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Julius Fučík (composer)
Fučík spent most of his life as the leader of military brass bands. He became a prolific composer, with over 400 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name. As most of his work was for military bands, he is sometimes known as the "Bohemian Sousa".
Today his marches are still played as patriotic music in the Czech Republic. However, his worldwide reputation rests on one work: his Opus 68 march, the Entrance of the Gladiators (Vjezd gladiátorů), which is universally recognized, often under the title Thunder and Blazes, as one of the most popular theme tunes for circus clowns.
Another composition, The Florentiner March, is not as popular as Entrance of the Gladiators, but it is regularly performed and recorded by wind ensembles.
Fučík was born in Prague on 18 July 1872 when Prague was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a student, he learned to play the bassoon with Ludwig Milde, violin with Antonín Bennewitz, and various percussion instruments, later studying composition under Antonín Dvořák.
In 1891, he joined the 49th Austro-Hungarian Regiment as a military musician. He initially played in Krems by the Danube under Josef Wagner. In 1894 Fučík left the army to take up a position as second bassoonist at the German Theatre in Prague. A year later he became the conductor of the Danica Choir in the Croatian city of Sisak. During this time, Fučík wrote a number of chamber music pieces, mostly for clarinet and bassoon.
In 1897, he rejoined the army as the bandmaster for the 86th Infantry Regiment based in Sarajevo. Shortly after, he wrote his most famous piece, the Einzug der Gladiatoren or Entrance of the Gladiators. Fučík's interest in Roman history led him to name the march as he did. In 1910 Canadian composer Louis-Phillipe Laurendeau arranged "Entrance of the Gladiators" for a small band under the title "Thunder and Blazes." It is in this version that the piece is most familiar, universally associated with the appearance of the clowns in a circus performance.
In 1900, Fučík's band was moved to Budapest where Fučík found there were eight regimental bands ready to play his compositions, but he also faced more competition to get noticed. Having more musicians at his disposal, Fučík began to experiment with transcriptions of orchestral works.
In 1910, Fučík moved again, returning to Bohemia where he became the bandmaster of the 92nd Infantry Regiment in Theresienstadt. At the time, the band was one of the finest in the Austro-Hungarian empire, and Fučík toured with them giving concerts in Prague and Berlin to audiences of over 10,000 people.
In 1913, Fučík settled in Berlin where he started his own band, the Prager Tonkünstler-Orchester, and a music publishing company, Tempo Verlag, to market his compositions. His fortunes began to wane with the outbreak of the First World War. Under the privations of the war, Fučík's business failed and his health suffered. On 25 September 1916, Julius Fučík died in Berlin at the age of 44. He is buried in Prague.
Selected works
The Florentiner March (1907), played by the U.S. Navy Band
|Problems listening to this file? See media help.|
- Vjezd gladiátorů (1899)
- Florentinský pochod (Florentiner March) (1907)
- Boží bojovníci (1911)
- Danubia (1899)
- Fantastický pochod (Marche fantastique) (1902)
- Hercegovac (1910)
- The Mississippi River (1905)
- Pod admirálskou vlajkou (1901)
- Salve Imperator (1908)
- Stále vpřed (Sempre avanti) (1904)
- Stráž Slovanstva (1907)
- Triglav (1903)
- Vítězný meč (1913)
- Veselí venkovští kováři (1908)
- Zvuky fanfár (1914)
Waltzes and polkas
- Virtuoso polka for fagot Starý bručoun (1907)
- Ideály snů – waltz (1900)
- Od břehu Dunaje – waltz (1903)
- Dunajské pověsti – waltz (1909)
- Zimní bouře – waltz (1907)
- Baletky – waltz (1909)
- Escarpolette – waltz (1906)
- Concertant overtures Marinarella (1907) and Miramare (1912)
- Symphonic suite Život (Life) (1907)
- Chamber compositions for clarinet a bassoon
- Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 2001.
- Biography at www.klassika.info (in German)
- Biography at www.planet-vienna.com (in German)
- Oxford Music Online.
- Free scores by Julius Fučík at the International Music Score Library Project
- Midi file of the introduction to Entry of the Gladiators also known as Thunder and Blazes.
- Partial catalogue of compositions
- This version of his most famous march has words: Big Red Noses | <urn:uuid:9f862d28-4697-4907-9218-f76309a93b1f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Fu%C4%8D%C3%ADk_(composer) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935636 | 1,296 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Artificial pancreas: the way of the future for treating type 1 diabetes
IRCM researchers take an important step in making this promising approach a reality
MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - IRCM researchers, led by endocrinologist Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret, were the first to conduct a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.
The artificial pancreas is an automated system that simulates the normal pancreas by continuously adapting insulin delivery based on changes in glucose levels. The dual-hormone artificial pancreas tested at the IRCM controls glucose levels by automatically delivering insulin and glucagon, if necessary, based on continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings and guided by an advanced algorithm.
"We found that the artificial pancreas improved glucose control by 15% and significantly reduced the risk of hypoglycemia as compared with conventional insulin pump therapy," explains engineer Ahmad Haidar, first author of the study and doctoral student in Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research unit at the IRCM and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University. "The artificial pancreas also resulted in an 8-fold reduction of the overall risk of hypoglycemia, and a 20-fold reduction of the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia."
People living with type 1 diabetes must carefully manage their blood glucose levels to ensure they remain within a target range. Blood glucose control is the key to preventing serious long-term complications related to high glucose levels (such as blindness or kidney failure) and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose that can lead to confusion, disorientation and, if severe, loss of consciousness).
"Approximately two-thirds of patients don't achieve their target range with current treatments," says Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret, Director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Diabetes research clinic at the IRCM. "The artificial pancreas could help them reach these targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, which is feared by most patients and remains the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy. In fact, nocturnal hypoglycemia is the main barrier to reaching glycemic targets."
"Infusion pumps and glucose sensors are already commercially-available, but patients must frequently check the sensor and adjust the pump's output," says Mr. Haidar. "To liberate them from this sizable challenge, we needed to find a way for the sensor to talk to the pump directly. So we developed an intelligent dosing algorithm, which is the brain of the system. It can constantly recalculate insulin dosing based on changing glucose levels, in a similar way to the GPS system in a car, which recalculates directions according to traffic or an itinerary change."
The researchers' algorithm, which could eventually be integrated as software into a smart phone, receives data from the CGM, calculates the required insulin (and glucagon, if needed) and wirelessly controls the pump to automatically administer the proper doses without intervention by the patient.
"The system we tested more closely mimics a normal pancreas by secreting both insulin and glucagon," adds Dr. Laurent Legault, peadiatric endocrinologist and outgoing Director of the Insulin Pump Centre at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and co-author of the study. "While insulin lowers blood glucose levels, glucagon has the opposite effect and raises glucose levels. Glucagon can protect against hypoglycemia if a patient with diabetes miscalculates the necessary insulin dose."
"Our work is exciting because the artificial pancreas has the potential to substantially improve the management of diabetes and reduce daily frustrations for patients," concludes Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret. "We are pursuing our clinical trials to test the system for longer periods and with different age groups. It will then probably be introduced gradually to clinical practice, using insulin alone, with early generations focusing on overnight glucose controls."
About the study
This study was conducted with 15 adult patients with type 1 diabetes, who had been using an insulin pump for at least three months. Patients were admitted twice to the IRCM's clinical research facility and received, in random order, both treatments: the dual-hormone artificial pancreas and the conventional insulin pump therapy. During each 15-hour visit, their blood glucose levels were monitored as they exercised on a stationary bike, received an evening meal and a bedtime snack, and slept at the facility overnight.
Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research is funded by Diabetes Québec, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the IRCM's J.A. De Sève Chair in clinical research. IRCM collaborators who contributed to study published in CMAJ include Maryse Dallaire, Ammar Alkhateeb, Adèle Coriati, Virginie Messier and Maude Millette. For more information on the study, please refer to the article summary published online by CMAJ: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/01/28/cmaj.121265.abstract.
Type-1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn't produce enough or any insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. It occurs most often in children, adolescents or young adults. People with type-1 diabetes depend on insulin to live, either through daily injections or with a pump. Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss, kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, an estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, approximately 10 per cent of which have type 1 diabetes. With a further 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030, making it a global epidemic. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.
About Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret
Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret completed his doctoral degree (MD) with a specialization in endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at the Université Montpellier in France. He then obtained a PhD in food sciences, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in physiology and molecular biology. At the IRCM, Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is Director of the Metabolic Diseases research unit, Director of the Diabetes, Metabolism and Obesity clinic, and Director of the research platform on obesity, metabolism and diabetes. He is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Université de Montréal. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Experimental Medicine) at McGill University. Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is a Clinical Research Scholar from the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé and holds the J.A. DeSève Chair in clinical research. For more information, visit www.ircm.qc.ca/rabasa.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the IRCM (www.ircm.qc.ca) is currently comprised of 37 research units in various fields, namely immunity and viral infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, neurobiology and development, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. It also houses three specialized research clinics, eight core facilities and three research platforms with state-of-the-art equipment. The IRCM employs 425 people and is an independent institution affiliated with the Université de Montréal. The IRCM Clinic is associated to the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). The IRCM also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University.
Image with caption: "External artificial pancreas: continual glucose monitor (left), pump worn on the belt that injects insulin under the patient's skin (right), and a controller (here, a handheld smart phone) (CNW Group/Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130128_C9174_PHOTO_EN_23076.jpg
SOURCE: Institut de recherches cliniques de MontréalFor further information:
and to schedule an interview with Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret or Ahmad Haidar, please contact:
Communications Officer (IRCM)
Communications Director (IRCM) | <urn:uuid:b6d5e30e-b873-4375-aebd-269dcc3a3686> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/1105533/artificial-pancreas-the-way-of-the-future-for-treating-type-1-diabetes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911226 | 1,816 | 3.09375 | 3 |
As director of the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, Lee Rainie has been responsible for producing probably the most cited statistics about how the growth of the Internet has affected politics, family life, education and other aspects of the American experience.
Here at Nextgov, we regularly consult Pew’s studies on Internet and mobile use to gather insight into how successful the government is in focusing its digital outreach where it’s most useful. It’s clear government technology officials are also paying attention to those reports, as evidenced by their efforts, for instance, to make social services websites mobile-optimized for people who primarily access the Web on smartphones because they can’t afford home Internet service.
That’s why the most interesting thing I took away from attending a launch discussion Thursday night for Rainie’s new book Networked: The New Social Operating System wasn’t about how we live with the Internet now but about how difficult it is to analyze the Internet’s role in modern life.
As Rainie describes it, the Internet has integrated so fully into the average American’s life experience now that it’s difficult to separate it out as a unique phenomenon.
“We were constituted to study the impact of the Internet and it’s just hard to isolate that as a force in people’s lives that’s different from a variety of other things that are going on,” he said.
People may be aware, for instance, that they changed their mind about a candidate or policy choice, Rainie said, but it’s often difficult for them to say what role social media, Web articles and other Internet factors played in that decision.
“People no longer, if they ever did, think of it as a special unique isolated space,” he said. “It’s woven into their lives as part of the fabric and they can’t talk about it any different than that. In people’s minds they’re now swimming in this sea of stuff and it’s all undifferentiated streams of information. They can’t reconstruct exactly where they found out something and exactly what meaning it had to them.” | <urn:uuid:7a04dbc1-2006-419e-8a74-4b4a2f6f94ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/emerging-tech-blog/2012/10/confessions-internet-researcher/59071/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957923 | 463 | 2.546875 | 3 |
New study unravels mystery of a DNA repair process
Cell damaged by UVA light, as shown by the stripe, undergoing repair by enzymes
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at the University of Sussex have uncovered the mechanism of a key process in DNA repair that helps prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as ataxia.
A four-year study led by Dr. Sherif El-Khamisy at the Sussex Centre for Genome Damage and Stability, has focused on the behaviour of enzymes within cells that are involved in the repair of faults in DNA - the genetic material in our cells and all other living organisms.
The most common fault to occur spontaneously in DNA is single strand breaks (DNA being composed of two twisted strands). Failure to correct these breaks has been shown to lead to neurodegenerative disorders (those that attack the nervous system).
Previous research has shown that a particular enzyme,TPD1,is critical for repairing one type of these breaks, but it was not known how this enzyme reached sites of DNA damage. Now Dr El-Khamisy and his team have identified a peptide (a small protein composed of approximately 100 amino acids) within cells, named SUMO, which helps bring TPD1 to the lesion to repair it.
This process is particularly important in cells that experience a high level of lesions and are unable to self-replicate, such as brain cells (neurons).
Dr. El-Khamisy said: These findings were a surprise since it was known that this enzyme was important but it was an unresolved mystery as to how it reached the site of damage to deal with this kind of break.
We were not expecting to find that this enzyme was modified by SUMO peptides, nor were we expecting to find that this modification helps to recruit this enzyme to the site of damage.
He said the results of this study, published this month in Nature Communications, will enhance the assessment of disorders such as the hereditary neurological disease, ataxia. Addressing how these fascinating enzymes work will not only determine the importance of repairing DNA damage for preventing neurodegenerative disease but might also identify novel markers for improving human health and promoting a healthy elderly population.
The next step for Dr. El-Khamisy and his team is to look at environmental factors and drugs that affect this process, such as anti-cancer agents, ultra violet light, and radiation.
More information: SUMO modification of the neuroprotective protein TDP1 facilitates chromosomal single-strand break repair, by Sherif F El-Khamisy, et al, is published on March 13 in Nature Communications. www.nature.com/nco… mms1739.html
Journal reference: Nature Communications
Provided by University of Sussex
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Why Do Teens Shun Twitter?
It’s conventional wisdom that teenagers are early adopters of tech innovations, including Web-based social networks like Facebook and MySpace. But that apparently isn’t the case with micro-blogging site Twitter, which is largely shunned by the adolescent crowd.
According to a New York Times article, teens would much rather text than tweet. The piece quotes 18-year-old Kristen Nagy, a New Jersey teen who calls Twitter “weird,” and adds that she “doesn’t feel like everyone needs to know what I’m doing every second of my life.”
Just how uncool is Tweeting? According to ComScore, only 11 percent of Twitter users are aged 12 to 17, the Times reports.
So why aren’t the kids down with Twitter? Perhaps because they don’t want the authority figures in their lives — parents, teachers, and other downers — knowing what they’re up to. Texting, by comparison, is an inherently private conversation between friends. It’s the wireless equivalent of passing notes.
What about Facebook? OK, teens may have to (reluctantly) friend their parents there, but at least they belong to a semi-private community of their choosing. Besides, Facebook offers a lot of fun stuff — quizzes, photos, and so on — that boring Twitter doesn’t.
Tweets Too Public?
Twitter exposes your thoughts to the online universe; a simple Google search reveals them. Of course, Twitter users could always lock down their tweets, making them available to a select, invitation-only group. But many teens may not know that. Or if they do, they may decide that locked Tweets aren’t worth the trouble.
Also, as the Times points out, teens’ lives tend to revolve around their friends. Like a high school outcast, Twitter just doesn’t fit in. It’s rapidly evolving into a service where professionals market themselves and their services and products to complete strangers. That sort of social marketing just doesn’t appeal to kids.
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by 1st Lt. Mary Pekas
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4/22/2009 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (ACCNS) -- "Never be outside alone at night."
"Always be aware of your surroundings."
"Try to avoid trouble."
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Americans visiting Thailand for the first time arrive with preconceived notions of how the food will taste: in a word, hot. So hot, in fact, that tourists generally avoid it, choosing instead to eat in their hotels, where the restaurants serve either Western food or some watered-down version of Thai cuisine. The slightly more adventuresome will venture to some other ethnic restaurant, say Chinese, where there will be no surprises.
But Americans are laboring under a serious misapprehension. Not all Thai food is fiery. Rather, when it is well prepared, it is a beautifully balanced mixture of sweet, sour, hot, bitter and salty. Often the chilies are served on the side as a condiment. And if the diner simply avoids those tiny red and green chilies, there will be no searingly hot sensation on the lips, tongue and throat.
Dining on the fare of the country is one of the essential experiences for understanding the culture. In Thailand it is also a gustatory delight. But finding the food in Bangkok is a little more difficult than it is in some other capital cities, in part because the country is more famous for its street food than its restaurants. Thais snack five or six times a day, stopping at vendors who dot every city street. Until recently the best full-fledged meals had been found in private homes.
Now, as Thailand becomes more attuned to the value of tourism, there is a greater demand for restaurants serving the kind of food usually reserved for family and friends.
Unlike restaurants for tourists that promise native delicacies but serve plae imitations of them, a few small, unassuming places - usually hidden away on side streets in tiny buildings that were something else before they were restaurants - are offering the highly assertive cooking for which Thailand is known.
At a Thai meal, diners are served a quick succession of bright, clean-tasting dishes seasoned with Siamese ginger, lemon grass, nam pla (fish sauce), lime leaves, coriander and those devilish little chilies, with rice as the centerpiece.
Thai meals do not have a beginning, middle and end as we know them. Small amounts of each dish are eaten with the rice. None of the food, with the exception of noodles, is eaten with chopsticks. The proper implements are a fork and spoon.
Thai food is inexpensive by any American standard, and the recommended restaurants have bilingual menus. A 10 percent service charge is customary at restaurants. THE TOLL GATE
The oldest and, at one time, the best known of the small, authentic restaurants is the Toll Gate, where M.L. Taw Kritikara presides over the dining room and the kitchen. This former garage has brick walls and lavish displays of orchids.
The food, as described by Mrs. Kritikara, one of the country's foremost authorities on Thai cuisine, is simple home style. And the food is more rustic than what we ate elsewhere. There is a fixed price meal of five courses - soup, fish, poultry, fruit and beef. The night we ate there, the beef was Mussalman curry, a well-known Thai curry with roots in India.
The Toll Gate, 245/2 Soi 31, Sukhumvit Road; telephone 391-3947. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday. Meals costs about $8 a person. THAN-YING
The best meal we had in Bangkok was served in one of those tiny converted houses that still looks more like someone's home than it does a resturant. The restaurant, Than-Ying, is a series of charming little rooms in salmon and peach. Outside, a terrace is illuminated by sunlight filtered through lush flowering shrubs. | <urn:uuid:3c237184-08de-46f8-b4bf-8fd497347d99> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/travel/fare-of-the-country-guide-to-bangkok-restaurants.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960803 | 779 | 1.859375 | 2 |
[continued from page 1]
|The spacious new chemistry labs contain state-of-the-art instrumentation and glass hoods.|
Their new proximity in the STEPS building, researchers say, will make it possible to join forces on other areas of common interest. These include climate change, alternative energies, carbon capture and sequestration, and resource development. Graduate students in the Energy Systems Engineering Institute, which has also moved into the STEPS building, conduct research in these areas under the guidance of industry sponsors.
Proximity will also make it easier to address multifaceted topics. a case in point, says Frank Pazzaglia, is the management of carbon dioxide. as much as half the CO2 emitted as a result of human activity is absorbed by oceans and land surface. The myriad factors governing carbon cycling are not fully understood but are affected by forest and watershed management policies. Meanwhile, engineers are developing new technologies to capture CO2 from power plants and sequester it in underground reservoirs, while geologists are probing the behavior of those subterranean traps.
“STEPS will help us develop overarching research programs that tie together the science, technology and policy issues that underlie virtually all modern environmental issues,” says Pazzaglia, who is EI codirector and department chair of earth and environmental sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Often, the most interesting research problems lie where disciplines overlap. At these boundaries, researchers need to rely on each other’s expertise to push knowledge forward.”
A flow of people and ideas
With 50 research and teaching laboratories, STEPS represents Lehigh’s largest investment in a decade in undergraduate science and engineering education. Ten teaching labs are dedicated to undergraduate courses in biological sciences and chemistry, including cell and molecular biology, genetics, integrative biology and vertebrate anatomy, as well as chemical principles and organic chemistry. The introductory courses are required of all engineering majors, and the advanced courses are required in bioengineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and materials science and engineering.
The new teaching labs contain state-of-the-art instrumentation and sterilization and incubation facilities, and more seats, hood space and preparation rooms. as a result, students work in smaller teams and use more analytical methods. The hoods in the chemistry labs are made of glass, and the organic chemistry labs are equipped to do gas, liquid and infrared chromatography and mass spectrometry.
“STEPS is creating a vibrant atmosphere for interdisciplinary research and education. There’s a high level of excitement and activity in the new building.” —Derick Brown
A faculty committee worked five years with Lehigh’s office of facilities services and campus planning and with two architectural firms to plan the STEPS building. Their aspiration was to design a new model for multidisciplinary collaboration in research and education, and they are confident that STEPS’ final design, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson of Philadelphia, has succeeded. | <urn:uuid:e300ef01-2352-4685-a393-1bcb3731bfcb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lehigh.edu/~inisrema/2010/vol2/many-disciplines-one-goal-2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946044 | 619 | 2.828125 | 3 |
MGH Hotline 12.10.10 When her father John was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2009, 10-year-old Elana Sargent wanted to find a way to help.
Supporting brain cancer research
GIFT OF HOPE: From left, Lisa, John and Elana Sargent, and Batchelor
When her father John was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2009, 10-year-old Elana Sargent wanted to find a way to help. She decided to make bracelets with gray beads and ribbons – gray is the official color for brain cancer awareness – and donate the proceeds to cancer research. Elana called her project "Beading for Brain Cancer" and sold the bracelets for $10 at local stores. The items quickly gained popularity, and orders poured in for more.
In October, Elana and her family donated $1,000 – raised from the sale of the bracelets – toward glioblastoma research at the MGH Cancer Center, where John receives care. Tracy Batchelor, MD, MPH, executive director of the Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology, accepted the check on behalf of the hospital.
"After my dad found out he was sick, I saw how hard it was for people with cancer," says Elana. "I wanted to help so that other people don’t to have to go through the same thing."
Elana’s brother Jack also plans to make a donation to the MGH. He organized a hockey game between students and teachers at his school, and through donations of participants and attendees, raised more than $600.
"We are so grateful to our physicians and nurses and are happy to give back," says their mother Lisa. "Dr. Batchelor, Dr. April Eichler and our nurse practitioner Mary Walsh have all been wonderful." | <urn:uuid:59aaf531-d9e7-49f3-80b2-c17679dc231a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.massgeneral.org/give/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=2472 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9743 | 401 | 1.875 | 2 |
Folklore | Performing Nationalism
F755 | 28040 | B. Stoeltje
Above class meets with AMST-G751 and ANTH-E677.
Around the globe social and cultural groups express resistance to
domination through the performance of symbolic forms such as ritual,
religion, song, narrative, the novel, language, food, film/tv, etc.
Equally common, the nation state utilizes the same resources from
its indigenous cultures or created out of symbolic resources to
produce unity, loyalty and patriotism. These symbolic and artistic
forms constitute a powerful force in the phenomenon we
This course deals with the process that accomplishes these purposes,
whether domination or resistance. While related to the distribution
and flow of power at any time, these processes are especially
crucial in periods of transition, war, or political upheaval.
After several sessions devoted to discussion of theories of
nationalism we will focus on ethnographic studies in different parts
of the world, emphasizing the processes by which nationalism
operates, the forms through which it communicates,(such as popular
culture, religion, war, spectacle), the changes forms undergo in
order to express the desired goals, and processes of resistance.
Not only will we consider nationalism of the dominant cultural
group, associated with or supported by the state, but we will view
cultural nationalism performed by minority groups. The course will
conclude with a consideration of the relationship between the
national and transnational or global forces.
Students may choose a symbolic form from the present or the past as
their subject and will write two related papers (one short and one
long) on a specific ethnographic site and specific symbolic form
that expresses nationalism, national identity, transnationalism or
specific elements of this process. (Examples: religious movements
that oppose a dominant force, a Latin American indigenous dance that
represents the nation; Mexican-American Charreada; a precolonial
African state based on law). Students will also be expected to write
a written response for each class session. A few guest speakers who
are working on this topic will be included as well.
The latter portion of the class will be devoted to student
Readings will include theoretical studies of nationalism and
modernity, (Imagined Communities, and National Identities for
example) as well as some historical readings that contextualize this
process in relation to larger sociopolitical contexts. | <urn:uuid:1b9c3842-ff50-41dc-ac9b-de31112b1a16> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/blspr08/folk/folk_f755_28040.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908147 | 508 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Photo: Flickr user SteFou!
Salzburg’s long line of ruling Prince-Archbishops displayed their wealth and power through building magnificent churches and palaces, many of them breathtaking in their architectural beauty. But the most important building in Salzburg’s history is arguably its iconic fortress.
The Festung Hohensalzburg, to give it its formal name, rests atop Mönchsberg, the mountain in the centre of the city’s Altstadt. Mönchsberg (‘Monk’s mountain’) is 504 metres (1,654 feet) high, so the large, sprawling white fortress at its height dominates the city skyline. It can even be seen from the 1,972-metre high summit of Untersberg, the mountain massif on the Austrian-German border 12 kilometres to the south.
There has been a citadel on the spot since at least Roman times, if not before. Excavations within the existing complex have revealed Roman coins and jewellery, including a rare Mars brooch. Even older artefacts have been found, such as a stone axe from the Neolithic period and jewellery and utensils from the Celtic period. Fragments of brick Roman structures, including foundations and retaining walls, are being excavated and can be seen.
Today’s fortress, however, was begun by Archbishop Gebhard, who reigned from 1060 to 1088. In 1077, during the dispute between the pope and the emperor known as the Investiture Controversy—a struggle over political power between secular and religious authorities—Gebhard took the perhaps politically unwise position supporting the pope. Feeling as a consequence vulnerable to the powerful petty kings of southern Germany as well as the emperor himself, Gebhard built a series of three mountaintop fortresses to protect himself and his interests in the province of Salzburg.
He built Hohensalzburg on Mönchsberg amid the remains of older structures and adjacent to Nonnberg Abbey, a 7th century cloister established by St. Rupert. Hohensalzburg was the biggest of his fortresses, and it remains the best preserved and largest medieval fortress in Central Europe.
In the succeeding years, as archbishops came and went, and as the struggle between religious and secular princes (and emperors) continued, Hohensalzburg remained the secure seat of the archbishops. Its walls were reinforced, bastions added and artillery towers built. It became a stronghold in the heart of the medieval city, protecting the townspeople as well as the elite from conflict and invasion.
In Early Modern times, as firearms became more powerful and siege tactics evolved, Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach (reigned 1495-1519) and his successor Matthäus Lang (reigned 1519-1540) greatly expanded the defensive capacities of the fortress with solid gate towers, shield walls, and ultimately, a massive cannon roundel with 6-metre thick walls. These works proved effective in 1525 when the archbishop was forced to flee to the fortress, where he survived a three-month siege by angry Salzburg residents before being rescued by the Swabian Alliance.
It was during this period also that the magnificent Golden Hall and other state rooms were decorated. Sumptuously painted in rich colours, with deep blue ceilings spangled with gold stars, the rooms reflect the majesty and grandeur with which the archbishop was regarded.
However, even this splendour was insufficient to please later archbishops. By the 17th century, the principal residence of these princes of the Church had moved to the grander Baroque Residenz near the Dom. More and more, the Hohensalzburg became primarily a military garrison, home to the countless soldiers who trained there. After the mid-19th century, when Salzburg was no longer a military city, the fortress became a military detention centre, storehouse and barracks. In 1892, construction began on a funicular to whisk the growing number of tourists up to the Festung and a restaurant to feed them there.
Today, the Festung remains one of Salzburg’s most visited attractions. It merits a spot at the top of your list of things to do here. | <urn:uuid:419b1c5e-79f0-454e-b340-bbd8019a2104> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nileguide.com/travel-information/around-salzburg/posts/salzburg/2012/02/15/the-festung-salzburg%25e2%2580%2599s-historic-home?destid=492 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972084 | 896 | 3.765625 | 4 |
Susanne & John Mason | The Manor House Trunch | phone 01263 721015| email
Museums and The Arts
Norfolk inspired many artists in the past - and it still does
Museums and Galleries in Norwich
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, is a marvellous opportunity to discover parallels between masterpieces of Giacometti, Picasso , Bacon or Moore and art objects from other cultures. Special exhibitions are always of the highest international standard.
Norwich Castle Museum and Gallery includes a substantial collection of the Norwich School of artists (Sell-Cotman, Crome and others)
"Visit one of the oldest buildings in East Anglia and experience the lives of prisoners and hear their stories. In 2002 the Tolhouse Museum was completely redisplayed to tell the story of crime and punishment over time and the history of the extraordinary building. Audio tours available "
"Experience the lives of the families who lived in this charming house where each room displays a different theme of the South Quay's history..." | <urn:uuid:8282125e-5c25-47ca-9a58-e6fbd49d90f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.manorhousetrunch.co.uk/museums_arts.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914244 | 218 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Home and Community Care (HACC) Program
The HACC program is a key provider of community care services to the frail aged, younger people with a disability and their carers.
The program aims are to:
- To provide a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated range of basic maintenance and support services for frail aged people, people with a disability and their carers
- To support these people to be more independent at home and in the community, thereby enhancing their quality of life and/or preventing their inappropriate admission to long term residential care and
- To provide flexible, timely service that respond to the needs of the consumers
- Priority is given to people who:
- Have memory loss disorders such as dementia
- Are socially isolated
- Are from an Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander background
- Speak a language other than English
Services offered by Nextt Health under the HACC Program
Personal Care: refers to assistance with daily self-care tasks, such as eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, getting in and out of bed, and moving about the house.
Domestic Support: refers to assistance with domestic chores, including assistance with cleaning, dishwashing, clothes washing and ironing, shopping (unaccompanied) and bill paying.
Social Support: refers to assistance provided by a companion, either within the home environment or while accessing community services. Social support includes friendly visiting services, letter writing, shopping and bill paying and banking (when the person is accompanied by the worker) and telephone-based monitoring service
Respite: refers to assistance received by a carer from a substitute carer who provides supervision and assistance to their care recipient (even though the carer may still be present).
Will I have to pay for a HACC Service?
Yes. You will be required to pay a small fee and this will be discussed during your initial assessment. Your income level and ability to pay are considered. Special consideration may be given to people with limited financess
Privacy, Confidentiality and Access to Personal Information
HACC clients will be informed of privacy and confidentiality procedures at the first assessment and will be assured that their records are kept private and confidential. Clients (or their advocate or legal guardian) have the right to access their files on completion of a form available from the HACC team.
Providing a Safe and Secure Environment
Clients must provide a safe working environment for HACC workers. For example, aggressive pets must be restrained and work areas must be free from cigarette smoke
People may have someone advocate for them when asking for a HACC service. An advocate may be a relative, friend, neighbour or anyone who can represent a client’s wishes. A HACC client can also obtain professional assistance from an advocacy agency. Clients are encouraged to use an advocate of their choice to ensure they receive the best level of suitable service. A copy of the HACC Advocacy Policy is available from the HACC team. | <urn:uuid:332a5aff-208d-43f2-a88e-6a5e92bbc579> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nextthealth.com.au/sitecontent/index/hacc | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953457 | 616 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Massive stars are inherently violent creatures-they burn, they churn, they turn, all the while creating and held hostage by constantly changing magnetic fields of almost unfathomable strength.
And, eventually, they explode, littering the universe with the elements of life as we know it: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, etc. Everything including ourselves is the result of some star's violent demise. "We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion-year-old carbon" goes the song "Woodstock" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Even the hippies know it. And no stars do it better than those that will one day become core-collapse supernovas (CCSNs), or stars greater than eight solar masses. But the evolution and nature of these elemental fountains is still a mystery, one of the greatest unsolved problems in astrophysics. But perhaps not unsolved for long.
Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A team led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Tony Mezzacappa is getting closer to explaining the origins of CCSN explosions with the help of Jaguar, a Cray XT5 supercomputer located at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility that likewise calls ORNL home.
Essentially, said Eirik Endeve, lead author of the team's latest paper, researchers want to know how these magnetic fields are created and how they impact the explosions of these massive stars.
A recent suite of simulations allowed the team to address some of the most fundamental questions surrounding the magnetic fields of CCSNs. Its findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal. In untangling the mystery surrounding these stars' powerful magnetic fields, researchers could ultimately explain a great deal as to why these stellar giants evolve into elemental firecrackers.
In an effort to locate the source of the magnetic fields, the team simulated a supernova progenitor, or a star in its pre-supernova phase, using tens of millions of hours on Jaguar, the nation's fastest supercomputer. The process revealed that we still have much to learn when it comes to how these stellar marvels operate.
Collapsed supernova remnants are commonly known as pulsars, and when it comes to magnetic fields, pulsars are the top players in the stellar community. These highly magnetized, rapidly rotating neutron stars get their name from the seemingly pulsing beam of light they emit, similar to the varying brightness produced by lighthouses as they rotate. This rotation is thought to be a big factor in determining the strength of a pulsar's magnetic field-the faster a star rotates the stronger its magnetic fields.
Supernova progenitors tend to be slower-rotating stars. Nevertheless, the simulations of these progenitors revealed a robust magnetic-field-generation mechanism, contradicting accepted theory that rotation could be a primary driver.
Interestingly, this finding builds on the team's previous work, which together with the latest simulations reveals that the culprit behind pulsar spins is likewise responsible for their magnetic fields. The earlier simulations, the results of which were published in "Pulsar spins from an instability in the accretion shock of supernovae" in the January 2007 edition of Nature, demonstrated that a phenomenon known as the spiral mode occurs when the shock wave expanding from a supernova's core stalls in a phase known as the standing accretion shock instability. As the expanding shockwave driving the supernova explosion comes to a halt, matter outside the shockwave boundary enters the interior, creating vortices that not only start the star spinning, but also yank and stretch its magnetic fields as well.
This new revelation means two things to astronomers: first, that any rotation that serves as a key driver behind a supernova's magnetism is created via the spiral mode, and second, that not only can the spiral mode drive rotation, but it can also determine the strength of a pulsar's magnetic fields.
Another major finding of the team's simulations is that shear flow from the SASI (standing accretion shock instability), or when counter-rotating layers of the star rub against one another during the SASI event, is highly susceptible to turbulence, which can also stretch and strengthen the progenitor's magnetic fields, similar to the expansion of a spring.
These two findings taken together show that CCSN magnetic fields can be efficiently generated by a somewhat unexpected source: shear flow-induced turbulence roiling the inner core of the star. "We found that starting with a magnetic field similar to what we think is in a supernova progenitor, this turbulent mechanism is capable of magnifying the magnetic field to pulsar strengths," Endeve said.
The GenASiS of magnetic fields
The team used the General Astrophysical Simulation System to study the evolution of the progenitor's magnetic fields. GenASiS, under development by Christian Cardall, Reuben Budiardia, Endeve and Mezzacappa at ORNL and Pedro Marronetti at Florida Atlantic University, features a novel approach to neutrino transport and gravity and makes fewer approximations than its earlier counterpart, which assumed CCSNs were perfectly spherical.
The simulations essentially solved a series of magnetohydrodynamic equations, or equations that describe the properties of electrically conductive fluids. After setting the initial conditions, the team ran several models at low and high resolutions, with the highest-resolution models taking more than a month to complete. Initially, Endeve said, they were run at lower resolutions, but very little significant activity occurred. However, as they ramped up the resolution, things got interesting.
The model starts at 4,000 cores, Endeve said, but as the star becomes more chaotic with turbulence and other factors, the simulations are scaled up to 64,000 cores, giving the team a more realistic picture of the magnetic activity in a CCSN. He added that the fact that the time to solution for these hugely varying job sizes is the same due to Jaguar's queue scheduling policy is a "great advantage." "The facilities here are excellent," said Endeve, adding that the center's high-performance storage system is very important to the team's research, as one model produces hundreds of terabytes of data. "We have also received a lot of help from the visualization team, especially Ross Toedte, and the group's liaison to the OLCF, Bronson Messer."
The team will next incorporate sophisticated neutrino transport and relativistic gravity, which will give it an even more realistic picture of CCSNs. However, to make such a powerful code economical, said Endeve, it will need to employ an adaptive mesh. And it will no doubt require Jaguar's computing power.
This latest discovery is just one more step toward unraveling the mysteries of CCSNs. As GenASiS continues to evolve, the team will be able to investigate these important stellar cataclysms at unprecedented levels, bringing science one step closer to a fundamental understanding of our universe.
Contacts and sources: | <urn:uuid:2a8e2192-1b86-4809-bac1-d19c810f41b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nanopatentsandinnovations.blogspot.com/2011/03/origins-of-core-collapse-supernova.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943826 | 1,441 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Monday, February 11, 2008, 08:00 am
MacBook Air face-off: HDD vs SSD (with video)In this fourth installment of our MacBook Air review series, we pit Apple's standard hard disk drive (HDD) model against the standard solid state drive (SSD) configuration in a set of battery and benchmark tests to gauge the performance and power saving capabilities of each. Videos are used to demonstrate a side-by-side simultaneous boot, as well some application launch tests.
Most critics of the MacBook Air have largely focused on what it doesn't have in comparison to the full size MacBook and high end MacBook Pro. This sounds a lot like complaining that a convertible lacks seats for six adults and the cargo room of a minivan. What's more interesting about the Air is how well it serves the purpose it was intended to achieve: a light, thin, and highly mobile laptop.
The previous two segments looked at issues faced by early adopters. Early adopter issues: MacBook Air and Migration Assistant examined the problems related to using only its built in WIFI 802.11n wireless networking to import files and users from another computer. In initial testing, it looked like the problem was the speed limitations of WiFi, but our followup testing suggests that WiFi can be very competitive for installing software.
In addition to the customary features Apple pared away from the Air to make it lighter, thinner, and less expensive, the new laptop also offers a new option: a solid state drive. It's not cheap, but it is fast and promises to be more reliable than a physical hard drive mechanism. SSDs use high density Flash RAM chips to store data in place of a conventional HDD's magnetically read platters.
The New SSD: More Expensive, Less Storage
Solid state drives are expensive, but costs are coming down. Of course, there's still a long way for their price tags to go. A 1.8" 64 GB SSD costs around $1600 at retail and 128GB versions are $3000 and up. The only thing that will force these prices down is the economies of scale from widespread adoption. A number of specialized ultra mobile laptops began offering an SSD option over the last six months, but Apple's more mainstream offering in the MacBook Air presents high capacity SSDs to a wide new audience. The One Laptop Per Child XO and Asus Eee PC also use SSD, but in much smaller sizes ranging from 1GB on the XO and between 2 and 8GB SSDs on the Eee PC.
An SSD is more than just Flash RAM chips; it also includes an ATA interface so the memory chips appear to the computer just like a hard drive. The iPhone and Flash iPods use Flash RAM, but not packaged in an SSD nor using an ATA interface. The SSD is designed as a package to be functionally identical to a standard hard drive and act as a drop-in replacement. That means Air users who opt for the standard HDD will be able to upgrade themselves to an SSD in the future using an off the shelf SSD that will likely be both larger and cheaper than what is available today. The high cost of SSD effectively limits its practical use to ultra mobile laptops and other specialty devices, where its advantages in speed, power savings, and reliability can offset its current price and capacity limitations.
Upgrading from the Air's standard 80GB HDD to a 64GB SSD costs a steep $999. The biggest downside after cost is the drop in capacity. Formatted, the 64GB SSD has a capacity of 55.6GB. With the default software install, its ships with around 38 GB available. As Bare Feats notes, "If we reserve 8GB for Virtual Memory, that only leaves us 30GB for documents, tunes, movies, photos, and third party apps." Users who need more than that will have to stick with the standard conventional hard drive. In comparison, the 80GB HDD supplies 74.5GB formatted capacity, and with the pre-installed software offers roughly 55GB available to the user.
SSD Speed Advantage
Fortunately, the SSD offers some advantages as well; the most obvious is speed. Flash RAM data writing usually isn't actually faster than a conventional hard drive; in sequential write tests the SSD was only 60-80% as fast. However, in disk reading and particularly random access reads, the SSD was dramatically faster: as much as 18 times faster.
That means faster booting, faster application launching, and faster open file operations, all tasks where the user is likely be waiting for disk access to finish. Write speeds during file saving have less of an impact on usability. In general file operations and copying, the weakness of SSD to write is well overshadowed by its blazing ability to read and its special prowess at randomly reading information on disk. A mechanical HDD has to physically move its head across the disk to perform random access operations.
SSD read speeds won't make the overall system dramatically faster all the time, but they are noticeable any time a lot of data is being read. Boot times were consistently much faster. As the video (below) demonstrates, the SSD was able to finish booting and connect to a wireless network while the HDD model was still spinning its gear on the grey boot screen.
We also selected 17 applications to simultaneously launch (excluding any that obscure the display such as Front Row). The SSD was able to rapidly load all of them at once, while the HDD struggled to manage so much concurrent disk activity. By the time it had finished, the SSD model had already put the display to sleep (below).
However, the speed launch trick is only impressive at the first launch of an application after a reboot. Mac OS X aggressively caches data to allow the slower HDD launch its applications nearly as fast on a second try (below).
As Flash prices drop, the performance advantage of SSD will begin to outweigh the cost, and current capacity limitations promise to be less of a factor as well. That will allow Apple to focus its Mac OS X development efforts on optimal SSD reading and cached writing, rather than catering its optimizations to the nature of standard hard drives with longer latency and seek times.
On page 2 of 2: Power Savings; Reliability; and Worth the Grand?
On Topic: Current Hardware
- Best Buy, Amazon knock 10% off Apple's MacBook Airs & iMacs for Mother's Day
- Best Buy MacBook Pro sale helps push down prices on 13" Retina models
- Apple adds 256GB, 512GB flash storage upgrade options for iMac
- Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock for Mac now shipping for $299
- AI readers now get lowest prices on Apple's iMacs & MacBooks with new coupons | <urn:uuid:a28235cd-eeae-4409-a64b-2d20e1d1569e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://appleinsider.com/articles/08/02/11/macbook_air_face_off_hdd_vs_ssd_with_video.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950352 | 1,368 | 1.695313 | 2 |
We are committed to the Mission
May 17, 2009
By Dr. Keith C. Norris
Office of the President, Charles Drew University
In charting the history of urban unrest in America, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that a riot is “the language of the unheard.”
The founders of Charles R. Drew University, named in honor of a brilliant African-American physician, famous for his pioneering work in blood preservation, grappled with that very idea when they set out to establish a university in the wake of the 1965 Watts Rebellion.
They saw the creation of a medical school as a way to empower the poor to take greater control of their health—and their destinies.
With improved access to healthcare, we can put an end to the health disparities that have inflicted hardships in underserved communities.
That was the point four decades ago when Drew got its start. Today, we’re still fighting that same fight.
South Los Angeles remains one of the largest and most diverse urban pockets in the country. And no where is the need for trained physicians, health professionals and access to quality health care more acute. The rates of childhood obesity, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS and infant mortality are all higher.
It is here in the persistent poverty, turmoil and disenfranchisement of South Los Angeles that Drew’s mission has flourished.
Since its founding, Charles Drew University has been a pioneer in health and education, turning out medical professionals who are committed to the mission of serving the most vulnerable.
The university—the only dually designated Historically Black Graduate Institution and Hispanic Serving Health Professionals School in the country—has graduated over 550 medical doctors, 2,500 post-graduates physicians, more than 2,000 physician assistants and hundreds of other health professionals.
This year, the Class of 2009, one of the most successful in the university’s history, echoes the call to serve that has been voiced by previous generations.
As the commencement speaker at this year’s graduation, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will launch this crop of new graduates into our future.
We will also honor Dr. LaSalle Leffall Jr., the first Black president of the American Cancer Society who, as a young surgery resident, studied under Dr. Charles R. Drew.
And just as he followed in the footsteps of Dr. Drew, I, a former student of Dr. Leffall Jr., followed in his.
That too is an important part of our mission—one generation helping the next as we turn out the best professionals to practice medicine and conduct world class research.
That will be true at the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing, built to help California overcome the worst nursing shortage in the country with a first class training program dedicated to providing care where it is needed.
It's also true at our Saturday Science Academy, which opens the world of science for young elementary, middle school and high school students.
Our mission is to train the next generation to make a difference. And, to paraphrase the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., we listen closely to the voices of those who are unheard.
Keith C. Norris, MD, FACP, is the leading member of an executive team selected earlier this month by the university’s Board of Trustees to make up the Office of the President after the resignation of Susan A. Kelly, PhD, FAPS, the university’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, became effective on May 4.
Dr. Norris, the university’s executive vice president for Research and Health Affairs, heads the office of External Affairs. Ronald Edelstein, EdD, serves as Dean of Academic Affairs; and Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Vice President of Operations, leads the Office of Internal Operations.
At Charles Drew University, Dr. Norris’ research interests focus on the prevention and early treatment of chronic kidney disease, with emphasis on improving outcomes for African American and Latino populations. Other areas include the role of vitamin D in chronic kidney disease, calcium management and end-state renal disease, and hypertension. He is currently a principal investigator on four National Institute of Health (NIH) grants and co-investigator on several others.
Earlier this year, Research!America honored Dr. Norris by naming him an “ambassador” for the nonprofit organization’s Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research, which advocates for greater funding in research to fight diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest nations.
ABOUT CHARLES DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE (CDU)
CDU is a private nonprofit, nonsectarian, minority-serving medical and health sciences institution. Located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles, CDU has graduated over 550 medical doctors, 2,500 post-graduate physicians, more than 2,000 physician assistants and hundreds of other health professionals. The only dually designated Historically Black Graduate Institution and Hispanic Serving Health Professions School in the U.S. CDU is recognized as a leader in health inequities and translational research, specifically with respect to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health, and HIV/AIDS. The University is among the top 7% of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded institutions and rated one of the top 50 private universities in research in the U.S. Recently, the CDU/UCLA medical program was named the “best performer” in the University of California System with respect to producing outstanding underrepresented minority physicians. For more information, visit www.cdrewu.edu.
# # #
John L. Mitchell
Media Advisor at
Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science
Telephone: (323) 563-4981 or cell (323) 681-4225
CHARLES DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
1731 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059
p 323 563 4987 ? f 323 563 5987 ? w www.cdrewu.edu
Pioneering in Health and Education | <urn:uuid:a8a5ff2e-95ff-4bb6-8a8d-431d3705cd52> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cdrewu.edu/page/1932 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937319 | 1,264 | 1.546875 | 2 |
US Senate Recommends Studying Syria No-Fly Zone
06:53 05/12/2012 WASHINGTON, December 5 (RIA Novosti) - The US Senate recommended that US President Barack Obama study the possibility of imposing the no-fly zone over Syria in an amendment approved on Wednesday.
The senators have voted 92-6 to require the Pentagon to report on options for using U.S. military assets to prevent Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from using air power against opposition forces.
“This amendment is simply a way of saying we in the Senate are concerned, care about the slaughter going on in Syria and agitated that those in the rest of the world are not doing more," Senator from Connecticut Joseph Lieberman said introducing the amendment.
The amendment gives Defense Secretary Leon Panetta 90 days after the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act to report back to the House and Senate defense committees what options the US has to try to contain the Syrian conflict.
The US administration earlier said it opposed the move. The White House said, however, that it was ready to study all options for ending the Syrian conflict.
|Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list| | <urn:uuid:34eada79-c815-4e08-b22f-19b0bb73e66e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/syria/2012/syria-121205-rianovosti01.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938788 | 238 | 1.875 | 2 |
It's the why that lets us down in crime novels. You hit the last quarter of the book, and you get impatient or cranky. All will soon be revealed -- and all might not be enough. Criminals are best in action (action includes their thoughts); so are the detectives who partner and track them. And readers are almost pathetically excited by crime that leads to death. Police Inspector Wallander is talking about us, in Henning Mankell's new novel, ''One Step Behind,'' when he says about local crime scene gawkers: ''They probably just get a thrill from being in the presence of the unthinkable. . . . Knowing that they themselves are safe.'' This must be one reason so few popular novels focus on the kind of crime that costs thousands of people their jobs and life savings. Those crimes aren't unthinkable enough.
No one tops American writers when it comes to certain ''whys'': ambition and greed; dangerous liaisons; corrupt organizations, from crime syndicates born bad to law enforcement agencies gone bad. The solitary pursuer casts the longest shadow: the rebel detective, cop, journalist or citizen who has to solve crimes on his or her own. And he or she has to go it alone in a city like New York, San Francisco or Miami; in a particular neighborhood; in a small Southern town or on an Indian reservation. It isn't the nation we think about when we read crime novels. The classic American crime tale is as local as Tip O'Neill said our politics were. | <urn:uuid:1ec5b7be-de97-462e-9eb4-6b50d6ad25a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/14/books/on-writers-and-writing-murder-in-a-cold-climate.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960632 | 309 | 1.71875 | 2 |
At the third Special Session meeting of the WTO Committee on Agriculture, held in Geneva this week, the European Union (EU) tabled two proposals, one on the protection of geographical indications and the other on the "green box" measures.
Green box is domestic support that is deemed to be minimally trade-distorting and that is excluded from reduction commitments under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA).
As to geographical indications, the EU emphasises the importance of increased market access for products of certain denominations.
"We cannot let people believe that they are buying a genuine product with specific qualities, characteristics and reputation associated with a certain geographical origin, such as Parma Ham or Champagne, while in fact they get a entirely different product," EU negotiator David Roberts said in Geneva.
Therefore an appropriate mechanism should guarantee effective protection against usurpation of names and the right to use geographical indications or designations of origin. Consumer protection and fair competition should also be ensured.
When a food product becomes well known outside its area of origin, it may have to compete with different and yet similar products making use of the same name. It may even be excluded from exploiting its own geographical name because local producers have converted it into a trademark.
"Unauthorised use of geographical indications is extremely harmful to consumers and legitimate producers. On the one hand, the genuine producers suffer economic damage because valuable business is taken away from them and the established reputation for their products is compromised.
On the other hand this situation also leaves the consumers with feelings of frustration because they do not receive the specific quality of product which the label suggest they are buying," said David Roberts, the European Commission's negotiator at the WTO agriculture talks.
Therefore it is important that increased market access goes hand in hand with enhanced protection. Whilst promoting the development of high-quality food products, it should at the same time guarantee this quality to consumers.
"Improved market access for such products is not only important for the EU. Developing countries, who possess a great richness and variety of food products based on traditional know-how, stand to benefit as well from increased protection against misuse of their specialised food product denominations. Therefore, the EU proposes that an appropriate protection mechanism should be put in place."
The second EU paper presented on Sept 25 stresses that the current "green box" provisions have contributed to implement policies to protect the environment and to help preserve the viability of rural areas.
According to the EU, new green box measures should also cover concerns such as animal welfare, without distorting trade.
This special session is being the work programme of the second phase of negotiations to continue the reform process under Article 20 of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
The current green box provisions have contributed to implement policies to protect the environment and to help preserve the viability of the rural areas. The EU believes that all the countries have the right to choose to preserve or develop the economic and social environment necessary to maintain their rural populations.
The current provisions provided for in the AoA represent the right disciplines to address these issues and should therefore be maintained. "Coverage of new measures relating to increasingly important issues, such as animal welfare, should also be adequately guaranteed," the EU negotiator explained. He added that however "green box measures should respect the essential condition of the green box: not to distort trade." | <urn:uuid:7c73f56a-db7f-4818-8383-3eb2f967ace7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.foodnavigator.com/Legislation/EU-wants-to-stop-the-pirating-of-food-names | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948073 | 683 | 2.4375 | 2 |
July 2012, Pub #F067.01
Title I of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities with reasonable accommodations. This fact sheet provides information about reasonable accommodations under Title I.
You should also be aware that there are other laws that protect the rights of qualified persons with disabilities from discrimination in an employment context other than Title I of the ADA. For example, state law, such as the California Fair Employment and Housing Act also protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment.
For more detailed information please see Disability Rights California’s publication Employment Rights Under the Americans With Disabilities Act, available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/issues/employment_pubs.html or upon request.
1. What is a reasonable accommodation?
Under the ADA, a reasonable accommodation includes modifications or adjustments that enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job. Whether an accommodation is reasonable in a particular case involves an analysis of the fasts of the particular situation, including the cost of the accommodation and the employer’s ability to pay for it.
Some examples of possible accommodations include the following: allowing an employee to take time off from work for doctor’s appointments or visits to a therapist; allowing an employee a flexible work schedule so that the employee may work more hours on good days and fewer hours when necessary; restructuring the job description to eliminate non-essential functions; providing a wheelchair accessible work site, a sign language interpreter, or Braille materials; or simply educating and reshaping co-worker attitudes.
2. How do I ask for a reasonable accommodation?
If you need an accommodation, you should tell your employer (1) that you have a disability (unless your disability is obvious), (2) how your disability interferes with your ability to do your job functions, and (3) what accommodations you need in order to do your job functions. Although you may make your request orally or in writing, it is better practice to put your request in writing so you have a record of it. . (For a sample reasonable accommodation letter please see our publication Employment Rights under the ADA, publication #5068.01, http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/506801.htm).
3. What documentation can my employer request?
If the need for an accommodation is not obvious (e.g. an employee uses a wheelchair), an employer can ask the employee for reasonable supporting documentation. This is documentation sufficient to establish that the employee has a covered disability and establish the need for the accommodation the employee seeks. The documentation should not be a “blank check” to seek the employee’s entire medical record.
4. Is my employer obligated to provide any accommodation that I request?
No. Once your employer knows about your need for an accommodation, he or she must engage in an interactive process with you to help determine what accommodations might be appropriate. Your employer does not have to provide the exact accommodation you are requesting, but must have meaningful discussions with you about what will work and what is reasonable. Employers must make reasonable efforts to determine the appropriate accommodation for you, by consulting with you and giving primary consideration to your preference. The employer may select a less expensive alternative as long as it is appropriate and meets your needs.
5. Can an employer ever say “no” to my reasonable accommodation request?
Employers are not required to provide an accommodation if it would create an “undue hardship” on the employer. In general, the term undue hardship means an action requiring significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of several factors including the nature and cost of the accommodation as well as the employer’s resources.
6. How can I work with my employer and protect my rights?
You should participate in the process of developing or implementing the accommodation. If you and your employer do not initially agree on the accommodation, you can offer your employer a referral to accommodation specialists such as the Job Accommodation Network (800 526-7234; http://askjan.org/); or enlist assistance from a third party such as your Department of Rehabilitation Counselor or an advocate. You can also contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): www.eeoc.gov or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH): www.dfeh.ca.gov.
7. What can I do if my employer denies my request for reasonable accommodations?
You may file a Title I complaint with the EEOC either by telephone at (800) 669-4000; or visit its website for more information at http://www.eeoc.gov. In California, a complaint must be filed with the EEOC within 300 days of the discrimination. If the EEOC issues a right-to-sue letter (a letter saying you may file in court), you have 90 days to sue in US Federal District Court. You must receive a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC before filing an action under Title I in court.
If you want to pursue a legal remedy, you must file a charge of discrimination with the DFEH within one year from the date of the alleged discriminatory act. If you want to go to court, you must file a lawsuit in state court within one year of the date of a right-to-sue notice issued by DFEH. If you think you may have an ADA complaint in addition to the Fair Employment and Housing Act complaint, you should file with the DFEH or the EEOC within 300 days, since the time line for filing an ADA complaint is 300 days. | <urn:uuid:19d470d6-d1fa-4bbe-bb97-936fc22274a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/F06701.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941449 | 1,182 | 2.421875 | 2 |
Come gather ’round, people: if your cash to you is worth spending on a one-of-a-kind piece of Bob Dylan memorabilia, you might consider saving the date of Dec. 10. That’s when Sotheby’s plans to auction Mr. Dylan’s handwritten lyrics to “The Times They Are a-Changin’” as part of a larger sale of books and manuscripts, the auction house said on Monday. In a catalog listing, Sotheby’s described the item as “a sheet of unruled three-hole notebook paper” on which Mr. Dylan wrote four verses of the famous protest song in simple block lettering (which you can see in closer detail here). He later recorded it for his 1964 album of the same title. (The verse that begins, “Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen,” does not appear in the document, though a fragment of lyrics from Mr. Dylan’s song “North Country Blues” can be seen on the reverse side.)
Selby Kiffer, a senior vice president in Sotheby’s books and manuscripts department, said the document was originally given to Kevin Krown, a fellow folk singer, by Mr. Dylan, who had a tendency to toss away his lyric sheets once he’d committed his songs to memory. When Mr. Krown died in the 1990s, the lyrics were passed along to Mac and Eve MacKenzie, who hosted Mr. Dylan in their Manhattan home on some of his earliest visits to New York.
“Although he also seems to have had a capacity for dropping people,” Mr. Kiffer said of Mr. Dylan, “forgetting them and moving on, in the case of Krown and the MacKenzies, they got something tangible out of it, at least.”
If you don’t want your hopes of owning the lyric sheet to sink like a stone, you’d better have deep pockets. Sotheby’s said it expected the lot to fetch $200,000 to $300,000. | <urn:uuid:bf36df4a-3fce-4ba1-a42a-f52d375a24a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/sign-of-the-times-dylans-lyrics-for-sale/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975361 | 451 | 1.578125 | 2 |
(Total Articles 7874,Showing: 1 -> 12)
THE LATEST version of the Welsh Government’s Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) Regulations states that anyone breeding three or more litters a year will have to be licensed.
THE KENNEL Club is to allow puppies from planned dual matings to be registered without the need for permission in advance.
IT IS becoming clear that in many breeds the number of dogs entered at group/general championship shows is declining steadily, and fewer dogs are competing in these breeds for the available CCs.
THE KENNEL Club would like more dogs of more breeds to be coat-tested at shows. So says chairman Steve Dean in his column in the Kennel Gazette this month.
THE LATEST stop on the show calendar for the DOG WORLD-produced canine TV series was Birmingham National. Around the Dog World – The National has full coverage of this representative show including every group and best in show. Plus, ATDW is the...
Welsh Kennel Club and Scottish Kennel Club
THE UK and the European methods of scanning Cavaliers and recording and disclosing results formed part of presentations made to members of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club recently.
When the Labrador brother and sister It Chs Loch Mor Romeo (right) and Giulietta won both CCs at Three Counties under Richard Bott it crowned a remarkable run of achievement for this pair bred and owned by Franco Barberi from Italy.
THE KENNEL Club has released more guidance on the criteria for removal of breeds from the high-profile breed list.
AS REPORTED last week, Sh Ch Vbos The Kentuckian, the Flat-coated Retriever breed CC record holder and Crufts BIS winner of 2011, has died, just a few months short of his 12th birthday, writes Bonnie Scougall.
MINISTERS, MPs, and animal welfare charities joined forces at a House of Commons debate hosted by the Kennel Club to discuss the implications of compulsory microchipping.
DOGS need not be vaccinated against infectious diseases more often than every three years, according to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), and possibly not that frequently. | <urn:uuid:ab59bf6a-c440-423d-8602-9d84509e9b5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dogworld.co.uk/section.php/34/1/news/42035caac4ab91419e91695ea04d2209 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951214 | 453 | 1.71875 | 2 |
None of them would ever know when it all began. Human memory
doesn’t reach that far back. Recorded history has its limits. Time is a veil
not easily pierced.
Where it began? That’s another story. It began on the river, always
on the river. This, everyone could see. Rivers take the long view, and the
signs they carve into the earth survive the ages.
Every ripple, every riffle, every eddy, each rush of wild whitewater
over rocks or between towering limestone walls, every still-seeming pool
hiding quick currents, all these aspects of the river exist in the now but hold
the memory of eons gone by, and at night the river whispers or roars or
babbles its secret memories to those who know how to listen.
The river is at fault, yet blameless. The river doesn’t choose sides or
But the river remembers…. | <urn:uuid:084995cc-b50d-452c-8f03-82861ecbd508> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jeffmariotte.com/river/excerpt.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932044 | 199 | 1.734375 | 2 |
David Lionel Bazelon (1946-1947)
Early History/Schooling: David Bazelon, the youngest of nine children, was born in Superior, Wisconsin on September 3, 1909, to Israel and Lena Bazelon. His father died when he was two years old, and shortly thereafter his family moved to Chicago. Bazelon attended the University of Illinois, then transferred to Northwestern University, graduating in 1931 with a law degree. Throughout his schooling, Bazelon worked side jobs to pay for his education. Upon graduation, Bazelon went to work for a law firm and became active in Chicago politics. In 1935, Bazelon was appointed assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He returned to private practice in 1940, until his appointment as Assistant Attorney General in 1946.
Tenure as AAG: In 1946, President Truman named David Bazelon Assistant Attorney General of the Lands Division. J. Edgar Hoover, an early friend and patron of Bazelon, encouraged him to take this position in the Justice Department and later supported his appointment to the judiciary. In 1947, Bazelon left the Lands Division to become administrator of the Justice Department’s Office of Alien Property.
Career: In 1949, President Truman named Bazelon to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. At age 40, he was the youngest judge appointed to that court, and served as Chief Judge from 1962-1978. In 1979, he accepted senior status and remained in semi-retirement until 1985. In Environmental Defense Fund, Inc v. Ruckelshaus, 439 F.2d 584 (1971), (future AAG Jim Moorman arguing for the plaintiffs), Judge Bazelon ordered that the newly-created EPA suspend all uses of DDT. Judge Bazelon also made a number of influential decisions dealing with the rights of the mentally ill and expanding the right of defendants in criminal cases to be represented in court. He authored the D.C. Circuit’s opinion in Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., overturning the Atomic Energy Commission’s issuance of a license for the operation of a nuclear power plant mainly on environmental grounds. In a highly critical opinion, the Supreme Court overturned the D.C. Circuit’s decision. 435 U.S. 519 (1978).
Personal: On June 7, 1936, Bazelon married Miriam M. Kellner, with whom he had two sons, Richard and James. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Bazelon was also a member of the National Institutes of Health Advisory Commission and a lecturer in law and psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Menninger Clinic. Bazelon died on February 19, 1993, after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
This material is based on the review of a variety of historical sources, and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If you have any corrections or additional information about this individual or about the history of the Division, please contact ENRD. | <urn:uuid:5e7d4fd8-b723-413f-9ed2-ad79d51b7f63> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.justice.gov/enrd/4779.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963479 | 638 | 2.375 | 2 |
Silver Award Winner in the 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards!
Born with autism, both authors now famously live successful social lives. But their paths were very different. Temple's logical mind controlled her social behavior. She interacted with many adults and other children, experiencing varied social situations. Logic informed her decision to obey social rules and avoid unpleasant consequences. Sean's emotions controlled his social behavior. Baffled by social rules, isolated and friendless, he made up his own, and applied them to others. When they inevitably broke his rules, he felt worthless and unloved. Both Temple and Sean ultimately came to terms with the social world and found their places in it. Whether you are a person with autism, a caregiver in the autism community, or just someone interested in an "outsider" view of society, their powerful stories will enthrall and enlighten you.
Helpful sections include:
- Two Perspectives on Social Thinking
- Two Minds: Two Paths
- The Ten Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships, which include:
- Rule #1: Rules are Not Absolute. They are Situation-based and People-based
- Rule #2: Not Everything is Equally Important in the Grand Scheme of Things
- Rule #3: Everyone in the World Makes Mistakes. It Doesn’t Have to Ruin Your Day.
- Rule #4: Honesty is Different than Diplomacy
- Rule #5: Being Polite is Appropriate in Any Situation
- Rule #6: Not Everyone Who is Nice to Me is My Friend
- Rule #7: People Act Differently in Public than They Do in Private
- Rule #8: Know When You’re Turning People Off
- Rule #9: “Fitting In” is Often Tied to Looking and Sounding Like You Fit In
- Rule # 10: People are Responsible for Their Own Behaviors | <urn:uuid:94b55752-82cb-404e-95b4-19045bf531f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.amazon.ca/Unwritten-Social-Relationships-Temple-Grandin/dp/193256506X | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957054 | 397 | 2.796875 | 3 |
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Because of superstorm Sandy, visitors seeking a close-up look at Blackwater Falls State Park's namesake waterfall might have to wait until next spring to take the 214-step boardwalk to an eye-level viewing platform of the often-photographed cataract.
More than 30 inches of snow fell on Blackwater Falls as the remnants of Sandy swept through West Virginia's northeastern mountains, downing trees, snapping off limbs and shearing power lines at the 2,358-acre Tucker County park. On Friday, after being without power for 18 days, the park was able to resume its lodge, cabin and restaurant operations for the first time since the storm struck.
"The roads are open now, but Lindy Point Trail and a number of other trails are closed due to the need to remove debris," said Rob Gilligan, who serves as superintendent of the Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley state parks.
Gilligan said work has resumed on a new surface lift at Blackwater's sledding area, which should be completed early this winter.
Heavy snowfall caused several large trees to slide down the slopes overlooking the point where the Blackwater River flows off a stream-wide ledge and plunges 62 feet into a pool below. Several sections of the viewing area boardwalk were destroyed as the trees plummeted into the gorge.
"It's a mess at the falls and a difficult site to work in," Gilligan said. Lingering cold temperatures and mist from the waterfall make the boardwalk an icy, hazardous repair site.
Depending on the weather during winter, it could take several months to rebuild the boardwalk, Gilligan said.
Meanwhile, in the Monongahela National Forest, which borders Blackwater Falls and extends southward into Greenbrier County, saw crews have cleared roads leading to campgrounds at Summit Lake, Bishop Knob, Tea Creek and the Cranberry River.
Monongahela National Forest campgrounds remaining closed because of storm-toppled trees include Big Rock, along the Cranberry River in the Gauley Ranger District, and the roadside campsites along Williams River Road between Dyer and the Highland Scenic Highway.
Tea Creek Campground along the Williams River can be accessed only from the nearby Highlands Scenic Highway, but any significant snowfall will make the campground inaccessible because the scenic highway is not plowed. Cranberry Campground, along the Cranberry River, can be reached by following Forest Road 101 from Dyer or Forest Road 76 from Richwood.
Many forest roads in the Monongahela, particularly in its northern section, might not reopen until spring, as saw crews concentrate on opening roads leading to campgrounds and recreation areas to the south that normally are open at this time of year.
Forest Service officials caution hunters to be wary of hazards posed by hanging branches and toppling trees.
Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169. | <urn:uuid:032fe153-bbd7-4e9f-8b17-d9470501e713> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201211160213 | 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 | 0.950226 | 616 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Cinco de Mayo -- the unofficial U.S. holiday long believed to have been imported, with celebratory beer, from Mexico -- isn't a Mexican holiday at all but rather an American one created by Latinos in the West during the Civil War, according to new research by a California professor.
Conventional thinking has held that the holiday -- now a commercial juggernaut -- may have grown out of the mass migrations from the bloody Mexican Revolution of the 1910s or even during Chicano Power activism of the 1960s, University of California at Los Angeles Professor David Hayes-Bautista said.
But on the 150th anniversary of the holiday, Hayes-Bautista is announcing that he happened upon the true origins of Cinco de Mayo -- the 5th of May -- after poring over Spanish-language newspapers in California from the mid-1800s while working on another research project.
Cinco de Mayo does indeed mark a Mexican military victory over the invading French army on May 5, 1862, but it's celebrated more in the United States because in 1862, U.S. Latinos of Mexican heritage parlayed the victory as a rallying cry that the Union could also win the Civil War.
That's because the French sympathized with the Confederacy, and Hispanics sided with the Union in its fight against slavery and elitism, Hayes-Bautista said. France sought to impose a monarchy over democratic Mexico while U.S. foreign power weakened during the War Between the States.
Hayes-Bautista, a UCLA professor of medicine whose family lore holds his great-great grandfather fought in the famous Cinco de Mayo battle, has just published a new book on the discovery, "El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition," which one historian also at UCLA describes as "of great significance."
Hayes-Bautista was culling Spanish-language newspapers in California and Oregon for vital statistics from the 1800s when he noticed how the Civil War and Cinco de Mayo battle were intertwined. He researches the epidemiology and demography of Latinos in California because he's director of UCLA's Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture.
"I'm seeing how in the minds of the Spanish-reading public in California that they were basically looking at one war with two fronts, one against the Confederacy in the east and the other against the French in the south," Hayes-Bautista said in an interview with CNN.
"In Mexico today, Cinco de Mayo means the Mexican army defeated the French army," he continued. "In California and Oregon, the news was interpreted as finally that the army of freedom and democracy won a big one against the army of slavery and elitism. And the fact that those two armies had to meet in Mexico was immaterial because they were fighting for the same issues -- defending freedom and democracy. Latinos were joining the Union army, Union cavalry, Union navy.
"The French goal was to eliminate democracy, and remember that Mexico had democracy only for 30 or 40 years at that point," he added. "Remember, Europe was ruled mostly by monarchs."
French emperor Napoleon III "was no friend of the Union and was definitely a friend of the Confederacy and flirted with the Confederacy constantly with the possible recognition of the Confederate government," Hayes-Bautista said. President Abraham Lincoln never referred to the Confederacy as a separate government: they were states in rebellion," the professor said.
Napoleon III's plan was to instill a monarchy over Mexico and "have that monarch cooperate with the Confederacy," Hayes-Bautista said.
In early spring 1862, the Union army was unable to move against the Confederates, and American democracy was "apparently not doing too well," Hayes-Bautista said.
The French entry into Mexico troubled Hispanics, Hayes-Bautista said.
"Latinos in California were reading about every single battle of the Civil War," he said. "They were very well-informed, and they were reading with a three-week delay of similarly detailed reports from Mexico. So by early May, the French were about 60 miles from Mexico City as some Latinos feared that the Civil War might be over."
But the Mexican army prevailed, and the Spanish-language newspapers in California reported the victory with such headlines as "HURRAH FOR MEXICO!!! HURRAH FOR INDEPENDENCE!"
In his book, Hayes-Bautista writes: "In town after town, camp after camp, mine after mine, ranch after ranch, Latinos eagerly absorbed the news. Those who could read shared the glorious details with their illiterate fellows, and up and down the state, Latinos savored the blow-by-blow reporting from the front lines of the conflict that had so riveted their attention."
The Cinco de Mayo victory was then memorialized through a network of Latino groups called "juntas patrioticas mejicanas," or Mexican patriotic assemblies, mostly in California but also in Oregon, Nevada and Arizona, with 14,000 members, Hayes-Bautista said.
The juntas celebrated Cinco de Mayo with monthly parades, speeches, dances, banquets and bull fights as a morale builder for Lincoln and Mexican President Benito Juarez, who, despite the Cinco de Mayo victory, was subsequently engaged in a three-year struggle against foreign occupation until 1867.
"From 1862 to 1867, the public memory of Cinco de Mayo was forged in the American West," Hayes-Bautista said.
Briefly after the Civil War, veterans of the Union and Mexican armies would put on their uniforms and give speeches every Cinco de Mayo, he said.
But by 1890, the grandchildren of the veterans and juntas had to be taught about Cinco de Mayo, Hayes-Bautista said.
The meaning of the holiday changed over time, becoming a David versus Goliath tale among Mexican immigrants in the 1930s and embodying U.S.-Mexico unity during World War II and Chicano Power in the 1960s and 1970s, Hayes-Bautista said.
In his book, he described Cinco de Mayo's "undeniable commercialization in the late 20th century, a fake holiday recently invented by beverage companies."
In his interview with CNN, Hayes-Bautista stated: "Now it's become this big commercial holiday and a wonderful opportunity to get services and products in front of the Latino market and it even got its own postage in 1996 and in 2005 President Bush even had a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House. | <urn:uuid:d17a0f16-dabd-40ed-bff4-148d83e1a633> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kesq.com/news/Cinco-de-Mayo-a-Mexican-import-No-it-s-as-American-as-July-4-prof-says/-/233092/12571074/-/7i0vauz/-/index.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 | 0.976723 | 1,365 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Past Time Linear Temporal Logic
Past time Linear Temporal Logic (ptLTL) is a logic for specifying properties of reactive and concurrent systems. ptLTL provides temporal operators that refer to the past states of an execution trace relative to a current point of reference. The logic plugin here is based on an rewriting-based algorithm for generating an optimized monitoring program from an ptLTL formula.
The PTLTL formula follows the following syntax:
<Fm> ::= true | false | A | ! <Fm> | <Fm> /\ <Fm> | <Fm> \/ <Fm> | <Fm> ++ <Fm> | <Fm> -> <Fm> | <Fm> <-> <Fm> | [*] <Fm> | <*> <Fm> | (*) <Fm> | <Fm> Ss <Fm> | <Fm> Sw <Fm> | [ <Fm> , <Fm> )s | [ <Fm> , <Fm> )w | start(<Fm>) | end(<Fm>)
The different operators in decreasing order of precedence are [*], <*>, (*) > ! > U > /\ > ++ > \/ > -> > <-> > Ss, Sw. A is an event or a predicate. The propositional binary operators, e.g. /\, ++ and so on, are the standard ones, that is, disjunction, conjunction, implication, equivalence, and exclusive disjunction (++).
The standard past time and the monitoring operators are called ``temporal operators, because they refer to other (past) moments in time. The operator (*) F should be read ``previously F; its intuition is that F held at the immediately previous step of execution. <*> F should be read ``eventually in the past F, with the intuition that there is some past moment in time when F was true. [*] F should be read ``always in the past f, with the obvious meaning. The operator F1 Ss F2, which should be read ``F1 strong since F2, reflects the intuition that F2 held at some moment in the past and, since then, F1 held all the time. F1 Sw F2 is a weak version of ``since, read ``F1 weak since F2, saying that either F1 was true all the time or otherwise F1 Ss F2. The monitoring operators start, end, [ )s, and [ )w were inspired by work in runtime verification. We found these operators often more intuitive and compact than the usual past time operators in specifying runtime requirements, despite the fact that they have the same expressive power as the standard ones. The operator start(F) should be read ``start F; it says that the formula F just started to be true, that is, it was false previously but it is true now. Dually, the operator end(F) which is read ``end F, carries the intuition that F ends to be true, that is, it was previously true but it is false now. The operators [F1,F2)s and [F1,F2)w are read ``strong/weak interval F1,F2 and they carry the intuition that F1 was true at some point in the past but F2 has not been seen to be true since then, including that moment.
Example: [*](start(dialing) -> !((*)(busyTone\/connected))) (one cannot dial when the phone is busy or connected) | <urn:uuid:cc672424-decf-4ca7-81eb-e5343d0e7b2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fsl.cs.uiuc.edu/index.php/Past_Time_Linear_Temporal_Logic | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947428 | 759 | 3.0625 | 3 |
The Italian grip is one of the traditional styles of fencing grip for foil and epee, though it is rarely seen in modern fencing. It is similar to the French grip in many respects: it is straight (though generally straighter and narrower than a French grip), it is usually made of leather-wrapped wood or hard plastic (or in the olden days, bone), and it is held in generally the same fashion. The most significant difference between the French and Italian grips is that the Italian grip has the addition of two metal rings on opposite sides of the grip, protruding from the back side of the bell guard and connecting to the grip at a crossguard about an inch from the bell. The stems of this crossguard are called quillons and they serve more or less as anchor points for the fingers and thumb to provide the user with (quite significant) leverage.
In general one holds the Italian grip with two fingers inside the bottom ring (between the quillon and the bell) and the other two fingers below the quillon. The thumb is somewhat hooked around the top quillon, holding the weapon at a point opposite the index finger. With the exception of the presence of the rings, the basic hand position when holding the Italian grip is roughly identical to that for the French grip. Additionally, it was common in its heyday for users of the Italian grip to wear a leather strap around their wrists and hook the pommel of the Italian grip under the wrist strap. The combination of the quillons and the wrist strap gave users of the Italian grip massive leverage, but relatively little finger control when compared to the French grip.
The Italian grip was, as expected, preferred by the Italian fencing masters in the 18th century. Italian schools of fence favored strong, decisive (sometimes described as brutal) actions over the small, efficient movements of the French schools. (It should be noted that the great Aldo Nadi was a strong proponent of the Italian grip, and he argued that those who feel that its use robbed them of point control and finesse were simply using the grip incorrectly.)
The Italian grip has lately fallen into disfavor in the fencing world. The reasons are complex and varied. As the French came to be a dominating power in Olympic fencing, the traditional French style of fencing came to be the most favored as well as the most refined. Fencers tended to find more success with the quick, accurate movements common to the French schools. Furthermore, with the advent and widespread acceptance of the orthopedic grip, fencers who still sought a powerful grip for their weapons had many other (admittedly more comfortable) options than the Italian grip. Additionally (as I can personally attest), use of the Italian grip can be dangerous to one's person--a disarming maneouvre (or any particularly forceful bind), when used against a fencer using an Italian grip, can seriously sprain or even break the user's fingers, as the fingers get trapped in the finger rings as the weapon is forced out of the hand. Finally, for a time the wrist strap was deemed illegal in Olympic fencing, and without the wrist strap the Italian grip loses many of its perceived advantages. In addition a misinterpretation of this rule led many to believe that the Italian grip itself was illegal. (Modern fencing rules are suspicously silent on the legality of the Italian grip. This is because the grip is almost never seen and its legality in competition is largely irrelevant. Nevertheless it is generally considered to be legal by fencing's governing body.)
The confluence of all these factors led to an almost complete extinction of the Italian grip. It is rare to see one in use at all; it is almost impossible to find them in compeition. Many armorers and tournament officials are still harboring the misapprehension that the Italian grip is illegal. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a vendor who sells genuine Italian grips. A properly crafted Italian grip has the finger rings welded to the bell guard, and requires a special blade with an extra-wide ricasso--the portion of the blade between the bell and the quillons. Most vendors selling "Italian grips" sell essentially decorative finger rings that are not welded to the bell and therefore provide no leverage advantage whatsoever. It is also extremely difficult to find the proper blades for a genuine Italian grip.
One minor advantage of the Italian grip is that it is the only grip that may be genuinely ambidextrous. The standard design of the Italian grip is completely symmetrical, and so it can be used with either hand equally well. However, many Italian grips are made with the finger rings set at an angle to the plane of the blade; if this is the case then the weapon does tend towards a particular handedness. | <urn:uuid:154f9f67-070f-426c-967a-5b0e1168eadb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://everything2.com/title/Italian+grip | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971089 | 965 | 2 | 2 |
Published in TB and Outbreaks Week, November 15th, 2005
Study 1: Scientists characterize a double subgenomic chikungunya virus infectious clone to express heterologous genes in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in a recent issue of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
"Three full-length infectious cDNA clones based on the alphavirus chikungunya (CHIKV) were developed and characterized in vitro and in vivo. The full-length clone retained the viral phenotypes of CHIKV in both cell culture and in mosquitoes and should be a valuable tool for the study of virus interactions in an epidemiologically...
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Learn more about a six-week, no-risk free trial of TB and Outbreaks Week | <urn:uuid:803708fb-be7f-4e1d-a328-675b11cfb5b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/TB-and-Outbreaks-Week/2005-11-15/1115200533350TW.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910067 | 169 | 2.4375 | 2 |
CRS: Elections in Kashmir, December 5, 2002
Wikileaks release: February 2, 2009
Publisher: United States Congressional Research Service
Title: Elections in Kashmir
CRS report number: RS21300
Author(s): K. Alan Kronstadt, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Date: December 5, 2002
- The United States welcomed the successful October conclusion of 2002 elections in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where nearly half of the electorate cast ballots. The elections resulted in the ousting of the long-dominant National Conference party, allies of the national coalition-leading Bharatiya Janata Party, thus bolstering the credibility of the process and dampening criticism from some quarters that the elections were flawed or farcical. The opposition Indian National Congress and the regional People's Democratic Party won a combined 36 seats in the state assembly, and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi agreed to a first-ever power-sharing coalition. | <urn:uuid:0f510f30-21b7-4c92-8683-2efc67be9b0e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS:_Elections_in_Kashmir,_December_5,_2002 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921269 | 195 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Extending the reach of the classroom
As podcasting and YouTube have hit the mainstream, the academic world has started to explore the use of these resources as a way to help their students get more out of their classroom experiences. But the new technology can raise as many issues as it solves: what material do you put online? How do you provide students access to it? How does the material relate to what's presented in the classroom?
To get a greater sense of how the new technology is working out, Ars talked with three professors who are taking different approaches to making video material available online:
Richard McKenzie, professor of economics at the University of California-Irvine and coauthor of a textbook on microeconomics. Dr. McKenzie uses his own textbook in the classroom, and started producing short video segments that answered some of students' frequently asked questions. There are now over 60 of these videos; they're included as a DVD supplement to his textbook, available as iPod-compatible downloads from his web site; the shorter ones are now available on YouTube.
David Miller, professor of psychology at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Miller teaches courses in animal behavior and general psychology on the Storrs campus. As a supplement to his lectures in General Psychology, he maintains a collection of "precasts" and "postcasts" that prepare students for the lecture and reinforces the more difficult concepts, respectively. Audio-only content is available for the animal behavior course. All material is also available via iTunes.
Dr. Bradley Olwin, professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado. He teaches a developmental biology course in which podcasts of his lectures, as well as slides and lecture notes, are made available via an internal server at the university. A separate UC web system distributes pre-lecture questions and problem sets.
Video and lecture material: what goes where
For Olwin, who provides his lectures as podcasts, the videos are a way to help the students focus on the information being presented during lectures, rather than focusing on note taking. Students can then go back and review the videos and notes he provides to make sure they get everything straight.
In contrast, Miller isn't a big fan of this approach, which he calls "coursecasting." Instead, he views video and audio content as a way to expand his teaching opportunities. "I am in favor of extending the classroom experience," he said, "and podcasting affords me that opportunity. I expect (hope) that students will listen to the Precasts before each lecture because they are designed to give students an idea of particularly important points to watch for." Miller also provides postcasts that cover difficult concepts and recordings of student-led discussions.
The video material plays a similar role for Dr. McKenzie, who started recording them in response to being asked the same question by several students in quick succession. By recording a "best case" explanation, McKenzie can spend less time in class on these challenging topics. Students reporting spending an average of 4-5 hours a week," he said, "which means I have effectively doubled my lecture time." The videos give his class a chance to make sure they get the key concepts right: "Students report playing and replaying them until they get the material down."
McKenzie had also experimented with lecturecasting, but found that students didn't use those videos very much. Instead, he's focused his videos on two aspects of teaching: basic concepts that students should know coming into class, and complex arguments that might take some repetition for students to come to grips with.
Although he calls his videos "informal [and] nonscripted," Dr. McKenzie does take some pains to make sure the videos are high quality, as he will retake portions or edit them before making them available. Miller views some of his content as a way of correcting for parts of his lectures that might not have gone over smoothly: "That is one of the main functions of both the postcasts and the discussions. Anything I want to correct or expand upon will happen in these two podcasts." Olwin's use of lecturecasting ensures that his content is somewhat informal, as "the podcasts are the informal recording of the entire class: questions, discussions, jokes and all." Because they're capturing an unedited, live performance, they leave no space for corrections: "corrections or misconceptions would be revisited in [a future] class," Dr. Olwin noted. | <urn:uuid:3ea9dd0b-f8ed-4bb5-bf96-c18f8ae5049b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://arstechnica.com/features/2007/04/moving-beyond-podcasts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970392 | 909 | 2.640625 | 3 |
American Idiot at Broadway’s St. James Theatre is set in a post-9/11 landscape in which a disoriented, media-bombarded generation struggles to find itself in a flurry of images and a hard-rocking score that includes every song on Green Day’s American Idiot album, plus a few songs from the more recent 21st Century Breakdown. A hybrid style juxtaposing elements of a rock opera, rock concert, and Broadway musical, American Idiot propels a new level of energy onto the Great White Way.
For the scenic design, Christine Jones (nominated for a Tony) started work as of the very first workshops. “We talked aggressively about the design in order to discover what the physical vocabulary would be,” she recalls. “The ideas came together fiercely and organically from instinct, as we researched the right materials and images.”
Jones designed a single unit set, which remains on stage throughout, inspired by spaces such as a warehouse or a punk rock club like CBGB. “I always felt it was a living/working space, or a collective, with a particular visual vocabulary,” she says, pointing out that the walls are covered with posters, decals, and stickers as one would find in a punk rock club environment. “The posters are printed in more subdued colors so that the projections on the set can be seen. They were consciously designed that way. Closer to the floor, the colors are brighter and more dense. I also thought of a warehouse that could have been a car garage at one time. In New York City, there are repair shops in nooks and crannies,” adds Jones, whose scenic elements support the musical’s plot line of kids moving from the suburbs into the city.
Once the environment was determined, the second part of the evolution was the movement within the set, whose tall walls serve as projection surfaces. “Although the set itself is static, it has to help tell the story of moving from location to location, and it serves as a bus depot, an office, a hospital, an apartment,” says Jones. To add a sense of movement, many of the set pieces are on wheels and appear in different locations, and windows are revealed in the walls when the action moves to the city.
In addition, a scaffolding unit with actors in it tips forward and becomes a bus. “We wanted to create an environment that interacts in a musical way with the choreography,” says Jones. “I started as a dancer. This show is what I have been working toward my entire career, with its interplay and exciting interaction between the movement and the physical world.”
The band is also on stage, with some musicians perched on landings, and a rolling staircase moves the cellist across the stage. “We knew from the beginning that the band would be part of our world,” Jones adds, noting that the costumes also help to establish the various locations. “Every song is a quick-change for the entire ensemble, almost every three minutes.”
A key element of the set is a series of 43 televisions built into the walls and in the speaker stacks (including one that flies in halfway through the show in a shopping cart), allowing both projection and lighting to add even more layers of texture, color, rhythm, and content to Jones’ media-savvy scenic design.
For the full story, including projection, sound, and lighting design of American Idiot, check out the May issue of Live Design. | <urn:uuid:1b959dee-5834-4c14-8d39-223130362c3f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://livedesignonline.com/theatre/0603-american-idiot-set-design | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968764 | 739 | 1.515625 | 2 |
With thousands of people ready to visit White Plains tonight during their New Year's Eve celebrations, a program is ready to help those who need a safe ride home after drinking.
The "New Year. Safe Ride." program will be available for anyone 21 and older who is in need of a sober ride home on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Heineken USA is sponsoring the program, which will offer rides to anyone in need from 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve to 3 a.m. New Year's Day. Pick-ups will be made at the intersection of E Post Rd. and Mamaroneck Ave.
As many as 20,000 people are expected to visit downtown White Plains on New Year's Eve. A fleet of between 20 and 30 vehicles will transport people from White Plains to anywhere in Westchester County. This is the ninth time Heineken USA, which is located in White Plains, has sponsored the program.
“The safe ride program allows us to commit to and to promote responsible consumption," said Stacey Tank, senior vice president and chief of corporate relations for the company, "to make it easier for consumers to make smart choices when they are getting home on New Year’s Eve.”
This year's celebration will begin with live music at 10 p.m. in downtown White Plains. There are also plans for a fireworks display and ball drop. As many as 2,000 people have used the safe ride program in the past. Kevin Nunn, executive director of the White Plains business improvement district, said offering safe rides has become a critical part of the city's New Year's celebration, which generates hundreds of thousands of dollars for downtown businesses.
Among those who helped kick-off the program was Carole Sears, president of the Westchester branch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Sears' husband Andy was killed by a drunk driver in November 2002, and she stressed the importance of making a plan to safely arrive home before celebrating with alcohol.
“We are here because today because the week’s prior to New Years Day include some of the most dangerous days for drunk driving deaths," Sears said. “In fact, New Years Day is the most dangerous day of the year.” | <urn:uuid:90c4ab8b-7e6a-4780-9ab7-6872298602c9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://harrison.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/safe-ride-program-available-tonight-in-wp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970235 | 465 | 1.5 | 2 |
Noodling Network Nodes - Diagraming with the NetworkView custom WPF control
- Posted: May 02, 2011 at 6:00 AM
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If you're working on a project where node diagraming plays a part, yet Visio or a commercial product is overkill, check out NetworkView: A WPF custom control for visualizing and editing networks, graphs and flow-charts hosted on CodeProject [Insert standard "CodeProject is just an awesome resource for projects, code and ideas" line here]
I've not seen a control like this in a while that's both free, source available and pretty complete. I liked how the sample projects not only worked (which is a good thing) but included polished touches like this help window.
What's even better than the control is the depth the article goes into.
"This article examines the use and implementation of a WPF custom control that is used to display and edit networks, graphs and flow-charts.
NetworkView, as I have called it, was inspired by and has many similarities to standard WPF controls such as ItemsControl and TreeView. The article and the sample code show how to use the control from XAML and from C# code.
This article is arranged in two main parts.
Part 1 examines
NetworkViewusage with walkthroughs of the two sample projects. This part and the reference section are enough if you just want to use
Part 2 goes into detail on the implementation. This will be useful if you want to make your own modifications to
NetworkViewor if you want to understand my approach to developing a complex WPF custom control.
At the end of the article is a reference section that describes the public properties, methods and commands exposed by
In previous articles I have covered a number of WPF techniques: use of adorners, zooming and panning,binding to UI element positions and most recently drag-selection of multiple items.
NetworkViewand the sample applications make use of all these techniques. I won't be covering these techniques in detail here. Instead, where appropriate, I'll refer back to previous articles.
NetworkViewis intended to be backed with an application-specific view-model. ...
From concept through implementation this 27 page article hits all the high points and beyond.
The included source downloads and runs with no issues. Here's a snap of the Solution
The code seems logical organized and is easy to follow.
And this snip shows how easy it can be to use.
If you need the control, or just want to see how someone would develop something like this, the article and source are an interesting read. | <urn:uuid:565298a4-1d6a-4798-ac8d-16005cec4dda> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/blog/Noodling-Network-Nodes-Diagraming-with-the-NetworkView-custom-WPF-control | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925199 | 605 | 2 | 2 |
Gay Marriage Worth $60M For Maine
A just-released study predicts that same-sex marriage would bolster Maine's economy by $60M over its first three years.
Supporters of a bill to allow gay marriage in the state released the study this week from the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Opponents say the study has come out at a time when people are worried about the economy but that, even still, it's not likely to change anyone's opinion about the subject. The institute, which has done similar analyses for other states considering gay marriage, based its conclusions on a calculation of how many Maine gay and lesbian couples would get married in the first three years, and how many same-sex couples from out of state would travel to Maine to get married. They estimated 2,316 gay or lesbian couples, about half of the estimated number of couples living in the state, would get married if state law allowed it. Also, they believe more than 15,000 couples from out of state would come here to wed if they could. To come up with the economic impact, they estimated that Maine couples would spend $4,641 on a wedding, while those from out of state would spend $3,143. Also, they calculated that tax revenues and fees would generate $3.6 million, also over three years. Those revenues would come from state and local sales taxes, lodging and prepared-food taxes and marriage-license fees, according to the study.A spokesperson for Maine Freedom To Marry said she finds the average-per-wedding figure to be "extraordinarily conservative." Maine's marriage equality bill get its first hearing in the state senate in a few weeks. | <urn:uuid:a8ea576e-2304-42fa-a976-03e88901be0a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/02/gay-marriage-worth-60m-for-maine.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977266 | 349 | 2.109375 | 2 |
After being behind the times in regards to the emergence of 4G, the government has just approved a project that aims to place the UK at the forefront of 5G development.
The UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills approved a £35 million funding bid from the University of Surrey that will go towards the establishment of a specialised 5G research centre housing prototypes of devices running on the next generation spectrum.
The sum includes funds gathered from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (RPIF), which donated £11.6 million as a part of its mandate to support long-term university capital projects, and a further £24 million that comes from a consortium of businesses that operate within the mobile telecommunications sector including Huawei, Samsung, Telefonica Europe, Fujitsu Laboratories Europe, Rohde-Schwarz and AIRCOM International.
“Although the UK played an active role in the creation of 2G (GSM) cellular standards, it has increasingly fallen behind in succeeding generations 3G and 4G standards," said Rahim Tafazolli, head of the University of Surrey's Centre for Communication Systems Research, of the habitual lagging of UK telecommunications development.
"The university's industry partners have identified this proposal as the single biggest opportunity for the UK to regain a world leading position in the development of 5G technologies and for the development of vibrant businesses around the technologies," Tafazolli added.
The University of Surrey is not the only successful bidder as there were six other institutions that received RPIF funds ranging between £10 million - £35 million. To access the public funds, universities must match or exceed those funds with additional investment from private companies or charities. | <urn:uuid:db2c67a9-8b0d-42e0-9ba6-66f92f51e6b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.itproportal.com/2012/10/08/university-of-surrey-lands-35m-for-5g-research-and-development/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949912 | 341 | 1.898438 | 2 |
“No child should predecease their parents. I remember what it’s like (PAUSE). It brings back (PAUSE)…It brings back memories…that call, out of the blue.”
Why is football still legal? It’s a serious question. Why maintain, nay, lionize a pastime that wrecks bodies and minds?
A century ago, Teddy Roosevelt, that manliest of men, realized that too many young men were dying from football injuries, so he led an effort to modify the rules to prohibit some of the more lethal and injurious practices. He wasn’t about to abolish the game – can’t be a nation of wimps.
But it shouldn’t be so lethal. Imagine the physical chaos caused by the flying wedge. You could destroy a young man’s knees with a well-aimed tackle. Major colleges had quit the game. IMHO, Roosevelt did the nation no favor by saving it.
Brain damage?? Who knew??
Now, 100 years later, we find concussions among young players and brain diseases among retired football players. Ya think? Isn’t this like the Great Denial about smoking? Remember cigarette commercials with doctors smoking? Nah, you’re too young. But take my word for it.
Same thing with football. Any child who starts playing, and his parents, are in willful denial of the potential effect of 100 or 1,000 head impacts. It’s bad enough when they cause concussions. But there’s always the minor traumas to the young brain as it gets jounced around in the cranium with every hit.
Maybe Neanderthals had thicker skulls. Ours did not evolve for head-to-head combat. And just NOW (i.e., last few years) coaches, doctors, and football officials are acknowledging the possibility of brain and mental disorders in men with long football careers. Has there been a 100-year coverup, as with the awful joint and pain problems that plague these men in middle age?
I wouldn’t be surprised. Football is a complex of memes that resemble religion. It’s peculiar to us, with variations in Australia and Canada. Unlike baseball and basketball, it hasn’t spread much beyond the US. Wonder why. Maybe they’ve had (or are having) enough real wars on their soil.
Recall Saturday Night Live’s classic skits with the Superfans – corpulent Chicago (male) Bears fans who worshipped Mike Ditka and ascribed to him supernatural powers, as they wolfed down and had cardiac arrests in response to large quantities of sausage. The parody came just close enough to the reality, as all good parodies do.
We’re ready to start another season! Young bodies crunching together, perhaps causing injuries that will be serious and permanent. But there’s no stopping it.
Football -- or “fupball,” as they call it in its Southern strongholds -- is an almost irresistible blend of violence, pageantry, and quasi-religious identification. One example: my wife’s ex, now living in Mass., still has a “New York Jets fans” parking sign in front of his house. Another: the multi-gazillion-dollar sports paraphernalia and wagering industries.
Fans come to games in costume or paint their bodies in their team’s colors. At the college level, football programs are leading revenue-generators, the coach makes more than the Chair of any academic department, and a successful football team brings in the alumni contributions. Hereditary fanship and ancient rivalries between colleges and cities, mimicking blood feuds: these complete the picture – and the similarities to religion.
“The resta you guys, block out!”
That was all I knew of football in pickup games with neighborhood kids. That’s all I was good for: cannon fodder, while the more gifted athletes (how did they learn – because there sure weren’t any football camps or videos?) ran, passed or caught the ball.
I found myself opposite a friend, Robbie Gawthrop, and he and I engaged in half-hearted blocking out and so played out our little role in the game/war. Robbie became a judge.
What was I supposed to learn? All of football’s supposed virtues – character, resilience, team play, all-out effort – can be acquired and practiced in other ways. But of all sports, fupball has a unique resemblance to war. (By contrast, as George Carlin noted, baseball is benign, the main goal being to “run home.”) Two armies strategize, fight battles, some decisive, penetrating and capturing each other’s territory.
Young men willingly inflicting and enduring pain…just because. If you want to see the absurdity of it all, listen to Andy Griffith’s naïf classic comedy routine, “What it was, was Football.”
Training for war
Football’s resemblance to war makes it excellent preparation for war – and the perfect training ground for potential soldiers and marines …or at least for imparting the virtues that supposedly keep a society strong, virtuous, and obedient. All that discipline, pain, and stoicism. And LOTS of following orders!
I can see fupball coaches --- smart enough to understand the game, but too dumb to see that it’s meaningless (not original but can’t recall where I read it) – priding themselves on a near-holy calling: the preparation of soldiers, corporate and actual.
Let us NOT pretend that fupball promotes health and fitness. North Dallas Forty (book and movie, with excellent performances by Nick Nolte and Mac Davis), graphically illustrated how fupball is about pain – and drugs…and the discarding of worn-out human bodies whose owners are unwilling to subject them to continuing pain and injury. The movie showed an injured player writhing in agony after a hard hit reinjures his knee. You never see that on TV – they cut right to commercial.
The sport has been exposed many times. Cokes and cigarettes at halftime. Steroids, painkillers and other performance aids. Sending injured joints back into battle. Paying bounties for injuring opposing players.
Let us NOT pretend that football promotes ethical behavior. As the tragedy at Penn State, latest in a long line of football abuses, eloquently demonstrates, when ethical behavior conflicts with the football program, the latter wins, always.
Finally we come to the first part of the title of this post, prompted by a TIME article that reminded me once again of Biden’s penchant for rambling incoherence. According to the article, his sister translates him into English. I can see where it makes him popular: nobody wants to think a politician’s smarter than the voters. And he’s not. His clumsy plagiarizing of a speech by British politician Neil Kinnock in 1988 was an early example of his cluelessness.
Also prominent in the article were references to Biden’s football experiences and – of course – how often he got back up, dusted himself off, and went back into the fray. He notes that he spent a lot of time with his nose in the grass. How many hits to the head, I wonder? Are we seeing symptoms of a premature dementia? The question was actually asked about Gerald Ford (Univ. of Michigan), but never pursued, although his clumsiness was widely enough noted and helped launch the career of comedian Chevy Chase.
I think all former football players who seek leadership or even employment positions should undergo a thorough neurological workup and brain scan, just to see what we’re dealing with. It should be as mandatory as drug tests. Life and health insurance, too: how come they never ask if you played football?
If an organization doesn’t want its performance compromised by drug- and alcohol-impaired employees, well, then it certainly doesn’t want brain-damaged employees making important decisions.
I do worry about this. Football is often a path to success in the world beyond. So there’s a natural flow of brain-damaged people to leadership positions. Fupball damage goes far beyond the brains of those who subject themselves to it. Every moronic, incompetent, incoherent thing they do as leaders affects the rest of us.
On Sept. 19, 2012, the world found out that Tim Tebow, already emblematic of two of America's mental illnesses -- football and religion -- allowed as how he might be interEsted in politics. Just the kind of leader we need -- religious and, for all we know, brain-damaged (quarterbacks take a lot of hits, never deliver them).
You cannot ban football any more than you can ban religion. People must be free to destroy their bodies as they will. (But not with certain, government-disapproved drugs.)
At one of Chicago’s erstwhile sports bars, I saw a pic of the 1947 Bears backfield. They looked like guys at my health club – fit, but not overly muscular. Today’s players are 50 or more pounds heavier. The linemen are immense. It’s like getting hit by a motorbike, again and again.
Frivolous suggestion: A switch to flag football, the non-violent alternative we played in high school? Or putting an upper limit on players' weight, as in "sprint football"? Are you kidding? It’s no fun unless ligaments tear, bones break, and brains get rattled. Again and again.
ADDENDUM: Get ready to roll your eyes and gag, fellow heretics. Fupball not only resembles religion -- it further conflates the two by USING religion to justify itself. There is -- not making this up -- a new book called Men of Sunday: How Faith Guides the Players, Coaches and Wives of the NFL (Thomas Nelson, Inc.). I found out about it in a PARADE (where else?) article "First and Ten Commandments" (9/2/12/).
Yes, that's right, God wants them to maim each other. Former Chicago player Mike Singletary had "watched hundreds of opponents [after hard hits] return to the huddle glassy-eyed, unable to remember their name." Think of all the thousands of brain-bashed young men -- who continued to play! It's an incredibly telling phrase, but only a lead-in to what Singletary thought after he had delivered a particularly vicious hit to a receiver.
Warning: here's the gag-me-with-a-spoon part. Singletary (a hero in Chicago, where he lasted as long as he did because he was delivering hits, not taking them) had his doubts, but comes out with: "this is my gift. I didn't want to hurt anybody. I was playing the game as hard as I could to honor the Lord. I always said, 'Lord, every play I'm going to give you everything I have. From the bottom of my feet to the top of my head, every tackle, every block. If the ball was thrown a hundred yards away, I was going to run as hard as I could run to get there. I though about one thing, and that's giving God what Jesus Christ gave for me on the cross - everything.' That's how I was going to play. And I was at peace with that."
I cannot even begin to peel back the layers of illogic. A mythical figure was supposedly crucified FOR YOU, and so you're going to injure and disable other people as best you can, in a meaningless game? WTF?? Only in sports, religion, and politics is such craziness tolerated. | <urn:uuid:f400389f-6c6b-49fc-b8a6-240736c9aa0e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.atheistnexus.org/profiles/blogs/battered-brains-blithering-biden-and-the-religion-of-football?id=2182797%3ABlogPost%3A2044910&page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963915 | 2,479 | 1.679688 | 2 |
(Newsweek reporter Mary Carmichael has a DNA dilemma: should she buy a direct-to-consumer genetic test? To help answer that question, she’s recruited people with expertise in various areas related to personal genomics – and a diverse range of opinions about the industry – to address specific areas of concern. At the end of the week she’ll announce her decision.
This post is my response to one of Mary’s questions: How does she know if she can trust the results, and should she be scared of what she might find out? A summary is also posted on the Newsweek website along with answers from Thomas Goetz, Hank Greely, Robert Green and Misha Angrist.
Genomes Unzipped is well-represented in Mary’s project: Jeff Barrett wrote about risk predictions yesterday, and tomorrow our resident legal expert Dan Vorhaus will be discussing the present and future state of regulation of the DTC genetic industry.)
The results you receive from genetic testing companies rely on two critical steps: firstly, the generation of your raw genetic data; and secondly, the interpretation of that data into information about your ancestry, family and disease risk.
For reputable genetic testing companies – and I would count the four major personal genomics companies (23andMe, deCODEme, Navigenics and Pathway Genomics) in this category – the first step is generally extremely accurate. These companies rely on the same technology used by academic researchers studying the genetic basis of human disease, applied in carefully quality-controlled labs, so their error rate is typically very low. As an illustration, I recently had an opportunity to compare the raw genetic data provided by two companies to Times journalist Mark Henderson, and found an error rate per company of around one in every 14,000 data points: that’s far better than most routine clinical tests.
For a company like 23andMe with a very active participant community there’s also an extra layer of protection: feedback from other, often highly-informed, customers. When the lab that carries out 23andMe’s genetic testing recently made a mistake that resulted in incorrect data being uploaded for more than 80 customers, there was an immediate flurry of comments about strange results on the company’s discussion forum that resulted in the problem being identified and the affected results being withdrawn within 24 hours. As Dan Vorhaus argued at the time, while the mistake could have been made by any genetic testing lab (including a clinical one), the rapid response to the error was to some extent attributable to the direct-to-consumer approach of 23andMe:
It is worth considering, for instance, whether the same sample swap would have been as quickly identified and addressed – particularly in the case of a “passive recipient” – had the genetic results been delivered to 96 separate doctor-patient pairs (with the patients possibly unable to access the underlying genetic data at all). At least in this particular example, the inevitability of genetic testing errors argues in favor of more consumer access – not less – to allow individuals to continue to play an active role in finding and correcting such mistakes.
The second step (interpretation) is much trickier. Analysis of large-scale genetic data is still a new field, and the most accurate ways to convert genetic data into useful information are currently unclear. While reputable personal genomics companies currently do better job of interpretation and visualisation of these complex data than anyone else on the planet, their analyses are still far from perfect.
Still, imperfection and uncertainty is the price you pay for gaining early access to the cutting edge of any new technology. If you’re happy to wait two or three years to get access to your genome you will get a far more polished product: you’ll be able to get access to a far larger proportion of your DNA than the small fraction currently analysed by personal genomics companies, and the genetic and environmental contributors to complex disease will have been more convincingly untangled.
In the meantime, here are three rules of thumb that are worth keeping in mind before embarking on any personal genomic test.
Firstly, choose your testing company wisely. Here, apply the same approach you would for any major purchasing decision: Google the name of the company and look for positive and negative reviews; as an obvious filter, look at the company’s website for the signs of dodginess you’ve come to expect from any fly-by-night online scam (poor grammar, dubious customer testimonials, offers to sell you nutritional supplements based on your genetic data). A legitimate company should provide you with a demo version illustrating the type of information you would receive as a customer, giving enough context for you to understand the results, as well as extensive links to further information. Ideally, it should also provide an easy way to download your raw genotype data, allowing you to perform your own analysis on it if you so desire.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, you should engage with your data: dig deep, read as much as you can, and ask questions about anything that doesn’t make sense to you. Right now the data provided by personal genomics companies isn’t profoundly useful from a health perspective for most of us, so should treat this process first and foremost as a learning experience. You’ll learn the most if you approach your own genome with a skeptical eye, searching for inconsistencies and surprising results and then tracking down their origins. This process may also alert you to errors in your data or its interpretation, as journalists Peter Aldhous and Mark Henderson (subscription required) have illustrated. Read beyond the data provided to you by the company itself; to help build up background knowledge, you could always follow us here at Genomes Unzipped.
Finally, if you find something you think is truly worrying, follow up with an independent expert (a doctor or genetic counsellor for health-related matters) to have the results confirmed and put in context before making any life-changing decisions. These aren’t clinical tests (and aren’t labelled as such); you should treat them as providing you with information, not definitive answers, and certainly not diagnoses. However, be aware that most doctors are ill-prepared to deal with the types of complex information provided by a genome scan, so make the process as easy for them as possible (most companies provide a simplified print-out of results you can present to a clinician).
Should you be scared about receiving your results? This is a tough question to answer, since the range of information offered by DTC genomics companies is so diverse, and different people respond to their findings in different ways. For what it’s worth, studies so far suggest that genetic disease risk predictions, even for serious conditions, cause surprisingly little long-term emotional distress for recipients. However, other results – relating to paternity, for instance – could have a profound and irreversible impact on your life.
My personal view: as a scientist, my desire for information – however incomplete and imperfect – outweighs my fear of the unknown. However, not everyone feels the same way; this is a question every individual simply needs to answer for themselves. | <urn:uuid:7de3f498-b9b3-46ee-89d9-1933f831986c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.genomesunzipped.org/2010/08/should-you-trust-a-genome-scan.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956599 | 1,474 | 1.851563 | 2 |
|Wednesday, 5th March 2008|
Kamran Moazami, WSP Cantor Seinuk, showed the structural engineering design approach used to create the iconic tower named the ‘Shard at London Bridge’ (Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop). At a height of 1016 feet (310 metres), it will become the tallest building in Europe. From the early stages of the design and conception, the intention was to maintain the architectural inspiration and use state of the art structural engineering tools and techniques to engineer a building that optimizes every aspect of its structure from the foundation system, to the gravity supporting and lateral bracing systems.
Run Time: 24:21 | <urn:uuid:eb6fde06-68c1-4d16-9a85-a97c3ef44fb8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/VideoLibrary/ConferenceVideos/2008_Dubai_T15_Moazami/tabid/2071/language/en-US/Default.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917938 | 139 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Levi’s and Adidas try Eco-Friendly “Better Cotton”
What is BCI? Well, The Better Cotton Initiative exists in order to respond to the current impacts of cotton production worldwide. BCI aims to promote measurable improvements in the key environmental and social impacts of cotton cultivation worldwide to make it more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Since 2005, the BCI has been working with organisations from across the cotton supply chain and interested stakeholders to facilitate a solution for the mainstream cotton sector. The BCI’s philosophy is to develop a market for a new mainstream commodity: ‘Better Cotton’ and thereby transform the cotton commodity to bring long-term benefits for the environment, farmers and other people dependent on cotton for their livelihood.
Retailers such as Levi’s, Adidas, H&M and Marks & Spencer are giving it a bash. Momentum for the project has been driven in large part by the Better Cotton Initiative, a nonprofit launched in 2005 to reduce the environmental, social, economic impacts of cotton farming. The Geneva-based organization includes a wide range of stakeholders, from farmers and textile mills to retailers and nonprofits. | <urn:uuid:ca226579-ffd4-46d0-a21b-5763ca42d8f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kitmeout.com/2011/11/levi%E2%80%99s-adidas-eco-friendly-%E2%80%9Cbetter-cotton%E2%80%9D/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930226 | 238 | 2.359375 | 2 |
The Blind Need Our Support First
For most people who don’t struggle with the everyday challenges associated with being either blind or sight-impaired, it is difficult if not impossible to fully empathize with those that are blind. As hard as one might attempt to imagine the challenges of living in a world of darkness, it is really not possible to fully imagine the struggles the blind face unless one is in fact blind himself. It is likely that if one were to ask the blind what they most want from people who can see, they would simply answer that they wish to be treated as people with the same goals, dreams and desires as anyone else. Rather than spending time feeling sorry for someone who can’t see, it is far better to discover how to become an advocate for them to achieve their full potential.
Supporting the Blind Starts Simply
There are a wide variety of ways to provide this support; they range from doing something as simple as getting educated about the challenges the blind face to petitioning government and business leaders to become more blind-aware and blind-friendly. One could also set aside concerns or anxieties about making connections with the blind and become friends with someone who deals with the challenges of being sight-impaired. Both parties would be better as a result of this kind of engagement. Blind people want most of all to be treated as equals to those who can see. They deserve the same treatment and respect that should be afforded to anyone, regardless of how they might be “different.” More particularly, the blind today need someone who believes in their causes, whether those causes involve learning and promoting the use of Braille, increasing access to employment and education, or advocating for changes in legislation. The best way to support the blind is do something. Getting started is often the best way to overcome fears or concerns about offending. It’s like learning Braille. You learn it one dot at a time. Eventually you’ll get it right. Everyone can begin somewhere to make a positive difference. | <urn:uuid:afeceb08-164e-405b-ac34-626ef48830f9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.trianglebraille.org/tag/support-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97202 | 414 | 2.734375 | 3 |
What publishers can learn about Twitter from Cory Booker
Newark Mayor Cory Booker's innovative use of Twitter in the aftermath of last week's snowpocalypse has made him something of a social media hero. "Booker's frantic Twitter feed reads like an action novel," enthused Sean Gregory of Time. Publishers can learn a lot from Booker's effective use of social media.
Machiavelli reminded readers hundreds of years ago that fortune favors the bold, and Booker clearly internalized that principle in the face of a crisis. Publishers, however, shouldn't wait until conditions are at zero visibility to have an aggressive Twitter strategy. By then it is usually too late. Here are five things that publishers can take away from Booker's agile digital performance:
Authority will be judged by social media
Public officials -- particularly mayors, because of their daily municipal responsibilities to the public -- will now be under greater public scrutiny on social media. Publishers -- particularly hyperlocals -- would do well to hold themselves to similar levels of scrutiny else it will be done for you. Also, paying attention to what is being said about your organization on social media avoids nasty surprises.
Beyond public officials and publishers, all authorities will be called into account to some degree over their decisions in the digital age. Publishers particularly fall into the category of "authority" because it is essentially a position of trust.
Compare the performance of Booker -- who, incidentally now has 1.06 million followers -- to that of New York mayor Michael Bloomberg (41,370 followers), the founder, incidentally, of a little media company called Bloomberg LLC. Bloomberg's tweets, though improving lately (Booker's help?), are sterile and bloodless compared to those of Booker. The mayor of Newark engages Twitter aggressively while the Mayor of New York issues press releases in 140 or less characters.
Lesson: Publishers should be on top of their Twitter presence, not playing catch-up when it is too late.
There are few rewards as simple and as valued as the RT. Retweets are the social media equivalent of "shout outs" on the radio. They are currency -- use them wisely. Retweeting someone's Twitter handle also puts your organization in front of all their followers while simultaneously strengthening their relationship with your brand.
Retweets can also be used as rewards. Publishers might want to ask themselves: could TruthSquad's approach to crowdsourced fact checking be done on Twitter? Might readers be enticed to guard the integrity of a publication's information for a Retweet, for a shout out? That's the type of thinking that builds community. It is also exactly what Cory Booker has done since the day after snowpocalypse.
Honesty is obviously the best response in the face of any kind of error, editorial or otherwise. Bloomberg's initial response to the blizzard was to go into serious old-school PR mode and deny that the problem exists. Bad move. The many voices on social media overwhelm even the most well-crafted spin. The days when a mayor -- or any "authority," for that matter -- could present a case crafted to their advantage unchalleneged in a news cycle are over.
The ensuing public outcry at Bloomberg's initial denial led, predictably, to a public flip-flop. He found himslef untimately admitting errors. Booker, by contrast, led by his actions; he never spun, he did. That's self-explanatory. | <urn:uuid:5ba8744d-5f00-4815-b976-67b0aee0f589> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.emediavitals.com/content/what-publishers-can-learn-about-twitter-cory-booker | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95147 | 701 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Rose pruning can be daunting. It seems dangerous, difficult and possible terminal for the plant, If rose pruning worries you, the bad news is at some point you reach that date on the garden calendar (*July - August). The good news is, don't panic bacause here is your pain free guide to rose pruning.
It helps to know why you are pruning in the first place. Roses are pruned to encourage new growth, which in trun encourages lots of flowers. Keep that in mind and the entire task of pruning will seem much more rewarding.
PRUNING RULES FOR ROSES
The most common pruning error is to not prune hard enough. The winter pruming time is when all the mess and clutter is removed, leaving a basic framwork for the rose to renew itself in spring.
In our climates, winter pruming is done in July or early August. Leave it until the later date if your garden experiences frost. By July, new growth may be appearing, so get out the secateurs and start to prune away the old growth.
Where frosts occur, delay pruning so new growth will not begin until after the frosts have finished or your rose will be damaged.
Whilst most roses do the right thing and go dormant in winter, some refuse to stop flowering.
There are some roses that don't get pruned in winter. Any roses that only flower in late winter or spring are left unitl after they've flowered before pruning. If you make a mistake, you will reduce flowering. Hold off pruning banksia roses, most of the old-fashioned roses, some climbers and most ramblers.
HOW TO PRUNE
Before you begin pruning, assemble your tools: clean, sharp secateurs: a pruning saw: a drop sheet: a large Mighty Bin to hold the prunings: thick gloves. Also have on hand a disinfectant to sterilise the pruning tools before you begin as you move from one rose to another. Remember how far you cut back depends on the size and vigour of the rose and where it is growing. Cut most roses back to around one-third of their pre-pruned size. Tall, fast growing roses can be cut back harder.
Go over the rose, cutting everything back by about one-third. Remove any lingering flowers and leaves. Remove any suckers (growth from the root system below the graft). This makes the rose more accessible for more detailed follow-up pruning.
Next, remove any spindly growth, dead branches and very old brown or grey wood, cutting all this unwanted growth off low down on the plant. Use the pruning saw to cut thick stems.
Select three or five green, healthy, vigorous branches as the framework for the next season's growth. Remove any other unwanted stems and then cut back the framework branches to an outward facing bud. An outward facing bud is selected to encourage growth away from the centre of the plant.
Removing all the pruning debris, including fallen leaves and flowers from earlier in the year.
With pruning and spraying completed, renew the mulch around your rose. Water well when new growth begins. | <urn:uuid:d74f6ca6-6c2d-4286-b05d-894f772aedb5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mightybin.com.au/mighty-blog | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913751 | 659 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Meiners Oaks, California
|— census-designated place —|
|Ventura County and the state of California|
|• Senate||Tom McClintock (R)|
|• Assembly||Audra Strickland (R)|
|• U. S. Congress||Elton Gallegly (R)|
|• Total||1.408 sq mi (3.647 km2)|
|• Land||1.408 sq mi (3.647 km2)|
|• Water||0 sq mi (0 km2) 0%|
|Elevation||741 ft (226 m)|
|• Density||2,700/sq mi ( 1,000/km2)|
|Time zone||PST (UTC-8)|
|• Summer (DST)||PDT (UTC-7)|
|GNIS feature ID||1661004|
Meiners Oaks is located at in the mid-northern section of the Ojai Valley, and is bordered by the town of Mira Monte (a census designated town) to the south, and the City of Ojai to the east, and is located at (34.449684, -119.275274).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all of it land. Meiners Oaks is in the heart of the Ojai Valley, very close to the Ventura River Bottom, where there are several hiking trails and waterholes.
Schools in Meiners Oaks are served by the Ojai Unified School District, including Meiners Oaks Elementary School. There are also smaller private schools located in Meiners Oaks.
The 2010 United States Census reported that Meiners Oaks had a population of 3,571. This reflects a decrease in population of 4.8%, as compared with the 2000 census (not a difference of "one person" as noted above). The population density was 2,535.8 people per square mile (979.1/km²). The racial makeup of Meiners Oaks was 2,789 (78.1%) White, 14 (0.4%) African American, 58 (1.6%) Native American, 51 (1.4%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 549 (15.4%) from other races, and 109 (3.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,068 persons (29.9%).
The Census reported that 3,565 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,283 households, out of which 460 (35.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 607 (47.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 178 (13.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 81 (6.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 101 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 311 households (24.2%) were made up of individuals and 130 (10.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78. There were 866 families (67.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.24.
The population was spread out with 851 people (23.8%) under the age of 18, 300 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 845 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 1,116 people (31.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 459 people (12.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
There were 1,396 housing units at an average density of 991.3 per square mile (382.7/km²), of which 798 (62.2%) were owner-occupied, and 485 (37.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 2,200 people (61.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,365 people (38.2%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,750 people, 1,288 households, and 941 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,748.0 people per square mile (1,064.6/km²). There were 1,325 housing units at an average density of 971.0 per square mile (376.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.12% White, 0.43% African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 10.77% from other races, and 3.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.09% of the population.
There were 1,288 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,811, and the median income for a family was $56,778. Males had a median income of $49,083 versus $28,839 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,152. About 8.1% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
German native John Meiners had immigrated to America in 1848 and established a successful brewing operation in Milwaukee. In the 1870s, he acquired the land that would become Meiners Oaks as payment for a debt. When a friend and business associate, Edward D. Holton, travelled through California and investigated the land, Meiners learned that he had acquired one of the largest oak groves on flat ground in southern California. Upon arriving in person, Meiners also found the climate agreeable, and established a ranch. Several hundred acres, north of the oak grove, were used quite successfully to grow lemons, oranges, plums, apricots and apples, as well as oats, wheat, barley and more. Meiners lived on his ranch intermittently until his death in 1898.
- U.S. Census
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- Rist, Curtis. "Hitting Bottom." People. May 13, 1996. Volume 45, No. 19. Retrieved on May 26, 2013.
- All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and are accessible on-line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same-sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma-delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on-line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite-sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above.
- "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
See also | <urn:uuid:37c72c69-4494-4080-ab08-9f02fa2e9f1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiners_Oaks,_California | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972856 | 1,886 | 1.914063 | 2 |
Another brilliant New York Times piece by William C. Rhoden exposing horse racing’s dirty laundry. Rhoden writes of Big Brown:
He blew away the field at the Kentucky Derby. He made the Preakness field look like circus ponies. But on the day that would solidify his legacy and give racing a respite from intense scrutiny, Big Brown crumbled. He crumbled so badly that one could legitimately wonder whether he was nothing but a chemical horse, a paper tiger propped up — and propelled — by steroids. After three months of dominance, Big Brown became the first Triple Crown hopeful to finish dead last at the Belmont Stakes.
Dead last. Amazing for a horse who most observers thought would run past the others as if they were standing still. Horse racing desperately needed the hype of a Triple Crown winner to draw attention away from the deaths of Eight Belles and Barbaro. But now, all horse racing has are new questions about the entire industry’s legitimacy. Link. | <urn:uuid:76ecdea0-29f1-458a-b269-c48459e6ecc6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://vegan.com/blog/2008/06/08/horse-racing-loses-more-luster/ | 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 | 0.949874 | 204 | 2.171875 | 2 |
While Fortaleza has retained little of its history, the small heart of the city, Centro, is teeming with life. Despite the heavy traffic and numerous sidewalk vendors, it is an interesting place to explore. Its small size and grid-plan layout make it easy to walk around. The area is safe during the day, but keep your eye on your belongings in case of pickpockets.
A perfect starting point for exploring Centro is at the waterfront, where you can gaze upon the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora de Assunção (Av. Alberto Nepomuceno, Centro, tel. 85/3255-1600, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily). This massive bleached fortress (now occupied by the army) is not the original 17th-century edifice built by the Dutch, but a reconstruction dating back to 1812.
Opposite the fortress are the rather gloomy neo-gothic cathedral and the Mercado Central (Av. Alberto Nepomuceno 199, Centro, tel. 85/3454-8586, 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m.–noon Sun.). Despite its bland, modern exterior, the market is a fascinating place to wander around and check out the local merchandise.
Fortaleza’s most interesting museum is the Museu do Ceará (Rua São Paulo 51, Centro, tel. 85/3101-2611, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tues.–Sun., R$2). Housed in an impressive neoclassical building, the collection relies on diverse artifacts—including furniture, clothing, fossils and literatura de cordel (traditional northeastern folk tales that are illustrated with woodcuts and printed on cheap folio paper)—to evoke Ceará ’s rich history and culture.
Particularly moving is the display dedicated to four fishermen who, in 1941, sailed by jangada from Fortaleza to Rio de Janeiro with the mission of bringing Ceará’s poverty to the attention of Getúlio Vargas’s government. Their epic journey was captured beautifully on celluloid by Orson Welles, who filmed it as part of his 1942 must-see documentary, It’s All True.
Rua São Paulo also leads onto the highly animated Praça José de Alencar, which is dominated by what is easily the city’s most stunning edifice. Named in honor of Ceará ’s most renowned poet and novelist, the early 20th-century Theatro José de Alencar (Praça José Alencar, Centro, tel. 85/3101-2583, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 8–11:30 a.m. Sat., R$4) mixes a delicate neoclassical cast iron structure (shipped over piece by piece from Scotland) with art nouveau stained-glass windows in rich jewel tones. Tropical embellishment is provided by the surrounding gardens designed by Burle Marx. Every 17th day of the month, the theater commemorates its inauguration with free performances. If you can’t take in a performance, it’s worthwhile taking the guided tour.
A few blocks north towards the sea, the Centro do Turismo (Rua Senador Pompeu 350, Centro, tel. 85/3101-5508, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.–noon Sun.) is a former prison whose former cells are now occupied by vendors selling Cearense art and handicrafts. Before inspecting the wares, check out the really fine collection of traditional artesanato on display at the small Museu de Arte e Cultura Popular (8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Sun.). Also on exhibit are modern pieces by local artists who have drawn on the region’s rich artistic traditions for inspiration, often in strikingly unusual ways. The prisoners’ former exercise yard now houses a pleasantly shady café.
Two blocks east of the market, in the neighborhood of Iracema, is the Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura (Rua Dragão do Mar 81, Iracema, tel. 85/3488-8600, www.dragaodomar.org.br , museums open 2–9 p.m. Tues.–Sun., R$2), a striking contemporary complex of steel and glass that harmonizes nicely with the restored historic buildings surrounding it. “Dragão do Mar” (Dragon of the Sea) was the nickname of Francisco José do Nascimento, a courageous sailor who became an abolitionist hero in the 1880s when he refused to transport slaves in his jangada. The cultural center named in his honor is a wonderful oasis and a major gathering point for Fortalezenses.
Day and night, there is always something going on here, and the more laid-back, untouristy scene provides a welcome contrast to the hype of Iracema. Aside from gallery spaces, you’ll find cinemas, a theater, a bookshop, a handicrafts boutique, a planetarium, and a scenic café that serves the best organic espresso in town. The Centro Dragão do Mar also houses two museums. The Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Ceará exhibits contemporary works by Brazilian and international artists while the Memorial da Cultura Cearense displays regional folk art. | <urn:uuid:2cfd1771-a809-4dbf-9195-0eb3af7398f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.moon.com/print/80950 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910739 | 1,193 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Call For Papers
SIMULATION: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International
Special Issue: Medical Simulation
Virtual-reality based medical simulation is the application of computers to synthesizing an anatomical response to a simulated therapy. In particular, surgery simulation synthesizes tissue response to virtual surgical tools, typically, although not exclusively, a mechanical response to cutting or manipulation. This behavior can be thought of as a trade-off between material fidelity and computation time, which can be characterized as a spectrum. At one end of the spectrum predictive simulation consists of highly faithful off-line computations used by expert clinicians, while at the other end, interactive simulation offers a means of training residents, in order to improve their skill without risk to a real patient, typically by way of a haptic device. The two types of simulation embody conflicting requirements of efficiency and tissue fidelity, which recent research increasingly attempts to reconcile through new efficiencies.
The clinical need that justifies pursuing medical simulation with a strong predictive aspect lies in two marked tendencies in modern clinical practice: the compression of training schedules of medical residents and the constant influx of new therapeutic technologies. Recent compressions in training can adversely impact the development of clinical skill, especially surgical skill, particularly in the traditional framework whereby residents observe senior clinicians and gradually assume responsibility. Interactive simulation can provide a means for accelerating resident training, allowing young clinicians to take a more active role than in the traditional framework, and can result in measurable improvements to both skill and patient outcom.
The influx of new technology in clinical practice is characterized by the increasing use of physics- and computer-based technology, including image-guided and minimally invasive techniques. In surgery, this influx also includes recent therapies, such as the ultrasonic aspiration, lasers, and radiotherapy, as well as emerging technologies, such as molecular as well as robotic therapies. The result of this influx is a broad and technically complex armamentarium. As a result, medical simulation can play a pivotal role for expert clinicians who are either assimilating new therapies or refining experimental treatments.
This special issue will highlight new research in medical modeling and simulation while spanning a broad domain of application. Submissions for the special issue should focus new theory, methods, technologies, and tools with clinical appeal. Authors of high quality, unpublished contributions to this field of Modeling and Simulation are invited to submit papers to this Special Issue.
This special issue solicits papers on the following topics of interest, but not limited to:
- Biomechanical, thermal or other physically-based modeling of therapy.
- Patient-specific anatomical modeling, e.g. segmentation and/or meshing, for application to medical simulation.
- Validation of medical simulation, including phantoms.
- New frameworks for requirements specification for medical simulators.
- Development and application of new hardware technologies, such as haptic devices and massively parallel hardware acceleration.
Instructions for Manuscript Preparation
For manuscript formatting and other guidelines, please visit the Author Guidelines for SIMULATION.
Submissions for Full Paper Review
All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the paper submission system to the SIMULATION Manuscript Submission System. Please note in your online cover letter that the submission is intended for the "Medical Simulation" special issue.
Note: Manuscripts must not have been previously published or be submitted for publication elsewhere. Each submitted manuscript must include title, names, authors' affiliations, postal and e-mail addresses, an extended paper, and a list of keywords. For multiple author submission, please identify the corresponding author.
|Full Papers Due
||December 15, 2012
|Notification of Acceptance
||April 15, 2013
|Minor Revisions Due
||May 15, 2013
|Major Revisions Due
||June 15, 2013
SIMULATION has a large number of submitted articles. Although 30% or less are accepted, there are numerous papers waiting for publication. The journal has increased the number of pages in 2012 to 128 pages per issue to speed up publication. Online versions of the articles are available as soon as the articles are accepted.
Final paper submissions
Each final submission must be prepared based on the Simulation journal requirements (see Author Guidelines for SIMULATION page).
- Michel Audette
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
- Hanif Ladak
The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. | <urn:uuid:7c8b0696-0bf9-4ff4-b2d1-ce174d32631f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://scs.org/node/315 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90922 | 897 | 1.960938 | 2 |
In a review of the work done by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the government “watchdog” Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a recent report outlining some of the challenges facing FHA’s reverse mortgage program.
In its report, GAO found that falling home prices were a main driver of the agency’s negative economic position of $2.8 billion at the end of 2012, but there were additional concerns about longevity risk and tax and insurance defaults due to borrower funds drawn upfront.
In its November 2012 annual report to Congress on its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, FHA identified a number of challenges facing its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program.
At the forefront was the large majority of borrowers maximizing the upfront draw under the HECM Standard fixed-rate product.
The vast majority of recent borrowers took out 80% or more of the maximum amount possible in one initial cash draw, GAO reports in response.
Researched performed by independent actuaries indicate that HECM loans with high upfront draws are twice as likely to have tax and insurance (T&I) default than loans with initial draws of 60%. Additionally, these loans were also found to be four times as likely to default than those with initial draws of 40%.
T&I defaults stemmed largely from homeowners withdrawing all eligible cash upfront, resulting in insufficient cash flow in later years to maintain property upkeep, taxes and insurance payments—incidences of which have increased in recent years, GAO notes.
Another challenge for FHA was increased property conveyance rates, termination upon which increased sharply during this past year,
GAO research indicates that this was directly related to falling home prices, as owners and estate executors were faced with mortgage balances greater than property value at the time of borrower exit from the home.
Because of this, owners and executors were less willing to market and sell the property than those with positive equity in the home.
In such cases, GAO notes that there is no financial benefit from managing property sale and so those responsible for the home are more likely to convey the property to HUD for sale.
Property management and marketing costs tied to these homes conveyed to HUD cost approximately 12% of property value, thus increasing the severity of loss for FHA.
Slower borrow mortality and termination speeds have also increased the likelihood that loan balances will exceed property values at the time of loan terminations, according to the report.
Since January 2013, FHA has made and proposed changes to its HECM program to address some of these challenges, most notably by halting the use of its Fixed-rate Standard HECM product.
Additionally, FHA proposed other changes to Congress, including reducing the amount borrowers can draw at the time of loan origination, as well as issuing new incentives for estate executors of HECM borrowers to dispose of properties themselves rather than conveying them to HUD.
Written by Jason OlivaEmail This Post Print This Post
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- FHA Official: More Reverse Mortgage Change Coming by August | <urn:uuid:6574c72b-8de4-4c91-b817-db73c5125cb3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://reversemortgagedaily.com/2013/03/08/gao-report-reverse-mortgage-woes-stem-from-falling-home-prices/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965435 | 665 | 1.632813 | 2 |
A Print and Drawing Cabinet (PDC) is a collection of fine works on paper. Grand Valley State University’s PDC was established with an important gift of more than 300 original prints by Dutch artist, Cyril Lixenberg. In 2002, the collection was further enhanced by the Brooks family’s donation of 500 prints by contemporary Dutch artists. One year later, faculty members Ann and David Keister pledged a gift of several hundred Master Printer’s Proofs by contemporary American artists.
The collection has continued to grow with numerous acquisitions including original broadsides by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada, works on paper by the influential Russian Mitki artists, Olga and Alexander Florensky, Chinese Calligraphy by modern masters, the Tyler gift of Prints, Indian Miniatures and donations from the noted contemporary printmaker, Steven Sorman.
Held in conjunction with Grand Valley State University's 50th Anniversary. | <urn:uuid:86dcf6f8-956e-4af8-b7e1-57899eb44ef6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gvsu.edu/events/print-and-drawing-cabinet-a-decade-of-collecting:106/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921079 | 193 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Alaska fisheries pioneer dies
John Doyle established Marine Advisory Program, urged creation of the Fishery Industrial Technology Center
18 April 2006
Anchorage, Alaska—John Doyle, an Alaska fisheries pioneer who established the Marine Advisory Program and worked to improve the seafood industry across the state, passed away at home in Anchorage, April 8, 2006, at the age of 72.
A service will be announced.
Mr. Doyle was born July 18, 1933, to Thomas Doyle and Winnifred Rahn in Milwaukee. He was raised in western Wisconsin, graduating from Ellsworth, Wis., High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1956 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant.
After obtaining a degree in fisheries at the University of Washington, Mr. Doyle worked as a fisheries biologist for the Department of Natural Resources at the University of Saskatchewan. He later accepted a position at the University of Alaska to develop a fisheries extension program in Alaska.
Mr. Doyle was particularly effective in bringing information on fisheries biology and seafood technology to villages in western and northern Alaska.
When the Alaska Sea Grant College Program was established in 1980, he obtained funding for marine extension positions and the program became known as the Marine Advisory Program.
He was instrumental in planning and obtaining funding to build the Fishery Industrial Technology Center in Kodiak.
While at the University of Alaska, he advanced to tenured professor. He served as leader of the Fisheries Extension Program and the Marine Advisory Program, chairman of the Marine Resources Division of the Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, associate director of the Fishery Industrial Technology Center, and assistant director of the Alaska Sea Grant College Program.
Mr. Doyle was at the Faculty of Fisheries at University of Hokkaido in Japan for two years and received a Citation of Commendation for Contributions in Marine Science and Education from the university.
His memberships included the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Pacific Fisheries Technologists, Pacific Fisheries Biologists and the Japan Association of Scientific Fisheries.
After retirement from UA, he was granted professor emeritus status.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Doyle. He is survived by brother, Jim Doyle; sons and daughters-in-law, Gregory and Monica, Douglas and Tessie, and Sean; stepdaughter, Maureen Holden; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kathryn E. Doyle Scholarship for women in science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, UAF Advancement Services, P.O. Box 757530, Fairbanks 99775.
Arrangements are with Anchorage Funeral Home. | <urn:uuid:70f4c6df-49d5-40a3-bc07-38cce0818554> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/06news/04-18-06doyle-obituary.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949068 | 550 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Dec 31 2012
The end of the year will be marked by more downpours with much of England, Scotland and Wales under flood alert, compounding what is likely to be one of the wettest years on record.
New Year's Eve celebrations will be dampened by heavy wind and showers, as some areas battle to cope with 33mm of predicted rain.
The start of 2013 is expected to bring some much desired respite from the rain, with weeks of almost relentless downpours expected to end on Tuesday, replaced by cloud, dull skies and light showers.
But the heavy rain overnight and throughout New Year's Eve means the Environment Agency has 202 flood alerts and 86 flood warnings in place in areas where the ground is already saturated and rivers and groundwater levels are still high.
They follow hundreds of other alerts issued this month, as several days' worth of rain fell in a few hours at its worst, contributing to a year of bad weather which has left the UK on the brink of its wettest since records began in 1910.
Many areas in Scotland, northern England and northern Wales endured 15mm of rain on Sunday night, with 33mm of falling in Capel Curig in north Wales and 26mm in Shap, Cumbria. Winds will also hit 50mph in the north and west of the UK.
Billy Payne, a meteorologist for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It's not going to be a nice end to the year with heavy rain and winds around for most areas, particularly in Wales and the southern half of England.
"The rain is expected to linger throughout the day and it is best to take an umbrella to any outdoor New Year's Eve celebrations. It will begin to clear on New Year's Day with cloud and dull skies following."
This month hundreds of homes have been evacuated and weary commuters and travellers forced to find alternative routes or abandon their plans altogether as sections of Britain's transport network ground to a halt.
Environment Agency teams are continuing to monitor river levels, clear river channels and ensure flood defences are working properly, and have erected mobile flood barriers in cities and towns such as Oxford, Worcester, Shrewsbury and Bewdley. Larger rivers such as the Thames, Severn and Wye are likely remain high for several days. | <urn:uuid:335f80ca-5ee7-499d-907a-c14d3234ef0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.osadvertiser.co.uk/news/west-lancashire-breaking-news/2012/12/31/more-downpours-as-wet-year-ends-80904-32520342/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96588 | 477 | 2.359375 | 2 |
Golf Short Game Tips – Denis Pugh
These golf short game tips will help you when you are around the green. Sometimes amateur golfers only have one shot that they know how to play around the green. Some will play this shot no matter what the lie of the ball is and it becomes detrimental to their game. It is important to realize what the lie of the ball is so you can change your shot accordingly. In this video, Denis Pugh explains 2 different types of shots. The first uses loft to land the ball softly on the green, while the other uses spin to control the ball on the green. Developing these 2 shots will help you improve your short game.
Using loft to land the ball softly on the green can be used when the ball is sitting up, usually on the rough. This means there is more air under the ball and it is almost like the ball is sitting on a tee. You do not want to play this shot every time the ball lands in the rough. It is only for when the ball is sitting up on the rough and you are able to easily get under the ball. It is important to note that you do not have to open the club face and hit a lob shot. All you are doing is using the loft of the club to get the ball into the air. Because the ball is sitting up, you will naturally get more loft and the ball will land softly.
Using spin is important when the ball is sitting on the fairway. Because of the low cut of the grass on the fairway it is more difficult to under the ball and generate lots of loft. In order to control the ball you can use spin. Spin is generated by hitting down on the ball. This causes back spin in a similar way to a table tennis player creating back spin. The flight of the ball will be much lower but the backspin will control the ball and not allow it to run on a long way.
These two techniques that Denis Pugh has explained will help you develop your game so that you can land the ball near the pin more often. Practice these shots at the range and then next time you play a round you will be playing a different shot depending on the lie of your ball. This will give you more consistency in your game.
Filed under: Golf Short Game
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more! | <urn:uuid:38a6c797-206d-4e91-9983-fca3bc46d9cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://golfswingjourney.com/golf-short-game-tips-denis-pugh.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93634 | 485 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
|STANDARD DATA: (100-hp version) Gross wt. 1,300. Empty wt. 700. Fuel capacity 25. Wingspan 22'6". Length 19'3". Engine 80-, 90-, and 100-hp Continental, or 100- to 135-hp Lycoming.
PERFORMANCE: (100-hp version) Top mph 165. Cruise mph 150. Stall mph 55. Climb rate 900. Ceiling 16,000+. Takeoff run 800. Landing roll 600. Range 600+.
Aviation legend Steve Wittman’s idea in 1953 was to create a fast and economical cross-country airplane that could tote two people and 60 pounds of baggage. Additionally, the airplane would fly with the greatest of ease and would have gentle stall characteristics at the low end of the speed spectrum. The first five airplanes built were loaded to gross weight and subjected to 4Gs. So successful did the Tailwind design turn out that for some years it stood alone in its class for its cruise speed as well as for its acrobatic-quality handling, though Wittman considers it to be a utility aircraft. Not until John Thorp came along with his low-wing T-18 could any two-place homebuilt match the Tailwind’s performance. Improvements to the design include a modified airfoil, which is longer than the original wing by 19 inches. The modified airfoil slows landing and takeoff speeds, improves rate of climb, gives high ceilings, and boosts cruise speed at altitude. Also, revisions have been made to allow the use of a 150-hp Lycoming, a 145-hp Continental, and the Olds/Buick 215-cu. in. V-8s. | <urn:uuid:e28a71ed-bb23-450e-b85a-dc0c95d5bd78> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/aircraft/international-aircraft-directory/homebuiltkitbuilt-aircraft/wittman-tailwind.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930403 | 362 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Bloom Color: Purple
Flower Fragrance: No fragrance Slightly Fragrant
Bloom Shape: Single Flat Nodding
Bloom Diameter: Medium - 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12 cm)
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Pruning Groups: Group 3 - Summer/Fall bloomers; prune hard in early spring
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From softwood cuttings From semi-hardwood cuttings From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
On Jun 10, 2013, AstilbeHere from Toronto Canada wrote:
I have a couple of Jackmanii: one crawls up through a daphne and one on a trellis. I have a Hagley Hybrid too, which I really don't look after, yet it puts up its flowers in early June. The best clemmies are the species types. Macropetala (Blue Bird - Bred for the Canadian prairies, so very hardy, in a sunny south facing aspect) and Alpina (Francis Rivis, Rosy O'Grady) varieties come in pink, deep red with white or cream centres. All are reliable, although mostly spring bloomers. The tangutica and the autumn clematis are both great late summer performers, but need a good haircut in early spring. Grow very tall. Just about to try a Betty Corning; seen it do well in Toronto gardens. None of the species varieties seem to get the sudden clematis wilt (some of you talk of wilt and browning off...it's a known issue with large flowered hybrids, but fades after a few years when the plant gets established and stronger). Try the herbaceous Heracleifolia varieties. The are not climbers and do well in a perennial border planting - small, plentiful blooms. Note: don't use weed whackers near clemmies (can bring a quick end to the season).
On Jun 10, 2013, Gardenblue2 from Overland Park, KS (Zone 6a) wrote:
I have 3 Jackmanii clematis in different parts of my yard.
One is on an obelisk & blooming now. I think it blooms later in the summer too if I cut it back.
One is climbing through my Knock out Roses (by accident, not planned) and is just beautiful! I was so thrilled when I saw this!
One is on a trellis in my side yard.
I cut them all back early in the spring to about 6 inches.
I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful vining perennial!
On Jun 10, 2013, mensamom from Laurens, SC (Zone 7b) wrote:
The Jackmanii that I planted about 5 years ago had sporadic blooms until this year. I don't prune it unless it starts taking over something it shouldn't. I did add some organic fertilizer to the ground around the plant's base last fall. And this year I have an explosion of purple flowers. Don't know if it was the fertilizer or if this plant is really a "late bloomer" - pun intended!
On Jun 10, 2013, adjalatyke from alliston Canada wrote:
Many years ago, I was at a Horticultural club meeting, and the guest speaker [an older gentleman] had known Jackman and it was from that point that I began to pronounce Clematis the same way Jackman did.......as you show on your page.
I am so glad I read this page! I never knew clematis needed to be cut back! Mine used to almost cover the chain-link fence where it is planted and bloom its head off, but it has become skimpier each of the last 3 years or so, and this year it is a shadow of its former self; now I know why -- I have never pruned it! I am preparing to move and will certainly want clematis in my new location, but now I know what to do to keep it vigorous. Thank you everyone!
On Apr 23, 2012, GreenThumbToo from Sierra Vista, AZ wrote:
I now live in AZ, but I had a beautiful clematis in IL, growing in my garden of a 1893 house. It was over 10' high, up to 20'. I say this because the house was a large two story, not including the attic and the clematis was almost all the way to the top of the house! It was established when I purchased the home and people would stop by and ask me about this beautiful vine.
All I did was water it, along with my other flowers, in the same bed. It faced east and the feet were shaded by the other plants. I did nothing else to it, including pruning it. It just kept blooming and blooming through spring, summer and fall!
I'm looking for one to plant in my Sierra Vista, AZ garden, hopefully it will grow as nicely as it did in Illinois!
On Apr 17, 2012, outdoorlover from Enid, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:
OMG!!! I can't believe I found the name of this clematis. I bought it around 2006 from Sam's and it did not have a name other than "clematis". It has been growing to beat the band since then. People stop by our house and ask what that plant is. It is awesome. Since we moved I have been sad because I did not bring it with me. Today I started looking at new clematis' to buy and plant and saw this one and it is the same as my old favorite!!!! I'm so excited! Ordered two of them!!! It loves living in our area and blooms its heart out.
I ordered them from Bluestone Perennials and they said this plant immigrated from England in the 1850s.
On Aug 15, 2011, altoclef from Los Altos, CA wrote:
The plant has been in the ground for 5 years. It is growing slowly, and has had one flower, none this year. It gets sun most of the day (6 hours), and the roots are shaded. It is next to a camellia - but gets more sun than the camellia. It is hardly worth the effort - although, apart from staking the plant, I do nothing special.
On Aug 15, 2011, herbella from Albuquerque, NM wrote:
I read that this variety of clematis was supposed to be able to survive in the arid climate of Albuquerque, New Mexico and in our poor, sandy soil. Alas, all three of the plants that I bought died, although I planted them in different areas of our garden. It was an expensive lesson.
I love this plant. It is one of the few that I don't have to worry about. It has grown reliably for over 15 years in an enclosed 'planting area' that is filled with dense yellow foundation clay. It loves it. I hard prune to about 12 inches height in January and sprinkle a bit of 'organic' fertilizer about the base. That's it. I would highly recommend this plant to anyone wanting a low maintenance climbing vine. It trains well during its spring growth period.
On Feb 7, 2010, mamakatz from Orangeburg, SC wrote:
MY PLANT IS IN A 2'x2' POT GROWING UP A TRELLIS.
IT GETS SUN ON TOP BUT THE POT IS SHADED. I HAVE IT IN A FLOWER BED SO OTHER PLANTS SHADE
THE POT. I NEVER GIVE IT ATTENTION AND IT SEEMS TO DO JUST FINE. I JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY!
On Nov 22, 2009, bonehead from Cedarhome, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:
I grow this at the foot of a lilac for support, the clematis literally covers the lilac for a second 'bloom' in June-July. I've puzzled more than one person looking at the lilac leaves but seeing clematis blooms. In spring I just cut back hard and pull last year's vines from the lilac before they put on their own show.
On Aug 8, 2009, NDJollyMon from Grand Forks, ND wrote:
Very hardy plant, even with our extreme winters. We have 2 of these vines growing up a large arbor. Giant, long blooming purple flowers on vines about 11' long. Arbor faces Southeast, in full sun with root area mulched. No special winter protection needed. In Spring, I cut back the vine to about 12" from ground and remove old growth. Plant rapidly grows back each year...very reliable. A stunning entrance to the perrenial garden. It gets better each year after planting...be patient. It's worth the wait!
This Clematis has been quite reliable for me. I originally bought it as a piece of root at Lowe's. Now 4-5 years later it is large and vigorous. It vines through the neighboring roses just like I had invisioned. For me, this clematis repeat blooms many times during the season. I really enjoy this plant..
On Sep 14, 2008, gardenlady123 from Plainwell, MI (Zone 5b) wrote:
I thougt my Jackmanii died!!! But was I surprised when it blossomed the best its ever blossomed before. Georgeously. I do not know how many flowers were on the vine this year. (2008) I know now that I have to prune it in the spring time. Will do that next year. Love this clematis.
On Aug 18, 2008, Ladybeetle from zone 7, TX wrote:
My 'Jackmanii', which was purchased two years ago,started
up growing just fine and it had a total of 3 beautiful blooms! The plant continued to remain healthy but quit growing and quit blooming. I have it facing west so it gets all afternoon sun till about4 or 5pm. The roots are in the shade and the ground is moist. Last year I had just a couple blooms also. I mulch with decomposed horse manure mixed with sawdust.
On May 31, 2008, moma4faith from Huntsville, AL wrote:
In North Alabama, I find Jackmanii to be very hardy and vigorous whether it be in full sun or part shade. Mulch keeps the roots cool while it climbs to the sun. Very easy to grow and it is the perfect specimen to grow out by the pool - lots of sun and gets very hot out there, but Jackmanii can take the heat and provides incredible blooms.
On Nov 26, 2006, JasperDale from Long Beach, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:
For years I thought we couldn't grow Clematis here in So. Calif. Mine is coming up on it's 4th year and is doing great. I have it in a Southern exposure, tops in full sun and roots in shade of a dwf. Abelia , and it grows up into a pink Dream Weaver Rose. It gets better every year. I am now going to try other varieties.
This is the first clematis I ever bought in 1985. It has since been divided at the root mass (a major job: very tough!) in very early spring, and made into several separate plants. I've l lost track of how many 'starts' I have given away to gardening friends. It is unquestionably a favorite of many gardeners. I understand it has been around for a very long time, and with its great growth and blooms not surprising. I am a firm believer in keeping the roots heavily mulched and/or shaded to retain proper moisture and protected from hot sunlight.
On Jun 1, 2005, Gindee77 from Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
I've had the same Jackmani Clematis in my garden for over 30 years. It needs to be cut back almost to the ground in early spring and it will grow and bloom for a good share of the summer. It's very hardy in zone 5.
On May 10, 2005, silverbyrch from Portland, OR wrote:
I inherited four clematis plants from my parents last fall and the jackmanii was one of the them. Like other's have noted, they like their toes cool and their heads to be warm. My parent's said it may take a bit for the plant to establish itself and get comfortable in the garden so I really didn't think much of the growth habit per se, I just kept an eye on it and noticed how well it liked the new home.
This year? The goofy thing is having a party of its own! I love it! It's growing beautifully and climbing hardily all over a portion of my backyard cyclone fence. Thankfully it's helping hide the ugly tin shed in my neighbor's back yard. The clematis has not come into bloom yet, but I expect it will within the next couple weeks.
On Sep 10, 2003, jbyrne from St. John's Canada (Zone 5a) wrote:
Had a bit of a problem with it this summer (2003). It is its second year and began to grow vigorously until it suddenly became black and died out; am unsure of the reason. Luckily, a few new shoots followed so the entire plant wasn’t killed.
On Aug 19, 2003, mom2cats from Moorestown, NJ (Zone 7b) wrote:
Once this plant gets established, it's easy to grow and lovely to own. It does need cool "roots" but mulch should not be placed directly around the base of the stem but rather a few inches away. Mildew can be prevented by ensuring good air circulation around the plant.
This plant likes its "head in the sun, and feet in the shade", which is easily accomplished by planting on a south or west wall behind a low growing shrub until the plant has firmly established itself.
On Oct 10, 2001, Joy from Kalama, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:
Locate the Top in full sun, feet in shade to partial shade.
Needs a Fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil.
Prune down to within one foot of soil level before new growth begins (mid-February or first part of March). Can also be pruned in the fall.
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, (2 reports) Huntsville, Alabama Scottsboro, Alabama Bigelow, Arkansas Brookland, Arkansas Magnet Cove, Arkansas Auberry, California Capistrano Beach, California Castro Valley, California Concord, California Hayward, California Hesperia, California Laguna West-lakeside, California Long Beach, California Loyola, California Moreno Valley, California Palo Alto, California Redlands, California Aurora, Colorado Clifton, Colorado Denver, Colorado Durango, Colorado Glade Park, Colorado Palisade, Colorado West Haven, Connecticut Highland Acres, Delaware Interlachen, Florida Lake City, Florida Braselton, Georgia Chatsworth, Georgia Hawkinsville, Georgia Rincon, Georgia Tucker, Georgia Meridian, Idaho Sandpoint, Idaho Beecher, Illinois Chicago, Illinois (3 reports) Elgin, Illinois Evanston, Illinois Hampton, Illinois Lincoln, Illinois Mackinaw, Illinois Marshall, Illinois Mount Zion, Illinois Niles, Illinois Nilwood, Illinois Oak Lawn, Illinois Spring Grove, Illinois Springfield, Illinois Washington, Illinois Waukegan, Illinois Yorkville, Illinois Bremen, Indiana Fort Wayne, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Lakes Of The Four Seasons, Indiana Macy, Indiana Warren, Indiana Birmingham, Iowa Lisbon, Iowa Andover, Kansas Clay Center, Kansas Overland Park, Kansas Barbourville, Kentucky Ewing, Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Salvisa, Kentucky Belle Chasse, Louisiana Zachary, Louisiana Bethesda, Maryland East Riverdale, Maryland Kemp Mill, Maryland Amesbury, Massachusetts Brimfield, Massachusetts Needham, Massachusetts West Roxbury, Massachusetts Westford, Massachusetts Clarkston, Michigan Dearborn, Michigan Howell, Michigan Pinconning, Michigan Plainwell, Michigan Traverse City, Michigan Trenton, Michigan Blaine, Minnesota Red Wing, Minnesota St Paul, Minnesota Iuka, Mississippi Natchez, Mississippi Brunswick, Missouri Licking, Missouri Marshall, Missouri Springfield, Missouri Thayer, Missouri West Sullivan, Missouri Chester, Montana Lothair, Montana Pahrump, Nevada Concord, New Hampshire Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey Moorestown-lenola, New Jersey Santa Fe, New Mexico , New York Buffalo, New York Glen Head, New York Glen Park, New York Sayville, New York Southold, New York West Valley, New York Yonkers, New York Charlotte, North Carolina Marion, North Carolina Myrtle Grove, North Carolina Grand Forks, North Dakota Boston Heights, Ohio Dayton, Ohio Glouster, Ohio Highland Heights, Ohio New Miami, Ohio North Ridgeville, Ohio Enid, Oklahoma , Ontario Chiloquin, Oregon Lebanon, Oregon Portland, Oregon Brittany Farms-highlands, Pennsylvania East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania Hampton Township, Pennsylvania Hasson Heights, Pennsylvania Jessup, Pennsylvania Mercer, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Brookdale, South Carolina Duncan, South Carolina Laurens, South Carolina Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Summerville, South Carolina Aberdeen, South Dakota Nemo, South Dakota Webster, South Dakota Clarksville, Tennessee Fairmount, Tennessee Hendersonville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Lafayette, Tennessee Beaumont, Texas Callisburg, Texas Cloverleaf, Texas Dallas, Texas Hereford, Texas Houston, Texas Hudson, Texas La Vernia, Texas Paris, Texas Richmond, Texas Willis, Texas West Valley City, Utah West Dummerston, Vermont Leesburg, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Troy, Virginia Everett, Washington Kalama, Washington Lake Goodwin, Washington Poulsbo, Washington Soap Lake, Washington Spokane, Washington Sissonville, West Virginia Brooklyn, Wisconsin Eau Claire, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin Random Lake, Wisconsin Sheridan, Wyoming | <urn:uuid:330c22fe-ba8f-433e-9ba0-5df427904205> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2162/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938561 | 4,058 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Red panda mom Shan Tou has surprised zoo keepers in Fargo, ND, by giving birth to triplets, InForum reports. “This is huge," a Red River Zoo executive said. Red pandas, an endangered species, often have one or two cubs, but triplets are rare. "It’s been 10 years since the last triplets have been born in the Western Hemisphere,” said the zoo's main panda keeper.
Zoo officials didn't know Shan Tou and daddy Yukiko were expecting until mom dropped one while on exhibit. She sneaked off to have the next two in her nesting area. The babies, still white with black and tan flakes—they'll turn red in a month—are about 5 inches long and weigh between 166 and 232 grams. For now, mom is still protecting them, but zoo execs say they'll go on exhibit by the end of August. | <urn:uuid:03f02c86-0c78-4a2a-a2bd-02dfd77625e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newser.com/story/62416/red-panda-has-rare-triplets-in-fargo.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982771 | 189 | 2.53125 | 3 |
What are the special conditions necessary for fossils to form? Usually, if something dies, it either rots away from bacteria and fungus, or is eaten by animals. (Scavengers are animals that live off of dead flesh.) So, a major factor in forming a fossil is rapid burial. This protects the organism from being eaten or exposed to bacteria. | <urn:uuid:2a44f2b9-99f9-4f3c-9b92-395168421927> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/education/teaching_paleo4/sld003.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922205 | 71 | 3.578125 | 4 |
sounds good .......our winter goes go from oct. -end of march
thanks again for sharing your knowledge. i need to find out more on winter feeding ...do you bring your hives out of elements/....does honey act as an insulator for the hive?...so much to know and we are very inexperienced and to busy to read much...heres a dumb question??? do bees sleep ,work in shifts,or what...whats up at night in there/?
Winter ball of bee is as big brood area before wintering. If the last brood area like with us in August is one box, the space for winter is one box enough. If brood area is 1,5 supers, you must give to bees 2 supers for winter.
We have in Finland two habits:
1) Solid bottom with opening + upper opening for ventilation
2) Open grid bottom and no upper opening.
The last one is developed for polystyrene hives. I have used them since 1987.
If the wall is solid wood like I had 20 years ago, bees consume sugar 50% more than in insulated box. Polystyrene box is very warm and bees develope in spring very fast.
Hive must protected from mouses, and birds. Birds are disturbing all the winter bees and eat them, but bees stand it.
Also you can do outer box for bees for wind protection. But I think that in your climate it is not necessary. Hungarian use 3 W electric heater on the bottom of hive.
Last year I used first time terrarium heater with bees and my invention were very new in Finland. I had two frame colony which I carried through winter. There was 7 W heater in the hive and the hive was in fire wood shelter. It was fine! In spring I took brood frames from big colinies and now that tiny colony is collecting honeys as his big sisters.
Also after cleaning flight I started to give soija flour-yeast-pollen -mixture to bees and their brood raising was 1,5 month ahead natural development.
Honey does not act as insulator.
Bees are not sleeping. They consume food and vibrate their wing muscles and produce heat for winterball. Of course the warm rise upp.
Also when bees respirate and use food they produce water vapour. That vapour condense to water drops on walls. That is why many use grid bottom during winter.
With solid bottom you need to use upper entrance open because moisture will escape from hive. If hive is too tight, bees will get nosema and half of bees may die.
I use thin wood panel ceiling on top with 5 cm foam plastic mattress. It is also during summer in hives.
In our country origin of bees is important. Some bought nucs and queen from New Sealand. All colonies died. Also as we by queens from Italy, they are not able to survive over our long winter.
Ability to stand over long winter is one of the most important character in our bees.
Last spring I had 5 colonies "coffee cup size", and with some trick and thanks to terrarium heater they have now five supers each.
When varroa mite come to my hives it brought many diseases with it. Little colonies did not survived over winter any more. 5 frames is minimun. But now I think that terrarium heater is solution in that problem.
Do they sleep at nigt ? ---- It seems to me that they sleep and rest after hard flight. In the middle of the day you can find old workers hanging in the bottom of hive. I think that their muscles do not stand all the time working.
If you need special adwices write to email@example.com | <urn:uuid:92e4596c-ab78-42d1-8b96-d510dd25ff36> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=1076.msg4882 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956523 | 776 | 2.109375 | 2 |
This week a mother in northern Israel found a snake's head in her toddler's mouth. Thankfully the child had not been bitten or harmed while beheading that snake! But here's the part that makes me want to scream: They couldn't quite identify what kind of snake it was because its head was so chewed up. OMG! NO! Chewing a snake's head -- that is the worst!
Or is it? Even the most watchful mom has found crazy, disturbing, and revolting things in our kids mouths. I know I have. I've seen rocks, coins, glitter, a random bottle cap -- well, maybe I should just stop there. I asked some of my friends what crazy items they've found in their toddlers' mouths. Are you ready? Okay, let's go there.
Before we get started I just want to assure you all that all of these children are still alive and all of these parents are responsible and sane. Well, as sane as you can be after raising a toddler. Anyway, the following stories are as told by the parents.
E was crawling around at church one time and I saw he was gnawing on something. When I fished it out of his mouth it turned out to be SOME OTHER KID'S DISCARDED BABY MOLAR. I would find it funny now, but as a first-time mom it gave me the dry heaves.
My friend's daughter pried old gum from between the rubber mats at the park and popped it right in her mouth.
Half a matchstick. While in her crib. 3 marbles. The last bite of an unidentifiable lawn mushroom at a vacation rental in the middle of nowhere.
First time playing at the beach, age 2, E took a seashell, scooped up a big hunk of wet sand and shoved it right in her pie-hole. Another time, same age, she found and (possibly) drank an unknown amount of a rum & coke that had been left within her reach. Horrified, I watched her like a hawk for symptoms of drunkenness. Turns out symptoms of drunkenness are identical to symptoms of being 2 years old, so we'll never know. And then there was the gum that got poop on it... *shiver.*
When J was a bit over 1, he figured out how to open his bedroom door for the first time. I used to nap when he did, and while I was sleeping, he managed to get into the kitchen, pull out the rest of his dad's beer (from the trash - a 40 oz bottle I might add) and when I woke up (had a bad feeling -- seriously, there was NO noise. I woke up freaked) I found him in the kitchen, under the table, drunk off his ass and eating the cigarette butts outta the ashtray and playing with a broken glass. Can we say not only bye bye to Momma's naps, but most of her sanity that day? It STILL to this day gives me the shivers and he'll be 18 in 6 months. Oi. *shudder*
My dog's hair but I think we're just getting started.
Used cat litter.
Honestly, how does anyone manage to live beyond the age of 3? I ask you. Many thanks to the parents who shared your stories!
What horrible things have you pulled out of your toddler's mouth?
Image via goingslo/Flickr | <urn:uuid:84641075-febd-420a-85fc-a86d84139d30> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/132173/toddler_bites_head_off_snake?next=11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980602 | 717 | 1.523438 | 2 |
A r c h
i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
``SEC. 10902. FINDINGS.
- ``The Congress finds that--
- ``(1) a local public school often serves as a center for the delivery of education and human resources for all members of a community;
- ``(2) public schools, primarily in rural and inner city communities, should collaborate with other public and nonprofit agencies and organizations, local businesses, educational entities (such as vocational and adult education programs, school-to-work programs, community colleges, and universities), recreational, cultural, and other community and human service entities, for the purpose of meeting the needs of, and expanding the opportunities available to, the residents of the communities served by such schools;
- ``(3) by using school facilities, equipment, and resources, communities can promote a more efficient use of public education facilities, especially in rural and inner city areas where limited financial resources have enhanced the necessity for local public schools to become social service centers;
- ``(4) the high technology, global economy of the 21st century will require lifelong learning to keep America's workforce competitive and successful, and local public schools should provide centers for lifelong learning and educational opportunities for individuals of all ages; and
- ``(5) 21st Century Community Learning Centers enable the entire community to develop an education strategy that addresses the educational needs of all members of local communities.
PART I--21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS
SEC. 10903. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION. | <urn:uuid:489ce8c9-2e4a-4511-9b5c-1f897c0fa36f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA/sec10902.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922275 | 320 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Head of the Class
Imagine an elementary school class that would rather talk math and science than video games and movies. That’s the kind of environment one can find in Maria Carandas’ second grade classroom.
It’s should be no surprise then that Carandas, a UH College of Education alumnae, was named National Student Teacher of the Year by the Association of Teacher Educators.
Using interactive applications in the classroom, Carandas promotes both learning and understanding. Such techniques were honed through her own experiences at the College of Education.
The college prepares teachers, counselors, education administrators and professionals for careers in social agencies, business and government. Thanks to the university's urban setting, students have opportunities to work in a variety of educational settings. For more information about the College of Education visit http://www.coe.uh.edu/. | <urn:uuid:3668c2ac-264f-4b89-a01c-4866b5ed14e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uh.edu/features/cougar-credits/head-class/index.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941026 | 179 | 1.671875 | 2 |
SEATTLE - A new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday could give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greater power to recall potentially unsafe prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Last year, there were more than 1,700 drug recalls, four times more than the previous year.
Seattle attorney Maria Diamond handles drug-related injury cases. She says the additional authority is needed partly because it is difficult to track problems when most drug ingredients are not made in the United States.
"The problem becomes that much worse in the context now, as we're seeing more and more products being made overseas, where there is no oversight and little if any quality control. And we've certainly seen that in a number of products from China, most recently."
This News is a service of:
The Drug Safety and Accountability Act would give the FDA authority to subpoena documents and witnesses, and to assess civil penalties. It was introduced on the heels of some high-profile voluntary recalls this year, including one involving Children's Tylenol. Diamond says a lack of funding has limited the FDA's enforcement powers - and the drug industry is not always willing to speak up quickly when a problem is suspected.
"One of the most important things civil litigation does is brings to light all of the evidence, in terms of what drug companies knew and when they knew it. And it has been through the process of civil litigation that some of the 'worst of the worst' have come to light."
Diamond believes the legislation is a good idea, although she notes the FDA and drug manufacturers historically have had close ties, and thinks precautions should be taken to keep consumer safety first.
A new Pew poll also shows overwhelming public support for tougher safety laws for consumer drugs, according to Allan Coukell is director of the Pew Prescription Project.
"In the current environment, I don't think it's an automatic given that Americans across the political spectrum would support increased authority for a federal agency, and so I think it's striking that we see that finding."
In response to the new legislation, the leading pharmaceutical industry group says the U.S. already has the toughest and safest drug regulatory system in the world. | <urn:uuid:9eec5a1f-3e5b-45ab-8323-8f1e57ce49c0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1798 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973626 | 448 | 1.976563 | 2 |
S tretching 45 miles throughout the Brownsville Navigation District and 5 miles into the city of Brownsville itself, the tracks of the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad provide the port and its customers with affordable, direct access to two Class 1 railroads — Union-Pacific and Burlington Northern — and an intermediate connection via U.P. to Kansas City Southern De Mexico routes across the Rio Grande.
With six yards and more than 1,000 cars on hand, the BRG is armed with an array of services to offer shippers anywhere in the United States. Steel, scrap metal, agricultural and food products and other bulk materials have always been major commodities for the BRG, but chemical shipments have skyrocketed in recent years.
As Brownsville finds itself playing a greater role in global commerce, the BRG International Railroad will continue to refine and improve the internal logistics that make the port one of the world’s most important transportation hubs. | <urn:uuid:5c355944-c96a-45dd-8598-777f25a546b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://brgrr.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92745 | 191 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Question: I have heard that certain types of exercises are good and others are bad for people to tend to faint. Is this true, and if so, which exercises are good for me?
Answer :What you've heard is true. There are some types of exercises that can make fainting worse. For example, any exercise that's anaerobic or any exercise that involves straining, like sit-ups, stomach crunches or heavy weight lifting. Repeated straining causes more blood to pool in your legs and stomach, and less is available for the heart to pump to the brain, and can make fainting more likely.
Aerobic exercise, which is free-flowing and moving, like walking, jogging, swimming or slow running, tend to do very well in terms of preventing folks from fainting and improving their circulation. | <urn:uuid:23b98fb2-55ca-4fe5-9827-7c16969045cb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartRhythmScreening/story?id=5212827 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97148 | 176 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Impact statement on F-35s delayed
MONTPELIER — The Vermont National Guard says the United States Air Force has delayed the release of a final environmental impact statement on plans on where to base its next-generation fighter jet, the F-35, until the spring.
The Air Force says it needs to update the document to include 2010 census data for all six locations being considered.
The Vermont National Guard was notified on Wednesday evening. The delay will push back a decision on where the F-35s will be based.
The Air Force says it expects to start basing the F-35s at the first location in 2015. | <urn:uuid:547c5315-8bb0-42ac-8fca-6cde1e3d751c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130110/NEWS03/701109927/0/SEARCH | 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 | 0.929338 | 132 | 1.578125 | 2 |
There is a Chinese proverb that says that it doesn't really matter whether you think you can do something or you can't. Either way, you are right. Same applies here. If a group of people really believe they can do something better than another group, more than likely, they will.
It seems to me that you are looking for a magic recipe to "surpass established companies", whatever that means (making more money? achieving a larger market share? maybe both?). In any case, I am afraid that there isn't such a thing.
However, let me tell you what I think are the advantages of startups.
First and foremost, the people. If you are "crazy" enough to risk your capital, emotional well being, and your reputation, not to mention countless hours of hard work, to pursue something, then you have a set of powerful incentives and a tremendous advantage over an organization filled with people who... well... they are basically just waiting for another paycheck. Passion and commitment is the key.
Second, startups can adjust, tweak and refine their products and services way faster than big organizations. Think of it as driving a small car with 2 or three people vs driving a huge bus with 100 people. If you notice something is wrong, it will take little to realize what's wrong with the car. Maybe you took a wrong turn? Maybe it is one of the passengers? Maybe it is the car? On the other hand, the bus will take longer to realize that. Too many people involved driving the goddamn thing. The mechanics are more complex, and there are always a sense of invulnerability inside the bus that prevents you from seeing the naked truth.
Third, for startups is easier to offer better customer service than large organizations. The personal touch, that authenticity feeling that we all love to experience is easier to see on a startup. Capitalize on it. It works wonders.
There are also other things, some of which Nir and Lloyd S have already mentioned, so I won't repeat them here.
Finally, remember that success is a very poor teacher, and that working in a startup will expose you to invaluable experiences that will accompany you all throughout your professional life. Even if you don't achieve your goals, and even if you lose money, you will have plenty of time to recover (unless you are in your 50s or 60s). It is always better to try and fail, than to fail to try. | <urn:uuid:c8b4bc3a-8a18-4671-986d-0a7fc5e662ee> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://answers.onstartups.com/questions/28633/how-do-newcomers-startups-manage-to-surpass-established-companies/28684 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979028 | 496 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Resources for Courses
IMS offers a wide variety of services and resources to help integrate technology into the classroom.
- Classroom Technology Information Visit our Classroom Information database to learn about the academic technology currently installed in classrooms.
- Rental Equipment If a piece of technology isn't installed in a classroom, we also offer equipment for loan from our main office.
- Lecture Recording Learn about how we can record your lecture and post the video or audio on your course website.
- Training IMS provides downloadable training documents as well as one-on-one classroom technology training with one of our technicians.
- Media Creation & Transfers Record audio and video podcasts in our sound studio, or have us produce DVDs, Blu-ray discs, or web files of your teaching and research materials. Older analog media can be transfered to digital formats. | <urn:uuid:f00e5749-7e8e-48ad-8625-97beed2dd018> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ims.fas.harvard.edu/courses/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927575 | 174 | 1.875 | 2 |
Global warming is now officially considered a threat to U.S. national security.
For the first time, Pentagon planners in 2010 will include climate change among the security threats identified in the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Congress-mandated report that updates Pentagon priorities every four years.
The reference to climate change follows the establishment in October of a new Center for the Study of Climate Change at the Central Intelligence Agency.
But the new attention to climate concerns among U.S. security officials does not mean the Pentagon and the CIA have taken sides in the debate over the validity of data on global warming. As with nuclear terrorism, deadly pandemics or biological warfare, it only means they want to be prepared.
"I always look at the worst case," says one senior intelligence official who follows climate issues. "Whether it's global warming or the chance of Country A invading Country B, I just assume the most likely outcome is the worst one."
Military officials, accustomed to drawing up detailed plans for a wide variety of contingencies, have a similar view.
"The American people expect the military to plan for the worst," says retired Vice Adm. Lee Gunn, a 35-year Navy veteran now serving as president of the American Security Project. "It's that sort of mindset, I think, that has convinced, in my view, the vast majority of military leaders that climate change is a real threat and that the military plays an important role in confronting it."
Among the scenarios that concern security planners is the melting of the massive Himalayan ice mass. In theory, the rivers fed by the Himalayan glaciers would flood at first, then dry up once the glaciers retreat. That would endanger tens of millions of people in lowland Bangladesh.
Retired Air Marshal A.K. Singh, a former commander in India's air force, foresees mass migrations across national borders, with militaries soon becoming involved.
"It will initially be people fighting for food and shelter," Singh says. "When the migration starts, every state would want to stop the migrations from happening. Eventually, it would have to become a military conflict. Which other means do you have to resolve your border issues?"
The drafters of the Quadrennial Defense Review were instructed by Congress to accept the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international body established by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization to gather and report world climate data.
Neither the Pentagon nor U.S. intelligence agencies make an independent effort to assess the planet's climate, and U.S. security officials have generally tried to distance themselves from any debate over the validity of the IPCC data. Instead, they focus on the security repercussions.
"The [IPCC] projections lead us to believe that severe weather events will increase in intensity in the future, perhaps in frequency as well," says Amanda Dory, the deputy assistant secretary of defense overseeing the review process. "This is a mission area where the Department [of Defense] already responds on a regular basis in support of civil authorities, whether for floods, wildfires [or] hurricanes. We believe there's a possibility those types of requests will increase in the future."
Climate change could also have implications for ship and aircraft designers.
"When you talk about building ships that are going to last from 30 to 50 years or programming for aircraft that are not going to be put in the air for 20 years, you have to be thinking about the kinds of changed conditions into which you're going to throw them in the future," Gunn says.
Still, there is only so much military planners can do to prepare for the consequences of climate change. The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, due to be delivered in February, is required to identity what global warming may mean for the Defense Department's "roles, missions and installations."
But Dory of the Pentagon says there won't be much change in that area.
"We don't anticipate that there are new mission areas as a result of climate change," Dory says. "Similarly, there may be changes in technical specifications for platforms, but not the need for new types of platforms that we don't already possess." (In Pentagon jargon, "platforms" are the things on which weapons are carried, like ships or aircraft.)
In the short term, climate change may be a more important subject for intelligence officials than for military planners.
Analysts at the National Intelligence Council are trying to develop a set of early warning signs that could suggest where the next famine might arise or which countries are in most danger of being destabilized as a result of dramatic climate changes. Intelligence officials put those countries on a "stability watch list."
But how far to go with such climate and security projections is a matter of dispute.
"We suck at predicting wars, and we're not very good at predicting peace," says James Carafano, a retired Army officer and former West Point instructor who now directs foreign policy and national security studies at the Heritage Foundation. "These are huge, giant, complex systems, and people who take a linear approach to these things and say, 'Oh, well, if this happens, then we'll have to worry about that' — that's not how reality works out."
Perhaps not, but it's the job of national security officials at least to imagine future climate and security scenarios, whether they can do something about them or not. | <urn:uuid:0a550986-74b5-433d-98f7-4cf45c24ad8b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/npr.php?id=121352495 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961642 | 1,111 | 2.671875 | 3 |
We have spent some time recently discussing labpack disposal which it is an integral part of what City Disposal does. The importance of this kind of service is very much at the forefront of what this company does not just because it is a lucrative market but very much because there is a vital need for these services to keep people doing incredibly important research safe.
Safety of course is the main reason one enters into the hazardous waste disposal business. The apparent danger of many of these chemicals that are so important to our daily lives means that someone is going to have to take care of the problem. It is a business and is not entirely altruistic but then again there is some of that betterment of mankind feeling in these sorts of endeavors as well. The difference between this job and so many others actually could be life and death. Sometimes it is life and death on a startlingly large scale.
Look, the importance of hazardous waste disposal is not really in contention anywhere but there is a definite need to address just how important it is. If we don’t things can become troubling very quickly. Keeping people safe drives City Disposal in all it’s endeavors. | <urn:uuid:0086dc4b-6fea-4186-9a31-6dfb593ac10c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.citydisposalblog.com/tag/hazardous-waste-dispoosal/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978604 | 234 | 1.984375 | 2 |
In these objects, most atoms are ionised by photons from hot stars embedded within the nebular gas, stripping away electrons. The emitted electrons, (called photoelectrons), may collide with atoms or ions within the gas, and excite them. When these excited atoms or ions revert to their ground state, they will emit a photon. The spectral lines formed by these photons are called collisionally excited lines (often abbreviated to CELs).
CELs are only seen in gases at very low densities (typically less than a few thousand particles per cm³). At higher densities, the reverse process of collisional de-excitation suppresses the lines. Even the hardest vacuum produced on earth is still too dense for CELs to be observed. For this reason, when CELs were first observed by William Huggins in the spectrum of the Cat's Eye Nebula, he did not know what they were, and attributed them to a hypothetical new element called Nebulium. However, the lines he observed were later found to be emitted by extremely rarefied oxygen.
CELs are very important in the study of gaseous nebulae, because they can be used to determine the density and temperature of the gas.
Shock pattern solutions for viscous-collisional plasma ion acoustic waves in view of the linear theory of the non-equilibrium thermodynamics.(Report)
Jun 01, 2012; 1. Introduction The nonlinear propagation of electrostatic disturbances in space and laboratory plasmas has received considerable... | <urn:uuid:14a210a2-8d27-4bb0-826d-7732cd9533c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reference.com/browse/collisional | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94913 | 315 | 4.03125 | 4 |
Sample LettersSept 2004 This page is under construction .. come back soon PLEASE ... if you have ideas .. write to me !!!
Home Ministry: The Home Ministry needs to change the National Laws to accept prisoners from other countries. Thailand is only the first of several nations holding Nepali Citizens. These laws need to define what happens to the prisoners. They need to say that National Law allows Parole ... according to Nepal Laws. Remember, before any prisoner can be transferred, each one will have served many years. LIFE term Prisoners will have served 8 years ... or more !! We do NOT want to have Nepal uphold Thai sentences !!!! That is the case in the United Kingdom. As a result, UK prisoners REFUSE to be transferred. They prefer to stay in Thailand Prisons than to go home to serve the full Thai sentence. In the USA .. prisoners have been released on Parole in only 3 (THREE) months ! SAMPLE #HM-1 written by a close family member SAMPLE #HM-2 written by an interested non-family
Foreign Ministry: The Foreign Ministry needs to add new international laws to bring the prisoners back to Nepal. These need to include methods of paying for the transit costs and allowing parole according to Nepali National Law. Here are sonme Sample Treaties: ........... CANADA, CZECH, USA, GERMANY ( I will add these in a few days ) SAMPLE #FM-1 written by a close family member SAMPLE #FM-2 written by an interested non-family
Letters to the KING These would urge Him to take direct action, both with the Nepali National Laws ... ... and with his friend, the King of Thailand. SAMPLE #King-1 written by a close family member SAMPLE #King-2 written by an interested non-family
Return to the PTET home page | <urn:uuid:30d82d4f-1f18-4ef4-beae-3234d21f700e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ptet-nepal.org/letters/index.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948805 | 379 | 1.5625 | 2 |
SINGAPORE | Sun Oct 2, 2011 11:35am EDT
(Reuters) – A new plan to curb global warming risks becoming a battleground between rich and poor nations and could struggle to get off the ground as negotiators battle over the fate of the ailing Kyoto climate pact.
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol covers only emissions from rich nations that produce less than a third of mankind’s carbon pollution and its first phase is due to expire end-2012. Poorer nations want it extended, while many rich countries say a broader pact is needed to include all big polluters.
Australia and Norway have proposed negotiations on a new agreement, but say it is unrealistic to expect that to be ready by 2013. They have set a target date two years later, in 2015.
“This is the only way ahead. There is no other way than failure,” said a senior climate negotiator from a developed country on the Australia-Norway proposal, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the talks.
Developing nations insist Kyoto be extended to commit rich countries to tougher carbon cuts and fiercely resist any attempts to side-line the world’s main climate pact, meaning the Australia-Norway plan faces a tough time .
Failure to agree on a new climate deal could lead to nations committing only to voluntary steps that are unlikely to put the brakes on climate change, risking more extreme droughts, floods, storms and crop failures. It would also weaken efforts to put in place tough policies to promote cleaner fuels and green energy.
The proposal calls on major economies to quickly strengthen steps to curb emissions, agree on a way to standardize actions and a system to compare and verify what everyone else is doing.
Marathon U.N.-led climate talks failed to meet a 2009 deadline to agree a new pact to start in 2013 and a major conference in Durban, South Africa, in two months is under pressure to launch a process to negotiate a new treaty.
As negotiators haggle, data show the world is heating up, as emissions, particularly from big developing nations, keep growing from burning more coal, oil and gas.
Scientists say floods similar to those that left millions homeless in Pakistan last year and ravaged parts of Australia, could become more common, along with more intense Atlantic hurricanes and wildfires.
The United States has already tied its yearly record for billion-dollar weather disasters and the cumulative tab from floods, tornadoes and heat waves this year has hit $35 billion, the National Weather Service said in mid-August.
That doesn’t include billions in losses and disaster relief from Hurricane Irene , which struck in late August.
All this throws the spotlight on emissions curbs by the world’s major economies and the fact that these are not enough. When Kyoto was agreed, emissions from poorer nations were much smaller. Now they dwarf those of rich countries.
At the least, the talks need to restore faith that countries can do more to fight global warming.
“We need to push away from this annual cycle of what are we going to achieve into a more realistic timeline of when can we achieve a new agreement. My sense is that none of the negotiators disagree with that. It’s obvious,” said the senior delegate.
The Australia-Norway proposal will be a focus of U.N.-led climate talks in Panama this week, the last round before the conference in Durban.
“RECIPE FOR INACTION”
The EU said it broadly supported the submission.
“It tries to take forward the international climate negotiations into the next years, seeing how we can build a broader climate regime,” Artur Runge-Metzger, the EU’s chief climate negotiator, told Reuters. “We think that this seems to be a workable timeline.”
He said it was crucial the Durban meeting agrees on building a new climate framework for all countries, referring particularly to the United States and major developing economies.
China produces about a quarter of mankind’s greenhouse gas pollution and is the top global emitter. While the government is taking steps such as promoting energy efficiency and vehicle fuel standards, these are voluntary.
The proposal will prove divisive for poorer countries.
None more so than nations most vulnerable to climate change, such as low-lying islands that face ever rising sea levels, flooding and shrinking fresh water supplies. They want faster action by big polluters and feel Kyoto is the way to go.
“It basically delays real action to address climate change and vulnerable countries aren’t going to like it,” said Ian Fry, lead climate negotiator for the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, told Reuters, adding: “It’s a gift to the United States.”
India, the world’s third largest carbon polluter, has also dug in its heels over the proposal.
“Such a plan takes the focus away from Kyoto and redraws negotiating paradigms. Why should the developing countries agree?” said an Indian official with knowledge of the global negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The United States, the world’s second-biggest polluter, never ratified Kyoto, saying the pact is flawed because it doesn’t commit big developing economies to meet legally binding emissions curbs.
The proposal could however benefit investors in cleaner power generation, carbon-offset projects and greener buildings.
“Anything which moves the world toward more unified action increases the confidence level of investors,” said Geoff Rousel, global head of commodities, carbon and energy for Westpac Institutional Bank in Sydney.
“Therefore, if this plan was to be accepted, you’d be more likely to see more confidence in capital expenditure in energy efficiency and emissions abatement,” he said.
The United States remains cautious.
“A legal agreement has to apply with equal legal force to at least the major developing countries so that means China, India, Brazil and so forth,” said chief U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern in recent remarks to the media. And that meant no “escape hatches” or conditions on meeting those commitments, he said. | <urn:uuid:9cecd41f-0d13-47ce-bd4e-2a61dcc8dc2c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.knuj.net/2011/10/analysis-world-divided-on-new-plan-to-combat-global-warming/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942041 | 1,287 | 2.4375 | 2 |
There is many history books that written and stated the appearance of lions. That is the time factor and also the record on human made lion. Even in ancient music books also stated there is appearance of lion. Any how through all the evidence that is founded, the history will be conclude in a way.
The animal, Lions, were not originated from China. It was belief to appears and be brought in from India Buddhism Culture. According to the history record, Lion dance was founded in the Han Dynasty. The Han emperor opens the Silk Road for trading and culture exchange.
During the famous silk road period, the Han Emperor entertain and serve quest from other countries with music and dance show. Dancer at that time wore bird looking mask, and also a few animal looking mask to perform its dance. Then the emperor's respected guest notice that lion was out group of these animal form of dancing. Finally his guest found out that, at that time, In China, there is no sign or appearance of lions. Later then, through the business connection of Western Silk Road, Rulers in what is todays Iran and Afghanistan's sent lions and also a lion trainer to china to perform a lion show. This is similar with what we see today in command circus show. That is how the Lion show from the countries of Western Silk Road came in to China.
THE LION DANCE
The Art of Lion Dancing spread. According to the legend in the human civilizations, it has been there a few hundred years of history. In one of the history stated, a normal person in the society is not easily expose to the look of a lion, and won't have a clear image of how lions look like. Only Royals know and seen how does lion looks like. That also earns a respect from the human towards the lions. Because of these respect, and not clear of how lion look like, they could only imagine its look, and claim his imagination is true and tell it to others who don't know about lion.Through the modernized of the civilizations, activities of civilization and moral ethics of civilization, founded a special piece of culture art.The Lion Dance. After many development in history and civilization, The Art Lion Dance spread into two category.
Back to earlier history it states , there is music book named "qiu tang shu ying yue zhi" (The Ancient Tang Music Dream) there is a many style of melody and music influence. One of them is the Taiping Rhythm. In the Taiping Rhythm, there is a "Five Style Of Lions Dance".It explains that the lions has a furry body and 2 human is hiding inside the furry body puppet. The looks is pretty much similar with a real lion. The 2 human under the puppet is trying to imitate the movement of a lion. Later then, each and every style went solo and set up its very own unique style of dancing. When the perform of these dance take place, the environment is normally really grand, those lions were elegantly dancing to the music. There is also a Chinese poem describe the environment of lion dancing. (You can refer to the attach video below.) According to some related written records, Dance that imitating the Lion had already appear in early Tang Dynasty and its look and movement is already very professional and it look very similar to todays Northern Lion. In history books also stated, the animal, lions are originated from India. Lions are describe as Buddhist Guardian in Buddhist books. From India, lions was brought into china.
From these related history evidence, it can be conclude in one conclusion which is, in between the Han Dynasty, Wei Dynasty and the Chun Dynasty, The image of lions and the Buddhism culture in Han Dynasty was brought into China. In the Wei Dynasty, when the art went from the Royals to the moderate society, Lion Dance was a popular trend in the Northern Part Of China. Wei Emperor name then as Northern Wei Auspicious Lion. Then it went to Nan Sung and the name was changed to Northern Lion because it looks like the Peking dog where is whole body is redish gold in colour and long fur.
THE Cantonese LION
The Lion Dance was then brought down to the Tang, Sung, Yuen, Ming and Ching Dynasty. Many occasions later then will have Lion Dance to spice up the celebrations. Because of difference culture in the Chinese society, there is then many similar dance to the Lion Dance. The revolution of Lion Dance went from North to South. The story of the way of the Southern Lion gets popular has many versions and the looks of these Southern Lions also has many different versions. Eg: the Hakka Lions, Chi Ling, and Pai Yao. These Southern Lions was stated in history that it was founded during the end of Ming Dynasty and the Start of Ching Dynasty. It was name as "Cantonese Lions"
During the Ching Dynasty, Lion dance has been misuse as a politic rebelling props. Government is ruled by the Manchurians, the Chinese are called Han's. The Chinese never like the Manchu government. So, during that time many people form rebellious group gather to fight the government, but they can't obviously do it because if they do so, they will get caught and be sentence to death, so one way to do it is to secretly do it and secretly send message. Ended out, many wushu and non wushu people uses lion dance to actually secretly delivers the message and runs rebellious activity. That also explains why today lion dance have this practice of "Chai Ching" picking the green. During the Ching Dynasty, "chai ching" meant something else to most of the lion dancers. To show their dissatisfaction against the government, that's why they "chai ching" another meaning but same pronunciation of "chai" is actually step and "ching" is obviously the Ching Dynasty, so they are simply sending a message of stepping the ching government. But today in the modern, every thing has been looked at the positive side. Todays "chai Ching" means good luck bringing to every individual.
Before year 1928 people named the Cantonese Lion as the "Auspicious Lion" but In Cantonese, the pronunciations of auspicious is pronounce as "Sleeping". In the incident of 3rd May 1928, many people of Jinnan was torture and kill by the Japanese soldier and the Chinese was name as "The Sick Asians". Because of this incident, the Chinese get angry and united and fight their enemies. To show their strength and the love for their country, the Auspicious Lion also later then change its name to the "Awaken Lion".
In Canton, Futshan and Hoksan, the Auspicious/Awaken Lion's founded ground, The wushu society later then combine Lion Dance and wushu "Horse Stance" as it work very well with the strength of waist and horse stance. The art then interest many people and it was well accept by the society. So more people started to learn lion dance.
From China, the art later then spread across the world.
Source and related images/video @ http://lionarts.blogspot.com
Edited by General_Zhaoyun, 20 August 2008 - 12:16 AM. | <urn:uuid:85e1ad18-9aef-46f4-9dd7-5f1ac193e8ff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?/topic/24566-chinese-lion-dance/page__p__4985715 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97388 | 1,496 | 2.828125 | 3 |
The Pressing Need to Rethink Our Existing Tax Rules for Retirement Savings
On 6/26/08, the House Ways & Means Committee held a hearing on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) due to concern over underutilization and reasons why many small businesses did not offer some type of IRA plan for workers. The GAO report on the topic was highlighted. Subsequent to this hearing, a few other committees held hearing on retirement savings and a report was released by Ernst & Young on people not having enough to live on in retirement.
There are some troubling data and realities about IRA participation and inadequate retirement savings. For example:
- For 2004, 79% of all taxpayers were eligible to make an IRA contribution (about 145 million taxpayers). Just 14.7 million taxpayers made a contribution though (about 10%). Participation was highest for taxpayers with $200,000 or more of AGI and that group also made the largest average contribution. For eligible taxpayers with positive AGI, participation was greater among higher income taxpayers. [Bryant, Accumulation and Distribution of IRAs, IRS, 2004]
- In 2001, 60% of taxpayers either had assets in or income from an IRA or employer-sponsored plan. Thus, 40% of taxpayers have no retirement accounts although they may have other assets for retirement. (Sailer & Holden, IRS, 2004)
I have more information in a short article - Rethinking IRAs.
On 7/10/08, the Joint Economic Committee held a hearing on the shift from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans, the greater risk upon workers under DC plans, and the greater return DB plans produced. A representative of the venture capital industry noted the importance of DB plans to providing funds for investment.
On 7/16/08, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on people not saving enough for retirement, the recent increase in hardship withdrawals from 401(k) plans and the possibility of "automatic IRAs" that allow for payroll contributions to IRAs. Click here for more information on this topic from Chairman Kohl.
The EY report (July 2008) - Retirement vulnerability of new retirees, found that "almost three out of five middle-class new retirees can expect to outlive their financial assets if they attempt to maintain their current pre-retirement standard of living. To avoid outliving their financial assets, middle-class retirees will have to reduce their standard of living, on average, by 24 percent." The report was prepared for Americans for Secure Retirement.
Living longer, inadequate participation in retirement savings, financial illiteracy, greater personal responsibility for managing retirement savings (DC versus DBs), frequent job changes, and retirement tax rules that are skewed to benefit higher income individuals all point towards a retirement savings crisis that will cause people to work longer, put pressure on social programs and children of retirees, and lower our standard of living.
The reality of greater personal responsibility for retirement will require greater financial education in schools, easier options for retirement savings (such as automatic payroll contributions) and modification of existing tax rules to bring greater equity to the system.
What do you think? | <urn:uuid:d75b8266-8356-4108-bbf0-d2c69e2b4193> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newamerica.net/blog/21st-century-taxation/2008/pressing-need-rethink-our-existing-tax-rules-retirement-savings-5297 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946374 | 640 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Greater Cleveland Area - December, 2011
Brunswick City Schools and Monarch Center for Autism were selected from districts across the nation by SMART Technologies to be featured in an advertising campaign. Brunswick and Monarch were chosen, according to Shannon Lehmann, SMART Product Marketing Program Manager, because of their "unique and inclusive and specialty approaches to education using SMART products to inspire students with special needs."
"Use of SMART technology has proven to be very beneficial to our students with special needs," said Paula Jones, Assistant Director of Special Education, Brunswick City Schools. "It has provided students with an outlet for learning and communicating in a way that was never available to them in the past."
SMART became aware of both the Brunswick Schools and Monarch Center for Autism through Monarch Teaching Technologies in Shaker Heights, who supports SMART Technologies with VizZle, their visual learning software.
"SMART Technologies contacted us about finding exemplar school districts already using SMART Boards, SMART Tables, VizZle and other technologies in innovative ways. We immediately thought of Katie and Paula at Brunswick along with staff at Monarch Center for Autism and are delighted to connect everyone to tell this story. These innovative technologies continue to change the lives of children with special needs across a spectrum of environments, and we want communities to know more about this so they can help their children." -- Jack Eder, Director of Business Development at Monarch Teaching Technologies, Inc.
As a result of the schools' involvement, special education classrooms at Hickory Ridge Elementary, Brunswick High School and Monarch Center for Autism were equipped with a variety of new SMART Technology products, including state-of-the-art projectors, height-adjustable SMART Boards, and SMART Response systems - at no cost to the districts.
"We are so grateful to have been selected by SMART Technologies. Thanks to their equipment, we have had tremendous success fostering collaboration, engagement and interactivity in our classrooms. Our students are intrinsically drawn to SMART's visual technology, and our staff enjoys having the flexibility to personalize learning to meet various needs," said Debra Mandell, Director of Monarch School. | <urn:uuid:92a66219-f9ea-4e9d-97c3-84be998a466d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.monarchcenterforautism.org/press-releases/smart-technologies-collaborates-with-local-schools | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964869 | 436 | 1.570313 | 2 |
And what about the specific idea of a boycott? How did that come into being?
Well, the boycott was that if there were no children in school they couldn't implement the plan. So we decided to, and it came from another thing, it came from the Freedom Schools in Roxbury in the '60s. We said that if they could, ah, boycott theirs and be successful and have the METCO plan come out of it, then we could boycott here and hopefully we'd be as successful. We took from the Civil Rights Movement too. Public opinion--if public opinion's for you, maybe the ground-swell of people would be so great that even if a federal court wouldn't listen to you the United States government and Congress and Senate in Washington would listen to you and, ah, issue a piece of legislation that would say that, ah, you could not use forced busing as a tool for integration. You'd have to use something else to integrate. So we decided, we had a community meeting. Asked the parents, explained what we thought and asked the parents if they would go along with the boycott. The majority of people did**. And in the meantime we set up schools in yacht clubs. We set up schools in veteran's posts. All over South Boston there were schools. We had them during the day at first and then somebody complained. I, to this day I don't know who complained and said that you couldn't set up a school and have tutoring gone on during normal school hours. So we said, "The hell with it. If that's the way you want to be. We'll let the kids out in the daytime to play and they'll go to school at night." And they did. We switched the tutoring hours over from daytime hours to nighttime hours. And the yacht clubs and the veteran's posts and wherever we had them agreed that we could use them at night instead of the daytime. We had teachers in the Boston public school system who were tutoring our kids at night for free. We had, ah, prospective teachers, kids going to college, tutoring our children at night. And it worked out pretty well. I used to say that during the first year of busing that the children that were tutored, being tutored, were learning a lot more in a much nicer environment than the children that, ah, were going through the school hall, through the metal detectors, et cetera, at South Boston High School. And the Pandemonium in the rest of the, ah, community, you know that the fights in the schools and all the upheaval. | <urn:uuid:9dacecb5-8a1e-4de1-81dc-d01506e11684> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://digital.wustl.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eop;cc=eop;rgn=div2;view=text;idno=duw5427.0502.043;node=duw5427.0502.043%3A1.6 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988986 | 533 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Michael Marcus, MD , talks about the swine flu vaccine safety issues.
Read the full transcript »
Male Speaker: The differences between the 1975-1976 flu vaccine and today, they are not the same kind of vaccines, is that true? Michael Marcus: Correct. There was a whole-virus that they used taking hemagglutinin. When you are giving a standard flu shot, essentially what you are giving, you are giving a hemagglutinin portion. You are not giving the whole-virus. Back in the ‘75, when they were trying to try to produce it so quickly, they did not try to isolate the hemagglutinin; they were using the whole-virus. Male Speaker: Well the analogy I give patients, the original DPT, we had great concern with the whole-cell vaccine, the tremendous problems, we have the new acilia, I don't even get called for fever, hardly ever after giving the vaccine. Michael Marcus: Exactly! It’s the similar type of thing; you are deal with single antigen basically instead of antigens that have been changed and manipulated or there wouldn’t be some other responses systemically. So I find that’s exactly right. I mean that's the analogy we need to work with. | <urn:uuid:468559c1-fca0-4163-afe1-4f9cd0d41521> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.healthline.com/hlvideo-5min/is-the-swine-vaccine-safe--208148860 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96431 | 273 | 2.484375 | 2 |
A Chapter 13 case begins when a debtor files a petition with the bankruptcy court serving the area where the debtor has a residence. Unless the court orders otherwise, the debtor also shall file the following documents with the court: (1) schedules (lists) of assets and liabilities; (2) a schedule of current income and expenditures; (3) a schedule of unfulfilled contracts and unexpired leases; and (4) a statement of financial affairs.
To complete the petition, statement of financial affairs, and schedules, the debtor needs to compile certain information, including the following:
- A list of all creditors and the amounts and nature of their claims;
- The source, amount, and frequency of the debtor's income;
- A list of all of the debtor's property; and
- A detailed list of the debtor's monthly living expenses, that is, food, clothing, shelter, utilities, taxes, transportation, medicine, and so on.
Upon the filing of the petition, an impartial trustee is appointed to administer the case. The primary role of the Chapter 13 trustee is to serve as a disbursing agent, collecting payments from debtors due under the plan and, in turn, distributing these payments to creditors.
Furthermore, Chapter 13 contains a special automatic stay provision applicable to creditors. Specifically, after the commencement of a Chapter 13 case, unless the bankruptcy court authorizes otherwise, a creditor may not seek to collect a consumer debt from any individual who is liable with the debtor (that is, a cosigner on a note). Consumer debts are those incurred for consumer, as opposed to business, needs. The debtor must file a plan of repayment with the petition or within 15 days thereafter, unless extended by the court for cause. The Chapter 13 plan must, among other things, provide for the debtor to contribute that portion of his or her future income as is necessary to meet the terms of the plan.
Plans, which must be approved by the court, provide for payments of fixed amounts to the trustee on a regular basis, typically biweekly or monthly. The trustee then distributes the funds to creditors according to the terms of the plan, which typically offers creditors less than full payment on their claims.
The debtor must make regular payments to the trustee, which requires adjustment to living on a fixed budget for a prolonged period. Alternatively, a debtor may consent to the deduction of the plan payments, from the debtor's paycheck, to be sent directly to the Chapter 13 trustee. Experience has shown that this practice increases the likelihood that payments will be made on time and that the plan will be completed. In either case, failure to make the payments in accordance with the confirmed plan may result in dismissal of the case or its conversion to a liquidation case under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. With certain exceptions, the debtor has the right to dismiss the Chapter 13 case at any time.
After the meeting of creditors is concluded, the bankruptcy judge must determine at a confirmation hearing whether the plan is feasible and should be approved. Creditors may object to confirmation of the plan based on various grounds that are set forth in the Bankruptcy Code. In that instance, the bankruptcy court will hear and rule on the objections. | <urn:uuid:8c83f416-05e5-47dd-b71d-1a6d5f5b5902> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uscourts.gov/EducationalResources/CourtroomEvents/YourDayInBankruptcyCourt/Chapter13.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944935 | 659 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Making Chocolate Candy that Lasts
The success of your chocolate candy lies on the ability to temper the chocolate. Even in other chocolate delicacies, the importance of tempering the chocolate mixture will never be understated. Chocolate, to begin with, must have a premium quality to it. You can have fun experimenting on different core chocolate materials that you can use for your chocolate candy.
Sometimes, you will find in the market some melted chocolates that are ready for making chocolate candy. You can make use of this or do chocolate the hard way and start from the cocoa beans. The good thing about melted chocolates is that you can focus on the making of chocolate candy itself. The making of chocolate from cocoa beans can be very difficult and tedious, and you may be robbed of your energy the moment you decide to do both. By the time that you reach the chocolate candy making aspect, you may have no more gusto or enthusiasm to complete it.
But when buying melted chocolate, make sure that it is not made of a processed candy bar. The courveture quality of chocolate is something you must look for since it makes for an ideal chocolate core for chocolate candy.
Other Ingredients and Steps
An electric frying pan is needed with ample space for your mixture. Have a temperature of about 60 degrees for mixing the chocolate and creating your candy. But don't melt the chocolates in your frying pan. It is still better to place them in the oven for melting. Introduce the chocolate by increments and not by instantly putting a large heap.
This way, the stirring part will be easier and you will not run the risk of losing control as you create your chocolate candy. Avoid moisture in the chocolate at all costs because it will affect the taste of your chocolate candy. After you have fixed your chocolate core, you can then dip it into the other components that create the chocolate candy.
Coat both sides of your material with chocolate. Make sure that your flip the center for balance of chocolate distribution. You can also use your fingers to have a swirly mark on your chocolate candy, but this must be mastered with constant practice before you can smoothly pull it off. Keep mixing the chocolate in such a way that it does not get too stiff. Chocolate candy usually results in a less shiny quality. If you find the chocolate candy too shiny, you may have overdone or underdone something from the previous steps.
You can now store your chocolate in the fridge. With the use of wax paper or other similar material, you can make your chocolate candies appear more professionally made than when you leave them bare in the tray. The good thing about chocolate is that it lasts for a very long time.
The leftovers from your chocolate making may also be turned into other delicacies. Just use your imagination and you will be able to find delight in making other forms of chocolate delicacies. You can also save the leftovers for your next chocolate candy making sessions but gaining the right texture and temperature may prove to be a bit more challenging.
Either way, there are no wasteful moments when it comes making chocolate candy and other chocolate delicacies for that matter.
ARTICLESThe Different Processes In Making Chocolate
How Do Large Companies Make Chocolate
Making Chocolate And The Right Way To Market Your Biz
You Need To Chop The Chocolate Before You Melt It
Learn About Making Chocolate? The Advantages Of Online Classes
Tips For Making Chocolate
Making Chocolate Candy That Lasts
The Emotional Effects Of Making Chocolate
Only The Sweet Stuff: Guide For Making Chocolate
Ways To Promote Your Venture Into Making Chocolate
Tools In Making Chocolate
Good Parenting Can Involve Making Chocolate
Making Chocolate From Molds
Making Chocolate Extra Special
Go To School & Learn How To Make Chocolate
Making Chocolate And Ways To Shape It Up
The Benefits Of Making Chocolate
Making Chocolate Cake
What Does It Take To Make Chocolate
Using Postcards To Level Up Your Hobby Of Making Chocolate
Making Chocolate Starts By Melting It
Making Chocolate Using Molds | <urn:uuid:7f12990a-08c1-4fd5-a8d8-4e91d7b49830> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.richardpresents.com/chocolate-making/making-chocolate-candy-that-lasts.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905459 | 823 | 1.945313 | 2 |
An analysis of introductory physics students' understanding of statics principles was conducted. The prior development and use of Tutorials in Introductory Physics has addressed student difficulties concerning introductory physics concepts, including fundamental statics principles; yet, conceptual difficulties persist, particularly when the complexity of an assessment question increases. To assess the extent to which the introductory physics curriculum prepared students for an engineering statics course, students completed multiple-choice questions taken from the "Statics Concept Inventory". Responses illuminated remaining areas of difficulty for students, as well as trends in student understanding. Interestingly, students commonly made the same errors as those reported in the analysis of the "Statics Concept Inventory," especially with regard to applying a limit on the friction force in order to maintain static equilibrium. Further exploration of student difficulties with statics concepts is needed so curricula can be adapted for extensive instruction.
Last Modified March 29, 2012 | <urn:uuid:2589bac4-7c38-41ad-85f1-bb416feaa40f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.compadre.org/portal/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11765&DocID=2630&Attachment=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942088 | 178 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Outdoor marijuana grows, firearms at schools, retro license plates, craft beer and breastfeeding are subjects of hundreds of new state laws that will go into effect on New Year's Day -- giving North Coast officials and business owners plenty to talk about.
One of 2013's over 800 new laws will allow police officers to stop vehicles that are carrying agricultural irrigation supplies on rural dirt roads.
AB 2284, introduced by 2nd District Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, aims to crack down on large-scale marijuana grows through enforcement stops and increased penalties for marijuana grows or methamphetamine labs operating on public forest lands.
Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Lt. Steve Knight said the law will require the county Board of Supervisors' approval before the sheriff's office begins to enforce it.
”If they approve it, yes,” Knight said. “Our officers can use it as probable cause.”
The sheriff's office designates deputies to patrol rural back roads, Knight said, and the law will give officers reason to stop and question someone transporting supplies commonly used in grows on public lands.
Another law, coauthored by Chesbro and 2nd District Congressman-elect Jared Huffman, requires California State Parks to develop a prioritized plan to increase revenues and the collection of user fees to ease ongoing budget problems.
AB 1589 is also written to make it easier for state parks to team up with nonprofit
California State Parks District Superintendent Dana Jones said collaboration with nonprofits has worked on the North Coast.
”We've been working on that for quite a while and we've been doing that in a number of places,” she said.
Partnerships have kept Grizzly Creek and Del Norte Coastal Redwoods State Park campgrounds open, and an agreement is in the works to keep Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area open.
Jones said the new law may close loopholes related to collaborations and make it easier for other parks around the state to look at options.
”It obviously doesn't have any negative effects, or I would have heard about it,” she said.
Another law going into effect in January, AB 1844, prevents employers from asking current or potential employees to hand over passwords to social networking sites such as Facebook.
Express Employment Professionals owner Randy Hansen said he's not in the habit of looking at potential employees' social media profiles.
”I agree it's probably crossing the bounds to ask for a password,” he said. “It seems kind of silly they have to enact a law for that.”
Still, Hansen said, much of the information that people post online is public, and can be viewed by employers without a password.
”It's in the employees' best interest to be careful about the things they post on Facebook and LinkedIn,” he said. “The way you live your personal life is often indicative of how you'll be at work.”
A similar law, SB 1349, enacts protections for current and prospective college students.
Here's a sampling of other state laws slated to hit the books Tuesday:
AB 1527: Current regulations prohibit firearms in school zones with certain exceptions; this law allows a security guard or a retired peace officer to openly carry an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun.
AB 1658: Retro license plates may make a comeback. This bill says “legacy plates” will be issued if 7,500 applications for a particular license plate style are received by 2015.
The program will offer yellow plates with black lettering originally issued from 1956 to 1962, black plates with yellow lettering originally issued from 1965 to 1968, and blue plates with yellow lettering originally issued from 1969 to 1986.
AB 1812 : Another Chesbro bill revises the definition of beer to include beer aged in barrels previously used to contain wine or distilled spirits. Barrel-aged beers are popular with the craft beer industry, and concerns were raised this year that language in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act could be interpreted to regulate barrel-aged beers differently than other beers.
SB 960: California State University campus-based fees can no longer be reallocated by the university without a vote of approval from the student body or specific fee advisory committee.
AB 2410: Anyone convicted of a felony regarding public trust -- bribery, perjury, embezzlement, theft or extortion of public money -- will be disqualified from election to public office.
AB 2386: Breastfeeding will be added to protected conditions related to childbirth that prevent discrimination in employment or housing.
SB 1298: Self-driving cars will be allowed to travel on California's roadways for testing purposes. The autonomous cars will be required to have a licensed driver in the vehicle to monitor safe operation.
On the web:
All of California's new laws can be viewed online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/NewLaws.html.
Grant Scott-Goforth can be reached at 441-0514 or email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:464a9353-e3b9-443e-bf9d-a6bbbba7e632> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22273201/hundreds-state-laws-go-into-effect-jan-1?source=pkg | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949276 | 1,043 | 1.5 | 2 |
How Much is Enough? Work, Money and the Good Life
Speaker(s): Professor Lord Robert Skidelsky, Dr Maurice Glasman
Chair: Dr Jonathan Leape
Recorded on 4 July 2012 in Old Theatre, Old Building.
Why do we work almost as hard as we did 40 years ago, despite being on average twice as rich? Robert Skidelsky suggests an escape from the work and consumption treadmill.
This event marks the publication of Robert and Edward Skidelsky's new book How Much is Enough? The Economics of the Good Life.
Dr Maurice Glasman is a reader in political theory at London Metropolitan University, author of Unnecessary Suffering and a Labour Peer.
Robert Skidelsky is Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at the University of Warwick. His three-volume biography of the economist John Maynard Keynes (1983, 1992, 2000) received numerous prizes, and he recently published Keynes: The Return of the Master. | <urn:uuid:ed9b5f79-19d0-4f42-8ae0-e6cbaa17780d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/videoAndAudio/channels/publicLecturesAndEvents/player.aspx?id=1533 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90574 | 199 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Field Report: Aphex Headpod 4
When I first wanted to check out the Aphex Headpod 4, I was looking at it strictly from a remote broadcast engineer standpoint, especially live sportscasts. But as I was testing the unit I found the uses of this headphone amplifier could range from remote broadcasts to recording studio to even a podcaster, making it a very flexible headphone amp. It is simple in idea and takes away one of many worries when broadcasting or recording, making sure everyone hears the audio at the proper levels. Whether you're a musician, audio engineer, broadcaster, or podcaster this unit is very handy.
WAKO radio is in a typical small town and broadcasts high school games with an announcer and color commentator who share the same audio output to feed their headphones during the broadcasts. During pregame checks I hear them discussing the headphone levels. What's right for one is too loud or too quiet for the other. No more compromise; this unit solves that problem.
First let's look at what is involved in the inputs and outputs of the Headpod 4. The interface is very efficient with three inputs and four headphone outputs for monitoring flexibility. The three inputs on the rear panel of the box are a balanced 1/4" TRS left and right input (if you are using a mono input source then simply use the left input), unbalanced stereo analog 1/4" TRS input and a coaxial S/PDIF digital input. The analog inputs are 1/4" jack inputs, I would have liked an RCA jack analog input, but an adapter is an easy fix. The front panel has the four 1/4" jack headphone outputs.
|Performance at a glance|
|◊ High output, low crosstalk |
◊ Master and individual volume controls
◊ Independent headphone outputs
◊ Compact, rugged metal chassis
◊ Analog and S/PDIF inputs
The top of the unit has the main controls with the input selector, master volume and four individual volume controls for each output. The top control also has a small LED to alert when a digital input is available, and when power is applied the Aphex logo glows a pale green.
- continued on page 2
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Today in Radio History
The history of radio broadcasting extends beyond the work of a few famous inventors.
Read each issue online in our Digital Edition Format in your Web browser.
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Need a calendar for your computer desktop? Use one of ours.
Information from manufacturers and associations about industry news, products, technology and business announcements.
This high-visibility and high-traffic area got the full acoustic treatment.
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Also in the May Issue
- Remote Access and Site Connectivity: Wireless
- Standards of FM Allocation and Interference
- Side by Side: Mic Processors
- Field Report: Deva Broadcast DB4004
- Field Report: APT WorldCast Systems Horizon NextGen
- New Products
- 20 Years of Radio magazine: May 1994 | <urn:uuid:245680b7-4071-4ae3-a19e-93d6c6ff6087> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://radiomagonline.com/studio_audio/field_report_aphex_headpod_4_0601/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915173 | 671 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Excerpted from Prevention's List-Maker's
Get Healthy Guide book
An average adult can touch as many as 30 objects within a minute, including germ-harboring, high-traffic surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, phone receivers, and remote controls. At home, you do all that you can to keep the germs at bay. But what happens when you step out the door to go to dinner, do some grocery shopping, or visit the doctor's office? Know where germs are most likely to lurk, as you'll find out here.
Restaurant Menus: Have you ever seen anyone wash off a menu? Probably not. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Virology reported that cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. If it's a popular restaurant, hundreds of people could be handling the menus--and passing their germs on to you. Never let a menu touch your plate or silverware, and wash your hands after you place your order.
Lemon Wedges: According to a 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges perched on
the rims of restaurant glasses contain disease-causing microbes. When the researchers ordered drinks at 21 different restaurants, they found 25 different microorganisms lingering on the 76 lemons that they secured, including E. coli and other fecal bacteria. Tell your server that you'd prefer your beverage sans fruit.
Why risk it?
Condiment Dispensers: It's the rare eatery that regularly bleaches its condiment containers. And the reality is that many people don't wash their hands before eating, says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D. So while you may be diligent, the guy who poured the ketchup before you may not have been, which means his germs are now on your fries.
Squirt hand sanitizer on the outside of the condiment bottle or use a disinfectant wipe before you grab it. Holding the bottle with a napkin won't help; napkins are porous, so microorganisms can pass right through, Reynolds says.
Restroom Door Handles: Don't think you can escape the restroom without touching the door handle? Palm a spare paper towel after
you wash up and use it to grasp the handle. Yes, other patrons may think you're a germ-phobe -- but you'll never see them again, and you're the one who won't get sick.
Soap Dispensers: About 25 percent of public restroom dispensers are contaminated with fecal bacteria. Soap that harbors bacteria may seem ironic, but that's exactly what a recent study found. "Most of these containers are never cleaned, so bacteria grow as the soap scum builds up," says Charles Gerba, Ph.D. "And the bottoms are touched by dirty hands, so there's a continuous culture feeding millions of bacteria."
Be sure to scrub hands thoroughly with plenty of hot water for 15 to 20 seconds -- and if you happen to have an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, use that, too.
Grocery Carts: The handles of almost two-thirds of the shopping carts tested in a 2007 study at the University of Arizona were contaminated with fecal bacteria.
In fact, the bacterial counts of the carts exceeded those of the average public restroom. Swab the handle with a disinfectant wipe before grabbing hold (stores are starting to provide them, so look around for a dispenser). And while you're wheeling around the supermarket, skip the free food samples, which are nothing more than communal hand-to-germ-to-mouth zones. | <urn:uuid:2c1827e8-f3d2-44dd-baea-f6da6930a504> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://atlantadailyworld.com/201301283462/Community/surprising-germy-places-to-avoid/Print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949896 | 754 | 2.84375 | 3 |
The Warning Signs of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a stealth illness. It may often be silent for many years—until it has reached an advanced stage.
When you get a checkup, it's important to make sure your health care provider includes tests of your kidney function, experts say. This is especially true if you have some of the conditions that can increase your risk for kidney disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Two simple blood tests, blood-urea-nitrogen and serum creatinine level, and a regular urine analysis can help determine if your kidneys are functioning normally.
If you have diabetes but no known kidney disease, your health care provider can order an additional test called microalbumin screening. This test can pick up signs of early kidney problems before any of the other kidney function tests become abnormal. For patients with diabetes, the microalbumin test should be done once a year, according to the American Diabetes Association.
When high blood pressure or diabetes is detected and controlled with treatment, the risk of kidney disease and other complications is greatly reduced.
Many people don't realize how important their kidneys are to their good health. In addition to filtering wastes from your blood, the kidneys do several other key jobs to keep your body functioning smoothly:
They produce a hormone that helps your body make red blood cells. This prevents anemia or a low blood count.
They make hormones that help to regulate blood pressure.
They keep your bones strong by making an activated form of vitamin D. | <urn:uuid:d9dd454d-bf52-417c-ba59-fb0eab4b8b41> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=718 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941806 | 310 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Mobile e-mail is growing in popularity while the use of Web-based e-mail seems to be waning, according to a new study from ComScore.
Looking back at November, ComScore found that the number of people sending e-mail via a dedicated client on a mobile device was up 36 percent from the prior November. Over the same period, the number of visitors to Web-based e-mail sites fell by 6 percent.
Even further, those who visited Web-based e-mail sites spent less time doing so. The amount of time spent at such sites dropped 9 percent in November year over year, while the number of total pages viewed fell 15 percent.
For the mobile e-mail figures, ComScore is counting people who use a dedicated e-mail client on a mobile device as well as those who just sync mail from Gmail or another online account to their phones. Those numbers also include users who access Webmail accounts from a mobile device. For the Web-based mail stats, ComScore is referring specifically to users who access Webmail through a PC.
"From PCs to mobile devices, whether it's e-mail, social media, IM, or texting, consumers have many ways to communicate and can do so at any time and in any place," Mark Donovan, ComScore senior vice president of mobile, said yesterday in a statement. "The decline in Web-based e-mail is a byproduct of these shifting dynamics and the increasing availability of on-demand communication options."
Despite the move toward mobile, e-mail is still one of the most popular activities on the Web, with more than 70 percent of online users accessing their messages via the Web each month. For November, ComScore reported that 153 million people checked their Web-based e-mail accounts. That compares with 70.1 million mobile users--30 percent of all mobile subscribers--who accessed e-mail through their mobile devices.
Still, the rise in mobile e-mail usage is significant. ComScore found that 43.5 million people used their mobile phones for e-mail on a daily basis in November, a jump of 40 percent from the prior year.
The disparity between mobile and Web was even greater among the younger crowd.
People ages 25 to 34 were 60 percent more likely to check mobile e-mail than the average mobile subscriber, while those 18 to 24 were 46 percent more likely. In contrast, the use of Web-based e-mail fell 24 percent among those 12 to 17, while the total amount of time spent checking their Web e-mail dropped 48 percent. | <urn:uuid:5a9d45c1-4593-4868-9e66-f6fb8911841a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20029179-94.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95322 | 527 | 1.671875 | 2 |
---- — How much should a small business invest in marketing?
While capital may be limited, your marketing budget shouldn't be determined by what is left over after all other business expenses are covered.
A common mistake, especially for start-up businesses, is assuming you can wait until your business is profitable before investing in marketing.
It's the proverbial chicken or egg debate.
If your business isn't generating sufficient revenue, how can you spend money on marketing?
However, if you aren't generating sales, one reason may be because you aren't effectively marketing your business.
So what's a small business owner to do?
First, be sure marketing is included as a key component in your business plan right from the start.
This is particularly important for new businesses. Developing brand support materials such as signage, collateral, business cards, a website, and promoting the launch of a new business are important start-up expenses that should be included in your budget and financial projections.
There are a number of ways to establish your marketing budget.
One simple method is to use a percentage of your projected annual gross revenue as a starting point for estimating your marketing budget.
The percentage can vary widely depending on factors such as the industry, size and type of business, size of geographic market and whether a business is well-established or in the start-up mode.
Typically the larger the business, the smaller the percentage allocation will be for marketing.
For example, while Walmart spends over $2 billion per year on marketing, that represents less than 1 percent of gross annual sales.
As a general rule of thumb, small businesses with less than $5 million in annual sales should allocate between 8 and 10 percent of revenue to marketing.
If you are launching a new business, expanding or introducing a new product, you may need to allocate even more. It's not uncommon to invest 15 to 20 percent in those situations.
It can be even more challenging to determine how to spend your marketing budget effectively.
Create a marketing plan that includes specific activities and measure their effectiveness.
You can then refine your marketing plan and budget to maximize your success and return on investment.
For more information or assistance with marketing, starting and growing your small business, contact Traverse City SCORE at 947-5075 or toll-free at 888-796-4913.
Visit www.UpNorthScore.com to schedule a free and confidential appointment with a SCORE mentor.
Tanya Berg is a volunteer SCORE mentor and the owner of Smartmark Consulting, a Traverse City-based marketing consulting firm. | <urn:uuid:5371031c-9869-4259-b99d-70b1e6901dcf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://record-eagle.com/sunday/x730434196/Tanya-Berg-Marketing-shouldnt-be-an-afterthought-for-new-businesses/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940356 | 532 | 1.75 | 2 |
Use KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and run windows in a virtual machine
It's a virtual machine that fully supports 'native virtualization'. Meaning, if you have a processor that supports virtualization, the GuestOS can interface directly with the processor. It's also included directly into the linux kernel so it comes with most/all current distros of *nix and is under active development.
The only downside to this option is that hardware virtualization still sucks so you probably won't be able to get your graphics card working to its full potential.
For more info see this article.
I'm currently have working images of windows7 and windowsXP in Linux Mint 9.
If you're looking for a virtualization solution that is more user friendly checkout virtual box.
I have run dual-boot for a few years now and IMHO it sucks because it's too much of a pain to restart every time you want to change systems and you can never work with both at the same time.
Virtualization is the way to go because it's so easy to save a backup of the whole system (just copy the .img file). In the case of using windows, I don't think I'll ever use it in a non-virtual environment again just because I'm so sick and tired of viruses killing my system and the performance hit (and ridiculous cost) of using an anti-virus software full-time just isn't worth it.
To put this in better context with the question here's a comparison with the alternatives.
Cygwin basically provides most of the common applications and tools common to linux in a custom windows command line application. For example, if you wanted to use gcc-c++ compiler in windows, you'd have to run it in cygwin. It also can provide many of the *nix libraries that those specific apps might need.
The plus side to cygwin is you can run *nix apps in windows. The downside is, those apps still have to be compiled in windows and cygwin may be missing support for a particular *nix specific module.
Dual-boot is probably the best choice if you're looking to do anything that includes a lot of graphics rendering or requires hardware support in *nix. It's a bit of a pain if you're not familiar with partitioning drives and to get the MBR (Master Boot Record) setup so you can see all of the options on boot. If you understand the details of setting up a dual-boot system it's not such a bad option. The only real downside to dual-boot is, you can't use both windows and *nix at the same time. This may not seem like a big deal at first but if you have a preference for one OS over the other, it'll seem like a huge chore to restart and boot the other system (ie about 2min per reboot of wasted time).
Virtual Machines are great if you don't need hardware acceleration and want a system that is portable and easy to deploy. Basically, the VM acts like a virtual computer with its own set of generic emulated hardware. As an example, if you load windows on a VM, you'd only have to install the drivers in the OS once no matter how many different systems you use that image on because the OS only sees the virtual hardware set. IE, you can copy and paste the OS to as many different systems as you want and don't ever have to worry about hardware drivers after the initial install. The downside is you lose hardware acceleration (which basically makes your graphics card useless) in the GuestOS. There have been a lot of advances in Virtual Machines such as, VMs can now interact directly with processors that support virtualization but I haven't heard of any graphics cards so far that have bridged the gap. The greatest advantage to VMs is, the OS partition resides in a single file that can be copied, pasted, put under version control, loaded remotely, etc... like any other file on your system and its size isn't limited to the size of its partition on your hard drive. Another great advantage is, you'll no longer have to reboot to do work in both systems simultaneously.
Here's what it all comes down to:
- If you want raw performance with the most stability, run the os natively using dual-boot
- If you aren't comfortable with *nix at all, don't mind re-compiling your applications in windows, and are ready to scrap your efforts if the application you're using may not work, go with Cygwin.
- If you want a system that is easiest to copy/deploy/backup, don't want to deal with hardware issues and you can accept a performance hit, use a VM.
Personally, I've wasted enough of my life having to re-install windows because of a badly deployed update, spyware/virus, or just general performance degradation over time that I won't run it outside of a VM unless I'm forced to. Ie, I prefer to be able to copy and paste a fresh install of windows to any system if needed. In the case of *nix, it's stable enough that I haven't been forced to reinstall it since I started using if full time (1 1/2 years ago). But, as with all things YMMV. I refuse to waste time/money/processing power to an anti-virus and I have a tendency to abuse my OS more than the average user. Skinny dipping on the net in windows is ill advised ;). | <urn:uuid:c5eb6db2-7ee8-46d9-90c7-e8a08b8c7d9a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://superuser.com/questions/157063/is-dual-boot-worth-while/169183 | 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 | 0.948886 | 1,145 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Have you taken brush in hand or sat down to see what words you could form on paper? Or maybe you doodled on a napkin while waiting for your food to arrive. No matter what it is, you need to get to creatively jogging in your brain, just like you might tone your muscles by jogging.
Now I'm not telling you anything I wouldn't tell myself. In fact, I followed my own advice and painted 15 paintings in a week. Then made four "A Study on Paper" series. That's what it took to get me out of my creativity funk.
Sometimes all it takes is a little step in the creative direction and then you can get your creativity moving.
Don't be afraid to push past your comfort zone and explore new things. It is in exploration that we stretch and grow.
Close your eyes and imagine what you want to do.
Be like the little mustard seed that is ever do tiny when planted, but with great determination grows to be a very big plant.
Have you ever thought of setting gem stones or creating a sculpture from your own imagination?
What ever it may be just do it or at least try it. Pick up a paint brush, pencil, wet clump of clay, sit at the sewing machine or even just sit down and color a picture with a wide eyed child.
Jog around your creativity and don't tell me that you aren't creative because I know better. Far too many people sell themselves short. Often times what they are really saying is "I can't do it perfect so I'm not going to try it." Pish Posh!!! Perfection is over rated and many times not even needed.
Okay, now that I have given you this friendly lecture (or mom would call it a scolding) I'd like to hear from you about what you've been doing to play on the creative side of life.
One suggestion that I give people, if they are having trouble with creativity, is to use a creativity journal. I make my own, but you can buy something like this one in stores or online. They can be small or large, I'd suggest one about the size of an average book. Tuck it away in your backpack, or briefcase, or even in your suitcase if you're traveling.
The point is to have it with you so that if an idea comes along you will have it right there. It's also a perfect thing to have with you to take a break from something else that is taxing your brain. Shoot even Einstein needed a break when he was working. Reportedly he would often times stop and play the piano, or violin to relax enough to be able to solve problems. So why not follow his lead and take a creativity break? | <urn:uuid:af99561f-ca90-4266-bcfa-9861579c8329> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://everybodyneedstobealittlerightbrained.blogspot.jp/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979539 | 564 | 1.828125 | 2 |
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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME OR APARTMENT
must-see on msn
Reading many negative comments peppered with political drama. Folks, I am sure a Yurt can be build based on needs and requirements. For many people it's one place where they can live as they lack resources because of lay-offs, etc. I don't believe that you would allow these people to live in your spare room or backyard. If you are unable to offer good suggestions, I am sure many would not care to read it. Let's stay positive.
Building codes are very strict in the country side setting. People have moved into areas and just thought they were going to do as they please as far as building and have created problems for the local people. Thus building code rules have come about where none were needed before. Yes these agencies need to have temporary homes for these peope to put up in these hard hit areas from Sandy.
The inground homes would be a great idea, but only in well drained areas. I truly feel sorry that this country has come to the place of no homes for homeless when there are so many homes that are just sitting out there empty.
Banks need to keep interest rates low and sell these homes at a lesser price. It is all about greed.
No need to have a country where our elderly have no support, our children are starving in many cases, and we have families so totally homeless. Makes no sense, but try to get some help and it is made so hard. Those agencies that say Oh just go sign up---well it is not that easy. It is in truth in reality very , very hard to get assistance.
The rich flaunt there riches in our faces all the time. Yes they own the biusiness and thought of a great idea, but they also forget that it is the USA citizens that work at there office building or factory etc. that makes the product and keeps the sales coming in. The normal common middle class never get any respect at all. They get all the glory and money while we have to fight for everything we get.
We elect people to go into office to fight for what we want and believe in and what do we get in return---Not a hell of a lot from them. They vote themselves a raise all the time and get all these special things and retire with the same income----we citizens that pay the taxes that pay there wages do not get that and they want to take more away.
So maybe in the long run---people should buy these homes---makes sense and can be moved easily if they have to move to some other place to find employment.
It is sad our country has come down this low---some how we need to learn to care about each other again and find a way to bring all people together as a whole not be divided over every little thing that happens. If we don't start caring who will ???---do you see a foreign country help us when we have a disaster????? Just my opinion----I am retired worked for 40 years and am now for the first time just starting to remodel my home I have lived in 35 years. It is time and costs money and we are doing it a little at a time. Chin up. Life is tough, but it does not have to be as bad as it is---don't let anyone take advantage of you. Take a job even if it not something you want just to have money you need to feed your family or yourself. I worked in a factory for 34 years and believe me it was no picnic.
Good luck to all you people out there without jobs or homes, etc.----life should not be this bad here but I guess we should be glad we do not live in a 3rd world country---we can not even imagine.
I do hope that someday this country gets there sh-- together and gets its people in homes---find a better way to feed the people that have nothing and take care of its own and NOT give to other countries just for there aliance.
It's great to be retired for me---don't have alot but I just love to know I made it that far. I hope you all have that opportunity. Paa
Nothin' wrong with Yurts, or even Dirts, as far as I'm concerned!!!
Although I can appreciate that our standard of living rose so sharply in the second half of the 20th century, I consider it an insult, to every American, when the politicians and busy bodies (i.e., building inspectors, zoning administrators, tax assessors, historic district idiots, rent control freaks, etc.) want to FORCE people to live according to their "Standards". WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
It wasn't that long ago when many Americans lived comfortably, without cable TV, the Internet, cell phones, microwave ovens, disposable lighters, and even indoor plumbing. If we ever want to reduce, or eliminate, entitlements we have to stop FORCING people to pay for things that they can't afford.
Given the choice between public housing and surfdom, or a Yurt and self sufficiency, I believe most Americans would choose the latter. For those that wouldn't, "I hope you find your piece of cheese at the end of the maze."
Some love them and others hate them.The code cops make having one on a site a nightmare.I would want a kitchen and bathroom in a seperate building.Yurts need insulation and a heater.I imagine an wood burner in the center would make it comfy.
For the naysayers,Yurts have been lived in for century's and except for a personal predudice,i see know real problem with them.It could be an affordable form of housing for many.
Look at how well stick houses have done when exposed to storms.And they are the model for what is a good idea for a home? Mobile homes are chemical nightmares.
I wanted to build a yurt but i have no desire to duke it out with building code folks who have a limited idea of what affordable housing is about.
the yurt was built so the devil can't corner you . for those who voted our dearly beloved pres into office
all the negative remarks must be from repubicans(dumb as ones at that)...this is not about politics....its about a design thats been around a long time......
I have looked into and designed octagon houses and they are very efficient in materials and roofing. The yurt as well as the hogan designed by the early Navaho's is very efficient and could incorporate a design with lights and windows that would be very nice and comfortable to live in.
Now days a lavish home is fine for those who want to impress others and have the finances to do so, however for most of us those days are gone.
all these sttructures can be enlarged to accommodate the size the the family with enough living space to eliminate over crowding and afford a good measure of relaxation.
I truly believe if people get rid of all the gadgets they don't use and make their lives free of stuff and storage they will be happier and have more time for outdoor activities for themselves and their kids.
We been sold a lot of crap from the media to sell sell sell. Let us make life fun and worth doing. | <urn:uuid:05271a8d-06f7-4d43-ac5b-2d1aeaeaddc8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://realestate.msn.com/yurts-so-good | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97614 | 1,533 | 1.617188 | 2 |
People to People Ambassador Programs, an organization committed to the exchange of cultural and professional information around the world, is organizing a delegation of naval architecture, marine and ocean engineering professionals who will travel to China in July of 2007. Delegates will have the opportunity to exchange technical information with such entities as shipowning and operating companies, shipyards, academic institutions, design agencies, maritime research institutes and other professional societies and will meet with leaders in naval architecture and marine engineering. These exchanges will include extensive discussions on ship design for complex and specialty vessels, ship construction technology and production techniques, developments in propulsion systems
and developments/applications in class rules for various vessel types/sizes.
The People to People Program provides an opportunity to continue to fulfill that mission. China’s shipbuilding industry is growing rapidly, with 6-18 percent growth in urban areas and ten percent growth overall. Many U.S. maritime companies are already engaged in business with China and others have expressed an interest in learning how they can establish a presence in this emerging market.
Over 12 days, ambassadors will visit Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, experiencing the culture and heritage of China along the way. Most importantly, you will gain first-hand knowledge about business practices, opportunities, partnership models and Chinese cultural norms that will be invaluable as you return to your organizations, armed with knowledge that will help you successfully conduct business in China.
Ambassador Programs has been conducting educational programs
for professionals in some of the world’s most fascinating destinations for 50 years. The delegations allow professionals to exchange information with their overseas counterparts, while forging the bonds of international friendship. Since People to People Ambassador Programs is a private-citizen effort, delegates are responsible for their own program costs. Delegates often raise funds for their program through employers, sponsorships, scholarships or other means, and Ambassador Programs has information available on their website to assist you in these efforts. | <urn:uuid:cffebb0a-c39b-416c-9440-a5100cbcc99d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marinelink.com/news/article/sname-and-people-to-people-announce-summer-program/312533.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954251 | 391 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Fishing Industry Levies And Transaction Charges For 1999/2000 (24 AUGUST 1999)
Fisheries Minister, the Hon John Luxton today announced the fisheries cost recovery levies and transactions charges for the 1999/2000 fishing year beginning on 1 October 1999.
The levies and charges will collect $34.5 million from the fishing industry for fisheries management, fisheries research and related costs. Levies for conservation services are due to be announced in September.
The levies are set according to the services that are provided to the industry. This year the fishing industry has agreed to support additional research.
"Yesterday Cabinet approved changes in fisheries cost recovery rules which is expected to reduce levies by around $4.9 million each fishing year. We now have a platform from which to move forward to create more prosperity for both the country and the industry. While the Cabinet decision is still subject to consultation with all stakeholders, the reduction will be backdated to 1 October 1999."
This year's consultation round on cost recovery has also resulted in the establishment of a joint working group to identify ways of resolving the issue of over and under recovery of levies.
"The working group will be expected to recommend a methodology by 31 March 2000 for application to the 2000/2001 cost recovery levy order. As the cost recovery example shows, it is clear that industry and the Ministry of Fisheries can achieve good results when they work together. I look forward to the same success with this working group", Mr Luxton concluded.
For more information contact:
(04) 471 9707 or (025) 433 716 | <urn:uuid:1a74f5ee-869d-43c6-89c0-9b130a6d456c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Press/Press+Releases+1999/August+1999/Fishing+Industry+Levies+And+Transaction+Charges+For+1999-2000.htm?WBCMODE=P | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944102 | 326 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Image: Neels Castillon/Vimeo
Filmmaker Neels Castillon
was recently on a commercial shoot in Marseille, France, waiting to film a helicopter's flight into the sunset. But before the metallic bird showed up, tens of thousands of actual birds flew in and upstaged it. They appear to be starlings, a common songbird species known for forming big, nebulous flocks called "murmurations."
"It was amazing," Castillon writes on Vimeo
, where the video has racked up 173,000 views in only four days. "We just forgot our job and started this little piece of poetry."
Check out the resulting short film below, titled "A bird ballet":
If you're wondering what inspires starlings to put on such a show, you're not alone. Scientists think it's defensive behavior aimed at hawks, falcons and other predators, since flying in a large flock means better odds someone else will be eaten instead of you. Biologists call this idea "the selfish herd
," and starlings boost its effectiveness with synchronized swirls through the sky, producing a shifting blob that's hard to attack.
But there's also more to murmurations than just safety (or selfishness) in numbers. "Indeed, producing spectacular displays over the famous Brighton pier in Southern England every evening is probably not the best way to avoid the attention of predators," researchers recently pointed out
in the journal Current Biology. "Instead, it could be that the murmuration itself provides a way of monitoring predators as they approach."
In research from the 1970s, for example, large groups of starlings responded more quickly to a simulated hawk than smaller groups did. Murmurations also resemble real-time social networks, with waves of movement transferring spatial information about anything from an approaching falcon to a prime roosting spot. Studies show this happens on a bird-by-bird basis, with each starling responding to its neighbors' movements, although the outcome can change dramatically
based on localized variations in speed and direction.
Aside from satisfying our curiosity about a dazzling natural phenomenon, what's the point in studying murmurations? For one thing, this isn't just about starlings — the mysteries of collective behavior extend to many corners of nature, from baboons and honeybees
to amino acids and neurons
. Understanding how starlings communicate and interact could have implications not just for biology and ecology, but also math, physics and computer science, since revealing starlings' secrets could help us engineer "intelligent swarms" of robots that fight disease, mine minerals or clean up pollution.
"An evening murmuration is more than just the dance of starlings," the researchers write in Current Biology. "It is a glimpse in to one of the fundamental motions of life."
Related bird stories on MNN: | <urn:uuid:610d9c9d-055f-43f2-8b2a-7f258ac38d53> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/stunning-bird-ballet-interrupts-ad-shoot | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949032 | 581 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Area Apartment Housing(hide military information)
Stretching the coastline between San Clemente and Oceanside, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is a major US Marine Corps Base that was established in 1942. The Operating Force units stationed here include the I Marine Expeditionary Force. With its extensive coastline, salt marsh habitat, coastal dunes, and wetlands, ecology research takes place in the base’s undeveloped areas. Endangered California habitats and rare animals live in these areas, which is also a breeding habitat for several species of birds.
To search for an apartment near Camp Pendleton, begin with the neighboring communities of San Clemente and Oceanside. Other communities to consider include Fallbrook, Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Escondido, Encinitas, and Irvine. This busy area is about an hour south of Los Angeles and about 40 minutes north of San Diego. | <urn:uuid:8c3dff26-394f-4e03-a9e6-cf479c92c81c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apartmentfinder.com/Military-Housing/California/Apartments-Near-Camp-Pendleton-Marine-Corps-Base | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905234 | 203 | 1.835938 | 2 |
The markets have been looking up in recent days, mostly on news that European countries have been having good bond auctions. These auctions have lowered the yield of bonds sold by these countries, somewhat counteracting the effects of the recent S&P downgrades. I have explained how changes in bond yields affect a country’s finances here. In this round, it was Spain who once again had a good bond auction, reducing their cost of borrowing (they did so a few days ago as well). This is definitely good news for Spain, which had its credit rating decreased from AA- to A by S&P on Friday. This means that Spain won’t have such a hard time paying its bills in the short run. However, in the long run, Spain still needs to decrease its budget deficit and increase economic growth. This combination is difficult to do because government debt is so high that Spain is not able to take on further spending. If it were to do so, it would almost certainly face another downgrade. As of 2010, public debt was over 60% of GDP.
For the moment, Spain has to cut spending and raise taxes, which it did in December to the tune of $19.3 billion. While that is good, it’s pocket change compared to Spain’s national debt, which as of December was at least $915 billion. In the future, we will see more large spending cuts, as many of its autonomous regions have spent much more recklessly in the past decade than the government has. For economic growth, Spain will have to hope that regulatory changes and European negotiations will help boost its economy in the long run. In the end, however, the economy will likely have to suffer, as government works programs and schools have suffered heavily from these cuts. With an unemployment rate already at 22% (who knows what underemployment looks like), Spain has a very difficult balancing act to do, and actions taken during the next few months will greatly affect Spain’s economic future in the long run. | <urn:uuid:b322dc05-cae5-4082-802c-64cad4a46f8c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theeconocrat.com/2012/01/17/good-news-from-spain/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989179 | 414 | 2.21875 | 2 |
AT THE HEIGHT of the Great Depression, eleven workers with their boots dangling sit side by side on a steel beam eating lunch – Central Park and the misty Manhattan skyline stretching out behind them.
In the 80 years since it was taken, this counterpoint of the epic and the mundane has become one of the world’s most famous images – a cultural icon and an indomitable symbol of the working man. And yet, in all that time, the identity of the eleven men has remained a mystery: their names – like that of the photographer that took the picture – lost in time, subsumed by the fame of the image itself.
But then, at the start of the 21st century, the photograph finally began to give up some of its secrets. One of which surfaced in the south Galway village of Shanaglish outside Gort. The locals here are convinced that two of the elusive men photographed on the beam in 1932 hailed from their village.
Part homage, part investigation, our new film Lón sa Spéir/Men at Lunch is the revealing tale of an American icon, an unprecedented race to the sky and the immigrant workers that built New York.
My brother and I were in South Galway a few years ago researching a documentary on the blind poet Raftery and we called into Michael Whelan’s pub in the village of Shanaglish. While there we noticed the famous Lunch Atop A Skyscraper image, but we took real interest in a note beside the picture. The note was from Pat Glynn from Boston, Massachusetts – the son of a Shanaglish emigrant.
On the note he stated that the man on the far right holding the bottle was his father Sonny Glynn, and the man on the far left was Matty O’Shaughnessy his uncle-in-law. We realised very quickly that there was a great untold story here. We spoke to Michael Whelan the owner of the pub who gave us Pat’s contact. From there we built up a good relationship with the two families and both the Glynns and O’Shaughnessys are featured in the documentary.
Very early in the process of making this documentary I became aware that this film called for storytelling on many levels. Firstly, in order to set and maintain the theme, there’s the wider context – the glory of the skyscraper age and the building of the iconic Manhattan skyline.
Secondly there’s the parallel story of the Irish and other European immigrants who arrived in New York during the roaring twenties and were living there during the Great Depression, which had just begun to bite when the two Irishmen Sonny Glynn and Mattie O’Shaughnessy landed jobs at the Rockefeller Centre.
Finally the mystery surrounding the photograph also had to be investigated and told. Was it a fake? Who took the photograph? And who might the men be?
The main challenge for me as director was to interweave these parallel stories to portray a time just as steeped in sweat and misery as it was in glory and grandeur. The Irish families claim to the men on the beam were key to this. They represented the missing link between the famous image and the reality of life for the men it features.
The director of photography, Reamonn Mac Donncha and I were very conscious of the fact that we were filming a documentary in the most photographed location on Earth. It was very important to us that we did not film film it like a tourist would, we were extremely conscious of the framing and composition of each shot
We have been working on this project since 2007, it will be a strange experience next Monday when the film has been shown and the storytelling process is no longer part of our daily schedule. We are however hopeful that the film like the image itself will take on a life of its own and be seen worldwide.
Lón sa Spéir – Men At Lunch premieres at the Galway Film Fleadh tomorrow at 1pm. Seán Ó Cualáin is the director of the film and will attend the screening. You can follow updates on the film on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:718a6cf7-e76e-4100-9c6f-a946caf974fa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/lunch-atop-skyscraper-photo-men-irish-shanaglish/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977217 | 854 | 2.25 | 2 |
The commemoration of these four Roman saints is made by the Church on 12 May, in common, and all four are named in the Proper of the Mass as martyrs. The old Roman lists, of the fifth century, and which passed over into the Martyrologium Hiernoymianum, contain the names of the two martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, whose grave was in the Catacomb of Domitilla on the Via Ardeatina; in the same calendar was found the name of St. Pancratius, whose body rested in a catacomb on the Via Aurelia. The notice in the more complete version given by the Berne Codex, runs as follows: "IIII id. Maii, Romae in coemeterio Praetextati natale Nerei et Achillei fratrum, et natale sci. Pancrati via Aurelia miliario secundo" (On 12 May at Rome in the cemetery of Praetextatus [an evident error for Domitilla] the natal day of Nereus and Achilleus, and the natal day of St. Pancratius, on the Aurelian Way at the second milestone"; ed. de Rossi-Duchesne, Acta SS., Nov., II, ). In the invocation of the Mass for their feast, in the "Sacramentarium Gelasianum", the names of Nereus and Achilleus alone are mentioned, and this is because only their invocation in the Mass was entered in the collection, the feast of St. Pancratius being celebrated in the church built over his grave on the Via Aurelia. In the Mass of his festival, the formula of which is unknown to us, his name, without doubt, was alone mentioned. In the fourth and following centuries there was celebrated on 12 May in both places, at the grave of Saints Nereus and Achilleus on the Via Ardeatina, and at that of St. Pancratius on the Via Aurelia, a special votive Mass. The Itineraries of the graves of the Roman martyrs, written in the seventh century, are unanimous in their indication of the resting-place of these saints (de Rossi, "Roma sotterranea", I, 180-83). The church which was erected in the fourth century over the grave of St. Pancratius, stands today in somewhat altered style. The legend describing the martyrdom of the saint is of later origin, and not reliable historically; it is probable that he was put to death in the persecution of Valerian (257-58) or in that of Diocletian (304-06).
The church built over the grave of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus in the Via Ardeatina, is of the latter part of the fourth century; it is a three-naved basilica, and was discovered by de Rossi in the Catacomb of Domitilla. Amongst the numerous objects found in the ruins were two pillars which had supported the giborium ornamented with sculptures representing the death of the two saints by decapitation; one of these pillars is perfectly preserved, and the name of Achilleus is carved on it. There was also found a large fragment of a marble slab, with an inscription composed by Pope Damasus, the text of which is well-known from an ancient copy. This oldest historical mention of the two saints (Weyman, "Vier Epigramme des h. Papstes Damasus", Munich, 1905; de Rossi, "Inscriptiones christianae", II, 31; Ihm, "Damasi epigrammata", Leipzig, 1895, 12, no. 8) tells how Nereus and Achilleus as soldiers were obedient to the tyrant, but suddenly being converted to Christianity, joyfully resigned their commission, and did the martyr's death; as to the date of their glorious confession we can make no inference. The acts of these martyrs, legendary even to a romantic degree, have no historical value for their life and death; they bring no fewer than thirteen different Roman martyrs into relation, amongst them even Simon Magus, according to the apocryphal Petrine Acts, and place their death in the end of the first and beginning of the second centuries. These Acts were written in Greek and Latin; according to Achelis (see below) the Greek was the original text, and written in Rome in the sixth century; Schaefer (see below) on the other hand holds the Latin to have been the older version, and seeks to prove that it emanated from the first half of the fifth century; so remote a date is improbable, and the sixth century is to be preferred as the source of the Acts. According to these legends Nereus and Achilleus were eunuchs and chamberlains of Flavia Domitilla, a niece of the Emperor Domitian; with the Christian virgin they had been banished to the island of Pontia, and later on beheaded in Terracina. The graves of these two martyrs were on an estate of the Lady Domitilla near the Via Ardeatina, close to that of St. Petronilla.
The author of this legend places the two saints quite differently from Pope Damasus, in his poem: as Nereus and Achilleus were buried in a very ancient part of the catacomb of Domitilla, built as far back as the beginning of the second century, we may conclude that they are among the most ancient martyrs of the Roman Church, and stand in very near relation to the Flavian family, of which Domitilla, the foundress of the catacomb, was a member. In the Epistle to the Romans, St. Paul mentions a Nereus with his sister, to whom he sends greetings (Romans 16:15), perhaps even the martyr was a descendant of this disciple of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Owing to the purely legendary character of these Acts, we cannot use them as an argument to aid in the controversy as to whether there were two Christians of the name of Domitilla in the family of the Christian Flavian, or only one, the wife of the Consul Flavius Clemens (see FLAVIA DOMITILLA). As to other martyrs of the name Nereus, who are especially noted in the old martyrologies as martyrs of the faith in Africa, or as being natives of that country (e.g., in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, 11 May, 15 or 16 October, 16 Nov.) though there is one of the name in the present Roman Martyrology under date of 16 Oct., nothing more is known.
On Sts. Nereus and Achilleus; Acta SS., May, III, 6-13; MOMBRITIUS, Sanctuarium, I, 238-40; II, 159 sqq., 201; Bibliotheca hagiographica latina, II, 883 sqq.; Bibliotheca hag. graeca, 2nd ed., 185; WIRTH, Acta SS. Nerei et Achillei (Leipzig, 1890); ACHELIS, Acta SS. Nerei et Achellei in Texte und Untersuchungen, XI, 2 (Leipzig, 1892); SCHAEFER, Die Akten der hl. Nereus und Achilleus in Romische Quartalschrift (1894), 89-119; DUFOURCQ, Les Gesta Martyrum Romains, I (Paris, 1900), 251-55, 305-07; URBAIN, Ein Martyrologium der christl. Gemeinde zu Rom (Leipzig, 1901), 143-44; ALLARD, Histoire des persecutions, I (2nd ed., Paris, 1892), 168 sq.; DE ROSSI in Bulletino di archeologia cristiana (874), 5 sqq., 68 sqq. (1875), 5 sqq.; MARUCCHI, Guide des catacombes romaines (Rome, 1903), 97 sq. On St. Pancratius: Acta SS., May, III, 21; Analecta Bollandiana, X, 53-56; DUFOURCQ, Gesta Martyrum Romains, I, 235- 57; MARUCCHI, Guide des catacombes romaines, 43-46.
APA citation. (1911). Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancratius. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10751a.htm
MLA citation. "Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancratius." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10751a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Michael T. Barrett. Dedicated to the memory of the martrys of Rome.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads. | <urn:uuid:1d787312-c130-4578-bf28-7a3e411ac30e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://noreply@newadvent.org/cathen/10751a.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929375 | 2,059 | 2.6875 | 3 |
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- It has been the greatest turnaround in South African supermarket history.
Three years ago the tiny Shoprite supermarket chain seemed about to collapse, apparently having failed to digest the many times larger and highly unionized Checkers chain it bought in a mood of confident expansionism in 1992. Shoprite had 20 stores at the time; the ailing local supermarket pioneer Checkers had 190.
However, by the end of the financial year in February 1995, Shoprite/Checkers had turned an after-tax loss of 44 million rand ($12.2 million) in 1992 into an after-tax profit of 100.6 million rand ($27.9 million).
This month, plans were also announced for expansion into neighboring Mozambique, while five new stores are on the local drawing boards.
"We made our improvements through greater productivity and by lifting our operating margins," said Whitley Basson, managing director.
This was done by means of better stock control, which sharply reduced the level of shrinkage, the company said. Projections are that operating margins in the short term will improve from 0.9% to between 1.75% and 1.8%, again owing to reduced shrinkage, but also to improvements in the group's property portfolio.
The chain operates 234 retail outlets, but has 430,400 square feet (40,000 square meters) of unleased property in the country's main urban center in Johannesburg. Some of the tangled property positions inherited at the time of the Checkers takeover are still being sorted out.
Under Basson, the management style has also proved highly flexible, observers say. A potentially bruising confrontation with the militant shop assistants' trade union was avoided in a series of negotiations. In the three years since the takeover, wage rates have gradually been equalized and the union pacified.
The Shoprite strategy is to continue targeting the broad, middle-income mass market to reap the benefits of what Basson sees as a "rapidly developing economy." | <urn:uuid:8949eec7-3e62-4943-850f-481c2a5834ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://supermarketnews.com/print/archive/shoprites-checkers-move-pays | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968609 | 412 | 1.570313 | 2 |
You decide that it is important to quench your thirst first. After throwing on a t-shirt, crusty socks and some sandals, you race down to the nearest supermarket to buy some Mountain Dew. After filling your trolley to the brim with the delicious life-giving liquid, you pay (thankfully your mum left her wallet out for you to borrow) and decide to go home.
Unfortunately you didn’t realise how difficult it would be to carry all the bottles, and you don’t have enough money left for the bus. Clutching a dozen carrier bags, each bulging with Mountain Dew, you struggle out of the supermarket and start walking down the road.
The bags are heavy and cut into your fingers. Every few steps you need to stop to put them down and have a breather. It is during one such rest break that you hear a strange mewling coming from a nearby alleyway. Putting down your bottles and shaking your hands to get rid of the painful numb sensation, you poke your head into the alley.
On the floor, abandoned, is a small cardboard box, just big enough for a…
You gasp, catching your breath. The box is just big enough for a tiny pony filly. Could it be true? Could you have found a tiny baby Rainbow Dash like in your favourite novel, ‘My Little Dashie’?
What will you do? | <urn:uuid:43540681-1f69-423c-8fda-36218532c0a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fimfiction.net/story/22369/11/Choose-Your-Own-Adventure%3A-Brony-Hero-of-Equestria/Eleven | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946859 | 291 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Creating a fairer Britain
The Commission is the independent regulator for equality, human rights and good relations in Britain. We are a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006 and our sponsor government department is the Government Equalities Office (GEO).
The Coalition Government made a specific commitment to publish all new tender contracts over £10,000 from September 2010, for central Government departments and the agencies they sponsor.
Departments and agencies are asked to follow guidance published on the Treasury website.
You can find details of Commission tenders for contract between September - December 2010 on the GEO website.
For full details of these tenders please go to the GEO data website.
Suppliers and those organisations looking to bid for contracts with the Commission should be aware that contracts awarded will be published. In some circumstances, limited redactions will be made to some contracts before they are published in order to comply with existing law and for the protection of national security. | <urn:uuid:1d09dd37-b8e0-4078-9e6e-334fb84646b8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/corporate-reporting/tenders-and-contracts/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952316 | 194 | 1.742188 | 2 |