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I got up at 2:30 and casually surveyed the sky while poking around with the telescope till 4. Total meteor count: 0 Delta Aquarids and 2 unrelated meteors. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
Sharing the 50-degree temperatures with the crickets and katydids that inhabit the dewy grass was pleasant enough. Venus and Jupiter along with the Hyades and Seven Sisters star clusters totally jazzed up the eastern sky, and at 4:06 a.m. the space station breezed by. I hunted for the Progress cargo ship along, ahead of and behind the station but never saw it. Did you have better luck?
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) keeps on giving. Flying only 31 miles high above the moon’s surface it snapped a set of newly-released photos of the Apollo landing sites that plainly show the U.S. flags planted by the astronauts.
One of the most common questions asked by the public when we’re looking at the moon through a telescope is why we can’t we see the American flags or any other sign of Apollo with the Hubble Space Telescope. It IS the most powerful telescope, right? Here’s the rub. The smallest possible thing Hubble can see on the moon is about 328 feet across or the length of a football field. While impressive feat of resolution, no Apollo spacecraft comes anywhere near that size. Every piece of man-made hardware is below the space telescope’s resolution limit.
The trick to seeing flags and other details is not necessarily a bigger telescope; it’s getting a camera in orbit close to the moon. That’s what the LRO’s been doing for past few years. Its cameras can record objects 1.6 feet across. Lots of things, including lunar descent modules, experiments placed there by astronauts and even their footpaths come into focus in LRO’s eye. And now, the flags.
I swear I can see the contrast difference between the stripes and the dark, starry patch and even a hint of the flagpole in the Apollo 16 photo. Pretty incredible!
The only flag we probably won’t ever see is the first one, planted there by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969. Aldrin reported it was blown over by rocket exhaust as the astronauts left the moon to return to the orbiting command module.
Since the flags are made of nylon they won’t last terribly long under the extreme conditions on the lunar surface. Strong ultraviolet light from the sun has probably already caused the colors to fade. Over a longer time, the flags will turn brittle until one day crumbling into little heaps of dust during a moonquake.
Click HERE for full resolution views of the Apollo landing sites taken by LRO.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) -- On June 12th, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that diesel exhaust is carcinogenic to humans. The evidence showed an increased risk for lung cancer due to particulates and chemicals from the exhaust.
Exposure to diesel exhaust affects the body in several ways. The particulates and chemicals in the exhaust can damage DNA and cause mutations; it can trigger an inflammatory response in the body and indirectly damage DNA; and it can cause cells to proliferate faster than normal. These factors can then lead to the development of cancer in the body.
Many people are exposed to diesel in their everyday lives, but some are also exposed at their workplace. Those who hold a job such as a truck driver, vehicle mechanic or railroad worker could be at a higher risk.
Dr. Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, provided suggestions for how to lower your exposure.
First, improve the ventilation in your work space. Second, make sure that vehicles are maintained properly, so the exhaust is kept at a regular level. Third, limit the number of engines in the same space. And fourth, switch off engines while they are not in use to avoid unnecessary fumes.
Wild urges government regulating agencies to evaluate this evidence and consider enforcing new policies to protect the general public from exhaust exposure.
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Get flash to fully experience Pearltrees
(NaturalNews) With a myriad of concrete evidence now in plain view, there is simply no denying that pesticides are a direct cause of massive bee declines all around the world.
MOSCOW (AP) — Up to 2,000 tons of oil have spilled from a major field in northern Russia after workers struggled to contain the leak for two days, officials said. The accident happened at the Trebs oil field in the Nenets Autonomous District on Friday following work on an exploratory well. The oil had been gushing for nearly two days before the workers finally capped the well Sunday morning, Emergency Ministry officials said.
Monsanto, the massive biotechnology company being blamed for contributing to the dwindling bee population, has bought up one of the leading bee collapse research organizations.
Chevron has filed to temporarily halt production operations in Brazil after it detected a "small new seep" of oil in the same offshore field where it suffered a high-profile leak in November.
Ray Kemble delivers fresh water to a home that had their water contaminated due to hydraulic fracturing on Jan. 18, 2012 in Dimock, Pa.
IN THE PREDAWN STEAM of a Louisiana night, I stood in a yard surrounded by catfish heads.
Two years after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, local residents and clean-up workers say they have developed serious illnesses. Those affected blame a combination of the five million barrels of oil spilled by BP and cleaning chemicals. Though some have settled with the British company, there are still several pending class-action lawsuits by plaintiffs who say the spill caused their illness.
Almost two full years after the BP oil spill, a panel of experts gathered at the 17th annual Tulane Environmental Law Summit, to present the continuing impacts of the BP Oil Spill.
The BP oil spill started on April 20, 2010. We’ve previously warned that the BP oil spill could severely damage the Gulf ecosystem. Since then, there are numerous signs that the worst-case scenario may be playing out:
New Orleans, LA - "The fishermen have never seen anything like this," Dr Jim Cowan told Al Jazeera.
Protective oil booms try to keep oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill from coating the wetlands along the Louisiana coast on June 11, 2010.
Image: Señor Codo/Flickr
Credit: NOAA/Southern Regional Climate Center
An interesting new iOS app launched today called Whale Alert .
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Without getting into specifics, BLS opens the discussion by suggesting traditional symbolism for the design of the font:
§ 68 § Water is the key symbol of baptism and the focal point of the font. In this water believers die to sin and are reborn to new life in Christ. In designing the font and the iconography in the baptismal area, the parish will want to consider the traditional symbolism that has been the inspiration for the font’s design throughout history. The font is a symbol of both tomb and womb; its power is the power of the triumphant cross; and baptism sets the Christian on the path to the life that will never end, the “eighth day” of eternity where Christ’s reign of peace and justice is celebrated.
Six sides (tomb, Friday) or eight sides (womb, Sunday)? Stone and suggestive of a mausoleum? Colors in tile or frescoes?
Iconography–that’s the term used. In my parish, we have the ambry set nearby, and a cross inlaid into the bottom of the font.
My own recollection of baptism, which was conducted in a baptistry, is that behind the priest, I saw a stained glass piece that contained the Apostle’s Creed. A helpful “crib sheet,” but I tried to focus on the water instead. Something less literal would be great. What do you think of this banner over the cathedral font in St Mary’s, Winnipeg?
All texts from Built of Living Stones are copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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During the winter, oatmeal porridge is a breakfast staple for me. It is hearty, versatile, and filling. Oats are also very nutritious. They are a great source of many vitamins and minerals, plus they have a low glycemic index. This means that they are digested slowly, which can help control appetite and delay hunger. (I posted last year about the cultivation and nutrition of oats.)
Here are three ways to prepare basic porridge. The basic recipes can also be jazzed up by adding fruits, nuts and spices:
- Overnight Steel-cut Oatmeal: Porridge made from steel-cut oats is easily the most flavorful and filling of oatmeals, but it is also time-consuming. Who has an hour to cook breakfast? The solution? Well there are two actually…
- Take a lesson from beans and soak them overnight. Basically, bring 1 part steel-cut oats and 3 parts water to a boil then turn off the heat, cover, and let them sit overnight. In the morning, add in any extras such as cinnamon, nuts and raisins, turn on the heat to warm everything up and voilà! The beauty of this technique is that you can make as much or as little as you want. If you’re the only porridge-eater in your family, simply use 1/4 cup oats for a delicious breakfast for one.
- Use your slowcooker. I have to admit I haven’t tried this, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Use 1 part oats to 4 parts water and simmer in your slow cooker for three to eight hours. If you want yummy extras in your porridge like dried fruit, add them at the beginning.
- Basic Quick Oatmeal: If steel-cut is not your thing or you have difficulty finding them, you can always make quick oatmeal. I shared my basic recipe in last year’s oats post. In a nutshell, combine 1/3 cup quick organic oats with 3/4 cups liquid (I use water and organic soymilk), and cook for 5 minutes.
While plain oatmeal is tasty on it’s own, I like to add flavour and texture with fruits and nuts. Here are three great ways to jazz up your oatmeal beyond basic nuts and raisins:
- Cook your oatmeal with green cardamom pods (about 1pod per 2 servings) and a handful of dried apricots. Add almond butter (1 tablespoon per serving) once the oatmeal is cooked. Serve with drizzled with honey.
- Add dried cranberries and some grated orange rind (use organic to avoid pesticides) or cranberry sauce to your porridge. Serve topped with slivered almonds.
- Try adding chopped dates or dried figs (chopped or quartered) while the oatmeal is cooking. Serve topped with grated apple and drizzled with maple syrup.
Finally, if you are you are one of many folks who grabs breakfast on the go and then eats at your desk, consider this innovative tip for portable porridge from The Kitchn blog: Divide a batch of oatmeal into mason jars. Grab one each morning and reheat it in the microwave. Brilliant!
Do you have a favorite porridge recipe? Share it in the comments below!Photo credit: Yaroslav B.
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Born: 29 November 1895 Died: 14 March 1976
Country of origin: United States
Height: 5' 9"
View all Busby Berkeley pictures (2 more)
About: Busby Berkeley was one of the greatest choreographers of the US movie musical. He started his career in the US Army in 1918, as a lieutenant in the artillery conducting and directing parades. After the World War I cease-fire he was ordered to stage camp shows for the soldiers. Back in the US he became a stage actor and assistant director in smaller acting troupes. After being forced to take over the direction of the musical "Holka-Polka" he discovered his talent for staging extravagant Busby Berkeley was one of the greatest choreographers of the US movie musical. He started his career in the US Army in 1918, as a lieutenant in the artillery conducting and directing parades. After the World War I cease-fire he was ordered to stage camp shows for the soldiers. Back in the US he became a stage actor and assistant director in smaller acting troupes. After being forced to take over the direction of the musical "Holka-Polka" he discovered his talent for staging extravagant dance routines, and he quickly became one of Broadway's top dance directors. Producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. called him to direct the dance routines for his production of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". Eddie Cantor, who starred in the long-running Ziegfeld production "Whoopee!", suggested Berkley create the dance routines in the film version )Whoopee! (1930) and Ziegfeld agreed.
At first in Hollywood Berkeley wasn't satisfied with the possibilities of his job--at the time, dance directors trained the dancers and staged the dances. The director chose camera positions and the editor chose which of the takes were shown to the audience. Berkeley wanted to direct the dances himself and convinced producer Samuel Goldwyn to let him try. One of the first chances he took was that he used only one camera in his films. He also showed close-ups of the chorus girls. Asked about this, he explained, "Well, we've got all the beautiful girls in the picture, why not let the public see them?" With the decline of musicals in 1931 and 1932, he was thinking of returning to Broadway when Darryl F. Zanuck, chief producer at Warner Brothers, called him in to direct the musical numbers of Warners' newest project, the backstage drama 42nd Street (1933). Berkeley accepted and directed great numbers like "Shuffle Off To Buffalo", "Young and Healthy" and the grandiose story of urban life, the finale "42nd Street". The film was a smash hit, and Warner Brothers knew who made it such an extraordinary success--Berkeley, as well as composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, got seven-year contracts. Berkeley created musical numbers for almost every great musical that Warner Brothers produced from 1933 to 1937. His overhead shots forced him to drill holes in the studio roofs, and he used more dancers with each succeeding picture. However, by the late 1930s the musical was in decline once again, and Berkeley had nothing to do as a choreographer. He directed two non-musical pictures for Warner Brothers then went to MGM, where he choreographed the final number from Broadway Serenade (1939) with Jeanette MacDonald. As a director and choreographer he worked on four pictures with teenage stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. He also choreographed the "Fascinatin' Rhythm" finale for MGM's reigning tapping star, Eleanor Powell in Lady Be Good (1941). He directed Gene Kelly in his first picture, For Me and My Gal (1942). Kelly, who choreographed his own numbers, learned a lot from Berkeley.
Berkeley worked for 20th Century-Fox in The Amazing Mr. Forrest (1939) with its surrealistic number "The Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat". In 1949 he directed his last picture, Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949), but this time the choreography was by Gene Kelly. Berkeley did a few numbers in the early 1950s but, by the end of the decade, he was all but forgotten. A revival of his films in the late 1960s brought him some popularity and he was asked to return to Broadway and supervise the dance direction in the revival of a Vincent Youmans musical comedy from 1925. One of the actresses in this production was Ruby Keeler, one of his leading ladies in Warner musicals. When the production went on tour in 1972, one of the road cast was Eleanor Powell. The production was a smash hit. When he walked on stage after one opening night, the house exploded with applause.
A strange fact is that Busby Berkeley never had a dancing lesson and, in his early days, was very afraid of people finding out. He often drove his producers crazy when he gave orders to build a set and then sat in front of it for a few days, thinking up the numbers. ... (more) (less)
Movies directed by
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Wheel - George W. Ferris
The first ferris wheel was designed
by George W. Ferris, a bridge-builder from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ferris
began his career in the railroad industry and then pursued an interest
in bridge building. He understood the growing need for structural steel,
Ferris founded G.W.G. Ferris & Co. in Pittsburgh, a firm that tested
and inspected metals for railroads and bridge builders.
He built the Ferris Wheel for the
1893 World's Fair, which was held in Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary
of Columbus's landing in America. The Chicago Fair's organizers wanted
something that would rival the Eiffel Tower.
Gustave Eiffel had built the tower for the Paris World's Fair of 1889,
which honored the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
Finding a suitable design proved
difficult: Architect Daniel H. Burnham, who was in charge of selecting
the project for the Chicago World's Fair, complained at an engineer's banquet
in 1891 about having found nothing that "met the expectations of the people".
Among the audience was George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., owner of a firm
that tested iron and steel. He had an inspiration and scribbled the design
for the Ferris Wheel on a napkin during the dinner.
It was considered an engineering
wonder: two 140-foot steel towers supported the wheel; they were connected
by a 45-foot axle, the largest single piece of forged steel ever made up
until that time. The wheel section had a diameter of 250 feet and a circumference
of 825 feet. Two 1000-horsepower reversible engines powered the ride. Thirty-six
wooden cars held up to sixty riders each. The ride cost fifty cents and
made $726,805.50 during the World's Fair. The original Ferris Wheel was
destroyed in 1906, but there are other ferris wheels at theme parks and
A contemporary newspaper article
describing the Ferris Wheel at the Chicago fair. "To the health of my husband
and the success of the Ferris wheel."
Big Ferris Wheel
"A wild-eyed man with wheels in
The Ferris Wheel
When George Gale Ferris built his
first wheel he probably never dreamed of the trend he was starting. However,
his wheel was huge, and certainly not very portable. It took The Eli Bridge
Company to develop a practical, portable wheel.
Modern trampolining (called flashfold)
has only emerged in the last 49-50 years. The prototype apparatus was built
by George Nissen, an American circus acrobat and Olympic medallist. He
invented the trampoline in his garage in 1936 and subsequently patented
the device. The US Air Force, and later the Space Agencies, used trampolines
to train their pilots and astronauts. The sport debuted in the Sydney Olympics
(2000) as an official medal sport with four events: individual, synchronized,
double mini and tumbling. Athletes can now achieve up to two seconds of
airtime for the performance of gymnastic feats.
- John A. Miller
John Miller was a prolific inventor
who was granted over 100 patents, and invented many of the safety devices
used in today's roller coasters, including the 'Safety Chain Dog' and 'Under
Friction Wheels'. Miller designed toboggans before starting work at the
Dayton Fun House and Riding Device Manufacturing Company, which later became
the National Amusement Device Corporation. Together with partner Norman
Bartlett, John Miller invented his first amusement ride (patented on October
14, 1926) called the Flying Turns ride. The Flying Turns was the prototype
for the first roller coaster ride, however, it did not have tracks. Miller
went on to invent several roller coasters with his new partner Harry Baker.
Harry Baker built the famous Cyclone ride at Astroland Park, Coney Island.
Miller has been called the "Thomas
Edison" of roller coasters.
Coaster History from Patents
It is generally believed that the
first roller coaster in the United States was built by L. A. Thompson and
opened at Coney Island, New York, in June, 1884. This ride is described
by Thompson's patent #310,966, Roller Coasting Structure, filed April,
1884, and issued January, 1885.
The carousel originated in Europe,
but reached its greatest fame in America in the 1900's.
with >>> Escalators
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We used to go foraying for fungi in September and October when the sun was still high in the sky. But the recent trend of warm, dry autumns and mild early winters is changing the calendar. November has now become the mushroom month.
Take my corner of East Wiltshire where I help to run fungus forays. Late autumn is suddenly the best time to find a woodland floor sprouting with toadstools, elf cups, stinkhorns and puffballs. The season can be short, for most fungi are wiped out by the first hard frosts. But in a good year it can be intense as the fungi make up for the drought of September with a last dramatic burst of growth.
On my forays we are in it for the fun. I find people enjoy fungi most when they are not offered long lists of names but an experience.
For example, we can enjoy the surprising range of tastes and smells of wild fungi without danger. People expect them to smell like commercial mushrooms. So it comes as a pleasant surprise when we find kinds that smell quite powerfully of radishes, swimming baths, train oil, calor gas, coconuts, boiled sweets or cheap scent (or ''ladies of the street'' as one field guide quaintly puts it). The pongs are part of the exotic chemistry of fungi, but they also lodge in the memory, like the smell of long forgotten school kitchens and sports halls.
My fellow forayers are usually happy to take a good sniff. But only the bravest are ready for the follow-up nibble. Some fungi taste unbearably hot, like raw chilli or Tabasco. A rather unfair trick is to get a volunteer to chew a sliver of fungus that will taste of nothing much for the first 15 seconds, then explode with mouth-numbing force. At the milder end, there are fungi that taste of honey, fresh dough, raw potatoes, carrots, nuts and aniseed. After tasting we spit them out. And we don't taste anything known to be poisonous (many poisonous fungi, I'm told, taste deceptively mild).
Another way in which fungi entertain us is visually. On warm November afternoons with slanting light, fungi sometimes smoulder as if on fire. The ''smoke'' is produced by astronomical numbers of their tiny spores escaping from the pores below the fungus.
If it starts to patter with rain, we look for puffballs. When a raindrop strikes one of these round white bodies, it releases a puff of spores like smoke from a cannon. Where there are clusters of small puffballs, the effect is similar to a miniature battle taking place with a barrage of spore-guns taking part in a fungal Waterloo.
What everyone wants to know is which fungi you can eat. The answer is those with which you are thoroughly familiar. Naming a fungi is like identifying a car: colour alone is not reliable. Neglecting this simple rule was why a famous novelist was poisoned last year when he assumed that some yellow mushrooms he found must be chanterelles.
Unfortunately, the long arm of political correctness has reached the fungus foray. We are seriously advised not to recommend eating wild fungi on the grounds that mistaken identity could lead to an expensive day in court. On my forays we take the risk, but no doubtful fungus should ever be eaten, and little brown jobs should be avoided altogether.
The other question I'm often asked is: what are fungi? They are simply fungi, neither plants nor animals. They embody a third way of life based on decay. While plants and animals consume, fungi dispose and recycle. Life without fungi would choke on its own waste.
This year, the season is nearly over before it started. But there are a few weeks left to enjoy a foray into this dark world. Like Hallowe'en pumpkins and bangers on bonfire night, fungi are the essence of late autumn.
- The Association of British Fungus Groups: www.abfg.org
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Many fungi have English names, some of them traditional, others recently invented to aid their popularity. Here is a sample:
- Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)
This poisonous mushroom was once used as a fly trap. Attracted to the bright red scented caps, the fly took a lick and died. Agaric is an old name for a mushroom.
- Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea)
A notorious tree killer, it grows in clusters on tree stumps and buried wood. When young the caps are the colour of honey; they also taste sweet.
- Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor)
This fan-shaped bracket fungus has alternate pale and dark bands, sometimes with a bluish sheen. An alternative name is turkey’s-tail.
- Bog beacon (Mitrula paludosa)
A matchstick-shaped fungus, it grows in wet ditches and bogs. Against a dark background of wet soil or peat, its bright orange colour really seems to glow.
- Herald of winter (Hygrophorus hypothejus)
This neat brown toadstool appears under conifers late in the year.
It is a fungal finishing flag: it means the season is nearly over.
- Burgundydrop bonnet (Mycena haematopus)
This modest 'bonnet cap’ or 'fairy bell’ leaks a red juice the colour of a fine Nuits-St Georges.
- Cep or Penny Bun (Boletus edulis)
Some edible fungi have several names. The name Cep was originally Spanish (from the Latin cippus, a stake). We often call it the Pennybun, but when sold it is porcini or 'little pigs’.
- Candle-snuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon)
This common fungus of rotting logs reminded people of the blackened wick of a wax candle, though to see the resemblance you have to turn it upside down
HAVE YOUR SAY
Know any wonderful names for fungi?
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NAIDOC Week 2005
Official Flag Raising, RG Casey Building Forecourt.
4 July 2005
Address by Ms Stacey Morgan, Member, DFAT Indigenous Employees Network
Firstly, I would like to pay my respects and say a special thank you to the local Ngunnawal people whose traditional land we are standing on today.
Next, and on behalf of the Indigenous Employees Network of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade I would like to thank the Secretary's representative for this event, Doug Chester and colleagues for attending this flag-raising ceremony to inaugurate our week-long NAIDOC celebrations for 2005.
NAIDOC celebrates the survival of Indigenous culture and the contribution of Indigenous Australians to modern Australia. This year's theme "our future begins with solidarity" is a difficult one to grasp. It is much easier said than done in a culture which is so diverse. It is hard to imagine a common cause for Indigenous Australians around which to rally.
When it happens though, some wonderful results can be achieved. Take, for example, the news from last week about Australia's biggest native title settlement ever. The Ngaanyatjarra people have been working for 20 years to achieve recognition of their rights with respect to large portions of Western Australia's central desert region. The settlement was achieved as a result of negotiation, not through the process of litigation, and the settlement provides for a mixture of rights to various groups including the traditional owners, State and local government, miners and explorers. The success of the negotiation just goes to show that a conciliatory approach can result in a satisfactory outcome for all stakeholders.
There are good news stories like this one all the time. Unfortunately, it is more newsworthy to talk about the failures of Indigenous people, the disadvantages of Indigenous people, and the difficulties associated with trying to fix the problems of Indigenous people. Success, achievement and accomplishment are not often the words associated with Indigenous issues in Australia, but there are plenty of good news stories out there.
Another great news story came out of the recent Northern Territory election. Five Indigenous members of parliament have been elected, three of them women, to represent the population of the Northern Territory, which has the biggest Indigenous population of any State or Territory in Australia. Hopefully, we can look forward to the new members doing some great things to progress Indigenous issues in the North.
And although the departure of Aden Ridgeway from the Senate is the loss of an advocate for Indigenous affairs at the federal level, I understand that Mr Ridgeway will continue to his involvement in Indigenous issues by heading up a new Indigenous Tourism body to be called Indigenous Tourism Australia.
At the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we play a significant role in promoting or creating good new stories. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programme projects an accurate and positive image of contemporary Indigenous peoples and cultures in Australia through a range of cultural and other programs. The Public Diplomacy Division supports talented Indigenous Australian artists through organisation of touring exhibitions, and also provides support for performing artists travelling overseas. Each officer posted overseas with DFAT has a role to play. My own posting experience in Canada demonstrated that individuals and governments overseas are particularly interested in finding out more about Indigenous Australia.
But for my giving this speech today, and unless you know me personally, most of you wouldn't know I was Indigenous. To almost everybody in the Department, I'm an obstructionist lawyer. The Department has thirty five Indigenous employees, most working in "mainstream" jobs. But, in addition to those responsibilities, most take an active role in the recruitment, career development and retention of Indigenous employees in the Department. Most also act as informal advisers on the conduct of this Department's activities, as they relate to Indigenous Australia. Most are also fabulous role-models in their own communities.
There are always plenty of bad news stories around, and it is valid to focus on the improvements that can be made in every facet of Australia's engagement with Indigenous people. But occasionally, it is worth celebrating just how far things have come.
So, a quick personal story. I'm from a place in Western Sydney called Blacktown. There are no prizes for guessing how it got that name. Blacktown still has one of the highest populations of urban Indigenous people in Australia, and hence, is often referred to for its terrible statistics on Indigenous health, employment and welfare. It was the former site of a "Native Institute", set up by Governor Lachlan Macquarie to achieve "the civilisation of the Aborigines of both sexes". But, despite having such a horrid history, and despite all the problems that remain today, you get the occasional success story of a girl who was the first in her family to go to university, the first to have a white collar profession, and definitely the first to represent her country overseas. And those are the kinds of stories that don't get told often enough.
So, to conclude, I hope you take the opportunities on offer during NAIDOC week, both within DFAT, and outside, to celebrate the survival of Indigenous culture and to focus on the success stories that are out there waiting to be heard. On that note, the Indigenous Employees network has worked hard to bring you some great events during this week. So, take a break from your computer screen and head down to the Gareth Evans Theatre for a film, exercise your inner-boffin and contribute to a great Indigenous charity at the trivia night, or take a moment away from your briefing notes to enjoy the Indigenous Art and Fashion exhibition in the foyer of the building.
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All around the world, cyclists took time out Wednesday night to honor those who have been injured or killed while biking on public roadways. In New Hanover County alone two cyclists died in 2008 while pedaling on the pavement. Cape Fear Cyclists Vice President Ann Mangiacapre said, "Equipment companies have definitely come out with better products for the rider to be safer, more reflective clothing, things like that, but unfortunately we have had many accidents most of which go unreported and deaths." The Ride of Silence is also about raising public awareness about sharing the road; that is all these cyclists are asking. And, when you think about it, they are not only cyclists; most of them drive cars too. Wednesday night's ride was just that, a ride, not a race. It covered some of Wilmington's major roads. And whether you realize it or not, there are signs of road sharing all over the place. In fact, it's the law.
- Video Central
- About WWAY
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Podcasts & RSS Feeds
Most Active Stories
Politics & Government
Wed January 2, 2013
Warren Mayor says "not too late" to fight right-to-work
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is going on the warpath against Michigan's new right-to-work law, and his weapon? Bumper stickers.
Fouts is providing bumper stickers to anyone who calls his office asking for one; the stickers read, "Right to work means lower wages and benefits."
Fouts's father was a U-A-W worker, who told him the reason the family had a roof over its head, and food on the table, was because of the union.
"Unions do one thing, they increase the standard of living among the workers n the United States," says Fouts.
He says there's "not a shred of evidence," that jobs flow to states that have right-to-work laws, but plenty of evidence that the laws depress workers' wages and benefits.
The state's new "right to work" law lets people opt out of paying union dues even if a union negotiates a contract on their behalf.
He says voters should demand a referendum on the law.
That wouldn't be easy.
Because the law had an appropriations bill attached to it, a referendum can only be accomplished first by voters petitioning the state legislature to repeal the law. The petition would have to collect 8% of the number of votes cast for the Governor.
Then, if the legislature refuses to repeal the law, people could organize a ballot referendum, meaning, they'd have to collect signatures again - but this time, only 5% of the votes cast for Governor.
Governor Snyder says the law immediately resulted in companies becoming more interested in setting up shop in Michigan.
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Go to consortiumblog.com to post comments
Age of Obama
Barack Obama's presidency
Bush End Game
George W. Bush's presidency since 2007
Bush - Second Term
George W. Bush's presidency from 2005-06
George W. Bush's presidency, 2000-04
Who Is Bob Gates?
The secret world of Defense Secretary Gates
Bush Bests Kerry
Gauging Powell's reputation.
Recounting the controversial campaign.
Is the national media a danger to democracy?
Behind President Clinton's impeachment.
Pinochet & Other Characters.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon and American politics.
Contra drug stories uncovered
America's tainted historical record
The 1980 election scandal exposed.
From free trade to the Kosovo crisis.
Beck's Washington Monument Myth
Editor’s Note: A sizable portion of the American public has chosen to follow hucksters, like Fox News’ Glenn Beck, into a modern-day Know Nothing movement that ironically sees itself as steeped in the early history of the nation.
Yet, the history and the founding principles often are jumbled up and twisted to fit the confused vision of this new assault on reason, as Jonathan Schwarz of A Tiny Revolution notes in this guest essay:
I realize this isn't breaking news, but...listening to Glenn Beck is the mental equivalent of falling into a vat of Karo syrup. You thrash around, can't get out, and feel like you're going to die in the most insipid way possible.
Here's the beginning of his speech at his Lincoln Memorial rally on Sunday:
BECK: “We have a choice today .... We can either look at our scars, look at the scars of the nation...we concentrate on the bad instead of learning from the bad and repairing the bad, and then looking to the good...
“We have a choice today, to either let those scars crush us, or redeem us. We are gathered here today, in a hallowed spot. Here, Abraham Lincoln, a giant of an American, casting a shadow on all of us. We look, to a giant for answers.
“Behind you, in front of me, the Washington—alone, tall, straight—if you look at the Washington Monument, you might notice its scars. But nobody talks about that...but a quarter of the way up it changes color. Did you know that it did? Look at it. Look at its scars.
“How did the scar get there? They stopped building it in the Civil War. And when the war was over, they began again. No one sees the scars of the Washington memorial, the Washington Monument. We see what it stands for. No one also talks about what's on top, facing east. Just two words, ‘Laus Deo,’ ‘Praise be to God.’"
So this means...what, exactly? I think it's that we shouldn't dwell on America's flaws, just like, uh, we don't pay any attention to the way the color of the Washington Monument changes?
But instead we pay attention to what it stands for? Which is an inscription telling us to praise god? Except...no one talks about the inscription either? Help me out here.
Of course, this makes no sense at all. If you've ever been on an elementary school field trip to the Washington Monument, you know that EVERY FOURTH GRADER talks about the way it changes color. Why wouldn't they? It's incredibly obvious.
However, no one pays attention to what it "stands for," because no one has any idea. (Beck's right that no one talks about the inscription at the top, though.)
Beyond engulfing us in this unpleasantly sticky metaphor, Beck is also wrong about the Washington Monument's history — which I learned about on one of those elementary school field trips.
The construction didn't stop because of the Civil War. As the National Park Service's website will tell you, it had already stopped years earlier:
“Why does the color change on the outside of the monument?
“When the monument was under construction in 1854, the Washington National Monument Society ran out of money and the project ground to a halt. Twenty-five years later, the U.S. Government took over and completed the upper two-thirds of the structure by 1884 using marble from a different quarry.”
There's actually a little more to the story, which you can find in a 1999 Washington Post article.
One interesting part is that after the original, private organization running things ran out of money in 1854, it was taken over by the anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant Know Nothing Party. They were particularly outraged by the fact the Vatican, like many other organizations, had donated a stone. So they destroyed it.
Then they screwed around for two more years but finally gave up too.
So...I guess you could argue that Beck is within shouting distance of reality. I mean, it probably was harder to raise money as the war approached. And construction probably would have stopped during the Civil War...if it had been going on when the Civil War started. Which it, uh, wasn't.
Finally, the actual history is bad news for Beck's ideology: the private effort to build the monument puttered out, and then was derailed for a long time by cranks with a worldview strikingly similar to Beck & co.
(Don't you hate immigrants with weird foreign religions? Did you know Abraham Lincoln is a secret apostate Catholic?!?)
It was only the government's money and organization that finally made it happen.
To comment at Consortiumblog, click here. (To make a blog comment about this or other stories, you can use your normal e-mail address and password. Ignore the prompt for a Google account.) To comment to us by e-mail, click here. To donate so we can continue reporting and publishing stories like the one you just read, click here.
to Home Page
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revolutionary art movement
in India took form. Mindful of Western modernism's universal premises, but free from its stylistic and cultural restrictions, three generations of artists engaged with and responded to art from around the world and across time, pursuing hybrid paths toward a broader vision of 20th-century art.
Drawn from the Herwitz Collection at the Peabody Essex Museum and loans from museums and private collections.
Between independence from Britain in 1947 and the economic boom of the 1990s, a
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Most people say that movies reflect the stories of our lives. Movies present both the visuals and the words to drive the story further so the viewers will get involved in every scene. In relation to this context, we feel so attached to a certain story of a film whenever the tale reminds us of a particular part of our lives. When the viewers relate to a plot, it means that it mirrors something in their personal lives, which they distinguish as a truth because of their own experiences. Most moving films are successful in this particular aspect.
Whether everyone will accept it or not, it is a fact that numerous people enjoy romance films. One of the top-grossing romantic movies, “Ghost,” led a lot movie goers to step out of the movie house smiling and exchanging ideas to each other about their favorite scenes. For movies like the “Brief Encounter,” not most people are entirely riveted due to its melancholic ending and its insufficiency in channeling deeper emotions to the audiences.
Movies like “The Descendants” delve into the lives of an extended family with only a single person having to make critical decisions for everyone. The seriousness of this film catches the attention and curiosity of most moviegoers. Single parents, striving hard to fulfill the needs of their family, can surely relate to these kinds of films in more ways than one. They can surely see themselves in various dramatic scenes in movies with such themes. Also, they want to know how other people face these kinds of difficulties in their lives.
War movies especially those that depict true-to-life accounts are also emotionally engaging. They put the courage of the viewers to test since these films make the viewer ponder whether they will do the same things that the main character has done, or be brave enough to take another route. With these movies, the audience will be left wondering how the characters managed to cope with their seemingly hopeless situations.
Humans exist in a realm full of emotions. This is the fact which most films ride on to successfully draw a myriad of feelings from the viewers.
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Fertility rates as well as future projected population growth are much higher in Africa than in any other part of the world. A new report by a Kenyan-based organization says that in some African countries, political will, maternal and child health concerns as well as more and more funding are helping to develop effective family planning. ,
Family planning, which aims to regulate the number of children women have, can range from using natural methods to higher use of contraceptives to, more controversially, relying on abortions.
The Nairobi-based African Institute for Development Policy presented a report called "Africa on the Move!" Tuesday in Washington at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The subtitle of the report was "The Role of Political Will and Commitment in Improving Access to Family Planning in Africa."
One of the authors, Violet Murunga, said having a country's top leadership champion the cause of family planning is essential. She mentioned the important role President Paul Kagame has played in Rwanda.
"He talks about family planning in public events, and in addition to that, because family planning is entrenched in the governance system, because it is included as a national development priority," said Murunga.
In recent years, the report notes contraceptive use among married women in Rwanda has risen from about 17 percent to over 50 percent, while fertility rates have fallen.
Top Rwandan government officials say curbing population growth is important to ensuring the country's continued economic development.
Another country where fertility rates have been dropping is Ethiopia. The government there has tied family planning promotion to reducing high maternal and child mortality rates.
Murunga also noted that Malawi's government has for the first time included family planning in its budget, even though the practice was once officially banned in the southern African country. She said it is important for governments to start not only talking about family planning, but also spending on programs for actual implementation.
"Governments could invest a lot more than they are in family planning and reproductive health programs," she said. "There is an over-reliance on donor funds, but it is changing. African governments are now starting to see the benefits of actually providing more and more funding."
Steve McDonald, the host of the event and Africa director at the Wilson Center, said partnerships between governments and religious organizations, which sometimes provide the bulk of health services in remote areas, are also crucial. He pointed out Rwanda's example, where in some cases family planning health posts have been placed next to Catholic clinics, even if they promote different methods of family planning.
"Obviously, if they just began setting up services for family planning and ignoring the Catholic church leadership, then it would have been setting the stage for a real battle there," said McDonald. "Instead they engage, they allow them to have their own counseling services, and they have the service for family planning next door, so that everybody agrees on it and no one fights over it."
Catholic clerics and other religious leaders in Africa oppose the use of contraceptives and abortions to limit family sizes.
Panelists said other challenges included the very young age at which girls marry in countries such as Niger, where the fertility rate is still estimated to be over seven births per woman.
Across the Sahel and throughout West and Central Africa, where there has been much less political will on the issue, fertility rates usually remain above six births per woman. Panelists said some politicians view population growth as a way of ensuring their countries' clout [influence] in international organizations.
However, surveys indicate a majority of Africans want to be able to better control the size of their families.
By the end of this century, the United Nations estimates that Africa's share of the global population will increase from 12 percent to about one-third. The U.N. projects the current world population of more than 7 billion people will rise above 10 billion by 2100.
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One weak news report of the UK flu vaccine ban has appeared in one mainstream UK national newspaper – the Telegraph by Health Editor Rebecca Smith. Smith’s report ignores the developments in the EU and in Canada [reported on CHS - links below]. Smith reports “the recall should not affect supplies” and seems not to have sought independent expert comment on the safety issues just accepting the official line: Thousand of flu vaccines recalled Telegraph Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor 31 Oct 2012.
In contrast the UK General Medical Practitioner newspaper Pulse reports concern about the supply problems – also without considering further any safety issues or seeking independent expert comment – quoting GP sources Pulse reports:
Any reduction in flu vaccine available is a problem in the UK as the various vaccine manufacturers have tried hard to supply the Crucell practices with enough vaccine to carry out the Government influenza immunisation programme.
‘The Novartis withdrawal is worrying, but it may not significantly affect our immunisation programme if the other vaccine manufacturers can make up the numbers.
‘More worrying is the fact that the DH has not come forward with offer of vaccines to Practices from its reserves, if they indeed exist.’
MHRA recalls 160,000 doses of flu vaccine after ‘quality defects’ Pulse 31 October 2012 | By Emma Wilkinson
Two publicly anonymous comments on the Pulse story by registered commenters each independently claim they got sick after the vaccine. Here are the comments as they appear with the Pulse report:
Anonymous | 31 October 2012 4:39pm
So does this mean the vaccine would be ineffective if already given? mmmm had the flu jab begining of Oct and then been laid up with flu for last 3weeks, another strain?
Anonymous | 31 October 2012 6:13pm
Same as first comment, was advised to have as front line staff but have been laid up since and know of others off sick, also I now have headaches and wooziness, will never have again!
PRIOR CHS NEWS REPORTS:-
Filed under: ADHD, Aspergers, autism, Child Health Safety, MMR, vaccination, vaccine, vaccine court, Vaccine Damage, Vaccines Tagged: | ADHD, Anti-vaccine Safety, Aspergers, autism, Cervarix, Corruption, fraud, Gardasil, GlaxoSmithKline, HPV vaccine, John Poling, mercury, MMR, swine flu, thimerosal, thiomersal, vaccination, vaccine, vaccine court, Vaccine Damage, Vaccines
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The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. Now with advancements in adhesive and manufacturing technology, floating floors and engineered hardwood floors glued direct to concrete (right) have become viable alternatives.
For those seeking to install solid hardwood flooring on concrete without a wood sub floor system, changes are slowly taking place when considering gluing directly. Upon closer examination, thinner solid hardwoods, shorter length products, and parquet patterns have been successfully used for years. Unfortunately the explosion of hardwood manufacturers in recent years trying to stimulate sales of solid hardwood on concrete created a plethora of problems, namely by inexperienced installers and salespeople.
The Older Method. Sleeper On Slab System
The sleeper system that entailed fastening 2' X 4's to the concrete laid on their side (image right courtesy of The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association - NOFMA)¹ has faded from use. The application involved adding a poly film and/or #15 asphalt felt laid into messy cutback mastic over the slab for moisture protection.
Finished Floor Was Too High
While a subfloor over concrete such as this application is not widely used today, it created vertical height concerns. Final heights are in the 2 1/4" range after the actual hardwood floor is nailed. This can cause problems with exterior door entries and other fixed objects. In some cases 3/4" plywood is used above the sleepers, adding another 3/4" or a total overall height of three inches is created. By using this method in new construction, one should plan well in advance to avoid vertical height concerns from one floor covering to another.
Recent Methods. Plywood Only On Concrete
Over the most recent thirty years the most popular method of installing solid 3/4" hardwood floors on concrete was a plywood subfloor attached to the slab (illustration left). Using a minimum 5/8" CDX plywood, the material is installed over the same moisture barriers but it is attached by way of concrete fasteners. A variety of fasteners are used, including concrete cut nails, tapcons (concrete screws), and Hilti types. Methods vary from one region to another, or what professionals are accustomed to.
Update 2010- The above procedure is losing credibility due to the loss of moisture protection through direct fastening. Read more.
Newer Methods. Floating Subfloors
Other methods of using 3/4" solid hardwood on concrete would be a floating subfloor. Yea...really...what's a floating subfloor you ask? The same moisture barriers (without mastic) are used but with two layers of 3/8" plywood. Plywood is installed opposite of one another, overlapped at the seams, then stapled or screwed together with shorter fasteners The preference here is not to puncture the moisture barriers covering the concrete.
Or. Glue Plywood To Concrete
If the floating subfloor doesn't work, another method calls for gluing the plywood direct to concrete. In this situation a premium urethane adhesive (troweled) is recommended. Keeping the plywood adhered or flat can cause problems. The solution here is establishing kerf cuts on the backside of the plywood with a circular saw giving it better flexing properties.
Traditional ¾ Inch Hardwood Glued. No Plywood Sub Floor
For more traditional hardwoods or ones that are longer in length, the largest disadvantage of gluing has always been material that is not milled straight or may not lay flat. This creates problems trying to close up gaps, whereas nailing to a wood sub floor forces gaps to close by the sheer force of the hardwood nailing tools used. Other common problems include wrong adhesives used or incorrect amount used.
Other methods of installing solid ¾ inch hardwood without a wood sub floor system include a product named Elastilon, currently sold through Lumber Liquidators. One more product to the mix is the Sika Acoubond system that also provides some sound dampening properties for apartment or condominium dwellers. As mentioned previously, any successful installation using the these products requires very straight material.
• Floating Hardwood Floors. Introduction
• Installation of Hardwood Floors On Concrete
• Engineered Hardwood Floors
• Hardwood Floor Glue
• Locking Hardwood Floor Systems
¹ Merged with the National Wood Flooring Association
All RightsReserved.Kitchen,Bath&Floors, Maryland 301-760-7024 , Virginia 703-273-7335
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.... to you, but does that mean it is actually unhistoric or does that mean something else?
A paper to be published in Ethics, Policy & Environment argues that serious consideration should be given to mass drugging the population to make them more environmentally conscious while also proposing that babies should be genetically engineered to be smaller in order to reduce their carbon footprints.
In an interview with The Atlantic the lead author of the paper, New York University bioethics professor S. Matthew Liao, argues that humans need to be be subjected to biomedical modifications in order to help combat climate change.
Followed to their logical conclusion, Liaos proposals outstrip anything Aldous Huxley wrote about in Brave New World, a 1932 dystopian novel about a future scientific dictatorship that seeks to drug, genetically manipulate, and medically induce humanity into complete slavish subservience.
Oh, BTW, CO2 is causing obesity. No really: http://sciencenordic.com/new-theory-co2-makes-you-fat
They've got it the wrong way around of course: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1172249/Being-fat-causes-global-warming-say-scientists.html
Luckily for us we all know it's all utter bollocks, since it's really the decline in seafaring pirates that is the real cause.....
Next : it was really global warming that caused the Titanic to go down.
rejected and denied by many, accepted and embraced by few : falsifiability
- it is not what we (think we) know that matters, it is what we can show true that does
as the maxim demands; truth is demonstrably fact and fact is demonstrably true
everything else ... mere BS -
New!! Improved!! Now With CD-Formula!!
CD: short for inevitability
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Show Me the Money: Episode 181
Jul 14, 2011
The possibility of financial freedom, plus how America’s Millennials will have to pay our national debt, and a listener asks if a college education is worth the money. Featured musical artist: Royal Tailor
Whether you're up to your eyeballs in debt or are financially free, you probably have to think about money every day. Handling money well is a biblical mandate, but many of us don't understand the full implications of this until financial woes are all too real. Listen as Martha and I talk with Chris and Valeen Tschamler about their story of dropping almost $35,000 of debt in less than two years. It's inspiration for us all, and motivation to use our money wisely and avoid seeing red.
You Must Pay Our National Debt
That's what Bill Beach of The Heritage Foundation tells us, anyway. He says our multi-trillion-dollar spending will be accounted for by those who today are under 30. Ouch. So what does that mean for us right now? Bill breaks it down (thank goodness) with an excellent primer on how we got into this mess, what are the consequences and what we must do as a result.
Is College Worth It
His friends with college degrees are, in this economy, underemployed. Some of them can't find work at all. So in light of this grim scenario, is paying for years of schooling really worth it? What will reading books and writing papers really do to land anyone a job in the real world? John Thomas joins me to offer some great advice to this young gent as he weighs his options for higher education.
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"With this new technology coupled with grant money available, Pennsylvania is in a leadership position to wean our country from its dependence on foreign oil for transportation fuel," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said.
"Through Act 13, Governor Corbett and the legislature moved us in the right direction by creating opportunities for converting vehicle fleets from imported oil to homegrown, clean-burning, cheaper natural gas.
"Now, our grant program will provide funding for local governments, schools and businesses to land lower operational costs, lessen dependency on foreign oil, and clean the air all at the same time."
In the first year, $10 million in grants will be available, $5 million of which is slated for local transportation organizations, including non-profit agencies providing public transportation services and public transportation, port and redevelopment authorities. Non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, local transportation organizations, state-owned or state-related universities, commonwealth or municipal authorities and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will be eligible to apply for the remaining amount.
An additional $7.5 million in funding will be available the second year, with $2.5 million the third year. Eligible vehicles must weigh 14,000 pounds or more and be fueled with compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas. Bi-fuel vehicles are also eligible.
Grant awards will be capped at 50 percent of the incremental purchase or retrofit cost per vehicle, with a maximum total of $25,000 per vehicle. The incremental purchase cost is defined as the difference between a vehicle eligible for these grants and one powered by traditional fuels, such as diesel or gasoline.
For this first year, grant applications are due Feb. 1. Grants will be awarded in late March.
More information can be found on the website www.dep.state.pa.us by clicking on the Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program button.
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Knewton: Online Prep for the SAT, GMAT, & LSAT
This blog post was brought to you by Josh Anish, Senior Editor at Knewton, where he grades essays as part of the company’s SAT course.
1) Don’t write too little. Many scorers grade on perceived effort, which they often judge—for better or worse—on the number of words written. Use most if not all of the space allotted. Write at least 4 paragraphs (5 is even better), with at least 3 sentences per paragraph.
2) Don’t be controversial. Not even a little. You may think that the United States’ invasion of Iraq was super whacky, or that the Tea Party Movement is brilliant—but keep those kinds of topics far, far away from the SAT essay. Write about things like heroism, generosity, and kindness. In other words, play it safe. You’ll have plenty of time to share provocative thoughts in college.
3) Don’t use first-person pronouns (“I” or “me”) in the first paragraph. The graders of the test know who wrote the essay. You don’t need to say “I think peanut butter is the best thing since sliced bread.” Just go ahead and assert, “Peanut Butter is the best thing since sliced bread.” It’s a stronger statement anyway.
4) Don’t be vague. We get it; these essay topics are super broad and boring (almost by design). But that doesn’t mean you should respond in a super broad and boring way. Home in on specifics. Don’t use words like “society” or phrases like “in this day and age.” Besides, it’s easier to be specific. Draw on concrete examples. For example, if you’re asked to write 400 words about “honesty,” drill down the topic to talk about honesty in business, or the honor code at your school.
5) Pick a thesis and stick to it. Don’t make too many concessions to the other side. If the essay prompt asks whether a penny saved is a penny earned, and you think the answer is an emphatic “Yes,” don’t waste any time making the case for spending a lot of money. Think of yourself as a lawyer advocating for a perspective, not a historian summarizing the full spectrum of events.
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Steel strip with perfect surface Casting determines the surface of the steel strip
ArcelorMittal Gent's clients want a steel strip with a perfect surface. This means: a surface without scratches, indentations or lines. Some surface defects originate during the strip rolling. But the surface itself is formed while casting. Therefore, a surface without any defects originates during the steel solidification.
ArcelorMittal Gent casts continuous steel in the form of slabs. The steel solidifies in the mould. This is a copper box without bottom into which the liquid steel is poured at the top. The copper walls are cooled with water. In doing so, sufficient heat is removed to have the outer steel layer solidify.
Figure 1: cross-section of the mould (front view)
The first millimetres of solidified steel form the surface of the slab, and therefore of the subsequent steel strip. The way in which these first millimetres solidify is therefore extremely important. One of the critical factors is the stability of the bath level in the mould. Small fluctuations in the bath level cause uneven solidification, and where solidification is uneven the surface blemishes of the steel strip are more likely to increase.
The bath level is measured every 50 milliseconds by an electromagnetic field. The interaction of the liquid steel with this field allows us to exactly determine the steel level. These measurements are sent to a control mechanism that opens and closes the stopper rod. This is how we control the steel flow entering the mould.
The liquid steel flows into the mould at a rate that can run up to 6 tonnes a minute. It is quite a task to keep the bath level in the mould stable with these flow rates. To achieve this, we must therefore use the most refined control techniques.
Different types of fluctuation
We make a distinction between different kinds of fluctuations of the mould level. We have standing waves, bellies and sputters. We can prevent each of these phenomena by using adapted techniques.
- A standing wave is a regularly reoccurring pattern in the mould level. The width of the mould determines the frequency of the wave. Filtering at these specific frequencies allows us to detect the origin of a standing wave. As soon as one is detected, advanced filters are used to suppress the phenomenon.
- A so-called belly is a fluctuation caused several metres under the mould. The force of the column of liquid steel causes the slab to become thicker here and there between the rolls of the moulding machine. This expansion causes a minimal movement of liquid steel measurable in the mould. The casting speed and the distance between the rolls determine the frequency of the fluctuation.
Figure 2: frequency spectrum of the steel bath level measuring signal. The characteristic frequency corresponds to the expansion of the strand under the mould
- A sputter is a sudden peak in the bath level. Sputters are not characterised by a specific frequency. We use fuzzy logic to detect sputters. We continuously monitor a number of characteristics of the mould level signal. This is combined with a fuzzy variable that represents the extent to which the sputter phenomenon is present. This result is plotted in an online SPC card (Statistical Process Control). In this way, we can send specific alarms to the operators and take action when necessary.
Figure 3: characteristic pattern of a "sputter"
Figure 4: OSPC card sputters
The result of all this is a stable bath level in the mould. For the majority of the production we succeed in limiting the fluctuations to less than 10 mm. It does, however, remain a constant aim to continuously improve these results.
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The Vietnamese journalist who wrote this article put the question to me during our discussions: Do you agree with the experts who say that Vietnam can not stamp out child labour and trafficking?
Vietnam has a problem with child trafficking and exploitation. There's no question about that. Yesterday, my team removed a 10 year old girl from a factory in Saigon.
She was 1 of 11 kids we rescued altogether. The oldest was about 15 - but of the 11, only one knew their date of birth, so precise ages are a bit hard to determine. What I can say is that they were all tiny, and none should have been working in a garment factory.
Of the 11, 3 are completely illiterate. Only one has completed Grade 6. Another 4 have an education level below Grade 4.
Yes, this is a problem. But it is not unique to Vietnam, and it is not insurmountable.
A few hundred years ago, the poet William Blake was writing about the awful atrocities inflicted upon children in England. Kids were being stuffed down chimneys as a way of clearing soot - and this was considered a legitimate job for a child!
"Are such things done on Albion's shore?" he asked. Yes they were; but not for much longer. Such things would today lead to lengthy prison sentences and a massive public outcry.
Vietnam is now headed down the same road. In taking those 11 kids out of factories on Monday and Tuesday, Blue Dragon Children's Foundation - along with the Hue Red Cross and government officials - were not just restoring freedom to a few disadvantaged children. We were hurting the traffickers and factory owners who have invested their time and money into recruiting these slaves. We were also drawing public attention to the crime of exploitative child labour.
This is exactly what needs to be done for Vietnam to shake off the shackles of child trafficking.
I'm not sure if there really are any experts who say Vietnam can't get past this problem. If there are - well, I'm not sure that they should be called "experts."
I believe completely that child trafficking and exploitation in Vietnam can be brought pretty close to an end. (I qualify that, because every country in the world has this problem; it's just a matter of scale).
I also believe that the end may be in our lifetime. Such things cannot be tolerated much longer.
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By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
Depending on who you talk to about the subject, responses to the idea of online learning can vary widely. Some see it as the inevitable change schools will go through to remain current with society’s needs while keeping in step with technology. Some see it as a great addition to the traditional classroom, offering flexibility to students and teachers alike. Still others find it challenging, seeing it as an ineffective way to stimulate and engage students in learning and an isolating experience. But no matter where you fall on the question, online teaching is flourishing, and many educators agree that it has its place in learning. Community colleges have been offering courses via the Internet for years with great success, and the idea is beginning to find a place in K-12 schools. The question: Does the use of online learning help us create better school settings, and where and when do we employ it?
Luz Calvo sits on her couch in her Oakland home in a comfortable pair of jeans and sneakers. Her dog, Nopalitito, wants to receive some attention, but she stays focused on her computer screen.
She might look relaxed, but Calvo is teaching and under a great deal of pressure. Her students submitted their term papers at 11:59 the night before, and she is furiously grading papers and e-mailing students who requested a deadline extension due to “technical difficulties.” The California Faculty Association member and chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at CSU East Bay has never met most of the students enrolled in her online course face to face, but has invited them to drop by her office and say hello.
Calvo enjoys the freedom and flexibility of virtual teaching. She can work at home in her pajamas any time of the day, or “teach” while sipping lattes at her favorite café. It’s just as much work as teaching regular classes, but it’s different.
The wave of the future?
Calvo and other virtual teachers are changing how we define teaching and learning, not only in universities, but throughout K-12 schools. Nationwide, more than 250,000 students are enrolled in full-time virtual schools in 30 states, according to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning.
Cyber schools are the fastest-growing alternative to traditional public schools. “Keeping Pace With K-12 Online Learning (2011),” an annual report by the Evergreen Education Group, says that California’s full-time online school enrollment in 2009-10 was about 15,000, an increase of 43 percent from the previous year. At some colleges, students in teacher preparation programs practice classroom management skills with “virtual student avatars” displaying bad behavior in a program called TeachMe.
Online schools are popular because they are less expensive to operate than “brick and mortar” schools. They receive the same per-pupil funding even though they may have a higher student-teacher ratio, fewer printed materials, no transportation costs, and little or no building upkeep. Proponents say they prevent students from dropping out if they have trouble functioning in a traditional school setting, are medically fragile, or have other challenges. Students can also take courses that may be unavailable at their local high schools, such as Arabic or German.
A few states, including Tennessee, Idaho, Florida and Michigan, require that high school students take online courses to graduate. In Idaho, teachers have protested that money is being diverted from teacher salaries to pay for online courses and laptops for students, and are angry about the lack of teacher input in the process. They have expressed fears that the online courses make the teacher less a lecturer and more a “guide” helping students navigate online courses.
California was ranked last among the states in “openness” to online learning by Digital Learning Now, a project of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, headed by Jeb Bush. However, petitions are circulating for a November ballot initiative known as the California Student Bill of Rights, which might change that. If it’s voted in, students whose high schools don’t offer courses needed to qualify for admission to the University of California and California State University systems would have a “right” to take those courses online. If a school doesn’t offer AP History, for example, or a certain class doesn’t fit with a student’s schedule, the student could take the course online at the district’s expense.
Depending on your viewpoint, online learning is the wave of the future — or a threat to the teaching profession and an isolating experience for students. While online learning may be controversial, it’s here to stay. By 2019, half of all high school classes may be taught online, predicts Harvard business professor Clayton M. Christensen.
CTA believes that online learning has a place in the education system, but should never eliminate the need for real teachers in real classrooms.
“People may see cyber schools as a viable solution to the economic downturn,” comments CTA President Dean Vogel. “The danger is using online learning as an excuse to continue the underfunding of our schools. Any determination to move forward with online learning should be born out of pedagogic needs of our students — and not as a solution to the budget crisis.”
For-profit cyber charter movement sparks concerns
Rapid proliferation of non-union, for-profit cyber charter schools is happening nationwide. Several have been accused of fraud or providing a substandard education; some of these schools pay more for advertising than academic materials, according to Mother Jones magazine.
“On measures widely used to judge all public schools, such as state test scores and graduation rates, virtual schools — often run as charter schools — tend to perform worse than their brick-and-mortar counterparts,” the Washington Post reports. And class sizes at cyber charters tend to be larger than at traditional schools, with as many as 60 students in some classes.
A new study published by the Center for Research in Education Outcomes at Stanford University finds “cyber charters” are much less successful than brick-and-mortar charter schools, and reports that in 100 cyber charters, students performed “significantly worse” in math and reading than students at traditional public schools.
For-profit cyber charters are being used as an instrument of “creative destruction” against the public school system in an effort to privatize public schools, some education experts believe.
“It siphons money from public institutions into for-profit companies, and it undercuts public employees, their unions and the Democratic base,” writes Stephanie Mencimer in a Mother Jones article, “Jeb Bush’s Cyber Attack on Public Schools.”
Education author Diane Ravitch describes the cyber charter movement as a “stealth campaign” to privatize public education in her Education Week blog.
“While unions are fighting to stave off attacks, the virtual charter industry steadily moves forward, almost unnoticed,” she says.
Virtual schools becoming mainstream
Fear of losing public school students to for-profit cyber charters influenced some school districts to open virtual schools of their own in Los Angeles, Riverside, Lodi, Elk Grove, Chino, Fresno and other communities. Some, including Fresno, Chino and Lodi, purchase curriculum from private companies, while teachers in Riverside write their own.
“I don’t think it would be prudent if we did not embrace new directions,” says Tim Martin, president of Riverside City Teachers Association, whose district has the largest virtual public school in the state. “Not having online learning would impact us negatively in the long term. We would lose kids because people would turn to online charters. Online learning isn’t for every kid, but it works well here.”
“We are trailblazers,” says Mary Hancock, a science teacher at Chino Valley Unified School District’s Alterative Education Center. “Online learning has increased ADA collection for alternative education to double what it used to be. We have recovered kids from charters. Our district lost $3 million over the last few years, and with our virtual academy, we have reclaimed close to $2 million.”
When school districts operate virtual learning programs, there is much more accountability, says Hancock, an Associated Chino Teachers member. Teachers from online for-profit charters have applied to her school, complaining of huge class sizes, overwork and the inability to meet the needs of students.
Isolation — or a different type of community?
While some embrace virtual classes as a natural integration of technology with learning, others fear it may deprive students of peer interaction necessary for socialization. CTA members teaching online courses say they make a strong effort to foster a personal connection and create an online community for students.
“We have meet-ups, trips to the museum and hikes,” says Kelly McAllister, a middle school teacher at Riverside Virtual School. “We use different tools so that students can interact with each other in classes. We have discussion boards and Google chat, and kids are constantly e-mailing us or texting us when they are stuck. We see our kids at least once a week in most circumstances. If they can’t come in, we Skype them. The kids can be as social as they want to be. Some students don’t want to be social, while others want interaction.”
Virtual school doesn’t work for every student and requires family support, says McAllister.
“It’s no different than any school; we just give instruction in a different way.”
Luz Calvo, the CSU East Bay professor, says it is becoming more challenging to teach online courses because the college is constantly raising class size since there is no physical classroom. Professors have been fighting to hold the line at 40 students per class, while the university would like as many as 60.
For online courses to succeed, says Calvo, there has to be interaction between individual students and between groups of students and the instructor, within structured “online communities” created with various online programs like Blackboard and Moodle.
“I post a set of questions about the reading for a week, and students are required to post answers and respond to each other’s posts and answers,” she explains. “There are also functions where, instead of a discussion board, students can post a blog and people can comment on their blog post.”
While online classes can be isolating for some students, others blossom in an online environment, says Calvo.
“I think it works a little more for students who are a little shy and sit in the back of the class and never talk,” she says. “We use names, but if nobody knows who you are, you feel very anonymous. There can be a greater level of disclosure in the online class than you see happening in face-to-face classrooms.”
Related Tags: Volume 16 Issue 5, Inside Educator, Educator Feature, Educator, Charter schools, Curriculum, Higher Education, Online, Networking, Technology,
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With widespread power outages and the storm continuing to move over land, the situation could get worse, according to federal regulators.
Hurricane Sandy knocked out 25 percent of all the cell towers in the 10 states that the massive storm hit, according to federal regulators.
And while service has remained relatively strong after Sandy hit land, the situation could get worse before it improves. Many of the cell sites still online are running on backup power from generators, which could run out of fuel before regular commercial power is restored, according to officials with the Federal Communications Commission.
Speaking to reporters during a conference call Oct. 30, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski reportedly noted that the situation remains tenuous, and that problems with cell towers and other communications facilities are far from being solved.
"This was and still is a devastating storm with a serious impact on our nation's communications infrastructure," Genachowski said. “The storm is not over. And our assumption is that communications outages could get worse before they get better, particularly for mobile networks because of the flooding and loss of power.”
Even though Sandy already has come ashore, leaving a wide swath of destruction in its path, it continues to move to the north and west, threatening more outages as it goes, FCC officials said.
According to the Associated Press
, landline telephone service held up well in the areas on the East Coast impacted by Sandy. However, a quarter of the cell towers were put out of service.
Sandy, a superstorm that included a hurricane and nor’easter and ravaged communities from Virginia to Maine, came ashore Oct. 29 in southern New Jersey, devastating huge portions of that state and New York City. The storm, which brought hurricane-force winds and widespread flooding, knocked out power to millions of residents up and down the coast, and emergency-response officials have said that it could take 10 days to two weeks or more for power to be restored to normal.
Officials with wireless carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, in statements Oct. 30 talked about service interruptions
throughout the East Coast from power outages and flooding, and the efforts to get things back up and running.
"As we continue to closely monitor our wireline and wireless networks for service disruptions, we are experiencing some issues in areas heavily impacted by the storm," AT&T officials said in a statement. "We are in the initial stages of performing an on-the-ground assessment of our network for damage, and crews will be working around the clock to restore service. We are deploying personnel and equipment as soon as it is safe to do so."
Sprint officials noted the challenges of assessing the situation and quickly addressing the problems amid such widespread destruction.
"Sprint is experiencing service impacts in the states affected by Hurricane Sandy and the concurrent winter weather conditions, particularly in the New York tri-state area, the Washington, D.C., metro area, Pennsylvania and parts of New England," they said. "These impacts are due to loss of commercial power, flooding, loss of cell site backhaul connections, site access and damaging debris. Weather and safety conditions are still dire in some areas, but our technicians are assessing the damage and servicing sites as they become known to us and as the areas are deemed safe to enter. Given the ongoing weather conditions, we cannot provide a specific number of impacted customers, but we ask that they remain patient at this time and exercise caution in the aftermath of the recent events."
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in a Twitter message urged residents in the impacted areas to use text messages or social networks to communicate with others, noting that text messages use up less network bandwidth than cell phone calls. Texting and social networks would lessen the amount of traffic and number of bottlenecks on wireless networks.
“Phone lines may be congested during/after #Sandy. Let loved ones know you're OK by sending a text or updating your social networks,” FEMA officials said in a Twitter message Oct. 29.
During the call with journalists the next day, the FCC’s Genachowski reportedly backed that suggestion, saying that as much bandwidth as possible should be kept open for emergency personnel.
"We've seen broadband and social media continue to play an important role in communication for people during this storm," he said, according to Cnet
. "Social media is a critical platform for sharing information with loved ones. And it's been vital in keeping those other communications networks open for first responders."
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Sunnyside Has Rich History
Sunnyside, with its bustling Queens Boulevard, Greenpoint Avenue, 46th Street and other popular thoroughfares, is a great place to shop and live. Residents of the sought-after Sunnyside Gardens Community will eagerly attest to such a testimonial. Sunnyside Gardens was one of America’s first planned communities. Looking at it today, it may be hard to believe that the area was once vast farm lands and thick swamps.
There are several speculations of how Sunnyside’s name came to be. In the 1800s, the land was cultivated by French settlers. Among the settlers was the Bragraws family, who supposedly named their land “Sunnyside Hill Farms”.
Another possible origin, may have been in 1850 from a hotel in the area called the “Sunnyside Roadhouse Hotel”.
The Pennsylvania Railroad ran through the area and eventually bought out a large chunk of the land at the turn of the 20th century. By 1910, the Sunnyside Yards were open, where fragments from the early railroad days can supposedly still be found buried deep in the earth.
The Queens Boulevard we know has been a central point of Sunnyside since then, as the Queensboro Bridge was opened around the same time. Sunnyside then began to define its borders, which the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce describes as “bounded to the north by the Sunnyside Yards, to the east by Calvary Cemetery and 51st Street, to the south by the Long Island Expressway and to the west by Van Dam Street”.
Now, the area has become largely residential, with communities like Sunnyside Gardens defining it. It has become a gem of Queens’ diverse demographics and remains a valued part of the borough’s community.
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How do sails work?
Article by Paul Bogataj
Sails are wings that use the wind to generate a force to move a boat. The following explanation of how this occurs can help understand how to maximize the performance achieved from sails.
Sails are Flexible Wings
It is useful to recognize what a typical sail is. They are normally built from a flexible material in order to allow the sail to work with the wind on either side to allow tacking. This is a significant restriction that prevents many shapes from being built because they would not be able to support themselves in the wind. This leads to the traditional triangular planform of sails, since the material below has to hang from the material above, which eventually is reduced to a point at the top of the mast. So, the problem becomes how to build and operate a flexible sail in the wind to produce a substantial force component to move the boat.
As the restriction that sails support themselves is diminished (full battens and stiffer materials for example), sails can evolve to be more efficient. Their appearance then becomes more wing-like and less sail-like. Analyzing how a sail works as a wing is useful, not just for modern sails that look more like wings, but also for very traditional sails that, while they look like sails, operate very much like wings.
Velocity and Pressure
Flow accelerates over the top surface of an airfoil, either because it is at an angle to the flow, or because the top has more curvature than the bottom, or both. When a fluid (like air or water) is accelerated, the pressure that it imparts on an adjoining surface decreases. This lower pressure pulling upward on the upper surface of a wing produces lift.
This is just an excerpt!
Would you like to read the complete article???
» Download the PDF here!
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A so-called metal-organic framework could offer a better way to get at the vast uranium resource dissolved in the ocean.
Alberta will serve as a test bed for large-scale carbon capture and sequestration.
A plastic smartphone screen cover patterned with tiny lenses could help mobile 3-D take off.
Combining aspects of high-energy lithium-sulfur batteries with flow battery technology can lower costs.
New research shows how arrays of tiny electronic devices can achieve human-skin-like sensitivity to mechanical force.
GE, the world’s largest manufacturer, is on the verge of using 3-D printing to make jet parts.
Biomimetic nanoparticles could be an effective treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Manufactured sapphire is incredibly strong and scratch resistant. Now falling costs and technology improvements could make it competitive with glass.
Laboratory advance shows that nano-imprinting could help the hard drive industry meet its long-term goals for data storage capacity.
Researchers have demonstrated a way to give concrete surfaces the ability to heal when small cracks appear, an advance that could allow bridges and other structures to last longer.
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Torque Peak vs. Flow Passage Size
Essentially, this is a subject almost unto itself. However, since we're discussing port size fundamentals and their relative effect on engine performance (torque output), a brief but general discussion seems appropriate.
Here's the deal. Even though intake and exhaust flow is considered "unsteady" and "bi-directional" (at times), it is possible to determine what we'll call "mean flow velocity" (m.f.v.) at a given time (rpm). Simply stated, there is a mean flow velocity that's measurable at any rpm point, specifically at peak torque. Further, it turns out this m.f.v. is virtually the same for any engine at its peak torque rpm. It's a combination of conditions involving fluid dynamics and acoustics.
From a parts selection or component design standpoint, peak torque rpm can be influenced (sometimes significantly) by passage size or cross-sectional area. If you subscribe to the concept that a common m.f.v. will exist among engines at their peak torque rpm, then increasing passage area raises this rpm point and decreasing area lowers the point. While it's true that passage length affects torque output (long vs. short), this dimensional change typically tends to "rock" or see-saw a given torque curve about the rpm point that we'll call the "critical" flow velocity at peak torque. You've seen this characteristic when lengthening or shortening header pipe lengths. Short ones tend to add torque above the peak, longer ones increase torque below peak.
Rather than detract from the core text of this month's Series segment, suffice to say that the "critical" m.f.v. is on the order of 245 ft/sec and is largely governed by rpm, piston displacement and passage cross-section area (intake or exhaust). If you want to test this theory from a practical standpoint, do this: Study a dyno sheet to determine the peak rpm torque point. Even though this point is influenced by factors other than (for example) header pipe section area, the exhaust and intake passages are each major contributors to the determination of peak torque rpm.
Calculate the primary header pipe section area, using pipe i.d. in the calculation for area. For the sake of discussion, if you happen to be using 1.75-inch primary pipes of 0.040-inch wall thickness, this computes to an area of 2.19 square inches.
Next, determine the volume of one cylinder. If the engine displaces 350 cubic inches, one cylinder's volume (for purposes of this calculation) would be 43.75 cubic inches. Now, multiply 2.19 x 88,200 (a mathematical constant) and divide the answer by 43.75, and you'll have determined that these headers should reach their "critical" flow velocity at 4,416 rpm. Installing headers of 2.0 inches o.d. (still of 0.040-inch wall thickness) and making no other changes would yield a cross-section area of 2.895 and, using the same method of calculation, shifts the torque peak rpm upward to 5,837. Again, lengthening or shortening the primary pipe length simply adds (or removes) torque below or above this rpm point.
Now, those of you mathematically inclined have already seen that these dimensional and results relationships can be transformed into a rather simple algebraic equation that looks like the following:
Torque Peak (rpm) = (88,200) x (Passage Area) / Displacement of One Cylinder
Although not as accurate as some computer models that take more functional elements into account (including valve motion characteristics, mechanical compression ratio, cylinder pressure histories, etc.), this simplistic approach can reveal why an engine's torque output may vary (in both quantity and placement) throughout a given rpm range, when contemplating or changing exhaust systems. Given this equation and through simple transposition of terms, you can select an rpm at which you'd like a torque (volumetric efficiency) boost and solve for the passage area required to produce that increase (at that point). It's a pretty useful tool.
And, interestingly, you'll find that this approach can also be applied to intake systems (manifolds in particular) when you're either selecting parts or evaluating dyno (or track) performance of a particular engine package. If personal experience has any measure of value, I've included this method in both the initial and in-progress design of intake and exhaust systems for a number of years. It's a pretty good way to perform evaluative and directional steps, quickly.
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Psychotic Disorders – Types, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, Schizophreniform, Brief Psychotic, Delusional etc.
Psychotic disorders are the clinical term given to the set of serious mental illnesses. It is associated with abnormal condition of mind. These illnesses transform an individual’s ability to reflect, analyse, respond rationally, make good judgements, reciprocate emotionally and behave appropriately. Psychotic the word is derived from the term psychosis which comes from the words (psyche: mind) and (osis: abnormal condition).People suffering with psychosis exhibit a bizarre behaviour which makes them distant from the reality. Psychotic disorders are a very broad term used for several mental disorders during which the personality of a person becomes severely disorganised.
Psychosis leads to several psychotic disorders which are manifested in forms of symptoms like Hallucinations ,delusions, thought disorders, personality variations, and the impairment of the insight .These symptoms have a diagnostic importance in case of psychotic disorders, which make an individual socially inept and mar his ability to carry out his routine activities.
Hallucination experienced as a common symptom of psychotic disorders involves perception in absence of a stimulus by any of the five senses. People have been reported to perceive and respond to the external stimulus in awake and conscious sate, while it is actually absent. People experience tactile sensations, hear voices, and interact with fully formed animals and people.
Delusion another symptom associated with psychotic disorders is a fake believe which is held high with absolute confidence. Delusions are a resultant of some kind of mental or physical illness.
Thought disorder is anther commonly reported symptom of psychotic disorders. In describes unfathomable speech or writing which in a way reflects the thought process of an individual. Language could be incomprehensible due to flight of ideas where language used leaps from one unrelated idea to another or it does not reach its goal or in case the words are not properly woven resulting in something called word salad.
Different types of psychotic disorders which are known to occur are:
Schizophrenia which is commonly called a split personality disorder. People undergoing this mental illness experience hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, disorganised speech and behaviour. They exhibit physically lax or rigid behaviour.
Schizoaffective disorder is actually a blend of schizophrenia and a mood disorder which is either depression or a bipolar disorder. In Schizophrenia the brain’s ability to think, react perceive, express, act, reason, think gets altered while in a mood disorder the person undergoes long spells of blues.
Schizophreniform disorder: People with this illness are characterized by symptoms of schizophrenia, but the symptoms last more than one month but less than six months.
Brief psychotic disorder- As the term makes it evident it is associated with a short-term mental illness which lasts ranging from a day to a month. This occurs in response to a sudden stressful event like a death of a loved one in the family. But then eventually person resumes to the normal conditions and recovers rather fast.
Delusional disorder: In this type of psychotic disorder which is marked by the absence of hallucinations, thought and mood disorder. However, olfactory, tactile perceptions are related with it. People live with an impression that they have a serious disease; they are stalked, or are being conspired against.
Shared psychotic disorder: Shared psychotic disorder as the term conveys is a condition shared between two. Therefore it is commonly called the folly of two. In this case the otherwise healthy person shares delusions with a person suffering with a psychotic disorder. The person with a sound mind develops tendencies due to which he believes in the delusions of the patient. Other than delusions, his thoughts and behaviour etc remain normal.
Dementia: Dementia is mental state which refers to a failure of Cognition. Cognition is technical term linked with processes of paying attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions.
Substance-induced psychotic disorder: This is a resultant of withdrawal from some substances, such as alcohol and crack cocaine, which leads to various symptoms of a psychotic disorder like hallucinations, delusions or confused speech.
Psychotic disorder due to a medical condition: A head injury or a brain tumour which could interfere with the normal functioning of the brain may also lead to various symptoms of psychotic disorders.
Though the exact cause of psychotic disorders is not known it occurs as a result of combination of several genetic, biochemical and environmental factors. Some psychotic disorders have been known to be passed to the progeny and are inherited. People afflicted with psychotic disorders may have an imbalance of certain chemicals like dopamine in the brain, they produce low quantities or too much of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which conducts messages through the nerve cells in the brain. A disproportion of dopamine affects the way the brain reacts to certain stimuli, such as sounds, smells and sights and can lead to hallucinations and delusions.
Long spells of stress has also been known to trigger psychotic states. Even when a person has undergone an ordeal and traumatic events psychotic states may be attained. Neuro developmental disorders, chromosomal aberrations, neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease can result in psychotic disorders. Multiple sclerosis, some forms of epilepsy, malignancy in brain are also accountable for shooting psychotic disorders.
Infections such as malaria, brain fever, syphilis, endocrine secretion related disorders like Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Metabolic disorders like porphyria are also responsible for causing psychotic disorders.
Nutritional deficiencies like deficiency of vitamin B12 and deficiency or excess of minerals like calcium, magnesium have also been known to cause psychotic disorders.
Alcohol and other recreational drugs like cannabis, dimethyltrytamine, LSD, opiates, mescaline though are used as stress busters but in the long run are instrumental in developing psychotic disorders.
Treatment of psychotic disorder varies as per the disorder. Drugs oral or intra muscular are administered keeping in mind the symptoms which are specific to the disorder, they form the first line of treatment. In addition to this counselling, talk therapy, family therapy is recommended which form the second line of treatment which helps in restoration of cognition. In serious cases hospitalization is also suggested. In case the other therapies for treating psychotic disorders fail especially in case of patients under severe depression then electro convulsive therapy (ECT) or the shock treatment is given. Animal assisted therapies can also aid people suffering with schizophrenia.
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Capacity to Innovate Using Digital Technologies
Success in the 21st century for an economy, a government, a business or an individual will require the intelligent use of digital technologies. Digital technologies are tools, capacities or knowledge assets that can be embedded in business processes, products and services to help firms and individuals in all sectors of the economy become more productive, innovative and competitive. As part of the March 2010 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada highlighted the importance of adopting new technologies across the entire Canadian economy to create jobs, foster growth and create new opportunities for Canadians.
The Internet, and the content and services provided online, are important elements of the digital economy. The online marketplace needs to be a safe and reliable environment that encourages citizens, content providers, governments and businesses to engage in online transactions and electronic commerce. The Canadian online marketplace accounted for $62.7 billion in sales in 2007, and the global e–commerce market grew from $23 million in 1998 to $7.3 trillion in 2008. Policy and legislative tools to protect personal information and ensure secure transactions are key to building and maintaining trust and confidence in the online marketplace.
It is important that Canadian industry sectors, and in particular small and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs), be more focused on adopting, using and continuously updating their use of digital technologies in order to sustain strategic competitive advantage throughout entire value chains. Canadian companies cannot hope to lead in any industry sector or global value chain without strategic investments in digital technologies and strategies. Yet Canadian firms have been slower to invest than firms in other countries, and this underinvestment in ICT has been linked to Canada's slower productivity growth.1 In 2007, Canada ranked 11th among 21 Organisation for Economic Co–operation and Development (OECD) countries in total economic investment in ICT, down from 10th in 2005 and 9th in 2004.2
Enhancing our productivity and capacity to innovate is of paramount importance in today's increasingly digital world. The private sector has the primary role to play, but all sectors, including manufacturing, resources, service, aerospace, pharmaceutical and public sectors, must better integrate digital technologies into their business operations and value chains to innovate and become more competitive or more cost–effective. Certain key information gaps persist with regards to adoption and use of digital technologies across different sectors. This analysis is necessary to develop targeted sectoral strategies that will encourage greater adoption of digital technologies. Collaboration among companies, research centres and universities is key to driving innovation and building a digital advantage for Canada.
Governments have a role to play by ensuring that the right legal and regulatory frameworks are in place to protect consumers and businesses in the online marketplace and to make Canada a favoured location for work and business investments, as well as using digital technologies to streamline operations, improve services and cut costs. For example, the Government of Canada's NetFile and Record of Employment on the Web applications allow Canadians to file their tax returns online and businesses to share employment information accurately and efficiently. Governments must continue to employ digital technologies in innovative ways.
Public sector services such as health care and education would also benefit from greater adoption and use of digital technologies. Understanding this, as part of the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada allocated $500 million to Canada Health Infoway to support the goal of having 50 % of Canadians with an electronic health record by 2010 and to speed up the implementation of electronic medical record systems for physicians. Budget 2010 confirmed that the government will move forward with this important transfer. Expanded use of advanced technologies to create electronic health records, mobile health applications, sensors for monitoring chronic disease and online and interactive educational tools would mean better and more efficient public services for our citizens, and new global market opportunities for innovative and entrepreneurial Canadian businesses.
Intelligent adoption of digital technologies will play a key role in addressing some current economic, social and environmental challenges. For example, ICT industry studies have estimated that the application of ICTs to create smart electricity grids, buildings, logistics and production processes could result in a 15 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.3 ICT adoption is increasingly playing an enabling role in the national strategies of other countries like the United States, which is investing in areas such as smart grids, e–health, educational software and electric cars as part of their Strategy for American Innovation.4 Other national digital strategies actively support adoption and use of advanced ICT, including among SMEs. Australia's Small Business Online program, equips small businesses to go online and engage in e–business to help reduce their costs and improve their market opportunities and the United Kingdom's Regional Development Agencies assist SMEs to exploit advanced ICT to transform their business processes. Many OECD countries have strategies to encourage business investment in ICT, including tax incentives, ICT grants and subsidies, technology vouchers and special ICT–boosting infrastructure programs.5
Canada has also been active. Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government is helping businesses in all sectors of the economy by providing a temporary 100 % capital cost allowance rate on new computer hardware and systems software acquired before February 1, 2011. Although, as indicated in Budget 2010, the stimulus measures in the Economic Action Plan will be phased out as planned in order to ensure a return to balanced budgets, this temporary 100 % capital cost allowance rate increase is providing timely support to the economy by encouraging businesses to accelerate their investment in computers.
The Economic Action Plan also committed an additional $200 million to the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), part of which will support the adoption of advanced digital technologies by SMEs. Similarly, the federal and Ontario governments are investing in the Southern Ontario Development Program for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) SMART program to help small and medium–sized manufacturers increase their productivity and competitiveness, by funding projects focused on lean design and manufacturing, quality improvement, energy efficiency, information technology best practices and environmental impact reduction.top of page
Overcoming Underinvestment in Information and Communications Technologies
On average, Canadian firms consistently invest less in ICT than their competitors in the United States and other advanced economies. Smart technology adoption is a complex process involving more than just investment in technology; it also requires changes to business processes, new digital skills, and technology management expertise. This is a challenge facing all companies, whatever their size, in all sectors. Similar challenges are faced by government agencies and public institutions as well.
Recent work done by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) suggests that Canada lacks a culture of innovation with respect to ICT adoption. "Canadian businesses on the whole — but always with notable exceptions — are technology followers, not leaders, and are reluctant to adopt new practices until they have been well proven south of the border." 6 The Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS), has conducted several studies on Canada's underinvestment in ICT, especially in comparison to the United States, and estimated that the average ICT investment per worker in Canada is only 60 % of that in the United States.7 This underinvestment in ICT has been linked to Canada's weak productivity growth over the last several years. From 1996 to 2006, labour productivity grew at an average annual rate of 1.8 % in Canada, as opposed to 2.9 % in the United States.8
In addition, the CSLS also looked at investment by industry. Overall, the business sector increased its investment in ICT, but there are some sectors that showed large declines, including mining, oil and gas extraction (–16.7 %) and health care and social assistance (–10.3 %).9
The aforementioned reports and others also suggest that Canada's underinvestment in digital technologies is part of a broader problem in innovation performance, which is largely due to a lack of business and managerial skills.10 Complementary investments in labour, organizational design, digital skills and other areas are required to realize the full potential of general purpose technologies such as ICT. The 2006 Telecommunications Policy Review Panel estimated that the cost of these complementary investments in innovation may be as much as ten times the cost of technology investment.11 The CCA report also highlighted that firms that are better managed are more likely to invest in leading–edge equipment and methods.12 Canadian businesses will need both business and IT skills to be innovative and compete to win. Developing, educating, training and attracting professionals with both skill sets will be important to Canada's success in the digital economy.
There is also evidence that smaller firms are adopting less rapidly than larger ones when it comes to more advanced ICT applications. Running a small business is challenging. Investment decisions have huge consequences, but new technologies can be a key competitive advantage. In 2007, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) commissioned a report to better understand the role of SMEs, especially micro businesses, and the productivity lag. The study concluded that SMEs see value in ICT and are adopting them, however, as the applications become more complex, their adoption rates slow down. It is not clear whether some SMEs do not adopt more complex applications because they do not see value in adopting them, or rather, whether it is because the ICT solutions already in the marketplace do not serve SME needs.13 Cost may also be a factor and some observers suggest that cloud computing may help increase SME adoption rates. It is important to support Canada's SMEs — they create new jobs for Canadians. In this vein, the 2010 Speech from the Throne, committed to support SMEs by continuing to identify and remove unnecessary, job–killing regulation and barriers to growth.
Going forward, it will be essential that firms and industry sectors examine where their respective opportunities to innovate using ICT are greatest, and develop strategies to take advantage of these opportunities. Governments must support these actions by ensuring that current programming and policy frameworks are aligned to support ICT investment across key industry sectors. The Government of Canada will examine its current program and policy regime to ensure that they are aligned to support business–led sectoral strategies and are well suited to the global nature of the digital environment.
Governments as Model Users
Governments are large buyers and users of digital technologies. Public procurement decisions can help drive smart ICT adoption in the private sector. For example, the Government of Canada is working with major stakeholders to plan its own adoption of IPv6 solutions, which will accelerate a wider Canadian adoption of this new Internet protocol. There are many other opportunities for governments to adopt ICT in the context of making government more efficient and effective. For example, increasing the use of advanced video conferencing technologies can reduce travel time and costs. The greater integration of social media, which the Government of Canada has begun to use, will serve to improve communication and collaboration within and among governments, recruit the next generation of public servants and better engage Canadians. Likewise, cloud computing solutions could further improve government operations and public service delivery. Governments can play an important role in acting as model users of ICT and leading by example.
Governments can help by making publicly–funded research data more readily available to Canadian researchers and businesses. Open access is consistent with many national strategies and holds great economic potential for Canadians to add value to machine–readable data, while ensuring that privacy rights are protected. In many cases, data are already available but are difficult to locate. Consistent methods of access will be reinforced.
Protecting the Online Marketplace
One of the greatest benefits of the Internet is the ability to collect, store and transfer large quantities of information. However, it can also facilitate the ability to steal and traffic personal information and copyrighted material for fraudulent purposes. A well–functioning marketplace governed by appropriate legislation and regulation is essential to increasing the take–up and use of digital technologies. If Canadians and firms do not feel secure using the Internet, we cannot expect them to adopt digital technologies that are connected to the Internet.
Copyright laws that give creators and consumers the tools they need to engage with trust and confidence in the digital marketplace are critical to a successful digital economy. In July 2009, the government launched a national consultation to solicit Canadians' opinions on copyright reform, including whether and how legislation needs to be revised to give Canadian creators and consumers the tools they need to thrive in the digital marketplace. The consultation closed on September 13, 2009, and submissions are now being reviewed with a view to updating the Copyright Act. An updated copyright framework that is forward–looking, principles based, flexible enough to accommodate technological development and effectively balances the interests of the various economic actors, whether they are creators, innovators, consumers, or intermediaries will help maximize creativity, innovation and economic growth.
The Government of Canada is putting in place a modern and efficient legal framework to protect the online marketplace and better protect Canadians from cybercrime with the reintroduction of anti–spam legislation, aimed at deterring the most damaging and deceptive forms of spam and related online threats from occurring in Canada, and with the creation of three new Criminal Code offences under An Act to Amend the Criminal Code, which came into force on January 8, 2010, providing police and justice officials with important new tools in the fight against identity theft. In addition, two complementary legislative initiatives aimed at enhancing law enforcement's ability to combat cyber–facilitated crime and modernizing investigative techniques, along with actions to better protect children from Internet luring and cyber abuse remain priorities of the federal government.
Canada's federal private sector privacy law will be amended to enhance privacy in the digital age by better protecting and empowering consumers, clarifying and streamlining rules for business, and enabling effective law enforcement. Once completed, the amendments will ensure Canadian privacy legislation continues to be a world–class model of privacy law.
Some emerging technologies and online applications raise new questions about the protection of personal information. Current concerns include third party use of personal information mined by search engine operators and collected through social networking sites, as well as the personal tracking capabilities of geo–location technologies. New privacy and security challenges are also posed by the development of web–based services and cloud computing (which replace dedicated ICT equipment and software under the direct control of individual consumers and business users with shared facilities managed by third party service providers). The Government of Canada tracks emerging issues and participates in domestic and international fora to ensure its policy and legislative regimes are up–to–date and promote the growth of the online marketplace.
There is a need for increased cyber security awareness in Canada. Businesses and industry associations have a key role to ensure that security practices that relate to the handling of personal information and confidential business information are able to meet the challenge. Canadians need to be aware of what they must do to protect their personal information in online transactions. All stakeholders need to collaborate to promote the use of best practices and educate online communities. The Government of Canada is also committed to working with provinces, territories and the private sector, to implement a cyber security strategy to protect our digital infrastructure, as stated in the March 2010 Speech from the Throne.top of page
Growing Canada's digital advantage in order to generate wealth, ensure future economic growth and productivity, create new jobs and maintain a high standard of living for Canadians will require an increase in ICT–enabled innovation across all sectors of the economy. Canada must become a country of technology leaders.
Private sector will play the primary role, but governments can assist by refocusing and realigning existing programs and policy levers to support the adoption of digital technologies across all sectors, while also protecting the online marketplace. Both public and private sector leaders need to define what they can do to encourage greater adoption and use of digital technologies within their sectors.
- Should Canada focus on increasing innovation in some key sectors or focus on providing the foundation for innovation across the economy?
- Which conditions best incent and promote adoption of ICT by Canadian businesses and public sectors?
- What would a successful digital strategy look like for your firm or sector? What are the barriers to implementation?
- Once anti–spam legislation, and privacy and copyright amendments are in place, are there new legislative or policy changes needed to deal with emerging technologies and new threats to the online marketplace?
- How can Canada use its regulatory and policy regime to promote Canada as a favourable environment for e–commerce?
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Photo: Mexican police
Forty percent of the police officers in Ciudad Juarez, a border city in northern Mexico, are obese and at least 80 percent are overweight, prompting officials to put them on diets.
The city’s health department and police department have started a program to help officers lose weight and fight obesity, with all members of the law enforcement agency, from the police chief to cadets at the police academy, included, officials said.
Officers are given a medical examination, provided with the results and put on a diet, and they must exercise, police spokesman Adrian Sanchez told Efe.
“After the exams are done and depending on the results, they will be given an exercise routine and a diet that they must follow,” the police spokesman said.
Six of the 1,800 active-duty officers employed by the department suffer from morbid obesity, which can kill, Ciudad Juarez health department chief Dr. Ariel Diaz de Leon said.
Even though the program is mandatory, the officer who sheds the most pounds will get a prize of 15,000 pesos (about $1,200), officials said.
Ciudad Juarez, located across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, had the dubious distinction for many years of being Mexico’s murder capital.
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The Judith Leyster exhibition at the National Gallery is small, just ten paintings by Leyster, and sixteen others by artists including Frans Hals and Leyster’s husband Jan Miense Molenaer. During a tour of the show for journalists, the question arose: Why the particular concentration on musical instruments in these paintings from the 1630s? Possible answers include the discovery of St. Cecilia’s body—supposedly “incorrupt” after more than a thousand years—in Rome, in 1599. Given Cecilia’s saintly associations with music and musicians, this may have sparked particular interest in music as a subject matter.
I don’t think you have to go to such lengths to find an answer, at least on the visual level. The current exhibition features historic instruments side by side with the paintings, including a late 16thcentury lute with a beautiful carved rose, a transverse flute and a kit, a teensy-weensy fiddle small enough for a dancing master to carry with him to lessons. This is an invitation to make comparisons between the iconographic evidence about the instruments in the paintings (always a tricky business), and the real thing. But it also suggests an obvious and vital reason for painting instruments: The pure craftsmanship and visual richness of them.
Compare the rough wood floorboards in Molenaer’s The Duet, which depicts the artist and his wife playing, respectively, the lute and cittern, with the instruments in the painting. Or in the cases near the painting. Underfoot, wood is seen rough and raw; in the hand, it is fine and finished, and that suggests multiple metaphors for human existence. We refine the world even as we must refine ourselves. Both instruments are particularly associated with middle-class music making, as opposed to the lower-class fiddle, which appears in Leyster’s Merry Company and in the allusion to Merry Company in the famous self-portrait of 1632-33.
Painting an instrument can serve many purposes: To animate the face and figure of the instrumentalist or suggest harmonies beyond the merely musical. But instruments are also purely and sensuously objects, and in this case, objects that demonstrate not only the wealth and cultivation of the user, but the power of painting, as a profession, to fix images on canvass, and propel the painter into the ranks of the prosperous.
Images provided by the National Gallery of Art. Top: Judith Leyster, Self-Portrait. Bottom: Jan Miense Molenaer, The Duet, collection of Mr. Eric Noah.
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Computer resources at Northeast State are available to all students, faculty, and staff for authorized use in a responsible, ethical, and equitable manner. It is the responsibility of the Office of Information Technology personnel to maintain a stable operational environment for all users and institution programs. Cooperation of all users in the form of ethical and responsible behavior is required at all times so that all may share resources freely and equitably.
The following constitutes a code of computing practice to be adhered to by all computer users:
1. Violations shall be referred to the vice president for Information Technology.
2. Users must obtain official approval from the Office of Information Technology for new uses of computing resources. Authorization must be obtained to reactivate a previously discontinued account or resource. Approval will not be granted to use computing facilities that do not conform to the mission, process, and functions of the institution.
3. Users of computing resources are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not constitute a danger to any person’s health and safety or interfere with individual and institutional activities.
4. Users must not misuse, damage, or misappropriate in any manner computing equipment, property, or other facilities and resources.
5. Users must utilize only those computer accounts which have been authorized for their use and for the purposes for which the authorization has been granted. Any attempt to access a system on the Internet for which the user is not authorized will be considered abuse of computer resources.
6. Users are responsible for the use of their computer accounts and as such they should take precautions against others obtaining access to their computer accounts. This includes managing and controlling the use of individual passwords, operational activities, and resource utilization.
7. Users must follow the established procedures for accessing the computing system. All computing work must be identified with the user’s own name and, where applicable, the relevant department name.
8. Users may not access, modify, or copy programs, files, data of any sort belonging to other users or to Northeast State without obtaining prior authorization to do so from the other users and /or Northeast State Information Technology office. The student is responsible for obtaining authorization and having a clearly defined understanding of the responsibilities associated with such action (e.g., security of access to the data of the other computer installation). Users may not use programs, data, equipment, and other computing related resources obtained from other computer sites at Northeast State unless prior approval has been obtained from the Northeast State Office of Information Technology.
9. Users should minimize the impact of their work on the work of other users. Attempts should not be made to encroach on others’ use of the facilities or deprive them of resources.
10. Users must not attempt to modify system facilities and/or subvert the restrictions associated with their computer account utilization.
11. Users may not use Northeast State computer facilities for commercial purposes.
The above code is intended to work to the benefit of all computer users by encouraging responsible conduct and use of computing resources. Violators of computer resources rules and regulations may be subject to disciplinary actions to include:
· Revoking of the individual’s rights to use the computer; either on a temporary or permanent basis;
· Financial assessment for computer services; and
· Legal prosecution.
Use of computer resources by unauthorized individuals is prohibited. Violators may be prosecuted.
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Changing with the times
Thanks to research, there have been significant changes to Child and Family Health practices over the years, particularly in the areas of breastfeeding, settling baby and mental health.
- Breastmilk is considered the best food for your baby and mothers are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed until their babies are 6 months of age.
- Generally very young babies feed every three to five hours and older babies, every four hours, but this can and does vary enormously. Importantly, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way. The important thing is to make sure that your baby is gaining weight.
- NSW Health recommends that babies do not start solid foods prior to six months of age.
When putting baby to sleep
- Baby should always be put to sleep on his/her back to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Tresillian does not advocate or in any way endorse ‘Controlled Crying’. Babies of any age should not be left to cry.
- Comfort an upset baby with a hug and try to re-settle.
Research shows that both parents are susceptible to emotional distress and sometimes longer lasting mental health problems. Be aware of the mood of the new mum and dad and encourage them to talk about how they are feeling.
Finally, be careful about giving advice and remember times have changed since you had your children.
Your house may not be childproof. When your first grandchild is very young check that poisons (from medicines to dishwashing powders) are out of reach and that china and special items are put away during visits. If you don’t have a pool fence, now is the time to invest in one, or check that the existing fence is in good repair.
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Racism is Innate: The Human Brain Makes Unconscious Decisions Based on Ethnicity – “Racism is hardwired into the brain and operates unconsciously because areas that detect ethnicity and control emotion are closely connected, according to scientists.” – original research article. see also How the brain views race.
CSIC recovers part of the genome of 2 hunter-gatherer individuals from 7,000 years ago – “The DNA data, which represent the 1.34% and the 0.5% of both individuals total genome, show that they are not directly connected to current populations of the Iberian Peninsula. Iberians from the Mesolithic Period were closer to current populations of northern Europe, who could have assimilated part of the genetic legacy of these hunters-gatherers.”
Food and Porn as Supernormal Stimuli – from dennis mangan
Pottery 20,000 years old found in a Chinese cave – “Pottery fragments found in a south China cave have been confirmed to be 20,000 years old, making them the oldest known pottery in the world, archaeologists say…. The findings … [refute] conventional theories that the invention of pottery correlates to the period about 10,000 years ago when humans moved from being hunter-gathers to farmers.” – original research article.
Steady studs, dysgenic dolls – “Jayman found that among black men, the trend is neutral, while a pronounced dysgenic trend exists among black women. The story is similar among whites, although the dysgenic tilt among white women is gentler than it is among black women.” – from mr. a. epigone, esq.
also this!: Your Color Red Really Could Be My Blue – “‘I would say recent experiments lead us down a road to the idea that we don’t all see the same colors,’ Neitz said. Another color vision scientist, Joseph Carroll of the Medical College of Wisconsin, took it one step further: ‘I think we can say for certain that people don’t see the same colors….’”
bonus: Phylogeny: Rewriting evolution – “Tiny molecules called microRNAs are tearing apart traditional ideas about the animal family tree.”
bonus bonus: Low-carb diet burns the most calories in small study
bonus bonus bonus: Mysterious Fairy Circles Are ‘Alive’ – whoa.
bonus bonus bonus bonus: How presidential elections are impacted by a 100 million year old coastline – cool!
bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus: Mumbai doctors remove 12.5cm-long worm from man’s eye – ewwww!
(note: comments do not require an email. what the…?)
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Books & Music
Food & Wine
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Remember My Soul - A Book Review
Some of the lesser-known tenets within the Jewish faith are those having to do with death, mourning, and the afterlife. They are not necessarily topics that are covered in Hebrew school, and many Jews do not start wondering about them until they are asked a question about ‘what Jews believe’ or if there is a death in the family.
When Lori Palatnik came to realize that this absence of knowledge existed, she sought to change that with her book Remember My Soul: What To Do In Memory Of A Loved One, written in conjunction with her husband Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. When Jewish people do not know how to answer questions about what they believe – there is a problem. Rabbi Yaakov and Lori Palatnik have filled the void and offered their readers comprehensive answers, based in tradition, to questions about death, mourning and the afterlife.
Remember My Soul contains chapters covering what happens to the Jewish soul after death, how to honor the memory of a loved one, and the observance of shiva and mourning. Also included are real life experiences demonstrating how knowledge of the Jewish mourning process and Jewish beliefs on afterlife helped individuals through the grieving process.
I found this book to be tremendously helpful, filled with Jewish wisdom, and even inspiring. The practical suggestions on how to pay a Shiva call and what is expected of visitors and mourners stems from ancient tradition with the purpose of bringing comfort in an otherwise uncomfortable and difficult space.
When Lori Palatnik writes, it’s like reading poetry. Something tremendously painful becomes filled with beauty. When she explains the purpose behind the memorial candle, for example, she tells how the flame is likened to a person’s soul. We each bring light to the world, and it is possible to share our light without diminishing it. The flame, like our soul, reaches toward Heaven while remaining grounded and rooted here on Earth. The candle is a reminder that our souls are eternal. While she did not create the notion of the flame and the soul, the manner in which she writes about it is fresh, invigorating, and comforting.
There is a fabulous section in Remember My Soul called “What To Do In Memory Of A Loved One”. Our actions in the physical world continue to add to the merit of our deceased loved ones. This chapter takes the mourner through the Shloshim period (first thirty days) with guided prayer and journal exercises. You’ll read a passage on – say – ‘judging others’ or ‘who is G-d’ and will then have an opportunity to write on that topic and your loved one. I love this section of the book and the value that it offers readers. Beyond the wisdom and tradition the Palatniks share, readers are given this action plan to help them find their way through grief.
I would have preferred that this chapter be at the conclusion of the book, after learning about death and mourning. The chapter contains thirty days of exercises, and it just makes sense that you would want to read the rest of the book prior to beginning this section.
On day 30, the topic of ‘struggling with G-d’ is discussed. Struggling is our inheritance, and the literal meaning of the word Yisrael. When faced with death, we often question the purpose of living and feel anger toward G-d for allowing death to happen. This is a normal part of grief, of Judaism, and of life. Rabbi Yaakov and Lori Palatnik not only help us to see that, but help guide us through to the point of embracing life again and of helping to make the memory of our loved one be for a blessing.
This book was a book I purchased on my own. I decided to write a review on it because it was so helpful to me. I would like others to know about it and benefit from it.
You can purchase this book at Amazon:
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30 July 2009 The United Nations has joined forces with the Angolan Government to achieve universal access to water to boost health and curb poverty in the Southern African nation.
Under the “Water for All” scheme – also known as the Joint UN Programme on Water and Sanitation – that was launched last week in the capital, Luanda, Angola has committed to providing water for 80 per cent of urban and 50 per cent of rural dwellers by 2012, with targets raised to 100 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively, by 2020.
The multi-year programme is a joint initiative of the Government, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) and the non-governmental organization Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Clean, piped water is prohibitively expensive for many Angolan families, forcing them to rely on unsafe water, which, along with poor sanitary conditions, contributes to nearly 90 per cent of deaths from diarrhea.
UNICEF has underscored children’s right to water and a clean environment, as enshrined ini the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
At the launch of the new initiative, Jocelline Bazile-Finley, UN Resident Coordinator, said that it will help Angola reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on ensuring environmental sustainability and “will also contribute to reducing poverty.”
Some 120,000 people are set to benefit directly from the initiative, funded by the Spanish Government, while 400,000 others are expected to impacted positively.
News Tracker: past stories on this issue
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The elk was designed, clearly, by committee of grown ups. The committee wisely chose a subdued brown of sturdy leather covered in a coarse fur. Four legs were chosen. Two were noted to be dangerous, and might lead to jogging. Three dismissed as unstable. Five, extravagant. Because of a mistake in paperwork, the design committee’s organizational chart was accidentally mounted on the animal’s head, upside down.
Mammals were designed by committee (** A short set of minutes have been appended to the end of this essay). The elk is one example to illustrate my point: If one were to review mammals, one finds durable fabrics, sensible colors, sturdy frames, modest stylistic appointments: a strong emphasis of function over form. The mammal connoisseur might point to the aardvark or the platypus as mammalian thrills of achievement. However, these mammals represent what the PT Cruiser was to Chrysler, inventor and manufacturer of the mini-van and the K-car.
But what explains the insect? It’s as if the Mammal Committee publicized its work with school visits. Imagine a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ribble. The mammal design committee representative, Mr. Minson let’s say, gives a condescending overview of mammal committee’s work and asks the children to design their own creature. Once Minson’s presentation is over, they let the kids loose. Oh, the iffy projects.
One child we’ll call Yedmar, rolled out a platicene finger. She tacks a hundred legs to the thin, plasticene hotdog. Mr. Minson smiled patiently. An impractical celebration of appendage, he thinks. Watch Ryder apply two slobs of glue to his creation. He mashes his project, glue first, into the container of eyes. Not just one eye, but a hundred. Noises guaranteed to annoy. Incessant buzzing, squeaks, trilling. The only sound missing is a loud rock guitar sound and digitized repetitive phrases.
Susie glues the fuzzy body to the absurdly huge, colorful wings. But, Mr. Minson sighed with frustration at the butterfly’s erratic flight. “Yes, it flies,” he said with a faked delight to the girl who built it. “Quit hogging all the good wings,” another girl complained to the boy building a fire-engine red dragonfly. “Now, there won’t be enough for everyone.”
Finally, show and tell. Mr. Minson audits the presentations looking for signs of hope. The fly seemed fairly sensible, overlooking the excessive number of eyes. Mr. Minson congratulated the child who designed it, thinking he had found something he could endorse. All went well until Ryder, with a smirk, explained the fly’s favorite food, causing the class to laugh. “It likes to eat WHAT?” asked Mrs. Ribble. When he repeated his answer, the kids laughed again and she made him sit in the corner.
Insects glow with the incandescence of the 1980s: they’re faddish, idiosyncratic, and gaudy. If mammal design was done by committee, insect design was done by freelancers, recyclers, children. Insects are proof that some design work was delegated, and that diversity is not a creed, but a fact.
** Footnote to the previous essay: Mammal Design
Committee, Gopher Meeting Minutes
** Author’s note: I was unable to locate the elk design meeting minutes. I’ve included this set to illuminate the inner workings of the Mammal Design Committee (MDC).
To: God From: Mark Minson, Chair, Mammal Design Committee Re: Mammal Design Committee Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, July 12, 2 p.m., twentyfive million B.C..
- 1. Previous Minutes approved
- 2. No business arising.
- 3. New business
Presentation by Steve, Chief Mammal Engineer
Motion: that the gopher project be terminated and re-designated as a reptile.
Presentation on the motion: Steve argued that there wasn’t enough room in the design for the brain mechanism. He had tried to make more room for the brain by reducing the vocal range to a simple squeak, but brain size was still inadequate. The gopher more properly fit the operating parameters of the Reptile Committee, and, therefore should be re-designated and reassigned.
Mabel, the designer, pointed out that the animal was not substantial enough to warrant production. She has a number of “end of roll” fabrics that she hoped to use up on the next design. The sheer number of gophers required to use the remaining fabric would be astronomical.
Myron, the design tester, noted prototypes broke easily and were drawn to play on roads.
Barry, the policy expert, was texting his wife.
The production coordinator, Theodore, asserted that gophers could be squeezed into production in parallel production processes to the bigger animals, and a vast quantity could be produced without compromising large animal production. The smaller creatures could also be used as packing peanuts for the larger animals during shipping.
The accountant, Elke, added that offshore gopher parts were cheap, and that a number could be released to fund the production of larger more extravagant animals.
Rohmina, from Marketing, observed that these creatures would be useful in promoting the work of the mammal design committee. The gopher would be a giveaway promotion, like a free keychain from a bank. She argued that if mammals don’t reach quota on the land creatures, their quota would be given to the reptile committee and how would everyone like that? Budget monies reassigned to the reptile project team.
The group seemed quite swayed by Rohmina’s stance.
Myron sulked, calling the design a slutty concession to the “man” and complained that money and politics, rather than quality, drove decision-making.
In favour: 1
Abstentions : 0
4. Motion to adjourn – Rohmina
Seconded – Barry
In favour: 7
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What is a Charter School
In 1992, the California Charter Schools Act was passed in order to encourage innovation and increase opportunities for students, families, and teachers within the public education sphere. A charter school is a tuition-free public school that operates independently from local school districts. As schools of choice, all charter schools are open to any student who wants to apply, regardless of where he or she lives within the state. If more students apply than space permits, charter schools are required to hold a lottery for admission. There are no admission tests or tuition fees at charter schools.
Charter schools have flexibility in the design of their school programs, their personnel decisions, and their resource allocation. In exchange for this freedom, public charter schools are held accountable for their school's performance including student achievement, organizational and fiscal management, and stakeholder satisfaction.
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There are a number of different filters available on the market today for improving the views of various Deep-Sky objects, with most coming in one of three classes: 1. Broad-Band “light pollution” filters, 2. Narrow-Band “Nebula” filters, and 3: Line filters.
The broad-band “Light Pollution Reduction” (LPR) filters are designed to improve the visibility of a variety of Deep-Sky objects by blocking out the common Mercury vapor, Sodium, and some other emission lines from man-made or natural sources which contribute to light pollution, while letting through a broad range of other more useful wavelengths. Since the eye is mainly a “contrast detector”, this selective screening out of some of the background skyglow increases the contrast and helps Deep-sky objects stand out more noticably. While these filters do not eliminate the effects of light pollution or make the objects brighter, in many cases, these filters can improve the visibility of some deep-sky objects to at least some degree. In addition, larger versions of these broadband filters which fit over camera lenses can be somewhat useful for photography of wide star fields when some skyglow is present.
Some available broad-band filters are the Lumicon Deep-Sky, the Meade Series 4000 Broadband, the Celestron LPR, the Thousand Oaks Type 1, and the Orion SkyGlow. The Lumicon Deep-Sky does help improve the visibility of nebulae like the Great Orion Nebula, the Lagoon Nebula, the Merope Nebula, the Trifid, and a number of others. However, the improvement is not as noticable on star clusters or galaxies. I have found that using the filter on larger and more diffuse galaxies like M33, M81, M101, NGC 253 and NGC 2403 in my 10 inch when weak skyglow is present will help boost the visibility of the detail, but the effect is fairly mild. On star clusters, there is even less of an effect, since some of their emission falls in the portions of the spectrum blocked by these filters. In that case it may be better to use slightly higher magnification on some of the smaller objects to dilute the light pollution effect a bit. Since some light is blocked by the filters, there can be times when a few objects may even look fainter from a dark sky site when using a broad-band filter than without one. Severe levels of light pollution may also be too much for the broad-band filters to handle effectively, so you still want to find as dark an observing site as you can. The Lumicon Deep-Sky filter has an additional bonus, as it does work fairly well as a blue filter for observing Jupiter and for bringing out the white clouds and polar caps of Mars. In summary, the broad band “light pollution” filter can be useful in compensating for some light pollution, but may not be the most impressive filter intended for deep-sky use.
Narrow-band “Nebula” filters, as the name implies, are mainly designed for viewing many emission nebulae. These filters allow only the bright pair of emission lines of Oxygen III, the Hydrogen Beta emission line, and wavelengths between H-beta and the OIII lines to get through. Some available narrow-band filters are the Lumicon UHC, Meade Series 4000 Narrowband, Thousand Oaks Type 2, and Orion Ultrablock. The UHC and Meade Narrowband also have a deep-red passband for the Hydrogen Alpha line. The effect of narrow-band filters on emission nebulae can be quite striking, with many faint nebular objects becoming easier to see (without the filter, some may not be visible at all!). These filters darken the background skyglow significantly without hurting the nebula, and are a great assist when observing in mild to moderate light pollution. Even the more prominent nebulae which are visible without filters gain considerable detail and contrast with the narrow band units. However, you still need to use averted vision and low to moderate powers (4x to 14x per inch of aperture) to get the most out of these filters. Both the UHC and Ultrablock will, for example, often show the Rosette Nebula TO THE UNAIDED EYE when you look through them. Even under a really dark sky, the contrast and detail improvements are impressive, and most observers continue to use their narrow-band filters at such dark-sky sites. One neat trick for finding tiny planetary nebulae is to “blink” the objects by holding a narrow-band filter between the eyepiece and the eye. The stars in the field will dim somewhat, but the planetary nebula will remain undimmed, thus standing out from the background stars.
In comparison, both the UHC and Ultrablock have very similar characteristics, although the UHC has a slightly higher light transmission factor in its primary passband than the Ultrablock, which may be helpful for viewing faint nebulae. Spectroscopic comparison of the two filters reveals that the Ultrablock’s passband is more rounded and slightly narrower than the more flat-topped UHC, with falloffs in light transmission towards the passband edges, especially towards the H-beta side. For use on short f/ratio instruments where the light is deviating somewhat more from normal incidence, a small shift in the location of the passband towards the red can result, causing a narrower filter to lose some of the light from the H-beta line. This is one reason why the UHC is designed with a broader overall passband. The UHC also shows a red H-alpha passband (the Ultrablock doesn’t have one), which may contribute to the image brightness with larger apertures. The Ultrablock’s more rounded and slightly narrower passband may be reasons why some observers have reported a bit darker field and slightly higher contrast under light pollution with some objects using the Ultrablock. At times the Ultrablock has also been slightly less expensive than the UHC, but when not sale priced, the two filters are of similar cost. Both will perform very well, and the overall difference between them is very slight. However, these “nebula” filters usually reduce the brightness of most star clusters, reflection nebulae, and galaxies. Photographic use of these narrow band filters is also not recommended.
In the “line” filter category, the Lumicon Oxygen III (OIII) filter is the real standout. Its very narrow bandwidth allows only the pair of emission lines of Oxygen to get to the eye, and for many planetary and diffuse emission nebulae, the boost in visibility has to be seen to be believed! The Veil and North American Nebulae look like photographs in a 10″ with the OIII filter, and some of the “green box” emission nebulae in SKY ATLAS 2000.0 jump out at you. You may even see some nebulae which are not shown on many atlases. Many planetary nebulae become easy, and the “blinking” technique often becomes vastly more effective, as the stars nearly vanish, leaving the planetary nebula standing out like a sore thumb. However, since the bandwidth of the OIII filter is so narrow, it may hurt some nebulae with significant H-beta emission somewhat, like the nebulae around Gamma Cygni or the Horsehead. Differences between this filter and the UHC are mainly in nebula visibility and contrast. Many nebulae show a slightly larger area of nebulosity in the UHC filter, but in the OIII filter, they will often have more contrast and dark detail. However, the OIII filter really dims the view of star clusters and galaxies even more than the narrow band filters do, although observers with large telescopes may find the OIII useful for bringing out a few emission nebulae in other galaxies, like the HII regions in M33. The Lumicon OIII also has a substantial red passband, and on bright emission nebulae like M42 and M8, weak red color in parts of the nebulae have been reported visually using moderate to large apertures. Recently, Thousand Oaks has produced its “Type-3″ Oxygen III filter. It doesn’t seems to have the tiny “red-ghosting” secondary star images that the Lumicon model does, yielding more point-like star images, although its overall performance in enhancing nebulae is quite similar to the Lumicon model.
One line filter of note is Lumicon’s H-Beta filter. As the name indicates, the filter only lets through the H-Beta emission line of Hydrogen, and is best known for its effect on the Horsehead Nebula, the California Nebula, the Coccoon Nebula, and a few others. On an 8″ to 10″ scope, the Horsehead Nebula goes from near invisibility to visibility, and the California Nebula becomes fairly easy, gaining a great deal of contrast and filamentary detail. An improvement over no filter use for additional objects like M42/43, the North America Nebula, and a few others can also be noted, but in many cases, these other objects can appear somewhat better overall in the UHC or OIII filters. The H-beta can also be used to observe some of the structural details of some brighter nebulae by comparing the H-beta view with that in other filters. The total number of nebulae which the H-beta will significantly improve, however, is somewhat limited. Some of these “H-beta” objects tend to be fairly faint to begin with (like the Horsehead), so unless you REALLY like looking at them, you may be able to do without the H-Beta filter. Thousand Oaks also makes their “Type-4″ version of the H-beta filter.
For recommendations, I like the Lumicon UHC or Orion Ultrablock (whichever is less expensive at the time), and the Lumicon OIII, but remember to use them with an eye that is properly dark adapted and employ averted vision. Filters won’t make the objects brighter, but in many cases, they will make many of them a lot easier to see. Have fun!
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Anyone remember me writing about how my favorite curried-carrot soup totally makes my skin look glowy? Well it appears I am not hallucinating.
According to the New York Daily News, new research reveals that eating fruits and vegetables rich in the orange-hued antioxidant compounds known as carotenoids--like squash, peppers, apricots, cantaloupe, spinach and, naturally, carrots--does, in fact, appear to make caucasian skin take on more of a tan cast. While the results may not be as instantaneous as I have lead myself to believe when I eat my soup, the study showed that you should see the change happen within a month of switching to a carotenoid-packed diet.
I guess that's very good news for the 68 percent of you who think people generally look better with a tan, according to our recent Girls in the Beauty Department poll! Sure beats the tanning bed option.
Do you get many carotenoid-rich fruits and veggies in your daily diet? Which are your favorites? Does this news make you want to hit up the farmer's market STAT?
P.S.: If you're a fan of hot and spicy foods during hot weather, definitely try my beloved soup recipe--so yummy, and cheap and easy too!
More Ways to Get Glamour
Visit Shopglamour.com for cute stuff starting at just $10!
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How Much Rent is Too Much?
In his efforts to do away with LVT, Rothbard pulls out the age-old canard of assessibilty:
How, then, will the government be able to separate site value from improvement value? No doubt,
the single taxers would hire an army of tax assessors. But assessment is purely an arbitrary act and cannot be anything else. Value can only be determined in exchange on the market. It cannot be determined by outside observers.
It is true that value can only be determined in exchange on the market, but it is in no way interesting when discussing LVT, for one simple reason. In order to understand it, we need to remember a simple truth. It is not the seller of land that performs the ultimate assessment, but the buyer. That the seller may state a price, it is true, but if no buyer actually wants the land at that price, then it will not sell. In a rental situation, the landlord will always be seeking to increase his rent. If he tries, and the tenant stays, then the land is clearly worth what the landlord is charging for it. If he leaves, and no one else takes his place, then the landlord will ultimately reduce the price until someone does. Rent pricing is essentially an iterative process, with the occupied state of the property being feedback. The longer a plot remains unoccupied, the more obvious it is that the rent is too high. More importantly, the longer a plot remains unoccupied, the longer that the landlord is not receiving income.
Where a government is levying LVT (in effect being the landlord), none of these dynamics change in the slightest. A government wants to raise maximum revenue and will tweak the LVT until it does. This will never be a perfect process, and never has been, not even under the current system, but it is good enough to have a workable economy, as the world around us demonstrates. In short, LVT already exists, and is already assessed arbitrarily. The only difference is that the landlords are private entities.
Taxing Rent Eliminates Rent?
Rothbard however, has one more objection to LVT, and this one’s a doozy:
A 100 percent tax on rent would cause the capital value of all land to fall promptly to zero. Since owners could not obtain any net rent, the sites would become valueless on the market. From that point on, sites, in short, would be free. Further, since all rent would be siphoned off to the government, there would be no incentive for owners to charge any rent at all. Rent would be zero as well, andrentals would thus be free.
The first consequence of the single tax, then, is that no revenue would accrue from it.
And thus, by the stroke of a pen, Rothbard enters La-La-Land. He has a whole raft of terrible consequences of LVT at his disposal now (locational chaos, urban over-concentration, mass inefficiency, etc) – none of which are important because his basis for claiming them, that land would be free, is utterly false.
Let’s examine this for a second. Let’s assume, as Rothbard does for sake of argument (and as I have already shown is perfectly feasible), that the taxing authority is setting the level of LVT reasonably. Rothbard’s first statement is true – captial values would approach zero. However, to claim that sites will thereafter be free is to ignore time, which Rothbard makes a great deal of when trying to attack other aspects of Georgism. Yes, there are no longer upfront costs to occupation, but there are known recurring costs (the LVT). Whoever is going to occupy the land has to be able to economically justify it, i.e. has to be able to show that he can utilise the land well enough to turn a profit, in the presence of the tax.
Note then, that from the perspective of the renter absolutely nothing has changed. If he was going to rent the site from a private landlord, he would have to economically justify it. He would have to be able to turn a profit, in the presence of the rent. The users of land are unaffected by the levying of LVT. What changes is who receives their rent.
For the landlord, however, everything has changed. As there is no net ground rent, there is no advantage to simply being a middleman. In order for the landlord to profit, he must actually provide something. In short, he must become a land-user. If he has no intention of doing so, he will relinquish control, almost certainly to the current user of the land, who is thus an owner-occupier legally, but effectively renting from the government rather than the private landlord.
For land speculators, also, everything has changed. As they are now in effect renters, rather than owners, they must now economically justify their (dis)use of the land. As their refusal to allow the land to be used must be based on an expected capital increase (’cause they sure aren’t getting any rent), the collapse of capital values means they now must either subsidise their holding of the land from some other income, or relinquish control. Who then, would control fall to? A new renter, who will actually perform some kind of industry, will step in, moving from whatever less-productive site they had been forced onto.
In short, the effect of LVT is not to get rid of rent (which geometry shows us cannot be done), but rather to get rid of private rent-seekers, replacing them with a rent-seeking government. Why rent-seeking should be a public (or more accurately, communal) function rather than a private one, will be discussed later in The Morality of LVT. For now, though let’s move onto why rent is important economically.
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Fox59 is taking action when it comes to finding mold in rental homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, living with mold in your home can cause everything from mild asthma to shortness of breath and even lung disease. “The...
email@example.comHad he lived a few more weeks, this would have been a big day for Richard Mackereth. He and his friends would be watching the Super Bowl in the basement of his Noland Drive home in Hagerstown. It was there, surrounded by all the comforts of his man cave...
Shortness of breath and reduced fitness among some military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan may be caused by lung damage from smoke, sandstorms and toxins, a study suggests. Researchers who performed lung biopsies on 38 veterans with...
Tags: Veterans Affairs, Biopsy, X-rays, Iraq, Lungs and Airways
Teri Arnold of the American Heart Association asks: "How much do you know about your heart's health? It's easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or...
Tags: Legs, Heart Failure, Diseases and Illnesses, Symptoms, Diabetes
"Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" 10 p.m. June 13, ABC Episode: "Dana" The premise Dana Baker is a 44-year-old gospel singer who weighs 498 pounds. He freely admits to a regular diet of cookies, Hawaiian Punch and donuts. He sweats when...
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The new year brings a lot of resolutions to exercise. And sometimes the cold weather also means more snow shoveling. All that exertion can be harmful to people with abnormal hearts by leading to sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, director of...
Special to the TribuneMarla Kalish, 58, of Highland Park, started experiencing chest pressure five years ago during her morning tennis matches. When she slowed down, the pressure would always dissipate, so she chalked it up to acid reflux. "I didn't really pause too much or...
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Even healthy people might want to forgo their morning run or bike rides this week, when the air will be fouled with smoke from the ongoing wildfire in the Everglades, health officials said Tuesday. People with breathing problems and children should...
TribLocal - EvanstonAs Heart Healthy Month draws to a close, a reminder to keep this vital muscle in check—especially women. It's a sobering statistic: 60 million Americans …...
As manager of the cardiovascular program at the UC Irvine Medical Center, Nathalie De Michelis sees many patients who either have a propensity for heart failure or are well on their way and need help. That's where the hospital in Orange and its...
Feb 23, 2012 |Column| WXIN-LTV
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Original site for Shortness of Breath topic gallery.
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About the National History Club
What does the National History Club do?
The National History Club Inc. (NHC) inspires students and teachers to start History Club chapters at high schools, middle schools, and within other student and community programs. Members of local History Club chapters participate in local and national programs, and create their own projects and activities. The NHC also provides chapters with resources and services that will help them increase the activity and impact of their history club. To date, 475 History Club chapters at high schools and middle schools in 44 states have joined the NHC, and there are over 14,000 student members. Schools are free to decide whether their chapter will be a regular History Club or a History Honor Society.
The National History Club was founded in 2002 by The Concord Review Inc. (TCR), which publishes the only scholarly review of history essays written by secondary students. In October 2006, The Concord Review (TCR) board of directors voted to establish the NHC as an independent affiliate to accommodate its rapid growth. The NHC was awarded a seed and planning grant from the Argosy Foundation in the fall of 2006. The Argosy Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 by John Abele.
History is the only topic taught in every secondary school that can engage students of any interest in understanding and tackling human problems in the real world. In history there is truly something for everyone. History is political, artistic, social, economic, military, athletic, scientific, cultural, religious, technological, literary, philosophical, geographic, ethnic, and mathematical. History can be as contemporary as yesterday and as ancient as Mesopotamia, as near as the city one lives in and as far away as Andromeda. History can be seen and touched, read and written, made and remembered. Everyone is a part of history.
Most importantly, the study of history builds the critical skills students need to become responsible citizens and effective leaders. Researching and discovering new information, as well as reading, synthesizing, and communicating that information effectively: these are the skills that make someone successful in business, civic life, and even science. Most professional employees are expected to write. More than half of all companies take writing skills into account in making promotion decisions.
Yet, the study of History is declining in secondary schools. A 2010 Civics Assessment administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress displayed the lack of proper understanding of civics among students in our secondary schools. Among some of the key findings:
- Fewer than half of American eighth graders knew the purpose of the Bill of Rights.
- Only one in 10 eighth graders demonstrated acceptable knowledge of the checks and balances among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
- Three-quarters of high school seniors were unable to name a power granted to Congress by the Constitution.
We are taking action to make the study of history a more important part of every student’s secondary school education.
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Farm Wife, 1900
When America entered the twentieth century, almost
half of its population lived on a farm (compared with approximately one percent in
the year 2000). It was a hard life. There was little industrialization
to help with the chores and no electricity to illuminate the darkness. The majority
of farms were family-run, providing subsistence and hopefully an income through
the sale of any surplus.
|Feeding the chickens
The following description of farm life was written at the turn of the twentieth century by an anonymous woman who had secret aspirations to be a writer. At the time
she wrote this she was in her early 30s and had been married about 14 years.
She and her husband, whom she describes as "innocent of book-learning," have
two children. In addition to providing insight into life on a farm, she reveals
a much different attitude towards the marital role of women than we have today:
"I have been a farmer's wife in one of the States of the
Middle West for thirteen years, and everybody knows that the farmer's wife
must of a necessity be a very practical woman, if she would be a successful
I am not a practical woman and consequently have been
accounted a failure by practical friends and especially by my husband, who
is wholly practical.
We are told that the mating of people of opposite
natures promotes intellectuality in the offspring; but I think that happy
homes are of more consequence than extreme precocity of children. However,
I believe that people who are thinking of mating do not even consider whether
it is to be the one or the other.
We do know that when people of opposite tastes get
married there's a discordant note runs through their entire married life.
It’s only a question of
which one has the stronger will in determining which tastes shall predominate.
In our case my husband has the stronger will; he is
innocent of book learning, is a natural hustler who believes that the only
way to make an honest living lies in digging it out of the ground, so to speak,
and being a farmer, he finds plenty of digging to do; he has an inherited tendency
to be miserly, loves money for its own sake rather than for its purchasing
power, and when he has it in his possession he is loath to part with it, even
for the most necessary articles, and prefers to eschew hired help in every
possible instance that what he does make may be his very own.
No man can run a farm without some one to help him, and in this case I have
always been called upon and expected to help do anything that a man would be
expected to do; I began this when we were first married, when there were few
household duties and no reasonable excuse for refusing to help.
I was reared on a farm, was healthy and strong, was ambitious, and the work
was not disagreeable, and having no children for the first six years of married
life, the habit of going whenever asked to became firmly fixed, and he had
no thought of hiring a man to help him, since I could do anything for which
he needed help.
. . . I was an apt student at school and before I was eighteen
I had earned a teacher's certificate of the second grade and would gladly
have remained in school a few more years, but I had, unwittingly, agreed to
marry the man who is now my husband, and though I begged to be released, his
will was so much stronger that I was unable to free myself without wounding
a loving heart, and could not find it in my nature to do so.
|Milking "Bessie", 1900
It appears that this farm wife changed
into her "Sunday Best" clothes to have
this picture take.
. . . Later, when I was married, I borrowed everything I
could find in the line of novels and stories, and read them by stealth still,
for my husband thought it a willful waste of time to read anything and that
it showed a lack of love for him if I would rather read than to talk to him
when I had a few moments of leisure, and, in order to avoid giving offense
and still gratify my desire, I would only read when he was not at the house,
thereby greatly curtailing my already too limited reading hours.
. . . It is only during the last three years that I have
had the news to read, for my husband is so very penurious that he would never
consent to subscribing for papers of any kind and that old habit of avoiding
that which would give offense was so fixed that I did not dare to break it.
. . . This is a vague, general idea of how I spend my time; my work is so
varied that it would be difficult, indeed, to describe a typical day's work.
Any bright morning in the latter part of May I am out of bed at four o'clock;
next, after I have dressed and combed my hair, I start a fire in the kitchen
stove, and while the stove is getting hot I go to my flower garden and gather
a choice, half-blown rose and a spray of bride's wreath, and arrange them in
my hair, and sweep the floors and then cook breakfast.
While the other members of the family are eating breakfast
I strain away the morning's milk (for my husband milks the cows while I get
breakfast), and fill my husband's dinner pail, for he will go to work
on our other farm for the day.
By this time it is half-past five o'clock, my husband
is gone to his work, and the stock loudly pleading to be turned into the
pastures. The younger
cattle, a half-dozen steers, are left in the pasture at night, and I now drive
the two cows, a half-quarter mile and turn them in with the others, come back,
and then there's a horse in the barn that belongs in a field where there
is no water, which I take to a spring quite a distance from the barn; bring
it back and turn it into a field with the sheep, a dozen in number, which are
housed at night.
The young calves are then turned out into the warm
sunshine, and the stock hogs, which are kept in a pen, are clamoring for
feed, and I carry a pailful of swill to them, and hasten to the house and
turn out the chickens and put out feed and water for them, and it is, perhaps,
I have not eaten breakfast yet, but that can wait; I make the beds next and
straighten things up in the living room, for I dislike to have the early morning
caller find my house topsy-turvy. When this is done I go to the kitchen, which
also serves as a dining-room, and uncover the table, and take a mouthful of
food occasionally as I pass to and fro at my work until my appetite is appeased.
By the time the work is done in the kitchen it is about 7.15 A. M., and the
cool morning hours have flown, and no hoeing done in the garden yet, and the
children's toilet has to be attended to and churning has to be done.
Finally the children are washed and churning done, and it
is eight o'clock, and the sun getting hot, but no matter, weeds die quickly
when cut down in the heat of the day, and I use the hoe to a good advantage
until the dinner
hour, which is 11.30 A. M. We come in, and I comb my hair, and put fresh flowers
in it, and eat a cold dinner, put out feed and water for the chickens; set
a hen, perhaps, sweep the floors again; sit down and rest, and read a few moments,
and it is nearly one 0' clock, and I sweep the door yard while I am waiting
for the clock to strike the hour.
I make and sow a flower bed, dig around some shrubbery, and go back to the
garden to hoe until time to do the chores at night, but ere long some hogs
come up to the back gate, through the wheat field, and when I go to see what
is wrong I find that the cows have torn the fence down, and they, too, are
in the wheat field.
|Harvesting wheat, 1915
With much difficulty I get them back into their own
domain and repair the fence. I hoe in the garden till four o'clock; then
I go into the house and get supper, and prepare something for the dinner
pail to-morrow; when supper is all ready it is set aside, and I pull a few
hundred plants of tomato, sweet potato or cabbage for transplanting, set
them in a cool, moist place where they will not wilt, and I then go after
the horse, water him, and put him in the barn; call the sheep and house them,
and go after the cows and milk them, feed the hogs, put down hay for three
horses, and put oats and corn in their troughs, and set those plants and
come in and fasten up the chickens, and it is dark. By this time it is 8
o'clock P. M.; my husband has come home, and we are eating supper; when we
are through eating I make the beds ready, and the children and their father
go to bed, and I wash the dishes and get things in shape to get breakfast
quickly next morning.
It is now about 9 o'clock P. M., and after a short prayer
I retire for the night."
This eyewitness account appears in: Holt, Hamilton, The Life
Stories of Undistinguished Americans as Told by Themselves (1906).
How To Cite This Article:
"Farm Wife, 1900" EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2007).
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Massachusetts Seeds Green Communities
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney unveiled the Massachusetts Green Communities Initiative in Boston on July 7. The initiative is a collaborative between two state agencies and the Enterprise Foundation in Columbia, Maryland, to provide incentives to affordable housing developers to construct 1,000 new "green" homes in Massachusetts. Romney said, "Combining affordable housing and environmentally-friendly smart growth isn't just about dollars and cents. It's about promoting common sense."
Initiative sponsors will make $209 million available to developers in a combination of grants and financing. MassHousing will provide $125 million in mortgage financing. The Enterprise Foundation, which sponsors Green Communities nationwide, will provide $75 million in private equity to developers from the sale of low-income housing tax credits. The foundation will provide another $0.5 million in grants and loans for pre-development work on affordable housing projects that meet its "green" criteria. Affordable housing developers often work on very small margins, and the pre-development planning is often key to making "green" projects that incorporate energy efficiency successful.
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will contribute an additional $8.5 million in grants to the project that are designated for including distributed power generating technologies as part of affordable housing. The distributed generation can consist of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, small wind generators, small hydroelectric turbines, and residential fuel cells.
For more information, see the governor's July 7 press release.
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Warum es hunderttausend Sterne gibt, sometimes spelled in number Warum es 100.000 Sterne gibt as it appeared in the title screen when broadcast, ("Why are there a hundred thousand stars") was the Austrian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967, performed in German by Peter Horton.
The song was performed third on the night, following Luxembourg's Vicky with "L'amour est bleu" and preceding France's Noëlle Cordier with "Il doit faire beau là-bas". At the close of voting, it had received 2 points, placing it 14th in a field of 17 entries.
The song is in the chanson style and features Horten describing some of the mysteries of the world (why there are so many stars, why there are so many flowers and so on), before explaining that it proves that the point of life is to seize the moment.
The song was succeeded as Austrian representative at the 1968 Contest by Karel Gott performing "Tausend Fenster".
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Simply begin typing or use the editing tools above to add to this article.
Once you are finished and click submit, your modifications will be sent to our editors for review.
In the quarterings and the marshaling (arrangement of more than one coat of arms on the same shield), the position of heiresses must be considered first. The children of an heraldic heiress are entitled on her death to quarter her arms with their father’s (the arrangement is to show the shield divided into four quarters so that quarters 1 and 4 are the father’s arms, 2 and 3 the mother’s). This...
What made you want to look up "quartering"? Please share what surprised you most...
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|Religions in Switzerland|
Home > Tourist Guide > Table of contents > Swiss culture > Religions
Switzerland provides religious followers a number of possibilities for practicing their faith in an environment of respect, tolerance and discretion. What is more, the religious landscape of Switzerland is constantly evolving, with an ever-growing diversity of churches and religious communities.
With over three million adherents, the Roman Catholic Church is the majority in Switzerland and is obviously extremely well-represented throughout the country. It is the dominant religion in the rural cantons and the cities that experienced a wave of immigration from Southern Europe in the 1970s.
The Protestant Church is the second largest in the country, grouping over 2.7 million people. Switzerland plays a central part in the history of Protestantism, with Zwingli and Calvin contributing largely to the international cultural influence of their homeland.
For almost two centuries now, Switzerland - and particularly the Lake
Geneva area - has welcomed many Orthodox Christians, mainly Russians. The number of adherents has more than tripled in the last 20 years,
totaling 1% of the present-day Swiss population.
This religion has very few followers - no more 150,000 adherents worldwide. The Parsees, however, are often impressive businessmen and can be found in Switzerland.
A number of important Jews live in Switzerland, in the German- and French-speaking regions alike. Most of the big cities have a Jewish community that is organized in institutions and has a well-developed infrastructure.
Over 150,000 people belong to a Swiss Muslim community. Switzerland, and Geneva in particular, is often associated with emirs and other sheiks who enjoy sumptuous palaces, stroll along the harbor in the shade of the fountain and buy out the luxury shops.
|Buddhism and Hinduism|
These two religions represent 0.5% of the Swiss population and are mainly concentrated in Bern and Zurich. More and more Swiss in search of new spiritual experiences are turning to these oriental religions, which are all the rage in Switzerland. There are various small communities spread throughout Switzerland that practice these religions.
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Former Shell Chairman Appeals Censure
The former chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, Sir Philip Watts, petitioned a British regulatory body for permission to challenge some of its findings on Shell's oil reserves scandal.
In a letter submitted to the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal, Watts defended his actions as head of the company.
"I believe that a full and fair examination of all the facts will demonstrate that I have acted properly and in good faith at all times," Watts said in the letter.
Since January, Shell has downgraded its proven reserves by 4.47 billion barrels, or 23 percent.
Proven reserves are the amount of oil and gas a company expects to commercially pump to the surface. They are a crucial measure for investors of an oil company's performance and future value.
The reserves overstatement led to the resignations of Watts, head of exploration and production Walter van de Vijver, and chief financial officer Judy Boynton. It also drew the attention of regulators in the United States and Europe.
The Anglo-Dutch company agreed last month to pay $30.2 million to the Financial Services Authority, which found the company guilty of market abuse. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also fined Shell $120 million.
Watts has so far kept silent on the reserves issue. But, through his lawyers, he said the FSA's findings against Shell are flawed, and he distanced himself from the scandal.
The Financial Services Authority's final notice, issued on Aug. 24, said Shell had made false or misleading announcements in relation to its hydrocarbon reserves and reserves replacement ratios between 1998 and 2003, and had made those announcements despite indications and warnings that they were false.
Watts was appointed group managing director in 1997 and chairman in 2001. He resigned in March.
Watts' filing, by the law firm of Crowell & Moring in Washington, D.C., said he was "not an expert in the estimation of reserves or SEC reporting."
The filing says the FSA's final notice failed to acknowledge that Watts relied on Shell's experts on reserves estimation and on external auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers and KPMG LLP to ensure the tallies' accuracy.
Watts's lawyer, Joseph Goldstein of Washington D.C. law firm Crowell & Moring, said Watts had no further comment.
The FSA, which has 30 days to respond, declined to comment, as did Shell.
Source: Associated Press
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Alan Saunders, a.k.a. Kaptain Kobold, is a 42-year-old computer programmer and former biology student from Staines, England. He uses Lego blocks to depict famous scientists at work.
“I have no idea why I started making Lego scientist scenes,” says Saunders, who’s married with two children, one cat, two guinea pigs, “and couple of cockroaches.” His children like the scientist figures, though they have no idea yet who they are.
At top right, Gregor Mendel cultivates his pea plants. Next, Charles Darwin stands in a “family portrait” with a yellow Neanderthal, an angry-faced Lucy, and an Old World monkey. Why Darwin? Because Saunders loves evolutionary biology. “That, and the fact that I had a monkey and a big white beard.”
His Lego vignettes pay tribute to the occasional non-scientist, too. Below is Kent Hovind, preacher, creationist, and tax evader.
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A research project is strengthening its quality and improve their performance when taking into account a diversity- and genderperspective. That was concluded when CDT arranged "Gender in research as a mark of excellence".
The education was conducted in the context of CDT's Satin project. Katlijn Demuynck from Yellow window was the workshop's leader and the session is offered by the European Commission.
Maria Magdalena Holmgren is a doctoral student in leadership and innovation, at Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Center for Inter-organizational innovation research, CIIR. She was one of the participants at the workshop.
– The gender perspective must be mainstreamed in all research, otherwise it is not objective, says Maria Magdalena Holmgren.
– And I know from personal experience as a project leader that groups become more dynamic and that the quality of the results get better if both women's and men's experiences counts.
There will be consequenses if the gender dimension is excluded. If so, the oppurtunities for both men and women are limited, according to Maria Magdalena Holmgren.
– For example, role models. If we don't recognize ourselves in the standard image of an innovator or entrepreneur, as it appears in research or the media, the probably choose to do something else, says Maria Magdalena Holmgren.
An industry that traditionally is extremely homogeneous, is the process industry. Therefore, to raise awareness about diversity and gender issues, Process IT has started a to work towards change.
– Many of our project funders require us to work with these issues, says Pär-Erik Martinsson, project manager at Process IT.
– Now, we take that seriously and are trying to raise awareness in our organization through education. Ultimately, we hope that it leads to better projects and better innovations.
Both Maria Magdalena Holmgren and Pär-Martin Martinsson left the workshop with concrete tools, tools that they can continue to use in their projects.
– It was also valuable to see that our local efforts had so many similarities to how they think in Brussels, says Pär-Erik Martinsson.
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An Ohio resident is locked to the gate of a fracking wastewater injection well site in Trumbull County, Ohio protesting the failure of Ohio regulators to adequately test and monitor the dumping of toxic fracking wastewater in the state.
Ohio residents are blocking access to an injection well in Trumbull County this morning, protesting the failure of Ohio regulators to adequately test and monitor the dumping of toxic fracking wastewater in the state.
Trumbull County residents, along with supporters from Frack Free Mahoning and Ohio Fracktion, are gathered at the well site on Sodom Hutchings Road in Vienna Township, to express concerns about the contents of the 1,000 gallons of fracking wastewater that spilled along five miles of road in Fowler Township, a nearby residential area, on July 7.
They are demanding that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) begin testing out-of-state frack wastewater that is being injected into more than 170 wells throughout Ohio. One protester has locked himself to the gate to prevent trucks carrying fracking wastewater from entering the site.
According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) spokesperson Mike Settles, emergency responders conducted only a simple pH test of the fracking wastewater that spilled along the roads of Fowler Township. As far as further testing for radiation, heavy metals and other chemicals that could be present in the spilled fracking wastewater, Settles explained that the OEPA doesn't "have the resources" to perform testing unless there is a "legitimate concern" of environmental damage. However, thick, rust colored residue was still visible on the road one week after the spill.
Liberal Township Trustee Jodi Stoyak expressed her frustration with OEPA's response in a July 12 letter to Mr. Settles, noting "many of the chemicals used in [fracking] and contained in the waste are officially classified individually as hazardous.... This, in my opinion, is a huge environmental concern."
ODNR officials have ignored numerous written and oral requests from Ohio residents to order testing of the countless gallons of out-of-state fracking wastewater injected underground into Ohio each year. In response to a recent public records request asking ODNR to release all testing relevant to fracking waste, ODNR geologist Tom Tomastik provided no results taken after 1989.
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Our Citizen Panels bring together members of the public to deliberate about pressing health challenges. The Community Panels all share six features:
- Preparatory consultation with partners helps to frame the focus for the series of Dialogues and identify the types of citizens whose views and experiences are relevant to the topic.
- Before a panel meeting or series of meetings, the Forum prepares an evidence brief that mobilizes research evidence about the health challenge in a concise and accessible way. These briefs are made publicly available after the Citizen Panel has met to review it.
- We convene a Citizen Panel, which brings together a group of 15 to 18 citizens (and occasionally as many as five to ten such groups) for a series of Dialogues that provides them with the opportunity to bring their own views and experiences to bear on the challenge, to learn from the evidence and from others’ views and experiences, and finally to share their newly informed views about the challenge and how to address it.
- After one or more panel meetings, the Forum circulates a summary of the citizen dialogue (as one type of event ‘footprint’ that will benefit others around the world), posting this on Forum’s website.
- The Forum conducts an evaluation of the key features of both the evidence brief and the Citizen Panel to ensure that the process contributes to our collective understanding about how citizens can best be engaged in shaping how society addresses health challenges.
For more information on citizen engagement and participation in public policy, please consult the following articles published by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.
InsightandAction articles on public engagement
Search for a specific event or topic
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When the large manufacturing facilities in Surry County closed, mainly those that were textile related such as Cross Creek Apparel, Kentucky Derby Hosiery and Armtex, it didn’t just hurt the monetary portion of the community.
Some people may wonder why there are so many more small blood drives held today than there were 10 or 15 years ago.
At the Pilot Mountain Civic Club meeting Tuesday, Ginny Anderson, blood donor services representative for Surry County, explained that a lot of that has to do with the closing of the large industries which employed hundreds of people.
Anderson said her supervisor was the regional coordinator for the area including Surry County back 10 or 15 years ago, and when he served this area, he had a blood unit goal of 10,000 each year, of which Surry was the largest producer of units.
At that time blood drives were able to access 100 to 150 people in one location, thanks to the large number of employees at each of the manufacturing facilities.
To make up for that loss of large blood drives, a large number of smaller drives spread across the county have to occur.
But having the blood drives is just the beginning. People need to show up to donate blood as well, and that’s where help from the community comes in.
The first time I gave blood was in college, and I did it a couple of times during my four years. I had some trouble after giving, especially the last time in college. I ended up sitting in the chair in a lying position for several minutes, because I got light-headed and dizzy when I was finished giving my pint.
So I abstained from giving for several years. Then the auxiliary at Bannertown Volunteer Fire Department began hosting a blood drive each year, and I decided to give giving another try.
And I’ve given at least once, if not twice, each year since then. I do still have some trouble with the light-headedness at times, but I just make sure to eat and drink a lot before and after giving.
I encourage everyone to find a blood drive being held near wherever you work, live or play and donate blood. Just try it one time, then decide if it was worth it or not. Overcome fears of the unknown, fears of needles, and help save lives.
One pint of blood is divided in a way to save three lives.
Blood from our area, Anderson said, goes to hospitals in Forsyth and Surry counties to help with trauma situations, surgeries and other incidents which may require blood.
Each Sunday, The Mount Airy News publishes a health calendar, which includes a schedule of local blood drives.
The coming week includes a blood drive Thursday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at White Plains Elementary School; Friday morning at Hugh Chatham in Elkin; Monday from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Pilot Mountain First United Methodist Church hosted by the Pilot Mountain Civic Club; and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Shoals Elementary School.
Wendy Byerly Wood is the associate editor of The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at email@example.com or 719-1923.
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"Where is the best place to store firewood for use over winter?”
Well-seasoned firewood is best stored conveniently close to the house undercover. Do not stack the wood against the wall of any wooden building, for the wood may contain carpenter ants, bark borers or other wood-eating pests. You do not wish them to transfer from the firewood to any structure.
By the same token, do not bring into your home any more wood than will be used in one day's burning. The indoor warmth could cause dormant insects to wake up from their winter sleep and begin to roam about the room.
Not only can it be expected that insects found within the wood move about after awakening, but also wood that has been stored outside for a year or more is likely to have a variety of pests such as earwigs hiding in the woodpile for protection that it affords.
From experience, some homeowners make it a practice to debark firewood before it is carried indoors. It is the bark that has dried and is only loosely attached that most often hides hitchhiking pests. Kindling wood is potentially less likely to harbor a population of pests.
Have you had the chimney inspected before use? Chimney fires occur too frequently because of faulty chimney liners or blocked flues. Observe all safety precautions to keep you and your family safe.
We have endured the earlier invasions of Oriental ladybugs, Western conifer seed bugs and various weevils. Avoid, if possible, setting the stage for a new round of invaders.
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"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size".
~Gertrude S. Wister
Witchhazel (hamamelis spp.)
Today I am sharing with you the special place that late winter blooms have in my heart. If you don't have anything in your gardening blooming right now consider going to the nursery for some plant therapy. Treat yourself for Valentine ’s Day and buy a winter flowering plant. Believe me, it's necessary for your soul.
Hardy Winter Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum)
I'm hoping to plant Hardy Winter Cyclamen this Valentine ’s Day. Then indulge myself with dark chocolate and red wine!
"Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas."
Top Row: Mountain Hemlock, Norway Spruce, Spanish Fir
Middle Row: Colorado Blue Spruce, Grand Fir, North Japanese Spruce
Bottom Row: Oriental Spruce, White Fir, Korean Fir
As the garden quiets down in the winter months take the time to appreciate the texture that conifers bring to the table. With a variety of sizes, shapes and colors these beautiful evergreens can bring a new sense of life to the stillness of cold days.
The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination.
Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta ‘Chief Joseph’)
In the months of winter the color overtone comes across as a bit drape. I don't know if this is my perception due to the short days or the lack of warm sun rays. I try my best to love the winter. I frequently visit the beautiful snow covered mountains, I continue to garden throughout the cold season and I enjoy working in the brisk air. Still I can't stop dreaming about the summer sun....So today I share with you a garden find that brings a smile to my face, a conifer with golden colored pines that evokes memories of warm long days. Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine, may you continue to bring rays of sunshine to our winter gardens.
“For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today for me, is a day to be grateful.
To reflect on the beauty of the world and all that it gives us.
To sit and learn from the lessons of 2012.
To remember all the beautiful smiles it had to deliver.
This New Years Eve I share with you the photo's that bring smiles to a year of remembrance.
"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not. "
I harvested the remaining vegetables from my garden last week, preparing the beds for overwintering. I'm working on building the soil for my garden. The soil mix I purchased is too sandy. It dries out faster than my liking. In hopes to build the soil by spring time I covered the garden beds with a thick layer of homemade compost (3"-4') and topped it off with additional inches of dried leaves.....I'll let you know how it goes.
As I harvested the last of the veggie produce my thoughts wondered to my garden goals of 2013. I have a fascination and love for the pollinators of the garden. Many bees and butterflies visit the veggie beds, but not compared to the different variety of pollinators I see flying around the flowers in the front yard.
My garden goals for next year:
- Build 3 more raised vegetable beds
- Incorporate a large in-ground flower garden to attract additional pollinators.
I hope to create a fun feeding ground for our flying garden friends. Happy Holidays!....and cheers
, to winter planning, outdoor fun and the await for spring.
It's that time of the year where the leaves are ferociously falling and you feel like the cleanup will never end. STOP racking up those leaves and use them to your advantage! Mulch, Mulch, Mulch and your soil will love, love, love you for it!!! I take advantage of my lawn mower this time of year and quickly mow over the fallen leaves in my yard. I leave the mower bag on and dump all the leaf remains in my garden beds. This is when the "microherd" moves in and does MAGIC for my garden, no joke, garden magic.
The Microherd is the millions or maybe billions of beneficial microbes living harmoniously under your soil. They will rock your plants world, turning your common leaf into soil haven. This beneficial herd is comprised of fungi, bacteria, mycelium, isopods, beetles, centipedes, spiders, ants, worms and more. These soil organisms are munching away at the new found food of the leaves, excreting it out and turning your soil into a nutrient rich food for plants. Not only are the living organisms having a party under your soil, they're creating a happy home for your garden.
So, the main lesson of this story is, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR LEAVES!! The Microherd will fertilize your plants for you.
The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Agapanthus seed pods
The connection the garden has to nature is unique in every season. In the fall many plants go to seed, this is a great time to start your seed saving adventures.
SEED: a reproductive structure formed from the maturation of an ovule and containing an embryo and stored food (definition from Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon)
Familiarize yourself with dried seed heads, pods or capsules on your plants. Above you see a seed pod from Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus). Once you understand how your flowers are turning to seed, start collecting them. I usually start by cutting off the stalk and storing the seed pods upside down in a jar or envelope for drying. Don't forget to label to avoid confusion later.
Rudbeckia hirta seed heads
After the seeds are fully dry (approximately 1-2 week) I start to sort and clean. Above you can see Blacked-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) after I dried the seed heads. For these I removed all the dried petals and then slowly started to remove the seeds from the heads. I was careful not to mix too much chaff with the seeds. This can be tedious to remove without a proper sieve. After the seeds are removed and cleaned up I store them in number 1 coin envelopes clearly labeled with the plant name, date and where I harvested them.
Cosmo flower seed heads
The next question is when to sow your seeds, if you’re not familiar with the plant I would recommend doing some research, many perennial seeds can be sown directly in the fall to germinate early spring. A number of the perennials that flower early to mid-summer can be sown right now. Gardening with seeds, I feel is an experiment with in itself. The more you practice the more intuitive it becomes. It’s incredibly rewarding to plant a tiny seed and watch it mature into a beautiful flower.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
- John Muir
Last week I went on a beautiful hike to Mason Lake via the Ira Spring Memorial Trail
. If you haven't heard of Ira Spring you should read up about him here
. He was an outdoorsman who followed his love for Washington's wilderness all throughout his life. He helped convince the Forest Service that this trail needed to be reconstructed to become more hiker friendly. His vision came true and in 2004 the trail was dedicated to him.
The views along the hike were stunning and Mason Lake was a picturesque final destination. The fall colors are now vivid and beautiful As I was hiking along the trail I wondered what native tree's and plant's might be most appropriate to bring out the autumn colors to the garden.
The Vine Maple (Acer circinatum
) is the first that comes to mind. This under-story tree often has a rainbow of fall color. Check out a more extensive list of fall color plants below.
Enjoy the change of the season, plant some color in the garden and find inspiration within the mountains on a fall color hike
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I have taken some time to read the articles you have referred to. In them I have found:
that the invading placental trophoblast cells express HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) family known as HLA-C.
that the maternal receptors that recognize and interact with HLA-C are the KIR family (Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors).
that genetic differences and combinations in two gene families (HLA and KIR) are a risk factor for preeclampsia.
that during early pregnancy, trophoblast cells, invade into the uterus and tap into the mother’s blood supply to sustain the growing baby.
- The hypothesis
that initial or primary failure of the placenta to implant correctly into the uterus or womb causes insufficient blood supply to the unborn baby and could cause preeclampsia.
- The hypothesis
that sometimes the combination of these genes (HLA and KIR) from mother and baby could result in inadequate invasion and lead to preeclampsia.
I would have to agree with you that when there is evidence of failure of the placenta to implant normally in very early stages of the pregnancy in PE, this would be an important argument against the renal vein compression hypothesis. (Or, at least it would mean renal compression is not involved in all “forms” of preeclampsia) However, I didn’t find this evidence.
An alternative is not impossible: The placenta keeps on growing during a normal pregnancy. When a normal developing placenta and unborn baby are confronted with vasoconstrictive spinal arteries and arteriole and are deprived of oxygen, this could lead to damage and cell death in the placenta. Because of be increased possibility for exudation the contact between placental trophoblast cells with maternal leukocytes could then take place. In the end this could account for the placental changes observed in preeclampsia.
I agree with you that new studies on left side sleeping have methodological difficulties. Double blind is impossible and randomization difficult. An option would be to take a large enough population of pregnant women and study the effect of advising left side sleeping on the incidence of preeclampsia. If this results in a clear drop in incidence this could become an treatment option.
There already have been studies in the past that had encouraging results in al small population of women at risk of preeclampsia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6846433
The renal compression hypothesis itself could be confirmed by studying the renal vein diameter, RAS reaction and blood pressure in reaction on different women body positions. But read the references of the article, a lot of evidence is already available
. There is for instance a clear dilatation of the left renal vein in preeclampsia. (Just before it crosses between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery.)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11243294
This would be difficult to explain without the renal vein compression hypthesis.
Stenting could become an option in women in which the renal vein blockage is clearly visualized.
Finally, as you state preeclampsia is very much a human disease. This is (in my opinion) because animals do not tend to sleep on their back.
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I am amazed at the number of people who confide in me that their fear of speaking at a lectern or even at the head of a boardroom table is jeopardizing their career advancement. This is so unfortunate because their fear is control of them instead of the other way around.
Everyone is nervous in public speaking – or should be. Personally, I want you nervous because it makes you more alert and more focused. The secret, however, lies in harnessing that nervousness and putting it to good use.
If you believe that you are going to fail, then indeed you will probably not do a good job. But what if you could look at the situation differently? If you know your material by practicing it out loud over and over; and, in the process, record yourself – preferably with a video recorder – so that you can see and hear what is happening, you will learn a lot about your strengths and your weaknesses.
As you diligently practice your material, be sure to:
I guarantee that if you can accomplish these 3 requirements, you will be successful. Yes, you might make a mistake or two but then so do the professionals. They all do. Broadcasters, public speakers, and even presidential candidates make mistakes. It is not the end of the world. (Lots of mistakes, however, mean that you are not prepared and that should never be.)
If you really look at those 3 components of dynamic speaking, they are the exact same things you do when you have a conversation with one or more people. You make eye contact; you speak with expression; and you interrupt your sentences to supplement your air supply.
Instead of avoiding what frightens you, might I suggest that you look at the idea of public speaking as surprisingly similar to that of having a conversation in your living room or at the office water cooler? Do not allow your fear to hold you back from advancing in your career. All it takes is practice and the belief in yourself.
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HAMILTON, Alexander (1684-1763), of Innerwick and of Ballencrieff, Linlithgow.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Family and Education
b. 1684, o.s. of James Hamilton of Ballencrieff by Margaret, da. of Sir Thomas Nicholson, 2nd Bt., of Carnock, Stirling. m. bef. 1724, Lady Margaret Kerr, da. of William, 2nd Mq. of Lothian [S], 5s. 1da. suc. fa. 1687.
Sec. for Scotland to Prince of Wales by 1733-7; postmaster gen. [S] 1746-d.
The Hamiltons of Innerwick acquired their lands in the fourteenth century. Alexander Hamilton, whose wardship and marriage were granted to George Baillie in 1692, succeeded his kinsman, Sir Francis Hamilton, 3rd Bt., to the name but not the lands of Innerwick in 1714.1 Returned unopposed for the county with the backing of Lord Hopetoun in 1727 and again after a contest in 1734, he voted with the Administration in all recorded divisions. He did not stand in 1741 but was given a place in 1746. He died 28 Dec. 1763.
Ref Volumes: 1715-1754
Author: R. S. Lea
- 1. G. Hamilton, House of Hamilton, 505.
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8 Dec 2010
A Transition Take on the Big Society (seeking comments and input)
One of the actions from the day held by Transition Network in Bristol in September to reflect on the Big Society was to produce a document on what was raised there. Peter Lipman and myself took on that task , and, based on the thoughts and ideas generated at the day, have produced the following, entitled “A Transition Take on the Big Society”. We would love your thoughts and input… please use the comments box below…
What is Transition Network?
Transition Network was set up in 2007 to inspire, support, network and train Transition initiatives around the world. Its stated objective is … “to catalyse and support community responses to peak oil and climate change, building resilience and happiness”. There are now 320 formal Transition initiatives around the world, and many more ‘mullers’, those mulling whether to become formal or not. It is motivated by the twin issues of peak oil and climate change, and argues that these two issues mean that the world will be inherently more localised, and that at present our communities exist with a perilous absence of resilience. Transition initiatives around the world are busy creating local food projects, looking at street-by-street behaviour change, working with their councils, and much more. As Madeline Bunting, writing in the Guardian, wrote in 2009:
“…if you want to catch a glimpse of the kinds of places outside the political mainstream where the new politics might be incubated, take a look at the Transition movement … it isn’t so hard to see why politicians are so interested. The Transition movement is engaging people in a way that conventional politics is failing to do. It generates emotions that have not been seen in political life for a long time: enthusiasm, idealism and passionate commitment”.
So, what is the Big Society?
In this piece we’ll be looking at the Big Society but also other, closely associated strands of the coalition government’s policies, such as localism, deregulation and spending cuts. David Cameron, on launching the Tory manifesto before the election, contrasted the “big society” with “big government”, and described a big society as one “where people ask not ‘who’s going to make things better?’ but ‘how can I – and how can we together – make things better?’” Although what it will actually mean in practice is still emerging, some underlying core principles appear to be that:
- state intervention/regulation which is meant to promote social cohesion/capital actually corrodes it
- the voluntary/community sector is better placed to improve society than is the state, and the private sector can help ensure that this is done efficiently
- there are no rights without a responsibility to consider the rights of others.
Therefore government tells us that it will reform the public sector, empower communities and bolster philanthropic action, acting on “what the state can do for you, what we can do for ourselves and what we can do for others”. What will this mean in practice? Rolling back the state, including abolishing state agencies and looking for solutions to social breakdown involving third sector and social enterprises partnering local public and private sectors. In addition there appears to be a strong assumption that the private sector will be led by the market to being socially minded (and so that it is best to de-regulate).
Communities will gain 3 core rights under the Big Society – to buy (save), to bid and to build. Apparently the right to buy will enable communities to save local facilities and services threatened with closure, the right to bid will be a right to take over local state-run services and that to build will be a right to decide on planning issues.
All of this thinking is linked to current government thinking about promotion of localism and cutting budgets, and brings with it significant threats and potential opportunities. The former include a strong likelihood that more locally driven agendas could ignore wider societal goals such as acting on climate change and energy security. Further, there appears to be an assumption at the heart of the Big Society that if you make powers available to people they will have the time and the capacity to use them.
Crucially this whole agenda is likely to be associated with the removal of state intervention and funding without real provision for needed projects – where’s the money? At the moment it is hard to see how the planned cuts in government spending won’t completely undermine some of the objectives we’re being told are integral to the Big Society. The Big Society is aimed at people in more deprived areas, areas where parenting programmes, crisis centres, projects that tackle crime, support groups, after school clubs etc. can make an enormous difference. Following the spending review many of these projects are likely to struggle, and it’s not clear what will fill the gap beyond an expectation of communities doing these things for themselves with support from civil society organisations.
And when it comes to climate change – we now have a legally binding obligation to meet our climate targets. The planning system could be used to massively support that by (for example) very stringently reducing the amount of car parking to be allowed in any new development on a national and regional basis, eliminating competition re parking allocations between neighbouring cities and towns. However we’re seeing many of the planning levers that would enable this being ripped up, with decisions left to the far more local level. In the face of a widespread inclination to short-termism and in the face of other, more immediate concerns, that is deeply concerning because we desperately need really substantial, urgent action on climate change. The same analysis applies to resource scarcity and security issues, which from a transition perspective are best tackled by an empowered, active community level being strongly supported by national frameworks and infrastructures.
At the same time there may be opportunities – although these are not yet clear. For example, the fact that there is going to be a whole new generation of community organisers supporting the creation of neighbourhood groups could be very beneficial. On the other hand, what actual financial support will there be for these programmes? Or are they all going to be programmes that are there to take advantage of only if you’ve got the time and resource to do so? So what’s good about this? It should enable engagement and participation and in theory more control over what happens to us …..
More about our concerns about the Big Society
Some of our further concerns at this point revolve around the following:
- Business is viewed as entirely benign: there is an underlying assumption that business always has the best interests of the community at heart and that it always operates in the best interests of society. While this may undoubtedly may sometimes be the case, to see it as a universal constant is dangerous – in fact the underlying constraint on business in our current system of having to seek to make maximum profits and grow connects to many of the issues we face today. We not only need to look peak oil and climate change in the face, but also to look in the face the economic model that has led to them.
- This is no time for smaller government in all areas: a core idea of the Big Society is the idea that power be devolved as close to local communities as possible while at the same time reducing national and other scales of government’s sphere of influence. While we celebrate the re-empowering of communities, we feel the contraction of government to be perilous in the context of issues which need to dealt with at a national as well as a local level. For example, if ever there was an issue that necessitated a strong and co-ordinated response from central government, it is climate change. To give control over, for example, whether new windfarms are approved (the government is committed to a 5-fold increase in on-shore wind by 2020) to local Councils who routinely refuse them is a sure route to a low carbon economy never happening. There is a very real danger that strong local agendas will over-rule and derails vital wider social goals.
- Social justice: what we see in Transition is that often those who get engaged, offering their voluntary time, are people with some spare time and with particular skills, and a confidence that their input of energy will make a difference. In more disadvantaged communities, these things are in short supply, so the Big Society does not operate in a level playing field – for the Big Society to work it would require a lot of investment in beefing up social enterprises and the voluntary sector rather than a rapid removal of support.
- It does not draw from the experience of NGOs: a wide range of organisations have many years’ experience of community development and of enabling resilience-building at the local level. Yet David Cameron is quoted as saying “civil society does not emerge of its own accord”, arguing the it needs to be catalysed by national government. That is not the experience of Transition initiatives the length and breadth of the country.
- The underlying narrative is not transparent – or congruent with transition: this, for us, is the most important point. The Big Society is associated with localism, cuts in spending and de-regulation as opposed to community-led re-localisation. While we agree with the need to give more power to local government and local communities, how and why that is done is crucial. What we have done in Transition is to create a powerful story, around resilience and localisation, around unleashing the creative genius of communities to respond brilliantly to times of great challenge. At the end of this paper, we set out what such a story for the Big Society might look like.
Big Society Opportunities
There is undoubtedly much to celebrate in the idea of the Big Society. Its emphasis on the need for greater community involvement in decision making, greater community ownership of assets, the rights to bid, buy and build, and on promoting social enterprise are to be applauded, but of course need to be supported and enabled. Also, the emphasis on removing the barriers to communities making things happen is very welcome.
The Distinction Between Localisation and Localism
Often, the terms ‘localism’ and ‘localisation’ are used relatively interchangeably, but it is important at this stage to note that they refer to different things. Localism refers to a decentralising of political decision-making. Janice Morphet defines it as “a means of improving democratic accountability, providing a local mandate, and producing inter-agency approaches to localities”.
Localism can therefore be seen as being primarily concerned with governance, while localisation, on the other hand, is a wider, more far-reaching adjustment of economic focus from the global to the local. Colin Hines defines localisation as “a process which reverses the trend of globalisation by discriminating in favour of the local”. Michael Shuman, an advocate of localisation in the US adds that:
“…it means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self sufficient, and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back to the community where it belongs”.
We tentatively argue that localism therefore focuses on political structures, the devolution of governance, the application of subsidiarity to democracy, while localisation focuses instead on the practicalities of building more localised economies, in terms of food, energy, manufacturing and so on, which may necessarily include governance. The Big Society promotes localism, but as it is currently configured, will only promote localisation by accident, or if communities take the lead and push for that agenda.
A National Perspective
As it is presently configured, Transition Network has taken a position of not endorsing the notion of the Big Society. The lack of a social justice aspect, and the danger that, in terms of what are perceived as unfair cuts to public services which penalise the poor more than the rich, means that the Big Society is little more a small sticking plaster on a large and gaping wound. While we recognise its potential, and the value of many of the tools being brought online, and remain committed to helping shape it if asked, in its current form we feel it to be something we cannot endorse.
A Local Perspective
For local Transition initiatives however, the Big Society may well be very useful. Certainly for initiatives with Conservative local councils or MPs, it offers a common language and an affirmation of the value of what Transition groups are trying to do. It is hoped that some of the mechanisms, and the potential of financial support via the Big Society Bank, are things that will be able to support Transition groups in their work creating social enterprises on the ground designed to put local, resilient enterprises in place.
A New Narrative for the Big Society
As was discussed above, a key criticism of the Big Society is the absence of a transparent and overarching narrative to underpin it. In the context of the UK’s perilous lack of energy security and the urgent need to show leadership on climate change, we feel that were the narrative of the Big Society to reflect this, to stress the positive opportunities that would emerge from a national process of resilience building, strengthening local economies, and reskilling people for this, then it has the potential to be an enormous force for good. We would suggest that the following might be a good place to start in terms of a new narrative:
“By 2014, the intention of the Big Society is to have achieved the following outcomes:
- 2000 new community or social enterprise owned urban market gardens, on land permanently excluded from future development, running as commercial enterprises but also with a training component
- 500 new ‘Food Hubs’, making local food available to poorer communities at cheaper-than-supermarket’ prices, modelled on Stroud’s ‘Stroudco’ food hub. These would be community-owned social enterprises
- 40,000 people trained in domestic retrofitting and energy efficiency, with a larger target of retrofitting every UK property by 2020
- 1 million fruit or nut bearing trees to be planted in, or around, our towns and cities, akin to the Millennium Forest project, but this time based on productive plantings
- 3,000 self-build schemes to be underway which use 80% local materials as a way of stimulating and creating a local economy around the production and processing of local building materials.
These are just some initial thoughts, but the idea is clear, that the Big Society needs to be about the reskilling, the refocusing, the reimagining of a more local and resilient future, one which actually addresses the challenges of peak oil and climate change. This needs targets, it needs a story to underpin it, the story of a government, of a culture, which looked peak oil and climate change square in the face, and responded with creativity, adaptability and compassion.
We aim to find common ground with people whenever we can, while being clear about our differences at the same time. In the case of the Big Society, perhaps the criticisms set out above stem from the fact that we and the coalition governments have different understandings of what why we’re in crisis, and different visions of the future. Despite that, from our perspective there is potential in the Big Society, a once-off opportunity for an engaging and supporting of community endeavour and a shift of power to the local level. However, at present, it is perfectly possible that the Big Society will do little to impact on the communities being worst affected by government cuts, will in fact hamper any chances of a co-ordinated response to climate change, will do little to make local economies more economically resilient, or to reduce their vulnerabilities to impending oil price volatilities. Were there to be a strong narrative underpinning this, as has been set out above, and learning from the experience of transition initiatives and other community-led groups, we feel it would have exciting potential. This is captured in this oft-cited, but very relevant quotation:
“If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather, teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”.
Morphet, J. (2004) The New Localism. Town and Country Planning. 73 (10). 291-3.
Hines, C. (2000) Localisation: A Global Manifesto. London, Earthscan Publishing Ltd.
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Booktalk for Ways to Live Forever
- Grades: 3–5
About this book
Sam looks for answers, makes lists, and wants to find the way to live forever, even though he has terminal cancer.
We're all going to die, sooner or later, we just don't know exactly when or why. But Sam has a better idea about that than most people do. He has leukemia, and it's in the final stages. He doesn't have long to live, maybe just a few months. And he is writing a book about himself, a collection of lists, stories, pictures, questions, and facts. It begins with list number one.
Five Facts about Me
1. My name is Sam.
2. I am eleven years old.
3. I collect stories and fantastic facts.
4. I have leukemia.
5. By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.
He also writes down all his questions that adults won't answer. They just slip around them, and say something that doesn't really mean anything, and never answer the question. Some of those questions are:
1. How do you know that you've died?
2. Why does God make kids sick?
3. What would happen if someone wasn't really dead, and people thought they were? Would they get buried alive?
4. Does it hurt to die?
Get to know Sam. Read his stories, his questions, his lists. What he wants to do before he dies. What he wants other people to do after he dies. How he wants people to remember him, and how he figures out that there are ways for him to live forever.
This booktalk was written by university professor, librarian, and booktalking expert Joni Richards Bodart.
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Environmentalists Seek Marine Protection for Parts of Northwest Atlantic
BOSTON Parts of the northwest Atlantic Ocean stretching from Cape Cod in Massachusetts to the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia in Canada should be declared off-limits to fishing and other human activities in order to protect threatened marine species, two environmental groups said Monday.
The Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund-Canada recommended creating 30 marine reserves extending 10 miles (16 kilometers) to 200 miles (322 kilometers) from shore.
The proposed zones include productive fishing areas, however, and creating the reserves in U.S. waters would require federal authorization.
A fishing industry official worried that closing large areas permanently could make it harder for fishermen to earn a living.
"They have to be very careful not to close an area that is producing a lot of net benefit to the nation," Vito Giacalone of the Northeast Seafood Coalition told The Boston Globe newspaper.
The groups said they used computer technology to identify offshore areas where a large number of species could be protected while imposing the fewest restrictions.
Source: Associated Press
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So many events in the past year have pivoted internet security as the number one most important focus for everyone here at global advanced media. I am sure people have seen news reports about major hacking and web sites being shut down, but there have been many more smaller businesses affected by attacks and that has changed the primary focus for our SEO team, web design team, and web site hosting team quite a bit the past year.
I remember the good old days when designers could focus on making new designs and adding original content. Our search engine optimization and search marketing teams focused exclusively on web sites performing well in the search engines. Our web hosting team focused solely on customer service for minor things like email setup. With all the attacks an exploits going around the web, we have learned that security needs to be the primary focus.
There have been several times in the year when we had to pause all projects and focus squarely on fixing hacks, updating security and repairing damage done to sites. Search engine marketing does not work if sites are hacked. Web site hosting is now more focused on recurring backups and checking for exploited files or un-patched scripts. Designers are not forced to think more about securing designs and choosing code that is less likely to fall prey to malicious systems.
All of our teams are now working to instruct people at the various businesses we work with on how to be more proactive about viruses, password security, and more. So far we have been able to recover completely from all the hacking attempts this year, and have made sure our checklist for clients includes strong passwords, and systems that double check backups as well as keep a closer eye on updates and intrusion attempts.
Billing clients for the extra work is a challenge, as it is difficult to explain to the average web site owner exactly how important all of these things are, and the amounts of time needed vary greatly depending on how many updates are needed watch month – but it’s something we are working on.
Anyone who is using wordpress on their web site should seriously consider adding the limit login attempts plugin, and the si captcha plugin (even if you only enable it on your login page) – we also suggest making sure that someone is keeping your wordpress up to date with the latest versions, and making backups in case the newer version break current themes or other plugins that are necessary for the functionally of your site.
Of course backups and updates are suggested for all systems, make sure your anti-virus is up to date or get a new one. Make sure you update and do not ignore updates for flash and java as well. If one employee at your office ignores these updates, surfs facebook, and downloads emails – this is a recipe for disaster.
I also suggest that everyone test their backups at least once a year, preferably every 3 months. Get a backup computer or server and start from scratch with your backups. Is all of your data safe? Is it all recoverable? How long does it take? You definitely need to know this before you find out the hard way.
We have been consulting with a client about opening a new chat portals and community web site. There are many premium options for establishing an online presence in the chat and social software arenas, and we suggest several. For clients on a tight launch budget, we recommend free and open source software to get started.
Many of our clients are in the early launch and beta test phases of new web projects, and the early steps of new online business models require at least some web presence to get started. We know that everyone wants to have a super slick, tricked out, full featured web site, but when funding is tight, getting things started is more important that getting things full blown and polished.
It doesn’t take a lot to show concepts and get options from colleagues, teammates and investors. We have found by installing basic software and apps, giving people a demo of how things will flow, and showing some rough examples of color schemes is the best way to launch a new project. Many times we have seen clients spend time and money developing the web site’s look at feel with fancy graphics, only to have them completely reworked later in the public announcement phase. This is why we suggest getting the core functionality first, and then develop the look and feel later.
With all that in mind, we have a pre-launch of the new online chat forums up and running. It’s a start, and a great skeleton for future development.
There are plenty of how instructions out there about how to keep your wordpress site secure, how to keep it from being hacked. For the average user it’s even easier today as many WP installations have the ability to upgrade with the click of a button from inside the administration dashboard. Sometimes I wait to upgrade when a new version comes out, thinking that a new newer version will be available a week or so later, sometimes that bites you in the butt.
The auto-upgrade doesn’t worth with all web servers or WP installs. I have several WP sites that I administer in which I have to manually upload all the new files and such. Not a big deal for one site, but having to do that for twenty web sites becomes a bit of time consuming work, especially if there are plugin upgrades needed. Some of the web servers I maintain have fantistico installers that are suppose to make upgrading very easy with one click to do it. Unfortunately fantsistico is slow to get the updates out, or the man web host I work with are slow to add the fantistico updates, so at times we wait for weeks to have the latest WP update available with that method. If it’s a major security bug update, then we end up doing all those manually – many more hours spent with repetitious ftp.
This is mainly a rant, and certainly any of WP gurus out there will just say that I should upgrade my servers to root access dedicated or VPS – sure that’d be great, but not in the budget any time soon. Keeping your site secure is important. I suppose my suggestion to people would be to find a hot when the one click upgrade is available, and make backups of your database.
I would love to have one solid stable version of WP that did not need to be updated ever, and new features could be rolled out as optional plugins. There are some new features that may make a manual upgrade worth the time and hassle, but a majority of the new features I can live without, I just want to live with a basic secure blogging platform.
A recent post at performancing is asking bloggers what they consider essential ingredients for a good wordpress theme. I’m going to go a step further and not only list some ingredients for a good wordpress theme, but some of the features that I look for when trying to find a great theme for wordpress sites.
The first thing I look for when trying to find a theme is the overall color scheme and how the sidebars are laid out. Some of my associates who use wordpress want cartoony fun themes, but a majority of my clients want something that is professional to a degree, so finding a basic, business like color scheme is important most of the time.
Sidebar layouts are my next consideration, and overall navigation are issues. This has changed a bit now that wordpress allows for quick end user modification of sidebar ordering with the widgets, so dynamic sidebar is considered a necessity – and is available on every theme I’ve seen for a while. Even with dynamic sidebars, sometimes a web site only needs one sidebar, so depending on the deployment, I will often skip themes that have 2 sidebars.
Validation and looks that work in firefox and multiple versions of IE are essential. I’ve found a few themes that include CSS hacks to make them look right in different versions of popular browsers, and I really appreciate that! It could be embarrassing to have a good tlooking theme only to have it break when you are showing it off and your client or friend is using an old IE browser or something.
Changeable header graphics – good themes allow the end user to change the colors of the header and upload and crop a custom image. If the theme has a default header and no way for the end user to upload and crop, then I am disappointed. No big deal for me to create graphics and ftp them to change header images, but there are a lot of users out there who want or need to upload through the browser. This also saves some of us administrators from having to ftp when clients change their minds.
What makes a theme great?
Changing color schemes within theme options is a great option. I have found a few themes that allow for total change of the color scheme with a simple click, this is great when you find a layout that you approve of and need a different overall look. Sometimes a them has this option, but you do not see those options when surfing theme thumbnails, and that’s a huge loss for everyone when a good theme is missed because the default color schemes is all you see, when there are other color options built in. The furry family theme being used on Nashville pet watch has some great color scheme options, even the default graphics change to match the various color options. You can’t see that by looking at the default thumbnail that shows at wordpress.org, but it’s one of the things that makes the theme great!
Navigation is important, I lean toward themes that have pages navigation in the top header area, and this is especially true if the theme designer would make it possible to widgetize that somehow, so the end user could go into widgets area and exclude pages from the navigation. Some themes have these options in theme options area – very nice. Of course I can go in and manually hack the code to only show which pages we need, but having the pages navigation at the top is a big bonus. If the pages have css button highlighted for rollover of the pages then that definitely attracts me to it more. Added bonuses for options top “back to the top of page” buttons as the fusion theme we are currently using has. One of my recent favorite themes has three widgets in the footer that are changeable – and that allows for the end user to add further navigation at the bottom of a blog, and that makes for a better surfer experience and encourages reading to stay on site reading more. I love that.
If the sidebars have place holders for advertising graphics that is a big bonus. For some selling ad space is a necessity, some themes have them options that allow you to select the graphics and corresponding url for the ads to click to. Having an option to rel-nofollow those links would be icing on the cake. Having the option to set the ads to be 125 x125 or 125 x 250 would be great, and if there was a standard google adsense ad size setup for the sidebar would be awesome. Ad graphics in the sidebar can add some professional blog to a blog that may appear as just another personal wordpress blog without those graphics.
I like matching graphics for column headers in the sidebar. If a theme has just text, that is plain and boring, sure we can change the style some with css if it has special classes for them and not simply an h-two class for example, but having graphical headers or at least css button styling for sidebar widgets gives a theme extra professionalism. The top notch themes we use also have matching graphics created for other options like rss feed, and feedburner email signups, etc.
Custom pages. When a theme comes with a few unique page layouts, I get all fuzzy inside. It’s such an added touch of professionalism to have a few custom page options that incorporate matching theme graphics for a 3 picture layout for example, one with a nice layout for picture gallery, another for a video perhaps, and maybe one with buttons for email / contact / register, stuff like that.
It is so much easier for a theme designer to crank out a few matching buttons while they have photoshop open, then it is for blog owners to try to re-create the wheel one color picking match up at a time. I have customized one theme for use simply because it came with a big matching “register now” button for the sidebar. It gave the wordpress site the look of a professional web site, looking nothing like a blog, mainly because of the one matching custom graphic that came with it.
Themes get extra greatness in my mind if they have buttons for the blog reader to make the text bigger.
a few caveats – them options are great – but too many cause problems – it’s not good to be confused by theme options – when they are needed, explanation of how they work is essential. Having so many options that it slows down the blog displaying on readers’ screens is a problem. I was blown away by the options available for the Atahualpa theme, impressive programming, but slowing down page loads is a bad idea, especially considering most bloggers are using shared hosts that can slow down enough on their own.
What is with the search graphics that disappear from some themes when you go dynamic with widgets. I use a great theme on tow blog sites that have great matching search graphics until the sidebar is widgetized, then the graphics disappear and it becomes a blank box.
This post was inspired by the contest for premium themes club membership that I found at performancing. After writing this post I took a look around their site and I must say that I am quite impressed at how modern they appear to be. I can’t wait to look into their themes further, and I may have to sign up for their affiliate program to promote the premium theme site.
A couple of new – or relaunched web sites from the Tn area, mainly Nashville. We love working with new web site clients, although it is quite challenging to teach people at first what they need to consider, once the new site is up and running it’s great to see concept become a reality.
Nashville pet watch and pet sitting is a new web site for people who need their animals watched when going out of town. It’s a new web site, but it’s coming together quickly and shows how a wordpress powered site can look more like a web site and less like a blog.
Another wordpress powered site for a Tennessee group is the shift the lines talk show podcast being launched on break it down radio dot com.
Both of these sites are harnessing the power of wordpress as a multi-user CMS, and they employ some basic template modifications that make them look like a professional web site rather than an out of the box blog.
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January 31, 2013
WALTER RUSSELL MEAD: Intrepid Citizens Save Timbuktu’s Priceless Manuscripts. “Once again civilization survives barbarism: Timbuktu’s ancient literary treasures were not destroyed after all. In a classic example of how the uncertainty of war can make bad reporters of us all, local accounts apparently vastly exaggerated the damage done to the city’s legendary library. Not only was the place not burned to the ground—as the city’s mayor claimed—but the manuscripts themselves were removed from the library by Malians last year.” Well, good.
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State’s crop estimated at nearly $6.6 billion for 2008The value of North Dakota crop production last year nearly equaled the record set in 2007, despite tumbling commodity prices toward the end of 2008.
By: By Blake Nicholson, The Associated Press , The Jamestown Sun
BISMARCK — The value of North Dakota crop production last year nearly equaled the record set in 2007, despite tumbling commodity prices toward the end of 2008.
The Agriculture Department estimated the total value of all crops in the state last year at $6.59 billion, down just 1 percent from the record 2007 total of $6.65 billion.
The small drop is not surprising given that some farmers were able to contract early last year for high prices before the commodity markets went into a nosedive, said Dwight Aakre, a farm management specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.
North Dakota farmers last year also produced 5 percent more bushels of two major crops — spring wheat and corn. Corn production in the state set a record.
That helped the value of the two crops. Though both declined over the year, the drops were not steep — spring wheat decreased from the 2007 record by $18.5 million, to $1.72 billion; and corn dropped by $8.8 million, to $1.1 billion. Together, the drops amounted to about 1 percent.
“Production-wise, the spring wheat crop helped temper some of the price drop,” said Jim Peterson, marketing director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
Peterson also said that while wheat prices were around $20 a bushel in the spring of 2007, the average spring wheat price over that marketing year was less than half that amount.
“That’s why the year-to-year difference isn’t so dramatic,” he said.
A 39 percent jump in the value of the North Dakota barley crop also pushed up the overall 2008 crop production value. Barley was valued at a record $423 million.
Barley production in the state increased 11 percent from 2007 and was nearly double the 2006 production, when low prices soured many farmers on the crop.
North Dakota is the nation’s largest barley producing state, typically accounting for more than a third of the total U.S. crop. Farmers and industry officials attribute the 2008 production increase to higher prices that led to more acres, and to ideal growing conditions in the eastern part of the state.
The Agriculture Department computes the value of production for each crop by multiplying the average price over the marketing year by the production.
The record production value set in 2007 in North Dakota was largely the result of market prices that skyrocketed because of tight global supplies for most commodities, Aakre said. Farmers worldwide then grew more crops last year, pushing up stocks and lowering prices.
“The (poor) overall economic health of the U.S. and overseas also was a big factor” in price drops last year, Aakre said.
Still, the high commodity prices of 2007 carried over into the first half of 2008. “It was only the last four, five months that market prices started tumbling,” Aakre said.
In North Dakota, four crops besides barley increased in value over the year: dry edible beans, winter wheat, canola and hay. All other crops, including durum wheat, soybeans, sunflowers and potatoes, saw declines in value. Sugar beet production values were not yet available for 2008.
Nationwide, the total value of 2007 crop production was estimated at $134 billion, down from $136 billion in 2006, the Agriculture Department said.
On the Net:
N.D. Agricultural Statistics Service: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics—by—State/North—Dakota/index.asp
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President Obama, joined by emergency responders Tuesday at the White House, encourages Congress to avoid sequester. / Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images
Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. But as longtime friends, they can often find common ground on issues that lawmakers in Washington cannot.
BOB:There's nothing like talking about budgets to bore people, but the federal budget is about to affect millions of Americans. In 2011, President Obama signed the Budget Control Act, which created an equally split, bipartisan congressional "super committee" to cut the deficit by $1.5 trillion in 10 years through revenue increases and budget cuts.
CAL:They're already being affected with smaller paychecks, thanks to the return of higher payroll taxes and withholding from the latest round of tax hikes. Still, congressional Democrats and the president want more. But to your point, let me tap my memory bank: They found no common ground?
BOB:Right you are. According to the Budget Control Act, if the committee failed to come up with the budget reductions, automatic cuts of $1.2 trillion would be implemented on Jan. 1, 2013. Those cuts, called sequestration, would cut $600 billion from domestic programs and $600 billion from defense. On Jan. 1, the Congress passed a two-month extension, until March 1, before the cuts took effect.
CAL:That can they keep kicking down the road must be rusty by now. Only Washington could come up with a term like sequestration. I wonder how many kids could spell the word without using spell check? With only a few days before the deadline, what is being done?
BOB: Glad you asked. Most economists agree that the draconian cuts from sequestration would bring the slow economic recovery we are seeing to a standstill. With that in mind, you might think Congress would be burning the midnight oil to avoid hurting the economy. Instead, Congress is taking a one-week vacation. Is this any way to conduct the people's business, Cal?
CAL:We need a vacation from them so they might stop giving us the business! But look, Bob, what should outrage most Americans is that Congress plays this game too often and taxpayers end up as the victims in a game of bait and switch.
CAL:Anytime someone suggests spending should be cut, the usual suspects go nuts. Their predictions register on the scare meter like a meteor striking the Earth or a Carnival cruise ship with inoperable toilets. A recent New York Timeseditorial forecast the sequester would cause bad meat from fewer food inspectors, flight backups from furloughed air controllers, the collapse of Head Start (which isn't working beyond third grade), homeless families, starving women and children. You get the picture. It's political extortion.
BOB: Since sequestration generally exempts Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, finding a way to cut $1.5 trillion in 10 years is virtually impossible. Anyone who follows the growing federal deficit knows that reforming entitlements is the only hope for tackling the deficit. Republicans, understandably, are not going to touch entitlements unless they lock arms with Democrats to take on the "third rail" of American politics, aka entitlements.
CAL:I completely agree, Bob. Seniors need to get on board to make it safe for politicians to move forward toward genuine reform that will strengthen, not harm, these benefit programs. Better outreach must be made to seniors so they understand that doing nothing will hurt their children and grandchildren when they retire. How about appeals to family loyalty?
BOB: Most Democrats don't want to touch entitlement reform. This is unrealistic. President Obama offered some hope in his State of the Union Address where he left open the possibility of adjusting entitlement formulas, but that will be a tough sell in his own party.
CAL: Yes, and we both know why. For too long, Democrats have used the issue to beat Republicans to the point where Republicans are afraid to touch it unless they have support from Democrats. I give you examples of when George W. Bush proposed Social Security reform and Rep. Paul Ryan did the same with Medicare. They are still licking their wounds.
BOB: Most politicians in both parties think sequestration is inevitable, at least for a period of time. Some Republicans have floated the idea of taking the entire $1.2 trillion out of domestic programs, leaving defense alone. If that weren't so laughable it would be disgraceful. Whoever thought that idea up must have stopped in Colorado and sampled some newly legal weed!
CAL: It might not be a bad thing, something like going cold turkey on drugs. But sequestration won't be "cold turkey." It will be slowly phased in, but I'm betting the news media will find horror stories to scare people, as they did during the government shutdown in the early 1990s. Remember closed libraries, parks and the Washington Monument? Too much of the media ignored the real spending problem and likely will again.
BOB: Both the Pentagon and those departments that oversee domestic spending say sequestration would cause cataclysmic consequences. Without addressing entitlements and revenue, they are right. President Obama has called for reforming the tax code to do away with loopholes for wealthy Americans and big corporations. Republicans, of course, reject the idea. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that the president has all the revenue he's going to get. In Mitch's words, "Been there, done that." How shortsighted.
CAL: You might agree with me that the funniest line from this sequestration issue has (and there's still time for more) come from Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who said that cutting the pay of members of Congress would undermine the "dignity" of their jobs. I think they're doing that quite well without any help, according to polls, which show their favorability lower than cockroaches and colonoscopies.
In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes diverse opinions from outside writers, including our Board of Contributors.
Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com
Read the original story: Common Ground: Sequester cuts won't get at real problem
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Fareed Zakaria is a prolific Indian-American journalist, author and commentator. He is an editor-at-large of Time magazine, hosts a show on CNN, has written three books, and is a regular contributor to various journals and papers, including the prominent journal Foreign Affairs, which he edited from 1992 to 2000.
Mr. Zakaria was recently in Mumbai to film a documentary on India’s politics and economy for CNN. He took time out from filming to meet with India Ink at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in southern Mumbai to discuss a wide range of topics, from America’s domestic problems to India’s place in the world — as well as what a Mumbai native like him makes of this rapidly transforming mega-city.
You recently wrote that India is going through its own version of the Arab Spring. Can you explain?
The average person in the Arab world was stuck in a system that simply was not performing and delivering.
Now it is true that India is very different. India has been a democracy for 65 years. Sixty percent of the Indian electorate is women, and yet when you look at how women fare in any international ranking, India fares poorly. So clearly there is some problem that democracy has not solved for the emancipation and empowerment of women.
It derives from the fact that much of the oppression we see in India comes from society and not the state. In India the oppression you find is social oppression, because of caste or religion or ethnicity, and most acutely in terms of gender.
You are finally beginning to see these forces of oppression challenged, for three reasons. The first is democracy, which has certainly enabled people. The second is capitalism, which produces this great churn where anyone can succeed. The third is technology. I’ve been struck by the degree to which, just like in the Arab Spring, the media has been able to publicize this issue of women’s rights.
The urban issue has become a national issue. This is a reflection of the rise of a much bigger middle class. Urban India has generally been seen as a place where politicians extract resources. Rural India is the place where they get the votes. That’s changing.
Given the recent tensions along the Line of Control and the public anger within India, what should the government of India’s response be?
Manmohan Singh has been quite shrewd to diffuse the public pressure. The real story between India and Pakistan over the last five years has been one of remarkable improvement in relationship, particularly in relation to trade and travel. These kinds of skirmishes have gone on since 1947. I would hope this doesn’t derail what is a promising shift.
Has the Indian media been saber-rattling for a war with Pakistan, perhaps to increase viewers, in your opinion? What role should the media play in such a situation?
It’s mainly a problem with television. India has 325 television channels. You have 40 news channels in Hindi alone. So these people are in a desperate search for market share and the result is a bias towards sensationalism.
The print media was saying ‘We’ve got to be careful.’ The television media– I’ve talked to some of the people involved and they themselves felt that the coverage was getting too jingoistic. It is interesting to see this distinction between print and television media here which is now very dramatic.
In the current issue of Foreign Affairs, you wrote about a new crisis of democracy in the United States. What do you mean?
It is a crisis of democracy because the nature of the problem is one that is inherent in democracy, and therefore one that India faces as well: How do you impose short-term pain for long-term gain?
This is the great challenge for the United States economy. There are things the United States has to do, whether it’s a cumbersome tax code or reform of entitlements in pension and health care. Instead, we privilege present consumption over investments for the long term.
India has a similar problem. It is hard to stop subsidizing power or giving people rice and instead divert those resources either towards putting your fiscal house in order or making long-term investments in infrastructure and education that will have huge payoffs 20 years down the road. America’s fundamental challenge is: ‘How does it do this?’
How can India restore its growth story?
All India needs to do is make a few key decisions. For instance, if India could genuinely open up agriculture, retail and the supply chains relating to that, you would bring down food inflation. People don’t realize that India has some of the highest interest rates in the world. If food inflation goes down, the Reserve Bank could lower interest rates.
Businesses are borrowing money at 14 percent and they still thrive. Imagine what they could do if rates were four points lower.
Then there’s the obvious thing that India has to build infrastructure. To be fair to the reformers in India, they’ve done a lot. Most of the economy is fairly open. So what you have are a few remaining obstacles, and they are very large and hard to do politically.
India has been shaken by a series of recent corruption scandals and then the recent Delhi gang rape. How does India restore its image overseas?
It’s simple: growth. Has India’s image taken a beating? Yes. I believe that its good that the corruption story and the rape story are coming out because this stuff always happened. Let’s not kid ourselves. What’s different now is that there’s a huge national conversation about it and there’s political action that is coming out of it.
How much importance does America place on India?
America would love to see it as an increasingly deep and broad strategic relationship. I think there are two problems. One is that India has not been able to perform in terms of opening up its economy in quite the ways we were hoping. Openness to foreign capital has been more hesitant and inconsistent than what was promised.
The second is that the Indian political elite remains ambivalent about a close relationship with America. There’s a suspicion of America as some kind of a global capitalist war monger. This is very unfortunate as this ideology is triumphing over India’s natural national interests. India’s interests are so clearly aligned with America’s, whether you look at Pakistan, Afghanistan, China or whether you look at the issue of democracy and human rights.
I can’t tell you how many Americans tell me that they are sure India will be the success story over China. This is the triumph of hope over facts. The Chinese economy is 3.5 times the size of India’s and still grows faster than India’s. So what it tells you is that Americans want India to succeed.
Do you think there’s any merit in the argument that the Chinese path to development is better than the Western one?
None whatsoever because what they have largely done is copy the Western model. What the Chinese have done is opening up to the market and in building great infrastructure. In what sense is this an Asian model or a Chinese model?
You admitted in August of last year to a “terrible mistake,” in which a column you penned resembled an article in the New Yorker, and have been largely forgiven for this. Is there something about the current media environment, which emphasizes immediacy and round-the-clock coverage, that allows mistakes like that to happen more now than before?
It was my mistake. I don’t want to excuse it by claiming that there was some larger system.
The only point I would make and which I feel didn’t get as much focus is that I cited the book at the start of the paragraph. I hope people can see that it was unintentional as I wasn’t trying to pass it off as my own. I have been writing for 25 years and I made a mistake. I have tried to make sure that over the next 25 years I don’t make another mistake.
You’re from Mumbai. How does today’s Mumbai look to you?
Edith Wharton writes of New York at the turn of the century and that the old New York she knew was a quiet, genteel place and now it’s a brash, new-money place. I feel the same way about Bombay. The city I grew up in was so quiet. If you went for a walk in the Hanging Gardens, there would be five people there, and you’d know four of them. Now you go there and you can’t find parking.
Yet I love it. The city is almost unrecognizable. The idea that Andheri is the center of the city is just unfathomable. Don’t get too nostalgic for the old days. Look at it from the point of view of the middle-class guy who never had access to much. Does he or she mind that they have to spend an hour or an hour and a half to drive from Andheri to south Mumbai? No, because they now have a car and they never had a car before.
I am very optimistic about India. There’s no question India will be a middle-class country. The question is, will it go further than that and how soon?
(This interview has been edited and condensed.)
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Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsh, [1857-78], at sacred-texts.com
The Altar of Burnt-Offering (cf. Exo 38:1-7). - "Make the altar (the altar of burnt-offering, according to Exo 38:1) of acacia-wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad (רבוּע "foured," i.e., four-sided or quadrangular), and three cubits high. At its four corners shall its horns be from (out of) it," i.e., not removable, but as if growing out of it. These horns were projections at the corners of the altar, formed to imitate in all probability the horns of oxen, and in these the whole force of the altar was concentrated. The blood of the sin-offering was therefore smeared upon them (Lev 4:7), and those who fled to the altar to save their lives laid hold of them (vid., Exo 21:14, and Kg1 1:50; also my commentary on the passage). The altar was to be covered with copper or brass, and all the things used in connection with it were to be made of brass. These were, - (1) the pans, to cleanse it of the ashes of the fat (Exo 27:3 : דּשּׁן, a denom. verb from דּשׁן the ashes of fat, that is to say, the ashes that arose from burning the flesh of the sacrifice upon the altar, has a privative meaning, and signifies "to ash away," i.e., to cleanse from ashes); (2) יעים shovels, from יעה to take away (Isa 28:17); (3) מזרקות, things used for sprinkling the blood, from fzarq to sprinkle; (4) מזלגות forks, flesh-hooks (cf. מזלג Sa1 3:13); (5) מחתּת coal-scoops (cf. Exo 25:38). וגו לכל־כּליו: either "for all the vessels thereof thou shalt make brass," or "as for all its vessels, thou shalt make (them) of brass."
The altar was to have מכבּר a grating, רשׂת מעשׂה net-work, i.e., a covering of brass made in the form of a net, of larger dimensions that the sides of the altar, for this grating was to be under the "compass" (כּרכּב) of the altar from beneath, and to reach to the half of it (half-way up, Exo 27:5); and in it, i.e., at the four ends (or corners) of it, four brass rings were to be fastened, for the poles to carry it with. כּרכּב (from כּרכּב circumdedit) only occurs here and in Exo 38:4, and signifies a border (סבבא Targums), i.e., a projecting framework or bench running round the four sides of the altar, about half a cubit or a cubit broad, nailed to the walls (of the altar) on the outside, and fastened more firmly to them by the copper covering which was common to both. The copper grating was below this bench, and on the outside. The bench rested upon it, or rather it hung from the outer edge of the bench and rested upon the ground, like the inner chest, which it surrounded on all four sides, and in which there were no perforations. It formed with the bench or carcob a projecting footing, which caused the lower half of the altar to look broader than the upper on every side. The priest stood upon this carcob or bench when offering sacrifice, or when placing the wood, or doing anything else upon the altar. This explains Aaron's coming down (ירד) from the altar (Lev 9:22); and there is no necessity to suppose that there were steps to the altar, as Knobel does in opposition to Exo 20:26. For even if the height of the altar, viz., three cubits, would be so great that a bench half-way up would be too high for any one to step up to, the earth could be slightly raised on one side so as to make the ascent perfectly easy; and when the priest was standing upon the bench, he could perform all that was necessary upon the top of the altar without any difficulty.
The poles were to be made of acacia-wood, and covered with brass, and to be placed in the rings that were fixed in the two sides for the purpose of carrying the altar. The additional instructions in Exo 27:8, "hollow with tables shalt thou make it, as it was showed thee in the mount" (cf. Exo 25:9), refer apparently, if we judge from Exo 20:24-25, simply to the wooden framework of the altar, which was covered with brass, and which was filled with earth, or gravel and stones, when the altar was about to be used, the whole being levelled so as to form a hearth. The shape thus given to the altar of burnt-offering corresponded to the other objects in the sanctuary. It could also be carried about with ease, and fixed in any place, and could be used for burning the sacrifices without the wooden walls being injured by the fire.
(cf. Exo 38:9-20). The Court of the dwelling was to consist of קלעים "hangings" of spun byssus, and pillars with brass (copper) sockets, and hooks and fastenings for the pillars of silver. The pillars were of course made of acacia-wood; they were five cubits high, with silvered capitals (Exo 38:17, Exo 38:19), and carried the hangings, which were fastened to them by means of the hooks and fastenings. There were twenty of them on both the southern and northern sides, and the length of the drapery on each of these sides was 100 cubits (באמּה מאה, 100 sc., measured by the cubit), so that the court was a hundred cubits long (Exo 27:18).
"As for the breadth of the court on the west side, (there shall be) curtains fifty cubits; their pillars twenty; and the breadth of the court towards the front, on the east side, fifty cubits." The front is divided in Exo 27:14-16 into two כּתף, lit., shoulders, i.e., sides or side-pieces, each consisting of 15 cubits of hangings and three pillars with their sockets, and a doorway (שׁער), naturally in the middle, which was covered by a curtain (מסך) formed of the same material as the covering at the entrance to the dwelling, of 20 cubits in length, with four pillars and the same number of sockets. The pillars were therefore equidistant from one another, viz., 5 cubits apart. Their total number was 60 (not 56), which was the number required, at the distance mentioned, to surround a quadrangular space of 100 cubits long and 50 cubits broad.
(Note: Although any one may easily convince himself of the correctness of these numbers by drawing a figure, Knobel has revived Philo's erroneous statement about 56 pillars and the double reckoning of the pillars in the corner. And the statement in Exo 27:14-16, that three pillars were to be made in front to carry the hangings on either side of the door, and four to carry the curtain which covered the entrance, may be easily shown to be correct, notwithstanding the fact that, as every drawing shows, four pillars would be required, and not three only, to carry 15 cubits of hangings, and five (not four) to carry a curtain 20 cubits broad, if the pillars were to be placed 5 cubits apart; for the corner pillars, as belonging to both sides, and the pillars which stood between the hangings and the curtain on either side, could only be reckoned as halves in connection with each side or each post; and in reckoning the number of pillars according to the method adopted in every other case, the pillar from which you start would not be reckoned at all. Now, if you count the pillars of the eastern side upon this principle (starting from a corner pillar, which is not reckoned, because it is the starting-point and is the last pillar of the side wall), you have 1, 2, 3, then 1, 2, 3, 4, and then again 1, 2, 3; that is to say, 3 pillars for each wing and 4 for the curtain, although the hangings of each wing would really be supported by 4 pillars, and the curtain in the middle by 5.)
"All the pillars of the court round about (shall be) bound with connecting rods of silver." As the rods connecting the pillars of the court were of silver, and those connecting the pillars at the entrance to the dwelling were of wood overlaid with gold, the former must have been intended for a different purpose from the latter, simply serving as rods to which to fasten the hangings, whereas those at the door of the dwelling formed an architrave. The height of the hangings of the court and the covering of the door is given in Exo 38:17 as 5 cubits, corresponding to the height of the pillars given in Exo 28:18 of the chapter before us; but the expression in Exo 38:18, "the height in the breadth," is a singular one, and רחב is probably to be understood in the sense of רחב door-place or door-way, - the meaning of the passage being, "the height of the covering in the door-way." In Exo 28:18, "50 everywhere," πεντήκοντα ἐπὶ πεντήκοντα (lxx), lit., 50 by 50, is to be understood as relating to the extent towards the north and south; and the reading of the Samaritan text, viz., באמּה for בחמשּׁים, is merely the result of an arbitrary attempt to bring the text into conformity with the previous באמּה מאה, whilst the lxx, on the other hand, by an equally arbitrary change, have rendered the passage ἑκατὸν εφ ̓ ἑκατὸν.
"All the vessels of the dwelling in all the work thereof (i.e., all the tools needed for the tabernacle), and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, (shall be of) brass or copper." The vessels of the dwelling are not the things required for the performance of worship, but the tools used in setting up the tabernacle and taking it down again.
If we inquire still further into the design and meaning of the court, the erection of a court surrounding the dwelling on all four sides is to be traced to the same circumstance as that which rendered it necessary to divide the dwelling itself into two parts, viz., to the fact, that on account of the unholiness of the nation, it could not come directly into the presence of Jehovah, until the sin which separates unholy man from the holy God had been atoned for. Although, by virtue of their election as the children of Jehovah, or their adoption as the nation of God, it was intended that the Israelites should be received by the Lord into His house, and dwell as a son in his father's house; yet under the economy of the law, which only produced the knowledge of sin, uncleanness, and unholiness, their fellowship with Jehovah, the Holy One, could only be sustained through mediators appointed and sanctified by God: viz., at the institution of the covenant, through His servant Moses; and during the existence of this covenant, through the chosen priests of the family of Aaron. It was through them that the Lord was to be approached, and the nation to be brought near to Him. Every day, therefore, they entered the holy place of the dwelling, to offer to the Lord the sacrifices of prayer and the fruits of the people's earthly vocation. But even they were not allowed to go into the immediate presence of the holy God. The most holy place, where God was enthroned, was hidden from them by the curtain, and only once a year was the high priest permitted, as the head of the whole congregation, which was called to be the holy nation of God, to lift this curtain and appear before God with the atoning blood of the sacrifice and the cloud of incense (Lev 16). The access of the nation to its God was restricted to the court. There it could receive from the Lord, through the medium of the sacrifices which it offered upon the altar of burnt-offering, the expiation of its sins, His grace and blessing, and strength to live anew. Whilst the dwelling itself represented the house of God, the dwelling-place of Jehovah in the midst of His people (Exo 23:19; Jos 6:24; Sa1 1:7, Sa1 1:24, etc.), the palace of the God-King, in which the priestly nation drew near to Him (Sa1 1:9; Sa1 3:3; Psa 5:8; Psa 26:4, Psa 26:6); the court which surrounded the dwelling represented the kingdom of the God-King, the covenant land or dwelling-place of Israel in the kingdom of its God. In accordance with this purpose, the court was in the form of an oblong, to exhibit its character as part of the kingdom of God. But its pillars and hangings were only five cubits high, i.e., half the height of the dwelling, to set forth the character of incompleteness, or of the threshold to the sanctuary of God. All its vessels were of copper-brass, which, being allied to the earth in both colour and material, was a symbolical representation of the earthly side of the kingdom of God; whereas the silver of the capitals of the pillars, and of the hooks and rods which sustained the hangings, as well as the white colour of the byssus-hangings, might point to the holiness of this site for the kingdom of God. On the other hand, in the gilding of the capitals of the pillars at the entrance to the dwelling, and the brass of their sockets, we find gold and silver combined, to set forth the union of the court with the sanctuary, i.e., the union of the dwelling-place of Israel with the dwelling-place of its God, which is realized in the kingdom of God.
The design and significance of the court culminated in the altar of burnt-offering, the principal object in the court; and upon this the burnt-offerings and slain-offerings, in which the covenant nation consecrated itself as a possession to its God, were burnt. The heart of this altar was of earth or unhewn stones, having the character of earth, not only on account of its being appointed as the place of sacrifice and as the hearth for the offerings, but because the earth itself formed the real or material sphere for the kingdom of God in the Old Testament stage of its development. This heart of earth was elevated by the square copper covering into a vessel of the sanctuary, a place where Jehovah would record His name, and come to Israel and bless them (Exo 20:24, cf. Exo 29:42, Exo 29:44), and was consecrated as a place of sacrifice, by means of which Israel could raise itself to the Lord, and ascend to Him in the sacrifice. And this significance of the altar culminated in its horns, upon which the blood of the sin-offering was smeared. Just as, in the case of the horned animals, their strength and beauty are concentrated in the horns, and the horn has become in consequence a symbol of strength, or of fulness of vital energy; so the significance of the altar as a place of the saving and life-giving power of God, which the Lord bestows upon His people in His kingdom, was concentrated in the horns of the altar.
The instructions concerning the Oil For the Candlestick, and the daily trimming of the lamps by the priests, form a transition from the fitting up of the sanctuary to the installation of its servants.
The sons of Israel were to bring to Moses (lit., fetch to thee) olive oil, pure (i.e., prepared from olives "which had been cleansed from leaves, twigs, dust, etc., before they were crushed"), beaten, i.e., obtained not by crushing in oil-presses, but by beating, when the oil which flows out by itself is of the finest quality and a white colour. This oil was to be "for the candlestick to set up a continual light."
Aaron and his sons were to prepare this light in the tabernacle outside the curtain, which was over the testimony (i.e., which covered or concealed it), from evening to morning, before Jehovah. "The tabernacle of the congregation," lit., tent of assembly: this expression is applied to the sanctuary for the first time in the preset passage, but it afterwards became the usual appellation, and accords both with its structure and design, as it was a tent in style, and was set apart as the place where Jehovah would meet with the Israelites and commune with them (Exo 25:22). The ordering of the light from evening to morning consisted, according to Exo 30:7-8, and Lev 24:3-4, in placing the lamps upon the candlestick in the evening and lighting them, that they might give light through the night, and then cleaning them in the morning and filling them with fresh oil. The words "a statute for ever unto their generations (see at Exo 12:14) on the part of the children of Israel," are to be understood as referring not merely to the gift of oil to be made by the Israelites for all time, but to the preparation of the light, which was to be regarded as of perpetual obligation and worth. "For ever," in the same sense as in Gen 17:7 and Gen 17:13.
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Photos of the spider before it was removed from the woman's ear (Imgur)A woman who went to China's Changsha Central Hospital complaining of itching in the left side of her head was told by doctors that the source of irritation was a spider that had been living inside her ear canal for five days.
Doctors reportedly used a saline solution to flush out the spider in order to avoid having the spider burrow deeper inside the canal or bite her.
The flushing technique was successful and the woman reportedly wept with gratitude after being told the spider was removed. Doctors say they believe the spider entered the woman's home while the home was undergoing renovations, and crawled into her ear while she was sleeping.
A report by CNN states that spiders and other bugs are appearing in greater numbers this summer due to warm weather and drought conditions across the U.S.
"All insects are cold-blooded, so in extreme heat they develop quicker, which results in more generations popping up now compared to previous summers," Jim Fredericks, an entomologist and wildlife ecology expert with the National Pest Management Association, told the network.
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Written by Cory Twibell Monday, 05 November 2012 17:08
Following a donation of more than 800 new books, a reading gazebo and a specially designed book nook – thanks to Capital One Bank and The Heart of America – students at Drexel Avenue will have plenty of places from which to choose.
In the days leading up to Oct. 19, more than 100 Capital One Bank volunteers and The Heart of America Foundation’s READesign team helped Drexel Avenue’s staff to transform a classroom into a “book nook” conducive to learning and an outdoor area into a “literacy lodge” gazebo designed to promote reading away from the classroom.
“The new spaces and books will amplify the school’s focus on connecting nature with its core curricula. The hundreds of new books will also feature stories about financial best practices and money management,” according to a release from Capital One.
Since partnering with The Heart of America in 2001, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that helps foster volunteer service and literacy, Capital One has donated more than one million books to nearly 500,000 children in America while thousands of Capital One associates have volunteered to read to students and renovate libraries.
“I can’t say thank you enough. You don’t know what a great feeling it is to know that the corporate community cares about education, commitment and giving back to us. Especially now with the commissioner’s common core learning standards stressing literacy and ELA, what a timely manner to get a makeover for our library and provide resources for our children,” said Interim Superintendent of Westbury Schools Mary Lagnado.
Additionally, Drexel Avenue parents could benefit from a collection of adult-level resources about personal money management and career development. Capital One Bank will also donate five books to each of the over 550 students for their at-home libraries.
“Our children have been so excited because they have had some wonderful lessons. All this week we’ve had different volunteers coming in and working with the students,” said Wanda Toledo.
Westbury Village Deputy Mayor Joan Boes also spoke fondly of Drexel Avenue at the ribbon-cutting ceremony as her children passed through the school growing up.
“I want to say thank you to all the volunteers who make the school life here so much better,” said Boes.
Also in attendance was North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Dr. Rene Wright-Farnum, PTA president, Mike Slocum, Commercial Banking, Northeast Regional president, Capital One and Andrew Corrado, Long Island Market president, Capital One Bank.
“There’s nothing wrong with having fun while you learn and Drexel Avenue has made this a fun place to learn,” said Councilwoman Russell.
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Robert Allen Palmer (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003), was an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was known for his distinctive voice and the eclectic mix of musical styles on his albums, combining soul, jazz, rock, pop, reggae and blues. He found success both in his solo career and in the musical act The Power Station, and had Top 10 songs in both the UK and the US.
His iconic music videos by Terence Donovan for the hits "Addicted to Love" and "Simply Irresistible" featured identically dressed dancing women with pale faces, dark eye makeup and bright red lipstick, which resembled the women in the art of Patrick Nagel, an artist popular in the 1980s. Sharp-suited, his involvement in the music industry commenced in the 1960s, covered five decades and included a spell with Vinegar Joe.
Palmer received a number of awards throughout his career, including two Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, an MTV Video Music Award, and was twice nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male.
1964–1973: Early bands
Palmer's father was an English naval intelligence officer stationed in Malta. Palmer moved with his family to Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1959. Influenced as a child by blues, soul and jazz music on American Forces Radio, Robert Palmer joined his first band, The Mandrakes, at the age of 15 while still at Scarborough Boys' High School. His first major break came with the departure of singer Jess Roden from the band The Alan Bown Set in 1969, after which Palmer was invited to London to sing on their single "Gypsy Girl". The vocals for the album The Alan Bown Set!, originally recorded by Roden (and released in the US that way), were re-recorded by Palmer after the success of the single. According to music journalist Paul Lester, Palmer rose from northern clubs in England to become "elegant and sophisticated" and the master of several styles.
In 1970, Palmer joined the 12-piece jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which featured singer Elkie Brooks. The band lasted a year, after which Brooks and Palmer formed the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful rhythm and blues group, Vinegar Joe; Palmer sang and played rhythm guitar. Signed to the Island Records label, they released three albums: Vinegar Joe (1972), Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies (1972) and Six Star General (1973), before disbanding in March 1974.
1974–1984: Early solo career
Island Records signed Palmer to a solo deal in 1974. His first solo album Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley recorded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1974, was heavily influenced by the music of Little Feat and the funk fusion of The Meters who acted as backing band along with producer/guitarist Lowell George of Little Feat. Although unsuccessful in the UK, both the album and single reached the Top 100 in the US. Notably, "Sailin' Shoes" (the album's first track), Palmer's own "Hey Julia" and the Allen Toussaint–penned title track carry virtually the same rhythm, and were packaged on the album as a "trilogy" without a pause between them.
Subsequently relocating from London to New York with his wife, Palmer released Pressure Drop, named for the cover version of the reggae hit by Toots & the Maytals, in November 1975 (featuring Motown bassist James Jamerson). An album infused with his interests in reggae and rock music, it was noted for its cover art of a nude girl on a balcony, rather than any commercially successful songs. He toured with Little Feat to promote that album.
However, with the failure of the follow-up Some People Can Do What They Like, Palmer decided to move to Nassau, Bahamas, directly across the street from Compass Point Studios which was owned by Palmer's mentor, Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records.
In 1978, he released Double Fun, a collection of Caribbean-influenced rock, including a cover of "You Really Got Me". The album reached the Top 50 on the US Billboard chart and scored a Top 20 single with the Andy Fraser–penned "Every Kinda People". The song has been covered by other artists including Chaka Demus and Pliers, Randy Crawford and Amy Grant. It reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Palmer's next album was an artistic departure, concentrating on pure rock. 1979's Secrets produced his second Top 20 single with Moon Martin's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)". The No. 14 hit also gave Palmer his first Billboard Hot 100-year end chart hit.
The 1980s saw 'Compass Point Star' Palmer find an increasing amount of commercial success. The album Clues, produced by Palmer and featuring Chris Frantz and Gary Numan, generated hits on both sides of the Atlantic, first with the radio-friendly single "Johnny and Mary" and then "Looking for Clues". Catchy music videos matching the synth pop stylings of New Wave gave him much needed exposure to a younger audience. The success was repeated with the 1982 EP release of Some Guys Have All the Luck.
In April 1983 Pride was released, which not as commercially successful as Clues did feature the title song and Palmer's cover of The System's "You Are in My System", with The System's David Frank contributing keyboard tracks to the latter song. On 31 May 1983, Palmer's concert at the Hammersmith Palais, London was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 1. On 23 July 1983, Palmer performed at Duran Duran's charity concert at Aston Villa football ground where he struck up friendships with members of Duran Duran which would spawn the supergroup Power Station.
1985–1995: Power Station and MTV success
Duran Duran went on hiatus, and their guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor joined former Chic drummer Tony Thompson and Palmer to form Power Station. Their eponymous album, recorded mainly at the New York recording studio for which the band was named, with overdubs and mixing at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, reached the Top 20 in the UK and the Top 10 in the US. It spawned two hit singles with "Some Like It Hot" (US #6) and a cover of the T.Rex song "Get It On (Bang a Gong)", which peaked one position higher than the original at US No. 9. Palmer performed live with the band only once that year, on Saturday Night Live. The band toured, and played Live Aid, with singer Michael Des Barres after Palmer bowed out at the last moment to go back into the recording studio to further his solo career.
With Palmer bailing on the tour, some critics referred to it as "unprofessional behaviour". In Number One magazine he hit back at the claims he joined the band for money: "Firstly, I didn't need the money and, secondly the cash wasn't exactly a long time coming. It wasn't exactly an experience that set me up for retirement."
He was also accused of ripping off the Power Station sound for his own records. He snapped: "Listen, I gave The Power Station that sound. They took it from me, not the other way around."
Palmer recorded the album Riptide at Compass Point Studios in 1985, recruiting Thompson and Andy Taylor to play on some tracks plus Power Station record producer Bernard Edwards, who worked with Thompson in Chic, to helm the production. Riptide featured the US No. 1 and UK No. 5 single "Addicted to Love". The single was accompanied by a memorable and much-parodied music video, directed by Terence Donovan, in which Palmer is surrounded by a bevy of near-identically clad, heavily made-up (and appropriately pouty) female "musicians," either mimicking or mocking the painting of Patrick Nagel. In September 1986, Palmer performed "Addicted to Love" at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. In 1987, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Addicted to Love". At the 1987 Brit Awards, Palmer received his first nomination for Best British Male.
It seems he got the idea for the Addicted to Love video clip from an appearance he made on the Australian television show Countdown. According to the book Glad All Over, film director Ted Emery talks of the time Palmer came into the studio to promote the Doctor Doctor single in 1979:
Another single from Riptide, his cover of Cherrelle's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On", also performed well (US#2, UK#9). Another song, "Trick Bag," was written by one of his major influences, New Orleans jazz artist Earl King.
Concerned about the rising crime rate in Nassau, Palmer moved to Lugano, Switzerland, in 1987 and set up his own recording studio. Producing Heavy Nova in 1988, Palmer again returned to experimenting, this time with bossa nova rhythms, heavy rock and white-soul balladeering. He repeated his previous success of "Addicted to Love" with the video of "Simply Irresistible", again with a troupe of female "musicians". The song reached No. 2 in the US and was Palmer's final Top Ten hit there. The ballad "She Makes My Day" also proved to be a hit in the UK, peaking at #6. In 1989, he won a second Grammy for "Simply Irresistible", which would later be featured in the Tony Award winning musical Contact. At the 1989 Brit Awards, Palmer received his second nomination for Best British Male, and "Simply Irresistible" was nominated for Best British Single. Rolling Stone magazine voted Palmer the best-dressed rock star for 1990.
Palmer expanded his range even further for his next album, Don't Explain (1990). It featured two UK top 10 hits with covers of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – collaboration with UB40 – and Marvin Gaye's cover "Mercy Mercy Me". Throughout the 1990s, Palmer ventured further into diverse material. The 1992 album Ridin' High was a tribute to the Tin Pan Alley era.
In 1994, Palmer released Honey to mixed reviews. While the album failed to produce any hit singles in the US, he did find success in the UK with the release of three modest hit singles "Girl U Want", "Know by Now" and "You Blow Me Away".
In 1995, Palmer released a greatest hits album, which reached number four in the UK. In 1995 he reunited with other members of The Power Station to record a second album. Bassist John Taylor eventually backed out of the project, to be replaced by Bernard Edwards. Palmer and the rest of the band completed the album Living in Fear (1996), and had just begun touring when Edwards died from pneumonia.
Palmer's favourite author was Jack Vance and he was especially fond of the character Cugel. Jack Vance paid homage to Palmer in his novel Night Lamp, which begins: "Toward the far edge of the Cornu Sector of Ophiuchus, Robert Palmer's Star shone brilliant white, its corona flaring with films of blue, red and green colour."
Robert Palmer was married in 1974 to Shelly Putman. They had three children together, Anthony, Anna and Martin. They divorced in 1978. In 1979, Robert Palmer married Susan Eileen Thatcher. They had two children together, James and Jane. They divorced in 1989. In 1993, Palmer permanently relocated from the Bahamas to a converted mill-house in Lugano, Switzerland after he found that the islands had become overrun with drugs and guns and were no longer safe. Palmer's companion at the time of his death was Geraldine Edwards.
Later life and death
Palmer moved to Lugano, Switzerland, in 1986, and became a naturalised citizen of Switzerland in 1993. He lived there until his death.
A heavy smoker, he died in Paris at the Hôtel Warwick Champs-Elysées, rue de Berri, from a heart attack on 26 September 2003 at the age of 54. He had been in the French capital after recording a television appearance for Yorkshire TV in the UK. He was on holiday with his close friend, Jack Bruce, and conducting publicity appearances for his most recent release Drive prior to his death. Among those who paid tribute were Duran Duran, stating; "He was a very dear friend and a great artist. This is a tragic loss to the British music industry."
He was survived by his parents, Leslie and Anna Palmer, his girlfriend, Geraldine Edwards, his brother, Mark Palmer, and his children, James, Jane, Anthony, Anna and Martin.
In October 2004, newspapers reported on the struggle for Palmer's estate, worth an estimated £30 million, between Mary Ambrose and Palmer's five children. Ambrose, a former girlfriend of Palmer's, claimed Palmer had changed his will to favour her. According to commentators at AbsoluteRadio.co.uk, the courts denied Ms Ambrose's claim as without merit and she was awarded the equivalent of US16,000 per the Court of Appeal of Ticino 19 December 2007 (11.2004.49) in compensation, with the remainder of the estate divided amongst Palmer's five children and UNICEF, to which Palmer donated a large charitable contribution.
On her All The Best compilation album, Palmer's Switzerland neighbour Tina Turner added a live version of "Addicted to Love" in tribute to him.
- 2012 reissues
On 24 January 2012 Culture Factory an independent label reissued Some People Do What They Like, Double Fun, Secrets and Pride in a miniature replica of the original vinyl packaging and with remastered sound. The reissues also had miniature "obi's" and the label on the CD is a replica of the original label. The reissues did not feature any bonus tracks and there were no new liner notes on the making of the albums included as part of the reissue campaign.
With Power Station
This biography is from Wikipedia, the free collaborative encyclopedia. Used under licence and subject to disclaimers. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors, and recent changes might not appear just yet. See the latest version of the article.
Image from Discogs
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| "In this instrument there are several armatures [iron
bars] fixed on the circumference of a vertical wheel, parallel to its axis.
In [these examples] three are represented... On the poles of the electromagnet
is secured a brass plate, from which arise two pillars to support the axis
of the wheel: as the wheel turns, the iron bars in succession pass over
the poles with their extremities very near to the them. ...On the shaft
of the wheel, but not insulated from it, is the break-piece [commutator]
consisting of a small metallic disk, from which projects, in a lateral
direction, several pins, equal in number to the iron bars;... A silver
spring connected with one end of the wire surrounding the electro- magnet,
plays upon these pins...; the other end of this wire is soldered to the
iron of the magnet, which brings it into metallic communication with the
shaft by means of the brass plate and pillars.
The break-piece is arranged in such a manner, that the electro-magnet is
The device at the right is at the Smithsonian Institution, and that at the left is at Oberlin College.
This apparatus is usually called Froment's Motor, after Gustav Froment, a Parisian instrument maker, who designed similar motors from 1844 to 1862.
The photograph below shows a piece of apparatus in the collection at Washington and Lee University. It is not in the 1842 or 1851 editions of the Manual of Magnetism, but shows typical Davis design features. It may be by Thomas Hall or Palmer and Hall, successors to Daniel Davis.
Return to Davis Home Page | Return to Home Page
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Here it is folks. It’s what Penguin Place and the penguin loving world has been waiting for. An all encompassing, engrossing, fun and informative encyclopedia devoted exclusively to the world of penguins. This wonderful new book called “Penguin-Pedia: One Man’s Search for the Penguins of the World” (Brown Books Publishing Group), by author and photographer David Salomon of Dallas, Texas, It’s everything the title hints at and more, not only introducing readers to the 17 species of penguins living in such faraway places as Africa, the Falkland and Galapagos Islands, Peru, Chili, and Australia, but to all the facts and details that make penguins, penguins. “Penguin-Pedia‘ is an informative and inspiring tribute to 17 species of penguins on the planet today,” says Mike Bingham, president of the Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. “If you are looking for an entertaining book about penguins with excellent images and lots of information, the “Penguin-Pedia” is for you,” adds Gerald Dick, PhD, MAS, CEO, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Salomon was struck by “penguin mania” following a trip to Chilean Patagonia, where he experienced his first penguin sighting. “The first time I ever saw penguins I was struck by their social structure and abundance of emotions. I walked around them for hours, taking pictures and watching them through the lens of my Nikon camera. They gathered on the beach, exchanged verbal messages, played with each other and even fought. I was both enchanted and intrigued to say the least,” says Salomon. So began his educational journey to learn as much as he could about these incredible creatures, spending the next two years flying to remote places such as Argentina, Africa, and the Galapagos Islands. Through exhaustive research, Salomon discovered that finding answers to his questions about penguins proved challenging. That’s when the idea for a comprehensive book of penguin information – complete with compelling pictures – came to mind. In “Penguin-Pedia,” Salomon reveals the history behind their existence and goes into great detail about each penguin species from the largest, the Emperor, to the smallest, the Little (Fairy), with each chapter broken down into 16 different sections. Salomon’s thirst for knowledge became the driving force behind “Penguin-Pedia.” The more he learned, the more he became aware of their need for help. “Penguin Pedia” is Salomon’s contribution, which he hopes will help younger generations gain knowledge and better understand the penguins, their needs and the dangers they are facing. Says Salomon, “If we want to help them, we must first educate ourselves and learn who these penguins are and why they are suffering.” For readers eager to experience their own personal journey to penguin paradise, Salomon provides a detailed travel glossary at the back of the book, coupled with the approximate cost to visit each location, as well as a list of exhibits around the world.
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Traffic congestion and haphazard parking related to the Bell Island ferry is causing a whopping headache for some in Portugal Cove.
“This goes back years. Transportation has really shown a total disregard for the people of Portugal Cove,” said Jock Stewart, whose Harding’s Hill house overlooks the ferry terminal and the picturesque harbour.
But for Stewart, there’s nothing pretty about cars left parked all over the breakwater, wharf and road, causing congestion and clogging up residents’ access to the highway.
“There’s an attitude in Transportation that ‘We know what we are doing and don’t even suggest anything to us,’ ” Stewart said.
He said an attempt to create two lanes and installation of concrete barricades has worsened the problem because it’s not properly set up.
“For me it’s the safety issue. You go down there and even though they are parked, people get out of their cars and they stand right in front where you’re supposed to go through and they won’t move,” added his wife Doreen Stewart about the road to the ferry terminal/wharf.
The only other way out of that section of town is Loop Drive — or what’s known as the rock cut — which is too dangerous because of sight issues, Doreen Stewart said.
“There will be a fatal accident someday no doubt in my mind,” she said.
Parking on the fishing wharf has become so bad, it’s impeding fishermen from unloading their catch to the fish plant, said Paul Howell, president of the volunteer board that runs the Harbour Authority of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.
He said the provincial government dropped the ball when it comes to a place for ferry users to park if they want to leave their vehicle and walk on the ferry.
The harbour authority has warned it may have to resort to gating off the wharf, but will put no parking signs up soon to try to alleviate the problem. There’s a gate on the end of the wharf closest to the ferry ramp, but none on the far end accessible from the main road.
Howell said there have been as many as eight dump trucks parked there at a time — too dangerous a load for the wharf cribbing.
Recently, Howell said a transport truck driver trying to deliver ice to a 65-foot fishing boat had to back up the hilly road leading to the pier because of the cars parked on the wharf.
“It’s like they got no respect. They leave their vehicles in the middle of the lot,” Howell said.
He also said fishermen have had trouble unloading their catch because there’s no room for a forklift to manoeuvre around all the cars.
“It’s not sensible,” said Howell, adding one recent Friday night 52 cars were left on the wharf.
Jock Stewart recommended Transportation and Works move the ferry service to Conception Bay South.
He noted fishermen and pleasure boaters, even those using a dory, have to pay to use the wharf, but Bell Islanders are parking there for free.
“Up until the early ’90s or late ’80s, it was absolutely no parking anywhere. Nobody other than government vehicles. All of a sudden that has changed. Nobody here has ever ever been consulted,” Stewart said.
“They leave them all night and over weekend.”
Steve and Myrtle Tucker, across-the-road neighbours of the Stewarts echoed the concerns, saying idling engines and difficulties getting out of their road have worsened in recent years.
Bernard Manning, director of public works for Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, said there’s a joint project between the town and the province to alleviate the issues.
A contractor has been chosen and Manning said Newfoundland Power is in the process of moving utility poles to ac the work.
Manning met with government officials Friday.
He said there will be two ticket booths — one at the top of the terminal road and one down by the ferry. And there will be layby lanes the town hopes will take the congestion away from Harding Hill and a restaurant where customers have problems accessing the parking lot because of the ferry lineups.
He couldn’t say when the work would be done.
Manning also said the town plans to pave the breakwater to increase parking for ferry users.
There’s also a concept plan to move the ferry terminal, but that’s not funded yet.
Other future plans include beautifying the area around the fish plant, wharf and terminal, but that’s just an idea so far.
“We would like to see private industry and the province working together,” Manning said.
He said he hasn’t heard anyone suggest moving the ferry operation to Conception Bay South and the town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, despite the headaches, wants to keep it.
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Bernanke Defends Bond Purchases, Predicts Stronger Growth
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank must focus on the U.S. rather than overseas economies when trying to spur the recovery by purchasing an additional $600 billion in Treasuries.
“Our first objective, the first goal that we have, is to meet our mandate to get price stability and maximum employment in the United States,” Bernanke said yesterday in response to questions from college students in Jacksonville, Florida. “A strong U.S. economy, a recovering economy, is critical not just for Americans but it’s also critical for the global recovery.”
Bernanke came under fire yesterday from officials in Germany, China, and Brazil, who said his plan to pump cash into the banking system may jar other economies and fail to fuel U.S. growth. Critics including Michael Burry, the former hedge-fund manager who predicted the housing market’s plunge, have said Fed policy is encouraging investors to take on too much risk and threatens to undermine the dollar.
“It’s our problem as well if the U.S. is no longer certain that the old recipes don’t work anymore,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said yesterday in Berlin. The Fed’s injection of $600 billion was “clueless” and won’t revive growth, he said.
Brazil’s central bank president, Henrique Meirelles, said “excess liquidity” in the U.S. economy is creating “risks for everyone.” In China, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said “many countries are worried about the impact of the policy on their economies.” He also said the U.S. “owes us some explanation on their decision on quantitative easing.”
Stocks capped their best week in two months, with the MSCI World Index and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index up more than 3.4 percent each, after the Fed pledged on Nov. 3 to buy as much as $600 billion of Treasuries through June to boost the economy.
“We are showing insufficient stimulus,” Bernanke said yesterday in his remarks, mostly in response to questions. Asset purchases have “the goal of reducing interest rates, providing more stimulus to the economy and, we hope, creating a faster recovery and an inflation rate consistent with long-run stability,” Bernanke said to students.
An acceleration of U.S. economic growth would support the value of the U.S. dollar, Bernanke said.
“The best fundamentals for the dollar will come when the economy is growing strongly,” Bernanke said yesterday. “That is where the fundamentals come from. We are aware the dollar plays a special role in the global economy.”
The dollar advanced 1.1 percent to $1.4049 per euro at 3:08 p.m. in New York from $1.4207 yesterday, when it touched $1.4282, the weakest level since January.
Bernanke said additional easing will help the Fed achieve its two mandates set by Congress for ensuring full employment and stable prices.
“The unemployment rate, if at all, is coming down very, very slowly,” Bernanke told students at Jacksonville University. “Inflation is very, very low, probably below the level that is healthy for the economy in the longer term.”
Bernanke will have the opportunity to elaborate on his comments today when he is scheduled to speak to an Atlanta Fed conference at Jekyll Island, Georgia.
The Fed is purchasing more Treasuries to reduce 9.6 percent unemployment and keep inflation from slowing. Bernanke is trying to boost growth after near-zero interest rates and $1.7 trillion in securities purchases helped pull the economy out of recession without bringing joblessness down from close to a 26-year high.
Referring to the policy of so-called quantitative easing, Bernanke said, “we will be reviewing that regularly to see if it is working, to see how the outlook is changing.”
The Fed’s support for asset values isn’t helping the “real” economy, and is creating “dangerous signs of a potential free fall” in the dollar and will be unsustainable, Burry said in an interview.
Hedge-fund manager Barton Biggs is among those who defended Bernanke.
“We still are in a very precarious situation,” Biggs, the managing partner of New York-based Traxis Partners LLC and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asset Management, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “In the Loop” with Betty Liu. “The economy could easily tip back into a double dip, and Bernanke did what he had to do.”
The U.S. added 151,000 jobs last month, Labor Department figures showed yesterday, exceeding all forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Private payrolls that exclude government agencies also gained more than forecast, while the jobless rate held at 9.6 percent.
Asked by a student if “skyrocketing” commodities prices may threaten his inflation outlook, Bernanke said rising commodities prices are “the one exception” to a broad reduction in inflationary pressures. Overall, excess slack in the economy will make it difficult for producers to push through higher prices to consumers, he said.
“Emerging markets are growing quite quickly,” Bernanke said. “Demand for those commodities is pretty strong. That is going to be a contributor to inflation in the U.S. because it will affect gas prices, for example, and so on.”
Asked by a student about rising gold prices and concerns over inflation, Bernanke said the Fed wouldn’t sacrifice price stability in an attempt to boost growth.
“Let me be very clear: We are absolutely committed to keeping inflation low and stable,” he said. “We have the tools to unwind and tighten policy at the appropriate time. We will honor both sides of our dual mandate.”
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz at firstname.lastname@example.org
Bloomberg moderates all comments. Comments that are abusive or off-topic will not be posted to the site. Excessively long comments may be moderated as well. Bloomberg cannot facilitate requests to remove comments or explain individual moderation decisions.
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One town, three names- Gallatin Gateway is a place steeped in history. Initially called Slabtown, it was established as Salesville in 1883. The name changed to Gallatin Gateway when the railroad expanded into the area and the Gallatin Gateway Inn was built to board travelers on their way to Yellowstone.
For two and a half days out of the year, folks in this tight-knit community celebrate their roots with the Slabtown Fair.
"My grandfather worked in the principal industry in the little city in the sawmill and at that time they were floating logs down the Gallatin River," says Gallatin Gateway native Max Amberson.
Dana Hart-Stone was raised in Gallatin Gateway and returns every year to participate in the fair.
"I think it's really important to preserve local history," says Hart-Stone.
From wood carvings to old western wear, antique vendors and artists showcase an array of goods.
But there's a lot more to the event than collectibles, the Slabtown Fair is a fundraiser for the Little Bear Schoolhouse Museum.
"The little rural schoolhouses are going out and people do not know the history and it's kind of like Virginia City and Pony, Montana. You want to keep the old buildings and the old memories and if somebody doesn't start doing it, there won't be any left," explains native Colleen Pinkerton Blankenship.
Blankenship's mother taught at the one-room school back when it sat in Little Bear Canyon. Now, she's a guide at the museum.
"That's what we really want is people to come and enjoy the tour and enjoy seeing part of life as it was," says Blankenship.
She says there's something special about rural schools.
"It kept the community together because people that ran it were people from that community. It kept it as a separate community. They had socials, they had all this kind of stuff which is now kind of forgotten," explains Blankenship.
Yet, she's doing her part to make sure folks don't forget. That's why Blankenship hopes events like this one will keep the museum open for years to come.
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By Steven Munatones, Swimming World Open Water Contributor
Editor's Note: This is the third in a three-part series on FINA's rules that allow open water swims to be conducted in water over 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Click here to read Part One.
Click here to read Part Two.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California, October 29. WITH FINA's decision to allow competitions in water over 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit), we looked at land-based endurance sports for some guidance.
Land vs. Water Endurance Athletes
Swimming in 31 degrees C under a scorching sun has risk written all over it.
Swimmers racing under such conditions put themselves in at least an equally dangerous situation as triathletes, marathon runners and cyclists who are competing under warm temperatures on land. And probably even more so.
Observers point out that Hawaiian Ironman athletes compete for significantly larger cash prizes as they run and cycle in the hot lava fields on the Big Island of Hawaii. In the tropical heat and humid, these races are, undoubtedly, brutal. Running through a lava field is like running in an outside oven. Cycling in the desert into the famous Santa Ana winds of Southern California is like peddling into a blasting furnace.
But there are very important and fundamental differences between marathon swimmers who compete in FINA-sanctioned races and those endurance athletes who compete in triathlons, running marathons and cycling races under extreme conditions around the world. The situation and behaviors of these land-based endurance athletes differ in fundamental ways from marathon swimmers:
1. Land-based athletes can cool themselves
They pour cold water on their head; they wear ice packs; they stop under the shade; they sit down or stretch. Even if a warm wind is blowing, when they pour water on themselves, the skin is cooled somewhat through evaporation. Marathon swimmers do not have this opportunity. They compete in an environment that is constantly warm. They do not pour cool water on themselves; they do not put ice packs under their swim caps or in their swimsuits. They do not stop. There is no practical way to cool themselves other than to stop and quit the race.
2. Land-based athletes shade themselves with sun visors or hats
In contrast, marathon swimmers wear rubber or silicon caps on their heads. While some men remove their caps (note: swim caps are mandatory for athletes at the start of FINA races), many athletes keep their swim caps on their head for the entire race. Swimmers do not wear white; in fact, the elite athletes do not even use white-colored zinc oxide on their backs or legs during a race. Imagine a runner, triathlete or cyclist who competed with a tight-fitting rubber cap on their head during a triathlon or marathon run. That scenario simply does not work.
3. Land-based athletes adequately hydrate
Watch a marathon run or triathlon in warm conditions. The runners and triathletes hydrate over the entire race, taking in liquids over 50 -- 100 meters while constantly sucking on their water bottles. In contrast, the marathon swimmers take quick sips in less than five seconds as they pass through a single feeding station (in a loop course) or every 15-30 minutes if they have an escort boat. Of course, it is the decision of the athlete and their coach how often they hydrate, but hydration is a much more complex action in the water during a marathon swim than it is during a marathon run or triathlon on land.
4. Land-based athletes can wear reflective clothing
Runners often wear white or light-colored, loose-fitting jerseys that protect the skin when the sun is beating down on them. In contrast, marathon swimmers wear tight-fitting dark swimsuits as they swim horizontally in the water, fully exposing their backs and legs to solar radiation. While the land-based athletes dress to minimize the effects of heat, the marathon swimmers do the exact opposite (i.e., wear black or dark blue, tight-fitting swimsuits that trap body heat).
5. Land-based athletes train for extreme conditions
Runners and triathletes who know they will compete in an ultra-marathon in the desert or the Ironman in Hawaii adequately prepare themselves for these extreme conditions. They acclimate over a period of time as they concentrate on preparing themselves physiologically. In contrast, the elite marathon swimmers usually (and almost exclusively) train in a pool where the water temperature is constantly comfortable. If they do train in the open water, they train in open bodies of water that do not have the extreme warm conditions. That is, marathon swimmers most likely do not acclimate well (or well enough) for extremely warm-water conditions. Their bodies are not adequately prepared for 31 degrees C. While it is ultimately the responsibility of the athletes to prepare for such conditions, they are also competing in cold-water conditions throughout the year. The human body needs much more time to adapt to extreme conditions.
6. Land-based athletes are closer to emergency care
The warning signs of heat stroke (red, hot, and dry skin without sweating), rapid/strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion) is much easier to see on land than in the water. Volunteers, officials and safety personnel know instinctively when a land-based athlete is having problems. It is more difficult to assess the situation in the water, especially for the untrained eye. So not only are the athletes in the water apt to receive care in later stages of heat stress than land-based athletes, but they are also in an environment where they must first be pulled from the water, taken to shore, and then driven to emergency help.
7. Swimmers have less experience with heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Athletes - even swimmers - know when their bodies are overheating on land. They sweat profusely, their skin is flushed, their heart rate increases. They know instinctively to slow down or stop, get some water and get out of the sun. This happens as a child playing around in summer and it happens as an adult overdoing it on a hot day. But most swimmers have little or no experience with these feelings during competition. They will not know instinctively what is happening, especially in a competitive situation. With their head down, alone with their thoughts, they are trained to keep on going. The danger is that unconsciousness can happen so quickly - and in the water, this is potentially deadly.
Experienced individuals know that there is a difference of "environmental dissipation capacity" between swimmers and land-based athletes. Ultra-marathon runner, triathlete and marathon swimmer Bruckner Chase explains, "Athletes on both land and water occasionally compete in an environment that is constantly warm. The difference lies in the application of the environmental dissipation capacity, and the athlete's ability to dissipate heat through a number of means from conduction to evaporative cooling to preventing radiant heat gain."
At the 2005 and 2011 FINA World Swimming Championships, this writer cradled the head of a distressed athlete in his arms in a 25km race. He saw the pleading eyes of an athlete reaching out for help. No words, no body language, just human-to-human eye contact.
These athletes were not looking for help to win a race. They were not asking for help to get a medal. They were asking for help ... to live another day. To cradle the head of a distressed athlete in one's arms enables one to profoundly understand how important safety is.
In summary, does FINA's new rule regarding maximum water temperature aid in the safety of its sanctioned races?
If FINA believes these new rules are conducive to ensuring safe competitions, then it would be greatly welcomed if FINA's experts publicly explain why the situation is sufficiently safe. Any explanation -- via a written document or through a controlled interactive webcast -- would go far in helping the open water swimming community to understand its reasoning.
If there is indeed no problem, then FINA would do a great service in educating the world's swimmers, coaches and administrators. As the global open water swimming community grows, it is looking to FINA for leadership.
Steven Munatones is a former national marathon swimming champion and coach, and can often be found on a pontoon or chase boat in many of the biggest open water swims. He is the editor and founder of The Daily News of Open Water Swimming.
Below The Expanded Online Issue of Swimming World Magazine Takes You Through A Day-By-Day Aquatic Photo Gallery of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Enjoy This Free Issue And If You Like What We Do, Support Us With A Total Access Subscription Today!
Trouble Viewing on Smart Phones, Tablets or iPads? Click Here
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THE STREETS OF FEAR; EXPOSED: How the Yardies are causing terror in a Midland town The murder of a West Midland gang leader has struck fear throughout a community in the middle of a drugs turf war. AMARDEEP BASSEY reports on the violent reign of terror imposed by the Yardie gangs.THEY are the Midland's most ruthless gangsters with names like Killer, Wrong Move and Six Million Dollar Man.
Cruising in top of the range BMWs, they flaunt flaunt
v. flaunt·ed, flaunt·ing, flaunts
1. To exhibit ostentatiously or shamelessly: flaunts his knowledge. See Synonyms at show.
2. designer gold jewellery and carry automatic guns as a weapon of choice.
They are the Yardies, and the recent death of a Midland 'crew' kingpin has raised fears of an internal power struggle as members battle for his 'Big Man' mantle.
Whitcliffe George Brissett was two years short of the average 35-year-old life expectancy Life Expectancy
1. The age until which a person is expected to live.
2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. of a Yardie when he was found shot dead in Smethwick on September 4.
Known as Goldie because of his penchant for flash jewellery, the painter and decorator A painter and decorator is a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator or house painterref> History of the trade was killed by a single gunshot wound to his head as he sat in a parked car.
Today the Sunday Mercury Sunday Mercury is a Sunday newspaper published in Birmingham, UK. A tabloid, with a sensationalist streak, it is owned by Trinity Mirror and produced in the same newsroom as The Birmingham Post and The Evening Mail. References
1. can reveal the chilling background of drugs, guns, and protection rackets that are the hallmarks of Yardie activity.
And we explain how their influx into the Midlands has led to a Wolverhampton police chief admitting that the town is in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?"
midmost of a 'turf war'.
Six months ago, Brissett was just another footsoldier in the expanding Yardie empire. Originating from Jamaica, the term Yardie literally means 'backyard' and is applied to Jamaican-born gangsters in the UK.
Operating mainly from London, the relatively small and incohesive gang is believed to be responsible for more than 90 murders in Britain since 1986.
But ever since a 1998 Metropolitan Police crackdown named Operation Trident
Operation Trident, now referred to as just Trident, is a Metropolitan Police Service initiative set up to deal with gun crime in London's black community. in the capital. they have spread to areas like the Midlands and the North West.
Known for their lack of discipline and 'live for the moment' philosophy, Yardie killings are worn by members as a 'badge of honour.'
But the cycle of violence is such that a Yardie never stays on top very long - as Brissett found out to his cost.
Having settled in Wolverhampton, Brissett used to run a designer clothes shop in Bushbury - while dealing in drugs and acting as a Yardie 'enforcer'.
The separated 33-year-old eventually became close friends with the local Yardie crew leader Carl Gowe, known as Nico.
Last year Gowe, 38, of Low Hill, Wolverhampton, was charged with attempted murder In the criminal law, attempted murder is committed when the defendant does an act that is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the crime of murder and, at the time of these acts, the person has a specific intention to kill. after carrying out an horrific machete attack which left his victim almost crippled and blinded in one eye.
In April this year, Gowe was jailed for life at Stafford Crown Court, which was surrounded by armed police after a threat that key witnesses would be assassinated as·sas·si·nate
tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates
1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons.
Gowe's conviction saw Brissett emerge as the 'Big Man' - a term used by Yardies to describe a leader.
A close associate and Yardie insider said: 'His rise to the top was quite sudden but because of his close links with Nico, he was seen as the main man when Nico went down.
'But he was never well-liked because of his brash brash (brash) heartburn.
water brash heartburn with regurgitation of sour fluid or almost tasteless saliva into the mouth. manner and the way he flaunted his riches. He would drive around in a Mercedes car and was full of himself.
'He thought he couldn't be touched. He was wrong.'
Last month, Brissett was believed to be behind a savage machete attack which left a former Midland DJ fighting for his life.
Rudi Hutchinson, 32, was attacked in Heathtown, Wolverhampton, which - along with the town's Whitmore Reans Whitmore Reans is an inner city area of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is situated to the north-west of the city centre, in the city council's Park and St Peter's wards. district - is fast becoming a Yardie stronghold.
'Goldie was questioned about the attack but was released,' said the insider. 'He was eventually confronted by police again as he tried to make his way to Jamaica from Manchester Airport For City Airport Manchester, UK, see .
For the United States airport, see .
Manchester Airport (IATA: MAN, ICAO: EGCC) is a major airport in Manchester, UK. It opened to airline traffic in June 1938. . That was the day before he was shot dead.'
After his death, police appealed for a black man spotted with him shortly before his death to come forward. They also revealed a blonde woman was seen near the car. The woman is believed to be one of Brissett's many girlfriends.
West Midlands Police West Midlands Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England.
It is the second largest in the United Kingdom after London's Metropolitan Police . It covers an area with nearly 2. say they are no closer to solving the 'suspicious death' and remain tight-lipped tight·lipped also tight-lipped
1. Having the lips pressed together.
2. Loath to speak; close-mouthed. See Synonyms at silent. about Brissett's involvement in the Hutchinson attack - fuelling suggestions that Brissett was a police informant.
Yardie relationships with the police hit the headlines in 1997 when a TV documentary exposed police tactics to infiltrate infiltrate /in·fil·trate/ (in-fil´trat)
1. to penetrate the interstices of a tissue or substance.
2. the material or solution so deposited.
1. the gangs. The World In Action programme revealed how officers overlooked a series of violent crimes carried out by Yardie informers in exchange for intelligence.
'It was becoming common knowledge that Goldie was an informer Informer
revealed theft by Mercury; turned to touchstone. [Gk. and Rom. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 47]
Cenci, Count Francesco
old libertine ravishes his daughter Beatrice. [Br. Lit. and he was getting nervous,' said the insider. 'Despite their tough exteriors, Yardies are known to crack under pressure and turn informants.'
The Yardie phenomenon in the UK was first noted in the late 1980s and their rise is linked to that of crack-cocaine in which many trade.
Massive profits from crack dealing have seen areas like Whitmore Reans in Wolverhampton become a lucrative 'patch'.
Spiralling violence in the area since last May led Superintendent John Colston to suggest that the area was being 'menaced' by Yardies in dispute with local, mainly Asian, gangs.
But he stressed that police were having success in taking guns out of the hands of gang members.
He later told a meeting of the Wolverhampton West Wolverhampton West may refer to:
'There are a number of Jamaican nationals - Yardies - and on the other side, the existing Home Boys.'
Wolverhampton Labour councillor Milkinder Jaspal believes that Yardies may also be behind a protection racket in the area which has seen shots being fired at family homes.
'I have handed over two statements from Muslim families who say they have been asked for regular payments with threats of kidnap and violence,' he told the Sunday Mercury.
'This has been going on for the last year, but the families have refused to pay up - resulting in their houses being shot at while they were inside with children.
'The police have been saying the shootings, both in Whitmore Reans, are drugs-related, but I have evidence to prove otherwise.
'But I do believe the weapons are being provided by Yardies in the Wolverhampton area where they have been growing in influence.
'They have a presence all over the town now, particularly in the more rundown areas where demand for drugs is high like Low Hill, Park Village, and my ward of Heathtown.'
Superintendent Tom Duffin, operations manager See datacenter manager. for police in the Wolverhampton West area, said: 'The police respond positively to concern about drug dealing and the criminal use of firearms.
'Since April 1 there have been 43 drug trafficking offences detected in the Wolverhampton West region.
'Handguns, shotguns and ammunition have also been recovered and some of these investigations have involved the deployment of armed police officers.'
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Somehow — and that “somehow” is a no doubt fascinating story in its own right — Bob Woodward at The Washington Post has obtained a digital recording of a long, detailed conversation between Fox News correspondent KT McFarland and then-General David Petraeus in the spring of 2011 in Afghanistan during which McFarland:
A.) Urges Petraeus to run for president against Barack Obama;
B.) Tells Petraeus that she was instructed to carry that message to Petraeus by Fox News President Roger Ailes and its owner, Rupert Murdoch;
C.) Tells Petraeus that Fox would fully back his presidential campaign, and by fully back she means:
D.) Murdoch would finance the campaign. Ailes would leave Fox to run the campaign. And Fox News itself would become the house organ of the campaign. As McFarland puts it point blank, “The big boss is bankrolling it. Roger’s going to run it. And the rest of us are going to be your in-house.”
Throughout the conversation, Petraeus makes it clear repeatedly that he has no intention of running for president, and that was always my sense of him as well. He understood why others might want to project that future upon him, but he himself never gave the slightest public indication of interest in that career path.
I did have the benefit of an hour-long, one-on-one discussion with Petraeus in his office in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, several months before he became famous, and certainly long before any discussion of the presidency would have been germane. We talked instead about Iraq, counter-insurgency and military-media relations. The impression I got from that conversation, from my research and from following his subsequent career path was that Petraeus was of course a very good “political general.” He knew how to get what he wanted from the media, Congress and the bureaucracy. But he also had an infantryman’s disdain for issues such as abortion, tax rates, gun control and health-care reform, not to mention the fundraising and campaign-trail compromising that would be required. They held no interest for him. So his side of the conversation was no surprise.
On the other hand, the extent of the Fox involvement in attempting to woo Petraeus into the political world is pretty startling even to those of us who already see Fox as a blatantly political implement. And while I seriously doubt that Ailes would have actually left Fox to help Petraeus — he would have been more useful to the general/politician by staying where he is — the depth of the promised commitment is pretty clear.
At one point, in fact, McFarland explains why her bosses back home are so insistent on a Petraeus candidacy:
“Well, but . . . and here’s the thinking: that they’re nervous about. . . . They feel that Obama had this mandate. And the mandate — in his own mind. Obama wanted to do Obamacare. . . . He wanted to do environment, which is basically controlling all aspects of the economy. And education, which is the future. So he pushed for Obamacare. He got that done. They didn’t anticipate 2010 results. But he now is going to lie low and be very centrist so that they win in ’12 and they get the other two. Now, what they need — and this is not from the chiefs, this is from political people — and what they need to cement it so that it doesn’t get reversed is a third term. And that means 2016, they need to win, the Democrats need to win, and they need to win with their guy. Their kind of guy. So that then you’d have the stuff as locked in place for a generation. Nobody can come in like Reagan came in and reverse.”
Petraeus was to be the means by which that danger could be averted, which says something about how much they fear Obama and also how little faith they have in the Republican Party to produce winning candidates on its own. They saw him as a potential savior; he had no interest in being cast in that role.
Ailes, by the way, downplayed the story to the Post, as well as McFarland’s role as a messenger.
“It sounds like she thought she was on a secret mission in the Reagan administration. . . . She was way out of line. . . . It’s someone’s fantasy to make me a kingmaker. It’s not my job.”
Well, at least it shouldn’t be.
UPDATE: It’s also relevant to note how neatly this behavior dovetails with Murdoch’s very-cozy relationships with top politicians in Great Britain, where he reportedly tried to act as a kingmaker with prime ministers dating back to the time of John Major, if not earlier.
– Jay Bookman
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The suffering of the Jews was not an abstraction for Schmitz, says Carder. “Walter Brueggeman’s concept of the prophetic imagination grows out of our ability to grieve or lament. We enter into the suffering of another in a personal way. Seeing the other perspective deepens witness and lament and one’s response.”
In Exodus 3:7, God hears the suffering of his nation and identifies with the oppressed, says Carder. “The disestablishment of the church is an opportunity. We belong in the margins.”
How are leaders of churches great and small to apply the lessons of Elisabeth Schmitz’s life in their work and practice today? Some say even small efforts made in this direction will be of great consequence.
The Rev. Neal Christie, the assistant general secretary for education and leadership formation at the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, described the board’s support of the film in this context.
“Elisabeth … ought to remind the church of the importance and ethical demand to advocate for others before the powers,” Christie says. “For the General Board of Church and Society, this is a core value and purpose.
“There is nonviolent power in a single letter written and circulated, much like there is power in petitions and campaigns that we circulate to our constituencies to demand justice for God’s people.”
Steven Martin, the director of Elisabeth of Berlin, is a United Methodist extension minister in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and is one of Bishop Carder’s former parishioners. He describes the practical lessons of Elisabeth Schmitz’s life in terms of theology, and friendship.
“Goebbels said, ‘Everyone knows one good Jew, but we have to steel ourselves for the Jewish question.’ A lot of people chose his words over their friends’ lives.
“After 12 years of relentless propaganda, it took a huge amount of clarity for Elisabeth Schmitz to see that a friend was a friend and that all the talk about the Jews was wrong. That is what is remarkable about her.
“Her friendship together with her theological training made the difference. The lesson of her piety is that you have to be steeped in the life of the church, and reach out to those that Jesus called ‘the least of these.’”
Bishop Carder finds in her story a call for regret and repentance, but also for hope. “One lone voice can make a difference,” he says. “The contribution multiplies, like the loaves and the fishes. Never underestimate what God can do with a little.”
For more information on the documentary film, Elisabeth of Berlin, directed by Steven D. Martin, visit Vital Visuals.
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On May 26, Dr. James Lovelock, world-renowned scientist and originator of the Gaia Hypothesis, spoke to a packed Glenn Gould Studio at the CBC in Toronto on the topic of his latest book, The Vanishing Face of Gaia.
A bucolic Englishman who will celebrate his ninetieth birthday in July, his apocalyptic predictions belie his gentle nature. Corporate Knights hosted him and his wife Sandy in Toronto for a few days in May.
The Gaia Hypothesis proposes that the earth is a single self-regulating organism and should be studied as such. Lovelock posits that humans are “the nervous system” of Gaia—and Gaia’s face as we know it is now vanishing. A tipping point has already been crossed: feedbacks from melted ice caps that formerly reflected solar radiation, and melting permafrost that used to store methane, will dwarf almost anything we can do. According to Lovelock, we have 30 to 40 years until the global average temperature rises by 5 degrees Celsius and locks into place for the next couple hundred thousand years—as happened 55 million years ago. That will degrade much of the world to scrub deserts, causing the human population to plunge to about one billion, depending on how well we adapt to these drastic changes. Pretty scary stuff.
As a student of chemistry at Manchester University, Lovelock saw little urgency amongst his peers regarding the impending war until World War II was full blown. Lovelock likens this to the current disbelief in climate change. “We’re no longer at the Goldilocks point,” says Lovelock; we’re well past the “just right” temperature. He believes the UN climate models lowball the severity of climate change because they aren’t yet able to consider the dynamic relationship between the biosphere and the atmosphere.
Also known for his support of nuclear power, Lovelock says that “in small, crowded countries,” nuclear is an essential low-carbon form of power generation that will be able to fuel climate adaptations such as air conditioning. Lovelock is also a proponent of efficiency improvements, and where it makes sense, geothermal, hydropower, and concentrated solar thermal farms. He is not bullish on wind, seeing it as too niche, intermittent and relying on advances in energy storage not yet seen.
So what can we do? Lovelock, a self-professed optimist despite his predictions, says the first priority is adapting infrastructure to prepare for a hotter climate and, in Canada, the rush of climate refugees that will soon be knocking on our cooler doors. Because of this, Lovelock says Canada is an ideal home for an international centre for climate change adaptation.
While he is not hopeful on humans’ ability to turn back climate change, he admits he could be wrong. So what offers the best prospect of sucking sufficient carbon out of the atmosphere at this point? “Throw everything into biochar,” he advises the head of Royal Dutch Shell. He says the most effective way to bring carbon dioxide levels back to pre-industrial levels is to let the biosphere pump it from the air for us. Turning agricultural wastes into charcoal, a carbon-inert substance that is as stable as gold, and then dropping it to the bottom of the ocean, is the best form of carbon capture and storage, he says.
In the end, Dr. Lovelock believes that it’s hubris to think we can save the planet. “Our main task is to adapt and survive,” he says. “Gaia will save itself.”
While we think it’s good to have an insurance policy, better to also come out of the corner swinging—sometimes David turns Goliath’s tide, even one as big as Gaia faces.
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Known for both his years with the Temptations and his major solo hits of the 1970s, Eddie Kendricks was among the many soul legends who did his part to put Motown Records on the map. The expressive vocalist (who often sang in a falsetto) grew up in Birmingham, AL, but it was Motown's original home of Detroit that made him a star. Kendricks was still living in Alabama in the late '50s, when he formed the Primes with Kell Osborne and Temptation-to-be Paul Williams. After moving from Alabama to Detroit, the Primes caught the attention of a Motor City group known as the Distants (whose members included Tempations-to-be Otis Williams, Elbridge Bryant, and Melvin Franklin). The Primes broke up after being together only a few years, and the Temptations (originally known as the Elgins) were formed when, in 1961, members of the Primes and the Distants came together. With a lineup that included former Primes Kendricks and Paul Williams and former Distants Otis Williams (who was unrelated to Paul), Melvin Franklin, and Elbridge Bryant, the Temptations signed with the little-known Motown subsidiary Miracle. The Temptations (who went through many personnel changes over the years) didn't become successful right away, but by the mid-'60s, they had become huge thanks to such smashes as "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "My Girl."
The Temptations enjoyed one mega-hit after another in the mid-to-late '60s, and they were still tremendously popular when Kendricks left to pursue a solo a career in 1971 (the year he sang lead on their hit "Just My Imagination"). Many Temptations fans questioned the wisdom of Kendricks leaving such a successful group, but Kendricks proved to be quite viable as a solo act thanks to early-'70s singles like "Keep on Truckin'" (a number one R&B hit) and "Boogie Down" (which went to number two on the soul charts). Other noteworthy solo hits followed, including "Shoeshine Boy," "Get the Cream Off the Top," and "Happy" in 1975 and "He's a Friend" in 1976. Most of his solo albums came out on Motown, although Kendricks recorded Something More for Arista in 1979 and Love Keys for Atlantic in 1981. By that time, Kendricks' popularity had decreased considerably. The singer wasn't heard from that much in the 1980s, but he did participate in the Artists United Against Apartheid's Sun City project in 1985 and recorded with another former Temptation, David Ruffin, as a duo for RCA in 1988.
Sadly, the 1990s would see the premature deaths of no less than three former members of the Temptations. First, Ruffin died of a cocaine overdose in 1991, followed by the deaths of Kendricks in 1992 and Melvin Franklin (from a brain seizure) in 1995. (Tragedy was nothing new to Temptations members, for Paul Williams had committed suicide back in 1973). Kendricks was only 52 when he died of lung cancer in his native Birmingham on October 5, 1992. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
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Polycarp 2409 disciple of the apostle John and by him ordained bishop of Smyrna was chief of all Asia, where he saw and had as teachers some of the apostles and of those who had seen the Lord. He, on account of certain questions concerning the day of the Passover, went to Rome in the time of the emperor Antoninus Pius while Anicetus ruled the church in that city. There he led back to the faith many of the believers who had been deceived through the persuasion of Marcion and Valentinus, and when Marcion met him by chance and said “Do you know us” he replied, “I know the firstborn of the devil.” Afterwards during the reign of Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus in the fourth persecution after Nero, in the presence of the proconsul holding court at Smyrna and all the people crying out against him in the Amphitheater, he was burned. He wrote a very valuable Epistle to the Philippians which is read to the present day in the meetings in Asia.
Bishop 106 or 7—157–168 (?); 154 sq (Lipsius) Authorities differ as to dates of his death from 147–175. Bishop certainly (Salmon) 110.
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On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold a public hearing to consider making naloxone more available outside of conventional medical settings in order to reduce drug overdoses from opioid drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet and heroin. This groundbreaking hearing will bring together many of the leading overdose prevention experts in the United States to strategize ways to improve access to naloxone.
Naloxone rapidly reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of heroin, OxyContin and other drugs. Emergency room physicians and paramedics routinely administer naloxone to a person experiencing an opioid overdose. Since receiving FDA approval in 1971, naloxone is believed to have saved tens of thousands of lives. In advance of the FDA hearing this week, the Drug Policy Alliance is releasing a new policy brief, Expanding Access to Naloxone: Reducing Fatal Overdose, Saving Lives. The brief details how naloxone is already saving lives, and includes steps that policymakers and public health officials can take to further reduce fatal overdoses.
Interest in expanding access to naloxone comes as unintentional drug overdose rates nationwide have reached unprecedented levels. In 2009, the most recent year data is available, drug overdoses exceeded the number of fatalities from motor vehicle crashes for the first time. More than 28,000 people now lose their lives each year as a result of an accidental drug overdose.
Given the enormous death toll we are seeing from opioid overdoses, it is both encouraging and crucial that the FDA has begun examining how to build on naloxone's track record as a life-saving medication, said Grant Smith, federal policy coordinator with the Drug Policy Alliance. While the FDA looks to dismantle regulatory hurdles that stand in the way of expanding naloxone access, federal lawmakers should be investing in scientific research that will expedite greater public access and use of this medication. Making naloxone available over the counter is a regulatory change that is urgently needed and cannot continue to be overlooked, said Smith.
A growing number of state and local health authorities have launched overdose prevention programs to train first responders, parents and others about how to recognize an overdose, provide first aid, and administer naloxone. Similar in concept to CPR or the use of defibrillators, overdose prevention programs are training people in more than 180 programs that are operating in fifteen states and District of the Columbia. According to a recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, increased access to naloxone through overdose prevention programs has already saved more than 10,000 lives. On Friday, a panel of overdose prevention experts who presented at the FDA hearing will speak to congressional staff on Capitol Hill about the effectiveness of expanding naloxone access through overdose prevention programs.
"Lawmakers and public health stakeholders need not wait for instructions from the FDA when the tools to dramatically reduce fatal overdoses are already easily available," said Meghan Ralston, harm reduction coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance. In addition to implementing overdose prevention programs, lawmakers should also implement 911 Good Samaritan policies, said Ralston.
States such as New York, Illinois, Connecticut and Florida have recently passed 911 Good Samaritan laws, a no-cost solution that encourages people to quickly report an overdose to emergency medical professionals without fearing arrest for minor drug possession. Hundreds of college campuses across the country also have similar policies in place.
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Rates. They affect everything from how much money you save to how much you pay to borrow. Whether you’re opening a savings account or financing a new home purchase, current interest rates are at the forefront of your mind. So with hundreds of thousands of banks, credit unions, lenders and other financial institutions in the U.S., how do you find the best interest rates available?
GoBankingRates.com was founded in order to help people sift through current interest rates on a variety of banking products and locate only the most competitive offers. Our rates table features interest rates from over 5,000 local, national and online banks and credit unions, allowing you to sort by product and/or location and view the best interest rates available to you — for free.
In addition to collecting the best bank rates, credit union rates, loan rates and more, we also feature daily articles and news written by industry experts to help you stay informed about the most important information and latest trends in personal finance. We cover a wide range of topics, like credit, debt, retirement and investing, to help you make more informed decisions regarding your finances and maximize the potential of your money.
We make it our mission to be the most comprehensive source of deposit and loan rates in the US. Our database includes an extensive catalog of the best bank rates and credit union rates for deposit accounts like:
Savings Account Rates: The foundation to any financial plan, savings accounts help you grow your money with a little added interest. We scour the nation for the best interest rates on savings accounts from national banks, online banks, smaller community banks and local credit unions.
Certificate of Deposit (CD) Rates: If you want to take your returns to the next level, a certificate of deposit (or CD) is the perfect account. The top interest rates today on 6-month, 12-month, 2-year and 5-year CDs are all available here.
Additionally, we regularly locate and feature the best bank rates on checking accounts, money market accounts (MMAs), credit cards, auto loans, home loans and more.
Our approach to the best bank rates is unique — Go Banking Rates is the only source for truly local rates. While there are plenty of advantages to banking with a large, national bank, more and more people like you are seeking out financial institutions and products that are close to home and offer what the big banks often can’t.
No matter what city you live in, we can point you to the best interest rates currently available — whether you’re looking to join the community credit union or become a customer of a national bank.
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New water meters will increase accuracy of readings, hike billsNew water meters being installed in Mitchell will more accurately measure the amount of water that residents use. That’s good news for the city, according to Public Works Department Deputy Director Terry Johnson. It will bring in more revenue and will allow the city to either drop a position or reassign one or two employees.
By: Tom Lawrence, The Daily Republic
New water meters being installed in Mitchell will more accurately measure the amount of water that residents use.
That’s good news for the city, according to Public Works Department Deputy Director Terry Johnson. It will bring in more revenue and will allow the city to either drop a position or reassign one or two employees.
Johnson said he believes the city will see $200,000 in new revenue by accurately measuring water use.
But it could mean higher water and sewer bills for people whose water use isn’t being measured correctly by aging meters.
Johnson said the new meters will be installed on 5,700 homes in the next five years. Right now, only about 250 are in place.
People don’t have an option on a meter, he said.
“If you get city water, you get to have the meter.”
The new meters are called Rockwell Meters with Sensus Smart Point Transmitters. They are replacing old Rockwell meters that have been measuring water use in Mitchell for decades. Some are 60 years old, Johnson said.
As they age, they don’t always correctly gauge the amount of water being used in homes, he said. That error is always too low, since the meters don’t record every time water is used, he said.
The city measures water by the gallon. A single unit is 750 gallons, and residents are charged $2.70 for that, according to Cathy Krall, city utility billing clerk.
Krall said an average home with two adults and two children uses about 10 units per month, resulting in a bill of $27 just for water usage.
However, bills fluctuate based on the meter reading, she said. Some people get upset when their bill fluctuates, Krall said, but all she can do is trust the meters.
The modern meters are being read by hand-held devices while older meters are still read by two meter readers who go into yards and basements to check the number.
“We have people who get bit by dogs,” Johnson said. “And reading them in the winter — last winter, when we had all that snow, we had a heck of a time.”
So far, the new meters are being placed in “troubled areas” where meter readers have to deal with dogs and other hazards. But eventually, everyone will have the more accurate meters, Johnson said.
City staffers can read the new meters with the hand-held devices from a quarter-mile away, he said. By next year, when the new city water tower is erected by Interstate 90, the process will become even simpler and more accurate.
A meter-reading device called a FlexNet will be placed atop the tower, and it will be able to read all meters in the city. The information will be sent directly to Krall’s computer so billing can be completed easier and faster.
If customers have a complaint, Krall will be able to show them how much water was used and when it was used in the home. That should reduce complaints, she said.
In addition to improving accuracy and streamlining the billing process, the new system will alert the city if water is constantly running in a home. A notice can be sent out to the resident to correct the problem or ask for city assistance.
The city will also be able to shut off water when a customer gets too far behind on their bill. A simple flip of the switch will shut off water, and once the bill is paid, a city employee will have to come in the house and reset the meter, Johnson said.
The new system will be the first in the state for a municipality, he said. Its total cost will be $1.2 million and will be paid for with city funds and grants.
Public Works Director Tim McGannon told the City Council recently that these changes will allow the city to reduce its employee roster by one or two.
Johnson said that’s possible, but he noted that the two meter readers now help in other areas and work on water main breaks.
“We have plenty of work for them to do,” he said.
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Medical marijuana: Physician assistants the cause of delayed applications?
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced last week that as many as 4,000 medical marijuana patient applications and renewals were being held up in order "to ensure patients and physicians are within guidelines." Despite the CDPHE's vagueness, we've learned that many the applications are being scrutinized because they were apparently completed by a physician's assistant and only signed off on by a doctor.
According to Carol Goddard, executive director of the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants, physician assistants cannot recommend Schedule 1 drugs such as medical mariuana or even evaluate a patient for a recommendation for a Schedule 1 drug. Interestingly, however, they can prescribe Schedule 2 drugs like Oxycontin and even cocaine with DEA approval or the co-sign of a doctor,.
Vincent Palazzotto, director of the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America, says one of the docs associated with the MMAPA affiliate organization Mobile Doctors of America (MDARX) used physician assistants to perform the evaluations on about 800 patients for whom he subsequently signed recommendations -- a practice that was permitted at the time by the CDPHE, he maintains. But since then, the CDPHE has reversed that decision. "It's important to remember that this is a CDPHE thing," Palazzotto says, noting that the MDARX has letters from several professional medical groups that encourage the use of physician assistants on these evaluations.
Palazzotto says that MDARX has begun contacting patients who were evaluated by physician assistants and are experiencing delays in their application. But there's no need to wait for a call; patients can also phone MDARX at 1-855-632-7987 and set up a time to see a doctor again for free.
Unfortunately, not all doctors' groups are being as open about what is going on.
We've received numerous e-mails from patients who went to Well Docs, where they were evaluated by physician assistants before a doctor signed the recommendation. One patient who has been waiting over sixty days for his medical marijuana card says he was told by Well Docs that he would have an answer by December 15; the Well Docs rep advised him to call around that time to make sure.
The patient says he moved to Colorado a few months ago specifically to get a medical marijuana card for neurological pain issues. Because he's new to the area and didn't know any compassionate caregivers, he says he's stuck in a pretty rough spot. "For right now, no dispensaries will serve me because my papers are expired... Colorado is currently testing my will to go on. I am stuck at home and in pain constantly."
In answer to the complaints, Benjamin Einhorn sent a message to me from the Well Docs Facebook account last week: It read: "yes some of our liscences [sic] are on hold and any that are denied because of our doctor we are fixing for free when this whole thing comes down." But since then, the Facebook page for Well Docs has been shut down and I have been unable to reach Einhorn or any other representative at the numbers listed for their Denver and Boulder locations.
No word from the CDPHE when the issues may be resolved.
Editor's note: After the publication of this post, we received a note from MMAPA board member Betty Aldworth, who writes:
MMAPA does not conduct physician evaluations for MMJ, and does not facilitate those evaluations. MDARX (Mobile Doctors of America) is the company referred to in your piece. While MMAPA and MDARX do partner on a number of projects, they are separate entities with separate missions. MMAPA has a distinct board of directors with no control over MDARX, and as a member of that board it's important to me that the distinction between the organizations is clear.
The references have been altered in the text above to reflect Aldworth's information. We regret the error.
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The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage, by Jan van Ruysbroeck, , at sacred-texts.com
From this zeal there spring temperance and sobriety, both inward and outward; for none can possess the right measure of sobriety save him who is greatly zealous and diligent to keep his soul and body in righteousness. Sobriety divides the higher powers from the animal powers; it saves a man from intemperance and from excess. Sobriety wishes neither to taste, nor to know, those things which are forbidden.
The incomprehensible and most high Nature of God transcends all creatures in heaven and on earth. For all that a creature can comprehend is of the creature; but God is above all creatures and within and without all creatures, and every created comprehension is too narrow to comprehend Him. But if a creature is to comprehend and to understand God, it must be caught up beyond itself into God, and comprehend God with God. Whosoever then would know and understand what God iswhich is not permittedhe would go mad. Behold, all created light is powerless to know what God is. What God is in Himself, transcends all creatures, but that God exists, is testified by nature, and by Holy Writ, and by every creature. We should believe the articles of faith, and not desire to understand them, for this is impossible as long as we are here below: such is sobriety. The mysterious and subtle teachings of Holy Writ, inspired by the Holy Ghost, should not be explained and understood in any other way than in their bearing upon the lives of Christ and His saints. Man should consider nature, and the Scriptures, and all creatures, and take from these that which profits him and nothing more. Such is sobriety of spirit.
A man should keep his senses in sobriety and should restrain the animal powers by means of the reason; so that the lusts of the flesh do not enter too far into the savouring of food and of drink; but he should eat and drink as the sick take their physic, because it is needful to support his strength, that he may serve God therewith. This is sobriety of body. He should also observe method and moderation in doing and in leaving undone, in words and in works, in silence and in speaking, in food and in drink, according to the custom of Holy Church, and after the example of the saints.
By inward and ghostly temperance and sobriety a man preserves firmness and constancy of faith, purity of intelligence, that tranquillity of reason necessary to the comprehension of truth, an impulse towards all virtues according to the will of God, peace of heart, and serenity of conscience. And herewith he possesses an enduring peace, in God and in himself.
And by temperance and sobriety of the outward bodily senses, a man often preserves the health and the soundness of his natural body, the dignity of his outward life, and a good reputation. And thus he lives in peace with himself and with his neighbours; for by his temperance and sobriety he draws to himself and pleases all men of good-will. And thus he casts out the sixth mortal sin, which is intemperance, greed or Gluttony. Of all such Christ says: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God; for they are like unto the Son, Who has made peace in every creature who desired peace. And whosoever makes peace in himself through his temperance and sobriety shall partake with Him of the inheritance of His Father; and shall possess it with Him in eternity.
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So beautiful and so naturally a flower in the vase by Japanese designers looks! Company ‘Oodesign‘ has created an unusual vase that has a wavy surface of transparent plastic, giving the impression of small ripple on the water. To heighten the effect the Ripple Vase should be put in a container with water, to merge two substances. Beautiful flower becomes more attractive when it floats by itself in ‘invisible’ vessel. The company’s products reflect its purpose: ‘Our goal is to find a new discovery that materials and shapes create’.
Read the rest of this entry »
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JACKSONVILLE- You walk past it every day, giving it no attention until you're too hot or too cold. Your thermostat. There are programmable ones out there but many are hard to operate. Nest Labs says it has a solution with its Wi-Fi Learning Thermostat.
I ordered a Nest last year and tested it in my house for seven weeks. I'll have the results for you but first a little background on the Nest.
The Nest was developed by former Apple executives. The thermostat looks like no other. It's a high tech orb-like device with brushed steel.
After I took off my old thermostat, I hooked up the wires to install the Nest. It's a relatively simple process that took me about 30 minutes. Plug it in and the Nest comes to life.
The first thing you do is have the Nest sniff out your homes Wi-Fi. It's very easy to use by turning the outside wheel and tapping on its glass. To raise the temperature, turn the outer ring to the right, to lower it, to the left. When the leaf appears it means you're saving the most energy. But the best feature is the Nest learns every time you adjust the temperature. After a week it sets a schedule. "We had to build this feature to learn your habits, to basically learn your inputs. It solves this core problem of helping people build a schedule to help people save energy and make them more comfortable," says Nest co-founder Matt Rogers.
You can change the schedule anytime you want at home or by an app on your iPhone or iPad. It also has an auto-away mode. Sensors in the thermostat know when you're home. When the Nest doesn't detect anyone in the house for two hours it adjusts the temperature.
Cool device. But it cost $249. So has it saved me money since I started using it since January 7th? My first monthly bill showed I used an average of 63-kilowatt hours of energy per day. But I installed the Nest halfway through the billing period. The real test would come during the next bill. I found I used about two fewer kilowatt hours per day. That's a 26 cents a day savings or an average of $7.80 a month or $93 a year. Was all that due to the Nest? That's still too early to tell.
JEA's Conservation & Efficiency Specialist Brian Pippin says the high tech thermostat will likely save you money for one reason, it programs itself. "If you spent $100 for a programmable thermostat that you did have to program and you did it incorrectly, no savings there. If you bought the Nest for $249 and it programmed itself, it may take a year and a half but at least you're getting your investment back."
Heating and cooling account for almost 46% of the electricity usage in your home with the rest going to water heating, appliances, lighting and other items like computers. If you adjust the temperature just one degree on your thermostat, it will save you 5% on your heating bill. The Nest claims to save its users 15%-30% on their bill.
At a $93 dollar a year savings, it would take about two and a half years to make back the cost of the $249 Nest. My test lasted only 7 weeks. Plus, there are variety of other factors that go into energy usage like the outside temperature and how warm or cool you like your house. The jury is still out if the Nest will feather bank accounts but one thing is certain, it sure does look cool on the hallway wall.
First Coast News
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Must reads by Anne Casey
Phil Birch, business editor here at the3rdimagazine, has written a business book with a twist. It has all the “must haves” you would expect to see in a business book but the ‘twist’ is that this book looks at business from an ethical dimension.
Sounds too radical? Clearly for some in business, yes, but many have welcomed this book, not because there aren’t any ethically led businesses out there, rather that there has been little or no emphasis on an ethical approach in the existing body of business books.
The book is an A to Z introduction to ‘Ethiconomics’ setting out the ‘principles and practices of ethical business for the 21st century’. Where this framework has been used in the past I have often found the A-Z format contrived but in this instance it works. There are multiple subjects found under most letters and because of the framework and layout, as soon as you pick it up, you get the sense of it being a book that you could easily dip in and out of.
As well as Phil’s perspective on business ethics, there are lots of pertinent quotes which sit well where they are used, and there are some surprises in there. We get worthy sentiments from Buddha to Steve Jobs and Herodotus to Henry Ford; always interesting and often entertaining
However, to the meat of the book: Phil clearly knows his business. There are all the subjects that you would expect to see in a business book to help you with the expertise that is required in running a business. There are also sections on generosity, humanity, philanthropy and volunteering, amongst others, and Phil demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of these diverse subjects too.
This is a serious book which reminds us that there is a different way to do business; we always knew this, but clearly, in the light of recent events, the reminder is timely. It is also an easy and entertaining book to read and Phil’s passion for the subject shines through. We could all benefit from reading this book because it is first and foremost about our humanity and how we can all be better, for the good of all.
What is so brilliant about Phil Birch’s pot pourri of business wisdom is the work he has done in collating so much knowledge in such an easily digestible format. It saves you buying at least 20 other books. If you did nothing else than read one letter per week, in half a year, your world and business will be transformed. –Tom Evans, author of Flavours of Thought
Ethiconomics is a system of practices and values for ethical business in the global economy. Current business practice has lead to virtual economic meltdown fuelled by corporate irresponsibility, non-accountability and a lack of moral values. Ethiconomics is your complete guide to an improved, sustainable life and business leading to rewarding business relationships and personal fulfilment.
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The name used by Sun Microsystems for its virtualization and management software. Also called Sun xVM, it is a Solaris-based hypervisor that enables servers to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single computer, addressing both desktop and server virtualization. The name itself, according to Sun, represents the intersection (x) of virtualization and management (VM). Products in the Sun xVM family include the following:
- Sun xVM Server: A cross-platform open source hypervisor capable of hosting multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux and Solaris guest operating systems. It was built using technology from the Xen open source project as well as Sun's Logical Domains.
- Sun xVM Ops Center: A highly scalable data center automation tool that offers simplified discovery, provisioning, updates and management of physical and virtualized assets in cross-platform Linux and Solaris OS-based x86 and SPARC environments.
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Chief Constable's report on policing the War
c1919: Report from Chief Constable on learning points from policing the First World War: The major points are: Surrey was an unrestricted area and being close to the Metropolis received an influx of refugees at times of anticipated air raids. These refugees were for the most part from the east of London and mainly consisted of aliens many of whom were undesirable characters. They arrived in train loads and got off where they liked causing considerable difficulties and annoyance in the districts where "they dumped themselves". Housing had to be found for them without warning "but the feeding capacities in view of rationing and the scarcity of food were much taxed and special arrangements had to be made with the rationing authorities". Occasionally all the schools and like buildings had to be used to house undesirable refugees an in any future war preparations should be made beforehand to deal with it. One suggestion was that railway companies should be prohibited from bringing refugees down without consultation with authorities of the districts to which they bring them. Locations outside London suitable for receiving refugees should be agreed beforehand and they should not be taken to any other place. It was accepted that this would not deal with those that arrived by motor car of which there were many.
Surrey was in the danger zone and on any invasion route and arrangements had to be made to deal with the receipt and passing on of inhabitants, cattle, implements etc from Sussex but also to arrange for the evacuation of the county itself. In order to carry out these duties a force of four thousand Special Constables was raised in addition to those on ordinary duty. These Special Constables were earmarked for defence of the realm duties only and did no other work of a police nature. --- The main requisite was to collect all persons, cattle, material etc., and move them by routes other than the main roads so as to leave the latter free for military use. --- In villages Special Constables were detailed for the various duties, some in connection with the removal of inhabitants, others for cattle, etc., everything required to be moved being dealt with by the requisite numbers of Special Constables. Others were detailed to keep order along the various routes selected and some were in place at every junction of the main roads to hold up refugees if necessary to keep the roads clear for the military. The rendezvous for all cattle, etc., was Richmond Park.
There was much guarding of key and vulnerable points which seem to have not been considered by the authorities in the move to war. Much of this was done by the Special Constabulary or unarmed policemen.
The providing of billets for military authorities was another great tax upon the police, fifteen thousand found in the first winter of the war. The troops arrived ignorant of everything and had to be "spoon fed". The spy and signalling mania with which the public became infected proved a source of continual trouble and the public was a perfect nuisance. Every Defence of the Realm Regulation added to already onerous duties of the police and the influx of aliens from restricted areas and their supervision also caused a great deal of work. The correspondence became colossal.
I was very hard pressed all over the county to allow notice to be given of air raids. This I refused to do with the result that instead of sitting up all night in fear the inhabitants slept comfortably in their beds and only learnt of the raids by reading the papers next morning. The police and special constables were given full instructions as to their duties should bombs be dropped in their vicinity and that I held was sufficient. Being an unrestricted area Surrey experienced an influx of Belgian refugees who came in large numbers without warning and were distributed across the county. The time of the police was much occupied in finding and registering them.
At the busiest time in the War a census of all agricultural implements was urgently called for. It can be imagined what the distribution and collection of two thousand two hundred and fifty forms meant in the way of work for the police. Then there was the requisitioning of horses of which many thousands were obtained in this county. Countless returns were called for from time to time and when considering the preparations to be made in the event of another war as many of these matters as possible should be foreseen and dealt with beforehand.32
32 Surrey History Centre, Woking, item ref CC98/72, undated.
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Step 1: buy tofu.
Step 2: Touch the tofu. Don't be scared.
Step 3: show the tofu who is boss...
...by getting the liquid out.
Step 4: cut into cubes. Mine fell apart.
Step 5: put cubes in hot pan. Mine turned into tofu crumbles while they cooked.
Step 6: sprinkle stuff on, to disguise tofu.
Step 7: put 6 million random ingredients in a food processor, along with lots of peanut butter.
Step 8: stand back in case it explodes. Let someone else push the button.
Step 9: put everything in bowl and mash it around.
Step 10: make it look delicious so someone might want to eat it. Hide tofu under noodles.
Step 11: pour big glasses of wine in case it tastes really really bad.
Additional note: make sure you have proper supervision when dealing with tofu.
He doesn't know he's too big to sleep on the step now.
Don't tell him, it'll break his little heart.Happy Wednesday, everyone!
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Discover what "Imported from Lancaster County" means.
Discover the history and culture of western Lancaster County and the Susquehanna River Valley. Experience the natural beauty and wonderful stories that shaped the area. Learn about the beginnings of Turkey Hill Dairy and the farmland and towns around it. Milk a mechanical cow and sit in a milk truck.
Travel the world of tea.
Inside our tearoom, check out our giant tea bottle and experience the aromas of most popular teas from around the world. Explore the history of Lancaster County's favorite beverage and find out which flavor matches your personality. Relax in the "Chill Zone" and learn about the mystical history of tea.
Make your own virtual ice cream creation.
Walk through interactive exhibits of the ice cream making process, from milk and cream delivery to freezing the mix and filling the cartons. Learn about homogenization and pasteurization then race to measure out the perfect batch. Research and develop your own ice cream concoction by choosing your ingredients and designing your package. Cool off from the hard work with a stop in our blast freezer. And learn how we test our ice cream with a sample taste test of your own.
Star in a Turkey Hill TV commercial.
Make a commercial, where you and your new ice cream are the stars. Post it to Facebook to share with all your friends.
Take the Experience home with you.
Don't leave without taking a little bit of the Turkey Hill Experience with you. Our well-stocked gift shop offers one-of-a-kind Turkey Hill memorabilia. You'll also find plenty of souvenirs to import home for friends and family.
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Read this information so you understand the procedure and its risks. Please ask questions about anything that you do not understand.
The term “percutaneous” means “to go through the skin.” During a percutaneous liver biopsy, a doctor places a needle through the skin of the right upper abdomen into the liver and takes small pieces of tissue to send to a laboratory for analysis.
In most cases we use this procedure to determine why a child has increased liver enzymes. Causes include hepatitis or biliary atresia, which is the underdevelopment of the bile ducts leading to the small intestine.
Using ultrasound for guidance, the doctor inserts the needle into the liver to obtain small pieces of tissue. Then the doctor inserts a substance called Gelfoam® into the liver to minimize bleeding into the tract (where the needle went into the liver). The body absorbs the substance, which is harmless. We will put a bandage over the site of the injection.
No. The procedure will be performed with IV sedation or general anesthesia.
Your child may have some discomfort around the biopsy site for several days that can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.
Approximately one hour.
This procedure is considered low-risk. However, potential complications include:
Your child may experience some discomfort and will need to lie in bed for four to six hours in the recovery area. You can be with your child during this time.
After four hours, we will take a blood count (a CBC) to tell us whether there is bleeding from the liver into the abdominal cavity. Most children don’t experience bleeding. Outpatients whose blood counts are normal will be able to go home.
Leave the bandage on for 48 hours. Then you may remove the gauze and clear bandage; do not remove the Steri-Strips® (white strips). If the Steri-Strips haven’t fallen off after seven days, you may remove them.
Keep the site dry for 48 hours. After 48 hours, your child may shower or have a sponge bath, but must keep the area dry. If showering, your child must face away from the showerhead. Do not submerge the site in water (bath or pool) until the Steri-Strips have fallen off.
Your child should rest after the procedure. The next day, your child may return to light activities, but must avoid strenuous activity or contact sports, including rough playing, for one week.
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http://www.chop.edu/service/radiology/interventional-radiology/percutaneous-liver-biopsy.html
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Mounties guarding Parliament Hill will soon be armed with submachine-guns as part of the force’s move to beef up security at the center of Canada’s government.
RCMP officers on duty on the Hill currently carry handguns as primary weapons, while their secondary weapons, shotguns, are stored in vehicles.
The force confirmed Wednesday the Hechler & Koch MP5 9-mm semi-automatic rifle will be reintroduced in the next few months once its officers are trained to use them.
RCMP Sgt. Greg Cox said the MP5s are more accurate and have a better range capability as opposed to a shotgun, which fires a round that often spreads beyond its intended target.
The Mounties carried MP5s in the 1980s to guard Parliament Hill and embassies, but the firearms were phased out.
The submachine-guns, like the Mounties’ current secondary weapon, won’t be visible and will only be pulled out if needed, Cox added.
“The one instance that comes to mind is that there may be a shooter inside one of these buildings randomly shooting targets,” he said. “This is a better suited option to deal with that threat.”
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Posts Tagged ‘Lesson Plan’
The Auction Lesson Plan
Students will be able to:
- Recall the definition of MEMORY.
- Use tableau, thought tracking and soundscapes to representwht they remember from the book: The Auction .
- Employ cause and effect in order to discuss how emotions stem from memories.
- Work together in small and large groups to improvise settings.
- Complete memory tasks and games to build recollection skills.
- One teacher will enter the classroom and tell the students that she has just been visiting a farm out in the country, has brought a friend to visit with them and now seems to have lost track of her. But there is a song that her friend really likes, and maybe if the children join in singing the song, her friend will find them.
- Teacher sings the sing, asking the children to do the motions with her.
- Scarecrow, scarecrow touch your toes.
Scarecrow, scarecrow tap your nose.
Swing your arms so very slow,
Now real fast to scare the crows!
Tough your head, jump up and down.
Now sit down without a sound.
- Sing the song again, this time asking the children to join in. The teacher compliments the children on their effort, and asks them to try again, just a little bit louder, and then making sure to sit quickly and carefully at the end of the song.
- The children sing the song louder and this time, and when they are all sitting the teacher in role as scarecrow enters the classroom. She is carrying a basket with corn, a stuffed crow, a model toy tractor a model toy cow and the book: The Auction. She greets the children, thanking them for singing her song because she was lost in the school and couldn’t find them.
- The scarecrow tells the teacher she has some things to show them. She one by one pulls out the items and asks the children to identify them. When she pulls out the book, she tells the children that the book is about the family where she was once the scarecrow. That the family had to leave the farm, which was sad for them, but that the family had many memories of wonderful times together.
- One of the teachers (Scarecrow? Perhaps one of the other teachers could take this part) prepares to read the book. She tells the children to pay special attention to what the little boy and the grandfather remember from living happily on the farm. While he asks the children to think about what the word MEMORY means as she is reading the book.
- One of the teachers reads the book.
- After the story, the children are asked to think about their favorite scene from the book. Each child will be asked to tell which of the MEMORIES described by the characters in the book was their favorite one. A teacher will write the memories down on a slip of paper, and put them in the basket.
- Using the time honored popsicle stick method the children will be grouped in groups of 4 ( this grouping could be beforehand as well, if we can get a class list) The scarecrow pulls a memory on a piece of paper out for each group.
- The groups will be told that they will be given two minutes to find a way to show with their bodies and their faces a picture (introduce: Tableau) of what their group’s memory is. Teachers assist with the process. After two minutes of work each group’s memory will be presented in turn, and the other children will be asked to guess which part of the book it is from. (Also introduce thought tracking here?)
And finally, to get them back to their seats…
- The Teachers will then introduce the following chant in order to get the children back to their seats. We will ask the children to pretend they are the crows. Introduce slow motion and have them practice flying away as the crows without leaving their places first. (This way no one will be hurt and the children will not be in an excited state at the end of the lesson.) Ask the children what sounds crow make, and ask them to practice making this sound as if we were hearing from very far away (it will be much quieter that way!) Then the teachers can do the chant, and the children can fly in slow motion using the long distance crowing to head back to their seats, a group at a time.
The floppy, floppy scarecrow
Guards his field all day.
He waves his floppy, floppy hands
To scare the crows away.
A picture card will be placed at each group of desks. Students will be instructed to come up with one thing that they notice about the picture. Students will be called to the carpet by the number on their picture. Each student will be asked what it was that they noticed in the picture. Once everyone has presented, students will try to place the pictures in the order that they think the story will go.
The story will be read to the class and questions asked to assess the child’s understanding of the story and the objectives. Questions include:
- What does it mean to remember something?
- What can you remember from the farm in the story?
Students will be asked to form a tableau of the farm in the story, and the teachers will begin thought tracking of the characters (animals and machinery can have thoughts, too!). Next, students will be asked to make a sound that they think they would hear on the farm and also to begin acting like whatever would make that sound. Students will head back to their desks while still in character from the soundscape.
When back at the desks, students will be asked to close their eyes and quietly think of a memory that makes them very happy. After a few moments, they will be asked to open their eyes and focus their attention on the classroom teacher.
Students will be asked to recall what their sound and movement from the first lesson was and to imitate it while walking up to the carpet. Students will move around the carpet while in character before being asked to take a seat on the carpet.
A coffee can with a toy cow, farmhouse, letter from an elder, etc. (items subject to change) will be brought in by one of the teachers. Can will be passed around the circle and each student will be asked what they think might be inside the can. After students give suggestions, can is opened and the letter read/object shown.
Students will be asked questions about the memories in the story and how they might relate to the emotions expressed by the story’s characters. Examples include:
- What was your favorite memory from the story? How did it make you feel?
- What emotions is the grandfather feeling about selling the farm? Why do you think he feels this way?
- What about the grandson, how do you think he feels about his grandfather’s farm being sold? How do you think his memories make him feel?
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