us first heard this word as kids when we were learning right from wrong. It may have come up in lessons about the Ten Commandments from our parents, Sunday school teachers or catechists. We were told that sin is an offense against God. Now, as working adults in the business world, we might occasionally encounter this word used in a figurative sense, such as a seminar called “How to avoid the seven deadly sins in shopfloor inspection,” or as a casual remark, as in “The new color of the breakroom is a sin against good taste.” Used this way, sin means simply a bad mistake or a grave error in judgment.
Of course, in business settings, we’re not likely to use this word in its biblical meaning. That sort of reference is probably out of place in the strictly secular atmosphere of our workplaces. I don’t think it’s a good idea to start talking about this kind of sin in everyday conversations at work.
I suggest, however, that thinking about sin in this deeper, more serious meaning would be a useful and appropriate thing to do on the job. Such thinking strengthens a sense of personal moral responsibility and an acceptance of accountability, both public and private. Better behavior at all levels of an organization is likely to result.
Here’s my point: the habit of evaluating every action (or neglectful inaction) against a transcendent moral authority would serve us well on the job. How we perform our duties and conduct our business affairs would take on a cosmic significance. We would perceive our choices, then, as affirming or disrupting a bond to the universe and all our fellow creatures. Some of these disruptions might be trivial; others might be profound, with life-or-death consequences. Whether great or small, every sin causes some degree of disorder.
Many standards of “right” behavior exist, such as the laws that govern civil society and various religious teachings (though we must admit that the latter bind to the level of one’s personal commitment). Some formulas are specifically intended to apply in the workplace. Our corporate mission statements, professional codes of ethics, safety guidelines and employee handbooks are examples. An awareness of sin creates a loftier dimension to our compliance or noncompliance.
It becomes a matter of conscience, that innermost awareness of self-respect and personal rectitude. That’s why sin entails a sense of indebtedness, shame, guilt and need of reconciliation. The effects of any willful rule-breaking or violations of the law don’t end simply because we “didn’t get caught.” Some ineluctable imbalance or alienation lingers and calls to be addressed. Of course, this is most keenly felt by those of us who believe in an eternal, divine Justice by which we will ultimately be judged.
The disorder from sin appears in many forms. All sorts of injury, pain, scandal and conflict are a few of its signs. Much of this harm to the inner being and outer world could be avoided if we had had this thought at the moment of choice and heeded it: “To do that would be a sin.” No need to talk about what you’re thinking, though. It’s enough to have it in mind.
|
<urn:uuid:96d02ee4-dfb0-453e-a605-91c9ebadd2cf>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.mmsonline.com/columns/dont-say-it-just-think-it
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960732
| 756
| 1.90625
| 2
|
Feb 7, 2013
There’s a lot of buzz in the news about a new scientific study that statistically supports the idea that our known universe is actually a grand computer simulation. This is mainstream science, and the idea isn’t a whacky as you might first suppose. I’ve actually written about this several times in articles about consciousness and the nature of reality. This news, by the way, also supports the idea of a Creator who brought this universe — and everything in it — into existence by design.
A new scientific paper published in arXiv and co-authored by Silas Beane from the University of Bonn reveals strong statistical evidence that our reality is, indeed, a grand computer simulation. The title of the paper is Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation.
Here’s what it means in layman’s terms
Here’s the super easy way to understand all this. Your computer display screen has a finite number of pixels available, and this is called the “screen resolution” such as 1920 x 1440. This means there are 1920 pixels across and 1440 pixels vertically.
Everything you see on your computer screen must be drawn and depicted using these pixels, and nothing can be displayed that’s only half a pixel. For example, you can’t draw a vertical line on the screen that exists between the pixels that are hard-wired into the screen resolution. Everything you view on the monitor — a computer game, a website, even a video — is essentially transposed onto the “lattice” of pixels that exist in your hardware.
Your hardware, in effect, has a hard-wired “resolution limit” which defines the smallest size of any object that can be depicted on the screen.
Now, zoom out to the “real” world in which we live. Here in the real world, we think that there are no pixels and that we can move fluidly to any location we wish. We are not digitized being, we think; we’re analog beings living in a fluid world without the pixelation of a computer screen, right?
Not so fast. As it turns out, our “reality” is also pixelated, just at a very fine resolution. This study out of Bonn revealed that the energy level of cosmic rays “snaps to” the “resolution” of the universe in which we live. The very laws of electromagnetic radiation, in other words, are confined by the resolution of the three-dimensional simulation we call a “universe.”
The existence of this construct, if proven, also proves intelligent design by a conscious Creator who built the universe to begin with. This is the upshot of this scientific discovery that most scientists refuse to acknowledge. But the conclusion is inescapable: If our universe is a carefully-constructed simulation, then by definition there must have been a purpose behind its construction as well as a Creator who built it.
For the record, my personal belief is that the Creator set all the physical constants in the universe and then initiated the so-called “Big Bang” and let things play out from there. I do not believe our Creator “tinkers” with the universe at a micro level on a day-to-day basis. But I do believe there very well may have been individuals throughout history who found ways to “bend the rules” of the Matrix ever so slightly and thereby perform the very kind of miracles we see described in ancient texts.
“The structure of the underlying lattice”
The authors of this new paper describe their conclusion as following: “The numerical simulation scenario could reveal itself in the distributions of the highest energy cosmic rays exhibiting a degree of rotational symmetry breaking that reflects the structure of the underlying lattice.”
This “underlying lattice” is what I’m describing as a “resolution” of our physical simulation.
There’s other evidence of this, too: Plank’s Constant, for example, is by itself yet more evidence that the physical universe in which we live is quantized to a particular resolution. In fact, even light behaves in a quantized manner, which is why “light packets” are called quanta.
Our universe, it turns out, is digital, not analog. Heck, even your DNA is digital, not analog. You are a digitized physical being imbued with a non-material consciousness that transcends this physical simulation. Realizing this is a lot like taking the red pill in The Matrix and being shown that the universe you thought was real is actually just a grand computer simulation.
Of course, once you grasp that we are living in a grand simulation, the next obvious question is: Who built it?
One obvious answer is that we built it! Not “we” the humans here on Earth, but rather the “we” which is a highly advanced civilization of seemingly supernatural beings with incomprehensibly powerful technology. We collectively built the simulation, the theory goes, and then agreed to selectively insert our consciousness into the simulation in order to have a “human lifeexperience” on this planet. But that’s only one possibility from all this.
Another possible answer is that HE built it. Who is He? He is God, our Creator. He is a consciousness with literal God-like powers who is omnipresent and all-powerful. He created our universe (i.e. designed and then launched the simulation) while providing a mechanism for free will consciousness to “wake up” inside the simulation in the bodies of newly-born beings. Upon death in the simulation, your consciousness leaves the simulation and returns to its source, which is the actual reality that transcends this one. This is possibly why people who have survived near-death experiences consistently report their experience as being a “hyper reality” that feels like it is “a thousand times more real than life on Earth.”
For the record, I have always believed in a supernatural Creator of our universe; our God. I also believe — and have good evidence — that God is an all-loving being and that the overriding purpose of our existence in this universe is to express our free will and thereby have a self-aware experience which advances our knowledge of who we are. More details on this below…
What would be the purpose of intelligently designing a grand computer simulation?
If our universe was consciously created, then it must have been created for a purpose. In his book Proof of Heaven, near-death survivor Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon, describes the purpose in great detail on page 48 of his book:
Through the Orb, [God] told me that there is not one universe but many — in fact, more than I could conceive — but that love lay at the center of them all. Evil was present in all the other universes as well, but only in the tiniest trace amounts. Evil was necessary because without it free will was impossible, and without free will there could be no growth — no forward movement, no chance for us to become what God longed for us to be. Horrible and all-powerful as evil sometimes seemed to be in a world like ours, in the larger picture love was overwhelmingly dominant, and it would ultimately be triumphant.
The primary purpose of life in this realm, it seems, is to experience personal growth and learn how to overcome Evil. This explains why we all seem to be surrounded by so much evil on a day-to-day basis. We are drowning in evil precisely because our souls chose to be here and learn how to defeat it.
At the end of our Earthly lives, we are then judged on our performance. As I wrote in a previous article:
Upon our death, we are judged by a higher power, and that judgment takes into account our performance in these areas. Did we achieve a measure of self-awareness? Did we work to overcome evil? Did we express love and compassion and help uplift others with knowledge and awareness?
As you’ve probably already figured out, the vast majority of humans fail these tests. They die as bitter, selfish, substance-addicted, greed-driven minions of evil who mistakenly thought they were winning the game of life while, in reality, they were losing the far more important test of the Creator.
Looking around at our fellow human beings, you can’t help but agree with my assessment that nearly everyone is failing the test. If we are here to overcome and resist evil, very few people are scoring very many points at all.
Having your consciousness attached to a human experience in this world seems to be the universal equivalent of “being thrown in the deep end” of Good vs. Evil. Making matters even more difficult, none of us is granted any sort of memory of why we are here and what we’re supposed to do. We simply wake up as a newborn, and we have to figure things out for ourselves — a challenge that often takes a lifetime. In fact, the achievement of “enlightenment” in a human lifetime is quite a remarkable feat by any measure.
What this means for your life
So what does all this mean in terms of the way you live your life here on Earth? If you believe the universe really is a grand simulation created by a higher power, then it forces you to rethink your philosophy on the purpose of life.
Some might say this is the perfect excuse to resort to selfish hedonism and turn your entire life into one vast entertainment parade. But that seems to be the wrong conclusion from all this, precisely because it ignores the importance of personal growth. I do not believe our universe is a childish playground; I believe it is a serious test of spiritual strength. You may or may not agree with all my points, but here’s my philosophy on what to do with this realization:
#1) Don’t chase material things that aren’t even real in the first place. You are living in a simulation that’s as un-real as an old 8-bit Atari computer game. Your focus on trying to collect money and wealth in this world is about as foolish as trying to collect gold coins in a role-playing computer game.
#2) Live your life to WIN the simulation. “Winning” means persistently working to defeat evil, demonstrate love and help awaken others. Rack up your “karma” points, so to speak. Because that’s how you will be judged once your earthly life comes to an end.
#3) Know that your behavior is being watched, recorded and judged. There are ultimately no secrets. You will, in time, face judgment on all your actions, and it’s even possible that an entire civilization of advanced Creators will review your actions with you. (This is what is often described by those who survive NDEs.) Your actions in this simulation are recorded on your soul for eternity, so make them count. Don’t do anything your soul would feel ashamed of.
#4) Know that death is not final. What matters far more than staying alive on this planet is living your life with principle. Your decisions (ethics) survive your human life! I would rather die defending principles of love and enlightenment than compromise those principles to save my own skin in this simulation. Life is fleeting, but the record of your morals and behavior lasts forever. If all this starts to sound a little Biblical, that’s because the Bible is, I believe, based in part on information provided to us by the Creator of our grand simulation.
#5) Realize that your consciousness is eternal and you almost certainly “agreed” to come here and experience this life as a spiritual test. With that in mind, do your best to achieve success within the test by demonstrating behavior based in high spiritual principles.
Why I’m not afraid to tell the truth
Once you grasp all this, you realize why I am not afraid to speak my mind and report the truth here on Natural News. People often ask me, “Aren’t you afraid of being killed?” While I do take tactical precautions to avoid being prematurely removed from this simulation, I simultaneously realize that there is ultimately nothing to be afraid of in this simulated world.
What’s to be afraid of, really? Most of the people who claim to have power in this world will be reduced to Hellish minions after their death. If you look at truly evil people in this world, you realize that those people have already doomed their souls in the real world beyond this one. They will suffer from the Hell they have brought upon themselves by living lives of deception. We who tell the truth are spiritual giants compared to those who gain false power through deception.
That’s why never selling out is an absolutely must if you hope to pass the spiritual test of life. If you sell out to corporate interests or an evil agenda that suppresses freedom or health, you quite literally sell out your own soul far beyond this one lifetime. The phrase “eternal damnation” comes to mind…
On the issue of gun rights, by the way, all this helps explain why self defense is a divine right. We all deserve the right to prevent our souls from being prematurely removed from the simulation (i.e. being killed). Guns are simply tools that can help us defend our physical bodies so that our spiritual bodies can continue with their intended experiences in this reality. This is why those of high spirituality have traditionally carried swords and other weapons of self defense. Even Jesus recommend people carry swords for protection, even as they pursue spiritual awakening.
A gun defends the body so that the spirit can do its work, in other words. But that’s only true if the use of gun is reserved for self defense only. To use a gun to commit unjustified violence against innocents is obviously a terrible sin and a catastrophic spiritual failure.
Conclusion: Has science proven the existence of God?
If all this science is true, it would mean that science has proven the existence of a Creator (as well as intelligent design).
This is certainly not the intention of science, as much of modern-day science seems to be dead-set against the idea of intelligent design. Yet even if the entire universe can be traced back to the Big Bang and Inflation Theory (with Inflatons) there is still the lingering question of “Who or what initiated the Big Bang?”
If you really look deeply into the laws of physics, by the way, you will discover that the so-called universal constants that drive the underlying mechanics and energies of our universe have been intricately fine-tuned precisely to give rise to a universe that can support biological life. Change one of these constants just slightly and stars don’t form. Change another constant and the universe flings itself apart before life can form on any planets. These are at least six physical constants that appear to have been delicately tuned, selected or somehow “set” sort of like a universal control panel with properties and parameters.
There’s an interesting book on this subject by science writer Paul Davies, by the way. It’s called The Goldilocks Enigma: Why Is the Universe Just Right for Life? I’ve read most of it and recommend the book to other seekers who are looking for the deepest answers about the nature of reality and how it all came to be.
If you’re interested in my own views on all this, read my article on The Higgs boson “God particle”.
You may also enjoy reading my other website called www.DivinityNow.com where I post articles on consciousness, cosmology and philosophy.
This article was posted: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 5:59 am
|
<urn:uuid:33221222-c0b8-44b2-8db1-f096f1a2d760>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.prisonplanet.com/yet-more-evidence-emerges-that-our-universe-is-a-grand-simulation-created-by-an-intelligent-designer.html/comment-page-3
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.957769
| 3,312
| 3.046875
| 3
|
By Greg Marsh on June 17, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Posted in: Odds & Ends
In honor of GEICO’s 75th anniversary, we’re sharing an image from GEICO’s past each month this year and inviting you to exercise your caption-writing skills.
They say an army travels on its stomach. Well, the same could be said of GEICO. Those who serve the military, as GEICO proudly has throughout its history, need to be well-fed, too
Most of our offices include a cafeteria, where our associates (that’s what we call GEICO employees) can go for MREs (that’s “meals ready to eat” for us non-military folk). This fellow was part of the GEICO cafeteria crew that kept the headquarters staff fed and watered and ready for action in the 1950s.
What do you think he was planning for those stewpots?
|
<urn:uuid:b01a8320-8144-470c-8e3d-152f340c7508>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://blog.geico.com/2011/06/17/memory-of-the-month-mmm-mmm-good/comment-page-1/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961299
| 198
| 1.695313
| 2
|
Merging nanoelectronics into 3D engineered human tissues
August 28, 2012
The research team led by Charles M. Lieber, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry at Harvard, and Daniel Kohane, a Harvard Medical School professor in the Department of Anesthesia at Children’s Hospital Boston, developed a system for creating nanoscale “scaffolds” that can be seeded with cells that grow into tissue.
“The current methods we have for monitoring or interacting with living systems are limited,” said Lieber. “We can use electrodes to measure activity in cells or tissue, but that damages them. With this technology, for the first time, we can work at the same scale as the unit of biological system without interrupting it. Ultimately, this is about merging tissue with electronics in a way that it becomes difficult to determine where the tissue ends and the electronics begin.”
Contributing to the work were Robert Langer, from the Koch Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Zhigang Suo, the Allen E. and Marilyn M. Puckett Professor of Mechanics and Materials at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The research addresses a concern that has long been associated with work on bioengineered tissue: how to create systems capable of sensing chemical or electrical changes in the tissue after it has been grown and implanted.
The system might also represent a solution to researchers’ struggles in developing methods to directly stimulate engineered tissues and measure cellular reactions.
“In the body, the autonomic nervous system keeps track of pH, chemistry, oxygen, and other factors, and triggers responses as needed,” Kohane said. “We need to be able to mimic the kind of intrinsic feedback loops the body has evolved in order to maintain fine control at the cellular and tissue level.”
Building 3D networks of nanoscale sensors
Using the autonomic nervous system as inspiration, Bozhi Tian, a former doctoral student under Lieber and a former postdoctoral fellow in the Kohane and Langer labs, joined with Harvard graduate student Jia Liu in Lieber’s Harvard lab to build meshlike networks of nanoscale silicon wires.
The process of building the networks, Lieber said, is similar to that used to etch microchips.
Beginning with a two-dimensional substrate, researchers laid out a mesh of organic polymer around nanoscale wires, which serve as the critical sensing elements. Nanoscale electrodes, which connect the nanowire elements, were then built within the mesh to enable nanowire transistors to measure the activity in cells without damaging them.
Once completed, the substrate was dissolved, leaving researchers with a netlike sponge, or a mesh, that can be folded or rolled into a host of three-dimensional shapes.
Once complete, the networks were porous enough to allow the team to seed them with cells and encourage those cells to grow in 3-D cultures.
“Previous efforts to create bioengineered sensing networks have focused on two-dimensional layouts, where culture cells grow on top of electronic components, or on conformal layouts, where probes are placed on tissue surfaces,” said Tian.
“It is desirable to have an accurate picture of cellular behavior within the 3-D structure of a tissue, and it is also important to have nanoscale probes to avoid disruption of either cellular or tissue architecture.”
Using heart and nerve cells, the team successfully engineered tissues containing embedded nanoscale networks without affecting the cells’ viability or activity. Using the embedded devices, the researchers were then able to detect electrical signals generated by cells deep within the tissue, and to measure changes in those signals in response to cardio- or neuro-stimulating drugs.
They were also able to construct bioengineered blood vessels, and used the embedded technology to measure pH changes — as would be seen in response to inflammation, ischemia, and other biochemical or cellular environments — both inside and outside the vessels.
Though a number of potential applications exist for the technology, the most near-term use, Lieber said, may come from the pharmaceutical industry, where researchers could use it to more precisely study how newly developed drugs act in three-dimensional tissues, rather than thin layers of cultured cells. The system might also one day be used to monitor changes inside the body and react accordingly, whether through electrical stimulation or the release of a drug.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the McKnight Foundation, and Children’s Hospital Boston.
|
<urn:uuid:8d19cbab-524a-44a2-a6f9-00fb783e4e51>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.kurzweilai.net/merging-nanoelectronics-into-3d-engineered-human-tissues/comment-page-1
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.951469
| 944
| 2.84375
| 3
|
The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet Blogs
Looking Unto Jesus
Hebrews chapter 12 gives us the encouragement to lay aside the thing that weights us down and causes us to stray from a life of holiness and purity in Christ. It continues by admonishing us to “run this race” with the endurance that finishes well. The writer of the letter then makes this statement - “...looking unto Jesus, the author of our faith...” One translator renders this “gaze upon Jesus...”
It is true, as Christians we are daily faced with temptations and pressures to compromise our values and principles. Whether it be in the print or electronic media, influences in the workplace, or maybe in our place of recreation or exercise, the opportunity is there to sacrifice our integrity. Our integrity is that which enables us to properly integrate with the Lord Jesus.
If that is violated, we dilute our fellowship with Him and the result is a reduced quality of life (hopefully only temporarily).
The word in this passage for “looking unto” in the original text really means “looking away from something in order to fix one’s gaze on one object.”
The assumed posture is important for us to grasp if we are to lead a successful Christian life. Not only do we turn our gaze upon the Messiah and view Him in all His majesty; we make a conscience decision to look away from all the voices and allurements that would cause us to do those things we might regret later.
I think it is important for us to remember Who it was that actually made us and gave us life. The creator of something is most likely the best party to consult when that “something” is malfunctioning. The one that made it has the best insight as to how it will operate at an optimum and how to correct the course when departed from. It is no different with us. Our Creator fashioned us and gave us instructions as to how can live the optimal life as His children. He knows what it best for us and He knows the lifestyles that will cause us heartache, and sometimes, even ill health. He doesn’t instruct us to avoid adultery, drunkenness, etc., because He is a grumpy God and never wants us to have any fun. It is because He understands better than we do the detriment these modes of behavior will have on our lives.
So, what is it that might be your Achilles heel? Is there some issue that you struggle with in your daily walk with Christ? Examine your gaze. Turn your focus and gaze away from the sin that might easily entangle you and fix it upon the Author of your faith.
|
<urn:uuid:6a504140-aa4b-4bda-a58c-bb6d1d747fe4>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.thechronicleofmtjuliet.com/opinions-blogs/entry/looking-unto-jesus
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955564
| 551
| 2.09375
| 2
|
As needed in line suction catheter changes were as safe as and less expensive than daily scheduled catheter changes during mechanical ventilation
Question How safe are, and what are the costs of, daily scheduled changes (v as needed changes) on in line suction catheters for patients who receive mechanical ventilation?
521 patients (mean age 58 y, 54% men, 66% white) who were >18 years old and required mechanical ventilation for >12 hours while in the intensive care unit (ICU). Exclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation in another hospital, heart or lung transplantation, or massive haemoptysis.
263 patients were allocated to receive changes of in line suction catheters every 24 hours. 258 patients were allocated to receive non-scheduled changes of suction catheters indicated by mechanical failure of the device or visible soiling of the catheter. Routine nursing and respiratory treatment suctioning practices were done for all patients. Standard commercial equipment was used and metred dose inhalers and attached chamber devices were used to deliver medication dispersed in an aerosol.
Main outcome measures
The main outcome was ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Secondary outcomes were duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU and hospital stay, number of acquired organ system derangements (Organ System Failure Index), hospital mortality, mortality associated with VAP, and total costs for catheter changes.
Patients who received scheduled changes had a mean of 4.7 changes compared with 0.4 changes per person in the as needed group (p<0.001). The groups did not differ for any other outcome including VAP (14.7% for as needed changes v 14.8% for scheduled changes, p=0.97), episodes of VAP/1000 ventilator days (25.8 v 27.5, p=0.8), VAP in patients who needed mechanical ventilation for >7 days (50% v 63%, p=0.2), duration of mechanical ventilation (5.7 v 5.4 d, p=0.7), length of ICU stay (6.9 v 7.0 d, p=0.9), length of hospital stay (14.4 v 14.7 d, p=0.8), acquired organ system derangements (1.2 v 1.1, p=0.3), hospital mortality (26% v 24.3%, p=0.7) and mortality attributed to VAP (1.9% v 1.5%, p=0.7). Total costs were $US11 016 for the scheduled group and $837 for the as needed group. Characteristics that predicted VAP were being a man (p=0.02), black race (p=0.02), low premorbid lifestyle score (p=0.02), high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE) score (p=0.01), low PaO2/Fio2 (p=0.009), previous intubation during same hospital stay (p<0.001), receipt of sucralfate (p=0.004), receipt of medication dispersed in an aerosol (p<0.001), receipt of previous antibiotic treatment (p=0.03), and having had a tracheostomy (p<0.001).
As needed in line suction catheter changes during mechanical ventilation were as safe as scheduled daily changes for ventilator associated pneumonia and costs were much less.
- Kathryn Little, RGN, BSc, PGCE
Endotracheal suctioning is an important supportive treatment for patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Traditionally, in line suction catheters are changed every 24 hours to prevent the development of VAP. A paucity of research exists on the use of in line suction catheters and the optimal time for change. The study by Kollef et al is one of very few that attempts to evaluate a closed multiple use suction catheter system for outcomes of safety and cost.
The study was limited to 1 North American hospital. Results may have differed if other populations had been included in the study.
Strengths of the study included the random allocation of eligible patients to groups and the attempt to keep caregivers blinded by doing scheduled in line suction changes during evening or night shifts. The diagnosis of VAP was acknowledged as a potential limitation of the study because it was based on clinical criteria and did not include quantitative cultures of lower respiratory tract secretions which would have provided more objective information.1 No reference was made to a nationally agreed definition of VAP which would have been useful, however reference is made to evidence which suggests that invasive diagnostic testing is unnecessary.2 Hence, the means of diagnosis appear reasonable, but open to debate. The method of humidification was an important variable which could have influenced the outcome of VAP. Efficacy of different methods was not discussed nor were reasons given for the choices that were made. Joynt and Lipman describe heat moisture exchange filters that provide adequate humidification with a possible reduced risk of nosocomial pneumonia.3 Perhaps more emphasis could have been placed on the criteria for choice.
This study has important implications for nursing practice in the ICU. Changing in line suction catheters as needed minimises the number of manipulations of the ventilator circuitry, reducing the risk of cross contamination and the risk of VAP. The importance of effective hand hygiene and the use of protective clothing such as gloves and aprons cannot be overemphasised.
Source of funding: BJC Innovations in Healthcare Program.
For article reprint: Dr M H Kollef, Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8052, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Fax +1 314 362 1334.
|
<urn:uuid:4aca6fbc-682d-4963-9876-2243fa6b93a6>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://ebn.bmj.com/content/1/3/82.full?related-urls=yes&legid=ebnurs;1/3/82
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956291
| 1,219
| 1.617188
| 2
|
|Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary|
17:1-6 The covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram, being partakers of the same covenant blessings. In token of this covenant his name was changed from Abram, a high father, to Abraham, the father of a multitude. All that the Christian world enjoys, it is indebted for to Abraham and his Seed.
Verse 5. - Neither shall thy name any mere be called Abram, - Abram, i.e. high father (vide Genesis 11:26); but Abraham - Abraham (in Arabic signifying a multitude); hence "the father of a multitude," as the next clause explains - for a father of many (or a multitude of) nations have I made thee.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Neither shall thy name be any more called Abram,.... Which signifies an "high father", which name he bore for many years before he was the father of anyone:
but thy name shall be Abraham: with all addition of the letter inserted into it, and makes the last syllable two, "raham": which word in the Arabic language, as Hottinger (g) observes, signifies "numerous" (h); so that with this addition his name Abraham may be interpreted, the father of a numerous offspring; and with this agrees the reason of it, as follows:
for a father of many nations have I made thee; not that he was so already in fact, but in the purpose and promise of God, Romans 4:17; Abraham has not only been the father of many nations, in a literal sense, as before observed, but in a mystical sense, of the whole world; that is, of all in it that believe, whether Jews or Gentiles; and so the Rabbins (i) interpret it: at first, they say, he was the father of Aram, and therefore his name was called Abram, but now he is the father of the whole world, and therefore called Abraham; and so Maimonides (k) himself says, quoting this passage,"behold he is the father of the whole world, who are gathered under the wings of the Shechinah.''
(g) Smegma Oriental. p. 88. (h), "numerus", "copiosus", Golius, col. 1055, 1056. Castel. col. 3537. (i) In Massechet Biccurim, apud Galat. in Arcan. Cathol. Ver. l. 5, 13. & 9, 12. in Maimon. in Misn. ib. c. 1. sect. 4. (k) Hilchot Biccurim, c. 4. sect. 3.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5. but thy name shall be Abraham—In Eastern countries a change of name is an advertisement of some new circumstance in the history, rank, or religion of the individual who bears it. The change is made variously, by the old name being entirely dropped for the new, or by conjoining the new with the old; or sometimes only a few letters are inserted, so that the altered form may express the difference in the owner's state or prospects. It is surprising how soon a new name is known and its import spread through the country. In dealing with Abraham and Sarai, God was pleased to adapt His procedure to the ideas and customs of the country and age. Instead of Abram, "a high father," he was to be called Abraham, "father of a multitude of nations" (see Re 2:17).
Genesis 17:5 Parallel Commentaries
Genesis 17:5 NIV
Genesis 17:5 NLT
Genesis 17:5 ESV
Genesis 17:5 NASB
Genesis 17:5 KJV
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible
|
<urn:uuid:73a1c18e-709f-4874-8567-d6240c6df251>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://biblehub.com/genesis/17-5.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958366
| 826
| 2.390625
| 2
|
Released Time Laws and Guidelines
State of New Hampshire
||STATUTES: New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated
New Hampshire compulsory attendance law (§193.1) requires that all children, ages 6-15 (inclusive), must attend public school or "an approved private school during all the time the public schools are in session."
Although New Hampshire has not statutory provisions expressly defining a Released Time program, section 193.la permits the State Board of Education to approve "Dual Enrollment" programs. Full time attendance may be satisfied by attendance at more than one school and one of those schools may be nonpublic or religious.
EDUCATION REGULATIONS (Policy):
The State Board of Education is also authorized to issues "Regulations providing for shared or Released Time programs." (§193.1b). These statutes clearly seem to indicate that Released Time program s are only operating in a few districts where such a program has been authorized by voter approval. Each district has the discretion to establish their own guidelines for such programs.
CASES: Americans United for Separation of Church and State v. Paire,
359 F. Supp. 505 (1973)
Apparently certain types of dual enrollment agreements may be considered unconstitutional. In Paire, public school teachers were furnished to a parochial school to teach secular subjects in rooms leased to the school district by the parochial school for that purpose. The U.S. District Court held that such a dual enrollment agreement violated the First Amendment by fostering excessive governmental entanglement with religion.
Such a program would be valid if the public school teachers only taught in the public schools and the private school teachers only taught in the parochial schools.
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS:
Like your state, many do not have specific laws or guidelines concerning Released Time. The absence of a specific law does not necessarily prohibit Released Time programs. In fact, it may allow a wider range of Released Time programs. For example, it is possible to offer Released Time classes as an off-campus elective class on the High School or Junior High level, which students take daily. This is being done in states such as Georgia, Florida, Utah, Arizona, and Idaho.
The particular challenge in your state is that in the absence of a specific statute, you will need to conduct research into the legal background of Released Time at the federal level (FCRTM can help!), and how decisions are made within your school system. The majority of school districts would require approval at the school board level, but many are moving to "site-based management,' which would perhaps allow individual school principals to approve a Released Time program. Once your research is complete, you will need to approach the appropriate decision-maker(s) with a proposal for a Released Time class.
Even with the Supreme Court decision of 1952 (Zorach vs. Clauson), we must remember that approval for a Released Time program is a privilege, not a right. School principals and school boards may accommodate a Released time program, but they are not required to do so. Experience teaches us that a carefully crafted approach, coupled with a positive relationship with school officials will usually open the doors for a Released Time program.
Information provided by:
The Fellowship of Christian Released Time Ministries
5722 Lime Ave. ˜ Long Beach, CA 90805 ˜ (562) 428-7733
(800) 360-7943 Email Us
|
<urn:uuid:f959d37f-8529-4666-9c51-df5b8ae3120b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.rtce.org/pages.asp?pageid=34383
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953837
| 705
| 2.25
| 2
|
Book Description: Drawing on their extensive experience, a dozen respected scholars examine the state of the art of group care in Israel. In addition, they highlight major implications of the Israeli experience for child and youth care services worldwide, suggesting ideas for the development of more effective patterns of community and residential care in the West. Successful in alleviating developmental deficits and maximizing the contributions of the country's most talented young people, the acclaimed Israeli approach to group care is thoroughly addressed here. The authors analyze the complex interaction between culture and residential group care, the importance of the role of the parents, and the public policy considerations related to residential care. This informative and useful volume will contribute to the enhancement of programs and services for young people everywhere.
|
<urn:uuid:283e8ca3-550b-483c-90e5-c3aaf1bedecd>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.campusbooks.com/books/nonfiction/current-events/poverty/9780866561860_Jerome-Beker-Zvi-Eisikovits_Residential-Group-Care-in-Community-Context-I.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.928887
| 145
| 1.929688
| 2
|
Planet Of The Apes (1968)
This is a rant. Make your kids watch Planet Of The Apes. If you have not seen it yet, then you watch it. It is the greatest Science-Fiction film of all time. Some will argue for Blade Runner or 2001 or maybe an old timer would vote for Metropolis, maybe a hipster would call out Solaris (the Russian version from the '70s). But me? I’ll take Apes.
Just check out the crazy all-star pedigree it carries: - Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner who, on his next film, Patton, would win the Oscar. - Written by Michael Wilson (Lawrence Of Arabia) and the legendary Rod Serling, creator and sometime writer of the cult TV series, The Twilight Zone. - Based on a novel by the acclaimed French writer Pierre Boulle, author of The Bridge On The River Kwai. - Starring Moses himself, Charlton Heston, Oscar winner for Ben Hur. This would start his run of action and Sci-Fi flicks that would make him almost a combination of Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger of the early '70s. - An exotic original score by Jerry Goldsmith and make-up by the innovative designer of the Star Trek TV series, John Chambers. Etc. Etc.Continue Reading
|
<urn:uuid:64396d4b-a3ce-4051-8545-2d6aabe2cf2b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.amoeba.com/movies/tag/michael-wilson/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.940349
| 278
| 1.523438
| 2
|
Snow rollers form when you fall on the icy surface of a thick layer of snow. At a certain temperature and wind speed parts are separated and the snow began to turn. When rolling on the ground, they gathered along the way extra snow. Their internal layers are generally porous, allowing the wind to roll easily, making it resemble a large snow donuts.
Snow rollers are quite rare, having been seen in North America and UK
|
<urn:uuid:0c07582a-c0aa-4d87-8c6a-96266119c131>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://globalfacts.eu/tags/earth
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.931085
| 88
| 2.765625
| 3
|
Here are a couple of kids' t-shirts I dyed for my niece and nephew with Remazol type fiber reactive dyes.
Both were tie-dyed with ProChem Liquid Reactive Dye black LR 604; shirt on the left overdyed (after untying and washing out) with turquoise LR410 plus mixture leaf green LR700N; shirt on right overdyed with mixing red LR305. I used trisodium phosphate (instead of soda ash) and salt, in LWI, using hot tap water, plus thirty seconds (covered with plastic wrap) in the microwave to make sure they were good and hot. (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)
This has to be the worst way to photograph one's work: flash, little extra lighting, shirts just lying flat on a table - I'd have to do better if I were trying to sell these shirts! The flash kind of washes out that deep, rich black.
These circles are really easy to do. I used two or three rubber bands for each of the small circles that I later dyed red. I made sure the rubber bands covered a circle plus the material gathered up in the point (center) of the circle. Scroll down to "Circles" toward the bottom of the page on ProChem's Folding Techniques for Tie Dye page to see their illustrations and instructions.
The large circle I later dyed green was just a little more complicated. The way I like to do this is to fold a shirt in half, then draw the outline of a dinner plate on it, centered, so I have half of an 8" or 9" circle. Start pleating at the fold and follow the pencil line all the way around until you get to the fold again. Then tie at the circle, and arrange the pleats inside and outside of the circle before adding more ties to make concentric circles. That's how I did these two circle shirts (as posted on the Dye Forum on March 23, 2007).
For a really nice effect, use different colors on one side of your tied disk of fabric than on the other side. This makes alternating stripes of color, pointing out from the center of the circle.
All of the pages on this site are copyright ©1998-2013 Paula E. Burch, Ph.D.
Page created: June 11, 2008
Last updated: June 11, 2008
Downloaded at: Friday, May 24, 2013
The material on this page originally appeared in postings on the Dye Forum on December 18, 2007.
|
<urn:uuid:27ab4399-fdfe-4ecc-921a-ec07d0ab8915>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/example29.shtml
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.949308
| 524
| 1.742188
| 2
|
Updated: 01/30/2013 10:02 AM KSTP.com By: Naomi Pescovitz
The gun debate has now reached the Minnesota Legislature. Lawmakers are working to file bills before committee hearings next week. Some of those bills will be part of a large package on state gun laws.
"We have to get away from what I call the surrender mentality," said Rep. Michael Paymar, (DFL) St. Paul, Chair of the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.
The committee will meet for three days next week and hear 10 bills or more about guns.
"I've said to all members of the house, if they are interested in having their bill heard, we will hear it," Paymar said.
Proposals include limits on the sizes of bullet clips and allowing teachers to be armed at school.
Paymar is behind a bill on universal background checks.
"To plug the gun show loophole, that would also plug another loop hole which is the purchase of pistols and semi automatic weapons on the internet," Paymar said.
A different bill would ban and redefine an assault weapon in Minnesota, somewhere Rep. Tony Cornish, (R) Vernon Center, says he won't budge an inch.
"Right now the AR-15, what they call an assault rifle, is one of the most popular hunting rifles for coyotes and predators, it's legal for big game, it's an actual hunting rifle," Cornish said.
Cornish says his mailbox is full with hundreds of emails from concerned constituents asking him to stick to his guns.
"Anytime you get a legislator trying to define the difference between a sporting firearm and an assault rifle, you run into big trouble because it's each to his own definition," Cornish said.
Cornish is also proposing a bill that would allow teachers to arm themselves at school. If passed, school employees who have handgun permits could to notify their principals or superintendents in writing that they would be carrying a weapon. The letter would be kept as private data.
"In the time it takes you to dial 911, 5 kids are going to die. In the time it takes you for the cops to get there, 5 more kids are going to die. And this craziness about not having teachers armed when you've got that sort of rapid death occurring waiting for help is just, it's outweighed by the need to have somebody there," Cornish said.
A second part of Cornish's proposal would allow staff and students 21 years old and older to carry guns on college campuses.
"I don't think that the answer is arming teachers and I don't think that... arming college professors, I don't think that that enhances public safety," Paymar said.
Next week at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, the committee will hear public testimony on proposed bills.
"The politics of all of this is at the end of the day I want something that can pass this legislature, that Governor Dayton will sign, that's common sense, that does some good. I don't want to have these hearings just for window dressing," Paymar said.
"This is a state that passed the right to hunt and fish, it's a gun state. Huge ownership with guns flying off the shelves. And people are worried about losing their constitutional right," Cornish said.
Click here for a link to the committee schedule.
|
<urn:uuid:e5e9ee4a-9d4a-4daa-b9a2-f1d03d2e7a89>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://hbispace.com/printStory/kstp/index.cfm?id=2913566
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980525
| 703
| 1.710938
| 2
|
Kids who feel encouraged generally feel good about themselves. They usually have a strong and positive self-image. They are able to handle challenges that come up at home, school and on the playground. They are better able to resist negative peer pressure. They are more ready to laugh and enjoy life and are the kind of kids most people like to hang out with.
So, how can we as parents help our kids feel encouraged? It is important to show that you respect their point of view and value their input. One of the best ways to do that is to ask them to assist you in thinking of solutions to the little domestic problems that come up everyday. It is also helpful to ask their opinions, empower them to help themselves and praise solution oriented thinking:
Here are some questions that we can ask to promote problem-solving skills in our kids:
- “What can we do as a family to make sure the lights are turned off before we leave the house in the morning?”
- “What can we do to make sure that the snacks are shared evenly in the house?”
- “There has been some fighting about the basketball hoop. How can we make sure that everyone is getting a turn?”
- “Does everyone feel comfortable with the jobs that they have been assigned? If not, can anyone think of solutions?
Some ways to ask their opinion are:
- “We are having your cousins over, do you think they would like to sleep in the guest room or camp out with you?”
- “Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit, do you think they want one or two pillows?”
- “Daddy’s has a headache, do you think we should give him an ice pack or the heating pad?”
Kids also like to have a say in what will help them overcome the little challenges that they face everyday. To teach them that they have the ability to help themselves with a little thought, you can ask:
- “You seem sad about that ball game. What would make you feel better?”
- “You are having trouble with that math problem, is there anything that you have done in the past that would help you now?”
- “You seem stressed about your test tomorrow, do you think a hot shower would help?”
Finally, as parents we want to reinforce thinking that is solution oriented. Any attempts by children to come up with a solution should be noted and acknowledged:
- “That is an interesting idea, we should try it.”
- “That is thinking out of the box.”
- “I am glad we are a family that focuses on solutions.”
Encouraging kids takes some time and a little forethought. Teaching kids to think about solutions will help you have a partner who can truly help you solve the little and big problems of life.
About the Author:
Adina Soclof is a parenting expert we really respect. Learn more from Adina about Raising Resilient Responsible Independent Children.
|
<urn:uuid:8e925316-a050-44cd-bb56-02401b7dbf60>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.momstalknetwork.com/resources/encouraging-kids-teach-them-to-think-about-solutions/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.984882
| 647
| 2.953125
| 3
|
This unique .44 caliber Schofield is purported to be the only surviving gun from The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - 'the West's most famous gunfight'. It's a non-firing replica of the famous .44 caliber Schofield and owned by Wyatt Earp. [SIC]
It includes details such as nickel plating, a tiny notch in front of the trigger, a subtle short gauge on the barrel, and a missing screw on the butt plate. The 8" barrel worked to the advantage of a marksman, dampening muzzle kick and enhancing accuracy. For fast reloads, the entire frame swings down, revealing all six chambers."
* National Museum of Crime and Punishment > A Notorious History of American Crime
"WILD BILL HICKOK 1851 REVOLVER
(full size at 13.5 inches & 2.5 Lbs.)
This unique, elegant, and rugged non-firing replica is an exact reproduction of the .36 caliber 1851 Navy Revolver carried by Wild Bill Hickok.
"Following the Civil War, Bill Hickok became known as an expert scout, Indian fighter, lawman, and the most famous gunfighter of the frontier. It is said that this pistol never left his side. He was shot in the back during a poker game in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1876. The hand he was holding (black Aces and Eights) is still known as the 'Dead Man's Hand' today."
* Denton County Historical Museum
"COLT NEW POLICE 'COP & THUG' REVOLVER
made ca. 1882-1186,
5 shot .38 caliber
Low relief scene of a 'cop' arresting a 'thug' on the grip."
|
<urn:uuid:edf1c21b-eb1b-4990-8c67-238924b4d6e2>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.forensicfashion.com/1881WesternGamblerPistol.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.924965
| 373
| 1.820313
| 2
|
Conservapedia is back to abusing science. This is from their “news” section.
The study, which was published on July 14, 2009 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Geoscience, found CO2 was not to blame for a major ancient global warming period and instead found “unknown processes accounted for much of warming in the ancient hot spell.” The press release for the study was headlined: “Global warming: Our best guess is likely wrong.”
“In a nutshell, theoretical models cannot explain what we observe in the geological record,” said oceanographer Gerald Dickens, a co-author of the study and professor of Earth science at Rice University. “There appears to be something fundamentally wrong with the way temperature and carbon are linked in climate models.”
The mistake Conservapedia made is so readily linking to the abstract.
We conclude that in addition to direct CO2 forcing, other processes and/or feedbacks that are hitherto unknown must have caused a substantial portion of the warming during the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum. Once these processes have been identified, their potential effect on future climate change needs to be taken into account.
While the idiots over at Dumbopedia (good one, right?) are claiming that this study PROVES!!! that global warming is not man-made (thus implying that any polluting business practice is a-okay), the study is saying no such thing. This is referencing a period of warming where CO2 alone does not account for all the warming. That isn’t to say that the rise in CO2 can be dismissed during that time – nor is it saying anything about our time. It’d be like saying natural selection doesn’t account for all the change in evolution, therefore evolution is false. CO2 still was a huge factor by which warming was initiated (upwards of 38 degrees F). Today it remains a huge factor.
Let’s just say it. Conservatives are not concerned about science. They care about allowing businesses to practice as they please. That’s it.
Filed under: Science | Tagged: Carbon Dioxide, Carbon dioxide forcing alone insufficient to explain Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum warming, CO2, CO2 Forcing, conservapedia, Gerald R. Dickens, Global Warming, James C. Zachos, Nature Geoscience, Richard E. Zeebe | 1 Comment »
|
<urn:uuid:b7ea357d-91a7-4f16-9b6a-a818f4debf40>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://forthesakeofscience.com/tag/richard-e-zeebe/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952996
| 507
| 2.6875
| 3
|