text stringlengths 213 24.6k | id stringlengths 47 47 | dump stringclasses 1 value | url stringlengths 14 499 | file_path stringlengths 138 138 | language stringclasses 1 value | language_score float64 0.9 1 | token_count int64 51 4.1k | score float64 1.5 5.06 | int_score int64 2 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Java EE: The Perfect Platform For Cloud Computing
The term "Cloud Computing" is even cloudier than SOA or Web 2.0 definitions. My understanding of clouds is:
- Elasticity: you can fire up new instances on demand.
- Management and Monitoring: especially applications in the "cloud" have higher requirements regarding management and monitoring. You should be able to pro-actively monitor the current state of your application.
- Vendor neutrality: you wouldn't like to be dependent on one vendor in the current economic situation.
- Standardized packaging and installation: you will have to package your application to install it to a "cloud". Standards are always good, otherwise you will end up in many negotiations and meetings.
- Failover capabilities: clouds do not have necessarily to be HA-aware. It is nice to have a clustering option.
- Easy administration: you will need remote administration tools. Using vi to edit files would probably not satisfy your customers.
- Low resource consumption: computing time and resources cost a lot. It is important to build as lean applications as possible to save money.
In case my cloud-understanding is correct Java EE 6 and even Java EE 5 would be perfectly suitable for cloud standardization:
- JMX is just built-in and standardized (J2EE management and monitoring). ...and you can nothing do against it :-). Every deployed Java EE component has to be published on every J2EE 1.4+ conform application server. You have only to leverage the information with JConsole, through Java 5 SE API, or tools like Hyperic or openNMS.
- You can start, stop and manage application servers on demand. e.g. GF v2 can do it through a centralized domain. If it is not sufficient, you can easily extend such capabilities with e.g. EHCache, JBoss Cache, RESTFul interface and leasing concepts.
- The portability of Java EE 5 applications is really good - and it will be even better in Java EE 6. I actually switch back and forth between WLS 10 and GF v2 in my current projects. Java EE 5 is already supported by JBoss, Geronimo, Glassfish, Weblogic, Websphere, SAP and even Spring (look at pitchfork).
- EARs, EJB-JARs, WARs and RARs are standardized. You don't even have to touch this archives migrating them from one server to another (reason: XML is no more necessary - server-dependent deployment descriptors are gone)
- Failover is supported by every application server I know.
- Easy administration: it cannot be easier than in Glassfish v2+. The webconsole is lean, fast and intuitive. Command line interface is available as well. Geronimo also comes with own console. The admin console for JBoss is available in the commercial package too.
- Low resource consumption: the EJB 3.1 container in GF v3 is exactly 420kB.... It can be loaded and unloaded on demand.
(Note: Opinions expressed in this article and its replies are the opinions of their respective authors and not those of DZone, Inc.) | <urn:uuid:adf1a61c-5aef-4845-9a68-b906a76d3dd3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://java.dzone.com/news/java-ee-perfect-platform-cloud | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.909802 | 659 | 2.046875 | 2 |
By Paula Paradis
Your family, friends, and wedding guests went to great lengths and expense to choose a gift for your wedding. Acknowledging their thoughtfulness in a personalized note, is the least you can do. This handwritten note of appreciation, written in honor of every gift you receive, is a heartfelt and courteous gesture despite an in-person thank you.
The most important thing about writing thank-you notes is to do it promptly. Acknowledge:
- A gift received before the wedding within two weeks
- A gift received on your wedding day within a month of your return from the honeymoon
- A gift received after the wedding day within a month of its arrival.
For a gift given by a large group — eight or more people — it is acceptable to write one thank you note. However, thank each individual giver in person when you see them. When you receive a single gift from several relatives, co-workers or close friends, you should still write each one a thank-you note.
Follow these three-steps to writing thank-you notes:
- Name the gift: “Thank you for the lovely vase.”
- Describe how you’ll use the gift: “It looks lovely on our dining room table. Right now it is holding some beautiful roses from our garden”
- Add a personal thought or two about your wedding or your relationship with the giver: “It meant so much to us to have you there, sharing our wedding day.”
Remember that writing thank you notes is just the process of putting your thoughts on paper. Think about the gift and the fond memories of the giver. Write those notes together. When they’re done, treat yourselves to a special evening. | <urn:uuid:6ae7be54-ba9b-4a9a-98e0-1a5955035b68> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://weddings.bangordailynews.com/2012/09/07/etiquette-corner-thanking-your-guests/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953058 | 368 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Thank you to students at Rochester STEM High School for an incredible conversation today about bullying, leadership and self improvement (check out the video footage!)
After an assembly I had a chance to have an intimate chat with several students. Many asked me where I got the courage to live life the way I do; how I can get up and speak, why I could live alone so early...At one point I looked at them, realizing most were sophomores, and reminded them that it had been my choice to go to college at 16. No one handed me that opportunity, I had to both find and earn it. I looked at them and asked how many would be ready to start college in the fall. Met with shy stares, I asked them why. Why aren't you ready for something big? If the standard was to go at 16, would you have been ready because it was expected of you? Are you coasting on someone else's preset guidelines for standardized success rather than working to discover and provide yourself with the opportunities that fit and maximize you? What if you are ready, but you haven't pushed yourself to find out? No one can see the depths of our power except for us, and thus no one else can be responsible if they are not reached. The deepest parts of the ocean are the darkest but also hold the most powerful tides.Though I have no idea why I found that drive so early in life, I reminded them that there was nothing stopping them from doing the same. Getting into college took three steps: apply, get accepted, decide to go. Most people don't take the first till someone tells them.
Don't wait for cues. Life is a constant search for your own Mariana Trench. That's why we have to stop bullying; no one should stand in the way of you and your search for greatness. | <urn:uuid:2c0038b3-d064-46b6-bcf0-f3f00a7e4e19> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.missnewyork2011.blogspot.com/2012/02/rochester-stem-high-school.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982627 | 373 | 2.015625 | 2 |
TEACHING AND LIVING AT OLDFIELDS
As a residential school, a career at Oldfields entails devoting yourself to working with students not only in the classroom, but also in many extra-curricular activities including in the dorms, on the fields, at dinner, and many other places on campus. The rewards from such a life are incomparable.
When one of your students proceeds down Graduation Hill, you know you have made a difference. We seek to offer you opportunities to share your talents, experience and passions with our students as we strive to realize our mission and motto. If this interests you, please contact Dr. Parny Hagerman
PHILOSOPHY OF PROFESSIONALISM
Oldfields School is committed to the intellectual and professional growth of its employees. In a culture of equity and mutual respect, and in a professional and collaborative manner, we encourage each member of the faculty, administration, and staff to maximize his or her performance and responsibility to the School, while living within its mission, motto, and five core principles.
Faculty, administrators, and staff are passionate about their work with young women and are dedicated to living and working within a residential community. All employees feel a true sense of mission and purpose, embracing the School’s motto of Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart.
Each has the courage to be innovative while honoring the values and traditions of the School. Each has the humility to seek the best in themselves, their peers, and the students, while committing to lifelong learning. Each has the largeness of heart to nurture each girl's social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Faculty, administrators, and staff are compelled to offer the time and effort needed to achieve the mission and goals of Oldfields School. | <urn:uuid:06d787df-0285-4ebe-b5fa-55a6c6a57ee1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oldfieldsschool.org/page.cfm?p=368 | 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 | 0.959113 | 367 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Browse notable lawyers such as John Ashcroft, Caroline Kennedy, and Clarence Darrow.
Lawyer, U.S. President, U.S. Representative / 1961 -
Barack Obama is the 44th and current president of the United States, and the first African American to serve as U.S. president. First elected to the presidency in 2008, he won a second term in 2012.
Economist, Lawyer, Military Leader, Political Scientist, Journalist, Government Official / 1755 - 1804
Alexander Hamilton, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and major author of the Federalist papers, was the United States' first secretary of the treasury.
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, U.S. President, U.S. Representative / 1809 - 1865
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He preserved the Union during the U.S. Civil War and brought about the emancipation of slaves.
Lawyer, Judge, U.S. President, U.S. Representative / 1767 - 1845
Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States. He is known for founding the Democratic Party and for his support of individual liberty.
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, Judge, Supreme Court Justice / 1908 - 1993
Thurgood Marshall was instrumental in ending legal segregation and became the first African-American justice of the Supreme Court.
Got something to say?blog comments powered by Disqus
profile name: Barack Obama profile occupation: Lawyer, U.S. President, U.S. Representative
profile id: 9382540
profile name: Abraham Lincoln profile occupation: Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, U.S. President, U.S. Representative
profile id: 307592
profile name: Michelle Obama profile occupation: Lawyer, U.S. First Lady
profile id: 9326481
profile name: Alexander Hamilton profile occupation: Economist, Lawyer, Military Leader, Political Scientist, Journalist, Government Official
profile id: 9350991
profile name: Andrew Jackson profile occupation: Lawyer, Judge, U.S. President, U.S. Representative
profile id: 9400241
profile name: Thurgood Marshall profile occupation: Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, Judge, Supreme Court Justice
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Your Friends' Connections
Other groups you may
be interested in
Shaquille O'Neal, Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James are just a few of the most well-known basketball players to have competed in the Olympic Games. The men's and women's national teams, often comprised of some of the top American professional and college players, have proven to be two of the most successful teams from the U.S. Since their first Olympic appearance in 1936, the men's team has taken home a total of 13 gold medals, with the women not far behind, claiming six since their start in 1976. From legendary figures like Michael Jordan to female powerhouses like Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, Biography looks at the most famous names who have dominated the Olympic courts.
15 people in this group
The 2012 London Summer Olympic Games set the stage for fierce competition among the world's top athletes in track and field, boxing, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and basketball, among other sports. Explore Biography.com's list of Olympic 2012 Athletes, from swimmers Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte to javelin-throwing beauty Leryn Franco, to swift track stars Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sanya Richards-Ross, and more.
49 people in this group
Olympic 2012 Athletes
68 people in this group | <urn:uuid:00dc092a-2dd4-400d-8e79-d008e526c3a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biography.com/people/groups/legal-professionals/lawyers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928959 | 799 | 2.421875 | 2 |
The Sanford School of Public Policy is a leader in advancing Duke University’s mission to place “knowledge at the service of society.” The Sanford School offers an open, interdisciplinary environment where students can build on their diverse backgrounds by engaging in classroom experiences and real-world problem solving.
The school seeks students with passion, purpose, and sharp, analytical minds who want to gain the knowledge and practical skills they need to transform great ideas into workable policies. After becoming Duke’s tenth school in July 2009, Sanford is equipped, now more than ever, to help students make their ambitions a reality.
"Sanford's career services office introduced me to a lot of networking techniques that I wasn’t familiar with before. That’s what made my DC trip so good - they’d taught me about alumni networking and how to use those connections... I got to meet people who were more geared toward my field of interest and take full advantage of that experience."
Loren Crippin, MPP ’07
Advocacy Coordinator, American Immigration Lawyers Association | <urn:uuid:e5b7fa7e-cf2d-4f56-9965-ff66b30aed61> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sanford.duke.edu/prospective/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96093 | 223 | 1.5 | 2 |
The commitment to deliver help and healing is a shining star of hope.
by Charles Miller, S.M.
Seven children between the ages of 2 and 13 played hide-and-seek around and in their small, jerry-built home on the edge of Beit Jala, a largely Christian village near Bethlehem. Two of the nervously grinning boys offered a gift to the visitors bullets of various sizes found around their home.
Father Guido Gockel, a Mill Hill Missionary who is CNEWAs Regional Director for Palestine, Israel and Cyprus, inspected the house, its windows broken and interior walls darkened by soot and smoke from the fire of an Israeli tank shell. The shell had torn through one bedroom wall and destroyed much of the house.
The childrens mother turned to Diana Mubarak, Director of Social Services for the Palestinian Authority, who had accompanied Father Guido, and told her in Arabic: You probably dont remember me, but when you picked me up off the street when I was a teen-age runaway 15 years ago, you saved my life.
My husband and I dont have much, she said, but we do have our children alive and our own little home that my husband has been working on
until the shooting started.
Diana admitted she could not clearly place the woman she had saved; there were too many such cases over the 27 years of her career as a social worker.
Abused women and children, as well as persons with physical or mental disabilities, are the invisible people in Middle Eastern society, often deliberately kept out of sight by their families. One of the accomplishments in which Diana takes justifiable pride was gaining approval from the Palestinian Authority for the establishment of a center for unwed mothers and abused women and children. It is unique in Palestine.
I will not always be here, so someone has to be able to help them in the future, she said.
The stark reality of life in Bethlehem today is light years removed from the romanticism of Christmas cards and Silent Night. Fifteen months of shelling, sniper fire, road closures and blockades of villages during the Israeli-Palestinian violence have resulted in massive destruction of homes and businesses. With the almost total loss of tourism Bethlehems primary industry unemployment has soared to an all-time high of at least 80 percent.
Bethlehem and its surrounding villages were highly dependent on the tourist trade and were looking to a boom as the new millennium approached. New hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops were built in anticipation of the large influx of pilgrims expected during the Jubilee Year 2000, and thousands of Bethlehem residents worked not only in these but also in comparable positions in nearby Jerusalem. Construction jobs were abundant as foreign aid flowed in, donated to improve streets, renovate building facades and spruce up the city to a degree of beauty never before witnessed in its multi-millennial history. The traditional olive wood and mother-of-pearl carving trades employed many more.
But for more than a year now the hotels have stood empty and new construction is at a standstill. Pilgrims are few. Access to Jerusalem for Palestinians is sporadic at best.
Post a Comment |
Tags: CNEWA War Funding Bethlehem Father Guido Gockel | <urn:uuid:b2e8384e-6fb3-4ea6-ad0b-f8e660a68c08> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnewa.us/default.aspx?ID=944&pagetypeID=4&sitecode=US&pageno=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97268 | 661 | 2.21875 | 2 |
|This material is published under the OGL|
Dust of Tracelessness: This normal-seeming dust is actually a magic powder that can conceal the passage of its possessor and his companions. Tossing a handful of this dust into the air causes a chamber of up to 100 square feet of floor space to become as dusty, dirty, and cobweb-laden as if it had been abandoned and disused for a decade.
A handful of dust sprinkled along a trail causes evidence of the passage of as many as a dozen men and horses to be obliterated for 250 feet back into the distance. The results of the dust are instantaneous, and no magical aura lingers afterward from this use of the dust. Survival checks made to track a quarry across an area affected by this dust have a DC 20 higher than normal. | <urn:uuid:3fa4ed01-36cf-42b5-85ea-a17aa174365e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dungeons.wikia.com/wiki/SRD:Dust_of_Tracelessness | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967311 | 169 | 2.0625 | 2 |
That always was, of course, one of my favorite verses. But now I don't think it really has much meaning since it all hinges upon how I interpret "the LORD" ~ the primary options being either the basically Hindu concept that "Thou art that" (i.e. there is only one Self and each of us is it) or the traditional Theistic concept that there is a God "out there" utterly distinct from us. Now the beauty is that the Bible actually teaches the Hindu concept when it says that we are one with God. So I'll go with that. Then everything in the Bible is redeemed.
Originally Posted by Bob May
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.We are "one with God" in exactly the same way as Christ! We are part of the Godhead ~ eternal as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are divine, as declared by Peter:
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 ∂ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.We are partakers of the Divine Nature, one with God in exactly the same way as Christ himself.
How's that for a Christmas gift?
Merry Christmas one and all! (Or shall we say One and One or "I and I" as would our Rastafarian brothers and sisters?) | <urn:uuid:8af5ca15-e66d-47d1-b013-838866f0828d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biblewheel.com/forum/showthread.php?2619-Looking-for-Dumbo/page21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974176 | 475 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Posted at: 02/05/2013 11:30 PM
Updated at: 02/05/2013 11:41 PM
By: Lynette Adams
The parents of one of the Honeoye students accused of hazing spoke out Tuesday night. They aren't denying their sons actions, but question if the punishment is too harsh.
School Superintendent David Bills refused to speak on camera, but in a statement Tuesday afternoon he confirmed that the District had found evidence of hazing by a number of students taking part in an extracurricular sports activity.
The parents who spoke with News10NBC say the incident involved six high school varsity basketball players and it happened on a school bus after a game.
The parents say they are hurt and disappointed by this situation.
“I couldn't imagine what hazing meant until I talked to my son and a few of the other boys and they explained what they had done,” said Beth Finster.
Tom and Beth Finster are still trying to make sense of it all.
The Finsters say on Monday their son was among six Honeoye seniors, all members of the varsity basketball team, suspended for hazing. Teens the Finsters say are good students, top-notch athletes, wholesome kids.
“They did give some wedgies, they did give some noogies, things like that,” said Beth.
News10NBC asked the Finsters if they thought the act was malicious.
“No, not at all. Nobody on the bus had the intention to do this maliciously to one or another,” said Beth.
“I think the word hazing leads people to believe it's worse than it is. I don't think the kids meant to hurt anybody. It wasn't intentional to make anybody cry. It was like a high five in their eyes,” said Beth.
But the School District has interpreted these acts as hazing and the Finsters say their son has been suspended for five days. They also say the remaining three games of the season are canceled as well as Senior Night, the event where the senior varsity players and their families are recognized.
Harsh discipline they say for teens who, in these parents eyes, made a bad choice, not a conscious decision to hurt someone.
“I think it's mortifying to us as parents that this has come out as hazing,” said Beth.
“We're here to protect all our children,” said Tom.
The Finsters want to make it clear they are not angry with the School District, but they want people to know these six students are not troubled kids. What happened, they say, is somewhat of a rite of passage for high school boys that's gone on for years.
“It's sad they're taking the rap for what's been done over and over again,” said Beth.
In another part of the statement sent to News10NBC by the Honeoye School Superintendent the District says:
“We take hazing accusations very seriously and we will continue to gather information and take any necessary actions."
The District's statement goes on to say that they take hazing allegations very seriously and they will continue to gather information and take any necessary steps.
The cancelation of the basketball season hurts the team, which is currently 11-4. The Finger Lakes West Champion was scheduled to be announced at one of those final games.
The Finster's son said he didn't want to appear on camera to comment. He says he and his teammates have decided to avoid any public comments for now. | <urn:uuid:f02f9b1c-5f97-4adf-992a-131f787e0f8b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hbispace.com/printStory/whec/index.cfm?id=2921870 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983839 | 753 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Sukkot and the Farm Bill
September 28th 2012 / 12th Tishrei 5773
Sukkot starts on Sunday. It’s one of my favorite holidays: Sitting in a succah; the lulav and etrog; celebrating the harvest; feeling exposed to the world – in good ways; thinking about relationship to place – both locally, and in relation to Israel. Celebrating the change of season.
Liz and I are going to Isabella Freedman for Sukkahfest this Sunday – Freedman being the perfect place to spend Sukkot, as the New England leaves start to change color; and Sukkot being the perfect time to be at Isabella Freedman, especially since this year the succah, which is huge and beautiful, has a solid foundation, and thus won’t slide into the mud if it rains, which the weather forecast says is statistically unlikely. (Sukkahfest is almost sold-out, but to get one of the last reservations, or to join a list for cancellations, check Isabella Freedman’s website.)
This year, Sukkot will also coincide with the legal expiry of the current Farm Bill. What a long strange trip it’s been: a multi-year journey to a vital and complex piece of legislation, that’s not now going to proceed. I’ll say more in a moment about what I think will happen. But, first, in terms of the background:
- the Senate Agriculture Committee, and then the full Senate, voted for a proposed piece of legislation that was quite good in various respects. A prescient article in Mother Jones on June 22nd said that it could have been worse – and that the House version would be worse.
- The House version in due course was indeed a lot worse, including more than $12 billion in additional cuts in food stamps, but it only went through the House Ag Committee; it didn’t go through the full House, nor then get reconciled; and now Congress is on recess, which is why the 2008 bill will now expire;
- An article in the New York Times on September 12th contains a more radical critique of the Farm Bill, and one that I think is valid: The Farm Bill Should Help the Planet, Not Just Crops
- the Senate version – though not the House version – included $100m to support DoubleUpFoodBucks, which we argued for strongly. I hope that this provision makes it through into the 2013 versions. Similarly, there’s a trenchant piece by Jonathan Zasloff just up on the Jew & the Carrot, specifically about the foreign aid provisions of the Farm Bill. As a proportion of the overall farm bill, these provisions are relatively tiny, but their impact is significant. This is one of the areas where the Jewish community may be able to make a difference: If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention
So what happens now? Nothing will happen till a new Congress takes office, after the elections. Probably at some point this winter an extension of key provisions of the last Farm Bill will be approved, for a limited time. That will then shuffle consideration of a full-scale new Farm Bill into 2013.
For now, therefore, I’d say: watch this space. Don’t be deterred by a sense of disempowerment. Certainly – of course – you should vote in this fall’s congressional and presidential elections (and the smaller elections as well – the new West Wing Reunion video, encouraging you to vote, is superb). And certainly you should carry on learning about the Farm Bill, and about how we could develop more sustainable food systems in this country. There’s news and links – including a live twitter feed – at www.hazon.org/farmbill. The Jewish Farm Bill Working Group, of which we are founding members, will regroup after the chagim to figure out if/how we can seek to make a more sustained impact. (This year we made a reasonable start).
The single most valuable thing you can do is to learn about the issues, and get directly in touch with your elected officials. A comprehensive Farm Bill should be supporting and strengthening sustainable food systems, providing support for people in need, and reducing the amount of taxpayer money that goes to industrial monoculture – either directly, via subsidies, or indirectly, via mispriced crop insurance.
Sukkot comes to celebrate the harvest, to remind us of our vulnerability, and to inaugurate – we hope – a period of rains that will enable next year’s crop to grow healthily. Kein yehi ratzon – may this be a year of health and sustainability for us all.
Shabbat shalom, chag sameach,
Executive Director, Hazon | <urn:uuid:ff83b8c8-9e8c-4ec6-86cf-bcea0c197d7c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hazon.org/sukkot-and-the-farm-bill/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942189 | 1,011 | 1.53125 | 2 |
In this section you will find information about:
Special collaborations section includes any activities we have done for a specific purpose in collaboration with schools and other institutions. In this section you will see pictures made to be exposed, mural projects for the implementation of mosaics and all that we proposed and is in line with our objectives.
Designs and posters
This is where all those jobs that we have been responsible for communications of all kinds. From text book covers to posters of events that Violet has been invited to participate.
Sometimes we get our original walk to see the world. In this section, you will see reflected the opinions of when and where it happened.
Newspapers and magazines
Journals also have done some manual intervention to accompany one or more of your articles or reports.
Finally in this section, you can see how Violet poses some of their workshops so that all those who do not know, you can have an accurate idea of what it can offer in their encounters with children and parents, teachers and people interested in literature and art. | <urn:uuid:30ac080f-ce90-4ce8-8992-e7f740ab3be8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.violetamonreal.com/portal/Colaboraciones/tabid/109/language/en-US/Default.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962088 | 211 | 2.390625 | 2 |
Get flash to fully experience Pearltrees
REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 20, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a new global initiative, Microsoft YouthSpark , that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years. This companywide initiative includes citizenship and other company programs — both new and enhanced — that empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship. Through Microsoft YouthSpark, the company will dedicate the majority of its cash contributions to nonprofits that serve the youth population around the world.
Don't Forget to participate in a contest where you can win the world's biggest UI elements pack "Impressionist User Interface Elements Pack" for 3 winners (1 developer license and 2 personal license) to design your project more creatively. There are many free alternatives to Microsoft Word that you can use without paying a single penny. This is a good news for those who think that there is no alternative to MS Word and thus, they have to depend on MS Word for all their documentation needs. In this round up, we are showcasing 11 free alternatives to the costly Microsoft Word application. All of these alternatives are easy to use and you can start using them very quickly as well as without any difficulty. Some of these alternatives are online applications while some require you to download them on your system’s hard drive from where you can install them to your local computer.
As I mentioned in my previous post I hope that my curation blog will provide gateway to knowledge for many teachers and students from Romania and worldwide because I will try to describe weekly gr8 new and useful resources(applications and tools web 2.0 and social media) that make educational process to be impressive and enjoyable for students. Take this opportunity to launch a chat on twitter # roedchat for Romanian teachers interested in integrating new online technologies in education in XXI century. Your feedback and comments are welcome for my blog posts .
Educators are spoiled. As one amazing digital tool after another is introduced and improved, we continue to want more enhancements. So, don’t blame us for wanting Microsoft to improve Skype to further support student collaboration, problem-solving, and learning. Imagine students and teachers chatting with one another while jointly analyzing or creating a document. The document is displayed alongside live video feed with collaborators in multiple locations. One student makes a text-based reference to illustrate a point while highlighting the cited text so others may easily focus on it.
Guest blog post from Anthony Salcito: The New Era of Digital Learning was fully on display in London early this week, when educators became developers for 24 hours in the first-ever Windows 8 App-a-thon at the British Education Technology & Training (BETT) Show. On Monday, January 28th and Tuesday, January 29th, 21 Partners in Learning Innovative Teachers from Europe were invited to turn their idea for a Windows 8 Education App into reality, and the results were phenomenal. For background, last October Microsoft invited 53 teachers from across Europe to participate in Virtual Universities led by Peli de Halleux from Microsoft Research in October. The purpose was to build apps for educators on the Windows 8 platform using Touch Develop .
28 January 2011 Skills are the link to the successful economies of Europe 2020. The way in which we forecast skills demands, provide access to relevant learning tools and engage Europeans more readily in ongoing workforce development will rapidly impact the job profiles and employment opportunities seen on the European market. We recognise the need for a more wide-spread structured approach to training and higher incentives for industry to invest in the people behind the scenes of an innovative labour market. Indeed, necessary to meet the ambitious target of a 75 % employment rate in Europe. | <urn:uuid:cae2f4b8-3e18-41d9-a631-1cffe5047685> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pearltrees.com/web20education/microsoft/id1716583 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94385 | 768 | 1.679688 | 2 |
FAIRFIELD — Sally Silvia, Tonya Kent, Ana Espino and Rhuvenette Alums believe that girls, especially teenage girls, need a little bit of guidance to help them make good decisions.
With all the issues that face teenage girls today – from body image to relationships to family life – it can be difficult for young women to find themselves, Kent said.
“I didn’t have a voice until I found who I was,” Kent said.
Silvia said what these girls don’t need is an authoritative figure telling them what to do nor should they aspire to be somebody else. They just need somebody to talk to, somebody who will hear them but won’t judge them and won’t breach their confidentiality. They also need somebody who has been where they’ve been and grown from their life choices.
Silvia, Kent, Espino and Alums are all fully grown adults – though they preferred not to share their ages – who said they have made good and bad life decisions and learned from them. They said it took them a while, however, to have a good sense of self. They said they don’t want young women today to wait until their 40s, 50s and 60s to get their life together.
The Matt Garcia Youth Center holds a weekly confidential meeting called Girls Circle where teenage girls ages 13 to 17 can discuss various issues affecting them in a safe and confidential environment.
The group is funded by Soroptimist International of Central Solano County, and Silvia and Alums are members. Kent and Espino are volunteers for Girls Circle along with Nowell Darwazeh and Erica Sanders.
The group meets one hour on Wednesdays to discuss different topics. The volunteers teach a pre-planned curriculum from the One Circle Foundation. Currently the group is discussing the topic of body image. Over several weeks, the group will discuss body image in the media and also body image and self esteem.
Every meeting begins with the girls discussing their high points and low points of the week. Their highs might be as simple as eating ice cream or being on time for school. But the lows can sometimes bring out the emotions. The volunteers, offering their support, said they hope the girls don’t have these lows, but they encourage the confidential discussion.
The experience can be cathartic for a lot of the girls, Espino said.
“It gets emotional,” she said. “But it helps take them to a new step of healing.”
The meetings have helped many of the girls become more comfortable with themselves.
Kalia Wells, for example, was fairly new to the group but through the meetings she hoped “to control myself . . . and to talk to people and not be scared.”
Jaybriana Jacobs likes how comfortable she feels with the other girls in the group.
“I like how when you come here you can’t be judged by what you say,” she said.
Just having a person or persons to talk to without fear of judgment can go so far in helping young women, Alums said.
“It bothers me so many women can’t be themselves,” she said. “Any piece I can do to pass more wisdom along I’ll do.”
To join Girls Circle, call the Matt Garcia Youth Center at 249-1379.
Reach Heather Ah San at 427-6977 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HeatherMalia. | <urn:uuid:41db988b-dea3-40dc-bad7-8887a37d4266> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/education-news/adult-volunteers-helping-young-women-with-life-choices/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961728 | 752 | 1.8125 | 2 |
What it will take to heal U.S. diplomacy.
The next president must repair our tarnished image in the world and restore some of our lost power. The good news is that, in some respects, the one goal goes along with the other. The bad news is that both are harder than they may seem, because our diminished condition stems not just from President Bush's policies but from our victory in the Cold War, which paradoxically made us weaker.
This seems odd at first glance (didn't we emerge as "the sole superpower"?), but for all its horrors, the Cold War was a system of international security. The world was dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union, and the countries in between often subordinated their own interests to accommodate—in the West by choice, in the East by force—the interests of their superpower protector. When the USSR evaporated, we didn't step into the vacuum; the vacuum expanded. Old allies realized they could go their own ways and pursue their own interests with less regard for what Washington thought. Other powers—China especially—moved up in the world, offering alternative alignments.
Bush accelerated this development by failing to recognize it. He and his top aides thought that since we were now all-powerful, allies were no longer necessary—when, in fact, they were more necessary, and harder to lure, than ever. The next president will have to do what Bush failed to do—step up diplomatic activity, renovate old alliances, devise new ones—not just because diplomacy is preferable to war but because we have no choice. In short, if handled shrewdly, the things the next president must do to repair our image will also enhance our power.
Here are some of the main things:
· Travel to all the Middle East countries and leave behind a full-time envoy to the region. It is appalling that President Bush made his first trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories in his final year and, even then, did nothing—and that he assured the envoy whom he did (finally) appoint that the job was a part-time post. The real agenda at the Annapolis summit, just before then, was to corral the Sunni nations into an anti-Iran coalition. But that won't happen—the leaders won't ally themselves so openly with the United States—until we at least seem to get serious about the Israeli-Palestinian talks. Each of the region's problems has its own dynamic, but each is also linked to the others. Bush has always known this. In 2002-03, he thought that the road to Jerusalem went through Baghdad (i.e., that by toppling Saddam and transforming Iraq into a democracy, the neighboring dictators would fall like dominoes)—when, if anything, the road goes in the opposite direction. Bush's father and Bill Clinton employed Dennis Ross as a full-time Middle East envoy. His job was to douse the flame whenever anyone lit a match and to pounce on any opportunity for a strategic breakthrough. As long as Arafat ruled the PLO, such opportunities were perhaps illusory. Ross or someone like him should go back to do what he used to do—in a more fluid, intriguing setting.
· Iraq: Use the troops as leverage. Most Democrats realize that total withdrawal in the next few years is impractical. If John McCain is elected, the Joint Chiefs will inform him that his vision of a 100-year occupation is impossible. (If deployments continue at anywhere near current levels, the Army might break before the end of his first term.) The goal should be to withdraw as quickly as possible while trying to keep Iraq from going up in flames. Some believe Iraq's leaders won't get their act together until they see that we really are leaving. Maybe. But it's equally, if not more, plausible that there is no act for them to get together and that the prospect of our departure will drive each faction to retreat and prepare for the imminent civil war. The major parties want us to leave—but not now. One way to exploit this ambivalence: Start the withdrawal but attach benchmarks. (The old benchmarks, which Bush put in place but ignored when they weren't met, might still be suitable.) If the Iraqis meet certain benchmarks, we'll suspend the withdrawal and help consolidate the progress until the next benchmark. If the Iraqis fail to meet them, we will continue the withdrawal. The surge—in fact, our entire military presence—is a means to an end: an instrument to provide security while Iraq's leaders settle their sectarian feuds. If the feuds are irresolvable, we can do only so much; there is little point in keeping our thumbs (and most of our fingers) plugging up holes in the bursting dike. If Iraq were like South Korea or postwar Europe (or even Bosnia), that would be one thing; but no Americans died in combat after those wars were over and the long occupations began. That's not the case with Iraq.
· Prevent Iraq's internal violence from spreading into neighboring countries. One can imagine Iran intervening to help the Shiites; Saudi Arabia or Egypt or Jordan stepping up to aid the Sunnis; Turkey moving in to crush the Kurds—in short, the civil war morphing into a regionwide conflagration. The next president, working with the United Nations, the Arab League, or whatever entities are suitable, should convene a regional conference. There should be no utopian aspirations. It should be a businesslike office where delegates of the interested nations regularly meet, so that if the violence does begin to spread, there will already be a forum for trying to contain it. This measure would save many days or weeks—which could mean all the difference in the world.
· In certain neighboring countries … In 2006, Condoleezza Rice was asked why she wasn't talking with Syria. She replied, "The Syrians know what they need to do." Maybe, but they didn't know what was in it for them if they did—what they would get for walking away from the Iranians and coming over to our side. Spelling out the trade is what diplomacy is about. Maybe there's nothing we can reasonably offer that they'd accept; but there's no harm in trying.
· Separately, open up talks with Iran with an eye toward negotiating a "grand bargain." These talks should cover all issues—including Western capital investment and the end of sanctions in exchange for concessions on enriching uranium and supporting terrorism. This effort may not go anywhere. But Bush's hostile rhetoric has only bolstered Ahmadinejad's domestic support. Diplomatic overtures, if made openly and (by all appearances) sincerely, may undermine his resistance to reform.
· Work toward new Pakistani alliances. In Pakistan, the situation is so fluid and uncertain, it's hard to know at this point what policies ought to be pursued 10 months from now. But backing away from Musharraf and moving toward whatever coalition of parties the Pakistani people support (as long as the Taliban or al-Qaida aren't involved) would be a smart move. In these kinds of situations, it's wise to invoke the Realist's slogan: Nations have interests, not friends. (In this case, our hardheaded security interests and our moral aspirations—to create conditions for the survival and, if possible, the spread of democracy—coincide.)
· Pursue public diplomacy. What we do sends a more potent signal to the world than the cleverest PR campaign. But once we start doing smarter things, we should also be smart about promoting our efforts. For instance: Revive the U.S. Information Agency—a once-vast independent entity that (though lecture programs, libraries, concerts, etc.) promoted not American policy but American values. Send as emissaries abroad people who understand the language and the area (not well-meaning provincials like Karen Hughes). Expand the Foreign Service. Offer scholarships for intense study in crucial languages. Train customs officers to treat foreign visitors more courteously at embassies and airports. It should be possible to be vigilant about security without assuming that every tourist is a terrorist.
Fred Kaplan is Slate's "War Stories" columnist and the author of Daydream Believers: How a Few Grand Ideas Wrecked American Power. | <urn:uuid:1e0582af-81eb-4a3a-bc0d-e06d332e204c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://snuffysmithsblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-will-it-take-to-heal-us-diplomacy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969597 | 1,695 | 1.9375 | 2 |
Among the world’s great religious leaders, only two had such a profound impact that contemporaries inquired as to the very nature of their being.1 People wondered whether Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) and Jesus of Nazareth (the Christ) were more than mere human beings. While both are known as great teachers and profound souls, the identity, mission, and message of these two men couldn’t be more different.
Like Christianity, the religion of Buddhism is traced to a single individual. That person is Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563–480 B.C.). While mixtures of myth and legend make it impossible to completely reconstruct the life of the Buddha, there is a historical core of information known about him.2
Siddhartha Gautama was born into the Indian Sakyas clan in the sixth century B.C. in Nepal near its border with India. Siddhartha’s father was the feudal lord of the Sakyas people and created a life of luxury for his son. Siddhartha is said to have had three palaces with 40,000 dancing girls at his disposal. He received a cultured education that included studies in the arts, warfare (the martial arts), and philosophy. He later married a neighboring princess and they had a son together.
Siddhartha gradually grew discontented with his life of affluence and hedonism. Upon taking a chariot ride into the city he encountered the “Four Passing Sights” (an old man, a diseased man, a dead man, and a monk). These sights represent Siddhartha’s first glimpse of human misery and they profoundly impacted him. For the first time he began to reflect upon the problem of suffering. At age 29, he renounced the pleasures of the princely life, left his family and privileged position behind, and became a truth-seeker. He wanted to uncover the causes and cure of the universal problem of human suffering.
Siddhartha’s search for enlightenment lasted six years and moved through three distinctive phases. First, he studied Hindu philosophy and meditation from the Indian Yogis. Second, he encountered some Jain monks (an offshoot of Hinduism) and adopted their extreme form of asceticism (self-denial). Nearly starving himself to death, he found asceticism no more revealing than his former life of affluence. Third, now fatigued and desperate for genuine enlightenment, he sat in the lotus position before the Bodhi Tree in meditation. He decided that he would remain in this “immovable spot” until he was enlightened or dead of starvation. On the forty-ninth day, Siddhartha Gautama experienced the ultimate transformation of consciousness (“Nirvana”) and became “the Buddha”—the “enlightened one” or “awakened one.”
Nirvana is the supreme goal of Buddhism for it breaks the cycling of rebirths (reincarnation). The word “Nirvana” literally means “blowing out” the flame of passion (desire is eliminated). Understood as extinguishing the self (nothingness, the Void), some define Nirvana as continuation of consciousness in a mystical state.
This enlightened state allowed Buddha to understand the causes of, and solution to, the human cycle of suffering. The Buddha’s teaching core consisted of the “Four Noble Truths.”
Four Noble Truths
- Dukkha: The true nature of existence is suffering (sickness, pain, fear, death).
- Trishna: Misery is rooted in ignorant craving (Tanha: desire for attachment to the illusory world).
- Cessation: Suffering can be abolished by eliminating the desire for attachment (stop the desiring and the suffering stops).
- The Eightfold Path: Stop the desiring through concentrated effort (preparation for Nirvana). The Eightfold path consists of moral, intellectual, and spiritual development leading to enlightenment (transformed consciousness).
The Buddha subsequently conducted a 45-year missionary career of converting people to his religion of mystical enlightenment. He died at the age of about 80 years.
The Buddha and the Christ
The title “Buddha” means one who has awakened from an illusory state of consciousness. The title “Christ” is Greek for the Hebrew word “Messiah,” meaning the “anointed one”—the special one who would do God’s bidding.
Eight Ways Buddha and Christ Differ
- History: While the life of the Buddha is wrapped in legend and evolving speculation, Christ is a historical figure whose life, death, and resurrection is rooted in facts of history.
- Nature: Though the Buddha held an awakened state of consciousness, he was merely a human being, whereas the Christ reveals himself to be both God and man (a single person with both a divine and human nature).
- Character: The Buddha, even with an enlightened consciousness, had moral weaknesses and limitations. Christ, on the other hand, was morally perfect.
- Mission: The Buddha’s mission was to help others achieve Nirvana. Christ’s mission was to rescue sinners by providing a sacrifice for sin.
- Role: The Buddha himself is not crucial to the essence of Buddhism (the Four Noble Truths are the heart of the Buddhist philosophy). On the other hand, historic Christianity is all about Christ (emphasizing his person, nature, life, death, and resurrection).
- Suffering: The Buddha sought to eliminate suffering through resignation. Christ suffered with and for sinners in order to reconcile them to God.
- Life: Buddha’s message is life-denying. Christ’s message is life-affirming.
- Future: The Buddha offers many lives of suffering with the only hope being extinction (Nirvana). The Christ offers resurrection for the dead and eternal life with God.
Jesus Christ presents a vision of life and reality that is far superior to that of the Buddha. For the historic Christian worldandlife view is uniquely reasonable, testable, viable, workable, livable, and hopeful.
Some Major Tenets.
Some Major Tenets
|Problem: Karma (attachment)||Problem: Sin|
|Need: Emptiness||Need: God-shaped hole|
|Solution: Resignation||Solution: Faith and Repentance|
|Ultimate: Nirvana||Ultimate: Personal Redemption|
|Assurance: No||Assurance: Yes|
|Deity: Atheism, Polytheism||Deity: Trinitarian Monotheism|
|Worldview: Monism||Worldview: Theism|
|Cosmos: Beginningless / Endless||Cosmos: Creation ex nihilo|
|Humans: No soul (anatman)||Humans: Imago Dei|
|Knowledge: Mysticism||Knowledge: Revelation|
|History: Cyclical||History: Linear|
1 Huston Smith, The World’s Religions (San Francisco: Harper, 1991), 82.
2 Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998). | <urn:uuid:2fdf97d1-ac88-4648-95b6-d62e9bd9162a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reasons.org/articles/religious-faces-in-the-crowd-the-buddha-and-the-christ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933581 | 1,520 | 3.734375 | 4 |
He entered in, he looked around,
Nor in the house his father found;
Then to his mother's dwelling, bent
To see her face, he quickly went.
She saw her son, so long away,
Returning after many a day,
And from her golden seat in joy
Sprung forward to her darling boy.
Within the bower, no longer bright,
Came Bharat lover of the right,
And bending with observance sweet
Clasped his dear mother's lovely feet.
Long kisses on his brow she pressed,
And held her hero to her breast,
Then fondly drew him to her knees,
And questioned him in words like these:
'How many nights have fled, since thou
Leftest thy grandsire's home, till now?
By flying steeds so swiftly borne,
Art thou not weak and travel-worn?
How fares the king my father, tell:
Is Yudhájit thine uncle well?
And now, my son, at length declare
The pleasure of the visit there.'
Thus to the offspring of the king
She spake with tender questioning,
And to his mother made reply
Young Bharat of the lotus eye:
'The seventh night has come and fled
Since from my grandsire's home I sped:
My mother's sire is well, and he,
Yudhájit, from all trouble free.
The gold and every precious thing
Presented by the conqueror king,
The slower guards behind convey:
I left them weary on the way.
Urged by the men my father sent,
My hasty course I hither bent:
Now, I implore, an answer deign,
And all I wish to know, explain.
Unoccupied I now behold
This couch of thine adorned with gold,
And each of King Ikshváku's race
Appears with dark and gloomy face.
The king is aye, my mother dear,
Most constant in his visits here.
To meet my sire I sought this spot:
How is it that I find him not?
I long to clasp my father's feet:
Say where he lingers, I entreat.
Perchance the monarch may be seen
Where dwells Kaus'alyá, eldest queen.'
His father's fate, from him concealed.
Kaikeyí to her son revealed:
Told as glad news the story sad,
For lust of sway had made her mad:
'Thy father, O my darling, know,
Has gone the way all life must go:
Devout and famed, of lofty thought,
In whom the good their refuge sought.'
When Bharat pious, pure, and true,
Heard the sad words which pierced him through,
Grieved for the sire he loved so well
Prostrate upon the ground he fell:
Down fell the strong-armed hero, high
Tossing his arms, and a sad cry,
'Ah, woe is me, unhappy, slain!'
Burst from his lips again, again,
Afflicted for his father's fate
By grief's intolerable weight,
With every sense amazed and cowed
The splendid hero wailed aloud:
'Ah me, my royal father's bed
Of old a gentle radiance shed,
Like the pure sky when clouds are past,
And the moon's light is o'er it cast:
Ah, of its wisest lord bereft,
It shows to-day faint radiance left,
As when the moon has left the sky.
Or mighty Ocean's depths are dry.'
With choking sobs, with many a tear.
Pierced to the heart with grief sincere,
The best of conquerors poured his sighs,
And with his robe veiled face and eyes.
Kaikeyí saw him fallen there,
Godlike, afflicted, in despair,
Used every art to move him thence,
And tried him thus with eloquence:
'Arise, arise, my dearest; why
Wilt thou, famed Prince, so lowly lie?
Not by such grief as this are moved
Good men like thee, by all approved.
The earth thy father nobly swayed,
And rites to Heaven he duly paid.
At length his race of life was run:
Thou shouldst not mourn for him, my son.'
Long on the ground he wept, and rolled
From side to side, still unconsoled,
And then, with bitter grief oppressed,
His mother with those words addressed:
'This joyful hope my bosom fed
When from my grandsire's halls I sped--
'The king will throne his eldest son,
And sacrifice, as should be done.'
But all is changed, my hope was vain,
And this sad heart is rent in twain,
For my dear father's face I miss,
Who ever sought his loved ones' bliss.
But in my absence, mother, say,
What sickness took my sire away?
Ah, happy Ráma, happy they
Allowed his funeral rites to pay!
The glorious monarch has not learned
That I his darling have returned,
Or quickly had he hither sped,
And pressed his kisses on my head.
Where is that hand whose gentle touch,
Most soft and kind I loved so much,
The hand that loved to brush away
The dust that on his darling lay?
Quick, bear the news to Ráma's ear;
Tell the great chief that I am here:
Brother, and sire, and friend, and all
Is he, and I his trusty thrall,
For noble hearts, to virtue true,
Their sires in elder brothers view.
To clasp his feet I fain would bow:
He is my hope and refuge now.
What said my glorious sire, who knew
Virtue and vice, so brave and true?
Firm in his vows, dear lady, say,
What said he ere he passed away?
What was his rede to me? I crave
To hear the last advice he gave.'
Thus closely questioned by the youth,
Kaikeyi spoke the mournful truth:
'The high-souled monarch wept and sighed,
For Ráma, Sítá, Lakshman, cried,
Then, best of all who go to bliss,
Passed to the world which follows this.
'Ah, blessed are the people who
Shall Ráma and his Sítá view,
And Lakshman of the mighty arm,
Returning free from scathe and harm.'
Such were the words, the last of all,
Thy father, ere he died, let fall,
By Fate and Death's dread coils enwound,
As some great elephant is bound.'
He heard, yet deeper in despair,
Her lips this double woe declare,
And with sad brow that showed his pain
Questioned his mother thus again:
'But where is he, of virtue tried,
Who fills Kaus'alyá's heart with pride,
Where is the noble Ráma? where
Is Lakshman brave, and Sítá fair?'
Thus pressed, the queen began to tell
The story as each thing befell,
And gave her son in words like these,
The mournful news she meant to please:
'The prince is gone in hermit dress
To Dandak's mighty wilderness,
And Lakshman brave and Sítá share
The wanderings of the exile there.'
Then Bharat's soul with fear was stirred
Lest Ráma from the right had erred,
And jealous for ancestral fame,
He put this question to the dame:
'Has Ráma grasped with lawless hold
A Bráhman's house, or land, or gold?
Has Ráma harmed with ill intent
Some poor or wealthy innocent?
Was Ráma, faithless to his vows,
Enamoured of anothers spouse?
Why was he sent to Dandak's wild,
Like one who kills an unborn child?'
He questioned thus: and she began
To tell her deeds and crafty plan.
Deceitful-hearted, fond, and blind
As is the way of womankind:
'No Bráhman's wealth has Ráma seized,
No dame his wandering fancy pleased;
His very eyes he ne'er allows
To gaze upon a neighbour's spouse,
But when I heard the monarch planned
To give the realm to Ráma's hand,
I prayed that Ráma hence might flee,
And claimed the throne, my son, for thee.
The king maintained the name he bare,
And did according to my prayer.
And Ráma, with his brother, sent,
And Sítá, forth to banishment.
When his dear son was seen no more,
The lord of earth was troubled sore:
Too feeble with his grief to strive,
He joined the elemental Five.
Up then, most dutiful! maintain
The royal state, arise, and reign.
For thee, my darling son, for thee
All this was planned and wrought by me.
Come, cast thy grief and pain aside,
With manly courage fortified.
This town and realm are all thine own,
And fear and grief are here unknown.
Come, with Vas'ishtha's guiding aid,
And priests in ritual skilled
Let the king's funeral dues be paid,
And every claim fulfilled.
Perform his obsequies with all
That suits his rank and worth,
Then give the mandate to install
Thyself as lord of earth.' | <urn:uuid:eb2d1efa-1b58-4519-bca8-1d85cc441009> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry150.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942457 | 2,101 | 2.125 | 2 |
How Big is Government? New ‘Map’ Shows Us Nobody Knows
There is a new “map” of the Federal Government, courtesy of the Administrative Conference of the U.S. It is an update of an earlier document created in 1980 by the Congressional Research Service.
National Geographic periodically publishes updated maps of the contours of the U.S. but no institution takes on a similar, arguably more arduous task: updating the contours of the ever-changing federal government. However, in brave attempt, the Administrative Conference has recently updated a long-forgotten “map” last prepared by the Congressional Research Service in 1980. The authors are David Lewis and Jennifer Selin, of Vanderbilt University.
According to its authors, the new Sourcebook of United States Executive Agencies “describes the evolution of the current executive establishment, looks backward to understand what now exists, and analyzes trends to see what may be coming.” So it isn’t just a simple set of organization charts of various agencies, along with key missions and positions (Those already exist in the annually-prepared United States Government Manual and the quadrennially-prepared Plum Book).
How Many Government Agencies Are There?
You would think there would be a simple answer. And you’d be wrong. The authors note that “there is no authoritative list of government agencies” and that “many federal entities do not neatly reside in the executive branch.” They observe that the Government Manual lists 96 independent executive units and 220 components of the executive departments, while the website USA.gov lists 137 independent executive agencies with 268 components. Other sources list different numbers, as well. So the first section of the report addresses the question “What is a Federal Agency?” and comes to no real conclusion because “Congress defines what an ‘agency’ is in relation to particular laws rather than provide one overarching definition.”
For example, is the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation a government agency? It is governed by a board in which two-thirds of the members are selected by private shareholders, not the President.
What about venture capital funds, such as In-Q-Tel?
Not even the courts have offered a definitive answer, so the authors developed their own definition so they could provide a count. They define an agency as “a federal executive instrumentality headed by one or more political appointed nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.”
Characteristics of Federal Agencies
The heart of the Sourcebook isn’t a mere count of agencies or how many work for the government (a more problematic number, if you can’t count the number of agencies in the first place, but the authors say it stands around 2.13 million or 2.85 million civilians, depending on how you count them). The value is in its exploration of the various characteristics of agencies, which are detailed in tables that provide answers to questions such as:
- How many agencies are inside the Executive Office of the President?
- How many appointees are in each of the Executive Departments?
- How many Independent Agencies are there?
- Which bureaus have chiefs appointed with fixed terms?
- What are the different agency-specific personnel systems?
- Which agencies are excluded from OMB review of their budgets, rulemaking, and legislative proposals?
- Which agencies have statutes that provide monies other than through appropriations?
- Which agencies have adjudicatory authority?
- Which Senate committees have jurisdiction over the confirmation of different agency nominees?
- A list of all agencies (based on the definition of the authors) and their acronyms (of course the list begins with the Administrative Conference of the U.S., which sponsored the study!)
The Sourcebook ends with some insights about the creation and design of federal agencies, which could be useful context in discussions to create new agencies, or more importantly, reorganization efforts, which could be on the agenda in coming years. | <urn:uuid:40aa9aee-c562-4674-8e8f-95c1b637e5fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/01/how-big-government-new-map-shows-us-nobody-knows/60697/?oref=eig-homepage-module | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94284 | 830 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Offers Online "Guide To Career Prospects In Virginia"
26, 2001-- Students,
parents, guidance counselors and anyone wanting to learn more about
career outlooks in occupations throughout Virginia can find a trove
of useful information on the World Wide Web from the University
of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
accountants and auto mechanics, to engineers and musicians, to park
rangers and welders, the centers online "Guide to Career
Prospects in Virginia" offers a full range of up-to-date background
material and projections on dozens of occupations. Created by Cooper
Center demographer Julia H. Martin and research associate Achsah
H. Carrier, it is located at www.ccps.virginia.edu/career_prospects/
guide is intended to be a helpful and complete data base about all
the many careers that are important throughout the state, as well
as the nation," said Martin. "In addition to individual
career-seekers, it may be especially useful to educational administrators,
librarians and program planners. It is regularly updated and convenient
career is described in a detailed analysis that tells required educational
levels, school subjects to take, special skills needed, working
conditions, expected earnings levels, and the job outlook for it
guide also offers extensive information on careers and prospects
in 12 regions throughout the state, including projections for annual
job openings locally. It also lists community colleges that offer
related occupational courses in each region and contains Web links
to national information sources in numerous job fields.
in the searchable guide are grouped according to a system of broad
families, such as "health science" and "information
technology," that has been organized by the state Office of
Career and Technical Education.
guide can be searched easily by career families, key words, regions
and other topics, as well as by its list of dozens of careers. It
also suggests ways for students to explore an occupation.
Cooper Center study of "Virginias Changing Workplace,"
describing what employers are looking for in different career areas,
is also included on the Web site.
additional information call (804) 982-5581 or 982-5582.
Bob Brickhouse,(804) 924-6856 | <urn:uuid:446b17a2-05e1-438c-b7c7-96a9020d394a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2001/careers-feb-26-2001.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940585 | 487 | 2.453125 | 2 |
This one is a very log question but easy if you have time to read and solve! It will consume lot of time, so do it at last, (8 Marks)
There are 5 towns - nalanda, thrilothika,
, solanpur and maninagar. So say N, T, S, R, M. Out of these, 4 are capitals, 3 industrial towns, two hill stations, two towns are on same longitude. Population of two cities is less than five lakhs and that of one city is 20 lakhs, also of other two cities is more than 50 lakhs. Thirlothika is an industrial town. Maninagars population is 20 lakhs. There are 4 capitals and two industrial towns. Now some data are given involving longitudes and latitudes such as, one of the hill stations do not lie in the longitude in which the harbour which is also an industrial town lies and so on. rampur and thrilothika lies on same longitude. Solapur and Maninagar lies on same latitude like that. And also, the population of the towns is involved from which the following four questions should be answered, http://www.************* Rampur
combinations were given for each question )
a. Which of the following combination has less than 5 lakhs population.
Ans: Nalanda and
The town which is a harbour, industrial town and capital
c. Which of the following combination have more than 50 lakhs population.
Ans: Thrilothika and solanpur
d. The town that is not a capital
please tel me hw to do this and get this answers.above answers r correct but just let me know the procedure.
3) A cow is standing 5 feet from the middle of the bridge. A train is coming towards the cow at speed of 90 miles per hour from the near end and the train is twice as long as the bridge. If the cow had tried to move forward in the same direction as of the train then the cow would have got hit be three feet. But it moved in opposite direction to the train and saved by one feet. Then What is the length of the bridge?
i have seen the solution for this somwhr in this forum but thats not clear and is mess up.please try to do it clearly(procedure needed)
) A man built a house. He should pay amount to these persons: paper hanger, painter, plumber, merchant , carpenter. He found that, ha should pay for
i heave seen this type of question in many papers but dont know hw to do it plz help me to do it.
thanx in advance. | <urn:uuid:dc7dfc23-b00f-4a1c-a3a5-d6512675ceef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.sureshkumar.net/aptitude-questions/5400-solve-infy-puzzle-urgent.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953726 | 564 | 2.875 | 3 |
Survivors of Ohio crash say teen was driving crazyWARREN, Ohio (AP) — Sitting in the front passenger seat of a speeding SUV with six friends crammed behind him, Brian Henry pleaded for the 19-year-old woman behind the wheel to slow down.
By: JOHN SEEWER,Associated Press, Associated Press
WARREN, Ohio (AP) — Sitting in the front passenger seat of a speeding SUV with six friends crammed behind him, Brian Henry pleaded for the 19-year-old woman behind the wheel to slow down.
But she only sped up when the SUV that was later reported to be stolen rounded what's known as "Dead Man's Curve" just blocks from his home, Henry told investigators in the northeast Ohio city of Warren.
The sport-utility vehicle smacked a guardrail and rolled, landing upside down in a pond and killing five boys and the driver, Alexis Cayson, who didn't have a valid license, according to a report on the crash released Tuesday.
Henry and the only other survivor, who both swam out of submerged vehicle, told state troopers of the frightening minutes before and after the Sunday morning crash that has devastated many in Warren, a mostly working-class city in the shadow of Youngstown.
Asher Lewis, 15, told a state trooper it felt like the SUV was going 80 mph on the road that winds past a steel mill and has a 35-mph speed limit.
"The lady driving was playing around when she was driving," said Lewis, who added that the five-passenger Honda Passport was so packed he couldn't see who was driving when he climbed into the back. "She was swerving and speeding. I think she was driving on purpose like that but I'm not sure why."
Henry, 18, said in his statement to a trooper that Cayson lost control on the curve after speeding up. He hit his head on the dashboard when the SUV flipped.
"I blanked out for a little bit and then the truck was upside-down in the water," Henry said. "There was air in the truck but it was filling with water."
Henry broke out the rear window with his elbow, the report said. "My feet were stuck on the seatbelt so it took a little bit to get out. I came out with no shoes on."
The two boys, who sustained only minor injuries, swam to shore and ran to a home to call for help.
In a 911 call released Tuesday, Jacquelyn Kimble said that the two survivors were "beat up pretty bad."
"Can you send an ambulance?" she asks in the call. "Two of my friends got into an accident around Pine Street and they just came over here. They are messed up pretty bad. Can you please send somebody quick?"
Her husband, Jeremy Kimble, told police that Henry was "covered with blood' and that Lewis had mud all over.
"They said the girl was swerving, driving crazy, lost control and flipped," Kimble told police.
While the reports released Tuesday shed more light on what happened just before the crash, it's still not clear if the passengers knew the car was stolen.
Henry said Cayson picked him and Lewis up after they stayed at a friend's house. Henry said there were already five or six others in the Passport. He said he was not sure where the others in the Passport had been earlier.
The SUV's owner told state troopers that his sister lives with Cayson and that she took the keys without his permission early Sunday morning while he was sleeping at their apartment.
Marquis Stephenson said they went looking for Cayson when he realized his SUV was gone.
"We got a hold of some family members and they said Lexi was in a bad crash," said Stephenson, who told police she hadn't taken his car before.
Tim Cayson, who told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was the driver's uncle, said she had a 4-year-old son. He refused to answers questions about her driving.
Lisa Williamson said her son, Brandon Murray, and his best friend, Ramone White, both 14, each told their parents they were sleeping at the other's house but then ended up at a party. "They were just kids out having fun, not kids into gangs, no drugs involved," Williamson said.
Authorities were awaiting the results of drug and alcohol tests on the dead teens. Investigators say excessive speed was a key factor in the crash, and that the passengers weren't wearing seat belts.
Five of the dead were trapped inside the SUV when it flipped into about five feet of water. A sixth was thrown from the vehicle and found underneath it, authorities said.
In addition to the driver and Brandon and Ramone, state patrol identified the dead as Andrique Bennett, 14; Kirklan Behner, 15; and Daylan Ray, 15. Three drowned, and autopsies on the others were incomplete, the coroner said. | <urn:uuid:3ad2f722-c3cd-455c-8c4c-b5df01239ddf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/76708/publisher_ID/29/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990503 | 1,030 | 1.507813 | 2 |
More than two thousand miles north of Aqualóndë the lands are empty and wild. Since the Valar raised the mountains of heaven, the Pelóri, as a fence against Melkor, these dark lands between Aman and the grinding ice of the Helcaraxë have been called the Wastes of Araman. No elves have ever dwelt there and not many creatures are sufficiently robust to endure the harsh climate of these northern wastelands.
When the connection of the Helcaraxë between Aman and Arda was sundered at the beginning of the second age, this wild country grew even lonelier. And it is said that the language of birds and beasts is strange there.
On an island close to the far shore of Haerast, a white tower can be found.
It is a graceful round tower built from white stones, which glow in the night and it has no door. At the very top of the tower there is perfectly round room, and from this room a door made of glass leads on a balcony, which looks to the East, where the sun rises.
It is said that on clear nights you can see the white tower from as far away as Aqualóndë or the island of Himling far to the East.
A white fire burns at the top of this white tower, calling out across the sea.
And sometimes – or at least that is the legend told by the fisher folk of Himling –, on starlit nights a white bird flies from the tower and up to the stars, singing of love and loss, and those who hear this song are never the same again.
The White Tower is home to Lady Elwing, and as a white bird she has flown out across the sea and up into the heavens to reach the very stars since the end of the first age.
But even though her gleaming white wings have taken her far above Arda and her seas, and her love and her pure heart have lifted her even higher, she has never reached the stars.
And the songs and legends do not tell, if she is still flying today.
Comments, concrit, congratulations (*wink!*) are always welcome.
Check out my blog here at Tolkien Fan Fiction! | <urn:uuid:ed387401-3076-4a61-886d-5c6a223d9fc3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tolkienfanfiction.com/Story_Read_Chapter.php?CHid=2070 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966889 | 460 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Beating depression builds bone mass. It has been known for some time that depressed individuals have about 15% less bone mass than happier folks.
Scientists are now finding that the hormone serotonin plays an important role in bone formation and preservation. This same hormone is often low or not used well in individuals with depression. While the researchers reported reversing bone loss with Prozac, I recommend using 5-HTP in conjunction with lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, and a stress reduction technique to build natural serotonin levels.
This recent research is yet another example of how all bodily systems are interconnected. Holistic health means building health from within--a balance harmony that results in greater, vitality and joy! Read the study here. | <urn:uuid:0422e688-ecea-4143-9243-2e7cb58b8a91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.docroberts.com/bg-92-.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934581 | 143 | 2.40625 | 2 |
- Best times to share on Twitter and Facebook
- The Problems with Groupon
- Google Search Plus Your World
- What is a Good Click-Through-Rate?
- Tips to Implement an Effective Strategy
- Using Infographics for Link Building
- 10 Ways to Improve Website Conversion Rate
- The Seven Lifes of PageRank
- The Most Relevant Search Engine Factors for 2011
- How to improve mobile web usability?
The Seven Lifes of PageRank
The last page rank update took place last week bringing joy and frustration to web-masters and SEO experts around the world.
Why is PageRank important?PageRank is a link metric that shows how popular and relevant a web-page is on the Internet. It depends on the amount of inbounds links from relevant websites. If you have a good PageRank then you are more likely to be ranked above any other lower ranked page. The PR score is based on individual URLs, not domains. Technically, there's no such thing as a "PR 4" website.
Is PageRank still relevant?
Various strategies to manipulate PageRank have been employed in concerted efforts to improve search results rankings and monetize advertising links.
Don't get obsessed with PageRankIn words of Matt Cutts,“PageRank while important, it’s one of the most important out of 200 signals that we have, is still one of only 200 signals that we use in ranking.”
Google likewise all the major search engines try to return to the user the most relevant results from the most trusted sources. They use PageRank to calculate the rankings assuming that high quality pages should receive more high quality links. In an attempt to stop the links markets, they have to come up with a new metric to measure the value of each link.
Due to the fact that most of the links are not natural endorsements, it would be better if the ranking would rely more on the quality of the content. Mentions in social media sites are becoming more influential. However, for online retailers and business providers the most relevant figures to evaluate success are number of visitors, conversion rates, sales and revenue.
Alternatives to PageRank
SEOmoz has introduced MozRank as an alternative to PageRank. MozRank’s logarithmic scale ranges from 1 to 10 and is more specific by two decimal places to increase accuracy. It is basically a link popularity score that compares backlinks. In spite of its increasing popularity, they haven't been able to dethrone PageRank.
In spite of all the criticism, PageRank is very much alive. It is definitevely not as powerful as it once was. Google has confirmed that they do indeed count links from Twitter as a factor in search ranking and they will probably continue tweaking the algorithmuntil they find the most accurate way to measure quality.
How to get good links?
In the meantime, we should still aim to increase our PR and to do so we must acquire quality links. The most relevant aspects that you should consider when evaluating a link are authority, relevance and trust. Start by seeking the most authoritative sites in your field and figure out the best way to approach them in order to get a link. For purely commercial sites is harder to get links from authoritative page unless they are well known brands. You will need some non-commercial content such as advice, independent reviews or news about your industry. Publishers need a good reason to provide links. You have to offer something valuable and unique to the user. However, take into consideration that this is only one factor of your SEO and online marketing strategy. | <urn:uuid:c7668c82-758e-4936-bcd6-324d10c0cf58> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.multilingualseoservices.com/blog/the-seven-lifes-of-pagerank | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933531 | 737 | 1.59375 | 2 |
I am trying, on behalf of a friend, to find out the composer and time period
of the Tune "Dark Island".
One of my recordings says "Trad.", the other "McLachlan". What does this
really mean? As to the words, did they exist before the tune or were they
created at the same time as the tune? Were the words always in English or
did they appear in Gaelic?
I would appreciate anyone sending me an e-mail directly, if they have any
information. Thank You. | <urn:uuid:c2f61350-be4e-4a71-bfa0-e3d5c41017e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.strathspey.org/list/strathspey/archive/msg/3192/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97117 | 113 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Ansley Kullman Salz holding a sample of the leather made by his company, the A. K. Salz Tannery in Santa Cruz, California. Ansley bought the San Lorenzo Tannery in 1917 with a relative named Herman Kullman and renamed it the Kullman Salz Tannery. The partnership was dissolved and the Kullman Salz Tannery closed in 1929 due to a failing economy. Ansley Kullman Salz purchased the tannery outright that year and named it the A.K. Salz Tannery. A concert violinist, Ansley thought of leather making as an art form. In so doing, he created the legendary "California Saddle Leather TM" which became an industry standard in the 1950's. A.K. Salz Tannery remained a premier West Coast Tannery until its closure in December, 2001.
Place: Santa Cruz city
Source of Information: Jeremy Lezin
Original size: 8"x10"
This photograph was taken by Ansel Adams and is the property of the Lezin Family. It is displayed here with the permission of the Lezin Family and the Ansel Adams Trust. | <urn:uuid:7803c8fa-9e67-4cbe-947d-fadb398fa60d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.santacruzpl.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=keyalbum.KeywordAlbum&g2_keyword=Industries--Tanneries--Salz+Tannery&g2_itemId=38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935475 | 238 | 1.945313 | 2 |
“This April marks the second year anniversary of DaGrin’s death and to commemorate this, the director of his only solo video, Gini, is set to release an authoritative and informative documentary of the young rapper’s life.
The clip is over an hour long and combines both known and never-before-seen clips and images of Dagrin. It contains interviews with most of the persons that crossed the path of the young man and contributed to his rise to fame in the Nigerian music industry. It is a real time presentation that paints a perfect HD picture with excellent voice narration and sequencing. The documentary seeks to further promote the works of the late rapper and act as a reference point for upcoming acts. It also aims to put an end to some of the mysteries which have surrounded the late young man’s death.
Aptly entitled, REMEMBERING DAGRIN, it comes under the auspices of OMOITA ENTERTAINMENT, an outfit founded by Gini who was much more than just a video director to Dagrin. “We were very good friends and he convinced me on his dreams and plans for his career and the Nigerian entertainment industry. Dagrin had plans of having his own crew made up of young artistes like him who are struggling through various adversities to make their voices heard. So OMOITA was created to also help artistes like him realize their dreams and carry on the dreams he had for MISSOFUYIN ENTERTAINMENT,” Gini said.
He also added that the name, “OMOITA,” came from Dagrin who was popularly known as the C.E.O (Chief Executive Omoita) which was the title of his 2009 sophomore album which contained the hit track, “Pon Pon Pon,” whose video, Gini directed. “Dagrin made me popular in the industry and I believe I owe him a duty to tell the real story behind some of his struggles that I witnessed. Not many people knew that we were already in the process of shooting the video of “Ghetto Dreams,” feat Sossick, the first track of the album, on the day Dagrin died.”
Gini whose real name is Abiodun Olayinka is a video director and Film Maker who has done a number of notable works in the entertainment industry. Among the videos he has directed are T.Y Bello’s “Greenland,” Mo’ Cheddah’s “Ko Ma Roll”, 9ice’s Loni Ni featuring Dagrin as well as J Martin “Eva” and many more classics.
Within this engaging Documentary, OMOITA, the Label is launched. You will also hear The OMOITA ANTHEM and see the various talented artistes from New York, London and Lagos that have shown immense interest and support to the Movement.“
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
- Video:- Remembering Da Grin ,The Documentary [Trailer] April 3, 2012
- Video Download:- AY Live Comedy Show 2013 April 14, 2013
- Interview:- Erigga New Money His Journey So Far,New Album ,Da Grin and "Beef With M.I" March 22, 2012
- News:- Cossy Orjiakor Shares Semi-Nude Pictures On Twitter [ Full Pictures ] January 16, 2013
- Audio:- J.Martins – Touching Body Featuring DJ Arafat May 24, 2013
- Video:- Oyinkansade – Igboro May 24, 2013
- Video:- SYM 19 – Fine Baby Girl Featuring Bracket May 24, 2013
- Video:- AIna More – Ja’Burata May 24, 2013 | <urn:uuid:9cfdc8fd-9d09-4f46-85f6-0421550d34e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nigeriansounds.com/archives/1441 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966765 | 798 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Two Victorian bushfires remain a concern as the state faces severe fire conditions and total fire bans on Friday.
A fire ban has been declared for the entire state of Victoria with temperatures of 42C expected in some areas and north-westerly winds of up to 50km/h forecast.
There are 12 fires in Victoria, with two of concern to authorities, Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said.
Fire crews hope to have a fire at Kentbruck in the far southwest contained by 8am (AEDT) on Friday.
"That would be an ideal position based on the forecast weather conditions for tomorrow," he told reporters at the State Control Centre in Melbourne.
Mr Lapsley said significant resources would go to the Kentbruck fire, which has been going for nearly a week, to ensure it remained contained.
Crews will also keep a close eye on a fire at Goroke in the Wimmera region, which began two days ago and has caused authorities concern on Thursday.
Mr Lapsley said the fire was listed as "going" on Thursday afternoon.
Fire conditions in the Wimmera will be extreme on Friday, while conditions in the rest of the state will be severe, he said.
"That means we will see similar conditions to last Friday, elevated fire potential and if a fire does start it would take little for it to become uncontrolled in all parts of Victoria, with dry conditions and the weather," Mr Lapsley said.
He said Victoria is very dry particularly in central and western areas.
"Tomorrow with temperatures being high, the wind north-westerly and 40-50km/h means that fires will move very fast and will be out of control within a very short time of taking hold."
He urged people to be prepared and have a fire plan.
Serial firebugs strike six times
As firefighters in Victoria work around the clock protecting properties and lives from bush fires, police are hunting arsonists responsible for at least six suspicious fires in Melbourne's north-west.
Crews were called to three separate grass and rubbish fires at an industrial estate in Balfour Avenue, Sunshine North early this morning.
In the first incident, the firebugs set alight two stacks of lumber while a second fire was started at a nearby railway, destroying around two hectares of grassland along the train line.
Police also found two cars alight in nearby Knight Avenue.
Authorities believe it is the same person or group behind a blaze which threatened homes less than a kilometre away in Keilor East yesterday and fires deliberately started at Brimbank Park and Kealba.
MFB Commander Bob Undy told the ABC: "All fire authorities are amazed at the amount of people that are silly enough to light fires in these sort of conditions.
"It appears that it's the same people that lit the fires on the other side of the river in East Keilor last night and they're having another go tonight.
Police are also investigating three separate blazes believed to have been started deliberately at Wallan yesterday.
Acting Premier Peter Ryan has urged the public to dob in anyone acting suspiciously.
"So for everybody concerned, we need to make sure if you do see or hear anything that might be reflective of someone undertaking in this stupid course of conduct, contact the police as a matter of urgency," he said.
"It is simply unbelievable that we have idiots out there who are looking to pursue this style of activity.
"I mean to be lighting fires deliberately in the current environment that we as a state are facing is utterly inexcusable."
Has justice been served for Jill Meagher?Vote
Do you have a story or some footage for us?
Keep up to date with Yahoo!7 News Melbourne on Twitter.Follow us »
Copyright © 2013 Yahoo!7
All rights reserved.
Select your state to see news for your area. | <urn:uuid:da74824b-10b7-426c-940a-098ff14ad239> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/newshome/15799542/bushfire-battle-rages-as-total-ban-declared/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970767 | 805 | 1.632813 | 2 |
The Cullen crest is a family crest that is worn by all of the Cullen family in the Twilight films. In the books, there is no mention of the Cullens wearing the Cullen crest. Each member wears the crest to show that they're a family, not just a coven, and it also shows their loyalty to each other. They are always seen wearing their form of the crest. The only exception to that is Rosalie's crest isn't seen during fighting and most running scenes, due to its bulkiness and when running on the green screen it hits her.
In Breaking Dawn - Part 1 and 2, Alice's and Rosalie's necklaces are changed to smaller sizes and the rest of the Cullens are hardly seen wearing any of their emblems.
Each part of the crest represents something different: the lion represents strength and ferocity, which is a characteristic of the vampires. The hand is faith and sincerity, showing that the Cullens are loyal to each other. The trefoil at the bottom is perpetuality, which is lasting forever, showing the vampires' inability to die naturally. Catherine Hardwicke discusses this in her book to accompany the Twilight saga film's, The Director's Notebook: The Story of How We Made the Movie.
Emmett, Jasper, and Edward each wear a leather cuff bracelet on their right hand. Rosalie wears a large pendant necklace, which changes to a small one with bright colors in Eclipse, and changes again to an even smaller pendant in Breaking Dawn. Alice wears a choker-like necklace, and in New Moon and Eclipse was seen wearing a turquoise cabachon bracelet that also had the crest on it; in Breaking Dawn, she is seen wearing a long necklace with the crest on. Carlisle wears a silver ring on his left hand. Esme was originally supposed to wear a green and gold bracelet, but it was later changed to silver. In New Moon, Bella wears a red and green ring in the scene where she is a vampire (as seen in Alice's vision of the future). But in Breaking Dawn - Part 2, she wears a leather cuff bracelet like Edward, Emmet and Jasper's but a bit smaller. Everyone in the Cullen family wears a crest in the movies, except for Renesmee. | <urn:uuid:dc30d702-28a5-4e6b-8b3d-addacbaaa8e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://twilightsaga.wikia.com/wiki/Cullen_crest?diff=next&oldid=568198 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974618 | 471 | 1.859375 | 2 |
An electronic filter for any 60 hz interference.
The most common type of interference heard in recordings, public address systems, and cordless phones comes from faulty grounding or radio interference. Sometimes a hum and sometimes a buzz, it repeats 60 times a second because it is caused by the power grid or some device in it. Simple filters will remove a smooth 60 hz hum but pass a spike that repeats 60 times per second as a buzz. The constant frequency of 60 hz in the power grid means the interference also repeats with a frequency of 60 hz.
The buzz filter adds a signal to the input which is the inverse of anything repeating at 60 hz. it consists of 1) Computer memory sufficient to store at least one second of sound. 2) Enough CPU to perform the calculations described below in real time. 3) Digital - audio chips for IO.
Allocate 10 strings of memories each sufficient to hold 1/60 second of sound. Create an index pointer to the strings. Sum 10 consecutive 1/60 sec segments to initialize total string.
Wait for next 1/60 second cycle start.
Index to next string in memory array.
Recall string from indexed memory.
Subtract it from total string.
Recall input string from buffer.
Store it at indexed memory.
Add it to total string.
Divide total string by 10.
Invert total string.
Store into output buffer.
Return to first step.
The output buffer is the source of a signal which is the inverse of any repeated 60 hz sound. If this is added to the input signal through an amplifier the resulting output will be free of any signal which repeats 60 times per second.
Due to the averaging process white sound is added to the output. The amplitude of the white sound is proportional to the amplitude of the sound signal so it will not be heard in silent parts. The amplitude of the white noise can also be reduced by sampling a larger number of 1/60 second sound segments. Ten segments were used in the example and this gives a rise-decay time of 0.17 second. If 100 segments were sampled there would be a rise-decay time of 1.7 seconds.
The retail device might be as small and powered by the sound signal with audio in and out jacks the only visible features. Sealed chips in plastic with no moving parts are durable and cheap.
Buzz filter Technical notes:
Today the functions of a buzz filter require at least a desktop computer. Computers will certainly become small and fast enough to bring the buzz filter down to a reasonable price. More intelligent noise reduction computers are presently installed in cars to cancel repetitive noises made by the car by making inverted sounds through the car stereo speakers.
top of page | <urn:uuid:6f58fc0a-5d20-4048-8d9a-ff3adac576de> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chaospark.com/inventions/buzzf.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921896 | 565 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Six kilometers from the lisbon city center sits Paco du Lumiar. Once home to Portugal's kings, it is now a small enclave of modest houses near the airport. Yet, the Comunidade Hindu de Portugal, an organization founded in 1982, is restoring some of the region's grandeur, Indian style, by forging a temple complex touted among the largest outside India. The massive gray columns of the unfinished colossus now herald what is to become a cultural citadel for Portugal's Hindus and a center of social service for all.
History reveals a hidden irony here. Centuries ago, the Portuguese were imperious conquerors. Their forays into India and Sri Lanka focused significantly on destroying Hindu edifices [see sidebar below]. But Hinduism survived, and Hindus are rebuilding their temples around the world--even in Portugal, the land of their would-be conqueror.
Like many European nations, Portugal is adjusting to the arrival of immigrants from former colonies. In 1974, after the Portuguese Revolution, the African colony of Mozambique became an independent nation. Between 1977 and 1980, much of the large Hindu community there emigrated to Portugal. Mostly of Indian descent, they joined with émigrés from other former Portuguese territories, such as Daman and Diu in Western India. Sharing the languages Portuguese and Gujarati, they banded together to preserve their Indian and Hindu inheritance.
Hitesh Ramniklal, a 31-year-old management consultant, recalls, "My father helped start the Comunidade with only five or six other families." Now it's 8,000 strong. Ramniklal still feels closeness to India, despite the fact it was his great-grandfather who long ago left Bharat for Mozambique, and his father who emigrated to Lisbon in 1975. Ramniklal was just 11 years old then. He regrets that his generation has failed to study Gujarati, though he himself is fluent. However, he happily reports that recently the Comunidade convinced the Lisbon education ministry to teach Gujarati in three public schools on Saturdays. The program serves approximately 120 children.
Religion and culture are paramount concerns, but present conditions also require contending with society's more mundane difficulties. Kantilal Jamnadas, president of the Comunidade, head of Portugal's largest baked goods factory, DanCake, and the moving force behind the project, spoke with circumspection about these obstacles. "We face several day-to-day problems, and the past held many more. Due to the comprehension and help of the Portuguese government, we have slowly overcome them."
Privation: One case in point centers on shantytowns in and around major Portuguese cities. These are primarily occupied by new immigrants from former colonies, some Hindu. The Lisbon city council has vowed to provide housing for these inhabitants by the year 2000. However, a recent poll reveals that 43% of residents from Lisbon and Porto, the nation's largest cities, are averse to having their apartment buildings earmarked for such housing.
When asked if the Hindu denizens of the shantytowns would be provided for, Jamnadas conceded, "This is a difficult issue, because there is no specific solution." But he expressed confidence that Lisbon would successfully meet their goal. He also has faith that the Comunidade will be able to aid its members who are faced with discrimination.
Jamnadas stressed that these are goals the Comunidade is not prepared to contend with today. The group is still in a formative state, and many objectives have yet to be realized, he said. "Once we have completed our complex," he asserted, "the facilities and services offered to our Hindu men and women, or anyone else for that matter, will be greatly increased."
Despite encumbrances, job training programs sponsored by the European Community are offered at the complex and are open to Indians and Portuguese alike. For the past five years, the group has organized a blood drive in conjunction with the Portuguese Blood Institution. And the 70-percent completed complex is already host to religious festivals and events.
In a room strewn with architectural blueprints, Jamnadas ventured that the temple will be finished by the end of 1997. "If more people gave, we'd be done a little sooner," he laughed. They have good reason to finish next year, as Lisbon is scheduled to host Expo '98 celebrating the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's voyage to India.
Positioned on the southwestern rim of the European continent, Portugal is a small country, 34,170 square miles, roughly equivalent in size to USA's Indiana, but its influence in Asian history has been dramatic and, in some cases, devastating. One of the oldest nations in Europe, it began its colonial, Catholic-inspired crusade in 1297. Its many conquests included India and Sri Lanka.
The Portuguese promulgated Catholicism wherever they landed, largely by denigrating the beliefs and desecrating and destroying the buildings and icons of the "heathens." Hindu devotees suffered painfully, as the Portuguese methodically ravaged their temples in India and Sri Lanka and undermined the faith of many through coercive, calcuated conversion.
An Insight Guides book on Sri Lanka critiques the impact of Portugal's presence there, "European ambitions arrived with the Portuguese early in the 16th century. They were more interested in controlling the island's commerce than in absorbing its territory. In the process, they intruded in the affairs of the coastal regions. By 1600, after converting some of the Sinhalese royalty to Catholicism and breaking a strong bid for dominance by the rulers of the rebel state of Sitawaka, the Portuguese effectively controlled the southwest coastal region. They also managed to snuff out the last Tamil kingdom ever to rule Jaffna as an independent state. The Portuguese' Roman Catholicism enjoyed a special relationship with the ruling powers. Converts to Catholicism under the Portuguese gained a privileged status." The effects of this domination still linger in Sri Lanka and India, especially in Goa.
In succeeding centuries, Portugal's powers steadily diminished. Now, though a member of the European Free Trade Association and NATO, it remains one of the poorest countries in Western Europe. | <urn:uuid:089a6d8e-dd27-40c5-9dac-967bf564837f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/print.php?itemid=4797 | 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 | 0.962395 | 1,278 | 2.53125 | 3 |
This is an interesting tale. What is missing is how the problem was solved. I have seen corrosion pop up on machined parts and not had an explanation of how to prevent it from anybody in the shop. Of course, these parts were steel, not stainless, and they were black conversion coating treated. The eventual solution, which met with a lot of complaints, was to boil the parts for a few hours in clean water, with a new batch of water every hour. It seemes that some of the blackening solution had remained in some of the small tapped holes in the fixture, and was responsible for the corrosion.
For the problem with the stainless parts in the story, one fix would be to change to a non-free-machining grade and grind the parts to size. Not a cheap or easy fix, but probably quite effective.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is | <urn:uuid:97297367-dd07-4494-b6c9-8ca35f98d3e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.designnews.com/messages.asp?piddl_msgthreadid=244168 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972007 | 349 | 2.1875 | 2 |
So, too, the Gaon of Vilna traces the theme of Am Yisrael’s trials and tribulations throughout its long sojourn in galut. The two gediyim bought by the father are the ones purchased by father Yaakov and brought to Yitzchak on the night of Pesach. These were to become the dual korbanot offered on Pesach, which merited Yaakov the blessing of Yitzchak as well as the bechorah. The cat is jealousy, the dog is Pharaoh, the stick is Moshe’s staff, the ox is the Kingdom of Edom, the slaughterer is Mashiach ben Yosef who will be killed by the angel of death.
“Then came the Holy One, blessed be He” who will redeem His people and nation and “raise the banner to gather our exiles.”
* * * * *
As many interpretations and meanings as interpreters! A review of these various understandings, however, always returns us to the central theme of Chad Gadya, the same theme that makes it clear the song is no child’s ditty. That theme is, quite simply, that God is the Master of the world. No true story begins or ends without God.
Whether we like it or not, whether we want it or not, whether we deign to recognize it or not, God must enter into every story of our individual and collective lives. God is the Master of all. He conducts the affairs of the world in His fashion, and His fashion does not always conform to our own wants or selfish understandings.
As a result, the world often appears chaotic, unfair, inexplicable, and in disarray. We too often forget or ignore that actions have consequences, and that there is no deed that, in the end, does not lead up to God. Each and every action, even one as “simple” and “ordinary” as buying a goat (car! home!) in the marketplace, is part of a chain. Somewhere that chain will lead to God, and then all those involved in the chain that may even drag for thousands of years (galut) must answer before His throne of justice.
Only God can bring together conflicting, seemingly destructive forces into harmony. It is that harmony that is reality. The seeming chaos of life is the mirage.
The final message, then, of the long Seder night is not a silly song about goats or cats or dogs but that there is seder, order, in what may appear to be confusion, chaos and uncertainty.
Reb Avraham Mordechai of Gur taught that a person may look at the saga of our people’s history and conclude that our experience has been a series of random, often cruel, events. However, ultimately Mashiach will come. History has meaning. Life has purpose. God is.
There is seder – order and harmony.
Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran is OU Kosher’s vice president of communications and marketing. He is the author of “Kos Eliyahu: Insights on the Haggadah and Pesach.”
About the Author: Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran serves as OU Kosher’s vice president of Communications and Marketing.
You might also be interested in:
You must log in to post a comment. | <urn:uuid:583c51dc-907f-4447-afe6-291737adeedb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/front-page/chad-gadya-pesach-the-order-of-things/2012/04/04/3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96107 | 711 | 2.0625 | 2 |
London Community News
Zeus, a three-year-old Great Dane from Michigan, is officially the Tallest Dog Ever, taking a place of honour in the Guiness Book of Records 2013.
Measuring an incredible 111.8 cm (44 in) in length, Zeus is the same size as an average donkey. Standing on hind legs, he stretches to 7’4” and towers over his owner Denise Doorlag.
According to a news release from Guinness, Zeus weighs 155 pounds and eat 12 cups of food a day.
"Zeus is an awesome dog," said owner Doorlag in the release.
"The only downside is that everything costs more; the food, medicines, transport. We had to get a van to be able to transport him, oh, and if he steps on your foot — he leaves bruises!"
The previous record holder was Giant George who is one inch shorter than Zeus. For more information on Zeus or other new record holders, visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com. | <urn:uuid:dcc4fe74-53a9-471a-824e-badfe7f4e333> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/1359174-donkey-sized-dog/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953604 | 211 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links...The following is a repost of an essay that I wrote on God's existence using the remarkable story of a Vietnamese Christian. I was reminded of it while considering my recent post, "Faith: The Stumbling Block." Enjoy!
-----------------Today’s Inspiring Story is an essay I wrote recently about Between Two Tigers, a book published by the Voice of the Martyrs. I am aware that to a skeptic this might not be enough “proof” that there is a God. However, it goes along so well with what I was talking about...: that only when our hearts are pure will we see the Lord. Some people think they’re sincere when they say, “If God exists, prove it to me!” And then when you show them, they shoot down everything you say with their own arguments. This, to me, says that they have the wrong heart attitude. I also believe that the things that God does for us in our daily lives, proves God's existence. Hence, this is what inspired today’s story… Enjoy!
------------------In this world today, it is often said, “If God truly existed, He would reveal Himself to me.” They say, “God doesn’t exist! You can’t prove He does; I would have experienced some kind of miracle if He did!” It’s really a matter of what’s in the heart. The Bible says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1), and Jesus made it perfectly clear that what is in the heart will come out. It therefore follows that if God’s Word is in one’s heart, he will be convinced that God exists, and that He works on his behalf. Brother “Vo” of Vietnam is a living example of this truth. He has seen God’s hand in his life, because God’s Word is in his heart. He “knows Whom he has believed,” and as a result, God came through for him and worked through him, proving to Vo as well as to others, that there truly is a God. Brother Vo didn’t always believe in God; there was a time in his life when he didn’t give God much thought. Did God exist? He wasn’t sure. That all began to change when he was very young. His dying father received healing after a pastor prayed for him. Vo witnessed this miracle and wondered, “Perhaps there is a God.” Later, when Vo was fourteen, he was dying. However, the hospital had decided that they didn’t want to treat him, so they sent him to his cousin’s house. At the same time, his cousin was trying to leave his house on his motorbike, but the bike would not move. Strangely, nothing was wrong with the bike when he checked it. His cousin said, “If I had gone… I would have missed you and you would have died.” Because his cousin had been there to receive him, Vo began to improve as a result of the care and pray which he recieved. Through this experience, Vo realized that there was an unseen Being watching over him, so he received Jesus into his life, and he sensed that the Lord was working in his heart. Years later, two events -- which were actually connected in a way -- occurred in Vo’s life, that demonstrated God’s existence. Vo was witnessing to the K’ho tribe when some of the Christians received a warning from God that the police were coming at seven o’clock and Vo would be arrested. They continued to pray until fifteen minutes of seven, when one of the Christians said, “The police are coming in fifteen minutes.” Vo was the only one with a watch, so he took this as a definite sign from the Lord. Feeling it was the right thing to do, he remained there. Then, just as the police approached, one of the Christians pushed Vo into the pig pen (which was a pit), where it was very dark, in an effort to hide him. While they were searching for Vo, the police looked in the pen, didn’t see anything, and left; even though the pit was dark, there was a lantern hanging directly above it, and yet the police did not see Vo! Why had he been spared from arrest this time? The answer lies in the second instance: There was another time when a Christian brother received a supernatural warning that the police were coming, and this time, Vo was actually arrested when they arrived. He was put in a very dark cell that was shared by another prisoner named Bac. Vo shared Christ with this man, who then began to cry. The next day, when Vo saw what Bac looked like, he was grateful that he couldn’t see the night before, or he might not have had the courage to talk to the man at all! Vo asked Bac why he had cried the night before, and he said, “Yesterday, at lunch time, I said to myself that if there is a Jesus… then send someone to speak to me about Jesus. This was just something I spoke out, accidentally. I didn’t think that a man like you would come into my room. The first thing you shared was about Jesus. So I know there is a Jesus.” (page 167) God had proved to Bac that He existed and He used Vo, whom He protected; if God did not exist, Vo would not have been protected, and thus would not have been able to help Bac. God also proved His existence to Vo by protecting him on another occasion so that he could share God’s Word with Communist Vietnam, his home country. While crossing the border into Cambodia, he was arrested; he was going to smuggle Bibles from there back into Vietnam. He had written down the addresses of contacts who could show him the way to the town for which he was looking. The police found his wallet, which contained the addresses, and when they read them, they said, “Oh, this is an address in Bangkok.” In reality, it was an address in Cambodia -- under which was written “Phnom Penh,” not Bangkok -- that they would have clearly known was not in Bangkok; yet they “misread” it. They still detained him, however, but they didn’t find the Bibles. So, by Divine intervention, the police released him, proving once again that if God did not exist, Vo would not have been protected and would have been caught. Another time, Vo entered a village and began to pray for the witch doctors’ deliverance. One by one, they were set free and received Jesus, yet the villagers still would not believe in Jesus. When Vo inquired, he learned that a magician resided in this village, and the villagers considered her to be much worse than the witch doctors -- they were afraid of her. “Only when she accepts Jesus will we make a decision,” they said. So Vo prayed for faith, strength, and courage, but God said, “You don’t have to ask, because I have given faith to you already. You just go and do it.” A spiritual battle then ensued between the demon in the magician and the Lord in Vo, which lasted for an hour. The villagers began to surround the house, because the magician was screaming. Finally, the demons in the magician surrendered, but Vo told them, “…You have to get out of this woman.” Instantly, the demons left, and Vo prayed for the Lord’s strength to restore her. She prayed and received Jesus. The villagers, who had witnessed the whole event, immediately surrounded Vo wanting to receive Jesus into their hearts, too. Vo ordered everyone to return to their homes, and one by one, he visited them and showed them the way to salvation. Vo said, “This is the most beautiful picture I have seen in my life. In each house, I saw the whole family, often more than 20 people, all kneeling down, waiting to pray and receive Jesus into their hearts. After receiving Jesus, they all gave their altars and charms to be burned…. Today the entire village, about 300 adults and children, believes in Jesus.” (pages 170 -171) The whole village came to know that God exists as a result of the witch doctors’ being set free and accepting the one, true God. Brother Vo is living proof that God exists. In an attempt to further their point that God does not exist, some would attribute stories like Vo’s to mere coincidence, but even coincidences have a cause, and it’s obvious that that cause is God. Let’s face it: if God did not exist, Vo wouldn’t be alive today; he would have died at fourteen and that would have been as far as the story progressed. But he didn’t die. Instead, God healed him, used him to bring many people to Christ, and also did many other supernatural things for Vo. Those who say that God does not exist, owe it to themselves to look into testimonies like Vo’s. What is the “secret” to knowing that God exists? If they would only have a sincere heart, God would reveal Himself to them. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Of course, there are many other arguments for the proof of God’s existence, but the biggest proof is what he does for each of us on a daily basis, just as He did for Vo. To often, our hearts and minds are closed to this, so we think that God doesn’t exist, and if He does, He certainly doesn’t care. But the Bible says that the fool is the one who says in his heart that there is no God. We owe it to ourselves to take God at His Word, and He says, “I AM” -- “the One who was, is, and is to come” (Revelation 11:17). Brother Vo is an example of one to whom God revealed Himself, and He protected Vo and worked many miracles for him, because Vo’s heart was pure -- “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) UPDATE: Here is a video that I found very inspiring that demonstrates what it's like when a whole village turns to the Lord, much like Vo witnessed in this story. I was simply awestruck... | <urn:uuid:4586f892-8b4b-4fb4-aca0-2c11690e634c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://defendchristianfaith.blogspot.com/2010/07/inspiring-story-blessed-are-pure-in.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.991569 | 2,281 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Redux: German Eatery Caters To Anorexics
MADELEINE BRAND, host:
About four years ago, we told you about what was then a brand-new restaurant in Berlin for people with eating disorders. Well, that restaurant is still in business. Here's the story from NPR's Berlin correspondent at the time, Emily Harris. She visited the cafe soon after it opened.
(Soundbite of frying pan)
EMILY HARRIS: King prawns frying in the kitchen of Sehnsucht, or Longing, Berlin's new restaurant designed for people with eating disorders. The giant shrimp will be arranged on a bed of ripe avocado, not the typical image of what an anorexic person might eat. But that's just an appetizer here. Thirty-three-year-old owner Katja Eichbaum opened Sehnsucht after more than a decade of struggling with her own anorexia and bulimia. She now hopes to help other young women.
Ms. KATJA EICHBAUM (Owner, Sehnsucht): (Through Translator) I have very normal food on the menu. Girls should take this kind of eating into their normal routine, and stop depending on carrots or nibbling on the garnish at the edge of the plate. We offer lamb curry, duck breast in orange sauce - very, very tasty things. They don't have to be afraid because the portions are normal. They don't overeat and it's not too little, either.
HARRIS: Desserts include rhubarb with vanilla sauce called Mixed Feelings, and Light and Shadow, a marbled mousse. Eichbaum's dream is to create a good place to eat where people with eating disorders also feel comfortable. She plans to start a kind of club for people with eating disorders and even offer cooking classes.
Ms. EUREKA HUEFMAN (Psychologist): I was very skeptical when I read about it in the newspapers and I thought, this can't work.
HARRIS: Eureka Huefman(ph) is a psychologist specializing in eating issues. After a visit to Sehnsucht, she thinks the restaurant might help some people as a safe place to be around food. But some of her patients thought it sounded strange.
Ms. HUEFMAN: I just asked two of them, a 17-year-old anorexic girl and she said, what? Who have that idea? That's crazy, I wouldn't go to that place. But she's really slim. She's very slim. So, she's deep in eating disorder. And so, I think it also depends where you are with your problem. And another bulimic girl, she said, I would like to go to a normal restaurant. Some are really afraid of being observed or stigmatized.
HARRIS: There are no signs, and nothing on the menu, that suggests Sehnsucht is aimed at people with eating disorders. That's partly because the intent is to make food normal, and partly because business success will depend on eating customers. Haiche Gratvold(ph) dropped in just because it's near her new apartment.
Ms. HAICHE GRATVOLD: (Foreign language spoken)
HARRIS: I had smoked trout, salad and potatoes, she says. It was good. It tasted very good. Some of the staff, including a cook, suffer from eating disorders. Eichbaum offers herself as someone such people can talk to.
Ms. EICHBAUM: (Through Translator) Girls will have to pressure to eat here. They can just drink tea, or have the chance to confide in someone here and think, do I want to open myself up? Will I take the first steps with the people working here? Maybe something like this would have helped me. I don't know; nothing like this existed.
HARRIS: She admits running the place is a kind of therapy for her. Psychologists say eating disorders are less about food and more about relationships, including with oneself. Eichbaum doesn't know how this experiment will work out but after years of trying to please others, she says she's now trying out something new - to please herself. Emily Harris, NPR News, Berlin.
BRAND: Stay with us. NPR's Day to Day continues.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio. | <urn:uuid:0aa07c0b-7fae-4654-a521-6ada2a5e5fe6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101944912&ft=1&f=17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965491 | 972 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Processing of heavier crude oil, stricter environmental regulations and detrimental effects from impurities on very expensive refinery assets are increasing the use of and demand for hydrogen. The main hydrogen-consuming refinery processes are hydrotreating to remove sulfur and hydrocracking to convert heavy hydrocarbons and create higher-value fuels.
For valve makers, this has increased demand for specialty materials, treatment procedures and zero-leakage performance. Adding further impetus to this demand are rigorous new US and German regulations regarding fugitive emissions and resulting industry and corporate standards.
From the metallurgy side, manufacturers must consider the adverse effects that hydrogen at elevated temperatures and pressures can have on carbon and low-alloy steels. They include hydrogen embrittlement, high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA) and hydrogen blistering.
Hydrogen is colorless, odorless and highly explosive, low-viscosity, low-molecular-weight gas. It is an asphyxiant. These characteristics make zero leakage a necessity. Leakage must be addressed not only at the seat but also at all other valve components. Metal gaskets, requiring more accurate and precise machining, can be useful where temperature limits the use of soft materials. Packing design becomes critical to avoid stem leakage. Additional inspection practices, such as radiography, may be necessary.
Adding to the detrimental effects that hydrogen can have on the valve, operating conditions such as temperature, pressure and concentration of hydrogen should be considered when selecting the right materials. Additional steps, such as post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), are required. This article will present recommended practices used by manufacturers to assure safe and optimal valve performance in hydrogen service.
Crude oil refineries are the worlds largest hydrogen consumers. Refining operations account for almost 90% of the global hydrogen consumption in 2008.1 The gas is central to many refinery unit operations. Hydrogen use is expected to increase 3.4%/yr from 2008 to 2013 and reach 475 billion m3. Of this anticipated 73 billion m3 of new global demand, refineries will consume almost 84%.
Several factors are driving this demand: greater production of heavier crude oil with higher sulfur and nitrogen content, lower demand for heavy fuel oil requiring more upgrading requirements and more rigorous regulations for cleaner transportation fuels. Hydrogen is used to upgrade crude oil into light transportation fuels and to also remove sulfur and nitrogen compounds.
Operational and safety challenges
Refineries are substantial hydrogen users. The outlook for hydrogen demand growth requires understanding the scope of issues regarding this gas use. In short, hydrogen poses unique material and operational challenges.
Hydrogen is a significant safety risk; it is an explosive and an asphyxiant. It is colorless and odorless, and, thus, it cant be detected by human senses. Because hydrogen is lighter than air, accumulations can be difficult to detect. Its small atomic size compounds the risk by making traditional materials used in gaskets and packing permeable and therefore unsuitable for use.
Hydrogen corrosion. Operationally, the hydrogen is corrosive, and it can degrade material performance in many ways. Hydrogen corrosion weakens metals internally when the relatively small atom penetrates metals to adversely affect strength and ductility. Metals can absorb hydrogen when exposed during production, processing and service. For refinery valves, this corrosion is shown in several ways, including hydrogen attack, embrittlement and blistering.2
High-temperature hydrogen attack. HTHA occurs when high concentrations of hydrogen are used under extreme temperatures and pressures. The result is a difficult-to-detect reaction within the steel; the reaction causes the steel to lose strength and ductility. Material failure occurs significantly below the yield stress, with little to no prior sign of weakness.
Embrittlement. Hydrogen embrittlement, unlike HTHA, occurs at hydrogen levels as low as a few parts per million. It reduces steel ductility, making the metal brittle and resulting in static-load failures based on stress and time. Due to the difficulty in detecting cracks in welds and hardened steels, embrittlement is a particularly challenging problem. In addition, hydrogen does not affect all metallic materials equally. Most vulnerable are high-strength steels, titanium alloys and aluminum alloys.
Hydrogen blistering. Hydrogen blistering occurs mostly in low-strength alloys and in metals that have been exposed to hydrogen-charging conditions. It occurs when hydrogen is absorbed into the metal and diffuses inward. This can precipitate molecular hydrogen at laminations or inclusion and matrix interfaces that can build up enough pressure to cause internal cracks. When these cracks are just below the surface, the hydrogen gas pressure causes the exterior layer of the metal to lift up and form a blister.
Risk to valves
The risk analysis for valves used in hydrogen service is based on three primary factors: pressure, temperature and concentration of hydrogen. In each instance, end users and manufacturers consider the most extreme conditions under which the valve could be subjected.
Much of this risk analysis associates the presence of hydrogen in the stream to the possibility of metallic material corrosion such as hydrogen attack, embrittlement and blistering. Metal specifications are usually provided by end users based on their full knowledge of the operating environment. These specifications are typically done in accordance with American Petroleum Institute (API) 941 Recommended Practices, although end users also specify metallurgy developed from internal best practices.3
In addition to metallurgical considerations, risk reduction for valves in hydrogen service should also consider several other factors. The relative merits of valve design features such as fabricated, forged or cast processes, and rounded vs. angular features must be understood for the best performance. Recent advances provide new hydrogen service leak prevention capabilities with gaskets and packing. Heat-treating and inspection methodologies further reduce risk in hydrogen environments.
Metallurgy for hydrogen service
API 941 RP guides metallurgical selection for hydrogen service in refineries. It summarizes the results of experimental tests and actual data acquired from operating plants to establish practical operating limits for carbon and low-alloy steels in hydrogen service at elevated temperatures. The steel discussed in the RP resists HTHA but not necessarily other corrosives present within a process stream or other metallurgical damage mechanisms.
Central to the RP is a set of plots called operating limits for steel in hydrogen service to avoid decarburization and fissuring, as shown in Fig. 1. These so-called Nelson curves illustrate the resistance of steel to hydrogen attack at high temperatures and pressure. This plotted data is based on experience gathered since the 1940s. It was originally plotted by G. A. Nelson, using two parametersoperating temperature and partial pressure of hydrogen. It has been updated multiples times with further experience and new steels.
Fig. 1. Operating limits for steel in hydrogen service to avoid decarburization
In selecting a valve, the end user provides the manufacturer with the correct material specification because the risk is strongly related to the specific process and its characteristics, such as hydrogen concentration, other corrosive stream components and exposure time. Operating pressure and temperature, while generally known to valve manufacturers, are subordinate to these total process considerations. All of these parameters are important to selecting the most suitable material based on the Nelson curves.
The potential for hydrogen attack, embrittlement and blistering can be greatly reduced by various design considerations. A key objective is the reduction or elimination of sharp edges and abrupt angles. Such edges concentrate stress that can accentuate hydrogen embrittlement and cracking. The tapering or thinning of metal at a sharp edge also creates stress areas that are more easily invaded and degraded by hydrogen. As a result, large-radius designs that produce a uniform stress typify hydrogen service valves, as shown in Fig. 2. These curves are based on stress calculations for the crotch areas of the valve, using finite-element analysis to avoid peak stress.
Fig. 2. Hydrogen-service valves typically
feature large-radius designs to avoid stress
The forming process is also very important to valve performance. Both casting and forged steel have advantages and disadvantages that should be considered. Welding should be minimized or eliminated; it is one of the most critical points where embrittlement is likely to occur. Casting has no welds and, therefore, offers an advantage. In addition, casting frequently eliminates sharp edges and resulting stress concentrations. Conversely, casting is more prone to defectssuch as voids and porosityand impurities than forged steel. Therefore, if casting is used, the valve usually will undergo nondestructive testing to identify possible defects. Foundries are increasingly applying casting simulations to reduce potential flaws and faults.
Zero leakage. Valve leakage occurs through two key paths. Leakage at the seat allows hydrogen to pass when the valve is closed. In this leakage, the gas is contained within the process. The more critical leakage is through the stem, which can result in gas escaping to the atmosphere.
Leakage at the seat. To prevent leakage at the seat, metal-to-metal technology is preferred. The technology used in hydrogen service applies a flexible, resilient metal on the disk that seals against a stellite hard-faced seat. The metal-to-metal design provides a durable, high-temperature seal, thus ensuring a leak-proof seal. As mentioned, from an environmental point of view, the most critical leaks occur when the media escapes to the atmosphere, and it is then subject to legal scrutiny. Before addressing that type of leakage, we will briefly mention some regulatory issues.
Regulatory issues. Two applicable lawsthe US Clean Air Act (CAA) and the German TA-Luft, address fugitive emissions and specify the acceptable emission limits, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition to these laws, standards and specifications include ISO 15848 1 and 2, Shell MESC 77 300/312, and API 622. Most recently, regulations under the CAA affecting US fugitive emissions have been significantly revised. These changes are implemented through an enhanced leak detection and reporting (LDAR) program administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Key provisions of the enhanced LDAR program apply to certification of leaking valves and valve-packing technology. This certification reduces previous emission limits from 10,000 ppm to no more than 100 ppm.
API 622 is recognized by the EPA as an industry testing standard applicable to packing materials. The standard specifies the requirements for competitive testing of block-valve stem packing for process applications where fugitive emissions are a consideration. It is, at present, being revised to comply with the enhanced LDAR with changes.
Leakage at the stem. Preventing stem leakage entails a number of basic design considerations, including:
Live-loaded packing for temperature variations
Packing to be prevented from rotation
Providing a very efficient shaft seal
Very smooth shaft surface
Ensuring the packing segments are in touch with the stuffing box and the shaft simultaneously
Applying independent PTFE and graphite packing.
Two valve components are key to these considerations: the packing and gaskets. Softer graphite, which is typically used for packing and gaskets, is highly effective for leak prevention in many applications. But graphite presents a unique problem in hydrogen service. Because the graphite is permeable to the small hydrogen atom, the soft material cannot prevent leakage. Reducing leakage by impregnating graphite with PTFE, a synthetic fluoropolymer, is unacceptable. PTFE can evaporate in a fire with disastrous results.
Hard-metal gaskets between the body and bonnet are necessary in hydrogen processes. Softer metals are too porous for the application. The harder, nonporous materials have significantly higher operating temperatures exceeding 250°C. However, metal gaskets require more accurate machining. If the body or the gasket is not perfectly round and precisely within tolerances, it will not seal effectively. For this reason, valve bodies must be precisely machined.
As with gaskets, graphite packing material also presents permeability problems. An alternative in low-temperature applications (below 200°C) are packing designs that use O-rings in various rubber compounds or Chevron-type packing to provide leak prevention with multiple seals.
However, these materials are not suitable for high-temperature (HT), high-pressure (HP) applications. Under these extreme environments, engineered graphite packing technology provides an effective alternative. The technology uses special graphite packing interposed with metal sheets to minimize gas losses. This design has been factory tested with different valves to check for leakage at pressures corresponding to ANSI classes 600, 1500 and 2500. The tests were carried out under the requirements of Shells MESC 77-300/312. Test results showed that recognized losses were lower than those imposed by the specification for Class A tightness in a range between seven to ten times. The packing design, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of:
Top and bottom rings of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber to provide mechanical resistance to pressure
Outer rings of laminated, graphite/steel to provide a barrier to hydrogen molecules
Central graphite rings especially designed for low emissions.
Fig. 3. Operating limits for steel in hydrogen service to avoid decarburization and
fissuring. Source: API.
Testing and Inspections are critical steps in certifying valves for hydrogen services. Radiographic x-rays and dye-penetration testing are used to check for internal defects, including cracks, hot tears, holes and gas inclusions. The internal volume of the valve is checked to address hydrogen blistering.
Manufacturers are increasingly testing fully assembled valves with HP helium to search for leakage. This testing is done on the finished product. Because the helium atom is very close in size to the hydrogen, this testing best simulates operating conditions. Low-pressure testing indicates losses due to leaks and porosity, while the HP testing ensures there is no deformation of sufficient magnitude to cause losses.
For valves in hydrogen service, manufacturers typically prefer PWHT. Industry experience and research indicate that PWHT of 0.5 molybdenum (Mo) and chromium-Mo steels improves resistance to HTHA. The PWHT stabilizes the alloy carbides, which reduces the amount of carbon available to combine with hydrogen. The treatment also reduces residual stresses, making the material more ductile. Manufacturers typically use PWHT for all low-alloy steels while plain carbon steels are only treated at the end-users request.
As refiners use more hydrogen in various processing, more scrutiny will be applied on valve specifications. Hydrogen service places special demands on valves. The potential for corrosion, HTHA, embrittlement and blistering presents operational, safety and environmental considerations. In addition, government regulations limiting fugitive emissions set strict standards regarding valve performance. Due to these issues, multiple factors must be considered when specifying valves for hydrogen service and include:
Metallurgy selected through API and/or company specifications
Forming process, i.e., casting vs. welding
Design features to avoid susceptibility to embrittlement, etc.
Gasket/packing design and material selection
A robust inspection process. HP
An upgraded and revised presentation from the AFPM Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, March 11-13, 2012.
1 Freedonia, 2010, World Hydrogen Industry Study with Forecasts for 2013 and 2018: http://www.freedoniagroup.com/brochure/26xx/2605smwe.pdf.
2 Avery, M., B. Chui, Y. Kariya and K. Larson, Hydrogen-induced corrosion, Materials Science 112 Group Research Paper, March 12, 2001. http://www.mavery.com/academic/Hydrogen_Corrosion_Report.pdf.
3 API Recommended Practice 941, Seventh Ed., Steels for Hydrogen Service at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures in Petroleum Refineries and Petrochemical Plants, August 2008.
Tito Sequeira is the global marketing manager for refining at Tyco Flow Control. He is responsible for the strategy and marketing mix required to serve the global refining market. He has experience in product management and industry marketing manager for power, refining and petrochemical. He has provided strategic leadership to pursue business opportunities into refining for different valve and control leading manufacturers. Mr. Sequeira holds a BS degree in industrial engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico and an MBA from Yale University. He has five years of experience in the valve industry. | <urn:uuid:ef6ab740-2b0a-4198-8ea3-88fa3c3d89c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/IssueArticle/3035815/Archive/Update-on-valves-used-in-hydrogen-service.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914832 | 3,419 | 2.75 | 3 |
DEARBORN (WKZO) -- Ford Motor Company has been working on reducing waste from plants going to landfills and has achieved a major goal at the Van Dyke Transmission Plant. The automaker says it is the first plant to have zero waste going to area landfills.
Approximately ten tons worth of fabric filters material is being recycled. The automaker has a goal of reducing the amount of waste sent to a landfill to just 13.4-pounds per vehicle by 2016.
Ford says its program has financial benefits with 225-million dollars generated through recycling scrap metal at plants in the United States and Canada in 2012. | <urn:uuid:212e9021-602e-4819-83d1-3f6f3be49c40> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2013/feb/28/ford-recycling-program-reaches-milestone/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959572 | 132 | 2.390625 | 2 |
Chip Yates prepares to race his 196-horsepower electric superbike against the gas-guzzlers
By Loz Blain
December 16, 2010
Chip Yates took a very American approach when he began building an electric superbike to race in the TTXGP and FIM ePower championships. He went for horsepower. One-hundred and ninety-six horsepower, to be precise, with a massive set of battery cells to keep the motor fed over a race distance. It was to be the most powerful bike on the grid. But both the TTXGP and the FIM released rule changes effectively disqualifying the SWIGZ bike from competition in 2011 - and rather than change the bike to fit the rules, Yates decided to pull out altogether - and take it racing against petrol-powered American superbikes in what is likely to be the first time electric and gasoline-powered motorcycles have gone head to head in an official race. But even with nearly 200 horsepower behind him, Yates has one heck of a tough job ahead of him.
Electric bikes are already highly popular as commuters in many Asian countries - stand on a Shanghai street and count the silent scooters whizzing by, they just about outnumber the petrol bikes. But they haven't really caught on yet in the West, where most riders care more for excitement than efficiency.
The only way electric motorcycles are going to get under the skin of most petrolhead bikers in Western countries is by beating the best of today's fossil-fueled beasts fair and square on the racetrack, proving that they've got enough performance credibility to get the pulse racing like our well-loved gas-burning superbikes.
That's not an easy task though - racetrack lap times have been steadily coming down for at least 115 years now since the first recorded motorcycle race back in 1895 (which was won with an average speed of 7.3 miles per hour, through the snow). Millions upon millions of dollars, and more than a century of research have been spent making petrol motorcycles some of the fastest machines on the planet.
Electric bikes, on the other hand, have only really come onto the radar in the last five years, interest in them driven chiefly by rising oil prices, climate change concerns and the promise of extremely cheap running costs and maintenance-free motors.
There's certainly performance potential there - electric motors are torquey, bulletproof and very scalable; you can develop pretty much any power curve you want, given enough energy storage. And the first few TTXGP races have shown us that the novelty of electric racing can draw a crowd.
But what will it take for a battery-powered bike to compete convincingly against its petrol-powered brethren on the racetrack? Chip Yates, owner of SWIGZ racing, is getting ready to find out as he prepares to be the first electric bike rider to go racing against gasoline-powered big twins on January 11, 2011.
The first electric motorcycle to race against petrol-powered superbikes
Racing in the WERA Pirelli Sportsman Heavyweight Twins Superbike class, Yates has thrown the kitchen sink at what he claims is the world's most powerful and technically advanced electric superbike ever built.
Starting with a Suzuki GSX-R750 frame, Yates modified it to take a 194-horsepower DC motor capable of outputting a massive 400Nm of torque. And if that power doesn't seem excessive enough, Yates is planning a 40-horsepower upgrade in February.
Ohlins and Brembo handle the suspension and braking duties, so it's clear Chip's putting his money where his mouth is when he says "We’re not going on track to make up the numbers; we’re going out to compete in order to raise our game and catch up to these gasoline guys.”
Now for the bad news; to get around a racetrack at full throttle for a 6-lap race, this beast sucks a lot of power, even operating at 94% efficiency. So as usual with an electric, power storage is a key issue. Yates has fitted the bike with no less than 102 onboard battery cells, storing a total of 11.5 kW h between them, which is topped up during braking with a KERS system.
That's enough batteries for a full race - but they come at a heavy price. The bike weighs a gargantuan 266 kg. It packs enough power to be middle of the pack in the division it'll be racing in terms of power-to-weight - and the February upgrade will put it up at World Superbike levels of straight-line acceleration - but Yates is surely going to struggle wrestling an extra 100 kg through the corners compared with his lightweight petrol-powered adversaries such as the Ducati 1198 and KTM RC8.
Giving TTXGP and the FIM an electric finger
In fact, the bike's weight is the primary reason why he's racing against petrol bikes in the first place. Both the FIM ePower and TTXGP electric motorcycle racing championships have introduced a 250kg maximum weight limit for 2011. Both competitions knew the weight of the SWIGZ bike before they made their rule changes, charges Yates.
The TTXGP organizers claim the rule change was in order to keep costs reasonable and level the playing field for more exciting racing in the infancy of the electric age. Either way, Yates is certainly not happy about it: “Clearly, these championships are more concerned with promoting scooter development, and our bike is so much faster than the electric competition that we feel far more inclined to push our bike’s unique technology platform forward in the ultimate competitive environment of gasoline bike racing.”
There's no doubt that the SWIGZ bike will be crazy fast for an electric bike - but at the ragged edge, will Chip Yates be able to ride around the bike's huge weight handicap and find a way to be competitive? As an AMA Pro-level racer, he certainly knows his way around a bike.
We'd love to know what his lap times have been like in testing, compared with the rest of the field. Petrol and electric bikes will certainly be facing off on track a lot more in the future, so whatever happens when the flag drops on January 11, we salute Yates and the officials who let him race for their foresight. Best of luck, Chip!
Meet Chip and the team (before their dreams were shattered) in the video below:
Just enter your friends and your email address into the form below
For multiple addresses, separate each with a comma | <urn:uuid:04465d8b-cd13-4868-8086-604cd9f814cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gizmag.com/chip-yates-electric-superbike-america/17293/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966877 | 1,348 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Himiko, pampered daughter of a clan chief, wants only to become a shaman.
Friesner's previous Princesses of Myth duologies featured young women (Helen of Troy and Queen Nefertiti) about whom enough historical or mythological information exists to provide the framework of story. With far less source material for Queen Himiko, the third-century Japanese shaman ruler, Himiko's story is an original work overlaid on a historical framework. Himiko's chieftain father adores her, as do her older brother and her father's wives. Despite their love and affection, none of them takes Himiko seriously when she insists she is a shaman. Himiko herself isn't sure she can achieve her goal; with one leg lame since she was a child, she can't do a shaman's dances. Though the current shaman insists Himiko will be her heir, it can't happen until Himiko is ready to stand up to her father. As a nice twist, Himiko isn't fighting sexism (the current shaman is female, and a nearby clan has a female shaman chieftess), but family history. It's a somewhat plodding journey through Himiko's early childhood and adolescence, but fans of Helen and Nefertiti will take Himiko into their hearts as well.
The slow-moving tale takes its readers on a journey through a tidily detailed historical setting, with a heroine not nearly as anachronistically progressive as is usual in such tales. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 11-13) | <urn:uuid:6e910c16-2dca-41d8-9226-11f14ca5385e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/esther-friesner/spirits-princess/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970921 | 320 | 1.835938 | 2 |
In earlier posts on what happens after death, I had written that death is just like packing your bags and going on a long holiday; it’s not the end of your existence. This post is a continuation; where I would like to clear certain misconceptions which might arise; people getting the wrong notions and taking an escape route; Suicide. Read this post before taking that extreme step.
There will always be people who would want to end their lives to escape from trying and desperate conditions. They see suicide as the only visible option, to put an end to trying conditions; and marking the beginning of a new existence.
Suicide is no escape; the natural life span is fixed for each and every living entity; this is what the Indian adepts teach you. There is no escape from this basic human law; least of all suicide.
Those committing suicide will immediately slink into a deep state of coma; total unconsciousness. They will come out of this coma, when their natural life span as originally fixed is over. After this they will come out of this slumber and be faced with the same trying conditions, which they experienced when they committed suicide. They will then have to be born again to finish; what they failed to face; in a reincarnation with similar trying conditions.
Then there are those who commit suicide because of frustration in not being able to achieve sense gratification. Such souls when they awaken will most probably move around as various kinds of spirits; trying to enter the conscienceless of like minded frustrated individuals on earth, such as the rapist, the robber, the drunkard, the drug or gambling addict. They will live a tormented existence, all they time trying to find some “Body” with a similar mindset to fulfill their sexual, monetary and other unfulfilled desires.
Such frustrated souls are the cause of the doom of the people whose consciousness they enter. A lot of such addicts and criminals have often spoken of an increased uncontrollable desire, over which they has no control.
So my advice is do not commit suicide, however trying your circumstances are; you are jumping from the frying pan into the fire. | <urn:uuid:45c92eb2-d08e-4ce6-9e8e-9c34b7ca0b8e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prophet666.com/2012/11/read-this-before-you-commit-suicide.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971231 | 435 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Alzheimer's DiseaseMany of us go through our daily lives forgetting the odd appointment or misplacing our car keys. We may even have trouble searching our brains for the right word to use in a sentence or for that new coworker's name. For most of us, this is just a nuisance and is usually caused by fatigue or stress. However, for some people this type of memory loss may be an indicator of something more serious.
Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people around the world and causes severe loss of memory, communication, and other brain functions. For those suffering from Alzheimer's, day-to-day life can become an extremely difficult challenge. Although the disease mainly affects those over 65, it is important to learn about Alzheimer's symptoms so that you can take preventative measures now.
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that destroys our ability to learn, remember, communicate, and function in our daily lives. It affects 4.5 million people in the United States alone. A type of dementia, Alzheimer's disease destroys the nerve cells in the brain, preventing information from being relayed accurately to the body. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that will gradually worsen over time; there are numerous stages of alzheimers. The disease can last anywhere from 3 to 20 years, with most people suffering for about 8 years. Unfortunately, there is no Alzheimer cure and the disease always ends in death.
How Does it Affect the Brain?
Named for Dr. Alois Alzheimer who discovered the disease in 1906, Alzheimer's directly affects the way the brain processes information. Our brains are made up of millions of tiny cells, called neurons, which transmit information and retain memory. In Alzheimer's disease, proteins begin to collect between the gaps in these neurons and within the neurons themselves. These proteins are called "plaques" and "tangles". Usually, these proteins are a normal part of aging, but in people with Alzheimer disease there are far too many plaques and tangles. As a result, these proteins prevent the neurons from sending any signals through to the brain.
Alzheimer's disease also affects neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are special chemicals that help the neurons to send their messages. A hormone called acetylcholine aids in processing information regarding memory and judgement. People suffering from Alzheimer's disease have reduced levels of acetylcholine, limiting the amount of information that can be relayed throughout the brain.
Causes of Alzheimer's Disease
There are many Alzheimer's causes. The disorder may be a result of factors including age, environment, and genetics.
The most common cause of Alzheimer's is age. Late-onset Alzheimer's occurs most frequently, typically after the age of 65. Scientists have identified one specific gene linked to late-onset alzheimer's.
A rare form of familial Alzheimer's has also been linked to a defective gene. Only a few hundred families in the whole world have this gene, but those with the gene are extremely likely to develop the disorder.
Who's At Risk?
Everyone is at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. The biggest risk factor is your age Alzheimer's disease usually begins after the age of 65, though it can appear earlier. After the age of 65, the risk for developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years. The risk is highest after the age of 85, when 1 in 2 people will develop the disorder. If one of your parents or siblings has had the disease, you are also at increased risk for developing it.
Alzheimer's affects both women and men, though more women seem to suffer from the disease. This is probably due to the fact that women tend to live longer than men. If you are a woman, you are at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's if you are menopausal, underweight, or have had a heart attack, hip fracture, or hysterectomy. This is because low estrogen levels can decrease the amount of acetylcholine in your brain, thereby contributing to the formation of plaques and tangles.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's symptoms will begin mildly and eventually progress to a chronic state. Most people with Alzheimer's will eventually forget how to perform everyday tasks and will require Alzheimer's care. Here are some symptoms to watch out for. If you notice any or all of these Alzheimer symptoms, it is important to seek advice from your health care provider.
- Memory loss that occurs more often than normal.
- Difficulty performing normal tasks, such as making dinner or taking a shower.
- Difficulty with language including using strange words or forgetting simple words.
- Disorientation or becoming lost in familiar places.
- Poor judgement, such as giving away large sums of money or wearing weather-inappropriate clothes.
- A change in personality, such as becoming suspicious or fearful of others.
- A lack of initiative or interest in once loved activities.
There is no cure for the disease but there are Alzheimer's medications available to slow the progression of the disease. Though these treatments may temporarily stop memory loss, eventually loss of brain cells will continue.
In early and middling stages of the disease, the drugs tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are used to halt memory loss. In later stages of Alzheimer's, memantime is used to prolong a person's ability to perform daily functions. Because Alzheimer's is also accompanied by depression, anxiety, and occasional psychotic episodes, a variety of antidepressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-anxiety medications are also used to treat the disease.
Much of the current Alzheimer's research has focused on finding preventative measures for the disorder. It appears that there are a number of things you can do to lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Here are a few things to try out:
Antioxidants: Antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, and E prevent damage caused by free radical agents. Free radicals are believed to contribute to the formation of plaque in the brain. Vitamin E also has been shown to stop mental decline in certain Alzheimer's disease stages for up to 7 months. See your doctor if you are interested in taking these supplements.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDS, especially ibuprofen, have been shown to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease considerably. When taken for 2 years, ibuprofen has been shown to reduce the risk of the disorder by up to 60%. You should consult your doctor before taking any NSAIDs for an extended period of time
Estrogen: Estrogen therapy is thought to increase the levels of acetylcholine in women's brains and block the formation of plaque, thereby enhancing brain activity. It also increases blood flow to the brain. However, estrogen has been linked to an increased risk for Alzheimer's if taken after the age of 65.
Mind Stimulation: Exercise for your mind has been proven to help strengthen the interconnections between neurons in your brain, thus making you brain healthier. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 50%. Alzheimer activities, like crosswords, chess, or playing an instrument can help to keep your brain working.
Stress Reduction: Stress also appears to play its part in Alzheimer's disease. When you are stressed out, your body releases hormones that interfere with memory. Do your best to reduce the stress in your life. Try taking up meditation, exercise, or prayer. | <urn:uuid:decb7c0c-c4cd-487b-acba-cbf50060ab1c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.epigee.org/mental_health/alzheimers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946302 | 1,544 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Plains Will See Second 'Crippling, Historic Blizzard' In As Many Weeks
Originally published on Mon February 25, 2013 5:40 pm
Just a week after a blizzard swept through an area from Western New Mexico to West Texas, another system is dumping record snowfall today.
The headline from the National Weather Service in Amarillo, Tex.? "Crippling, Historic Blizzard Ongoing."
As of 12 p.m., one weather station had measured 17 inches of snow. The Weather Service says this blizzard could "easily be in the Top 3 all-time snow events for Amarillo." The all-time snow record for the city is 20.6 inches, so it's within sight.
Wind is also an issue; the Amarillo airport recorded a wind gust of 75 mph. A video posted on the Weather Service's Facebook page showed blowing snow limiting visibility to less than a quarter mile.
"The storm was dumping snow over the Texas Panhandle at a rate of 2 to 3 inches an hour. Oklahoma also was being hit hard, and parts of Kansas and Missouri were bracing as the storm moved closer.
"Almost all roads in the Texas Panhandle were impassable, and whiteout conditions forced the state Department of Transportation to pull virtually all of its snowplows off roads, Texas DOT spokesman Paul Braun said Monday morning."
The Amarillo Globe News reports that the National Guard was called in this morning to help stranded motorists.
"'March is the time we see intense winter storms in the Plains," [Greg Carbin, a meteorologist at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.,] said. He added the storm's path will take it through the upper Midwest, including Chicago and Detroit, before pushing eastward.
"The system had already passed through Colorado, where flights were canceled, Denver city offices had delayed openings and snow was piled as much as two-feet deep." | <urn:uuid:54c1a1c0-370a-4e74-bd4b-b38e3e4c64e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wutc.org/post/plains-will-see-second-crippling-historic-blizzard-many-weeks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970217 | 394 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Educational courage : resisting the ambush of public education
Source:Beacon Press, Boston, p.209 (2012)
Call Number:Cubb LA217.2 .E385 2012
Keywords:Democracy and education--United States, Educational change--United States, Public schools--United States
Summary: "Ten years after the passage of No Child Left Behind, high-stakes testing, national standards, and turn-around policies remain highly controversial. In the same period, we have seen the rise of mayoral control of schools, charter schools, and other initiatives that are viciously opposed by the American Federation of Teachers. But even among well informed people, these issues can seem abstract. Educational Courage presents the human side of the consequences of these policies by bringing readers the voices of the teachers, students, parents, and school officials who are directly affected by changes in public education. The book begins by outlining the increasingly pervasive assaults on democratic public education and focuses on peoples' negative experiences as public schools have become more "market-driven," taking the heart out of teaching. In the face of widespread discouragement, people are hungry for alternatives. The second and third sections of the book illustrate what students, teachers, and parents have done to reists these policies -- from writing op-eds to refusing to "teach to the test," to a community organizing to change testing policies that discriminate against English-language learners -- and to successfully teach and learn in spite of these obstacles. Educational Courage concludes with a vision for how we can collectively work to promote progressive, multicultural, democratic schools. So often in the debate over school reform, the voices of those who are affected by these policies are silenced. The conversation tends to be dominated by ed-school academics and policy-makers, but the "real experts" -- those actually teaching and raising children -- are left out. Many of the contributors to this volume, while not well known, do bring ties to national organizations with online presence. At the same time, the authors' introductions to the book as well as each section will position the essays as part of a larger movement devoted to resisting destructive educational policies and dedicated to defending an egalitarian, democratic ideal in the sphere of public education. 70,000 words To view a video of Macario Guajardo, whose story is told in Educational Courage, explaining why he became a conscientious objector against the Texas state standardized tests, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCI8qgcdwQ4"-- Provided by publisher.; Summary: "This book offers the voices of those who are resisting legislation, policies and practices that threaten a democratic vision of education and society. The contributors to this volume have all found ways to foster educational equity for all in the face of significant odds. The accounts of the educators, parents, students and community activists presented here provide powerful examples of the damage and hurt caused by these policies that diminish democratic education. But the book also provides inspiring examples of the power of individuals and groups who have resisted such practices and policies. The voices in this book are the real, seldom-heard voices of those on the ground resisting the market-driven policies that are ambushing public education: standardized, high-stakes testing, corporate-connected charter schools, merit pay, national standards, mayoral control and anti-union/anti-teacher initiatives. Some of the contributors have said, "I won't be part of this!" by writing an op ed piece, by resigning from Teach for America or organizing neighborhood parents to challenge testing policies. Other educators have resisted by "working within the cracks" to keep teaching vibrant and curriculum relevant despite test-driven pressures. Many have organized collectively in public contexts to oppose corporate-oriented policies, such as merit pay or mayoral control, and some have marched and protested in inspiring numbers to reclaim progressive, multicultural, democratic schools. The stories here are evidence of what resistance looks like and what is possible when people work individually and collectively for schools that affirm all young people and promote the common good"-- Provided by publisher. | <urn:uuid:c7390fbc-034f-4480-a04f-9de64c934906> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stanford.edu/group/cubberley/content/educational-courage-resisting-ambush-public-education | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951726 | 822 | 2.03125 | 2 |
Among the top 50 metro areas, Minneapolis had the highest volunteer rate at 40 percent, while Las Vegas was at the bottom with 14 percent, says a new study.
More than a quarter of Americans spent some of their time lending a helping hand last year.
That good news kept the rate of nationwide volunteering at historically high levels: Some 61.2 million people dedicated 8.1 billion hours of service to schools; hospitals; and religious, political, and youth groups in 2006, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS).
The bad news is that the number of volunteers recently dipped significantly – by one third – from 2005.
A key reason: Nonprofits and other groups that rely on volunteers are having trouble retaining them.
"The demographics are such that we are poised to make this 30-year high get even better because the baby-boom generation is passing the traditional age of retirement," says David Eisner, CEO of CNCS. The group aims to raise the number of adult volunteers to 75 million by 2010.
"At the same time," he says, "our work is cut out for us because, nationally, the volunteer bucket is a bit leaky. We get a lot each year, but we lose a lot each year. We have to figure out how to plug those holes." Commuting time, education, and home ownership all play roles in determining how much time people are likely to spend helping organizations that need support, according to the CNCS's national study of America's top 50 cities based on census data between 2004 and 2006.
Cities' volunteering rates vary
For example, in Minneapolis, where home ownership is high and neighbors stay connected, volunteerism is nearly 41 percent.
But in Los Angeles, where people spend more time alone in their cars than talking over the back fence, volunteerism is about 22 percent.
In Portland, Ore., where almost 90 percent of residents over age 25 have completed high school, the volunteer rate is nearly 36 percent.
In Riverside, Calif., where only 75 percent of people over age 25 have a high school degree, the number of folks willing to help for free is about 21 percent. | <urn:uuid:5727a6c0-db69-4419-b1f7-9b282c1002ff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.csmonitor.com/2007/0717/p01s03-ussc.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963274 | 446 | 2.09375 | 2 |
An array of undersea microbes is giving humans an assist in the cleanup of last year’s BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, though a Harvard biologist said Wednesday that the full effects of the 200-million-gallon spill on life deep beneath the sea remain to be seen.
Peter Girguis, Loeb Associate Professor of the Natural Sciences and an authority on oceanic microbial life, said that several studies of the spill’s impact on the deep ocean environment are ongoing, and results so far have been inconclusive. That’s partly because the deep sea remains difficult for researchers to access, and life there tends to grow slowly, so that subtle effects on reproduction may take time to become apparent.
Girguis spoke at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on deep-sea life and the effects of the BP spill, which began in April 2010 when safety equipment failed to prevent the uncontrolled release of natural gas found along with crude oil. Some gas exploded, engulfing the nearby drilling rig in flames, claiming 11 lives, and beginning a three-month release of oil.
Scientists have shown that oil floating on the gulf’s surface was just part of what spilled. Submersibles detected an enormous undersea plume of oil 3,600 feet to 4,300 feet deep, and hundreds of miles long. Inside this plume, cameras showed clear water turning oily brown. Investigation showed that oxygen levels plummeted within the plume, an indication, Girguis said, that microbes were at work, consuming components of the oil.
Oil-eating microbes occur naturally in the gulf, Girguis said. As much as 3,000 barrels of oil per day seep naturally from the ocean floor, making oil a part of the environment. Some communities of tube worms have grown up around the oil seeps, showing that some sea life has adapted to the oil.
Despite the presence of those natural specialists, however, Girguis said the oil is likely poisonous to much sea animal life, with deep corals believed particularly vulnerable. Deep-sea animal life is adapted to a stable environment. Temperatures vary little, hovering between 2 and 4 degrees Celsius. The chemical makeup of seawater on the ocean floor is stable. The deep ocean’s utter darkness is broken only by the bioluminescence of some of its creatures. Deep-sea animals tend to grow slowly and live long, traits that make them vulnerable to overfishing.
“Animals are not well suited to rapid changes of temperature and chemistry,” Girguis said. “It goes without saying that lots of animals will be affected by the spill.”
While deep-sea animal life tends toward stability, the microbial life is more flexible. The ocean’s microbes are critical not only to the chemical balance there, but in the atmosphere as well, consuming carbon dioxide. Some microbes consume methane, propane, and even the heavier components of crude oil, Girguis said. It’s likely, he said, that oil-eating microbes are distributed widely in the gulf and can reproduce rapidly when they come into contact with oil, like the plume from the BP spill. The full effect of their activity on the BP oil is unknown.
All in all, Girguis said, investigations of life in the deep ocean continue to turn up scientific surprises and have taught scientists that their ideas about the constraints on life need constant revision. Not only has investigation of the deep ocean shown it to be full of life — unlike the conventional wisdom of decades ago — but the sea is full of life that scientists never expected, such as loriciferans, multicelled creatures, some species of which live without oxygen.
“There’s life in every part of the deep ocean where we’ve looked. … We find animals in the deep sea that look like nothing you’d find on land,” Girguis said. “It reminds us continually that our assumptions about life’s limits are wrong.” | <urn:uuid:e68789a0-54db-4a2e-8ff9-7b0c452e50f9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/10/gauging-the-effects-of-the-bp-spill/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944709 | 831 | 3.9375 | 4 |
Merce Cunningham became a nonagenarian in April, but rather than preparing a successor to lead the modern dance company that bears his name, he has announced that it will die with him. In a column about the decision (Why Dances Disappear, July 7) in the Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout asserted that Cunningham's plan, to establish a trust to preserve his choreographies rather than having the company carry them on, will fail because it relies on the imprecise medium of choreographic notation. However, for many years, Cunningham has created his complex choreography with the aid of a computer program: combined with video recordings, one could certainly recreate what Cunningham told his dancers to do. The question is, will anyone other than scholars of dance really want to?
Split Sides, Merce Cunningham Dance Company
(released on June 30, 2009)
The music was of the ambient variety, Radiohead moving between pulseless repetition and booming bass and Sigur Rós combining synthesized sounds and recorded noises, some of them reportedly produced by "a kind of xylophone made of pointe shoes, connected to contact microphones." The choreography explored the issue of evenness and oddness, with thirteen dancers often grouping into odd numbers, especially seven -- who often seemed like the figures in a Giacometti sculpture, near one another but not really interacting -- then forming into partnered even numbers. The exercise, which can result in thirty-two different combinations, in fact says something about the question of Cunningham's decision about the future of his choreographies. Here, the choreography can work with either musical score, either set, either group of costumes, either lighting scheme. It undermines all sorts of assumptions about the nature of dance. Can something that undid so many classical traditions itself become a classic?
The ballet on the second half was the classic Sounddance, created in 1975 with Cunningham in the main role (the man who appears first and leaves stage last). It is an exciting bit of choreography, an almost constant series of frenetic actions, as the dancers are swept in, writhe about, and are swept back out through the opening at the back of the stage. Cunningham described it once as "a space observed under a microscope." Unfortunately, music technician Stephan Moore, who sat in the pit controlling the playback of the score, David Tudor's Untitled 1975/1994, had the sound system at a dangerous level for the entire performance. Tudor, the pianist who premiered John Cage's notorious 4'33" and many other works, created a noise composition of electronic shrieks and squawks. The impression was of being imprisoned under the rails of a constantly trafficked subway track, with carnivorous pterodactyls swooping down angrily from time to time. This would have worked beautifully with the agitated movements of the dancers, except that one had to keep one's fingers over one's ears the entire time to prevent eardrum damage. Given that we have finally recognized as a country that sonic torture at American terrorist detention centers (the so-called black sites) is immoral and illegal, either the sound level should have been kept at a humane level or protective earplugs should have been issued to all audience members. | <urn:uuid:483e9df7-39ed-405a-8809-317d61de7cc5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/07/merce-cunningham-at-wolf-trap-alea.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971812 | 661 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Cuba is working towards creation of a vaccine which is effective against dengue. The country is developing a number of vaccines which are in the pre clinical trial phase and if it turns out to be success then clinical trials would be conducted on human beings. We must take care of the fact that up till now no vaccine has been developed for treating this vaccine which is of endemic nature in a number of tropical countries. All this was revealed at the final session of the Biotechnology convention which was held in Cuba and already we have seen that a number of countries in Asia had been plagued by dengue which is caused due to mosquitoes. Hopefully Cuba will become the first country to emerge with a dengue vaccine and this all is certainly possible as Cuba is considered as a biotechnology powerhouse. | <urn:uuid:7f716ba0-e3af-42a6-ab46-28f95628701b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biotechblog.org/Tags/biodengue/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987179 | 158 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Today, November 14 …
Walter Raleigh’s voyage in search of “El Dorado” had gone badly wrong. He was carried ashore at Cayenne (French Guiana) on this day in 1617, ill with a fever. A crowd of curious locals brought food:
“… which they did in great plenty, … and great abundance of pinas, the princess of fruits that grow under the sun, … One of them gave me a beast called by the Spaniards armadillo …”
Few Europeans had tasted pineapple at this time, and even fewer had eaten armadillo, which Raleigh and his men did a few days later. He was no foodie. He did not record his impressions, but subsequent heroes say it is just like chicken, or pork, or rabbit, or duck (not armadillo?). He also made no comment about the spiciness or otherwise of the food, although the name “Cayenne” is now inextricably associated with the “pepper” of that name, which is not pepper, but simply chilli powder after all. Until it arrived in the Old World there was no chilli in Indian food (and no tomato in Italian food – but more on this tomorrow).
“Curry” is not an Indian term, it is an Anglo-Indian concept received in exchange for the love of cricket. The first English recipe for curry occurs in 1747; by the end of that century recipes were common. Sarah Martin included one for curry powder in “The new experienced English-housekeeper…” (1795).
To make Curry Powder.
Take an ounce of the best turmerick beaten and sifted very fine, fourteen bay-leaves beaten and sifted, one large nutmeg, a quarter of an ounce of mace, as much chyan [cayenne] as will lay upon a shilling, mix these well together, put them in a dry wide mouth’d bottle, and keep them in a dry place.
… and to make “curry balls”:
“ … take the yolk of an egg boiled very hard, and a lump of fresh butter the same size, beat it in a small mortar, mix it up with curry powder to a paste, make it into balls the size of a nut, lay them on a saucer, and cover them with a piece of writing paper, set them into an oven, to be made hot, but not to burn them, so send them to the table; these are to be sent on a dish by themselves, for those who like to add them to their sauce.
Tomorrow … Back to the Future. | <urn:uuid:652e0239-f481-4eba-adcd-ba449c0f6361> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2005/11/on-armadillo-and-hot-spices.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974282 | 561 | 2.734375 | 3 |
When you write code, you often want the code to do something different depending on what a user inputs, what time of day it is, and so on. There are a variety of ways that you can do these sorts of branches in your code. Each is good for a different purpose.
First, the if-then statement. This is the most common in programming, and is the easiest to understand. If something is true, then the code executes. If it's not true, the code does not execute. You can use a 'else' area to execute the 'false' half of the equation.
For example, say you are doing something with a Member. You want to do different things if this is a new member vs an existing member. You would write:
if NewMember = TRUE then
Response.Write "Welcome, new member!"
Response.Write "Welcome back, existing member!"
If the top IF line is true, then the code after it executes. If it is false, the 'else' code executes.
The if-then-else works with any kind of variable, not just a true-false one. For example, you could test:
if BooksBought> 50 then
Response.Write "Wow, you must love to read books!"
Response.Write "Thank you for buying books from our site."
The next common sort of selection is a CASE statement. You use this if you want to test for various values in a variable without writing if-then-if-then-if-then lots of times. For example, you could do something like this:
select case FavoriteColor
Response.Write "It's not easy being green - but it's a grassy color!"
Response.Write "Blue eyes, baby's got blue eyes ..."
Response.Write "Red Red Wine ..."
Response.Write "Jeez, I've never heard of that color before!"
|Introduction to ASP Ebook|
Download this ebook to get everything you need to know about learning ASP - from a step by step tutorial to function lists, sample code, common errors and solutions, and much more! 101 pages. | <urn:uuid:b04cf61a-3b98-41df-b45f-39c22274e240> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bellaonline.com/ArticlesP/art6703.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.900075 | 444 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Family meals in her part of Guangdong province were dominated by rice, greens, preserved vegetables and morsels of meat.
"My parents would make as many as 500 for people at the block party to eat and take home," says the Gos' eldest daughter, Jean. "They knew that food always brought people together. So, over the years, they created a lot of good relationships around here."
Like Fanny Go, who came to the U.S. in the early '60s, the egg roll represents a 20th-century meeting of two cultures. Though dim sum chefs in Hong Kong produce a similar snack called a spring roll, the egg roll, as we know it, is a creation of early Chinese-American restaurateurs who used local ingredients to create Chinese-ish foods that would appeal to American diners.
One of the restaurateurs who helped popularize the egg roll was my grandfather, Harry Eng, whose nephew, Tom Go, worked as a manager in the family's downtown Chicago chop suey palaces (among them Hoe Sai Gai and South Pacific) for decades. Tom Go based his egg roll recipe on the appetizers that proved such a hit with the restaurants' clientele.
Today Fanny Go, 87, carries on the Chinese-American tradition by making the savory treats for parties and family gatherings. She recently shared her recipe -- which can take up to three days -- with a convivial group who gathered at Go's home to learn, cook and eat. One of the biggest surprises was that most of the ingredients can be found in the average American grocery store, if not in your kitchen.
I joined in to learn more about this side of my family and to bring home some tangible (not to mention delicious) link to the Eng family's restaurant past. My great-grandfather, grandfather, great-uncle, aunts and uncles opened nearly a dozen of these establishments starting in the 1930s, with the last -- The House of Eng in Hyde Park -- closing in the '80s.
Go started the project a few days earlier by marinating 10 pounds of pork shoulder in a store-bought char siu sauce (hoisin and five spice-based barbecue sauce) and then roasting the meat on wire racks in the oven. Early guests were put to work julienning the pork into thin strips. Others sliced green cabbage into ribbons, blanched them and then squeezed them dry in sheets of cheesecloth.
My father, who worked summers in the family restaurants, remembers cooks using whole tablecloths to squeeze the mountains of blanched cabbage needed for the daily egg rolls.
"Many restaurants," Go explains through a translator, "used only cabbage for the filling because they wanted to keep costs down." But Fanny and Tom Go added plenty of rich barbecued pork, shredded chicken, chunks of boiled shrimp, chopped green onions and other touches to their version.
"You can add mushrooms, bamboo shoots or whatever you want," she says.
After Go assembles the main elements (cabbage, pork, shrimp and chicken) into a huge basin, she sprinkles in a variety of unexotic spices: salt, pepper, sugar, chicken bouillon powder and cinnamon.
Next comes her secret ingredient: a jar of creamy peanut butter, heated in a pan with some vegetable oil until it was liquid enough to be poured into the mixture. Finally, Go showers the filling with chopped green onion and kneaded the whole thing thoroughly with her sturdy hands.
When it comes time to roll, Go places a tall stack of perfectly square egg roll wrappers on the cutting board and lops off the corners for easier assembly. She demonstrates a perfect roll by squeezing a handful of filling in her fist, plopping it on the bottom corner of the wrapper and tightly rolling it into a chubby cylinder, the final flap sealed with a swipe of egg wash.
Guests set to work rolling dozens more -- with decidedly mixed results -- as Go heats several cups of vegetable oil in her shiny wok.
Despite her advanced years, the octogenarian insists on doing much of the hard work herself, mixing the mound of filling, carrying the pots and boxes, and standing at the stove to fry every single one of the 100 egg rolls we assembled.
"Someone else might make a mess of my stove and wok," she says when her son, Rich, suggests she sit and take a rest.
When the first stubbly cylinders emerge from the wok, hot crisp and deeply golden, every guest wonders the same thing: When can I try one? | <urn:uuid:fe185a9f-8c67-4770-84d1-699f92950ca6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wkoa.com/wkoa/lifestyle/food/ct-food-0123-egg-rolls-20130123,0,2685755.story?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960562 | 946 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Digicams vs. DSLRs
The New Battle Royal
No sooner does is one battle over than another begins. Just a few years ago it was between film and silicon. Now the latest punch-up is between DSLRs and digicams. What you say? Digicams? Get a life!
No, actually, this competition is quite real. One couldn't have said so as little as 12 months ago, but the game has changed (as it does rather quickly these days), and so a fresh look at these two distinct camera categories is in order — with a summer 2004 perspective.
Minolta A2 @ 20.5mm (85mm equiv). ISO 64.
The primary difference between digicams and DSLRs is in the means of viewing the scene. Digicams use a video screen, either an LCD or an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), or both. DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) by definition have optical viewfinders, usually consisting of a instant-return mirror and a pentaprism. Other differences include chip size. Most DSLRs use an imaging chip roughly the size of an APS film frame at 22.7 x 15.1 mm, though there are currently two full-frame DSLRs with 36 x 24 mm sensors, the Canon 1Ds and the Kodak Pro/n/c.
Digicams with serious pretensions typically use a 2/3" sensor, with dimensions of 8.8 x 6.6 mm, though there are pocket-sized models that have even smaller chips, as small as 5.27 x 3.96 mm. (Phil Askey has a very good tutorial on the subject of sensor size at DPReview.)
Sensor size and megapixel count don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. There are currently DSLRs with 4-6 Megapixel chips, and digicams with 8 Megapixel chips. That's where digicams currently top out, while DSLRs go as high as 11 or 14MP. But as we now know, Megapixels are only part of the image quality equation, and often not the most important part.
Size, bulk and weight are also differentiators, though some digicams are growing larger (Sony F828) and some DSLRs are getting smaller (Pentax *istD). But the total camera plus lens combination needs to be taken into account, not just the camera body by itself. If you take a typical 8 Megapixel digicam with its 28-200mm f/2.8 lens (35mm equivalent), it might weigh about 1.5 lbs and is able to fit comfortably in a coat pocket. A DSLR with a couple of lenses offering a similar focal range and speed would weigh 3-4 times as much, and require a medium-sized camera bag to tote around.
Sony F828 / Canon 10D + 2 lenses
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Everything in life has its benefits and drawbacks. One man's meat is another man's poison — and other cliches. But, it's informative to look at a listing of what each of these type of camera generally does well, better than the other, and also not so well. In no specific order, here are some things to consider.
In This Corner — DSLRs
— a wide range of interchangeable lenses
— availability of Image Stabilized (VR) lenses
— much brighter and clearer viewfinder than digicams
— very good to excellent image quality at low to medium ISO settings (up to ISO 400)
— superior image quality and lower noise at very high ISOs (above ISO 400)
— high frames rates even in RAW mode
— generally large buffers allowing rapid shooting with no freezing
— no real-time histogram
— moderate to large in size, especially with long or fast lenses
— sensor dust is a problem with almost all DSLRs
— shutter and mirror noise audible when shooting in quiet situations
In This Corner — digicams
— smaller size, lighter weight and lower bulk
— a wide-range zoom lens is included in the price
— no shutter or mirror noise. Ideal for stage, TV, film or other photography where silent operation is required
— very good to excellent image quality at low ISO settings (up to ISO 100)
— availability of real-time histogram and visible effect of exposure settings in EVF or on LCD (most models)
— macro shooting availability without accessory lenses or attachment on most models
— tilting and rotating LCDs allow for easier framing at low angles and overhead
— sensor dust a complete non-issue as the lens is not removable and therefore the sensor is never exposed
— greater depth of field at any given image magnification
— slow and awkward switching between EVF and LCD (Minolta A2 is an exception)
— dimmer more problematic viewfinder than DSLRs
— generally slower autofocus and greater shutter lag than DSLRs
— generally poor and noisy image quality above about ISO 100
— generally small buffers with limited multi-frame shooting ability before freezing
— most digicams freeze for 5-15 seconds after each RAW frame shot (Minolta A2 and Canon Pro1 are exceptions)
— low frame rates, and almost never offer fast rates in RAW mode (Minolta A2 is an exception)
— wide and and telephoto attachments are available for some models, but are typically not of high quality
— greater depth of field at any given image magnification (depends on ones needs)
Choosing Ones Horse
The British have a saying — horses for courses — which simply means, choose the right tool for the job. Of course there's bound to be overlap, and so there is often no single correct solution.
For some 30 years when I was shooting film, much of it professionally, I worked with a variety of cameras. Medium format when I needed maximum image quality and enlargability. A 35mm SLR when I needed speed and versatility, and a 35mm M-Series Leica for discrete photography, either on the street or in TV studios and film sets where quiet operation was paramount. I always also had a pocket 35mm for traveling and more casual shooting.
I no longer shoot film, but I have now pretty much duplicated my multi-camera options to suit the shooting that I currently do. For landscape work I use a medium format camera with a 16 Megapixel digital back (Contax 645 and a Kodak DCS Pro Back). For wildlife and nature a couple of DSLRs and a wide range of lenses are used, (Canon 1Ds and Canon 10D). The cameras that I now use for casual shooting, street photography and travel are the Konica/Minolta A2 and Sony DCS-T1.
These later two are both digicams, but are obviously quite different in size and capability. That's part of the problem with the term digicam. It covers a broad range of sizes, features and capabilities.
This is Now
With the advent of several new 5 MP digicams, the Leica Digilux 2 and its clone the Panasonic LC1 are clear choices, there are now medium megapixel count digicams with very high image quality, excellent lenses and reasonable handling. The new generation of 8 Megapixel digicams, nearly all of which have been reviewed on this site in early 2004, raise the stakes another notch.
And this is where the confusion begins. Is the image quality from an 8 MP digicam better than that from a 6 MP DSLR? The files are bigger, but what about image quality? And what do we really mean by image quality? What about resolution? Noise? Contrast? Accutance? Colour accuracy?
Of course the camera's lens plays a role, as does the way in which the manufacturer processes the files in camera. Will you be shooting JPGs or RAW? Some makers don't apply much sharpening to their JPGs, others apply too much. This makes evaluation of out-of-camera JPGs highly problematic and inconsistent. RAW files are a better way to judge this, but which RAW converter is used? The manufacturer's or a third parties? What about makers such as Canon that have admitted that they apply sharpening even to RAW files on some of their cameras?
I believe that even serious fine-art photographers and working pros will now find several digicams worth considering — something that I might not have said 12-18 months ago. And fortunately as time passes this is likely to become increasingly true. Certainly for a broad range of amateurs and enthusiasts the better digicams may indeed be all the camera that's needed.
The list of pros and cons above only tells part of the story though. The real issue as I see it isn't image quality or image size. Whether 5, 6 or 8 Megapixels, a digicam or a DSLR, any of these cameras can produce fine prints up to A3 in size.
Shooting at ISO 100 or lower? One would be hard pressed to tell the difference in noise between most cameras of all types. At higher ISOs the DSLRS win hands down, but this isn't an issue for many types of photography.
Shooting speed? Forget most digicams. They are usually slow to focus and can't shoot very rapidly.
A Canon 1Ds is a superb instrument that can produce stunning image quality. But there's no way that I'd take one on a 3 day backpacking trip. I also wouldn't use it for unobtrusive street shooting or a European vacation with my family. As I said — horses for courses.
And so it goes. Pros and cons. Yes, as I stated before, there are visible and measurable differences not only between digicams and DSLRs, but also between brands. But I don't believe that these differences are what really matters. The most important consideration in my book is a camera's suitability to the task and its inherent capabilities.
Down The Road
I believe that in just a few years we will see the digicam become an accepted photographic tool for all level of photographers. The poor EVFs, small image buffers, nasty zoom controls, awkward viewfinder switching and other limitations will disappear or at least be seriously improved, and their advantages of small size, lower weight, lower cost, live histogram, quiet operation and the like will win many converts.
From what I've written above you may have noticed that I list the Minolta A2 is addressing many of the typical digicam drawbacks. I believe that when it comes to operational handling this is the best digicam yet. But its day in the sun will likely not last long. Other manufacturers will realize that people spending $1,000 or more for a digicam will not settle for cameras with the limitations currently displayed by most of this genre. And when they put as much emphasis on user interface, handling and ergonomics as they have been on advancing pixel count and image quality we'll all be winners. | <urn:uuid:5f26cee0-94ba-4404-87c5-376016fb43fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://luminous-landscape.com/essays/digicams-vs-dslrs.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956141 | 2,289 | 2.265625 | 2 |
Note: I originally posted this on Tumblr.
Forbes.com contributor Gene Marks wrote a silly post yesterday entitled “If I Was Were a Poor Black Kid.” (The original, incorrect grammar in the headline has since been corrected.) The basic premise of the post is that the solution to colored folks’ problems is for their progeny to do really, really well in school with the help of newfangled tools like Evernote and Khan Academy. (Oh, and Spark Notes. I’m sure English teachers did a collective facepalm reading that bit.) There are obvious issues with this simplistic take, but rather than waste my time outlining them all, I’ve highlighted a few responses.
The problem is that Marks seems to think it’s okay to require black kids to be “special” to “succeed.”
-Kelly Virella, “If I Were the Middle Class White Guy Gene Marks”
If I was a rich white dude* I would first and most importantly work to make sure I actually saw what it’s like to live as a poor black kid myself before I wrote a condescending column about how we should solve “our” problems.
-Jeff Yang, “Opinion: If I Were a Rich White Dude”
*Note: Yes, the grammar here is also wrong.
Update: I’ve come across even more great posts, below:
How in the world can this man create this checklist of things and not realize that he’s requesting that kids do something extraordinary simply to not continue to be in poverty: forget their surroundings.
-Elon James White, “Why Forbes’ Column Crossed the Line”
It is comforting to believe that we, through our sheer will, could transcend these bindings—to believe that if we were slaves, our indomitable courage would have made us Frederick Douglass, if we were slave masters our keen morality would have made us Bobby Carter, that were we poor and black our sense of Protestant industry would be a mighty power sending gang leaders, gang members, hunger, depression and sickle cell into flight.
-Ta-Nehisi Coates, “A Muscular Empathy”
If I were a rich white motivational speaker, I would first and most importantly make sure that I ignored all historical and social facts about the group of people I was addressing.
-Jesse Taylor, “If I Were a Rich White Motivational Speaker”
Brown vs. Board of Education is the most misunderstood Civil Rights case of them all. This was NOT about integration, not about the chance to hold hands with white kids on the playground and attend the same classes. It was about black schools, black businesses and black neighborhoods given the EXACT SAME RESOURCES as their white counterparts, but that somehow got lost in the movement.
-Chris Stevens, “Forbes article proudly parrots bootstrap mentality”
And from Twitter:
Bonus: Why does the Olive Garden have a Promoted Tweet tagged to “Were a Poor Black Kid?” o_O | <urn:uuid:619c12c6-b6e7-4fbd-a213-5971e1e2c318> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.apriljoyner.com/2011/12/13/if-i-were-a-clueless-blogger/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9577 | 657 | 2.484375 | 2 |
As mentioned in a past post, we are currently preparing to present online materials from LACMA’s archive for its landmark 1976 exhibition, Two Centuries of Black American Art. To accompany the primary exhibition materials that will be digitally accessible for the first time, we have developed related content to provide further art historical and institutional context for this historic exhibition. One feature I’m particularly excited about is the list of works by African American artists in LACMA’s permanent collection—and the fact that those publicly available in collections online can now be found on the landing page for American Art. Never before have visitors been able to go to one place to see the dynamic range of African American art in the collection—art produced over the course of more than 150 years in myriad artistic styles. The earliest work in the collection is Robert Duncanson’s striking still life of 1849 and the most recent is Glenn Ligon’s neon Rückenfigur made in 2009, which will be on view as part of Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection, opening in BCAM on March 13.
It is amazing to be able to scroll through the images and encounter so many masterpieces, some of which are on view in the galleries—the online object record will tell you if a work is or is not “currently on public view.” From a curatorial perspective as well it is fascinating to see when works entered the museum’s permanent collection. (You can find this information by looking at the accession numbers—the first numbers that appear alone or after an initial letter(s) indicate the year the object entered the museum’s collection.) Some of my favorites happen to be historic acquisitions.
For instance, the first work by an African American artist that the museum ever acquired was Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Daniel in the Lion’s Den (22.6.3). Mr. and Mrs. William Harrison, whose collection formed the core of LACMA’s American art collection, purchased this beautiful and elegiac painting directly from the artist in 1918 and donated it to the museum in 1922. It has been one of the highlights of the American art collection ever since and is now on view.
Other landmark acquisitions certainly include David Hammons’s Injustice Case (1970), which will also be on view in Human Nature. Hammons made this powerful work in response to the order by Judge Julius Hoffman to bound and gag Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale, who was a defendant in the 1969 trial of the Chicago 8, the group charged with conspiracy and inciting riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Hammons used his own body—covered with margarine and graphite and pressed against the paper framed with an actual American flag—to create this unique “body print.” The museum exhibited Injustice Case in its 1971 exhibition Three Graphic Artists: Charles White, Timothy Washington, David Hammons and purchased it with its acquisition fund through Brockman Muse Gallery, founded in Los Angeles in 1967 by brothers and artists Alonzo and Dale Davis. | <urn:uuid:5935c10b-08e1-4212-944f-2bc3321ad36d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lacma.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/african-american-art-at-lacma/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=7b62a7b6bf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944927 | 633 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Ishikura Noboru is a regular lecturer on the Japan Broadcasting Corporation’s weekly TV go program. He is noted for his easy-to-understand explanations.
Now his original go course is avilable on iPhone.
By studying his explanations and the problems he presents, you will quickly learn to play go.
Beginner’s Go has five special features.
1. Easy-to-understand explanations
These are Ishikura’s original explanations.
2. Easy-to-follow diagrams.
The moves are smoothly played out on attractive graphics.
3. Suited for anyone who wants to learn how to play go
An easy-to-understand course for all beginners
4.Three steps to understanding go
Explanations, practice, and problem-solving will hammer home the basics of the game.
5. An easy-to-understand glossary of go terms.
The convenience of having the most important go terms gathered in one place.
Contents of Beginner’s Go
What is go?
After you’ve learned the rules — 9×9-board games
After you’ve learned the rules — 19×19-board games
Exploiting defects in your opponent’s territory
Linking up stones
Life and death | <urn:uuid:6799a50d-1469-4d24-b5a6-ad8b561d8de2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.slidetoplay.com/games/how-to-play-go-quotbeginner39s-goquot/?display_mode=default | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903866 | 277 | 2.34375 | 2 |
As you browse adamia, you may think to yourself, "What is the upside-down city for?" Or, "What is the point of the satellite dish?" There is a reason for every element of symbolism in adamia, and we will reveal more of the vision as time progresses.
The most striking part of the world of adamia is the upside-down city in the sky. The city holds the citizens of adamia, blessed individuals who have all made one simple choice: the choice to be there. They live in the world of possibility, expressed through their own personal power. The city stands in stark contrast to a drab and gloomy city in the world below, which will be explored more fully in the future. The only difference between those living in the city in the sky and those still living below is that those in the sky have acknowledged their ability to choose otherwise.
One of the most exciting thoughts one has after arriving at the city in the sky is that of sharing the blessing with everyone in the world. The only possible reaction to fully experiencing this vision is to continually share everything gained, creating many opportunities for others to choose to live a life of possibility. The satellite dish is an icon of communication faithfully providing a constant stream of choice-illuminating options.
I hope you have a clearer picture of the meaning behind the imagery involved here at adamia. I look forward to revealing more of its depth in the future! | <urn:uuid:17c379bb-2087-447a-bb6a-1edad6365697> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://adamia.com/about/world-of-adamia/the-city-in-the-sky | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955698 | 292 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Residents of British Columbia may have seen in the news today that the provincial government inadvertently placed a confidential draft report on the future of the forest industry on a publicly accessible website. That report is available as a PDF here, and I will keep a copy in case that link also, um, gets misplaced.
Given that the mountain pine beetle has been a problem for many years now, this report is both a record of an environmental disaster for the forest industry and catastrophically negligent management on the part of the BC Liberal government. It notes that there is enough available timber in the interior to maintain logging at current rates for the next decade, but only if vast amounts of dead pine are taken into account — much of which will be beyond rescue within the next 1-5 years.
This is going to result in further devastation to interior towns’s economies, too. Overall the report estimates 53% job losses in Prince George, Wiliams Lake, Quesnel, and Burns Lake regions.
The government’s response goes by the Orwellian phrase “mitigation” — by which they mean, eliminating current conservation rules which limit the harvesting of young timber (which is supposed to be saved for future logging), old-growth timber, and scenic and recreational areas. For all of this, they expect to save perhaps one-third of the expected job losses. For instance, they propose:
- open up old-growth stands in the Burns Lake region to harvesting, and “redefine” old growth so that much current protected areas are freed up for use;
- harvest the wildlife corridors which were left through old clearcuts for wildlife conservation purposes;
- open protected conservation and biodiversity regions for harvesting (these are referred to dismissively as “legacy areas,” i.e., legacies of a time in which B.C. had real conservation laws);
Towards the end, the report outlines processes for public consultation, although it’s not clear why they need consultation when they’ve already come to a decision. And then, because as we all know civil servants are non-partisan, it closes by noting that the decision on how best to eviscerate our conservation laws must be made by December “to avoid conflict with May 2013 election.”
Of course, once all this is done, we’ll need a re-mitigation plan, to mitigate the damage to the province’s forests done by this round of temporary deregulation. Oh, did I say temporary? My bad. The report actually makes no mention of timespans. The deregulation here is intended to be permanent.Tweet | <urn:uuid:a9ab9b6f-66db-413d-8a04-0d9a46e19756> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sixthestate.net/?m=201204&paged=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9534 | 544 | 2.21875 | 2 |
A wonderful surprise of the annular eclipse at the new moon this month was the bounty of bright crescents produced by the moon traveling over the sun and projected on our outdoor walls as if by a hundred pinhole cameras. We were south of the path, so ours was a crescent sun rather than a ring of fire. A very favorite shape of mine, for the crescent is the likely the ancestor of our letter C. As the eclipse progressed, the crescents shifted to become horizontal.
As the trees moved in the evening breeze, these crescents danced like a hundred birds in flight. Light and shadow play. Celestial magic. | <urn:uuid:1abe0775-91cd-4b5c-9818-706471da2b8f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cariferraro.com/2012/05/20/luminous-crescents-at-the-solar-eclipse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962311 | 134 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary
The Center for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CTEC) at Antioch University New England promotes the sustainable and just use of tropical ecosystems by training conservation leaders, conducting conservation research with partner organizations, and serving as an educational resource for the New England Community.
Our objective is to help people find creative, long-term solutions to the rapid loss of biodiversity in the tropics. We do this by training the next generation of world environmental leaders who embrace the interdisciplinary nature of conservation through an ecological, social, political, and economic context.
We operate in three main areas: Research, Education, and Student Support. We are actively developing programs and opportunities that will allow CTEC to bring together students and professionals from a variety of disciplines to address the complex problems of tropical conservation and sustainable use issues.
CTEC Ongoing Activities and Resources Include:
- Collaborations with regional and international affiliates
- Lecture series
- Past Symposia
- The CTEC library
- Publications including newsletters, peer reviewed papers, and professional papers
- Practica, funding, and job opportunities
- Fundraising activities including Coffee and T-shirt sales
- Degree programs in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England
Students, become a CTEC member!
CTEC is open to all Antioch University New England students and membership is free. Some of the benefits of becoming a CTEC student member are:
- Meet other students interested in Tropical Ecology and Conservation
- Qualified to apply for CTEC scholarships
- Network with various affiliate organizations
- CTEC graduate student website
- Participate on committees that bring speakers to campus, organize fundraisers, manage coffee sales, etc.
- Receive CTEC business cards
The first step in becoming a member is to complete the membership form. We are looking forward to meeting you! | <urn:uuid:3eb6d112-d939-465e-b3e6-1c1d305c9126> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wp.antiochne.edu.294elmp01.blackmesh.com/centerfortropicalecology/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935029 | 376 | 1.609375 | 2 |
A conceptual and empirical examination of the management concept Supply chain management
Abstract (Summary)The management concept "supply chain management" was introduced in early 1980s and since then the concept has recieved increasing attention within the fields of logistics. Supply chain management is viewed by many as a highly novel management concept, but comparison with earlier work reveals similarities. The main objective of this study is to examine the concept of supply chain management in order to seek the essence of the concept. A subordinated objective is to give some indication of the degree of novelty of supply chain management. Supply chain management is viewed in this study as a management concept or management theory and a method of five different examinations based on literature studies is developed. Firstly, the "reference network", the references within the examined literature, is established and examined. Secondly, the stated objectives and the stated fundamental beliefs are examined and thirdly, the stated definitions and stated theory relations are examined. These three examinations lay the foundation for the fourth, where the extent to which the different views of supply chain management in the examined literature share a common set of ideas and beliefs is examined. Finally, the extent to which the fundamental beliefs of supply chain management can be distinguished from the ideas and beliefs of its forerunners within logistics is examined. The examination reveal that it is possible to relate the stated objectives of supply chain management to each other in a "hierarchical weave" and that it is also possible to view the concept as constituted by a set of primitive fundamental beliefs. Tentatively, the following set is identified as the primitive fundamental beliefs of supply chain management, coordination and integration along the material flow, win-win relationships and end customer focus. Further, the examinations reveal that few stated definitions exist and that there are only vaguely stated theory relations. The most common stated theory relation is Poster's value chain. Based upon the examinations the conclusion is that supply chain management is a homogenous management concept, where its interpreters share common ideas and beliefs. However, the comparison with the forerunners shows that the ideas and beliefs of supply chain management also can be found in prior works. Accordingly, the degree of novelty is not judged as very high. Although most of the ideas of supply chain management may be found in the work by its forerunners it is concluded that their ideas are more fragmented and less apparent than the ideas of supply chain management.
School:Luleå tekniska universitet
Source Type:Master's Thesis
Date of Publication:01/01/1997 | <urn:uuid:6f57d446-8025-448e-9cfa-12aab5dfb217> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.openthesis.org/documents/conceptual-empirical-examination-management-concept-597343.html | 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 | 0.965527 | 507 | 2.0625 | 2 |
The False Cancer Paradigm
How scientific research spent 41 years running down a blind alley to find a cure.
Remember way back when? Was it 1972? President Richard Nixon declared his famous “War on cancer.” And why not? President John F. Kennedy had made a similar, or so it seemed, declaration about landing men on the moon. And Kennedy’s grand pronouncement did actually come true.
So why not conquer cancer if we can conquer outer space? It all seemed so logical, so noble, so necessary. Cancer was the unseen enemy from within, killing more Americans than all previous wars combined. Why not go after it with all our technical and intellectual might, and get rid of it once and for all?
Now think about it: 1972. That’s 41 years!! And where are we now, in 2013? Not any nearer to a medical cure than we were back then. Hard to believe isn’t it? Where did we go wrong? How did modern science fail us? What lessons are there to be learned from this failure? What does the future really hold?
The answers to these provocative questions are vital. For they illuminate how dogma, even in science, can take society down a path of self-deception and lost opportunity. Such has happened repeatedly throughout the history of mankind, but it is sobering to realize that it still happens to this day.
Let’s begin by taking a step back to look at some essential features of modern science itself. The first half of 20th century science focused on physics, and the two huge paradigm shifts brought about first by Einstein and then again by quantum mechanics. The central dogma of the most fundamental and established of all sciences, physics, was thereby demolished. This revolution in physics stands even today as a dramatic illustration of the fallacy of sacrosanct dogma in the world of science.
Nevertheless, the irresistible urge to construct more scientific dogma returned with a vengeance in the middle of the twentieth century, following the famous discovery of the DNA double helix in 1954. A new era in science, “the molecular logic of the living state,” was soon to be born…
Now, back to the war on cancer. In 1972, our understanding of the workings of a living cell were crude at best. But a central paradigm was emerging out of what little we did know: the cell was imagined to be a “chemical machine” that runs off of the “software program” encoded in the DNA. Cellular operations are therein determined, or so the paradigm predicted. Thus if cancer was described as aberrant cellular activity, then the ultimate “answer to cancer” must lie in some programming problem within the DNA itself. From this point of departure modern cancer research has relentlessly proceeded, however erroneously.
Cancer is a disease of unregulated, chaotic cell growth. And the most fundamental question has always been, “why do cancer cells behave this way?” The answer, according to the reigning paradigm, has been that cell growth has been abnormally “turned on.” That is, otherwise normal cells have had some portion of the DNA activated to promote growth, growth that is unregulated because the normal behavior of the cell should be in a mature state of nonproliferation.
But the truth is actually something different altogether. Cancer does not actually start with the DNA, as the establishment paradigm falsely asserts. Cancer, it turns out, is due to something far less elegant. Over the past 10-15 years or so, recognition of something termed apoptosis, or “programmed cell death,” has emerged. And what is apoptosis? A simple evolutionary imperative: for multicellular organisms to survive, there has to be a means by which dysfunctional cells remove themselves harmlessly from the host.
This they do constantly as cells get old and/or nonoperational. Such cells “commit suicide” by activating a series of internal chemical reactions leading to cell dissolution. But like all cellular operations, the process is only 99.9999% effective. When even one cell fails to self-destruct, it may wander off into a different pathway. Unable to function correctly and likewise unable to self-destruct, the hampered cell may sometimes retain the capacity to reproduce. And the result may be an entire clone of its dysfunctional, aberrant progeny. And there is an old name for such inappropriate growth and proliferation: cancer.
You might think that it would be simple enough for academic medicine to simply acknowledge this new discovery and get on with appropriate research aimed at augmenting the apoptotic pathway of cancer cells, rather than doggedly sticking to the original, failed paradigm of DNA-directed abnormal cell growth. So why don’t they?
The dominant reason for this failure, I believe, is embedded in the inherent nature of scientific dogma. It took two decades for Einstein’s theory of relativity to be accepted. It took two decades for Hubble’s Big Bang theory to gain widespread acceptance. Reigning dogma in science does not topple as easily as you might think. And the reigning dogma in the life sciences is that DNA is the center of the cellular biological universe, whence forth all else must derive.
Foundations, entire faculties and institutions have been built on this premise, not to mention the pharmaceutical industry. And all those who sit atop the autocracy which is academic science and Big Pharma are not about to abdicate what they spent lifetimes and careers and billions upon billions of dollars constructing.
Few laypersons realize that science is not the apolitical, noble quest for pure truth that many of us romanticize it to be. Science is the endeavor of scientists, human beings who are not entirely immune to the corrupting influence of fame and fortune. As such, mistakes get made along the way, mistakes that may lie uncorrected for decades, if not longer.
So where does that leave us? Caught in the middle of a rather immense and inescapable mine field, something which is at least misguided and at worst hideously corrupted. But every revolution must start with a seminal voice of protest. From the trenches of the cancer clinic, from one who has been there for 30 years, let it start here…
Dr. Stephen J. Iacoboni, MD, is a dedicated doctor, an award-winning researcher, and an outdoorsman who finds solace and rejuvenation in nature. He is a father of grown sons, an oncologist who has fought the good fight beside his patients for three decades, and an author who has chronicled the spiritual journey on which his career has taken him in his book, The Undying Soul: A Cancer Doctor’s Discovery, a book that offers a unique and unparalleled view of Cancer. For more articles and information from Dr. Iacoboni, visit:
Tags: Health , Cancer , Opinion , Medicine
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. | <urn:uuid:d90bf550-15fc-466b-8f94-4fc8555e6dcc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.groundreport.com/Business/The-False-Cancer-Paradigm/2950870 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95528 | 1,427 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Patient Data Exchange
Transferring patients from one hospital to another is a laborious process that, in a disater, can take time and important resources away from response efforts. This project devised a digital solution could improve response by reducing transfer time and allowing practicioners to communicate common patient data in a disaster. Document standards such as C32 and the NHIN Core Content Specification were leveraged to specify a minimum data set required for patient transfer and treatment, and subsequently develop a software solution.
BHEPP Patient Data Exchange [PowerPoint slides, 8.5 MB]
For more information, please contact Wei Ma. | <urn:uuid:d8ff7edf-ef75-4069-a664-6a8a872a2009> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bethesdahospitalsemergencypartnership.org/research_patinfo_patdataex.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913001 | 128 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Europe or Eurabia?
The future of Europe is in play. Will it turn into "Eurabia," a part of the Muslim world? Will it remain the distinct cultural unit it has been over the last millennium? Or might there be some creative synthesis of the two civilizations?
The answer has vast importance. Europe may constitute a mere 7 percent of the world's landmass but for five hundred years, 1450-1950, for good and ill, it was the global engine of change. How it develops in the future will affect all humanity, and especially daughter countries such as Australia which still retain close and important ties to the old continent.
I foresee potentially one of three paths for Europe: Muslims dominating, Muslims rejected, or harmonious integration.
(1) Muslim domination strikes some analysts as inevitable. Oriana Fallaci found that "Europe becomes more and more a province of Islam, a colony of Islam." Mark Steyn argues that much of the Western world "will not survive the twenty-first century, and much of it will effectively disappear within our lifetimes, including many if not most European countries." Such authors point to three factors leading to Europe's Islamization: faith, demography, and a sense of heritage.
The secularism that predominates in Europe, especially among its elites, leads to alienation about the Judeo-Christian tradition, empty church pews, and a fascination with Islam. In complete contrast, Muslims display a religious fervor that translates into jihadi sensibility, a supremacism toward non-Muslims, and an expectation that Europe is waiting for conversion to Islam.
The contrast in faith also has demographic implications, with Christians having on average 1.4 children per woman, or about one third less than the number needed to maintain their population, and Muslims enjoying a dramatically higher, if falling, fertility rate. Amsterdam and Rotterdam are expected to be in about 2015 the first large majority-Muslim cities. Russia could become a Muslim-majority country in 2050. To employ enough workers to fund existing pension plans, Europe needs millions of immigrants and these tend to be disproportionately Muslim due to reasons of proximity, colonial ties, and the turmoil in majority-Muslim countries.
In addition, many Europeans no longer cherish their history, mores, and customs. Guilt about fascism, racism, and imperialism leave many with a sense that their own culture has less value than that of immigrants. Such self-disdain has direct implications for Muslim immigrants, for if Europeans shun their own ways, why should immigrants adopt them? When added to the already-existing Muslim hesitations over much that is Western, and especially what concerns sexuality, the result are Muslim populations that strongly resist assimilation.
The logic of this first path leads to Europe ultimately becoming an extension of North Africa.
(2) But the first path is not inevitable. Indigenous Europeans could resist it and as they make up 95 percent of the continent's population, they can at any time reassert control, should they see Muslims posing a threat to a valued way of life.
This impulse can already be seen at work in the French anti-hijab legislation or in Geert Wilders' film, Fitna. Anti-immigrant parties gain in strength; a potential nativist movement is taking shape across Europe, as political parties opposed to immigration focus increasingly on Islam and Muslims. These parties include the British National Party, Belgium's Vlaamse Belang, France's Front National, the Austrian Freedom Party, the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, the Danish People's Party, and the Swedish Democrats.
They will likely continue to grow as immigration surges ever higher, with mainstream parties paying and expropriating their anti-Islamic message. Should nationalist parties gain power, they will likely seek to reject multiculturalism, cut back on immigration, encourage repatriation of immigrants, support Christian institutions, increase indigenous European birthrates, and broadly attempt to re-establish traditional ways.
Muslim alarm will likely follow. American author Ralph Peters sketches a scenario in which "U.S. Navy ships are at anchor and U.S. Marines have gone ashore at Brest, Bremerhaven or Bari to guarantee the safe evacuation of Europe's Muslims." Peters concludes that because of European's "ineradicable viciousness," its Muslims "are living on borrowed time" As Europeans have "perfected genocide and ethnic cleansing," Muslims, he predicts, "will be lucky just to be deported," rather than killed. Indeed, Muslims worry about just such a fate; since the 1980s, they have spoken overtly about Muslims being sent to gas chambers.
Violence by indigenous Europeans cannot be precluded but nationalist efforts will more likely take place less violently; if any one is likely to initiate violence, it is the Muslims. They have already engaged in many acts of violence and seem to be spoiling for more. Surveys indicate, for instance, that about 5 percent of British Muslims endorse the 7/7 transport bombings. In brief, a European reassertion will likely lead to on-going civil strife, perhaps a more lethal version of the fall 2005 riots in France.
(3) The ideal outcome has indigenous Europeans and immigrant Muslims finding a way to live together harmoniously and create a new synthesis. A 1991 study, La France, une chance pour l'Islam (France, an Opportunity for Islam) by Jeanne-Hélène Kaltenbach and Pierre Patrick Kaltenbach promoted this idealistic approach. Despite all, this optimism remains the conventional wisdom, as suggested by an Economist leader of 2006 that concluded that dismissed for the moment at least, the prospect of Eurabia as "scaremongering."
This is the view of most politicians, journalists, and academics but it has little basis in reality. Yes indigenous Europeans could yet rediscover their Christian faith, make more babies, and again cherish their heritage. Yes, they could encourage non-Muslim immigration and acculturate Muslims already living in Europe. Yes, Muslim could accept historic Europe. But not only are such developments not now underway, their prospects are dim. In particular, young Muslims are cultivating grievances and nursing ambitions at odds with their neighbors.
One can virtually dismiss from consideration the prospect of Muslims accepting historic Europe and integrating within it. U.S. columnist Dennis Prager agrees: "It is difficult to imagine any other future scenario for Western Europe than its becoming Islamicized or having a civil war."
But which of those two remaining paths will the continent take? Forecasting is difficult because crisis has not yet struck. But it may not be far off. Within a decade perhaps, the continent's evolution will become clear as the Europe-Muslim relationship takes shape.
The unprecedented nature of Europe's situation also renders a forecast exceedingly difficult. Never in history has a major civilization peaceably dissolved, nor has a people ever risen to reclaim its patrimony. Europe's unique circumstances make them difficult to comprehend, tempting to overlook, and virtually impossible to predict. With Europe, we all enter into terra incognita.
Mr. Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube/Diller distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. He is in Australia for the Intelligence Squared debate to take place this evening in Sydney. This article derives from a talk he delivered yesterday to the Quadrant.
Apr. 26, 2008 update: Alain Jean-Mairet, my translator into French, replies to the above with an even more pessimistic analysis at "Ni Europe ni Eurabia — la pagaille" ("Neither Europe nor Eurabia, but a mess").
Sep. 17, 2008 update: This article figues prominently in a problem I had with an Australian blogger. For details, see "Irfan Yusuf Apologizes to Daniel Pipes ." Oct. 1, 2008 update: And now: "Irfan Yusuf Apologizes Again to Daniel Pipes ." | <urn:uuid:c9cda472-f7d6-4731-9387-e25e2fc3642b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jewish1.blogspot.com/2008/11/europe-or-eurabia.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942672 | 1,617 | 2.265625 | 2 |
Other Useful Plant Materials
Two fragments of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) rind were recovered (07,821 and 07,786). According to Newsom (1995:3) "bottle gourd was originally native to Africa, but is known from archaeological contexts on the American continents, including Florida, from at least as early as 7,000 years before present." She suggests that the hard-shelled fruits would have been useful aboard the ship as containers or that the seeds of some varieties could have been eaten or processed into seed oil.
During excavations in Grid A1, a mass of resinous material (approximately 1 cm by 1.1 cm) was recovered from the dredge screen. This substance, which has since dissaggregated into a loose, amorphous mass, is deep reddish in color and somewhat tacky. According to Newsom (1995:3):
the presence of dissociated large-diametered vessel elements with scalariform perforation plates (a diagnostic cell type and structure in woody plants) that have thick, widely spaced bars, indicates the resinous material is from a tree, but not a coniferous species (e.g., pine); this cell type is exclusive to hardwoods, e.g., red mangrove).
Without a positive identification, the presence of this material aboard ship is somewhat problematical. Considering the other botanical materials found aboard the ship, it is likely that the material derives from a tropical American species. Newsom (1995:4) suggests that its presence aboard the ship could represent “glue or other sealing material (e.g. `gum elemi’ [Bursera simaruba] in balled up form.” Alternatively, the substance may have been used as a “medicinal and/or aromatic tree resins (e.g., copal, Burseraceae and other families).” For example, a native circum-Caribbean tree, lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale, “wood of life”), became a very early article of the Spanish trade by 1508 (Record and Hess 1943:556-558). “The actual product from lignum vitae was the copius resin, known as `guaiac’ or 'Guaiaci,’ which was thought to have great medicinal value. Lignum vitae, like the Burseraceae (including gum elemi and copal), lacks scalariform perforation plates, but several other families and genera of the resinous tropical trees have them” (Newsom 1995:4).
One scholar of Mexican medicine, Schendel (1968:15, 62-80), notes that the
Spanish were amazed at Aztec knowledge and employment of medicinal herbs.
Evidence of this can be seen in Santa Maria de Yciar’s 1554 register where two medicinal substances were being shipped to Spain: tacamahaca, a type of gum or resin
and sarsaparilla which the Aztecs used in treating respiratory diseases (Arnold and
Weddle 1978:269-70). Organic chemical analyses are tentatively planned in cooperation
with the SIUC Geology department to help further discriminate and resolve the identification of this material. | <urn:uuid:3777647c-e4f7-4677-a1f6-497d46f51272> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/projects/shipwrecks/emanuelpoint/reports/index.cfm?doc=ep1992§ion=59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949791 | 697 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Last year, Daryl Hannah was up in a tree with Joan Baez, trying to save an L.A. farm from being taken over by developers. This year, she’s got her feet on the ground in Ecuador, for yet another environmental struggle:
…Daryl Hannah traveled through the thick Ecuadorian jungle on Monday to see for herself why 30,000 villagers and indigenous people of the Amazon are suing the oil company Chevron.
The oil giant faces a trial in this town, located 110 miles to the east of Quito, for supposedly failing to clean up the spill of hundreds of millions of liters of toxic water.
The inhabitants of Lago Agrio, Ecuador, are asking that Chevron pay 6 billion dollars in damages.
Via / El Universal
Image via Washington Post – AP
The Chilean capital of Santiago is yet again under an emergency alert for the levels of smog reached in the city. The above photo from Spain’s 20 Minutos shows the city almost invisible and covered by smog on May 24th. Yesterday the city government declared another emergency alert which took 600,000 cars off the road in an effort to bring down the smog levels. According to 20 Minutos, reports of bronchial obstructions and pneumonia in children and the elderly went up 30 percent on Monday.
Via / 20 Minutos
Mexico City, a metropolis famous for its smog and crowds (among other wonderful things) isn’t the first place you’d think of when you hear the words “organic crops”. But that a new breed of farmers known as have set out to produce food free of contaminants and totally natural in the Mexican capital:
Conceived as a strategy to promote organic agriculture in rural areas within the Federal District, the Sello Verde (Green Stamp) — certification means that chemicals have been definitively eliminated throughout the production chain — has begun to pay off, with 84 organic products free of contaminants being grown, which have even been exported to the U.S. and Europe because of their high quality.
Vegetables, fruits, corn, honey and nopal (edible cactus) are only some of the items which, through the help of 23 farmer organizations have reached the level of quality demanded by certification.
Last Friday, ex-vice president-cum-documentarian Al Gore brought his “inconvenient truth” — that we are rapidly destroying the earth — to Santiago de Chile, where he spoke before a crowd of 1700 which included Chilean president Michelle Bachelet. It seems that the message could not have come at a better time, as Santiago mobilizes in the face of the highest smog levels since 1999:
On Saturday, the Particle Quality Index (ICAP) hit 409, well above the 300 that is required for the government to declare a pre-emergency. While levels had returned to normal by late Sunday, environmentalists are concerned that the capital’s new public transport system is not living up to its promises of safer, cleaner air for its residents.
Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands — the natural paradise that inspired some of Charles Darwin’s most important writings on his Theory of Evolution — are being destroyed by the massive influx of tourists to the protected area.
According to Spain’s 20 Minutos, UNESCO director Koichiro Matsuura says his team conducted an inspection of the islands last April and found them in grave danger due to the “excessively high” number of visitors to the island, and the contamination of the natural flora and fauna by non-native plants and animals.
Ana Albán, Ecuador’s environmental minister, says that the country will make this problem a “national priority”, and meanwhile UNESCO is studying the possibility of putting the islands on their list of at-risk natural heritage sites.
Via / 20 Minutos
While the U.S. may only now be talking about reducing its dependance on foreign oil, Brazil was thinking about it decades ago, and put in place a program designed to do just that. The genius idea was to pioneer a technology for vehicles which run on gasoline or on ethanol (alcohol) made from sugar cane. The BBC reports that Brazil is experiencing a revival in the use of these vehicles:
Ethanol-driven cars have been on sale there for 25 years, but they have been enjoying a revival since flex-fuel models first appeared in March 2003.
Just 48,200 flex-fuel cars were sold in Brazil in 2003, but the total had reached 1.2 million by the end of last year and had since topped two million, the Brazilian motor manufacturers’ association Anfavea said.
Brazil incents buyers with a lower purchase tax on flex-fuel cars, which helps reduce pollution. However, some say that by using sugar cane to power cars, we are wasting valuable food supplies. And that it stinks. A lot.
Via / BBC News
Image via MSNBC/AP
While the rest of the world is busy chingando the ecosystem, a report published by the World Wildlife Foundation claims that the only country in the world with “sustainable development” is Cuba:
WWF includes in its report a graph which shows two features: the human development index (established by the United Nations) and the so-called “ecological footprint” which shows the per person energy and resources comsued in each country.
Surprisingly, only Cuba has passed in both arenas, which is enough to be designated a country that “meets the minimum sensitivity criteria”.
The study’s authors credit the high level of literacy, long life expectancy and low consumption of energy for this success.
The authors also claim that Latin America is the region that leads in sustainable development, and that is due in part to the fact that, according to them:
“…people are happier there and maybe that’s because there is a better balance between development and the environment.”
That doesn’t sound very scientific to me. And I can’t say that people in general are “happier” in Latin America. They worry about different things and let other things go maybe, but that generalization is a little bit far-fetched, I think. Though there are those who think otherwise.
Via / 20 Minutos
Image via BBC.co.uk | <urn:uuid:01e688a5-c039-4748-b292-6e8cd488013b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://vivirlatino.com/tags/environment/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960664 | 1,329 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Free money and guarantees incentivize speculation and mal-investment, so the money is squandered, leaving the immense debts behind to be serviced from now until Doomsday (December 21, 2021--the Mayan astronomer/sage was dyslexic.)
Chart Of The Day: Change In Q1 American Debt And GDP - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - April 27, 2012 - Presented without much commentary, because little is necessary: the only ratio that matters for the US economy, the change in US public debt ($359.1 billion) and US GDP ($142.4) in the first quarter, hit 2.52x and rising. It takes $2.52 in new debt to "buy" $1 of economic "growth"
Epic Fail Part 1 - The Burning Platform - Jim Quinn - April 23, 2012 - The first fact that can’t be ignored is how many Americans are actually unemployed today. Here is some truth you won’t get from a politician or media talking head:
- There are 243 million working age Americans.
- There are 142 million employed Americans.
- Only 101 million of the employed Americans are working more than 35 hours per week. This means that only 41.6% of all working age Americans have a full-time job.
- According to the government drones at the BLS, 88 million Americans have “chosen” to not be in the labor force – the highest level in U.S. history.
- The percentage of Americans in the workforce at 63.8% is the lowest since 1980 and down from a peak of 67.1% in 2000. The difference between these two percentages is 8 million Americans.
- The BLS reports there are only 12.7 million unemployed Americans in the country, down from 15.3 million in 2009.
- The BLS reports the unemployment rate has dropped from 10% in late 2009 to 8.3% today. Over this time frame the working age population grew by 5.7 million, while the number of employed Americans grew by 3.6 million. Only a government drone could interpret this data and report a dramatic decline in the unemployment rate.
Cooling Job Market Takes Toll on U.S. Confidence: Economy - Bloomberg - Timothy R. Homan and Shobhana Chandra - April 26, 2012 - More Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week and consumer confidence declined by the most in a year, signaling that a cooling labor market may restrain household spending. Jobless claims fell to 388,000 from a revised 389,000 the prior week that was the highest since early January, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index declined to minus 35.8 from minus 31.4 the previous week. “There has been some slowdown in the labor market,” said Yelena Shulyatyeva, a U.S. economist at BNP Paribas in New York, who correctly projected the level of jobless claims. “That makes consumers feel less confident, and makes them more cautious about their spending. We could see some weakness in April payrolls.”
US Economy Grows at Tepid 2.2% Pace; Misses Estimates - Reuters through CNBC - April 27, 2012 - U.S. economic growth cooled in the first quarter as businesses cut back on investment and restocked shelves at a moderate pace, but stronger demand for automobiles softened the blow.... Gross domestic product [cnbc explains] expanded at a 2.2 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday in its advance estimate, moderating from the fourth quarter's 3 percent rate. While that was below economists' expectations for a 2.5 percent pace, a surge in consumer spending took some of the sting from the report. However, growth was still stronger than analysts' predictions early in the quarter for an expansion below 1.5 percent.
Insight: Falling home prices drag new buyers under water - Reuters - Tim Reid - April 26, 2012 - More than 1 million Americans who have taken out mortgages in the past two years now owe more on their loans than their homes are worth, and Federal Housing Administration loans that require only a tiny down payment are partly to blame. That figure, provided to Reuters by tracking firm CoreLogic, represents about one out of 10 home loans made during that period. It is a sobering indication the U.S. housing market remains deeply troubled, with home values still falling in many parts of the country, and raises the question of whether low-down payment loans backed by the FHA are putting another generation of buyers at risk. As of December 2011, the latest figures available, 31 percent of the U.S. home loans that were in negative equity - in which the outstanding loan balance exceeds the value of the home - were FHA-insured mortgages, according to CoreLogic. Many borrowers, particularly since late 2010, thought they were buying at the bottom of a housing market that had already suffered steep declines, but have been caught out by a continued fall in prices in wide swaths of America. Even for loans taken out in December - less than four months ago and the last month for which data is available - nearly 44,000 borrowers, or about 7.5 percent of the total, now find themselves under water. "The overwhelming majority of the U.S. is still seeing home prices decline," said CoreLogic senior economist Sam Khater. "Many borrowers continue to be quickly wiped out."....
U.S. Firms Add Jobs, but Mostly Overseas - Wall Street Journal - Scott Thurm - April 27, 2012 - Thirty-five big U.S.-based multinational companies added jobs much faster than other U.S. employers in the past two years, but nearly three-fourths of those jobs were overseas, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. Those companies, which include Wal-Mart Stores Inc., International Paper Co., Honeywell International Inc. and United Parcel Service Inc., boosted their employment at home by 3.1%, or 113,000 jobs, between 2009 and 2011, the same rate of increase as the nation's other employers. But they also added more than 333,000 jobs in their far-flung—and faster-growing— foreign operations. (Subscriber Article)
The Family Farm Is Being Systematically Wiped Out Of Existence In America - The Economic Collapse Blog - An entire way of life is rapidly dying right in front of our eyes. The family farm is being systematically wiped out of existence in America, and big agribusiness and the federal government both have blood all over their hands. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of farms in the United States has fallen from about 6.8 million in 1935 to only about 2 million today. That doesn't mean that there is less farming going on. U.S. farms are producing more than ever. But what it does mean is that farming is increasingly becoming dominated by the big boys. The rules of the game have been tilted in favor of big agribusiness so dramatically that most small farmers find that they simply cannot compete anymore. Back in 1900, about 39 percent of the U.S. population worked on farms. At this point, only about 2 percent of all Americans now live on farms. Big agribusiness, the food processing conglomerates, and big seed companies such as Monsanto completely dominate the industry. Unless something dramatic is done, the family farm is going to continue to be wiped out of existence. Unfortunately, it does not look like things are going to turn around any time soon. The way that the farming industry is structured today, it is simply not economically feasible to operate a small family farm. According to Farm Aid, every week approximately 330 farmers leave their land for good. Many old timers are trying to hang on for as long as they can. A very large percentage of family farmers are in their fifties, sixties or seventies at this point. Today, only about 6 percent of all farmers are under the age of 35.
Most young people these days are not too eager to choose farming as a career. A lot of young adults that grew up on family farms have decided that investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a business that requires you to work 12 hours or more per day most of the year for very meager wages is simply not worth it. In recent years, many family farmers have been forced to find second jobs in order to support their families. Many farm families are constantly on the verge of financial ruin. It is a really tough life for many of them. Sadly, less than 25 percent of all farms in America bring in gross revenues in excess of $50,000. The following comes from the EPA website....
‘Prison complex one of the fastest growing industries in US’ - PressTV - April 26, 2012 - “The prison industrial complex is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States,” according to Randy Short, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Baltimore, who spoke to Press TV on Thursday. Describing the exploitation of inmates in the U.S., Short said, “American prisons now have industries that run from high tech to furniture, so there’s a large amount of products being made for even fortune 500 companies in particular, I would mention Microsoft and Mr. Bill Gates who everyone thinks is such a wonderful humanitarian.” “If you look at who’s being arrested and who’s being put in prison for the longest terms, this has always been the way the United States has made it,” Short said. The Corrections Corporation of America, the nation’s largest private prison company, has offered to buy nearly all the nation’s state prisons. “To ensure their profitability, the corporation insists that it be guaranteed that the prisons be kept at least 90 percent full.” | <urn:uuid:02c083ff-53ce-4db1-9e8d-ad31495e638f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2012/04/economic-stories-of-relevance-in-todays_29.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964814 | 2,039 | 2 | 2 |
I just wrote a book called Fitness for Geeks, so as you can imagine, I get a lot of health and exercise questions from people who want highly technical answers. For example, I was recently asked, “What’s the best form of exercise for losing weight?”
The question itself is a little misleading because, despite the popular wisdom, you can’t really lose weight via the “burning off of calories by exercising as much as you possibly can.” This is because the vast majority of people simply put the calories back on after long workouts. It’s not their fault or a sign of a lack of willpower — the body is simply a smart system that is very efficient at retaining and replacing stored calories.
Let’s do the math. You’re a hardcore runner who jogs 30 miles a week, five six-mile runs on average. You finish a six-mile run in a little less than an hour, less than 10 minutes per mile.
Based on my vast experience as a runner geek, I’d say you’d expend roughly 500 calories during this training session (running all-out for an hour will expend about 700 kcal).
However, this calorie amount includes your basal metabolic rate (BMR) — what you would have expended by remaining stationary for that period. For me, the BMR for a 55-minute period is about 65 calories. So the run actually only burned off an extra 435 calories. This still sounds like a lot, huh?
But you’re hungry afterwards, right? Running for almost an hour? Possibly not at the moment, but certainly an hour from then. So you slam a banana (a healthy treat to replace the lost potassium, but fructose-packed and calorie-rich) and an energy bar.
One medium banana (105 cals) and the bar (about 220 cals) means you’ve just replaced 75 percent of the expended calories, and that doesn’t include anything eaten before or during the run. You also might leap onto the weight scale after the run to ogle the pounds you just lost, but the scale is probably sending more of a message about dehydration than anything else.
There are other things going on . Most of what you burned off during the run was probably glycogen, a form of starch that’s stored in the liver and skeletal muscles, and the body preferentially replaces that with carbs or glucose eaten after endurance-type exercise. You might have also tapped into the fat stores inside the muscle itself.
These are two places (glycogen and the fats the muscles use for energy) where you don’t really mind having energy depots. In fact, they represent essential energy sources for the body.
Getting back to the original question, how does exercise contribute to weight loss? By improving your metabolism in the long run. A person won’t lose weight until they move into a healthy metabolic realm. This means they want to retain sensitivity to their own insulin, and not develop insulin resistance.
When you embark on high-intensity type exercise session, such as sprinting and lifting heavy weights, you use the more powerful Type II muscles (e.g., the quads and the hamstrings). The glycogen in those muscles cells is expended (as it generally isn’t completely by jogging), and the muscles retain their insulin sensitivity at the same time as they pull glucose out of the bloodstream to replace the lost glycogen.
That’s a simplified description for a very complex and efficient mechanism in our bodies. With better insulin sensitivity you will develop lower-fasting insulin levels, and your body is less likely to be in fat-storage mode all the time. The actual calories you burn off during the sprint or weight-lift are almost beside the point.
As a person with healthy low-fasting insulin and glucose levels, you will also not experience the constant hunger pangs throughout the day, which are so familiar to many of us. You will only eat when you are experiencing actual hunger (admittedly, an elusive concept) and are in need of calories to fuel your brain, for instance. Intermittent fasting also helps promote a fitter metabolism.
The book goes into greater depth on all these issues, and I will expand upon them here in the near future. However, a sprint session once a week and a high-intensity weight bout once or twice a week represents more than a good beginning.
Imagine that you want to optimize the gas mileage you’re getting in your car. The typical strategy that you would use is maintaining the efficiency of the engine and the physics of burning as little gasoline as possible, and this is an apt metaphor for helping optimize your body’s metabolism.
Bruce W. Perry played college soccer in New York, then amidst a varied career in journalism and software engineering finished literally (ask his knees!) hundreds of road races and multisport events. He’s since moved on to family life and recreational alpine hiking, skiing, and resistance training. He wrote two recent software books for O’Reilly Media. After an unguided youth, the author hangs out weightlifting in gyms again, and climbs with guides now, recently Piz Palu in the Swiss Alps, Mt. Whitney’s Mountaineer’s Route, and Mt. Rainier. The Jungfrau in Switzerland is next up. | <urn:uuid:310818a7-f185-4340-a3ec-c6d97e8317ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://venturebeat.com/2012/05/05/fitness-for-geeks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956601 | 1,122 | 2.34375 | 2 |
PLATTSBURGH — SUNY Plattsburgh student Stanley Blow III has a car but doesn’t drive it often here because gas is not cheap.
“(But) when I have to go home, I really feel the pain of having to open my wallet,” he said. “Luckily, I drive a pretty small car, so it doesn’t cost me nearly as much as it does others.
“I can probably fill my tank from empty for about $35 to $40.”
A month ago, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.71 in New York state, according to GasBuddy.com, which was actually 12 cents cheaper than the same time last year.
But prices climbed a total 14 cents between Jan. 16 and Feb. 15 to $3.94 per unleaded gallon. And between Monday and Friday this week, some North Country gas stations hiked prices as much as 10 cents.
The cost to put a gallon of regular in the tank last year at this time was about $3.83.
There’s a sense of unfairness, too — gas in New York state is about 33 cents a gallon more expensive than the national average, which, as of Friday, was just $3.64.
SUNY Plattsburgh student Tim Maggio has noticed the higher gas prices here — in his hometown of Newark in Wayne County, motorists paid about $3.78 a gallon on Friday, GasBuddy.com reported.
Maggio said he makes it a point to drive only rarely. Instead, he chooses to take the SUNY campus shuttle as a less expensive alternative.
Rhonda Barber, owner of trucking company X-PLO Inc. in Plattsburgh, said she can’t believe how expensive gas is in a part of the country where wages are so low.
“Why are we being penalized here when wages are lower?” she said in a phone interview. “The biggest problem is, why can you go two hours down the road and the prices are 50 cents a gallon cheaper?”
Barber has nine trucks on the road, and it costs her company $10,000 a month for fuel.
— News Editor Suzanne Moore contributed to this report.
The Press-Republican conducts an occasional gas price survey.
Here is a sampling of the price of regular unleaded gas around the area as of Feb. 15. The first number is from Dec. 23, 2012. | <urn:uuid:485cbf51-0f1d-4743-8a01-56a31507b7f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pressrepublican.com/saturday/x1525014648/Gas-prices-climb-steeply/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95962 | 529 | 1.609375 | 2 |
June 5, 1968
He was a latecomer to the race, and Democratic elders, already reeling from L.B.J.'s waning popularity and from Eugene McCarthy's antiwar campaign, had urged him not to run. But Robert F. Kennedy proved a formidable sprinter. For 80 days he campaigned relentlessly, and by the day of the California primary, a must-win for Kennedy to seriously challenge Hubert Humphrey, his body was cracking. The night before, he had been too weary to finish a speech in San Diego, and by the time he reached Los Angeles, he appeared to be running on fumes.
On primary night, however, the old Kennedy vigor returned. His suite at the Ambassador Hotel filled with well-wishers, and as the results turned his way, campaign workers began "laughing and dancing and hugging one another," recalled his aide, former pro-football player Roosevelt Grier. Around midnight Kennedy went downstairs and delivered a rousing speech to 1,800 supporters in the ballroom. He then exited through the hotel's pantry, where at 12:16 a.m., a slight, dark-haired Palestinian named Sirhan Sirhan pulled out a .22 cal. revolver, fired eight shots and fatally wounded the candidate. For a stricken America, it revived memories of the killings of Kennedy's brother John and of Martin Luther King Jr. and shattered the dreams of those yearning for a return to Camelot. | <urn:uuid:ea74c0dd-6199-4090-9df5-2af0afe9d25d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1977881_1977891_1978516,00.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971381 | 296 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Mauricio Gonzalez’s sculpture is a complete aesthetic response to the state and condition of Florida. By creating his pieces, which are both bodies and sites, out of the physical detritus of the housing crisis, Gonzalez inserts his practice between Modernist social planning and the attempted revival of subjective humanism. Just as Florida is caught in the eternal sway between boom and bust (and the similarly alternating process of self-definition), Gonzalez’s work balances between levity and collapse. He uses surfaces to create the illusion of structural integrity. There are whimsical arabesques that are nailed into place.
When approaching this work, one must make a distinction between his materials, which usually originated from construction projects, and objects, as ontologically complete–in and of themselves. Moreover, there’s a problem with found materials. It implies randomness, and with that, a lack of purpose bordering on gullibility. Finding something is usually met with a naive glee reserved for children on Easter Sunday. But what if there was no surprise involved? What if the objects in question weren’t passively found, but were very purposefully scavenged from foreclosed lots around Miami, as evidence of the larger system that led to them being lost in the first place?
In discarding bits of the natural suburban environment, the former owners of these materials do not just disintegrate the physical item (the home, the automobile, the Fisherprice playset), they lay waste to its symbolic import as well – that of the secure and permanent home. This is where Gonzalez begins, with impermanence. These pieces do not seem like they will survive the winter. The materials will decompose, they will begin to sag. In this regard, they come to resemble the body. In her essay Ecce Homo, Isabelle Graw said that “the anthropomorphic return is emblematic of life under the conditions of celebrity culture, where products become persons, and persons are themselves commodified.” She continues to discuss the work of Rachel Harrison, whose sculptures are both objects and subjects. This trend is apparent in the work of Mauricio Gonzalez, whose sculpture additionally recalls a place (specific or generic, it doesn’t matter) and presents a trajectory of its inevitable decline.
Mauricio Gonzalez was born in Havana. His first solo exhibition at Fredric Snitzer Gallery will be in January. | <urn:uuid:8264bec9-792f-4506-a526-d73ad1b9abed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thereisnothere.org/2011/12/mauricio-gonzalez-new-sculpture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966722 | 487 | 1.726563 | 2 |
London - Rupert Murdoch: We Owe Major Apology For Offensive 'Blood Libel' Cartoon
Last updated on: January 28, 2013 03:23 PM
London - Rupert Murdoch, owner of British broadsheet The Times on Monday tweeted an apology following the fallout from the publication on Sunday of a cartoon accused of using anti-Semitic characteristics to attack Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Murdoch said that although the artist, Gerald Scarfe has “never reflected the opinions of The Sunday Times,” they “owe major apology for grotesque, offensive cartoon.”
The Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Times will this week meet Jewish community leaders in an effort to repair the fallout from the publication on Sunday of a cartoon accused of using anti-Semitic tropes to attack Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
On Sunday, which was Holocaust Memorial Day, the publication published a highly controversial cartoon depicting the prime minister building a wall with the blood and limbs of screaming Palestinians.
In the cartoon, drawn by Gerald Scarfe’s blood can been seen dripping off Netanyahu’s trowel and seeping through the bricks. The cartoon, and timing of its publication, has caused outrage with accusations that it invoked classical anti-Semitic tropes synonymous with blood libel accusations against Jews.
On Monday, the incoming editor Martin Ivens told The Jerusalem Post that he would be meeting with community leaders later this week.
‚ÄúThe last thing I or anyone connected with the Sunday Times would countenance would be insulting the memory of the Shoah or invoking the blood libel,‚ÄĚ he said.
‚ÄúThe paper has long written strongly in defense of Israel and its security concerns, as have I as a columnist. We are however reminded of the sensitivities in this area by the reaction to the cartoon and I will of course bear them very carefully in mind in future,‚ÄĚ Ivens added.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews lodged a complaint on Monday with the Press Complaints Commission, an independent body for the UK’s printed press.
Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “The cartoon is shockingly reminiscent of the blood libel imagery more usually found in parts of the virulently anti-Semitic Arab press. Its use is all the more disgusting on Holocaust Memorial Day, given the similar tropes leveled against Jews by the Nazis.
‚ÄúThis far exceeds any fair or reasonable criticism of Israeli policies. Last week’s Gerald Scarfe‚Äôs cartoon showed Bashar Assad, the architect of the killing of over 60,000 Syrians in little over a year, steeped in blood. If Mr Scarfe and the Sunday Times think there is any comparison with Israel’s leadership, then they have lost all sense of proportion and reality,‚ÄĚ Benjamin said.
Israel’s ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub said the cartoon had no relation at all to legitimate political comment.
‚ÄúIsraelis have a longstanding commitment to free speech and a high threshold for tolerating strong and even provocative criticism,‚ÄĚ he said. ‚ÄúThis cartoon, however, bears no relation whatsoever to legitimate political comment.‚ÄĚ
The ambassador said it would be unacceptable to publish the cartoon on any day of the year let alone on Holocaust Memorial Day.
‚ÄúThe image of Israel’s security barrier, which is saving the lives of both Jews and Arabs from suicide bombers, being built from Palestinian blood and bodies is baseless and outrageous.
‚ÄúThe use of vicious motifs echoing those used to demonize Jews in the past is particularly shocking and hurtful on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but the crude and shallow hatred of this cartoon should render it totally unacceptable on any day of the year,‚ÄĚ Taub added.
The Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors and works with the police to curb anti-Semitism as well as provide protection to the Jewish community, said its offices had received numerous calls and emails from members of the public upset and angry with the cartoon.
The charity said the cartoon will be perceived as part of the cannon of contemporary anti-Semitic imagery.
‚ÄúThe blood imagery, sometimes explicitly as Blood Libel, is commonly found in obscene anti-Israel propaganda in Arabic and Iranian media. Mr Scarfe‚Äôs image comfortably fits within this canon of extreme contemporary anti-Israel hatred,‚ÄĚ CST‚Äôs communications director Mark Gardner said on Monday.
‚ÄúIn response to initial complaints, the Sunday Times pointed out the obvious ‚Äď that the cartoon is typical Scarfe, that it depicts Benjamin Netanyahu rather than all Jews and that it has been run following Netanyahu‚Äôs Israel election victory,‚ÄĚ he said.
Gardner said the cartoon ‚Äď ‚Äúregardless of the wishes of Scarfe and the Sunday Times, regardless of it specifically being anti-Netanyahu rather than anti-Jew‚ÄĚ ‚Äď will seriously distress many Jews, ‚ÄúPublished on Holocaust Memorial Day its power to offend and upset the emotions of Jews ‚Äúis greatly worsened‚ÄĚ ‚Äď and will give pleasure to many anti-Semites.
‚ÄúUnfortunately for Jews ‚Äď and for satirists ‚Äď anti-Semites and anti-Semitism also have ‚Äėa thing‚Äô about blood; and especially about the allegation that Jews murder others, children in particular, in order to use their blood or organs for heinous purpose,‚ÄĚ Gardner said.
‚ÄúIt is a harsh fact that blood has long played a profoundly disturbing part in the history of anti-Semitism, and this has obvious consequences for Jews and anti-Semites today. The actual intentions of Scarfe and the Sunday Times count for very little within this broader context of history, and its contemporary emotional and racist impacts,‚ÄĚ Gardner added.
The Zionist Federation of the UK said the cartoon has no place in any publication let alone the Sunday Times.
‚ÄúTo print this vile cartoon on Holocaust Memorial Day, where we remember the mass slaughter of Jews is completely unacceptable. This is yet another example of extreme critics of Israel revealing anti-Semitic tendencies,‚ÄĚ said Paul Charney, chairman of Zionist Federation.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
More of today's headlines“New York, NY - 35,000 more NYC-area properties in flood zones in new FEMA maps tied to insurance, zoning New York, NY - About 35,000 homes and businesses inside and...” New York, NY - 35,000 More NYC Area Buildings In New FEMA Maps “Antwerp, Belgium - An Antwerp judge has ruled against former Neturei Karta member Moshe Aryeh Friedman in his bid to force the all boys Yavne school to accept his three...” Antwerp - Belgian Court Denies Friedman Girls Entry To Boys Yeshiva; Grandmothers Seeking Custody Of Children | <urn:uuid:528a2dc2-0fc4-4ea9-8e5f-72a2ab5fe657> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vosizneias.com/122694/2013/01/28/london-sunday-times-editor-to-meet-jewish-leaders-over-cartoon/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932404 | 1,566 | 1.789063 | 2 |
In the rugged landscape of northern Tuscany, where the mountain air is crisp and most villagers work out-of-doors, soup never comes from a can. Homemade and hearty, soup — zuppa — is the meal of choice, and each household harbors its own family secrets for preparing the traditional recipes of the region.
Here are one-dish meals to inspire the most harried or jaded cook, from zuppa alla povera con erbe di prato (a “poor people’s soup” of fresh greens seasoned with wild field herbs) to crema di zucca (a cream of butternut-squash soup celebrated for its rich texture and color), from pancotto (a thick, succulent soup of cooked bread, plum tomatoes, and meat broth) to zuppa di carciofi (a fragrant artichoke soup with diced pancetta).
For Zuppa!, Anne Bianchi has once again ventured into the kitchens of some of Italy’s most passionate cooks, returning not just with instructions and ingredients but with ample evidence that simple, great food nourishes the soul as well as the body.
Beginning with basic brodo, or broth, Zuppa! explores a different soup category in every chapter, from bean soups (“poor of ingredients but rich in appeal”) to fish, meat, grain, and cream soups. Sidebars focus on such fundamentals as choosing the right soup pot, de-fatting stocks, and clarifying broths.
Illustrated throughout with black and-white photographs, Zuppa! is a pungent evocation of a region where ancient traditions are still central to everyday life — and an indispensable collection for anyone who relishes great soup, Italian-style.
Don’t overlook fruit brandies
These extraordinarily subtle sips are worth exploring.
Local, Sustainable, Delicious Recipes from America’s Great Chefs
Clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops
How to Create Local, Sustainable, and Secure Food Systems | <urn:uuid:f9808d0a-a6c8-49ad-99a6-9df0ebc1c81f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.culinate.com/books/collections/all_books/zuppa | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915974 | 434 | 1.757813 | 2 |
ND Home School Teachers Want Less MonitoringHome-school advocates asked the North Dakota Senate's Education Committee on Wednesday to keep a temporary law that says a qualified home school teacher only needs a high school diploma.
By: Associated Press,
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Home-school advocates asked the North Dakota Senate's Education Committee on Wednesday to keep a temporary law that says a qualified home school teacher only needs a high school diploma.
Lawmakers set the minimum qualification in 2009, while ordering the change to expire in two years so the Legislature could review its impact. The proposed bill would make the change permanent.
After a hearing Wednesday, the Education Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full Senate approve the bill to keep the law.
Before the change, parents were required to hold a college degree or pass a national teachers' examination to teach their children at home. Otherwise, the state required them to meet with a monitor one hour a week for two years.
The monitor had to be a licensed teacher, who reviewed the home-schooler's curriculum and reported his or her findings to the school board in the district where the family lived.
Parents had the option of hiring their own monitor — the cost is about $25 an hour, a state Department of Public Instruction official estimated — or using one provided by the local school district.
Karol Kapelle is among the home-schoolers pushing for the minimum qualification to home-school. She has taught all four of her children at home and believes she's qualified to do so, despite not having a four-year college degree.
"All this monitoring wastes the state's money, and it's never proven to have any effect at all," said Kapelle, who's on the board of directors of the North Dakota Home School Association and lives in Tolna, a northeastern North Dakota community about 50 miles southeast of Devils Lake.
"We're trying to save the schools money," she said. "They don't have to feed our children, bus them or pay for their sports. We're not asking for anything but just to be left alone."
The Home School Legal Defense Association, a nonprofit group based in Purcellville, Va., that advocates for parents who home-school their children, considers North Dakota a "high regulation" state. Rules are less stringent in neighboring Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana, the association says.
Opponents say relaxing the rules put students at risk of getting a substandard education.
Gwyn Marback, the assistant director of school approval and accreditation for North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction, said it is already difficult for districts to know if a child isn't being taught properly.
Some parents don't have the expertise to teach difficult topics, and without a monitor, schools can't do anything about it, Marback said.
"I have a master's degree and I wouldn't feel comfortable teaching high school algebra, and there are parents out there doing that," Marback said. "There needs to be more monitoring and higher standards placed on qualifications of home educators."
She added that parents are taking on an "enormous responsibility" by home-schooling their children, and the state should make sure a parent can handle it.
Another Tolna resident, Leslie Gleason, said she home-schooled her two children and hired her own monitor for the required two years but saw no improvement.
"You have to be there day to day to know what's going on," Gleason said. "How do you step in for four hours per month and have any idea what's happening?"
The bill originally exempted home-schooled students from standardized testing, but that provision was removed. Supporters of the bill said it was a good start, but that they'll press for less oversight.
"Monitoring has done nothing to ensure quality education," said James Bartlett, the Home School Association's director. "It's a totally unnecessary interruption to the family and interruption to the state. This bill doesn't get totally get rid of it, but hopefully someday it will be removed completely."
The House approved the bill earlier on a 75-19 vote. It is HB1211. | <urn:uuid:681a2533-eec1-4485-aae2-065c5c841ccd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/7363/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978661 | 857 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Young Pacific Film Producer Wins International Award
Suva, 3 February 2012 – 16 year old Vanuatu film maker Nenneth Sakita has scooped up a 2011 OneMinutesJr. Award for the film “Discrimination Against Women”. The film was selected by an independent jury in competition with 250 videos from around the world.
“Discrimination Against Women” was produced in Port Vila during a workshop hosted by Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation in July 2011, with support from UNICEF Pacific and the OneMinutesJr. Foundation. Nenneth was inspired to make the film by an experience at the workshop:
“During the workshop, we would see this particular lady… all dressed up wearing her high heel shoes,” she explained. “Some of the participants would talk about her in a negative way in the way she dressed. However, I wanted to make a point that women had rights as well.”
The jurors chose the film for its strong and emotional message told by using an extremely simple style, minimalistic resources, and sentimental music that acts as a part of the story.
Following the announcement of the award winners, UNICEF Pacific Representative Dr. Isiye Ndombi commented:
“This is a great recognition of Pacific youth as creative and effective advocates on issues important to youth in the region. It is a powerful film with an important message and shows that Pacific youth are very capable of producing films that meet international standards. I encourage all young people in the region to keep pursuing their dreams and I thank Nenneth and Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation for showing one of the ways to do so.”
The recognition of Nenneth Sakita’s film was accompanied also by the nomination of another contribution from the Solomon Islands - “The talking can” produced by Dick Koto with support from One Television. It follows nominations for the OneMinutesJr. Awards also in 2010 for the Fiji produced film “Waila River” by Epironi Tulele.
“The future for Pacific youth media is looking even brighter with “Discrimination Against Women” winning the award. It is part of a positive trend initiated with Fiji youth advocates Kids-Link winning the 2009 Alexander Bodini Foundation Award. It is also a reflection of an equally positive trend in the Pacific where young people are becoming increasingly visible in public and social dialogue in the media and on the internet. Their participation, voices and ideas are essential for making the Pacific fit for all children” Dr. Ndombi added.
Read more about the 2011 OneMinutesJr. Awards on: http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/video_61540.html
For more information, please contact Tomas Jensen, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Pacific– on phone +679 9925606 or on e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org | <urn:uuid:1ecf1a22-1e4b-4b1b-b4ea-71b6c8890825> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unicef.org/pacificislands/media_18179.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938415 | 608 | 1.554688 | 2 |
If you have read my blog posts on my Chicago Family History blog about Fortunato Fratto (there are two posts), you will understand my serious research on his family for the last week. Fortunato is basically not the person I thought he was in my family tree. He is related though. Instead of being my husband’s great great grandfather, he is his great great uncle. Check out the posts for the whole story – it is interesting.
In my quest for answers to the first questions on Fortunato’s family and who is buried in his grave site, I came across a project at the University of Illinois-Chicago called the “Italian Project” from the 1980′s. Included in this oral history project is an oral interview by Rose Tellerino, Fortunato’s daughter. Yesterday I received a copy of the interview transcript.
The transcript is roughly 46 pages long with the actual interview being 34 pages. The interviewer attached to the tape for transcription, a summary of the interview with questions raised, important points to note, and some statements about Fortunato made by Rose which made him appear “cruel” compared to how we see most father’s today. A note is included with that stating when analyzing the transcript you must keep in mind the time period which was 70 – 80 years prior.
Rose gave amazing information about her life growing up around Clark/Polk in Chicago, then moving to 25th Street; her strict disciplinarian father; her arranged marriage at 14 and the children she had in rapid succession thereafter. She discusses the food they ate; the housing; the class structure; her father and mother’s background in Taverna, Italy and what her father’s feelings were after immigrating. She also lists several addresses where the family lived, without exact dates, but based on the context in which the interview is held, I can approximate the years and have more of a starting point to search the 1910 Census. To this point the regular searching techniques on Ancestry have failed. It appears all my Fratto folks did not “exist” on the 1910 Census. I suspect they are there and their name was mangled or transcribed so incorrectly I have not had success searching other variations. Now I can narrow it down to Enumeration Districts within a Ward or two.
If you have Chicago family, Italian or not, check out the UIC Special Manuscript Collection online. They have a listing of what each collection contains and you can send them an email requesting information on a specific file by giving them the Collection Name; Box Number and Folder Number.
This interview is an invaluable piece of my husband’s family’s history. I will be sharing pieces of it on my Chicago Family History blog over the next week or two. | <urn:uuid:a962a48e-3b1c-4d78-ad0d-65908b6b5b42> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://familyhistorytips.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/university-of-illinois-chicago-special-manuscript-collections/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966096 | 581 | 1.640625 | 2 |
- Basketball - National Basketball Association News
- Basketball News (1stHeadlines.com)
Provides news on NBA basketball from over a dozen sources.
- Basketball Hand Signals (Instructional Spectator Guidebooks)
Provides the meaning of each of the key hand signals.
- Basketball Terms and Phrases (Instructional Spectator Guidebooks)
Provides a glossary of terms and phrases to better understand the game.
- Dirk Nowitzki (ESPN)
"Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a four-time All-NBA first team selection, a 10-time NBA All-Star, and the leading scorer in Dallas Mavericks franchise history. The 7-footer from is regarded among the greatest European-born basketball players. His presence on the Mavericks is a large part of why one of the NBA's most floundering franchises has now become one of its most consistently successful. As of 2011, the Mavericks still maintain a streak of 11 straight playoff appearances and 50-win regular seasons." 05-11
- Dirk Nowitzki (Wikipedia.org)
"Dirk Werner Nowitzki... (born June 19, 1978) is a German professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA)."
"Nowitzki has led the Mavericks to eleven consecutive NBA Playoffs (2000–01 to 2010–11), including NBA Finals appearances in 2006 and in 2011. He is a ten-time NBA All-Star and eleven-time member of the All-NBA Teams, and is the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player award. He is the first Maverick ever to be voted into an All-NBA Team and also holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records."
"From 2000 to 2007 he was the best player in the NBA, as per his win shares." 05-11
- Highest College Personal Score of 138 Set by Jack Taylor (Time.com)
"Taylor, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound guard from Black River Falls, Wis., made 52 of 108 shots, including 27 out of 71 attempts from 3-point range." 11-12
- Jeremy Lin (Wikipedia.org)
"Jeremy Shu-How Lin (born August 23, 1988) is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After receiving no athletic scholarship offers out of high school and being undrafted out of college, the Harvard University graduate reached a partially guaranteed contract deal with his hometown Golden State Warriors. Lin is one of the few Asian Americans in NBA history, and the first American player in the league to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent." 02-12
- LeBron James (NBA.com)
Provides game statistics. 06-10
- LeBron James (Wikipedia.org)
"Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a sophomore at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School. At just 18, he was selected with the number one pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers and signed a US$90 million shoe contract with Nike before his professional debut. Listed as a small forward, James has set numerous youngest player records since joining the league. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003–04, NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008–09 and 2009–10, and has been both All-NBA and an All-Star every season since 2005."
"The focal point of the Cleveland offense, James has led the team to consecutive playoff appearances from 2006 through 2010. In 2007, the Cavaliers advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1992 and to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. James has been a member of the USA national team, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and gold at the 2008 Olympics." 06-10
- Players in the NBA (ESPN)
Provides profiles of players in the National Basketball Association. Allows searches by name, team, or conference.
- Shaquille O'Neal (CNN News)
"NBA star Shaquille O'Neal appears ready to hang up his size 23 basketball shoes after one of the most dominant careers at his position in league history."
"O'Neal, a 7-foot-1-inch center, won four NBA titles in a 19-year career. He is fifth on the NBA’s all-time career scoring list with 28,596 points - short of only Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain - and 12th on the league’s all time rebounding list, with 13,099." 05-11
- Shocking N.F.L. Poster on Concussions in Football (New York Times)
"The National Football League is producing a poster that bluntly alerts its players to the long-term effects of concussions, using words like 'depression' and 'early onset of dementia' that those close to the issue described as both staggering and overdue." 07-10
- Tallest Basketball Player Is in High School (CBS News)
" In the world of sports, stars are usually born not made. Some players come to play with natural gifts that their competitors just can't match. In the world of high school basketball, no one is as gifted as Mamadou Ndiaye. The 17-year-old junior stands tall at 7-feet-5-inches, easily the tallest basketball player in the country - professional or otherwise." 02-12
- Teen With Autism Makes 20 Points in 4 Minutes (ESPN)
"Jason McElwain [also known as J-Mac] had done everything he was asked to do for the Greece Athena High School basketball team -- keep the stats, run the clock, hand out water bottles."
"That all changed last week for the team manager in the final home game of the season. The 17-year-old senior, who is autistic and usually sits on the bench in a white shirt and black tie, put on a uniform and entered the game with his team way ahead."
"McElwain proceeded to hit six 3-point shots, finished with 20 points and was carried off the court on his teammates' shoulders." 03-06
© 1996 - 2013 EDI and Dr. R. Jerry Adams | <urn:uuid:99cc7116-9639-448c-a75c-956e1a0d5cb3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.awesomelibrary.org/Classroom/Health_PE/Sports/Basketball.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957898 | 1,332 | 1.8125 | 2 |
June 10, 2003
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior's views on H.R. 1012, a bill to establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in the District of Columbia.
The Department recognizes the appropriateness of establishing the Carter G. Woodson home as a unit of the National Park System. The site was found to be nationally significant, as well as suitable and feasible for addition to the system, in a study conducted by the National Park Service and sent to Congress earlier this year. However, we recommend that the committee defer action on H.R. 1012 during the 108th Congress. The Administration is continuing to place a priority on reducing the National Park System's deferred maintenance backlog and wants to ensure that funding is not diverted to pay for the cost of a new unit of the National Park System, which would include acquiring and rehabilitating property along with operating and maintaining the site.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson was a prominent American historian and is generally considered the preeminent historian of the African-American experience in the United States. Born in 1875 to former slaves, Woodson began his formal education at age 20 after being denied a public education in his home town of Canton, Virginia, and earned several degrees from institutions of higher learning. He became the second African-American, after W.E.B. DuBois, to earn a doctorate from Harvard. During much of Dr. Woodson's life, there was little information about African-American life and history. Dr. Woodson's research uncovered history that helped educate the American public about the contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history and culture.
From 1915 until 1950, Dr. Woodson lived at 1538 Ninth Street, Northwest, a Victorian-style row house built in 1890 in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. His home was also the headquarters of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which he founded. The organization, which was renamed the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, continued to operate out of the home until 1970. The association still owns the home, but it is unoccupied and in need of restoration. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
The National Park Service conducted a special resource study on the Carter
G. Woodson home during 2001-2002, pursuant to P.L. 106-349. The study found
that in addition to being nationally significant, the site was suitable and
feasible for inclusion in the National Park System. The suitability finding
was based on the determination that no existing unit of the National Park System
provides the opportunity to present the story of Dr. Woodson and his legacy,
or interprets African-American history as a general subject. It was also based
on the fact that the home offers the chance to interpret other aspects of the
community in which Dr. Woodson worked and lived, which has numerous historically
significant resources associated with achievements of African-Americans. The
site was found feasible for inclusion, with qualifications. Along with acquiring
the Woodson house itself, to make this a viable park unit, the National Park
Service would need to acquire three adjacent properties to the north for administrative,
interpretive, and visitor service needs, and to meet accessibility requirements.
The study estimates that the one-time cost of acquiring and developing the site
would be in the range of $5 million to $6.5 million, and the annual cost of
operating and maintaining the site would be approximately $500,000.
H.R. 1012 provides authority for the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Carter G. Woodson home as a national historic site after acquiring a majority of the property within the proposed boundary of the unit. The boundary encompasses the Woodson home and the three adjoining houses to the north. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to enter into certain agreements. One agreement would be with the Shiloh Community Development Corporation to redevelop the property. This corporation is a non-profit organization that intends to build senior housing on the same block as the Woodson home; discussions have begun between the National Park Service and the corporation about a potential development partnership which holds the possibility of providing a cost-effective means of restoring the property.
Another potential agreement permitted by the bill would enable the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History to use a portion of the historic site for its own administrative purposes. The bill would also allow partnerships with public and private entities for the purpose of fostering interpretation of African-American heritage in the Shaw area. This provision is intended to facilitate connection of the Woodson home to other significant historical and cultural sites in the area for purposes of promoting education and tourism. These provisions are all consistent with the findings of the study.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions that you or other members of the committee may have. | <urn:uuid:23abcb97-b764-4b67-8d5d-1f584c840945> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nps.gov/legal/testimony/108th/cartergw.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965426 | 1,024 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Providing farmers the latest traits and technologies to help them be more profitable on every acre is something, as a company, Monsanto prides itself on. It’s more than just helping farmers find the latest advancements in seed – it’s helping farmers find the latest seeds and technologies, while using fewer inputs.
Whether it's purchasing seed with the latest Genuity® traits that help protect that crop's yield, or purchasing seed with a seed treatment to help the seed come out of the ground faster and healthier, Monsanto offers a variety of traits and technologies.
These traits and technologies are central to Monsanto Company. Although Monsanto is represented in the field by various brands, by purchasing seed that includes the following traits and technologies, farmers can be assured they are purchasing high-performing seed that has the potential to help them be more successful on every acre of land. And
There are four main areas Monsanto Company invests in to help farmers find the best fit for their farm. | <urn:uuid:5615cc5f-dedc-4887-acf8-5c07e2655ced> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.monsanto.com/products/Pages/plant-traits-technologies.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938398 | 196 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley
Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
One of the most interesting areas of modern physics research is the study of materials where the independent electron approximation breaks down, and electrons within the material begin to have a large influence on each other. Such strongly correlated electron systems exhibit fascinating emergent phenomena, including magnetism and antiferromagnetism, giant and colossal magnetoresistance, spontaneous charge ordering, and perhaps most famously of all, high-temperature superconductivity. In the cuprate superconductors, discovered in 1986, critical temperatures as high as 160 K have been documented.
Strong electron correlations are also notoriously difficult to model theoretically, making experimental probes very important in understanding all of these systems. At the same time, the materials show great potential for real world applications. Superconductivity is potentially useful in long-range energy transfer and in any sort of device requiring a large magnetic field. Magnetism and magnetoresistance are crucial components in the design and manufacture of computers. | <urn:uuid:19fba34f-20c6-4a2e-9165-1e08075b64a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.physics.berkeley.edu/research/lanzara/research/SCES.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917275 | 208 | 2.5 | 2 |
BrightPhase Energy, a Denver-based startup, has created the solar equivalent of a one-man-band: The Photensity. Inside this square box, three different technologies are employed to harness sunlight. Firstly, 18% efficient silicon solar cells are mounted on a set of Venetian blinds to deliver PV electricity. Secondly, thin fluid-filled pipes absorb thermal energy which can be used to heat a house’s water supply. Finally, because the aforementioned blinds can be rotated to let in sunlight, the Photensity also “harnesses” sunlight by acting as a skylight during sunny hours (when there is no sun, it turns on an electric light).
All told, BrightPhase claims that after tallying up all of the energy that the Photensity provides – in terms of electricity, heat and light – they calculate the cost at $1.80 per watt. Now, we know that any time we get a quote like that, it must be taken with a grain of salt, since there are a lot of assumptions that go into it. For example, since the Photensity allows sunlight in, it counts those lumens as energy generated. How do you translate lumens into watts? If you do so by using light bulbs as a standard, what kind of light bulbs? If you’re basing the number on incandescent bulbs, it will in a sense inflate the wattage that the device is actually producing.
However, I’m less concerned about how the $1.80 is calculated and more concerned about how these devices will actually work. The Photensity aspires to be a replacement for a skylight, but it offers a lower-quality light than a skylight, since its light casts shadows of the solar modules. And it can only be applied to architecture that facilitates skylights – which means it can’t be used to retrofit, say, a large warehouse. And, reportedly, a trial in a California Wal-Mart revealed some issues with the functionality of the device itself.
What I wonder is: how much PV and thermal energy do you lose by incorporating the sunlight element? Is it really worth it? Or did BrightPhase simply find a way to report a lower cost-per-watt by incorporating the “wattage” of sunlight?
Via Greentech Media
written by Dave Buemi, April 14, 2009
written by Carl Andrews, March 19, 2010
|< Prev||Next >| | <urn:uuid:0a76897b-82d8-4901-a2fc-84be94ea9090> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2487 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93735 | 514 | 2.765625 | 3 |
China has experienced the largest migration in human history – 160,000,000 people moved from the inland farms to the coastal manufacturing cities – but it is not endless. Most of the world has shut down most of its factories, shuttering domestic manufacturing capacity in favor of the cheap labor, poor working conditions and environmental controls of China's factory cities. When you go to China to get your Kindle or your Wii produced, you're competing for space among the factories that produce socket wrenches, Happy Meal toys, laptop computers, prison cafeteria trays, decorative tin planters, vinyl action figures, keychain flashlights and cheap handguns.Link
Frankly, book reading just isn't important enough to qualify for priority treatment in that marketplace. E-book readers to date have been either badly made, expensive, out-of-stock or some combination of all three. No one's making dedicated e-book readers in such quantity that the price drops to the cost of a paperback – the cost at which the average occasional reader may be tempted to take a flutter on one. Certainly, these things aren't being made in such quantity that they're being folded in as freebies with the Sunday paper or given away at the turnstiles at a ballgame to the majority of people who are non-book-readers.
Meanwhile, handheld game consoles, phones, and other multipurpose devices have found their way into the hands of people from every walk of life. In some countries, mobile phone penetration is above 100 percent – that is, a significant proportion of the population maintain more than one phone, for example, a work cellular and a home cellular.
Not only can these devices command the lion's share of China's high-quality manufacturing capacity, but they are produced in such staggering volume (and often distributed with a subsidy – game devices are sold below cost in the expectation of selling games; phones are subsidized by carriers) that they can be had for a pittance.
I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too. | <urn:uuid:c3f59c00-a485-4631-b1fa-ce8c5a86878a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://boingboing.net/2008/03/04/why-hardware-ebook-r.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956232 | 478 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Here is some information about my oven setup and stone setup. This may be helpful for many interested in baking on a steel plate. I bought a steel plate because of posts I read on this site. I ordered it from MetalsDepot.com. I took various measurements over a heat cycle using an oven thermometer and an infrared thermometer. Unfortunately the data is not as “controlled” as I would like it to be, however it should still provide useful information.
A photo of my setup is below. I have a simple gas oven in a NYC rental. It is not a quality unit, probably the cheapest digital oven available. Before lighting the oven, I set the oven temperature at neutral calibration--0 degrees adjustment. I have no oven modifications. My ˝” x 12” x 12” A36 steel plate sits on the top rack of my oven, just under the broiler.
Here is some background info to provide a benchmark for others to compare to, because its likely that 1) my cheap laser gun is not perfectly calibrated and 2) you will get different numbers:
At .95 emissivity (ignore all this if you don’t have an IR thermometer), the back of my hand registered at 95F. An ice pack (black polyester) from my freezer registered at 18.4F. Water at a rolling boil correctly measured between 210 and 212F. At .80 emissivity, the same pot of water registered at 227-230F. I took measurements on the top of the stone, bottom of the stone, and the ambient temperature of the oven. You can see the oven thermometer’s position in the photos. All at .80 emissivity, with the oven light on. It is was very hard to get a stable reading on the steel in the oven for a few reasons. Most important was that there is burnt up flour/oil on my plate that affected the readings. To compensate, I set my thermometer on “average” mode for readings, and moved the laser around the surface for a few seconds on each reading.
My oven was set to 525F. It goes up to 550, but I’ve been using 525 lately because of trouble keeping my broiler lit. I opened the oven each time I had to take readings, letting out heat. At the 40 minute mark, I opened the oven for 2 minutes (way too long, because I was taking various other measurements with the laser). Each time I opened the door to take a reading, the oven thermometer dropped by approx. 25F.
After taking the 70 minute reading, I calibrated my oven by +35 degrees. I then re-set it to bake @ 525 degrees, and took more readings. I lit the broiler 20 minutes later. It would not light, so I let out some air for a minute. I then ran the broiler for 6 minutes, taking measurements in 2-minute intervals. I suspect the temperature dropped so rapidly because I kept opening the door to measure. I measured the broiler’s flame at 975 degrees
Here are the data points, and graphs are attached as images. The most encouraging part of this is that my oven was not maxed out at the 550 setting, and was not recalibrated during the entire preheat. I think I could get another 50 degrees out of the plate if I had it set at 550 +35 calibration the entire time.
I hope this is of use to someone. I would love to hear some comments about your predicted bake times, and how you are running to buy a steel plate! | <urn:uuid:8e30761c-5338-4e9c-a104-82badaa1420c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php?topic=16494.msg161192 | 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 | 0.961431 | 746 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Human Rights in Ireland is delighted to welcome this guest post from Bríd Nic Suibhne, Law Reform Commission. This post is published in Bríd’s personal capacity and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Law Reform Commission.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 is a broad and inclusive statement of rights, granting considerable weight to rights of protection and participation, representing a pair of principles of equal import. The coupling of protection and participation rights can however lead to an uneasy relationship which comes sharply into focus in the context of healthcare decision making.
The interpretation of the broad spectrum of rights and protections granted by the Convention is guided by Article 3(1):
In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
This best interests principle has gained broad acceptance, is used in various other international instruments, and features prominently in debates and discourse on children’s rights. On the surface the principle of best interests seems relatively self explanatory. This apparent simplicity is, however, in direct contrast with the myriad of meanings attributed to it, as different commentators attempt to define what the interests of children are and what best serves these interests in different situations. Decisions on what course of action is in a child’s best interests can be indeterminate, speculative, individualised and paternalistic.
Looking at the treatment of the child patient in the healthcare setting in Ireland reveals apt and considerable emphasis placed on protecting the child and acting in his or her best interests. This emphasis is combined however with a failure to recognise the participation rights of the child.
Irish law, encompassing constitutional, statute and case law, contains few references to children’s rights to healthcare. There is limited statutory guidance and case law in Ireland on the voice of the child in the healthcare setting, and the capacity of a person under 18 years of age to make a healthcare decision. The sole reference to the legal capacity of a child to consent to medical treatment is housed in a piece of criminal legislation, namely section 23 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 which provides that consent given by a minor who has reached the age of 16 years to treatment which would otherwise constitute a trespass, may operate as an effective consent. This provision provides a medical practitioner with a defence to a charge of assault and was clearly not enacted to deal with wider issues of capacity, autonomy and self-determination. Legislatively speaking, children have no automatic right to participate in the process of healthcare decision making but those aged 16 have the authority to consent to medical, surgical and dental treatment. The mature minor rule developed in England, Scotland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand over the past 20 years has yet to be engaged in any meaningful way in Ireland.
There is no statutory guidance on the treatment of children and young people in hospital, and no duty placed on health care professionals to listen to the views of the young patient, regardless of the patient’s age or maturity. Furthermore, the separate issues of information provision, assent to treatment and consent to treatment are lumped together. Children may not have the capacity to consent to medical treatment however they have a right to be informed and express their views.
The failure to respect the voice of the child represents a failure to adhere to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention grants considerable weight to children’s rights of participation, primarily through Article 12 which draws attention to the daily life of children and the decisions which affect them:
State Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all manners affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
Article 12 is particularly relevant in the health care setting where increased participation and understanding by patients is closely associated with positive treatment results. Children who receive information regarding their health and treatment gain a sense of understanding and control, which can reduce anxiety. The implications of Article 12 are that children have the right to be listened to by healthcare professionals during consultation, investigation and treatment, even where the law does not require their legal consent.
The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, has proclaimed the importance of the child’s voice in the healthcare setting, highlighting that in the context of healthcare, children do not go through the same transitions at the same time. Children who suffer from an illness or a disability are sometimes viewed differently by their peers, and in some respects they are different. From a young age, they adapt to a routine of appointments, hospitals, medicine and treatments and become adept at dealing with the health problems and constraints they face on a daily basis. Such personal experience adds greatly to the evolving capacities of a child and must be taken into account when treating children and managing their healthcare.
It is not easy for children to participate in a healthcare system which is traditionally paternalistic. The failure to respect the voice and evolving capacity of a child or young person in a medical context results in the creation and maintenance of barriers to necessary information and treatment, particularly in relation to sensitive issues of sexual and mental health. This was criticised by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its evaluation of Ireland’s implementation of the Convention in 2006. The Committee noted that the minimum legal age for consulting a doctor without parental consent was 16 years, and questioned where children and young people below the age of 16, who had sexual or drugs-related problems could go to talk to a doctor or a psychologist without informing their parents. The question seems to have been avoided, as the Irish delegation could not give a satisfactory answer. There are no answers to be found in the healthcare system as it stands to deal with questions and issues presented by, for example, the sexually active 16 year old who requests contraception, the 17 year old who purports to refuse a blood transfusion, the 13 year old who has been managing a chronic illness for years, or the 15 year old mother who can consent to medical treatment on behalf of her child but does not have the legal capacity to make decisions regarding her own healthcare.
The effort to create a sense of symbiosis between rights of protection and participation under the Convention is undermined by the lack of respect for Article 12 in the Irish healthcare system. The General Comment on the Right of the Child to Be Heard issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2009 referred to the complementary interaction between Articles 3 and 12 of the Convention. Article 3 establishes the objective of achieving the best interests of the child and Article 12 provides the methodology for hearing the child. There can be no correct application of Article 3 if the components of Article 12 are not respected. Article 3 in turn reinforces the functionality of Article 12, facilitating the essential role of children in all decisions which affect them. Particularly relevant to the present discussion of the child’s voice in the healthcare setting, was the statement included in the General Comment that Article 12 must be allocated a place of respect and deference within the medical arena:
The realisation of the provisions of the Convention requires respect for the child’s right to express his or her views and to participate in promoting the healthy development and well-being of children. This applies to individual health-care decisions, as well as to children’s involvement in the development of health policy and services.
In 2006, the Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Ireland to strengthen its efforts to ensure that children have the right to express their views in all matters effecting them and to have their views given due weight, in particular in families, educational institutions, the health sector and in communities.
It is evident that reform is necessary to ensure that the voice of the young patient is heard in the healthcare setting, to enable children and young people to grow and mature, reaching a point where the individual who has capacity can participate in and make decisions about his or her own healthcare and treatment.
The infamous decision of the House of Lords in the 1985 Gillick case is considered to be a fulcrum in the development of the mature minor rule. In short, the rule allows a minor to consent to medical treatment, if he or she is capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the decision in question. http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1985/7.html See also Freeman “Rethinking Gillick” (2005) 13 International Journal of Children’s Rights 201-217. | <urn:uuid:0ae63b09-42ab-4721-9567-005f0f507994> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://humanrights.ie/children-and-the-law/nic-suibhne-on-childrens-rights-and-health-care/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955019 | 1,744 | 2.265625 | 2 |
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Upstate New York Methodist Circuit Rider Biography, FREE Download.
Free eBook. Free eBook. Free eBook!
About twenty years ago I was on a kick to locate Methodist church record holdings anywhere, which would relate to any of the Upstate New York Methodist Conferences, Circuits and Churches.
The reason that I was looking so hard was because of an Atlas on Religion in America that I saw in the Syracuse University Library, where it claimed that as of the year 1860, due to the itinerant preachers and their circuits, that 50 per cent of the people in the United State were recorded as being Methodists!
I have no way of knowing if that was true or not, but they had pie charts and graphs and it sounded plausible. So being the brilliant statistician that I am, I said "Hmmm..., well that means you have a 50/50 chance of finding your ancestors in a Methodist church record somewhere!" This genealogy thing seemed as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Ha!
So for a couple of years I scoured all of the conference archives, university holdings, libraries, and historical societies virtually all over the state. Guess what? I found the answer!
There is no one place for church records to be located. Too bad. The Methodist Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, other variants, and now the United Methodist Church, do have rules for recording church records, christenings, marriages and burials, however the rules were not adhered to.
I did locate quite a few of interest. For instance I discovered that there had been one little pocket notebook journal of a traveling circuit rider that had worked in Pompey, Onondaga County, as early as 1808.
That little notebook with newspaper clippings pasted all over the pages was located in the University of Chicago! Seems these records might have been thought to have belonged to the preacher that wrote them. Many of course are now lost forever. Some did migrate generally out into the upper mid-western states as the families followed the setting sun.
Well what we have to offer here is an Index that I made in 1989 of a little biography of a typical Circuit Rider, named Rev. Abner CHASE. The surname CHASE is one of my main lines so I purchased a copy of the book and read it through cover to cover, fairly droll reading, but it was of interest at the moment.
The book is titled, "Recollections of the Past, by Rev. Abner CHASE of the Genesee Conference." - 1848. There was no index of any kind, so I combed through it and created one on an old Apple II computer data base. I no longer have the digital file, but I do have a printout of the index and have made pdf documents of just the index.
You can have your very own copy of this masterpiece by doing one of two things. All you have to do is subscribe by email to either of our Blogs, the Upstate New York Genealogy Blog at http://ny-genes.blogspot.com or our Genealogy Miscellanea Blog at http://genemisc.blogspot.com. There is an email subscription box on the Blog. I promise never to divulge your email address to any one else.
I will send you the index by email, and a BONUS download of the actual biography itself! No charge, no strings attached. We are just trying to increase our readership and this is about the best way we know. If you are already a subscriber, and I thank all of you who are, then just send me an email stating that you want the index and book download and I will send them to you.
You can't beat free!
If the book and the index are not something that you need or want yourself, perhaps your local library or Family History Center might accept it as a donation.
A note to researchers that are going to ask where to find their ancestors Methodist records, all I can say is first start with the local church if active, and also check with the Conference Archives for that area. I’m sure you can Google the addresses up.
Oh in case you didn't know it, you are supposed to insert your comments and questions at the bottom of each Blog message. C'mon people, don't hold back. \grin/
Three day FREE Trial to Footnote for unyg readers! | <urn:uuid:3ac5f27a-ccd6-4e51-9869-7f86aaee114a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ny-genes.blogspot.com/2008/01/upstate-new-york-methodist-circuit.html?showComment=1216496940000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973901 | 919 | 1.742188 | 2 |
-- ZigBee vs. Bluetooth (4.0) Low Energy (LE) AdamK - 2010-08-12
ZigBee vs. Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) West Technology Research Solutions ? e-mailed 8-11 from hotmail acct.
West Technology Research Solutions – e-mailed 8-11 from adam's hotmail acct.
Continua Health Alliance – e-mailed 8-11
Dan @ danjuliodesigns.com - e-mailed 8-11 ( http://itp.nyu.edu/camp/?tag=biometrics) – response 8-11-10 - electrical engineer. “Zigbee is finding success in control systems but I don't think it's going to be used for biometrics.”
TI E2E? ? Community ? Karl ? TI Texas Instruments Employee (posted question 8-12-10 about biometric sensors)
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) – e-mailed 8-12-10
THE PLATFORMS ENABLING WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
Jason Hill (firstname.lastname@example.org) is president and CEO of JLH Labs
in Capistrano Beach, CA.
Mike Horton (email@example.com) is president and CEO of
Crossbow Technology, Inc. in San Jose, CA.
- old e-mail, no good -- Ralph Kling (firstname.lastname@example.org) is a principal researcher
and leader of the Intel Mote project at Intel Research and the Systems
Technology Laboratory at Intel Corp. in Santa Clara, CA.
Lakshman Krishnamurthy (lakshman.krishnamurthy@
intel.com) is a senior staff engineer in the Communication Technology
Lab at Intel Corp. in Hillsboro, OR.
Contact Information: Information Services / Customer Support Phone: 925.275.6607 Email: email@example.com
Address: 2400 Camino Ramon, Suite 375, San Ramon, CA 94583 USA Main: + 1.925.275.6690 Fax: + 1.925.275.6691
Continua picks ZigBee?, Bluetooth LE (2009) for health devices, sensors
The two wireless technology standards are targeted to support mobile and fixed location devices as defined by the next iteration of the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines. The alliance has selected Bluetooth low energy wireless technology (pending finalization of the specification) to enable low power mobile devices such as activity monitors and heart rate sensors to be used to monitor a user’s health and fitness levels. Additionally, Continua has selected ZigBee Health Care technology for low power sensors that can be networked in a variety of settings, and utilized in devices such as motion detectors and bed pressure sensors to enhance the daily living of those who require assistance aging independently.
…ZigBee standard enables powerful new wireless applications for safety, security, and control, ranging from smart energy to home automation and medical care to advanced remote control.
Bluetooth low energy versus ZigBee?
Karl from Texas Instruments (Engineer)
9 Mar 2010 8:42 AM
I've touched on this topic before outside of the blog, but a recent comment made me think that it could be appropriate to bring it up again. People enjoy some controversy, so what's better than putting different standards up against each other? I'll try to explain the differences and explain why BLE and ZigBee? don't really step on each other's toes in my opinion:
There will surely be some overlap in application areas, as there is always some tendency to try to broaden the scope of standards, but overall Bluetooth low energy and ZigBee? target different areas. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses. BLE will be able to communicate with billions of Bluetooth devices, but does not support mesh. ZigBee? can cover large areas, but is not so well suited to ad-hoc networking and requires powered routers.
Low-energy Bluetooth is formally adopted – News – Linux for Devices
Bluetooth. low energy
Research and Markets: Bluetooth Low Energy Forecast to Dominate Wireless Sensor Network Market says Q2 2010 Report Research and Markets: Bluetooth Low Energy Forecast to Dominate Wireless Sensor Network Market says Q2 2010 Report
West Technology Research Solutions analyst Kirsten West, quoted by our sister publication eWEEK, said "Bluetooth low energy will be a significant contributor to the overall wireless sensor network market, representing nearly half of all shipments in 2015. The advantage to this new protocol is that it is totally optimized for low power battery operation."
“Bluetooth Low Energy is designed to compete with protocols like ZigBee? in applications which require infrequent and short bursts of data communication. The advantage to this new protocol is that it is totally optimized for low power battery operation.”
By 2014, analysts project, consumers will buy over 200 million wireless body sensors every year! Every one of them can communicate best with Bluetooth low energy communication technology!
Ultra Low Power Wireless Quarter
Tiny Sensors Run Forever (Almost)
Developers of ZigBee, a specification for building large networks of low-power radio transmitters, expect the first set of consumer products incorporating the technology to hit the market as early as the fourth quarter of this year.
"The great thing with this technology is it's slowly going to surround you -- whether you know it or not," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee? Alliance, which includes more than 175 members, including large multinationals like Motorola, Philips and Samsung.
*Upcoming products, including several slated to be unveiled at the alliance's upcoming conference in Chicago this month, are *mostly tailored to home security. But backers of the technology expect it will eventually be deployed much more broadly, for uses like landscaping, automated meter reading, and home lighting systems.
“Low-power sensing and monitoring is a core competency of ZigBee? and we are excited to help Continua build its technology roadmap and help expand the telehealth industry ecosystem,” said Dr. Robert F. Heile, chairman, ZigBee? Alliance. “ZigBee Health Care gives care professionals and consumers the ability to connect an almost unlimited number of monitoring devices with ease while maintaining privacy.” | <urn:uuid:ee772b29-2197-447f-87d9-79baa3fc08ff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eugenemakerspace.com/wiki/bin/compare/Sites/BluetoothZigBee?rev1=1;rev2=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.902408 | 1,330 | 1.59375 | 2 |
In 1947, young lawyer and entrepreneur Harold Footer started a business in a tiny, 600-square-foot facility in Chelsea Massachusetts. There he produced and marketed his first product, the Vacuum Action Dry Mop. The company was known as Easy Day Manufacturing Company because using the new Vacuum Action Mop would make for an easy day of cleaning for housewives.
During its first 20 years, the company began to change the way cleaning products were sold. Among the innovations were, introducing color into mop designs; creative packaging and advertising; selling mops on television; developing the first automatic mop; and designing special rack fixtures for the sale of stick goods. Merchandise was sold through various retail channels including major department stores – where it seemed you could buy anything.
In the early 1960’s new retailing companies called mass merchants were opening all around the country. Most department stores were located in downtown locations and as people moved to the suburbs after WW II these new mass merchants were following the population to the suburbs. Since these new retail companies were more of a self service format, the Department stores did not want to buy the same merchandise and brands being offered in these new stores – Easy Day was a well known Department store brand, so a new product line was created for the new mass merchants and Suburbanite brand was born.
In the early 70’s most of the Department stores decided to stop carrying the cleaning tools category due to space limitations and competition from the growing mass merchant retails across the country. The Easy Day brand was sunset as the Suburbanite brand continued to grow with new distribution.nbsp;
As a Suburbanite customer, Alan Michelson, then vice president and merchandise manager of Zayre’s in the northeast, was so impressed with Suburbanite's products and services, that he acquired an interest in the company and became Footer's partner in 1969.
In 1970 the company revolutionized the industry once again by offering the first integrated full-program concept to American retailers. Suburbanite delivered a comprehensive, attractive, and well organized cleaning department of stick goods and smallwares.
Suburbanite became the first company in the industry to develop expertise in sales-by-facing analysis, cross-docking shipment systems, EDI order processing, and color customization for key accounts
In fact, 20 years before the term gained widespread understanding and acceptance, Suburbanite was already providing "category management" to its customers.
In the early 90’s Suburbanite introduced a line of dust pans under a new Butler brand following the success of its “The Butler” stand up dust pan and broom set. Customers and consumers were so quick to accept the new Butler brand that the Suburbanite brand was converted all to Butler.
In 2000 Butler once again revolutionized the industry by creating a partnership with Procter & Gamble and launching an entirely new brand of products under the widely recognized Mr. Clean brand. This was the first time a licensing program had been created in the cleaning category and gave Butler a way to differentiate it from the competition. By creating a two tiered program, Butler gave retailers a one stop shop partner for all their cleaning needs.
In 2002, Butler took Mr. Clean across the pond and launched specific programs in 7 western European countries.
As P&G launched its new Charmin Mega Roll in 2003, they looked to Butler to help them develop and sell a new and unique toilet paper roll spindle as the Charmin Extender.
2008 brings the latest partnership with P&G as Butler introduces a full line of dish and sink cleaning products under the best selling Dawn brand. | <urn:uuid:184663b7-467d-4633-b69b-16b77b1ff4d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mrcleantools.com/index.cfm/page/Butler-Home-Product-History/pid/10261 | 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 | 0.973979 | 747 | 1.820313 | 2 |
The World of Breastfeeding Gathers
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 22 No. 2, March-April 2005, p. 64
You're invited to the LLLI Conference in Washington DC, USA, on July 2-5, 2005. You'll have the opportunity to experience an international, breastfeeding friendly atmosphere as you attend sessions, luncheons, and other activities. Join the world breastfeeding community this summer to participate in the following events.
The Parade of Nations
The Parade of Nations is a colorful extravaganza with representatives from almost every continent. The display is a moving expression of the importance of breastfeeding to the world community. Wear the dress of your nation, bring your children and your flags, and come together for our common cause.
While almost every Conference speaker presents an international point of view, there are also special global sessions. Many different countries will be represented by presenters and facilitators of the global sessions.
The theme of these sessions will be "Combining Non-Technological Approaches with Information Technology to Promote, Support, and Protect Breastfeeding." At each session, there will be eight tables, each focusing on a particular non-technological approach such as music, posters, courses, theatre skits, and drawing. There will be a facilitator at each table who will guide the discussion to its conclusion.
Each session will focus on combining technology and non-technological approach-es to achieve some objective. The objectives are to promote, support, and protect exclusive breastfeeding; the role of breastfeeding in the prenatal, delivery and postpartum period; breastfeeding in the Context of HIV and AIDS; the role of the father in the breastfeeding experience; and breastfeeding as an essential component for mother-child health interventions. This approach will also be used in sessions that discuss how to widen and strengthen the global network of community-based breastfeeding counselors and how to support the mother who combines working and breastfeeding.
The World Faire
This event allows you to travel the world in three hours! It will feature over 80 displays from LLL representatives and advocates from all over the world. Enjoy family entertainment and browse, admire, or purchase hand-crafted merchandise at the World Faire. Don't forget to have your "passport" stamped as you visit with attendees from many different countries!
While at the Conference don't forget to look at the poster presentations located on the Terrace level. Here you will learn about many breastfeeding projects, programs, and studies happening around the world. Poster presentation topics at the last Conference ranged from "Promoting Breastfeeding to Diverse Populations in the USA" to "Actions in the Media/Communities to Revive the Eroding Breastfeeding Culture in Nigeria." Posters for this Conference also promise to share breastfeeding success from around the world. Poster presenters will be available to talk about their presentations and answer questions by their posters from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm on July 3 and 5.
Gallery of Gatherings
This event is an opportunity to socialize with various groups who are involved with La Leche League. You can stay in one place and meet, learn, and share experiences with many different people.
We hope to see you in Washington DC as we celebrate Breastfeeding: Ancient Art, Modern Miracle. The LLLI Conference features almost 100 different sessions on breastfeeding, parenting, and self-development. Visit the LLLI Web site at www.llli.org for more information. | <urn:uuid:cebd0d13-9b2a-40d9-9196-01c9caee00cb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr05p64.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918677 | 713 | 1.5625 | 2 |
I Have a D-Dream
By Manny Hernandez
Although the challenges faced by African Americans in the sixties and people with diabetes today are very different, because this article is getting published close to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2011, I took the liberty of applying some elements from his historical “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 to diabetes today.
In 1921, insulin was discovered. This moment came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of people with type 1 diabetes who, until then, had been doomed to die as a result of a non-functioning pancreas.
But ninety years later, still too many people with diabetes languish (and far too many still die because they don’t have access to insulin too). Some of them see their bodies decay, some see their souls turn sour.
Ninety years later, lots of people with diabetes lack vital information and support that can help them live a healthy life with this chronic disease. And so I've written this article today to dramatize this shameful state of things.
It would be terrible for people with diabetes in the world to overlook the urgency of the moment. We live in a time when the barriers to access to life-and-soul-saving knowledge and support we need have dropped lower than ever.
January 2011 is a beginning. Not just the start of a new year, but the start of a diabetes revolution!
As we share diabetes information and offer support to one another, let’s not forget who the real enemy is. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are not the enemy. It is not even sensationalist media or the person making inappropriate treatment recommendations. Our enemy is IGNORANCE!
We can never be satisfied as long as there are people with diabetes living through this disease all alone. We cannot be satisfied as long as people without diabetes do not understand what life with diabetes is really like.
I know you may be struggling. You may be unemployed or uninsured. You may live surrounded by people who don’t understand you or you may hide to give yourself an insulin shot. Know that somehow this situation can and will be changed!
Although things today are far from where we want them to be, I have a dream that everyone with diabetes will be able to meet someone else they can vent with or learn from, to become more informed and empowered patients together.
I have a dream that all partners of people with diabetes will understand how challenging this disease can be for their spouses, become more informed, and turn into the main source of support for their better half.
I have a dream that one day all people diagnosed with diabetes will come to terms with the disease and accept that life has changed for them; that’s the first step for all of us.
And if the right thing is to happen, a cure for diabetes must become true.
And so let a cure ring from every corner of the world.
Let a cure ring from the mighty mountains north of India.
Let a cure ring from the China to Mexico, from Russia to Germany.
Let a cure ring from Brazilian lands to the USA.
And when this happens, we will all be able to sing together:
Cured at last! Cured at last!
dLife's Daily Living columnists are not all medical experts, but everyday people living with diabetes and sharing their personal experiences. While their method of diabetes management may work for them, everyone is different. Please consult with your diabetes care team to find out what will work best for you.
Fruited Pork Chops Cuban Garlic & Citrus Pork Chops Mexican Potato Omelet Potato, Tomato, and Corn Skillet Beef-Vegetable Ragout Turkey Sausage & Arugula Pasta Italian Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms Green Bean and Tofu Curry Berry Soup Tabbouleh Tossed Salad
Because today's going to be a bit busy to be doing actual art (and because I just saw STAR TREK: Into Darkness yesterday), I'm going to take the Diabetes Blog Week wildcard: "Tell us what your fantasy diabetes device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc. The sky is the limit — what... | <urn:uuid:2cee4737-e80e-4eaa-8c8e-3739b988f781> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dlife.com/diabetes_resources/diabetes_advocacy/manny_hernandez/a-dream | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945001 | 889 | 2.234375 | 2 |
An outstanding and authentic 2012 ripe (shu) loose leaf Organic Yunnan Pu-erh. Pu-erh is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after teas in China after spending centuries shrouded in obscurity.
Vintage cake pu-erh can sell for more than the price of a car! This rare organic pu-erh is a dark black medium leaf that when infused creates a deep reddish-brown liquor. At once earthy and nutty-sweet, this pu-erh is much more complex than most. Hints of espresso and acorn.
The health benefits of pu-erh are numerous and profound.
4.3 oz Tin $18.95 - 60 Servings - 32¢ per cup
8.0 oz Pouch $26.95 - 113 Servings - 24¢ per cup
Call us at 888-944-4832 for rare pu-erh cakes and tuo cha.
AKA Puer, Puerh
Hint: Shorter steep time for more sweetness.
Water: 208°F | Leaves: 1 tsp per 6 ounce cup | Infusion Time: 3-4 minutes
Basic Steeping Tips
- Use filtered or spring water, whenever possible
- Don’t overboil water
- Remove leaves after recommended time (adjust to taste)
- If you want stronger tea, use more leaves instead of steeping for a longer time
Leaves can be resteeped 2-3 times resulting in various flavor differences. Don’t throw out those leaves until they have given it all up!
Discover the mysterious tea with the unique flavor and numerous health benefits.
Highly recommended to experiment with the steeping times with this lovely loose-leaf Pu-erh. A short steeping time (~2 min) reveals a lovely complexity that is often lost in longer steep times.
Traditionally Pu-erh is steeped for very short times (with larger volumes of leaves) and up to 10 steepings is common!
See what works for you...Explore the world of Pu-erh.
Pu-erh is one of the oldest types of tea in China with a history of over 1700 years, tracing back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. During its height of popularity, the tea was freely traded even used as money for the bartering of goods. Pu-erh gets its name from the city of Pu-erh in south-western China where the trade for Pu-erh was conducted. Not far from Pu-erh are the areas of Xishuangbanna and Simou, where cultivation and processing of the tea is carried out today.
Unlike other teas, the processing of pu-erh is carefully guarded. In the past, trespassers mistaken as spies on pu-erh tea farms were known to be killed. To this day, the secrets of processing pu-erh remains ruthlessly guarded and it is only in China where genuine Pu-erh tea can be produced. The most basic processing methods include roasting the leaves right after they’re picked. After being roasted, theleaves are sun-dried before being steamed slightly and allowed to ferment. Some pu-erh manufacturers ferment the tea twice, making the flavor more intense.
Pu-erh tea is well-known for its ability to undergo a post-fermentation process designed for further aging, similar to wine. The aging process allows the tea to develop added complexity in character. With active microbes living within the tea, pu-erh evolves with each passing year. This is the most fermented tea in China. It is traditionally compressed and packed into tea cakes or bricks to age, which originated from the natural aging process that happened in the storerooms of tea drinkers and merchants, as well as on horseback caravans on the Silk Road. This method eased horseback transportation and reduced the damage to the tea. | <urn:uuid:f48e792d-207f-42e9-8d19-98bb807b4937> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zhitea.com/pu-erh-2673.html | 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 | 0.943764 | 815 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Core Aerationskip to main navigation skip to secondary navigation
Aerating creates space around roots to receive nutrients and water. When a lawn needs it, core aeration can make all the difference in a successful program.
Lawns in our area typically have a combination of soil types: primarily clay and silt, but also loam, sand, gravel, and rock. Heavy clay soils, and soils with heavy foot or equipment traffic, are especially susceptible to compaction. When soil is compacted, the particles it is composed of are pressed together too tightly. This restricts the movement of oxygen, nutrients, and water to the turfs roots, resulting in a slow growing thin lawn. Since the flow of nutrients is decreased, turf grown in compacted soils can also quickly become vulnerable to drought, disease, and insect damage.
Aerating your lawn removes small cores of soil from the turf, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil. By creating an environment where air and water can move freely within the soil, we give beneficial, nutrient-producing microorganisms the opportunity to thrive. The result is a more self-sustaining environment that supports the growth of healthy grass from the roots up. Core aeration is a great benefit to any lawn care regimen, but it is an especially important supplement for our organic based and pure organic lawn care programs. | <urn:uuid:a3126c0c-d8e3-42cb-aec7-f4aeffc33652> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.almstead.com/coreaeration.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948474 | 279 | 2.6875 | 3 |
The 10 Plagues of Egypt-Death of Firstborn
Pharaoh Lunch Bag Craft
Print and cut out Pharaoh and the words. Glue or tape to the brown lunch bag. Use this Pharaoh craft to go along with the death of firstborn lesson. Since this comes in two parts you will be able to put your hand in it and turn it into a hand puppet. | <urn:uuid:6adf28cc-9193-43d8-81aa-c8dc683847e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sundayschoolcrafts.net/the-10-plagues-of-egypt-pharaoh-lunch-bag-craft.php | 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 | 0.927862 | 76 | 2.0625 | 2 |
queer baiting =/= activism
being a fan of slash ships =/= activism
liking slash ships but saying “it’s not that kind of show omg” =/= being a good ally to GSM folks
saying we shouldn’t talk about slash shipping and things like that (in respectful, polite ways)…
Stupid question, but what’s queer baiting?
Queer baiting happens, mostly in popular media like movies and TVs, when homosexuality (usually between gay cis men or gay cis women) is hinted at but never addressed.
BBC’s Sherlock is a PRIME example of queerbaiting. John and Sherlock are constantly put in compromising positions and regularly express statements of deep affection and other characters on the show often assume they’re gay - but they’re not. It’s made very clear that they’re not.
Queerbaiting is problematic because it lets the producers and writers of a show play with stereotypes of sexuality and act ‘inclusive’ without ever actually dealing with homosexuality or having an openly gay character. They get to reap the social benefits of being a ‘gay-friendly’ show but don’t actually have to get any input on what gay life is like or represent the actual lives of real gay people on TV and deal with the backlash that would inevitably ensue.
Not only does it reduce gay people to in-the-closet, stereotypical behaviours, it COMPLETELY erases bisexuality and pansexuality, and is NEVER represented with characters that aren’t cis.
Basically, queerbaiting takes the ‘safest’ possible, most public-friendly, non-hetero relationships and never even actually makes them gay - just potentially not straight. It’s damaging, stereotypical, and erasive.
I’ve been calling the sherlock thing “slash-baiting” and thinking of it as like, drawing in slash fans because they know there are tons and tons of us but uh | <urn:uuid:fc00e05c-c4dd-41e0-a65d-d7e40548ea35> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://msqueenly.tumblr.com/post/32031085993/im-clever-and-im-listening | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929196 | 433 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Kamasutra, Business management and the first blog ever- published 23 centuries ago
Well, before you get alarmed or all excited- this post is not going to be about how to get close to your secretary. Or as Nury Vittaci puts it- “It is not about 64 positions in which you can screw your business rivals complete with diagrams”
This post is more than just a review of Nury Vittaci’s book- ” Kamasutra of Business- Management principles from Indian Classics”- it is to document what I read for my future citations.
One of those books with an extremely easy read, I would say it is a must read for all book lovers- to learn from the wisdom of the ancients- in an easy going way. It has some real eye opening facts about the relatively unknown amazing amazing facts, nuggets of wisdom from ancient India and the way the ancients paved the way for business management principles that are timeless.
I am not just stating the facts, but even depicting the era to demonstrate context. (BC= Before the birth of Christ; BCE= before current era – same as BC and CE= contemporary era; almost same as the concept of AD)
Though humanoids have been around for more than a million years, humans used tools since about a hundred thousand years- but it is only very recently that we have ‘advanced’ very fast- probably from around 5000 years back.
India in particular, the author (non Indian by the way) finds-had been quite advanced. Many ancient scriptures propagate scientific ideas close to what the scientists today believe. The Vedas for example, (the founding scriptures of Hinduism) were written about 1500-2000 years BC (about 40 centuries ago)- and cover some stuff that foxes scientists even now. For example, they talk about the concept and corelation between time, space and matter- in a way that is recognized by the contemporary scientific world in only the modern era.
There is not only evidence of scientific genius (surgery was first done in India- including plastic surgery, mathematics got the zero from India- making computer science possible with binary system, astronomical sciences with complete use of logarithmic tables complete with latitude and longitudes, the very mathematical astrological sciences etc. And yes- they did not consider Pluto to be a planet either)- from tens of centuries ago- but even that of thought leadership, economics, society and intellectual gems. One of the cradle of civilizations, there is evidence that first written language might have developed there itself. One of the oldest pieces of writing in existence come from the Indus Valley civilization – still undeciphered and about 5,500 years old.
Though examples from the book cover the implications of what was written or done centuries ago- in today’s business environment, I would limit this article on some key ancient anecdotes and nuggets.
Consider this- did you know:
- The Kamasutra is not a book of sex. As it is widely believed to be. As a matter of fact, all copies of the book in west contain only 20% of the actual matter in KamaSutra. Actually less than 20% of the book is about sex!
- The man who wrote Kamasutra (Vatsyayana) was celibate- a young man not married. Ever. A sage and a researcher- Most of his work is a compilation of works from other ancient sages- with observations from Vatsyayana. This happened about 16 centuries ago!
- World’s first management guru was a sage scholar from India (Chanakya-around 350 BCE) who used his techniques to build an empire bigger than Western Europe
- Traders in Ancient India built an Atlantis like lost city. It had traffic jams, high technology and Credit Cards! It even exported city infrastructure details to far away countries. And it is not completely lost.
- This city (Harappa/Mohenjodaro) probably invented the first franchise model- where know how and processes were exported to various countries to set up franchisee like model. A la Starbucks and McDonalds. Oh and we are talking about 4300 to 5000 years back!
Life balance=Kama(Sensual Pleasure)+Artha (material wealth/business/profession)+Dharma (virtue)
OK I am simplifying things. But for mere mortals like me, this is cool enough.
Chanakya: The genius scholar who was treated badly by his (incapable) king ‘Nanda’ and the king’s psychophants is fired. He vows to avenge. And does so ultimately- creating a huge empire in association with Chandragupta Maurya- a solid CEO if you may- who led from the front and rose from virtually nothing. In doing so, he also authors many awesome management books- notably Arthashastra- the book on economics, polity and statecraft.
Ashoka: Widely popular as Ashoka the Great- his work is inscribed on the Indian Flag and currencies (the wheel and the lion with 4 heads signifying the light of wisdom is travelling to all 4 corners). He was the emperor who brought the most of India under one leadership, a ferocious warrior turned monk who sent his kids to as far as Sri Lanka to preach no-violence and dhamma (his philosophy from a mix of Budhism and Jainism)- and the first blogger ever in the history of the world.
Yes I said Blogger. His blog posts were not on an easy publish CMS like wordpress and distributed through aggregators though. They were dictated on a regular basis via an oral commentary- inscribed in stone- and affixed in various parts of India- on the thoughts of an emperor to the people. (Commenting was not possible as you could imagine- but more recently people would have inscribed spam- “Raju loves Lata” types- Stone Akismet anyone?)
Considering he was the grandson of Chandragupta- we are probably talking about 23 centuries ago (270 BC). It was then he established such concepts like Animal Welfare (!), peace, environmentalism and established a concept that even modern day America is struggling to find. An efficient healthcare system- where taxpayers were assured treatment- and payments were taken as per standards of living!!
One of his blog posts (Edicts- the twelfth rock letter) mentions the importance of religious tolerance.
These concepts were thousands of years ahead of their time.
And after all these things, one cannot but feel saddened by the lost significance of such great works, thought leadership and intellectual prowesses lost by the onslaught of foreign invasion and colonizations- most of whom were interested in plundering their colonies to the stone age.
Well- here’s the news- they are still surviving and kicking ass. Big time.
thumbnail courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dido/116042215/sizes/m/in/photostream/ | <urn:uuid:2034351c-1b99-4de7-9fb9-6d36715b95a6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://chasingthestorm.com/first-blog-business-management-india/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962914 | 1,460 | 1.773438 | 2 |
4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith Jehovah of hosts.
4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.
4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.
4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Created with FREE HTMLCompiler by BibleDatabase | <urn:uuid:efd6d414-757d-47c1-bc43-da97b42ca555> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.audiowebman.org/bbc/books/bibles/asv/39_004.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912882 | 244 | 1.851563 | 2 |
100 years after an iceberg defeated the 882-foot luxury liner on its maiden voyage, scientists and historians are still exploring the Titanic. Armed with modern camera technology, submersibles were sent down to the ship's final resting place with the hope of capturing HD 3D visuals of the wreckage, in order to support or even confirm theories about the damage that took the boat down. Now, History Channel has brought some of that footage home in this 45-minute TV special, presented in 3D so that future generations can see it for themselves.
Like most historical TV specials, "Titanic: 100 Years" doesn't deviate much from the usual style: talking head interviews, some dramatized voice-over taken from letters and journals of the crew of the Titanic, and the 3D footage itself, which has an eerie ghost-town quality to it. The 3D in the title may also refer to a 3D mock-up of the boat used to illustrate some of the the boat's progression underwater.
Although the 3D footage looks spectacular on this Blu-Ray, there's still a feeling that the filmmakers may not have taken advantage of the technology. With the advantage of depth and dimension, fading between the 3D model of the ship and the actual 3D footage of the wreckage would be a great way to help increase a sense of geography. Although each of the locations seen in the footage is identified with an on-screen caption, only one shot uses little animated lines to help the viewer make sense of what they're seeing on screen. It's hard to make visual sense of a destroyed cabin without an idea of where, say, the door is (or was). It's possible that this was not done to avoid potentially copying the format of James Cameron's Ghosts of the Abyss (which itself is arriving on 3D Blu-Ray this year), but, having not seen that film, it feels like a real missed opportunity.
More importantly, without utilizing the 3D properly, the special lacks a "hook." A good chunk of the material is built around a first-hand account by second mate Charles Lightoller, with the filmmakers and interview subjects using the 3D footage to illustrate how the wreckage corroborates Lightoller's memories, but it feels less of a focus than the most frequently used resource. Another option would be to try and make something more definitive, given that this is a centennial; hell, even a little comparative history on other expeditions down to the wreckage would give this special a new spin. Overall, this is an interesting and entertaining special that I enjoyed, but if you put it in a lineup with some documentaries on Titanic from Discovery or PBS, I'm not sure it stands out.
The 3D Blu-Ray
"Titanic: 100 Years" comes in a standard Blu-Ray eco-case (the kind that uses less plastic) with the Blu-Ray 3D logo printed on it. The art has a picture of the 3D model (as opposed to the 3D footage) inside the standard History Channel home video packaging template. There is no insert inside the case. When the disc is put into your player, it will detect whether you are using a 3D or 2D set-up and choose the appropriate format, and it will also ask whether you want to view the menu in English or Dutch.
The Video and Audio
For the most part, this 1.78:1 1080p MVC presentation looks really great. Colors have a nice pop, fine detail appears very strnog (although the limits of submersible cameras might be a little different from normal HD cameras), and I didn't pick out any digital defects (although I imagine there's a little aliasing on the 3D footage). More importantly, depth and dimension are great when viewed in 3D: the ocean naturally provides a million reference points just with junk floating in the water, and it's interesting to peer into the ship when the camera peeks down some cracks and crevices. The one issue is crosstalk, which seems more intrusive on the edges of the frame during the interview segments, particularly around the star on the flag hanging behind the participants.
Sound is a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 track. I'm sure someone will be mad that A&E didn't spring for full HD audio, but this track more than gets the job done with crisp separation between the narration and the background audio, and during interesting surround segments that use overlapping voice-overs to depict the passengers of the ship. English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Polish, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian subtitles are also included.
Even without the filmmakers making as much out of it as they can, the appeal of cruising over the Titanic in 3D is seems like a nice convergence for a history nerd looking to show off a new 3DTV, and they beat Cameron's film (both of them) to the market. This disc would be better with some other Titanic History docs on it, but the feature presentation is enjoyable enough for a recommendation>/b>, especially if you are that person.
Please check out my other DVDTalk DVD, Blu-Ray and theatrical reviews and/or follow me on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:94ceb45e-de97-4fb1-bcd2-8f646701949e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/57533/titanic100-years-in-3d/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952931 | 1,064 | 1.828125 | 2 |
A Prayer for Lent
In a book of Lenten devotions compiled from his writings, Henri Nouwen wrote the following prayer:
The Lenten season begins.
It is time to be with you in a special way, a time to pray, to fast,
and thus to follow you on your way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha,
and to the final victory over death.
I am still so divided. I truly want to follow you,
but I also want to follow my own desires
and lend an ear to the voices that speak
about prestige, success, human respect, pleasure, power, and influence.
Help me to become deaf to these voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to the narrow road to life.
I know that Lent is going to be a very hard time for me.
The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life.
I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts,
words that are your words, and
actions that are your actions.
There are no times or places without choices.
And I know how deeply I resist choosing you.
Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and in every place.
Give me the strength and the courage to life this season faithfully, so that, when Easter comes, I will be able to taste with joy the new life which you have prepared for me.
Lenten season has begun indeed, the lead up to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
What an odd thing to celebrate, I sometimes think, as I hear the incredulous questions, sarcastic comments, and stifled giggles of my friends and neighbors who either walk a different faith walk entirely or believe in nothing apart from what can be seen and touched. I acknowledge that it is nearly impossible to explain my faith in the story of the life of Christ to someone who thinks of the Bible and its stories as foolishness, as myth.
I also acknowledge that in the name of the Christ millions of people have been and continue to be slaughtered, abused, humiliated, swindled, cheated, misled, and otherwise mistreated. Sometimes I weep when I think of the way that Christ's name and message have been misused for material profit, political gain, and military advantage - and continue to be misused to this very day.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
But the voice of Christ calling me to have compassion on others,
to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to seek peace and pursue it,
that voice calls to the deepest part of me - and I cannot and choose not to ignore it.
The call of Christ challenging me to touch the untouchable,
to love those that some call unlovable,
to eat and drink and share my life with the poor, the lonely,
the rejected, the sorrowful,
and to tell the truth of my own poverty, loneliness, rejection, and sorrow,
I cannot and will not ignore that call.
But I am divided. I want to avoid the pain around me and within me.
I want to pretend that homelessness and hunger and mental illness,
that poverty and abuse of all kinds and unjust war do not exist -
and if they do, I want to convince myself that there is nothing I can do about it.
I am divided because I know that there is something I can do.
There are choices I can make that will make a difference.
I can speak up and speak out. I can write letters and make phone calls.
I can stand with my immigrant friends and plead for immigration reform.
I can choose to not buy from certain stores or companies.
I can stand in solidarity with my poor friends
(Do I even have poor friends? Or have I completely insulated myself from poverty?)
and cry out for help and mercy and generosity.
I can empty my drawers and closets and shoe boxes and clothe the needy.
I can empty my pantry and feed the hungry.
I can stop living in fear that there isn't enough and recognize the truth that there is more than enough.
As Gandhi said decades ago: "There is enough for everyone's need, but there is not enough for everyone's greed."
I am reminded by Nouwen's prayer that it is no longer enough simply to pray or meditate.
I must choose to love, to give, to share, to work for justice and peace,
to be present to the needs and sorrows of my neighbors and friends and loved ones.
I weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
I choose to speak and write words of peace and grace and
forgiveness to the one who recently rejected my family,
even though we are members of the same family.
And I ask her forgiveness for any and all pain I have caused her.
(Will you forgive me and give me another chance to be a better sister and aunt? Please???)
I join Nouwen in his prayer asking Christ for the strength and courage to live out this life I have been called to live.
To pray faithfully. To live faithfully. To love deeply. To laugh heartily.
To forgive completely. To seek forgiveness truly. To not turn away from those in need.
To give, to receive, to rejoice, to weep, to be true and whole and to be at peace. | <urn:uuid:cf631f07-19fb-4b51-b309-235149c64eaa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://silvermine.blogspot.com/2009/02/prayer-for-lent.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961167 | 1,122 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Médecins Sans Frontières has offices in 19 countries. There are five 'operational centres' which directly control field projects, decide when, where, and what aid is necessary and when to end a programme. These centres are based in Belgium, France, Holland, Spain and Switzerland.
The remaining 13 offices are 'non-operational sections', whose primary functions are to recruit volunteers, raise funds and advocate on behalf of populations in danger.
These offices are located in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the U.S.
MSF has four other main offices: the international office in Geneva, UN Liason Offices in Geneva and New York City and an office in the United Arab Emirates. MSF is also establishing itself in Ireland, South Africa and Brazil.
Three specialized public-health centres called Epicentre, Aedes and HealthNet work with MSF to help expand expertise in specialist medical issues.
MSF campaign for access to medicines
In the field, MSF doctors are constantly frustrated by the lack of adequate medical tools. In response, Médecins Sans Frontières set up the MSF Access Campaign in 1999 to improve access to existing medical tools and to stimulate the development of urgently needed better tools.
MSF field research
MSF is well known for its humanitarian medical work, but it has also produced important research based on its field experience with vulnerable populations. This website archives MSF's scientific articles and makes them available free, with full text, and in an easily searchable format.
For 30 years, MSF has directly witnessed the human cost of the lack of drugs for neglected diseases and has raised its voice against this inequity. In 2003, seven organisations from around the world joined forces to establish the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
The International office in Geneva is the focal point for the 19 MSF offices and is where important joint decisions are made.
The office is headed by Dr Unni Karunakara, a doctor who has been involved with MSF since 1995, when he was tasked with setting up a tuberculosis control programme in Ethiopia.
He has worked on MSF projects in Nagorno-Karabakh, Brazil, the Democractic Republic of Congo and Bangladesh and in the Public Health Department of MSF in Amsterdam, advising country programmes in the Middle East, southern Africa and South and Central America.
He has held various academic and research fellowships at universities around the world, focusing on the demography of forced migration and the delivery of health care to neglected populations affected by conflict, disasters and epidemics. .
Operating as an association
MSF is an associative organisation. It is owned and governed by members -experienced people who have worked for and feel passionately about MSF’s work.
This commitment of each volunteer to the MSF movement goes beyond completing an assignment. Returned volunteers who come back to busy jobs and lives give up their time to continue to participate and contribute to MSF as members of the MSF associations.
The effective contribution of volunteers is based on an equal voice for each member. Through active participation in the associative life of the organisation and an adherence to the Charter and Principles of MSF, the members of the associations of MSF ensure that the organisation continues to operate in line with its stated principals and objectives.
Associative organisation and decision-making
MSF is made up of 19 principal offices, with overall coherence ensured by an International Council.
Each Association is made up of members who work or have worked for MSF. They elect a Board of Directors in each of the 19 countries, whose members are mainly medical professionals.
These 19 Boards of Directors have several principle responsibilites such as appointing an executive director for that country, taking responsiblity for the actions of their countries' offices and guaranteeing that the MSF principles are respected.
Because the people making these decisions have worked with MSF overseas, the organisation's work remains focused on the core principles of providing medical humanitarian care.
We are always looking for enthusiatic people who are willing to live and work in an international team, share their skills and dedicate their time to support our mission. | <urn:uuid:4bad8210-df9e-44bf-a78c-4f3171296016> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.msfindia.in/content.php?con_id=8 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96335 | 883 | 1.960938 | 2 |
When Brian Hart lost his son to a roadside ambush in Iraq, he channeled his grief into creating an affordable robot that defuses bombs so the troops don’t have to
“John was always into the military,” says Brian Hart. He and his wife, Alma, were hoping their son would go to college, “but when 9/11 happened, he was sure,” Hart recalls. “He wanted to serve.” John enlisted in September 2002 at age 19, drawing a place in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. By July, he was on the front line in Iraq and quickly realized that the Army had come to war unprepared. “He called me and said, ‘Dad, we need body armor. Can you help?’” The next week, October 18, 2003, John and his commanding officer were killed in their unarmored humvee during a roadside ambush. | <urn:uuid:fc2be7f8-1b2f-47b2-b859-9c1cf4adf2ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.popsci.com/category/popsci-authors/cliff-kuang | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.994378 | 192 | 1.9375 | 2 |
If you have both an aquarium or a garden (or just a few houseplants) you should consider using the waste water from the aquarium on your plants. In addition to fish wastes and decaying fish food particles the water also contains helpful bacteria and trace nutrients that can help your plants thrive.
Gardening weblog Dave's Garden shares that after applying wastes from the author's 55-gallon aquarium to his flowerbed has outperformed the prior flowerbed by 200%. The author also points out that if you lose fish you should dig them into your garden soil rather than flushing them away for even more natural fertilizer. Photo by Victor Martinez
Aquarium Water - Liquid Gold for Your Garden Dave's Garden | <urn:uuid:7e959dda-a192-4d84-bf95-3f804a64bd77> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lifehacker.com/5867013/use-dirty-aquarium-water-to-fertilize-plants?tag=gardening | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942921 | 143 | 2.4375 | 2 |
In 2012, Canadian consumers faced only modest food price increases; in fact, fruit and vegetable prices decreased by more than 8 per cent. Unfortunately, 2013 will be a different story.
Several forecasts predict that food prices will go up anywhere from 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent, likely exceeding our national inflation rate. In other words, consumers will have to rethink how they’ll be spending their hard-earned discretionary income.
Indeed, meat and poultry lovers will be hit especially hard, as meat prices are likely to increase by more than 4.5 per cent. With this rise in food prices, spending in other sectors is bound to decrease – a family may need to pass on that trip to Cancun or that new oversized television set.
While Mother Nature is always partially to blame for food price hikes, the “new normal” in the agriculture business is fluctuating food prices influenced by knee-jerk schemes perpetuated by an array of stakeholders in the industry.
The 2012 North American drought had a relatively strong impact on food production and, in turn, will affect food prices in 2013. This drought, the biggest of its kind in recent history, saw commodity prices increasing at a rate well above normal expectation. This was especially the case for corn and soybean crops in the Midwest, the area hit hardest by the drought.
Anticipating input costs to rise, many cattle producers liquidated their herds to hedge against higher feed prices. With less supply on the market, Canadians are likely pay more for their steak by the time we reach BBQ season next spring.
With grains, the situation is not optimistic, either. Primarily due to the lack of buffer inventory in many countries to mitigate against unpredictable climate patterns, 2013 will see climate change’s bigger effect on food prices. Without extra grain inventory, droughts, floods or other weather shocks will make markets more volatile and, in turn, affect the wallets of Canadians.
With that said, Canadians will get some welcome relief from an increasingly competitive food distribution landscape. Major players in food retailing have been adjusting to Wal-Mart’s aggressive strategy in the Canadian market. The U.S.-based giant has opened many supercentres in recent months, and large Canadian retailers have felt the pain. With Target’s imminent arrival, there may be more consolidation in the food retailing industry, and it wouldn’t be surprising if we lose a major food retailer in the next year or two. In the near term, however, food prices at the local grocery store will be lower for Canadian shoppers.
The strong Canadian dollar will also help Canadians looking for deals in grocery stores. Canada is a large importer of foods from the U.S., so with American food imports exceeding $20-billion a year, every cent gained by the loonie against the greenback has a significant impact on our buying power. When we factor in the state of the U.S. economy and the relative stability of our own economy, the value of the loonie can only go up.
Despite these positive signs, we could see a record number of people going to food banks in 2013. As mentioned, meat and poultry will cost more for the average family and, as a result, consumers will seek more affordable sources of food.
But there’s something that consumers can do at home right now to help extend their food budgets: become better food-waste managers. Even though we expect more Canadians to visit food banks, we may see even more wasted food than ever in 2013. Indeed, studies have shown that Canadian households waste 38 per cent of their food purchased in store and restaurants.
While it’s almost certain that shopping habits will change as a result of food price increases, there’s hope that there’ll be a greater awareness of wasted food in Canadian homes and that these households will be more proactive about their food-waste habits. By adopting better shopping practices and using leftovers in creative ways, consumers could save more than 10 per cent in food costs – more than enough to offset anticipated food price increases over the next two to three years.
If you’re thinking of ideas for New Year’s resolutions, becoming a better domestic food-waste manager might be worth putting atop your list.
Sylvain Charlebois is an associate dean at the University of Guelph’s College of Management and Economics. | <urn:uuid:e8ba125a-84c0-40e4-8f73-517bf205a28f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/food-in-2013-pay-more-waste-less/article6787328/?service=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952369 | 913 | 2.328125 | 2 |