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Some time ago I watched a discussion between Sam Harris and Craig, and I must admit, I'm confused about this "relative morality" concept. After a little research (very little though) I found this one site that said things about rape always being wrong and somehow that proves god exists. I'm really lost here. Not that that argument makes sense, but I still don't understand the whole point about arguing over this. Can someone please help me with this? I joined this community in hopes of learning more, so it's time to start, huh?
I apologize for my bad English and ignorance, but appreciate all the help I can get.
Freud also said that sometimes a cigar is just a good smoke --
@onecae - at a point in the past, earlier for Muslim philosophers and near the Age of Reason for some Christian philosophers, the two groups, separately of course, reached a conclusion that god doesn't exist in a physical place, i.e., "heaven," but rather within each of us. I could go into more detail, but I would have to make sure that every detail was precisely correct, or my statements would be picked apart, and I really don't have time for that, but check some history of religion books, you'll find it's in many of them.
Some believed that whole, "god is light" thing, and felt that "sparks" of that light went into everything, animate and inanimate. One group even went so far as smoking great amounts of tobacco, to "release the sparks" - I, on the other hand prefer to empty a bottle of beer, for the same reason - at least that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it! Which reminds me --
It's hard to determine what another persons thinks the word 'god' means. There's a long history justifying your belief that your statements about it would be picked apart by others- they might even ignore your statements and just pick your body apart. Thanks for the tip about reading some history of religion books - it never hurts to be reminded that there are others - so right back at you. "...reached a conclusion that god doesn't exist in a physical place..." If god doesn't exist, then certainly god doesn't exist in a physical place.
RE: "If god doesn't exist, then certainly god doesn't exist in a physical place"
I think you're missing my point, oneK - these groups weren't saying that god doesn't exist (I do, they didn't) - they were saying that he/she/it existed inside everything in existence, rather than in a heaven somewhere.
I suggest you research Israel ben Eliezer, of Poland, aka, "the Besht," among the Jews and Spinoza, among the Christians, who was considered an atheist because his views of Christianity differed so significantly from the typical Christian Trinitarian doctrines.
A good book with which to begin, would be A History of God, by Karen Armstrong, that will take you on an evolutionary journey into all of the many different concepts that arose, over time, throughout the Judeo/Christian/Islamic world.
I am the one looking at the screen.
Good to know.
Thank you for listing prerequisites for understanding you – parent, professor, boss. Note that I am not giving you a reading list; I can, but I think there’s a better way. Suppose for the purpose of this blog that we can understand each other by the words we write here and now. I’m already getting a picture of you as just a conduit/advertisement for the ideas of others – nothing original, all copy. If this is the case, then why should I believe your reading list is better than the thousands of reading lists provided by others?
God doesn’t exist? God doesn’t exist in a physical location? What are you talking about?
I would answer that 1K, but I wouldn't want to waste your time (or mine) by regurgitating the ideas of others --
The religiously dogmatic are very fond of Black and White thinking, especially about morals. The either/or argument, essentially something is either good or bad, right or wrong. They are objective moralists embodied. For them, what their deity or scriptures say is morally correct is always correct under every circumstance with no exceptions to the rules.
The reason this is an important philosophical topic to consider, is because morals are not objective and viewing the world through this lens of objective morality leads to heavy dogma, militant belief, and often human suffering. Consider Sharia Law as presented by the Taliban as a good example.
Morals are ambiguous at best and depend heavily upon both the individual viewing the incident as well as the situation that encompasses the incident.
We see this frequently in our day to day society.
As an example, most human beings would agree that murder is morally wrong. Murder being defined as taking another human beings life before they would die from natural causes. However, we view soldiers as morally correct for killing enemies, although intrinsically they are still taking a life before it's time. We even view civilian deaths as being less morally wrong than "murder," but more morally wrong than killing an enemy combatant.
Furthermore, it is somehow more morally wrong to kill a child than it is to murder an adult. Even though rationally, an Adult offers more towards the function of our society than a child does and so their death will impact more individuals, it is still viewed as worse to kill the child.
As another example, most human beings would say that stealing is morally wrong. You should not take things that do not belong to you. However, this is not always true.
If a mother is too poor to afford food for her starving infant and therefor steals food to feed said infant, it is not viewed as being morally wrong. The reason being that the greater moral crime would be to allow the infant to starve to death.
From these examples we can conclude that there is no absolute and unbreakable moral code. Hence the term "relative morality," because one man's evil is another man's good.
The only potential objective moral code I am aware of is the golden rule. We can find evidence of it in most civilizations throughout history. Namely, "Do to someone else, what you would want them to do to you."
This general rule forms the basis for most normal human beings' moral codex: Don't kill people, Don't steal or otherwise take what is not yours (whether property or spouses), Don't cause harm, major discomfort or serious problems for others, treat people respectfully and kindly, and help others when you can.
From this perspective you could say an objective morality exists. However, generally speaking if you can find a single bit of evidence to disprove a hypothesis (e.g. the earlier example about murder) than said hypothesis is not very sound. It would be better to either discard such a hypothesis, or to modify it so that it is more valid.
An interesting thing is that young children have an absolute moral code. They view the world as the religious do, with definitive rights and wrongs. Something is either good, and therefor should be rewarded, or bad and should be punished.
You can often discover how mentally developed a child is by posing the stealing mother story to them and asking if the mother was wrong to steal. More developed children will normally say the mother should not be punished, because she was only protecting her child, whereas the less mentally developed child will say the mother should be punished because stealing is wrong.
This is a decent article to help understand children's moral thinking and thereby understand the moral thinking of the religiously dogmatic.
Pay attention to the section on Jean Piaget. His work went a long way in helping me to understand people with unchangeable moral codes.
Without naming names, there appear to be a number of members posting here who drank the tainted Kool-Aid. | <urn:uuid:1aa8d84a-d4f3-415e-9f12-1edbae520805> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/can-someone-explain-all-this-relative-morals-thing?commentId=1982180%3AComment%3A1191015&xg_source=activity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972515 | 1,644 | 1.679688 | 2 |
I remember attending a BOC meeting where a resident complained about trash on her neighborhood streets. After inquiring as to how the county would fix the problem, a commissioner then asked what SHE was doing to keep her neighborhood clean.
I, along with that resident, were initially taken aback by this response. But in retrospect, that commissioner made a good point. We as residents must get more involved with keeping our neighborhoods clean because unfortunately, the county can’t do it all.
Local businesses need be held responsible as well. While Clayton has its fair share of unmaintained, vacant properties, there are existing businesses that neglect their property, and it shows. For example, neither Tara Boulevard or SH 85 present welcoming sights to see upon entry into this county for various reasons.
Another eyesore is the overgrown grass in the medians and graffiti on buildings throughout Clayton. These are issues that the Georgia State Department of Transportation can | <urn:uuid:aaf77453-4ddf-4d92-858d-25cac74343c0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.ajc.com/clayton-talk/2010/01/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979603 | 188 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Making it happen is the name of our launch event to mark Rural Housing Week in north Yorkshire, but it's also a timely reminder for us to keep our focus on rural housing. In the midst of a widespread housing crisis, it can be easy to forget that national measures aimed at tackling shortages do not help meet rural housing needs. Making it happen – getting on with the day job of delivering good housing where it is needed in the countryside – is difficult as we adapt to all the changes the government has introduced.
The Chartered Institute of Housing joined forces with the Rural Services Network to understand more about rural demand. We want to make sure the messages about rural housing aren't lost in the big picture when we talk to local decision-makers and government ministers. We also want to offer support to frontline workers as they deliver the homes and services that rural communities need, so we asked them more about their work.
Members of both organisations cited "nimbyism" as a major stumbling block for planned new development. The national planning policy framework's presumption in favour of sustainable development was toted as the answer to this problem. Community opposition can be a real problem, but where people can be mobilised to support housing, community involvement can be a solution to the problem, too.
Yet members warned us that the government's affordable homes programme could act as a barrier against community support, as local people realise that new homes with rents charged at up to 80% of the market rate will remain out of the reach of households in low paid, rural employment.
The jury is still out on whether the framework will help or hinder the delivery of rural housing. Although planning issues exist, rural housing need is exacerbated by the problem of land value and the economic viability of rural development. The affordable homes programme is seen also as a further complication here, affecting the realistic use of rural exception sites. In a climate of decreasing government grant, these are likely to remain major obstacles for rural housing professionals.
Rural housing leaders who can develop good relationships and build on the political and community will for new housing will be important for progress. Community land trusts, which enable the community's involvement with development, could also provide a way forward. To make it happen, we need to learn all the lessons we can from others, which is why events such Rural Housing Week and the evidence we gather from it are so important.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the housing network for comment, analysis and best practice direct to you | <urn:uuid:b7ca294b-68b0-4ab5-b8dc-5f207fc8f448> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.guardian.co.uk/housing-network/2012/sep/06/rural-housing-week-real-need | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966838 | 506 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Chemical leak keeps N.J. residents indoors
Officials work the scene of derailed freight train tank cars in Paulsboro, N.J., on Nov. 30, 2012. Several tanker cars carrying hazardous materials toppled from a bridge and into a creek. At least one tanker car contained vinyl chloride, according to authorities. / AP Photo/Mel Evans
PAULSBORO, N.J. Residents of a southern New Jersey town have been urged to remain inside until further notice because levels of vinyl chloride remain high after a train derailment last week, officials said.
A group of state, federal and local officials issued the last "shelter-in-place" order for Paulsboro at about 6 p.m. Monday and it's still in place Tuesday morning.
It's the longest-lasting such order since Friday morning's derailment. It's not clear when it will be lifted.
About 100 households from the town are free to go outside. They've been evacuated and are staying in hotels outside the borough line.
Meanwhile, a thorough inspection of the bridge where the freight train derailed must wait until crews can remove the gas.
- NTSB: Signal problems eyed day before derailment
- More than 70 sickened from poisonous fumes from N.J. train derailment
The National Transportation Safety Board's top official said Monday that the bridge had a series of rail alignment problems leading up the derailment. However, she said her agency has a lot more work to do before determining the cause of the accident.
NJ train derailment tips tankers, sickens dozens
"Nothing has been ruled out," said NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman.
One important part of the investigation the inspection of the bridge and the derailed cars must wait until crews can remove all the hazardous vinyl chloride from the area.
That work was paused Monday when vinyl chloride detection in the air nearby twice reached an unsafe level of more than one part per million.
The NTSB has been interviewing witnesses and investigating records, including details of a 2009 derailment of a coal train on the bridge, which is blamed on a misalignment of tracks. Hersman also said the agency is looking into the 23 "trouble tickets" about problems with the bridge over the past year. Hersman said nine of the reported problems came between Oct. 27 and Nov. 29.
She said some of the problems were minor, such as debris on the bridge and burned-out lights. But she said two involved problems with the signals or alignment.
The bridge, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia International Airport, swings out to the side to make way for recreational boaters in Mantua Creek below. Hersman said that the default position from March through November is to be open to boats. To be able to cross the bridge, train operators are to punch in a radio code that's supposed to make it close.
She said that at 3:15 a.m. Thursday, a crew found that rails on the single-track bridge were about four inches out of alignment. She said it was only after several tries that the radio code finally worked so that the bridge's four sliding locking mechanisms were was fully in place and the signal turned green, allowing them to cross.
Hersman said Conrail officials spent about two hours that day working on the bridge.
After they left, she said, four trains crossed without problems.
The last one went over around 11:15 p.m. Hersman said there was no problem getting over the bridge, but the train crew received an automated voice message from the bridge a few minutes after crossing: "Bridge failed to operate," the voice said. She said that could mean that the bridge did not fully reopen after the train passed.
The next train to approach was the one that derailed.
Hersman said crew followed its proper protocol upon seeing a red signal, though she did not say whether that protocol should be changed. The engineer tried the radio code several times and the conductor looked at the bridge to see that it looked passable.
Only after that, she said, the engineer called a dispatcher and asked for and received permission to cross despite the red light.
The two locomotives and six cars crossed safely, but the next seven cars derailed.
NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said the agency is looking into whether the dispatcher who gave permission to cross was following railroad rules correctly.
Bob Comer, an Ohio-based investigator of train accidents and frequent critic of the U.S. railroad industry, said there were several problems with the way things played out in Paulsboro.
"The engineer and conductor are not qualified to determine whether the bridge is safe," he said "The fact that some dispatcher told them to cross, that is outright negligence."
A spokesman for Conrail, which owns and operates the train track, did not immediately return a call on Monday.
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Curmudgeons predict that the 21st century will be the time in which the printed word is finally tossed into the dustbin of history – with a tech-savvy Everyman on hand to Kindle the fire. Shades of Fahrenheit 451! The Internet is the fluid visual tablet upon which the text of daily life is writ, so the argument goes; don’t be surprised if, before long, the human attention span contracts to the length of a Twitter.
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Hitchhiker's Guide to Rukl Chart 44
CCD images of Ptolemaeus (bottom), Alphonsus (center) and Arzachel (top)
at first quarter (left) and at last quarter(right).
Robin Casady's CCD images of Ptolemaeus (left) and Arzachel (right).
See also an impressive
of the area at
(JRF <freeman _at_ netcom.com>)
- This prominent trio of craters -- Arzachel is on Rukl chart 55 --
are a major "landmark" feature, easily recognized and useful for
orientation, for the great southern peninsula that dominates the
south-central portion of the Moon's visible disc. Alphonsus and
Arzachel have rilles in their interiors.
- Alphonsus (David North <d _at_ timocharis.com>)
A rare and fascinating event was watching, bit by bit, sunrise over
Alphonsus. At first sight, it was nearly completely dark other
than the rim, but it lit up over a surprisingly short time. At one
point, the central peak looked like the gnomon of a sundial, with a
perfect ray headed off at three o'clock...
- There is also an
Selected Areas Program page on Alphonsus.
- Ptolemaeus at Sunrise (David North <d _at_ timocharis.com>)
1/31/2001 around 6pm PST:
It looks like there's something dimly lit (but kinda
largish) near the lower center of Ptolemaeus
(or whatever large crater is where you would roughly expect it to be
-- a bit south of the equator.
Things can't be dimly lit on the moon...
For more detail and sketches, see
Mark Taylor: I was thinking about a jaggedy surface lit just at
the tips of the jaggies, so you see a (laser-printer-style) gray
David: The more I think about it, the more I like this.
Combined with the arc
of the bottom of the crater ... it lights from the center out, in
obviuos rays (at least on nights like this) and other craters don't
But considering your suggesting, I'd guess that's the "root
methodology" here, though I don't recall seeing anything similar in any
of the other big plains.
- Ptolemaeus at Sunrise Bill Arnett
7/9/00 1:43 AM PDT:
I noticed that the Sun was about to rise over
Ptolemaeus. About midnight I checked again and still nothing but a spot of
light on the far (western) rim. But as the Moon sank lower in my sky, the Sun
rose on my target on the Moon and the race was on! At first I thought I could
see a slight brightening in the middle of the floor. I went in for a while to
see if anything would change. By a little before 1am there was a very neat
quartet of bright streaks in the middle of the crater floor. I interpret
these as the Sun shining thru low valleys in the eastern rim onto a dome
shaped floor (perhaps the dome shape is due to the spherical nature of the
Moon?). As the Moon sank lower the rays got brighter and wider. By the time
it disappeared below my neighbor's roof (only 4 degrees up :-) the rays had
merged together and about half the crater floor was bright except for a long
shadow from one of the easern rim peaks...
- Ptolemaeus Rays
(<bruceh _at_ mdhost.cse.tek.com> Bruce Harrington)
June 12, 1997, with a Takahashi FS60 60mm,
a bit after sunset (~9:30 PDT, 0430 UT 6/13), through scattered clouds.
Starting at ~20x
("finder mode"), I noticed a smudge in Ptolemaeus.
At ~0445 UT using 100x, I saw
FOUR distinct rays: a set of three to the south, a wider dark band, and a single
ray to the north. I could have these directions backwards. The combo of mild
dyslexia and a star diagonal... :) . The sun side of the peak causing the wide
dark band was visible as a bright white dot. I was able to watch this off and
on (due to the clouds) until 0530 UT, when the clouds got serious and I packed
it in. By that time, the group of three rays had merged, so the shadow outlines
of peaks no longer extended entirely through the light area. The north ray was
- Muller (Randy Muller <71172.1234 _at_ compuserve.com>)
Crater Muller made a nice little inverted Mickey-Mouse shape with its
two small ears (A and O). This crater is halfway between Ptolemaeus
and Hipparchus. Not a large or prominent crater, Muller is surrounded
by giants from astronomical history.
- Sinus Medii (JRF <freeman _at_ netcom.com>)
- The southern part of Central Bay is crossed by unnamed rilles.
- Klein at Sunrise (...Akkana)
UT 5/11/2000 at about 0545:
Klein, straddling the terminator at 5:45
UT, looked like it had an embedded crater in it, almost exactly
concentric with the main crater. It was probably a trick of the light
-- Rukl's sketch shows no such feature in Klein, just a curved central
peak which might have looked like part of a concentric inner ring.
There was a nice catena leading into Klein across the northwestern wall
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comments or contributions | <urn:uuid:3f7b7030-e45a-4ee8-82c1-d812dbbacc49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shallowsky.com/moon/rukl44.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913944 | 1,326 | 2.1875 | 2 |
In fact, it's feasible to wrap collections of domain objects inside a fairly flexible business transactional model and just perform several database writes/deletes in one go, therefore avoiding having to break down the process into more atomic and expensive database calls, which always lead to the session-per-operation antipattern. Moreover, this transaction-based mechanism rests on the academic formalities of a design pattern commonly known as Unit of Work (UOW), and its implementation in several popular enterprise-level packages, such as Hibernate, is quite prolific and prosperous.
He shows how to implement the "Unit of Work" design pattern via a "UnitOfWorkInterface" and a "UnitOfWork" class that implements it. The class provides methods for things like entity handling (CRUD operations) and working with the data mapper for the transactions. He also includes the code to implement the data mapper, a layer on top of a PDO-based interface that also provides CRUD operations for the data records. From this, he defines a domain model, "User", and shows how to create a new user, register it with the UnitOfWork instance and do things like update a property, delete the record and pull out the user's information. | <urn:uuid:1a2f61e1-59ef-4eeb-847d-a36bafe879e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.phpdeveloper.org/news/18028 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940623 | 255 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Here is some good news from kids about angels. It's great to hear what these kids are thinking. Perhaps they can run congress on faith! Amen!
Sub: All About Angels
The Angelic World
Want to know about angels?
Ask a kid, they know angels best!
Enjoy these examples...
Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If
you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your
window and leaves money under your pillow. Then
when it gets cold, angels go north for the winter.
--Olive, Age 9
Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos
anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it.
--Matthew, Age 9
It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then
you go to heaven, and then there's still the flight
training to go through. And then you got to agree to
wear those angel clothes.
--Mitchell, Age 9
Angels work for God and watch over kids when God
has to go do something else.
--Henry, Age 8
My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not
much good for science.
--Jack, Age 6
Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows.
--Daniel, Age 9
Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven.
The main subject is where you went wrong before you got
--Reagan, Age 10
When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and
counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath,
somewhere there's a tornado.
--Gregory, Age 5
I only know the names of two angels. Hark and Harold.
Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son,
who's a very good carpenter.
All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses
and boys didn't go for it.
My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got
a big head start on helping me while she was still
down here on earth.
Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal
sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the
animals get better, they help the child get over it
What I don't get about angels is why, when
someone is in love , they shoot arrows at them.
'He shall give His angels charge over you,...
( Matthew 4:6) | <urn:uuid:268c54ce-f225-437a-bca1-b7dce4fc7e24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?catid=41&id=67182 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938148 | 530 | 2 | 2 |
SPENCER Dicaire doesn't complain about bridge traffic during his daily commute.
In fact, as the 24-year-old Burnaby resident busses across the Lions Gate Bridge and his job site comes into view somewhere around mid-span, a smile invariably spreads across his face. And while others battle their bosses to relax summer dress codes, Dicaire breezes into his workplace in flip flops, beach shorts, a sleeveless shirt and a slathering of SPF 30.
Dicaire is a lifeguard at Ambleside Beach.
In West Vancouver, lifeguards are on duty at Ambleside and Dundarave beaches from June 25 to Sept. 3. They're the last on the North Shore, as the lifeguard chairs at North Vancouver's Cates and Panorama parks are unoccupied this summer following budget cuts.
It's not all sun, sand and working on a tan for the West Van team. A relaxed dress code and enviable outdoor work environment belie the importance of what they do.
Every year, between 400 and 500 Canadians die in water-related incidents. And it's not just youngsters who are at risk. Although risk-taking 18-to 24-year-olds continue to have the highest water-related death rate of any age group in Canada, the aging of our population has contributed to a 20 per cent increase over five years in drownings among baby boomers aged 50 to 64, according to a 2012 report prepared for the Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada.
The continuing problem has prompted the Lifesaving Society to designate the third week in July - July 21-29 this year - as National Drowning Prevention Week in an effort to focus the public's attention on the issue.
Today, drowning in areas supervised by lifeguards is a rare occurrence, according to the society, which credits the training it provides to lifeguards for the the improvement.
At West Van's two patrolled beaches, lifeguards ensure that beachgoers comply with their No. 1 safety rule: that parents or guardians keep young children (ages 8 and under at the beach, age 7 at the pool) within arm's reach when in or near the water.
"At the beach, water conditions can change so rapidly," says Dicaire.
Lifeguards routinely walk the beach at Ambleside patrolling what they call the "I-5," the sandy strip of shoreline from the eastern rocky point to the park's western entrance near Hollyburn Sailing Club. They're looking for hazards in the sand and shoreline as well as assessing beachgoers for signs of sunburn and heat exhaustion.
When not in the lifeguard chair or on beach patrol, they're surveying the water by rowboat, assessing all swimmers within the roped swimming area and beyond, approaching when necessary to warn of potential dangers, and watching for signs of distress.
"If we can see it, we will respond to it," says Dicaire.
West Vancouver will spread the message of water safety during the 10th annual Lifeguard Challenge.
The skills showcase will take place Sunday, Aug. 19, from noon to 6 p.m. at Ambleside Beach alongside the community event Ambleside Day. | <urn:uuid:adf4a793-698b-4902-872b-38d6d047bcc8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nsnews.com/news/Watchers+water/7007847/story.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958967 | 665 | 1.90625 | 2 |
Mary Kay's Childhood Years:
Mary Kay Letourneau was born on Jan. 30, 1962 in Tustin, Ca. Her parents, Mary and John Schmitz, were strict Catholics with conservative political beliefs. After Mary was born, John Schmitz entered politics and by 1972, he was elected as the presidential candidate for the American Independent Party. After losing the election, the family relocated to an exclusive area in Southern Carlifornia. The Schmitzes, both attractive and well spoken, enjoyed their political work and social standing.
A Family Tragedy:
During a family party, Mary (11) was asked to watch her younger brother, Phillip (3), but she became distracted and wandered away. The Schmitzes found Philip dead in their swimming pool. Friends of Mary say that she always felt her parents blamed her for her brothers death even though they said it was no ones fault. Mary, in spite of the tragedy seemed to grow into a well-balanced and happy teenager. She was attractive and popular at the Catholic high school she attended.
The First Scandal:
Mary Kays mother became well known while working as a political debater on a television program. Her look and carriage equaled her conservative political opinions. She was vocal about the need for better family values. Around that time, John Schmitz was exposed for his long-term affair with a former student, and fathering her two children. The scandal ended their politcal careers, but not their marriage. Mary defended her father, saying that her mother was cold and drove him to do it.
The Letourneaus' Troubled Marriage :
Mary Kay, seemingly unscathed by her familys scandal, was in college, busy dating and partying. At one such party, she met Steve Letourneau, and the two shared an immediate physical attraction to one another. By 1985, Mary was pregnant with Steves child. They quit college and married. The marriage was troubled with money problems and Steves infidelity, but the couple remained together. By 1989, they had four children. After obtaining her degree, Mary Letourneau became a second-grade teacher.
Mary Kay Finds Teaching to be Her Calling:
When Mary began teaching, she felt she had found her calling. She loved the children in her classroom and took pleasure from working close with those who showed exceptional talent. Vili Fualaau, was one of those students. He demonstrated an artistic ability and Mary, aware of his impoverished home life, worked closely to help him develop his skills. Vili lived with his mother, in a poor neighborhood. His father, in prison for armed robbery, offered no financial assistance.
Her Fifth Grade Boyfriend - Vili Fualaau :
In 1995, Letourneau was promoted to teaching fifth and sixth graders. Her elation over the promotion was shadowed by a miscarriage and the news that her father had cancer. Steve, who was still involved in extramarital affairs, offered her no emotional support during this difficult time. Mary Kay found solace in teaching, especially when working with 11-year-old Vili Fualaau, who was once again in her classroom. As the year progressed, so did their friendship, and the bond that they shared.
Mary Kay Discovers Her "Soul Mate":
Vili began spending time at the Letourneau residence and even went along with the family on a trip to Alaska. By the end of 1996, fellow teachers described the relationship as being more like two kids flirting then that of teacher and student. Mary admitted to a close friend that she felt she had met her soul mate, although they had not had sex. But it was not long before Mary called her friend again, informing her that she was pregnant with her soul mates child.
Steve Discovers the Truth:
Steve, suspecting for some time that Mary Kay and Vilis relationship had become physical, found a love letter from Mary to Vili. For the first time in their relationship, Steve became physically abusive, punching Mary in the stomach in an attempt to make her miscarry. Both Steve and Marys mother suggested she have an abortion but she refused. A relative that Steve had confided in called the authorities and reported Mary Kays behavior with her, by then 12-year old, student.
Second Scandal Mirrors Her Father's Past:
The police questioned Vili and he admitted to having a sexual relationship with Mary. Letourneau was arrested, handcuffed, escorted from the school, and charged with statutory rape. When she returned home, Steve and the children were gone. The scandal hit the national news and people watched in disgusted disbelief. In the meantime, Letourneau ignored a court order to stop seeing Vili Fualaau. After she gave birth to their child in May 1997, he visited her regularly.
Mary Kay Defies Court Orders:
At her trial, she pled guilty to child rape, and admitted that her actions were wrong and asked for help. The judge gave her a seven year sentence of which she was to serve three months under certain conditions, one being that she would never again have any contact with Vili Fualaau. Mary Letourneau agreed and went off to prison.
Mary Kay Gets the Maximum Sentence for Child Rape: In Jan. 1998, she was released from prison, but it was short lived. On Feb. 3, the police caught Letourneau and Vili inside a steamed up car. Mary Kay was sent back to prison for seven and a half years, the maximum for child rape. Once at prison, she discovered she was pregnant with her sixth child, Vilis second. After the baby was born, she was placed with her sister, under the custody of Vilis mother.
Even in prison, Letourneaus defiance of her court order to stop communicating with Vili, continued. At one point, she spent 6-months in solitary confinement after the authoritys intercepted letters she was attempting to send to Fualaau.
Released From Prison After Seven Years:
On Wednesday August 4, 2004, at age 42, Mary Letourneau was released from prison. By Friday, Vili had the no-contact order lifted allowing the two to visit each other legally. Throughout the seven years, Vili Fualaau has said publicly, that he was not a victim and and the he loved Letourneau. However, at other times he has said that his feelings for her were gone. After her release, both have said that they expect to marry each other one day.
In a live interview with Barbara Walters in Sept. 2004, Letourneau, spoke about the relationship - past, present, and future.
Mary Kay told Barbara Walters, "I just, I can't imagine traveling and seeing something without him, learning together, being with him, supporting him for what he would like to do in this life."
Update - Feb. 15, 2005 - Letourneau and Fualaau Set Wedding Date | <urn:uuid:8fc2d322-8a92-46fc-8acf-6e498051d313> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crime.about.com/od/history/p/Letourneau.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98813 | 1,435 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Climate scientists have long been concerned about the possibility that warming temperatures will speed changes on the earth’s surface that will in turn accelerate global warming. The best illustration of such a feedback loop involves the melting of sea ice in the Arctic. The ice reflects solar radiation back into space rather than absorbing it. When it melts, it leaves open water that absorbs the heat rather than reflecting it. The more warm water there is, the more ice melts, and so on.
Now scientists have identified another feedback loop that may be accelerating the loss of carbon dioxide from the topsoil of forests in the United States, contributing to climate change. In a study published online on Monday, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that as temperatures rise, activity increases among the microbes that eat the topsoil and exhale carbon dioxide afterward.
While that finding is not surprising, said the lead author, Francesca Hopkins, a doctoral researcher in the Department of Earth System Science at Irvine, she and her collaborators also found that in warmer temperatures the microbes were better able to digest decades-old carbon stored in the soils. Scientists had previously believed that the old carbon was inaccessible because it had become fixed in the soil; that belief has become a magnet for new studies and controversy.
The new study was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“This has been really hotly debated in the past decade or so,” Ms. Hopkins said in an interview. “Some people think the older soil carbon would decompose more quickly” as temperatures increase, “and some think it wouldn’t decompose at all, because it had stabilized.” The mechanisms by which carbon is stabilized in the soil are poorly understood, although it is clear that some carbon molecules bind to mineral particles in the soil, she said.
But after collecting soils from woodlands in North Carolina and Wisconsin and putting them in Mason jars, then storing the jars in incubators at different temperatures, “we saw that the microbes could access some carbon that is at least a decade old,” she said.
The age of the carbon was determined by the isotopes in the carbon dioxide exhaled by the microbes; carbon older than a decade has a distinctive isotope signature. The scientists were able to pinpoint the age of the carbon that had been stored for less than a decade more precisely by measuring a different set of isotopes.
The study reported an eightfold increase in carbon dioxide production when temperatures were increased by 20 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit). This is far in excess of the range of temperature increases predicted to occur by the end of the century under existing climate models. Under the moderate warming predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Ms. Hopkins’s experiment indicated that the respiration rates of the microbes — and the amount of carbon dioxide they exhale — would roughly double by 2100.
The ability to measure the age of the carbon in the soil could be an increasingly useful tool for scientists, although the measurements are still being refined. The components of soil, including decaying leaves, roots and other vegetable matter, store at least twice as much carbon as the chemicals in the atmosphere, according to United Nations climate reports.
The findings of the new study further complicate the dynamics underlying the role of forests in carbon storage. Forests are widely known as repositories of carbon — about 104 billion tons of it worldwide — but the role they will play in a warming world is less understood, although crucial, as my colleague Justin Gillis reported in an extensive article last fall. If they become carbon emitters rather than carbon sinks as temperatures rise, projections of how fast climate change will occur may have to be adjusted. | <urn:uuid:5c4e6250-f550-4875-bdaa-5f9bd611d30d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/warming-will-unlock-carbon-in-forests-study-warns/?src=twr | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963151 | 760 | 4.09375 | 4 |
|an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.|
|a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.|
Playful or rowdy activity, often involving mischievous pranks. For example, All sorts of high jinks go on at summer camp after "lights out." About 1700 this term denoted a gambling game accompanied by much drinking, but by the mid-1800s it acquired its present meaning. | <urn:uuid:a8933b3c-93eb-47b2-a5e8-40a77c39de4b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/high%20jinks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952839 | 112 | 2.1875 | 2 |
USB 3 is due to roll out this year. I would be very surprised if they dropped USB's, as it's easy to connect loads of items very quickly and the data transfer rates are as quick as fire-wire. Some of us who worked in the IT departments remember what a chore it was to set up printers and scanners on PC's now, all you do is plug in one USB cable and away you go.
Keith I think you've fallen vistim to missconception & urban myth!
When Vista 64 or 7 installs it creates two program files, one for 32bit, the other for 64, your programs will install into the section which suits, thus so long as the drivers are Vista compatible they will work. USB is USB which means it should work on any usb port regardless of the OS. So if your drivers will work with 32 bit they'll work with windows 7.
I wouldn't reccomend anyone buys 7 Ultimate over professional, it only comes with a couple of extras - language support, and bit lockers HDD encryption system which hardly anyone uses.
Don't regret not buying an iMac, a friend has just bought one, for £1400 it comes with a 3.06 Ghz dual core processor, the model above that has an i5. The top processor now is the i7. The ATI Radeon graphics card, is a £70 job, which can't hold a candle to the 295GTX of Nvidia. Want to upgrade? Well you can't because it's all sealed in a nice looking case which costs a fortune. Nothing she produces software wise of it works on other hardware because everything is geared to windows, and software applications are rather limited compared to what's available for the PC.
Go for the Windows 7 OS there are a few driver issues, but sticking with a 32 bit system is like trying to stay in the past. The time will come when 32 bit simply isn't supported any longer, it would be wise to be ready sooner rather than later.
Thanks for your input flake. As I understand it, W7 comes either as 32 bit or 64 bit. Even so, 64 bit at this moment in time is a bit of an overkill in my view, unless you are an avid gamer and need the extra RAM that 64 bit provides. 32 bit allows up to 4 gig of RAM, but it's more than likely you only get 3. To be honest that's enough for me with what I use the computer for. The other thing is there isn't a great deal of software or hardware capable of providing 64 bit at this moment in time and I doubt if manufacturers will be in a hurry to step up to the mark too quickly in the near future. Also, my EOS 5d isn't supported by 64 bit which means I would need to upgrade to the 5d MK11 which is supported by 64 bit, Just too many issues for me to contend with at the present.
I agree with you about W7 Pro vs W7 Ultimate. I will definitely go for pro as I just don't need the other stuff and can save myself a few bob.
I agree about the USB connection working on any OS. That's what prompted me to get further info from members. I just couldn't understand why Western Digital said it wasn't compatible with W7. But you never know do you?
I know there are frustrations with Mac, but they are generally not virus issues or equipment crash issues. I think the build quality and design of the iMac is fantastic and out-classes MS/Dell by a mile. I think when you get a Mac built to spec you need to know what you want it for from the outset. Then there is no issues with upgrades.
The only software I use is Photoshop, Office, Final Draft and what comes with my hardware.
Anyway, can't afford the iMac, so it's Dell and W7 Pro so far. That much has been sorted.
Windows 7 64 bit installs both a 64 bit OS and a 32bit section as well so there are no compatibility issues. Your 5D will work with the 64bit OS without a doubt, because it's still supported in the latest EOS utilities and DPP which are installed into the x86 program section (32bit).
Adobe CS4 is a 64 bit program but that installs a 32 bit version as well so you can use old plug ins.
4GB is the maximum 'address space' not RAM, the most of that is something like 3.5GB or less. Given that the OS will occupy quite a portion of that, it doesn't leave a lot for photoshop projects. It's not unusual to see 1GB once a few layers are added. You haven't said what your current system is, but if the video card can use the Ram then you have even less space to work with.
There's a fair pros & cons article here As it says, the only thing you need to do is check that drivers are available for your components, and go ahead!
Thanks everyone for your advice. My current machine was custom built about five years ago. I have an AMD Athlon XP2200 processor, 1.8GHZ with 1 gig of RAM and Radeon 7000 series video card. So not a tremendously well specified product. But then it is quite old now. I will be getting one of the DEL XPS models soon. I will look into the 64 bit question.
Flake, some points from the article link you posted:
Pros and Cons of a 64 bit system:
You can address much more than 4GB of memory, which is ideal for avid gamers, CAD, video editors and heavy multi-taskers. However, any 32 bit software you use will still be restricted to 4GB memory – you need a 64 bit CPU, OS and applications to take full advantage of the extra RAM.
16 bit applications will no longer run. Although this is unlikely to be a problem, if you use very old software (from the Windows 3.1 days!) then it will not work under a 64 bit OS.
Existing 32 bit drivers no longer work.If you have older or poorly supported hardware you may find that it can no longer be used. Got a 7 year old scanner that just about works in Vista? You may not be able to get it working in 64 bit Windows 7.
Unsigned kernel-mode drivers no longer work. Along with the issue above, the inability to run unsigned kernel mode drivers will cause problems for old hardware. (There is reportedly a way to bypass this check).
Running some 32 bit applications on a 64 bit OS could actually be slower. The additional overheads in running 32 bit software in 64 bit mode could cause a slight degradation in performance. It will take some time for 64 bit software to become the norm. | <urn:uuid:a2af7b04-b2b9-4233-ae43-fee6be8b7105> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1570&page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965226 | 1,400 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Two clients, gardening partners, purchased a vintage ranch home on a substantial piece of property a few years ago. After spending a lot of time renovating a backyard landscape and pool, they were interested in tackling the front yard. They called me to consult. They had the original landscape plan-I am guessing it dates back to the 1940′s. The plan was drawn up by Ilgenfritz Nurseries, a Monroe Michigan based nursery and landscape business which first opened around 1915. How great they have this original document.
The landscape had declined some since the original installation. Every landscape is either going forward or backward-there is no such thing as neutral, where nature is in charge. Some very large trees survived, including one of the most gorgeous mature green spruce I have ever seen-in the back yard. The house sits up high- and the neighborhood is known for its walking population. A city owned walking path runs through their property. They wanted privacy from the street.
Another major issue-a greatly degraded driveway needing replacement. The drive was due to be ripped out-but they wanted a landscape design consultation before they went ahead. The orange circle in the above picture-would their landscape benefit from a landscape island in the center of the new drive?
A breezeway between the garage and the house had been enclosed. That breezeway is now the dining room. The plants in the beds? Those plants moved out of the rear gardens to a temporary”nursery” spot. The original sidewalk was showing its age, but the concrete itself seemed appropriate to the architecture of the house.
They were in need of a schematic plan. A concept that would include a driveway, a walk, and some screening. This is an instance where I would rather look at a plan on paper than the real property. It is very hard to look at what has always been, and imagine it in a completely different way. If you fancy doing your own design, find a document that describes how the house sits on the property, and blow it up so you can see the spaces. The relationships of house to land. A scale drawing comes in very handy, should you want to determine how many astilbes, or how many magnolias you should buy. As for a new driveway, be sure you drive the route before you commit to the paving.
Since they would be doing their own planting, I marked up the front facade of the house with those lines that represented the edges of architectural features-as in the location of solid walls, and the architectural edges. This house had walls in a number of different planes-that would play a part in the design. The sightlines-meaning those views from the windows, would play a crucial role in determining where evergreens should be planted for screening.
True to the original landscape, they were interested in an informal plan which would have plenty of opportunities to plant specialty evergreens. They also wanted a very simple landscape that would look good year round with a minimum of maintenance. They wanted to spend most of their time in the summer gardening in the back yard. After putting a sheet of trace (tracing paper) over the original design, I drew in the givens-the house, garage and porches. The existing driveway in this picture is outlined in red. I could see right away that the most dramatic change they could make to their landscape would be to relocate the driveway further away from the house. The house has plenty of green company on the left side, as pictured above, but little on the garage side.
I am not crazy about landscaped islands marooned in a sea of paving. They look disconnected. Oftentimes they do not prosper. The roots of trees and shrubs favor a free run over a space limited by hard surfaces. I like driveways and walkways that look like the garden came first, and the hard surfaces last. I proposed to keep the entrance to the drive at the street in the same place. But I thought a drive that veered away from the house would allow for a generous amount of green on the garage side of the house. Why a parking court? The front of the house is quite a hike uphill from the street. They have the room for off street parking.
The existing sidewalk was very close to the house. I moved it out by three feet. This made a long gracefully curved walk to the parking court possible. Should that walk be too long for an older person, a garage entry would be close at hand. A large landscape area around the new drive would focus visual attention on the plants, and not on the expanse of paving. A simple and linear evergreen planting describing the changes of plane would look appropriate with the architecture, and be fairly easy to maintain. Proposed locations for evergreens take the locations of the windows in front into consideration.
Their driveway starts where you see the road ending in the distance. A very unusual cicumstance, this. But I feel they will take the project in hand, and put the landscape to right in their own time and way. The slope you see to the right? I am sure there are some pines in its future. | <urn:uuid:ef8df31f-4334-4335-a724-7d45c9e5192f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.deborahsilver.com/blog/tag/designing-driveways/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975133 | 1,060 | 1.648438 | 2 |
No matter what your political stripes, if you are an American you believe in equal opportunity. That is a bedrock value of our nation. Columnist David Brooks wrote in Thursday's New York Times that equal opportunity does not now exist at the college level, and he is right. He points out many of the barriers lower-income students face in applying to and staying in college.
I disagree with Brooks' assertion that scholarship money is available to all students who need it and want to attend college. The truth is that financial aid has not kept pace with the rising costs of tuition, as documented by Tom Kane's chapter "College-Going and Inequality," in Social Inequality (Russell Sage Foundation , New York 2004) And Brooks' focus on students only after they get to college misses the fundamental inequalities of opportunity that permeate the lives of less-well-off children in America.
Education today is the gateway to a good job. The estimated payoff for a college degree in terms of lifetime earnings increased by more than $75,000 over the past two decades. Yet as Brooks points out, it is chiefly the rich who have reaped the rewards that higher education provides.
Why? Because we have stacked the deck against less advantaged children. Their parents can't afford the quality child care or pre-kindergarten education that give affluent children a head start. And the Head Start program is woefully under-funded. Poorer children live in neighborhoods whose schools receive less funding than wealthier neighborhoods and their parents can't provide many resources to their public schools. Poorer kids are in poorer health, which makes learning hard, because many lower-wage families cannot afford health care coverage. And they suffer from a plague of low expectations from a society that has written them - and their parents - out of the American Dream.
It is no wonder that enrollment at four-year colleges increased by 20 percent for the richest segment of Americans in the last two decades, while it actually declined among lower-income children. As David Brooks put it, "…each generation of Americans seems to be challenged in its own way to provide its children with an open field and a fair chance."
It is time our generation provided that chance. Instead of giving tax cuts to the rich and write-offs to corporations, we could ensure that all children are provided quality child care and preschool education, that public schools in all neighborhoods receive equal resources, that every child has health care, and that children are assured that if they work hard in school they will be able to go to college regardless of their parents' income. It would at least be a start to fulfilling the promise of equal opportunity. | <urn:uuid:b19612c2-9209-419c-a758-cc27303f26d6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ourfuture.org/print/13666 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976505 | 537 | 2.28125 | 2 |
We love to bring you great picks with a great story, and this one hits home on a lot of levels. Here's how one little girl is making the world a better place through clothes designed by kids, for kids.
Bethany Sawyer was only five when she decided she wanted to make the world a better place. With her parents' help, she's now the mastermind behind The Giving Goose. All the clothing designs are drawn by kids -- vibrant images of all the things kids like: flowers, butterflies, monster trucks, frogs, and more. Your kids can even submit their own art for a chance to be part of the next collection of designs.
And if that isn't inspiring enough, the kid artists at The Giving Goose choose the charities to which 10% of the company profits will be donated. Schools, hospitals, libraries, and a marine life center are all on the list.
We love to see kids helping the world. And we really love it when instead of asking, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", parents ask, "What do you want to be now?" -Delilah
Find tees, sweatshirts, onesies, bibs, and chocolate goose eggs at The Giving Goose. | <urn:uuid:ebfe3ea4-fc87-4adb-aa21-c7402c7aa90c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.coolmompicks.com/2013/03/clothes-by-kids-for-kids-giving.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945332 | 254 | 1.601563 | 2 |
A Titanic Need For Ag Education
The need for agriculture to continually educate the public on its practices is obvious, given the lack of historic knowledge out there.
June 20, 2012
Depending upon your perspective, this will be the scariest or funniest thing you are apt to read this week on the know-how of the American public. The other day, I ran across an article talking about the death of Rodney King. As you might remember, King was at the heart of the riots that broke out in Los Angeles during the early 1990s, where four officers were acquitted of his beating despite the presence of videotape as evidence.
In this story, a reporter was communicating about King’s death with some other average folks using social media. He was surprised to learn how few of the people he was texting with knew who King was.
Okay, this in itself isn’t that surprising. King had his 15 minutes of fame 20 years ago and had largely faded from public view in the interim.
However, as the reporter dug a bit deeper, he discovered that his audience was not only ignorant on King and his role in history but other key historical events as well. Perhaps most surprising, the reporter found that more than 20 texters didn’t realize the movie “Titanic” was based upon a real shipwreck.
“Wait!” wrote one texter. “Titanic really happened? I thought it was just a movie.”
When I first read this, I chuckled. Then, I got scared. If there is a portion of the American public this clueless about one of the most widely reported on disasters of the past 100 years, what chance does agriculture have to have been heard spreading its positive messages of sustainability and stewardship?
This is why ag retailers, trade groups and grower-customers need to constantly step up and help educate the American public on our industry’s practices. Otherwise, we will all risk having a sizable portion of people in this country believing the text of that old joke, that “their food comes from the supermarket.”
Except the joke will be on us!
Sfiligoj is the Editor for both CropLife and CropLife IRON magazines. He travels regularly to cover industry events and has been dedicated to the ag retail industry since he joined the staff in 2000. | <urn:uuid:dd5a2422-1a57-4aee-8105-7b1b252ba208> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.croplife.com/article/28847/a-titanic-need-for-ag-education | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980648 | 490 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Chandler Residents Get a Grim Look at Covance's Cruel Treatment of Animals
Local Physician Deborah Wilson and PCRM Release DVD to 23,000 Registered Voters
CHANDLER, Ariz.—Chandler residents will be able to see for themselves what happens inside laboratories run by Covance. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) mailed DVDs featuring undercover video footage of animal abuse at Covance facilities to more than 23,000 registered voters in Chandler. PCRM member Deborah Wilson, M.D., a Valley gynecologist and laparoscopic surgeon, introduces the video and urges viewers to “Say no to Covance.”
PCRM’s DVD features undercover video footage of animal abuse by Covance employees inside two Covance testing facilities: one in Vienna, Va., and the other in Munster, Germany. Among the animal abuse shown: a monkey whose arm appears to have been broken while struggling to avoid the technician who was about to inflict agonizing test procedures on the monkey; workers striking and choking monkeys who are struggling to escape from their grip; workers screaming curses at frightened monkeys; small monkeys having large tubes forced up their nostrils and down into their stomach; and workers draining blood from monkeys who had been killed.
“Covance abuses animals in horrific ways,” says Mindy Kursban, Esq., PCRM’s executive director. “We believe Chandler residents have a right to know what Covance will be doing in their neighborhood if the City Council allows this facility to be built. The City Council and residents have an opportunity to stop this. No animal should die to test a new ingredient for lipstick.”
Covance, which tests a variety of toxic substances, including pesticides, cosmetic ingredients, and food additives, on monkeys, dogs, cats, and other animals, is seeking approval from the Chandler City Council to build a huge new animal experimentation facility on a 38-acre site on Price Road. This facility will likely include an incinerator to dispose of toxic animal carcasses. Although Covance sometimes portrays itself as a drug development laboratory, the company actually performs toxicity testing on contract.
More than 1,300 Chandler residents have signed statements of opposition to the Covance facility, in part because the federal government recently fined Covance for violating the Animal Welfare Act. Last month, PCRM uncovered U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection reports from last year showing violations of the Animal Welfare Act at five other Covance facilities around the country.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research,and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research. | <urn:uuid:9bafc6e6-dd24-4549-a16b-552ca141ac89> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pcrm.org/media/news/chandler-residents-get-a-grim-look-at-covances | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934756 | 551 | 1.867188 | 2 |
WHAT MAKES YOUR BACK?
Anatomy of the human spine
Have you ever wondered what makes your back and neck bend, stretch and even rotate so swiftly and smoothly? These movements are possible due to the spinal column or vertebral column in your body which extends from the skull to the pelvis and is made up of 33 individual bones termed vertebrae. The vertebral column is not actually a column but is sort of a spiral spring in the form of the letter S.
The following figure illustrates the human spinal column:
Between each vertebra are strong connective tissues which hold one vertebra to the next, and acts as a cushion between the vertebrae. The disc allows for movements of the vertebrae and lets you bend and rotate your neck and back. The type and degree of motion varies between the different levels of the spine: cervical (neck), thoracic (chest) or lumbar (low back).
The cervical spine is a highly mobile region that permits movement in all directions. The thoracic spine is much more rigid due to the presence of ribs and is designed to protect the heart and lungs. The lumbar spine allows mostly forward and backward bending movements (flexion and extension).
WHAT BREAKS YOUR BACK?
Spinal arthritis or osteoarthritis of the spine is a common cause of back pain. It is the mechanical breakdown of the cartilage between the vertebral joints in the back portion of the spine leading to mechanically induced pain. The joints become inflamed and pain may be felt when performing even the simplest of activities like standing, sitting or walking. Over time, bone spurs – small irregular growths on the bone, also called osteophytes – typicaly form on the vertebral joints and around the spinal vertebrae which may become so large as to cause irritation or entrapment of nerves passing through spinal structures and result in spinal stenosis (diminished room for the nerves to pass).
Classification of spinal osteoarthritis
- Lower back (lumbar spine) osteoarthritis or lumbosacral arthritis, which produces stiffness and pain in the lower spine and sacroiliac joint (between the spine and the pelvis)
- Neck (cervical spine) osteoarthritis or cervical spondylosis, which causes stiffness and pain in the upper spine, neck, shoulders, arms and head.
Causes of spinal osteoarthritis
The most common causes are repetitive trauma to the spine from repetitive strains caused by accidents, surgery, sports injuries and poor posture. Other risk factors include aging, gender (more common in post-menopausal women), excess body weight, genetics, and associated diseases (like infections, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
WHAT REMAKES A BROKEN BACK?
Surgical treatment of spinal arthritis
For spinal arthritis, the only effective surgical treatment is spine fusion surgery, to stop motion at the painful joint. In fusion, one or more of the vertebrae of the spine are united (fused together) using bone grafts so that motion no longer occurs between them.
Uses of spinal fusion surgery
Spinal fusion surgery is used to treat:
- a fractured (broken) vertebra e.g. spondylolisthesis
- deformity e.g. scoliosis or kyphosis (spinal curves or slippages)
- pain from painful motion
- some cervical disc herniations (fusion together with discectomy)
- weak or unstable spine caused by infections or tumors
Like it? Share it or save it!! | <urn:uuid:56742fed-c3e4-4118-aec2-3f272e10ef9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://healthbase.wordpress.com/2008/07/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907279 | 751 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Thousands of students getting free or reduced-cost school lunches may not be eligible for the program, a report released by the state auditor this week finds. But school districts have little incentive to question applications because a higher participation rate also increases their state aid, the report states.
As a result, the state auditor has recommended that the state stop using the school lunch program enrollment to calculate how the aid is distributed.
“There is a significant error rate,” state auditor Stephen M. Eells said of the school lunch database. “It’s not accurate by a long shot, and I don’t think we should be using it to determine state aid.”
The 428,000 students in the free meal program in 2010 would generate about $2 billion in extra “at-risk” state aid under the state school funding formula, which provides an extra $4,700 to $5,700 per student in the program.
Some state legislators are using the report to push for an overhaul of the school funding law.
“We are talking about millions of dollars in school aid, and if it’s based on faulty information, we should know that,” said state Sen. Michael Doherty, R-Warren, Hunterdon, whose “Fair School Funding Plan” calls for a formula that would essentially provide the same amount of state aid for every child in the state, no matter where they lived.
But advocates for children say participation in the school lunch program, while not perfect, is the most effective method available for determining the number of low-income children in a school district who need extra help.
“If anything, studies show that the lunch program undercounts the actual number of students who are poor because some never apply, especially at the high school level,” said David Sciarra, executive director of the Education Law Center, which has represented students in the state’s poorest school districts.
The state auditor reviewed the state’s participation in the National School Lunch Program, which is operated through the state Department of Agriculture. The audit report notes that local school districts are running the program within the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those guidelines require that districts verify just 3 percent of applications each year, although they are expected to target those that appear closest to the income cutoff.
“The (districts) are doing what they are asked to do,” Eells said. “They do a good job with the 3 percent they are required to check. But there are a lot more outside of that.”
School lunch program income limits are more generous than the national poverty level. A family can make as much as 185 percent of the poverty level to qualify for the reduced-cost school lunch. For 2011-12, the income limit for a family of four will be $29,055 for the free meal program and $41,348 for the reduced-cost meal.
The state audit says that in 2009-10, districts statewide found that 44 percent of those verified were no longer deemed eligible for either free or reduced-fee lunches. Taking into account families that reapplied, at least 37 percent were deemed ineligible, mostly because the applicants failed to respond to requests for supporting documents.
The state auditor’s office did its own random sampling in 10 districts and found status changes for 23 percent of applicants. Another 24 percent did not provide Social Security numbers, so they could not be verified. The application does not require proof of income or household size, and Eells said it is very difficult to verify how many people are actually living in a household.
Eells said the state has toughened the application process for other state programs, such as Family Care, and could do something similar for determining state aid to schools. He said that while urban districts have proportionally higher enrollment in the school lunch program, the verification process is a problem statewide.
“I’m not saying, ‘Don’t provide state funding,’” he said. “I’m just saying with the significant error rate we should be discussing how we do it.”
Nancy Perella, spokeswoman for Advocates for Children of New Jersey, urged state officials to be cautious in how they proceed.
“I understand we don’t want to fund students or districts that don’t need it,” she said. “But what can you do instead that won’t hurt children? No data set is perfect, and (the auditor) has a valid point. But this is the best data we have right now.”
Children in families that participate in other state subsidy programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are automatically eligible for the school lunch program and account for about 25 percent of all students in the program, the state audit finds.
Jean Daniels, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said there was a huge discussion of the verification process when the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which includes the school lunch program, was reauthorized in December 2010, but ultimately Congress decided to maintain the 3 percent verification rate.
“There were compelling arguments from districts about handling the administrative paperwork,” Daniels said.
The National School Lunch Program is considered a “high error” program by the federal government, which found that in 2009 about $1.5 billion of almost $9 billion in funds — or more than 16 percent — paid to the program were considered improper.
Daniels said the program is difficult to track since family status may change during the year based on their employment status.
“Verification is for an entire school year, but family circumstances change,” she said.
Daniels said all parties are concerned about improving the integrity of the program, while also maintaining access and not punishing children who are hungry.
“We would tend to err on the side of giving a child a meal,” she said. “It is a difficult balance, especially in these economic times.”
Contact Diane D'Amico: | <urn:uuid:3725ec9d-e43b-401b-9e8e-bb32a9dae197> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/new-jersey-auditor-says-free-lunch-data-skews-student-aid/article_9a0485f6-a387-11e0-bebb-001cc4c03286.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96351 | 1,277 | 2.296875 | 2 |
This volume is dedicated to the memory of Dr Kathleen Edwards, the historian
of the English secular cathedrals and above all the historian of Salisbury
cathedral. In a number of important articles, but especially in her great work
The English Secular Cathedrals in the Middle Ages (second edition 1967) and
in her masterly piece on the cathedral of Salisbury in the Victoria History of
the County of Wiltshire III (1956), Dr Edwards described and illuminated the
history of Salisbury with dazzling clarity. Her particular interest and emphasis
was in the fourteenth century, and it is scarcely surprising that the few small
revisions now necessary to her work should belong to the period of the late
eleventh and twelfth centuries. Dr Edwards was a familiar figure in the
Institute of Historical Research, gallantly pursuing her researches despite
physical handicaps and infirmity, and warmly encouraging the researches of
students, readers and staff. On her last visit to London before her death, we
discussed the Institutio of St Osmund, and she helped me to see how useful a
critical study might prove. Kathleen Edwards died on 25 July 1976, greatly
mourned by her many friends. We all remember her with affection.
In the course of preparing this volume for publication, I have been fortunate
to have had kind friends who have given me invaluable assistance and advice.
I offer my thanks to Miss Pamela Stewart, who was archivist at the Wren
Hall, Salisbury, when I began work on this volume, and who went out of her
way to make my visits both productive and pleasurable. I owe a profound debt
of gratitude to Professor Christopher Brooke, one of the 'early Fathers' of the
project, who has never failed to lend encouragement and help whenever I have
turned to him for guidance. Among other friends who have generously allowed
me to use material from their own researches, I am particularly grateful to
Professor Brian Kemp, Dr Jane Sayers, Dr David Spear, Mr T. C. B.
Timmins, Mr Nicholas Vincent and Dr Tessa Webber. Finally, I record my
thanks to my colleagues at the Institute of Historical Research for their many
kindnesses, and in particular to Dr Glynis Younan, who gave calming advice
and practical help at the type-setting stage. | <urn:uuid:62958119-664e-4493-8da2-8170d9b54c1b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34214 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946262 | 498 | 2.515625 | 3 |
PoetryDispatch No. 305 | December 23, 2009
DAYS WE ARE GIVEN is Alice D’Alessio’s third book of poetry, an “Earth’s Daughters” chapbook contest winner for 2009, and a winner in every way a poet makes sense and beauty of her life through words.
I’m proud to say that Cross+Roads Press published her first major collection in 2004, A BLESSING OF TREES, which won the Council for Wisconsin Writers Posner Prize for poetry. It was an immediate bestseller, admired for the delicacy and depth of Alice’s poems, the sheer beauty of the book’s layout and design.
I’m proud to say as well that Alice is one of those Cross+Roads Press writers who moved beyond ‘first publication’ with Cross+Roads to test the waters elsewhere with new manuscripts—and continued success. A new collection of hers, Conversations with Thoreau, has been contracted for with Parallel Press, UW Madison.
DAYS WE ARE GIVEN continues to explore the poet’s personal history, joy, pain, revelation…the coming to terms with time, relationships…the comfort in those days we are given. Here is a poet who loves the play of words—and plays them well, perfect pitch, the harmony of past and present.
The book is divided into three sections: “Things Left Unsaid,” “Infinite Discords.” and “Days we Are Given” Each a book unto itself. All together…where the harmony comes through. –Norbert Blei
for my mother
You broke my heart, you said.
And then you died
leaving the two raw pieces in my lap,
like weeping pomegranate.
Because I tasted the seeds and knew
the underworld? Because your meadows
couldn’t hold me, and beyond the fence
I found a wilderness more tempting
than you – virtuous as a nun –
could comprehend? Was I to blame?
You loved the idea of my life: dinners for eight,
bright kids, bright flowers, filling your dreams
of domesticity. Was it wrong
to hide frayed edges as they pulled apart?
Only daughter of a lonely mother
I was doomed to disappoint
as every seed you planted escaped
your nurturing to flaunt
its own wild weedy dance.
Look, the marsh marigolds we treasured
have disappeared this spring
gobbled by deer, overrun by reed canary grass
but still the redwing blackbird sings.
SONNET FOR MY FATHER
All down the long, dark halls they sit and wait
like faded pansies in July. Help me, they say,
the voice a prayer that comes too late:
help me to not grow old or take me away.
My parents are here, where they never meant to be,
hothoused, like all the rest. Reduced from book
to page to paragraph, their memories consigned to me;
their vision gone. How short a time it took
to steal their worth – my mother’s clever hands,
my father’s love of books. He copied and reread
the words of Freud, Carnegie, Franklin, tried to understand
their secrets; wanted poems to rhyme – how else, he said,
can they be poems? Daddy, this is for you.
You gave me the words. Arrangement, I can do.
A narrow street, all in confusion,
the children scrabbling back and forth
on muddy cobblestones,
and you in tweeds, impeccable.
I say, we need to talk.
We always needed to talk
and never did, back then -
boxed in like inventory
along the shelves of gritted teeth.
I drag the chairs, position them just so.
Cheap lawn chairs, they move easily,
scrape the cobblestones
like metal fingers.
Too close, too far away. I keep moving them -
facing each other? Side by side?
An inch or two this way, and that. As if
all the world depends on how we sit.
As if we are Palestinian and Jew
forging impossible treaties,
and not two nice people who never learned to talk,
who let the silence go on widening
to a chasm no words could ever bridge.
When I tell you about my dream,
I think you’ll understand:
we are standing on a pebbly shore -
last summer’s shore – at sunset
and the waves keep rolling toward us
with crests of coppery fire,
and troughs, deep indigo.
In the dream, they lose brightness
as they pile up at our feet
in thick translucent folds -
rise to our ankles, knees,
to our waists. I know we will drown soon.
You watch calmly and say,
that’s how it is. I scream
and try to run, but cant move,
my feet buried in sticky muck
as the dream unravels.
See? I say.
But you don’t see, because you don’t dream.
And you tell me again
in that off-handed way,
you’re crazy, you know.
And anyhow, you say,
you didn’t drown, did you?
WE READ THE NEWS
and yet, we make up shopping lists,
schedule physical eighteen months from now,
go on the Net to scout resorts
for winter getaway, look at map of Italy
and say the soft names yet again.
Buy membership at fitness center,
for three years of pedaling, pumping iron;
plant trees for the next century, pausing
from time to time with sudden gasp,
as if a cold chill lapped our ankles.
We sign papers that promise
long term care, mark the calendar
for lunch in trendy pub
where, benched and boothed in hum
and chatter, we study laminated menus,
weigh the merits of gorgonzola pasta
as if our lives hung in the balance
as if the sheer number of decisions,
stacked like sandbags, will hold it at bay -
the silent tsunami gathering force in the rearview mirror.
How we dug in fifteen logs for steps
to carry us up the back hill
to the farmer s fence,
named it Sunset Boulevard;
put a bench there facing west;
six startled cow-eyes looking back
How we tried to make a prairie –
burning, lugging eighteen buckets of seed
and flinging in wide arcs till we ached
and dropped exhausted on the deck,
and watched five crows
pick out their favorites. How on our knees
we cheered the ruddy clumps of bluestem,
the first three stalks of Indian Plantain,
Compass Plant. It takes a thousand years
to make a prairie, but we could tell ourselves
this was the start.
How we watch some hundred billion stars
slide left to right each night
while coyotes wail off-key
and bats dip and swoop
in their nightly smorgasbord.
We’ll be old here, perhaps next year,
and maybe the world will fracture –
sluff away under its sorrows –
but you and I have counted these moments,
balanced the tally, and called ourselves rich.
Editor’s Note: DAYS WE ARE GIVEN is available directly from the author, 3418 Valley Creek Circle, Middleton, WI 53562, $8.00 plus $2.00 for shipping and handling. The book is also available from Earth’s Daughters, P.O. Box 61, Central Park Station, Buffalo, New York, 14215. Website Earth’sDaughters.org. | <urn:uuid:c794c2ea-9f6c-49e2-9c7a-a86af9169a3b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://poetrydispatch.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/alice-dalessio-days-we-are-given/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=7ebcc2514d | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907534 | 1,684 | 1.554688 | 2 |
With an overall population of 5,498 and a student population of 1,433, approximately 1,433 of Brewton students attend one of Brewton's schools that offer drafting programs.
Brewton's largest drafting school is Jefferson Davis Community College. In 2010, Jefferson Davis Community College graduated approximately 26 students from its drafting program.
In 2010, 26 students graduated with a drafting certificate from one of Brewton's drafting schools. If you decide to join their ranks, you can expect to pay an average of $9,824 per year in tuition if you are eligible for instate tuition. Out of state tuition for all Brewton drafting schools was an average of $11,954 per year in 2009.
You should also anticipate spending about $1,200 for drafting related books and supplies every year. And if you live on campus, you will face an additional expense of $2,800 per year, on average, for room and board at Brewton-based drafting schools. Students who live at home can cut this cost down to approximately $7,868.
After graduating with your credentials in drafting, if you decide to work as a drafter in Brewton, your job prospects are not very good. In 2010, 1 out of every 24 drafters in Alabama were working in the greater Brewton area. Brewton's drafter workforce is projected to increase by 3% by the year 2018. This projected change is faster than the projected nationwide trend for drafters.
As a drafter in Brewton, you can expect to make an average salary of $43,090 per year. This is higher than the average salary for drafters in the state. | <urn:uuid:6edaddee-4402-419c-8887-65620f3317af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hackcollege.com/school-finder/schools/alabama/brewton/drafting/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964349 | 339 | 1.617188 | 2 |
In their study, “Recycling Gone Bad: When the Option to Recycle Increases Resource Consumption,” researchers Jesse R. Catlin and Yitong Wang conducted two simple experiments to prove their hypothesis – that the ability to recycle may lead to increased resource usage compared to when a recycling option is not available.
In the first experiment, participants were separated into two groups. Both groups were told to test a new brand of scissors using blank pieces of paper. One group had a recycling bin and trash bin in their room and the other group had only a trash bin. Participants were then instructed to cut a series of shapes out from the paper and then to take five minutes to evaluate the scissors in any way they deemed fit.
The group that had a recycling bin at in their room used more paper to test the scissors than the group without the bin. Continue reading | <urn:uuid:d7fc92ba-bf14-4e25-b36f-281df74f96e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ema-online.org/tag/habits/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972886 | 176 | 2.953125 | 3 |
In previous posts (Photo Forensics from Shadows, and The Case of Geico’s Gecko) I described an image forensic technique for determining if shadows in a scene are consistent with a single light source. This forensic analysis is particularly well suited for outdoor scenes where it can usually be assumed that there is a single light source (the sun). Indoor scenes with typically more complex lighting can, however, be harder to analyze using this technique. More sophisticated models of lighting allow us to analyze a broader range of scenes and to reason not just about the shadows, but also about the overall appearance of objects.
Consider, for example, the interior of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco shown on the right. The stained glass windows create an incredibly complex pattern of illumination and shadows. Unlike the simple task of modeling the sun, a single distant light source, modeling such a complex lighting environment seems overwhelming. In 2001, Ramamoorthi and Hanrahan proposed an elegant framework for modeling complex lighting (see “An efficient representation for irradiance environment maps” for more details). This work was designed to allow for the efficient computer graphics rendering of scenes illuminated by more realistic and complex lighting than that afforded by the then simpler lighting models.
Imagine standing in Grace Cathedral while holding a spherically-shaped umbrella above you. Imagine now looking at each point on the umbrella and recording the brightness and color of light that is striking that one point on the umbrella. Do this for the entire surface of your umbrella. The resulting pattern of light is an “environment map” that captures the complexity of the surrounding lighting. The very nice observation made by Ramamoorthi and Hanrahan is that a broad range of complex lighting patterns can be modeled with a relatively simple and manageable mathematical model. Such a model allows for the efficient transfer of complex lighting from a real-world scene to a computer graphics rendering, and in turn for the creation of more realistic rendered images.
To be useful in a forensic setting we need to estimate the parameters of the lighting model from a single image. Although more complex then estimating lighting and shadows from only the sun, we have shown that lighting environments can be estimated from a single image (see “Exposing Digital Forgeries from 3-D Lighting Environments”). As a result, we can model fairly complex lighting to determine if it is consistent or inconsistent within an image. This analysis allows us to analyze the appearance of objects even when they are illuminated by complex lighting. The other benefit of this approach is that while a reasonably skilled forger may be able to create a visually compelling fake shadow in an outdoor scene, they are less likely to be able to realistically create the correct pattern of lighting and shadows in, for example, Grace Cathedral. | <urn:uuid:56eec7c1-3cfa-430d-9b33-0ab9251263e9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fourandsix.com/blog/2012/6/11/photo-forensics-under-complex-lighting.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922124 | 557 | 2.9375 | 3 |
articles & news
Finding Your Way in Rough Times
FEBRUARY 12, 2009 | When Louise Lewis got laid off, her thoughts were frantic. “Oh my God, I don’t have a job,” she recalls in her book, No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You! (iUniverse). “I have a mortgage! With everyone getting laid off, where will I find a job?”
Sitting in the airport, waiting to go home from a business trip that ended with a pink slip, Lewis hung her head and felt herself falling. Then hands seemed to catch her while speaking these words, “You’re going to be OK, Louise. I’ll take care of you.”
Looking back, the Louisiana native calls being laid off, “being set free.”
“I immediately interpreted being set free from my job as something positive from which I could later benefit, rather than something negative that I would be challenged to overcome,” she writes in the book that resulted from her career interruption. In No Experts Needed, Lewis realizes she is meant to collect stories of what life means to people and includes chapters on different people she meets during her time “set free.” It’s an uplifting testimony of the unbroken spirit.
Finding your purpose
Best-selling author of 35 books, Dr. Wayne Dyer talks about finding a purpose in life in his DVD The Shift: Finding Your Life’s Purpose (Hay House). The movie features Dyer being interviewed by a film crew at a rustic resort on the Monterey Peninsula while fictional stories revolve around him, all interconnected and providing similar morals. So while Dyer explains how people, especially in the “afternoon” of their lives, are searching for spiritual meaning and explains how they can discover this, we watch others travel a similar road in a beautiful, captivating film. In the film, Dyer explains how people identify their lives by their jobs, their possessions and what people think of them.
“Before you know it, we begin to identify ourselves with the possessions we have,” Dyer explains. “The dilemma here is that if you are what you have, and things go away, then who you are also goes away in the process."
This can be especially harmful during a recession when many people lose their jobs and find their identities missing.
“The real purpose of life is just to be happy, to enjoy your life, to get to a place where you're not always trying to get to someplace else,” Dyer said. “People spend their lives struggling, trying to be someplace that they’re not. They never get to arrive.”
Both Lewis and Dyer speak of “spirit,” what many people call God, as a way of connecting to who we really are. Dyer suggests letting go of the “ego” and returning to one’s true nature. Dyer believes we all come from a source and that this source is everywhere. If we align to this source we will find what is missing in our lives and our true purpose, he said.
Lewis is originally from Houma, but moved to Southern California to work in marketing and advertising sales in the high-tech industry. She now spends her time writing and volunteering at a local children’s hospital. To read Lewis’s book free — her way of “giving back” — visit noexpertsneeded.com.
Dyer’s first book, Your Erroneous Zones, spent 64 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list after debuting in 1976. It has gone on to sell 35 million copies worldwide, followed by more than 30 books, 18 of which have been best sellers. He is now an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. For information on the DVD, visit dyermovie.com.
In other words ...
Other books out now that deal with self-development, job loss and happiness include:
• A Course in Happiness: Mastering the 3 Levels of Self-Understanding That Lead to True and Lasting Contentment by Dr. Mardi Horowitz (Tarcher/Penguin). Horowitz pioneered the diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is the recipient of two MacArthur Fellowship awards.
• The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson with Lou Aronica (Viking/Penguin) discusses combining what we love with what we are good at for more meaningful careers, among much more.
Reprinted with permission | <urn:uuid:fc53f654-ab7c-478b-a733-94576007d73a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/finding-your-way-in-rough-times | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963175 | 968 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Here are some of the key documents which record the founding and early history of CPAG.
At this meeting it was agreed to draw up "a Memorandum on the subject of family poverty" for use in discussions with the Government. There was also some discussion of the status and future of the group, and possible names for "… a Body which would investigate the problem of poverty and make recommendations on the subject to Government departments".
A press release announcing Child Poverty Action Group’s intention to present a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to take action to alleviate poverty in families as soon as possible, and announcing a press conference to be held at Toynbee Hall on 23rd December 1965.
A copy of the letter presented to the Prime Minister on 23rd December 1965, which draws attention to family poverty, and urges the Government to take action as soon as possible “to achieve a radical improvement in the standard of living of families in poverty”. A memorandum was attached with two main proposals: “We ask that the present arrangements for family allowances and the allowances for children be reconsidered and revised, and that bigger direct allowances be paid in respect of children in the poorest families.” | <urn:uuid:7246eaa1-fdcf-4d99-a54e-e4e5782f4aea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/history | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967779 | 244 | 2.40625 | 2 |
Significance and Use
Measurement of chemically induced DNA repair is a means of assessing the ability of a chemical to reach and alter the DNA. DNA repair is an enzymatic process that involves the recognition and excision of DNA-chemical adduct followed by DNA strand polymerization and ligation to restore the original primary structure of the DNA (7). This process can be quantitated by measuring the amount of labeled thymidine incorporated into the nuclear DNA of cells that are not in S-phase and is often called unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) (8). Numerous assays have been developed for the measurement of chemically induced DNA repair in various cell lines and primary cell cultures from both rodent and human origin (9). The primary rat hepatocyte DNA repair assay developed by Williams (10) has proven to be particularly valuable in assessing the genotoxic activity and potential carcinogenicity of chemicals (11), (12). Genotoxic activity is often produced by reactive metabolites of a chemical. The in vitro rat hepatocyte assay provides a system in which a metabolically competent cell is itself the target cell for measured genotoxicity. Most other short-term tests for genotoxicity employ a rat liver homogenate (S-9) for metabolic activation, which differs markedly in many important ways from the patterns of activation and detoxification that actually occur in hepatocytes. An extensive literature is available on the use of in vitro hepatocyte DNA repair assays (2, 3, 6, 13-28).
1.1 This practice covers a typical procedure and guidelines for conducting the rat in vitro hepatocyte DNA repair assay. The procedures presented here are based on similar protocols that have been shown to be reliable (1-6) .
1.2 Mention of trade names or commercial products are meant only as examples and not as endorsements. Other suppliers or manufacturers of equivalent products are acceptable.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid); Genetic examination; Hepatocyte DNA repair assay; Rats; Thymidine;
ICS Number Code 07.080 (Biology. Botany. Zoology)
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
[Back to Top] | <urn:uuid:14ce7f2d-be1e-4a32-92db-9741f44f007a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.astm.org/Standards/E1397.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942914 | 529 | 3.046875 | 3 |
China posted stronger than expected trade figures for December, in a further sign that the world's second-largest economy continues to recover from its worst slowdown in years.
Official data released Thursday showed export growth more than quadrupled from the previous month to 14.1 percent. December imports increased 6 percent after after failing to grow at all in November.
Despite the improvements in December, the figures showed that China missed its 10 percent growth target for trade in 2012.
The Commerce Ministry predicted last month that trade will improve only "slightly" in 2013, citing weak external demand caused by the global economic slowdown.
China is slowly emerging from its worst economic downturn since the 2008 global financial crisis. Most analysts say the recovery will be shaky, but that China will likely avoid a so-called "hard-landing." | <urn:uuid:afbe201d-dd12-454b-8db9-e5f3594870b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/01/11/2013011100391.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939324 | 164 | 1.78125 | 2 |
The University of the Virgin Islands’ 11th Annual Fall Student Research Symposium will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Fifty UVI student researchers are expected to participate in the event that will take place in the first floor conference room of the Administration and Conference Center on UVI’s St. Thomas campus.
Sponsored by UVI’s Division of Science and Mathematics and the Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) program, the symposium’s goal is to showcase the outstanding quality and diversity of undergraduate and graduate student research that UVI students have conducted over the summer and during the past year. The symposium is designed to demonstrate the importance of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and psychology oriented research to the greater UVI and Virgin Islands communities.
Symposium presentations will explore the projects students conducted under the direction of mentors at UVI and at other universities and laboratories across the nation. Their topics include number theory, bacterial flora, the St. Croix sheep population, reef fish, DNA classification, acetaminophen absorption, ovarian cancer, and the risk factors of adoption in shelter puppies and kittens. Several of the students conducted their research during UVI's on-campus Sophomore Science Research Institute and the Science Undergraduate Research Experience programs. Other institutions where UVI students conducted research include the Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Rutgers University, Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Maryland, the University of Iowa, Carnegie Mellon University, San Francisco State University, Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, Boston University and the University of South Carolina Medical School.
Symposium presentations are evaluated by a panel of judges from the community for their scientific content and their clarity of presentation.
Student research projects are supported by grants from many sources, including the National Science Foundation's HBCU-UP program, the South East Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (SEAGEP), the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholars programs, VI-EPSCoR, the MARC and RISE programs of the National Institutes of Health, and by grants supporting faculty mentors' scientific research. General support is also provided by UVI's Division of Science and Mathematics.
Persons interested in participating in or helping to sponsor this event should call UVI’s Amanda Wright at (340) 693-1397, or send email to firstname.lastname@example.org
. Additional information is available from the Emerging Caribbean Scientists program web site: http://ecs.uvi.edu | <urn:uuid:0299ccbb-42b8-43ee-9672-5378c5a8380e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uvi.edu/sites/uvi/Pages/News_Show.aspx?newsId=51&s=CO§ionCode=ECS&typeCode= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912619 | 532 | 1.835938 | 2 |
The final chapter of The Big Questions is called “What to Study”. This post is about where to study it.
Stanford professor Carolyn Hoxby reports that in the college admissions market, the big change over the past 40 years is students’ increased willingness to travel far from home—not surprising since the costs of long distance travel and communication have fallen dramatically over that time. The main effects are these:
- The top colleges (meaning the top 10%) have gotten far more selective, because they’re now drawing from a far broader base of applicants.
- Most other colleges (well over half) have gotten far less selective, because the pool of local applicants is shopping elsewhere.
- This change in students’ willingness to travel provides a complete explanation for the increased selectivity of top colleges; in fact, without it, they’d have become slightly less selective.
- As a result of these trends, the student bodies at the best colleges have gotten much stronger and the student bodies at the weaker colleges have gotten much weaker.
- Strong student bodies demand and receive a lot more resources—better faculty, better courses, better facilities, better living arrangements. This is partly because stronger students are more willing to pay for such amenities in the first place and partly because stronger students graduate, earn higher incomes, and make bigger donations.
- Therefore students at the best schools, in addition to being much stronger than they used to be, are also getting a much better deal. Tuition has risen, but not by nearly as much as the value of the college experience. The difference is huge: At the very top schools, student-oriented expenditures exceed tuition by almost $80,000 per student per year.
- All that student-oriented expenditure pays off for students, and it pays off most for the very best students, who learn a lot more and ultimately earn a lot more as a result.
Here’s a (rather startling) graph (taken from Hoxby’s paper) to show what a great deal students at the top schools are getting, and how much it’s changed since 1970. The bottom line is that getting into the very best schools is both a lot harder and a lot more valuable than it used to be. | <urn:uuid:a4be0729-8daa-4d83-a4e2-84b7c8b9649d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thebigquestions.com/2009/11/16/the-economics-of-college-admissions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963255 | 467 | 2.421875 | 2 |
Harborcreek Township is applying for a grant update for five failing emergency traffic light signals.
The grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority would allow Harborcreek Township to improve the existing Relco system that is no longer working properly.
The upgrade would effectively signal drivers to follow state law and pull to the right, clearing the intersection.
Currently only thirty-five percent of Erie County's traffic lights have the functioning system.
The rest are in need of repairs or replacement.
Harborcreek Township wants to help emergency vehicles reach their destination as quickly as possible, while still keeping its residents safe.
While waiting on word of a grant, officials want to remind motorists to still quickly clear the intersections as emergency vehicles pass. | <urn:uuid:0f900071-a3a3-4ba1-bb36-5b63d8bdf7b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://yourerie.com/fulltext?nxd_id=277952 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951382 | 150 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Storm subsides, but misery not over yet
Storm expected to bring up to 18 inches to Kansas City area
The worst of a brutal winter storm may be over for many, but plenty of residents of the Great Plains and Kansas City still were coping Tuesday with its effects.
Ice and falling branches downed power lines, cutting electricity to tens of thousands of people. And the heavy, wet snow made getting around difficult, whether by car or by foot.
A CNN crew driving through Kansas City saw very few other drivers, and those who were out were taking their time.
Residents, hit by back-to-back snow storms, just want a break.
"It's been a long, what, seven days, 10 days, something like that," Kansas City resident and snow shoveler Lindsey Hughes said. "I'm ready to go home."
The storm is weakening as it moves to the Northeast and the moisture is being stolen by the rain, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.
"This is great news," Myers said. "The rain is taking the moisture out of the storm and taking the punch out of what could be the snow part of the storm, and it's raining out rather than snowing out."
That means areas hit with snow Tuesday won't see accumulations like portions of Texas, northwest Oklahoma and southern Kansas got Monday. Rain was falling Tuesday afternoon over much of the Midwest.
There likely will be snow all day in Chicago, Myers said.
More than 330 flights at O'Hare International Airport and 170 at Midway International Airport were canceled Tuesday.
The storm is far from done. About 45 million people in 21 states were under some form of winter weather watch, warning or advisory.
"This storm is still a very active and dangerous storm, from Michigan into western New York and the mountains in New England are getting hit with very heavy snows, said Louis Uccellini, director of the National Weather Service.
The cold air associated with the system will linger on the East Coast through the weekend, he said.
But to the west, piling snow damaged buildings Tuesday in Kansas and Missouri.
In Shawnee, Kansas, the roof of a horse arena collapsed under the weight of snow Tuesday morning, CNN affiliate KSHB reported. It was one of several such collapses in the region because of the wet heavy snow, the station said.
No injuries were reported in those collapses, but a person died Monday in a roof collapse in hard-hit Woodward, Oklahoma, said Mayor Roscoe Hill.
Two other deaths came in Kansas on Monday in separate weather-related accidents on Interstate 70. One accident happened in Sherman County and the other in Ellis County, the Kansas National Guard said.
More than 56,000 customers in Kansas and Missouri were without power Tuesday afternoon, the Kansas National Guard said. The bulk of the outages -- 45,000 -- were in the Kansas City region straddling the border between Kansas and Missouri.
Most flights out of Kansas City International Airport were canceled.
Roads were still snow-covered, but improving, in northwestern Missouri, the state Department of Transportation said on Twitter. The agency continued to discourage travel.
Forecasters expected the storm to bring up to a foot of snow to parts of eastern Kansas, Missouri and Illinois a day after plastering southern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Winter storm watches and warnings or weather advisories stretched from Oklahoma to Michigan.
About 6 inches of snow fell in Mediapolis in southeastern Iowa, CNN iReporter Rose Schmidgall said.
The high school student spent much of the day shoveling snow.
"The digging was difficult and took a little while. The snow was packed really good and was heavy to scoop," she said, adding her family still had power as of Tuesday afternoon.
While the back-to-back snowstorms were frustrating for some, others put a positive spin on the experience. Jim Service of Overland Park, Kansas, spaced out the work of clearing last week's snowfall over four days. He finished Sunday, just in time for this storm.
After a warm-up session clearing Tuesday's snow -- much wetter and heavier than last week's -- he retreated inside with a Clive Cussler novel and planned to enjoy the day off. Like many others, Service's company called off work Tuesday at the behest of state officials who warned that the storm was too dangerous for people to be on the roads.
"It's great for me," he said.
The Kansas National Guard warned that continued snowfall and gusty winds would make travel tricky through Wednesday.
In Woodward, emergency vehicles were still having trouble getting around Tuesday, a day after the storm dropped more than 15 inches of snow.
Crews dispatched to a house fire Monday had trouble reaching the home because of 4-foot snowdrifts. The snowplow sent to free the firefighters also got stuck. Even Tuesday, emergency vehicles still were having a tough time getting around.
"We're in such a mess," said Hill, the mayor.
The storm follows one last week that paralyzed a broad swath of the Plains and Midwest with more than a foot of snow. Portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and other states were affected.
The storm prompted a state of emergency declaration in Kansas and parts of Oklahoma, bringing whiteout conditions to southern parts of those states and Texas.
Schools in Wichita, Kansas, were closed Tuesday for a fourth straight day after last week's storm, which dumped a record 14.2 inches on the city. Wichita has received 21 inches of snow in February, breaking a record that had stood for 100 years, the National Weather Service said. And it all fell in the past six days.
Copyright 2013 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:f114f5be-adb5-4112-8e67-792df3e167ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.channel3000.com/news/Storm-subsides-but-misery-not-over-yet/-/1648/19084086/-/view/print/-/cwfipcz/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973668 | 1,195 | 1.5625 | 2 |
October 25, 2004 - ASM Comments on NIH Proposal to Facilitate Enhanced Public Access to Research Information
- Federal Register Notice: Enhanced Public Access to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Information
- NIH Draft Proposal on Open Access
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is providing the following comments in response to the Notice of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of its proposal to facilitate enhanced public access to NIH health related research information (Notice for Comment, 69 Fed. Reg. 56074 September 17, 2004). ASM expresses its appreciation for the opportunity to comment on the NIH Notice and for NIH’s invaluable role in the promotion of science in the public interest in the United States.
Interest of the American Society for Microbiology
ASM is the largest life science professional society in the United States with approximately 42,000 microbiologist members. ASM plays a major role in promoting progress in the microbiological sciences by publishing quality journals and books, convening meetings and workshops, developing educational, training, and public information programs, providing scientific advice to inform public policy, and promoting ethical conduct among practitioners of microbiology. ASM activities and programs serve not only its members and the advancement of science, but contribute to the public interest. ASM publishes 11 journals that print over 7,000 scientific articles yearly. ASM has well-established peer-review procedures for manuscripts published in its journals, and ASM’s publishing procedures and activities contribute to ensuring the quality and integrity of the scientific literature.
ASM has a long-standing record of commitment to facilitating full access to the articles published in its journals. ASM uses the Internet for timely dissemination of research articles and currently offers free access to all users after six months for basic research journals and one year for its two review journals. ASM posts full text and figures to both Highwire and PubMed Central (PMC), subject to the six-month restriction. ASM also provides free access to all archival issues of its journals that are hosted by PMC and Highwire. ASM articles are indexed by Google to allow searches for articles by key words.
ASM offers the followings comments and questions that need to be addressed by the NIH before implementing an enhanced public access policy. ASM also stresses the need for continuing dialogue with scholarly publishers on issues related to access policies.
Comments of the American Society for Microbiology
ASM supports broad and timely access to articles presenting research results. The current ASM practice appears generally compatible with the proposed policy of providing free online access to published NIH-supported research articles through PMC six months after publication. The Notice by NIH, however, does raise a number of critical issues and concerns for publishers, grantees and the scientific enterprise. This initiative deserves careful attention and further dialogue and cooperation with scholarly publishers before implementation, especially in view of its impact on NIH grantees, the rapid and free dissemination of scientific information, and NIH funding and resources.
- The Notice states that NIH intends to “request” that its grantees and supported Principal Investigators provide NIH with electronic copies of all final-version manuscripts upon acceptance for publication. The Notice further describes such submission as an “alternate” means to fulfill the requirement to provide one copy of each publication in the annual final progress reports. Thus, the Notice suggests that submission of manuscripts for archiving and eventual posting in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Notice will be voluntary, albeit requested by NIH. Is that correct or does NIH intend to make submission of a manuscript for archiving and posting pursuant to a public access program a condition of receiving an NIH grant or award?
- The Notice states that NIH will archive manuscripts submitted by authors and any appropriate supplementary information in PMC. Will manuscripts received by NIH pursuant to such procedure be subject to disclosure in response to a Freedom of Information Act request before six months after the date of publication? Are there other legal ramifications of such a submission to NIH, such as establishing a date of publication for purposes of patent law issues?
- The Notice states that the manuscript will be made available to the public six months after “publication.” The Notice does not define what constitutes “publication.” NIH should define clearly when NIH considers that a supported research study is “published” for purposes of public posting. When exactly does the “clock start ticking” for the obligatory six month deadline for making the manuscript available on PMC. ASM recommends that “publication” should be defined to mean the date a peer-reviewed journal containing the article is issued by a publisher.
- ASM strongly recommends that, if a publisher permits public posting of the publisher’s published article six months after publication, only the final published article be provided to NIH. ASM currently posts full text and figures to PMC of articles six months after issuance of the journal containing the article; ASM, therefore, is especially interested in the procedure for posting a published article on PMC six months after publication. The Notice states that “if the publisher requests” the manuscript will be replaced in the PMC archive by the final publisher’s copy with an appropriate link to the publisher’s electronic database. If a publisher permits posting of the publisher’s copy by PMC six months after publication, there does not appear to be any reason for an author to submit a copy of the manuscript prior to publication. In fact, because the manuscript is not to be publicly available for six months (as ASM understands the Notice), such submission merely duplicates costs and creates the possibility of a public posting of varying versions of the same article when the published article is provided. The resource requirements and their justification must be evaluated to make the optimal use of resources. When a publisher expresses a willingness to cooperate with the posting of a published article by PMC six months after publication, limiting the submission to final published papers at six months would accomplish the goal of supporting public access to results and accomplishments of NIH-supported studies without a preliminary submission of an unpublished manuscript and would eliminate the possibility of a later public posting of both a manuscript and a published article that might well vary from the original manuscript.
- Is it the responsibility of a publisher to provide PMC the final published version of the manuscript and how will publishers work with PMC to accomplish the replacement in the PMC archive of an individual paper when the paper is part of a journal? It is important that the PMC make available the final, published version of each manuscript, not the author’s originally accepted manuscript. Only one final version of a paper should be extant, and the version of record should be the one available to the public. There should be a link from PMC to a journal’s web site for a final posted article.
- How will the grantee submit electronic copies of final-version manuscripts upon acceptance for publication to PMC? This requirement deserves further consideration. Will NIH provide and enforce standards for the electronic format for this submission? This step could be expensive, time consuming and burdensome and consideration should be given to eliminating this requirement in view of the need and desirability to have one final published article in the database. As set forth above, when a publisher permits posting of an article, this appears to be a redundant and unnecessary requirement. If the PMC becomes the final arbiter of the technical guidelines for the transmission and posting of electronic manuscripts, will assurances be provided that such guidelines keep pace with developments in the field?
- The Notice does not address issues that sometimes arise after acceptance of a manuscript for publication, such as scientific misconduct issues and disputes among and between authors and the final screening for use of microbiology contrary to human welfare, including the use of microbes as biological weapons.
- ASM recommends that the NIH policy explicitly state that PMC will post all NIH-supported research papers published in the peer-reviewed literature.
- The issue of archiving is critical for science. Since NIH funding and resources for this PMC activity are subject to annual appropriations that may experience instability in the future, what reassurance does the scientific community have that NIH will be able to sustain over time a complete archive, not just a subset, of NIH supported research articles. This is a key issue for science and the public in view of the unknown effects that this initiative may have on library archives and print journals. ASM recommends that archives for research papers should be redundant to ensure long term availability and continuity. The ASM recommends that PMC clearly state that it is not a comprehensive archive of all biomedical research. Only a portion of the articles published in scientific journals result from NIH funded studies.
- NIH’s enhanced public access initiative is specific for NIH-supported biomedical research. ASM recommends that NIH consider the ramifications such a policy may have for other life science research supported by other agencies and for research that is not federally funded, including the potential effect of disparate treatment on non-NIH-supported research. For example, will publishers have to track and make available several separate and disparate streams of articles?
- The issue of resources and good stewardship of biomedical research funding is an important consideration. Does PMC have the resources to undertake this initiative in a timely and efficient manner? NIH should establish the scope of the initiative in terms of numbers of articles and estimate the resources needed. Again, what assurance does the NIH research community have that this initiative will be timely, accurate, complete and sustained in the long term? Will PMC be able to keep pace with new technical approaches and incorporate them into the contemplated program? The ASM recommends that the actual costs of this policy should be monitored over time especially in view of the need to respond to technical advances and possible legal complexities. We recommend the process be evaluated after three years, with a public disclosure of the effects, costs and problems that may have arisen.
- As NIH recognizes, peer-reviewed articles are now available to interested researchers and the public. To some extent, therefore, the enhanced public access initiative provides another mechanism for accessing information that is already being made available. ASM recommends that NIH evaluate whether this initiative takes funds and time away from the performance of science and directs them to a redundant activity.
- ASM recommends that further consideration be given to issues arising from a federal government agency, which may be subject to political pressures, being the centralized repository for NIH-supported research articles. ASM suggests that science and the public interest would be served if NIH would allow other nongovernmental, publicly available databases to be used with a link to PMC.
The ASM would be pleased to meet with NIH and discuss these issues and concerns.
James M. Tiedje, Ph.D., President, ASM
Samuel Kaplan, Ph.D., Chair, Publications Board, ASM | <urn:uuid:6cdc18b0-1d21-40c5-bdee-321539481a87> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.asm.org/index.php/component/content/article?id=2474 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92498 | 2,208 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Activists Aim to Bolster Rhode Island’s Homeless Bill of Rights
By Jake Grovum, Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Just two miles separate the Rhode Island State House from Amos House, a soup kitchen and service center that’s helped hundreds of thousands since opening in 1976.
But it feels farther. Amos House sits amid a maze of narrow streets lined with subsidized housing and empty storefronts, past a string of convenience and liquor stores where homeless Rhode Islanders frequently gather. It’s near one of Providence’s ubiquitous homeless shelters – Crossroads – where battered women seek refuge and drug dealers often congregate outside.
Advocates were looking to close the gap between Rhode Island’s homeless and the rest of the state’s citizenry when they convinced state lawmakers to approve the nation’s first Homeless Bill of Rights this past summer. The new law prohibits landlords and employers from discriminating against the homeless when they apply for apartments or jobs, and affirms their right to be in public spaces such as parks and libraries. The broader idea was that outlawing prejudice against homeless people would eliminate the stigma that surrounds homelessness.
The law, backed by a coalition of activists, academics and attorneys, may become a national model. But months after its passage, there is frustration over the slow pace of change. Some advocates still are not sure how they can use the law to fix lingering problems, while others worry that their legislative success has curbed the state’s appetite for more homeless aid.
On a raw rainy afternoon several weeks ago, last summer’s legislative triumph seemed far away for 48-year-old Stephen Patrick, a former restaurant chef who once worked full time at $13 an hour but has been homeless since suffering a seizure and heart attack last year. “It’s getting colder out, and I don’t want to be on the street,” Patrick said, eating lunch at a cramped Amos House. “I just need a house, bad.”
“I’m just trying get by,” he says, “by any means possible.”
‘The Fight’s Not Over Yet’
In simple terms, the Rhode Island Homeless Bill of Rights affirms that the homeless have the same rights as everyone else.
It bars local authorities from ejecting homeless people from public spaces such as parks, libraries and public transportation. It says employers and government agencies can’t discriminate against people who don’t have a permanent address.
But the real power of the law may be its utility in the courtroom. For example, advocates can use it to sue a Rhode Island city or town that imposes an ordinance banning “loitering” in public parks.
As Linda Tashbook of the University of Pittsburgh law school says, it eliminates the need for advocates to parse arguments or find compelling stories. “With a Homeless Bill of Rights, the claim can be clear and simple,” she says. “There is no need to wait for a new incident of victimization.”
What the law doesn’t do, though, is guarantee food or shelter. Early versions of the bill focused on a “Right to Housing,” but advocates figured that wouldn’t pass. The scaled-back bill has spawned some disillusionment.
“We fought hard to get the Homeless Bill of Rights,” says John Joyce, who was formerly homeless but now works as an outreach coordinator, “and I’ll be damned if we let someone [walk all over] it.”
Joyce was speaking at a recent meeting of the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project in a small chapel in downtown Providence’s Mathewson Street United Methodist Church. There was a lot on the agenda: The election, colder October weather, the uptick in people on the streets.
But the Bill of Rights was a central focus. Advocates distributed printed cards detailing rights covered under the law. Participants also discussed whether they could use the law to thwart an attempt by local officials to evict charitable food trucks from nearby Kennedy Plaza. For-profit food trucks are allowed to sell food nearby.
That conflict, some say, could soon lead to the first lawsuit under the Bill of Rights. “We’re looking for one we can win,” says John Freitas, a self-described “frustrated” outreach coordinator.
But the food-truck issue pales in comparison to more pressing concerns: the need to expand and improve overcrowded shelters; the need for more money for homeless programs.
“The fight’s not over yet,” Joyce says, telling the group he’d like activists to show up en masse at an upcoming State House hearing on homelessness. Another idea is to file a lawsuit against the state over poor conditions at one particularly dilapidated shelter.
“Wouldn’t that be something?” he says. “The governor signs the Homeless Bill of Rights and then gets sued under it.”
‘Those People Were Living Like Animals’
No lawmaker was more important to the passage of the Homeless Bill of Rights than Senator John Tassoni Jr., a Democrat from Smithfield, Rhode Island, about 10 miles outside Providence.
Long a safety-net advocate, Tassoni joined the Bill of Rights coalition after a visit to one notorious shelter, Harrington Hall in the Providence suburb of Cranston. He found deplorable conditions: overcrowding, triple-stacked bunks and just two toilets and two showers for more than 100 people.
“I was astonished, amazed, disgusted, sickened, all of the above,” Tassoni says. “Those people were living like animals.”
He emerged with a two-pronged agenda: Clean up existing shelters and help advocates enact their Homeless Bill of Rights. The first would make a practical improvement. The second, Tassoni reasoned, would hopefully “eliminate the stigma and the disrespect that some people have for the homeless.”
Lawmakers approved the bill on the last day of the legislative session, and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, an independent, signed it shortly thereafter. Chafee also ordered a cleanup at Harrington Hall.
But in the months since, progress has been slow. Homeowners near Harrington Hall are pushing back, saying they’d rather see the center closed than improved. The issue has permeated local elections, where one candidate has called homeless people “animals” in opposing the shelter.
At the same time, there are still reports of local harassment, of bus drivers blowing past the homeless at bus stops. Many frustrations that existed before remain. Tassoni is planning hearings in the coming weeks on shelter conditions and winter housing concerns.
Meanwhile, the advocacy continues.
“It’s just going to be a big battle,” Frank Nolan, who was homeless but now does outreach, says of the Harrington Hall project. “It’s working,” he adds of the new law, “but it’s not working.”
A Different Direction
Despite its shortcomings, Rhode Island’s law stands in sharp contrast to what is going on in many other states. A year ago, a study by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) found more than half of the 234 cities surveyed had ordinances against loitering or panhandling in certain public places. A third of those laws prohibited sitting or lying down. In this sense, the Bill of Rights is a powerful countermeasure.
“So much of our work has been defensive for such a long time,” Jeremy Rosen of the NLCHP says. “Always playing defense can be dispiriting.”
With that in mind, advocates want to take Rhode Island’s success national. Tassoni didn’t seek re-election this year and is considering a paid position with a national advocacy group to travel the country and lobby for similar measures. Tassoni, the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project all will be honored at the NLCHP McKinney-Vento Awards this month in Washington.
‘It Was Like a Dream’
Joyce, the homeless advocate, may be frustrated over the lack of progress in Rhode Island since the law was passed, but he still praises the effort and hopes it will spread to other states.
“We want to spread this; it was one of our objectives even before it became law,” he says. “It was like a dream: Imagine if we get this passed and other advocates pick this up and do the same.”
At Amos House on that recent afternoon, there were others who were optimistic. Gregory Harrell, who was homeless for four years and now volunteers at another shelter, said even though he’s not sure what changes might come, the measure helped remove the disrepute surrounding the homeless.
“It’s just a stigma, it’s a bad stigma,” he says, standing in Amos House’s cafeteria, wiping away tears. “Nobody should ever look down on people.”
Sonny Ramsey, a coordinator at Amos House, agreed. Taking a break from his busy schedule and overcrowded waiting room filled with families looking for help, he said he was hopeful.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” he says. “It’s gonna change a lot of lives.”
Still, he wasn’t sure how. He admits not following the law as closely as he’d like. The reason? His packed caseload, a testament to remaining problems. Helping just one slice of the still-sizable homeless population of Rhode Island doesn’t leave much time for anything else.
“I’m swamped here,” he says. “But I’m just positive it’s going to do some good.” | <urn:uuid:c89a0aaf-e114-4c3e-a905-d4bae9492eae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/activists-aim-to-bolster-rhode-islands-homeless-bill-of-rights-85899429426 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95357 | 2,114 | 2.375 | 2 |
This month, the Santa Monica Police Department will begin a program targeted at reducing the number of traffic violations committed by bicyclists. In 2012, to date, the police department has been called out to investigate 37 traffic accidents involving bicycles. In the majority of these cases, the participant not riding the bicycle was found to be responsible for the accident. The most common causes for an accident in which the bicyclist was found to be at fault were either failure to stop at a traffic sign or light, and failure to maintain a safe riding speed. In the state of California, anyone riding a bicycle on the roads has the same rights and responsibilities as anyone behind the wheel of an automobile.
The stricter enforcement program is part of the city of Santa Monica’s ongoing effort to make the city more bicycle friendly. The plan, approved by city council in November will bring 14 new miles of bike lanes, 17 miles of shared lanes, and new lanes buffered by a median strip along Ocean Park Avenue, Main Street, Second Street, and Broadway Avenue. The bill also includes funding for improving cyclist safety at 30 intersections and free driving and cycling safety classes.
As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I hope the roads can be make safer for motorists and cyclists alike, If you or someone you care about has been injured in an automotive accident, please consider contacting a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer. | <urn:uuid:85eff0e7-edb6-463e-acaa-a2862023998a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.psblaw.com/tag/santa-monica/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967912 | 278 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Slow DRIP into investing
My first-ever individual stock holding was a Duke Power (now Duke Energy) share that I acquired through its Dividend Reinvestment Plan or DRIP. I don’t recall every detail but at the time, Duke Power was my utility company, sent me a bill every month, and enclosed a notice about its DRIP, which was available to its customers.
Signing up and becoming a shareholder was easy. Presumably, I requested, received, and read a prospectus so that I could understand the risks of owning this particular stock. Then, I filled out a form and sent checks of $25 or $50 every month or so. The company sent me statements, confirming receipt of my checks and showing me the value of my holdings.
Just a side note: at the time of my investment in the mid-80s, Duke Power was a public utility in a regulated industry so profits were nearly guaranteed and dividends were steady. Jumps in the stock value or sudden declines were unlikely in such a controlled environment. Duke Power has since morphed into Duke Energy, “a diversified energy company with gas and electric businesses, both regulated and unregulated, and an affiliated real estate company.” http://www.duke-energy.com/about-us/businesses.asp, June 17, 2007. Today, there is more risk associated with owning the stock because its businesses are no longer all regulated.
With a DRIP, you can accumulate shares by making periodic purchases and authorizing the reinvestment of dividends. For example, Stock A is selling for $25 and the company declares a dividend of $.05 per share. If you have 100 shares of Stock A, you will receive a dividend of $5, which is then reinvested automatically with the purchase of .20 shares. It doesn’t seem like much but, over time, your account grows in value if you reinvest the dividends rather than spend them on something else. (A note about taxes: if the shares are held in a regular taxable account, you will have to pay taxes on the dividends, whether you reinvest the dividends or not.)
The main catch to this program is that you can not control the exact price you pay for the stock. You send in your money (either via regular mail or electronically) and the stock is purchased on your behalf, typically at the market price on a day designated by the company or its agent. For example, if you send money on January 15, the stock may be purchased on January 30 for whatever the market price was on that day. If the stock price was $35 on Jan. 15 and $45 on Jan. 30 then the stock would cost $45. If you sent $50, then you will receive 1.11 shares ($50 payment/$45 per share).
I started my DRIP in the pre-Internet, pre-discount brokerage, and pre-ShareBuilder days when these plans were especially very attractive compared to full-service brokerage accounts. The fees for starting a plan, purchasing shares, reinvesting dividends, receiving statements, selling shares, maintaining an account, and closing an account were zero to nominal. The advent of ShareBuilder (to be covered in another post) and online brokerage services (also, more later) make DRIPs less attractive than 20 or so years ago. Still, these plans offer an easy, simple way to get started in investing.
To find out if a company has a DRIP, do a search using the company name and investor relations; then starting looking for Shareholder Services, Investor FAQs, DRIPs, Direct Stock Purchase plans, etc. I searched for Duke Energy, Lowe’s Companies, and AT&T as well as Amazon, Target, and Starbucks and quickly found whether these companies pay dividends and/or whether they offer DRIPs or similar plans. Following the links, I also found pages that listed fees associated with transactions and some way of actually starting an account. Here is what I found:
Amazon.com does not pay dividends or have a Direct Stock Purchase Plan (similar to the DRIP but sans the dividend reinvestment component).
You can only buy Starbucks through a stockbroker or brokerage firm
Target offers a Direct Investment Program and you can purchase stock through a transfer agent
Please know that I am not endorsing or recommending the purchase of any of these stocks just using them as examples. I mentioned them because they are household names in my part of the world and investing in companies you already know about is often a good way to get started in building wealth. As always, read the prospectus before investing. | <urn:uuid:c89078b6-00d9-4533-8bca-7837e9573bdc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wisebread.com/slow-drip-into-investing?quicktabs_2=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961045 | 947 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Dr. Cole is board certified in dermatology. He obtained his BA degree in bacteriology, his MA degree in microbiology, and his MD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained in dermatology at the University of Oregon, where he completed his residency.
Dr. Rockoff received his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva College with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His internship and two years of Pediatric residency were at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, followed by training in Dermatology at the combined residency program at Tufts and Boston Universities. Dr. Rockoff is certified by both the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Pediatrics.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Acne (acne vulgaris, common acne) is a disease of the hair follicles of the face, chest, and back that affects almost all males and females during puberty; the only exception being teenage members of a few primitive isolated tribes living in
Neolithic societies. It is not caused by bacteria, although bacteria play a role in its development. It is not unusual for some women to develop acne in their mid- to late-20s.
You can do a lot to treat your acne using products available at a drugstore
or cosmetic counter that do not require a prescription. However, for tougher cases
of acne, you should
consult a physician for treatment options.
No one factor causes acne. Acne happens when sebaceous (oil) glands attached to the hair follicles are stimulated at the time of puberty by elevated levels of male hormones. Sebum (oil) is a natural substance which lubricates and protects the skin. Associated with increased oil production is a change in the manner in which the skin cells mature so that they are predisposed to clog the follicular openings or pores. The clogged hair follicle gradually enlarges, producing a bump. As the follicle enlarges, the wall may rupture, allowing irritating substances and normal skin bacteria access into the deeper layers of the skin, ultimately producing inflammation.
Inflammation near the skin's surface produces a pustule; deeper inflammation results in a papule (pimple); deeper still and it's a cyst. If the oil breaks though to the surface, the result is a "whitehead." If the oil accumulates melanin pigment or becomes oxidized, the oil changes from white to black, and the result is a "blackhead." Blackheads are therefore not dirt and do not reflect poor hygiene.
Here are some factors that don't usually play a role in acne:
the exception of very severe acne, most people do not have the problem
exactly as their
parents did. Almost everyone has some acne at some point in their life.
Food: Parents often tell teens to avoid pizza, chocolate, greasy and fried foods, and junk food. While these foods may not be good for overall health, they don't cause acne or make it worse. Although some recent studies have implicated milk and pure chocolate in aggravating acne, these findings are very far from established.
mentioned above, "blackheads" are oxidized oil, not dirt.
Sweat does not
cause acne, therefore, it is not necessary to shower instantly after exercise
for fear that sweat will clog pores. On the other hand, excessive washing can
dry and irritate the skin.
Stress: Some people get
so upset by their pimples that they pick at them and make them last longer.
Stress, however, does not play much of a direct role in causing acne.
In occasional patients, the following may be contributing factors:
Pressure: In some
patients, pressure from helmets, chin straps, collars, suspenders, and the like can
Drugs: Some medications
may cause or worsen acne, such as those containing iodides, bromides, or oral
or injected steroids (either the medically prescribed prednisone
[Deltasone, Orasone, Prednicen-M, Liquid Pred] or the
steroids that bodybuilders or athletes take). Other drugs that can cause or aggravate acne are anticonvulsant medications and lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid),
which is used to treat bipolar disorder. Most cases of acne, however, are not drug related.
Occupations: In some jobs, exposure to industrial products like cutting
oils may produce acne.
Cosmetics: Some cosmetics and skin-care products are pore clogging ("comedogenic"). Of the many available brands of skin-care products, it is important to read the list of ingredients and choose those which have water listed first or second if you are concerned about acne. These "water-based" products are usually safe.
Think back to the three basic causes of acne and you can understand why the focus of both home treatment and prescription therapy is to (1) unclog pores, (2) kill bacteria, and (3) minimize oil. But first a word about...
Lifestyle: Moderation and regularity are good things, but not everyone can sleep eight hours, eat three good meals, and drink eight glasses of water a day. You can, however, still control your acne even if your routine is frantic and unpredictable. Probably the most useful lifestyle changes you can make are to apply hot compresses to pustules and cysts, to get facials (see below), and never to pick or squeeze pimples. Playing with or popping pimples, no matter how careful and clean you are, nearly always makes bumps stay redder and bumpier longer. People often refer to redness as "scarring," but fortunately it usually isn't in the permanent sense. It's just a mark that takes months to fade if left entirely alone. | <urn:uuid:0c67c781-2571-4bdc-b766-742b398ea1a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.medicinenet.com/acne/article.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951544 | 1,301 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Why do people choose Toraja Land as a destination ?.We Spoke to many travelers while on Sulawesi ( Celebes ) and they all seemed to say the same things. They had come to Sulawesi ( Celebes ) and exploring Toraja Land because they either had heard such wonderful things from friends or relatives who had been there, Or they had visited previously themselves. What people seemed to like the best were The friendly people, the culture and the untouched beauty of Sulawesi at most.
After Bali and Java, the third most popular destination in Indonesia is Sulawesi. Sulawesi island contains a great variety of exotic people, culture and natural wonders. It is another unspoilt paradise. A journey into the strange world of mysterious Toraja People is truly a rare adventure, made especially eerie by their hauting tombs - holes carved out of sheer rock faces guarded by wooden effigies that stare out across the jungle.
Toraja Land, is known for its unique culture and ancient traditions. The center of tourism is Rantepao, 328 km from Makassar by road (about 8 hours).
The entry to Tana Toraja is marked by a gate built in traditional boat-shaped architecture. The road passes through the mountains of Kandora and Gandang on which, according to Toraja mythology, the first ancestors of celestial beings descended from heaven. The majority of the people still follows an ancestral cult called "Aluk Todolo" which governs all traditional ceremonies.
Torajan culture is a complex blend of ancestor worship and animistic beliefs where rituals for the dead are colorful festivals to pave the way for the soul's entry into the hereafter. This unique culture, the scenic beauty, cool climate and gentle people are the main reason that Toraja is gaining popularity as a tourist destination. For many visitors, Toraja will linger in their mind as a land steeped in mystery, magic and ancient traditions. It is one of the world's rare cultural treasures.
Symbolized in mythology as the land of heavenly kings, its boat-shaped houses face north in honor of the deities. Their traditional house called Tongkonan are related to the settlers who converted their boats into houses, and set the pattern of present-day community life. There is a belief that early settlers came by boats and converted the boats into houses. The houses are beautifully decorated with carvings and geometric designs. The number of buffalo horns hanging in front of the house indicate the status and wealth of the owner. Though Christianity and Islam have found converts here and modern trends have made inroads, traditional rituals remain strong, especially that of funeral rites.
The most spectacular of Torajan rituals are the funerals. For Torajan, a funeral is the single most important ceremony in the life cycle. It is based on a strong belief that the soul of the deceased travels to the land of the south and in this land of eternity, he will need all the requisites of everyday life in the hereafter just like when he was alive in this world. Funeral ceremonies are festival lasting as long as ten days with much feasting and entertainment. Animal sacrifices are made to ensure eternal life in the afterlife and to safeguard the descendants.
A funeral is a festive event for every member of the society. When the funeral is held by noble families then the ceremony will usually involve great fanfare. Buffaloes and pigs are sacrificed as an indication of status and as repayment for gifts received. This ceremony may take days, weeks or months after the actual death and the decreased is referred to as a sick man until he is buried.
Various types of graves are located in Cliffside caves, mountain ledges or in special houses reserved for the dead. The graves in Tana Toraja are made in huge rocks because of their strength and relative safety from animals and thieves. There are many of these graves in the different mountains. And some are well guarded by life-size wooden statues of the persons buried. | <urn:uuid:4f580cfd-3c26-4932-8c9a-f49d09dc9d6e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.toraja-info.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966304 | 814 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Whether traversing the bustling Nevskii Prospekt, admiring the grand residential architecture on Vasilievskii Island, or taking in the awe inspiring Palace Square, visitors will find each of St. Petersburg's neighborhoods steeped in culture and history.
Nevskii Prospekt is a grand-scale thoroughfare cutting right through the heart of the city. The rough triangle (to the north of Nevskii) formed by the street's central stretch, the Fontanka canal and the Neva is crammed full of St. Petersburg's main cultural attractions and a good number of its restaurants and places of entertainment. There's the Winter Palace and Palace Square , the Saviour on Spilled Blood Cathedral and Museum , the Russian Museum , the Mussorgsky Concert Hall and the nearby Philharmonic. On the south side of Nevskii Prospekt stands the impressive semi-circular and columned Kazan Cathedral and further along you will find the central department store Gostinyi Dvor which is not far from the plush Grand Hotel Europe .
This is the touristic, commercial and cultural heart of the city where visitors are guaranteed to spend a large chunk of their time. Nevskii itself is buzzing at all hours, but traffic (both human and vehicular) can be escaped by venturing to the peaceful Summer Gardens which are located north of the triangle.
This large chunk of land lies to the northwest of the center, dividing the river Neva into the Greater and Lesser Nevas. Although the island is now primarily a sleepy residential district, it played a major role in the city's early history.
Peter the Great originally intended Vasilevskii to be the city's center and therefore encouraged newly-arrived nobles and merchants to set themselves up there. His plans were never realized—problems with the construction of a canal network and the logistical nightmare of locating a city center on a sometimes inaccessible island encouraged the rise of Nevksii Prospekt as the alternative hub of the city. Nonetheless, testimony to the former importance of the island lies in the cluster of museums and buildings on the eastern side—the pre-revolutionary stock exchange building (now home to a Naval Museum) still stands here, along with Peter's macabre Kunstkammer museum and a little further on, St. Petersburg State University —the alma mater of President Putin.
Beyond this there isn't a lot to see or do on Vasilievskii, although if you want a look at some awe-inspiring Soviet architecture you could do a lot worse than the vast residential building stretching westwards from Primorskaia metro. Also nearby is the hulking mass of the Swedish-built Pribaltiiskaia hotel which stands atop an extensive open area of concrete looking out onto the Gulf of Finland.
The Petrograd Side & the Kirov Islands
When Peter the Great first concocted his grand plan for a capital city on the Gulf of Finland, construction began on the Peter and Paul Fortress , located on the northern shores of the Neva. Although Nevskii Prospekt may constitute the heart of modern-day St. Petersburg, the city's origins actually lie on the other side of the river.
The area to the north of the fortress is known as the Petrograd side. After the construction of Trinity Bridge , the area experienced something of a housing boom, contributing to its essentially residential nature. That said, it's not without interest. For a start, there's the Museum of Political History (in which Russia is not exactly lacking) and the "ship that launched the revolution"—the Aurora —which is moored just around the embankment from the fortress. The Petrograd side was home to a number of notables (including Shostakovich, Lenin and Pavlov), each of whom have respective apartment museums situated here.
The islands—Krestovskii, Kamennyi and Yelagin—are favorite winding-down spots for Petersburgers tired of the hectic city life to the south. Lurking at the western end of Krestovskii Island is the huge Kirov Stadium.
South & West of Nevskii
The area south and west of Nevskii (again, the area of land enclosed by the Neva, Nevskii and this time the southern stretch of the Fontanka canal) is also home to many tourist delights which are obviously less concentrated here than in the heart of the city. The tone of the area can change fairly dramatically: Sennaia Ploshchad is about 15 minutes by foot from the imperial St. Isaac's Square, but in comparison to the soaring grandeur of St Isaac's Cathedral or the elegance of its neighbor the Astoria hotel, it's a dingy vision of haphazard kiosks. However, much of the area is residential and fairly sleepy.
Behind Gostinyi Dvor stands Apraksin Dvor—a downmarket complex of market stalls, smaller stores and cafes. At the northern end stands the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman —two great symbols of the city—while deeper inside the territory stands the world-famous Mariinskii Theatre , the city's premiere cultural venue.
Beyond the Fontanka
This incorporates a huge area, including the eastern end of Nevskii as well as the Liteinyi, Vladimirskaia and Smolnyi regions.
Beyond the Fontanka, Nevskii itself becomes more solidly commercial, although a glance above shop level reveals an impressive mish-mash of architectural styles. The modern, luxury Nevskij Palace hotel is situated about a ten minute's walk from the Fontanka.
Vladimirskaia—to the south—is a bustling hub of activity, its main thoroughfares being important shopping areas. The area is also dotted with museums such as the Dostoevsky Museum .
To the north, Liteinyi Prospekt and the area around Chernyshevskaia metro is a little quieter and more restrained. Maybe there's a reason for this—at the end of the street lie the former offices of the St. Petersburg KGB. It's very much a residential/commercial district, but there are nonetheless a few cultural attractions to be found here.
The Country Estates
The city itself isn't exactly lacking in extravagant monuments from the Imperial age, but if you want a glimpse of just how extravagant Russia's pre-Communist rulers really were, you'll need to jump on a suburban train and visit at least one of the Tsarist country residences. Though nearly all the palaces were sacked by the Germans during their World War II invasion, the palaces have been well-restored to their former glory.
For sheer bombastic opulence, visit Peterhof —built to order by Peter the Great as a riotously over-the-top testimony to Russia's victory over Sweden. The huge Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo is also grand, while the other estates— Pavlovsk , Oranienbaum (also known as Lomonosov) and Gatchina —are not quite as ostentatious but are still redolent of Imperial grandeur.
St Petersburg's current restaurant scene is unrecognizable compared to that of ten years ago. Old Soviet-style cafes and canteens selling meat of questionable origin are still around but further up the scale the city offers an amazing variety of cuisines from around the world. While things slowed down a bit after the economic crisis of 1998, today a new wave of openings is well underway, with new restaurants and bars appearing with even greater frequency. Also, there is the inevitable selection of standard international chains–McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut can all be found here.
The quality of service normally corresponds to price although generally speaking, Western service culture is conspicuously absent. Indifferent staff and inexplicable delays are a common feature of many establishments. This tends to be mitigated the higher up the price scale you go. Many places haven't got the hang of serving courses in the correct order and don't be surprised if you wait for three-quarters of an hour before your starter and main course appear simultaneously. Who said predictability was interesting?
A perennial favorite of visitors to the city has to be the famous Kafe Idiot . It's mid-priced, vegetarian, nearly always busy and a relaxing place to be. Located in the city center, the Kafe Lagidze specializes in Georgian cuisine, while Valhall is a Viking-themed restaurant offering a mixture of Russian and European dishes. Known for its modern take on the traditional Russian "meat and potatoes" approach to dining is the lively Pushka Inn Restaurant and Bar located in the city center.
Both St Petersburg and Moscow have their fair share of immigrants from former Soviet republics. Georgian food is particularly popular, with several fine outlets in St Petersburg: the Kavkaz Cafe and Restaurant for example, is reasonably-priced and centrally located. European cuisine comes in all varieties and at all prices. Italian is predictably well represented, from the bustling Patio Pizza on Nevskii Prospekt.
Mama Roma is famous for its superb business lunch, while Federico Fellini's Cinema Restaurant is a film fan's dream. One of the city's Irish bars, the aptly named Mollie's Irish Bar , is a popular ex-pat hangout that isn't far from Nevskii Prospekt. Burgers, juicy steaks and apple pie can all be had at California Grill or else you could try the reasonably new frontier-style Fort Ross Bar just off Nevskii Prospekt. The City Bar also offers a Western-style menu as most of its clientele are ex-pats.
If Oriental food is what floats your boat, and you have money to burn, you could try out Chopsticks in the Grand Hotel Europe . Other options include the decent Krasnyi Terem (a surprisingly inexpensive option on Nevskii Prospekt), and the Zolotaia Panda Cafe .
The dining options become a bit thin West of the city center. Most of this district is taken up with residences and sporadically placed, privately-owned shops. Coming here to eat is well worth it, however. The gem of the bunch is Staraia Tamozhnia , one of the few restaurants on Vasilievskii Island. It is an upscale restaurant frequented by wealthy businessmen and those looking to have an enjoyable, extravegant meal. The menu is filled with decadent options and exquisite wine selections. There is also live jazz from a local band in the evenings.
The Petrograd Side & the Kirov Islands
The Golden Dragon serves an abundant mix of Asian cuisine: the menu lists over 100 items. This is a good place for families or couples, as the interior is comfortable and inviting. Sharovnia na Aptekarskom is a sports club and restaurant where you can go and shoot pool or bowl. The rustic interior makes it a great place to spend a relaxing evening. Picasso is named for the legendary Spanish artist, and serves food inspired by his country of birth. The dishes on the menu here are named for his paintings.There is also live music to keep things energetic. The meat-centric Miasorubka serves expertly-spiced Mongolian dishes. The interior is comforting and warm. | <urn:uuid:794f3d4e-35a4-4943-a672-ebdaa1a389a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501793-st_petersburg_vacations-i?showmap=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94425 | 2,343 | 1.734375 | 2 |
The Roaring Twenties and the Crash
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By Dwayne Cox and Rodney J. StewardThe thirteen years between 1919 and 1932 may have been the most turbulent in the history of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. They began with the controversial resignation of a long-term, popular president and the appointment of a successor who never enjoyed the full support of the college community. During these troubled years, API experienced a series of unsuccessful football seasons, an attempt to move the school from Auburn to Montgomery, the forced resignation of one president, political warfare with the University of Alabama, and charges of unethical behavior against the Cooperative Extension Service. Controversy turned to crisis at the end of these years with the onset of the Great Depression and with shortfalls in state revenues that crippled the college and hastened the downfall of another president who simply lacked the resources to cope with the financial emergency.
Well before President Thach actually resigned, speculation regarding his successor abounded. Although Governor Thomas M. Kilby publicly disavowed any plans to replace him, privately he feared that finding a new president was inevitable. William F. Feagin, an API graduate and board of trustees member, desperately sought the position, but the president of the alumni association opposed him and advised Governor Kilby against his appointment. Eventually, the trustees appointed state superintendent of education Spright Dowell, who also served on the board by virtue of that position. Governor Kilby termed Dowell’s appointment “the wisest thing the trustees could have done.”
After a year in office, Dowell reported to the board of trustees that the long and distinguished service of President Thach made the job of his successor “delicate and difficult.” The situation was compounded by the disrepair of buildings and equipment, the college debt, and meager faculty salaries, which, at that time, were paid in quarterly installments. Dowell reiterated a statement first made in his inaugural address: API faced “the slow disintegration” that inevitably followed “a long period of undernourishment.” He called upon the state to appropriate $2 million for a massive building program during the next quadrennium, plus comparable increases in other areas of the budget. He argued that API’s contribution, past and present, to the state’s industrial development; relative lack of support from the state in the past; and the college’s responsibilities for teaching, research, and extension all justified his request for a massive infusion of funds.
By the close of Dowell’s second year in office, API faced a daunting new challenge, not to the school’s financial health, but rather to its location. On December 6, 1922, the executive committee of the board met in Governor Kilby’s office to review bids for various construction projects. Kilby reported that a group called the Montgomery Committee, headed by attorney Jack Thorington, wished to meet with the board before any new construction projects got underway in Auburn. Thorington and his group urged the executive committee to consider moving the school to Montgomery, a motion that Kilby apparently supported. Later, the committee met with Thorington, who produced a bill which he intended to introduce to the upcoming session of the legislature. The bill drafted by Thorington and his group called for the relocation of API from Auburn to Montgomery, but not before the city provided land and buildings for the campus. The trustees, led by Thomas D. Samford, flatly rejected the proposal and urged Thorington to cease all further agitation on the issue. President Dowell, who was absent at the first meeting, offered only a half-hearted resistance to Thorington’s bill. The president’s seemingly weak response cost him the support of the board, faculty, and the student body.
Dowell met with the board of trustees early the following year at the annual meeting, which marked the beginning of a general downturn in the efficacy of his policies and the popularity of his administration. Topping the board’s agenda was the mounting crisis caused by the resignation of football Coach Mike Donahue after a successful season. Dowell commented that Coach Donahue’s resignation was “viewed with alarm by practically the entire student body and a large majority of the alumni.” Making matters worse, Dowell stirred controversy when he recommended that all athletic funds reside in the college treasury. Three months later, Dowell became entangled in a political battle when he criticized a millage tax proposed by newly elected Governor William V. Brandon that would substitute for, rather than supplement, API’s current appropriation. The president stated that he was “unwilling to accept the responsibility for the continuance of the present deplorable situation” confronting the college without making the strongest possible protest regarding API’s financial relationship with the state government. Furthermore, he complained of the “constant difficulty and unpleasantness” involved in dividing the state’s resources for higher education among competing institutions.
API alumni began voicing their dissatisfaction with Dowell’s administration when the 1924 football season ended with four wins, four losses, and one tie. On December 4, a group of Jefferson County alumni held a mass meeting in which they called for Dowell’s resignation. Although their reasons were vague, the situation quickly developed into a crisis. Trustee and Birmingham News publisher Victor Hansen charged that the group was motivated by an unsuccessful football season and that their complaint lacked substance. Associate counsel for the Jefferson County alumni group, Joel F. Webb, called for Dowell to be “tried before the board of trustees” and summoned all the faculty and students, except freshmen, to appear as witnesses against the president. On January 12, 1925, Governor Brandon called a special meeting of the board of trustees in his office. He read a letter from Victor Hansen, which called the governor’s attention to a newspaper statement by Attorney Webb, who questioned President Dowell’s ability to continue in office. Webb also challenged Hansen’s ability to judge the president because of a pro-Dowell editorial that had appeared in the Birmingham News. Hansen responded that it was the purpose of a newspaper to address such issues, and, moreover, as a member of the board of trustees, it was his duty to stay informed of issues relating to the college and to formulate opinions and policies. Hansen denied that this made him unfit to fairly judge President Dowell, but offered to submit the issue to the full board. The board affirmed its confidence in Hansen and called upon Webb to appear before them and specify his charges in writing.
In a series of events that were likened to a “Bolshevik Revolution,” the issue of Dowell’s removal as president of API resurfaced in the fall of 1927. A well-organized group of students began to discuss a course of action that would result in Dowell’s removal. On Sunday, October 2, following API’s loss to Clemson, “ten outstanding men on campus” met to discuss the situation. On Monday night, they called a meeting of twenty-four male students, “the Double Dozen,” who represented the junior and senior classes. The group agreed to dispatch representatives to interview alumni in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Columbus, Georgia. Trustee T.D. Samford suggested that the senior class select a representative to meet with the board’s executive committee, which he chaired. Samford and the senior class representative, L.S. Whitten, subsequently met with Governor Bibb Graves to discuss the matter. Meanwhile, a mass meeting of students called for Dowell’s removal. On October 14, Governor Graves convened a special meeting of the board of trustees where Whitten presented the students’ case before the governor, the board, and President Dowell. Whitten denied that football was “the cause of the unrest or disorder.” Under questioning from the board, he stated that Dowell probably was a good business manager, but neglected the human side of relations with students. He also spoke of an inability on the part of faculty to maintain classroom order. Finally, he mentioned the ill will created by “the Tuxworth affair,” a reference to the suspension of quarterback Frank E. Tuxworth for drinking. Student witnesses also mentioned a lack of cooperation among the president, faculty, and alumni. At least one board member suggested that certain alumni groups had instigated the student rebellion.
Dowell was convinced that athletics was the major factor behind criticism of his administration. He conceded to the board that he possibly should have spent “more time on the ball field, in the streets, or in social situations,” but argued that his primary energies had gone into resolving the school’s financial crisis. Three weeks later, on November 5, 1927, President Spright Dowell submitted his resignation.
The board selected Bradford Knapp, son of the distinguished agricultural reformer Seaman A. Knapp and president of Oklahoma A&M College, as Dowell’s successor. Victor Hansen, vice chair of the search committee, submitted Knapp’s name to the board, saying the committee had conducted a broad search and assumed that API needed a president who possessed a national reputation as an academic administrator. At the same meeting, T.D. Samford presented a resolution regarding the Alabama Teacher Training Equalization Fund, in which he complained that the state Board of Education had appropriated $20,000 from this source for API and $65,000 for the University of Alabama. He feared that, over the long run, this would give the University of Alabama a disproportionate influence over the state’s primary and secondary schools.
1929: Dedication of Alabama Extension Service office building,
Duncan Hall on API campus. L-R: Dr. F.W. Barnett, Dr. Bradford Knapp
(speaking), Edward O'Neal, Mrs. W.F. Jefferson, Mrs. L.W. Spratling, Mrs.
State support and API’s ongoing rivalry with the University of Alabama occupied much of Knapp’s time during the first two years of his administration. Shortly after Knapp’s arrival in Auburn, T.D. Samford presented the report of a special board committee appointed to investigate the Teacher Training Equalization Fund. R.E. Tidwell, state superintendent of education, reasoned that if API continued with its plans for academic expansion, the net result would be the expensive duplication of programs throughout the state. Although Tidwell stressed cooperation and coordination, the tone of the Samford committee report was that this was a deliberate attempt to give the University of Alabama an unfair advantage in programs to train teachers in primary and secondary education. The committee also noted that this move coincided with a transitional period in API’s history, the implication being that Tidwell and his allies at the University of Alabama believed that API would be too weak to challenge the decision. Meanwhile, Governor Bibb Graves advised President Knapp that API was “qualified and fitted” to give teacher training in agriculture, but that the University of Alabama was “better fitted and qualified to do graduate teacher training work.”
The Great Depression worsened the financial crisis that President Knapp had faced when he took office. In 1930-31, the school’s enrollment reached an all-time high, which placed greater stress on an already aging physical plant and faculty workloads. From July, 1930, through February, 1931, API received no funds from the state, but Knapp praised the cooperation of the faculty and local business people during the emergency. He also complained to Governor Miller that the University of Alabama received a higher percentage of its quarterly appropriations than did API. By June, 1931, the college had applied for a $300,000 loan to offset the financial crisis created by the state’s inability to pay warrants from the building fund that had been approved four years earlier. In December, Trustee Samford informed Governor Miller that something should be done quickly to save API from “a disastrous experience.”
Early in 1931, while President Knapp and the board of trustees sought a solution to the school’s financial crisis, a new controversy began to emerge. For some time, Victor Hansen’s Birmingham News had published editorials attacking a cooperative grain purchasing agreement instituted by the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation and strongly supported by Luther N. Duncan and the Cooperative Extension Service. Hansen’s paper denounced Duncan as “a master of political trickery…probably without a peer, certainly without a superior, in Alabama.” In May, 1931, the Alabama Senate assembled for hearings on a bill that would have killed the Farm Bureau cooperative. Both the Extension Service and the Farm Bureau mustered such a turn out of support for the cooperative that the committee meeting was moved to Montgomery’s Crampton Bowl. Throughout the hearings, President Knapp consistently supported Duncan and the Extension Service, arguing that the proposed bill was not so much anti-extension as it was opposed to cooperation among farmers, who had a right to buy and sell cooperatively.
In February, 1932, Knapp issued a report to the board regarding the financial condition of the college. He argued that the financial crisis then besetting API began in the summer of 1931. It stemmed not from mismanagement, but rather from the state’s failure to disburse appropriations. He demonstrated that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1931, API had received only one full quarterly appropriation. In essence, the school was operating on money borrowed from its employees, and Knapp urged the board to consider paying interest on back salaries. The alumni account was overdrawn by more than $18,000 and the athletic account was overdrawn by more than $81,000. Under these circumstances, he argued, financial planning was extremely difficult. Knapp augured that unless the school found another source of financial support, it might be forced to close for the 1932-33 academic year.
Unfortunately, Knapp faced another blow in the form of a 1932 Brookings Institute report on state and local government in Alabama. According to the report, API’s annual per-student expenditure was nearly twice that of the University of Alabama. The report speculated that either the University of Alabama was under-funded, or that API received too much state funding. In any event, the report recommended a unified administration for the state’s institutions of higher learning. Responding to the report, API officials contended that the University of Alabama’s significantly higher out-of-state enrollment distorted the report’s conclusions. Out-of-state enrollment factored into the equation, the University of Alabama spent 28.8 percent more than API per in-state student, which also meant that scarce Alabama tax dollars were being used to educate out-of-state students at the Tuscaloosa campus. Moreover, the University of Alabama had a higher percentage of students enrolled in relatively inexpensive liberal arts programs, whereas API had greater numbers enrolled in more expensive scientific programs.
On July 28, 1932, Knapp reported to the board that he had been operating under extreme stress and the board granted him a leave of absence for the month of August. They also offered to pay his salary during his absence, but Knapp refused to accept preferential treatment. Shortly thereafter, Knapp resigned as president of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. From Montgomery, Governor B.M. Miller urged the board to appoint an administrative committee rather than an acting president and suggested that George Petrie, dean of the graduate school, Luther N. Duncan, director of the Extension Service, and J.J. Wilmore, dean of the Engineering School, serve as members.
Both Dowell and Knapp went on to successful academic careers after leaving API. Spright Dowell became president of Mercer University, where he remained in office for twenty-five years. Bradford Knapp became president of Texas Technological College, a position he held until death. Undoubtedly, both men faced only a slim chance for success at API. Dowell lacked a strong academic background and had not been an overwhelmingly popular choice to begin with. Moreover, Dowell was no match, politically, for the University of Alabama’s powerful supporters in Montgomery, and, rightly or not, he took the blame for API’s unsuccessful football season. Bradford Knapp had much stronger academic credentials, but he too lacked the political savvy necessary to press the school’s interests in the legislature. Additionally, what forward momentum Knapp brought to API was drastically undermined by the onset of the Great Depression. Knapp’s eventual successor brought a degree of political skill that drastically changed API’s fortunes. | <urn:uuid:a59134e0-fcb6-4d28-893c-a9554f693c99> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://diglib.auburn.edu/auburnhistory/roaring20s.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97435 | 3,456 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Four years ago, I took my family on a road trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Along the way, we toured the Corn Palace in Mitchell, sipped water and shopped the trinkets at Wall Drug Store, took in the splendor of the Badlands, and camped in the woods on the mountains sacred to Lakota Indians. What I remember most, unfortunately, is the bad vibe I felt at the Crazy Horse Monument, just a short drive from Mount Rushmore.
This was the only tourist attraction that charged admission by the carload. The $27 fee gives access to a museum of Indian artifacts — a confusing collection of objects from many tribes, yoked together with no unifying theme — as well as a movie about Korczak Ziolkowski’s obsessive quest to sculpt the monument from the side of a mountain. You also get a distant view of the unfinished monument itself and a look at what remains of Ziolkowski’s art studio. For an additional fee, we could have taken a bus to a spot closer to the monument for a better view. After 65 years of blasting and excavation, the monument so far shows only Crazy Horse’s face and the top of his outstretched arm, with much, much more still to sculpt. At its current rate of progress, the monument will not be completed for about another 200 years.
As I walked through the small museum, I began wondering. Was this place really intended to honor Crazy Horse, the iconic Lakota leader who defeated Custer at Little Big Horn and was murdered by a U.S. Army private a year later, or did it stand as a monument to Ziolkowski? The sculptor’s story is interesting: brief work with Gutzon Borglum on the carving of Mount Rushmore, recognition at the 1939 World’s Fair for his bust of the pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski, an invitation from the Lakota chief Standing Bear to carve the memorial to Crazy Horse in 1947, and Ziolkowski’s single-minded dedication to the project until his death in 1982.
Gradually, from examining the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation’s tax filings, I’ve come to understand another of Ziolkowski’s achievements. His monument has provided lucrative employment to his family, and could continue to do so for many generations. The foundation is a family operation that represents itself as a charity.
According to the foundation’s 2010 tax return (the most recent one available through guidestar.org) widow Ruth Ziolkowski, who is 85, earns compensation totaling $159,000 a year. (The foundation also states on the tax form that this octogenarian works an average of 80 hours per week.) Executive VP Jadwiga Ziolkowski makes $89,000, operations VP Anne Ziolkowski-Christensen brings in $69,000, resident artist Monique Ziolkowski-Howe takes home $53,000, and independent contractor Mark Ziolkowski makes $154,000 for forestry and rock-crushing work. Other family members hold jobs there, as well.
In 2011, the foundation — which has a net worth of $51.4 million — earned $6.9 million in revenue and ended the year with an excess of $1.6 million after expenses. I tried to glean how much the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation actually invests in bringing its sculpture of Crazy Horse to completion. There’s no clue in the tax filings, except a line that lists $371,000 for “other” expenses. If that’s truly what the foundation spends to work on the monument, it represents only 5 percent of the organization’s revenues.
Most nonprofit organizations do not operate with so much nepotism and so little apparent investment in the most visible part of their mission. (And few of the best nonprofits ignore or refuse to cooperate with the Better Business Bureau's efforts to evaluate charities, as the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has.) Ziolkowski often proclaimed his aversion to government support because he feared federal bureaucrats would slow things down and dilute the message of the monument. Something else government involvement would bring, of course, is oversight. As things now stand, with the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation receiving no government funds and operating on money that comes from admission revenue and charitable donations, its highest-paid officers have no incentive to complete the sculpture. The longer it takes, the more money in salaries and income Ziolkowski family members will receive. Why not let it take 200 years?
The foundation does sponsor some worthwhile programs, including college scholarships for Native American students, which totaled $250,000 in 2010. That same year, however, the compensation of its officers, directors, and key employees, most of them Ziolkowski family members, ran to $446,000. Something is out of balance.
Staff at the Crazy Horse Memorial museum say the completed monument will be the world’s biggest sculpture, a carving equivalent in height to a 56-story building and more massive than the Great Pyramid in Egypt. That’s impressive, but none of us will live to see it. As the nation waits, the Ziolkowskis keep enriching themselves from their unconventional charity. | <urn:uuid:4c57956c-ce60-4cb5-9c84-b2f6bb3b683c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.el-hai.com/blog/2012/6/21/whats-wrong-with-the-crazy-horse-monument.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950542 | 1,083 | 2.234375 | 2 |
El Salvador is resettling two long-held Guantánamo captives, both citizens of China from the Uighur Muslim minority who sought asylum in a friendly country, the Pentagon announced Thursday.
Wednesdays was the first transfer to Central America from the decade-old detention center at the U.S. Navy base in southeast Cuba.
It reduced the prison camps census to 169 foreign men, just five of them convicted war criminals.
It was also the first transfer since Congress imposed harsh restrictions on the release of Guantánamo captives. In the instance of the two Uighurs, an administration source said, no waiver was required because a federal judge ordered them freed more than three years ago, on Oct. 7, 2008.
Attorneys identified the men as Hamad Memet, who turns 34 next month, and Abdul Razzak, whose age is not known. They were sent to Guantánamo from Afghanistan in 2002, as part of a roundup of foreign Muslim men in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
Im told they were all smiles as they walked off the airplane, said attorney Susan Baker Manning. This really is a good resolution for them.
They dont speak Spanish, she said.
They obviously need help after so long in that terrible place.
And their new country had put together the usual, and frankly generous, assistance that Salvador gives refugees education and housing, and theyre going to be able to work on their language skills.
U.S. forces moved the two captives to Salvador, a longstanding war-on-terror ally, in accordance with appropriate security and humane treatment measures, the Pentagon statement said.
The U.S. military enjoys a very strong partnership with our Salvadoran colleagues, added Army Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale, the Pentagon spokesman for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Theyve proven themselves an immensely professional force in the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Salvador, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the government granted refuge to two men who were exonerated of any criminal charge by the U.S. courts, and in compliance with international treaties that El Salvador had signed.
The statement also noted that friendly nations had in the past granted Salvadorans in exile a place of refuge without specifically mentioning the safe haven the United States had given many Salvadorans during Central Americas civil wars.
Transfers from Guantánamo came to a halt in early 2011 once Congress imposed limitations on releases that required then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to personally sign waivers that vouched for the safety of a captives release. Since then, only two captives who had died departed the camps.
The last captive to leave the camps alive was Saed Farhi, 49, who was repatriated to his native Algeria despite his objections in January 2011.
This weeks transfer left three other Uighurs at Guantánamos Camp Iguana awaiting resettlement. They, like the two sent to El Salvador, had previously spurned an Obama administration special envoys offer to send them to the Pacific island nation of Palau.
As Chinese citizens, the Uighurs sought protections from return to their homeland for fear of religious persecution. Beijing had objected to the efforts to transfer the men and had sought their return for investigation of ties to a separatist movement.
The Salvadoran government is doing this as a humanitarian gesture, and were thrilled and thankful, Manning said. The U.S. government has worked hard to find countries around the world to take these guys, notwithstanding the pressure from China.
Other former Uighur captives have gone from Guantánamo to Albania, Bermuda and Switzerland.
With the Salvador transfer a total of 17 nations have now provided resettlement to Guantánamo detainees. The Bush administration sent some Uighurs and several Arabs to Albania. Then the Obama administration sent other freed captives to Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Palau, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland. | <urn:uuid:987e5635-1f2d-49c7-bc27-03567e6129c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/19/145956/us-resettles-2-guantanamo-captives.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966616 | 817 | 1.882813 | 2 |
URBANIZED AREA FORMULA PROGRAM (49 U.S.C. § 5307)
Section 5307 is a formula grant program for urbanized areas providing capital, operating, and planning assistance for mass transportation. This program was initiated by the Surface Transportation Act of 1982 and became FTA's primary transit assistance program in FY 1984. Funds are apportioned to urbanized areas utilizing a formula based on population, population density, and other factors associated with transit service and ridership. Section 5307 is funded from both General Revenues and Trust Funds.
Section 5307 urbanized area formula funds are available for transit improvements for 34 urbanized areas over 1 million population, 91 urbanized areas with populations between 200,000 and 1 million, and 283 urbanized areas between 50,000 and 200,000 population. For urbanized areas over 200,000 in population, funds flow directly to the designated recipient. For areas under 200,000, the funds are apportioned to the Governor of each state for distribution.
Several changes became effective to this program in fiscal year 1998 with the passage of TEA-21. One percent of appropriated Section 5307 funds is set-aside to be used for transit enhancement projects that physically or functionally enhance transit service or use. Preventive maintenance, defined as all maintenance costs, became eligible for FTA capital assistance at an 80 percent Federal share. FY 2001 operating assistance is available only to urbanized areas with populations under 200,000. An exception is made for urbanized areas over 200,000 population if the number of total bus revenue vehicle miles operated is under 900,000 and the number of buses operated does not exceed 15. Up to 10% of an area's apportionment may be used for complementary ADA paratransit service cost.
The Alaska Railroad received a special appropriation of Section 5307 funds amounting to $4.8 million (including oversight) in FY 2001 for improvements to its passenger operations. During this fiscal year, $12.8 million of funds (including carryover) was obligated.
In FY 2001, a total of $4.1 billion of Section 5307 funds was obligated, about $300 million (7%) less than the total obligated in FY 2000. Of this amount, $3.8 billion or 92 percent was used for capital; $276.6 million or 7 percent for operating; and $51.8 million or 1 percent for planning assistance. Funds were obligated to 437 FTA grantees. As a group, the urbanized areas with population over 1 million obligated the largest share of the funds, $3.1 billion or 75 percent. The total number of vehicles approved was 4,327. Bus rehabilitation totaled $26.5 million.
As in previous years, flexible funds transferred from FHWA had a significant impact on the availability of funds for obligation. In FY 2001, a total of $1.1 billion was transferred to the urbanized area formula program. The total flexible funds obligated for this program were $1.3 billion, some of which was carryover of funds transferred in prior years. Of the total obligations for capital (planning included), about 33 percent represents flexible funds. The program sources of these obligations are: Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), $656.0 million (52 percent); and Surface Transportation Program (STP), $558.7 million (44 percent) and FHWA earmarks $45.6 million (4 percent). | <urn:uuid:fc87fc8b-b92f-455f-bb2a-1d785e7ef03d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fta.dot.gov/printer_friendly/grants_1561.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951854 | 713 | 2.171875 | 2 |
After a successful performance in the first pre-election televised debate in Denver last week, Republican candidate for the White House,practical caught up in the polls with President Barack Obama.
In a poll conducted by Gallup after the debate, Obama now wants to vote 49 percent of Americans, and Romney - 46 percent. It is the difference in the limits of statistical error. Before the debate, two politicians shared in the same poll five percentage points.
Mobilized the electorate
According to the same survey, only 73 percent of Obama's supporters say that for sure will vote Nov. 6. Meanwhile, among those who declare their support for Romney, 86 percent says it will definitely take part in the elections.
Among all those voters who - they say - will definitely vote, Romney definitely leads: in relation 52 to 46 percent.
This confirms that Republican voters are more strongly motivated candidate to vote than supporters of the president. The surveys show that this could deepen after the failed Obama's performance in the debate in Denver.
President Obama campaign says it has learned from the failures and the next two presidential debates, Obama will be much more convincing.
In this Wednesday in Danville, Kentucky will be a debate of candidates for vice president, with the participation of acting out this function candidateand Republican Paul Ryan. | <urn:uuid:3d4ef2af-6c24-4fc8-b563-ec6e797aaed7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/13143728-obama-and-romney-go-headtohead | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946092 | 262 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary
by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is often considered Twain's greatest masterpiece. Combining his raw humor and startlingly mature material, Twain developed a novel that directly attacked many of the traditions the South held dear at the time of its publication. Huckleberry Finn is the main character, and through his eyes, the reader sees and judges the South, its faults, and its redeeming qualities. Huck's companion Jim, a runaway slave, provides friendship and protection while the two journey along the Mississippi on their raft.
The novel opens with Huck telling his story. Briefly, he describes what he has experienced since, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which preceded this novel. After Huck and Tom discovered twelve thousand dollars in treasure, Judge Thatcher invested the money for them. Huck was adopted by the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, both of whom took pains to raise him properly. Dissatisfied with his new life, and wishing for the simplicity he used to know, Huck runs away. Tom Sawyer searches him out and convinces him to return home by promising to start a band of robbers. All the local young boys join Tom's band, using a hidden cave for their hideout and meeting place. However, many soon grow bored with their make-believe battles, and the band falls apart.
Soon thereafter, Huck discovers footprints in the snow and recognizes them as his violent, abusive Pap's. Huck realizes Pap, who Huck hasn't seen in a very long time, has returned to claim the money Huck found, and he quickly runs to Judge Thatcher to "sell" his share of the money for a "consideration" of a dollar. Pap catches Huck after leaving Judge Thatcher, forces him to hand over the dollar, and threatens to beat Huck if he ever goes to school again.
Upon Pap's return, Judge Thatcher and the Widow try to gain court custody of Huck, but a new judge in town refuses to separate Huck from his father. Pap steals Huck away from the Widow's house and takes him to a log cabin. At first Huck enjoys the cabin life, but after receiving frequent beatings, he decides to escape. When Pap goes into town, Huck seizes the opportunity. He saws his way out of the log cabin, kills a pig, spreads the blood as if it were his own, takes a canoe, and floats downstream to Jackson's Island. Once there, he sets up camp and hides out.
A few days after arriving on the island, Huck stumbles upon a still smoldering campfire. Although slightly frightened, Huck decides to seek out his fellow inhabitant. The next day, he discovers Miss Watson's slave, Jim, is living on the island. After overhearing the Widow's plan to sell him to a slave trader, Jim ran away. Jim, along with the rest of the townspeople, thought Huck was dead and is frightened upon seeing him. Soon, the two share their escape stories and are happy to have a companion.
While Huck and Jim live on the island, the river rises significantly. At one point, an entire house floats past them as they stand near the shore. Huck and Jim climb aboard to see what they can salvage and find a dead man lying in the corner of the house. Jim goes over to inspect the body and realizes it is Pap, Huck's father. Jim keeps this information a secret.
Soon afterwards, Huck returns to the town disguised as a girl in order to gather some news. While talking with a woman, he learns that both Jim and Pap are suspects in his murder. The woman then tells Huck that she believes Jim is hiding out on Jackson's Island. Upon hearing her suspicions, Huck immediately returns to Jim and together they flee the island to avoid discovery.
Using a large raft, they float downstream during the nights and hide along the shore during the days. In the middle of a strong thunderstorm, they see a steamboat that has crashed, and Huck convinces Jim to land on the boat. Together, they climb aboard and discover there are three thieves on the wreck, two of whom are debating whether to kill the third. Huck overhears this conversation, and he and Jim try to escape, only to find that their raft has come undone from its makeshift mooring. They manage to find the robbers' skiff and immediately take off. Within a short time, they see the wrecked steamship floating downstream, far enough below the water-line to have drowned everyone on board. Subsequently, they reclaim their original raft, and continue down the river with both the raft and the canoe.
As Jim and Huck continue floating downstream, they become close friends. Their goal is to reach Cairo, where they can take a steamship up the Ohio River and into the free states. However, during a dense fog, with Huck in the canoe and Jim in the raft, they are separated. When they find each other in the morning, it soon becomes clear that in the midst of the fog, they passed Cairo.
A few nights later, a steamboat runs over the raft, and forces Huck and Jim to jump overboard. Again, they are separated as they swim for their lives. Huck finds the shore and is immediately surrounded by dogs. After managing to escape, he is invited to live with a family called the Grangerford's. At the Grangerford home, Huck is treated well and discovers that Jim is hiding in a nearby swamp. Everything is peaceful until an old family feud between the Grangerford's and the Shepherdson's is rekindled. Within one day all the men in the Grangerford family are killed, including Huck's new best friend, Buck. Amid the chaos, Huck runs back to Jim, and together they start downriver again.
Further downstream, Huck rescues two humbugs known as the Duke and the King. Immediately, the two men take control of the raft and start to travel downstream, making money by cheating people in the various towns along the river. The Duke and the King develop a scam they call the Royal Nonesuch, which earns them over four hundred dollars. The scam involves getting all the men in the town to come to a show with promises of great entertainment. In the show, the King parades around naked for a few minutes. The men are too ashamed to admit to wasting their money, and tell everyone else that the show was phenomenal, thus making the following night's performance a success. On the third night, everyone returns plotting revenge, but the Duke and King manage to escape with all their ill gotten gains.
Further downriver, the two con men learn about a large inheritance meant for three recently orphaned girls. To steal the money, the men pretend to be the girls' British uncles. The girls are so happy to see their "uncles" that they do not realize they are being swindled. Meanwhile, the girls treat Huck so nicely that he vows to protect them from the con men's scheme. Huck sneaks into the King's room and steals the large bag of gold from the inheritance. He hides the gold in Peter Wilks's (the girls' father) coffin. Meanwhile, the humbugs spend their time liquidating the Wilks family property. At one point, Huck finds Mary Jane Wilks, the eldest of the girls, and sees that she is crying. He confesses the entire story to her. She is infuriated, but agrees to leave the house for a few days so Huck can escape.
Right after Mary Jane leaves, the real Wilks uncles arrive in town. However, because they lost their baggage on their voyage, they are unable to prove their identities. Thus, the town lawyer gathers all four men to determine who is lying. The King and the Duke fake their roles so well that there is no way to determine the truth. Finally, one of the real uncles says his brother Peter had a tattoo on his chest and challenges the King to identify it. In order to determine the truth, the townspeople decide to exhume the body. Upon digging up the grave, the townspeople discover the missing money Huck hid in the coffin. In the ensuing chaos, Huck runs straight back to the raft and he and Jim push off into the river. The Duke and King also escape and catch up to rejoin the raft.
Farther down the river, the King and Duke sell Jim into slavery, claiming he is a runaway slave from New Orleans. Huck decides to rescue Jim, and daringly walks up to the house where Jim is being kept. Luckily, the house is owned by none other than Tom Sawyer's Aunt Sally. Huck immediately pretends to be Tom. When the real Tom arrives, he pretends to be his younger brother, Sid Sawyer. Together, he and Huck contrive a plan to help Jim escape from his "prison," an outdoor shed. Tom, always the troublemaker, also makes Jim's life difficult by putting snakes and spiders into his room.
After a great deal of planning, the boys convince the town that a group of thieves is planning to steal Jim. That night, they collect Jim and start to run away. The local farmers follow them, shooting as they run after them. Huck, Jim, and Tom manage to escape, but Tom is shot in the leg. Huck returns to town to fetch a doctor, whom he sends to Tom and Jim's hiding place. The doctor returns with Tom on a stretcher and Jim in chains. Jim is treated badly until the doctor describes how Jim helped him take care of the boy. When Tom awakens, he demands that they let Jim go free.
At this point, Aunt Polly appears, having traveled all the way down the river. She realized something was very wrong after her sister wrote to her that both Tom and Sid had arrived. Aunt Polly tells them that Jim is indeed a free man, because the Widow had passed away and freed him in her will. Huck and Tom give Jim forty dollars for being such a good prisoner and letting them free him, while in fact he had been free for quite some time.
After this revelation, Jim tells Huck to stop worrying about his Pap and reveals that the dead man in the floating house was in fact Huck's father. Aunt Sally offers to adopt Huck, but he refuses on the grounds that he had tried that sort of lifestyle once before, and it didn't suit him. Huck concludes the novel stating he would never have undertaken the task of writing out his story in a book, had he known it would take so long to complete.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essays and Related Content
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Major Themes
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Essays
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: E-Text
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Lesson Plan
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Questions
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
- Mark Twain: Biography
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary
- About The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Character List
- Major Themes
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 1 to Chapter 5
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 6 to Chapter 10
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 11 to Chapter 15
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 16 to Chapter 20
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 21 to Chapter 25
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 26 to Chapter 30
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 31 to Chapter 35
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 36 to Chapter 40
- Summary and Analysis of Chapter 41 to Chapter 43
- Map of Huckleberry Finn
- Related Links on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Suggested Essay Questions
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
- Author of ClassicNote and Sources | <urn:uuid:fe29bfb4-1dbc-40a6-b66c-2285d7399d35> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gradesaver.com/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn/study-guide/short-summary/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969757 | 2,464 | 2.96875 | 3 |
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Lecture: The Gory Truth: Weapons of the Civil War & Their Impact on the Body
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Dr. Lawrence Jones of Smithsburg, Maryland will be the first of eleven featured speakers in the year-long Civil War Lecture Series presented by the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Offered monthly from August 2012 through July 2013, the lectures are offered in conjunction with the Museum’s headline exhibition Valley of the Shadow that commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. Speakers for the Thursday Evening Series are drawn from a wealth of regional experts, historians, authors and preservationists. Enjoy an elegant dinner under the evening sky in the Museum’s Kaylor Atrium at 6:00 p.m. followed by the lecture in the Museum’s Bowman Concert Gallery at 7:00 p.m.
On Thursday, August 2, 2012, Dr. Jones will present his illustrated lecture, “The Gory Truth: Weapons of the Civil War & Their Impact on the Body.” In addition to ballistics, weapons and wounds, Dr. Jones will also review the technical advances of the 19th Century and their effect on military weapons and tactics. Comparisons will be made with the weapons and the characteristics of wounds of World War I, World War II and Vietnam. The audience is cautioned that graphic descriptions and illustrations of war wounds will be presented. Dr.
Jones draws upon his own experiences as a combat surgeon in Vietnam during 1969 to expand his knowledge of wound ballistics and has used this expertise to better understand the volumes of Civil War medical records he has combed through during his research. His wartime knowledge, his private collection of Civil War artifacts and relentless research merge well to provide a one-of-a-kind telling of these many wars.
Dr. Jones joined the United States Navy and served as a radarman on a destroyer for three years before starting his undergraduate education at George Washington University in 1955. An advanced selection for George Washington University’s medical school in 1958 provided him with an opportunity to complete his course work and internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1963. Between 1963 and 1964, Dr. Jones served with the second Marine Division at Camp LeJeune as a regimental surgeon. He returned to Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1964 to complete his residency in Urology and General Surgery by the end of 1968. In January of 1969, he was shipped to a combat evacuation hospital in Vietnam and worked as a surgeon during the second Tet offensive through 1969. Dr. Jones saw first-hand, the damage soldiers suffered from munitions during war and expanded his unique understanding of wound ballistics. With his service in the Navy completed in 1973, he moved to Hagerstown after serving as Assistant Chief of Urology at Bethesda Naval Hospital and joined the private practice originally set up by Dr. Joseph Crisp. In 1975, the four primary physicians practicing in this group, Dr. Jones, Dr. William Plavcan, Dr. John J. Donoghue and Dr. Hugh Talton were all ex-Navy.
Tickets for this unique event are available by calling the Museum at 301-739-5727. Tickets for dinner and the lecture are $25 for non-members, $20 for Museum members. Tickets for the lecture only are $5 for non-members and free to Museum members. Special group rates are available by calling in advance. For more information and a complete list of speakers for the Thursday Evening Civil War Lecture Series please visit the Museum’s website, http://www.wcmfa.org. Dr. Jones’ lecture is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. William G. Plavcan. | <urn:uuid:d4ab6adb-450b-4e2b-b797-391e874d0e43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.inthepanhandle.com/local/news/article/lecture_the_gory_truth_weapons_of_the_civil_war_their_impact_on_the_body/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960873 | 762 | 2.390625 | 2 |
The Wolf King
Into this time came Brenad, the Wolf King, axe in hand, a soldier, a slayer, a reaver, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the shadowed cabals beneath his booted heel. He had left the lands of Druma to serve in the Tharician military. In his time he learned their tactics and ways, but always kept the ways of his people in his heart. After his time in Tharicia he became a mercenary, traveling far and wide seeking his fortune. He returned with a cadre of soldiers from around the world. A dream had pulled him homeward: a dream of the great northern wolf.
He went forth into the wilderness and met with the Shamans, who knew the ways of the world. They were wise in medicine, magic, and knowledge of the spirits. They paid homage to certain spirits to gain hidden powers. For half a year he dwelt with them and learned many lessons.
From there he sought out the elusive Rooks, who wandered from the wilds of the wood to the halls of chieftains. Where the people went, so went the Rooks. They were the keepers of tales, but not above a little petty larceny. The Wolf King had once learned thievery from a Rook, and he needed their advice. When he came before their Parliament of Tales, he told them of his travels in exchange for their aid in battles to come.
He proclaimed himself throughout Druma as the Wolf King. He and his followers, including companions from his travels, Shamans he had swayed, and Rooks he had befriended, came out from the Valley of Shadow, through the land of Clan Fjorolas, and marched toward the Beacon. As they progressed westward, they freed villages from the servants sent by the cabals, and the people of Druma joined his force. He also found allies among those wizards who were not pleased with the tyrannic rule of the Cabals in the Beacon. For a month, the city of Imma Hamn and the Beacon withstood both assault and siege. It was the long-forgotten Tharician hereditary governor, Reveka Vassilos Alemnet, who eventually conspired to open a gate, with the aid and prompting of a Rook named Baldon. Brenad led the charge on the Beacon itself, and with the aid of the ritualists he had won to his side, the beacon fell.
In his mercy, only the most heinous of the ritualists were executed. Those who chose the arts and service of the Most Foul were hung from the walls. This marked the end of the ritualists' rule, but, for numerous reasons, not their destruction. Rooks spread the tale far and wide, and it grew with the telling.
Soon after, the chieftains of Druma gathered and swore allegiance to the Wolf King as the first true king of Druma. It was by his axe and spear that they became a nation. He ruled into old age, and when he neared his end, there came a prophecy. It said after the Wolf King's death, Druma would slowly fall, but in a time of great need, when all was lost, the blood of the Wolf King would return and bring glory greater still. | <urn:uuid:c75c68bb-f1aa-417a-ad78-669871ea87f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ruleof3.net/d2d/html/drumawolfking.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988219 | 686 | 2.078125 | 2 |
One of the popular uses of scripts and automated camera actions is to make HDR images (combining several differently exposed images to increase the captured dynamic range far beyond what any camera can achieve on its own). This used to require some additional and more complex scripting commands, as can be seen by studying the HDR Scripts posted here. However, since the Allbest Build was introduced there has been a simpler way whereby nearly any intervalometer script may be used for this purpose.
All that is required is that your build of CHDK has the "Extra Photo Operations ->" menu with the built in burst bracketing features, and that your camera has a built-in Custom Self-Timer feature.
- 1. Go to your camera's menu (not CHDK's <ALT> menu), and select the "Self-Timer -> Custom" feature. Press [Menu] to enter the custom timer options menu. Set the "Delay" to 0 (zero) seconds. Set "Shots" to how many bracketed shots that you want for each HDR sequence (usually 3 or 5). Press [SET] to exit your custom timer settings. Press [Menu] again to exit your camera's menu options.
- 2. Go to CHDK's "Extra Photo Operations" menu and select "Bracketing in Continuous Mode". Set the bracketing type desired for HDR (usually Tv bracketing is used but some people use Av bracketing). Set "Bracketing Type" to "+ / -". Press [Menu] to set.
- 3. Enter CHDK's <ALT> menu and run any single-shot intervalometer script, such as Ultra Invervalometer.
Each time the script triggers to take a single shot, your custom-timer mode kicks in and takes as many photos as it was set for. At the same time, the CHDK built-in bracketing mode changes the exposure for each shot. This process repeats for each intervalometer script's single-shot command.
This may seem confusing at first but once you understand what is going on it becomes a simple process to remember. The script controls how often to take a bracketed sequence. The camera's custom-timer mode sets how many bracketing shots to take, and the CHDK bracketing mode determines the EV range and type of bracketing for each shot.
The upside of knowing this is that you no longer need a gazillion little scripts to do each type of bracketing sequence. Only one decent intervalometer script is needed to do all manner of bracketing shots. The bracketed shots are taken at a high-speed so there will be little change between bracketed shots when it comes time to stack them. An intervalometer script may even be turned into an elaborate focus-bracketing script using this method -- a huge bonus for intervalometer macro-photography where you might need an extremely deep depth-of-field to capture the growth of some plant or fungus. The flexibility of knowing this method far surpasses having dedicated scripts for all these purposes, with no need to re-write or tweak some script if you need it to act different than first intended. Just change your built-in CHDK bracketing method and/or the camera's self-timer options instead.
One more bonus: Using the camera's Custom Self-Timer's counted shots with CHDK's Continuous Bracketing you don't even need a script to take single-event HDR or Focus Bracketing shots. You can manually initiate a counted bracketing sequence this way with each shutter press. No need to even run a script, the camera + CHDK will do it all for you. The flexibility of knowing this method becomes limitless. | <urn:uuid:4e5c2c91-3adf-49b9-9530-3295f27af3ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/UBASIC/Scripts:_Make_ANY_Single-Shot_Intervalometer_into_an_HDR-Bracketing_Script?diff=next&oldid=25504 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930683 | 754 | 1.796875 | 2 |
|Extinct||marginalized by Classical Arabic from the 7th century|
|Writing system||South Arabian alphabet|
Safaitic (Arabic: صفوية or صفائية) is the name given to an Old North Arabian dialect, preserved in the form of inscriptions which are written in a type of South Semitic script. These inscriptions were written by bedouin and semi-nomadic inhabitants of the Syro-Arabian desert. Dating of the inscriptions, although problematic, is conventionally placed between the 1st century BC and the 4th century AD.
Safaitic inscriptions are named after the area where they were first discovered in 1857: Es Safa, a region of basalt desert to the southeast of Damascus, Syria. Since then they have been found over a wide area including south Syria, eastern Jordan and northwestern Saudi Arabia. Isolated examples occur further afield in places such as Palmyra in Syria, in Lebanon, in Wadi Hauran in western Iraq, and in Ha'il in north central Saudi Arabia. The largest concentration appears to be in the Harrat Ash Shamah, a black basalt desert, stretching south and east from Jebel Druze through Jordan and into Saudi Arabia. Approximately 30,000 inscriptions have been recorded, although doubtless many hundreds of thousands more remain undiscovered due to the remoteness and inhospitable nature of the terrain in which they are found. Typically the inscriptions are found on the rocks and boulders of the desert scatter, or on the stones of cairns. In many cases it is unclear whether the inscriptions on the cairns pre- or post-date the construction of the cairns.
The language and script
Safaitic is a branch of the early South Central Semitic languages (Arabic). Within the Arabic group there are a number of dialects which use h- rather than ’al for the definite article - these include Safaitic, Dedanite, Lihyanite, Thamudic and Hasaitic. The Safaitic alphabet comprises 28 letters. Three abecedaries (lists of the alphabet) are known, but all are written in different orders, giving strength to the suggestion that the script was casually learned rather than taught systematically.
Several forms of script are identified, including Safaitic, Square Safaitic and South Safaitic. The inscriptions are scratched, usually in a regular manner but sometimes using a 'zigzag' technique, or occasionally they are pecked. Inscriptions are often written in boustrophedon form: text travels from left to right (or vice versa) and then reverses for the next line.
Most Safaitic inscriptions are graffiti, and reflect the current concerns of the author - the availability of grazing for his camel herd, mourning the discovery of another inscription by a person who has since died, or simply listing his genealogy and stating that he made the inscription. Others comment on raids and pray for booty, or mention religious practices. A few inscriptions by female authors are known. Inscriptions are sometimes accompanied by rock art, showing hunting or battle scenes, camels and horses and their riders, bedouin camp scenes, or occasional female figures.
Material culture
Apart from the inscriptions and images left behind, very little is known of the material culture of the Safaitic people. Several factors play a part: the Bedouin of necessity have few belongings and a transient lifestyle and so relatively little will have been preserved in the archaeological record; the conditions for successful preservation are not good, and little research and very few excavations have been undertaken concerning this aspect of Safaitic life.
- King, G. (1990) "The Basalt Desert Rescue Survey and some preliminary remarks on the Safaitic inscriptions and rock drawings" Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 20:55-78
- Macdonald, M. C. A. (1992) "Inscriptions, Safaitic" in The Anchor Bible Dictionary Vol 3 (editor in chief D N Freedman) Doubleday
- Macdonald, M. C. A. (2000) "Reflections on the linguistic map of pre-Islamic Arabia" Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 11(1):28–79
- Oxtoby, W. G. (1968) Some Inscriptions of the Safaitic Bedouin American Oriental Society, Oriental Series 50. New Haven, Connecticut
- Winnett, F. V. and Harding, G. L. (1978) Inscriptions from Fifty Safaitic Cairns Toronto
- Information on the Safaitic Database Project
- Exhibition of Safaitic inscriptions
- Southern Arabic Writings in Syria - Safaitic, Arab Writers Union in Damascus (in Arabic) | <urn:uuid:2b2c54aa-cee5-43bf-ad9e-e25c5a4c9b8d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safaitic | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921877 | 1,012 | 3.640625 | 4 |
Coastal and Tropical South
It's important to keep those young tomato plants away from soil-borne fungi and slugs. As they grow, trellising allows the good air circulation important to pollination. Use a stake and long, soft pantyhose or cotton ties, install cages, or set up fence posts strung with plastic-coated clothesline wire, whatever you need to get them up off the ground.
It's time to soak those spinach seeds for a few hours or overnight in warm water. Use a hoe to open a row in that garden bed you limed last month (remember?). Drop the seeds in at 1-inch intervals and cover with a half inch of soil. Tamp lightly and keep watered.
If your lawn hasn't been up to snuff lately, take action now. Fertilize with a formula made for use at this time of year on your particular kind of lawn grass, and use a spreader to apply it. Look for "winterizer" or "fall feeding" lawn foods and use as directed.
Some plants are at their best when not in bloom. Annual flowers are quick to age, go to seed, and die, but coleus and basil -- grown for their leaves -- will soon lose their vigor if allowed to bloom. Get into the routine of continually pinching the tiny flowers out of the top of each stem.
Making a Mini Planter
Looking for a good classroom project? Recycle 2-liter plastic bottles into planters. Cut off the bottom third of the bottle and punch holes in the sides near the bottom. Fill with potting soil and plant overwintering annuals, such as cornflowers and calendula. If seeding, thin to two or three plants per pot. | <urn:uuid:680a45ff-c0e8-4186-b79b-bc47d95c18f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/reminders/2213 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92707 | 366 | 2.875 | 3 |
April 8: In this image made from television, demonstrators march in Daraa, Syria.AP
March 30: In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, foreground right, waves to his supporters after he made a speech at the Parliament, in Damascus, Syria.
Senior Obama administration officials worry that the Syrian government may seek to exact revenge on members of an opposition group that has received millions of dollars in covert American funding, Fox News has learned.
The Movement for Justice and Development, founded by Syrian exiles and based in London, has received an estimated $6 million in U.S. funding since 2006, according to documents obtained by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks and first reported by The Washington Post. The group operates Barada TV, a London-based satellite channel that broadcasts anti-government programming into Syria, as well as other programs aimed at destabilizing the authoritarian regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
"We are extremely concerned that lives are endangered as a result of this article based on WikiLeaks," a senior Obama administration official told Fox News Monday morning. "The concern regards what (the) Syrians might do to those that work for (Barada), given that (Assad and his security forces) are prone to crack down and could well use this as an excuse -- blaming it on foreigners."
Syrian security forces are estimated to have killed at least 200 people since anti-government protests erupted in the country one month ago, part of a wave of demonstrations buffeting regimes across the Mideast. President Assad promised on Saturday to lift an emergency decree that has been in place since 1963, a key demand of the demonstrators.
As a critical component in its engagement of adversarial regimes in the Mideast, the Obama administration has made a number of overtures to Assad, including, most recently, the returning of an ambassador to Damascus after a six-year absence.
Asked about Assad's initial crackdown on the protests, Secretary Clinton told CBS News on March 27: "There is a different leader in Syria now. Many of the members of Congress of both parties who have gone to Syria in recent months have said they believe he's a reformer."
Two days later, traveling in London, Clinton specified that her remarks about Assad as a reformer "referenced opinions of others" and that she was not "speaking either for myself or for the administration" in that instance.
A second senior administration official defended the funneling of taxpayer money to the Movement for Justice and Development.
"U.S. democracy and governance programming for Syria is no different than programs the United States and many other democratic countries support in countries around the world," said this official. "What is different is that the Syrian government perceives the development of civil society as a threat to its control over the Syrian people."
An April 2009 cable from a State Department officer at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, disseminated by WikiLeaks, stated that the Assad regime "would undoubtedly view any U.S. funds going to illegal political groups as tantamount to supporting regime change."
Embassy Chargé D'affaires Maura Connelly warned officials in Washington that "some programs may be perceived, were they to be made public, as an attempt to undermine the Assad regime."
Accordingly, Connelly recommended that the Obama administration "aim less at fostering 'regime change' and more toward encouraging 'behavior reform'" on the part of the Assad government. She also asserted that the activities of "the various expatriate reform organizations operating in Europe and the U.S.," a category that includes the Movement for Justice and Development, "have little to no effect on civil society or human rights in Syria."
The Syrian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. | <urn:uuid:05d06d93-fca2-45d6-b301-5344d01dc712> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/18/fears-syrian-reprisals-wikileaks-disclosure/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971134 | 774 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Additional articles, reviews of research and commentary about why Smart Boys get Bad Grades.
The Solution in Action
How one college changed its admissions policy and the percentage of men went from 36% up to 44% within just a few years. Plus, retention and graduation rates not only did not fall, retention and graduation rates actually went up!
How Girls Are Affected by the Anti-Boy Bias in Grading
The myth is that somehow girls benefit when boys don’t go to the college. In fact, girls do not benefit from the anti-boy gender bias in grading in school and college.
There are five ways in which girls are negatively affected by the anti-boy bias in grading.
The Evidence Homework Grading is Gender Biased
Our latest supplement to "Smart Boys Bad Grades" with more research
studies and other evidence that homework grading is gender biased. Download
the PDF for this report. | <urn:uuid:670ccd63-739d-45a2-98a4-c019580368b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.smartboysbadgrades.com/research_article.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948216 | 192 | 2.28125 | 2 |
US cozies up to outcast Uzbekistan for Afghan role
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) — The bloodiest massacre of protesters since Tianamen Square turned Uzbekistan into a pariah state. Now, the United States needs its help over Afghanistan — and has launched a flurry of overtures while putting aside concerns over human rights.
Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have paid courtesy calls over the past year, while General Motors and other major U.S. companies look determined to deepen their involvement in the Central Asian nation.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has withdrawn from a Russian-led military alliance, signaling a downturn in its relations with the former overlords in Moscow. This has fed speculation that the nation, hoping to benefit from the transit of U.S. troops and hardware, could invite the United States to set up a military base on its soil — a development that would infuriate Russia and raise tensions in the volatile region.
Uzbekistan has been run with unflinching severity by 74-year-old former Soviet party boss Islam Karimov since before the country gained independence in 1991.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Western leaders overcame their scruples in dealing with Karimov's government and the United States secured a lease for the Karshi-Khanabad air base in Uzbekistan.
That all ended when government troops indiscriminately gunned down hundreds of protesters in the eastern city of Andijan in 2005.
Uzbek authorities expelled U.S. troops from the country in anger over Washington's criticism and accused Western powers of complicity in the Andijan protests, which they said formed part of efforts to foment revolutions across the former Soviet Union. Uzbekistan has also been the subject of persistent allegations of torture of political prisoners and other human rights abuses.
With access to the country barred to almost all foreign reporters, verifying claims by some State Department officials that the rights situation has improved marginally is virtually impossible.
When NATO convoys through Pakistan began coming under sustained militant attack in 2009, U.S. military planners looked north and saw the makings of a route snaking thousands of kilometers (miles) through Central Asia and perennial strategic foe Russia.
Trucks carrying NATO goods are rolling across Pakistan's border into Afghanistan again after the U.S. apologized to Pakistan for the deaths of 24 Pakistani troops last fall. But despite the additional expense, the safety of the northern route makes it a more attractive option.
Until now, the traffic through Uzbekistan has mainly gone in the direction of Afghanistan, but the priority in coming years will be shifted to reverse transit along the Northern Distribution Network.
The most reliable route starts on a recently completed railroad that crosses the Amu-Darya River, which marks Uzbekistan's 137-kilometer (82-mile) border with Afghanistan, and provides the speediest and simplest transportation northward.
In an apparent effort to soothe concerns that the United States will abandon Central Asian as soon as its engagements in Afghanistan are wound down, investments enthusiastically backed by Washington are trickling in.
General Motors stepped up its local presence in November by opening a new engine plant. The GM Uzbekistan joint venture, in which the U.S. company controls a 25 percent stake, provides work for around 6,600 people and turns out 200,000 Chevrolet passenger vehicles annually.
In June, U.S. engineering giant KBR said it will provide its technology to develop a chemical plant in Uzbekistan that will seek to better exploit the country's substantial natural gas reserves.
Still, U.S. officials hope to build on those types of achievements and a large congressional delegation is due soon for another round of diplomatic cordiality aimed at cementing business ties.
There are also increasing hints that the U.S. will intensify military ties with Uzbekistan. That development would dismay the advocacy community, which has for years been drawing attention to the country's egregious rights record.
The U.S. in January waived a ban on providing military assistance to Uzbekistan, although the State Department insisted it would only be eligible to receive non-lethal equipment, including night vision goggles, uniforms, GPS devices and other defensive equipment.
Last week, Uzbekistan announced it had suspended its participation in the Russia-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization security pact.
"Dropping out of the CSTO means that something deemed more desirable by Karimov's regime is available elsewhere. That's highly likely to be material benefits and international respect garnered by being a partner on the drawdown in Afghanistan," said Deirdre Tynan, Central Asia project director for the International Crisis Group.
Analysts across the former Soviet space have read the CSTO pullout as a prelude to closer cooperation with the United States.
"We will soon hear about how Uzbekistan has entered into a new strategic alliance and granted its territory for U.S. military bases," said Vadim Kozyulin, Central Asia expert at the Moscow-based Russian Center for Policy Studies, in a research note.
A U.S. diplomat said on condition of anonymity that the United States has made no request to open a military base in Uzbekistan.
Such a base would deeply antagonize Moscow, which has historically tried to assert its say on what foreign military presence is permitted in a region it considers its geopolitical backyard. The United States already has an air base in neighboring Kyrgyzstan that it uses for ferrying troops in and out of Afghanistan and staging airborne refueling mission.
It looks possible that Central Asian governments could become recipients of U.S. military hardware as the Pentagon looks to limit the expense of hauling the materiel out of Afghanistan. The U.S diplomat said the process for the transfer of excess defense equipment would require approval from the State Department.
Russian daily Kommersant in June cited an unnamed government source in Kyrgyzstan as saying talks on a plan over exchanging military hardware for Afghan access were held during a March visit by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The newspaper suggested similar agreements were in place with other governments, including Uzbekistan's.
The centrality of Uzbekistan's role in the Afghan drawdown means they will be in a strong bargaining position for obtaining as much as possible in return, however.
"There is a significant, even likely, chance that the Uzbeks get their hands on some lethal stuff that originally was not planned," said Alexander Cooley, political science professor at Columbia University. "If the Uzbeks ask for some specific pieces of equipment and are at first denied, they'll keep trying and bargaining until they get them." | <urn:uuid:97443230-7e5c-4563-995d-3375327e8603> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cnsnews.com/news/article/us-cozies-outcast-uzbekistan-afghan-role | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961932 | 1,357 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Forty years ago today, the United States launched the Mariner 9 spacecraft on a mission to Mars. Among other achievements, Mariner 9 would become the first terrestrial spacecraft to orbit another planet other than Earth.
The Mariner Program was a NASA project whose goal was to investigate the planets Mars, Venus and Mercury from space. A total of ten (10) Mariner spacecraft were launched between 1962 and 1973. Seven (7) of these pioneering missions were considered successful. The first interplanetary flyby, the first orbiting of another planet and the first gravity assist maneuver were all accomplished by Mariner spacecraft.
Each Mariner was built around a central bus or housing that was either hexagonal or octagonal in shape. All spacecraft guidance, navigation, propulsion, communication, power and instrumentation systems were contained within or attached to this central bus. Mariner spacecraft were typically configured with a set of four (4) solar panels for power. However, Mariner’s 1, 2 and 10 used just two (2). Cameras were carried by all Mariner space probes with the exception of Mission’s 1, 2 and 5.
Mariner 9 carried a scientific instrumentation package that consisted principally of an imaging system, ultraviolet spectrometer, infrared spectrometer and infrared radiometer. Fully deployed, each pair of solar panels measured 22.6-feet across. These panels provided 800 watts of power at Earth and 500 watts at Mars. Power was stored in a 20-amp-hour nickel-cadmium battery.
Mariner 9 lift-off mass was 2,196 lbs. Propellant useage during the flyout to Mars resulted in a spacecraft mass of 1,232 lbs in Martian orbit. Scientific instrumentation accounted for 139-lbs of the on-rbit mass. Spacecraft propulsion for mid-course corrections and orbital insertion was provided by a 300-lb thrust liquid rocket motor burning monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. Mariner 9′s 3.28-foot diameter antenna telemetered data back to Earth at rates of 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 kilobits/second using dual S-band 10 watt and 20 watt transmitters.
Mariner 9 was launched from Cape Canaveral’s LC-36B at 22:23:00 UTC on Sunday, 30 May 1971. An Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C launch vehicle provided the propulsive energy required to climb out of the Earth’s gravity well and send the probe on its way to Mars. It would take Mariner 9 roughly 167 Earth days to travel a distance of 214.85 million nautical miles to the Red Planet.
Mariner 9 entered Mars orbit at 00:18:00 UTC on Sunday, 14 November 1971. This marked the first time that a terrestrial spacecraft had achieved orbit about another planet in our Solar System other than Earth. Initial orbital parameters included an apoapsis of 9,672-nm and a periapsis of 755-nm at an inclination of 64.3 degrees. Interestingly, Mariner 9 arrived ahead of the Soviet Mars 2 space probe despite the latter’s eleven (11) day head start.
A planet-wide dust storm greeted Mariner 9 upon its arrival in Mars orbit. Hence, imaging of the planetary surface did not begin in earnest until late November. However, it was not until mid-January 1972 that the storm had subsided to the point that high quality images could be obtained from orbit.
Mariner 9 ultimately took 7,329 images which covered 100% of the Martian surface. The photos revealed a fascinating planetary topology that featured river beds, craters, extinct volcanoes, mountains and canyons. Mariner 9 discovered Olympus Mons, the largest known extinct volcano in the Solar System. Valles Marineris, a system of Martian canyons measuring 2,170-nm in length, was named after Mariner 9 in tribute to the probe’s significant space exploration accomplishments. Photographed as well were the diminutive Martian moons of Phobos and Deimos.
Upon depletion of its attitude control system propellant supply, Mariner 9′s mission was officially terminated when the spacecraft’s systems were turned-off on Friday, 27 October 1972. Total time spent investigating the Martian environment from orbit was 349-days. Though long silent, the craft remains in orbit around the Red Planet. It is expected to continue to do so through approximately the year 2022. | <urn:uuid:a629de94-2b2a-4b14-8189-5b1030662733> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.seattlepi.com/americanaerospace/2011/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945013 | 921 | 4.03125 | 4 |
Bill Long 5/13/06
Beginning with Pediculous
It's a little ridiculous that I am spending so much time on pediculous, but I need to get all my words straight before I go on. We saw last time that the Latin pediculus could mean either a footstalk (plan) or lice. The English word derived from the latter meaning is pedicle (louse), which is not in the Collegiate, but is attested the OED even though the most recent attestation of this usage is 1425! All dictionaries also have the word pediculosis, which means infested with lice. Such infestation can also be called phthiriasis.
I learned further that the Linnean name for lice is Pediculus, which is the leading genus of the Pediculidae. But lice can be broken down into two, or even three, categories. The head louse is Pediculus capiti, while the body louse is officially called the Pediculus vestimenti, because it lodges in the clothing. A third louse, called the "crab louse" is now placed with a different genus, the Phthirius. It is officially known as the phthirus pubis and, with a name like that, predictably inhabits the "nether" regions of the body, as the Victorians were wont to call it.
A Primer on Head Lice
The most common infestations are these critters are of head lice on children. We all know the stories. Kids go to school, and they "catch lice" from one of their neighbors. I think there is a stigma attached in our culture to kids who get head lice or body lice--that their parents don't keep them clean, that they are slovenly or lazy, or something like that. Principals in wealthy suburban schools have been known to deny that there is any lice around their schools when the evidence of scratching young 'uns belies them. But, as ample information attests, the louse, like God's grace, is no respecter of rich or poor, and it infests about 10 million kids annually in the US. Since this is a vocabulary page and not a medical page, I will only mention further that the eggs of lice are called nits (and hundreds of them may be present where there are lice), that the most effective treatment for Pediculus capiti is pyrethrum (the Collegiate actually has this word--"an insecticide made from the dried heads of any of several Old World chrysanthemums"). A new product called Nix, which contains permethrin (a synthetic pyrethroid invented in 1976) is also popular. Together these can be called pediculicides--things that kill lice--not in the Collegiate).
With all this attention on lice, I think we deserve a picture of one.
This photo, fuzzy as it is, is the best shot I could find on the Net. I don't know if this is a "his and hers" pair, but notice the distinctive features of an abdomen larger than the thorax, and the head "conical" and contracted at the base. I also found one picture online of a louse emerging from a nit (I doubt if the picture will ever be as famous at Botticelli's Birth of Venus from the foam of the sea), but I decided against showing it, lest we all recoil in further horror.
Figurative Uses of the Word Pediculous
But we need not confine our understanding of the term to the actual creatures which make you itch. As early as 1602 we have this sentence: "Like a lowsie Pediculous vermin th'ast but one suite to thy backe." But an even clearer example appeared in 1846: "Your pediculous friars and parti-coloured bald-coot priests." This is a particularly vivid picture because one could easily imagine medieval and early modern monks suffering from lice infestations because of their flowing (and ill-washed) garments. You never read about lice in connection with monks, do you? You just think of how spiritual they are. Then from 1996 we have the following poetic language: "Mucky Preece lives in a pigsty beside the derelict L. Bar, tetrous, pediculous, skint, swilling rough cider and Blue." If you really love words, you will slowly take apart that sentence...but I am not going to do so here.
One other example of its usage, this time in a medical context, will conclude this essay. From a 1772 book on treatments for venereal disease: "In pediculous aposthumes I have seen that vermin follow the incision lancet in large clusters." I gave you this sentence because I have to pause on aposthumes. It is not attested currently in that spelling, being found in the Century as apostem, and and OED as apostem, aposteme, aposthume, apostume (being a speller has to make you a relativist). Oh, what is an apostem, actually? It is: "A gathering of purulent matter in any part of the body; a large deep-seated absess."
I probably could go on forever, but I will end with that word "abscess." It is derived from the Latin word abscedere (to go away; the verb abscede, meaning "to move away" or "lose contact" is even once attested in our language--who will resurrect it? "I must abscede from you now," the butler said with a stiff bow.), and apostem is simply the Greek form of abscendere, for it means to send away.
You know what? I still have some things to say, however briefly, on louses, and how we move from the little vermin called a louse to the word "lousy," which all of us use from time to time. Join me in the next essay for that.
Copyright © 2004-2007 William R. Long | <urn:uuid:91323e38-ba31-4f9c-b4c8-9d978783419a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://drbilllong.com/SpellersDiary2/911920.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962592 | 1,286 | 2.578125 | 3 |
I attended the Manifesto Jamaica festival two weekends ago and was impressed with the level of organisation, the sophistication and breadth of activities and the sheer enthusiasm and commitment displayed by their volunteers and management team.
This organisation, in its short life-span, has taken its commitment to empower inner-city youths by giving them the kind of skills-training which will not just give them basic qualifications and experience for the working world, but will go a far way in re-socialising those who have been impacted by the programme as well as re-orienting their mindset.
It is unfortunate that other than Director of Culture Sydney Bartley, I did not see other representatives from the public sector or captains of industry and commerce for whom, I'm sure, this festival would have been an inspiration if they had attended.
That being said, however, I wish to highlight in particular the concert held in the Vera Moody Concert Hall on Saturday night and the Evening of Poetry held at the dance auditorium on the Sunday night. Mutabaruka, Tanya Stephens and Cherry Natural really did themselves, and Jamaica, proud with their poetry on the Saturday night. But, there were some Jamaican Canadians who also performed at this poetry session and their perspective, given the race issues that they have to contend with in that society, revealed the continuing struggle of blacks in Canada against a system that is stacked against them.
The Uprising Roots Orchestra's performance could only be described as awesome. The addition to the group of the horn section and Bo-Peep on rhythm guitar, has truly transformed the band into one of the best sounding local bands in Jamaica presently, and by the end of their performance the entire audience was in a trance. This band is now ready to conquer the world!
Edna Manley had their graduation ceremony on Saturday November 22 at The Little Theatre. I had the pleasure of witnessing their rehearsals for this function on the previous Thursday and Friday, and was totally fascinated and pleased by the concept of Pierre Lemaire and the arrangements of the musical director Michael 'Ibo' Cooper. They were able to take A Night in Tunisia on a trip through genres ranging from classical, to jazz, to dancehall, so seamlessly weaving the styles together one hardly knew where the actual transitions took place. They were also able to stunningly marry the more stringent European influences to our indigenous sounds, art, and movement.
It is a little known fact that many of the current crop of Jamaica's top, popular bands and artistes, attended and/or graduated from the Edna Manley School of Music; Romaine Virgo, C-Sharp, Raging Fyah, Uprising Roots, Further Notice, Chevaughn, Shereita, Dubtonic Kru, Roots Underground, Diana Rutherford and Warren McPherson (who got the highest marks for the grade 10 classical piano exams) granting him a trip to Winnipeg for a Master Class a few years ago).
Many graduates of Edna Manley have told me that the portion of their success attributable to their tutelage at the college under the mentorship Ibo Cooper; they think of the school as having two phases, BC (Before Cooper) and AC (After Cooper). One student actually said he was about to leave the school because of the direction he saw himself taking was not being fostered by the previous atmosphere of all classical/jazz, all the time.
Last Saturday, I had the most exhilarating night of live music while attending the Bands Incorporated Concert at Lindsay Avenue. The four bands on the lineup, Blue Grass in the Sky, Roots Underground, Dubtonic Kru and Raging Fyah are four of the top performing groups currently in Jamaica and each has its own distinct sound and vibe.
Raging Fyah stood out on Saturday night with a performance that was second to none. The crowd would not let them leave and demanded two encores before they allowed the band to leave the stage.
The following day we drove over to Asante Adonai in Winefield, St Ann for Jimmy's Jam, and I am certainly glad that I did not miss this event. Even though the attendance was less than a hundred people and the rain fell throughout the afternoon, this did not have a great impact on the recorded and live musical program. DJ Afifa played two excellent sets featuring Jimmy Hendricks, Led Zeppelin and many other famous guitar-driven hits from various genres of music which led to lively discussions, debates, arguments that just added to the sheer enjoyment of the afternoon. Then we had a live performance from an impromptu band featuring Omar Francis & Maurice Gordon on guitars; Shurwayne Thompson on bass; Akil Krram and Shane Campbell on drums. They literally brought the hills alive with the sounds of music. | <urn:uuid:873c7f48-71cf-4966-a1a4-bf422c7eb42d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/We-are-in-safe-hands_10298437 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974163 | 969 | 1.507813 | 2 |
hepatic veno-occlusive disease
(heh-PA-tik VEE-noh-uh-KLOO-siv dih-ZEEZ)
A condition in which some of the veins in the liver are blocked. This causes a decrease in blood flow inside the liver and may lead to liver damage. Signs and symptoms include weight gain, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, dark-colored urine, and increased liver size. It may occur at some point in time after radiation therapy to the liver and bile ducts or after high-dose anticancer drugs were given before a stem cell transplant. Also called sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. | <urn:uuid:32b8edf2-a4b8-4625-a9d9-4b6a66cf9a43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ccsb.org/Cancer/Glossary/CDR0000044806/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928611 | 142 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Here's a great way to spy on your friends or take secret snaps of any celebrities you encounter?wear sunglasses with a built-in camera. Huw Robson of Hewlett Packard says, "It means you now have a wearable camera which nobody will notice and can take pictures while being involved in events."
The camera constantly takes digital pictures of whatever you're looking at through the glasses. It also has an off switch, in case you don't want to record every intimate moment.
Paul Eng writes in abcnews.com that Deja View has invented Camwear 100, a digital video camera about an inch long that can be worn in lots of places, such as in a baseball cap. The camera sends its images to a cell phone-sized device worn on a person's hip.
"The camera is constantly monitoring what you see," explains Sid Reich. "When you see something occur that you want to keep, you hit the 'record' button and the last 30 seconds of what the camera saw is recorded onto a tiny removable memory card." The video can then be downloaded into a computer for editing and playback.
Reich says, "It's become accepted that if you tape something like a school play or your kid's soccer game, you're going to tape for two hours. But most things that happen in your life that are memorable are short events?and often at times when you least expect it. "You're watching the game just like you normally would and when the kid makes a great play?a great catch or a slide into third base and he's safe?you've got it. You get to live in the moment instead of watching through a viewfinder of a camcorder."
Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies says, "It has the appeal to the techies and gadget freaks in all of us. We've all had those moments or places where we see something and just wish we had a video camera or a 35-mm camera handy, rather than fumble around for one."
Both cameras bring up privacy issues. People are already concerned that cell phone cameras are being used to secretly watch people in places like public restrooms and locker rooms.
But one of the main problems may be time?tiny cameras add yet another chore to our daily routine. Robson says, "If you are capturing your life as you walk around?that means that you get a lot of images and part of the problem that we are solving is how do you sort through those images to find the good images among all the junk." In other words, if we start photographing our lives, as well as just living them, and then have to go home and sort out all the images afterwards, how will we ever find time to live (and take even more pictures)?
It's already hard enough to find time for our kids, and they're getting harder to understand every day.
To learn more, click here and here.
NOTE: This news story, previously published on our old site, will have any links removed. | <urn:uuid:34d78526-48d0-421d-acd7-92571f4ab76d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/easy-ways-spy-your-friends | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970647 | 618 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Grapevine, Tex. — Just after Shaquille O’Neal entertained attendees here on Wednesday, the opening day of the NCAA convention, and minutes before the sensational story broke about a Notre Dame football star mixed up in a bizarre hoax, Jeffrey H. Orleans found a small window of time to deliver an important message.
Speaking at the NCAA’s Scholarly Colloquium, Mr. Orleans, a former director of the Ivy League, pulled together data from a series of reports about the dire state of higher-education finances to reflect on the likely challenges ahead for athletics departments as they try to rein in spending and remain relevant on their campuses.
“The economic model of college sport assumes commitment of substantial institutional nonathletic resources at a time when those resources are being throttled,” Mr. Orleans, a senior associate with Alden & Associates, said to the group of more than 100 scholars and athletics officials. “To retain those funds, we have to understand how badly they have been damaged.”
Reducing institutional financial support, which the vast majority of NCAA colleges rely on, would lead to diminishing experiences for college athletes. And under a set of financial circumstances that Mr. Orleans described as “a catalog of gloom,” it would seem inevitable that at least some of that support will go away.
All of that is likely, Mr. Orleans seemed to suggest, unless athletics programs begin to make a stronger case for themselves as viable and essential parts of the college, with a relevance beyond the playing field.
The overall financial picture he described for colleges and universities was indeed gloomy. Students’ carrying a trillion-dollar debt burden. Colleges’ suffering from historic declines in state and local appropriations that can’t be recouped by increases in tuition revenue. Across higher education, he said, we have a “new status quo of financial weakness.”
In that environment, some people believe that the use of what could be academic or student-aid money to subsidize athletics is misguided and should be rethought.
While many programs may muddle through without significant change, Mr. Orleans urged athletics officials to make a fresh case for the value of their programs.
“If we truly believe that athletics has developmental benefits for the athletes who compete, we owe it to them to take the initiative,” he said. Programs need to show that athletics deserves support because it is educationally relevant—”not merely because another school in the conference just bought out its football coach’s contract.”
I caught up with Mr. Orleans after his session and asked him how athletics departments could reset expectations and give more careful consideration to their place at the table. Also, I wondered, how do they make a better case for themselves?
First, Mr. Orleans suggested, athletics programs must be more transparent about their operations. College leaders, he said, also have to be “brutally honest” about programs that operate in the red, showing a greater willingness to make athletic directors pay a consequence when they don’t stick to the budget.
We all know those types of decisions don’t help programs punch tickets to big bowl games and Final Four weekend—the Promised Land many athletic directors are shooting for.
“Then redefine the Promised Land,” Mr. Orleans told me, “as financial solvency.” | <urn:uuid:97b8e91b-52f6-432e-b7f8-17404ddadd96> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://chronicle.com/blogs/players/in-austere-times-athletics-programs-need-a-reset/32403 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959891 | 702 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The bill gives legal clearance for more people to administer opiate antagonists. The powerful drugs can stop an opiate overdose by "freezing" the brain's receptors for opiates such as heroin or OxyContin.
One Republican senator compared the bill to a needle-exchange program. Republican Sen. Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud said the drug's expansion would send the wrong message to people who use dangerous drugs.
Other Republicans called the measure a potential life-saver for addicts. The measure was approved on an unrecorded voice vote and faces one more Senate vote before heading to the House.
Senate Bill 14: http://bit.ly/XUlWsQ | <urn:uuid:688a2249-b278-4e40-abf6-b5833a850244> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.denverpost.com/teencrime/ci_22721821/overdose-drug-expansion-advances-colorado | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917772 | 136 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Vatican Message for 2011 World Tourism Day
"The Meeting of ... Cultures Permits an Enrichment of Each One's Own Reality"
| 1431 hits
VATICAN CITY, JULY 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is the message of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers for the 2011 World Tourism Day, which will be observed Sept. 27 with the theme "Tourism Linking Cultures."
The message, released Wednesday, was signed by Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò and Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil, president and secretary of the dicastery, respectively.
* * *
On September 27, we celebrate the World Tourism Day, promoted by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which has enjoyed even from its very first celebration in 1980 the support of the Holy See.
The theme of this year, "Tourism Linking Cultures," wishes to highlight the importance that traveling has in the meeting of the different cultures of the world, especially in our present day world where more than ninety million people travel internationally, favored thus by modern means of communication and lower associated costs.
In this way, tourism presents itself as "breaking down barriers across cultures and fostering tolerance, respect and mutual understanding. In our often divided world, these values represent the stepping stones towards a more peaceful future."
With a broad concept of culture that includes -- besides the history or artistic and ethnographic patrimony -- the lifestyles, relationships, beliefs, and values, we not only affirm the existence of cultural diversity, but in line with the magisterium of the Church, we value it as indeed positive. Thus "once diversity has been accepted as a positive factor, it is necessary to ensure that people not only accept the existence of other cultures," as Benedict XVI affirms, "but also desire to be enriched by them," welcoming the true, good, and beautiful therein.
To achieve this objective, tourism extends to us all its possibilities. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism affirms that "when practiced with a sufficiently open mind, it is an irreplaceable factor of self-education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the legitimate differences between peoples and cultures and their diversity." This, by its very nature, can favor meeting as well as dialogue, as it places one in contact with other places, traditions, manners of living, and other forms of seeing the world and conceiving history. For all of these reasons, tourism is certainly a privileged event.
However, regarding dialogue, the first condition that is required is that of knowing how to listen, to want to be questioned by the other, desiring to discover the message within each monument, cultural manifestation, all of this being done with respect, without prejudice or exclusion, and avoiding biased readings. It is thus equally important "to know how to welcome" as to "know how to travel." This means that tourism should be organized with respect for the peculiar nature, laws, and customs of the receiving countries, all of which the tourists themselves should be acquainted with before their departure so as to better understand the place they are going to visit. That being said, also those communities receiving tourists and professional agents should know the lifestyles and expectations of the tourists that visit them.
Given the fact that every culture contains in itself certain limits, the meeting of different cultures permits an enrichment of each one's own reality. This is evident in the affirmation of Blessed John Paul II that "the 'difference' which some find so threatening can, through respectful dialogue, become the source of a deeper understanding of the mystery of human existence."
One objective of our pastoral care of tourism will certainly be to educate and prepare Christians so that these cultural encounters are productive in their travels and not lost opportunities, but contrarily, that they would truly serve as a personal enrichment, helping to know the other, and to know one's self.
In this dialogue that produces the fruit of linking cultures, we are convinced that the Church has much to contribute. "In the cultural arena too," teaches Benedict XVI, "Christianity must offer to all a most powerful force of renewal and exaltation, that is, the Love of God who makes himself human love." The cultural patrimony of the Church is indeed immense, understood in the broad sense that we previously explained, which arises from the experience of faith, of the encounter between culture and the Gospel, as the fruit of the profound religious experience of the Christian community. Certainly, the works of art and historical memory have an enormous potential to evangelize, in as much as they are placed in the context of the via pulchritudinis, the way of beauty, which is "a privileged and fascinating path on which to approach the Mystery of God."
It must be an objective priority of our pastoral care of tourism to show the true meaning of this cultural heritage, born from faith and for the glory of God. Along these lines, the words of Blessed John Paul II directed toward workers in the pastoral care of tourism still resound: "You are cooperating in forming an outlook which is also a type of reawakening of the soul to the things of the spirit by helping visitors to get back to the sources of faith which built these edifices, and by making visible the Church of living stones which Christian communities are made of." It is therefore important that we present this patrimony in its authenticity, illustrating its true religious nature, placing it in the liturgical context in which and for which it was born.
As we are conscious that the Church "exists in order to evangelize," we must always ask ourselves: How can we welcome people in holy places so that they come to better know and love the Lord? How can we facilitate an encounter between God and each one of the people that are there welcomed? It must be highlighted that, in the first place, the importance of an adequate welcome, "should take into consideration the specific characteristics of each group and each individual, the yearnings of their hearts and their authentic spiritual needs" and is manifested by a variety of elements: from the simple details to the personal availability to listen, to the accompaniment throughout the duration of the stay.
In this regard, and with the objective of promoting this intercultural dialogue and taking advantage of our cultural patrimony at the service of evangelization, it is fitting to adopt a series of concrete pastoral initiatives. All of these must be integrated into a broad program of interpretation that, together with historical-cultural information, illustrates in a clear and accessible way the original and profound religious meaning of these cultural manifestations, using for this modern and attractive means, and taking advantage of the personal and technological resources that are at our disposal.
Among these concrete proposals there is the elaboration of the idea of touristic travel offering visitation to the places that are most important in the religious and cultural patrimony of the diocese. Along with this, broad time periods of open hours should be favored, thus making available an adequate welcoming. In this way, the spiritual and cultural formation of tourist guides is important, and thus one can see the value in the possibility of creating organizations of catholic tour guides. With this, the elaboration of "local publications in the guise of tourist guides, Web pages, or specialized journals on patrimony, with the pedagogical aim of highlighting the soul, inspiration and message of works, scientific analysis is thereby put at the service of a deeper understanding of the work."
We cannot allow ourselves to view the tourist visit as simply a step in pre-evangelization, but on the contrary, we must see it as a platform to realize the clear and explicit announcement of Jesus Christ.
I would like now also to take advantage of this opportunity to officially announce the celebration of VII World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism, that will take place in Cancun (Mexico) the week of April 23-27, 2012. This event, organized by our pontifical council in collaboration with the Mexican Episcopal Conference and the Prelature of Cancun-Chetumal, will certainly be an important opportunity to continue the consideration of concrete proposals that the pastoral care of tourism requires in the present times.
+ Antonio Maria Vegliò, President
+ Joseph Kalathiparambil, Secretary
TALEB RIFAI, UNWTO Secretary-General, World Tourism Day Message 2011.
BENEDICT XVI, Letter on the Occasion of the Study Day Organized by the Pontifical Councils for Interreligious Dialogue and for Culture on the theme "Culture and Religions in Dialogue", 3 December 2008.
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION, Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, 1 October 1999, art. 2 § 1.
Cfr. WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION, Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, 1 October 1999, art. 1.
JOHN PAUL II, Address to the Fiftieth General Assembly of the United Nations Organization, 5 October 1995, n. 10.
BENEDICT XVI, Address to the Participants in the Study Convention on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, 15 June 2007.
BENEDICT XVI, General Audience, 18 November 2009.
John Paul II, Discourse to the Participants at the 4th World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism, 17 November 1990, n. 4.
PAUL VI, Apostolic exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, 8 December 1975, n. 14.
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE, The Shrine. Memory, Presence and Prophecy of the Living God, 8 May 1999, n. 12.
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE, Concluding Document of the Plenary Assembly "The Via Pulchritudinis, Privileged Pathway for Evangelization and Dialogue", 27-28 March 2006. | <urn:uuid:d6b499ec-d059-45f4-b6ee-333e8ba92c22> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/vatican-message-for-2011-world-tourism-day | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94253 | 2,052 | 1.859375 | 2 |
MEDFORD, Ore., – As teachers begin preparing their classrooms for the upcoming school year, officials say there’s a chance new teachers could be joining them soon.
According to the Medford School District, the number of elementary school students who show up to class in the first few weeks of the year will determine whether additional teachers will be hired to accommodate them. School officials forecast the incoming students each spring, but said the actual number of students may vary greatly when classes begin in the fall.
As students enroll or leave school during the first few weeks of the school year, district officials will decide whether additional extra teachers will need to be hired, or whether teachers will be laid off.
District officials say this practice is more common in elementary school, because the forecast of middle and high school students tend not to be very different from the actual turnout. | <urn:uuid:eec21c9b-6b58-43fe-a2f0-e35218068e66> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kdrv.com/enrollment-could-affect-teacher-hiring/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953028 | 173 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Exclusive: As the Sri Lankan war approached its endgame, 130,000 civilians were trapped along a small strip of beach. An eyewitness recalls the bloodshed that followed and how civilians were targeted.
This report contains details some readers may find distressing.
Over the last two years Channel 4 News has broadcast footage that the UN says constitutes "credible evidence of war crimes" in Sri Lanka.
In the final stages of 26 years of civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, and better known as the Tamil Tigers), the United Nations estimated up to 40,000 civilians were killed.
"Fernando" was operating with Sri Lanka's 58 Division during the final assault. He has risked his life as well as the lives of his family to speak out about the horrors he witnessed. He told Channel 4 News that men, women, and children were actively targeted with small arms by government forces.
More from Channel 4 News: Sri Lanka 'war crimes' soldiers ordered to 'finish the job'
"When I look at it as an outsider I think they're simply brutal beasts. Their hearts are like that of animals, with no sense of humanity," Fernando tearfully recalled.
"They shoot people at random, stab people, rape them, cut their tongues out, cut women's breasts off. I have witnessed all this with my own eyes. I have seen small children laying dead," he continued.
"I saw a lot of small children, who were so innocent, getting killed in large numbers. A large number of elders were also killed.
"They were shooting when a large number of civilians were crossing through a lagoon, including women and children. The soldiers were shooting at them. They were not Tiger cadres, just normal civilians. So yes, I saw normal civilians getting killed with my own eyes.
"I saw a family, a mother and three children. This small family was fleeing. As we were about to take them, one of the children was shot in the leg. The child fell. I carried that child with these hands. The mother was screaming."
"Fernando" said even the wounded were shown no mercy: "When they were at the hospital, one day I saw a group of six soldiers raping a young Tamil girl. I saw this with my own eyes."
"Fernando" was so horrified by what he saw that he described himself as "like a walking corpse".
Whereas the UN report on the final stages of the conflict focused on the shelling of civilians, the "Fernando" testimony is believed to be the first eyewitness account to suggest civilians were actively targeted by troops on the ground, a claim the Sri Lankan government denies.
Please wait while this video loads. If it doesn't load after a few seconds you may need to have Adobe Flash installed.
He claimed troops were allowed to act with impunity.
"If they wanted to rape a Tamil girl, they could just beat her and do it. If her parents tried to stop them, they could beat them or kill them. It was their empire.
"For the soldiers at the battlefront, their hearts had turned to stone. Having seen blood, killings and death for so long, they had lost their sense of humanity. I would say they had turned into vampires."
For the soldiers at the battlefront, their hearts had turned to stone. 'Fernando'
These inhumane acts, "Fernando" said, extended to acts of torture and mutilation.
"I saw the naked dead bodies of women without heads and other parts of their bodies.
"I saw a mother and child dead and the child's body was without its head."
The Sri Lankan government attempted to cover up such acts by burying the bodies in mass graves, according to "Fernando".
"Massive numbers of children, women and men were killed in the final stages of the war. When I say massive, in Puthumathalan alone, over 1500 civilians were killed.
"But they couldn't bury all of them. What they did was, they bought a bulldozer, they spread the dead bodies out and put sand on top of them, making it look like a bund.
"I saw 1500 bodies only in Puthumathalan, but I saw the same happen to more than 50,000 people like that."
Questioned on the accuracy of the numbers he cited, "Fernando" said: "In the final stage, all that I saw in Puthumathalan were dead bodies. When I entered the last place... it was totally full of dead bodies.
"They wanted to clear them that's why they brought that big vehicle. All they could do was just put sand on them. In some areas you couldn't go because there was such a terrible smell of decomposing bodies."
"They were just innocent Tamil civilians and did not belong to either warring party."
"Fernando" said he has cried for the suffering of those who died, and now he has decided to speak out because the world needs to know of what he described as the "heinous crimes" committed on one small strip of beach in May 2009.
"At the moment I’m ok – I've seen so many dead bodies, so many injuries, so many children, so many rape scenes, but I’m ok, that's why I opened my heart out to you," Fernando concluded.
The Sri Lankan government denies its troops committed war crimes.
07 January 2010
21 April 2011 | <urn:uuid:96edcd72-e77d-4666-9714-90e90e14b010> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.channel4.com/news/the-sri-lankan-soldiers-whose-hearts-turned-to-stone | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988729 | 1,154 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Intel launched its first dual-core, hyper-threaded Xeon processor offering Monday, three months ahead of its original release date.
The world's largest chip maker, Intel intended to release the first generation of its long-awaited, dual-core products in early 2006, but pressure from rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and its dual-core Opteron chip, launched in late April, forced Intel to get its dual-core Xeon chip to the market quicker.
The new 64-bit, dual-core Xeon processor, which features four cores and eight threads per platform, runs at 2.8 GHz with an 800 MHz system bus and 2 MB of Level 2 cache per core. It will use the Intel E7520 chip set.
Intel also said Monday it plans to deliver three more platforms to round out its initial dual-core server and workstation portfolio. It said it will ship dual-core Intel Itanium processors by the end of 2005.
In a press conference broadcast over the Web, Intel said the new dual-core Intel Xeon processors are expected to help improve the performance of current dual processor, 64-bit servers by up to 50%.
According to Kirk Skaugen, general manager of Intel's Server Platforms Group, the integration of Xeon dual-core technology into data centers will improve server consolidation, accelerate the adoption of virtualization and increase the performance per watt ratio by 350% by the end of 2006.
In response to charges that its dual-core chips will use excessive amounts of power, Intel has touted its demand-based switching technology, which Intel said lowers the voltage in underutilized servers and can help increase box usage from 15% to 40%. For every 500 servers in a data center, Intel said demand-based switching can save $100,000 in energy costs over current models.
"We're committed to a strong roadmap … this is just the beginning," Skaugen said. "The availability of our first dual-core Intel Xeon processor server platforms accelerates the delivery of Intel's aggressive multi-core server roadmap, giving CIOs [chief information officers] and IT managers innovative new technologies and capabilities to help grow and transform their business."
Server platforms based on the new dual-core Intel Xeon processor are available today. The forthcoming dual-core Intel Xeon processor 7000 sequence for multi-processor servers, codenamed Paxville, is expected to be available by mid-December.
Skaugen danced around the issue of AMD's aggressive marketing push around its own dual-core offerings, which have included repeated public boasts that Intel's dual-core chip will perform poorly when put head-to-head against its dual-core Opteron chips. Skaugen said only that "we're confident that were competitive. Q1 and Q2 look very promising."
AMD executive vice president Henri Richard, in an e-mail response to Intel's announcement, questioned Intel's new chip's ability to provide an acceptable performance-per-watt ratio and once again reiterated AMD's desire to hold a dual-core "duel."
"It's clear the market is forcing Intel to respond to AMD and Intel is betting its success on another stopgap solution. Unfortunately, Intel is clouding the enterprise market with solutions that run hotter and offer minimal performance gains. We believe customers will see through this," Richard said.
The impending dual-core Intel Xeon processor 7000 sequence for multi-processor servers is expected to run at speeds up to 3.0 GHz and will include a new chip set, the Intel E8501, to support an 800 MHz system bus and also include support for the existing Intel E8500 chip set. These server platforms, which will be targeted at mid-tier enterprise applications such as database, financial services and supply chain management, will also include a dual, independent system bus, DDR2 Memory, PCI Express, memory RAID and I/O technologies.
Let us know what you think about the story; e-mail: Luke Meredith, News Writer | <urn:uuid:0a0a5e67-7eed-403e-948a-9ff6f7c6e8ae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/news/1132950/Intel-launches-dual-core-Xeon-processor | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944724 | 817 | 1.726563 | 2 |
In Touch with Prairie Living
By Michael M. Miller
Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
North Dakota State University Libraries, Fargo
The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection (GRHC) at the NDSU
Libraries in Fargo reaches out to prairie families and former Dakotans.
In various ways, it affirms the heritage of the Germans from Russia
as an important part of the northern plains culture.
The next Journey to the Homeland Tour is scheduled for late May/early
June, 2004 with final dates to be announced by the fall of 2003.
We are pleased to announce the "Recipe Index Search"
available for use at the GRHC website. The search includes recipe
titles from a variety of ethnic backgrounds,such as Bessarabian,
Black Sea, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Mennonite, Hutterite, Volga,
Crimean, and the Northern and Central Plains of the USA. The cookbook
title, recipe category, recipe name, page number, and person who
submitted the recipe are available through this search. Go to this
GRHC has recently published, "Escape from Troika: The World
War II Chronicle of a Bessarabian Germany", by Oskar Zimmermann,
Anaheim, CA. Mr. Zimmermann has many Zimmerman relatives in south-central
North Dakota. In the preface, Dr. Worth L. Nicholl writes: "Based
on Oskar Zimmermann's diary, which he kept from January 17, 1945,
through the end of the war, and his personal recollections, this
book tells the story of his forced exile from the vanished but beloved
homeland of Bessarabia." The author writes in the Dedication:
"This book is dedicated to the millions of German civilian
refugees who fled from the Eastern Front in early 1945." The
book contains excellent maps and historic photographs. The book
is available at: library.ndsu.edu/grhc/order/general/escape.html.
GRHC has published this new book, "South Dakota Pioneers:
And So It Goes: As I Remember", by Gottlieb (Bud) Bieber, who
was born in 1919 on a farm near Eureka, SD. Gottlieb shares his
story beginning with the 1920s writing of farm life, weddings, country
school, and holidays. In the Forward, Ronald Bieber writes: "Even
though he kept quite busy just e-mailing friends and family, there
was lurking in that fertile brain an author waiting to come out.
the fruits of that endeavor resulted in this book, a labor of love
and a legacy to be treasured for years and generations to come."
The book is available by contacting GRHC or at: library.ndsu.edu/grhc/order/nd_sd/bieber.html.
In cooperation with the Germans from Russia Cultural Preservation
a new videotape, "Reflections with Monsignor Joseph Senger"
is available. A native of Orrin, ND, Monsignor Senger, Minot, shares
his childhood, farm life, and religious life, as a son of German-Russian
immigrants. He shares his story of the emotional and unforgettable
visit in May 2001 to southern Ukraine and his ancestral German villages.
Prairie Public's "Prairie Crosses, Prairie Voices: Iron Crosses
of the Great Plains" is receiving a terrific response from
viewers. Be watching for this third documentary of PPTV's Germans
from Russia series on other PBS stations in 2003. Iron Crosses stand
as sentinels on the prairie landscape, framed by vast expanses of
grass and sky. Although they stand silent, behind each cross is
Mother of Eight Designs, Butte, ND, has developed an "Iron
Cross Memorial Keepsake" which has fine detail. The Keepsake
is rich in symbolism from the cross itself to wheat; prairie - grass
and hearts of prairie roses and the shawl which the German-Russian
women wore. To see the design go to: library.ndsu.edu/grhc/order/keepsakes/ironcross.html.
GRHC has published a new cookbook, "Sharing Our Best Recipes:
Members and Friends of the United Methodist Churches, Medina and
Tappen, ND. There are many German-Russian original recipes included.
Now in GRHC's fifth printing since February 2002: "German
Food & Folkways: Heirloom Memories from Europe, South Russia
& the Great Plains", by Rose Marie Gueldner, Fargo, a native
of Anamoose, ND, is available.
The award-winning documentary videotapes, "The Germans from
Russia: Children of the Steppe, Children of the Prairie" (1999),
and "Schmeckfest: Food Traditions of the Germans from Russia"
(2000), continue to draw much viewer interest, and have been shown
on many PBS stations. Each videotape includes bonus video footage
not shown in the one-hour documentary.
For further information about Germans from Russia heritage, donations
to the Collection including family histories, books, notecards,
videotapes, cookbooks, tours, and the new Recipe Index Search, contact
Michael M. Miller, NDSU Libraries, PO Box 5599, Fargo, ND 58105-5599
(Tel: 701-231-8416; E-mail: Michael.Miller@ndsu.edu;
GRHC website: http://library.ndsu.edu/grhc).
June, 2003 column for North Dakota and South Dakota | <urn:uuid:8a0860cf-a18b-4128-8330-19ac2ee8928e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/articles/newspapers/intouch/2003/intouch0306.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906356 | 1,207 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Osborne House
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Osborne House for DS is rated 10+. Perhaps it should be rated 10-. The puzzles are ridiculously easy to the point where the answer is so simple, you're stuck trying to figure out what you're supposed to do because THAT CAN'T BE THE ANSWER! Case in point, towards the end of the game you're presented with 3 names, where all first names start with same letter and all last names start with same letter. The solution, select those letters, which, for the criminally stupid, are also capitalized. I finished this game in 3 hours, 17 minutes, and that included reading.
There is no difficulty progression throughout the game. In fact, the last puzzle involves moving around boxes to cover up a fuse. There are two minigames, both involving tapping the screen when the object of the game is roughly in the middle of the screen. And don't worry about making too many moves to solve the puzzle, as the game doesn't penalize no matter how many moves you make.
There is one somewhat enjoyable part of the game where you're supposed to rescue the Prime Minister. This area contains the only somewhat difficult puzzle which involves repairing a net. This is also the only place that contains more than 2 scenes where you have to collect different items and use them together.
The writing is horrible. Then again, considering the new Sherlock Holmes comedy, I guess Sherlock Holmes is now mainly about making fun of England. I would assume that if a famous detective would go to the Queen or the Queen's guards and tell them there's a bomb, they would make sure to quickly get out of the way instead of making fun of him and telling him to stop causing a commotion.
The game is mostly linear, the puzzles are childishly easy and the whole thing can be completed in a few hours. Get it for your 10 year old, as long as he hasn't played any puzzle games before. And stay away from this yourself. Professor Layton this is not and if you want a challenge, play submachine. | <urn:uuid:c256f271-cf0a-4964-81e9-671b2918bc10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.ookamikun.com/2011/07/sherlock-holmes-and-mystery-of-osborne.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972844 | 445 | 1.585938 | 2 |
While I may not ultimately buy into everything they believe, I do honor their point of view and make a conscious effort to understand it. Because of this I find my own concept of reality expands, and can see and experience things I never would have otherwise.
Reality, if you think about it, has two parts. There is the underlying reality, or "what is" and there is individual reality "what you perceive and conclude about what is." They're not one and the same, and once you realize that entire worlds open up for you.
To illustrate this lets think about an apple tree. There is this apple tree in a yard and the couple who lives there loves the apples. Every year they harvest them and make applesauce and wonderful pies. The neighborhood kids are welcome to climb the tree and pick apples whenever they want and it makes the couple happy because they have no children of their own and they enjoy their "extended neighborhood family." They often express their gratitude at the gift of apples and it makes them truly happy.
Eventually the couple moves, lets say to a farm with an entire orchard. Doesn't matter. What does matter is that the family who moves in hates the apple tree, thinks it looks ugly and makes the yard messy, and are annoyed having to pick up all the apples and deal with the pesky neighbor kids. Very soon they have that tree removed... and they are happy.
See what I mean here? The underlying reality is the apple tree. It simply is. The reality of the people living in that house however is quite a different thing isn't it? Neither is right or wrong. They simply live in their own world created from their perceptions and conclusions about what is.
For some people this may be too philosophical but it's important if you, like me, are about expansion and gaining knowledge. The more you can step into someone else's reality the more you can understand them, which means for better human relations all around. As a bonus, you expand your own views, which enriches your life and experiences too.
So how do you know when you have an opportunity to expand your way of thinking? I usually get a clue when I find myself judging someone or disagreeing with them off the bat. The stronger the disagreement or emotional reaction the bigger clue that there's something I need to look at.
I may not do it in the moment (especially if I'm fun debating the subject :p) but eventually I usually go back and think about what it is that pushes my buttons. Invariably I'll become aware of my own limited thinking and see opportunities to expand my own perceptions, which I of course do immediately ;^)
Wow this world is so cool.... I love being here! | <urn:uuid:ae7676d1-19d2-425e-a87f-3ac63e144f20> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mariagetsreal.com/2012_03_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978866 | 559 | 1.960938 | 2 |
The USS Culver is an Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigate based at the Naval Yard in Center City Maryland.
In the Summer of 2009, the Culver was ordered to assist in picket duty around a meteorological anomaly in the Atlantic Ocean. The anomaly was a fog bank that would not burn off in the summer heat and was in fact growing regularly.
Following an incident in which Xue Zen confronted an immense undead dragon that destroyed a local fishing boat, the Vanguard asked the Navy’s assistance in keeping local shipping traffic away from the fog.
While on patrol, the Culver was caught in a sudden expansion of the fog and was transported to the Magic World from which it could not escape. It was transformed into a humongous wooden warship of unknown design. The Navy sailors were attacked by a force led by Delphine, Mezlo, and Dok. The attacking force captured the Culver and utilized it for their own purposes.
The Vanguard encountered the Culver during their trip to the Magic World, defeating the pirates and retaking the vessel. The Culver suffered severe damage to her gun placements during the battle. | <urn:uuid:83378cd5-5539-4d15-a421-ced07d365704> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/neilgeo/wikis/uss-culver | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971884 | 233 | 1.539063 | 2 |
by Rakks | June 1st, 2012
Environmentally conscious architects and designers are thinking outside of the box when it comes to a starting point for their projects. How can they create sustainable low-impact buildings and spaces without sacrificing style and aesthetics?
In the last decade or so, the answer has been upcycling. According to Upcycle Magazine, upcycling is “taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted and giving it new life as something that is either useful or creative. This seemingly basic concept has sparked an exciting revolution with this generation.”
Recently, retired shipping crates have become the answer to the sustainability question. Shipping crates are large, there are millions of them (TheDailyGreen), and they are often left to rot when unneeded – allowing chemicals and metals to seep into the ground and as they rust away. Since they already exist, using them for architectural projects makes no difference in their carbon footprint. And although they are for the most part standard in size and shape, architects and designers are seeing this as a challenge and not a stumbling block.
The article points out how easy shipping container-restaurants are to transport, aiding in the growth of a chain.
Shipping containers are becoming common in luxury homes as well, as evidenced in this home design by De Maria Design.
As evidenced below, the dominating interior style of shipping container buildings is one of modernity. The recent uptick in these sustainable buildings among the younger generation of architects ensures that container interiors will remain on the forefront of design innovation.
Read this great article on how to purchase and create your own shipping container building here! | <urn:uuid:db4398be-dfbd-4215-8a66-256f29352890> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rakks.com/blog/style-spy-sustainable-and-stylish-shipping-container-architecture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963117 | 333 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Paul Smith is a Conservator working at State Records NSW
The petition is from 1862 and was initiated in protest to the sentencing of William Spicer, who was convicted for his involvement in rioting against the Chinese community at Lambing Flats gold fields in 1861. The individual collated sheets of signatures were pasted together, 2 abreast and then end to end to form a single 13 metre long document. For storage, the petition was folded in half lengthways, and then compactly rolled over and over.
The problem for anyone who wanted to read the document was that in order to open up the petition, the entire length needed to be unrolled first. Once unrolled, there was the issue of trying to safely open a 13 metre fold! Most of the pages were in relatively good condition, but there were signs of wear and strain due to the way it had been constructed. What was required was to repair the tears and relieve some of the inherent tension, and then to come up with an adequate storage solution.
Because the petition is made up of sheets of paper of varying sizes, getting it all to fit had inherent problems. Slightly larger sheets would be loose and liable to crease when they were stuck to a smaller sheet, whereas the smaller sheet would potentially tear. Also, some of the signatures were pasted underneath corresponding sheets.
The petition was unrolled along a cleared corridor and then three conservators carefully unfolded it. It was then rolled back onto a large cardboard cylinder, where it could be un-wound a little at a time for repair.
Most of the pasted pages needed to be released and re-aligned. Animal glue swells and softens with water, but care must be taken as too much moisture can create further stains or make soluble inks run.
Water was introduced through a membrane that allowed better control over the moisture penetrating the document. The paste eventually swelled and softened enough to be able to lift the pages and re-attach.
Once released, excess animal glue was cleaned and where needed, the pages were flattened and repaired. Then they were finally re-attached using repair tissue and wheat-starch paste. The newly repaired section of the scroll was rolled on a bit further and the repair process continued.
One aspect of being only able to work on a small section at a time was that it made it very difficult to judge the overall alignment of the scroll. Adjusting all of those pages did not make it easy to roll the petition neatly. To give it some room to move, it was inter-leaved with a length of Remay tissue (spun polyester) and loosely rolled onto a cardboard cylinder. A new box was made where the weight of the petition could be held by the edges of the cylinder and not the actual document.
The treatment resulted in the petition moving from within a relatively small file to rehousing it into a rather large and complicated box. Still, at least we can now read what it has to say. And for the record, it seems that the appeal did not work and William Spicer was forced to remain in prison.
Edited to change the title of the post from “Rolling back into history (Conserving an 1862 Lambing Flat Petition) to “Rolling back into history (Conserving a 13 metre petition from 1862)” following information provided by Jean Little and Max Thomas. Both sources noted that while the petition concerned William Spicers’ sentence stemming from his conviction for participating in the Lambing Flat riots, the petition itself originated in the Lachlan River Gold Fields and therefore the title was misleading. | <urn:uuid:576864ea-9fff-493a-b974-3171a0399935> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://archivesoutside.records.nsw.gov.au/rolling-back-into-history-conserving-an-1862-lambing-flat-petition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981372 | 735 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Non-infected babies born to HIV positive mothers should be vaccinated early against measles, to avoid them acquiring the virus or passing it on to others.
A study published in the November issue of Acta Paediatrica found that even if babies are born without HIV, their maternally derived protection against measles may be impaired by their mother's positive HIV status.
"The eradication of measles is high on the agendas of the World Health Organization and other international agencies and it is important to define and target any new group of susceptible infants" says Dr Lars Smedman from the Department of Paediatrics at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
According to the World Health Organization, measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children. Complications of this highly contagious, serious disease can include bacterial pneumonia, blindness, destructive ear infections, severe diarrhoea and related dehydration.
In 2010 there were 139,300 deaths globally, which equates to 380 a day or 15 an hour. However, in 1980, before widespread immunisation, measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths a year. Immunisations have risen by 72% since 2000 and in 2010 about 85 per cent of the World's children received one dose of the measles vaccine by their first birthday.
Dr Smedman and colleagues compared blood serum samples from ten babies aged one to four months who were born to HIV mothers, but had not acquired the infection, to ten healthy babies born to mothers without HIV.
The mothers ranged from 26 to 35 years of age, were all immigrants and originated from Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast, Uganda, Kenya and Thailand. Their viral loads ranged from less than 20 to 8,870 and their CD4 cell counts from 237 to 754.
Nine gave birth by planned or emergency caesarean, with only one vaginal birth, and the gestational age of the babies ranged from 32 to 41 weeks. | <urn:uuid:5a8bb458-8f8d-43dd-99aa-f3f8e1292d6f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.news-medical.net/news/20121019/Babies-born-to-HIV-positive-mothers-more-likely-to-acquire-measles.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968138 | 393 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Raleigh-Cary has been named the Healthiest Housing market in 2011 by Builder Magazine.
The results of the study which is based on a number of metrics show the Carolina’s and Texas as really leading the way out of the housing slump.
The Raleigh market as in other parts of North Carolina did not go hog wild ( I like that saying) back in the boom years and so prices did not have to go far to be in line with the market.
The factors influencing the growth of the Raleigh-Cary area and the Triangle area in general, are the employment opportunities, a large college educated population, growing industries like bio-technology, computer science, certain manufacturing.
The availability of affordable housing, a wonderful climate with four seasons, access to the ocean and the mountains.
The schools in parts of the Triangle are some of the best in the country. Three major universities, Duke, NC State, and UNC at Chapel Hill are all based in the Triangle and draw a tremendous amount of students from all over the country and the world and some of them never leave, in fact their parents move here after visiting! This source of very well educated, doctors, scientists, engineers, computer programmers attract employers who are also drawn to the area for the lower cost of doing business here.
The other areas of the Carolina’s that ranked were Durham-Chapel Hill , at number 3 and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia at number 8.
Call (919) 601-2268 or email irishdavid2011@gmail .com | <urn:uuid:096bef9a-7235-4cca-8d3e-e4c1081cdae2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davidhodoherty.com/channels/activerain/topics/raleigh_housing_market | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956865 | 321 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Modern Portfolio Theory and Behavioral Finance - JWM
By GREGORY CURTIS
There is nothing quite like a Nobel Prize to focus the investing public’s attention. Harry Markowitz developed the concept of mean variance optimization in the early 1950s,2 but it wasn’t until he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1990 that most investors began to develop a keen interest in efficient frontiers. In 2002, Daniel Kahneman won the Nobel for his work in behavioral finance, and suddenly investors everywhere are looking at behavioral finance techniques to improve their riskadjusted performance. In fact, Kahneman (and his colleague, Amos Tversky)3 did their key work back in the 1970s. | <urn:uuid:f48deead-7ddc-48db-a50a-eeadc8cd2eb3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://knightsbridgesearch.com/site/?page_id=66 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95008 | 145 | 1.726563 | 2 |
When it comes to tackling clutter, it's okay to take shortcuts, says Jeff Bredenberg. Instead of worrying about being a perfectionist or implementing some complex organizational scheme, opt for simple, real-life solutions that work for you, he says. Peter talks with Jeff, author of How to Cheat at Organizing: Quick, Clutter-Clobbering Ways to Simplify Your Life, about his pared-down tips for decluttering.
Strip: Pull everything out of the cluttered storage area, pantry and closet so you can assess what you have.
Scrap: From foods you never eat to clothes you never wear, throw away the stuff that is "no longer good, no longer relevant to your here-and-now life," Jeff says.
Sort: Put like things with like. "Cluster them together into easily understood groupings," he says.
Store: Return items back into their appropriate storage areas using proper storage bins and boxes.
Jeff also shares these clutter-busting tips:
Celebrate throwing things out. Jeff says we need to balance the desire to acquire new possessions with an equal and opposite desire to toss out old, unused things.
Go for quality, not quantity. Whether it's tools or shoes or clothes, instead of buying lots of poor-quality stuff, invest in fewer items of higher quality that will last much longer.
Buy duplicates. Rather than lugging things around or scrambling to find what you need, simply keep duplicates of essentials items in various locations such as your gym bag, car or bathroom. "At any time in your life, these items are instantly accessible to you when you need them," Jeff says. | <urn:uuid:f6826b59-7692-498f-babf-621b71774a81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/How-to-Cheat-at-Organizing/print/1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948815 | 347 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Today’s post is from Bruce Klaw (here), an Assistant Professor of Law at Keimyung University in South Korea. Klaw discusses his recent scholarship “A New Strategy for Preventing Bribery and Extortion in International Business Transactions” recently published in the Harvard Journal on Legislation (see here to download the article).
I’d like to thank Professor Koehler for this opportunity to write about my article and more importantly, for running FCPA Professor, an invaluable resource for scholars and practitioners alike.
With that said, let me introduce my article with a bit of context, using two stories of FCPA violations in Mexico:
The first story involves Tyson de Mexico, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc., a U.S. issuer subject to the FCPA. From 1994 to 2006, Tyson de Mexico made approximately $350,000 worth of secret payments to veterinarians employed by the Mexican government to inspect Tyson’s facilities after those veterinarians expressly threatened to disrupt the operations of two of its chicken processing plants. When Tyson voluntarily disclosed the extorted payments to U.S. enforcement authorities, it was forced to pay $5.2 million in penalties as part of a non-prosecution agreement and settlement with the S.E.C. concluded in early 2011. (See here for the previous FCPA Professor post).
The second story involves Wal-Mart, which became the focus of significant FCPA attention when the New York Times broke a story in April about an alleged pattern of bribery of Mexican officials in order to facilitate the expansion of Wal-Mart’s business south of the border. (See here for the previous FCPA Professor post). The real kicker of the Wal-Mart story, however, was not the fact that bribes were paid to local officials in apparent violation of the FCPA, but rather that top level executives at Wal-Mart’s U.S. headquarters learned about the apparent misconduct through an internal investigation but effectively hushed it, choosing not to disclose the matter to U.S. enforcement officials until their hand was forced by The Times several years later.
The Tyson and Wal-Mart cases illustrate a number of the problems inherent within the FCPA that are identified within the article:
1) its one-sided focus on only the supply-side of bribery transactions (i.e., the payer) and not the corrupt government recipients who may solicit or demand them;
2) its failure to meaningfully account for the circumstances under which payments are made or legally distinguish between bribery and extortion; and
3) its paradoxical reliance on voluntary disclosure as the primary means of detection and corresponding penalization of companies that voluntarily disclose such payments.
As a result of these flaws and others identified within the article, the U.S. anti-corruption regime establishes a structure that all but encourages bribery and extortion in international business transactions to remain secret and pervasive. Many companies, including Wal-Mart, may well be making the choice to try to keep their payments to foreign officials secret rather than risk the almost certain negative consequences of disclosure.
This is what my article seeks to address.
In this piece, I argue that the focus of the U.S. anti-corruption strategy should be shifted from punishment to prevention. To accomplish this end, the article argues for a number of detailed and significant changes to the FCPA, which implemented together, should better serve the interests of justice and provide the appropriate incentive structure for substantially reducing international bribery and extortion.
Chief among the changes I propose is decriminalizing the act of giving bribes to foreign officials. Decriminalization is not only morally appropriate in some cases (i.e., when a company like Tyson makes a payment to a foreign official in response to an extortionate demand), but also is likely to prevent bribery in the long run. Decriminalization will help bring corruption out of the shadows, have a nominal impact on the number of bribes offered, and ultimately reduce the incidence of bribe solicitation and acceptance by foreign officials.
In place of criminalization, I argue Congress should focus on strengthening payment disclosure requirements. Congress should impose upon all companies subject to U.S. jurisdiction a strict requirement of mandatory disclosure of all bribe solicitations by foreign officials, and all payments to foreign intermediaries or foreign officials above a certain monetary threshold, similar to the requirement currently imposed on financial institutions to report suspicious activity.
Once disclosed and investigated, payments to foreign officials will tend to fall into two categories: willing and unwilling. The distinction rests on the presence or absence of express or implicit coercive extortion by a public official. By following the natural implications of such a distinction—that criminals should be punished and victims should be compensated—the law can incentivize the disclosure of corruption, enable the true victims of such corruption to take action against the wrongdoer, and facilitate restitution where appropriate.
In the case of truthfully disclosed unwilling payments to foreign officials, such payers should be entitled to restitution and granted safe harbor to insulate them not only from U.S. enforcement action, but also from private civil litigation, the threat of which currently impedes disclosure.
Bribes made willingly, on the other hand, should be publicly disclosed so that foreign governments may prosecute and take other action to rescind tainted contracts. Likewise, upon disclosure and after the creation of a limited private right of action under the FCPA (for which I also argue in the article), competitors harmed by such unfair business practices may take action against those willing payers to recover their damages. After all, why should the U.S. government devote its resources to prosecuting bribe-givers when business competitors and foreign governments stand ready and willing, in most cases, to police violators at a fraction of the cost to U.S. taxpayers?
Finally, I argue that to address the demand-side of bribery, Congress should expand extraterritorial U.S. jurisdiction under the FCPA to prosecute foreign officials who solicit or demand unwilling payments if foreign governments are unwilling or unable to do so.
By addressing the problems and implementing the prescriptions I have laid out in the article, it is hoped that the occurrence of bribery and extortion in international business transactions may be substantially reduced.
As highlighted in various previous posts, discussed in my “foreign official” declaration (here), and will be discussed in greater detail in my forthcoming scholarship “The Story of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” (Ohio State Law Journal), addressing the foreign corporate payments problem discovered in the mid-1970′s via a disclosure approach (vs. the current criminalization approach) was favored by the Ford administration. President Ford’s point person on the issue was Elliot Richardson (Secretary of Commerce) who, in a letter to Senator William Proxmire, summarized the work of the Ford Task Force as follows. “The Task Force has concluded that the criminalization approach would represent little more than a policy assertion, for the enforcement of such a law would be very difficult if not impossible. [...] The criminal approach would represent poor public policy. [...] At the same time, the Task Force perceived several very positive attributes of systematic disclosure.”
President Ford stated as follows. “The reporting requirement covers a broad range of payments relative to government transactions as well as political contributions and payments made directly to foreign public officials. By requiring reporting of all significant payments, whether proper or improper, made in connection with business with foreign government, the legislation will avoid the difficult problems of definition and proof that arise in the context of enforcement of legislation that seeks to deal specifically with bribery and extortion abroad.”
The disclosure regime was rejected by Congressional leaders. A Senate Report stated as follows. “The Committee concluded that an outright prohibition would be at least as feasible to enforce as any meaningful disclosure requirement. [...] Clearly, in order to enforce such a disclosure requirement and apply sanctions for failure to file reports, it would be necessary to prove that the undisclosed payment was actually made, and that it was made with an improper purpose. Thus, the same evidence necessary to prove a violation of a direct prohibition would have to be marshalled in order to enforce a disclosure statute. Accordingly, the Committee concluded that a disclosure approach has at least the same enforcement problems inherent in the direct prohibition approach and none of its advantages.”
Jimmy Carter (who favored a criminalization approach over a disclosure approach) defeated Ford in the 1976 election and the rest is history. | <urn:uuid:81d16eb4-44f9-43ce-95f6-5ff636b4ca1b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fcpaprofessor.com/category/fcpa-scholarship/page/3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9534 | 1,717 | 1.859375 | 2 |
37:3 By those who bring the Dhikr.
ٌِاََ َُْـَِإ نِإ
37:4 Verily, your God is indeed One;
ِقِـََْا بَرَو َََُْ َﻡَو ِضْراَو ِتَـَا بر
37:5 Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and allthat is between them, and Lord of every point of thesun's risings.
The angels witness to the Oneness of Allah
It was reported that Abdullah bin Mas`ud, may Allah be pleasedwith him, said:
By those ranged in ranks. -- “they are the angels;
َِاَ اًَْز ِتا
By those who drive the clouds in a good way.they are the angels;
By those who bring the
.they are the angels;"This was also the view of Ibn Abbas, may Allah bepleased with him, Masruq, Sa`id bin Jubayr,Ikrimah, Mujahid, As-Suddi, Qatadah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas. | <urn:uuid:c7d47a45-fdda-4eaa-a25d-9f75189fe90d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scribd.com/doc/35038351/15/The-Tree-of-Zaqqum-and-its-Companions | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922122 | 281 | 1.507813 | 2 |
A signature is a piece of text and wikicode which identifies you as the author of a block of text. It contains an automatic link to your user page, making it easy for others to learn more about you and communicate with you. The date contained in the signature also indicates how current the discussion is and the order in which comments were made.
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In these cases, you might want to add an additional nickname to your signature that is more understandable on that wiki. For example, you could use something like [[User:快樂|快樂 (Happiness)]] or [[User:快樂|快樂 (Felicidad)]] in the Custom signature: field.
Where can I find more help?
The English Wikipedia has various pages relating to signing comments, and to making comments in general, which may help to guide your project's development of signature and talk page policies. | <urn:uuid:5bfd23e8-ffa4-40ae-b8ae-c7b0cadb33b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dungeons.wikia.com/wiki/Help:Signature | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935678 | 681 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Department of Counseling Receives Prestigious Award
Marymount’s Department of Counseling is one of only three institutions nationwide to be recognized with the 2011 National Board for Certified Counselors Professional Identity Award... READ MORE ABOUT IT
ABOUT MU's PROGRAM
Successful performance as an ethical, professional, and caring counselor requires that you integrate theoretical and research-based knowledge with therapeutic skills and personal care, and Marymount’s program is designed to help guide you in this development. Marymount’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will prepare you to function as an effective counselor in a wide variety of settings.
The Washington metropolitan area offers rich opportunities for clinical field experiences with a variety of human service agencies.
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). (The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by CACREP as a Community Counseling program.) By providing students with the knowledge and skills recognized as important for counselors as outlined by CACREP and the Board of Professional Counselors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the program seeks to prepare graduates for success in the clinical, consultative, and supervisory tasks they will encounter as future licensed professional counselors. | <urn:uuid:f81cd14d-51d5-43e4-8e23-7e8d75fc3084> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marymount.edu/academics/programs/cmhc/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932092 | 255 | 1.5 | 2 |
Denison’s tallest residents
The leafy trees lining the walkways on campus have always been special to Denison, but the college’s first arboretum makes it official.
Denison’s Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee recently developed an arboretum that preserves 34 of the campus’s most visible trees, all native species of Ohio, for education and enjoyment. Each tree has a plaque containing a QR code (a square bar code graphic that can be scanned by mobile devices) that links to the Denison University Arboretum website containing identifying information.
Warren Hauk, associate professor of biology, explained that the arboretum will “provide an opportunity for students and visitors to learn about trees native to this state, and to appreciate and love them as part of our heritage.”
The arboretum seemed like a natural next step after the Arbor Day Foundation re-certified Denison as a Tree Campus, USA for another year. As part of the planning process, the Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee inventoried every single tree on campus – all 3,000 of them.
Jeremy King, the campus sustainability coordinator, plans to expand the arboretum through innovative new ways. He helped to develop an opportunity for people to memorialize an existing tree or donate a new one from a list of species needed for the arboretum. If desired, the tree’s plaque can contain a link to memorial information.
King is also working on a carbon-offset program that will allow people traveling to Denison for business to donate a tree to the arboretum or bio reserve.
“We’re giving people a choice to engage and connect,” said King, a member of the Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee.
Hauk plans to teach a class in the fall that identifies the native trees of Ohio, starting with the ones right here on campus.
“We always think of other places as exotic, but we never consider that what we have here is really valuable,” said Hauk, a member of the Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee. “There’s a lot to be proud of in Ohio.”
Two tours of the arboretum were given on Wednesday. Hauk gave tips on identifying the trees, as well as insight on the history of their economic uses. Those interested in signing up for future tours can contact Jeremy King at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:99000be6-106d-49c6-b80f-4adfd00fba3e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.denison.edu/theden/2012/04/denisons-tallest-residents/?show=most-read | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941865 | 518 | 2.15625 | 2 |
Once as common as backyard gardens, home canning declined as a mainstream kitchen activity after World War II. Today, however, it's making a comeback, and for good reason: It's an ideal way to preserve a garden's yield and support local farms by buying in bulk.
Beyond eco-benefits, there are health ones, too. For starters, you control what's in the jar. So that's sugar in your jam, not high-fructose corn syrup, and dill in your relish, not MSG. Home-canned foods can even have an edge over fresh; for instance, our bodies more readily absorb the antioxidant lycopene from canned tomatoes than from those straight off the vine. Plus, once canned, food is stable and high-quality for at least a year.
Expect your foray into canning (preferably with help from friends or family) to be hot, sticky work that consumes all your counter space and clean kitchen towels. But the rewards -- particularly when homemade chutney gives September's golden spark to a winter meal -- are glorious.
Supplies are sold at hardware stores, supermarkets, Amazon.com or Freshpreserving.com (the official website of Ball, the consummate canning resource). Expect to pay $40 to $80 for a complete boiling-water canner set. Here's what you'll need to get started.
1. Gather all the necessary equipment, and prep it in advance.
2. Wash jars and lids with soapy water, dry bands, and set aside.
3. Place jars in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a simmer. Put lids in a separate pot of hot water. Leave jars and lids in water until ready to fill.
Safety note: Make sure to use a safety-tested recipe printed after 1989, when the USDA added new guidelines for home canners.
Check your supplies. Bands should screw evenly over lids; jars should be free of scratches or chips, which could cause seal failure during processing or sealing.
Don't reuse lids. Jars and bands can be recycled, but the flat lids are one-time use only.
Cool carefully. Never place hot jars directly on kitchen counters; the glass might crack. Use a dish towel or a cooling rack instead. | <urn:uuid:12099bbb-5b26-411f-aa9e-12a494e67ef7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wholeliving.com/136447/canning-recipes-and-tips-pickles-sauces-jams-and-more/@center/136760/seasonal-foods | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93556 | 478 | 2.296875 | 2 |
India covers a bigger land area than Europe, and has 18 regional languages. The country is divided into 28 states – all but two of which house more than a million people. Political, economic and religious considerations vary wildly from state to state.
Nine hundred million people in India live on less than two dollars per day – so it may be hard to find buyers for luxury and high-end consumer goods. However business opportunities are manifold; the UK is currently India’s second-largest trading partner, and the UK exports more to India than any other developing country.
Capital: New Delhi
Other major cities: Kolkata, Mumbai, Kanpur, Chennai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Nagpur, Pune
Language: Hindi, English
Key trade partners: US, UK
Each state in India has its own industrial strengths. For example tractors, bikes and auto parts are essential in the Punjab, cement and ceramics are crucial in Rajasthan and minerals are integral to Chhattisgarh.
India is now a world power in several industries including IT, automotives, pharamaceuticals and agricultural produce.
India’s rapid development presents clear opportunities for British firms in a number of areas, including transport, power and construction.
Advertising and distribution
India’s broadcasting industry is booming with the introduction of satellite television, and advertisers can make real headway by running commercials on popular channels such as ZEE and Sony TV.
Other advertising streams may be less profitable; the mail service in India remains fairly slow, so avenues such as direct marketing may prove fruitless.
Given the complexities of the Indian market, it’s probably best to recruit a local advertising agency to help you promote your product. Mumbai remains the major advertising centre, so you should start by looking for a company based there.
Culture and etiquette
Although Hindi is the official national language, spoken by almost half the population, English is the language of business, so it’s sensible to expect the company you’re trading with to have a reasonable grasp.
Decades of British rule have left behind a rigid class system, manifest in a strict business hierarchy. In most Indian companies, the big boss holds all the power; rather than delegating authority, they like to do as much as possible themselves and run the firm with direct instruction. If you want to get something done, it’s best to go right to the top.
If you end up dealing with someone lower down the chain of command, you’ll need to be very clear on what you want them to do. Indian business culture is based on instruction, not initiative – staff are used to working to explicit directions.
Meetings and correspondence
The style of meetings in India can vary greatly. Some companies, seeking to copy Western business practice, insist on the sort of meetings common in Britain or Europe – very formal, with an emphasis on structure and punctuality.
However other firms – often those in rural areas or traditional industries – pursue a more laid-back approach to meetings, so be prepared for disruption and even chaos in such cases!
If you’re meeting a doctor or professor, be sure to refer to them by their title at all times; India’s educated classes are proud of their position and expect to be given respect.
Be prepared to give and receive gifts – this is a vital part of business protocol in India, and you run the risk of appearing very rude if you don’t grasp it. Just make sure any gifts you bear are not ostentatious, and you receive presents with both hands.
Customs and export documents
In most cases, you can ship goods into India without a licence, although there are exceptions – so it’s best to check with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Go to their website to see a list of the various contacts available.
To export to India, you need to consider various payments including basic and additional customs duty, anti-dumping duty and a customs handling fee. To see which ones apply to you, contact the UKTI’s India team.
Other things to bear in mind
In India, it is rare for a man to shake hands with a woman – so if you are dealing with a a member of the opposite sex, wait for them to initiate the greeting.
The majority of Indians avoid meat, cigarettes and alcohol – this could be extremely important if you’re taking a customer out for a meal.
The India Pakistan Trade Unit is a good place to start, and you can get loads of great information via the Indian government’s Central Board of Excise and Customs. As mentioned, the UKTI also provides excellent advice for anyone considering exporting to India. | <urn:uuid:0163698c-be15-40d6-bb5f-07f77ee44331> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.startups.co.uk/UtilityPages/Print.aspx?nodeId=6678842909969973774 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940826 | 979 | 2.015625 | 2 |
I recently watched a film called Mickybo And Me, a 2004 Irish comedy-drama about the lives of two nine-year-old friends from opposite sides of the political divide in Belfast in the 1970s; a period when a civil conflict known (rather unassumingly) as The Troubles was in full swing.
The Troubles was easily the most prolonged period of open warfare in modern Irish history. Spanning nearly 30 years, and with it’s venom backed up by centuries of ethno-political resentment, it lay claim to some of the most gritty, horrific and macabre scenes of human atrocity committed in western Europe. Bombings, massacres, gunfights and knee-cappings were a daily fixture of the Belfast landscape during this time, earning the city the rather dubious reputation of being one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
Which is maybe why, after watching this film, I can maybe understand why the young protagonists were… absolute wee fuckin’ shites, as they’d say back home. Watching these young children swear at their elders, spit on complete strangers and threaten each other with penknives had me wondering exactly what sort of country I’d come from. Do they not teach these wains (wee ‘uns) anything?
I mean, can you imagine a nine-year-old coming out with stuff like this, verbatim;
“What the fuck you lookin’ at? You lookin’ decked, fuckhead?”
“You’re such a fuckin’ wee girl! Fuck off, pishy knickers, go fuck yerself!”
“You fuckin’ startin’? I’ll FUCKIN’ KILL YE.”
I couldn’t either, but then I had a startling revelation…
When I was a child, I found this sort of behaviour normal myself!!
It’s true! I can remember being surrounded by exactly the same sort of debauchery when I was a young’un.
So, what does that say about northern Irish society?
To answer that question, let’s take a quick history lesson, so we can put it all into context…
A Troubled Birth
Northern Ireland, as a political entity, is one built upon apprehension and suspicion. The very context of the it’s birth — a reactionary measure on the part of Ireland’s northern Protestants to keep the north of Ireland under British control in a time when Irish independence was sweeping the rest of the island— ensured that it came into the world snarling and gnashing like a rat trapped into a corner.
As a state, Northern Ireland was born with it’s back inherently against the wall. It was controlled by a Protestant government who, above all else, sought to defend the province at all costs from the influence and grasp of the largely Catholic South. To northern Irish Protestants, the severing and subsequent protection of the north from the rest of the island was their last stand in the fight for what they saw as their freedom to practice British values.
Ironically, in the northern Protestant pursuit to avoid becoming a minority in an independent Irish state, a sizable minority was formed in the native Catholics that found themselves living within the boundaries of the new Protestant-controlled state. These Catholics, who affiliated more with the culture and values of the South, suddenly found themselves isolated in a province where the governing body treated them with immediate suspicion and hostility. As a result, tensions rose between the two polarised communities and, combined with increasingly militant tactics on both sides, eventually culminated in the 30 years of open warfare we know now as The Troubles.
These are the very bare bones of the conflict, and it would take books upon books of writing to explain it fully and fairly. However, it is within this context that I again put forward my original question; in such a society, is it hard to imagine a nine year old child spewing some of the verbal depravity I listed earlier?
Does it really become surprising anymore?
In a province where grown adults have been hurling not just insults, but bombs and gunfire for generations, is it surprising that such deeply-embedded hostility trickles down to the next generation?
Suddenly, the answer seems to be a resounding “no.”
A Cold Exterior
Whilst the cold days of The Troubles are now over, a lot of the residue from those times is still hugely prevalent. Viewing Northern Ireland from my newly-external perspective, it now surprises me to see how deeply embedded a sense of headstrong vigilance is within every facet of northern Irish society. The northern Irish sense of humour, for example, is more dark and blunt than that generally found in the US. Likewise, the attitude towards life’s intricacies is more bull-headed and workmanlike and a lot of things perhaps considered shocking elsewhere are considered quite trivial. These are differences that I have personally had to learn hands-on as I adjust to life in the US- I’m pretty sure I’ve offended a few people more than once with my “sleggin’!”
Heck, even the facial features of your average northern Irishman seem to reflect an ingrained toughness. Any native reading this post will be able to testify to the northern Irishman’s natural ability to pull off a truly intimidating, piercing scowl; something that seems to hold a purpose similar to the horns of a bull, or the stripes of a wasp. It is there to warn you. It’s there to warn you not to fuck with this person, because this person’s lineage has seen enough violence throughout the years to become completely accustomed to it.
Case Study: Belfast Dad
I tend to make these sorts of wee observations when I’m in the middle of travelling between Ireland and the US; usually during a layover at Newark airport. There, I find I have the uncanny ability to point out a Belfast dad long before he confirms it with his accent, and it’s become a little game I like to play with myself. I’ve already listed most of the giveaways above, with the only addition generally being a a bright-red, livid sunburn-face that suggests both a lack of ability to tan and too many years of Ulster frys. It’s something I personally find quite endearing.
Heck, even Dublin dad, usually found sitting nearby, is more passive looking- often entertaining himself with a pack of Dunkin’ Donuts whilst sharing small talk with his son. Belfast dad does not. Belfast dad is often too busy blaring loudly at his wife about which US coin is which;
“Dat DUR is a frickin’ quartur, and dat DUR is a diiieeeme. SEE NOW!?”
And you know what? I find this bluntness charming as hell.
A Warm Interior
If it has all sounded like I’m creating a negative, sincere tough-guy view of Northern Ireland so far, please be assured that I’m not. This is all just a basis for my concluding point.
You see, there is another strain of resilience within northern Irish society that I’ve failed to mention thus far. One that contradicts the hard-headed exterior I’ve described up till now- it is an optimism and warmth that attests to a staunch refusal to stop looking towards the light, even in the darkest times of The Troubles.
Through this stubborn determination to enjoy life even when things have seemed at their worst, the northern Irish have developed an ability to express an empathy and compassion for others that —to this day in my travels— has yet to be bettered. Whilst Northern Ireland’s society is pluralised, both communities share a unity in having taken their bloody history of conflict and created a delightfully unique and interesting view of the world that resonates wonderfully in their humour, their art, their uncanny ability to empathise and, above all, make you feel like you’re in good company.
In closing, if you ever meet someone from the north of Ireland/Nothern Ireland/whatever-you-want-to-call-it on your worldly travels, don’t worry if they initially seem alarming. We don’t mean to bite!
As a people, we’ve just had it a little tough in the past.
Give us a chance, and you’ll quickly find we’re the greatest people in the world.
Watch Mickybo And Me online via Megavideo; | <urn:uuid:3fe610ae-06bb-444a-87b9-4d3b15198a14> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.davemcelfatrick.com/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959343 | 1,802 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Report criticizes recall process, questions U.S. commitment to kids
Fewer children's products are being recalled these days, but it's not because the products are safer, says a news report from Kids In Danger. It's because the recall practices are faulty.
The Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to improving children's products studied monthly recalls released by the federal Consumer Produce Safety Commission in 2003. The findings show that companies and manufacturers promoting cognitive learning coated their products in lead paint, children's clothing manufacturers used flammable fabrics, night-lights exploded and crib mobiles leaked battery acid.
In addition, the organization found that children's products accounted for only 30 percent of all recalls in 2003, down from from 50 percent in 1999.
"We need to be aware of what regulatory companies are doing to protect us and our children," says executive director Nancy Cowles. "There are no mandatory standards for products. We think that perhaps [companies] aren't looking as closely as they should. As parents, we assume more is being done than what really is."
Based on the findings, Kids In Danger reccomends stricter mandatory safety standards and independent testing before the products hit the shelves, Cowles says. For more information, call (312) 595-0649 or visit www.KidsInDanger.org.
The following products were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission from Feb. 16 to March 16. For more information, call (800) 638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.
• Webster Activity Spider Toy, Mary Meyer Corp. The spider has plush, stuffed feet that can detach, posing a choking hazard for young children.
• Legacy Cribs, Child Craft Industries. The slats on the drop-side rail can loosen and detach, posing a risk of injury or strangulation.
• Children's rings, Brand Imports. The rings contain high levels of lead, posing a risk of lead poisoning.
• Wooden Music Radios, Schylling Associates. The turning knob and antennae may break off, posing a choking hazard and exposing sharp edges.
• Space heaters, Lasko Products. The power cord can overheat and detach from the unit, posing a fire hazard or risk of burning. Ashley Ernst | <urn:uuid:b405e27d-5e5c-4433-ab88-0500bedf6d1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chicagoparent.com/magazines/archives/2004/recall-roundup-(8) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936009 | 475 | 2.46875 | 2 |
Typing Tent Trick
No matter how often you tell some people about the Learning Tips in this nimblefingers.com web site, they will not listen.
Yet they need to follow a proven sequence
to develop the correct finger - keystroke reaches
that are needed.
The tent trick will get their attention.
Students should not progress beyond keys "g" and "h" unless they are able to key the home row without looking at their hands.
In a learning environment, a human instructor can be of great assistance. Tape a piece of paper to the top of the keyboard, making a tent. When students put their hands inside the "tent," they cannot see their fingers.
They are forced to concentrate on the proper key stroke.
Or, if you don't want to construct a tent, hold a piece of paper over their hands and ask them to key an exercise.
If the learners appear upset, ask them to re-key the home row exercises. They have to train their fingers to be "nimble." It is OK to look at the finger-keystroke on the screen provided their brain, not their eyes, tells their fingers what to do.
Guidance is needed so that the correct skills will be developed. Posture must be erect with feet flat on the floor. Wrists should be level with the keyboard and fingers should be curved. In a classroom environment, the instructor can point this out. In a private environment, the "Little Professor" can offer advice based on a detailed error analysis.
Getting Started: Confusion
When using one of the Nimble Finger's programs in the home environment, seek a quiet place. Then start up the program and proceed. If you canít find a quiet place, try to get in a zone where you can block out activities around you. That way you can concentrate on the task of learning to improve your skills.
However, teaching to a group of students, is an entirely different task. Students seem to get "hyper" around computers, and its difficult to get them to settle down and listen to what you have to say.
If the first meeting is in the computer lab, the distractions will be too great. Students will be scrambling to get preferred seats. They will be looking at the equipment, and not listening to directions from the instructor.
If possible, conduct the first class meeting in a normal teaching environment such as a classroom.
A few suggestions for the first meeting.
Physically arrange the students according to where you want them to sit when they reach the lab. Then carefully go over the seating assignments with each student, one at a time.
Have a class outline prepared. This outline should contain the assignments, due dates, test dates, and class policies. Discuss the computer lab rules and hours of availability.
Positively do not tolerate drinking, eating, roaming around, and ďhorse play.Ē Remind them that they are there to learn, not to talk. This is not a social hour.
Here are some of the typical student questions and comments. These are not ďfirst day questions. All students have had at least one 45-minute lab sessions on the typing software. Often the identical question was just asked and answered, without anyone listening.
Locate the home-row keys. Force yourself to use the correct fingers to strike the keys. If you forget which finger to use, look at the picture accompanying the exercise. The beginning exercises are extremely important because you are developing correct keystroke patterns.
Error reduction. If errors are occurring on the bottom-row keys, move your chair back from the keyboard and slightly raise your wrists.
Use the correct finger-keystroke. Study the pictures in the Nimble Fingers typing program to know which finger to use. Whisper each letter before striking the key.
Finger placement. Gently place the fingers of your left hand on the a s d f keys and the fingers of your right hand on the j k l ; keys. Your fingers should be slightly curved. Your wrists should be low but not resting on the keyboard. Your elbows should be close in, next to your side.
Check your hands! Your fingers should be on the home-row keys and your hands should slant at the same angle as the keyboard. Do not let your wrists become lazy and rest against the desk or the keyboard.
Elbows in. Elbows should be relaxed and near your body. If your elbows are spread outward, the first finger (the index finger) tends to glide off the keys.
Relax and stretch. Periodically get up and move or stretch your neck, arm, and hand muscles to combat fatigue.
Sit the same. If the keyboard or your posture position changes, sound typing skills will not develop. Always maintain correct posture while typing. If you do not sit up ďstraightĒ and keep your feet flat on the floor, the angle of your arms will change. This will change the keystroke reach, which decreases your typing speed and accuracy.
Clear your brain. Spend five minutes a day on warm up and speed building drills. At first, think each letter. Eventually, think and type the word.
Develop a routine. Set the work environment like you want it to optimize your typing sessions. Donít let the chair height; tilt of the monitor, location of the keyboard or posture vary from session to session.
Be patient. Once the correct finger-keystroke patterns are used, speed and accuracy occur naturally.
More Free Things
Limb & Body Exer.
Teaching - Learning
Data Entry Program
Chart of Accounts
Which exercise would you select?
With Nimble Fingers - Word Wacker and Typing & Data Entry programs, You select the drill of interest to you.
A few of the over 500 exercises are shown.
We will try to keep things interesting for you.
Plus there are hundreds of FREE exercises available as downloads.
The Busy Fingers program is a simple,
easy-to-use program that does not have downloads.
The exercises are different and are appropriate for that age group.
How about an exercise on a meteor?
A meteor is often called a shooting star. This occurs when
bits of interplanetary dust and junk enter the Earth's
atmosphere at high speed. Collision with air molecules
produces friction, which vaporizes the particle. The
vaporized atoms quickly collide with more air molecules in
a process called ionization, which leaves an extensive trail.
How about an exercise on a fireball?
If an object entering the atmosphere is large, it will
produce a brilliant, exquisite fireball. Sometimes the
object itself will not be completely vaporized before
reaching the ground. These surviving rocks are called
meteorites. No one can predict the arrival of a fireball,
and it is a matter of luck to see one.
How about an exercise on a galaxy?
The sun is a member of the Milky Way galaxy, which is
a huge star system containing many billions of stars. The
jumble of stars we see at night are in the Milky Way. The
size of the Milky Way is so large that it takes light 100,000
years to travel across it. Within the range of telescopes
lies a quantity of millions of galaxies beyond our own.
© Copyright 2007 by Prof Ware.
® NimbleFingers is a registered trademark of Prof Ware. | <urn:uuid:4aac8e73-4352-4f3b-af1f-f197b5336e2a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nimblefingers.com/typing_tent.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922009 | 1,540 | 3.21875 | 3 |
A student who feels that the final grade received in a course is incorrect should discuss the matter with the instructor, department head, and college dean. The appropriate steps are as follows:
- Instructor: The student should confer with the faculty member who assigned the grade and try to resolve the difference.
- Department Head: If the problem is not resolved, the student should submit a written grade appeal to the head of the department in which the grade was assigned. This must be done before the 20th class day of the next regular semester (fall or spring) after the grade was assigned. The appropriate forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.
- Dean: If either party is dissatisfied, the appeal is forwarded within 10 school days to the dean of the college in which the grade was assigned.
- University Grade Appeals Committee or Graduate Council: If the problem is not resolved, either party, within 7 school days, may appeal in writing. Appeals for final grades received in undergraduate courses are submitted to the University Grade Appeals Committee; appeals for final grades received in graduate courses are submitted to the Graduate Council. If an appeal involves either a faculty member or student member of the committee or the Graduate Council, a substitute faculty member or student member of the committee/Council will be chosen to serve for that appeal only.
- Within 15 school days of receipt of a written appeal from a student, or faculty member, the Grade Appeals Committee, or Graduate Council when appropriate, will consider the matter to determine if the appeal has sufficient basis to conduct a formal hearing. A vote of yes by two members of the Committee, or Graduate Council when appropriate, will be required to grant a formal hearing. In the case where a formal hearing is denied, the student will be notified of the finding and given 14 days to submit additional information and request a reconsideration of the case. The Committee, or Graduate Council when appropriate, will review the additional information and a re-vote will be taken whether to grant a formal hearing.
- If a formal hearing is scheduled, both the faculty member and the student will be given at least four school days’ prior notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing. At the hearing, both the faculty member and the student will appear, will be allowed to present their cases, and will be allowed to introduce into evidence tests, papers, grade reports, records of class procedures, and the like, in support of their cases. If the Committee, or Graduate Council when appropriate, feels further evidence is needed, it may call on other witnesses to give additional information. The Committee, or Graduate Council when appropriate, will deliver its written recommendation to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the dean, the department head, the faculty member, and the student involved.
- Post baccalaureate certificates, post master's certificate, and graduate certificate programs must be approved by ULS and BOR.
If the Grade Appeals Committee or Graduate Council rules in favor of the student, it will recommend the appropriate grade change. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will then rule on the recommendation of the committee/Council and inform the Registrar's Office. The Registrar's Office will inform, in writing, the student, the faculty member, and other appropriate University personnel. | <urn:uuid:eb30cbeb-6787-4f23-8c3c-832fbc02450e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcneese.edu/policy/grade-appeals-procedures | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957346 | 661 | 1.59375 | 2 |
NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory, a new satellite dedicated to mapping Earth's carbon dioxide levels, crashed into the ocean near Antarctica just after launch Tuesday when a shroud designed to protect the spacecraft accidentally doomed its mission.
"Our whole team at a very personal level is disappointed in the events of this morning," John Brunschwyler, the Taurus project manager for the Dulles, Va.-based rocket manufacturer Orbital Sciences, said in a somber post-launch briefing. "It's very hard."
The 972-pound (441-kilogram) OCO spacecraft was NASA's first satellite built exclusively to map carbon dioxide levels on Earth and understand how humanity's contribution of the greenhouse gas is affecting global climate change. The satellite carried a single three-channel spectrometer to make its detailed measurements and was slated to launch into a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit that would fly about 438 miles (705 kilometers) above Earth.
Brunschwyler said the first sign of trouble came about three minutes after liftoff, when the Taurus XL rocket's telemetry showed no sign that it had shed its clamshell-like payload fairing.
The fairing is a nose-mounted shroud that protects the spacecraft inside from atmospheric drag until the booster reaches space. If the fairing had separated, launch controllers would have expected to see the spacecraft and its upper stage accelerate more quickly, since it would have shed the excess weight. But that speed boost never occurred.
"As a direct result of carrying that extra weight, we could not make orbit," Brunschwyler said, adding that the failure ultimately sent OCO crashing into the ocean near Antarctica. "We're fairly certain that it did not fly over any land and it landed short of Antarctica."
Investigation on tap
NASA is assembling a mishap investigation board to investigate the failed launch and, agency officials hope, pinpoint a root cause. The investigation will be key for NASA's Glory satellite, an environment-monitoring spacecraft also designed to aid climate change studies. Glory is due to launch on a Taurus rocket in October.
Slideshow: Month in Space "Our goal will be to find a root cause of the problem," said NASA launch director Chuck Dovale. "We won't fly Glory until we have that data known to us."
NASA's OCO spacecraft and its Taurus XL booster were built by Orbital Sciences. The four-stage solid fueled Taurus XL rocket stands about 93 feet (27 meters) tall and is capable of launching satellites weighing up to 3,500 pounds (1,590 kilograms) into low Earth orbit. The rocket is a land-based version of Orbital Sciences' Pegasus booster.
Since its 1994 debut, the Taurus rocket has flown six successful missions out of eight launches to orbit 12 satellites. The last Taurus payload reached space successfully in 2004. The one failure before Tuesday's contingency occurred in September 2001.
Blow to climate science
The loss of NASA's OCO spacecraft is a blow to global climate research after eight years of development to ready the satellite for launch.
Slideshow: Earth as art Researchers hoped the spacecraft would provide definitive answers to questions surrounding Earth's natural carbon dioxide cycle, as well as how the planet processes the 8 billion tons of greenhouse gas produced by the burning of fossil fuels and other human endeavors each year.
"OCO was to make some important measurements of the carbon cycle," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division. "What we're going to do is take a good, solid and thoughtful look at how best to advance earth system science in general, and with a focus on the carbon cycle, given all the assets that we have available now and into the near future."
Currently, scientists depend on 282 land-based stations — and scattered flights of instrumented aircraft — to monitor carbon dioxide at low altitudes. The hope is that higher-resolution data about the carbon cycle will lead to more accurate computer models for predicting climate trends, as well as a better understanding of natural mechanisms that could be used to counter carbon dioxide emissions.
Climate scientists expected OCO to take the lead in an international collection of weather-monitoring spacecraft known as the "A-Train," which fly in a trainlike progression over Earth with the goal of building a three-dimensional picture of the planet's weather and climate change, as well as understanding human contributions to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Japan's recently launched Ibuki climate-studying spacecraft, as well as other satellites already in orbit, may be able to compensate for the lack of the OCO. Freilich said engineers also will look at existing spacecraft spare parts and decide whether it makes sense to build a replacement observatory.
While there is hope to be able to pick up where the OCO's loss left off, much work lies ahead before NASA officials can "decide how it is best scientifically, and for the nation, to move forward," Freilich said.
This report was supplemented by information from The Associated Press.
© 2013 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com. | <urn:uuid:d4758000-a550-4cac-af84-4cd67a41ef1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29364902/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953654 | 1,052 | 3 | 3 |
British scientists have developed a new breed of hard drive that uses not spinning discs, but rather a rectangular platter and millions of moving data heads to read/write data. In theory, this could mean transfer speeds of 500 MB/s.
Register Hardwaresays that The Hard Rectangular Drive (HRD), developed by DataSlide, is roughly 4x faster than current HDDs, and uses the same process to manufacture CPUs for the data heads. Piezoelectric actuators are used to scan the data heads and access specific parts of the magnetically-encoded platter. At any one time, 64 data heads are able to simultaneously transfer data. It also only uses 4W of power, which makes it half as power thirsty as a SSD.
The current technology consists of a single platter in a 3.5-inch drive, though it will be possible to stack platters in the future. [Register Hardwarevia Fast Company] | <urn:uuid:5b54fe2e-1a11-4dd6-afd8-13bb8601833c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gizmodo.com/5300214/hard-rectangular-drive-is-faster-more-efficient-than-ssd?tag=ssds | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928557 | 195 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Mapping Avian Influenza Risk in U.S. Wild Songbirds
A Center for Tropical Research study was featured in The National Science Foundation's Award Highlights.
Scientists have discovered that 22 species of passerines, or songbirds and perching birds, in the contiguous U.S. are carriers of low-pathogenicity avian influenza virus. Pathogenicity is the ability of a germ to produce an infectious disease in an organism.
Analysis of the geographic distribution of the avian influenza virus helps scientists pinpoint areas where transmission events might occur, and how a highly pathogenic form of the disease might spread if it entered wild bird populations in the U.S.
The researchers' analysis of samples taken from 225 passerine bird species in 41 U.S. states indicates that the number of these species with low-pathogenicity virus was greater than the number in eight other avian orders, including waterfowl.
Avian influenza virus is an important public health issue because pandemic influenza viruses in people have contained genes from viruses that infect birds. Avian influenza virus subtypes have periodically mutated from low-pathogenicity to high-pathogenicity forms lethal, for example, to poultry.
Published: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 | <urn:uuid:c9b6f131-d43d-4da4-940d-a97f22c70c6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://environment.ucla.edu/research/article.asp?parentid=13847 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926354 | 254 | 3.203125 | 3 |
EDIT(Jan 23, 2007): Recently the boys over at Pictobrick released their software and good documentation. Feel free to check them out as well.
EDIT(Jun 27, 2007): I went ahead and setup a blog about making the mosiac as well as any future mosaics I will undertake. Feel free to leave a comment over there as well if you would like DarthLego
""EDIT(Oct 21, 2007): ""Well, I presented this instructable at the Maker Faire in Austin, 2007. For those of you coming here from that event, welcome. I invite you to email me with any questions or comments you may have with any steps that may be confusing. You can find my email address at DarthLego otherwise, leave a comment here!
Step 1: Source Image
When looking for an ideal photo, keep in mind that the resultant lego mosaic is going to be displayed in a pretty small resolution. For example, the source image is 225 x 169 pixels, the end image was resized down to 96x64 which equals in lego, about 30" x 20". In other words, you will loose a lot of the fidelity of the photo so don't choose a photo with a lot of details. Or if you want the details, be prepared to create a huge mosaic $$$. | <urn:uuid:87618561-6fb0-4652-8519-13f2161d665c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.instructables.com/id/Darth-Vader-Lego-Mosaic/CL27OBNGSRO5S39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950509 | 270 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Nursery Safety Checklist
A Printable Guide to Help Keep Baby's Room Safe
To help ease your nursery planning, BabyFit has reprinted with permission, this handy checklist from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Leg openings are small enough to prevent child from slipping out.
- Leg opening are large enough to prevent chafing.
- Frame joints in the folding mechanism.
- Carrier has padded covering over metal frame near baby's face.
- Bassinet/cradle has a sturdy bottom and a wide base for stability.
- Bassinet/cradle has smooth surfaces--no protruding staples or other hardware that could injure the baby.
- Legs have strong, effective locks to prevent folding while in use.
- Mattress is firm and fits snugly.
- Wood or metal cradles have slats spaced no more than 2 3/8" (60 mm) apart.
- Carrier seat has a wide, sturdy base for stability.
- Carrier has nonskid feet to prevent slipping.
- Supporting devices lock securely.
- Carrier seat has a crotch and waist strap
- Buckle or strap is easy to use.
- Table has safety straps to prevent falls.
- Table has drawers or shelves that are easily accessible without leave the baby unattended.
- Slats are spaced no more than 2 3/8" apart.
- No slats are missing, loose or cracked.
- Mattress fits snugly--no more than two fingers width between edge of mattress and crib side.
- Corner posts are no higher than 1/16".
- No cutouts in top edge of headboard and footboard.
- Drop-side latches cannot be easily released by a baby.
- Drop-side latches securely hold side in raised position.
- All screws, bolts and other hardware are present and tight.
Gates and enclosures:
- No strings or cords should dangle into the crib.
- Crib gym or mobile has warning label to remove from crib when child can push up on hands and knees or reaches 5 months of age, whichever comes first. Note: Some mobiles have two parts: one without strings like a music box, that can stay in the crib, and mobile that should be removed from the crib.
- Components of toys are too large to be a choking hazard.
- Openings in gate are too small to entrap a child's head or neck.
- Gate has a pressure bar or other fastener that will resist forces exerted by a child.
- There is a crotch strap that must be used when restraining a child in a high chair.
- High chair has restraining straps that are independent of the tray.
- Tray locks securely.
- Buckles on straps are easy to fasten and unfasten.
- High chair has a wide base for stability.
- Caps or plugs on tubing are firmly attached and cannot be pulled off and choke a child.
- Folding high chair has effective locking device.
- Chair has restraining straps.
- Chair has a clamp that locks onto the table for added security.
- Caps or plugs on tubing are firmly attached and cannot be pulled off to choke child.
- Hook-on chair has warning never to place chair where child can push off with feet.
- Pacifier has no ribbons, string, cord or yarn attached.
- Shield is large enough and firm enough so it cannot fit into child's mouth.
- Guard or shield has ventilation holes so baby can breathe if shield goes into mouth.
- Pacifier nipple has no holes or tears that might cause it to break off in baby's mouth.
- Playpens or travel cribs have top rails that will automatically lock when lifted into the normal use position.
- Playpen does NOT have a rotating hinge in the center of the top rails.
- Drop-side mesh playpen or mesh crib has warning label about never leaving a side in the down position.
- Playpen mesh has small weave (less than 1/4" openings).
- Mesh has no tears or loose threads.
- Mesh is securely attached to top rail and floor plate.
- Wooden playpen has slats spaced no more than 2 3/8" (60 mm) apart.
Strollers and carriages:
- Rattles, squeeze toys and teethers have handles too large to lodge in baby's throat.
- Squeeze toys do not contain a squeaker that could detach and choke a baby.
- Avoid rattles with ball shaped ends.
- Stroller has wide base to prevent tipping.
- Seat belt and crotch strap are securely attached to frame.
- Seat belt buckle is easy to use.
- Brakes securely lock the wheel(s).
- Shopping basket is low on the back and located directly over or in front of the wheels.
- When used in carriage position, leg openings can be closed.
- Toy chest has no latch to entrap child within the chest.
- Toy chest has spring-loaded lid support that will not require periodic adjustment and will support the lid in any position to prevent lid slam.
- Chest has ventilation holes or spaces in front or sides or under lid.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Walker has safety features to help prevent a fall down stairs. | <urn:uuid:8f17213b-9225-4bd8-9fed-9a9b82e53ddc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/print_content.asp?type=article&id=965 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901458 | 1,118 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Vienna, November 6 – Igor Yurgens and Sergey Karaganov, two of Moscow’s most influential foreign policy commentators, argue that Russia and the European Union must find a way over the next decade or so to join forces lest they be overwhelmed by the still great power of the United States and the rising power of China.
In an article in today’s “Rossiiskaya gazeta” that summarizes a study they will release early next year, Yurgens, who heads the Institute of Contemporary Development, and Karaganov, who leads the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, argue that Russia and Europe have no other good choice but to cooperate (www.rg.ru/2008/11/06/russia-europe.html).
If the two act on their own or compete, the two argue, neither “will be able” to develop as “a first class center of force of the future world order” and will instead become “the objects of the policy of external forces,” in this case, the United States and China. Given that neither wants that, Yurgens and Karaganov say, they must find a way to unite.
They argue that Russia and Europe are united by “a common culture, history and religious roots,” with Europe being “one of the main sources of Russian civilization an identity and of Russian social and cultural modernization” and Russia being both a source of oil and gas and a geopolitical support.
Unfortunately, Yurgens and Karaganov continue, relations now are “at a dead end,” with the officially proclaimed goal of “a strategic partnership” apparently out of reach in large measure because neither side has a clear understanding of the nature, problems and importance of the other.
For the majority of the Russian elite in particular, “the role and place of the European Union in the complex modernization of the Russian economy and society and the strengthening of Russia on the paths of contemporary development remain unclear.” Indeed, they suggest, Russian elites “do not know what [they] want from the European Union.
And such a lack of understanding has been compounded by the continuation of “confrontational tendencies in Russian-American relations and the return of a military dimension in European policy,” a development that leaves little room for a consideration of the broader commonalities of interest between Russia and the European Union.
But despite that, Russia in the final analysis is interested in the growth of the status of the European Union as an actor in international relations and the sphere of security and conversely is not interested in the conduction of the decade-long decline of the international political influence of the European Union.”
Another reason for problems in the Russian-European relationship, the two say, is that Brussels wants to go forward on the basis of a detailed accord, one that addresses all the key and many secondary issues, while Moscow believes that the best way is to agree to a short statement of principles that will allow cooperation to expand.
And yet a third problem element consists of the activities of what Yurgens and Karaganov call “the anti-Russian group in the European Union and the forces standing behind them,” code language for recent EU entrants like Poland and the Baltic countries in the first case and for the United States and NATO in the latter.
Given these problems in the relationship, the two call for “a pause” in efforts to reach any agreement, a period of time in which the two sides can think about how to proceed. And then they urge that the two come together first to form “an energy union,” then a strategic partnership on foreign policy questions, and finally, some decades out, an economic union.
These arrangements, Yurgens and Karaganov suggest, will serve as additional elements “of the future European architecture” rather than a replacement for any of the existing organizations, a position that is clearly intended to win over those who fear it might undermine their standing or weaken their power.
At one level, of course, the Yurgens-Karaganov argument is little more than a restatement of Moscow efforts going back to Soviet times to detach Western Europe from the United States, undermine NATO, and, by using its leverage as the supplier of oil and gas to EU countries, play an increasingly important role in European policy on the world stage.
But there are three aspects of their presentation, which will likely be amplified in the larger publication they promise, that merit attention, given the influence these two analysts have had in the past on the thinking of officials in the Russian foreign ministry and in the upper reaches of the Kremlin itself.
First, the two argue that China and not just the United States represents the external threat that Europe and Russia must combine to oppose, a recognition of the shifting geo-economic and geopolitical order but also an admission that in the current environment European concerns about the US may not be sufficient to drive Brussels into the arms of Moscow.
Second, unlike in the past and in contrast to some statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the two analysts do not expect great progress on the relationship in the immediate future. Instead, they suggest there will be a long, slow slog forward, with only partial accords on offer in the next few years.
And third – and this may be the most significant remark they make in this article – the two call for a pause in efforts to achieve even that, an indication that not everyone in Moscow is on board with the Kremlin’s current efforts to wrap an agreement with the EU now, given that the Russian side might have to give up more now than it may in the future. | <urn:uuid:9167bca9-d95c-45ac-85ee-15721cd6bbf5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/2008/11/window-on-eurasia-russia-and-europe.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948633 | 1,177 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Memory and Communication
My Dad would often mention a visitor he’d had, but he was never sure who it was. So I put out a “visitors’ book” and asked people to sign in. It turned out that the mystery person was his care worker.
There were nights when he would wake us up playing the piano. He didn’t know his own children, but he could still play the most complicated pieces. At times like that I would question my own sanity.
Sometimes my partner goes back in his mind to when he was working and gets anxious about getting to work on time. At first, I would tell him that he doesn’t work any more but he’d insist he does and we’d end up arguing. So now I reassure him that it’s all right, he doesn’t have to go to work today.
Memory loss is one of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It is often the first sign which leads people to suspect that there is a problem and seek medical advice. However, it is important to realise that people tend to lose their memory gradually rather than all at once.
There are a few different kinds of memory loss. With Alzheimer’s disease, the memory for recent events tends to be affected most, with long term memories persisting for many years after the onset of the disease. You may have noticed, for example, that people with dementia can remember something they did years ago but cannot remember having already had lunch. You might have also noticed how memory loss interferes with daily routine tasks and even having a conversation. In fact, one of the key features of memory impairment is the inability to learn. Certain kinds of memory loss may be upsetting to you (e.g. when they forget your name) or worrying (e.g. when they forget to turn off the gas). However, it can be extremely disturbing for them too. It can be a source of confusion, humiliation and shame. In the early stages in particular, they may try to hide some of the consequences of memory loss out of embarrassment or shame. Later on, they may be less aware of memory problems, but still suffer the consequences, such as loss of independence and frustration.
Fortunately, carers can provide valuable practical assistance to the person with dementia, as well as emotional support. This can help reduce the negative consequences of memory loss. You may even find that you become closer to the person and more involved in his or her life. But it is important to try to accept that your daily life will change. Things will not be like they used to be.
How to cope with memory loss
Maintain a positive attitude and provide reassurance
When trying to resolve a problem caused by memory loss, it is important to try to bear in mind not only the mistake or problem, but also how the person with dementia might feel as a consequence. Forgetting where the cups are kept, for example, is not really a problem as someone can easily show where they are, but the person with dementia could feel embarrassed, useless, angry or frustrated about it. Other kinds of memory loss may be accompanied by different emotions. Sometimes, you might feel that the person is being deliberately awkward or inconsiderate. It is very important to remember that their behaviour is a consequence of the disease.
Avoid drawing unnecessary attention to mistakes
It is often unnecessary to draw attention to mistakes. For example, when you are talking to someone with dementia, they may use an inappropriate word because they cannot remember the correct one. You may feel inclined to correct the person or even do so automatically. However, if you have understood what they were trying to say, this is unnecessary and also likely to make them feel uneasy, embarrassed or annoyed.
Reminders and markers
It may help, particularly in the early stages of the disease, occasionally to remind the person with dementia what to do, what is going on and who people are, etc. However, it is important not to do this to such an extent that it appears unnatural, draws unnecessary attention to the problem or is embarrassing. Apart from visual aids, it might help to use markers such as a diary, notice board, signs on doors, post-it stickers on the fridge, calendars (mark off days), clocks (with a clear face and loud tick), photographs (with names marked below) or a visitors’ book.
How to prevent problems due to memory loss
A stable environment and routines
As people with dementia lose the ability to learn due to memory loss, it is best to adapt the situation or surroundings to their needs, rather than trying to teach them how to adapt to their own changing abilities. For example, if the person with dementia tends to forget to turn off the tap, you could perhaps have a device fitted which allows only a certain amount of water to come out at any one time. However, try to keep changes to the minimum and concentrate on creating a stable environment that the person can count on.
Daily routines can also help the person to cope. It might sound monotonous to always do things in the same order, but for someone with dementia this can help prevent anxiety, avoid confusion and help the person to concentrate their time and efforts on other things.
Information on memory loss in particular situations
Many problems encountered by people with dementia are linked to memory loss in some way, e.g. forgetting to wash, to eat, how to get dressed, where the toilet is, etc. For this reason, they are dealt with in detail in the following chapters (i.e. on personal hygiene, eating and drinking and incontinence, etc.).
Last Updated: jeudi 06 août 2009 | <urn:uuid:c46f6b49-0993-4ba9-bdca-2c67d6971140> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/FR%E8%88%92%EF%BF%BD%20%E8%88%92%EF%BF%BD%E8%88%92/Living-with-dementia/Caring-for-someone-with-dementia/Memory-and-Communication/Memory-loss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975388 | 1,173 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Watch: Obama Cries During Inspirational Speech to Young Volunteers
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In a video posted to YouTube, President Barack Obama delivers a truly inspirational speech to the young people who devoted their time to helping him win re-election. Obama tells the young volunteers about coming to Chicago at the age of 25, committed to making a difference but not sure how. The President says his experience as a community organizer helped make him a man. "When I come here and I look at all of you, what comes to mind is not that you guys actually remind me of myself, it’s the fact that you are so much better than I was in so many ways."
"You’re just starting. Whatever good we do over the next four years will pale in comparison to what you guys end up accomplishing for years and years to come.”
Watch the President tear up below. | <urn:uuid:0b88e5ea-aebc-45d4-8e43-dab3bc358dfc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alternet.org/watch-obama-cries-during-inspirational-speech-young-volunteers?qt-best_of_the_week=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974074 | 192 | 1.882813 | 2 |
Golda (Olga) Bancic
Olga was born to a large Jewish family living in the Bessarabia province when it was still part of the Russian Empire. In 1918 the province was annexed by Romania. When Olga was 12 years old, she was arrested for the first time for having participated in a strike at the mattress factory where she worked. Despite her youth, she was put in prison and beaten.
1933-39: Olga was an active and vocal member of the local workers' organization. She had been arrested and imprisoned so often that she simply considered it an occupational hazard. In 1938 she travelled to France where she worked with French leftists, helping to ferry arms to the Spanish Republicans in their fight against fascism. Just before the Germans invaded Poland in 1939, she gave birth to a little girl, Dolores.
1940-44: France fell to the German army in 1940. Olga found a French family to keep her daughter safe, and joined the armed resistance group, Franc-Tireurs et Partisans, to fight the Germans. She assembled bombs and helped transport explosives used to derail German troop and supply trains. On November 6, 1943, she was arrested during a Gestapo roundup. She was tortured but revealed no information. Even after she was condemned to death, they continued to interrogate and torture her.
Olga was transferred to a prison in Stuttgart where she was re-tried and again condemned to death. On May 10, 1944, her 32nd birthday, Olga was beheaded. | <urn:uuid:c8f81406-06d7-4386-b1e8-8ca4028deb18> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/idcard.php?ModuleId=10006244 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990339 | 319 | 2.71875 | 3 |
It's not as if I thought the current Supreme Court would actually produce a majority decision that recognized the overwhelming statistical evidence for systematic, nationwide discrimination against the female employees of Wal-Mart in salary and promotion. And, since they did not in fact do so, we can at least seek solace in the text of the decision, in which the perpetual arguments about discrimination and unconscious bias are dramatically displayed.
All but one of the men of the US Supreme Court decided that the female employees of Wal-Mart did not have enough in common to represent a class that could bring suit because Wal-Mart gives its individual managers (>65% of whom are men) so much individual discretion in personnel decisions. Also, Wal-Mart forbids discrimination -- they have a policy! Never mind what the data show. As long as individual managers are discriminating against individual women without specifically saying that they are doing so, and as long as Wal-Mart doesn't have a formal policy that endorses discrimination, female employees as a group don't have much in common.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dissent makes this point:
"The practice of delegating to supervisors large discretion to make personnel decisions, uncontrolled by formal standards, has long been known to have the potential to produce disparate effects," she writes. "Managers, like all humankind, may be prey to biases of which they are unaware."
At least 5 Supreme Court justices are prey to biases of which they and everyone else are well aware, with dire consequences for real people (but not major corporations) in this country.
PS - In recognition of this major defeat to more than 1.5 million women, this is the headline that The New York Times came up with:
Wal-Mart Case Is a Blow for Big Cases and Their Lawyers
Well, some of those lawyers may well be women, so it's not as if that headline totally misses the mark.
22 hours ago | <urn:uuid:35e976db-600a-4ba4-84f6-0fd5e480f498> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2011/06/prey-to-biases.html?showComment=1308681241502 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971936 | 388 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Reportage: Lebanon: Cluster Munitions
Human rights observers claim that up to a million "bomblets" were left scattered across southern Lebanon following the 2006 Hezbollah - Israel conflict. Cluster bombs have killed and injured thousands of civilians and continue to do so today. They remain dangerous long after a conflict has ended. One-third of all recorded cluster munitions casualties are children. Sixty percent of cluster bomb casualties are injured while undertaking their normal activities.
Representatives from over 100 countries signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions into international law on December 3rd, 2008, following 18 months of intense negotiations known as the "Oslo Process." The convention bans the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs. However, key countries such as the United States and Israel, two of the largest users of cluster munitions, as well as Russia, China, India and Pakistan have yet to sign the convention. | <urn:uuid:2637de76-24ed-4de8-a0c4-428b426ea935> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jbrussellimages.com/contents/Reportage/Lebanon%3A%20Cluster%20Munitions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965844 | 183 | 2.578125 | 3 |
The U.S. Department of Education released a Request for Information on promising and practical strategies to increase postsecondary success.
The department invites submissions from institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, states, systems of higher education, adult education providers, researchers, and institutional faculty and staff, or consortia of these groups.
The aim is to collect strategies that could be replicated or scaled-up to meet national college-completion goals. In addition to information about the program or strategy, submissions should include information on the factors perceived as most important to successful implementation, a relevant context that enables successful practice, and any evidence available on the impact of the program or strategy.
This is the second round of requests; responses from the first round have been posted along with outcomes data.
New England submissions posted from the first round include:
- Boston College, “Learning to Learn”
- Cape Cod Community College, “College Reading and Study Skills Embedded in Learning Communities”
- Eastern Connecticut State University, “Predictive Analytics to Target Appropriate Resources to At-Risk Students”
- Eastern Connecticut State University/Quinebaug Valley Community College, “Dual Enrollment Program”
- Rhode Island College, “Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities”
- Southern Vermont College, “Pipelines in Partnership”
- Western Connecticut State University, “Building a Bridge to Improve Student Success”
For more information, please contact Federick Winter at 202-502-7632 or frederick.winter[at]ed.gov. | <urn:uuid:593d3169-239e-49d8-aae9-520a1d22066a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nebhe.org/newslink/us-dept-of-ed-were-looking-for-a-few-good-ideas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914376 | 331 | 1.851563 | 2 |
Disgusted by the school lunches, Babymouse decides to run for president of the student council. The competition is fierce - Santiago, Felicia, Georgie, and even Babymouse’s locker have also entered the race, and their platforms, promises, and campaign posters are pretty impressive. Desperate to win votes, Babymouse starts promising anything and everything to anyone who asks - including her soul. It’s not until she enters the school debate that she realizes what it truly takes to be a successful leader.
As with the other titles in the series, the key to the success of this Babymouse story is not the plot itself, which is rather generic, but the way the story is drawn and told. Some of the jokes this time around are obvious - Babymouse’s face on a five dollar bill, the Babymouse Memorial, and renaming the White House as the Pink House - but others - such as the take-off on the Obama “Hope” poster pictured below, and her Hoover-esque campaign slogan, “A cupcake in every locker” are subtle and clever.
I plan to use this book and a few other election-themed children’s stories for a passive program at my library later in the Fall. I’ll be asking kids to vote for the fictional character they think would make the best president, whether it’s Duck, Bad Kitty, Grace or Babymouse herself!
I borrowed Babymouse for President from my local public library. | <urn:uuid:a1e9903b-56d3-4710-bd05-9e9f27908a06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sharingsoda.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-babymouse-for-president-by.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96129 | 311 | 1.796875 | 2 |