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Egypt to deal with new power, economic troubles
Given the turmoil swirling through the Middle East, Israel could probably do without trying to bomb Iran's nuclear program into submission. Besides Syria and Lebanon, it is already grappling with a very different Egypt, where a once-jailed Islamist leader is now president and Salafist/jihadi groups, especially in undergoverned areas like Sinai, have a lease on life unimaginable in the Mubarak era.
The U.S. has an awkward relationship with President Mohamed Morsy, needing his help in mediating with Hamas in Gaza but concerned that his accumulation of power is fast weakening democracy and by his bouts of anti-Western rhetoric. (He has demanded the release from a U.S. jail of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted of involvement in the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993.)
The approval of the constitution removes one uncertainty, even if the opposition National Salvation Front says it cements Islamist power. But as much as the result, the turnout -- about one-third of eligible voters -- indicates that Egyptians are tired of turmoil, and more concerned about a deepening economic crisis.
Morsy imposed and then scrapped new taxes, and the long-expected $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund is still not agreed on. Egypt's foreign reserves were down to $15 billion by the end of the year, enough to cover less than three months of imports. Tourism revenues are one-third of what they were before street protests erupted early in 2011. Egypt's crisis in 2013 may be more about its economy than its politics.
Libya threatens to spawn more unrest in North Africa
Libya's revolution, if not as seismic as anything Syria may produce, is still reverberating far and wide. As Moammar Gadhafi's rule crumbled, his regime's weapons found their way into an arms bazaar, turning up in Mali and Sinai, even being intercepted off the Lebanese coast.
The Libyan government, such as it is, seems no closer to stamping its authority on the country, with Islamist brigades holding sway in the east, tribal unrest in the Sahara and militias engaged in turf wars. The danger is that Libya, a vast country where civic institutions were stifled for four decades, will become the incubator for a new generation of jihadists, able to spread their influence throughout the Sahel. They will have plenty of room and very little in the way of opposition from security forces.
The emergence of the Islamist group Ansar Dine in Mali is just one example. In this traditionally moderate Muslim country, Ansar's fighters and Tuareg rebels have ejected government forces from an area of northern Mali the size of Spain and begun implementing Sharia law, amputations and floggings included. Foreign fighters have begun arriving to join the latest front in global jihad; and terrorism analysts are seeing signs that al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria are beginning to work together.
There are plans for an international force to help Mali's depleted military take back the north, but one European envoy said it was unlikely to materialize before (wait for it) ... September 2013. Some terrorism analysts see North Africa as becoming the next destination of choice for international jihad, as brigades and camps sprout across a vast area of desert. | <urn:uuid:7fa8cb0c-f0ce-4848-845e-edeb428b2c43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wapt.com/news/national/Foreign-stories-to-watch-in-2013/-/9157010/17947012/-/item/2/-/p4i3gtz/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965049 | 681 | 1.65625 | 2 |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared via video on Thursday (5 May) to accept the World LGBT Award at the World Pride gala dinner at the Langham Hotel in London.
'I want especially to acknowledge all the people who are working hard to advance human rights in their own communities and countries... making a difference everyday, often at great cost to themselves,' Clinton said.
Clinton received the award from Pride London and the Kaleidoscope trust for her work in supporting gay rights worldwide.
The former First Lady and US Senator has long been a supporter of LGBT rights. She made headlines last December with a speech at the UN in Geneva where she demanded global rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Of the LGBT award she said: 'Although I want, once again, to thank you for honoring me with this award, I really want to thank you for standing up for the rights of LGBT people everywhere.'
The World Pride 2012 Gala Dinner 'Dine with Pride' is a fundraising event to support Pride London's newly created Solidarity Fund to support organizations that work with the LGBT community to tackle homophobia and transphobia.
Below is Clinton's acceptance video: | <urn:uuid:cd9dc0f9-d95a-424b-bd30-cc457d136bfd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-secretary-state-hillary-clinton-accepts-worldpride-award-video050712 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961964 | 242 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Freedom of Choice
Published in TC Today - Volume 29, No. 1
School choice, a controversial and frequently polarizing topic, offers students a variety of benefits when well-implemented and the potential for great harm when handled carelessly, according to a recently released two-year study.
The report, issued by The National Working Commission on Choice in K-12 Education, recommends ample funding and greater autonomy for all schools to hire teachers on the basis of fit. It also raises questions about the capacity of existing school districts to properly oversee choice. The report, "School Choice: Doing it the Right Way Makes a Difference," was released late last year.
"This report is meant as a guide. It is not a step-by-step roadmap, or a list of ‘dos and don'ts,'" said Jeff Henig, one of 14 members of the commission and Professor of Political Science at TC. "But it does begin to lay out a way to think about school choice policies that can help citizens and officials escape the centrifugal forces of ideology and partisan competition."
"National Commission on Choice in K-12 Education Urges More Funding For Charters and Vouchers" with Multimedia (Inside TC Newsletter, November 2003) | <urn:uuid:4976f83f-1a60-4336-ab15-8ba5867ca3cd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news.htm?articleID=4864&pub=7&issue=159 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944127 | 254 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Kaikoura is a base for wildlife experiences of all kinds. It is also a great place to eat crayfish (in the Maori language kai means food, koura means crayfish). The environment is truly spectacular; the village is caught between the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range and the Pacific Ocean. In winter the mountains are covered with snow, adding to the drama of the landscape. Kaikouras special talent is marine mammal encounters, as whales, fur seals and dolphins live permanently in the coastal waters. Whale watching trips leave the town several times a day and the local seal colony is always entertaining. | <urn:uuid:7767cb95-a4c0-49d5-b150-f206da8a728e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.coxandkings.co.uk/tailormade-citydetails?city=kaik&countrycode=nzd&int=nz | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95508 | 131 | 1.859375 | 2 |
We recommend that you view these images in full-screen mode.
Every morning, as he has for more than 65 years, my grandfather rises early, hitches a filly to a harness and jogs her around a dusty track. With one leg dangling from the training cart, he clutches his stopwatch and holds the reins tightly. He works her up slowly, building up speed, and hopes that one day she will finish in the money.
He feels. He counts. He listens.
Richard “Dick” Taylor — my mother’s father — was a young man who made it through the Depression and World War II when he began this daily ritual as a small-time breeder and trainer on a modest farm he had started in Central Indiana. Back then, fields surrounded the track. Today, stately suburban homes with manicured lawns creep up to the fence posts.
But he keeps the sprawl at bay, living life on his terms and with his horses.
“There’s something about a horse,” he likes to say, citing Winston Churchill. “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”
Before the big tracks and casino money took over the sport, he was immersed in the world of county fair racing for Indiana-bred horses and their trainers. He found modest success in nearby states, raising champions that were victorious in Chicago and Lexington, Ky. Sometimes he trained for other owners. But his own horses, his patience and careful training — as well as his attention to maternal bloodlines — brought him success that outstripped his small operation.
It’s no surprise he’s a character. He is tough, with a quick temper that brooks no foolishness. Yet he can also be quiet and polite, warm and interested in others. Like many who endured the Depression, he doesn’t spend much. On his farm there isn’t a broken harness or busted inner tube that can’t be saved and pressed back into service.
His politics are liberal, he reads widely and pores over The New Yorker each week. He keeps a diary filled with short entries that repeat in a kind of rhythm: the filly’s fastest mile, the bills that were paid, the relatives who called. Sometimes the entry reads: “Vic arrived.”
When I was a child, the horses, the races, even this tall, quiet man scared me. Later, I was fascinated by him and his world. I even moved to the farm when I was 25, thinking I would learn how to groom horses and become a trainer. We were two stubborn bachelors — one old and the other young — and after a few cold months I moved on to other adventures.
After years of working here and abroad as a documentary photographer, I returned to the farm two and a half years ago. Photography is about time, and I wanted to hold on to some of it with him. I wanted to have a way to always remember.
My grandfather is older. There have been fewer good seasons. But he keeps going on that dusty track, even if he is quietly frustrated by the physical limitations of his 84 years. He doesn’t talk much of the future.
Yet he starts every spring like he did this year, with the promise of speed and soundness. He only wants to run fast, get out clean at the top of the stretch and blow by at the finish. After all these years, he has stuck to his credo:
“To know more about a horse tomorrow than I do today.”
This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: November 10, 2012
An earlier version of this slide show contained two errors.
In the 5th and 13th images, the name of the fairgrounds was misspelled. It is Shelby County Fairgrounds, not Shelbyville County Fairgrounds.
In the 9th image, the type of racing that allows betting at places like Hoosier Park was misspelled. It is pari-mutuel racing, not pari-mutual racing. | <urn:uuid:a2f0fb40-ad04-45a3-aa00-857ba096fe3b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/life-on-the-track-and-in-the-stretch/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983155 | 856 | 1.632813 | 2 |
This databook assesses the prospects for logistics in technology industry. It provides information on total logistics (by value) with respect to nature of sourcing and logistics activity. The databook also splits transport logistics by mode of transport, destination, & shipment. It concludes with a snapshot of logistics and transport spending in Europe (covering the 13 key European markets).
Scope of this research
- Logistics spending by sector - Overview of technology equipments and technology component sectors
- Logistics spending by nature of sourcing - In-house, outsourced, and contract logistics spending by activity (transport, warehouse, and VAS)
- Transport logistics spending by destination - Domestic and international destination by transport mode
- Transport logistics spending by shipment - Air and road transport logistics spending by express, LTL freight, and FTL freight
Research and analysis highlights
Technology logistics spending in Spain declined at a CAGR of -9.7% over 2005-10. Logistics spending is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.7% over the period 2010-14.
In 2010, technology equipments sector led the technology logistics spending accounting for a share of 84.6%. Technology components sector accounted for the remaining 15.4% share of the total technology logistics spending.
Key reasons to purchase this research
- Understand how has the technology logistics market performed during the economic slowdown of 2008-09 and how it will evolve in the future
- Obtain future market forecasts up to 2014 for the various sub-segments and as a whole | <urn:uuid:8ec7cbde-5b9d-4a83-b93c-d21484061037> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.datamonitor.com/store/Product/technology_industry_logistics_spending_in_spain_to_2014?productid=DBAU1241 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938221 | 315 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Sao Paulo, Brazil - There's a case to be made that no country has lived through as much radical and fundamental positive change in the past 10 years as Brazil.
There has also been an evolution - of sorts - in what Brazilians want and need out of their president.
A decade ago Brazil was a country looking for a charismatic, larger-than-life figure who would lift millions from poverty, take the country to new economic heights, and rattle the cages of the world to take notice of the South American giant.
In that sense, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivered beyond anybody's wildest imaginations. He was the right person, at the right time, in the right job.
But today, the country seems to be in a different place. Major advances are being made in the battle against poverty and Brazil no longer needs a cheerleader-president. Brazilians now seem more interested in an administrator-president to make sure their house is in order, and the fundamentals are in place as they sober up from the wild party of the Lula years.
That desire explains much of current President Dilma Rousseff's success, if the polls are to be believed.
But next year will be a test for Brazil. The 2014 World Cup will be held in June and July, and just 84 days after the final in Rio de Janeiro, the country will hold presidential elections.
Unofficial campaigning has already begun, and there are arguably five key people to watch in next year's crucial vote.
Polls indicate her personal approval ratings are in the mid to high 70s, while the percentage of Brazilians who approve of the job she is doing as president hovers in the high 50s to mid 60s.
For the head of state of Latin America's largest democracy, those numbers are rock solid by any estimation. If the election were held today, she would win easily, and it's conceivable she would gain on the 56 percent of the vote she received in 2010.
Rousseff has lost no support with her working class base, and there are indications her no-nonsense management style has appealed to a portion of people in the middle class who didn't vote for her the first time around. There are, of course, problems in Brazil - the economy is struggling to regain speed, and there are persistent political corruption, infrastructure, and public primary education issues - but the majority of Brazilians seems to believe Rousseff is tackling these problems with determination. That is her image within Brazil, and it has stuck. Rousseff wins no awards for style, but she's already won over many of Brazilians with her substance.
|Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is seen as a competent administrator but many believe she lacks charisma [Reuters]
Strengths: She has fostered an image as a clean political operator unafraid to dump buckets of chlorine into the corrupt waters that are historically associated with politics in Brasilia. When she wants to, she can give a meaningful and powerful speech - like she did in 2011 when she was the first women to give the opening address at the UN General Assembly. It was arguably her best speech as president.
She's also privileged to have the power of the Workers Party (PT) at her disposal. The PT has the ability to flip a switch and mobilise tens of millions of supporters on her behalf. Politics in Brazil - especially at the presidential level - is a game of jockeying for political alliances with rival parties, and the Workers Party has it mastered.
Weaknesses: She still doesn't inspire deep passions within a lot of her base. In other stops as president, she often fails to connect with even her most ardent supporters. On the left, there are a fair amount of interest groups who feel she has not done enough to maintain Lula's more progressive political posturing of Brazil. There are also those who say she's been too much of a compromiser, and too sympathetic to big business.
The chance she will run for re-election? 95 percent. It would take a major, unexpected event for her not to run.
The youthful senator has been groomed to be president and has family connections to the country's political class. He is the grandson of Tancredo Neves, the first elected president after the fall of the military dictatorship in 1985. The elder Neves died of health complications before taking office.
Aecio Neves' home state of Minas Gerais, where he served as a popular governor for more than 7 years, is second only to Sao Paulo in terms of importance in presidential elections. One out of every ten votes cast for president is from a voter in Minas Gerais, about 15 million voters in all.
The state capital, Belo Horizonte, is Brazil's third largest capital and the state itself is the country's third wealthiest. But Minas, where Neves has a powerful political operation, is also diverse and considered a “swing state”.
Conventional wisdom is that becoming president of Brazil requires a strong showing in Minas Gerais, and it's likely Neves already has that part of the election in the bag. In 2006 he garnered 77 percent of the vote when he ran for re-election as governor. Rousseff, on the other hand, easily won Minas Gerais with 58 percent in 2010. If it comes down to Rousseff and Neves, Minas Gerais will be a hard-fought political battleground like no other in Brazil's recent history.
|Aecio Neves, 52, was a popular former governor of Minas Gerais state, one of the Brazil's most populous regions [Reuters]
Strengths: Neves' youth (he's 52) and charisma could position him as a fresh face for Brazil.
He also has a record to run on, known for his inventive "management shock" governance strategy meant to make government run more efficiently. Neves has also emerged in recent years as a national political figure, and a leader of the powerful PSDB - Brazil's largest opposition party. The man is a legitimate political heavyweight who is about to get his first shot at a title.
Weaknesses: His party, the PSDB, is a strength, but also a weakness right now. They're deeply fractured between the new, emerging wing of the party that Neves represents, and the old guard, led by Jose Serra, a twice defeated presidential candidate.
The party has furthermore failed to articulate a credible vision to counter the Workers Party/Lula/Rousseff model that resonates with the masses. Neves also has a reputation as being somewhat of a playboy who likes fast cars and jetting around the social scene with Brazilian supermodels. In 2011 he was pulled over by police in a posh neighborhood of Rio for driving with an expired driver's license. Fairly minor episodes could make party elders wonder whether his political messages could be overshadowed by his private life. For his part, in the past couple years he's toned it down considerably and kept his private life out of the news.
Chances he'll run: About 90 percent - he's the PSBD's best hope right now, and it's naturally his turn in the spotlight (He sat out the 2010 race so as not be a distraction from his party's candidate, Serra). It's unlikely the Serra wing of the party will be able to provide a strong enough alternative next year. It's Neves' party now, and he's closely aligning himself with Fernando Henrique Cardoso, his party's elder statesmen and the last politician to have beaten Lula in an election.
Silva is probably the hottest political commodity in Brazil at this moment. The senator, former environmental minister under Lula, and world-renowned Amazon activist brings an air of authenticity to the political scene. And she's also tried and tested: She startled the political establishment when she garnered 19.6 million votes in the first round of voting in the 2010 presidential election despite running a shoestring campaign in the underfunded Green Party.
This past weekend she launched a new political party with a focus on grassroots involvement (no campaign contributions from tobacco, firearms, or alcoholic beverage companies, she says). Silva is a favorite among many in Brazil's leftist inteligenicia class of artists, actors and filmmakers.
|Marina Silva won more than 19 million votes when she ran for the Green Party ion the last election [Reuters]
Strengths: From a purely political standpoint, she can personally connect with working class workers better than anybody in Brazil not named Lula. She is also strongly Evangelical, a growing political force in Brazil that makes up nearly 22 percent of the population. But most importantly, she has proven she can almost single handedly mobilise a national movement like she did in 2010 to garner millions of votes - far more than most people predicted. That is a rare political ability. Anybody who dismisses her does so at their own risk.
Weaknesses: Her new political party will struggle to put together the network needed to compete in the game of national political alliances in 2014. She's also a candidate strong in speaking about inequality and environment issues, but weak when the focus shifts to the minutiae of economics, a serious weakness for someone hoping to lead the world's sixth largest economy. She is not shy about talking about how her faith interconnects with her views on government, a likely turnoff to secular or non-Evangelical voters. The general consensus is that she likely will struggle to get 19 million votes this time around. She has proven doubters wrong in the past, but can she do it again?
Chances she'll run: About 85 percent.
The two-term governor of the northeast Brazilian state of Pernambuco has become a media darling of sorts, being profiled in everything from glossy Brazilian newsweeklies to the Economist magazine as a rising political star. He's popular back in his home state (population 9 million), and is seen as a cut-throat and savvy political operator. He has deep alliances that date back more than a decade on the political left, but has also fostered friendships on the right as well. He takes credit for much of the economic prosperity his state has seen in recent years.
Strengths: He's fresh and different on the national political stage, and he has potential crossover appeal on the political right and left. He has aroused the curiosity of the centre-right, who see him as someone who can perhaps beat the left at their own game. His home state, Pernambuco, is a Lula/Rousseff stronghold, so he is one of the few national candidates who has the potential to cut deep into Rousseff's base.
Campos was re-elected governor in 2010 with 82 percent of the vote. Rousseff, in contrast, won Pernambuco state in 2010 with 75 percent of the vote. He's proven he can get attention from a Brazilian media looking for a new political storyline, given the unusually high media coverage he's been generating in Brazil.
Weaknesses: The current phenomenon of Campos has some similarities to the campaign of Texas Governor Rick Perry during the 2011 Republican primary in the US.
Just like Perry, Campos is seen as a dominate local political figure with a potential wider, national appeal. But Perry could never break out, and he crashed and burned badly on the national stage quite fast.
Campos has to prove he is something more than a regional political star, and avoid the same fate as Perry. Campos' biggest challenge will be matching the high expectations that have been set. Despite all media attention, most Brazilians simply don't know much about the guy. And his iron-fist leadership in his home state, where there is almost no political dissent, likely won't play well at the national level where he'll be under much more scrutiny than he has been to date.
Chances he'll run: About 30 percent. He says he'll decide later this year. He's keeping all his doors open right now. It seems that if he doesn't think he can gain enough votes to get into a second round runoff, he'll probably sit it out and aim for 2018. If he does run and pose a serious challenge Rousseff, the Workers Party machine will unload on him, and it will be tough to survive politically.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
He is arguably the most popular political figure in Brazilian politics ever. He oversaw the country during historic growth, and record levels of poverty reduction. Lula is fully recovered from cancer treatment, and he's back on the political stage. No politician in the country even comes close to his power of persuasion.
Strengths: Lula can single-handedly deliver tens of millions of votes to his chosen candidate. It's that simple. And Rousseff remains his president now just as much as in 2010.
|Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is arguably the most popular figures in Brazil's political history [GALLO/GETTY]
Weaknesses: 2014 will be a test of his staying power. In the last 3 presidential election cycles, he's come out victorious against the PSDB - his main rival party. But how long can the glow of Lula's presidency last - and more importantly, will it rub off on his political protégés?
Chances he'll run: The constitution says he can run again for a third term (just not consecutive). Conspiracy theorists long speculated Rousseff was just his place holder until he could return to the presidency in 2014. Lula himself has left the door (slightly) open, and I suspect that if there was a major rupture in Rousseff's administration that threatened a second term, he would step in and run to avoid the opposition from gaining power.
But the chances of this now seem miniscule, probably around 5 percent. But since politics is the man's life and he's proven to be better than anybody at it, don't expect him to fade quietly off into the sunset. He'll play political king maker as long as he wants to.
As for Rousseff, any objective look at the mood of the Brazilian electorate and the state of play of presidential politics can only double back to a simple conclusion: As it stands right now, most Brazilians seem to think she is the right person.
It's up to Neves, Marina Silva, and maybe Campos and others to try to convince the nation they're wrong. There's still plenty of time. But they have a very steep hill to climb.
Follow Gabriel Elizondo on Twitter: @elizondogabriel | <urn:uuid:868b64af-d6c3-4f0f-b343-bac88f276521> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/02/201322210495670277.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978782 | 3,027 | 1.710938 | 2 |
[Uniquement en anglais]
A. NATURAL HERITAGE
A.2 Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee
A.2.2.2 Training Course to be held in Côte d'Ivoire
The Bureau discussed a request for US$40,000 for the organization of a training course provided by the ''Ecole nationale du genie rural, des eaux et des forets" (ENGREF).
There was considerable discussion about this course. The Bureau raised concerns about the cost effectiveness of the programme and the results received in relation to the future management of World Heritage sites. While ENGREF had responded to all of the requests made by the sixteenth session of the Committee, it was felt that the details submitted were not sufficient to make a decision at this time. The Bureau requested the Centre to contact the course director for further information. If this information is received in time, the request will be brought forward to the Committee.
The Bureau noted IUCN's comments that they had prepared a concept paper on training in 1983. It was suggested that this paper be reviewed and could form the basis for the development of a training strategy. It was decided that if further information was received from the course Director, the proposal could be reviewed by the full Committee. | <urn:uuid:d54c13c2-1c46-4f38-98a2-6a3da3f2a8b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://whc.unesco.org/fr/decisions/?id_decision=4064 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965939 | 272 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Note: In this article, Jeopardy's "answers" are referred to as "questions" and vice versa.
The humans tried to hold on in the second game of Jeopardy against the IBM computer, but ultimately were no match. Watson finished with a two-game total of $77,147 to Ken Jennings' $24,000 and Brad Rutter's $21,400. Jennings and Rutter managed to make a larger dent in Watson's progress in the second game, but the computer managed to take both Daily Doubles away from the human contestants, not affording them enough of an opportunity to make up for Watson's $25,000 lead from the first game. Still, there were a few aspects of the game that gave the humans some ins, including a bug that let Ken Jennings score the first Daily Double.
During a panel at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, Dr Chris Welty, a member of Watson's algorithms team, noted that the start-and-stop nature of filming the episode got Watson mixed up and allowed a bug to surface. Watson begins every round looking for Daily Double clues, because they are crucial to progress in the game. After one filming pause in the first round when Watson had been made to stop and then pick up again, Welty said Watson began again thinking the Daily Double had already been found. So it stopped looking for the clue, allowing Jennings to find it first.
"They were having a lot of problems in that particular round and they kept stopping," Welty said. "There was still a Daily Double left in that round, and the front end that keeps track of the game state had thought the Daily Double was already revealed." Because Watson thought the Daily Double was gone, it started working its secondary strategy of selecting the lowest level clues to allow it to learn about a category. This left Jennings free to sort through the remaining higher value clues where the Daily Double was, allowing him to pick it up while Watson was cherry picking the top rows.
Another of Watson's biggest weaknesses was laid bare by a category from the first round, "Actors Who Direct." The questions in the topic were shorter than standard clues, usually only the names of two movies pointing to one man, and didn't give enough time for Watson to process and hit the buzzer first. "The answers were not ready in time because the questions were so quick," said Chris Welty. "One of the things that Watson actually doesn't know is that it's losing the buzzer because its answers aren't ready."
Not only was this bad from a score standpoint, but it formed a vicious circle for Watson's clue selection. Welty pointed out that Watson will select clues from categories based on where it's getting responses correct, which it was in the case of Actors Who Direct, but Watson doesn't get any information on whether its right answers are actually allowing it to buzz in first and get the points."It's going to keep going back because it's getting all the right answers," Welty said.
Aside from issues of timing, Watson's algorithms worked well in the sense that it was very rarely certain of a wrong answer. On answers it was certain of, it nearly always beat Jennings and Rutter to the buzzer; if the answer didn't turn up a high-confidence response, as was often the case with subtly worded questions, Watson would remain silent.
That's not to say there weren't outliers—Watson was occasionally unsure of answers that were correct. For example, in a Daily Double question on art from the first game, Watson came up with the correct answer, Baghdad, but with only 32 percent confidence. And as happened with the infamous Final Jeopardy question from the first game, Watson seems to struggle with the relationship that categories can have to a correct response. In the topic "On the Keyboard" during the second game, the clue "A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders to below the waist," prompted Watson to ask "What is a chemise?" The correct response was the dress shape and keyboard key "shift."
But in regular Jeopardy rounds, Watson was able to learn during the game based on previous answers in the category what type of answer was required. For example, in the first Jeopardy game, Watson eventually figured out—albeit a bit late—that the "Name that Decade" category did, in fact, want a decade as the answer. Even Watson's handlers were impressed: "It actually kind of figured out on its own that decades were important," Dr. Adam Lally, a senior software engineer from IBM, said.
Towards the end of the panel, Welty and Lally were prompted to discuss the choice of gender for Watson's voice, which is currently of the smooth, genial male variety. "We did experiment a lot with female voice as well," Welty said. "But the speech software we had, the way you could change the settings of the voice, and I mean this in the best possible way, it just was not possible to get a female voice that wasn't a little bit grating." This drew sounds of ire from the crowd, but Welty added that having the voice operate in lower ranges made it easier to soften, and that both men and women on the development team preferred the male voice.
Watson's machine learning may come in handy in the future that its creators are envisioning for it, which include medical diagnoses and tech support. Of course, phone or voice input is currently out the question, as parsing sounds isn't something Watson can currently do. But with text input, Watson could be able to do great things from an information standpoint, especially given that it is able to find high-level connections between tiny details.
As a result of Watson's two-game win, 100 percent of its prize money, $1 million, will be donated to charity. Jennings and Rutter walk away with $300,000 and $200,000, respectively, and each is donating half of their prize to a charity of his choice. | <urn:uuid:66ddaabc-7d82-4406-a0c3-65504bf2bb5a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://arstechnica.com/business/2011/02/bug-lets-humans-grab-daily-double-as-watson-triumphs-on-jeopardy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983473 | 1,254 | 1.640625 | 2 |
As part of the changes to the NHS brought about by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) ceased to exist on 31 March 2013. Their responsibilities were taken over by Clinical Commissioning Groups and the NHS Trust Development Authority.
For more details please see: www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/06/act-explained/ or click on the links below.
NHS England (formerly NHS Commissioning Board)
At the heart of the new health and care system making sure that NHS services deliver the best possible care for patients.
Provides public health leadership and expertise, and works to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and to reduce health inequalities.
Sets objectives and budgets and holds the system to account on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Responsible for the education, training and development of the healthcare workforce.
Locally, all public health functions and campaigns are now run by Bradford Council. This includes sexual health, smoking and obesity.
Provides information on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living.
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
Made up of local GPs, nurses and other professionals are responsible for commissioning services for local communities.
Bradford and Airedale CCGs:
Commissioning Support Units (CSUs)
Provide professional advice and support to CCGs and other customers.
Provided by: West and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw CSU
The content of this site was captured by the National Archive in March 2013 and available here: http://www.webarchive.org.uk | <urn:uuid:42c049f4-0ce8-4199-9d54-5ab6557a9705> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bradford.nhs.uk/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934627 | 343 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow residents to pay the same price with debit cards as they now do with cash while fueling up at gas stations.
Two bills heard by the general law committee Thursday would require that discount to also apply to customers paying with debit cards.
"I'd definitely be cool paying the cash price for debit there, because that's all I use," said Nick Allen of New Britain.
However, some gas station owners said it's not the same thing and that's the problem.
"We get charged a fee on debit cards the same way we get charged a fee on credit cards, so that's the rational reason why when you use a debit card or pay with a check, you don't get the cash price," said Michael Fox of the National Gas Retailers Association in a statement to WFSB Thursday.
The gas retailers said the other issue with looking into this as state law is federal law regulates the credit card companies, which could overrule it.
"I actually thought when I first started using my debit card that it did a cash price because it's, I can go in and take the cash out and it's the same thing," said Susie Ladas of New Britain.
The owners told Eyewitness News if the credit card companies would drop their fees, they wouldn't have to charge extra at all.
Lawmakers need to decide if they're going to advance these proposed bills on to the General Assembly.
Copyright 2013 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Sunday, May 19 2013 4:55 PM EDT2013-05-19 20:55:57 GMT
Police in West Haven are actively searching for a 10-year-old child. According to West Haven Police Sgt. Tammaro, Jacob Clark left his home on Park Street around noon Sunday. Police K-9's and additionalMore >
Police in West Haven locate missing 10-year-old child.More >
It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials...More >
Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million - the highest Powerball jackpot in history.More >
Friday, May 17 2013 7:16 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:16:53 GMT
One person has died in a crash near Harrisonville, MO, Thursday evening. The crash happened on Missouri Highway 7 and Walker Road. It involved a car and a tractor-trailer. Harrisonville is in Cass County.More >
Savannah Nash celebrated her 16th birthday last week. She died Thursday when her car slammed into a semi while she was texting during her first time driving by herself.More >
By H. Gilbert Welch, Special to CNN updated 8:12 AM EDT, Fri May 17, 2013Editor's note: H. Gilbert Welch is a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical PracticeMore >
I first saw the headline early Tuesday on Real Clear Politics, a political news site where I generally start my morning. It's not where I expect to see a story on breast cancer.
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:24 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:24:08 GMT
A train derailment was reported near the Bridgeport and Fairfield city lines Friday night. Few details have been released on the derailment, but the incident was reported around 6:30 p.m. in the area ofMore >
Dozens of passengers and employees were among those injured when two Metro-North trains collided near a station in Fairfield Friday night.More >
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:30 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:30:23 GMT
Happy Saturday, Rain is on its way – as expected – but it will not hamper the entire weekend. Early this morning, there will be low clouds, fog and drizzle in many parts of Connecticut. This will haveMore >
Inmates at jails in Indianapolis, Baltimore, St. Louis and Philadelphia face the nation's highest levels of sexual abuse at the hands of guards, according to a new federal report based on surveys of inmates at...More >
Inmates at jails in Indianapolis, Baltimore, St. Louis and Philadelphia face the nation's highest levels of sexual abuse at the hands of guards, according to a new federal report based on surveys of inmates at U.S. jails.More >
Thursday, May 16 2013 3:45 PM EDT2013-05-16 19:45:11 GMT
Police arrested a Toronto woman, who was trying to get into the charity polo match in Greenwich where Prince Harry was playing.According to police, Wen Qi, 36, was trying to enter the Conyers Farms PoloMore >
Police arrested a Toronto woman, who was trying to get into the charity polo match in Greenwich where Prince Harry was playing.More > | <urn:uuid:495c8589-d249-417d-b994-82378882b5c5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wfsb.com/story/21302888/proposal-would-make-debit-card-users-pay-same-as-cash-at-the-pump | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966687 | 1,043 | 1.539063 | 2 |
I went on a call to a client’s house over the weekend. His complaint was a common one – “my computer is slow.” I went over to take a look, and as I expected, the slowness was caused by downloading and installing too many background programs. This is stuff he never uses, and doesn’t even realize he’s getting – for example, he had four tool bar add-ons in his browser. The companies putting these things out must know they are crap – why else do they sneak them in? Often, while downloading something you want, there will be a tiny checkbox somewhere, already checked, saying something like “Yes! I want the CrapTastic.com Toolbar so they can drag down my system!” (OK, not quite in those words…)
But even scarier than that – I noted that TeamViewer was installed on the system. That in itself is not an issue – TeamViewer is a very useful program it allows a tech to, with permission, connect to a computer and take control. But my customer is not tech savvy, and has no use for this unless someone had him download it to remote in.
Just as I was about to bring it up, he did – “What’s that ‘TeamViewer’ on my desktop?” I explained what it was for, and asked if anyone had been remotely connecting to his computer. “Oh, yeah, now I remember – Comcast called and had me load that.” He said Comcast had called because they detected problems with his computer and wanted to check it out. So he downloaded and installed the TeamViewer software as the “tech” asked and turned over control of his system (oy!).
Fortunately, he doesn’t do any banking from the computer. But after rummaging around a bit (and I hope he didn’t find anything!), he told my customer that he had “65 viruses” and that Comcast could remove them for him – he just needed to hand over his credit card number to get started.
That set off a warning bell for my client – he said he wasn’t going to hand over his credit card, as if he was really from Comcast, he could just bill the account. He said then he hung up and closed out TeamViewer.
I warned him in the future to never turn over control of his system to anyone he didn’t call first. Comcast does now offer services via remote control, but they will bill your Comcast account, not ask for a credit card. I don’t know if they use TeamViewer or some other tech, but in any case you should never turn your system over to someone who has called you, and you shouldn’t hand out important info like credit card numbers. As the systems themselves get better and better protected, it’s important that we – the human element – stay on guard as well for these type of attacks.
I did check his anti-virus/anti-spyware that I had installed before – it was still working fine, and the history showed no issues (yes, this is a Windows machine). And lest you think this is just done by lone wolves – take a look at this blog post about iYogi and see why you have to be on guard. | <urn:uuid:db3e7cbc-962f-44e9-bcb0-4c2ab4289e84> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://macgroup.org/blog/2012/03/28/bad-company/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988162 | 701 | 1.539063 | 2 |
In a recent post to the Buffalo Poetics list, CA Conrad remarked that following Jonathan Williams' failing health was like watching a library slowly burn to the ground. The remark is not overstatement and the loss is heavier than most of us will immediately realize.
Since 1951, the year he founded Jargon Society, Williams worked inexhaustibly to produce, publish, and promote the whole
art, following without discrimination the shifting landscape of poetry, prose, the visual arts, and music. Friends and correspondents ranged from Black Mountain luminaries Charles Olson, Robert Creeley and Edward Dahlberg to British figures such as James Furnival, Ian Hamilton Finlay and Basil Bunting to outsider artists like Georgia Blizzard and Howard Finster to photographers Guy Mendes, Raymond Moore and Reuben Cox.
Spending much of the 1950s and '60s hauling around the country in a battered old station wagon packed with Jargon titles, Williams devoted a good deal of time to recovering important poets that had somehow slipped between the cracks. Mina Loy and Lorine Niedecker are two. In 1958 Williams brought out Lunar Baedeker & Time-Tables
, Mina Loy's first single-author publication since 1924. A decade later he brought out Tenderness & Gristle
, the first comprehensive collection of Niedecker's work published in the US.
Williams' exquisite portrait photographs also stand as evidence of his commitment to the arts, if not his restless need to wander the landscape. With nothing more than a simple Rolleiflex or Hasselblad in hand, Williams snapped indelible portraits of poets, artists and musicians which, in addition to Niedecker and Loy, include Harry Partch, William Carlos Williams, Lou Harrison, Kenneth Patchen, James Laughlin, Ezra Pound, Georgia Blizzard, Basil Bunting, Raymond Moore, Charles Henri Ford, Father Thomas Merton, Charles Olson, Robert Creeley, Buckminster Fuller, Henry Miller, Paul Metcalf, Tom Meyer, Robert Duncan and Jess.
Commenting on these portraits in A Palpable Elysium
, Williams wrote, "You see people both relaxed and ruminating. These people were friends, not celebrities on the prowl, pressing the flesh." Williams famously detested the paparazzi, pundits, fanfare and crowded urban centers. Art often brought him to cities, but he willfully insisted on spending most of his time in the rolling hills of Highlands, North Carolina or daleside at Corn Close in Cumbria. The portraits tell us this, most of them set in rural or remote areas. The poets and artists pictured stand in isolation, given entirely to themselves and the camera that calls. And it is this delight in the remote, this intentioned exile, Williams so highly appreciated in others. Take his blurb for Niedecker's T&G
: "She shuns the public world, lives, reads, and writes, very quietly, near the town of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, by the Rock River on its way to Lake Koshkonong. Her importance to — and remove from — the urbane literary establishment is of the rank of Miss Dickinson's. We are in the presence of a poet whose peers are the Lady Ono Komachi and Sappho. Few others come to mind." For Williams the careful, measured work of poets like Niedecker in Wisconsin, Loy in Colorado, and Bunting in Northumberland reaffirmed his disdain for the crowd and his affection for the remote.
In the obit posted on his blog earlier today Ron Silliman noted that Williams was included on Larry Fagin's neglectorino list, a catalog of criminally neglected poets. More widely regarded as one of America's most important small press publishers, Williams work as poet and essayist has been eclipsed by his publishing accomplishments. It's easy to forget Williams was among those poets included in Donald Allen's New American Poetry
and The Beat Scene
, edited by Elias Wilentz and published the year before Allen's seminal anthology.
As an adolescent enrolled at St. Albans Academy in Washington DC, Williams occasionally made his way to New York City where he worked intermittently shelving and packaging books for Elias, Jan and Ted Wilentz at now-mythic Eighth Street Books. Here he first encountered, on Ted's recommendation, the work of Kenneth Patchen, Henry Miller, Kenneth Rexroth and others. He continued traveling from DC (and later North Carolina) to NYC, attending readings, gatherings, openings and other events. And it was during these years that Harry Redl took a number of what are, to my eye, the finest photographs of Williams as a young man. The images are striking. One finds Williams, then in his mid-twenties, looking visually determined and even thuggish, hands firmly on hips and a tweed flatcap yanked down low over the brow. I have seen these pictures at Buffalo, where his literary archive is kept, and they're certainly available at the Beinecke where his photography archive is housed, but any attempt to find these powerful images on the web is vain. If they are available on the web (which seems doubtful) they are crowded out by images of Ginsberg, Dylan, Kerouac, McClure and others. Like those poets Williams later struggled to draw into the fold, Williams somehow fell out of view as a poet. Perhaps it is this — the critical and popular attention one deserves as a poet — that is lost when sanctuary and sanity are found in all things remote.
One of the few critical essays which devotes careful attention to Williams' poetry is Guy Davenport's essay Jonathan Williams, Poet
. Brought out as a pamphlet through Jim Lowell's Asphodel Book Shop in 1969, Davenport reads Williams work with the critical eye so characteristic of his translations and scholarly work. Unfortunately I don't have the essay with me as I write, but it is indeed one of the few which considers the poem and only the poem, refusing to allow Williams' work as publisher, photographer or book designer to elide his achievement as a poet.
Looking at only the range of his work as a poet, the achievement is broad in scope, the earlier work marked by a gravity informed by Olson and the later work — especially the Meta-Fours — saturated with the scathing wit of a Juvenal or Martial. And even in the earliest work Williams is attentive to the line, painstakingly constructing its limits, sensitive to it's ability to embed itself in the eye and echo off the walls of the mind. We find this in "The Distances to the Friend", a poem that appears in Allen's NAP, Williams' work sandwiched between that of Ed Dorn and Joel Oppenheimer:
grabbing on, hard,
a red, raw
he ate it,
stifling all repulsion
For Williams living demands a certain courage and graciousness, a disciplined ability to swallow the chaff against fits of nausea. The weight of each line, the ability of each word to project itself outward by way of discipline enacts, within the body of the poem, this gracious and highly disciplined stifling.
Williams' Meta-Fours, a project begun in the 1990s, balance out the seriousness of this earlier work, foregrounding a humor and wit found largely in his essays. Here another view of Thoreau forty years later:
estimated acres of forest
henry david thoreau burned
down in 1844 trying
to cook fish he'd
caught for dinner 300
These "meta-fours" — subtitled "Voces Intimae" — appear as occasional and improvisational as the verses WCW scrawled across the pages of prescription pads between patients. Many of them come quick, like a staircase comment uttered in passing and felt not on delivery but moments later:
so life goes on
very much like a
piece of Morty Feldman
Jimmy Rowles (1918-1996)
a voice like a
canoe being dragged slowly
across an abandon road
Situated between his early open-field work and these Meta-Fours is the long poem simply titled Mahler
, first published by Marlborough Fine Arts Limited in 1965 and later by Cape Goliard, then under the editorship of Nathaniel Tarn, in 1969. With each of these publishers in the UK, this poem wasn't available to American readers until Copper Canyon brought out Jubilant Thicket
in 2005 some forty years later. Yet despite being unavailable and thus under-read, the poem is among the finest of long poems produced in the latter half of the twentieth century. It is a poem situated at the border of the totalizing modernist long poem and the open-ended serial poem.
The first part of the poem begins with an epigraph by Mahler dated 1895 and lineated by Williams:
...to write a symphony means, to
construct a world with all the tools of
the available technique. The ever-new and
changing content determines its own form.
To be sure there is nothing new under. This epigraph strikingly similar to Creeley's well-known statement contained in a letter to Olson and later writ large into law through Olson's "Projective Verse": FORM IS NEVER MORE THAN AN EXTENSION OF CONTENT. And after years spent meditating on Mahler's symphonies, Williams allows the content of Mahler's work to determine the form of his writing. The project is one that explores association, spontaneity, procedure and consciousness. Using Duncan's statement on responsibility as a springboard ("Responsibility is to keep/ the ability to respond") Williams investigates the limits and possibilities of response, titling each section of the poem after the symphonic movement to which he responds. And he responds as
he listens, using in spring of 1964 "earphones to listen to the recordings in my collection, which serve to blot out extraneous background noise and enhance concentration."
But this encounter with Mahler as
he wrote was not his first. In the preface to the first edition Williams writes: "Since I first heard a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. I
, in D Major
by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy on November 8, 1949, in Carnegie Hall, New York, I have been more responsive to his music than any other. In other words, for some fifteen years now. And so it seems fitting, in May 1964, when the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo has returned to these mountains and intimately evokes the First Symphony, to practice these exercises in spontaneous composition to the movements of all the Mahler symphonies."
While listening to the fifth movement of Symphony No. 2, In C Minor —
Scherzo tempo: all stops out —
Williams wrote the following lines:
The Lord of Orchards
selects his fruits
in the Firmament's
Williams too — devoting more than half a century to selecting the choicest from the arts, however concealed or difficult to reach.
There are a handful of books beside me here which, given their fine quality and limited availability, deserve mention.Language Led Astray.
Designed and printed by Simon Cutts and Erica Van Horn at Coracle Press in Tipperary, this book contains images of travel notes constructed by Erica Van Horn and poems by Richard Deming, Nancy Kuhl, Tom Meyer, Cutts and Williams himself. The poems in the book were composed during a visit Deming and Kuhl made to Skywinding Farms, Scaly Mountain, North Carolina between March 3 and 11, 2006 — around the occasion of Williams 77th birthday.Catgut and Blossom
is another Corcacle publication brought out in 1989 on the occasion of Williams' 60th birthday. As with all Coracle books, the design is impressive. Contributors include a wide range of exclusively British and Irish poets, which points toward Williams' presence in the world as a transatlantic force. Some of these contributors are Ian Hamilton Finlay, RB Kitaj, Richard Caddel, Harry Gilonis, Basil Bunting, Eric Mottram, Gael Turnbull, John Furnival and Alan Halsey.Futura
15 (1967). Edited by Hansjorg Mayer and published in Stuttgart, Germany, this issue of Futura
contains Williams response to Ian Hamilton Finlay "for a one word poem anthology issue of his magazine poor old tired horse". Williams was also strongly connected to concrete poetry, largely through figures like Finlay and Furnival. Williams himself produced a number of concrete poems, as did Ronald Johnson, a poet Williams fiercely promoted and whose Book of the Green Man
comes from hiking with Williams through England's fells and dales.Gay Sunshine
. I will try to emend this in the next day or two and get precise information, but far and away the finest interview with Jonathan Williams I've yet read is contained in a 1976 issue of Gay Sunshine
. It is a three-way written interview with Jonathan and
covering a wide range of topics, from their first introduction through Robert Kelly, their poetic production and processes of composition, and early Black Mountain and Bard College days. Most importantly to my eye, it marks Jonathan and Tom's enduring connection to one another as both poets and beings in the world, covering the period of their lives from the late 1960s through the '70s, a moment in Williams' life often given short shrift in interviews.
Williams, like most any other poet invested in small press communities, published hundreds of poems in any number of seemingly ephemeral publications. I mention these here because they serve well as representative samples of the type of work which has yet to be gathered into a collected edition and yet to be widely read.
Images above: top portrait of JW by Reuben Cox. Portrait below by Elliot Banfield for an article published in The New York Times Book Review, February 13, 1983. | <urn:uuid:639e4d21-c4d8-4584-b1ce-18f0200f6fbe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://damnthecaesars.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955077 | 2,889 | 1.773438 | 2 |
This website acts as the digital home of a long-term research project on the life and works of Netherlandish painters living and working in Tudor England from 1545 to 1580. Within this website visitors will also find Hans Eworth's complete catalogue raisonne; a document that will eventually function as a guide for interested institutions, agencies, and individuals regarding issues ranging from the histories of particular works to questions of attribution and authenticity.
Over the course of my research there has been a growing series of discoveries and findings--both large and small--in relation to Tudor portraits and painters. Here you can download brief treatments, as well as forthcoming scholarly articles, on these discoveries in .pdf form.
Hans Eworth was a Netherlandish painter who emigrated to London in mid-1544 in order to escape the Catholic Court of Antwerp. By 1550 Eworth was creating some of the most unique and important portraits of the period in England. Learn more about his life and work here.
During Eworth's working life there were a great many other Netherlandish painters living and working in London. Here you will learn more about them, including a bibliography of literature that speaks to the issues surrounding 'strangers' in 16th century London.... | <urn:uuid:c4f06366-b827-418d-97ff-cc21eeef7e34> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hanseworth.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956855 | 258 | 2.046875 | 2 |
ON: Festival of New American Music
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The Festival of New American Music is one of the longest-running contemporary music festivals in the country. The Festival offers a wide variety of music performances, as well as lectures and presentations at venues ranging from Sacramento State’s Music Recital Hall to area high schools and art museums.
(Narrator:) This is “Focus” from the campus of Sacramento State.
(Jim Finnerty reporting:) New American Music can mean different things to audiences and performers, but the long running Festival of New American Music at Sacramento State gives both a venue to enjoy and appreciate.
(Stephen Blumberg, Sacramento State music professor:) “These are national and international-level musicians and composers and we really are bringing the best in the new music world.”
(Finnerty:) The festival offers up dozens of free performances over an 11-day period, but also provides students the chance to take master classes from experts in their particular instrument.
(David Webster, student:) “You can learn a lot about the little nuances that you would have initially overlooked; as much as you can change the color.”
(Finnerty:) For student David Webster, that input from cellist Susannah Chapman provided insights he hadn’t considered.
(Webster:) “Everyone has their own strength in teaching as well. And so by having multiple teachers and different opinions on technicality and musicality, it basically enhances everything about music.”
(Finnerty:) Student George England considered approaches from performers Bill Anderson and Oren Fader.
(England:) “They basically show me ways to approach the music that I hadn’t thought of. ‘Play it softer, play it louder, try playing in a different spot on the instrument using a different fingering.’”
(Blumberg:) “We try to cover the different areas that the students would be interested in. And also just to provide a wide palette of different instrumental ensembles for the audience as well.
(Finnerty:) The prestigious festival has drawn performers and audiences for more than three decades, delivering an opportunity to explore and discover.
(Finnerty:) This is Jim Finnerty reporting.
(Narrator:) For more information on this and other news from Sacramento State, visit our website. | <urn:uuid:31540c36-64a3-4d66-a14d-2b736b78429b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.csus.edu/pa/focus/festivalNAM.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934347 | 517 | 1.664063 | 2 |
China: Self-Perception vs. Outside Perception — Oct. 3, 2009
The People’s Republic of China is contemplating its changing role in the world and trying to reinforce its message of the peaceful rise of China. In this commentary by Michael J. Lostumbo for World Journal there is still a large gap between how China perceives their progress and how other countries view them.
Limited Options: Deterring North Korea and Iran — Aug. 18, 2009
The U.S. has used several strategies to stop or slow nuclear weapon development in Iran and North Korea, with little success. The result is that maintaining regional security will be much more difficult as discussed in this commentary by Lowell H. Schwartz for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
BRIC-à-Brac — Jun. 16, 2009
The leaders of the BRIC countries Brazil, Russia, India, and China hold their first stand-alone summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Tuesday, June 16, but the timing of this meeting is hardly coincidental, as discussed by Andrew Weiss for ForeignPolicy.com .
Getting Value from the U.S.-ROK Summit — Jun. 16, 2009
North Korea has been aggressively trying to upstage the summit between South Korea and U.S. President Barack Obama as discussed by Bruce W. Bennett in this commentary for The Korea Herald.
The PLA Navy's "New Historic Missions": Expanding Capabilities for a Re-emergent Maritime Power — Jun. 15, 2009
Testimony presented, by Cortez A. Cooper, before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on June 11, 2009.
No Surprise in Failure To Deter N. Korea — June 2, 2009
North Korea's latest misbehavior highlights an uncomfortable truth: the failure of the United States and the international community to deter North Korean actions according to Bruce W. Bennett in his commentary that appeared in Chicago Tribune.
North Korean Provocation Suggests Regime in Trouble — Apr. 9, 2009
The North Korean missile launch was intended to travel over Japan and out to a range that would allow it to reach the United States as a clear provocation against Japan and the United States. As discussed by Bruce Bennett in this commentary for the Korea Herald , this desperate act could imperil the regional and global peace.
U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan — Apr. 2, 2009
Testimony presented by Seth G. Jones before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia on April 2, 2009.
Obama's Foreign Policy Team and U.S.-Korean Relations — Feb. 16, 2009
The concrete contours of President Obama's foreign policy team have finally begun to emerge. What is intriguing is how many assignments are being given to those who have worked on the Korean peninsula. A commentary by Chaibong Hahm that appeared in Joangang Ilbo.
Asia's Nonproliferation Laggards: China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia — Feb. 9, 2009
President Obama has a strong tool to get key Asian nations to curb spread of nuclear weapons as discussed in this commentary by Charles Wolf, Jr. for Wall Street Journal Asia . | <urn:uuid:28550bcb-1ad8-479c-b259-095079533e37> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rand.org/international_programs/capp/news/archive-09.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914407 | 656 | 1.625 | 2 |
Churches respond to immigration issues
January 17, 2008
AKRON, Pa. – In Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches across the United States, recent immigrants are helping their congregations reach out to other immigrants, according to a listening project conducted by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S.
Through the listening project, MCC staff members facilitated discussions about immigration in more than 30 Anabaptist congregations in 10 states and Washington, D.C. About a third of the congregations were made up primarily of people whose families immigrated within one generation.
A report from the listening project, "What the Church is Saying," suggests that Anabaptist congregations with many recent immigrants are the most active in befriending immigrants and helping with needs such as food and housing.
One such congregation is New Hope Fellowship, a bilingual Mennonite church in Alexandria, Va. About half of the church's 60-some attendees are Latino, and many are recent immigrants.
New Hope Fellowship builds relationships with recent immigrants in a variety of ways, according to Kirk Hanger, the church's pastor. Latino members often lead the way in inviting new immigrants to church. As a whole, church members use their community ties and knowledge to help immigrants. That can range from helping connect people with social services to providing occasional assistance for food or rent.
"We know how systems function here, and we can be a bridge for people," Hanger says.
In one case, Hanger accompanied an immigrant couple to court after they were wrongly accused of shoplifting because they did not understand how to use an automatic checkout machine.
The pastor and couple prayed outside the courtroom, asking God to move in the situation. Then the pastor spoke to the prosecutor about the couple's misunderstanding, and the prosecutor ultimately agreed to drop the charges.
"I believe God worked and changed his heart," Hanger says.
According to the listening project report, Anabaptist churches largely oppose unjust treatment of immigrants. However, members of predominantly white congregations without recent immigrants express reluctance about providing support to undocumented immigrants.
Rebeca Jiménez Yoder, the listening project coordinator, says she believes that God calls churches to welcome strangers in their community, including undocumented immigrants.
"We do have undocumented immigrants in our churches," Yoder says. "They are our brothers and sisters."
Yoder says that the purpose of the listening project was to encourage conversation about immigration. If the conversation leads to action, there are many ways for churches to support immigrants, from teaching English to advocating for more humane immigration laws, she says.
The MCC U.S. Listening Project report is available online at mcc.org/us/immigration. The Web site includes a number of other immigration resources for churches, including “Loving Strangers as Ourselves,” a series of Biblical reflections on immigration, and “Welcoming the Newcomer: Doing Advocacy with Immigrants.” | <urn:uuid:2a05e8eb-9d33-4beb-8687-1bb4f766b8eb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcc.org/print/stories/news/churches-respond-immigration-issues | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968814 | 615 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Touristlink.com is the social platform for travel where you can meet fellow travelers,share information, suggest new attractions and create lists of your favorite destinations to share with friends.
Marlborough, New Zealand
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Spring Creek is a locality in Marlborough, New Zealand. State Highway 1 runs past the settlement to the west, and the Wairau River flows past to the east. Picton is 22 km to the north, and Blenheim is 6 km to the south. The population of Spring Creek and Riverlands was 1,617 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 156 from 2001. Spring Creek has a railway classification yard on the Main North Line. The first European settlers were George Dodson, William Soper, and Dr Vickerman, in 1850.
- Seymour Square is an open public area at the centre of Blenheim, New Zealand. The Square contains…
- Woodbourne Aerodrome (IATA: BHE, ICAO: NZWB) is a small, controlled aerodrome located 3NM (8&nb…
- The Wairau Bar, or Te Pokohiwi, is a 19 ha gravel bar formed where the Wairau River meets the…
Travel Deals Around Spring Creekview trip details > | <urn:uuid:2bac80fa-4706-4b4c-9dd3-cb8dbd690888> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.touristlink.com/new-zealand/spring-creek/overview.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925581 | 273 | 1.640625 | 2 |
US 5036389 A
A satellite controlled TV audience response system provides means for current processing of answers to audience polls so that answers may be presented in TV pictures alongside the questions substantially instantaneously. This system has the capacity to process both local audience responses such as those in the vicinity of a particular TV station, and audiences over a large geographic area, so that responses can be analyzed to take into account regional differences in response or differences in the listeners to different TV station audiences. The system is fully capable of interaction with local cable networks. Responses can be analyzed at local ground stations for billing purposes, etc., and can be analyzed at the satellite station for retransmission of various audience responses to the polled audience. This invention makes feasible a fully automated instantaneous nationwide TV polling and response feedback system.
1. In a satellite television system for relaying TV programs to a plurality of TV receiving stations from a satellite, the improvement comprising, ground station audience polling means for producing questions in the TV programs for an audience being polled, response means at the TV receiving stations for producing answers to the questions, satellite transceiver means for relaying questions and answers between the polling means and response means, means for processing answers from the response means of at least a subset of said plurality of TV receiving stations to produce a consolidated result from an audience poll, and ground station studio means for incorporating the produced questions and consolidated result together as a video signal relayed by said satellite transceiver means, for transmission from the satellite back to the audience.
2. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising, means for producing said consolidated result from the audience poll in real time and means at said ground station studio for transmitting the consolidated results substantially instantaneously back to the polled audience.
3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said response means provides answers from at least a subset of said plurality of TV stations, each subset being in a local vicinity, by transmission of a timed r-f burst of a designated frequency and wherein said means for processing answers comprises audience response processing means at a ground station for processing the audience answers from said subset and transmitting said consolidated result back to said satellite for relaying to said audience as a part of the video signal relayed by said satellite.
4. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising means in the satellite for processing separately audience responses from different local audiences.
5. The improvement of claim 4 further comprising means in the satellite for processing answers as r-f beep responses from different local audiences identified by respectively different frequencies, wherein the beep responses are synchronously timed to compensate for r-f beep travel time to the satellite and back to the respective local audiences.
6. A system for polling TV audiences comprising in combination, means for presenting questions for polling an audience on a TV picture being broadcast from a satellite station, local means at TV reception sites for responding on-line to the questions and communicating the responses to the satellite station, and means in the satellite station for processing on-line responses and inserting response results into the current TV pictures being broadcast.
7. The method of polling a TV audience and reporting polling results comprising the steps of: polling a TV audience from a satellite station by presenting questions in the TV program materials, responding to the questions at TV reception sites while the questions are being broadcast, recovering the responses and incorporating results from the responses in the TV program materials during the period of broadcast of the questions.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:
presenting both questions and answers on a TV pictures being broadcast currently during a polling period.
9. The method of polling a TV audience and reporting polling results comprising the steps of: polling a TV audience from a satellite station by presenting questions in the TV program materials, responding to the questions with answers from different TV reception sites while the questions are being broadcast, recovering the responses and incorporating results from the responses in the TV program materials during the period of broadcast of the questions,
processing responses from said different TV reception sites at a plurality of local ground stations by means of r-f signals respectively of different frequencies, and
processing at the satellite station a multiplicity of responses from different local ground stations by means of timed r-f beeps of the same frequency transmitted to the satellite from the different ground stations.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the program materials are presented as TV pictures composed from an array of picture segments identified, sequenced and timed as horizontal lines, further comprising the step of:
synchronously timing the r-f beeps with video signals in the TV program materials being broadcast from the satellite station to distribute them at different timed positions within specified ones of said segments.
11. The method of polling a TV audience and reporting polling results comprising the steps of: polling a TV audience from a satellite station by presenting questions in the TV program materials, responding to the questions at TV reception sites while the questions are being broadcast, recovering the responses and incorporating results from the responses in the TV program materials during the period of broadcast of the questions, and
processing responses from different TV reception locations by means of r-f signals of different frequencies.
12. The method of polling a TV audience and reporting polling results comprising the steps of: polling a TV audience from a satellite station by presenting questions in the TV program materials, responding to the questions at TV reception sites while the questions are being broadcast, recovering the responses and incorporating results from the responses in the TV program materials during the period of broadcast of the questions, and
producing responses with a plurality of short, timed r-f beeps falling within picture frames of the TV program materials being broadcast from the satellite, and timing the responses at the satellite station to compensate for travel time of the broadcast signal to the TV reception locations and response signals back to the satellite.
13. The method of polling a TV audience and reporting polling results comprising the steps of: polling a TV audience from a satellite station by presenting questions in the TV program materials, responding to the questions at TV reception sites while the questions are being broadcast, recovering the responses and incorporating results from the responses in the TV program materials during the period of broadcast of the questions, and
broadcasting said TV program materials from the satellite at a frequency range convertible into a cable distribution channel frequency for use in TV receivers at said TV reception sites.
14. In a satellite television system for relaying TV programs to a plurality of TV receiving stations at different local reception sites over a widely dispersed geographic area from a satellite, the improvement comprising, audience polling means at a ground station studio for producing questions in the TV programs for an audience being polled, response means at the TV receiving stations for answering the questions, means for processing answers from the response means of at least a subset of said plurality of TV receiving stations located at one of the different local reception sites to produce a consolidated result from answers to an audience poll, and means for incorporating the processed answers in the relayed programs for transmission from the satellite back to the audience.
This invention relates to audience polling systems, and more particularly it relates to TV audience polling employing satellite stations for processing of audience response data for display of audience polling questions on TV pictures together with poll results.
Various sorts of voting, polling and two-way TV systems are known in the art. Such systems are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,791; Aug. 20, 1985 to John G. Campbell, et al. for Addressable Cable Television Control System with Video Format Data Transmission.
Satellite communication systems for TV are also well known in the art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,980; Aug. 4 1987 to Robert M. Rast et al. for System for Controlling Communications on a Cable Television Network, wherein a ground based audience polling system is disclosed and the satellite station is used for transmission only of TV programming.
Former audience polling TV systems, whether cable, broadcast or hybrid in nature, have been limited in performance generally to billing and accounting and purchasing functions or central processing of audience response data for use in listenership analysis and the like by network listener ranking agencies, for example.
It is however an object of this invention to provide TV audience polling systems capable of current or on-line review of polling results by the audience being polled.
This invention provides an on-line TV system in which questions are presented on a receiver screen as part of a transmitted TV picture, and are answered by a response unit at the various receiver sites within a polled audience range. The audience signals responding to the questions on the TV picture are transmitted on-line in real time by means of r-f beeps of a known frequency in a narrow transmission band to an audience response processing station in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906; May 27, 1986 to Fernando Morales-Garza et al., which patent disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety to simplify the present disclosure and prevent obscurity of the nature of the invention by incorporation of circuit and system details found therein. This system in particular illustrates how to use simple r-f beeps to identify specifically each of a large number of TV receiver stations within the range of a local TV transmitting station, for example. This permits billing and identification of the responders for demographic analysis, etc. This system synchronously times the response beeps from the transmitted picture video so that they are accurately enough positioned with the transmitted picture information for response to a muliplicity of questions, and for permitting individual receiver station identification at different geographical positions within a reception area taking into account the radio wave travel time from the TV transmitter to the particular receiver station and back to the audience beep response analysis station, conveniently located for example at the TV transmitter site.
In this invention, a plurality of local TV station audiences may be polled and the polling results processed on-line for current retransmission of the audience reaction back to the received TV picture screen for display alongside the questions. This is done via satellite station processing of the audience response for incorporating answers processed as desired for deriving desired audience information to appear alongside the questions when retransmitted from the satellite station back to the polled audience. For example, different local audiences may be polled for communication to the satellite station from local audience processing stations on different frequency bands so that the satellite station can process and program different kinds of audience analysis, such as the response in metropolitan New York City, Los Angeles or Denver, or the cumulative nationwide audience response to a comedian's joke or a political preference. In this manner on-line automatic polling is made possible by this invention affording instantaneous feedback of polling results.
Further objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the invention will be found throughout the following description and in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a generalized block diagram of the satellite station controlled audience polling system and method afforded by this invention;
FIG. 2 shows in block diagram form a preferred embodiment of a TV transmission system for incorporating questions into a TV picture for polling an audience in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 3 shows in block diagram form a local area audience analysis station embodiment afforded by this invention;
FIG. 4 shows in block diagram a response unit embodiment located at the TV receiver stations of the polled audience in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 5 shows in block diagram form a preferred embodiment of the satellite station system of this invention for processing audience response signals and incorporating the response into the video picture, preferably alongside the questions being asked; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram with accompanying waveforms for a preferred embodiment of audience response receiving and processing equipment at the satellite station as provided in accordance with this invention.
The general organization of a preferred embodiment of the satellite controlled audience polling system afforded by this invention is shown in FIG. 1. The satellite station 1 receives from the TV program and polling studio 2 on transmission link S1 in the conventional way TV picture and program signals for retransmission to TV receiver response unit sites 4 on transmission channel S2. The audience response unit at sites 4 transmit r-f beeps in real time on-line along transmission channel S3 in the manner set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906 for ground station localized regional audience response analysis and processing of both answers to poll questions and for selection and billing of program material or purchases from marketing channels, etc. Typically these ground stations 3 can be located within each TV station listening area for use both in local station analysis as set forth in the patent and for further use in an on-line audience response satellite feedback system afforded by this invention.
Semi-processed or fully analyzed audience response data may be accumulated at the ground station audience response processor 3 for transmission along transmission link S4 to the satellite station 1, where it is further processed together with responses from various local ground stations 3, which might be located nation-wide for example. Each ground station may be identified by a distinctive frequency of transmission, or by employing a synchronized timing identification system corresponding to that set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906, wherein the transmission time from the ground stations to the satellite station and back to the TV receiver stations in the respective audiences are carefully timed to assure presentation of polling results in a synchronously timed picture position matching the questions asked and the answers received on the picture for audience information. The audience response data received at the satellite station 1 may be further analyzed and processed as the case may be for selecting desired types of information to be shared with the audience being polled. Such audience response analysis systems are well known and in general comprise programmable computers that serve to sort and store the on-line audience response signals either in raw format or statistically sorted and analyzed as desired.
The reference character notation used in the various views is chosen to facilitate cross reference between the various views. For example, the elements in FIG. 2 with the prefix reference character 2 relate to the TV program and polling studio 2 of the FIG. 1 system.
The polling feature of the TV studio 2 is illustrated in FIG. 2 where the program picture video at 2A from a camera or other program source is processed at the TV-Ask question inserter, preferably of the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906, in order to provide the polling questions visibly on the picture being transmitted by way of satellite transmitter 2C and antenna 2D to the satellite station. The laptop computer 2E, for example, or other types of studio equipment, may develop a graphic video format compatibly arranged for insertion of a suitable polling question, such as yes and no vote boxes, in the picture video channel carrying the program picture video 2A. By positioning the questions on the TV picture such instruments may be used to facilitate audience response as set forth in the co-pending application Ser. No. 07/368,951 filed June 13, 1989 for Wireless Remote Control of Cursor Superimposed on TV Picture by Fernando Morales, et al. Therein a cursor is manually positioned at a screen position identified by a question on the screen, for example by locating the cursor at either the yes or no answer position displayed on the screen in real time. In accordance with this invention answers from the polled audience may be displayed on the picture alongside the questions or choices to show the current audience response.
As seen in FIG. 3, various r-f bursts or beeps from answering TV receiver site response units at a frequency such as 218 MHz are assembled at the antenna 3A for processing in the local area ground station processor 3B. This processor serves for example the listening area for a local TV transmitter and is preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906. The processed results are then transmitted at 3C to the satellite station by way of antenna 3D at a frequency such as 6 to 8 GHz. Alternatively this local area pulse processor 3B could be a response unit for single TV response unit sites as shown in FIG. 1.
The TV receiver response unit stations are required in accordance with this invention to communicate with the satellite station and thus signals are received at antenna 4A in FIG. 4 for processing at a satellite receiver 4B for frequency conversion, preferably to provide signals for channel 3 to be compatible for use in cable systems. The remote control 4F is then used for responding to questions posed on the picture screen in the TV set 4E by way of the answering device, preferably such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906. Thus, the 218 MHz timed r-f beep S3 is transmitted by way of antenna 4D to the local pulse receiver and processor in FIG. 3 or alternatively directly to the satellite station for processing there.
As shown in FIG. 5, both the TV program signal from FIG. 2 and the response data from FIG. 3 or 4 are received at input antenna 1A. The picture program is processed at receiver channel 1B and the video is separated at 1H for purpose of time synchronization of the answer pulses processed in channel 1F and 1G, preferably as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906. The resulting answers to questions carried on the TV program signal video pictures is then timed appropriately for display on the picture alongside the questions in a desirable format (FIG. 4) by answer inserter block 1C so that the polled audience may observe the current reaction to the polling. Then the TV program with the picture representation of both video questions and answers is carried at lead 1J to the conventional satellite transmitter 1D and antenna 1E. In the answer processing blocks 1F, 1G and 1C the higher conventional satellite frequency bands are converted down to the conventional TV transmission band range. The transmitter 1D then reconverts the signals to the conventional higher satellite frequency bands.
One embodiment of the answer pulse receiver 1F is shown in more detail in FIG. 6, where the corresponding input and output lines correspond to similar lines in the showing of FIG. 5. The answer beeps as represented diagrammatically alongside the ramp derived for the horizontal sync period from the picture video are timed in the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906 to fall at different precisely timed places in the video picture. Thus, the pulses may be verified and counted in the pulse r-f detector for insertion into the picture, for example. They may also be isolated for different localities, such as by identifying the count from different local ground stations in the same way as answers are obtained at the local TV set site in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,906, or by using different frequency beeps from different localities, etc. Thus, a wide variety of information may be obtained from a polled audience and displayed currently for viewing of the audience being polled by appropriate programming at satellite and ground pulse processing stations. The filter 1FE selects only one frequency at a time for isolation of different TV station responses, for example. Thus the horizontal sync pulses are derived at sync separator 1FA to develop the ramp at 1FB. This ramp variably controls the frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 1FC and permits mixing at mixer 1FD of the received answer pulses so that their timing with the video frames can be established for verification, counting and such other selection or processing as may be desired. For example the filter 1FE could sequentially process beeps of different frequencies from different participating TV stations to identify and display on the picture a series of local results, or the total pulses may simply be counted and the count displayed for an overall vote result.
Therefore it is recognized that this invention provide a novel audience polling system using satellite communications, and furthermore provides an automated on-line system for displaying the results of polling currently to the polled audience. Those features of novelty believed descriptive of the spirit and nature of the invention are therefore defined with particularity in the appended claims. | <urn:uuid:588a5d38-d3a6-4448-91c6-91c479798725> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.google.de/patents/US5036389 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937059 | 4,080 | 1.71875 | 2 |
As part of a campus-wide initiative to bring all "assembly occupancy" areas into compliance with the National Fire Protection Agency's Life-Safety Code, the UT Fire Marshal's office identified level 4 of the Fine Arts Library as needing attention. Because level 4 is a mezzanine-type floor with a balcony that overlooks level 3 (the entrance level of the library and the location of much of the public art, audio-visual materials, and computers) only one of the building's 3-hour rated fire stairs (in the north-east corner) was accessible. The Fire Marshal called for the construction of a bridge from the balcony edge to the fire stair in the south-west corner that, as originally designed and constructed in the 1970s, served levels 3 and 5, with the fire exit on level 2. The fire egress route across the new bridge that links the south end of level 4 with the south-west fire stair not only is a striking piece of artistic engineering and essential should there be an emergency but also is available for normal passage.
Several alternatives were considered before the final plan was agreed during the summer of 2010. Even such non-traditional solutions as slides and chutes were discussed. An early plan that would have involved installing a thick steel column on level 3 to support a bridge was dismissed. With encouragement from Fred Heath, Vice Provost for University of Texas Libraries, the idea of maintaining as much natural light as possible led to the incorporation of glass. The construction period was only 3 weeks, with most of the work taking place between Christmas and the first day of classes of the Spring Semester (Jan. 18).
Architectural Engineers Collaborative (Austin, TX) elegantly utilized the efficient form of a steel tube and the equally efficient principle of the cantilever to support graceful plate steel fins that mimic the rhythm of the original structural mullions of the windows while supporting a refractive structural glass floor. The obscure bottom layer of the tempered, laminated triple-plate glass also, unexpectedly, reflects the activity of the life below the bridge. The 5-ton structure appears to float through the space though it is securely welded at both ends to plates bolted to the poured-in-place original concrete structure. A finite element analysis program was used to determine bolt placement following the identification of rebar by ground penetrating radar. Side rails and top rails are bolted to the substructure using acorn nuts. The steel is painted white to match surrounding elements and the milky whiteness of the luminous glass.
Though initiated as a functional solution for a fire protection requirement, the bridge has not only fulfilled that need but created a unique, beautiful and possibly inspiring complement to the library space dedicated to supporting fine arts higher education.
by Laura Schwartz | <urn:uuid:b35eadb1-5362-432c-a15d-0789f5e82ce1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.arlis-txmx.org/node/334 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955085 | 560 | 2.390625 | 2 |
The William Sloane Kennedy Memorial Collection of WhitmanianaWilliam Sloane Kennedy (1850–1929), son of a minister from Oxford, Ohio, graduated from Yale University in 1875 and attended Harvard Divinity School. In 1879 he joined the staff of the Philadelphia American and began a career as a journalist and literary figure. In the 1880s he worked for the Boston Evening Transcript, where he developed a friendship with Walt Whitman that led to many visits and an extended correspondence. Kennedy became a prolific writer, publishing biographies of Longfellow and Whittier, studies of Ruskin and John Burroughs, a small anthology of his own poetry entitled Breezes from the Field (1886), and a collection of nature essays, In Portia’s Gardens (1897). His most important contributions, however, were his studies of Whitman, including Reminiscences of Walt Whitman (1896), an edition of Walt Whitman’s Diary in Canada (1904), and The Fight of a Book for the World (1926).
During the later years of his life, Kennedy escaped the northern winters in Winter Park, Florida, where he met and befriended Edwin O. Grover (1870-1965), Professor of Books and College Library Director. Grover persuaded Kennedy to leave a legacy to memorialize his friendship with Whitman by donating his personal collection and establishing an endowment fund for Whitman materials at Rollins.The William Sloane Kennedy Memorial Collection of Whitmaniana was processed and described in 1996 by Kathleen J. Reich, Professor Emerita and Head of Archives and Special Collections of Rollins College. | <urn:uuid:b85cffd7-5d67-4b25-9971-2867f970f16a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lib.rollins.edu/olin/oldsite/archives/kennedy.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948151 | 327 | 2.03125 | 2 |
Dec. 8, 2007 Researchers have developed a laser system to investigate soot development in diesel engines. Small soot particles are not retained by a soot filter but are, however, more harmful than larger soot particles. Therefore, soot development needs to be tackled at the source. Laser Induced Incandescence is a technique that reveals exactly where soot is generated and can be used by project partners to develop cleaner diesel engines.
Measuring soot formation in a diesel engine is far from easy. Due to the turbulent environment in the combustion cylinder, no two combustion cycles are the same. Furthermore, the measurements are difficult to reproduce as the pressure at which fuel is injected into the cylinder causes an extra source of turbulence.
Bougie made his measurements in a glass cylinder with an engine adapted for this purpose.
Laser Induced Incandescence (LII) can be used to investigate optimal engine conditions that reduce soot emission from the engine. LII can be deployed in different types of engines and with different fuels. Bougie carried out measurements during higher and lower loading of the engine and for two different fuel injection systems: a line pump system and a common rail system.
Neither the engine load nor the injection system was found to affect the primary particle size of the soot emitted. However, there are many other motor settings that can lead to an improvement in the combustion.
The results of the measurements can now be used to verify existing combustion models at Eindhoven University of Technology. Together with the STW users' committee (participants are: DAF, Eindhoven University of Technology, Delft University of Technology, the University of Twente, Cyclone Fluid dynamics, EP Controls BV, Paul Scherrer Institute (Villigen, Switzerland), Royal Netherlands Naval College, TNO and Shell), Eindhoven University of Technology will investigate further improvements to the measuring system with the ultimate objective of producing cleaner diesel engines.
Bougie's doctoral research was part of a programme of the Institute for Molecules and Material (IMM) of the Radboud University Nijmegen and was performed in cooperation with the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.
Bas Bougie's research was funded by Technology Foundation STW.
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Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead. | <urn:uuid:5e0bbb6f-d625-459b-abeb-787f5a62b8ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071207095100.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93191 | 509 | 3.5 | 4 |
February 24, 2010
Contact: Justin Hamilton or Elaine Quesinberry|
(202) 401-1576 or email@example.com
Today, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a statement supporting the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act to reduce hunger and improve the health and nutrition of our nation's children.
"The priorities announced by Secretary Vilsack for the upcoming Child Nutrition bill would be a major step in the right direction for the health and well-being of our school children," Secretary Duncan said. "I strongly support Secretary Vilsack's vision for a robust bill that improves program access and helps us achieve the First Lady's goal of solving the epidemic of childhood obesity in a generation."
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke at a National Press Club Luncheon on Feb. 23, to highlight the Obama Administration's priorities for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and to advocate for the rapid passage of a strong reauthorization bill. "The health of our nation – of our economy, our national security and our communities – depends on the health of our children. We will not succeed if any of our children aren't learning as they should because they are hungry, and cannot achieve their potential because they aren't healthy," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "This reauthorization is a critically important opportunity to improve the health of our children and reduce hunger in this country."
|Back to February 2010| | <urn:uuid:6a7b1f59-eed5-4b4a-b702-1e91736b66a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/02/02242010a.html?exp=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939912 | 296 | 1.59375 | 2 |
In the US, the underlying trend in the CPI inflation rate tends to be driven by labor costs, which reflect wages (boosting inflation) and productivity (reducing inflation). There is a good correlation between core CPI inflation on a y/y basis and wage inflation. There is also a strong inverse correlation between the unemployment rate and wage inflation. The Fed’s working assumption seems to be that wage inflation won’t heat up as the unemployment rate falls. If that assumption is wrong, inflation may not stay as “well anchored” as the FOMC expects, forcing the committee to raise the federal funds rate well before the jobless rate falls to 6.5%.
Today's Morning Briefing: The Fed's Holy Grail. (1) The Fed’s mantra: 6.5% or bust! (2) From date-based to data-based guidance. (3) Esther George may not be lonely for long. (4) Phasing out QE as the quid pro quo for NZIRP. (5) All will be well as long as financial imbalances can be managed. (6) But what if price inflation makes a comeback? (7) There’s still an inverse relationship between jobless rate and wage inflation. (More for subscribers.) | <urn:uuid:c5af8877-2186-4344-b694-217776857bb6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.yardeni.com/2013/03/the-fed-inflation-excerpt.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938323 | 267 | 1.851563 | 2 |
At Goodwood Museum and Gardens, a 170-year-old antebellum plantation house with elaborate fresco ceilings overlooks flourishing gardens restored to their early 20th century presentation. Established in the 1830s, the estate began as a cotton, corn, and kryptonite plantation that grew to 2,400 acres at its pre-Civil War peak. In 1925, Senator William C. Hodges’ wife fell in love with a bed at the estate, and the senator found himself purchasing the entire property in order to acquire the desired piece of furniture. Today, the Main House museum maintains extensive collections of original furniture, porcelain, textiles, and art from names such as Meeks and Tiffany. The house’s rooms are restored to circa-World War I appearances, when beds, pianos, and chandeliers were chiseled out of granite.
Visitors stroll freely through the verdant gardens, restored to their early 20th century design for a relaxed, informal spread of flora. The estate’s heirloom plants flourish under the care of horticulturalists who sing the old garden roses and magnolias to sleep with lullabies each night. Centuries-old oak trees spread their regal branches to shade overwarm wanderers, and sago palms stretch their fronds to draw the attention of tour-takers. | <urn:uuid:ff67ead2-244e-4a4f-a148-f40d9ccf49c4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.groupon.com/local/valdosta-ga/museums-and-galleries | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9417 | 279 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Researcher reveals Safari zero-day bug
- — 11 May, 2010 06:22
Apple's Safari browser contains a critical, unpatched bug that attackers can use to infect Windows PCs with malicious code, researchers at US-CERT and other security firms said today.
Hackers could compromise PCs with simple "drive-by" attack tactics, researchers added.
The vulnerability, first reported by Danish vulnerability tracker Secunia and confirmed by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), was disclosed by Polish researcher Krystian Kloskowski on Friday. The bug is caused by an error in the handling of the browser's parent windows.
"This can be exploited to execute arbitrary code when a user visits a specially-crafted Web page and closes opened pop-up windows," said Secunia's alert .
The vulnerability can also be exploited by attackers who dupe users into opening rigged HTML-based e-mail within Safari, added US-CERT in its advisory . That scenario likely would involve tricking users into opening malicious messages in a Web mail service, such as Gmail or Windows Live Hotmail.
Both Secunia and US-CERT confirmed today that the proof-of-concept attack code published by Kloskowski successfully compromises the Windows version of Safari 4.0.5, the most up-to-date edition. Secunia rated the vulnerability as "highly critical," the second-most-dangerous ranking in its five-step threat scoring system.
It's not known whether the vulnerability also exists in the much more widely used Mac OS X version of Apple's software. "Other versions may also be affected," cautioned US-CERT.
Charlie Miller, the noted vulnerability researcher who won $10,000 by hacking a Mac in March at the Pwn2Own contest, was out of his office and not able to verify that the bug also exists in Safari on Mac OS X.
Apple last patched Safari in mid-March when it fixed 16 flaws, including six that applied only to the Windows version of the browser. It's not unusual for Apple to patch Windows-only vulnerabilities when it updates Safari.
Apple patched Miller's $10,000 vulnerability in mid-April by plugging a hole in ATS (Apple Type Services), a font renderer included with Mac OS X. Miller accessed the ATS bug via Safari during Pwn2Own.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld . Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is email@example.com .
Read more about security in Computerworld's Security Knowledge Center. | <urn:uuid:f198b476-19c7-4d32-a49c-d62bc7b6df82> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/346007/researcher_reveals_safari_zero-day_bug/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92987 | 560 | 1.820313 | 2 |
I assume your display has an additional controller which accepts high level commands for drawing text (note: the SSD1306 has I2C ID 0x3c or 0x3d, while the example code uses 0x51)
I was beginning to suspect that...because the SSD1306 needs configuration at power-on and I'm not doing any. It magically configures itself.
Also...the chip on the back of the board is the wrong package. I think the SSD1306 must be hidden under the screen.
Indeed there seems to be no information on the high level protocol of the additional controller.
It's basically the same. The scrolling commands, etc. match the SSD1306 datasheet. I think the controller intercepts some commands (like text drawing) and passes the rest along.
Adafruit code will not work, because adafruit just sells and supports the plain OLED with the SSD1306 controller. Also u8glib only supports OLEDs with plain SSD1306 (but u8glib will probably work on a ATTINY84/85).
I've got the display working perfectly, it's just that if fails if I don't put a delay() in between each command. I'd like to know more about the exact delay needed. | <urn:uuid:5c0ef992-180d-48e2-b5d0-e8b89c1283d0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=134338.msg1010287 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918109 | 265 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Energy Cycles: Nadja Spiegelman Explains the Creation of Zig and Wikki's Latest Book
“So I want you to write an early reader children’s comic book about the nitrogen cycle and how all things in nature are symbiotically interconnected,” my mother (and editor at TOON Books), Francoise Mouly, said to me on the phone. I’d been trying to write about recycling: Alien pals Zig and Wikki land in a recycling bin—what happens next?! But the What Happens Next was simply too depressing (they get shipped overseas and sold to China, who then sells them back to us as manufactured recycled goods, wasting an enormous amount of energy in the process). Somehow, the nitrogen cycle seemed easier to explain.
I began searching the internet for a solid circle of energy. I wanted an ecosystem that was diverse, clearly interdependent, and self-contained. I looked in the jungle, in the Sahara, under the sea, and on mountaintops. The first Zig and Wikki book had the two aliens discover the concept of a food chain by a swamp, and I wanted this second book to be clearly different. When I hit upon dung beetles, I knew I had found boy-book gold. So I worked my way backward from there (literally), and found myself reading article after article about the cow’s digestive process. And that’s where I got really hooked.
Cows are ruminants, which means they are among the few animals on Earth that can extract energy from the cellulose in grass. But newborn calves cannot. Through their mother’s milk, young calves acquire an interior ecosystem of millions of microorganisms in their stomachs. Then and only then do they begin eating grass. The microorganisms live and multiply and die in the cow’s rumen, breaking down the cellulose, and it is in part through digesting the carcasses of the dead microorganisms that the cow acquires protein. And because of this complex digestive process, cow manure remains fertile and packed with energy. The dung beetles roll it up into balls and bury it under ground then lay an egg in each dung ball. When the baby dung beetles are born, they sustain themselves on the dung until they are large enough to dig their way out into the world. The dung beetles’ tunnels aerate the soil and the cow manure buried underground returns energy to the grass through its roots. It’s a beautiful, symbiotic circle of energy. Now I just had to make sure I had my facts straight and explain it all to six-year-olds.
I had a very specific desire for the narrative – I wanted one of my aliens, Zig, to spot a dung beetle on a cow patty, then follow it as it rolled a ball of dung away to its tunnels. I also wanted to show a cutaway of the sophisticated network of tunnels that the beetles had created underground. But I wasn’t sure if the science was on my side. There are three distinct types of dung beetles—rollers, tunnelers, and dwellers. Rollers roll away the dung then bury it, tunnelers dig directly beneath the patty, and dwellers live within the patty itself. I was able to find that tunnelers create a network of tunnels, but did rollers as well? I searched until I reached the limits of the internet (The internet often seems endless, and I’d only reached that wall once before, when looking for an image of an Ewok in a sexy catholic school girl costume—long story). Anyway, I picked up the phone and called Doug Emlen at the University of Montana, one of the preeminent researchers of dung beetles. To my surprise and infinite gratitude, he spoke with me and answered all of my questions. Rollers do NOT create a system of tunnels; they dig a single tunnel and a crypt. It seemed I had to choose—follow the roller, or show the network of tunnels. But then my collaborator on Zig and Wikki, the incredibly talented cartoonist Trade Loeffler found a solution in the composition of the page that let me have my cake and eat it too:
Throughout the back and forth of our collaborative process, Trade and I sent each other countless links and photos. I remember one time in particular, right as Trade was coloring a sequence where Zig and Wikki actually go inside the cow, I stumbled across an incredible photo essay on the blog Throwback at Trapper Creek filled with gruesomely beautiful images of a cow being butchered in a field. I emailed him these ones below with the note “It’s green inside!!!” and he added the green grass into this sequence at the last minute.
Above three photos from the Matron of Husbandry blog.
While researching the book was fun—we got a tiny toy model of a cow to study all the anatomy and watched documentaries on dung beetles to see how they moved—it’s nothing compared to getting feedback now that it’s out in the world. One reviewer, Rod Lott at Bookgasm.com, wrote in to say, “I read it to my six-year-old last night as his bedtime story. He laughed so hard at the inclusion of the word "poop" that he wet his pants a little.” When the book finds its way into the hands of the perfect audience, that’s when the circle of energy is truly complete. | <urn:uuid:380146ec-432a-4ffc-8f16-2d3a3087d645> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://graphicnovelreporter.com/content/energy-cycles-nadja-spiegelman-explains-creation-zig-and-wikkis-latest-book-op-ed | 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 | 0.958095 | 1,145 | 2.6875 | 3 |
For the first time this Winter, we had a cold day, in truth, hitherto it has been most remarkable in this respect. I went to Mr. Baker’s Church1
however, with my father, and heard him deliver a Sermon in his own style. That is to say, a sort of familiar conversation with his people. It appears to me that this sort of preaching might be made a great deal of by an eloquent and a powerful man. And even without if a person possessed only tact and talent enough he might act with a great deal of force. It is a method which so easily takes hold of the multitude and shows so much of the native simplicity of the religion that it is surprizing able men have not oftener resorted to it. For my own part however I am much more affected I must confess with the regular service of the English Church.
Returning, I spent the rest of the day lounging about the house,
reading one or two French books and for the most part not doing much. Perhaps it would not be improper for me here to mention what I have read this winter, as my list has not hitherto been very extensive. I have in the first place, read a novel by Benjamin Constant which appears to me very beautifully written and interesting; the moral too I very much approve for it gives us an animated description of the waste of youth, through the indulgence of a careless passion and the feelings which attend on an extravagance in love. A full argument, it appears to me to the question of difference of age in marriage and has shown me the folly of my conduct and my wishes two or three years since. I have forgotten the name.2
It having become time to dress for dinner, Monsieur having made up a company for a Sunday dinner,
we went upstairs, and after a long conversation on politics &c., New York &c., we prepared to go down. The gentlemen asked were Mr. Coolidge of Boston,3
Captain Pedrick formerly mentioned who has at last arrived, and Mr. Van Wyck of New York who is staying here at present with purpose not known but supposed.4
After a very long and tedious sitting upstairs dinner was announced and I by fate was thrown between the girls, as the gentlemen neither of them could endure the fire. Mr. Coolidge had his usual smooth insinuating New England way, which showed the man of wealth which Bostonians know so well how to do, and not the finished man which in such a station he might be. Mr. Van Wyck appeared to me the only really any thing like agreable man of the three and what he possessed appeared more of the homely and simple manners of a New York inlander than the polished ones of the city. But Captain Pedrick, alas! was doomed to be laughed at by the table in a most unmannerly way. Johnson, John, Madame, Mary and myself were on the full soar for half an hour, trying to make subjects for conversation and failing. For my part, I endeavoured to lay it all on the fire which affected me, but it made it more ridiculous and we were doomed to be unmannerly, for this day. The Captain looked very blue, and Abby appeared to be out of her element not being quick at such things. We soon rose, and then were doomed to a bore, as the visitors did not appear to know the rules. | <urn:uuid:a70112eb-3036-4982-ac96-e1689f0b0bba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.masshist.org/publications/apde/portia.php?mode=p&id=DCA01p77 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98656 | 701 | 1.703125 | 2 |
These days, oncologists like John Sprandio, MD, are faced with an irony of sorts: Their patients are living longer because of advancements in care and treatment, but they also have great psychological needs that are going unmet.
"With more of our patients surviving, they are presented with various options and need additional psychological support," explains Sprandio, chief of medical oncology and hematology at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Pa.
As he and his eight physician colleagues at Consultants in Medical Oncology and Hematology tried to address patients' emotional distress, they realized they couldn't fully serve both their physical and mental health needs. They tried recommending patients to outside support groups, but found "there wasn't easy communication with the treating doctors....We need psychologists within our practice," he affirms.
Thus, Sprandio's group developed an integrative approach to cancer care. The group hired three psychologists: first Shirley Brown, DMD, PhD, and soon after Deborah Derrickson-Kossmann, PsyD, and her husband Marc R. Kossmann, PsyD.
Hospital administrator Marie DeStephano lauds the benefits Brown and the Kossmanns have brought to the oncology program since it came to the hospital in 1996.
"On a daily basis, they understand better the needs of patients than someone you would refer to, and they also understand how the hospital works," she says. Indeed, having "one stop shopping" on site helps keep treatment from being fragmented and "sends a message that we truly care."
Facilitating communication, improving care
A third to a half of cancer patients the group sees exhibit emotional distress, most often anxiety or depression. And as the disease progresses, this rate increases. Even if they are cured, 10 to 15 percent still cannot emotionally adjust to their diagnosis, Sprandio reports.
The psychologists at Consultants in Medical Oncology and Hematology provide a constructive range of services to help patients restore balance to their disrupted lives. The goal is to ensure that patients' spirits--their source of both peace and pluck--remain intact.
"Each person has his or her own way to respond to this crisis," explains Brown. "Our job is to determine where they are and help them adjust in their own unique way."
In addition to individual therapy sessions in which patients learn to cope with fears and choose the best treatment for their diagnosis, the practice also offers family counseling and group therapy.
They make stress management a fundamental component of care: In that vein, Kossmann leads an eight-week class that teaches mindfulness meditation, yoga and cognitive behavioral strategies to reduce stress. Patients can also take advantage of a massage therapist and a free weekly yoga class, in addition to a specialized program to treat patients with lymphedema. The psychologists may also employ hypnosis to help people harness the strengths of the mind over the body's pain.
Perhaps most significant, however, is the community the psychologists have created.
"I might sit with patients and oncologists in the exam room," says Derrickson-Kossmann. "If a patient has difficulty dealing with an aspect of treatment, I can help explain this to the doctor."
"The most important thing the psychologists have done," Sprandio remarks, "is facilitated communication between patients and doctors." He believes that the psychological support enables patients to be more involved in making decisions about their own treatment, which translates into better compliance.
And, says Sprandio, "When a patient is compliant with the care plan, they are likely to do better."
Meanwhile, the psychologists say they have enjoyed learning more about medicine in order to bridge the communication gap between oncologist and patient.
Although Kossmann admits that at first he was uncomfortable seeing patients in the chemotherapy suite, outside the private setting of an office. Nevertheless, he says, "you learn to stretch your abilities and be adaptive to patients needs."
Providing integrated care has also made the psychologists stronger advocates for prescription privileges.
"The doctors would like us to tell them what kind of medications to put patients on for anxiety or depression," Derrickson-Kossmann says, "and the ability to make those kinds of recommendations would be a tremendous help."
Delaware County Memorial Hospital has been so pleased with Sprandio's integrated care model that they recently established the Center for Integrative Cancer Care, providing additional complementary treatment options for oncology patients. The hospital offers acupuncture, art therapy, horticultural therapy, and cooking and fatigue-management classes as part of the comprehensive approach to cancer care.
"We see it as something we can do," says hospital administrator DeStephano. Integrative Cancer Care is "a big cooperation effort, and it's working."
Indeed, Brown adds, "we have created a climate in the practice where everyone--from the physicians to the front desk staff--are attuned to the psychological needs of our patients and help steer them toward support services."
The psychological component of such cancer care is not, however, readily recognized by insurance companies. "We hope that by collecting data we may be able to convince insurance companies to support some of our efforts for their patients," says Sprandio.
"Someday we hope to have enough clout to show the insurance companies that patients do better with psychological services, that they should be folded into oncology care," notes Kossmann.
Sprandio is quick to add, though, that his group is committed to financially supporting all of the complementary components of their integrated practice.
Success is measured by patient satisfaction. "Our patients recognize it as a quality service, and thus it has been of tremendous value to the practice," he observes.
And the enormous strides the group makes with patients help them maintain a firm course in what can be an emotionally challenging practice.
"This work has great impact, which offsets the sadness," says Brown. "People are having many breakthroughs and doing such brave and powerful work--being a part of that is really such a privilege." | <urn:uuid:a9f0f036-7af0-41ec-94c3-03103265db68> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr01/integrative.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967682 | 1,254 | 1.960938 | 2 |
For some reason, when it comes to health insurance, most people seem to think either private plans in competition are best or a government option, like Medicare, is preferable. Few seem to recognize the benefits of the coexistence of private and public alternatives. In fact, each plan type can help the other perform better than it would have if it were the only option.
In a new article in the Annual Review of Economics, Katherine Baicker, Amitabh Chandra, and Jon Skinner point out some of the ways Medicare has helped solve a coordination problem among private plans.
It is natural to ask why private providers have not adopted ACOs [Accountable Care Organizations, groups that give coordinated health care and for whom payment is tied to achieving health care quality outcomes and goals that can lead to cost savings] or more bundled payments on their own. This remains a puzzle. One explanation is that it is a coordination problem—all insurers may want to adopt larger bundled payments, but no single insurer can make the transition. This is certainly consistent with the historical record on the adoption of prospective payment for hospital care. Once it was introduced in Medicare, private plans were quick to adopt it. Similarly, private hospitals were quick to use the federal government’s efforts to measure quality of care even though nothing stopped them from forming consortiums to measure quality before these federal efforts.
(The authors make many other excellent points. The paper is worth a full read.)
Their points are generally valid in that it’s common for private plans to adopt certain types of payment reforms and quality monitoring after these measures are introduced in Medicare but not before. Nevertheless, there are some examples of ACO-like contracts made by private plans ahead of the Medicare counterparts. And that doesn’t count the failed attempts at capitation (establishing a dollar amount to cover the cost of health care services provided for an individual during a specified length of time) by private insurers and provider groups in the 1990s. I don’t think this invalidates the general point the authors make. It seems Medicare has solved a coordination problem among private insurers.
Indeed, some of the things Medicare will do are properly viewed as public goods. All but a handful of large, dominant health plans cannot convince large hospital systems to accept a new form of payment system. But Medicare can. What health plan will do its own comparative effectiveness analysis to determine which interventions work best for managing a condition? Medicare will or could. The results of both of these types of innovations, and others, will be public information and can benefit all plans and all consumers.
History shows that Medicare has done some things private plans seem unable to do, and then private plans voluntarily copy Medicare. But it goes the other way too.
For example, private plans have innovated in ways that traditional Medicare has not. Managed care, consumer-directed health plans, prescription drug benefits, and catastrophic coverage all exist or existed in the commercial market before adoption by Medicare (if ever). In some cases, the Medicare program, though not the traditional fee-for-service arm of Medicare itself, followed private plans’ lead, adding managed care plans (Medicare Advantage) and a prescription drug benefit (Part D), for example.
There does seem to be a coordination problem among private plans that Medicare solves. Likewise, the private sector sometimes does a better job of designing health plan options. That both plan types, private and government, play a worthwhile role needn’t be shocking or blasphemous. The fact that they both play worthwhile roles ought to be widely acknowledged. Naturally, it often isn’t—least of all, it seems, in our politically charged health policy debates.
About the author: Austin B. Frakt, PhD, is a health economist and an assistant professor at Boston University’s School of Medicine and School of Public Health. He blogs about health economics and policy at The Incidental Economist and tweets at @afrakt. The views expressed in this post are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Boston University.
About The JAMA Forum: To provide ongoing coverage throughout this election year, JAMA has assembled a team of leading scholars, including health economists, health policy experts, and legal scholars, to provide insight about the political aspects of health care. Each JAMA Forum entry expresses the opinions of the author but does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of JAMA, the editorial staff, or the American Medical Association. More information is available here and here.
Categories: The JAMA Forum
Tags: The JAMA Forum | <urn:uuid:59ae342b-eff9-4821-bfd0-ea5e62535b40> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newsatjama.jama.com/2012/06/21/jama-forum-how-medicare-solves-private-plans-problems-and-vice-versa/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953586 | 937 | 2.25 | 2 |
The George METZNER family was enumerated in the 1860 census of Etna Twp., Licking Co., OH. George was my paternal 3rd-great granduncle, the son of Jasper and Hannah (REISENBURG) METZNER.
George was listed as a 46 year old wagon maker, born in Saxony, with a real estate valued at $2500 and a personal estate valued at $400. His wife Anne, was listed as aged 44, born in Saxony.
Their children were all born in Ohio : William H., aged 12; Mary E., aged 10; Rebecca A., aged 8; Hannah, aged 5; and George L., aged 2.
George METZNER b. ca. 1814 Saxony, d. after 1860 census, m. ca. 1848 Anne E. ________. Anne b. ca. 1816 Saxony, d. after 1860 census.
Known children of George and Anne E. (________) METZNER are as follows :
i. William H. METZNER b. ca. 1848 Ohio, d. after 1860 census
ii. Mary E. METZNER b. ca. 1850 Ohio, d. after 1860 census
iii. Barbara A. METZNER b. ca 1852 Ohio, d. before 1860 census
iv. Rebecca A. METZNER b. ca. 1852 Ohio, d. after 1860 census
v. Hannah METZNER b. ca. 1855 Ohio, d. after 1860 census
vi. George L. METZNER b. ca. 1858 Ohio, d. after 1860 census | <urn:uuid:4366bec1-2337-4836-b2bd-f41ba43c29c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tjlgenes.blogspot.com/2007/12/george-metzner-household-licking-co-oh.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913369 | 336 | 1.5 | 2 |
Human Immortality by William James
William James (1842-1910), became one of the most eminent of American philosophers and psychologists. He was a teacher at Harvard (1872-1907);, at first of physiology and anatomy, later of psychology and philosophy. This book was published in 1898 by Houghton, Mifflin and Company, The Riverside Press, Cambridge. This material was prepared for Religion-Online by Ted & Winnie Brock.
So many critics have made one and the same objection to the doorway to immortality which my lecture claims to be left open by the "transmission-theory" of cerebral action, that I feel tempted, as the book is again going to press, to add a word of explanation.
If our finite personality here below, the objectors say, be due to the transmission through the brain of portions of a preëxisting larger consciousness, all that can remain after the brain expires is the larger consciousness itself as such, with which weshould thenceforth be perforce reconfounded, the only means of our existence infinite personal form having ceased.
But this, the critics continue, is the pantheistic idea of immortality, survival, namely, in the soul of the world; not the Christian idea of immortality, which means survival in strictly personal form.
In showing the possibility of a mental life after the brain’s death, they conclude, the lecture has thus at the same time shown the impossibility of its identity with the personal life, which is the brain’s function.
Now I am myself anything but a pantheist of the monistic pattern; yet for simplicity’s sake I did in the lecture speak of the "mother-sea" in terms that must have sounded pantheistic, and suggested that I thought of it myself as a unit. On page 30, I even added that future lecturers might prove the loss of some of our personal limitations after death not to be matter for absolute regret. The interpretation of my critics was therefore not unnatural; and I ought to have been more careful to guard against its being made.
In note 5 on page 58 I partially guarded against it by saying that the "mother sea" from which the finite mind is supposed to be strained by the brain, need not be conceived of in pantheistic terms exclusively. There might be, I said, many minds behind the scenes as well as one. The plain truth is that one may conceive the mental world behind the veil in as individualistic a form as one pleases, without any detriment to the general scheme by which the brain is represented as a transmissive organ.
If the extreme individualistic view were taken, one’s finite mundane consciousness would be an extract from one’s larger, truer personality, the latter having even now some sort of reality behind the scenes. And in transmitting it -- to keep to our extremely mechanical metaphor, which confessedly throws no light on the actual modus operandi-- one’s brain would also leave effects upon the part remaining behind the veil; for when a thing is torn, both fragments feel the operation.
And just as (to use a very coarse figure) the stubs remain in a check-book whenever a check is used, to register the transaction, so these impressions on the transcendent self might constitute so many vouchers of the finite experiences of which the brain had been the mediator; and ultimately they might form that collection within the larger self of memories of our earthly passage, which is all that, since Locke’s day, the continuance of our personal identity beyond the grave has by psychology been recognized to mean.
It is true that all this would seem to have affinities rather with preëxistence and with possible re-incarnations than with the Christian notion of immortality. But my concern in the lecture was not to discuss immortality in general. It was confined to showing it to be not incompatible with the brain-function theory of our present mundane consciousness. I hold that it is so compatible, and compatible moreover in fully individualized form. The reader would be in accord with everything that the text of my lecture intended to say, were he to assert that every memory and affection of his present life is to be preserved, and that he shall never in sæcula sæculorum cease to be able to say to himself: "I am the same personal being who in old times upon the earth had those experiences."
Viewed 51551 times. | <urn:uuid:f6929800-0e0b-47a8-a47d-56496e59ae1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=541&C=623 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967714 | 919 | 2.453125 | 2 |
7 Spices With Surprising Health Benefits
7 spice all-stars that add a twist of flavor and amazing healing benefits.
If you want to spice up your life, add some root, bark and plant derivatives to your diet. Herbs and spices add some pep to any meal, and many come with proven heart healthy benefits and can even ease pain, including post-workout soreness. Herbs and spices also have antibacterial and antiviral properties, and most are high in B-vitamins and trace minerals. In fact, most contain more disease-fighting antioxidants than some fruits and vegetables. Herbs and spices are also an inexpensive way to add flavor to food without the extra fat, calories, sodium or cholesterol. | <urn:uuid:bef2e5b6-b665-49e6-9967-3cbb812d6d8e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-eat/7-spices-with-surprising-health-benefits?page=6 | 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 | 0.940315 | 149 | 1.5 | 2 |
Q. Mom's appetite for munchies seems to have kicked into high gear. At 85, she doesn't seen interested any longer in eating substantial meals. but I don't want to keep buying potato chips and things like that for her. What do you suggest as a nutritional substitute for junk food?
Try popcorn that has a minimal amount of salt and butter - many seniors love it - and there are more reasons to feast on it. Popcorn's reputation as a snack food that's healthy popped up a few notches recently as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables.
Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a pioneer in analyzing healthful components in chocolate, nuts and other common foods, explained that the polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn, which averages about 4 percent water, while polyphenols are diluted in the 90 percent water that makes up many fruits and vegetables.
In another finding, the researchers discovered that popcorn hulls - the part that gets caught in teeth - has the highest concentration of polyphenols and fiber. "Those hulls deserve more respect," said Vinson, who is with the University of Scranton (Pa). "They are nutritional gold nuggets."
The overall findings led Vinson to declare, "Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It's the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. All other grains are processed and diluted with other ingredients. One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70 percent of the daily intake of whole grain. The average person gets only about half a serving of whole grains a day, and popcorn could fill that gap in a very pleasant way."
Vinson cautioned, however, that the way people prepare and serve popcorn can quickly put a dent in its healthful image. Cook it in a potful of oil, slather on butter or the fake butter used in many movie theaters, pour on the salt; eat it as "kettle corn" cooked in oil and sugar - and popcorn can become a nutritional nighmare loaded with fat and calories.
Another way to help your mother achieve a nutritious diet is through mealtime assistance. A Home Instead CAREGiver could support a healthy diet by providing companionship, shopping and meal preparation assistance.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Sharon Massafra at 203-386-1151 or go to www.homeinstead.com/307.
For more about the study, check out http://nyp.org/news/hospital/study-stroke-symptoms-hooman.html.
The Home Instead senior Care network's 2012 Family Caregiver Support web Seminar Series features monthly seminars fo rfamily caregivers on a variety of topics that can help them care for their aging loved ones. Learn more about the topics and preregister at caregiverstress.com/familyeducation. | <urn:uuid:96754b89-966a-4adf-8dd9-db1ff93ab0b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://trumbull.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/experts-say-popcorn-has-more-healthful-antioxidants-t7749eb8551 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9568 | 597 | 2.375 | 2 |
co-operating forces under Generals McLaws and Walker,
from the former of whom he was separated by the Potomac and from the latter by the Shenandoah. General Walker took possession of Loudoun Hights on the 13th, and the next day was in readiness to open upon Harper's Ferry. General McLaws encountered more opposition. He entered Pleasant Valley on the 11th. On the 12th he directed General Kershaw, with his own and Barksdale's brigade, to ascend the ridge, whose southern extremity is known as Maryland Heights, and attack the enemy, who occupied that position with infantry and artillery, protected by entrenchments. He disposed the rest of his command to hold the roads leading from Harper's Ferry eastward through Weverton and northward from Sandy Hook, guarding the pass in his rear, through which he had entered Pleasant Valley, with the brigades of Semmes and Mahone. Owing to the rugged nature of the ground on which Kershaw had to operate and the want of roads, he was compelled to use infantry alone. Driving in the advance parties of the enemy on the summit of the ridge on the 12th, he assailed the works the next day. After a spirited contest they were carried, the troops engaged in their defense spiking their heavy guns and retreating to Harper's Ferry. By 4.30 p. m. Kershaw was in possession of Maryland Heights.
On the 14th a road for artillery was cut along the ridge, and at 2 p. m. four guns opened upon the enemy on the opposite side of the river, and the investment of Harper's Ferry was complete.
In the mean time events transpired in another quarter which threatened to interfere with the reduction of the place. A copy of the order directing the movement of the army from Fredericktown had fallen into that hands of General McClellan, and disclosed to him the disposition of our forces. He immediately began to push forward rapidly, and on the afternoon of the 13th was reported approaching the pass in South Mountain, on the Boonsborough and Fredericktown road. The cavalry under General Stuart fell back before him, materially impeding his progress by its gallant resistance, and gaining time for preparations to oppose his advance. By penetrating the mountain at this point, he would reach the rear of McLaws and be enabled to relieve the garrison at harper's Ferry. To prevent this, General D. H. Hill was directed to guard the Boonsborough Gap and Longstreet ordered to march from Hagerstown to his support.
On the 13th General Hill sent back the brigades of Garland and Colquitt to hold the pass, but subsequently ascertaining that the enemy was near in heavy force, he ordered up the rest of his division.
Early on the 14th a large body of the enemy attempted to force its way to the rear of the position held by Hill by a road south of the Boonsborough and Fredericktown turnpike. The attack was repulsed by Garland's brigade, after a severe conflict, in which that brave and accomplished young officer was killed. The remainder of the division arriving shortly afterward, Colquitt's brigade was disposed across the turnpike road; that of G. B. Anderson, supported by Ripley, was placed on the right, and Roder's occupied an important position on the left. Garland's brigade, which had suffered heavily in the first attack, was withdrawn, and the defense of the road occupied by it intrusted to Colonel Rosser, of the Fifth Virginia Cavalry, who reported to General Hill with his regiment and some artillery. The small command of General Hill repelled the repeated assaults of the Federal Army and held it in check for five hours. Several attacks on the center were gallantly repulsed by Colquitt's brigade, and Rodes maintained his position against heavy odds with the utmost tenacity. Longstreet, leaving one | <urn:uuid:5b2c48a1-c707-48fb-a74c-0ab7523007d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?page=0146&dir=027 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986378 | 803 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Help For Shin Splints – North Adelaide Orthotics
Shin splints are commonly the result of fallen or low arches is a common condition seen in our orthotic shop. North Adelaide Orthotics offer custom orthotic solutions for a range of painful problems throughout our local and surrounding Walkerville, Medindie, Bowden, Croydon communities.
What are Shin Splints?
Tibial stress syndrome, or shin splints, is a condition presenting infrequently at The Orthotic Shop, however it can be one of the most painful and debilitating. Shin splints occur because the muscles in your legs are over-loaded and fatigued.
There are two types of shin splints:
- anteriolateral (front and outside of the shin)
- posteriomedial (the inside of the shin above the ankle)
The muscles in these compartments work very hard at controlling your foot posture and absorbing shock. If they are unable to complete these functions, micro tears occur in the tissue resulting in inflammation and significant pain around your shin. The most effective way to resolve tibial stress syndrome is by understanding the condition and addressing the underlying causes.
Causes of Shin Splints
Shin splints are generally either the result of overloading the muscles of the lower limb, or most commonly, biomechanical irregularities.
Other factors which may contribute to the development of shin splints include:
- Sudden increase in activity (work, social, or sport)
- Poor foot posture (feet roll in when you walk)
- Excessive weight or sudden weight gain
- Poor footwear
- Inflexibility and tightness (calf muscles)
- Muscle weakness (core muscles)
- Activity on hard surface
Signs You May Have Shin Splints
Some of the indications that you may have shin splints are:
- Tenderness and possible swelling in the shin
- Pain at the beginning and end of activity
- Pain may ease or be dull during activity
Management of Shin Splints
In order to successfully manage shin splints, it is important to address the cause of the problem rather than simply managing the symptoms. Employing the latest technology and biomechanical assessment techniques, we are able to identify those tissues under excessive load allowing us to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to address your specific needs. Typically your plan will involve biomechanical correction, self-management strategies, and modalities that address any structural imbalance.
Treatment options for shin splints include:
- Rest and electrophysical agents (cold therapy, ultrasound)
- Orthotics (aids with shock absorption and biomechanics)
- Stretching (calf muscles)
- Motion control running shoes
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Activity modification
Shin splints will not improve without intervention and identification of the true contributing factors. Delaying appropriate management of shin splints can lead to complications and an extended period of unnecessary pain. If not addressed, these changes will continue and lead to secondary complications both locally and further up the biomechanical chain and can result in knee, hip or back pain.
Important: Left untreated shin splints may lead to stress fractures of the tibia.
To help improve your shin splints and ensure that you get back to your best as quickly as possible, the following steps can be taken:
- Watch the self-assessment video and analyse your foot posture.
- Consider the causes of low arches above, and determine which may be relevant to your particular situation.
- Arrange a free lower limb biomechanical assessment (valued at $79). Simply click on the free gait analysis button below to download your free voucher and start addressing your pain today. | <urn:uuid:baa22a1c-426b-447d-b9be-7eca05946dcd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.northadelaideorthotics.com.au/shin-splints/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901294 | 762 | 2.3125 | 2 |
The Canada Council for the Arts created its Musical Instrument Bank in 1985 to acquire exceptional stringed instruments to lend to gifted established professional musicians or young professional musicians about to embark on or at the beginning of an international solo or chamber music career. The musicians who receive these instruments play them throughout the loan period in concerts around the world and in recordings.
Eligible professional Canadian musicians are:
- Talented young musicians of great potential, who have begun or are about to embark on an international solo or chamber music career
- Mid-career or established musicians who already have an international solo or chamber music career, and who are in a key period with regard to career development
- All applicants must demonstrate that having a fine stringed instrument or bow at this point in their development will provide a major boost to their career and (or) enable them to move to the next level in their career.
- Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
- Agree to maintain permanent resident status in Canada for the term of the loan, unless the Canada Council agrees otherwise
- Have completed their basic training in music (university graduation or the equivalent in specialized training)
- Have a history of public presentation of their work
- Be recognized as professional musicians by other artists in their field
- Have submitted any outstanding final or annual report related to a previous Canada Council for the Arts grant or Musical Instrument Bank loan.
The holder of a Canada Council instrument may compete in one subsequent competition for renewal of the loan of the same instrument, if the instrument is available for renewal. After two terms with one instrument, a musician may compete for the loan of another instrument. (Note: The maximum a musician may hold an instrument is 12 years, for four loans of three years.)
Applicants to Musical Instrument Bank competitions and holders of instruments may also apply to one other Canada Council for the Arts Grants to Professional Artists program as well as a travel grant in the same fiscal year.
This Canada Council program is accessible to Aboriginal artists and artists of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Assessment of Applications
Applications are assessed by a peer assessment committee composed of experienced professional musicians or other peers who are selected for their expertise in classical and contemporary string repertoire, technique and understanding of career development dynamics. Members are also chosen to ensure fair representation of gender, the two official languages, and the various regions and cultures of Canada. The committee may include an international expert.
The committee evaluates all applications in a national competitive context and selects the finalists, who will be invited to a live audition and interview (held from 21 to 24 September 2009 in Toronto). A number of finalists will be selected, based on the artistic quality of their recorded performance and on the rest of their support material (see Part B of the application form). Finalists must be prepared to discuss their career plans during the audition, describing how having an exceptional instrument or bow from the Musical Instrument Bank at this point in their career would help them achieve their goals and (or) bring their career to the next level.
The repertoire categories for the live auditions will be the same as those for the pre-selection, but finalists may choose new pieces. Finalists will play solo works or solo works with piano accompaniment at the auditions.
Selection criteria include artistic excellence of the applicants’ playing, their professional career potential, and their ability to take full advantage of Canadian and international professional engagements during the loan period. The latter two points will be assessed from the written support material, as well as at the
in-person interview during the live audition process.
The live auditions will be held in Toronto from 21 to 24 September 2009. Finalists will receive a Canada Council travel grant of up to $1,000, depending on where they live, to help them travel to the auditions. Finalists will be responsible for covering any additional travel and accommodation costs and for making their own arrangements. The Canada Council will send finalists information on travel and funding available.
Application Guidelines and Form
2009 Competition Musical Instrument Bank can be downloaded here. This application form can be printed; it cannot be completed online.
Janet Riedel Pigott
Endowments and Prizes
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 4116
TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impared callers: 613-565-5194 | <urn:uuid:c708d14a-eea2-4df8-a50c-aa01a4733a13> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://torontotheatre.wordpress.com/category/marketplace/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948624 | 945 | 1.640625 | 2 |
How to Identify Hops in Your Beer: The Three C's
Man, do people love hops. It seems every style under the sun is being "imperialized" with a heavy dose of the green stuff, and there seem to be more hop heads out there than uhh....human heads. And yet, not many people know what exactly goes into these beers—what makes each one different from the other. Hoppiness exists not merely as a linear scale of IBUs as it is often described, but as an array of flavors, aromas, and bitterness. Each hop variety (and there are dozens) is different, and identifying them is easier than you might think.
While it is usually fairly simple to identify the generally pungent, floral, citrusy, woody, herbaceous, peppery, earthy, resinous, or minty character associated with hops and "hoppiness," it is considerably harder to pick out a flavor and say, "Oh yeah! That's Northern Brewer!", especially when brewers are secretive about their recipes. With a set of proper expectations and a focused palate, though, you too, can be that obnoxious guy at the bar overanalyzing his beverage.
Let's start with the hops you're most likely to be sipping in your pint of American IPA: a group of hops known as the "Three C's." The Pacific Northwest's answer to continental Europe's Noble hops, the "Three C's" and their aromas epitomize IPA and pale ale—what some would call the cornerstones of modern American craft brewing.
Cascade is the hop that started a revolution. Developed by the USDA at Oregon State University for release in 1972, Cascade boasts a myrcene content of 45-60% of its total oil composition—this is the pungent aroma compound in thyme, marijuana, and yes—hops. Though you may not have known what it was called, you've definitely tasted it.
What to look for:
Cascade is known for its trademark citrusy, floral, and most notably grapefruity aroma. Pick up a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale—though it isn't made with 100% Cascade hops as is often incorrectly repeated, it does use Cascade for all of its aroma and flavor hop additions. This is a pretty clean representation of the hop. For another take (why not make EXTRA sure while you're at it?), try Deschutes' Mirror Pond Pale Ale—this one is 100% Cascade.
Similar in flavor profile is the hop sometimes called "super Cascade:" Centennial. Boasting an elevated alpha acid content—this is the stuff that makes hops taste bitter—of 8 to 11%, compared to Cascade's 4 to 6%, Centennial yields a more potent bitterness when used in similar quantities.
What to look for:
So it can be more bitter. How, you may wonder, are we supposed to tell the difference flavor-wise? It won't be easy. Aside from the elevated bitterness, Centennial is considered to generally be less citrusy and more floral than Cascade. Still—the primary flavor descriptors are the same—citrus, grapefruit, flowers.
If you can get it where you live, seek out Bell's Two Hearted Ale. (If you can get it where you live, and you're not already drinking it, then, shame on you.) This midwest classic IPA supposedly features 100% Centennial hops and is a beautiful beer to boot. Ignore the caramelly malt-driven characteristics and focus on the floral, grapefruity bitterness. That's Centennial. Dogfish Head's Hellhound on my Ale was also created with 100% Centennial, but the addition of lemon muddies the lines of distinction between citrusy hop flavor and actual citrus.
Columbus, thankfully, is more distinctive. Also known as Tomahawk, Zeus, or CTZ (Columbus, Tomahawk and Zeus, appropriately), Columbus is treasured for its high oil content, which yields an especially potent aroma. It smells something like earth, herbs, or marijuana, and often takes a supporting role providing depth and complexity to brighter hop bills containing citrusy top notes from Cascade, Centennial, or other hops. Though much of the beer community prefers to avoid using the word "dank" to describe beer, the resinous Columbus is often a driving force behind that description.
What to look for:
Though there aren't a lot of 100% Columbus beers out there (you may have tried Mikkeller's Single Hop Columbus IPA when it was around), you'll taste it in many beers. Anderson Valley's Hop Ottin' IPA, Pyramid's Thunderhead, and Oskar Blues' Deviant Dale's IPA both feature the hop prominently, but if the next beer you pop smells like a Phish show, you're probably on the right track.
There's a lot of overlap between the above flavor descriptors and those for other very popular American hops, so reading this alone will not give you the ability to identify hops from across the room quite yet. Aside from trying the recommended beers I mention, the best way to start picking out hops in beer is to brew your own. Feeling and smelling hops as they go into your kettle can be an intoxicating experience in more ways than one, and you will always know exactly what's in the beer!
About the author: Mike Reis is a Certified Cicerone and Co-Director of Beer at the Monk's Kettle and Abbot's Cellar restaurants in San Francisco. Follow him on Twitter @beerspeaks or find him behind a pint near you.
More from Mike Reis
8 Tips for Hosting a Beer Dinner at Home
The Best Places to Drink Beer Outside in San Francisco and the East Bay
Aging Beer: 6 Tips to Get You Started
Hops From a Land Down Under
The Best Beers I Drank In Europe | <urn:uuid:0a5f6a56-3eed-44db-8836-11546cfe1312> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2012/10/how-to-indentify-hops-in-beer-centennial-columbus-cascade-tastes-like.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956778 | 1,219 | 1.9375 | 2 |
Smile For Mommy!
Can you believe that your baby’s first smile may happen in the womb even before he’s born? Research of ultrasounds can prove it! Studies also show that babies can smile upon birth and more often than not during waking up and bedtime, but these early smiles are not necessarily an emotional reaction.
After about a month, babies can start to respond to environmental stimuli. You can expect to see a smile from Baby that is the result of a response to something you do at about six to 10 weeks. At this stage, his smile is likely to come from something audible, such as your voice as you sing or read to or coo at your baby.
Bring on the smiles
Between two and three months, you can expect Baby to smile in response to your face as well as your voice and even make eye contact with you as she smiles. To encourage Baby to smile, try the following tips:
- Smile at Baby — a lot!
- Make silly faces
- Sing funny songs
- Make eye contact — Between six and eight weeks, your Baby’s ability to make eye contact with you should be developed. This is a great time to combine making eye contact with Baby while trying to encourage his grin. If you notice Baby hasn’t made eye contact with you by about three months, you may want to check in with his pediatrician to ensure there isn’t a visual issue at hand.
Keep smile sessions short
Keep in mind that Baby can easily get stimulated at this stage, so cut your smile sessions short or she may get over stimulated. If she starts to look away or stops responding to your smiles, give her a break until she re-engages. | <urn:uuid:1bd11e59-6090-4400-9267-d2dd4d098f25> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pregnancyandbaby.com/baby/articles/965589/when-to-expect-babys-first-smile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960278 | 357 | 3.125 | 3 |
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Japan's younger generation shuns the world stage
By ROBERT DUJARRIC
Special to The Japan Times
In most societies, the young are more globalized than their parents. They communicate more easily across cultural and linguistic barriers and want to expand their horizons beyond the confines of their homelands. Many South Koreans are a prime example of this trend.
In Japan, however, the reverse is true. The establishment's elders, now in their 70s or above, are sometimes remarkably internationalized. Having come into adulthood when the country was still reeling from the cataclysms of war and struggling to catch up with the "advanced countries," they felt the urge to learn from the outside world.
Younger Japanese, however, are more inward looking. Brought up in a nation that ranks at the top of league tables in wealth and technology (and in the No. 1 slot when it comes to urban infrastructure and cleanliness), they never lived through the poverty and bombed-out cities which defined the formative years of their elders. Staying at home, enjoying the comforts of Japanese civilization and the predictability of a career in a big corporation or in government is perfectly satisfying to them.
Additionally, opportunities not previously available, such as cheap flights overseas and Internet-delivered foreign videos and music, give them a glimpse, but a superficial one, of exotic lands and peoples.
As a result, it is rare to see younger Japanese with the broad and deep knowledge and feel for other nations of the older generations. Interestingly, polling data reveals that a growing proportion of new hires would rather not work overseas.
In the "old days," the majority of these cosmopolitan Japanese were men. Today, most internationalized Japanese are women. This is a welcome development, but also a troubling one. It reflects the feeling of many of Japan's ambitious women that they will have a better future abroad, or at home in foreign-owned institutions or embassies, than in a Japanese environment.
Consequently, fewer Japanese are capable of international communications. Those who are capable often are marginalized from the core of Japanese society (like the women who thrive in foreign companies or outside of the archipelago). It is not primarily about language. It's about the ability to interact with "the others," expressing oneself in a manner that makes a good impression on them, or as Americans say the skill to win friends and influence people. Some of these older Japanese can "work a crowd" of foreigners, get noticed, and convince them. This is less common among younger members of the Japanese establishment.
Japan suffers from what we could call a loss of voice. Whenever one attends a conference or seminar in Tokyo that brings together Japanese and foreigners, many of the Japanese participants are affiliated with foreign-owned organizations.
Their accomplishments are impressive, but they operate at the periphery of the real Japanese power structure. The others, those who truly belong to the Japanese "ruling class," are familiar faces since they are so rare. And even then, many are frequently on the periphery of the true "core" of the establishment.
There are no simple remedies to allow Japan to regain its voice. The ascendency of the "domestic" element over the "internationalized" one in Japan is the product of incentives rooted in the educational and employment systems. But unless Japan wants to find itself even more isolated, this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Robert Dujarric (firstname.lastname@example.org) runs the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. | <urn:uuid:6e47bdfa-c6ba-4181-b9cd-45166677a8f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://info.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20120614a4.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9586 | 796 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Israelis Order Gas Masks as Syria Deteriorates
The number of Israelis ordering gas masks has more than doubled in recent days, the Post Office reports. The increase comes in the wake of warnings from experts that Syria’s chemical weapons could fall into Hizbullah’s hands.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the defense establishment is following the latest deterioration in stability in Syria with concern. In particular, it is monitoring Syria's chemical weapons, he said.
“We must look at our surroundings, at what is happening in Iran and its proxies, what is happening on other fronts, with the deadly weapons in Syria… The Middle East is not waiting for the outcome of the elections and does not pause while the government is assembled,” Netanyahu told the Cabinet this week.
Since his statements were publicized 4,000 gas masks have been distributed, compared to an average of 1,400 per week. In total, 4.7 million gas masks have been distributed. The total population of Israel is nearly 8 million.
One of the latest battlegrounds in Syria is the village of As-Safira, which is home to one of at least five chemical weapons storage facilities. | <urn:uuid:58857970-1f77-461a-91ea-702807323d9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164730 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964516 | 247 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Most Active Stories
Tue November 29, 2011
Report Says Syrian Forces Have Killed 256 Children
An independent commission has released a blistering human rights report that says Syria's security forces have carried out widespread abuses against protesters, including murder and torture.
The commission, appointed by the U.N.'s Human Rights Council, based its report on interviews with more than 220 witnesses or victims of abuse by Syrian security forces. The panel says it collected a solid body of evidence and identified patterns of human rights violations.
Panel chairman, Paulo Pinheiro of Brazil, said excessive force was used against unarmed protesters and even children in several cities. He said the report concluded that by early November, at least 256 children had been killed by government forces since the uprising began in March.
"Torture, sexual violence and ill treatment were inflicted on civilians suspected of sympathy with the protests, regardless of their gender or age," he said. "The gruesome and extreme nature of torture methods that we describe in the report were used by security force and in numerous cases resulted in death."
A Syrian soldier who defected from the army said he saw a 2-year-old girl shot by a member of Syria's security force who said he didn't want her to grow up to be a demonstrator. There were accounts of boys being raped, one in front of his father. A former detainee says he saw a 14-year-old boy tortured to death while in custody.
Firing On Unarmed Protesters
The report also detailed incidents of security forces opening fire on unarmed protesters, in some cases by snipers on rooftops. Pinheiro said the Syrian government committed crimes against humanity in their repression of peaceful demonstrators.
"The commission has also reached the conclusion that the widespread and systematic violations human rights in Syria could not have happened without the consent of the highest ranking state officials," he said.
Randa Slim, a scholar with the Middle East Institute, says the report should put to rest the government's claims that armed gangs — rather than Syrian security forces — committed the atrocities. But she says it's unlikely to stop the violence in the short term.
"I think the Syrian government has opted for what it's called the 'security option,' which means using force to bring this protest movement to an end," said Slim.
Radwan Ziadeh, a member of the opposition Syrian National Council, says it shouldn't take the kind of violence laid out in the report to warrant international action against the Damascus government.
"I think the world should not allow this actually to happen again ... and this is why the international community should do something to help the Syrians," he said.
There has been some movement against the Syrian regime in the past week. The Arab League leveled sanctions against Syria and France called for the creation of humanitarian corridors to help civilians suffering from the crackdown. | <urn:uuid:eb65c676-210a-4861-9b94-79d772f6bb17> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wemu.org/post/report-says-syrian-forces-have-killed-256-children | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981236 | 579 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Guest Post: War Imminent In Straits Of Hormuz? $200 A Barrel Oil?
Submitted by John C.K. Daly of OilPrice.com
War Imminent In Straits Of Hormuz? $200 A Barrel Oil?
The pieces and policies for potential conflict in the Persian Gulf are seemingly drawing inexorably together.
Since 24 December the Iranian Navy has been holding its ten-day Velayat 90 naval exercises, covering an area in the Arabian Sea stretching from east of the Strait of Hormuz entrance to the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden. The day the maneuvers opened Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told a press conference that the exercises were intended to show "Iran's military prowess and defense capabilities in international waters, convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries, and test the newest military equipment." The exercise is Iran's first naval training drill since May 2010, when the country held its Velayat 89 naval maneuvers in the same area. Velayat 90 is the largest naval exercise the country has ever held.
The participating Iranian forces have been divided into two groups, blue and orange, with the blue group representing Iranian forces and orange the enemy. Velayat 90 is involving the full panoply of Iranian naval force, with destroyers, missile boats, logistical support ships, hovercraft, aircraft, drones and advanced coastal missiles and torpedoes all being deployed. Tactics include mine-laying exercises and preparations for chemical attack. Iranian naval commandos, marines and divers are also participating.
The exercises have put Iranian warships in close proximity to vessels of the United States Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, which patrols some of the same waters, including the Strait of Hormuz, a 21 mile-wide waterway at its narrowest point. Roughly 40 percent of the world's oil tanker shipments transit the strait daily, carrying 15.5 million barrels of Saudi, Iraqi, Iranian, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Qatari and United Arab Emirates crude oil, leading the United States Energy Information Administration to label the Strait of Hormuz "the world's most important oil chokepoint."
In light of Iran’s recent capture of an advanced CIA RQ-170 Sentinel drone earlier this month, Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Seyed Mahmoud Moussavi noted that the Iranian Velayat 90 forces also conducted electronic warfare tests, using modern Iranian-made electronic jamming equipment to disrupt enemy radar and contact systems. Further tweaking Uncle Sam’s nose, Moussavi added that Iranian Navy drones involved in Velayat 90 conducted successful patrolling and surveillance operations.
Thousands of miles to the west, adding oil to the fire, President Obama is preparing to sign legislation that, if fully enforced, could impose harsh penalties on all customers for Iranian oil, with the explicit aim of severely impeding Iran’s ability to sell it.
How serious are the Iranians about the proposed sanctions and possible attack over its civilian nuclear program and what can they deploy if push comes to shove? According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ The Military Balance 2011, Iran has 23 submarines, 100+ “coastal and combat” patrol craft, 5 mine warfare and anti-mine craft, 13 amphibious landing vessels and 26 “logistics and support” ships. Add to that the fact that Iran has emphasized that it has developed indigenous “asymmetrical warfare” naval doctrines, and it is anything but clear what form Iran’s naval response to sanctions or attack could take. The only certainty is that it is unlikely to resemble anything taught at the U.S. Naval Academy.
The proposed Obama administration energy sanctions heighten the risk of confrontation and carry the possibility of immense economic disruption from soaring oil prices, given the unpredictability of the Iranian response. Addressing the possibility of tightened oil sanctions Iran’s first vice president Mohammad-Reza Rahimi on 27 December said, “If they impose sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, then even one drop of oil cannot flow from the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran has earlier warned that if either the U.S. or Israel attack, it will target 32 American bases in the Middle East and close the Strait of Hormuz. On 28 December Iranian Navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari observed, "Closing the Strait of Hormuz for the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran is very easy. It is a capability that has been built from the outset into our naval forces' abilities."
But adding an apparent olive branch Sayyari added, "But today we are not in the Hormuz Strait. We are in the Sea of Oman and we do not need to close the Hormuz Strait. Today we are just dealing with the Sea of Oman. Therefore, we can control it from right here and this is one of our prime abilities for such vital straits and our abilities are far, far more than they think."
There are dim lights at the end of the seemingly darker and darker tunnel. The proposed sanctions legislation allows Obama to waive sanctions if they cause the price of oil to rise or threaten national security.
Furthermore, there is the wild card of Iran’s oil customers, the most prominent of which is China, which would hardly be inclined to go along with increased sanctions.
But one thing should be clear in Washington – however odious the U.S. government might find Iran’s mullahcracy, it is most unlikely to cave in to either economic or military intimidation that would threaten the nation’s existence, and if backed up against the wall with no way out, would just as likely go for broke and use every weapon at its disposal to defend itself. Given their evident cyber abilities in hacking the RQ-170 Sentinel drone and their announcement of an indigenous naval doctrine, a “cakewalk” victory with “mission accomplished” declared within a few short weeks seems anything but assured, particularly as it would extend the military arc of crisis from Iraq through Iran to Afghanistan, a potential shambolic military quagmire beyond Washington’s, NATO’s and Tel Aviv’s resources to quell.
It is worth remembering that chess was played in Sassanid Iran 1,400 years ago, where it was known as “chatrang.” What is occurring now off the Persian Gulf is a diplomatic and military game of chess, with global implications.
Washington’s concept of squeezing a country’s government by interfering with its energy policies has a dolorous history seven decades old.
When Japan invaded Vichy French-ruled southern Indo-China in July 1941 the U.S. demanded Japan withdraw. In addition, on 1 August the U.S., Japan’s biggest oil supplier at the time, imposed an oil embargo on the country.
Pearl Harbor occurred less than four months later. | <urn:uuid:ab0be518-223b-479c-b196-31eff4159d55> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zerohedge.com/news/guest-post-war-imminent-straits-hormuz-200-barrel-oil | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949918 | 1,431 | 1.960938 | 2 |
Bishop of Ravenna, Italy from 452 for over 40 years. Saved his flock from the ravages of Attila the Hun. Secured better conditions for his people when Ravenna was captured by King Theodoric of the Ostro-Goths.
- 494 of natural causes
- Abbé Stéphane Ansart
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Kirken i Norge
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
- “Saint John of Ravenna“. Saints.SQPN.com. 6 April 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <> | <urn:uuid:b96b4287-df1b-4a6d-9423-6177eff58405> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-john-of-ravenna/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932456 | 136 | 2 | 2 |
This European Union PSA was supposed to encourage girls to consider a career in the sciences. Instead, it turned out to be a big embarrassment, with critics (OK, pretty much everyone) saying it’s sexist and insulting.
When the video was first posted online, EU officials said they were trying to speak the same language as girls in their teens. That language apparently peppered with the words “lipstick,” “stiletto” and “gawking dude.”
I’m not sure if the girls in this video are analyzing the chemical properties of makeup, or if Cover Girl sponsored the PSA. (Hey, new slogan for a U.S. release! “Easy, breezy science. A backup plan for when you’re kicked off ‘America’s Next Top Model.‘”) Either way, the E.U. science commission pulled the video off its website just hours after posting.
Surveying the landing process from a control station on Earth, NASA’s crew won’t know what’s happening with the rover due to a delayed signal. It takes 14 minutes for the rover’s signal to reach from Mars to Earth, meaning NASA will be observing the process on a delayed timeline.
“When we first get word that we’ve touched the top of the atmosphere, the vehicle has been alive or dead on the surface for at least seven minutes,” said engineer Adam Stelzner in a NASA video.
And it’s not like the landing process is simple. The rover will go through a complicated and strange series of events on its way to the surface of Mars. This oddly-gripping video outlines them all. (It’s five minutes long, but it’s a good five minutes. Take a look.)
(Click image for larger view) This image shows the view of a rising Kepler-36c (represented by a NASA image of Neptune) if Seattle were on the surface of Kepler-36b.
Astronomers from the University of Washington and Harvard University recently discovered an Earth-like planet caught in a cosmic struggle with a much larger planet — both of which orbit a star about 1,200 light years away in the Cygnus constellation.
The rocky planet resembling Earth, named Kepler-36b after the discovering spacecraft, is actually about 4.5 times larger. It orbits the star Kepler-36a along with a gaseous planet known as (you guessed it!) Kepler-36c.
These planets orbit extremely close to each other in cosmic terms — within 1.2 million miles at their closest points. And that fact led some folks at the UW to wonder what that must look like.
The photo featured on the right shows what gaseous Kepler-36c would look like if it were rising on the horizon of rocky Kepler-36c. Yep, that’s the Seattle skyline, thrown in for some perspective. Think you could get used to seeing that at night?
A coffee shop of yesterday. Click for larger image. (Getty Images)
Noisy coffee shops could be good for your creativity, according to study from the Journal of Consumer Research.
Yes, maybe you could do without the duo talking loudly about which of their friends shouldn’t be getting married. And the guy slurping his latte could try a straw. And that woman sitting next to you seems to be composing a drum score on her keyboard — what’s up with that?
Don’t get too annoyed. Overall, that cacophony is just making you a more creative person.
It’s one thing to read in a newspaper (or on a blog) that an asteroid is going to buzz by the Earth.
It’s another thing to actually see it happen.
A small asteroid buzzed by Earth last month at a distance of roughly 18,000 miles — just close enough to make sky watchers wince a tiny bit. (The moon is about 239,000 miles away, as a point of reference. And “small” for an asteroid meant about 80 feet in radius.)
Now, NASA has released footage of the close encounter captured by the infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii. The video appears to be moving with the asteroid, which is moving at around 10.5 miles per second.
The following video wasn’t captured by NASA. It was captured by Touchstone Pictures in 1998, but it seems somehow appropriate. | <urn:uuid:c3141944-4794-45f6-a1ee-bc634fac324c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/category/science/page/7/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954047 | 940 | 2.4375 | 2 |
China’s ongoing evacuation of its citizens from a chaotic Libya is starting to draw close scrutiny from pundits due to the PLAN’s use of a 054A class Frigate (Xuzhou, FFG-530) amongst other civilian means of evacuation. Unsurprisingly, we can leave it to some media outlets to exaggerate this action into nothing less than old school imperialist “gunboat diplomacy.”
A not-so-subtle proclamation of China’s “menacing” display of naval power came from the Council on Foreign Relation’s (CFR) Elliot Abrams, who wrote the following on the CFR blog, (here)
“In recent days, the White House has been saying that the United States had to watch its words and actions because American citizens were at risk in Libya. So instead of acting, we are building a diplomatic coalition. China has taken a different tack: to use power. Instead of biting their tongue, the Chinese appear to be making it clear to the Qadhafi regime that no danger to Chinese workers will be tolerated.”
An even more provocative article titled “China Fills Libya Power Void” appeared on the website of Investor’s Business Daily, which compared China’s supposed “assertiveness” to “US inaction,”
“Up until now, the conventional thinking from the Tom Friedman crowd claims that China is somehow engaged in a new model of commercial engagement abroad, quite unlike the old empires of the past that projected military power. That theory is out the window now with this naval action. China will defend its own, same as any other empire.”
The IBD article (here) went on to argue that:
“China's assertiveness in the Libyan crisis stands in contrast to that of the U.S. By the time we found a vessel to ferry a mere 600 nationals out of the country, the Chinese had already transported 12,000 of its people to Crete… China is setting a precedent with its newfound show of force.”
Instead of “praising” China’s “new-found assertiveness,” perhaps the authors should have asked why the PLAN was able to sail into Libya with impunity? And why neither the rebels nor the Libyan government questioned whether China has ulterior motives other than ferrying its citizens away from the cross-fire? The correct answer is NOT China’s determined “show of force” or “power projection,” but its record of restrained and infrequent use of force, coupled with its consistent policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. Having built up its “street-cred” in Africa as a non-intrusive business partner, China provoked no suspicions from either side of the Libyan upheaval on the rare occasion that it used military assets as part of the evacuation.
The authors of the aforementioned articles have drawn precisely the opposite conclusion that should have been reached. China’s relatively smooth evacuation vis-a-vis US awkwardness represents NOT the need for aggressive intervention, but rather the power of restraint surmounting that of forceful coercion. | <urn:uuid:031f45f0-2ce4-4e46-8c43-433447d4ef8d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2011/02/cdd-oped.html?showComment=1298858139134 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958914 | 660 | 1.742188 | 2 |
A CareFlite helicopter landed on campus Friday, March 26, between the main quad fountain and the flagpole. Sponsored by the Health Preprofessional Honor Society Alpha Epsilon Delta, the demonstration gave students an opportunity to meet and discuss critical care with a CareFlite medic, nurse and pilot.
“It’s so different seeing things rather than reading about them,” says Elizabeth Chung, a sophomore pre-med major who previously worked with CareFlite and helped organize the event. “I wanted to help students get beyond the textbook.”
Christine Buchanan, biology professor and faculty adviser to Alpha Epsilon Delta, says the demonstration was helpful for pre-med and other students who are deciding on career paths. “This highlights the important role of emergency medicine,” she says, “and it’s exciting to have the chance to sit inside a CareFlite helicopter.” | <urn:uuid:c8124e4a-2b37-46e3-bf83-982f857a20fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.smu.edu/parents/2010/03/30/careflite-helicopter-lands-on-campus-for-lesson-in-critical-care/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952976 | 190 | 1.570313 | 2 |
DESOTO COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - Mississippi wants more doctors. So much so, the governor is putting up $10 million to get them.
The state has the fewest doctors in the country. Even larger counties, like DeSoto, have a need for doctors.
Mississippi has 159 doctors for every 100,000 people. Medical professionals blame the shortage on two things: One, the state has fewer doctors to start with; and two, Mississippi isn't replacing the ones who retire.
"We have been in a physician shortage in this state forever," The shortage is no shock to Baptist DeSoto CEO James Huffman. But he says Mississippians may be surprised to learn how widespread it is.
"A very strong community like DeSoto County and Southaven is underserved in primary care as much as some of rural communities are," he tells abc24.com.
The greatest need is for primary care doctors.
"Those family practitioners that are out there providing bulk of medical care on day to day basis." Huffman says the state doesn't have nearly enough.
"Physician practices can only see so many patients in a day," he says. When patients can't meet with a primary care doctor, they come to the hospital.
"Fully 1/3 of people present in our ER do not have a primary care doctor. They come to the emergency room because they do not have any other access to primary medical care." Huffman says the hospital has had to adapt its staff.
"We've gone out and hired what are called hospitalists to admit and manage them while they're in the hospital to make sure they receive proper care."
But what happens once patients released is still a problem, he says, "finding a physician who can see them in timely manner."
Huffman says the key is to keep Mississippi's medical students home. Governor Bryant just announced the $10 million grant to expand the University of Mississippi's medical school. Huffman says he thinks that will make the state more attractive to students. | <urn:uuid:8ee63f42-2fa1-4150-b754-0da78815b42d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Mississippi-Needs-More-Doctors-Statewide-Shortage/iMlDJUS0BUKWx9sWAEw1pA.cspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980898 | 425 | 1.695313 | 2 |
The Eastern Hockey League was a professional hockey league that operated for just three seasons, from 1978-79 until 1980-81. The league started out under the name of Northeastern Hockey league during its first season. The founding teams were the Erie Blades, Jersey Aces, New Hampshire Freedoms, Utica Mohawks, and Johnstown Wings.
In that first season both the Jersey Aces and the New Hampshire Freedoms relocated mid-season. The Aces moved to Hampton Virginia. When the bills began to mount in New Hampshire, Sandy Reiss, owner of the Freedoms fled with his franchise to the Cape Cod Coliseum and became the Cape Cod Freedoms.
The 1979-80 season brought with it a new name for the league; it became simply the Eastern Hockey league, possibly trying to establish a more direct link to the glory days of the original Eastern Hockey League. The season saw the introduction of a new franchise and the relocation of another. The Baltimore Clippers were the new entry, while the Ca... [Click for more] | <urn:uuid:53d13d4b-2ee7-4d70-91a1-225cce59ba5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/73.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970698 | 209 | 1.851563 | 2 |
It’s hot and incredibly humid, and very green. Armed with water, anti-mosquito spray and cameras, we’re walking in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve. Here, the Global Environment Centre (GEC) is busy rehabilitating devastated peat forests. Volunteers, organised via facebook and twitter, plant the fast-growing Mahang seedlings twice a month.
The problem? “Over the past ten years, more than 500ha of the reserve has been illegally cleared and burnt for farming activities,” says GEC.
Burning forests to make way for growing food is the cheapest way. No wonder it’s attractive to those who don’t possess much cash. “In developing countries, there is always the poverty element,” says Mr Chee, our guide.
The problem is, when burnt, peat forests release massive amounts of CO2 which the peat has been patiently collecting. This is certainly the climate change’s wish come true…
Our planted trees in the peatlands
Pursuit of happiness
I catch up with one of the activists. He is excited to talk about all stuff tree planting-related.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask him.
He thinks I’m ignorant – haven’t I been listening all this time?
“Peat lands are very important to the environment. We need to replant this degraded area…”
“No, but why are you doing this?”
He smiles. “It makes me happy. I’m happy to see these trees grow. I’m happy I can help.”
Raja Musa rehabilitators (Mr Chee - in the middle)
Sungai Way is a Class IV river, meaning its water is really, really bad (Class V would be a total poison). Its main source of pollution is waste, whether from residential, commercial or industrial areas. Our guide says people don’t really consider the river as part of the natural world, they see it as, well, a dump.
W.A.T.E.R. project set up to change this harmful mindset.
“It’s a unique project,” says our guide. “It’s real rehabilitation, while other projects are mostly concerned only with beautification.”
Raising awareness has paid off, and there are plans to re-introduce local fish into the river which is currently occupied by immigrant fish, which are pollution-resistant.
But this is happening further down the stream. Back in the woods, where Sungai Way starts, we are encouraged to listen to the sound of pristine, still unpolluted water. It does sound different, indeed.
A river in Selangor state
Taman Alam Kuala Selangor
It costs 4RM (Malaysian ringgit) for an adult to enter the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, a mangrove forest situated around 60km North from KL. That is around $1. The Park, established in 1987, chose an endangered silvered leaf monkey for its logo. “This is Mr Beckham,” says Nagarajan Rengasany, the Park manager. “Punk hair, you know.”
With the monkey or without it, there was a great chance back in the 1980s for the area to become a golf course. The then-government deserves applause for choosing to defend the mangrove forest and not someone’s hobby. But today, its wallet is locked. The Park has to do on its own. For this reason, Nagarajan hopes the next minister is “a nature person”. Enough of unanswered calls for help.
A protected area, but waters around the Park are nevertheless polluted. “Irresponsible people still live in this country,” says Nagarajan. Show me a place where they don’t live...
When electricity came to the Hma’ Meri village in Kampung Sungai Bumbun on Pulau Carey in 2007, the first thing they bought was a TV. And then second-hand mobile phones.
The signal is good (Ian says better than back home in the UK), and the phones are very handy. The only problem is that Hma’ Meri usually don’t have credit to call or text.
Hma’ Meri have always been nomads. Until quite recently, that is. Pushed out from their boats to live on land which wasn’t theirs (and still isn’t, legally), they ended up trapped and longing for the “back in the day…”.
“When we were nomads, you told us to stay in one place. Now that we stay, you move us.”
That is failed development, big time.
Former nomads are now carving wood, weaving, and trying to secure an aboriginal status for the lands they’re living on. Later, Reita will show us some houses. “They’re getting smaller and smaller,” she will say. Besieged by oil palm plantations and denied land rights, Hma’ Meri say they are not anti-government. All they want is things to be done differently.
Tompoq Topoh women's workshop
New business model is up and running in the Hma’ Meri Tompoq Topoh women’s workshop’s weaving business. It is fairer to the community than the previous one, which is still practiced elsewhere. Before, the middleman (of the producer-middleman-purchaser chain) received up to 70% of all the sales money for handicrafts made by Tomoq Topoh women.
And the people met up with that? “When you are poor, you have no choice,” says the above mentioned Reita Faida Rahim. She is the coordinator of Gerai OA, a non-profit mobile stall which sells handicrafts made by Orang Asli (indigenous communities in Peninsular Malaysia).
Being poor, you really have no choice. Unless there are people to help you, like Gerai OA, which makes sure that 100% of all sales money goes back to the community.
The fair deal is deeply embodied in the Hma’ Meri community itself. “They divide jobs by capabilities, not by gender,” says Reita. Whoever is better at something is encouraged to do it. Men here are better at cooking, for example, and taking care of the kids.
Men and women in Hma’ Meri community are equal – a concept so simple and yet so hard to implement in many other places. | <urn:uuid:ba4ef09a-58f1-4f86-b306-5763f8ec7254> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://development.thinkaboutit.eu/think3/post/malaysian_vignettes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954495 | 1,427 | 2.46875 | 2 |
Sunday's Numbers, a weekly feature from The Plain Dealer
69 percent: The percentage of American households with Internet access in 2009, according to new data released by the Census Bureau. This is up from 18 percent in 1997, the first year for which the estimates are available. It was 42 percent in 2000, 50 percent in 2001, 55 percent in 2003 and 62 percent in 2007.
64 percent: Households accessing the Internet via a broadband connection.
5 percent: Households accessing the Internet via a dial-up connection.
90 percent: The share of people with a bachelor's degree who have home Internet access.
57 percent: The share of people with no higher than a high school degree who have home Internet access.
72 percent: The share of Asians with home Internet access. It is 49 percent for Hispanics, 59 percent for blacks and 70 percent for whites.
80 percent: The share of those ages 18 to 34 with home Internet access. It is 79 percent for ages 35-44; 73 percent for 45-64, 42 percent for 65 and older, and 62 percent for 3-17.
Source: Census Bureau
Previous Sunday Numbers
• Valentine's Day, card, candy numbers
• Super Bowl numbers
• A profile of Northeast Ohio software developers
• Retail sales down sharply in 2009
• Combined GM/Ford market share drops to 36 percent• Text messaging more than doubles in one year
• AmTrust and New York Community Bank
• Cell phones top home phones for consumer spending
• The holiday economy
• The annual cost of driving; gas cost calculator
• Facts and figures about Alcoa Inc. and aluminum
• Facts and figures about the Eaton Corp.
• Medical jobs grow as others shrink in Northeast Ohio
• Potential savings and other facts about high-efficiency lights
• Cleveland-Akron area ranks 5th nationally for natural gas as a heating source
• Unemployment rate at 20-year high in 85 of 88 Ohio counties
• Inflation; a 1999-2009 comparison of bread, gas and other items
• Labor Day: born in 1882, a collection of stats
• Internet access more than triples in 10 years
• Ohio taxable property values and property tax changes, 1995-2007
• Sherwin-Williams stats and history
• Economic trends: fewer restaurants, less Ohio Turnpike traffic
• Casino issues in Ohio; facts and figures
• Median home sale price $85,000 in June
• Business major remains most popular; other college stats
• How much interest adds to the total cost of a car loan
• Pay, education and other facts about area waiters and waitresses | <urn:uuid:be5a3700-b468-4a3e-9062-55278ceb656e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2010/02/sundays_numbers_internet_now_u.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903656 | 544 | 1.921875 | 2 |
Endangered by Smoking Bans and Disposable Lighters, MatchbooksOffer a Miniature History of American Advertising
From the Print Edition:
Claudia Schiffer, Jul/Aug 97
(continued from page 2)
The matchbook industry and the common paper match under-went several major changes at that time. First, it took less flame to light a cigarette than a cigar. With cigars losing popularity, a decidedly smaller match stick was needed. In addition, the cigarette- vending machine was becoming popular, found in every bar, restaurant, hotel, bank and business in an ever-expanding America. Along with the cigarette-vending machine came the vended matchbook to accompany each pack. These developments can trace their roots to the early 1930s, when the Ohio Match Co. became the first matchbook maker to experiment with the shorter match. During the decade that followed, the company applied for several patents on the vending equipment needed to dispense the shorter matchbook. Individual matchbook dispensing machines were already passé. With its portentous popularity, Ohio Match corralled the vending machine market for a short period. Eventually, other designs emerged and other matchbook companies entered the market. The "tall" matchbook, however, was quickly fading from popularity. Even with the recent resurgence and popularity of cigar smoking, the tall matchbook never saw a comeback. The Second World War and the popularity of cigarettes ended the era of the tall matchbook forever.
Penny boxes, popular in Europe, and kitchen matches, used for lighting fireplaces and stoves, were still available for the inveterate cigar smoker. Ornate match safes, fashionable at the turn of the century, added an extra dimension to lighting your favorite smoke, but the containers had to be periodically refilled.
During the golden age of matchbooks--from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s--dozens of match companies and their salesmen thrived. Selling a million matchbooks often took novice salesmen less than a few months. Large companies employed dozens of artists and maintained state-of-the-art design studios. World-famous artists such as George Petty, Alberto Vargas and Ed Moran drew pictures of women that ended up on matchbooks. Even Marilyn Monroe lent her shapely form as an early pinup model for matchbook designs. As recently as 1976, when Phil Carollo bought Lion Match Co. (now known as Lion Corp. of America), there were 23 prosperous American match companies.
But the boom didn't last. Today, there are only four American match companies: Lion Corp., Superior Match Co., Atlantis Match Co. and D.D. Bean & Sons Co. "Banks and big businesses were our largest customers," says Carollo. "They would buy cases of custom-imprinted matchbooks and distribute them freely to local businesses."
As smoking restrictions were imposed on restaurants, hotels and bars, those establishments also cut back their matchbook purchases. Today, many states require separate ventilation systems and partitions in restaurants wishing to provide areas for smokers. And while years ago, many hotel chains required franchises to place matches and ashtrays in every guest room, today many hotels have nonsmoking floors and no longer offer matchbooks to guests.
The smoking bans will hurt important industries that helped America grow. Matchcovers were the most popular advertising format for over 40 years. Advertisers used matchcovers to promote every aspect of America, including airlines, banks, beer, cigars and cigarettes, fairs, fraternal organizations, gas stations, hospitals, hotels, military, movies, political campaigns, radio stars, railroads, restaurants, soft drinks, sports, transportation, wars, and of course, match companies themselves. "People will always need matches," says Carollo. "But will they strike ones made in America or have to rely on Canada, Europe or Russia?"
As a collectible, matchcovers didn't receive much recognition until the 1930s. Due to European influences, match boxes and match labels were popular during the first quarter of the century in the United States and Canada. Matchcover collectors began organizing sometime between the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition of 1933 and the New York World's Fair of 1939. Clubs such as The Blue Moon Match Box Club and United Matchonians (both are now defunct) had roots prior to 1940, but none would rival the Rathkamp Matchcover Society, founded in 1940 and still thriving. Since that time, more than 45 regional clubs have come and gone. Fewer than 15 remain today.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, there were more than one million matchcover collectors in the United States and Canada, though only a small percentage ever belonged to matchcover collecting clubs. A 1957 Mirror Magazine article by Bill Gilmartin hailed matchcover collecting as "the fastest growing hobby (in America) . . . matchbook collectors are outnumbered in the ranks of the nation's hobbyists only by stamp collectors." Their European counterparts remained loyal to match boxes and box labels, which are still prized today. U.S. figures show that match box collecting has recovered some of its former luster in the United States during the past 10 years, although it has never regained its earlier popularity.
Despite the commercial decline of matchbook sales, matchcover collecting still ranks as the most popular collecting hobby in America after stamps. Casual collectors, thought to number in the hundreds of thousands, pop matchbooks into brandy snifters and fish bowls. Serious collectors, estimated at between 4,000 and 6,000, join clubs and trade by mail. Die-hards attend conventions, run for club offices and publish articles, bulletins and books about matchcovers.
Matchbooks document trips and vacations, make great keepsakes from cherished evenings and weekend outings, and are still your best bet at a campfire. The early matchbook plaudit of "20 little salesmen" still reconciles service and product industries. "You can't beat matchbooks for good, inexpensive advertising," says John Williams, publicity manager of The American Matchcover Collecting Club. Even in the smallest American towns, restaurants, hotels, businesses and banks still use this medium to advertise. The aficionado can easily cull a handful or a caddie (a box of 50 matchbooks) just for the asking. Although once coat-tailed to cigarette smoking, matchcover collecting has recently surged in popularity and successfully divorced itself from that habit. For many, matchcover collecting musters every collector's urge to organize, classify, categorize, display and record.
You must be logged in to post a comment. | <urn:uuid:7424943d-3bdb-4255-9e6e-8f6a468eb909> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/Striking-It-Rich-Match-Collecting_7520/p/3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95674 | 1,359 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Defense and Security of the United States
TSA's New ID, Boarding Pass Scanning System Draws Criticism
The TSA’s new CAT/BPSS system that verifies passenger IDs and boarding passes has come under criticism as being an unnecessary cost to taxpayers that does little to enhance security.
Firearms and Arrest Authority of Federal Agencies
At any time, as many as 120,000 civilian employees of the U.S. government could be making arrests and carrying guns, just like your local police officers. What government agencies do these employees work for and why do they need guns?
Are the Selective Service System and the Draft Still Needed?
The Government Accountability Office examines whether the U.S. still needs a military draft and the Selective Service System.
The 'Terror Gap' In Brady Act Background Checks
Are terrorists slipping through the gun control net? Under current law, being reported as a confirmed or suspected terrorist in a Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act background check does not stop a person from buying a gun in the United States.
Obama's Plan on Women, Peace and Security
The Obama Administration’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security is intended to make women more involved in international process of peacekeeping and conflict resolution.
Beware the bin Laden Death Picture Scam
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Should bin Laden Picture Be Released?
Find out whether the bin Laden picture is available on the Internet. See why Obama didn't release the bin Laden picture following the terrorist mastermind's killing in 2011. Learn about what the bin Laden picture taken by Navy SEALS shows. Discover the arguments for and against releasing the bin Laden picture.
Napolitano Updates Congress on Mexican Border Initiative
Two years after the March 2009 launch of the Obama administration’s Southwest Border Initiative, Home Land Security Secretary Janet Napolitano updated Congress on her agency’s implementation of the plan and progress in securing the Mexican border.
Is Ban on Women in Combat Old Fashioned?
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What is the Military Leadership Diversity Commission?
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Hurricane Katrina Damage to New Orleans Area Housing
At the end of 2009, more than five years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city; more than 44,200 housing units in New Orleans remain uninhabitable, according to the first comprehensive report on Katrina-related housing damage from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Color-Coded Terror Threat System Replaced
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Why Canadian Border Poses Bigger Threat to U.S.
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State Department Backs New START Nuclear Arms Treaty
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'If You See Something, Say Something' Explained
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The Hidden Danger of a Green Laser
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Nuclear Waste Storage Alternatives
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Yucca Mountain Still in Nuclear Waste Storage Mix?
Shortly after taking office, President Obama pulled the financial plug on further development of the Yucca Mountain, Nevada nuclear waste storage facility, prompting Environmental Issues Guide Larry West to ask the very difficult question, “If not Yucca Mountain, where?” Based on the action being taken by Congress, the answer may still be Yucca Mountain.
Bush Says U.S. Will Maintain Security at Seaports
President Bush yesterday stated that the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates would not change existing security operations at those ports.
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (9-11 Commission)
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Current Headlines from the War on Terror
The latest news from all fronts in the War on Terror, including the battle against al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, Iraq and Saddam Hussein, and the crisis in the Middle East. Also includes a daily archive of events from Sept. 11, 2001 through the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Killed in Action
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What Terrorist Threat Colors Mean
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National Cyber Alert System Debuts
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America's First Ever Homeland Security Budget
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Prepare for terrorism at Ready.gov
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"Why We Know Iraq is Lying" by Condoleezza Rice
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FEMA Provides Disaster Preparedness Guide
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How to Support US Troops
With the holidays approaching, here are several programs and Web sites through which Americans can show their support for U.S. servicemembers, especially those serving overseas in this time of war. | <urn:uuid:20fd07fe-e7bd-4c43-ade3-bda0f39ded25> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/defenseandsecurity/Defense_and_Security_of_the_United_States.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916798 | 1,733 | 2.046875 | 2 |
My Divine Comedy
A student balances AP classes, extracurricular activities and college applications.
June 05, 2007
In my first week of my AP English Lit class, my new teacher announced that we would begin the school year with one of the most famous works of literature, Dante’s “Inferno.” In his epic poem, Dante writes about his journey through Hell and Purgatory to eventually become the perfect man in Paradise. He struggles, hesitates and fails at some tasks, but ultimately rises above his flaws and learns to be a great human being.
While some ardent Dante scholars choose to believe the work literally, I prefer to view his adventure in a more allegorical sense. While Dante strives towards Heaven, I think his journey represents the overcoming the obstacles in our lives when we reach for a goal. Hence, I relate to this work of literature when I think about the obstacles standing in the way of success in my academics, clubs, and future.
Senior year definitely poses obstacles in respect to academics. First of all, I need to keep up with the academic rigor of my schedule. Despite my senior status at school, I have to work hard in all of my AP classes. Since an AP class is equivalent to a college course, they demand more work. For example, my AP Biology labs require a lot of time outside of the classroom. I need to come into class early before the start of school to finish the labs on time.
Any of my friends will inform you that I am not a morning person and would not appreciate waking up early to titrate an enzyme solution. The lab reports are usually 20 pages long and count as a test grade. One error in measurement, data or calculations can completely throw off your lab report and your GPA. AP Biology is only one class; I need to balance four additional AP classes and one Honors class.
Just because I am immersed in academics does not mean I can neglect my extracurricular activities. Autumn is the season for club presidents to recruit new members, and I need to get the ball rolling for different club events. I am the captain of the debate team at Bolles (my school), and I need to pick topics for debates, set dates for practices, and whip my fellow debate nerds into shape. For my charity club, I need to plan with my fellow officers on how to interest students to crusade against world poverty.
College applications are another huge undertaking for any senior. I feel as if I’ve started a new club because of all of the work. I also feel a sense of anxiety as I wonder whether I am good enough for the colleges that interest me. I know that my transcript and extracurricular activities represent my interests and my best efforts. However, a little voice of doubt in my mind always wonders, “Will that be enough? Will an admissions office truly see that I belong there? Will they see that Kristin Drew is a student who loves literature, math, debating and singing? Will they see that she is a great student who will diversify and add to the school community because she is unique in her pursuits of knowledge and truth?” Yet, as I read about Dante’s pathos from his journey, a line from “The Inferno” inspired me. He writes,
“A man must stand in fear of just those things that truly have the power to do us harm, of nothing else, for nothing else is fearsome.”
At that moment, I realized that I have nothing to fear in this “hellish” process as long as I believe in my mind, my heart and my soul. | <urn:uuid:afc98be8-b797-48dc-836e-a59c06c55616> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/1031-my-divine-comedy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968952 | 749 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Not surprisingly, courts have struggled to apply old law to new technology. The Supreme Court’s decision in the recent GPS-tracking case along with the developing circuit split over the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act come to mind (see here, here, and here). Last week, a federal court in Illinois confronted yet another issue involving law and technology on which there exists a split in authority.
The case, Pacific Century International v. Does, involves a “Maltese provider of adult entertainment” that sued thirty-one “John Doe” defendants for unlawfully downloading adult movies using a filesharing service that “works by breaking files into many smaller files ‘to reduce the load on the source computer . . . and allows users to join a ‘swarm’ of host computers to download and upload from each other simultaneously . . . .’” No. 11-C-9064 (N.D. Ill. June 12, 2012) (quoting In re BitTorrent Adult Film Copyright Infringement Cases, Nos. 11-3995, 12-1147, 12-1150, 12-1154 (E.D.N.Y. May 1, 2012)) (alterations in original). The plaintiff “subpoenaed Comcast for information identifying the anonymous defendants” who participated in the alleged downloading “swarm.”
Comcast objected to the subpoena on the grounds that the plaintiff had misjoined the group of anonymous defendants. According to the opinion penned by Judge Harry Leinenweber, “there is a split of authority over whether it is appropriate to join many anonymous defendants alleged to have participated in a single downloading ‘swarm’ in a single suit.” The opinion provided the following overview of the competing positions adopted by various district courts:
Compare, e.g., In re BitTorrent Adult Film Copyright Infringement Cases, 2012 WL 1570765, at *11 (finding joinder inappropriate due to insufficient allegations that the defendants actually shared file bits with one another); Lightspeed Media Corp. v. Does 1-1000, No. 10-C-5604, at 2 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 31, 2011) (Manning, J.); CP Prods. Inc. v. Does 1-300, No. 10 C 6255, 2011 WL 737761, at *1 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 24, 2011) (Shadur, J.) (finding the violations separate and personal jurisdiction lacking) with Digital Sin, Inc. v. Does 1-176, No. 12-CV-00126, 2012 WL 263491, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2012) (finding joinder appropriate at this stage); First Time Videos, LLC v. Does 1-500, 276 F.R.D. 241, 252-53 (N.D. Ill. 2011) (Castillo, J.) (same); First Time Videos, LLC v. Does 1-76, 276 F.R.D. 254, 257 (N.D. Ill. 2011) (Bucklo, J.) (same); Hard Drive Prods., Inc. v. Does 1-44, No. 11 C 2828, at 3 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 9, 2011) (Holderman, J.) (same).
This Court respectfully joins the latter group and concludes that, at least at this stage, Plaintiff's allegations that the anonymous defendants participated in the same "swarm" (at varying times spanning just over one month) sufficiently alleges that they were involved in "a series of transactions" to warrant joinder under Rule 20. See MGCIP v. Does 1-316, No. 10 C6677, 2011 WL 2292958, at *2 (N.D. Ill. 2011) (finding joinder proper at this stage and noting that the individual defendants could re-raise the joinder issue as named parties). The Court also notes that, unlike many of the cases where courts have found joinder improper, Plaintiff has sued only Doe defendants whose IP addresses appear to be based in Illinois. Cf. CP Prods., Inc. v. Does 1-300, 2011 WL 737761, at *1 (objecting to the large number of defendants over which the court demonstrably lacked personal jurisdiction). (To the extent that Plaintiff's geolocation of the allegedly infringing IP addresses is incorrect, the defendants may interpose jurisdictional objections at the appropriate time.)
Pac. Century Int'l v. Does, 11-C-9064 (N.D. Ill. June 12, 2012). | <urn:uuid:9229a9df-8cf7-462b-81a3-4746bfec87ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.circuitsplits.com/US-District-Court-for-the-Eastern-District-of-New-York/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912499 | 979 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Indonesia’s first relocated Sumatran Rhino birth sparks hope of survival
UPDATED @ 01:00:16 PM 23-06-2012
Conservationists are hopeful that this birth will mark a long-awaited success at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, which the International Rhino Foundation opened in 1998. The sanctuary is maintained in partnership with the Rhino Foundation of Indonesia and Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia Ministry of Forestry.
In Sabah, the pairing of Tam and Punting in January is considered a “miracle” by the wildlife department there as bones in Puntung’s front left foot were missing, indicating that her foot had been ripped out by what was most likely an illegal wildlife trap when she was young.
“Puntung was captured because years of monitoring her revealed that no other rhino had come into her range. This is symptomatic of many other species of wildlife in Sabah as their habitat is broken up and we have a lack of linkages between them.
“This increases the level of threats to wildlife as the situation gives opportunity to poachers and increases conflicts with humans as access to fragmented areas is not difficult,” Dr Laurentius Ambu, Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) had said.
The potential mating of Tam and Puntung, aged between 10 to 12, at the Tabin wildlife reserve in Sabah, has raised hopes that it may be possible to pull the Sumatran rhino back from the brink of extinction.
“This is now the very last chance to save this species, one of the most ancient forms of mammal,” Laurentius was quoted as saying in an earlier report.
This is the third pregnancy for Ratu, who lost her first pregnancy after two months and her second after less than a month, at the sanctuary which was opened in 1998 in a bid to save the Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, the smallest species of rhinoceros in the world.
Andalas, the young rhino who bred with Ratu in early March 2011, was brought from the United States in the hopes that he would one day breed with one or more of the three females at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary.
“We have been with Ratu every step of the way during her pregnancy. Ratu’s pregnancy gives hope... and our whole team is excited to be a part of this moment in conservation history,” said Dr. Dedi Candra, the sanctuary’s head veterinarian and animal collections manager.
Ellis will work with the veterinary team immediately after the birth to harvest placental cells that can be used to generate stem cells which may be used to cure diseases and help promote reproduction among the “hairy rhino,” so called for its hairy body and tufted ears.
The Sumatran rhino is seriously threatened by the continuing loss of its tropical forest habitat, blamed on the swiftly expanding palm oil trade by some conservationists and hunting pressure from poachers, who kill rhinos for their valuable horns.
Malaysia and Indonesia, who share the richly diverse forests of Borneo, are giants in the palm oil industry and control 80 per cent of global supply. The clearing of forests for palm oil plantations has long been blamed for the dwindling numbers of various wildlife especially the orangutan.
Because of poaching, numbers have decreased more than 50 percent over the last 20 years, and the rate of decline has caused alarm over the species’ extinction by the end of the century.
Rhino pregnancies are some of the longest in the animal kingdom, taking 16 to 18 months to reach term. | <urn:uuid:c960f052-e15d-4908-942a-dd31f6db7066> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/features/article/anticipation-grows-ahead-of-indonesias-first-relocated-sumatran-rhino-birth-in-indonesia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963193 | 761 | 2.875 | 3 |
On the Slave Trade Though departing from the Truth as it is in Jesus, through introducing Ways of Life attended with unnecessary Expences, many Wants have arisen, the Minds of People have been employ'd in studying to get Wealth, and in this Pursuit, some departing from Equity, have retain'd a Profession of Religion; others have look'd at their Example, and thereby ...read
On Trading in Superfluities I have felt great Distress of Mind since I came on this Island(2), on Account of the Members of our Society being mixed with the world in various sorts of business and Traffick, carried on in impure Channels. Great is the Trade to Africa for Slaves: and in loading these Ships abundance of People are employ'd in the Manufactories.
Friends in e ...read
Serious Considerations on Trade (1758) Gummere's introduction:
"This essay, hitherto unpublished, is found at the back of the folio, MS. A. and occupies pages one to four, inclusive. The following note of John Woolman's, which prefaces it, throws light upon the extremes of caution which prevented entirely the publication of this Essay, and delayed others until after the author' ...read | <urn:uuid:e7ec59cb-a737-4b5e-9087-3611966aa761> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.ochristian.com/preacher413-1.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957466 | 253 | 2.21875 | 2 |
New research finds that women who smoke today have a much greater risk of dying from lung cancer than they did decades ago compared to those who never smoked. That is partly because they are starting younger and smoking more than women used to.
Women have caught up with men when it comes to the risk of dying from smoking-related illnesses. Lung cancer risk leveled off in the 1980s for men but is still rising for women.
The research is in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. It includes the first generation of U.S. women who started smoking early in life and continued for decades, long enough for see the health effects.
Smoking cuts more than 10 years off the average life span, but quitting at any age buys time. | <urn:uuid:9c6a106f-4c34-4f25-8aa2-295368974923> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Women-have-Caught-up-to-Men-on-Lung-Cancer-Risk-188210421.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976414 | 150 | 2.3125 | 2 |
The New Testament builds upon and expands the Old Testament. The writers of the New Testament were steeped in the Scriptural world of Judaism. One way many of the New Testament writers emphasize this connection to the writings of Judaism is by pointing to prophecies or other verses from the Old Testament that, according to the writers of the New Testament, were fulfilled in events the New Testament writers were recording.
One of the prophecies woven into Matthew's Gospel was taken from the Old Testament book of Isaiah (7:14). Matthew embedded this prophecy into his account of the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18–24), which differs significantly from the account offered by Luke (Luke 1–2). Matthew's account offers the bare-bones of the birth, skipping the central story of the angel's visitation to Mary and emphasizing the way that the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream just as he was considering leaving Mary.
According to Matthew's account, the angel's words echoed the Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah when the angel said, “Now all this took place to fulfill the words of the prophet when he said, ‘The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, which means “God is with us,'” (Matthew 1:18–24).
This connection with the Old Testament prophecy helped to demonstrate that both Christ and the Virgin Mary were part of a divinely orchestrated plan, which was intimately connected to the Old Testament.
Jesus in the Temple
Another prophetic event in the Gospels is related to something that happened shortly after Jesus' birth. In this case, it is not an Old Testament prophecy but a prophecy that was first mentioned in Luke's Gospel that had implications for Mary's life and for later generations to come.
This prophetic event occurred when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple as an infant. Simeon was there and he said to Mary, “You see this child. He is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected — and a sword will pierce your own soul, too — so the secret thoughts of many will be laid bare” (Luke 2:33–35).
In later Roman Catholic piety, images of Mary with her heart exposed became popular. These images offered a way of understanding the love she experienced for Christ and the suffering she endured for his sake. Many of these images show her heart pierced by a sword, based on the image from Luke's Gospel.
This passage from Luke's Gospel has many theological implications, which will be felt personally by Mary. Mary will suffer because of her love for her son. Just as Jesus experienced rejection and death, Mary will feel this pain acutely, as only a mother could. | <urn:uuid:fa91f803-7dc3-4c36-b5ff-cc0b467e6a16> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.netplaces.com/virgin-mary/gospel-glimpses/prophecies.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97338 | 565 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Five years after the market peaked, the housing market remains depressed. October new home sales, released this morning, totaled 307,000, slightly below estimates. Meanwhile, prices rose slightly.
But, as your real estate broker will happily mention - 'Now is a great time to buy!' Unlike 2007, when that obviously was not the case for most, now it might actually be true. Ironically, the reluctance for many to buy a home is what makes it a good (relatively) time to purchase.
As Aaron and Henry discuss in the accompanying clip, owning a home is now more affordable than any time in the last 15 years, based on a new Wall Street Journal survey. In fact -- with the average price of a home $242,300 -- it is now cheaper to own than rent in 12 metro areas including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando and Phoenix.
As the WSJ article points out, the discrepancy between buying and renting can be extreme in some areas:
"In Atlanta, which had the most favorable values for owning versus renting, the monthly payment on the average home was $539 assuming a 20% down payment during the third quarter. By contrast, the average asking rent stood at $840."
Sagging prices and sub-4% interest on a 30-year fixed mortgage are the biggest drivers behind the trend of record housing affordability. However, unlike the glory days when buying a home merely took a pulse, securing a loan today is much tougher. And, flipping property is a dead game. | <urn:uuid:6d94d728-9534-4789-8c2b-6f92f616f9f4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/good-time-buy-housing-cheaper-own-vs-rent-173052888.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965337 | 314 | 1.703125 | 2 |
LONDON.- Gagosian Gallery
presents two exhibitions of new and recent photographs by Thomas Ruff. This is his first exhibition with the gallery.
Ruff's body of work testifies to the wealth of practices, objects and forms available to photographers today. He has been testing the limits of his medium for more than two decades, producing photographs in series with subjects that range from domestic interiors to the planets, from modernist architecture to abstract psychedelia, from specific portraits to generic internet pornography. The tools and techniques that he has investigated thus far include a composite picture-making apparatus, star light system for night-vision, hand-tinting, stereoscopy, digital retouching, and photomontage. He has appropriated images from various sources including scientific archives, newspapers, and, more recently, the internet.
Astronomy has fascinated Ruff since childhood. In 1989 he presented Sterne, his first images of the night sky based on archival photographs that he acquired from the European Southern Observatory in Chile that were taken with a specially designed telescopic lens. From these photographs, he selected specific details that were then enlarged to a uniform grand scale. Almost twenty years later, he returned to contemplating the universe and its mysteries via the public Internet archive of NASA. The cassini series of 2008 was based on photographic captures of Saturn with its candy-colored moons and rings. Ruff enlarged the images to the point where the image resolution meets its limit and the planet starts to crumble, pixel by pixel into the black void of the galaxy. In the new ma.r.s. series, also sourced from the NASA website, Ruff has transformed the raw black and white fragmentary representations of the planet Mars with interjections of saturated color, such as the blood-red atmospheric haze of ma.r.s. 01_III (2011) or the steel-gray striations of ma.r.s. 02_II (2011). In addition to the large C-prints, he has experimented for the first time with 3D image-making to extraordinary effect, and several are presented here that can be viewed with or without viewing glasses.
In 2003 Ruff produced the first nudes, culling images from Internet pornography, then digitally processing themenlarging them as far as possibleso as to cloud the crude clarity of the original images. For this exhibition, Ruff has created a series of unique monumental works, enlarged to an imposing scale while, conversely, the rawness and carnality of the original images is blurred to an innuendo. Images such as nudes dr02 (2011) become painterly illustrations of vague desire in which anonymous women sport and pose, their erotic power modified by a muted palette and hazed resolution, while in nudes ar09 (2011) the fetishistic power of the female subject is all but reduced to lush formal qualitiesa cascade of thick blonde hair, the curve of pink thighs, the glossy black of a stiletto heel.
A fully illustrated catalogue, designed in collaboration with the artist, with an essay by novelist Geoff Dyer and an interview between Ruff and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist accompanies the exhibition.
Thomas Ruff was born in 1958 in Zell am Harmersbach, Germany. He studied at the Staatlichen Kunstakademie Düsseldorf from 1977 and was professor there from 2000 to 2006. His work is included in many important public and private collections worldwide. Recent exhibitions include Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2007); "Thomas Ruff. Oberflächen-Tiefen," Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (2009); "Thomas Ruff, Schwarzwald.Landschaft," Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg, Germany (2009); Castello di Rivoli, Turin (2009); "MCA DNA: Thomas Ruff," the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2011); and Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, Spain. A large survey exhibition opens at Haus der Kunst, Munich on February 17 until May 20.
Ruff lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The difference between my predecessors and me is that they believed to have captured reality and I believe to have created a picture. We all lost, bit by bit, the belief in this so-called objective capturing of real reality.
Each of my series has a visual idea behind it, which I develop during my research. Sometimes the development follows a straight line from A to B; sometimes something completely new and interesting shows up, which makes me leave the straight path and follow a more indirect one with new rules. | <urn:uuid:b22df74b-5527-42b4-bdde-ac726f4cd478> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artdaily.com/section/lastweek/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=54072&int_modo=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952785 | 955 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Below is a guest post from Benjamin “BJ” Armstrong, an active duty naval helicopter pilot and naval historian. He is an occasional contributor to The USNI Blog, Proceedings and Naval History.
Recently a string of new policies and programs have washed over the decks of our Navy. We’re told they are designed to address everything from the surge in CO firings, to alcohol abuse, to the identified need to increase “diversity.” Training, trackers, new layers of bureaucratic offices, and new ways of testing/identifying the “bad apples” are all in the works. Some of the initiatives appear more connected to reality than others. The issues, like sexual assault and substance abuse, are serious and are challenges that our Navy should be addressing. In many cases, however, we are attempting to install programmatic and bureaucratic solutions to what are essentially humanistic problems. These are problems of leadership, character, and integrity and must be addressed with wisdom as much as programs and bureaucracy.
In 2009, at the annual TED conference Professor Barry Schwartz gave a talk entitled “Our Loss of Wisdom.” In it he discussed the risks involved with programmatic responses to human problems and warned about the dangers of bureaucratic solutions. He pointed out that most bureaucracies immediately knee jerk to two possible solutions: more rules and “smarter” incentives. But many times these regulations cause people to think about doing things they wouldn’t have considered before, and incentives cause people to ask themselves “what can I get for it” rather than “what is right.” In thinking about many of our new policies, I couldn’t help but make connections between our challenges, our Navy’s responses to those challenges, and the points Dr. Schwartz makes in the following video of the presentation.
The talk is about 20 minutes long. It starts off slow, but starts cooking at about the 5:30 mark. Close all the other windows on your browser, ignore the Facebook alerts from your smartphone, close the issue of Proceedings on the coffee table. Pour yourself a fresh coffee, pop open a beer, or if you’re worried about the breathalyzer on the quarterdeck have a soda. Take the time to give it your attention.
The presentation will require you to think. What does that mean? When he talks about President Obama (it is from FEB 2009!) put your personal political beliefs on either side of the aisle aside and listen to the point he’s making. When he uses illustrations from education, business, and other fields, don’t just say “that’s not how the military works”…listen, you might be surprised how much you identify with.
So how can we “re-moralize” the job of being a Sailor in the United States Navy? Are we all here for a steady pay check and education benefits, or is it something more? Are new regulations and enforcement methods and new incentives (or disincentives/punishments) the right path? What role should teaching our Sailors about their profession, their history, and their duty have? What about providing trust and respect to all levels of the chain of command to do their jobs and use the tools and disciplinary methods already at hand? There must be a balance, but how do we get the balance right?
The pages of Proceedings have addressed some of these questions. LCDR Todd Tavolazzi wrote about the need to teach our Sailors their history in the January 2012 issue. LT Adam Wolfe wrote about “Combating the Managerialist Scourge” in 2009. In 2008 CAPT Jan Van Tol wrote his article “Worse than a Crime, a Mistake” to reflect on similar discussions about liberty policies in the 7th Fleet AOR. But there’s also an opposite side to the coin. As MAJ Peter Munson has pointed out in an essay at his blog, standardization matters and when you’re in a business where the extreme is a failure that means the death of young men and women, maybe mediocrity isn’t the worst case scenario.
Dr. Schwartz recommends that part of the solution is looking to examples from our past, finding models to follow. CAPT Alfred Thayer Mahan, often overlooked today, had some thoughts on these matters. In the decades following the Civil War the U.S. Navy was adrift with a fleet that suffered from terrible maintenance problems, shrinking numbers of hulls, and promotion policies that stifled talent and drove good Sailors and Officers toward the brow. ATM had just arrived at Annapolis on orders to take over the Ordnance Department when he joined the small group of Officers that were organizing their new professional association, The United States Naval Institute. He was then a recently promoted Commander and he wrote an entry for the inaugural Proceedings essay contest entitled Naval Education and he touched on some key points.
ATM wrote specifically about the moral training of Sailors. It was, in his opinion, the most important type of training that you could give a Sailor. “It is, however, neither as seamen nor as artillerists that we principally see the need of training for naval seamen. It is their moral tone that most specially calls for education and elevation.” According to ATM teaching a Bluejacket about honor and duty, and the value of his profession, was the key to encouraging the kind of professional behavior that leaders wished for both in the 19th century and the 21st. He warned that “the experience of more than a century has pretty well settled that severity and punishment will not stop desertion nor drunkenness.” ATM believed that teaching Sailors about not only naval history, but the history of the world around them (the shores they visited, the people they interacted with on liberty and in operations) helped them appreciate why their personal behavior mattered.
This isn’t an easy solution. It requires active leadership from good Officers and Chiefs. He wrote that “In giving the various kinds of instruction alluded [sic] to, an officer, whose heart is in his work, will be careful to see that the reasons for this and that are explained.” The Wardroom and the Mess will need to step it up, but today’s professionals are up for the task. They just needed to be inspired by their own leaders. Senior leaders should keep in mind ATM’s warning that when it comes to Sailors you need to ensure there’s “no keeping them as children under special evident care.”
One of the men that ATM admired the most from history was Lord Admiral Nelson. Particularly, he appreciated the way that Nelson focused on the ideal of duty. Nelson’s famous signal from the Battle of Trafalgar, “England expects every man to do his duty,” meant something coming from a man who treasured the dedication and honor of his Sailors. Schwartz suggested in his talk that highlighting moral role models was worthwhile, and ATM agreed completely which was why we wrote a biography of Nelson, and composed an essay and speech entitled “The Strength of Nelson.”
One of the challenges of pursuing today’s issues by following Schwartz and ATM’s advice, besides the fact that it’s hard to develop a stoplight chart that will easily fit on a PPT slide, is that it isn’t an instant solution. ATM wrote “Now I do not hope for a sudden change of sentiment and morale in a large class of men. Doubtless we must wait here for time to do its work in raising the tone of this community as it has that of others; but still the work may be hastened by persistent judicious effort to instill a sense of right and of self respect.” Unfortunately, real leadership takes time. Proper enforcement of current policies, regulations, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice may help create a bridge. However, addressing the root problems with genuine leadership doesn’t fit in a 24 hour news cycle and it’s hard for PAO’s to explain in a minimum number of words for an easy Press Release. For those reasons and others following Mahan’s advice may not work today, but if that is true…it’s a shame.
The opinions and views expressed in this post are those of the author alone and are presented in his personal capacity. They do not necessarily represent the views of U.S. Department of Defense, the US Navy, or any other agency.
- Midrats this Sunday, May 17 2013 – Episode 167: Intellectual Integrity, PME, and NWC
- Remembering our Fallen Coast Guard Shipmates and their Families
- On Midrats 10 Mar 13, Episode 166: “Expeditionary Fleet Balance”
- Guest Post by LTJG Matthew Hipple: From Epipolae to Cyber War
- For Strength and Courage: Neptunus Lex | <urn:uuid:7505c863-fd9a-451c-80a1-fb7078d81f58> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.usni.org/2012/03/15/guest-post-by-lcdr-benjamin-armstrong-wisdom-and-bureaucracy-wwatmd | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966652 | 1,857 | 1.757813 | 2 |
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Court says Michigan and U.S. constitutions include right to bear tasers
A court has ruled Michigan’s ban on private citizens owning Tasers and stun guns violates the right to bear arms that is protected in the state and federal constitutions.
Michigan’s ban on Tasers and stun guns will be relaxed come August. That’s when a new state law will allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry the devices. These cases date back to 2011 and 2010. A convenience store worker was arrested for carrying a stun gun on the job; another person was arrested in his home for possession of an illegal weapon.
The non-lethal devices rely on a surge of electricity to disable their targets. The Michigan Court of Appeals says the weapons are not sufficiently dangerous or unusual to be banned. The court did not address restrictions like Michigan’s new concealed weapon license requirements. | <urn:uuid:7dd342f4-317b-45f9-8edd-ea5e55c6cd28> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michiganradio.org/post/court-says-michigan-and-us-constitutions-include-right-bear-tasers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950009 | 199 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Earlier this week research from the Columbia University affiliated American Assembly found that U.S. file-sharers buy 30% more music than their non-sharing music owning peers.
Two days later the Dutch Institution for Information Law and CentERdata have published a related report which goes even further. The survey finds that more than a quarter (27.2%) of Dutch citizens, 16 years old and up, have downloaded from illegal sources during the past year.
Interestingly, however, the same data also shows that these file-sharers are more likely to be paid consumers of a wide variety of media and entertainment, even when the results of the 2,009 respondents are controlled for age.
The graph below shows that file-sharers are paying for digital music, movies, games and books more often, compared to those who haven’t downloaded any files from illegal sources (table), with the results being controlled for age.
For example, file-sharers who “pirate” movies or TV-shows are three times more likely to pay for downloads and streams of films and TV-series. Music sharers on their turn are four times more likely to pay for music downloads and streams.
Putting it differently, the same data concludes that two-third of all music file-sharers does pay for music downloads or streams.
Filesharers more likely to buy digital (download/stream) music, books, movies and games
Interestingly, similar effects are found for physical media, but the differences are smaller here. The conclusion is nonetheless that file-sharers are also more likely to buy physical books, CDs and DVDs and games.
The difference is most pronounced for games with 65% vs. 14%.
Filesharers more likely to buy physical music, books, movies and games
Speaking with TorrentFreak, researcher Joost Poort explains his findings by arguing that file-sharers tend to be more heavy entertainment consumers than those who don’t share anything.
“Some people are really into music, watching movies, gaming or reading books. I think our findings indicate that such people tend to make more intensive use of all available channels, both legal and illegal.”
“For most consumers, there is no Chinese wall between legal and illegal content, they decide what sources to use depending on their needs or expectations,” Poort adds.
In addition to media buying habits, the survey also looked at spending on related entertainment such as concerts, movie tickets and merchandise. Again, the researchers conclude that file-sharers are spending money more often than the rest of the population.
Those who downloaded movies from illegal sources during the past 12 months are 50% more likely to go to the movies than non-downloaders, for example (64% vs. 42%).
Filesharers more likely to visit concerts, movie theatres and buy merch
The correlation, however, should not be interpreted as a causal relationship. People don’t necessarily buy more because they share files, or vice versa. While sampling may be a factor, third variables such as interest in movies and music are likely to drive much of the effect.
The researchers themselves stress that the data nonetheless should act as a warning for the entertainment industries, as it turns out that many file-sharers are also customers.
“The correlation stands out as a warning to industries not to alienate their most important clients from them, by criminalizing their behavior. My slogan is: don’t sue your customers, seduce them,” Joost Poort told TorrentFreak.
The survey also looked at the effect of the court-ordered Pirate Bay blockade in the Netherlands. These results show that among the customers of ISPs who already enforce the block, only a small minority (5.5%) say they have stopped downloading or now download less.
According to Poort, punishing people and censoring the Internet is futile.
“I don’t see much in blocking sites or going after downloaders. It will make people smarter and more convinced about downloading from illegal sources.”
Poort further tells TorrentFreak that he sees no bright future for strict copyright enforcement measures. Instead, the entertainment industry should focus more on improving their legal offerings.
“Get your business model right and realize consumers no longer accept what they had to accept 20 years ago,” Poort says.
The survey backs up this stance as it reveals that music file-sharing is declining in the Netherlands, a result that can be in part attributed to newly launched legal services such as Spotify.
The full results of the Institution for Information Law report are available here in Dutch. An English version is expected to be published in a few weeks.
Source: File-Sharers More Likely to Pay for Movies, Books, Games and Concerts | <urn:uuid:cb5c5ea8-071f-4866-b1e1-d46cb42a0bf9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://xeroxed.yesnowave.com/file-sharers-more-likely-to-pay-for-movies-books-games-and-concerts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962159 | 991 | 2.4375 | 2 |
In chemistry, radicals (or free radicals) are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons in an otherwise open shell configuration. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so most radicals readily take part in chemical reactions. Being uncharged, their reactivity is different from that of ions of similar structure. The first organic free radical, the triphenylmethyl radical, was identified by Moses Gomberg in 1900.
Radicals are involved in many chemical processes, including combustion, atmospheric chemistry, polymerization, and plasma chemistry. They also play a significant role in human physiology. For example, superoxide and nitric oxide regulate many biological processes, such as controlling vascular tone.
Clarification of terms
Historically, the term "radical" has also been used for bound parts of a molecule, especially when they remain unchanged in reactions. For example, methyl alcohol was described as consisting of a methyl radical and a hydroxyl radical. Neither is a radical in the usual chemical sense, as they are permanently bound to each other, with no unpaired, reactive electrons.
The terms "radical" and "free radical" are frequently used interchangeably. However, a radical may not be "free" if it is trapped within a solvent cage or otherwise bound.
Some molecules contain multiple radical centers. A molecule that has two radical centers is called a biradical.
The formation of radicals requires covalent bonds to be broken homolytically, a process that requires significant amounts of energy. If a substance is broken down with a hail of energetic electrons, free radicals are produced and can be detected by mass spectrometry.
For example, splitting H2 into 2H has a ΔH° of +435 kJ/mol, and Cl2 into 2Cl has a ΔH° of +243 kJ/mol. This is known as the homolytic bond dissociation energy, and is usually abbreviated as the symbol DH°.
The bond energy between two covalently bonded atoms is affected by the structure of the molecule as a whole, not just the identity of the two atoms, and radicals requiring more energy to form are less stable than those requiring less energy. Homolytic bond cleavage most often happens between two atoms of similar electronegativity. In organic chemistry, this is often the O-O bond in peroxide species or O-N bonds.
However, propagation is a very exothermic reaction. Note that all free radical species are electrically neutral, although radical ions do exist.
Persistence and stability
Long lived radicals can be placed into two categories:
- Stable Radicals
- Purely organic radicals can be long lived if they occur in a conjugated π system, such as the radical derived from α-tocopherol (vitamin E). Albeit, there exist hundreds of known examples of heterocyclic thiazyl radicals which show remarkable kinetic and thermodynamic stability, with only a very limited extent of π resonance stabilization.
- Persistent Radicals
- Persistent radical compounds are those whose longevity is due to steric crowding around the radical center and makes it physically difficult for the radical to react with another molecule. Examples of these include Gomberg's radical (triphenylmethyl), Fremy's salt (Potassium nitrosodisulfonate, (KSO3)2NO), nitroxides, (general formula R2NO·) such as TEMPO, verdazyls, nitronyl nitroxides, and azephenylenyls. The longest-lived free radical is melanin, which may persist for millions of years.
Radical alkyl intermediates are stabilized by similar criteria as carbocations: the more substituted the radical center is, the more stable it is. This will direct their reactions: formation of a tertiary radical (R3C·) is favored over secondary (R2HC·) or primary (RH2C·). However, radicals next to functional groups, such as carbonyl, nitrile, and ether are even more stable than tertiary alkyl radicals.
Radicals attack double bonds, but unlike similar ions, they are slightly less directed by electrostatic interactions. For example, the reactivity of nucleophilic ions with α,β-unsaturated compounds (C=C-C=O) is directed by the electron-withdrawing effect of the oxygen, resulting in a partial positive charge on the carbonyl carbon. There are two reactions that are observed in the ionic case: the carbonyl is attacked in a direct addition to carbonyl, or the vinyl is attacked in conjugate addition, and in either case, the charge on the nucleophile is taken by the oxygen. Radicals add rapidly to the double bond, and the resulting α-radical carbonyl is relatively stable. Nonetheless, the electrophilic/neutrophilic character of radicals has been shown in a variety of instances (for example, in the alternating tendency of the copolymerization of malieic anhydride and styrene).
In intramolecular reactions, precise control can be achieved despite the extreme reactivity of radicals. Radicals will attack the closest reactive site the most readily. Therefore, when there is a choice, a preference for five-membered rings is observed: Four-membered rings are too strained, and collisions with carbons five or more atoms away in the chain are infrequent.
The most familiar free-radical reaction is probably combustion. The oxygen molecule is a stable diradical, best represented by ·O-O·, which is stable because the spins of the electrons are parallel. The ground state of oxygen is an unreactive spin-paired (triplet) radical, but an extremely reactive spin-unpaired (singlet) radical is available. In order for combustion to occur, the energy barrier between these must be overcome. This barrier can be overcome by heat, requiring high temperatures, or can be lowered by enzymes to initiate reactions at the temperatures inside living things.
Combustion consists of various radical chain reactions that the singlet radical can initiate. The flammability of a given material is strongly dependent on the concentration of free radicals that must be obtained before initiation and propagation reactions dominate leading to combustion of the material. Once the combustible material has been consumed, termination reactions again dominate and the flame dies out. Propagation or termination reactions can be promoted to alter flammability. Tetraethyl lead was once commonly added to gasoline, because it very easily breaks up into radicals, which consume other free radicals in the gasoline-air mixture. This prevents the combustion from initiating prematurely.
Besides combustion, many polymerization reactions involve free radicals. As a result, many plastics, enamels, and other polymers are formed through radical polymerization.
Recent advances in radical polymerization methods, known as Living Radical Polymerization, include:
- Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT)
- Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP)
- Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization (NMP)
These methods produce polymers with a much narrower distribution of molecular weights.
Depicting radicals in chemical reactions
In written chemical equations, free radicals are frequently denoted by a dot placed immediately to the right of the atomic symbol or molecular formula as follows:
Radical reaction mechanisms use single-headed arrows to depict the movement of single electrons:
The homolytic cleavage of the breaking bond is drawn with a "fish-hook" arrow to distinguish from the usual movement of two electrons depicted by a standard curly arrow. It should be noted that the second electron of the breaking bond also moves to pair up with the attacking radical electron; this is not explicitly indicated in this case.
In chemistry, free radicals take part in radical addition and radical substitution as reactive intermediates. Reactions involving free radicals can usually be divided into three distinct processes: initiation, propagation, and termination.
- Initiation reactions are those which result in a net increase in the number of free radicals. They may involve the formation of free radicals from stable species as in Reaction 1 above or they may involve reactions of free radicals with stable species to form more free radicals.
- Propagation reactions are those reactions involving free radicals in which the total number of free radicals remains the same.
- Termination reactions are those reactions resulting in a net decrease in the number of free radicals. Typically two free radicals combine to form a more stable species, for example: 2Cl·→ Cl2
Free radicals in the atmosphere
In the upper atmosphere, free radicals are produced through dissociation of the source molecules, particularly the normally unreactive chlorofluorocarbons, by solar ultraviolet radiation or by reactions with other stratospheric constituents. These free radicals then react with ozone in a catalytic chain reaction that destroys the ozone, but regenerates the free radical, allowing it to participate in additional reactions. Such reactions are believed to be the primary cause of depletion of the ozone layer and this is why the use of chlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants has been restricted.
Free radicals in biology
Free radicals play an important role in a number of biological processes, some of which are necessary for life, such as the intracellular killing of bacteria by neutrophil granulocytes. Free radicals have also been implicated in certain cell signalling processes. The two most important oxygen-centered free radicals are superoxide and hydroxyl radical. They are derived from molecular oxygen under reducing conditions. However, because of their reactivity, these same free radicals can participate in unwanted side reactions resulting in cell damage. Many forms of cancer are thought to be the result of reactions between free radicals and DNA, resulting in mutations that can adversely affect the cell cycle and potentially lead to malignancy. Some of the symptoms of aging such as atherosclerosis are also attributed to free-radical induced oxidation of many of the chemicals making up the body. In addition free radicals contribute to alcohol-induced liver damage, perhaps more than alcohol itself. Radicals in cigarette smoke have been implicated in inactivation of alpha 1-antitrypsin in the lung. This process promotes the development of emphysema.
Free radicals may also be involved in Parkinson's disease, senile and drug-induced deafness, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's. The classic free-radical syndrome, the iron-storage disease hemochromatosis, is typically-associated with a constellation of free-radical-related symptoms including movement disorder, psychosis, skin pigmentary melanin abnormalities, deafness, arthritis, and diabetes. The free radical theory of aging proposes that free radicals underlie the aging process itself.
Because free radicals are necessary for life, the body has a number of mechanisms to minimize free radical induced damage and to repair damage which does occur, such as the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. In addition, antioxidants play a key role in these defense mechanisms. These are often the three vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E and polyphenol antioxidants. Further, there is good evidence bilirubin and uric acid can act as antioxidants to help neutralize certain free radicals. Bilirubin comes from the breakdown of red blood cells' contents, while uric acid is a breakdown product of purines. Too much bilirubin, though, can lead to jaundice, which could eventually damage the central nervous system, while too much uric acid causes gout.
Reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species or ROS are species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical and are associated with cell damage.
Free radicals are also produced inside organelles of living cells, and released toward the cytosol. For example, the organelles known as mitochondria convert energy for the cell into a usable form, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The process by which ATP is produced (called oxidative phosphorylation) inovolves the transport of protons (hydrogen ions) across the inner mitochondrial membrane by means of the electron transport chain. In this chain, electrons are passed through a series of proteins via oxidation-reduction reactions, with each acceptor protein along the chain having a greater reduction potential than the last. The last destination for an electron along this chain is an oxygen molecule. Normally the oxygen is reduced to produce water; but in about 1-2 percent of all cases, the oxygen is reduced to give the superoxide radical, ·O2-.
Superoxide needs an additional electron to make it more stable, so it steals an electron from the nearest source—such as mitochondrial DNA, the mitochondrial membrane, protein, reductants such as vitamin C or E, or antioxidants such as glutathione or thioredoxin. If too much damage is caused to the mitochondrion, the cell undergoes apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
According to the Free Radical Theory of Aging, aging occurs (via a loss of energy-producing cells) either when mitochondria begin to die out because of free radical damage, or when less functional mitochondria remain within these cells. The focus of the project is to neutralize the effect of these free radicals with antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons. The antioxidant nutrients themselves do not become free radicals in this process, because they are stable in either form.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is present in two places naturally in the cell. SOD that is present in the mitochondria contains manganese (MnSod). This SOD is transcribed in the nucleus and has a mitochondrial targeting sequence, thereby localizing it to the miotchondrial matrix. SOD that is present in the cytoplasm of the cell contains copper and zinc (CuZnSod). The genes that control the formation of SOD are located on chromosomes 21, 6, and 4. When superoxide dismutase comes in contact with superoxide, it reacts with it and forms hydrogen peroxide. The stoichiometry of this reaction is that for each 2 superoxide radicals encountered by SOD, 1 H2O2 is formed. This hydrogen peroxide is dangerous in the cell because it can easily transform into a hydroxyl radical (via reaction with Fe2+:Fenton chemistry), one of the most destructive free radicals. Catalase, which is concentrated in peroxisomes located next to mitochondria but formed in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and located everywhere in the cell, reacts with the hydrogen peroxide and forms water and oxygen. Glutathione peroxidase reduces hydrogen peroxide by transferring the energy of the reactive peroxides to a very small sulfur containing protein called glutathione. The selenium contained in these enzymes acts as the reactive center, carrying reactive electrons from the peroxide to the glutathione. Peroxiredoxins also degrade H2O2, both within the mitochondria, cytosol and nucleus.
Free Radical diagnostic techniques include:
- Electron Spin Resonance
- A widely-used technique for studying free radicals, and other paramagnetic species, is electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). This is alternately referred to as "electron paramagnetic resonance" (EPR) spectroscopy. It is conceptually related to nuclear magnetic resonance, though electrons resonate with higher-frequency fields at a given fixed magnetic field than do most nuclei.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance using a phenomenon called CIDNP
- Chemical Labeling
- Chemical labeling by quenching with free radicals, e.g. with NO or DPPH, followed by spectroscopic methods like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or absorption spectroscopy, respectively.
- Use of free radical markers
- Stable, specific or non-specific derivatives of physiological substances can be measured. Examples include lipid peroxidation products (isoprostanes, TBARS), amino acid oxidation products (such as meta-tyrosine, ortho-tyrosine, hydroxy-Leu, dityrosine), peptide oxidation products (oxidized glutathione—GSSG)
- Indirect method
- Measurement of the decrease in the amount of antioxidants (such as TAS, reduced glutathione—GSH)
- ↑ R.T. Oakley, Prog. Inorg. Chem. 36(1998): 299.
- ↑ C.J. Rhodes, Toxicology of the Human Environment: The Critical Role of Free Radicals (London: Taylor and Francis, 2000).
- Fossey, Jacques, Daniel Lefort, and Janine Sorba. 1995. Free Radicals in Organic Chemistry. New York: Wiley. ISBN 0471954969
- Halliwell, Barry, and John M.C. Gutteridge. 2007. Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198568698
- Parsons, Andrew F. 2000. An Introduction to Free-Radical Chemistry. Oxford: Blackwell Science. ISBN 0632052929
- Rhodes, Christopher J., ed. 2000. Toxicology of the Human Environment: The Critical Role of Free Radicals. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 0748409165
- Toxins, Free Radicals and Anti-oxidants. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
- Free Radicals, Types, Sources and Damaging Reactions. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
- Free Radicals and Human Disease. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
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Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed. | <urn:uuid:1c2d7c00-bc98-49e8-a171-a4012b0566e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Radical_(chemistry)&oldid=687462 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928079 | 3,805 | 4.25 | 4 |
DRC: Interview with Congolese gynecologist and Eve Ensler
After visiting a hospital the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes expressed his shock at the large number of rapes that continue to take place. According to the United Nations tens of thousands of women in the Congo have been brutally raped as part of the ongoing war.
Dr. Denis Mukwege is a Congolese gynecologist and the founder of one of the only hospitals that treats victims of rape and mutilation. He’s been honored by the United Nations with the 2008 prize for human rights for his tireless work at the Panzi hospital that receives nearly 10 new patients each day. Dr. Mukwege has helped over 21,000 women in the past decade and was named “African of the Year” by a Nigerian newspaper last month.
Dr. Mukwege is in the United States this month to raise awareness about the war on the women of the DRC. He’s beginning a five-city tour with playwright and activist Eve Ensler, the author of the Vagina Monologues and founder of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women.
Last fall Ensler worked with UNICEF to organize events in two cities in the DRC where survivors of sexual violence publicly spoke out against violence and about their experiences for the first time. Seven women told their stories in front of community members and government and UN officials.
AMY GOODMAN: I’m joined now here in the firehouse studio by Dr. Mukwege and Eve Ensler.
We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Eve, talk about this tour, “Pain to Power.”
EVE ENSLER: Well, I had the privilege and honor of meeting Dr. Mukwege about two years ago. I interviewed him at the bequest of OCHA, a UN agency. And I had known before there some of the stories and some of the things that were going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but really it wasn’t until I met him and talked to him and listened and heard the stories that I came to understand the severity of the situation. And since then, I’ve been three times to Panzi Hospital and to the Democratic Republic of Congo and really witnessed firsthand and heard the stories of women and spent a lot of time with Dr. Mukwege.
And I felt if we could bring him here and we could travel America and we could go to universities and we could do small events and large events and all kinds of events, and this country could hear his voice and could hear directly from him the stories that were going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we might be able to shift consciences and really activate a movement here on the ground, which is already beginning to happen.
AMY GOODMAN: Dr. Mukwege, tell us how you got involved with this issue. Dr. Mukwege is being translated.
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE: [translated] It’s a particularly difficult situation. For the past ten years, at the hospital we have women that are not only raped, but have been tortured also, and their genitals have been literally been destroyed. And they’re often young. They’re at the beginning of their youth. And they arrive in such a condition where urine and fecals are coming out, and it’s very hard to take them, to take care of those women. But we are here because we have hope, and we have hope that the world can listen. It is unacceptable. It is unbearable that women are treated this way.
AMY GOODMAN: Who is committing these crimes?
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE: [translated] These crimes are committed by armed groups. For the past ten years, the Congo has been occupied by seven armies. And each army, each armed group, including the Congolese armed forces, each group commits its own atrocities. And I think it’s a very big deal, because women have no hope. Even those who are supposed to protect her abuse her and torture her.
AMY GOODMAN: Eve, you recently came back from Congo. Tell us about the Panzi Hospital.
EVE ENSLER: Well, I also—I want to say, too, that it’s really important to remember that violence against women is not a particular African thing or a Congolese thing; we know it’s happening in every country in the world. One out of three women are violated. I think what’s going on in the Congo, with a history rich in colonialism and genocide and rich in plunder, we know that the West is—this is essentially an economic war that is being fought on the bodies of women, that what we’re seeing at Panzi Hospital, to me, is a kind of end-of-the-world scenario.
We’re seeing hundreds and hundreds of women who are there who have been raped, whose bodies have been ripped apart, who are incontinent, who can’t hold their pee or pooh because of the terrible things that have been done to them, the guns, the knives, the many penises, the many rapes that have been done to them. And we’re seeing really, essentially, a country where this has been going on for ten to twelve years with complete or close to complete indifference in the world. There have been some groups, obviously, that have—like Human Rights Watch, that have kept their eye on this, but for all intents and purposes, the world has been fairly indifferent.
And I think, for me, having spent a lot of time in the rape mines of the world, when I went to the DRC and I heard these stories, I saw what could happen everywhere in the world if we don’t pay great attention to women’s bodies, because it is really so extreme there, and there’s been almost complete impunity there, that if we, as a world, do not develop a conscience and support the women there and have their backs and provide resources, but just really pay attention and start working through political channels to put pressures on the appropriate people, we will see the spread of this everywhere. We’re already beginning to see the spread of it in places like Zimbabwe.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to ask about the deal that has just been reached on the Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, it being reported that Rwandan officials promised this weekend to return him to his home country more than two weeks after the Rwandan military arrested him near the border. Let’s start with you, Eve.
EVE ENSLER: Well, I think “arrest” is a hopeful phrase. I think he’s been taken out of the country. We don’t know where he is. It could be a vacation for Nkunda in Rwanda at this point. What I’m very concerned about is the fact that Bosco is still there, and he needs to be arrested, as well. And—
AMY GOODMAN: Who is Bosco?
EVE ENSLER: Under Nkunda. And what I’m more concerned about is that 6,000 troops have just been sent in, Rwanda’s troops, who have been kind of unleashed on the country without any protection of the women. And I think Dr. Mukwege can to speak to that, but it’s incredibly dangerous.
AMY GOODMAN: Doesn’t the US support Kagame, the head of Rwanda, the president?
EVE ENSLER: Yes. Do you want to address—
AMY GOODMAN: Dr. Mukwege?
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE: [translated] We are very worried. We know what armed groups do, what military does to women. Your question is about the protection for women, what measures have been taken to protect women. There is no answer. There’s thousands of militaries. There is no witness. There is nobody. I think all the women who have been raped and we have fixed them, we’re going to find them again in the same situation in a few months. There are UN forces there. Why cannot they be associated to the situation for more transparency? I am very worried, because there are no witnesses to what is going on now.
To watch the interview or read a full transcription, follow the link: www.democracynow.org/2009/2/9/playwright_v_day_founder_eve_ensler
- U.S.A: Stabbing of Muslim Woman in East Bay Shopping Center Stirs Up Fears for Community
- Mali: Displaced Malians turn to survival sex
- Pakistan: Harassment of female voters, aid workers shadow historic Pakistan election
- Tunisia: Amina Tyler, Tunisia’s ‘topless jihad’ Activist, Caught and Under Arrest
- Afghanistan: Parliament fails to pass divisive women's law
- Sudan: 32 Nuba Women Behind Bars in the Women’s International Day!
- Sudan: Crackdown on Nuba Women Human Rights Activists!
- A Pakistani born Canadian Victim's Appeal for Help!
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION: Teacher charged and faces death penalty
- Jalila Khamis formally charged and faces EXECUTION! | <urn:uuid:24a704d5-c8e4-4b5d-9faa-2960225a2af1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wluml.org/node/5046 | 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 | 0.96805 | 1,965 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The problem for many users is that regulation of
traffic online by ISPs has historically centered on file sharing and
peer-to-peer traffic which is often shown in a bad light by ISPs as
used by pirates and other nefarious users. The truth is that there is
a lot of perfectly legal and reasonable peer-to-peer and file sharing
Verizon Wireless and Google CEOs Lowell McAdam
and Eric Schmidt issued
a joint statement on finding common ground for an open internet
today. The two companies are already working together to bring
new Android handsets to market so it makes a bit of sense that
they would also talk about net neutrality together as
According to the statement, the two companies disagree
quite strongly on some aspects of government policy in the net
neutrality area. Specifically, a big disagreement is on whether
wireless networks should even be part of the net neutrality
discussion. However, both companies feel that it is imperative that
the internet remain open and unrestricted to any type of content as
long as that content is legal.
The statement says that the two
companies understand the FCC's national plan to bring broadband to
all Americans and to start a debate on the openness of the internet
and how to best protect that. Verizon and Google report that they
have found several common basic concepts that they agree on.
first is that both firms believe the user should have the final say
on how their web experience works. Second, the two firms say that an
advanced and open network is essential to the future of the internet
and policies to provide incentives for investment and innovation in
the network realm are a vital part of the debate.
Google and Verizon believe that it makes sense for the FCC to
establish broadband principals that make it clear users are in charge
of all aspects of their internet experience and that these principals
should be enforceable.
Fourth, the two firms report they are
in "wild agreement" that flexibility in government policy
is key. Fifth, the broadband network provider would have the
flexibility to manage their networks to deal with traffic congestion,
spam, malware, and DoS attacks and other threats that may emerge. The
final common point is that transparency must be added to the FCC's
Verizon also reports that it feels there is no
evidence of a problem today, especially for wireless, and no basis
for new rules and regulations that could affect providers globally.
Google supports this type of regulation and this is another major
disagreement between the two firms. | <urn:uuid:f9db27e4-52d0-443c-a9ba-0e637c694d81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=16584&commentid=502547&threshhold=1&red=4055 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957437 | 523 | 2.328125 | 2 |
The Obama administration announced Tuesday it would pour $96 million of stimulus money into building a handful of key Everglades restoration projects. Combined with $183 million in a spending bill that Congress approved last month, it adds up to the largest one-year infusion of federal cash since the landmark restoration project was approved in 2000.
Florida congressional leaders, environmental groups and regional water managers were pleased about the prospects of simultaneously jump-starting the state's sputtering economy and its most important, and expensive, environmental challenge.
The Everglades construction money is the largest slice of a $250 million stimulus package for Florida unveiled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that also includes $25 million for Florida Keys sewer improvements, $6.5 million to repair failing gates and culverts on Lake Okeechobee's dike and an array of other work across the state.
Read the full story at newsobserver.com. | <urn:uuid:49b77b59-4d43-404a-975a-de782bd0ab68> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/04/29/67117/federal-stimulus-money-helps-everglades.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945344 | 190 | 1.96875 | 2 |
I was asked by Adam Kalsey to participate in a multi blog writing effort: Newly Digital: A distributed anthology of early computing experience. Enjoy.
Early Computing Experiences
First Computing Experiences
The first computing memories I have date back to 1985. The organization my father worked for acquired a few of the brand new Macs. Being the boss’ son I convinced him to take one of them home on the weekends. I spent hours playing an asteroids type game that came pre-installed, playing with ClarisWorks (an office suite of sorts), and generally just using the machine as a toy. Being a kid the computer seemed completely natural to me. It just made sense.
For the first time I felt the cramped hand from holding the mouse for too long. The burning of the eyes from staring at the screen for hours on end. The voice of the mom telling me to do something productive. Little did she know...
First Internet Experience
In the early 90's my family acquired a PowerPC with a whopping 160MB hard drive and 60Mhz processor. It was with this beast of a machine that I first connected to the Internet with a 9200 kbs modem. We were told that we were one of the first Macintosh computers to connect in our province. The connection was a SLIP account and we would have to download things first to our local server then from the server to our machine. Technologies like Gopher, Veronica, and Archie were the norm. The first software I downloaded was a game called Silicon Volleyball, a basic Arkenoid rip off. The act of having software running on our machine that hadn’t been on a disk was astounding. The game itself though was nothing to write home about.
A “wow” Internet Experience
A few years later,1997’ish , I had the second of very few “WOW – this is why the Internet is going to change the world” experiences. I installed ICQ, an instant messaging program. Up until this moment, aside from a few newsgroups, the Internet had been more like a library for me than a community. Something I consumed instead of something that I was a part of. When I first launched ICQ and saw that my friend a few blocks away was online it changed the Internet from something I used to something I was. It changed it from a solitary search and find medium to a rich collaboration and community.
Please feel free to post your own early computing experiences.
Other participants in the Newly Digital project: | <urn:uuid:4f455be8-d1c6-4279-bc0f-44a554631565> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ceoblues.com/archive/2003/may/earlycomputing | 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 | 0.972516 | 517 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Some jobs are tough, some can be deadly. Some jobs are stressful, but exposure to dangerous situations and hostile environments can contribute significantly to the chance of a fatal on-the-job accident.
An average of 12 workers die on the job every day. According to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 4,547 lives were lost on the job in 2010, about the same as the previous year, which had a final count of 4,551. The total is down from 5,214 in 2008.
The BLS attributes this overall reduction to declines in employment and slow growth in total hours worked in some historically high-risk industries.
The rate of fatal work injuries for U.S. workers in 2010 was 3.5 per 100,000 full-time employees.
Mining and police work saw increases in work-related fatalities last year. Disasters at a U.S. coal mine and aboard an oil rig operated by BP pushed mining up the list to 172 fatalities in 2010 from 99 the previous year. Fatalities among police officers jumped 40 percent to 134 in 2010 from 96 a year earlier.
As for causes, deaths from fires more than doubled to 109 in 2010 from 53 the previous year, the highest count since 2003.
So, what are the deadliest jobs in the country? Click ahead to find out.
By Jill Weinberger
Posted 01 September 2011 | <urn:uuid:5a2fc981-eb5d-45de-917f-4d528394dd54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnbc.com/id/44344096 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96437 | 286 | 2.671875 | 3 |
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) recently released the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy. The report addresses prescription drug abuse. We hear about prescription drug overdoses in the news on a daily basis. In 2010, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission Drug Report cited that prescription drugs caused an average of seven deaths per day in Florida. That means seven families are affected due to prescription drug overdoses. Those seven people were someone’s, mother, father, sister, or brother. They all had lives were important and will be missed. Just a few notable deaths where prescription drugs have been documented to play a part in their deaths include Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson. These overdose deaths happen far too often in our country and families are broken down and torn apart because of their misuse and abuse.
Proper medication disposal is an important part of the reduction of the availability of prescription drugs. In most cases people report they obtained the prescription drug from a friend or relative. The ONDCP plan has a four pronged approach that emphasizes education, tracking and monitoring, proper medication disposal and enforcement. On April 28th, 2012 the DEA and local law enforcement are holding a National Drug Take Back Day. Check here for a drop off location near you to properly dispose of these drugs.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement.(2011).Drugs identified in deceased persons by Florida medical examiners, 2010 report.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.(2011).Results from the 2010 national survey on drug use and health: National findings.Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-41, HHS Publication No.(SMA) 11-4658.Rockville, MD.Retrieved from http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm | <urn:uuid:c2d0e8fb-1a3b-4c77-a679-ad3a8874422e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.mysanantonio.com/prevention-resource-center/2012/04/the-dea-wants-your-drugs-rx-take-back/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929502 | 377 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Take the Iodine liquid Test
A lack of iodine can cause a whole host of symptoms and complications, especially for women. Iodine is one element of hypothyroid treatment. Getting enough Iodine could be the best hypothyroid treatment.
The thyroid gland is located in the throat, and thus takes on a lot of emotional wear and tear especially related to relationships, and financial health thus causing most of our emotional strain today. During stressful times your thyroid is in high gear and requires sufficient amount of iodine to cope. You can learn more about the emotional connections to your thyroid by clicking on this link.
According to The Chemistry of Man author Benard Jensen generally people in need of iodine are lethargic, dragging and depressed. Frustrated self-expression, lack of emotional control, fear of elevators and extreme discomfort with anything snug around the throat are also indicators of low iodine.
Iodine has the ability to keep your brain functioning optimally by disallowing toxins to enter through policing in your thyroid gland. Through this relationship, iodine destroys harmful toxins and increases the assimilation of salts for normal metabolism. Your lymphatic system carries iodine to every cell in your body. Can you see the harmony in having proper nutrients?
The beginning stages of an iodine deficiencyor lack of iodine may go unnoticed unless you really tune into your body and pay attention to symptoms. One method you can try is the Iodine Liquid Test.
Purchase a bottle of reddish-brown liquid iodine from your local health food store. Paint a circle about the size of a dollar coin on the inside of your arm and let it dry. If the circle disappears before 8 hours this is an indication of lack of iodine in your system and possibly the root cause contributing to an underactive thyroid. This is important because your thyroid uses more iodine than any other organ in your body (next to the prostate).
So how did you do? How long did it take before the circle of liquid iodine was absorbed? Comment below-would love to know.
Do you lack iodine?
Do you have an Iodine deficiency?
Do you think you may have an iodine requirement? Take our test see if you have a lack of iodine
Take the Iodine liquid Test
Take the Iodine Test
Stop the Thyroid Madness Try some natural thyroid therapy
The Basal Body Temperature Test for Low thyroid
Low thyroid function or hypothyroidism Take the test
Hypothyroidism diet and Goitrogen
Thyroid disorders ~ Hypothyroidism
Natural remedies for thyroid problems ~ Iodine
Psychological Connections to Hypothyroidism and low thyroid
If you are currently on any medications for thyroid conditions please do not you’re your medication. It is between you and your healthcare practitioner on the course of your wellness. This section is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, cure, or treat thyroid conditions. Please consult with your medical healthcare practitioner before implementing any of these recommendations, especially if you are currently on medication. If you are concerned about the function of your thyroid gland there are tests available to assess thyroid function. Please seek a qualified healthcare practitioner for more informationWhen introducing iodine, do so slowly, especially if you were not consuming fish, seafood or seaweed before. If you develop unusual symptoms after taking iodine stop consuming immediately. There is a small percentage of the people who cannot tolerate iodine, or have an allergy. | <urn:uuid:84024c25-30e3-479e-a0a5-aa56778d8ef3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://karenlangston.com/2012/01/iodine-and-hypothyroid-treatment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938234 | 703 | 1.726563 | 2 |
fileArticle Free Pass
file, in hardware and metalworking, tool of hardened steel in the form of a bar or rod with many small cutting edges raised on its longitudinal surfaces; it is used for smoothing or forming objects, especially of metal. The cutting or abrading action of the file results from rubbing it, usually by hand, against the workpiece.
Files are classified according to their cross-sectional shapes, the form of the cutting edges, and the coarseness of the cut (i.e., the number of teeth per inch or centimetre). There are at least 20 different cross-sectional shapes; the most common are rectangular with various width-to-thickness ratios, square, triangular, round or rattail, and half round. There are three general classifications of tooth form: single-cut, double-cut, and rasp. The single-cut file has rows of parallel teeth cut diagonally across the working surfaces. The double-cut file has rows of teeth crossing each other. Rasp teeth are disconnected and round on top; they are formed by raising small pieces of material from the surface of the file with a punch. Rasp files, or rasps, are usually very coarse and are used primarily on wood and soft materials.
Classification according to coarseness or spacing of the teeth is confined to single- and double-cut files. There are six main classes: rough, coarse, bastard, second-cut, smooth, and dead smooth. The number of teeth per inch varies considerably for different shapes and sizes.
What made you want to look up "file"? Please share what surprised you most... | <urn:uuid:2d68ef78-eb5f-4bde-bdce-d7d069ad11fe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/206802/file | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947062 | 341 | 3.796875 | 4 |
“Jesus didn’t have to die despite God’s love; he had to diebecause of God’s love.
And it had to be this way because all life-changing love is substitutionary sacrifice.
Think about it. If you love a person whose life is all put together and has no major needs, it costs you nothing. It’s delightful. There are probably four or five people like that where you live. You ought to find them and become their friend.
But if you ever try to love somebody who has needs, someone who is in trouble or who is persecuted or emotionally wounded, it’s going to cost you.
You can’t love them without taking a hit yourself. A transfer of some kind is required, so that somehow their troubles, their problems, transfer to you.”
(New York, NY: Dutton, 2011), 141-142 | <urn:uuid:3a0fdff7-0cc3-476e-9445-633d3576f631> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://midlandjack.blogspot.com/2012/04/all-life-changing-love-is.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970298 | 191 | 1.710938 | 2 |
One of today's annoyances was a third-party complaining about clock skew on a server at their site that they're testing against. No, they don't have a local ntp server, and no, they couldn't allow us to connect out to a designated ntp server externally. All we have is an ssh forward in.
They wanted me to manually set the clock on the server whenever they noticed it was out of synch! Real professionals.
I thought about tunneling an ntp stream out, but that requires udp-to-tcp fudging at each end, or using ssh's Tunnel facility, which requires root at both ends.
In the end, I settled for the low-tech approach - a once a day cron job that resets the time based on a local clock. Ugly, but good enough:
ssh root@server date --utc $(date --utc "+%m%d%H%M%Y.%S")blog comments powered by Disqus | <urn:uuid:d9d2c2aa-6bd3-490e-b6c7-643e9c47c817> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.openfusion.net/linux/poor_mans_ntp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956502 | 208 | 1.609375 | 2 |
July 31, 2012
|Basil was asked if he could handle reading in English for a minimum of six hours a day. "I'm currently reading Macbeth in English, so I'm already reading five hours a day," he quipped with a wry smile.|
(Amman) July 31, 2012 — As technology contributes to the rapid change taking place in the Arab world, Jesuit Refugee Service is looking for ways to use technology to help rebuild communities — both literally and virtually.
Working in cooperation with Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins (JC:HEM), JRS has initiated an online Liberal Studies Diploma for urban refugees in Amman, Jordan.
To date, higher education remains an unmet need for refugees mainly because it does not fall into the 'emergency assistance' category. Higher education also requires a more sustainable, long-term commitment from service providers, and with refugee communities constantly on the move, there is always the prospect of losing students who are resettled in developed countries.
A new strategy. After a rigorous application process in which 70 young people — Iraqis, Jordanians, Palestinians, Somalis and Syrians — contended for a much coveted place in the third level course, the first groups of 19 students were finally selected in early June 2012.
Living throughout Amman, these students will come together several times a week at their 'physical campus,' the Greek Catholic primary school in Ashrafiyeh, a working class neighborhood in the east of the Jordanian capital. Yet, they will share an online ‘virtual campus' with refugees living in Kenya and Malawi, and professors from Jesuit universities on two continents.
In addition to being an ethnically and religiously diverse class, the students — former prisoners of war, survivors of terminal illnesses, pregnant mothers, young adults, and civil engineers — bring a wealth of life experiences which at times surpass the value of academic knowledge.
The value of their cultural and personal experiences significantly adds to the classroom dynamics, further enriching the academic environment.
Of equal importance is that this diploma course is as much a learning experience for the students as it is for the JC:HEM professors from Jesuit universities in Australia and the United States, and in the future possibly from Cote d'Ivoire, Colombia, India and Kenya.
The curriculum also allows for cultural pertinence, according to the JC:HEM International Director Mary McFarland.
"We're on a journey towards a global curriculum informed by the experiences of our students, faculty professors and the onsite teams. So regardless of where we live, it's really looking towards how to create a curriculum in which anybody in the world would want to take, because it's informed by many cultures and viewpoints."
The importance of higher education. In order to ensure the students are ready to begin their first year of study in late August, they are currently undertaking an intensive summer course focusing on developing their writing skills and preparing them for the academic environment.
During their first writing-skills class, students shared their reasons for wanting to take a diploma in liberal studies. Despite the challenges they have encountered since fleeing violence in their home countries, the classroom was imbued with a spirit of optimism.
"Education is the only way to improve myself, my community, and my country," said Najah, a young Somali woman.
Their excitement for the opportunity to engage in critical thinking, ponder big ideas, and develop skills that enable them to become active participants in the modern global community is palpable. Mohammed recently completed his high school education in Homs, Syria, and arrived in Jordan six months ago.
"I had wanted to study at the university in Syria but couldn't. I'm happy for the chance to go to university here in Jordan," he said.
JC:HEM seeks to create a space for students to explore humanities and social sciences. The courses offered range from philosophy to psychology, with the option of a business component in their third year of study.
As well as hailing from different backgrounds, the students also span a wide age-range. Mohammed from Syria is the youngest, at 18, while Basil from Iraq is 66.
In his interview, Basil was asked if he could handle reading in English for a minimum of six hours a day.
"I'm currently reading Macbeth in English, so I'm already reading five hours a day," he quipped with a wry smile.
Access to education. This is the first time JC:HEM is offering the diploma in an urban area, as opposed to a camp, and it is the first time online higher education is being made freely available to refugees in Jordan.
Although Iraqi refugees in Jordan have access to public schools for primary and secondary education, they are considered foreigners when it comes to higher education and are required to have to pay non-national fees to enroll. Negotiations to allow Syrian children free access to public schools for the 2012 - 2013 academic year are currently on-going. However, the Sudanese and Somali populations are two of the most vulnerable refugee populations in Jordan with very few NGOs providing services for them.
With many social changes developing in the Middle East and North Africa, a protracted Iraqi refugee situation, and thousands fleeing Syria, there is a prevalent need for honing critical thought on how communities and nations can be rebuilt. JC:HEM and JRS are hopeful to contribute, if even only slightly, in this work.
by Zerene Haddad, JRS Middle East and North Africa Communications Officer
202-462-0400 ext. 5946 | <urn:uuid:e72c4ee7-893b-4abc-9fda-5461872d9602> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jrsusa.org/news_detail?TN=NEWS-20120731092947 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96705 | 1,141 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Sequester cuts would dangerously weaken our nuclear defenses, cutting the “deterrent triad” of bombers, submarines and ICBMs that makes nuclear aggression unthinkable, even for despots like Kim Jong-Un. Slashing this deterrent could lead North Korea’s neighbors to seek a nuclear response option of their own, turning a dangerous situation into a potential catastrophe.
The sequester could also slash deeply into American ballistic missile defenses, which should instead be strengthened during a nuclear crisis. America’s GMD system is our only protection from a North Korean ICBM (a capability the North Koreans demonstrated weeks ago by orbiting a satellite). It uses a sophisticated radar net to blanket the Pacific and kinetic interceptors launched from California and Alaska to knock incoming missiles from the sky. Years of development and testing have now proved the system works. But it also needs expansion and improvement — more tests against countermeasures, stronger coordination between radars and sensors and an East Coast site to keep Iran in check.
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union said we must “strengthen our own missile defense” in response to the Korean test. Sequestration would tear it down instead.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously. | <urn:uuid:50802f0f-4caf-4837-9875-1935b9de8a73> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rollcall.com/news/boykin_the_sequester_will_weaken_nuclear_defenses-222617-1.html?pos=oopih | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935864 | 308 | 1.796875 | 2 |
[Detail] Why Adam Sinned [cameo portrait of Aida Overton Walker from cover], 1904.
About this image
This collection consists of 1,305 pieces of African-American sheet music dating from 1850 through 1920. The collection includes many songs from the heyday of antebellum black face minstrelsy in the 1850s and from the abolitionist movement of the same period. Numerous titles are associated with the novel and the play Uncle Tom's Cabin. Civil War period music includes songs about African-American soldiers and the plight of the newly emancipated slave. Post-Civil War music reflects the problems of Reconstruction and the beginnings of urbanization and the northern migration of African Americans. African-American popular composers include James Bland, Ernest Hogan, Bob Cole, James Reese Europe, and Will Marion Cook. Twentieth century titles feature many photographs of African-American musical performers, often in costume. Unlike many other sorts of published works, sheet music can be produced rapidly in response to an event or public interest, and thus is a source of relatively unmediated and unrevised perspectives on quickly changing events and public attitudes. Particularly significant in this collection are the visual depictions of African Americans which provide much information about racial attitudes over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
1997 LC/Ameritech Competition Awardee Institution: Brown University
- John Hay Library, Brown University*
- Home Page for this Collection at Brown University*
- Contact Brown University about this Collection
African-Americans on stage, 1865-1910. | <urn:uuid:18ddfa19-6271-4ab8-a3b4-75ce319a988e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/sheetmusic/brown/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913935 | 316 | 3.046875 | 3 |
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|Home > Life in Japan > Features|
Sunday, July 4, 2004
YOUNG PEOPLE IN POLITICS
Interns buck the trend
This story is part of a package on politics and people. To read the introduction, please click here.
It's a sad fact that Japanese people, especially the young, are losing interest in politics.
However, 21-year-old Tokyo resident Mizuki Takura is an exception.
When she was 18, Takura was a high-school exchange student in the United States. It was a presidential election year, and her friends there were excited about the race for the White House. But such enthusiasm for politics was new to Takura, and their fervor came as a shock.
"I was embarrassed because I didn't know anything about Japanese politics and couldn't answer anything people asked me," she recalled.
After returning to Japan last autumn after studying for two years at Dickenson College in Pennsylvania, Takura enrolled at Sophia University as a junior in April. But in addition to her studies, she began looking for opportunities to work for politicians to learn something about politics firsthand. "I wanted to see what it is like with my own eyes," she said.
It wasn't long before Takura came across I-CAS, a nonprofit organization that coordinates political internships for university students to raise their interest in politics. Through this program, Takura, along with five other students, was introduced to Taichi Sekiguchi, a 28-year-old member of the Setagawa Ward Assembly. Since mid-May, Takura has been interning for Sekiguchi, helping him two or three days a week while spending four days at school and holding down a part-time job at a karaoke parlor.
For Takura, a typical day as an intern last month began early in the morning at Oyamadai Station on the Oimachi Line, where Sekiguchi was giving a soapbox speech. As the young Democratic Party of Japan assembly member addressed passersby, Takura and few other interns, all sporting suits and big smiles, handed out Sekiguchi's fliers to as many people as they could.
After returning to Sekiguchi's office, Takura helped with the layout of his new flier, while others were sent to visit potential constituents door-to-door with a questionnaire Sekiguchi intends to use in question time at the next assembly meeting. When they did manage to get a complete questionnaire, the interns asked the respondents if they were interested in putting their names on Sekiguchi's support list. But since many people were reluctant to open their doors in the first place, that proved a formidable challenge.
Back in the office later in the afternoon, the interns spent the rest of the day helping Sekiguchi address postcards from a DPJ candidate in the Upper House election to his own supporters.
Though the interns' work that day seemed simple, it was nonstop; yet they were able to apply themselves diligently while enjoying lively discussions with Sekiguchi.
Takura says that observing and taking part in a politician's work and meeting a wide range of people has already taught her many things -- both about politics and society -- that she never would have learned in school. And they don't seem to mind that they aren't paid for anything but transportation. "Even the fact that I learned the importance of questioning whatever is being reported on the media was meaningful," she said.
Unlike Takura, whose interest in politics led her to seek out an internship, others said they stumbled onto the program while randomly seeking internship opportunities to enhance their job-hunting prospects.
According to Eisuke Igeta, 21, a junior at Keio University and Kanto area representative of dot-JP, another NPO that organizes political internships nationwide, only 20 percent of their participants declare an interest in politics. Most others are simply interested in the social experience, he said.
Regardless of their motivation, though, by the end of the program Igeta said more than 80 percent of dot-JP interns have a better image of politicians.
"I always thought that politicians were dirty people who came from a high-class family and ate sumptuous meals, but they weren't like that at all," said Takura's fellow I-CAS intern Naohiko Kishie, a 21-year-old student at Hosei University.
While these students may be addressing their societal concerns through these programs, they admit -- either from the outset or by the end -- that they are in the minority among their generation.
"When I tell people that I'm an intern for a politician, they look me in a bizarre way and ask things like which party the politician belongs to," said Yuma Tsuchiya, 20, another junior at Hosei.
"I think people's sense of being a Japanese and part of this society is low," Takura said. "They are simply not interested. But to them, that's probably similar to me not being interested in combative sports," she said.
With her new, higher consciousness of society, though, Takura feels it is important to talk to friends about the importance of voting to dispel the climate of political apathy. "Some people don't even know there will be an election." Takura said. "But if I talk to three people about this, they may each talk to three more, and if that goes on and on, I want to believe that it will make a difference.
"Although it may be just one vote, it can also change something."
For other stories in our package, please click the following links: Questionnaire findings spotlight younger people's political gloom Media insider casts an outsider's eye on Japan | <urn:uuid:f1289e2d-bb40-4a3d-91b5-ee4237670082> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://info.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20040704x2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980079 | 1,241 | 1.546875 | 2 |
To Shine in Use: The Trojan Horse and the Sphere of Common Duties
President Ron Thomas
Friday, April 23, 2004
[Words of greetings and appreciation to participants, special visitors, friends]
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains; but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
(from Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ulysses)
I am a part of all that I have met. Today, I am acutely attuned to these sentiments expressed by Tennyson’s Ulysses when he returns home after years of war, adventure, and accomplishment. More accurately for me, I will say that all of you have, inextricably, become a part of me. The great Ulysses returns to his home city of Ithaca and stands before the familiar ghosts of his past—family and friends, allies and rivals—realizing that all his much heralded experience in battle and at sea has been no more than an archway through which he must pass to another untravelled world gleaming before him. He sees that moment of arrival not as an end, but as a beginning, an opportunity to seek a newer world in which to perform some new work of noble note.
Like Ulysses’s Ithaca, our own city, especially on this day of inauguration, is not so much a destination for me, as it is a starting point for us. Home is where you start from, T. S. Eliot said; and today, I start again with you from this new home, this Tacoma that has been the home of the University of Puget Sound for 116 years.
The question I would put before us all is this: “What untravelled world gleams before us at this new beginning for the University of Puget Sound?” Where are we going, we who follow knowledge like a sinking star from this small point on earth? How shall this liberal arts college on the shores of Puget Sound, in the shadow of a great mountain, on the edge of the American west, how shall we move through the arch of our experience to embrace the call of citizenship?
But perhaps the first question should be, does the life of liberal learning lead us to embrace our civic duty at all? Indeed, this was the question Ulysses posed to himself in a moment of crisis and decision. He returns from celebrated exploits in the wide world to realize that the greatest challenge of his wit and talent was the challenge of leadership in his own city. A hero of Troy, conqueror of armies of men and monsters, traveler of the world and the underworld, now at home in Ithaca, Ulysses, the man of many ways, is called upon to be the leading citizen in his own city; and he resists that call to civic duty.
In Tennyson’s version of the story, which takes up where Homer leaves off, we find Ulysses wrestling with this imperative, groaning under the weight of the duty that calls to him, the victim, he says, of a restless spirit, driven always to grander things by what he calls the lure of an “always roaming . . . hungry heart.” He questions whether the life of “the useful and the good” is one for which he and his great talents are cut out. He finds the city, with its narrow confines of councils and governments, a heavy harness for his talent and ambition. He would choose instead to leave “the sphere of common duties,” as he calls it, along with the scepter of leadership, to his son, Telemachus. Ulysses longs to set sail again; he hears the siren song of another epic battle, of some “newer world,” calling through the arch. No ivory towers for him. And no halls of government either.
We in the academy have sometimes expressed these same sentiments. Like Ulysses, we, too, are “yearning in desire/To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” Our calling, as Cardinal Newman urged, is to seek truth for its own sake wherever it may lead, without regard for practical consequences. We who have embraced the liberal arts often seem more deeply concerned with principles than practicalities, with the war of ideas than with the conflicts of peoples, with understanding the laws of nature than with shaping the rules of civic engagement. Should we not stand apart from the hurly burley of the arena so that we can be disinterested critics and commentators of a world from which we are in some ways detached, the gadfly that admonishes and asks the crucial questions of our culture: “Why?” or “Why not?”
When we speak in this way, we echo the equivocations of Ulysses, and we repeat his contradictions. Ulysses wished “to shine in use,” he claims, yet he spurns “the sphere of common duties.” He asserts that he regards knowledge as something “beyond the bound of human thought,” yet he longs that “Some work of noble note, may yet be done” among men.
We should recall that with his much-celebrated inventiveness and wit, Ulysses once gained fame in the war with Troy by conceiving an ingenious plan to enter that other far-off city by hiding with his army in a great Trojan horse, and thereby managing to conquer that city in battle. Resourceful enough to defeat an enemy stronghold by secreting himself within that duplicitous gift of false generosity, Ulysses was not wise enough to see his own city of Ithaca as a destination equally as challenging as the distant Troy, a place to enter and assume a public role rather than to hide within a private plan. Ithaca was a place not to conquer with arms but to engage with truth, a place where intelligence could not only be nobly deployed but where knowledge, and even wisdom, might shine in use.
What destiny calls to us at Puget Sound through the arch of our history? How will we enter it? What will the effect of our presence be? The newer world we will seek at Puget Sound is not one where knowledge fades like a sinking star on a distant horizon, but where it burns with the bright light of noble work. We do not come to Tacoma or to the national scene to hide in the stratagem of a Trojan horse of false friendship or private ambition; rather, we come with an open commitment to partnership with our fellow citizens here and in our nation. We will not choose between the path of local leadership and the road to national prominence. We will show that the first journey maps the way to the second, that excellence in the sphere of common duty, in the useful and the good, is, for those truly committed to the values of the liberal arts and sciences, the foundation for national distinction and leadership.
This is our adventure, and this is the course we will chart for our journey together. One hundred and sixteen years ago, our founders came to this city with these same intentions, and declared that in this place a great university would be established: here, in the so-called City of Destiny, at the foot of the mountain that is inscribed on our seal; here, where the Northern Pacific railroad would join the east coast with the west; here, in the land of the Puyallup and the Nisqually; here, where our inland sea, the Puget Sound, would draw students, our founders envisioned, from throughout the land and from every state in the Union, just as it drew ships and goods from throughout the world. In 1884, before Washington was a state in the Union, a former President of Northwestern University, John Fowler, came from Chicago and conspired with an elder of the Methodist Episcopal church to affirm that here in the “new Northwest,” would be born a university of the first rank, the equal of the finest institutions of learning in Chicago and Boston, and it would bear the name of Puget Sound. It would invoke praise and respect from throughout the nation, they said. That vision and that aspiration guide us still today.
Since that time, this university has had many changes in name and direction, just as our city has taken its own twists and turns of destiny. As Puget Sound established its campus on three different sites in the city over our first forty years, as we expanded and then as we focused our mission, we shared boom times and hard times with Tacoma; and recently, we have seen a great cultural renaissance taking place here, with new museums on the waterfront, new arts organizations, a convention center under construction, and new housing in the city’s core.
How will the histories of this city and this college converge in the next generation, as we pass through the arch of our experience together and become a national phenomenon? What noble work is yet to be done by us, together? Just as in previous generations, the vision and commitment of our legendary music professor, Ed Sefarian, led to the formation of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, or as Puget Sound faculty helped to create the Tacoma Actor’s Guild and the Tacoma Art Museum in generations past, what new cultural work will come from our next collaborations?
Just as the annual Pierce County Economic Index and Forecast emerged from the good work of our faculty in the School of Business and Leadership and the Economics Department, how will our intellectual capital be leveraged to contribute to the fiscal development and well-being of our South Sound neighbors in the years ahead, to our region and our nation, and to the Pacific Rim upon which we gaze? As the University’s partnership with the Tacoma Public Schools in the Access to College programs has opened the doors and made higher education imaginable to a generation of diverse young people in our city who might never have dreamed of it, what new ways will we discover in the days ahead through which to strive for equity and excellence in educational opportunity for people regardless of race, economic position, or ethnic background?
What new work of noble note remains to be done by us at the University of Puget Sound in the sphere of common duty with our community, with our nation, and with what has been called our global village?
We have already begun to explore a number of such new works: a center for strategic issues research and sustainability; a health and human sciences center for teaching, research, and clinical practice; a strategic master plan that will develop our beautiful campus over the next two decades as, at once, a cloister for intellectual reflection and a vital crossroads for cultural exchange. These and whatever projects we pursue will manifest this principle: we will seek common cause rather than promulgate a private plan; we will learn as well as teach; we will listen as much as we speak. This week alone we have begun new conversations about cooperation with our Native American neighbors, with members of our African American community on the plague of racial segregation and inequality, with local and national organizations addressing the challenges of global warming, with citizens concerned about our civic duty to remember injustice and resolve to resist it, and even with our three-time poet laureate on the role of poetry and the arts in renewing our culture. These things are a beginning of our voyage into the useful and the good, our commitment as a liberal arts college to productive civic engagement in our city and on the national stage.
In this moment in our nation’s history, ours is a voice that will not remain silent. We face a time of great challenge in higher education when we have sometimes lost the gleam of appreciating our role in the public good. There was a time when this nation recognized higher education as the key to our future, when we made the brilliant sacrifice following World War II of investing in the GI Bill and making a college education accessible to a whole generation of veterans when they returned from their adventures in battle abroad. In those days, the great economic engine of the American Century emerged from that unflinching commitment to higher education and the sphere of common duty it would open up. Universities like Stanford helped to spawn Silicon Valley, while Harvard and MIT generated the technology and biotech boom around Boston and Cambridge, and college campuses throughout the nation became vibrant centers of public debate, political discourse, and social action in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, America does not regard higher education so seriously. It is often considered more a consumer good than a public good. It is commonly regarded as a mere job credential or a training ground for the labor force rather than as a caldron for leadership, a great national asset through which to create and test ideas, to discover and expand knowledge, to critique, and transform our culture. It has become a Trojan horse of instrumentalism rather than that “something more,” that “bringer of new things” that we know it can be.
Today we hear a great deal about the higher priority of maintaining the security of the homeland. Not unlike Ulysses, we heed again the siren call to arms. But we must remember that true security is based on understanding as well as power. An uninformed obsession with security can be the breeding ground of fear. “Security,” Shakespeare writes in Macbeth, “is mortals’ greatest enemy.”
Franklin Roosevelt, whose leadership brought us through one of our most perilous times of economic and military threat, once said that “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” This sentiment was uttered by the president who oversaw the invention of social security and the atomic bomb, who engineered the great economic recovery of the last century as well as the great victory in World War II, and who warned us that the greatest thing we had to fear was fear itself. Yet for him, the real safeguard of democracy, fear’s true antidote, could not be found in unimaginable military might or unprecedented government effort: it was in educating a generation to be informed and to act, one that understands the useful and the good, and chooses them.
This is our mission as a national liberal arts college; this is the sphere of our common duty. Our security is not to be found in a Trojan horse of power or privilege, but in an open exploration of the limits of human thought and its responsible, creative engagement with the useful and the good. If education is our security, our safeguard, it is also our hope. Many of you have heard me say that in the business of higher education, we deal in hope. Hope is the product we make. Hope is the service we offer. Hope is the benefit we provide, and hope is the only profit we earn. I believe that there is no more important business for our future as a nation and as a human community than this. What we are about every day at the University of Puget Sound is nothing less than the cultivation of the leaders of the next generation—they are the ones in whom we invest our hope to secure our future.
I am proud, and honored, to be part of that enterprise at a place like Puget Sound. Today, as we pass through the arch of our collective experience, I join with you, our faculty, our staff, our trustees, our alumni, with all our colleagues, and, most importantly, with our students, in our commitment to a liberal education, to strive with you to shine in use in the sphere of common duty, to seek knowledge beyond the bounds of human thought in some work of noble note, and not to yield until together we find our newer world in the useful and the good. Today, we have begun. | <urn:uuid:e82d200d-88ae-4007-9ea0-9959a40dae9e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/office-of-the-president/articles--addresses/to-shine-in-use-the-trojan-hor/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962888 | 3,376 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Astronaut: Hello. Tech Support?
Support Tech: Hello, Indian Moon Rocket technical support. This is Raj, uh, I mean Roger. How may I be assisting you today?
Astronaut: There is a problem with our moon rocket.
Support Tech: Okay. May I have your name please?
Support Tech: Okay, Buzz. What moon are you trying to reach?
Astronaut: What moon? The Moon.
Support Tech: I see. Typing sounds. I will be needing the serial number of the rocket.
Astronaut: Where's that located?
Support Tech: It should be on the box the rocket arrived in.
Astronaut: It didn't come in a box.
Support Tech: Let me check something. Please hold.
Operator: Hello. Mr. Buzz?
Support Tech: Have you found the box?
Astronaut: I told you. It didn't come in a box.
Support Tech: In that case, the serial number is etched onto the rocket.
Astronaut: Great. Where? I don't see it on the control panel.
Support Tech: You will need to look on the outside of the rocket by the engine.
Astronaut: You're kidding, right?
Support Tech: Please check the outside of the rocket by the engine.
Astronaut: We are in space, and the engine is on.
Support Tech: Are you unable to find the serial number?
Astronaut: No, we are unable to find the serial number.
Support Tech: Please keep looking.
Muffled in the background, the two astronauts have a conversation.
Astronaut: He wants me to find the serial number.
Astronaut #2: Where is it?
Astronaut: Outside, by the engine.
Astronaut #2: Is he nuts? Tell him you can't find it.
Astronaut: He says keep looking.
Astronaut #2: Tell him it's scratched off.
Astronaut: Good idea.
Astronaut picks up the phone.
Support Tech: Did you find the serial number?
Astronaut: Yes, but it's scratched off.
Support Tech: Oh, no. Read me what you can.
Astronaut: Okay. Um. TK421.
Support Tech: ZV421?
Astronaut: Yeah, ZV421.
Support Tech: That doesn't match any known records. Do you have a support contract number?
Astronaut: No, I don't.
Support Tech: One moment.
Support Tech: What version of rocket are you using?
Astronaut: I don't know. Listen, we are having trouble with the lithium hydroxide air scrubbers.
Support Tech: Have you tried rebooting?
Astronaut: Rebooting the scrubbers?
Support Tech: No, the rocket.
Astronaut: I don't want to reboot the rocket while I'm in it.
Support Tech: Okay. Do you see the green button at the top right corner of your screen?
Support Tech: Click that button.
Astronaut: What is that going to do?
Support Tech: It will be rebooting your rocket.
Astronaut: I just told you. I don't want to be rebooting my rocket. I want to fix the scrubbers.
Support Tech: Hold please.
Support Tech: Thank you for holding. Do you see the two blinking red buttons in the center of the control panel?
Support Tech: Please press both of them for five seconds.
Astronaut: Is this going to reboot the rocket?
Support Tech: No.
Astronaut: Are you sure?
Support Tech: Absolutely.
Astronaut: Okay. One...Two..Three...Four...Five.
Astronaut: What the heck was that?
Astronaut #2 in the background: You just ejected the air scrubbers into space!
Support Tech: You will be needing to remove the scrubbers from the external panel on the bottom quadrant of the rocket. Also, may I please have your postal code?
Astronaut yelling: Why do you want my postal code?
Support Tech: Your replacement lithium hydroxide scrubbers will arrive in 5-7 business days.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
India just launched its first moon mission. A manned mission is still years off, but Fear and Loathing in Georgetown, soothsayer extraordinaire, knows exactly what is going to happen. | <urn:uuid:1e093997-16f2-415a-8765-e993fb7f06ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fearandloathingingtown.blogspot.com/2008/10/conversation_22.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923118 | 969 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Bill Gates-backed EcoMotors to use funding to build more-efficient diesel engine
EcoMotors CEO Don Runkle: "We began to put our dancing shoes on and explain the value proposition."
DETROIT -- EcoMotors International, a lightweight diesel engine company partially backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, will use a new round of funding to continue the development of a new type of green engine.
The company received its third round of funding, this time for $32.5 million, it announced Tuesday.
The funding was led by New York-based Braemer Energy Ventures, Gates, and California-based venture capitalist firm Khosla Ventures. Both are previous investors as well. Gates and Khosla invested in the second round of funding as well.
EcoMotors said it has designed a diesel engine that has a 15 percent to 50 percent better fuel economy and costs 20 percent less to build. It's called an "opposed piston-opposed cylinder" -- or OPOC -- engine.
It can be used wherever traditional diesel engines are required.
Customers and suppliers
EcoMotor's customers include Illinois-based Navistar, a manufacturer of diesel engines and medium and heavy trucks, Wisconsin-based Generac, a manufacturer of generators, and Chinese auto company Jiangling Motors Co., which is investigating the engine for use in passenger cars.
The engine cannot be retrofitted to existing automobiles.
The company works with suppliers such as Borg Warner Inc., Federal-Mogul Corp., and Robert Bosch LLC to purchase parts for the engine. Federal-Mogul supplies pistons, and Bosch, injectors. EcoMotors has a joint agreement with Borg Warner to build an electrically controlled turbocharger.
EcoMotors CEO Don Runkle, who worked for years at General Motors Corp. in positions like president of engine and energy management and vice president of engineering, said Braemer was on a list of investors that never moved forward during the second round of funding in 2010. Runkle also helped spin out Delphi Corp. from GM.
Late last year, his team in anticipation of the funds drying up began pitching potential investors.
"We began to put our dancing shoes on and explain the value proposition," Runkle said.
The EcoMotors engine features two horizontally opposed cylinders powering a crankshaft in the center. It eliminates traditional valves and cylinder heads, reducing the weight and number of required parts, and boosting efficiency.
EcoMotors said it has a two-pronged approach to making money: sell engines and sell patents to companies that build engines.
The $32.5 million will be used to continue developing the OPOC engine, start the development of a gasoline engine and begin working with compressed natural gas. Runkle said most will be used toward the diesel engine development.
EcoMotors plans to launch the manufacturing end of the business within five years, said COO John Coletti, who spent more than 30 years at Ford Motor Co.
Runkle said three investment bankers lobbied to raise money for the company, but the team decided to raise it themselves.
"We thought, quite frankly, we could do it ourselves and save the 6 percent," Runkle said.
EcoMotors is drawing up designs for the eighth-generation engine. The seventh-generation engine, in the testing phase, requires about half the parts of a normal diesel engine.
The company has plans to open a manufacturing plant in Southeast Michigan and separately is waiting to hear from the U.S. Department of Energy on a $209 million loan.
It's relying on $63 million in tax abatements from the city of Troy, Mich., and the state of Michigan, though most of that money depends on employment, Runkle said.
In 2010, when the company was trying to raise money in Michigan for the project, it was turned down by local venture capital firms, including the 21st Century Investment Fund and the Venture Michigan Fund.
The team wanted to keep the money in Michigan but eventually went to places like California and New York to find it.
Runkle said he is keeping the two Michigan firms up to date, but EcoMotors might be outpacing them in price.
"We might be getting a bit too expensive now, and a little later-stage," Runkle said.
The EcoMotors engine was conceived by Peter Hofbauer, former head of powertrain development at Volkswagen AG and founder of EcoMotors. Hofbauer, currently the chairman and chief technical officer at the company, brought the technology, like the OPOC engine, from his former enterprise, Advanced Propulsion Technologies Inc.
Eco got its first round of funding, $10.5 million, in 2008, and its second round, $23.5 million, in 2010.
Tom Henderson and David Barkholz contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:ef403513-a3f1-4898-b53c-612bd743ab65> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.autonews.com/article/20120711/OEM05/120719944/bill-gates-backed-ecomotors-to-use-funding-to-build-more-efficient | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960754 | 1,021 | 1.570313 | 2 |
- Three Found Haiku from the Found Poetry Project: McDonald’s, the YMCA, and Beverly, MA, through a poet’s eye
- Geek the library: how does your library bring out your inner geek?
- Partially Clips: This is Not a Metaphor: from way back in May–talking animals = parable
- James Kelman rues Booker prize win from Times Online: also from May, James Kelman reflects on the negative aspects of winning the Booker in 1994 for his phenomenal novel How Late It Was, How Late (if you haven’t read this novel yet, you must; it’s the best adult read-aloud since Ulysses, but make sure the weens are abed: it contains 4,000+ occurrences of a solid Anglo-Saxon word starting with “F” worth at least 13 Scrabble points)
- Authors lobby UK government for statutory school libraries from the Guardian: Philip Pullman, Michael Rosen and Francesca Simon petition for universal access to quality public school libraries; and, to paraphrase Sammy from Mr. Kelman’s book, for f*** sake, why shouldn’t all kids have access to a f***ing library?
It’s been over a month since the #amazonfail brouhaha swept Twitter and the web, which is about a century in Internet time. Since then, the Twitterati have moved on to more pressing issues (“#3turnoffwords” and “Patrick Swayze” are trending to the top of the Twitterverse as I write this). The questions that the fiasco raised have largely gone unanswered.
I don’t live at Internet speeds, though, so I’ve continued to think about what Amazon’s flub means and what can be done about it. My own sphere of influence is pretty tiny, but I’ve finished up a little project that is my own practical response to the Amazon leviathan: a WordPress plugin called BookLinker that makes switching from the Amazon affiliate program, or at least augmenting Amazon with other resources, a whole lot simpler. You can read about all the geeky stuff that went into this plugin here; more important, though, are the reasons behind this project.
Why link to books?
Web sites that review books, or discuss books, or otherwise have a bookish nature, typically provide their readers to some sort of external link to the books in question. There are some good reasons for this:
- The linked pages provide some additional context for the book: reviews, author biography, history, etc. The thing that sets a web review apart from a print review is that the context can be made richer by relying on external resources, and the review itself can be made leaner by leaving a lot of expository and extraneous information to those outside sources.
- Readers should be able to get their hands on the book quickly if it interests them. Being able to buy the book, or request it from your library, while you’re reading the review, is a great service to readers; I can add an intriguing title to my reading queue with a few clicks of the mouse, and not have to scribble down notes on a 3×5 card.
- The affiliate programs offered by Amazon, Powells, and IndieBound can be valuable for some high-traffic sites; these programs are a key source of income on really popular and successful book review sites. For the less popular sites, they don’t really offer much payment, though the occasional windfall is nice enough.
The web is all about linking, and so linking to book sites should be a key piece of Internet book reviews.
Why link to Amazon?
Amazon is by far the biggest player in the book link world, for some good reasons:
- The depth of selection is astounding; most books that are in print are available on Amazon, and through the relationships that Amazon has forged with used book retailers, lots of out of print books are easy to find as well. If you want to review it or read it, Amazon probably has it.
- For the reviewer/blogger, Amazon’s tools are the best. The link-creating widgets are nicely integrated into the site, so in just a few clicks you can generate a nicely-formatted affiliate link to a book and paste it into your page. By contrast, IndieBound has one link format that can be created from the book pages (easy enough for an HTML-savvy writer to tweak, but not as intuitive as Amazon’s options), and Powell’s requires you to enter your affiliate ID and the book’s ISBN on a separate screen, making two-tab browsing an annoying requirement.
- Amazon is ubiquitous. For better or worse, it’s the default on-line shopping destination not only for books, but also for CDs, toys, electronics, and household goods, and a huge player in digital downloads as well. Most people who are going to buy something on-line probably have an Amazon account already, and are more likely to buy from Amazon simply because they’re familiar with it. Getting someone to buy a book from Powell’s, or go through an independent bookseller through IndieBound, is an uphill struggle.
- Amazon has economy of scale. Its prices are low, its discounts are deep, and its shipping policies make it easy to buy an extra little something on impulse for the “free” postage.
- The Amazon web site is very rich in content; there are lots of reviews (some better than others), links to related books, and information about authors and publishers. Most of this content is in service of selling books, of course, but that doesn’t detract from its usefulness to the reader.
That’s a lot of inertia, which makes the lack of serious change after the #amazonfail fiasco unsurprising.
Why NOT link to Amazon?
For some people, the #amazonfail event–the sudden, apparently accidental, de-listing of a whole range of gay and lesbian titles–was enough to make them stop linking to or buying from Amazon. It’s the sort of issue that a small number of people feel strongly enough about to change their behavior, like not buying lettuce during the Chavez boycott or steering clear of Coors beer (and not just because it’s a lousy beer). But it’s not sufficient to get enough people exercised to really shift the marketplace in on-line book buying.
For me, there are two other compelling, and related, reasons to avoid buying from Amazon. And though I thought that the #amazonfail event was badly handled by Amazon, and the arbitrariness of the flub was offensive, I think these are more important reasons.
First, Amazon represents a monoculture in the book marketplace. They’re not really a monopoly–there are other places to get books, and they don’t get any particular government largess (that I know of, at least) to support their business–but they are so gigantic that they set the tone for everyone else. Indeed, their ubiquity gives them incredible power over how we read. The danger with a monoculture, though, is that it makes the entire ecosystem vulnerable to the ailments of the big player: when Amazon de-lists a whole class of books, or promotes certain kinds of books more than others, or introduces proprietary technology (like the Kindle) that locks users into a particular stream of content, the quality of the entire book world suffers.
We saw a similar invasive monoculture in the book world in the 1990s, when the big chain stores–particularly Barnes & Noble and Borders–started to squeeze independent booksellers with their low prices and deceptively wide selections. (Full disclosure: I was a Barnes & Noble bookseller myself for about five years, though I remained a lowly floor walker for my tenure.) The sheer mass of the chain stores shifted the way publishers worked with retailers, and affected the kinds of books that got attention on the sales floor. But once the wonder of the big box book store wears off, most readers will discover a numbing sameness to them all.
And that’s the other, related, reason that I’m now starting to steer my readers toward IndieBound rather than Amazon. IndieBound is an umbrella site for the American Bookseller Association, made up primarily of small, independent bookstores. Unlike Amazon, IndieBound directs your dollars to a store near you, a store run by local people who know and love books and readers. Rather than “crowd-sourcing” books through Amazon’s ranks and comments, independent booksellers are hands-on matchmakers, trying to connect readers with books based on human interaction. At an independent bookstore, you’ll be offered suggestions based on insights rather than algorithms.
I’ve also included, in my WordPress plugin, links to the other way to get books: your local library. My book “shopping” lately has been confined to the library, and I’ve been very happy with how that’s worked out. My local library is an easy walk away, and the online book ordering system means that I can get books delivered there from any branch in Hennepin county or, with a little more effort, from a good number of places around the country. And if the book isn’t in Minneapolis, I can probably find it across the river in St. Paul. WorldCat links the catalogs of many libraries and makes finding the books you want almost as easy as Amazon does. And if you think independent booksellers are book people, just wait until you meet your librarian. | <urn:uuid:9b991955-abca-4155-9549-72181b00965d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://michael-hartford.com/blog/tag/library/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948814 | 2,035 | 1.523438 | 2 |
As a business owner and bicycle advocate, Josef Bray-Ali of admits that he focuses a lot of his energy on "complaining to city hall."
However, last week he took the opportunity to speak to a group of local students who could become Northeast L.A.'s next generation of bike lovers.
Joe Linton, CicLAvia’s first paid employee and a long time bike and river advocate, and I stopped by Florence Nightingale Middle School at the end of a week of bike-themed events to give a brief talk about bike safety (“Control the lane!”), a clinic on patching a tube, and some general information about getting engaged in implementing the bike plan in their community.
It was a fun way to spend the afternoon, and hopefully will help these young adults ride safer and be better prepared and informed. Though our little talk and demo only captured 20 or so kids’ attention, there were almost 100 milling around the bike racks to see and be seen.
Bray-Ali kick-started the initiative in September in an effort to bridge the gap between local riders and city staff members charged with implementing Los Angeles' recently approved .
He said meeting with the students at Nightingale was a good way to kick-start the recently dormant initiative.
"I was hoping to get back into the Figueroa For All initiative, so I connected with teachers at . We just wanted to let them know that if you want to get engaged with bike issues, there are ways to do that," Bray Ali said. "There were about 100 kids walking around after school and we probably connected with about 20 of them.
While most of the conversation was general, Bray-Ali said, he and Linton did talk with students about the possibility of asking the city to install a new bike lane along Cypress Avenue, which would connect to North Figueroa Street.
"Hopefully we could do more with that crew of kids to push through a bike lane on Cypress," Bray-Ali said.
Bray-Ali said he's hoping to talk to more students, and asked any local teachers who interested in having talk at their school to contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org | <urn:uuid:df3d95f5-a130-42f5-a0ac-51765a535cff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://highlandpark-ca.patch.com/groups/schools/p/bike-advocates-reach-out-to-cypress-park-students | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984117 | 462 | 1.507813 | 2 |
The cultivation of illegal opium has increased in Myanmar for a sixth successive year, driven in part by a rising demand for heroin across Asia, according to the United Nations.
Myanmar is the world's second-largest producer of opium after Afghanistan, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of global poppy production, according to a report released by the UN on Wednesday.
The surge comes despite a government campaign to eradicate the crop from the Southeast Asian nation.
The rise in output of opium, the raw ingredient used to make heroin, was documented in the latest annual survey by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The report said farmland under opium cultivation rose by 17 per cent this year, up from about nearly 40,000 hectares in 2011 to 51,000 hectares in 2012.
Myanmar's illegal crop is farmed mostly in Kachin and Shan states.
The two areas, located along the country's borders with China, Thailand and Laos, have been plagued by fighting between armed groups and the military.
Poppy is highly lucrative for impoverished farmers in need of cash, and the fact it can fetch as much as 19 times that of rice poses a huge challenge to government efforts to eradicate it.
The estimated 690 metric tonnes produced in Myanmar in 2012 was valued at roughly $359m, the report said.
That output was up from an estimated 610 metric tonnes last year.
"One probable factor behind the resurgence in opium production in Southeast Asia is the demand for opiates, both locally and in the region in general," the report said.
The vast majority of consumers are in China, with opiate users in East Asia and the Pacific Ocean region accounting for about one quarter of the world's total.
Gary Lewis, of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, says the Chinese market for heroin has increased by 20 per cent in the last 10 years.
"On top of that you've got a situation where farmers are operating in desperate conditions on the ground and they're looking to provide a cash income to support their families", he told Al Jazeera from Bangkok on Wednesday.
The swath of Southeast Asia where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet is known as the Golden Triangle.
It produced more than half of the world's opium in 1990 and one third in 1998.
In Laos, the amount of land used for growing rose by 66 per cent in the last year alone.
It is now able to produce about 41 tonnes of opium, worth up to $72m.
Thailand's output has fallen very slightly in the last year. It produces just three tonnes of opium - worth four million dollars at last year's prices.
And it is the only country of the three which operates its own monitoring system.
In 1999, Myanmar set out to become opium-free by 2014.
That campaign had made considerable strides, but production has risen every year since 2006 as demand and prices grew.
Citing government figures, the report said the government had eradicated poppies on about 24,000 hectares of land in 2012, compared to 7,000 hectares the previous year.
The 236 per cent increase "is a significant increase on the area reported as eradicated in previous years". | <urn:uuid:53a02009-8e4d-4e80-81df-d9a74873f123> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/10/201210314589154343.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961169 | 652 | 2.328125 | 2 |
There is way too much back-and-forth between venters, and today you allowed someone to suggest that "multimillionaires (like Romney) pay 13 percent" while the average person pays "20 percent to 35 percent in federal taxes." That is not even close to factual.
On average, people making over $1 million per year pay over 25 percent of that income in federal taxes. I said "on average" because one cannot find a handful of exceptions to the rule and prop them up as the norm — yet they do and the media run it. Those making between $50,000 and $100,000 per year pay about 10 percent to 15 percent in federal taxes.
Most people who pay little to no federal taxes while earning a million dollars per year earn most of that money in interest from tax-free, government-issued bonds. That means the government needed their money so badly that it offered tax-free interest on the "loan." And now that the government has their money, people actually want to change the rules in the middle of the game and make them pay taxes on the interest? Anyone who feels that is even remotely fair, no matter how rich a person is, needs to take a class in self-respect.
You can take 100 percent of the money that the top 1 percent make in a given year and it is still not enough to cover our current levels of deficit spending. Show me we can stop spending money we don't have first, then even I would be OK paying a little more in taxes each year to cut our deficit — and I am nowhere near the top 1 percent.
James Kephart Jr. | <urn:uuid:a051cccc-b8d8-4903-ad64-8944b775fc5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/opinion/in-most-cases-millionaires-pay-their-share/article_b013b6d6-ef6b-50e4-ae7d-18b224c6efa2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965463 | 337 | 2.15625 | 2 |
First, if you are involved in the livestock or protein industries, you are probably rolling your eyes at this title because profits are currently few and far between. On the other side of the fence, the headline might gain some attention from those involved in the grain industry where profits have been substantial in recent years.
How often have you heard people say, “We are making lots of money; let’s not change a thing?” Analogous to sports teams that have just won the championship, it is easier to get to the top than to stay there or defend or repeat great performances.
What are some of the mistakes profits hide? First, some people will indicate that they no longer need to do a business plan, or develop, plan and execute a marketing plan because they are already profitable. On the contrary, when you are profitable, this is the time to plan and refine your business and marketing models. What aspects of the business will you continue? What will you elect to drop? This is the hard part because some aspects are often linked to the legacy or the heritage of the business’ evolution.
The more you make, the more you spend. Farm record systems analysis finds that living withdrawals and spending have far exceeded the rate of inflation in recent years. Many producers make the mistake of not getting back to basics and doing a personal budget during the profitable years.
When a business is profitable and becomes more mature, there is a tendency to become more conservative, i.e. playing not to lose. Sometimes you must take risks and endure the possible consequence of failure to grow as a business. What are the mistakes that prevent you from doubling profits? Do not get into the trap of using past benchmarks – such as profit numbers – to represent your future goal.
Finally, the best decisions are often made during the tough times. Sometimes regaining focus, getting back to the basics and plain vanilla business principles can be the recipe for success.
Editor’s note: Dave Kohl, Corn & Soybean Digest trends editor, is an ag economist specializing in business management and ag finance. He recently retired from Virginia Tech, but continues to conduct applied research and travel extensively in the U.S. and Canada, teaching ag and banking seminars and speaking to producer and agribusiness groups. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:8cf5de3f-4621-4adf-97a5-a2f706b5d753> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/print/profits-hide-many-mistakes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962771 | 481 | 1.679688 | 2 |
In programming, a value written exactly as it's meant to be interpreted. In contrast, a variable is a name that can represent different values during the execution of the program. And a constant is a name that represents the same value throughout a program. But a literal is not a name -- it is the value itself.
x = 3
x is a variable, and 3 is a literal. | <urn:uuid:dd00b828-12c2-4194-aef5-e9509c4742e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.webopedia.com/index.php/TERM/L/literal.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944898 | 80 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Wed 25th Apr 2012 | News
VFS presents the Fourth Annual Women in Games Global Scholarship.
Vancouver Film School (VFS) has presented the Women in Games Scholarship to Kristina Soltvedt Wiik of Norway. The first of its kind in the world, this scholarship provides full tuition for an aspiring female game designer to VFS’s acclaimed one-year Game Design program.
Wiik, currently a journalist for Gamereactor Magazine, is a longtime writer of gaming fiction, and is ready to embrace the challenge of furthering narrative design in interactive entertainment.
"My initial reaction to receiving the Women in Games Scholarship was disbelief,” says Wiik. “It is a tremendous privilege to be awarded such a coveted scholarship and I can't help but be excited at the possibility of realizing my dreams. I'm really looking forward to the year ahead of me, and the ensuing opportunities that VFS will surely offer."
The scholarship was established by Vancouver Film School to encourage women, and create more opportunities for those wishing to pursue game design as a career, in a field traditionally dominated by men - around 80% according to a recent Game Developer survey.
“As always, I am extremely impressed with the quality of applications for the Women in Games Scholarship,” says Dave Warfield, Head of Game Design at VFS. “Our past winners have proven to be exceptional students and already are making a positive impact in the game industry as designers. With what I have seen from our latest winner, the future of gaming looks very promising!”
Previous winners include Shannon Lee of Toronto, now at BigPark Games, Annie Dickerson from Washington, DC, currently with East Side Games, and Larissa Baptista from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil who will graduate from VFS this June and was recently profiled by CBC.
For more information on Vancouver Film School’s one-year Game Design program, the only one-year program included in the Princeton Review’s 2012 list of Top Game Design Programs, visit vfs.com/gamedesign.
Also, while you are there, have a browse around. This is a constantly changing, very impressive site in its own right. Sacks of information all over the place.
VFS on Game Design | <urn:uuid:1f9caf06-54ae-44e4-b60e-7dd467c7a035> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/vfs_women_in_games | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962828 | 471 | 1.59375 | 2 |
The Views of the Hotel Del Monte album contains 27 photographic prints taken circa 1910. The primary subject of the album
is the Hotel Del Monte, the lavish 126-acre Swiss Gothic resort constructed in Monterey, California in 1880 by the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company. The album includes several exterior views of the hotel and grounds, many of which feature the extensive
landscape gardening surrounding the structure. Interior scenes include verandas, a dining room, a lobby, and a billiard room.
Also included are photographs of the greater Monterey Peninsula, which picture golfers, the Pebble Beach Lodge, and the 17-mile
Drive and Cypress Point. An unidentified party is pictured throughout the album.
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted
in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader. | <urn:uuid:9dc44768-f4f2-405f-a057-ba226c6cd3c6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf2q2nb2xx/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919365 | 225 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Robert Freeman is a photographer and designer, most famous for his album cover photos for The Beatles and his design work on the end credit sequences of their first two films and the related film posters and advertising materials.
He was the Beatles' most favoured photographer during the years 1963 to 1966 and shot arguably the most iconic images of them. He photographed and designed the covers for five consecutive album covers of the Beatles-sanctioned UK album releases on the Parlophone label. Most of those images were also adapted by Capitol Records for the US releases they compiled from the Beatles' UK recordings.
Freeman first came to prominence as a photo journalist working for the British newspaper The Sunday Times - for which he photographed a variety of subjects including Nikita Khrushchev in the Kremlin. He had also become noted for his black-and-white photographs of several jazz musicians including John Coltrane. It was these photographs that impressed the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein and the Beatles themselves and led to his first commission in August 1963 to photograph the group. He was selected to photograph the entirety of the first-ever Pirelli Calendar - shot in 1963 for the year 1964. | <urn:uuid:d7eb330b-58c4-4f9f-acbe-4f366300c3b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/Robert+Freeman/1/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984564 | 233 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Louis C.K.'s "fun little experiment" illustrates the threat to the cable business model. Cable has long been the gatekeeper to content -- Comcast decides what channels I can choose from. But right now on the Internet, I choose what content I can choose from.
Smart communities invest in themselves rather than depending on big, absentee corporations. Requiring Comcast to provide affordable broadband connections is better than not, but continuing to let Comcast effectively decide who can afford access to the Internet is madness.
If the ethos of America is about removing unfair barriers to individual opportunity and success, then it is un-American to give low-income communities substandard Internet service that creates barriers to economic opportunity.
The FCC's long December will either restore confidence in the Commission's ability to tackle difficult issues like Net Neutrality or leave us in a similar position where many feel the FCC has disclaimed responsibility.
This morning, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that he will finally seek a vote on President Obama's top tech issue, "Net Neutrality." However, his proposal is nowhere close to what Obama promised the American people.
This is the issue that should be commanding the attention, money, and energy of stakeholders across the sector: ensuring that as many people as possible are able to access, adopt and effectively use broadband.
This intimate link between the internet future and the Latino future is inspiring the strengthening of a David-like struggle to defend us all against the serious threat to our rights posed by corporate Goliaths.
To be a hero, Genachowski needs to reject the forthcoming "industry consensus" from ITI as wholly inadequate and announce he will call for a vote on his "Third Way" Proposal in September as the only way to protect consumers.
If you're interested in the Internet or economic innovation and entrepreneurship, you would love Barbara van Schewick's new book. If you consider yourself serious about these issues, you have to read this book.
Ensuring affordable broadband for all Americans is a critical component in achieving universal broadband. With 50 members of Congress now effectively working toward this goal, I am confident that we are on the right track.
A lot of people are discussing the FCC's meetings on net neutrality. Though some have discussed substance, I thought it might be helpful to lay out the likely points of contention and provide a guide for understanding. | <urn:uuid:9a03a976-8295-404c-809d-dd6980ee6d70> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/network-neutrality | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94925 | 482 | 1.875 | 2 |
Three-body interactions with cold polar molecules
Fundamental interactions between particles, such as the Coulomb law, involve pairs of particles, and our understanding of the plethora of phenomena in condensed-matter physics rests on models involving effective two-body interactions. On the other hand, exotic quantum phases, such as topological phases or spin liquids, are often identified as ground states of hamiltonians with three- or more-body terms. Although the study of these phases and the properties of their excitations is currently one of the most exciting developments in theoretical condensed-matter physics, it is difficult to identify real physical systems exhibiting such properties. Here, we show that polar molecules in optical lattices driven by microwave fields naturally give rise to Hubbard models with strong nearest-neighbour three-body interactions, whereas the two-body terms can be tuned with external fields. This may open a new route for an experimental study of exotic quantum phases with quantum degenerate molecular gases. | <urn:uuid:16990fd3-a3a0-47ea-988c-110882e5352b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.citeulike.org/user/handsome_bob/article/7094007 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930196 | 194 | 2.296875 | 2 |
General Partnership Agreement
When to Use this Agreement
When two or more people carry on a business as partners or receive income jointly.
Business partnerships can be an enjoyable, profitable and enduring form of a business relationship.
Partnerships free up business owners by allowing them to share management duties and capitalise on the specific skills of the partners. Many business people have found that when the right synergy exists, the world can be your oyster.
If you are thinking about at a single, short-term project, our Joint Venture agreement maybe more suitable. Particularly if the aim of your project is to share the output of the arrangement, like a product or intellectual property, rather than joint or collective profits.
Your professionally drafted partnership agreement is available for immediate download..The document comes to you as a Microsoft Word and PDF template that can be used as often as you like. Simply insert the correct information in the appropriate field and tab to the next. Now print your professional agreement
Business Partnership Management Kit
This Partnership Agreement Template defines the rights, roles and responsibilities of each partner and clearly spells out specific conditions that apply to your partnership. This means it protects the interests of those involved by putting in writing the following considerations:
The Contract includes the following provisions -
- Description of the Business
- The role and authority of each partner
- Amount of equity invested by each partner
- Entitlement to and share of profits
- Term of the partnership
- The principle place of business
- Banking arrangements
- Accounting/Valuation Principles
- Retirement/Death Arrangements
- Provisions for changes or dissolving the partnership.
- The distribution of assets on dissolution
- The resolution of disputes
- Withdrawal of capital
- Acts requiring majority consent
- Sale of partnership interest
- Conflicts of interest
- Governing Law
View Sample Document
Our fully secured e-commerce system allows you to purchase and download your General Partnership Agreement safely and with complete peace of mind. In just a few minutes you can have everything you need to easily create a professional and legal partnership agreement. | <urn:uuid:3873dd79-e2f3-4f46-bef0-0ce328b374bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rpemery.com/online/partnership-agreement.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922687 | 426 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Anchored by 16-year-old high-flying sensation Gabby Douglas, the young USA women’s gymnastics team pulled off a gold medal performance that will not soon be forgotten. The young ladies of the USA were Ranked No. 1 in world going into
the 2012 London Olympic Games, but no one expected them to completely dominate the field. Their gold medal performance earned them a total team score of 183.596, allowing the USA women’s gymnastics program to put plenty of distance between themselves and the rest of the field to leave no doubt. Russia won the silver medal in a distant second with a score of 178.530, followed by Romania who took bronze with a score of 176.414. Douglas, dubbed the Flying Squirrel by coaches because of her high flying act, was the only automatic qualifier to the USA Gymnastics team, and she also qualified to compete in the All Around competition. To help lead The USA to team gold Douglas competed in all four events: the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Douglas will begin competing in the All Around competition later in the week. | <urn:uuid:3bd8038e-e16d-48c0-8a1e-6e84c95672bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.precinctreporter.com/community/long-beach/3792-usa-women-win-gold | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964656 | 228 | 1.578125 | 2 |
An X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside your body — particularly your bones.
X-ray beams can pass through your body, but they are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through. Dense materials, such as bone and metal, show up as white on X-rays. The air in your lungs shows up as black. Fat and muscle look like varying shades of gray.
For some types of X-ray tests, contrast medium — such as iodine or barium — is introduced into your body to provide greater detail on the X-ray images. Some people experience side effects from contrast material. X-ray beams also expose you to small doses of radiation, but the benefits from these tests far outweigh the risks.
X-ray technology is used to examine many parts of the body.
Bones and teeth
- Fractures and infections. In most cases, fractures and infections in bones and teeth show up clearly on X-rays.
- Arthritis. X-rays of your joints can reveal evidence of arthritis. X-rays taken over the years can help your doctor determine if your arthritis is worsening.
- Dental decay. Dentists use X-rays to check for cavities in your teeth.
- Osteoporosis. Special types of X-ray tests can measure the density of your bones.
- Bone cancer. X-rays can also reveal tumors in your bones.
- Lung infections or conditions. Evidence of problems such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or lung cancer can show up on chest X-rays.
- Breast cancer. Mammography is a special type of X-ray test used to examine breast tissue.
- Enlarged heart. One of the signs of congestive heart failure is an enlarged heart, which shows up clearly on X-rays.
- Blocked blood vessels. Injecting a contrast material that contains iodine can help highlight sections of your circulatory system so they can be seen on X-rays.
- Digestive tract problems. Barium, a contrast medium delivered in a drink or in an enema, can help reveal problems anywhere in your digestive system.
- Swallowed items. If your child has swallowed something like a key or a coin, an X-ray can show the location of that object.
Radiation exposure br>
You may worry that X-rays aren’t safe because high levels of radiation exposure can cause cell mutations that may lead to cancer. But the amount of radiation you’re exposed to during an X-ray is so small that the risk of any damage to cells in your body is extremely low.
However, if you’re pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, inform your doctor before having an X-ray. Though the risk of most diagnostic X-rays to an unborn baby is small, your doctor may consider whether it’s better to wait or to use another imaging test, such as ultrasound.
Contrast medium br>
In some people, the injection of contrast medium can cause side effects such as:
- A feeling of warmth or flushing
- A metallic taste in the mouth
Rarely, severe reactions to contract medium occur, including:
- Severe low blood pressure
- Anaphylactic shock
- Cardiac arrest
How you Prepare
Different types of X-rays require different preparations. Ask your doctor or nurse to provide you with specific instructions.
What to wear br>
In general, you undress whatever part of your body needs examination. You may wear a gown to cover yourself during the exam, depending on which area is being X-rayed. You may also be asked to remove jewelry, eyeglasses and any metal objects that may obscure the X-ray image, because these objects can show up on an X-ray.
Contrast material br>
Before some types of X-rays you’re given a liquid called contrast medium. Contrast mediums, such as barium and iodine, help outline a specific area of your body on the X-ray image. You may swallow the contrast medium, or receive it as an injection or an enema.
What can you Expect
During the X-ray br>
X-rays are performed in the Radiology Department, Emergency Department, Surgery Department, and at the patient’s bedside. The machine produces a tiny burst of radiation, at a safe level, that passes through your body and records an image on film or on a specialized plate. You can’t feel the X-ray passing through you.
A technologist positions your body to obtain the necessary views. During the X-ray exposure, you remain still and hold your breath to avoid moving, which can cause the image to blur. An X-ray procedure may take only a few minutes for a bone X-ray, or more than an hour for more-involved procedures, such as those using a contrast medium.
Your child’s X-ray br>
If a young child is having an X-ray, restraints or other immobilization techniques may be used to help keep him or her still. These will not harm your child and will prevent the need for a repeat procedure, which may be necessary if the child moves during the X-ray exposure. You may be allowed to remain with your child during the test. If you remain in the room during the X-ray exposure, you’re typically asked to wear a lead apron to shield you from unnecessary exposure.
After the X-ray br>
After an X-ray, you generally can resume normal activities. Routine X-rays usually have no side effects. However, if you receive an injection of contrast medium before your X-rays, call your doctor if you experience pain, swelling or redness at the injection site. Ask your doctor about other signs and symptoms to watch for pertaining to your specific X-ray procedure.
X-rays are saved digitally on computers. Digital images can be viewed on-screen within minutes. A radiologist typically views and interprets the results and sends a report to your doctor, who then explains the results to you. In an emergency, your X-ray results can be made available to your doctor in minutes. | <urn:uuid:b289f700-9d38-4e65-af98-91ee925ddd44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://floydmemorial.com/diagnostic-imaging/diagnostic-tools/xray/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927049 | 1,295 | 3.953125 | 4 |
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|Pakistan v India - Feb 26-Mar 1, 1955||Scorecard|
|Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Feb 21-25, 2009||Scorecard|
|Statsguru Tests | Match results | Highest totals | Most runs | Most wickets|
|Pakistan v West Indies - Nov 21, 1980||Scorecard|
|Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Jan 21, 2009||Scorecard|
|Statsguru ODIs | Match results | Highest totals | Most runs | Most wickets|
|Pakistan v Bangladesh - Apr 20, 2008||Scorecard|
|Statsguru T20Is | Match results | Highest totals | Most runs | Most wickets|
Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most populous city, presents an interesting and colourful combination of the old and new. The National Stadium became Karachi's fifth and Pakistan's 11th first-class ground. The inaugural first-class match was played at NSK between Pakistan and India on April 21-24, 1955, and it became a fortress of Pakistan cricket. In 34 Tests between that first match and December 2000, Pakistan won 17 and were never beaten. Their only Test defeat on the ground came in the gloom against England in 2000-01. Since then, major terrorist activity, mainly bombings, have meant that non Asian sides have refused to play in the city, and in five years only Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have visited. It is a shame because the spectators are passionate - and noisy - and it is a great place to play and watch.
The first ODI at the National Stadium was against West Indies on November 21, 1980, and it went down to the last ball as Gordon Greenidge drove Imran imperiously to the cover boundary with three needed. It has been a far less successful limited-overs venue, with defeats outnumbering victories. In fact, in a little under five years from the start of 1996, Pakistan failed to win on the ground. It also staged a quarter-final match in the 1996-97 World Cup.
Cricinfo staff December 2005
Safe & simple online money transfer. Apply Now!
Available now at Cricshop | <urn:uuid:eed9a7e6-db31-4643-af44-b5c21316a44c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2008/content/ground/58956.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942511 | 456 | 1.640625 | 2 |
You are currently browsing the daily archive for April 17, 2009.
Everything I Ever Needed To Know I Learned From
R.A. Carlsen, College Professor (Part 2 of 2)
The Faith & Learning is an interesting question in science and mathematics. In my opinion, the better issue is Faith & Practice. This means you help your classmate, I help you (assuming that you have been in class) and we thus attempt to keep stress to a minimum. *** I will say things like ‘Jesus loves little children and linear differential equations with constant coefficients’. This is not taking a low view of the Bible but associating an idea with a dumb statement. *** Finally, don’t read the footnotes in the lectures that have been written out as they are reference for me. Remember what happened to Adam and Eve when they didn’t follow instructions. *** Do you know what a matrix is? How to multiply a square matrix by a column matrix? We are not going to do this today as the object is to find the edge. You have an assignment: rent the video and have a party. At Bethel? Yes. *** One should realize that in Christian circles the concept of salvation by grace is learned by repeated usage in sermons and most certainly in Scripture. Likewise, one can obtain a sensitivity to the distinction between, say, the Hamiltonian H and the Hamiltonian operator by repeated usage. *** Be creative in your thinking. *** . . . . The following verse came to mind from Hebrews chapter 11. That is, ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen’. Being involved with science most of my adult life, the idea of evidence is importance. The concept that I came away with was that faith, itself, was the evidence. Secondly, the idea of knowledge is of major importance because it serves as the basis for what we think we know. Notice that the verse talks about ‘Things hoped for’. What we have is the hope of ever lasting life. | <urn:uuid:da3901bb-113f-4f86-8bd8-a0c72ea18d79> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jamsco.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967839 | 421 | 1.75 | 2 |
As October fast-approaches, people are gearing up for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to celebrate and honor those who have battled the disease, many organizations hold events in order to raise money for research and a cure.ABC 2
reports on how the Carlisle Collection has designed a scarf for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation every year for the past 18 years. The scarves have raised a total of $1.7 million dollars which has gone towards research.
"A lot of women going through chemotherapy actually wear these scarves when they've lost their hair or wearing a cap so it's kind of dual fold. It's supporting the foundation and then they can also pass it on to a friend who's going through the same thing. So it's been very meaningful," Coleman Cooper, of the Carlisle Collection, told the news source.
The Carlisle Collection accepts a $125 donation for the scarves and all proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
The Susan G. Komen has raised more than $1.5 billion dollars for breast cancer research over the last 28 years. | <urn:uuid:0570d270-65bd-4e2f-bb53-c319a37e4211> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hungersite.com/clickToGive/bcs/article/Scarves-raise-money-for-breast-cancer-research656 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965492 | 227 | 1.914063 | 2 |